HBO BOXING'S BEST: JACK DEMPSEY . . . WHAT REALLY HAPPENED IN SHELBY, JULY 4, 1923, STARTED TWO YEARS EARLIER, WITH MANAGER JACK KEARNS, A FORMER BOXER HIMSELF, WANTING DEMPSEY TO GET BY DOING EXHIBITION MATCHES ONLY, DEMPSEY WANTED AND NEEDED TO GET IN THE RING, TO FIGHT IN MATCHES THAT COUNTED, SO MUCH OF WHAT HAPPENED TO SHELBY HAD ROOTS BEYOND THEIR CONTROL, WITH KEARNS A MASTER MANIPULATOR, A WAR WITH HIS OWN BOXER, FIGHT PROMOTERS GOT CAUGHT IN THAT BATTLE, DEMPSEY WINNING, KEARNS CALLING THE SHOTS WITH THE PRESS, THUS CONTROLLING THE PURSE, SO TO SAY, WITH $500,000 WORTH OF TICKET SALES, AND 26 SPECIAL TRAINS BRINGING IN A WORLD BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP AUDIENCE FROM BACK EAST, WHICH HAD FUELED THE FIGHT TO YEARS EARLIER, WITH BLACK SHEEP DEMPSEY V. GEORGE CARPENTIER, A FRENCH WAR HERO, DEMPSEY HAD DEFERRED MILITARY SERVICE, THE FIRST MILLION DOLLAR GATE, BROUGHT OUT THE GREED IN KEARNS, WHO REFUSED TO LET THE FIGHT GO ON, WITHOUT THE MONEY, DEMPSEY, SAID HE WOULD FIGHT REGARDLESS . . . WITH AN $82,000 ARENA NOT PAID FOR, AND A SMALL PURSE, THE CITY OF SHELBY WENT BANKRUPT--NOT THEIR FAULT! NEWS FROM ANOTHER SPORT, ONE NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART, BRINGING ROCK, SKATING, AND INDIANS TOGETHER, PEARL JAM BAND MEMBER, JEFF AMENT, BRINGS 'BEST PARK IN THE STATE' TO BROWNING . . . OTHER NEWS HIGHLIGHTS.

As Paul Harvey Would Say . . . And Here is the Rest of the Story About the Dempsey/Gibbons Fight in Shelby, MT

As in any story, one chooses to look into and understand, the July 4, 1923, Heavy Weight Boxing Championship Fight between Jack Dempsey, reigning  heavy weight champ, and Tommy Gibbons, no slacker in the boxing world, with 12 years of boxing under his belt, and no knock outs, with Dempsey generally knocking out his opponents, as he did against Jesse Willard, whom, Dempsey, stole the heavy weight championship from in 1919, promising a purse based on knocking he champ out in the first round, which came almost close to true, with 7 knock downs, Willard, who outweighed Dempsey by 80 pounds, and stood a half a foot taller than the new, upstart, finally, stepped out of the ring after the third round, when managers, basically called it quits, seeing that the former champ, had a broken jaw and several broken ribs, after the third round . . . nice to see that there was a focus on humanity, rather than the money . . . still seemed to be lacking the answer to the question, why would Kearns, who stood to make $300,000 for the Dempsey/Gibbons' fight in Shelby, Montana, refuse to talk to the press, agree to the fight, until the last installment of the $300,000 was made, causing a great hardship on the fight promoters, who could easily have made the purse, had already paid $200,000, with the prospect of ticket sales, already purchased, but not paid for, of $500,000?

Answer: Two Celebrities, Two Motives, Two Warriors

So the fight that set up the fall and bankruptcy of the town of Shelby, was the bout between George Carpentier, a French war hero, matched up against, Dempsey, who deferred entrance into the military, 5 times based on family need, making him a black sheep, and not a favorite in the fight, with the crowd booing Dempsey when he knocked out Carpentier, and even though Dempsey, eventually won the fight, he didn't win public opinion, and favor, making both he and his manager unpopular.  This was the first million dollar gate, with ticket sales, reaching about $1.8 million, with Dempsey's pay for the fight, $300,000.  That was one of the pieces of information, that made me wonder, why would Kearns, who was being paid, $100,000 per exhibition fight, maybe due to the fact that Dempsey was unpopular, and Kearns, trying to make money, without taking the public ire, or the draft dodger, or black sheep, and staying out of the spotlight, so to say, protecting both him and his fighter, from scrutiny, and bad press.

From one of the accounts I read, Kearns was a big time celeb himself, and people were coming to see him, as much as they were his fighter, Dempsey.  As is the case with most celebrities, early in a career, you are wiling to listen to the more sophisticated manager, who has been around the block, until you, yourself, become just as much of a ticket draw, and then, you set out of the shadows of the promoter and manager, and start exerting what you want, and are less willing to just do what the manager tells you, you will do.  I think that is exactly what happened in this case, Kearns, the more shrewd, and experienced manager, was all about getting the money, and Dempsey, the fighter, not only need to get in to the ring for real, wanted to fight someone of note, and Tommy Gibbons, filled the bill.  Kearns was referred to as a master manipulator, as demonstrated by the fact that, the attorney who brokered the deal, in Chicago, Molumby, sent in Body Johnson's place, because he was laid up in the hospital, either got drunk, was trying to be a big shot, like his hosts, or the victim of some sassy, Chicago, call girl, or something.  

Nobody really knows why the not only verbally agreed upon purse for the fight, went from $200,000, but also in an acceptance letter, from Kearns, himself, agreeing to the amount, went up to $300,000, other than that is what Dempsey had received in the fight two years earlier, so American greed took over, easy money, small time attorney, vs. more experienced manager, wanted what they had gotten before, or maybe, Dempsey and Kearns were fighting over the types of fights, exhibition or heavy weight championship, hanging on to the status longer, or thought they deserved more money, more like what they had gotten for the previous fight, that brought celebrities, presidents, and royalty, to watch.  A hold out, or taking advantage of dealing with someone who didn't know what in the fuck was going on, or even agreed to, but clearly taking advantage of the situation . . . Kearns had been around, and should we say, knew the ropes!

The 1923 Match Up . . . The Unpopular Dempsey vs. Tommy Gibbons, Un-Ranked, But Not Unknown, and a Good Fighter

Perhaps, behind the scenes, there was more going on, that met the eye, maybe, no ranked fighter would get in the ring with Dempsey, the unpopular war-dodging, anti-hero, who knocked out the war hero of the day. Mike Gibbons, Tommy's older brother, was the better known of the two, and that is who the Shelby boys wanted to come fight, due to his stature in the boxing world, but he was not in the heavy weight classification, so it was recommended, that Tommy fight, perhaps, riding on the name value of his older brother, who trained him well in defensive moves . . . with Gibbons the only fighter of the day, to ever really survive Dempsey's brutal assaults past the first 1 or 2 rounds . . . Dempsey, frustrated after the fight, said, he couldn't knock him out, because he couldn't hit him!  

Gibbons, was even a like half, heavy weight, he wasn't even quite considered, a heavy weight, but he was a great fighter, and excellent performer, and an even greater defensive fighter.  Basically, Kearns didn't want Dempsey to fight him, was he worried his meal ticket would be beaten by the Gibbons boy, un-ranked, and not that well known, that would be bad for business, and might stop the exhibition matches.  I think there could have been a ton of reasons, that Kearns didn't want that fight in Shelby.  In fact, for some time after Body Johnson and the boys, sent a letter to Kearns formalizing the fight, the purse, and the terms, Kearns didn't answer them.  Like I mentioned a few blogs ago, this whole fight idea, was really a publicity stunt, to draw people's attention to the new boom town real estate projects that banker father, Johnson, and son, Body, were developing, so the free press was great, with anticipation of the fight.

The town of Shelby, during the speculation of the fight being held here, went from around 500 to 700, up to roughly 7,000 people during several months time, ranking the city of Shelby, the fastest growing city in the United States . . . so the stunt worked!  That is until, unexpectedly, Kearns, sent Johnson a letter accepting the terms of the fight, as $200,000, with the payment schedule laid out, from the get-go, before Molumby, traveled to the Winding City, of Chicago, and got eaten alive, drunk, for fucked up by the big boys, not to be outsmarted by this little Montana country lawyer!  Don't let anyone tell you that there was not some type of male pissing match going on, that fateful night in Chicago, behind closed doors, where Molumby, not only agreed to pay Kearns and Dempsey, an additional $100,000, but he also agreed to pay a whole lot more vendors, who were going to set up camp in Shelby, prior to the fight, costing the Shebly and Great Falls businessmen, even more than they ever imagined, but they were stand up kind of guys and met, and honored all of Molumby's obligations and promises . . . way cooler than the fight to me!

So, in essence, the smart manipulator, Kearns, controlled the purse, but not the fighter, Dempsey, to his credit, was a stand up guy, in and of the fact that he demanded to fight, even after Kearns tried to cancel, and had told the press that the fight was not going on.  I believe this was the begining of the end of the manager, fighter relationship, Dempsey never, as did Gibbons, return to the city of Shebly, with the local boys, left holding the bag, and might have hung, both Dempsey and his devious manager, who bankrupt the town, over their differences, as it appears to me.  That is a disgrace, in and of itself, and I think that Dempsey knew that, and that is why he fought, the HBO boxing special mentioned the fact that Dempsey wanted the fight, needed the fight after two years of bull shit, exhibition matches that meant nothing, and it was time to man up, stand up to his manager, regardless and side with the Shelby crew, who had worked so hard to bring this event to fruition, publicity stunt or not, they were making history.

The Crowd Crashing the Gates, Was Seen as an Act of Honor!

You know, often in life, things are not as they seem.  We only see the tip of the iceberg, so to say, we only hear what the press wants us to hear, or we are tried in the press, with many fight sponsors, thinking that the press was in on the whole scam, to stop the ticket sales, the special trains, and I am not sure they were not . . . with Kearns being a celebrity in and of himself, and a draw, like various boxing managers have been, having fought himself, with his own status as a fighter, the press, like many, without spins of their own, would side with the alleged, popular guy, not side with what was the honorable thing to do, the stand up honest thing to do . . . just what was going to sell newspapers, thus siding with the big shot, rather than the small town businessmen of Shelby, a dot on the map, and to be crushed by the big city types . . . sad state of affairs indeed . . .

Yesterday, I walked down to the local Pizza Hut, having just finished my, what I thought, last blog on the Shelby Dempsey/Gibbons fight, actually thinking about catching the Amtrak back to Kalispell, although this morning I heard that it is colder than a witch's tit . . . come on, it is close enough to the eve of that hallowed day, of Halloween, 2014 . . . so, Shelby, with now, blue skies, and 10 degrees warmer, sounds good, live out my motel stay, until Tuesday, then hit the road, but as I talked to Trisha, my waitress, who actually a year ago, was scheduled to give me a ride to Helena, from Shelby, arranged by a local I met on the shuttle from Kalipsell, go figure, out of 3500 people, I get the one who was going to give me a ride--she had read some of my blogs, wanted me to meet her husband, Sean, who works at the Ben Taylor, True Value Store, close to the motel, because he is a big government conspiracy guy, would love to meet me, and Kim, born, raised and bred here in Shelby, with a streak of pride over the fight, as it should be seen, pointed out the Champion Park, with two fighters, just behind the Hut, where they think the original arena may have been built . . .

Kim gave me the name of Dean Hellinger-Devon, the curator for the Marias Museum of History and Art, located on the corner of 12th Ave. and 1st North, Shelby, 406.434.2551, that houses the Dempsey/Gibbons memorabilia, and she insisted would be glad to give me a tour of the museum, off hours, since I have come to Shelby, and never timed the hours for a tour right, with winter hours, being open only on Tuesdays, noon to 4:00 p.m., with me arriving last week, Tuesday at 4:00 p.m., on the shuttle and leaving on the shuttle, I think Tuesday morning, missing the date and time again, barely!  Screeeeaammm! So, I appreciate Kim's insider's track and connections, with Dean, whom, I have seen his name in connection with interviews over the years, about the fight . . . Kim assured me that he could answer all my questions!  Up until just an hour ago, I thought I had the whole story, until I just happened to pull up my addiction, to my son's bands, (Old School) Parallax, God's Revolver, and Maraloka, and to my surprise, something on Dempsey came up with all the music?  I take that either as divine providence and a message, that you are not done, you don't know the whole story, so, don't stop . . . that is the track that led me to the HBO special . . . I had done searches yesterday, and none of this stuff came up, now I had tons of stuff, just on Dempsey that led me to what I learned today . . . while I was working in, none other than Chicago, poetic justice . . . Americans United for Life, symbolic in and of itself . . . I was called the psychic researcher, case in point!  LOL!

Monday, I will call Dean and schedule a tour . . . nothing like a year attempt at getting in the museum!

Some Specs and Info On the Arena . . . A Marvel In and Of Itself

I just read a quote, from Bill Krueger, who is pushing for a new expo center in Great Falls, of the Shelby boys, ilk, and possibly worried about over building, but he said, of the new expo center, Make sure you do it right or not at all . . .  I think that attitude, was the prevailing attitude of the day of the 1923 fight, that if we are going to do it, we are going to do it right and show off Shebly to the world.  There were two open air arenas that had been previously build for outdoor fights, but both had been built with green pine, and the sap had ruined the clothing of many fight attendees; therefore, the lumber had to be of the finest quality.  These were savvy businessmen, and they had great lines of credit with the local lumber company, and capitalized on that line, getting good lumber, rather than the green, cheaper stuff, with the intent to tare the arena down after the fight, a movable structure, which is amazing in and of itself.

I believe the other two structures, held about 20,000 people, and the one in Shelby, was twice the size of the other two arenas put together, holding, if the accounts I read were right, 40,000 people, the largest open air arena in the world, right here in little Shelby, Montana, home of the big sky and the big think, it covered 6 square miles, took over a million tons of lumber, and three truck loads of nails.  There were 350 men who worked on the arena, I think night and day, starting somewhere in May, still cold, and completing the architectural feat, about 2 and a half weeks before schedule, that hard working, Montana pride.  I am not sure if the workers charged for their time, but it would not surprise me, if it was volunteer labor.  The arena was shaped in an octagon, and started low at the ring, and slowly grew, with each seat, being given a 19 inch span for the average butt, I might have had a bit of a time fitting, but, hey, I have been above average all my life, LOL!  So, the pictures of this arena are great, modern day marvel, and worth seeing, in and of itself.  I have a hard time believing, that the Champion Park, gives justice to the work . . . I am sure that they are going to have pictures, a kiosk as Kim said, and many more things like, landscaping, etc., a great start . . . so if anyone wants to donate, send the money to the Shelby Pizza Hut, who seems to be connected and in the right place, at least to get you to the right people or see that the money gets to the right hands . . . I am sure there is a foundation that started the project, but I can't remember the name!

The arena for the fight, alone, cost, $82,000 just in supplies . . . so imagine what an expense, a commitment, and a project, I am sure that Dempsey, already unpopular, was not going to let these guys down, as his manager, would have gladly done . . . Shelby got caught in a boxing match between two celebrities, and took the beating!

What Was Painted as a Fiasco & a Dismal Failure, Was Actually a Wonder, Something to Behold, and Worthy of Admiration, And Not Shelby's Fault!

My Two Son's, Chris, Skater Boy & Elliot, Rocker Dude, Also a Skater, Will be Glad that I am Too Burned Out to Write About the New Skate Park in Browning . . . But, Hey, Jeff of , Rock Band, Pearl Jam, Way to Go . . . You were Back in the Day, When, Chris & El, Were Pioneers in Skating, Outlaws, Renegades, Law Breakers, Arrested for Skating on the Streets . . . And they Come by it Naturally Through Their Mother!  So, Skateboarding Has Come a Long Way, Baby!  The Indian Kids in Browning are Going to Love it--They are Always Outside, Running, Playing Soccer, Football, Now They Can Skate--Mothers Will Thanks You Also!  Thanks, Skater Dude, Rocker, and City Pioneer!  Thanks!

BORN TO BE WILD!

OUT, MOVIES ABOUT 9 FOOT BLUE GOOFY DUDES FROM WHO KNOWS WHERE, AVATAR? . . . IN, MOVIES ABOUT REAL PEOPLE, REAL STORIES, BIGGER THAN LIFE PEOPLE, WITH TALE TAILS, THAT IF THEY WERE NOT TRUE, THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES, WOULD NOT BELIEVE THEIR OWN STORIES . . . WHY HASN'T EITHER A MOVIE PRODUCER, A DOCUMENTARY FILM CREW, TED TURNER'S PRODUCTION COMPANY, OR SOMEONE DONE A FILM ON THE SHELBY, DEMPSEY/GIBBONS WORLD HEAVY WEIGHT TITLE FIGHT, BEEN MADE INTO A MOVIE, OR A STORY OF THE PROVO DEATH CAVE, THE BLAKE DONNER DEATH, LEAD SINGER FOR (OLD SCHOOL) PARALLAX, OR GOD'S REVOLVER, HARD ROCK BAND OF 2008, THAT GOT THEIR MUSIC STOLEN, MERGING INTO MARALOKA, WITH BASS GUITARIST, ELLIOT TAYLOR SECRIST, YEAH, MY SON, WITH A HEAD OF FIRE, AND TOLD THEIR STORIES, TO INSPIRE, GIVE HOPE, AND DRIVE US ONTO BETTER LIVES, BELIEVING IN THE MAJESTIC STORIES OF OUR NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS, BANKERS, ATTORNEYS, THE RANCHER, THE FARMER . . . THE STUFF OF GREAT MOVIE MATERIAL. A PLUG & ARGUMENT TO VOTE IN FEMALE CANDIDATES, NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE FEMALE, BUT, BECAUSE WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FORM OF GOVERNMENT, DOES OUR CURRENT CONGRESS REFLECT A FAIR AND BALANCED CROSS SECTION, A REAL REPRESENTATION OF SOCIETY AT LARGE? WOMEN MAKE UP 51% OF THE POPULATION, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF CONGRESS, HOUSE & SENATE ARE FEMALE, AND HOW HAS THAT HURT WOMEN? AMANDA CURTIS (D. MONTANA), THE CANDIDATE FOR U.S. SENATE, TAKING OVER FOR APPOINTEE, JOHN WELCH, WHO STEPPED OUT OF THE RACE, LEAVING CURTIS WITH ONLY 80 DAYS TO PULL OFF A CAMPAIGN, WITH HAND PAINTED YARD SIGNS, NO MONEY, BUT HELLA COOL YOUTUBE VIDEOS ON HER POSITIONS . . . MY QUESTION IS, DOES CONGRESSMAN, STEVE DAINES, A MILLIONAIRE, RELATE MORE TO YOU, OR A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER, A SCIENCE TEACHER? I LOVED HER STATEMENT, I DON'T WANT THOSE OLD MEN IN CONGRESS, MAKING DECISIONS FOR ME, OR ON WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, VAGINAL PROBES, LEGITIMATE RAPES, ETC.! I CAN'T AGREE MORE, BAREFOOT AND PREGNANT IS NOT MY IDEA OF THE ONLY OPTION A WOMAN HAS. IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE, ON THE ISSUE OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN THE MILITARY, A FEMALE MEMBER OF CONGRESS, CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS THE SENATE OR THE HOUSE, GOT A PATRONIZING VOTE, CLOSE, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO TAKE PROSECUTIONS FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS, OUT OF THE MILITARY COURTS, ALWAYS SUPPORTING THE "GOOD SOLDIER" EXCUSE FOR A RAPIST, SEXUAL HARASSMENT, ETC., WITH CURRENT STATISTICS AT 26,000 SEXUAL ASSAULTS, AND THAT WAS AFTER THE MILITARY BECAME AWARE OF THE HUGE NUMBERS OF ASSAULTS! I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THERE WERE THAN MANY WOMEN IN THE MILITARY, AND BOTH OF MY DAUGHTERS SERVED, NAVY & AIR FORCE! SO, HELL YEAH, IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE, 20 OR SO WOMEN IN THE SENATE CAN'T CARRY ANYTHING, AND WHO KNOWS ABOUT THE HOUSE? THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES, IS NOT OVER, WHEN WOMEN CAN'T PASS LAWS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES!

Great New Trend in Movies

I read an article, in some newspaper, lately, that was doing an article on all the new movies, that were about real life stories, real people, rather than the big block buster, kids movies, of the last few years, with characters from comic books, or kids books, and thank God, I am so sick of going to the movies, or the theater and only having a choice, that I don't know if I would even take my kids to, if they weren't 31, 34, 36, and 39 years old!  I always tried to raise my kids to be adults, denying privileges, special treatment, so they would actually want to grow up, rather than totally focusing on making their childhoods, comfy, perfect, and so nice, that they would want to hang out with me forever!  Scream, I dig the hell out of my kids, but, I have a life, and so do they, separate and aside from their immediate family.  Even though they years that children stay in the home, has gone from 18 to 26 or something like that, as evidenced by coverage of a child on a parents insurance policy.  No, my kids had 18 years to be kids, and they might be adults for 80 years after that, if they are genetically gifted enough to last on this earth as long as their great-grandparents, with three of them living to the age of their mid-nineties.

I remember one of my English professors, and crusty old Marine, Dr. Grove, who stated in a class, that none of us, would be famous, because, none of us have had a tragic or hard enough life.  I took offense to that, seeing myself as famous material, and the possibility, and I also, with four kids, wanted famous kids.  So things would have to change, I would have to create a bit of a challenge for my kids, so I got divorced, and went to law school, not your cuddly little, cozy mom, I am sure they would like, but nonetheless, I wanted to be a role model, of a great person, honest, driven, contributing to the world, striving for excellence, and leaving a huge footprint on this earth for good, hopefully.  I am sure, as I am sitting up here in Shelby, Montana, hoping that this blog reaches someone, who can take this town, put it on the map, and tell their story, that my kids, might rather have a mother who is cooking a great Sunday dinner, and gathering the family around . . . the government killed that, twice, with me trying to create that type of family atmosphere, but that didn't seem to be in the plan, with two great family homes, the second one, in Parowan, being designed and decorated, just for family, with special game rooms, or actually three rooms, for entertainment, play and imagination, and exercise for various ages of family members.

Life Happens, When You Are Making Other Plans

So, I am excited, that due to the economic down turn, or the large cost of these larger than life, kid block busters, that movie producers, are turning to the more simple venues, small town U.S.A., to show how the average man or woman, family, make it through life, dealing with trials, struggles, love, loss, challenge, and come through it well, or with dignity, with their honor in tact, meeting obligations with style that can inspire the most cynical member of the public, demonstrating that life, its self, well lived, is a badge of honor, or something to hang your hat on, just putting food on the table, raising great kids, being true to an oath, standing up to the powers that be, creative genius, that drives human kids to greatness, making life great for everyone.  I remember reading, one of my favorite books, Ayn Rand's, Fountainhead, a book about the philosophy of objectivism, one thing that me and Paul Ryan, agree on, as one of his favorite books also, but probably for the totally opposite reasons, but I know that reasonable people agree to disagree.  But, Roark, the main character, makes a statement that I used and followed, I will find my bliss, so you can find yours . . . giving my children the freedom to find their own path in life, and they have done well with that freedom.  Let children go, so they can grow!

Movies, can be a powerful medium for thought, example, inspiration, knowledge, if not wisdom, my mother used to say, experience is a great teacher, but it is a fool, who learns by none other!  The country western band, Far West, had a song, that said the singer learned about life, marriage, love, prison, work, manhood, about women, without making the same mistakes of the men and women, who sang about all these themes in their songs, movies do the same thing.  I remember on of the movies, that had a startling impact on me, not a block busters at all, but kind of a sleeper, A Simple Plan, with Billy Bob Thorton, just a couple of happy country, small town guys, who happen to find a plane crash with either drug money or a bank robbery, can't remember, but how this money destroyed their marriages, their friendship, led to murder, and all kinds of horrifying things.  Shit!  Or, Fargo, Conviction, Lawless . . . and on and on!  Thanks Hollywood!  You probably prevented me to stop in my tracks, learn, think, and avoid some of the same mistakes, that many characters in True Stories, did without preaching to me, judging me, but giving me an insight into the complexities from life, making very grateful for just my struggles, or my kids, and being happy with just my little life, and all that entails, that fame, money, power, may not be all that it is cracked up to be, as seen in the movie, Paranoid . . . good lessons for young ambitions people, who are offered deals that are too good to be true, and usually they are, involving selling our own soul, to partake of the perks.

Nothing But Respect For Shelby Businessmen

What a story of bigger than life dreams for a few businessmen, father and son, friends, in Shelby, who had dreams for the town, with a man becoming what he dreams about.  They wanted to hold the boxing match of the century, in their little, Montana town of 500, and they did.  It may not have turned out the way they wanted it to, as most things in life, there are things we would have done differently, better, more informed, or protected ourselves better, from the shark tank nation, but, the experience, none the less, made us who were are, and the better for it.  We can't control what happens to us in life, but we can control they way we react to what happens to us, in life!  You can tell the nature and character of a man, woman, child, by the way they handle, life in general, what they chose to do, with the cards they are dealt . . . often with fate, an act of God, calling the average man and woman in your community to rise to some greater calling, and when preparation and opportunity meet, is when success happens, a statement I have lived by, ever since I remember reading it on the walls of Messer Elementary School, in Provo, Utah, if I remember right, or some school my kids attended, but it inspired me, maybe in Orem?  

There have been many stories, great by virtue of the fact that they happened, some by accident, others by design, and then again, others, that seem to be a gift from an almighty God, who knows this story, message, this set of facts, this lesson, needs to be told.  Good vs. Evil, is a theme, that permeates, not only the first story in the Bible, but down to what happened, July 4, 1923, in the Dempsey/Gibbons fight, with the good guys, in the dark, most of the time, being hit time and time again, by more shrewd, cunning, calculating, and devious, even corrupt businessmen, with the almighty dollar their God, taking the less experience, more honest, to a fault, never thinking for a second a man was good for his word . . . being taken advantage of, ripped off, robbed, and defamed, in ways, the innocent, would never think was actually part of this deal.  So, there is no reason, to have any shame, in what happened, these men did all they needed to pull off a successful fight, that even losing their shirts, gave the world a thrill, in a great fight!  I fucking love the fact, that this small town, big thinkers, actually even pulled this thing off at all!  Make it great!

We Need To Feminize Congress

Two years ago, I attended several sessions, plus testified, at the 2013, Montana Legislative Session, and noticed to my surprise, after dealing with the Utah Legislature, that there was almost an even number of women, at least in the House of Representatives, here in Montana, very impressive, and believe me, it made a difference, with many of these women coming from legal backgrounds, the teaching profession, from the Tribes, and other backgrounds, so representative, and these women, were every bit as respected, listened to, aggressive and assertive, in their positions.  I love the ancient Chinese symbol of the Ying & Yang, or the black and white, circle, with half of it representing the female elements, as half of the whole, and the other half, upside down, and filling in where the female element is smaller, and the opposite, the female element filling in for the smaller side of the male . . . kind of like the numbers, 69, part of a whole scheme of things, compensating for each other, or being a strength in a different area, or the opposite of the other sex.

In the book, The Science of Power, with the conclusion, that it is women, who will actually, save civilization, having passed the days of the fighting male, focusing more on relationships, rather than war.  I think we are seeing different, more sophisticated approaches to war, ISIS, trying to understand the relationships of countries, religions, the make up society, the fact that the more educated the women are, the less likely they will let their children join extremist groups, terrorists, like someone stated, the Taliban's biggest enemy is a girl with a book . . . they want war, and that is what they have been going for, blood, terror, death, etc., pretty male stuff, on the dark side!  There was a great cartoon, in the Great Falls Tribune, yesterday, with a scrawny ISIS guy, holding a sword, over the head of a kind of puzzled journalist, waiting to be, beheaded, then a group of journalists, TV, media, turned with their entire focus being on the Ebola flu pandemic, that might happen if we don't get a grip and stop it.  Now, I would say, that is a kind of female approach, taking the attention, from an attention seeking jihads group of terrorists, who are media seeking, medias savvy, and wanting world wide attention for their plight or fight, a very male, male thing.  I remember my boys, and was reminded, yesterday at the Shelby Library, as two young boys, ran, competed, yelled, challenged, and kept yelling to their mothers, watch me . . . my boys were constantly wanting me to watch them, to see what they were up to, the girls, really didn't do it, as I recall.

So, if we realize, the psychological make up, of, just what, whom and what is their payment, really, showboating, fanfare, drawing kids and recruits from other countries, like Brussels, England, Germany, with the need to do something of merit, a cause to be associated with, a clan, a reason and a fight, ISIS, does that for many young men, and maybe woman, thrill seekers, trouble makers, etc.  Watch me, world, bragging up the terrorists is the worst thing that we can do, the best is to take away, what is their life blood, WATCH ME, BE TERRORIZED BY ME, I AM BAD ASS!  Well, stop feeding the beast, stop the media coverage, let them carry out their terror without any attention, and they most likely will stop, they are not being rewarded, nor watched, we are getting them  out of the spotlight. and that works, with the male psychology.  Woman are better figuring out relationships, even the male dominated CIA, has realized after all it took to find Osama Bin Laden, it took the tenacity, the patience to put together all the relationships, that made up the Bin Laden network.  There was even the question asked, interviewing the real women who discovered the terrorist cells and put them together for the guys, who do what they did best, torture, threaten, rescue, and the physical type stuff, of a SEAL surprise attack, so to say . . . but, each sex, has their particular strengths, and traits, and the most progressive and up and coming companies, realize that, and have an even number of women at the boardroom tables as they do men, bringing something new, unique to the table.

Don't You Think Congress Should Be Better?

The more the sides square off, the Republicans vs. the Democrats, the more women are needed, who will focus on relationships, the need to work together, to get things done, many might have kids, husbands, homes, and have better things than to shut the government down for 16 days, and just get it done, so they can get to business at home.  They don't have a husband, who is holding down the fort at home, generally, when a woman works, she doesn't get half the work load at home, she gets two full time jobs, and she learns how to multi-task, women do this better than men, sorry.   And men do things better than women.  Once, I wrote an essay for an English class at Weber State College/University, in Odgen, Utah, were I got my undergrad . . . I had four children under the ages of 8, and I was taking a full load of courses and credits at college, plus I had a husband that had big time commitments at work, with many night meetings, city council, county commissions, and planning board, plus demanding church jobs; therefore, I was pretty much on my own, for school, home and church jobs I had to do.

So, I wrote a paper, called, I Need a Wife, thinking how nice it would be, to come home each night to a clean house, dinner, hot on the table, the yard done for me, kids, taken care of all day, etc.  This got the dander of a male student in the class, who, after my professor, read my paper to the class, wrote a male response, How Nice it Would Be to Have a Husband!  We were competitive all the way through college, both being honored humanities students, outstanding English majors, and now both, attorneys, so that was not the end of that debate, but it was insightful . . . I am sure he was forced to recognize, although single at the time, that women do make so many things work, from behind the scenes, without a whole lot of thanks, but men, do so in the reverse . . . they make up the whole of the family, of society, and they should in Congress, and I am not particularly concerned about the political affiliation, just that there is a better representation, a general federation of women back there in Washington, D.C., I think women, and children who women are more focused on, see things a bit different than a bunch of old and young, men!  They will vote different, and rightly so, with domestic violence, sexual assault, rape, working mothers, child care, family leave, and whatever else, ails the family, women, not men are going to, generally be a bit more qualified.

Like Ferguson, Missouri Police Force . . . Things Go Better When People Feel Represented, Their Voices Heard, and That Goes for CONGRESS!

P.S., Just want to plug, the Glacier Motel & RV Park, great night sleep, didn't wake up until 8 a.m., generally up and out the door, by around 6, so nice mattresses, clean, cozy, nice heating system, love having a microwave and fridge, ordered a package deal dinner, the other night that was enough for several meals, including breakfast, and glad to have hot pizza, bread sticks, and cinnamon sticks!  Just really has all I need, right here at my finger tips.  Love the touches of Americana, the wishing well, just outside the office, love having a Diet Coke machine at my finger tips, or just a walk down the motel, comfy pillows, I drift off to sleep, when usually, I am on all points alert during the news.  Great stay and can't beat the prices, especially for an extended stay, of a week or more.

ENJOY TODAY, YOU HAVE THE REST OF YOUR LIFE TO BE MISERABLE! SHELBY MOVERS & SHAKERS, DEMPSEY FIGHT, "BIG THINK" . . . "I DON'T TRUST HIM"; KEARNS, DEMPSEY, PRESS, RAILROAD, IRS . . . SHELBY VS. NEW YORK AND SALT LAKE CRIME SYNDICATES! A STORY THAT WOULD BE UNBELIEVABLE IF IT WERE NOT TRUE, A STORY OF AMERICAN GREED--"THE TRUTH ABOUT '23 IS REALLY BETTER THAN ANY OF THE AMAZING ACCOUNTS I HAVE EVER SEEN." KEARNS & DEMPSEY REFUSED TO TELL THE PRESS THE FIGHT WAS ON, AS LONG AS ANY MONEY WAS OWED, POCKETING OVER $254,000, WITH SHELBY, FIGHT IDEA MEN, FORFEITING AT LEAST $500,000 WORTH OF TICKET SALES AND 26 SPECIAL LOADS OF TRAIN PASSENGERS, WITH SPECULATION THAT THE FIGHT WAS NOT A "GO." FROM CONSPIRACY CENTRAL, THIS WAS A MOB ORCHESTRATED PLAN TO BILK SHELBY OUT OF ALL THE PROCEEDS OF THE 1923, HEAVY WEIGHT BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD, WITH NO INTENT TO ALLOW FIGHT ORGANIZERS TO MAKE A DIME, EVEN IRS AGENTS APPEAR TO BE IN ON THE RACKETEERING & CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE, GIVING KEARNS, DEMPSEY'S MANAGER, EVEN THE $54,000 TICKET SALES OF THE DAY OF THE FIGHT, THEN THE IRS, GOING AFTER SHELBY BUSINESSMEN FOR TAXES . . . PLAN AND SIMPLE AMERICAN GREED, LOVE OF MONEY, BREACH OF CONTRACT, PRESS, PRESSING FOR PAYMENT OF ALL MONIES OWED, WITH ALL AMERICAN FOOTBALL PLAYER, TURNED LEWISTON ATTORNEY, STATING TO KEARNS: "O.K., YOU TINHORN SON OF A BITCH, YOU USED TO BE A PUG, EITHER AGREE WITH JUDGE SPEER OR ELSE STEP OUT IN THE ALLEY AND WE WILL SEE WHO COMES BACK!" SHELBY FIGHT WAS PROBABLY THE ONLY HONEST BOXING MATCH IN THE HISTORY OF THE SPORT, FROM THE SHELBY BUSINESSMEN SIDE. U.S. SECRET SERVICE, LATER INVESTIGATED JACK KEARNS. THE FIGHT THAT WON'T STAY DEAD, COVERED IN 1966, BY SPORTS ILLUSTRATED & LOS ANGELES TIMES . . .

Money Making MoJo

Shelby businessmen, were left stuck with the bills, the lawsuits, the shame of the $366,000 fraud, that started as a gag, then a publicity stunt, to a real fight for the World Championship Heavy Weight Boxing Title, what happens in Vegas, might stay in Vegas, but what happened in Shelby, Montana, July 4, 1923, was the shattering of the birth of innocence, completely new territory for small town America, just trying to put their new town on the map, the truth of who we are as Montanans, a community of farmers, ranchers, with new oil, gas and irrigation wonders, a story of a deeper truth of the reality of what is in us, the honesty, covering invested money, working for five years to pay off all debts, to anyone owed.  Shelby earned their money the hard way, Kearns and Dempsey, earned theirs the easy way, forcing a contract that was unconscionable, refusing to tell the press that fight was on, even up to two days before the fight, willing if not intending to back out at the last days, with silent partners, who were not only in on the taking, but collecting money for Jack Kearns, the slick Willey, who lied, took every dime he could, costing the Shebly boys to loose their shirts, banks to close, pay for years, making good on their promises, when the other side of the competition or contract, reneged on everything that would have made the fight a raging success. American greed may have ruined the profits, but it didn't ruin the honesty of the men involved, Johnson, Body, Molumby, the American Legion, and really did put Shelby on the map, or I wouldn't be here! 

L.A. Times, 66 Years Later . . . In 1923, Shelby--Population of 500--Took on Jack Dempsey and His Manager

20,000 fans watch thrilling title bout, covered by the world press, in the Shark's Tank, of American Greed. The town of Shelby, quickly recovered, the fight promoters, compensated for the losses, through ranching, farming, and other business ventures, with the pioneer spirit, they championed the fraud, and the community continued to thrive, even though the oil, gas and irrigation booms stopped, the hardy people of Shebly, Montana, were smarter, wiser, and more cautious, than they had been before the shattering of their innocents.  I am not sure if Jack Kearns was ever held responsible for his part in sabotaging the fight, refusing the press, only in the fight to steal whatever profits, to the ticket sales, the day of the fight, even after being the prime mover, behind all the cancellations of ticket sales and special passenger trains, backing out without a total commitment, and statement from Kearns and Dempsey, who even after collecting $200,000 by June 15th, just weeks before the fight, dared to take even the tax revenues, with IRS handing over the proceeds to Kearns, who had a Great Northern train, scheduled to leave, Shelby, ASAP, after the fight.

The Johnson, father and son, team and other fight promoters, put everything they had, into the fight, which really put them in a real jam, coming out of the fight with a mere, $950, after reducing $5,000 worth of ticket sales, the final day of the fight, wanting to make something on the fight.  Later, is appears that contracts with film company, who was contracted to market the film, through some legal technicality, and even film proceeds appeared to land in the pockets of Kearns as well.  The only way that happens, is for the Kearns to have had his hands in everything connected with every red nickel, made on that fight, taking all monies, regardless of the collectors, IRS standing at the gates of the fights, and still turning over the $54,000 to Kearns.  The only good thing about going after the Shelby businessmen, is they were able to get of on taxes from the proceeds of the fight, by claiming that the IRS, had the money in their hands, therefore, they could of at any time, taken what was owed in taxes, with the liability for the taxes, being released by the judge and court, for a small, $100, due to that fact.

A Unexpected Hospital Stay, And Airplane Crash, Hurt the Cause

"Body" Johnson and his father, were the main idea man behind the fight project.  But just at the time that the Boys from Montana were setting up the fight, first going to Governor Joe Dixon--who said, "Hell, there is not that much money in the whole state of Montana", with the idea of paying $200,000, the original offer, also clearing the deal and the law with the attorney general, and what would have been easy for the promoters, had that been where the contract stopped, but that was not the case, when Johnson was laid up in the hospital, while a less experienced man, Molumby, who was called in or just got involved on his own, stepping up to the plate, to meet with Kearns and the Dempsey manager guys, took advantage of this country boy, and while in Chicago, signed a contract for $300,000, $100,000 more than everyone agreed to, with Molumby, also making deals with others involved in offering services, to prepare for the fight.  At first "Body" thought the messengers were lying about he final contract deal, but soon he found out that the newspaper reporters were not in error, and Johnson was sick, but felt, a deal is a deal, and they would make this happen.

Now, if the Shelby boys would have had some legal counsel, who was worth their salt, they may have backed out on the contract, having never, ever, talked about any amount, other than the original $200,000, that was the goal, having heard that Dempsey fights, normally ran at about $100,000 per fight, so they thought that they were making more than a good deal, and worth the fighter's time and his manager . . . they didn't take into consideration, American Greed, and the more you get, the more you want, and every dime, Kearns had a change to get his fucking hands on, he took!  The sophisticated businessmen, bankers, mayors, Shelby's American Legion members, Great Falls investors, who had cut deals, on just a handshake, and were shocked, never would have thought that any man, let alone someone they had talked to over and over again, would con someone into getting an extra $100,000, it is a fraud to take money from someone, knowing full well, the main guys, were only willing to pay the agreed upon, original amount, with Molumby, signing a contract that Kearns knew would never have been agreed upon by Body, or others involved from the get go, not ever agreed to, with letters of the terms received and acted upon, depended upon.

American Legions Around Montana Step Up to Make Good On Contract

Body Johnson and others involved in the fight promotion, took to the skies, going town to town, covering the 4th largest state in the United States, with spares numbers, barely reaching the million people point, just last year, as I have heard, but Montanans circle the wagons, to make good on their friends' promises, with commitments to be made, and many champion the cause of their fellow Legion members, even though state and national American Legion leaders, distanced themselves from the Shelby fight promoters, with individuals free to purchase tickets, give as they seemed fit.  And it looked like, between the second installment of the payment of now a total of $200,000, still with no absolute commitment from Kearns, Dempsey, who refused to work as contracted, leaving a default open, up to and including the last payment due, July 2, 1923, the fight boys in flight, would make that final payment, wanted or not, good guys, and good for their word.

And then the unthinkable happened, the plane crashed, leaving many of the promoters, the guys who knew what was going on, not only with broken bones, casts, and injuries, but luckily, no deaths, but now no plane to get them the rest of the way around the state, nor time to travel by car, to collect ticket money or contributions to save the face of these Montana businessmen and Legionaries.  The honesty alone, the making good on a bad contract, with every reason to renege on the deal, dealing with more sophisticated partners, who knew that the deal was already agreed on, and that Dempsey according to Montana law, had to fight without paying one dime, past the first payment installment!  The team of Montanans, knew, legally they had Kearns and Dempsey, but didn't want to take the time to sue, or stall the fight in any way, and just bucked up and took it on the chin, making good on their side of the contract, never dreaming that someone would go for every dime in profits, taking film monies too!  None of that was in the signed contract.  Kearns was a business man, like none other the honest Montanans had ever dealt with, and too wise to deal with ever again.

IRS Took Over As Ticket Takers . . . Shelby Boys Didn't Know What Hit Them

The way all the events, efforts, and cancellations worked out, there had only been roughly 8,000 tickets sold. Like I mentioned in the title, there were $500,000 worth of tickets sold, but because of Kearns and Dempsey, who would not commit, regardless of the law, the terms of the contract, to work with the press, always pressuring the men to get a commitment that the fight was going to be pulled off, quit the feat for a town of 500 out in the middle of nowhere!  Had Kearns and Dempsey, done what they promised to do, as part of the fight promotion, everyone would have made money, so what was the deal.  Body Johnson, felt that even the press was reading from a script, written by Kearns . . . the second the $200,000 had been paid, without counting the ticket sales the day of the fight to cover that amount, the original amount, double what other towns had paid for previous fights, the press, started pressing for the next $100,000 payment!

Shock of shock, the IRS, shows up, bumps ticket takers, and take over the ticket collection booths and entrances, collecting $54,000 the day of the fight, but turns the money over to Kearns!  Johnson remembers seeing the money sitting in a back room, talking to the IRS agents, telling them not to turn the money over to Kearns . . . so they are there to make sure taxes are being paid?  And then, after collecting the money, turns it over to Kearns, and goes after the Shelby boys, for not paying taxes on the proceeds?  A we are suppose to believe that the tax collectors, were not in on this from the get go?  Really?  Then turning the money over to a guy, they never tried to collect taxes from?  Don't ever say, the IRS, the government is not above this type of activity, I have found that the government agencies were right in the middle of not only my son's music, but in the middle of my cases . . . and people can't believe what happened to my son's music, or the theft of my cases?  Like I said, the Mormons, the Mob and Men in Black, too hard to believe now, look what was happening almost 100 years ago!

Is It Any Wonder Montana Passed Anti-Corruption Laws

When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the bogus case of the century, over turning 100 years of anti-corruption laws in Montana, and I would guess, that this fight, in addition to Kearns friends, the Copper Kings of Montana, going after the state's treasures in timber, gas, oil, silver, goal, water, with Citizens United, lifting all campaign contribution limits, Governor Steve Bullock at the time the Montana Attorney General, were concerned and for a damned good reason, that Montana would become political fodder again, and he may have even known, I would guess he did, and may have been leery of swindlers, shysters, and wheeler dealers who had taken advantage of the honesty of the people of Montana, wanting to control the elected officials in this state, like they had before, buying, selling and controlling judges, legislators and congressional delegates!  Is his concern, that of his office, out of line?  Not really . . .

Now, not only are corporations persons, with free speech rights, but individuals can make donations of any amount, and I am not sure that they have to report, those contributions?  Just a thought, vote for candidates who have the largest contributions from local Montanans, not out of state corporate entities, who want favors, votes, and inroads into this TREASURE STATE!  Buyers beware!  If you think, Jack Kearns is a one of a kind, you are crazy, protect yourselves, learn from history, make sure, you earn and learn . . . that advice is something I need to heed as well, having been taken advantage of this same type of mentality, all about the money!  AMERICAN GREED!

Gibbons Returned to Shelby Often, Dempsey Never Did, WHY?

Tommy Gibbons, allegedly didn't get paid for the fight.  According to contract, Gibbons got $7,500 per originally agreed amount.  His claim to fame, was his older brother, Mike, who taught him how to fend off the more experienced Jack Dempsey, ditching and dodging his fists . . . with the fight going the full 15 rounds.  After the fight, someone asked Dempsey why he didn't knock the kid out, and he said, he had to be able to hit him first!  LOL!  Apparently, big brother Mike who was a middle weight, unable to qualify for a heavy weight, taught little brother a thing or too, enough to give Dempsey a damn good fight!

Gibbons was always excited to come to Shelby, bragged and loved his experience, making not only the proceeds from the fight, but getting $2,500 per week for 20 weeks, on a vaudeville tour, telling people and giving demonstrations of what he did to hold Dempsey at bay for 15 rounds!  Gibbons and his wife, were invited to Shelby for celebrations and anniversaries of the fight, with the city, licking its wounds, and recovering and still benefiting from the fight of the century, the fight that won't stay dead!  Dempsey, on the other hand, hometown, Salt Lake City, Utah, never came back to Shelby, whether because he thought he would be hung by the locals, or because he knew damned well that his manager, and him to some extent, refused as agreed by contract to work with the press, promoting the fight, only agreeing to go forward with the fight in private, but not in public!  They hurt the town the fight, the reputation of the town of Shelby, who looked nothing other than noble to me, honorable men, doing all they could, given one calamity after another, accidents, inexperienced promoters, plane crashes, but doing what no other town in America ever did!

Check out local, Shelby Sports Club & Cocktail Bar, Main Street . . . great Philly Sandwiches! Haunted wicked, Halloween decorations, costume party?

Absolutely Amazing!

SUPER HEROES OR SUPER VILLAINS, CASSY'S PERKY PERKS, STUMPED BY KARI DELL--SHELBY PROMOTER, HOMESPUN ANALYSIS ON CANDIDATES FOR U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATE--KEEPING THEM HONEST . . . THE FIGHT THAT RUINED A TOWN OR THE FIGHT THAT MADE A TOWN, ONLY HISTORY WILL TELL THE REAL STORY! PROJECT EARLY EDGE, GOVERNOR BULLOCK, STUMPING THE STATE PROMOTING EARLY EDUCATION FOR PRE-KINDERGARTEN KIDS, FROM A HUMAN DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT, WORKING MOTHERS, AND PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS, FORMED BY THE TIME KIDS ARE 5, AS IS THE CASE WITH SO MUCH KNOWLEDGE, SO IT MAKES SENSE--WHETHER STARTING YOUNG AT HOME OR IN FORMAL SCHOOL SETTINGS. MAKE IT GREAT, GREAT FALLS WELDING CLASS, MAKING BUSINESS ON HITCH COVERS, RIVAL HIGH SCHOOL HITCH COVERS, PROFIT SHARING, BUSINESS PLAN, MONEY MAKER, YOUNG MOVERS & SHAKERS! CREATE & INNOVATE! YAHOO, NATIONAL DEFICIT DOWN! CELEBRATE, KEEP IT GOING DOWN! THANKS PREZ., BUSINESS LEADERS, AND WHOMEVER!

The Cow That Got Its Tail Cut Off

Waking up to a delightful morning in beautiful, Shelby, Montana, and I am not being facetious because I am an early riser, like being up and on top of my day, as early as possible . . . after a great night sleep at the Glacier Motel & RV, being woken up by an army of railroad trucks, flashing lights, bull horn--I thought it was the cops, how is that for post traumatic stress syndrome, being arrested twice without merit, after I put my room number and where I was staying in Shelby, in yesterday's blog, actions via, Patriot Act shit, so, as always, I error on the side of safety, having seen absolutely no activity on the tracks the day before, with a railroad truck parked, early, right in front of my door, not wherever this guys or gal was staying, noticing that while everyone else and their dog, was up and working this morning, except the person and truck, pinpointing the room I was staying in out to aerial surveillance or undercover cops across the street . . . so I just put on my clothes, ditching out, before the morning light came up, and hit breakfast at the local Subway, which is way cool, taking an old garage, and turning it into a huge ass, national chain, eating area, with great windows, going from almost the ground to the ceiling, letting in the glorious morning sunshine, fighting the wispy white clouds, eventually overcoming, and meeting the morning challenge, bringing sunlight and happy reading, of the local newspaper, to my morning, with the Shelby Promoter newspaper, just telling it like it is, featuring local events, like the Pizza Hut, customer appreciation day, with a motto, I stole, Super Heroes & Super Villains, that seemed to epitomize the different groups of people involved in the alleged Fight that Ruined a Town, one of the articles I read about the Jack Dempsey, Tommy Gibbons--Mike Gibbons was the more famous fighter, this was his kid brother, fight, here in Shelby, July 4th, 1923 . . . that was an amazing feat in and of itself, the architecturally shocking arena, seating 40,000 people, a miracle in and of itself, packed to the last seat and beyond the day of the fight, Indians in full gear, so fucking cool, and the Shelby, Amtrak Train Station, teaming with people and excitement, even though the promised support from the Northern Train Company, somehow disappeared, leaving all these people to either walk, which many did, drive their own cars, which many didn't have in those days, ride a horse, or come by carriage, with transportation, switching over at about that time.

Stumped

As for the cow that lost its tail, Ms. Dell, I would assume a local rancher, who writes down home stories of the reality of the ranch and farm life here in Shelby, and other places, with 1 out of every 5 Montanans making a living doing one or the other, tells a tale of a tail, going missing.  Dell and her husband got a call from the Toole County Sheriff's Department, calling to inform the couple that one of their cows got loose and an hysterical older woman, just hit the cow, that hit her windshield, slid right up to her face, breaking the glass, then simply rolled over into a ditch and then disappeared into the night, as I recall.  Kari's husband, like all good husbands, left Ms. Dell in bed, and went out after the bovine, or cow, finding it, standing next to a fence hear the farm, a bit agitated, and missing a tail, totally cut off in the incident, but seemingly okay.  A day in the life of a farmer or rancher, and in the life of one pissed of, hurting cow, and an senior citizen, who is likely to stay home, watching American Idol on TV, rather than brave the unlit roads of rural America! LOL!

From and attorney's perspective, I am thinking, oh, shit, liability, liability, liability . . . no small thing to hit a cow, and ranchers and farmers can be held liable for any damage to a vehicle, or personal injury, that occurs from the escape route, out of a fenced area, and a lark onto a road, where an unsuspecting driver might collide with the animal . . . those damned lawyers!  Thank God, there was no one hurt, and funny story, and an understanding older woman, who was not injured, and an insurance company, that probably plans on cows, deer, elk, wolves, mountain lions, and other wildlife in this wild part of the country, in a wild state . . . live hard, die free!  Gotta love it.  

Just a note, on how serious Crete, takes their sheep raising economy, when my daughter, Greta, was in the U.S. Navy Intel, stationed on the Island, just off the country of Greece, she told me that if you hit a local farmer or sheepherder's means of making a living, the driver is responsible for 7 generations of sheep, that might have been the offspring of that particular ewe, or I believe female sheep.  One time in Cache County, Utah, there was a butt load of sheep, that got out onto the highway, and a local radio station, that was owned by a local family, reported the incident, using the technical and scientific name for sheep, by saying the phonetic word, sounding like e . . . wees, the plural of what is pronounced, Us, we didn't know if there was some extra-terrestrials, aliens, that had landed on the road, what the hell is an e . . . weeeee?  Finally, these city chicks figured out what the announcer was reporting as blocking the road!  LOL!

To Me, the Fight That Made Shelby!

Our Dempsey-Gibbons Fight collection of memorabilia is the largest known.  Among the interesting items are a model of the arena and a pair of Tommy Gibbons' gloves, as well as dozens of photos and other artifacts.

With a population thought to be around 500, Shelby hosted the 1923 World Heavyweight prize fight.  A wooden arena to accommodate 40,000 people was built n what is now the west end of town.  The fight went 15 rounds with Jack Dempsey winning by a decision.  The fascinating story unfolds through actual documents and photos.

This quote comes from the Marias Museum brochure I picked up at the Glacier Motel & RV Park, office which serves as a distribution place for tons of free travel and information magazines, brochures, maps, etc., which is great, and is a great idea for small towns, since, generally, motels are frequented by out of townees, but not always, get my mind out of the gutter, or on wishful thinking, LOL.  I first heard, briefly, about the fight and Shelby, by a volunteer from the National Park Service, going to D.C., by Amtrak Train, last May, 2013, and didn't quit get the story, but I was curious enough to come back, to see of what I heard, about this small town, who sponsored a World Champion, Heavy Weight Boxing Championship, that I thought, I must have heard this wrong, here?  Yes, right here in river city!  Out in the middle of now, where, but on the train tracks, therefore, accessible to the whole U.S.A.!  A great asset; however, it sounds like the trains, who promised these local business men, mayor and other brave and ambition souls, wanting to build their town, around an oil and gas boom, that ended a year after the fight, to me, pulled off the publicity stunt of the century, and I just tracked down the book, I skimmed, two weeks ago, when I was here, THE FIGHT THAT WON'T STAY DEAD, by James W. ("Body") Johnson, . . . A colorful and factual story of the championship fight that continues to make sports history!

Last night, at around midnight, after getting out a late afternoon blog, I got on the Internet, easily, to look up the fight, to see what sources, and understanding I could get off the web.  There was a 5 part series of videos, that showed the whole fight . . . absolutely amazing, in size of attendance, whether people paid or not!  If you want to determine the success of the venture, from a business stand point, it was a disaster, the Body Johnson, father and son, promoter team, idea guys, along with the mayor, paid dearly, financially, four banks went bankrupt, the lumber company was never paid for the lumber to build the great facility, the arena, and Shelby was allegedly seen as the laughing stock of the country . . . WHY?

Johnsons, Father & Son Team, the Mayor, Lumber Company & Dempsey, Where Super Heroes . . . Jack Kearns, the Railroad, Villains!  

To me, the very fact they, these small town boys, with tons of vision, love of the township, pulled this thing off, with only 500 people in the town, with little money, dealing with the sharks and barracuda's of the day, the allegedly famous, himself, Jack Kearns, referred to as a con artist, a desperado, and a swindler . . . was lucky to get out of town, before getting hung on a rope!  Kearns had connections with Salt Lake City, and New York, which is where the Johnsons went to broker the deal for the fight, wearing cowboy hats, spurs, and all the regalia of a Montana cowboy, sliding a saddle bag filled with the first of a three part payment, of $100,000, the first installment, and sealing the deal, or so they thought, these country bumpkins, who agreed to pay, Dempsey, who would have fought for free, after a two year hiatus, with manager, Kearns, thinking they could take all this money and split it between manager and fighter, which seemed to end up the case, with Dempsey, going forward with the fight, just because he was dying to get into the ring again, or the shyster, his manager, was going to take two of the payments, then call of the fight, $200,000 richer, without any work, sounds like the American Greed Mentality . . . dog eat, dog, fuck the little guy, that this country was actually, kind of founded on!

If you look at the motives and intent, the local boys were just attempting a publicity stunt, to build the local economy and feature the town of Shelby . . . the mayor was all about promoting his town, so to say; the lumber company, in good faith, thinking it would get repaid, and increase business, gave the lumber for the arena on a line of credit, I would imagine, and Dempsey, just wanted to fight, with a two year lay over, and dry spell . . . thank God, he wanted to fight, after all that trouble, commitment, and energy, the town of Shelby put out for the boxing match.  I can't say the same for the guys on the other side, the super villain side of this whole, fun, outlandish, but awesomely gutsy venture by the local boys, with, I would say, pretty pure motives, probably thinking they would make a dime or two long the way.  Just this morning in the Great Falls Tribune, the term, vulture capitalists came up . . . that about describes Kearns, who didn't put up a dime of his own, just got Dempsey to Shelby, absconded on about $280,000 for a day or weeks work!  Then ditching out of town, before the other local boys hung him from the nearest tree.

By Today's Inflationary Standards, Tickets Were $250 & Kearns Made $1.2 Million

I am not a mathmatition, nor an economist, but I think that given the difference in the worth of a dollar back them, and now, with the original ticket price being $50.00, and the agreed upon pay off to get Kearns to bring his boy, Dempsey to fight, almost backing out after the railroad, reneged on their promise to bring special scheduled trains in for the fight, but at the last minute cancelled, with Molumby and the other local talent, wanting Kearns to wait until the ticket sales came in to make the final payment on the $300,000 incentive package to get the boxers to come to this remote location, which would not have been a problem, had the trains agreed to carry through on their end of the deal with transportation being a real issue . . . and I wonder why there is an army of train workers, not only outside my motel room door, but across the street, when they were not there yesterday, how did they know what I was going to write about today?  Were they in on the deal with Kearns, got bribed to with hold transportation services to the event?  Something seems beyond coincidence . . . I passed the Sherlock Motel today, after leaving Cassy's Perky Perks, where I started this blog hours ago, and I heard one of the gals, just casually tell someone, yeah, the lady is here, or something to that affect.

Yesterday, in my blog, I mentioned that I was going to get to the bottom of the Kearns deal, what he was up to, what he actually did, how much he really got, and for doing what, and why he would fuck the local boys who put so much into the fight, not to mention, having the attention, not only of the boxing world, but of the world press of the time . . . with airplanes, blimps, and reporters from across the country following the fight, Why?  Now Kearns was from New York, and had connections in Salt Lake City, was a big shot, and a public draw in and of himself, and people came to see him as much as his boy, Dempsey, this was a really big deal, back in the day, and would be today, as well.  He probably had connections with the Copper Kings, who ruled the legislature, the courts, and purchased politicians at will, going for the highest price. There may have been this attitude in that day, that the state of Montana was there for the taking, the natural resources that made millionaires and billionaires, fortunes, with businesses and vulture capitalists, raping the land, using the work force, and then up and taking the money and running, leaving the modest, hard working people of Montana being economically exploited, towns ruined, and poverty stricken . . . was this a model that had been in place for a hundred years in Montana?  Darwinian survival of the fittest, the model for modern day capitalists, the pattern for American Greed!

Not Doing This to Make Money, But to Make History

This was a statement made in an interview with New Order, a British band, with purer than most American band, motives . . . when asked if they had made a lot of money, Bernard Sumners, made this statement, that they never made much money, and they didn't make their music to make money, but they did write their music to make history!  My son, kind of had a similar approach to his music, after winning Hard Rock Band of 2008, Magnet Magazine, with my suspicions that their band's nationwide tour, after getting three worldwide music magazine interviews, with music critics telling readers to not even finish reading this article, and go get a copy of God's Revolver, new CD, Little Black Horse Where Are You Going With Your Dead Rider?  Every interview I read at the time was a stellar review of the creative and original music, that dared any music magazine or writer to put them in a category, going from hard rock, to southern rock, to heavy metal, to emo, jazz, to whatever, totally rockin' stuff.  I couldn't believe this was my son's band?  So fucking awesome, and I am addicted!  His new CD, that came out, in 2011, and never was even named, and just up and disappeared, after a record deal with Sony's, Translation Lost, only heightening my suspicions that the music was being pirated, had gone underground, with me, recently tracking down, Underground Revolver, in BC or Canada, a music laundering entity . . .

When I tried to get my son to go big time, he always thought, as Jim Morrison, of the Doors, that would be selling out, with fights in the band, about the natural course the band or bands should take . . . I pictured large music, like his, loud, rowdy, raucous and wild, being blasted in open arenas, rather than in backyards, cottage concerts, and dingy bars.  Fame and money didn't seem to be the motives, or the intent of the band, just simply, just the fucking love of making music!  I understood, my motives and intents in my cases, with clients making the damages amounts, shocking me, but willing to take it for the principles, the re-establishment of constitutional basics, and upholding my oath of being an officer of the court, with a long name recognition before, being poisoned, or getting an alleged terminal brain disease, that was suppose to be my demise, by 2002, with my own higher motives, being anything other than money, the win, the thrill, the game, the exposure, the thought that much more experienced attorneys, were actually paying to read my briefs, e-filed with the courts, making the ailing courts money . . . may the fresh be with you . . . got that line from Subway this morning, great new format, taking off the gloves, taking it to the face of the SEC, the state division of Securities, the Utah Attorney General, the Utah Governor and the Department of Commerce, for not checking and stopping government violation of my client's constitutional rights . . . money was never, never, never the motive! 

Shelby, You Get Bragging Rights--Street Signs Made of Gold

Just because your ancestors and the founding fathers and mothers of this town, with foresight and fortitude, didn't make money, they fucking made history!  And to me, that is far higher, far more noble, and done with pure intent, honestly, making good on their promises, carrying all the burden and risk, but having clean hearts and pure hands . . . allowing the multitudes to participate in this historic event, BE PROUD!  As I sat outside the Shelby Library, with Library, in none other than gold letters, looking at the golden leaves of the town, matching the gold street signs, I thought, this town is sitting on a literal gold mine, set out by your forefathers and mothers . . . take THE FIGHT THAT WON'T STAY DEAD, and bring it back to life, for all of us to enjoy, to reminisce, to feels nostalgic of a bygone era, of fun, a spirit of adventure, of reaching beyond your mortal minds, creating and innovating, bringing about memories of that Spirit of Americana, that era of the golden age of opportunity, better to have tried and failed, than never to have tried at all . . . 

Welcome to Opportunities Inc., Head Start

As the Library closed, only open in the mornings on Thursday, for kids, story time, and I had to leave for two hours, something big city lawyers, and citizens, never have to do, but loving the small town libraries for the feelings of warmth, the cozy atmosphere, the down home staff, who are willing and excited to share stories of the town with you, as well as secrets that have been buried for years, to help unveil the event that can make Shelby all that the really good old boys, say back in the day, bring prosperity to you and your posterity, here in this dusty Montana town.  These types of stories are what makes people great, towns great, the pioneering spirit great, and fun for everyone.  Capitalize on this fun time in the history of your town, teach your children about it, just this morning, assuming every person in the town, especially locals, would know about the Dempsey fight, the Batista or the coffee maker, or in my case, the hot chocolate maker, didn't know a thing about the fight!  What, as Governor Bullock, is stumping around the state, gathering support for early childhood education, trying to follow President Obama's challenge to get the kids young and literally get an early edge, making a market of brainy kids who can compete with China, Japan, Germany and other up and coming countries in this high tech world of ours, we need not forget our past, our roots, and our histories, vying for that vulture capitalism, losing our souls if you will, not that a kindergartner is thinking that, nor the Gov . . . but, ignite those minds, don't just fill the vessels.

That reminds me of why I have such hope for the future, there was an article in the Great Falls Tribune, of a group of high school kids in GFs, who are capitalizing and coming up with a new small business adventure, using their skills, working in a welding class, with the help of teachers and staff, who are starting a business, making hitch covers, that promote local rival high school mascots and names!  I know what a trailer hitch is, but I had to ask the Main Street Convenience store clerk what exactly a hitch cover was, he just agreed with what I thought it was or is.  I am not sure how that works, but the kids are making them, and working out business plans, and getting ready to do profit sharing, with those students who put in the most work on the business model, product, plan, promo, and selling, wow, how cool is that, America!  May the fresh be with you!

Hop on Over & Scratch . . . Time to Go!  Have a Great Americana Day, History in the Making!  Good News, Deficit Spending Down, Give the Prez. Some Long Overdue Credit!

FIRE FOR FIRE . . . LAWLESS, MOVIE ABOUT THE FRANKLIN COUNTY, VIRGINIA, MOONSHINE OR WHISKEY REBELLION, WHERE OUTLAWS BECAME LEGENDS, BECAUSE LAW ENFORCEMENT & COUNTY ATTORNEYS WERE SO BRUTAL & CORRUPT, WAR ON LIQUOR, MUCH LIKE WAR ON DRUGS OF TODAY, WAS PROHIBITED, THE MANUFACTURE, SALE, OR TRANSPORT OF INTOXICATING LIQUORS, WERE PROHIBITED, EVEN FROM EXPORTATION, WITHIN THE U.S., BUT THE 18TH AMENDMENT WAS PROPOSED IN 1917, RATIFIED, JANUARY 16, 1919. IT WAS REPEALED BY THE 21ST AMENDMENT ON DECEMBER 5, 1933, LIFTING PROHIBITION--SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO GO TO WAR TO GET TO PEACE! GOOD FLICK! BACK IN CENTRAL MONTANA, THE HEART OF THE BIG SKY . . . BACK FOR A WEEK, TO SINK MY TEETH INTO THE WILD ASS HEAVY WEIGHT BOXING MATCH--RESEARCH, ARCHIVES, OLD NEWS HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE WORLD--THE FIGHT THAT WON'T STOP, HELD IN SHELBY, MONTANA, JULY 4, 1923; SHELBY, MYSELF & SON'S BAND, GOD'S REVOLVER, ALL HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON . . . WE ALL GOT SCREWED BY SMARMY, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, CITY SLICKERS, WHO LET US DO ALL THE WORK, THEN TOOK THE CREDIT, THE MONEY AND RAN! DID THE PROCEEDS FROM THE DEMPSEY VS. GIBBONS FIGHT, THE TICKET SALES OF THE ROUGHLY 8,000 PLUS, GET ABSCONDED, USED TO BUILD THE KEARNS BUILDING IN SLC, UTAH? I'M GOING TO FIND OUT, AND HOPEFULLY I CAN BRING OUT A SPOTLIGHT ON THE TOWN & HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FIGHT, THAT MIGHT LEAD TO THE FRUITION OF SOME IDEAS I HAVE, IF THE MAYOR AND TOWN GO ALONG WITH THEM, FOR A CELEBRATION AND FOR A REMATCH, KICKING UP SOME DIRT ON THE GLORY DAYS IN SHELBY: (1) 4TH OF JULY BOXING MATCH, OF CURRENT CHAMPS; (2) PARADE TO CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE DAY, WITH ALL SURROUNDING TOWNS JOINING; (3) BIG ASS POW WOW--INDIANS WERE CAMPED OUT IN TEE PEES, WATCHING--GET IN THE ACTION THIS TIME; (4) ROCK CONCERT FROM GOD'S REVOLVER, LITTLE BLACK HORSE WHERE ARE YOU GOING WITH YOUR DEAD RIDER? . . . ROCK IN, ROWDY, RAW, RELEVANT MUSIC, WITH SIMILAR HISTORY, ROCK THIS TOWN & GUESTS, WITH TRUE GRIT, FORTITUDE, INNOVATION OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS & MOTHERS BACK IN 1923, AND (5) RECOUP SOME OF THE FAME, THE MONEY, AND NOTORIETY OF THE EARLIER MATCH, BRINGING TOURISTS, NEW INCOME, FOCUS ON A TOWN WITH GREAT HISTORY AND JUST 67 MILES FROM EAST GLACIER! FUN, FUN, FUN! JUST DREAMIN' . . . CITY LIBRARIAN WAS RECENTLY CONTACTED BY NEWSPAPER IN CHICAGO, WANTING TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION, STILL COOL! BOXING LEGENDS HAVE WALKED THE STREETS OF SHELBY! HOT AIR BALLOONS MIGHT BE COOL TOO!

Outlaw Legends

In the movie, Lawless, there were three brothers, who were shot, smashed in the faces with rifle butts, throat slit, friends murdered, raided, distilleries blow to kingdom come, taunted, threatened, intimidated, and marauded by law enforcement and their attorneys, working to stamp out moonshine making, sales and transport, while partaking of the intoxicating liquors themselves, killing relentlessly, with all the power of the law and authority, in a brutal reign of terror.  The brothers got legend status, because they seemed to be invincible, beyond death, bullet riddled and almost dead, coming back to life two weeks later, one finally fell through the ice, while drinking and dancing on the edge of a pond, ironically, after being near dead so many times by serious and fatal injuries, he died of pneumonia!  The legend of gentleman and classy bank robber, Jesse James, train robber, who haunted law enforcement for years, with a respectable wife and family, was finally shot in the back by an associate, he trusted, while hanging a picture for his wife, in their front room!  

Eight-hundred thousand people came to show their respects to the outlaw, more than came to mourn at the deaths and caskets of United States Presidents, of the day . . . with the shooter, dying in shame, hatred, and disdain . . . there are just some things that are so magical, fascinating, the stuff of myth and folklore, much like Butch Cassidy, with festivals all over the state of Utah, no prophet of the Mormon church sees the likes of that, nor ever will.  There is a legend bear, called Old Ephraim, who terrorized sheep herders and cattle ranchers for tens of years, marked by a paw missing one toe, standing over 11 feet tall, on two feet, almost double the size of an average man, and having a skull, that is a fourth larger than any other bear of record, and claimed to have slaughtered 150 sheep in a single evening, leaving the carnage, a few eaten, in a rampage of horror, for weary herders.

However, the man, who was actually tracking the bear, with his dog and horse, was stunned by the old legend, one day, while drinking out of a stream of water, when the dog went ape shit, and the man barely turning in time to grab his firearm from his saddle on his horse, and blasting the bear with the full barrel of rounds, out of his rifle.  His daughter, said that her father, regretted killing the bear, for the rest of his 60 years on earth.  There are some things, that just are so awesome, beyond the normal, that killing, catching, jailing, or ending the fight, is almost more of a tragedy than the other way around.  I think that the Dempsey, Gibbons fight, falls into this category of events, that not only changes history, but carries a fascination forever, capturing the imagination of the public, to time immemorial.  At least, it does that for me . . .

Bring the Legends on Home

The skull of Old Ephraim, used to sit in the Smithsonian Museum, in Washington, D.C., I am sure, originally, with the idea, that many more people would get to see the huge bear skeleton, and I am sure they did, but they never had a hometown connection with the story, the folklore, the history, as did the people of northern Utah and Idaho.  So, just recently, some local people took the skull back to Montpelier, Idaho, or to the Bridgerland Museum, that sits on the border between two states, Utah and Idaho, at the edge of Bear Lake, where a Loch Ness--like, Monster, swims the Lake that, as I recall, scientists, have never found the bottom to it.  Or Big Foot, who allegedly roams the forests of Washington state . . . fun stuff!  My grand kids, would rather have me tell them about the legend bear, than open their Christmas presents, or they used to!  A young mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to ignite!  That quote is written on the walls of the young adult section of the Great Falls Library, love it.

Last week, while I was taking the shuttle from Shelby to Kalispell, I happened to mention the famous, Dempsey vs. Gibbons, heavy weight boxing match, held back in the day, July 4th, 1923, and this guy, who was actually raised in Shelby, didn't know anything about it, graduated from high school, with graduating class sizes shrinking from about 80, when this guy about my age, graduated, to the current class size, of 23, this year!  If we want to keep our young people in small towns, we need to have a thriving economy, bring either service jobs, for tourists, or build up area industry, capitalizing on the Amtrak Station, and rail road, that passes right through Shelby, on its way to Glacier National Park, with record numbers, this year!  Many towns are made, by some simple thing like a huge ball of string, or a Corn Palace, in some small town, in South Dakota, that me and 4 teenage boys, in route to a 17 day trip across country, just happened to get lucky enough to hear an ad on the local radio, bringing the hometown treasure of literally, a Taj Mahal, made of white, yellow, purple and black corn!  The boys, ages, 14 to 17 years of age, didn't want to stop, but I couldn't get them out of the large auditorium looking interior, with everything from candles, to corn row wigs, with Bob Marley type hats, it is those little unique historical things, like the fight that catches the imagination of people.

Not Going to Step on Toes

This morning, as I was eating at The Griddle, having Gary's Special Omelet, there was a meeting of the good citizens, or the mayor, city council, or just a group of citizens, where were busy planning great events for the town, from Halloween, to Thanksgiving and on to Christmas.  I overheard ideas, off and on as I was reading the Great Falls, Wall Street Journal, Tribune, a shockingly good newspaper for a smaller community or counties, with sections to rival the Journal, but it sounded like there were some fun things coming up, in the next few months.  With about 9 months until the 4th of July, the day the Dempsey fight was held, there is plenty of time for the town to plan this event, that would be so awesome and would bring people from around the state, if not nation, and world travelers, could include it in their vacation plans for next year!  Someone would have to get on YouTube or MySpace, and contact, God's Revolver & Maraloka bands, who need to be out under the big blue Montana skies, that fits their music with a cowboy, horse, dog, lover's triangle themes, of pride, justification, sanctification, love, etc., passionate music that fits these here parts, so fucking well, it is crazy.  

But, Elliot, my son, the bass guitarist for both bands, will not listen to his mother!  But, most festival concert bands have to be booked at least this much in advance, plus I have bragged up Glacier, so the band, if we can get them back together, the tragedy of the whole music thieves, is they would have to convince the real band, that they rock, as much, if not more, fitting the venue even better up here, and like I tell my son, lover's triangles and the themes in their songs, are really part of the culture, in small towns!  They could actually bring both bands, with members of the one, being in the other.  A small outside stage, with huge amps, might work, and maybe, the Red Ants Pants Music Festival, could work to coordinate bands, stages, and musicians, I always think of these things, when musicians have been scheduled, early by people who are on the ball.  White Sulphur Springs, is still in central Montana, helping with both towns economies, possibly bringing some of the traffic from one to the other, capitalizing on the Glacier visitors.

Harley Davidson, Hog Rallies, Always Looking for New Music, Sites, Towns

Zion Harley Davidson Shop, in Hurricane, Utah, or between Washington City, Coral Canyon, on the way to Zion National Park, was sponsoring a nationwide, Hog Rally, and I took a copy of my son's CD to the manager, who just took out a check book and basically said, have them name their price!  Every time I mention the band's names, my numbers skyrocket, so with all these things combined, we could light this place on fire!  Most of the Harley riders, are your wealthy professionals, doctors, lawyers, retired money, who would not be a bad crowd to get here, and they would be fascinated, as I was, as the National Park Service Volunteers, giving lectures on Amtrak, as I was going to Washington, D.C., told about the fight . . . I didn't tune in, fast enough, but just the small bit I heard, has obviously captured my interest, as it will many!

The economy is picking up, and Shelby, Browning, Cut Bank, Conrad, and these towns are in a prime location to get people to become aware of the beautiful scenery and fun stuff happening here, in this part of Montana, promoting the lifestyles and allure of the country, farm, ranch life!  I have the central Montana, 2014 Travel Planner, to be found at centralmontana.com, right here in front of my face, with gorgeous pictures, fun, events, wild life, natural country living, etc., so cool, love it.

Legends Have Walked the Streets of Shelby . . . Capture the Moment in History for Generations to Come!

P.S., I am staying at a Glacier Motel & RV Park . . . right on highway 2, affordable, charming, with great artwork, old school, pictures of Indian Brave Warrior, between two buffalo, with his Chief Ancestor, super imposed on the mountain butte behind him, the other one, grandeur of a Brave dressed in traditional dress, with beautiful clouds, blue skies, prairie grass fields, majestic horse . . . love them.  All the amenities of a New York hotel room, but costing about $225 less!  The rooms have all you need, in addition, a small fridge, microwave, and the normal, great way to save some bucks, while staying here for a week.  I am in room, 116, if anyone from Kalispell is looking for me!  Cute place, I generally, leave by 7:00 a.m., and come home at around 11:00 p.m., but I have just left long enough to get some treats, to eat and drink, during the time I watched the movie, LAWLESS, you get a free movie each night you stay, and the office has all the ones I like, the genre, and more.  For those of you who do not know how to do Pay for View or Netflex . . . this is old school, like me, love it!

MONKEY GREASE: 60 MINUTE INTERVIEW WITH FBI DIRECTOR, JAMES COMEY, ON CYWATCH, WE CANNOT READ YOUR EMAILS OR LISTEN TO CALLS WITHOUT GOING TO A FEDERAL JUDGE, MAKING A SHOW OF PROBABLE CAUSE THAT YOU ARE (1) A TERRORIST; (2) AN AGENT OF A FOREIGN POWER, OR (3) A SERIOUS CRIMINAL OF SOME SORT AND GET PREMISSION FOR A LIMITED PERIOD OF TIME TO INTERCEPT THOSE COMMUNICATION. IT IS AN EXTREMELY BURDENSOME PROCESS, AND I LIKE IT THAT WAY. DEAR MR. FBI DIRECTOR, BASED ON YOUR CRITERIA FOR SURVEILLANCE ON MY PHONE, WHICH OF THE BEFORE MENTIONED CATEGORIES OF QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS, WORTHY OF CYWATCHING AM I? YOU HAVE OVER 300 BLOGS ON THIS SITE THAT YOU CAN OFTEN KNOW EXACTLY WHERE I AM, AND WHAT I AM UP TO, SO WHY DO YOU STILL HAVE SURVEILLANCE ON THIS CONSTITUTIONAL LAW ATTORNEY, DRONE SPYING WHEN CAMPING OUT THE OTHER NIGHT UP AT HUNGRY HORSE DAM IN MONTANA? BY WHAT PROBABLE CAUSE? AND WHY HAVEN'T MY DOUBLES, THAT MY EVEN BE AIDED AND ABETTED IN IDENTITY THEFT, WITH HELP FROM THE FBI? I WANT TO KNOW, HOW ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH, YOU COULD EVER STILL NOT KNOW, LEGITIMATELY WHO I AM, AND WHO MY MULTIPLES ARE, IF YOU ARE NOT INVOLVED? MY INTENTS, LIFE, MOTIVES, WRITINGS ARE A PURE AS THE DRIVEN SNOW! SO WHAT IS UP?

Justice Sonya Sotomayor--Face on 60 Minutes Ad

It is funny, that as I read the interview between, FBI Director, James Comey and Scott Pelley of 60 Minutes, with many questions, doubts, the need for answers, skepticism, conflict, going from wanting to believe this man, who put his job on the line, stopping something the President had wanted done, and his rejection and objection of that request, even rushing to the hospital, to get to U.S. Attorney General Ashcroft, who was on his death bed, to stop the effort, and messenger of the President, I can't help but wonder, if this is just a monkey grease job, by the government to make the public think, that this man is totally working to make sure that surveillance if done the proper way.  He talks of cywatch, as secret location, in a big warehouse, where the FBI can train many agents for multiple missions, and wondering why, as I talk on my cell phone, at times, it sounds like guys in a large warehouse are listening, with a large room, hollow walls, or cement, and an echo that is so annoying, I usually make my conversation so quick, so as not to here myself repeat what I just said, also suspecting someone is listening to my conversations.

As I was reading the 60 Minutes article and interview, I noticed a picture of Justice Sonya Sotomayor, in an ad on the side of the page, advertising a service to have access to more interviews and episodes.  The reason it caught my eye, is because at first I thought is looked like my older sister, Shelley, who has been impersonating me with great success, stealing everything for multi-milion dollar cases, high profile cases, taking credit for legislation, work on the Salish-Kootenia Water Compact, and other legislative issues, talking to elected officials, clients, friends, even places I want to rent, jobs I have applied for, claiming credit for this blog, and apparently, with the help of your FBI, or is it still former directors boys and girls, Friesh or how ever you spell his name, you know the guy who was under the Bush administration . . . 

FBI agents showed up at the Frank Moss Federal Courthouse, in Salt Lake City, Utah, on January 18, 2012, when I was blocked from my federal e-filing account, stopping me, not only from filing under my old account, which I firmly believe with Shelley having access, first in St. George, later in Parowan, to my cases and computer, with me often travelling, in court, or meeting with clients in several states, but also unable to get a new account through the federal court, to file from afar, making me take the trip to Salt Lake, come 4 hours north, only to find and FBI agent, running to the parking machine to beat me to it, and grabbing his suit coat, revealing to me his FBI badge and his gun!  

And surprise, surprise, surprise, both, to the shock of the clerk, IT people, were out of the office at the same time, which had never happened before, making it impossible for me to check on the computer glitch, which I knew all along, was not a glitch, but an orchestrated conspiracy to stop, take credit, defraud me out of not only the case, but the contingency fee, and for an alleged twin to take my place, with glee on her face, like Justice Sonya Sotomayor, who was missing from the U.S. Supreme Court, the day I was sworn in, with my double, with government help, racing to the nation's capitol, to beat me there, do a photo op, be sworn in Sunday, January 22, 2012, with the help of the secret service, FBI or CIA . . . and you expect me to fucking believe you, as you do the public, that you don't do surveillance without a court order . . . hell you broke in the U.S. Supreme Court, with a white limo waiting outside, blocking off the roads, making me move, and then from the back of the courthouse, seeing people run, this way and that, at about 9:30 to 10 p.m., committing the fraud on the court!

The happy camper, looking much like Sonya, is just beaming with pride, taking credit for all I have done, for my resume over the last 20 years, for my cases, my blogs, my life, and even my children and grandchildren, in an orchestrated, sinister, cywatching plot with me under surveillance 24/7, or under constant contact, so the FBI can know, just where, what, when, with whom and to whom, I go, talk to, write about, try to get a job with, rent an apartment, purchase a car from . . . so, you can send your fucking agents in to either bribe, cut a deal, threaten, kill in some instances, those who will not cooperate with you and the crew at the FBI, with CIA, right there by your side!  

I like Justice Sotomayor, have a connection, took 32 pages of notes during her senate confirmation in 2009, but guess what, your fucking asshole agents, since way back in 2008, started fucking with my name, telling my political friends, to take my name off my emails, with many being yanked right off my computer, while I haven't touch a key, just like having to fight to publish this blog, having two sites, if not more on the dark web or deep Internet . . . really, you got a court order, to do exactly the types of crimes, you and the FBi, are allegedly paid to STOP!  Good GOD, almighty, 7 fucking, god-damn years of your fucking surveillance, your games, your bull shit and helping Shelley, who is fucking half of the FBI and CIA, shadowing me, or you covering with your new cywatch, making it look like I am either somewhere I am not, like, the deep web, I can write from Montana, and it is bounced around to volunteer sites, and ends up with an IP address of Shelley's, or one of the other crew!

Don't Hide Behind the One Time, You Actually Did Protect Us!

So, they selected a guy, James Comey, who at least, at one point in his career, actually, was acting with a conscience, something that was rare in the Bush administration, in any agency!  One agent, or attorney, who in connected with one act of valour, and that is going to over 7 years, even since the PRISM program was in operation, I have had surveillance, if not out right plot to set me up, as a serious criminal, with Homeland Security sending criminals, acting as detained, Egyptian refuges, who want to work with me on immigration issues, claiming to be trained at law in England, but really wanting to practice and learn the American system, with the U.S. Constitution in mind, and within days of coming to my house, this fucking undercover agent, is reaping havoc around the courts, the jails, and with clients, setting up wire tapping equipment in my crawl space, and using a home computer to record history of kiddie porn, because I was representing a kiddie porn king against ICE or the Immigration Customs and Enforcement Agency!

When I threw his ass out of my house, within about 2 days, taking his shit to the federal building in St. George, dropping it off to the FBI, who then took some of his stuff, and went up to where the secret building Homeland Security was using, with the agents there, probably FBI, standing there is shock that first I knew what they were trying to do, set me up, to kill the case against ICE, but acting, i a dumb stupor, like they had just eaten a canary, with the feathers, still sticking out of their mouths!  This is such totally and utterly annoying, criminal behavior, unconstitutional as hell, and totally fucked up at BEST!

Start With Cleaning Up This Mess . . . I Have Handed You Heads On a Platter . . . You & Your Agency Has Done NOTHING, Other Then Bug the Shit, Literally Out of ME!

While I am educating the people about the very document, that you claim to have allegiance to, you or your men and women, are stealing all I do, taking blogs, parts of blogs, while blogs, or stopping me all together with your cywatch!  And when asked in the interview, if there is any surveillance, without a court order, and answering as if that is the most inane question, that the FBI is above reproach, By the FBI?  No.  We don't do surveillance without a court order . . . are you talking about the blanket court order allowing the agency, once ever 90 days, to have a FISCA or surveillance court, rubber stamp the FBI request for a warrant that allows them to get into every phone record, or computer account of the whole god-damn nation?  THAT COURT ORDER?  REALLY?

I know, that your little agency, what was it called again?  Did you say, the FBI or the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who has harassed, intimidated, threatened, followed, tracked, fraudulently conveyed my intellectual property, helping the real cyber criminal, Shelley, or Kay, Rachel is just the body double, or now Sue, the legislative double, you are the terrorists, the agents of something foreign to America, treasonists, and serious criminals, not me . . . take me to trial, televise it, so the people will know what he real, JoAnn S. Secrist is . . . not the one, married to the wonder boy, who is just stealing my work and claiming it as either his or his, alleged lay, or me, wife, Shelley, SHIT!

Get out of the spying on American gig, and go after people like the Boston Bombers, you know real threats, or your own agency is a great place to clean house, and I would start with every goddam MORMON! Which you yourself may be . . . get this right, people are PISSED, people like me had stories, dates, times, places, evidence, evidence, evidence . . . and your are blowing out your asses, or you are in on it!  I would be mortified if I was the director of just a criminal organization, one better than the American ISIS, the CIA, but criminal, none the less . . . take one blog, that is anything but trying to get this country back to the free nation we were intended to be, before the universal cry of NATIONAL SECURITY, WHEN YOU ARE NOT EVEN CONCERN ABOUT SECURING OUR OWN BORDERS!

Either a UFO or Surveillance!

I believe the night was last Thursday, is is not old stuff, this is real, relevant and raw, as you can get, and happened in the last few days . . . Thursday, John Bagby and myself, were parked up at West Shore State Park, on the Flathead Lake, just sitting watching the harvest moon rise from beyond the mountains, near Bigfork, see blog written that night, entitled, And a new star . . . when I was writing about the heavenly manifestation, or so it seemed, that night, on the Lake and as we entered Kalipsell.  But, while we were siting at the beach, parked, a vehicle, pulled up, bugging the hell out of us, with it dark, you could tell there was not room, and we had occupied the only space there really was, not even being a parking place as I can remember, just pulling up, to take a bathroom break, answer a text or two, and to our surprise, see the moon come up.  So what in the hell is this dip shit doing, pulling up behind us, then to the side of us, even seeing how narrow the space was that we were parked in . . . with both of us, turning to glare at this stupid people, but with  me, as always, wondering if they are just getting close enough, to see what John's license plate number was, as has happened, another time, that there appeared to be an assassination attempt, up at Hungry Horse Dam.  It soon left, but the thoughts didn't leave me, as they never do, with constant and relentless surveillance on me . . . 

Saturday, night, we had gone up to the 10 Lakes area, came down for supplies, thinking we wanted to camp out, and deciding to go up to Hungry Horse Dam, rather than going back to the long distant campground, we actually never found, while we were up at Weasel Lake, a place John had frequented as a child, or even lately with his hiking parents.  So, we found our favorite spot, nestled back in a cove, right up by the water, with a stream, the stars, and a quiet peaceful night.  One night last week, we had watched the lunar eclipse, so I had been awake for several nights in a row.  John is my kind of camper, we just go, not sleeping bags, tents, or provisions . . . just get the hell out of the city, and rough it, sleeping in the car, listening to music, reclining the seats.  Which is what I was doing, John, however, who I believe had just lost his job . . . earlier that very day, I was warning John, that he had been a protection for me, and he needed to be careful, that Dave, Jeff, Micheal, who had tried to warn me about the CIA and NSA, down in Nevada, ended up dead, and I didn't want that to happen to him . . . go figure, he gets fired that very night at work, after 7 years on the job!

Coincidence . . . do ya think?  Hell, NO!  The powers that be, probably had surveillance on our conversation in the car, and realized that, yes, John, had protected me on several occasions and kind of has an open policy on me couch surfing, while I am trying to stay long enough to land in my own apartment.  I would bet my eye teeth that John was fired to make ME more vulnerable!  My pa, fucker father from hell, and connected to the CIA, or the undercover CIA, the OSI, that he used to belong to, with a fresh sewn baseball cap with the initials of an agency that was allegedly merged, disband, or changed to the CIA, and a fresh hat, where in the hell did Rachel's old nanny, who followed, my own daughter Nicole, into military service in the Air Force, I am pretty sure!  Or is this other Nicole, my Nicole's double?  Because Rachel, as well as Shelley, is one of my children's other mothers!  I am buried so deep in dog shit, with the dog pile of sisters, friends, clients, attorneys, that I am not to be found, with the help of the FBI!

We Need to Get the Hell Out of Here Before They Shoot Us & Send in the Clean up Crews to Get Rid of the Bodies!

So, John, awakes me out of a dead sleep, I would say, around 3 or 4:00 a.m., leaving me wondering first, why is he awake, and why isn't he tired, he drove the other night, of the eclipse, almost all night, almost to Missoula, looking for a spot to assassinate me, dump the body, two days in a row, going up deep into the mountains, or around the Flathead, John missed turn offs, he has known his whole adult life, and he is missing turnoffs and taking me to unknown areas?  I would hate to accuse a good friend, but many a good friend has done the same thing, either been an agent, before I met them, playing the friend, or taking money for putting me in harms way, either doing it themselves, or in some cases with John, him looking like a willing participant, like the last time at Hungry Horse, he laid back his seat, but had his eyes oh, so slightly open, acting as if he was asleep, when a car, abnoxiously pulled up too close, with a direct shot to me, with John out of the way, and another car, waiting in the trees, . . . I insisted we book it on out of there . . . books, symbolic of Shelley, the reader, the book seller, the dealer in librarians and school libraries!

But with the two previous nights activities, John's unending energy, with a huge lack of sleep, taking wrong roads, and staying up all night, and this night, staying out, taking a lawn chair, drinking a beer, and then waking me, about 45 minutes, after the alleged aircraft of some sort, he said, either UFO or surveillance, not acting alarmed or afraid, saying he saw this light, that came out of the sky, and seemed to land on the car, or close to him . . . no, it used to be, that John, even at the mention of cops, surveillance, or being tracked, would freak out, and flip out, not wanting to know anything about the government.  He liked our friendship, but didn't want to know any of my government activities, and was very grateful to me, when I did, out of concern for him, leave town, if I thought there was a threat, when in reality, I believed the threat to have come from either John, DJ, Shannon & Greg, or David Russo, who just happened to show up to the Salvation Army breakfast, as did his mother, Georgianna Hartung, the other day, stating . . . oh, there you are, I thought so, after not seeing her for months?

The Stress Case, Is Calm as a Summer's Day, Losing His Job of 7 Years!

Without a care in the world, John tells me about this science fiction, or drone activity, seemingly, out of the normal, not having a care, a scare, or thought and worry in the world, markedly so, just casually mentions, the event or the surveillance, stating that he alawys did want to see a UFO.  John was freaked out one night, when Myrle, my old roommate was watching strange phenomena, on the fucking TV!  He was so scared, he went into the other room and took a shower, and this fearless guy, is now, sitting all alone, on the banks of this huge lake, seeing this light come out of the sky, land on the car, and he doesn't wake me up?  Both the serene calm and the night event make me wonder what is going on?  Something is up, the set up?

Maybe, I am just the one who writes about this stuff, and John, like so many others, is paid to say that it is one of the other chicks, allegedly taking my place, nice, easy, with every person I know, making the same claim, and some dead who didn't, or wouldn't, easy choice, turn her in, just claim that all the stuff you are doing with one JoAnn, is in reality the other Joann . . . they play with the small "a", to make people think that there are two of us, when in reality, there is only one, but there are several copycats, yeah, my term for CIA!

24 HOURS A DAY CONTACT, SURVEILLANCE

To lend credit to the constant surveillance, another out of the ordinary event took place yesterday at McDonald's fast food restaurant, on Idaho Street, I generally get up early, and McDs, opens at 5:30 a.m., which is the perfect time for me, to get a Diet Coke, breakfast, or whatever.  The buses were not running yesterday, because of Columbus Day, so that seemed to give me reason to think that Tammy, a former, person from Salt Lake City, who was a tenant, in my very young married days, living on Highland Dr., in Holiday, Utah, managing 48 apartment units, the Monico Apartments I think, back in about 1975 or 76, while my husband, Richard Clifton Secrist was attending the University of Utah, as a geography major, but I never knew her, and she said she was afraid of me back then!  LOL!  Maybe she had a foreshadowing of what I would eventually become!  LOL!  She also followed my career from the Utah Attorney General's Office . . . she was working in criminology, or something related.  

Nice gal, and very necessary to have state that I am not the real JoAnn, with connections dating back to the 70's, my real early days, with my daughter, Greta a baby at that time, turning 39 this last week or so . . . time flies!  I run into Tammy on the bus, every once in a while, and did just the other day.  We always have a lively conversation, and the thought crossed my mind, that Tammy would be one person, who would be hard to not only get to lie, but she has I believe the equivalent of 2 PhDs, or is quite educated, so a formidable attachment to my former married life, and Utah AG days, not to mention early days on the bus, and in Kalispell.  So, yesterday, she shows up, and pops into the McDonald's Play Area, where I like to get there early to plug in my computer, with only one of two plugs in the whole place!  So, it kind of surprised me that Tammy, out of nowhere, just comes directly into the area I am at, doesn't act surprised to see me, as if someone told her to go spy me out, and then report me as either there, having written on my blog that I was writing from there, or stating that yes, JoAnn is there, but it is really, Joann!

Sad, to Say, I Think the Later Was the Case

Tammy was great, shared her breakfast, since I didn't have any money, and best of all got me a water cup to share her Diet Coke with, so I could get refills, through the transfer of her purchase, to me, when she left, which I was extremely grateful for, being an addict, with no money, and none in sight for a few days.  The first thing she did was ask if I was writing, yes.  She told me that her computer was broken, we talked about seminars I had attended lately, two educated chicks thrive on new sources of info, and smart people, making us smarter, I told her of the Friendship Force or Peace efforts, with a gathering tonight at FVCC or the college, but she doesn't drive, so night events are out.  Then she did a very strange thing, she asked me if I had a license, I told her I did, until December 2013, until I let it lapse, to get a Montana license, seeing they would not let me have two licenses at the same time, and now I was having trouble getting my California birth certificate . . . so, her offer of a car, to drive, would have to wait, until I could get my license here, which is proving to be a big pain in the ass, with the first step, being my birth certificate that I paid for, I paid for, leaving John's address, but either never receiving it, or John intercepting it, as I believe he did with my Walmart Money Card, back around January, but intercepting the mail, and giving my birth certificate to the Joann with money, or Shelley!

When you only have a few friends, and they keep you on the run, spending ever dime, you take a couch or a bed wherever you can, especially, since these assholes, contact the shelters, the food entities, buses, and other stops someone in my situation might frequent to stay alive.  So, the thought of rats, cats, and bats, pointing me out, than lying about me is a common experience, and sure enough, I believe they got to Tammy, because, yesterday, on top of showing up, without notice, or shock finding me there, she also, as one point, looked out the glass doors, and nodded to a chick, I didn't know, standing on the other side, alerting her to something, with the girl, promptly, ditching out of sight!  Either to rat me out, letting cops know where I am, or enemies of various sizes and shapes, or sisters, who have not put her on the pay roll, or FBI, covering their asses, and making sure I don't get another blog, in and under, or around their surveillance, making sure that no more damaging blogs are blasted to literally hundreds of millions of people throughout the world!

Tammy also, did a strange thing, she said, that she was going to adopt me, and I am older than she is, and when I said that, she looked and said, but you look so young!  That is part of the problem, people think I look too young to have practiced law for 20 years, hell, I didn't start until I was fucking 40 years old, and I am turning 60 years old in two months!  But, I am too young to have had my kids, too young to be who I claim to be, and everyone, even women like Tammy, might, after talking to me for two years, either actually question if I am the real JoAnn, she remembered, or thinks she was duped, even though I know everything about Salt Lake and the stuff she is talking about . . . doubles are trained, with 24/7 surveillance, they know my stories, and hell they are sisters, who heard it when it happened and probably so jealous back then, it was imprinted on their memories . . . raging with envy, now seeing my youthful looks, actions, and energy as my enemy, not my ally, and that is true, John keeps thinking I am 49 years old, and every time, with pride, I remind him that I am almost 60 . . . but that my come into play, as a ploy for my doubles, too young!

Tammy left, shortly after that, oh, but first, she wanted to adopt me, give me her mother's house in Bigfork or at least let me rent, until her father was gone, she wanted me to drive her around, once I got my licence, but this seemed strange in and of itself . . . she reminded me I had met her father, and he knew me from Salt Lake, and had followed my blog, and was a fan . . . she would get me into the upstairs . . . security just came.  

GOTTA GO, JO--FORGET SPELL CHECK!