Thoughts From The Middle of Nowhere

Category: Montana Life

  • Interesting Confluence

    <a href="http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyid=2007-01-25T211639Z_01_N25460726_RTRUKOC_0_US-LIFE-HOME.xml&src=rss&rpc=22" >U.S. home to set world price record at $155 mln</a><br />n<br />n<a href="http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=117&art_id=qw1169791923347S524" >'Beware the affluenza virus'</a><br />n<br />n<br />nThe confluence of these two stories struck me as interesting. An Article about rampant consumerism being harmful and a home being planned that is going to cost $155 million. If there is anything that…

  • Business Friendly, NOT

    Can anyone tell me why the state of Montana is so unfriendly to businesses? They do provide jobs and services throughout the state so why no matter which way we turn does the Legislature take such aims to hurt them?<br />n<br />n<a href="http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2007/billhtml/HB0213.htm">Here</a>, as reported by the <a href="http://montanamainstreetblog.typepad.com/montana_main_street_blog/2007/01/more_ways_to_su.html">Montana Main Street Blog</a>, we have a…

  • Useless Thoughts

    Some things that quickly caught my eye.<br />n<br />nWhen did the Doomsday Clock, which was used to show the threat of a nuclear cataclysm, begin to be used to show <a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BRITAIN_DOOMSDAY_CLOCK?SITE=MTBIL&SECTION=INTERNATIONAL&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT">environmental catastrophe</a>? I was not aware of this change, not that I'm in the loop on this one. It seems like an………interesting change.<br />n<br…

  • What Really Matters

    <a href="http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/01/16/news/state/25-lawmakers.txt" >Lawmakers out-of-staters: Do you care?</a><br />n<br />n<blockquote>More than a quarter of Montana's lawmakers didn't grow up under the Big Sky, a Gazette State Bureau analysis shows, and 10 percent moved to Montana after 1990.<br />n<br />nSome 29 percent – or 43 members – of the state's 150 lawmakers moved to Montana after they…

  • Coyotes

    <a href="http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/01/11/news/state/35-coyote.txt" >Coyote killing contest prompt howls from foes</a><br />n<br />n<blockquote>The barren, wind-swept buttes surrounding this small ranching town will offer scant places for coyotes to hide this weekend, as some 180 hunters from across the country converge for a "calling" contest to see who can shoot the most coyotes over three days.<br />n<br />nPart…

  • Stopping Development

    Any time somebody wants to open a new opportunity in Montana, <a href="http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/12/23/news/state/43-sue.txt">this is what happens</a>. I sometimes wonder if people really want Montana to move forward or not? I know, every time a lawsuit is brought up somebody feels it is necessary. To be right truthful, at times I agree too, like with Coal…

  • Corporate Taxes

    Thanks to <a href="http://montanamainstreetblog.typepad.com/montana_main_street_blog/">Montana Main Street Blog</a> For <a href="http://montanamainstreetblog.typepad.com/montana_main_street_blog/2006/12/us_corporate_ta.html">this one</a>. We see that US <a href="http://www.taxfoundation.org/blog/show/1471.html">corporate tax rates</a> are second highest in the world. In 2000 the US was rated 6th. The US Corporate tax rate hasn't changed as much as other countries has went down.<br />n<br />nThis was all interesting but what I…

  • Giving

    <a href="http://mtpolitics.net">Craig</a> and <a href="http://leftinthewest.com">Matt</a> have joined forces this holiday season to support the Montana Food Bank Network. <a href="http://www.firstgiving.com/mtblogs">Go on over</a> and donate to this good cause and help others less fortunate. Thanks.<br />n<br />n<strong>The giving of love is an education in itself. Eleanor Roosevelt</strong>

  • Passing the Land Along

    <a href="http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/11/01/news/state/20-ranchers.txt" >Study sees shift away from ranching near Yellowstone</a><br />n<br />n<blockquote>Owning a slice of paradise isn't what it used to be. Generations of ranchers on the rural fringes of Yellowstone National Park passed their land to offspring or sold it to likeminded people.<br />n<br />nBut for the past decade and longer, more ranches have…

  • People Are Idiots

    I voted absentee a little while ago because it is easier and quicker for me. When i was done I looked at the envelope and felt the weight and knew that it was going to take more than one stamp to return it so I put two on it and sent it in. I guess…