News you can use
News you can use
Sorted by date Results 2586 - 2610 of 3210
Several years ago, a colleague showed up to work limping. After I asked him about it, he revealed that he’d gotten kicked by a horse, each hind hoof connecting with a corresponding buttock, sending him flying headfirst into a snow drift. It’s worth taking a moment to picture that, a mental image that is equal parts horrifying, rich with sympathy pains and hilarious. OK, mostly hilarious. (That is the sort of thing that happens to Yosemite Sam and Wile E. Coyote all the tim... Full story
Our sidewalks are not being cleared of snow to universal approval. Havre’s current ordinance calls for homeowners to clear the sidewalks on their property within 24 hours. Why are the property owners being asked to maintain a public walkway? Are they asked to clear the streets in front of their houses and businesses as well? The answer is, obviously, “No.” This expectation of the citizens to take responsibility for shoveling sidewalks is downright dangerous because it lessens our dependence on government services. Furth... Full story
The one thing that the producer/directors of the new film "Winter in the Blood" capture in a remarkable way is the stunningly spectacular scenery of the mountains, plains and riverbottoms of north-central Montana. Alex and Andrew Smith, the movie-makers from Missoula who were inspired to make a movie of James Welch's first major novel, lay out the striking region of the Hi-Line in a way that has never been seen in film before. But not only is the natural scenery of the region captured very well in the film but also we get a... Full story
Those familiar dangers we learn from childhood on are such a part of our consciousness that they carry instinctual wisdom and warnings that become second nature. Growing up in the Milk River Valley and the foothills and plains beyond, we know to stay away from the river in flood, stay out of the pasture with the mean bull and don’t pick up a baby rattlesnake, cute or not. Such wisdom even tells us if the rattlesnake has just had its head chopped off, leave it for a while. Refl... Full story
“Winter in the Blood” is finally showing in Hi-Line theaters after gracing cinemas in Missoula, Minneapolis and London, as well as various film festivals. The film follows Virgil First Raise, played by Chaske Spencer, and his inner turmoil as he drowns in a dream-world of liquor caught in between two worlds, neither of which he feels he belongs in. First Raise struggles with finding a cultural identity after he is told he is a “half-breed,” and begins experiencing disconnect at both his family’s ranch and the towns he freque... Full story
The recent ruling by the Montana Supreme Court upholding our state’s stream access law and the ability of everyone to get to streams from county roads is a victory of all Montanans and all who enjoy our public waters. It also illustrates the stark difference of views about who should get to enjoy public land and water. The case, Public Access v. Madison County, challenged a landowner’s ability to block off access to the Ruby River at three bridges used by the public for decades. James Cox Kennedy, a Ruby Valley landowner and... Full story
All of us see the world through the prism of our own experience. As I look back through that prism, I can still see, hanging on my parents’ hallway wall, three pictures — Jesus Christ, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and John L. Lewis, president of the United Mine Workers Union. These men, these giants, informed my family’s political and life perspective, and mine as well. The values of those three giants led me to a life of political and community activity based upon a belief that the backbone of America is the people — the wor... Full story
I hate to sound all hard-core, fundamentalist, evangelical religious, but it just may be true that music is the instrument of the devil. And if that’s the case, the music website Pandora.com is the devil’s stomping grounds, and the earworm — aka the song stuck in your head — is his irritating little minion. For someone like me who really enjoys music but is not an avid-enough lover of music to keep up on new artists and to actually spend money to buy music, Pandora is an amazi... Full story
Spring lurks around the corner patiently waiting to burst forth into kaleidoscopic glory. Down here in Mexico, while daily temperatures peak in the perfection of the lower 80s and bougainvillea, weighty with color, drape over every upright structure, who can tell from spring! Not much to go by but a calendar. If one has a calendar. When the New Year approached I could not find a new calendar. I’m an old hand at making do. My much-scribbled 2013 calendar is filling the gap. F... Full story
Indian Trail, N.C.: the final town council frontier. This was the last general meeting of council member David Waddell. His four year mission: to explore strange new conservative practices, to seek out new funding and new budgets. to boldly cut where no council member had cut budgets before. I’ve heard of LARPing — live action role playing where geeks dress as other-worldly fantasy/action game characters and act out their game moves. I’ve read about how avid fans of scien... Full story
The Montana Supreme Court recent ruling on an important stream access case represents an alarming expansion of access law at the detriment of property rights. But despite headlines announcing a win for stream access, the court all but ignored the 1,000 pound gorilla in the case: whether Montana’s stream access law is constitutional. Ultimately, if the appellants are successful in appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court, the case may yet prove to restore the property rights that were taken from Montana landowners 30 years ago. T... Full story
Last weekend, members and friends of the Chippewa Cree Tribe gathered at Montana State University-Northern for a winter powwow celebration. Right in the center of the activities was Rep. Steve Daines, R-Mont. He took part in the entrance dance when hundreds of Native American in Indian attire entered the gym. It’s not that unusual that politicians take part in powwow celebrations, but it is a might unusual to see Republicans take part. Of course, Daines’ appearance was labeled as a fact-finding effort and had nothing to do... Full story
If any had asked me, I would have told them that I would likely live into my late 80s or early 90s. I have longevity on my mother’s side, after all: most of her brothers and sisters and mother lived into their 80s. My father’s side? Not as good, but his mom lived into her 80s. If anyone had asked me. No one did, but I thought about it now and then. When I heard of someone with cancer or attended a funeral of a friend or acquaintance, I wondered how I would end, and more importantly, how I would handle the inevitable, eit... Full story
We can all rest easy, now. The latest reports from the those in the know, say that 2014 will most likely be a better year for the porn industry. Oh, yeah, NBCNews.com had a whole write up on it Tuesday in its business section, so it’s legit. Very legit, according to one source who said that porn is a $97 billion industry globally and $10 to $12 billion of that is generated in the U.S. alone. Who knew? It seems like a wildly outrageous number, but I’m inclined to believe it... Full story
Chip away the ice, pull on a pair of shorts, T-shirt, flip flops, sun block, a hat and come with me on a mini-tour of my immediate neighborhood. I’m only a block from the beach, so you might like to go sunbathe after our walk. I thought you might enjoy a respite from Montana chill. A half block out my door and we are on Cameron Sabala, the main drag in the tourist sector of Mazatlan. Unlike getting a bus out of town, getting a bus in town is easy and costs pennies. There is a... Full story
Thanksgiving is long over, but I’ve been trying to keep that spirit of giving thanks alive throughout the year — which is all heartwarmingly fine and furry until you get the flu and then your husband doubles down on that illness action, too. My challenge, since succumbing last weekend to fever and chills and coughing and a general malaise which has inspired up to 22 hours a day of sleeping, is to find 10 things about this bout of flu for which I am thankful. 1) It’s not intest...
In 2008 when I accepted a tenure-track teaching position at Montana State University-Northern, I felt extraordinarily fortunate to land a job that allows me to do the things I enjoy and work on things that interest me. And, as a native of Montana, I was thrilled to be working in Montana after several years of being away. One of my favorite courses to teach is applied business leadership, with topics around the importance of vision. Manning and Curtis (2013), in “The Art of Leadership” presented “10 qualities that mark a lea... Full story
A few things from the editor’s notebook: Tonight will mark the end in a chapter in Havre history. Bob Kaftan will step down as a Havre city councilman. His two terms completed, Kaftan decided not to run for re-election. The courtly gentleman has always been a soft voice on the council. His love of his adopted hometown is obvious as he talks about his many friends and neighbors in the community. Retired from Montana State University-Northern, he was asked to run for Ward 3 councilman by then-Mayor Bob Rice, a friend who he r... Full story
We would like to thank the Hingham Volunteer Fire Department for coming out and trying to save our hog barn and other out building. A special thank-you to Jaunita Spicher for spotting the fire and calling it in. We are very grateful to be a part of such a great community. Mark Horinek Family Ruth Horinek Family... Full story
Anymore, I’m happy once Christmas is over not because I am curmudgeonly or because of the commercialism, or the mad frenzy to have everything ready for the big day, or even the constant sound-barrage of Christmas music. It’s the big mud-pit brawl over whether Christmas is a holiday or a holy day that is sucking the life out of the celebration. If there were such a designation as “The Biggest Brouhaha Over Nothing,” my vote would see the award go to the argument-cloud surroun... Full story
The Teatro walls were crumbling, the courtyard given over to dust and dismay, and a historic part of Old Mazatlan doomed to fade into distant memory. With vision, perseverance and pesos, volunteers renovated the Grand Old Dame and today, tucked into a corner of the Plazuela Machado, the Angela Peralta Teatro thrives, a cultural landmark in Historic Old Town. Kathy, Richard and I recently attended an orchestral performance at the Angela Peralta conducted by world-class Jan... Full story
I believe the definition of fizzle is “to fail pitifully, drizzled in embarrassment.” For what it’s worth, I’d rather fail spectacularly because, really, if you’re going to fail it might as well be epic. In the case of a public speaking fail, flop sweats should actually gush from your pores like from a sprinkler system. Extravagant gesturing should wipe out a table-full of wine bottles. That Tourette-like thing where I start swearing to make a dock-worker proud, like I di... Full story
Patience is a virtue. In my new country I must exercise patience on a daily basis. Therefore I live among a virtuous people indeed. Logic 101. I, however, have been found out. I stand revealed as one naked in my impatience, not virtuous at all. Previously I would have described myself as patient. More patient than most I might have said with a hint of a smirk. I might have felt a bit smugly righteous. If “instant gratification” is the mantra of people in the United Sta... Full story
William Hobbins stands in front of Walmart every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., singing, greeting people, telling jokes and wishing folks a merry Christmas. And, by the way, he collects money for the Salvation Army, urging people to donate to his favorite cause by dropping coins in his red kettle. His cheery demeanor, his music - he brings his smartphone and plays Christmas tunes - and his determination brings in more money for the Salvation Army than just about any other... Full story
I’ve long held that I learn the best life lessons about being a better human from my animals. Not that I spend time staring into my dog’s brown eyes pondering the existential status of the universe or basing important life choices on how many times my cat twines himself around my legs before tripping me or reading my future from my horses’ manure like Asian tea leaves. Occasionally, though, a lesson presents itself. I give you: The Booty Lesson. My dog, Cooper, has thin skin... Full story
