Mar
4
Bozeman Explosion & Social Media
March 4, 2010 | Leave a Comment
It’s been almost a year since the Bozeman explosion, and when it happened, the power of social media in spreading the news and gathering information was really felt in Montana. Facebook, Twitter, Flickr – all were instrumental in letting people in Montana and around the world what was happening. Here’s a report from KBZK in Bozeman about it:
Lots more about the Bozeman explosion over at the Bozeman Chronicle and the KBZK site.
Feb
26
Olympics In Bozeman? Probably Not.
February 26, 2010 | Leave a Comment
A Facebook group has been gaining in numbers lately, based on the proposition that the 2022 Winter Olympics might be coming to Bozeman. While that might be good in terms of bringing a bunch of cash to Montana, I suspect that many (most?) Montanans would prefer not to have such a huge, invasive spotlight thrust in our collective faces.
Anyway. The whole thing appears to be little more than a rumor at this point, according to a reporter in Bozeman who has been working the phones to find out what’s going on.
UPDATE: here’s the story from Erin Yeykal at KBZK:
Feb
9
Scorn On The Cob
February 9, 2010 | Leave a Comment
New Montana blogger Jason King is off to a great start – he’s an illustrating genius, and topical to boot! And how could you not love the title of his blog, Scorn On The Cob?! Check out his “condolence card” to Conan O’Brien:
Feb
4
MSU grad creates “Mi Chacra”
February 4, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Jason Burlage of Bozeman, an MSU graduate, will screen his documentary film “Mi Chacra” (My Land) at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival on February 19th at 5:30pm at the Wilma Theatre in downtown Missoula.
The film tells the story of Feliciano, an indigenous Peruvian farmer who works as a porter on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in hopes of some day taking his son to live in the city.
Learn more by visiting the official website.
Jan
26
“Courting” Controversy in Bozeman
January 26, 2010 | 1 Comment
CNN’s David Mattingly pulled out his cold-weather gear and headed to Bozeman to look into how Bozeman is on thin ice over spending $50,000 in federal stimulus money to fix cracks and holes in its tennis courts.
(courtesy KBZK)
Jan
18
Prodigal Sons
January 18, 2010 | Leave a Comment
I saw the documentary “Prodigal Sons” on Saturday, and it is quite remarkable.
If you grew up in Helena in the mid-80s, you might remember the name Paul McKerrow – he was the star quarterback for the Bengals, co-valedictorian, and BMOC in general. His brother Marc – adopted just a year before Paul was born – graduated with him, and younger brother Todd came along a year later.
The movie tells an intriguing tale: Paul returns to Helena in 2005 for his high school’s 20-year reunion, but he returns as Kimberly Reed, having complete gender-reassignment surgery and now living life as a woman. He is re-introduced to brother Marc, who suffered a car accident years ago, had part of his brain removed due to seizures, and is now suffering from bizarre mood swings and mental illness. Todd is now living in San Diego as an architect.
Turns out that Helena seems pretty blase about Paul’s’ transformation into Kimberly – there was no sign (in the movie, anyway) about any discrimination or hostility.
During the course of the movie, Marc discovers who his birth mother is: Rebecca. Sadly, he learns this just days before she passes away, and sees her for the only time in his life in her casket at her funeral.
And then comes arguably the biggest surprise of the movie: Rebecca was the daughter of cinema icon Orson Welles and actress Rita Hayworth: Marc is the grandson of Orson Welles, and the physical resemblance is uncanny.
If you have the opportunity to see “Prodigal Sons,” it is highly recommended. Might want to bring a hankie.
Jan
14
Start Your Engines
January 14, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Are you ready for Election 2010? Filing began today for candidates who want to run for office in Montana.
Jan
2
Welcome Home
January 2, 2010 | Leave a Comment
The 639th Quartermaster Company returned home to Montana on New Year’s Eve after a long deployment to Iraq. Welcome home, troops – and thank you.
Dec
28
Max Baucus: LWI?
December 28, 2009 | 1 Comment
(LWI = “Legislating While Impaired”)
Well, it’s obvious that Max is not totally three sheets to the wind – but he definitely doesn’t seem to be 100% sober. Does he appear normal, tipsy, drunk, or perhaps ill to you?
Dec
14
“Meet The Natives USA” In Montana!
December 14, 2009 | Leave a Comment
This was SERIOUSLY cool: five villagers from Tanna in the Pacific Ocean visited the USA, and along with stays in California and New York, they spent time in Montana. Here’s a promo clip from the five men experiencing snow for (I assume?) the first time:
The Tanna natives spent most of their Montana time down near Belfry and Billings, and also journeyed to Yellowstone. They really seemed to enjoy their visit to Montana – and their host family the Pelicans really seemed to enjoy the experience, too. Wearing cowboy hats, playing in the snow, participating in a hunt, helping out with ranch-hand duties, chowing down on pancakes and bacon, dancing at a local bar – good ol’ Montana stuff.
Just a hunch, but I suspect that the Tanna men enjoyed their Montana experience more than the other places they visited during the USA trip.
On a very sad note, however: if you watched the Travel Channel episode, you may have noticed that it was dedicated to Cole Pelican, with the tragic dates 2000-2009. Cole was the 9-year old son of the Pelican family; he loved rodeo, and he died in a horse-riding accident in July 2009, long after the TV episode was filmed. The family established “Cole’s Western Wishes” in his memory.
