Justin Moore can't order his own dinner

Thursday night, Justin Moore is the opening act for Brad Paisley and Darius Rucker in Bozeman. Its the show that would have been in Metra Park, pre-tornado.



Justin has had a busy year. Couple of big hits; Backwoods, Small Town USA, How I Got To Be This Way. Birth of Ella Kole, his first child. Network special that aired a couple of weeks ago on GAC. Really busy year for Justin.

But it wasn't always that way. In 2008, Justin was another of the new singers in Nashville that no one had heard before. After booking Justin into a small club in north Phoenix, AZ, we went to dinner at a Mexican place on the parking lot of the club. Justin grew up as an only child in Poyen, Arkansas with about 271 other people. Chances are real good he had not seen a lot of Mexican restaurants where Spanish was the ONLY language.

That night, Justin was immersed in Spanish language, as only those who live in Arizona would really understand. Every sign in the restaurant was Spanish ONLY.

Justin was an Arkie out of water. I was able to interpret a bit and help Justin get something he wanted.

Turned out to be a number 4. Three chicken tacos.

The Trouble With Popcorn

Had Hemmingway written a description of the weekend weather for Saturday Live, chances are exceptional the script would not have included a day like the one we had. Birds chirping, cheers from the football stadium, the ARRGH sounds from the Townsquare Media Pirate Cove made for a perfect day.

Except for one thing. When all is packed. When all is picked up. Pioneer Park is abandoned except for the birds, the squirrels, and the disc golf players, what happens to this.


Its the popcorn left behind. Dirty, rancid, chewed on, spit out, left for dead kernels of America's bountiful harvest of corn. Popcorn. What happens afterwards to this noble food? Fortunately, I was able to observe exactly what happened, when a child in a stroller came upon this space.


Note the kernels are in reach to a two year old, who is not strapped in tightly. And while mom isn't looking.

Bam! Problem solved! Although I'm not so sure who would be responsible for the medical bill should the little one get sick from his meal.

Don't let council know, or we'll probably get another committee, vote, and a new nuisance law.

Helena woman fights off bear

I hope you saw this story. Let me give you the capsule version if you haven't.

Helena woman lets dogs out. Bear is in the backyard in a tree. Bear goes after dog, then sees woman and a house of food. Bear drops dog, goes after woman who runs in house. Bear gets half way in back patio door. Woman slams door on Bear, who has his head and shoulders in the house.

While holding the door on the bear with ONE hand, she grabs a ZUCCHINI and smacks the bear on the nose. Bear runs.

I don't know about you, but I'm not buying it.

I can see it now. Instead of bear pepper spray, they'll start selling zucchini's as bear repellent.

Although, you know what a bear does when you spray him with bear pepper spray?

Gets out his salt shaker.

The weekend of EVERYTHING

You are just not trying if you are bored this weekend. Tonight (Friday) is Ales for Trails at Dehler Park. It runs 4-10pm in the new location. Saturday there's Farmers Market downtown (only one more weekend to go); Saturday Live takes over Pioneer Park from 10-4; and comedian Sean Morey (the Man Song) is at Bones Brewing at 8:30.

Sunday is the Yellowstone Art Museum's Bridal Fair from 10-4. Its free. And guys, there is a "Man Cave" at the fair if you get pulled along. Football, pizza, and beer.

Hands Free Texting

The latest proposal from government in the Magic City allegedly has to do with a ban on text messages sent from public facilities. The same general public interest and safety concerns regarding possible accidents that can be caused by texting while driving, also apply in a public facility.

One public official described it this way, "Imagine the disaster that can be caused by a man texting while standing at a public urinal. A slip of the phone, a twist of the body, and hazardous bio materials could escape into the atmosphere."

The destruction of public property by phones falling into the "drink" while texting is a major budget issue. The cost of replacing these toilets destroyed by reckless texters runs into the thousands of dollars a day. The council is considering the ban at their next meeting.

The ordinance would establish a "potty patrol" that will visit many public restrooms in the city. Its unknown whether the lookouts will be permitted to site a patron while in a stall or if they will only be allowed to look for violations elsewhere.

The potty patrol will be funded by the last portion of stimulus money received by the city. While the project wasn't shovel ready at the time of the spending spree, it certainly is a perfect opportunity to create good paying jobs in the green and tech sectors of Billings economy. In addition, there were no more tunnels to be built under roads in the city.

Texting in public restrooms would subject the violator to a $50 fine on the first violation. First responders, police, fire, ham operators, government officials, ambulance drivers, and truckers will be exempt from the new rules.

The city indicated that hands free texting would be acceptable under the new ordinance. Residents can also pre-pay for the right to text in public restrooms at City Hall. The text pass, called the P-P-P, will be available for $50 for a years use.

Public hearings on the proposed ordinance will not be held, since government knows best.