What's wrong with reading?

If Susan Linn has her way, the next book your children read may have to be titled "The Grinch Who Stole Pizza."

Apologies to Dr. Seuss, but not to Ms. Linn, who is co-founder of the do-good Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, which just attacked Pizza Hut for its audacity in spending millions of dollars to promote literacy.

Anyone who has had children pass through elementary school in the past 20 years is likely to know about Pizza Hut's "Book It" program, which presents kids with a coupon for a small pizza after they meet their classroom reading goals each month during the school year.

The problem? The do-gooders are worried that grade-schoolers are going to get fat from their monthly trip to Pizza Hut. They are also worried about "corporate America" putting commercial pressure on the wee tykes.

But let's face it, most of those coupons probably never get used in the first place. They either get lost by the kids before they get home or intentionally lost by the parents after they arrive. And if anyone thinks this is commercial pressure, they should take a look at Saturday morning TV!

Besides which, it ought to be up to parents to decide on their children's diets, not some know-it-all Harvard psychologist.

So for millions of parents across the country, we thought we would take a minute to say, "Thanks, Pizza Hut. Keep up the good work."

The past week was not a good one for pedestrians on Northwest Montana highways.

Four pedestrians were hit by vehicles in three separate accidents in Columbia Falls, Ronan and Plains. Three people died; a fourth, 13-year-old Alex Becker of Columbia Falls, was severely injured but survived.

These horrific accidents should be sobering reminders to drivers, pedestrians and bicycle riders to be very careful on the roads.

Warming weather means there will be an increasing mix of all three, so everyone needs to be cautious and alert.

Those who have seen the movie "The Astronaut Farmer" might be interested to know there's a strong Northwest Montana connection.

The main character (played by Billy Bob Thornton) was inspired in part by Del Polish, a Kalispell native who now lives in Swan Lake. His sons Mark and Michael Polish co-produced and co-wrote the film.

The Polish brothers grew up in California but spent a great deal of their childhoods in Northwest Montana visiting family. And both Mark and Michael recently purchased a house next to their dad's.

The twin brothers previously made three independent films. "Astronaut Farmer" represents their first major-studio project and a major step forward in their movie careers.