How many A-Bombs does it take?

How insane is it to fight the removal of 50 nukes from Montana!? How many A-bombs do we need to blow up North Korea and maybe toss a few at Iran? My Gawd people!
This is the worst kind of pork, its only about the money.

Pentagon could remove Malmstrom missiles next month
By MARY CLARE JALONICK - Associated Press Writer - 03/29/07
WASHINGTON — Montana’s Malmstrom Air Force Base could begin to lose part of its nuclear missile stockpile as soon as next month.Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., said Wednesday that the Pentagon has confirmed it will remove 50 Minuteman III weapons, known as intercontinental ballistic missiles, from the Montana base. That is a quarter of the base’s total nuclear missile fleet.The Pentagon last year said it would downsize the nation’s stockpile of 500 missiles, based at Air Force bases in Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota, by 10 percent, and indicated the missiles would probably come from Malmstrom.Members of Congress from the missile states attempted to delay the withdrawals, passing legislation last fall that prevented the Pentagon from removing the weapons until a series of studies was completed. But that strategy only delayed the process for a few months, as the department has recently sent the results of those studies to Congress.The legislation stated that the missiles could not be removed until 30 days after the studies were submitted. Josh Holly, spokesman for California Rep. Duncan Hunter, the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, said the committee received those documents mid-March.That could allow the Pentagon to begin removing the missiles mid-April.


‘‘These missiles are a vital part of our nation’s defense and the Malmstrom community,’’ Rehberg said in a statement. ‘‘It’s unfortunate that this proposal has reached this point.’’Calls to the Air Force were referred to the Air Force Space Command, which oversees the missiles. A spokesman for the Air Force Space Command would not say whether the missiles will be removed.The Pentagon has gradually decreased the nation’s nuclear stockpile since the end of the Cold War, when the missiles were placed in the High Plains because of the region’s relative proximity to Russia. Lawmakers from the three states have argued that threats from North Korea and other countries make the weapons as important as they were 50 years ago.(Thats crap)The 564th Missile Squadron, 50 missiles scattered north of Great Falls, Mont., has a different operating system than all the other squadrons, requiring some different parts and training. That has led to the speculation that the ‘‘odd squad,’’ as it is dubbed, would be the one to go.Removal of the missiles could mean the counties that house them will have less federal money to play with. The military pays for road and other infrastructure improvements in those areas.Montana Sen. Max Baucus said the delegation would keep fighting against the cuts.‘‘I think it’s an outrage, especially during a time when our nation’s security must be bolstered,’’ (More Crap) the Democrat said in a statement.Holly, the Armed Services Committee spokesman, said the Pentagon documents submitted to the committee are classified. The law required analysis of the effects of reducing the missiles, an assessment of how many test missiles are needed to maintain the force, and a plan to complete modernization of all the missiles before the weapons could be removed.

Patriot Program Cont.

I went, and I am glad I did.
My daughter and a friend of hers wrote up a quick prayer the same evening as the event. When we got there I was surprised to find out that Peri was to give the invocation. So, I’m not quite sure they got from her they expected. I did not have her change anything. The best part of her prayer was about Peace, I could not have asked her for more and it was very short and sweet.
There were only three families represented, it is a small community. The program was held in the school gym in the evening, therefore it was not required all of the students to attend. The only thing that bothered me was the whole 2nd grade class was brought in to sing both patriotic and also religious songs. They sang a cute song citing every single state of the nation, but I could not help thinking did every 2nd grade parent feel ok with this? It was the only class where all of the students were “required”? to attend. But, then again I think it was also the only reason there was such a show of attendees in the audience. The 2nd grader’s parents came to see their kids perform.
Personally for me the best part of the whole program is when they asked all of the veterans in the audience to stand up and be recognized. I was able to stand up proudly and show those who know me I am one of those “atheists in a foxhole” that supposedly do not exist. This made it all worth while.
Overall it was not so uncomfortable as I thought it would be, I think because I have made known my stand on such issues, it was a positive for me to go and show them I too am a full member of their community.

Thanks for all of your advice and support.
Lori

Revise Bible per Roger

The Bible needs to be revised to reflect the role of women in today’s society, the fact that being gay is not by choice or a life style, that marriage is not just between a man and a woman to beget offspring but can be just for love between two people and that there is nothing more dangerous than to be ignorant.The uneducated have no means of judging or appraising. There is nothing to talk to them about except perhaps sex. There standards of behavior come from bars and street corners. Their character comes from TV and comic strips. The role of the media needs to be addressed if the Bible is relevant in today’s world.The Bible is a set of beliefs concerning nature and the purpose of the universe. It contains a moral code. There is a continuous stream of life with gradual change taking place. Changed circumstances always result in changed principles.The Bible has been translated many times since the first oral versions of the Old Testament. There are thousands of religions and each has their own “Bible.” All these religions have shaped people. They cannot be ignored. We are living in Saint Paul’s time.Roger Scott407 Fox Hollow

Patriot Program

I need some advise.
Some of you may not already know but my husband is in Iraq. Because of that, I and other families with spouses serving overseas have been asked to attend a Patriot Program at the local public grade school were my two kids go.But,I am cornered again. The Clancy School is sponsoring this Patriot Program this Thursday in the gym. It is being set up by the town's Methodist Church. To my dismay, I found out this morning they want my daughter to say a prayer during the event. I don't know what to do? She goes to the Catholic Church when her father is around, she held a part in the Methodist Christmas Program and she now goes to Awanas on Wednesday night. She is 10.I have yet to ask her how she feels about it. But, I'm not happy. Concidering I don't believe in prayer and do not support the current administrations decision to invade and occupy Iraq. Should I attend? If I go I will have to sit there and watch my only daughter being used as a puppit by the Clancy religious community. They are teaching the kids Religion and Patriotism go hand in hand which is wrong. Some of you may remember my post earlier about a woman who sent me a disparaging email about athiests. Well, she will be there, her husband is serving along side mine. It will be very uncomofortable. Also the other spouse has sent me a few prayer chain emails. Its driving me mad. Am I wrong? Overreacting?

Lent

MACEDONIA, Ohio (AP) -- For years, Lent meant huge chunks of fried fish on Fridays for George Ehrman, a longtime parishioner at Our Lady of Guadalupe in this northeast Ohio town.
But the dinner plate was decidedly lighter for Ehrman at a recent Friday fish fry in the bustling parish hall: grilled salmon packed with omega-3, fiber-rich rice pilaf and green beans.
"I was happy when I found out they were offering this for the first time," said Ehrman, whose health requires him to eat a low-salt, low-fat diet. "It's very tasty, too."
Parishes have long used the Roman Catholic abstention from meat on Fridays during the Lenten season to hold fish fries that bring people together and raise money. Now with more people trying to eat healthier food, many churches are offering lighter fare, including grilled shrimp, baked fish, fresh tuna and crispy, raw vegetables.
There's still plenty of battered cod, haddock and other types of seafood submerged in oil. And there still are servings of potato-stuffed pirogi, macaroni and cheese, french fries or other heavy side dishes on parish menus.


I need to get on wikipedia and study more about what Lent is supposed to be. I am married to a Catholic and he does insist we eat meatless meals on Friday's during Lent. I not being raised a Catholic think its a bit silly. I almost always forget and start browning burger when my hubby needs to remind me I should be opening a can of tuna instead. His usual fare for this time of year is; for breakfast-peanute butter sandwiches, for lunch-bean burritos or a Burger King fish sandwich and for dinner-Tuna Noodle.
I remember when we were first married I asked he try sacrificing something else during lent, thats what its really all about right? He chose giving up beer. He wan't able to do it. Eating fish on Friday is easier obviously for everyone. The Seafood Industry loves it.
My in-laws in their usual conservative intensity will not even flavor thier rice with chicken boullian. They take everything the Church demands very very seriously. If you consider thier restrictive lent diet, my husband actually fails to properly observe Lent. His fav bean burritos have animal fat or lard in them. Then there are eggs in the noodles, Do eggs count? Cheese?
I don't mind tuna noodle so I don't complain about it(too much). We have it just about every week anyway, its quick, easy and inexpensive.

I just went online and found out that its of course much more complicated, leave it the the Catholics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lent

I never realized that the number 40 is so prevelant in the bible. Its very interesting. Thats another topic of its own.
Lent is 40 days of fasting similar to the Muslim Ramadam. I would like to try fasting. What is it about it that its a big part of these two religions? Fasting is found in many cultures.
I have always been facinated by religion and I can see I am more interested in it than most religious people are. I think that is very typical of people like me. Its my hobby. It is also why I like to blog and write letters. To share what I have learned. But, as I have seen over the years. most especially with my husband, people prefer to live in blissful ingnornace. They either do not want to know anything different and or just plain do not care about it. It does not interest them, like I have no interest in Nascar. I digress

Rescue of Recreationist

I don't know about you, but me and many others are sick of paying for the rescue of these people. His kin found him and claim God helped, but the Sheriff Department was also out and about wasting thier precisous time looking for this fool and they were given bad information on where to look. How much longer do we as tax payers have to keep supporting these "recreationists"
That is exactly all it is, FUN for them and you and I pay for them to mess around outdoors. I find it amazing how these people almost act like this life style is a right not a priviledge. In Montana whenever anyone tries to limit where these toys can traverse the woods, you get a pitch fork mob pissed at whomever dares to restrict thier ability to tear up the countryside. ATVs and Snowmobiles are toys for those well off enough to afford them, so I think they should pay for every dime spent for pulling thier butts out of a snow bank.
I and my family use snowmobiles and enjoy running the trails near Lincoln, but I do not claim any right to harras the wildlife in the area whenever or whereever I want. I stay on the groomed trails. There are plenty of places in Montana for people to play, please stay out of restricted areas! Its for your safety and to show respect of our last great places.

Snowmobiler survives 8 hours buried in avalanche


POSTED: 7:27 a.m. EST, March 3, 2007

Story Highlights• Ryan Roberts: "I guess I was just allowed to live another day" • Tried to outrun avalanche on snowmobile• Buried in 4 feet of snow, could not move• Distant cousin found him, ending 8-hour search

HELENA, Montana (AP) -- A man buried by an avalanche for almost eight hours emerged with little more than scratches after a relative found him using a probe.
Ryan Roberts, 34, said Friday he was astonished he survived the avalanche, which occurred about 4 p.m. Thursday while snowmobiling with an uncle and friend in Flathead National Forest's Jewel Basin near Kalispell. He was found shortly before midnight. Neither of his companions was caught in the avalanche.
"I guess I was just allowed to live another day," Roberts said in a telephone interview after his release from Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
Roberts said he tried to outrun the avalanche by driving his snowmobile at about 80 mph, but leaped off the machine as it sped toward trees.
He said he tumbled downhill and was buried face-up by about 4 feet of snow. After it became apparent that he could not move, Roberts said, he tried to remain calm and accept what he thought was his fate.
He said he remembered thinking, "Well, I'm going to die."
Roberts believes he passed out about five minutes later.
His companions began searching for Roberts immediately, and called for help after two hours. About 18 family members and friends, and a Flathead County Sheriff's Department team searched for Roberts for hours, to no avail.
Dan Root, a distant cousin, said he reached the scene shortly before midnight and didn't expect to find Roberts alive.
"I parked my sled, got my probe out and walked up the hill about 5 or 6 feet and hit" Roberts with the probe, Root said. "I probed him the first time."
After he was dug out, Roberts was taken by snowmobile to the hospital 20 miles away. His wife, Billie, said his temperature at the hospital Friday morning was 90 degrees.

I agree its all Politics

Pro-life paradoxI’m confused…Montana Right to Life and other anti-choice organizations like Eagle Forum and the Montana Family Foundation testified Wednesday before the House Human Services committee against HB 612, a bill that would create funding for comprehensive sex education.I thought Montana Right to Life and their associates were anti-abortion. Yet they support keeping kids in the dark about pregnancy prevention?Instead of opposing this bill, these anti-abortion groups should be working to promote common sense proposals that will prevent unintended pregnancy. They should be rallying for — DEMANDING — programs that reduce the need for abortion, such as increased access to family-planning services and comprehensive sex education for our teens.Or could it be that these so-called anti-abortion organizations are less about preventing abortion and more about promoting a political agenda?Prevention is common ground. A 2004 survey by National Public Radio found that 94 percent of Americans support comprehensive sex education. I call on the opponents of this bill to come together and work with reproductive rights groups on prevention bills such as this one.Alison JamesP.O. Box 7031