Day: November 19, 2005

The annual rivalry continues, Univ. of Montana (my alma mater) vs. Montana State. I’m watching it on internet TV. So far, with a few minutes left in the first half, it is an UGLY game for the Griz. The current score is 10-0 ‘Cats. The connection is not great, nor is the video feed, but it’s not all that crappy. It’s watchable, but if the video gets that bad, I’ll just link over to the radio feed. I dare say that I could find some Griz fans here in Meknes, and, with a good satellite connection, some 3 inch-thick Montana steaks and a few coolers of beer (or whatever), I could use tailgate parties to teach U.S. culture (Montana culture?) to my Moroccan friends.

If you’re regular readers of my musings in this blog, you know that I don’t inject my personal politics into here too much. (If you know me, you know my worldview.) But I must crow a little about U.S. policy from time to time (not much, mind you). I have more than a few good friends in Laos, so I worry about the threat of bird flu in that country. Because it is one of the few communist-ruled nations remaining in the world, the government is not that transparent about health (or other) issues. So, when I read that the U.S. has given $3.4 million to Laos to help them stop Avian Bird Flu (isn’t that redundant?), then I feel a little more optimistic about my country’s policy toward the rest of the world, especially given its past, needless persecution of some small, inconsequential communist countries. Laos is one of those. If you ever get the opportunity to visit there, please do so. Like me, I think you’ll fall in love with the people and the culture. The funds provided may be miniscule and may have little impact; I don’t know. Hopefully, though, it will make a difference. (Ok, I’m off the soap box now, and done with the politickin’, enough to last me for at least several dozen posts.)

More later.