Big Sky Blog

Over at the blog of the University of Nebraska Press there is a Montana trivia quiz Go ahead and give it your best shot!

One of the most prominent on-line communities, MetaFilter, featured a post about the “chicken issue” in Missoula. Montana doesn’t often come into play in such communities, so this is pretty cool. My favorite part of this whole thing is the Radwood Chicken Experiment blog, which features the amazingly whimsical line: “I, along with my husband, am highly entertained by the idea of having our own tiny flock of chickens.” And the RCE blog has now been added to the roster of Big Sky Bloggers!

Big Mike in Bozeman has links to two videos to celebrate Valentine’s Day; one is sweet, and the other is…um…funny. Sarpy Sam has some thoughts about the so-called “holiday” that I’m sure many people share. And I’ve got some links to some last-minute (and thrifty) gift ideas.

Time once again for another round of “Moving To Montana!” Today’s entry comes from Mark, a legal secretary living in Chicago:

I am seriously considering moving to Montana. Either Butte, Kalispell, Livingston or Bozeman. I love the mountains. I was raised in Pittsburg but left when I was 18, over 30 years ago and have lived most of that time in Chicago. I want a simpler life, less hectic than the fast paced city. I am looking for a friendlier, simpler, slower life. I have been back to MT many times and will never be able to get it out of my system, but at the same time am a bit trepidatious about a move like this. I have over 30 years experience as a legal secretary in many different types of law. I know I won’t be earning the amount of money I earn now but I do need to make a “livable” salary. I would appreciate any comments or suggestions you might have. I would like to do this move this spring or summer at the latest. Thank you for your input, it is much appreciated.

I’m no expert on the four places that Mark listed, but I don’t think he could go wrong with Kalispell or Bozeman (although of course I am partial to Great Falls)! If any of my fellow Montanans have some location-specific advice for Mark, please drop a comment here – thanks!

We all know that Missoula has a reputation for being somewhat liberal, politically and culturally. So it comes as no surprise – via OpenSecrets – that Missoula leads the largest communities in Montana in campaign donations to John Edwards, arguably the most liberal of the major Presidential candidates (well, until last week, when he dropped out of the race). Here is the list of candidates who raised the most Montana money in Missoula: