Montana Festival of the Book
Today and tomorrow
in
various downtown Missoula locations.
Be there or be square!
A Drivel Runs Through It
Friday, September 29, 2006
Montana Festival of the Book
Today and tomorrow
in
various downtown Missoula locations.
Be there or be square!
Yesterday, a co-worker who lives over the ridge told me bears have gotten in her trash twice already. So I came home last night and locked my trash cans in the old outhouse.
Let's all do our part to keep bears from becoming habituated to human food. Remember, a fed bear is a dead bear.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Update: Less than an hour after I posted this, Bloglines introduced a new, improved version. Maybe the bugs have been fixed ...?
~
Is anyone besides me having problems with Bloglines?
Images and HTML emails not loading?
Expanded items popping open blank windows?
The Martha Stewart Show has recently begun airing in its entirety on MarthaStewart.com. This is both good and bad for a Martha junkie like me. Like right now, I should be doing homework, or reading or sleeping or something, but instead I'm watching Tuesday's episode, which featured special guest Ted Turner.
I dig Ted's politics. So I was delighted when, in the third segment -- where Martha is showing Ted how to make an iceberg lettuce salad with buttermilk blue cheese dressing and cherry tomatoes -- he talked about staying friends with his ex-wife, Jane Fonda. He said his philosophy is that "you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar." Then: "Our administration doesn't understand that. They think the best thing to do is go around dropping bombs on everybody ...." Yeah!
And Martha, who typically steers clear of politics, said, "I totally agree with you ... I think I agree with Ted about almost everything."
Right on, Martha!
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Yesterday, the U.S. House unanimously passed the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Route Designation Act of 2006. The Senate version of the bill was unanimously passed last November.
This is huge!
This means that geological sites along the four-state floods path between Missoula and the Pacific Ocean will be linked by federal designation, and eventually by interpretive centers, signage and literature.
The bill still needs to be finalized by a compromise in wording between the House and the Senate. And funding still needs to be appropriated. But the overwhelming support of both legislative bodies suggests this will be achievable.
From H.R. 383:
"The purpose of this Act is to designate the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Route in the States of Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon, enabling the public to view, experience and learn about the Ice Age Floods' features and story through the collaborative efforts of public and private entities."Wooohooo!!!
Links:
- Ice Age Floods Institute
- Glacial Lake Missoula and the Ice Age Floods (from the Montana Natural History Center)
- Text of bill on Thomas (search for "geologic route")
- National Park Service Study of Alternatives and Environmental Assessment
- "Mystery of the Megaflood" on NOVA
- Ice Age Floods photographs on Flickr
- "Sedimental Journey," Montanan article
Monday, September 25, 2006
Hey, check it out. Salon's lead story is about the Montana Senate race:
Tester leads and Burns gets testy (Salon News)
Sunday, September 24, 2006
I've recently noticed that my Blogger archive links, listed at the bottom of the left column on my home page, stop with the June edition. Posts after that are being archived; the links just aren't showing up.
Before I spend precious hours searching through FAQs and staring at code, does anyone have an easy solution for me?
Here's another article I wrote about Montana's sedition law. I actually kind of prefer this one because it focuses on Herman Bausch, a pacifist convicted of sedition (and nearly lynched) for his principled refusal to buy war bonds. He wrote beautifully about his heartwrenching experience. I hope someday his memoirs will be published, for they are as relevant now as they were almost a century ago.
- A Return To Justice: UM helps win pardons for 78 convicted of sedition, Research View, summer 2006
(I also did the web design and contributed a photo for this issue.)
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Friday, September 22, 2006
I had a man take off his shirt for me today. He wanted to show me his new tattoo.
Been a while since that's happened.
Day-um.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
But seeing as it's now after midnight, I'll guess it'll have to be Thursday Thoughts.
First, from Sarpy Sam, the most startling picture I've seen in a while. This makes me grateful my cats have (thus far) only brought me mice, birds, bunnies, gophers and voles.
From Wulfgar, a wonderful, wise little story about the wolves within.
From the wires, a brilliant idea (though I'm sure Meg would disagree): Oprah for President 2008.
Also from the wires: Oops, looks like French women DO get fat. French "tailles fines" giving way to XXL (Reuters via Yahoo News)
Finally, something we would all do well to pay attention to: the UN's 61st General Assembly, under way in New York City. Issues on the agenda, according to the website, are:
- Peace and Security
- Economic Growth and Sustainable Development
- Development of Africa
- Human Rights
- Humanitarian Assistance
- Justice and International Law
- Disarmament
- Organizational and Administrative Matters
Much of the event is available via webcasts, including speeches made by world leaders like Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, who made the news today by calling George W. Bush the devil. Aside from that bit of theatrics, the man had some thought-provoking things to say about U.S. foreign policy during his 24 minutes at the podium. See for yourself.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Sunday, September 17, 2006
I WANT these boots: Roper Harness Bling Chunks.
I've also recently discovered the LiveJournal Fatshionista, which is just fun.
Yeah, I blatantly stole that title from a book of essays, "High Tide in Tucson," by Barbara Kingsolver -- my favorite author.
"High Tide In Montana: Missoula To Flathead Lake" is the title of an upcoming field trip of Glacial Lake Missoula and Flathead Lake features in western Montana. The trip is sponsored by the Glacial Lake Missoula Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute and the Montana Natural History Center.
The daylong bus tour takes place Saturday, Sept. 30, and is guided by UM geology Professor Marc Hendrix, among others. You can read the news release here and download a PDF application here.
I have a couple new stories out:
- When Speech Wasn't Free: UM project produces pardons for seventy-eight sedition convicts, Montanan, fall 2006
- Floods, Flora and Fauna (not online): Exploring the natural history of Glacial Lake Missoula, Montana Naturalist, fall 2006
Also, not a new story, but a republished one:
- Water That Was (PDF): Unearthing the many secrets of Glacial Lake Missoula, The Pleistocene Post, June 2006
This is revolting. I am ashamed for my country.
U.S. war prisons legal vacuum for 14,000 (AP via Yahoo News)
Saturday, September 16, 2006
- Remove window air conditioner
- Light heater's pilot light
- Clear off messy table-slash-desk
- Enter receipts and balance accounts in Quicken
- Pay bills
- Process urgent paperwork
- Read and comment on five classmates' essays
- Read three published essay handouts
- Finish reading "Ordinary Wolves" and begin re-reading "In Cold Blood"
- Vacuum and Swiffer floors
- Clean shower
- Deworm cats
- Call friend who had surgery yesterday
- Return phone call from former best friend I haven't heard from in 15 years
- Respond to 42 emails, including one from former exchange student from Sweden who misses Missoula, one from local chastising me for the brands of candles I blogged about last January, and one from political blogger offering me the opportunity to guest-blog for him.
- Update family history software with info from last week's meeting with second cousin
- Update 101 Things About Me
- Replace old Flickr photo badge on website with new Flash badge
- Order slide/negative scanning
- Figure out how to refinish vintage trunk recently bought for $5
- Figure out how to remove rivets from new denim jacket bought at Ross and replace them with regular buttons so I can use vintage silver Indian button covers bought on eBay
- Plan Christmas cards and gifts
- Return socks that don't fit
- Cry
- Go back to bed
Here's a news story that manages to be both terrifying and heartwarming at the same time.
A woman's husband hires a hit man, who attacks her with a claw hammer in her home. She gets the hammer away from him, then strangles him to death.
After all that, she tells people on her voice mail: "I want you to know that our lives are all at risk for random acts, but more likely random acts of love will come your way than random acts of violence."
Police say Portland intruder strangled by nurse was a hit man
(Seattle Times)
Thursday, September 14, 2006
AKA Gay's ditch.
I went skinny-dipping, or as I prefer to call it, chunky-dunking, right here shortly before taking this picture. In the process, I was eaten alive by mosquitoes.
The sacrifices I make to bring beautiful images to you!
Monday, September 11, 2006
In no particular order.
Chicago
Mendocino
Hawaii
Catalina Island
Burning Man
*New Orleans
Gulf Coast islands near Louisiana
Nova Scotia
Maine
*New York
*Washington DC
Egypt
Morocco
Greece
Italy
Paris
Normandy Coast
*Oregon Coast
*San Juan Islands
*Vancouver
England
Scotland
Norway
Prague
Los Cabos and Cozumel, Mexico
Puerto Rico
Thailand
Japan
*I've been and now I want to go back!
Saturday, September 09, 2006
I just uploaded a big batch of photos to my Flickr album. I shot this one at Gay's last weekend.
Friday, September 08, 2006
I love Colorful Images for personalized stationery and other cute things.
But this has got to be bad feng shui:
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
It is an ordinary summer day on Montana's Hi-Line. The sun is oven-hot. On the outskirts of Havre, pop. 9,621, business is slow at the Holiday Village Mall. A space vacated by Bi-Mart has left Herberger's the only anchor tenant. The parking lot behind the mall is bordered by chain link fence and three strands of barbed wire, which guard a small trailer and tipi. Beyond them, an arid river valley stretches across to barren bluffs.
It is 12:15 p.m. This is the third time I've tried to visit the Wahkpa Chu'gn Buffalo Jump. It was closed on my previous tries. Now the gate is open, but a sign on the trailer door says the guide will return at 12:35. I wait. I take pictures. I return to my car for a hat and long sleeves to protect me from the sun.
Carrying a fast-food sack, a young woman in a T-shirt and shorts crosses the mall parking lot. The guide. She says the next tour won't begin until 1 p.m., after her lunch break. I look at my watch and think about the six-hour drive back to Missoula. I decide to wait. In the air-conditioned, Glade-scented trailer, I browse among pseudo-Native American trinkets. I buy a $5 bracelet hand-braided with an Indian nickel and blue plastic beads. The guide tells me she made it. She will start art school in Seattle soon.
At 12:49 p.m., my guide finishes her lunch and announces we can start the tour early. We walk down wooden stairs built into the mountainside. Below us are five sheds connected by hot asphalt. We climb into a beige golf cart and putt down the path. The cart makes me feel weak, cosseted.
At the first red-painted shed, my guide unlocks the padlocked door, revealing a square pit dug into the hillside. Layered with heavy soil are more bones than I have ever seen in one place. On this ordinary day, I am startled enough to gasp.
Beginning 2,000 years ago -- when Jesus walked the earth, she points out -- humans drove bison to their deaths off the cliffs here. Buffalo jumps are common across the Plains states, but the Wahkpa Chu'gn (walk-pa-chew-gun, the Assinniboine name for the nearby Milk River) is one of the largest and best-preserved. This bison kill was used at different times by three distinct cultures: the Besant, Avonlea and Saddle Butte.
They herded 30 or 40 bison at a time over the cliffs. Animals not killed in the tumble were dispatched by atlatl. Meat was only part of what made the bison precious to Native Americans; its skin, organs, fat and bones were used for everything from clothing and cooking utensils to soap and tools. The remnants now lie up to 20 feet deep in layers of soil and bones.
The layers tell stories. Here, fetal bones speak of an early spring hunt. There, buffalo blood remains as red soil. Here, a black stripe from a grassfire 600 years ago.
Each time my guide opens the padlocked doors of what look like backyard sheds, I can't help but ooh and ah in wonderment. Two-thousand years of bones remind me that what looks like ordinary on the surface might be anything but. Life, death. How extraordinary.
Links:
- Wahkpa Chu'gn Buffalo Jump
- My Wahkpa Chu'gn photo album on Flickr
- Havre, Montana, on Wikipedia
- City of Havre
- Holiday Village Mall
Shortly before I moved from San Francisco back to Montana in 1992, I bought a pin of Ray Troll's "Spawn Till You Die" image. It spoke to me on several levels: It's witty, punny and dark, and it addresses overpopulation, which I believe is the biggest challenge facing humans and the planet.At some point, I lost the pin, but I missed it so much that about a year ago I tracked down another one on eBay. Wahoo.
Ray Troll will be in Missoula Sept. 13-14 to give two lectures about his art at UM. They are free and open to the public.
How cool is that?
Monday, September 04, 2006
Is it just me, or does time speed up as you get older? When I was a kid, it seemed like summer lasted almost forever. Now it's gone in the blink of an eyelash.
I'm back from a quick trip to the Hi-Line, where I visited my friend Gay near Chinook. My drive up Saturday took longer than the usual five and a half or six hours because I kept stopping at rummage sales! But I found two treasures: a wooden butterfly napkin holder ($1) that I plan to paint white and store washcloths in, and a really old trunk ($5) partially covered in stamped metal and lined with newspaper dating back to 1898. It needs work but will make a darling little coffee table.
Despite coming loaded for bear with three different mosquito repellants, I managed to get eaten alive within my first hour at the farm. I didn't figure I'd need to put on all those nasty chemicals just for a quick swim in the irrigation canal. Why do I never learn? Why?
Sunday we went out on the lake -- Fresno Dam west of Havre -- in Gay's boat. Now that's living.
On my way out of town this morning, I stopped at the Wahkpa Chu'gn buffalo jump for a tour. Wow, that was cool. I will post more about it later.
In the meantime, my camera's memory card is jam-packed full, my Treo is stuck in a reset loop, and I've got work, homework and lots of email and Internet catchup to do. I'll leave you for now with my first attempt at movie editing. It's a four-minute mix of video and stills shot on my Treo during a couple of float trips this summer. The picture quality is horrible and my iMovie editing is very tongue in cheek, but it's gotten 80 views on YouTube!
Friday, September 01, 2006
I am woman. And more often than not, I am invisible.
I'm breaking my August Internet fast a few days early to put in my two cents on the "Meet the Bloggers" article in yesterday's Missoula Independent. Actually, my two cents appears to be worth only about three-quarters of a cent in the Montana media.
Let's see. In November 2004, six Montanans, all men, were interviewed for a Bozeman Chronicle article headlined "Montana bloggers are making noise." The only mention of a woman was two sentences about the DC-based blog Wonkette.
In March 2005, Yellowstone Public Radio announced an upcoming radio show about blogging, featuring a line-up of three male guests (and the male host). After some agitation by myself and a few others, they added a female blogger to the panel.
And now we have another six men, and zero women, interviewed in the Independent.
Starting to notice a pattern?
Let me make a few things clear, before y'all start accusing me of being shrill, strident and a Feminazi: I don't think these guys have it out for women. I don't think they're insensitive or unevolved. In fact, I'm a big fan of several of them.
I also acknowledge that while men are more likely to blog about serious, important things like politics, women are sometimes more concerned with dalliances like fashion, cats and poetry. However, that doesn't mean we don't exist. I can think of several of us who post about serious, important things at least once in a while: Courtney Lowery at New West, Sharon at Watermark, Maureen at Raven's Nest, Prairie Mary, In All Her Infinite Wisdom, Big Sky Humanist, Ideal Bite.
And how in the world could an article about Montana political bloggers overlook Granny Insanity? I adore Wulfgar, but Granny could surely give him a run for his money in the "rabidly partisan liberal" department.
I actually ran into former classmate Jay Stevens (AKA Touchstone) last night in the Good Food Store. At that point, I had picked up a copy of the Independent, glanced at the photographs and observed, with a thud, that they appeared to all be men. I held my tongue, though, until I had read the article.
While chatting with Jay, I mentioned that I'd like to post about politics more often, but several things hold me back. For one, I often feel I'm walking a fine line between my professional life, my personal life and my academic life. I would love to be the next Molly Ivins, but I fear that if I posted what I really think all the time, I'd just end up homeless, jobless and friendless.
For another thing, it takes a lot of time and energy to post about issues, as well as to read and respond to the comments that follow, especially from the nutjobs who just want to argue, insult and threaten you.
Which brings up another issue that, I think, keeps a lot of women silent: personal safety. I have learned from experience that an opinionated woman often becomes a target for the psychos and control freaks of the world.
What do you think, women? And men? What is it going to take for female bloggers to stop being invisible?
