Big Sky Blog

“Montana’s online activists are changing the balance of power in Democratic politics. Would you let these men drive your campaign?” Thus asks the Missoula Independent, in an article by John S. Adams, available online. The article is based on a birthday party for Jon Tester, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, so most of the bloggers present were from that side of the political spectrum — but the article is broader than that:

Democrats across the country are taking notice of the new power-shifting movement within their party. The netroots are doing a better job of organizing grassroots support and framing issues than many highly paid political consultants, and they’re doing it for almost nothing. In a Montana U.S. Senate campaign that could see spending top $10 million (most of that coming from Burns’ war chest) Tester has embraced that movement and is relying heavily on the netroots to help him defeat the incumbent come November.

There are photos and profiles of several folks with whom we are familiar, if not personally, then blogally: Wulfgar!, Shane Mason, Pogie, Eric Coobs, Matt Singer, and Touchstone.

Hmm, no women. Interesting.

In the comments of the entry below, Vanessa is looking for some information:

I’m trying to find news on the fire. My sister and her boyrfriend live in Nye, Montana. I know that they escaped and they are safe, but I can’t get in touch over the phone. I’m wondering about their house — if it has burnt down. Does anyone have news on the conditions of the fires in Nye, MT? Does anyone know how many homes have been lost?

Anybody able to give her some news?

Question: why on earth would anyone kill 50 baby birds? Answer: because that person is a pathetic piece of crap. Probably some teens or young adults who had been drinking. From the Missoulian:

State officials are offering a reward for information in the deaths of more than 50 baby bluebirds and tree swallows, and the vandalism of 15 nesting boxes. The vandalism occurred sometime around July 21 along a county road in the Highwood Mountains near Belt…vandals smashed 15 of the nesting boxes and killed 50 to 60 baby bluebirds and tree swallows, plus a number of adults that stayed on their nests during the attack…the TIP-MONT program is offering up to $1,000 for information…others concerned about the damage have raised another $500 in reward money…officials want “any kind of information would help solve the bluebird crime: a vehicle description, license plate number or if someone actually knows who did it.”

Geez. Slaughtering baby birds. That old adage about “go pick on someone your own size” comes to mind.

Here’s the answer to the question you may have about what the 3-7-77 emblem patch worn on the uniforms of Montana Highway Patrol officers mean.

At the behest of Rep. Bella Abzug (D-NY), in 1971 the U.S. Congress designated August 26 as “Women’s Equality Day.”
The date was selected to commemorate the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. This was the culmination of a massive, peaceful civil rights movement by women that had its formal beginnings in 1848 at the world’s first women’s rights convention, in Seneca Falls, New York.
We take this for granted, but my grandmother didn’t. Montana gave women the right to vote in 1914, and then elected the first female member of Congress. From Wikipedia:

Jeannette Rankin (June 11, 1880 – May 18, 1973) was the first woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and the first female member of Congress. A Republican and a lifelong pacifist, she was the only member of Congress to vote against United States entry into both World War I and World War II. Additionally, she led resistance to the Vietnam War.

Jeannette Rankin was born not far from where I’m sitting right now, and her work continues at the Jeannette Rankin Peace Center here in Missoula.

Take the NWHP Women’s Equality Day Quiz!, then update your herstory.

While channel-surfing last week, I came across a movie that featured a bunch of military men, but what stopped me from turning the channel was the stunning scenery that surrounded them. It turns out that the movie was “The Devil’s Brigade,” and it is a dramatization of the creation and deployment of the First Special Service during WWII. The FSS was the forerunner for our modern-day “special forces” units such as the Navy SEALS. It was created by integrating the toughest American and Canadian troops, and dropping them at Fort Harrison near Helena so that they could train in the harsh mountains and climate of Montana, thereby preparing them for anything. The Devil’s Brigade soldiers were also known as the “Black Devils,” because of the black camouflage the soldiers painted on their faces for covert night operations. The missions that the soldiers performed – the hazards that they faced – were pivotal to Allied success. Flash-forward to 2006: the 60th anniversary reunion of the First Special Service was held in Helena last week, and it may be the last time that the remaining members gather to commemorate their historic unit.

As you may have heard by now one of Montana’s own is a newly published author.

Tony has written a novel which is difficult to explain. Waking Lazarus is a mystery, a supernatural thriller and a real page-turner. This is the type of book you will have a difficult time putting down because every chapter ends with a new twist compelling you find out what happens next. This is Tony’s first published novel and I can’t wait for number two. With all the twists and turns throughout the story as soon as I thought I had the plot figured out another spin left me wondering where the story was headed.

The hero, Jude Allman, is difficult to like in the beginning but you end up rooting for him as the story progresses. Jude is asocial with more demons than I would wish on an enemy. While his quirks, fears and prescience make him a cross between Adrian Monk and Johnny Smith you can’t help but like him, in a fish out of water sort of way. Jude starts out a fairly unlikable fellow but his metamorphosis into a more “human” person is believable.

I truly enjoyed this novel and I think you’ll be doing yourself a disservice by not picking up a copy for yourself and a few more for Christmas gifts. Don’t wait for your local library to purchase their copy get your’s today.

UPDATE from David: you can purchase “Waking Lazarus” over in the sidebar under the heading “Big Sky Bookstore.”

Thanks to the helpful prodding of Big Mike, I finally got around to pruning the Big Sky Blogroll; sadly, there were nearly two dozen blogs that haven’t been updated in months (nearly a year, in some cases), so I had to cut them. On the plus side, however, the Wacko Lib pointed out a couple of new-to-me blogs that I promptly added to the roll: Montana Fem and Insane Fisherman. And I stumbled across Tori In Big Sky Country the other day. Go say howdy to the newest additions to the Big Sky Blogroll!

Of course I am not one for “educational scholarships” that have women walking around in skimpy swimsuits and promoting world peace with fake tears. But there is good news on the Montana homefront because the new Miss Teen USA is our very own Miss Teen Montana! Her name is Katie Blair and she is from Billings.

- Tomorrow VP Cheney will be in Whitefish on a campaign stop for Senator Burns.
- And Mrs. Bush is heading to Bozeman later this month also.
Source: Montana’s News Station/KAJ18

PS: Make sure to stop by the fair in Kalispell… but save me a parking spot. Kay?