Here is a part of the curriculum that is causing such outrage:

It lays out sex education topics for each grade, K through 12. In the first grade, children would be taught that human beings can love people of the same gender; in second grade, kids are taught not to make fun of people by calling them “gay” or “queer.”
By fifth grade, they are taught there are several types of intercourse, and by the sixth grade, the draft document states that students should, “Understand that sexual intercourse includes but is not limited to vaginal, oral, or anal penetration; using the penis, fingers, tongue or objects.”

Click here to read the entire proposed curriculum.

About 500 people turned out for the school board meeting this week – and for a Montana town, that’s a LOT of people.

It’s a challenge worthy of the Travel Channel’s “Man Vs. Food” – a five-pound Jumboli Stromboli from Trimbo’s Pizza in Butte. It’s been around for two years and so far, no one has ever finished eating one, but three guys gave it a try Wednesday night.
The rules of the Jumboli Stromboli: one person must consume the entire stromboli in one hour, and competitors are not allowed to leave the table, but they can get up and stretch.

What other Montana restaurants offer up challenges that are worthy of “Man Vs Food?”

Chicagoans, the time has come to defend our civic honor against a large enemy: Montana.
They are trash-talking us, Chicago! Montana is thrusting its mountainous finger right in our Midwest faces, taunting us with its magnificent scenery and world-class outdoor recreation.
Are we going to take it, Chicago? Are we just going to let Montana kick Lake Michigan sand in our faces?
Join me, friends: Let’s tell Montana to fly-fish this.
The Chicago Tribune hereby announces “Take THAT, Montana,” a photo campaign in which we are asking readers to assert their civic pride.
Post your best photos of Chicago-area nature to chicagotribune.com/nature: woodlands, wildflowers, lakes, birds, deer, butterflies — anything that proves that we’re in the outdoor beauty game too.
Let’s show our civic pride, people, and show Montana — and each other — what we’ve got.
It’s on. Bring it, MT. We are going to make you IL.

It’s all in good humor, of course, and I have no problem with Chicago trying to generate some civic pride in their community.
But…really? As if ANY place could top Montana in natural beauty and scenic wonder, much less a major metropolitan area!

To learn more, visit the Ride4Lance website.

Seen over at Instapundit: “President Barack Obama on Thursday interviewed federal appeals court Judge Sidney Thomas of Montana for an opening on the Supreme Court, a person familiar with the conversation told The Associated Press.”

I could be wrong…but I think that this marks the first time that Instapundit has linked to the Great Falls Tribune.

And the NYT reports that Judge Thomas lives in Billings, got his bachelor’s degree from Montana State University, and his law degree from the University of Montana…which raises a very important question: does Thomas root for the Cats or the Griz? ]]> http://www.bigskyblog.com/index.php/2010/04/30/montanan-on-supco-short-list/feed/ 0 http://www.bigskyblog.com/index.php/2010/04/29/button-valley-montana/ http://www.bigskyblog.com/index.php/2010/04/29/button-valley-montana/#comments Thu, 29 Apr 2010 14:49:43 +0000 David in Great Falls http://www.bigskyblog.com/?p=1132 Here’s a whimsical site that has been going for a while:The Button Valley Bugle! It is the official news blog of the Last, Best, Imaginary Place: Button Valley! From the About page:

Button Valley is centrally located. Nestled gently between the Purcell Range and the Black Hills in the Treasure State. County seat of Boxelder County and home to the Button Valley High School “Fighting Pikas”. Button Valley is slightly to the Left side of Montana. Home, every August to the World Famous Button Valley Hand-Cranked Ice Cream Festival.

And take note of the commenting policy: “We reserve the right to withhold or delete comments by idiots, morons or people from North Dakota.” Heh.

Here’s some news from around the state via Montana’s News Station: Bozeman, Missoula, Billings.

More from Missoula courtesy of the Missoulian.

Here’s a report from the Montana Policy Institute; more coming soon.