here in missoula

Indians must teach us the true way

to conduct a seance

because our dead are so outnumbered

a long time ago

we writhed like worms on barbed hooks

dangled in front of hungry trout

but we found a way to crawl off

and dig out homes more suitable

than teeth

grew up on

Looking Glass Hill 845 Cheshire street

where jar headed kids on stingrays

threw dirt clods and filberts at the weak

and the lonely vet drank all day telling us

he was the first up Iwo Jima and his kids

gave me whooping cough

best job i ever had

we drilled anchor holes for a snow retaining wall

to keep glaciers from pushing Paradise Lodge

off the side of Mt Rainier

gave away my best bird dog to the construction foreman

who promised her a good home.

met set designers for Muppets Take Manhatten

in the Motel lounge while watching the world series

and we cheered each eruption from Mt Saint Helens.

another day in Missoula

and another great writer shows his stuff

to the world with great swooping rooster tails

pushed along by 300 horsepower twin merc brains

and here I limp along- nurse my 5 horse Evinrude

with a coughy carburetor

too dumb to be scared

i cut accross the wake

stubborn for that distant shore

Charlies Bar

was also Eddies club when Mr Hugo lived here

but I came too late to Missoula to meet him

so I learned to travel where ghosts end up

and found him almost everywhere I went

An email from a reliable friend tells me that Gary Brown, opponent to Bill Nooney in House District 100, has withdrawn due to medical issues.

I certainly wish the best to Gary and his family. Health should be foremost.

This means E. Willis Curdy will likely pick up the challenge. Curdy was Brown's opponent in the Democratic primary, Brown besting Curdy by less than 70 votes.

More in the future - in the meantime, good, positive thoughts for Gary and his family.

Boy, what was I, one for three on yesterday's posts? Sometimes you just gotta walk away from the keyboard.....

Councilman Ed Childers - an all to infrequent poster both here and at his own weblog - sent me some clarifications on my post from yesterday, Thoughts on That Seemingly Defunct Gas Tax.

Apparently the city's police station won't be on the levy and bond list for the next election, and the city isn't complaining about maintaining the county roads, because, well, they don't maintain the county roads (a fact I knew, btw...)

We differ in our view on the PAC issues - the story I link to shows that MRA is writing up a urban renewal district to meet the needs of a potential developer of the PAC and the mayor does seem to continue to be awfully cushy-cushy with the whole deal...but Councilman Childers is entitled to his opinion. Maybe it isn't city council, but it is city entities seeming to push the big elephant forward. That and some well-connected citizens, I guess.

Boy, I really don't like that PAC, do I?

Ed's pretty fancy with his MSWord skills too - check it out: Ed Childers' Clarifications...

One more clarification, too, was needed: Apparently you do need a permit from Planning & Grants for a money tree. Hopefully it isn't more than $50.

Guess who's a VIP now? Check it:

Oh, you're right. I guess that postcard could be for anyone. Well, here's further proof. My name's on the invite.

If you've ever read The Thread That Would Not Die, you know that Steve Edgar, the owner of our new Hooters, has kindly invited me and a guest to the grand opening next Saturday night. Just think about it: all it took to become a VIP was writing a throwaway post several months ago.

You guys should really get your own blogs; the magic could happen to you, too.

“It started innocently enough,” I told Jerald. “At a Christmas party in a Missoula Italian Restaurant, my campaign manager scribbled in crayon upon a paper table cloth: ‘Robert for President.’ The idea stuck. I thought why not. Within days, the website was constructed and our bar was transformed into Campaign Headquarters. It became a community civics lesson. On an occasion or two, the entire bar would be talking about the campaign and what role they would play in it and subsequently the Robert Administration. Of course, as time went by many lost interest but a few hardcore believers held true to the idea. We’re not delusional, we knew from the beginning we didn’t have a chance to get on any ballots, let alone win a state. We have our goals, and if we attain them, we will consider ourselves victorious, a group of hicks from rural Montana making a statement in presidential politics, only in America.

Jerald was good at his job. Creating a comfortable environment which I felt at ease to talk about the details of the campaign few outside of Alberton’s inner-circle knew.

Outside of a fundraiser, I am funding this campaign with savings. As I state on the web page, I know how to work with a shoestring budget. I can get mileage from a dollar. Many leaders have forgotten this skill.

“What is the campaign’s goal?” Jerald asked.

“I could say a blond in every fridge, but I won’t. It’s an Alberton secret, one that may be released on November 5^th.

“What’s the big deal; why the secrecy?”

“It’s not a big deal. You will be disappointed by its banality.

“Try me.”

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

Afternoon/Night: I’d parted ways with the freelance writer and worked my way to Boston Common. I took an hour to stand on the corners about the park and waved my sign at the infamous Boston traffic. Afterwards, I avoided Bull and Finch Tavern, aka Cheers and settled into the 21^st Amendment on Bowdoin St. This stop kicked off a tour of local bars that I hadn’t matched since Minneapolis/St. Paul. Around 9:00PM I found myself in Durty Nellyn on Blackstone St. It was here I switched from Tall blondes to 7-up. “Get a load of this clown, the bum thinks he’s running for president!” a twenty-something adolescent cried to his cronies. “You gonna dig the country out of debt by panhandling?”

“There’s an idea,” I retorted before walking away.

“Where you think you’re going?” he called after me.

I turned to him and said, “Leave me alone, Man.”

A few heads turned towards us. “What do you think of National defense?” he said before shoving me.

“I said leave me alone, man!”

“Ma-an,” he mocked. “With a national defense plan like that, the raghead’s will be over us like stink of shit.” He approached me again.

I held my ground and as he was about to shove me again I kneed the knot head in his most vulnerable area. Standing over him as he writhed on the ground, I told him that was a demonstration of my national defense plan. When provoked, we will warn an aggressor before striking a definitive blow.

To rousing applause, I left the bar, hailed a taxi and hitched a ride back to Medford where I holed up in a boxcar and awaited my next stop.

Bonehead of the week

Goes to the dude who cut off the Hells Angels on I-90. Now the Angels were in the wrong but still, sometimes you have to let things go. Especially if you have your 17-year-old daughter in the car. What's this guy going to do for an encore, stroll through the streets of Tehran with a "The Ayatollah Sucks" placard?

I'm not a big fan of the Hell's Angels -- racist, sexist, gay-bashing, and prone to violence and meth distribution -- but I'd probably cut them some slack on the highway when they're bearing down on me.

By the way, shouldn't the Angels pick up the tab ($139,371) for all the extra patrols Missoula is paying for to keep the citizenry secure? Just a thought -- although don't ask me to present them with the bill.

Slower than molasses ...

Back in my globe-trotting days, I flew into airports from Belize to Borneo, Caracas to Cotenou, Malaysia to Madagascar. The slowest baggage delivery system I've encountered? Missoula, Montana.

I mean, how long does it take to unload an eighty-passenger Horizon turbo-prop? (Thirty minutes, the last time I flew into Missoula.)

I smell the Tavern Owners Association

I have nothing against taverns. I've passed more than a few pleasurable hours at various watering holes around the state. The Montana Tavern Owners Association, however, is one of my least favorite lobbies.

I've seen it ram lousy bills through the Montana Legislature, with help from both political parties: from stifling cabaret licenses, to hobbling brewers, to being the mouthpiece for all those obnoxious casinos.

Now it has the Montana Department of Revenue doing it's dirty work. Apparently, the department is going to crack down on tasting room patrons who can't finish their beverages by 8 p.m. That's right, 8 p.m.

On a less bitchy note

Look for the 'Think Local, Buy Local' stickers in various independent businesses around Missoula. The Sustainable Business Council is promoting this campaign with an official launch at the River City Roots Festival, Aug. 23-24 . Here are just a few of the reasons to buy local:

* You bolster our economic base since local businesses are more likely to use other local services and products.

* You keep more tax dollars in our community to support our schools, parks, police, and other services.

* You support businesses that provide a large share of jobs in our community and are more invested in Missoula’s future.

* You ensure a solid foundation for our nonprofit organizations because they receive a majority of their donations from locally-owned businesses.

* You protect the beauty and natural resources of our community. Our local stores help sustain vibrant, compact, and walkable shopping districts and conserve energy and resources by reducing the transportation costs of goods.

First Friday - beloved by Missoulians and visitors alike for its free beverage and munchies and fabulous art - will include a special exhibit upstairs at 515 S Higgins. It begins at 5 p.m.

The show will feature portraits, in paint and photo, of Poverello Center clients and residents. All exhibits are by local artists painter Kimberly Anderson and photographer Catherine L. Walters.

Behind every face is a story. From the Pov:

Meet four-year-old Layne, who came to live at the Joseph Residence at Maclay Commons with his mom and little brother after months where they were unable to make ends meet, they were evicted from their Missoula home, and left homeless.

Meet Pat, who found refuge at the Poverello Center in downtown Missoula when she lost everything she owned because her run down, beat up old car burst into flames. Pat came to the Pov with only a warped and charred driver's license from the fire and the clothes on her back.

Meet Steve, who came to the Poverello Center in search of peace of mind after losing someone dear to him to a horrendous tragedy.

Head to the other side of the bridge and see and discuss the many faces of homelessness in Missoula.

It's almost that time again!   The Missoula County Republicans will have another fabulous booth at the Western Montana Fair this year, same place downstairs in the Commercial Building.  

Come check it out, meet our candidates and visit with our volunteers.

Booth hours are 10 am to 10 pm, from Tuesday Aug. 5 through Sunday Aug. 10.

See you there!

A Stay of Execution for the Wolves
Published: July 26, 2008

A federal judge in Missoula, Mont., has given Rocky Mountain gray wolves a well-deserved reprieve. In February, the federal Fish and Wildlife Service had effectively sentenced hundreds of wolves to death by lifting the protections provided by the Endangered Species Act. Since then, because of far weaker state protections in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, more than 100 wolves out of a total population of 1,500 have been killed. As many as 500 more were doomed to die in state-authorized hunts this fall.

Judge Donald Molloy issued a preliminary injunction last week restoring federal protections. That ends the slaughter, at least for now. And while the case is far from settled, the dozen conservation groups that brought the suit are hopeful that his injunction will survive further court tests and that the Fish and Wildlife Service will be forced to provide a better plan to protect the wolves.

[snip]

All three states have weak plans — not one has made a firm, enforceable commitment to maintain viable wolf populations — but Wyoming’s is the worst. Under its management plan, the wolf is treated as a predator — liable to be shot on sight — in parts of the state and as a trophy game animal in the rest.

This deep-set hostility has only a little to do with ranching. It is really driven by the competition between human hunters and wolves for the same game animals: elk and deer. And underneath it all is a false myth — the wolf as a kind of ferocious coward and an indiscriminate killer — that says less about the true nature of wolves than it does about human fear.
SOURCE

Only 9 days since the Mt. Sentinel fire.

It's amazing how fast these things move. I had only driven by it about an hour before and I hadn't seen a thing. Hopefully, the two old roads up there will serve as a break so that firefighters get this thing out by tonight. It was slightly windy, causing it to move up the hill.

Some pretty fancy helicopter work. These guys have to hate situations like this. Immediately adjacent to the highway with a steep hillside. Winds. It doesn't even look easy.

I liked these two...the sun was just sinking behind the trees. I thought they looked neat.

The Lolo Volunteers got there pretty quick. The whole fire scene is pretty regimented - for good reason - Montana firefighters have an excellent safety record. These guys and gals (yep - there are female volunteers out there in Lolo, folks!) came ready in their nomex and were standing by waiting for their orders.

Who knew the Hip Strip was so highbrow?

Oh yeah - "own a piece of Missoula's history in the heart of our vibrant downtown" the Lambros MLS notes: Unit 2, one of the turetted units that's been renovated, is currently being offered at $499,500, while you can opt to pick it up without a complete interior remodel for only $403,532.

I don't know, maybe I can pick the colors and the cabinets, and see if they'll take $495,500. Whadda ya think? I can even forego window treatments.

Of particular interest is the east side patio area which will include an outdoor cooking space with a Viking gas grill and Traeger smoker, dining area and landscaping with seating areas. For indoor gatherings, the community room will have a Brunswick 8' pool table, card table, wet bar, Sony Bravia XBR LCD television and a restroom.

Quite the party house, huh? Wonder what the rest of the tenant's will say about all that noise?

Of course, if Unit 2 is out of your price range, perhaps Unit 1 will do - you can pick that one up now for steal (sans complete interior remodel) for $415,000. You'll have to skip the turret, but you still get the top floor, plus you also get a grand staircase entrance!

Then again, if you are really low on cash you can hit up Units 4-13, which range from $237,000 to $298,750.

Unit 13, coming in at 634 sq. ft. (does that include the closets?) will be $237,000 completely renovated - but of course, you can do the reno yourself and save $20,000.

Before you go all crazy, folks - don't forget to check the HOA fees and docs before you sign the bottom line.

You'll also need 20% down. Don't want to make the mortgage banks too nervous.

My view hasn't changed on this subject, so let me first just get this out of the way:

Trapping, on the other hand, seems to me to be a chicken-shit way of conquering wildlife. The hunter doesn’t hunt - he sets a trap and walks away. In Montana, he doesn’t even have to check it. Wildlife deserves a much more noble ending - and man should offer at least that much respect.

FWP is seeking input on their trapping and furbearer regulations. Deadline is July 18th. You can enter comments here.

First the lowlights:
--FWP proposes to add wolves to the repertoire. Gee, that's what I've always wanted! A wolf fur coat! It can shed all over the place and I don't even have to feed it! Imagine the complements!
--They're proposing to increase the bobcat quota. Bobcats are in the lynx family, and Canada lynx are a USFS Threatened species, a BLM Special Status species, and a Listed Threatened species for FWP. Now, why in the hell would you do that? Why are we even hunting a state Listed Threatened species?!

Wait - got one more.....
--FWP is also proposing - keeping still with the lowlights here, folks - to continue hunting wolverines.

Montana is the only state in the lower 48 that allows hunting of this Montana Species of Concern, and a USFS & BLM listed Sensitive species.

A handful of environmental groups recently filed a 60-day notice of intent to sue the US Fish & Wildlife Service based on their failure to protect wolverines in the lower 48.

Consider this, from Footloose Montana:

Oppose the allowance of wolverine trapping. Facts: Wolverine face an uncertain future ─ in fact what we know about this elusive creature is that the stability of its populations are tenuous at best - so much so that the species was petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Yet Montana is the only state in the lower 48 to still allow commercial and recreational trapping! Trappers consider wolverines trophy animals ─ their pelts are valued at close to $300 each. Researchers estimate that there are between 100 to 200 members of this rare species in the entire Rocky Mountains. Although federal protection under the Endangered Species Act was recently denied by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the results of several research studies conducted over the past five years all point to the imminent dangers wolverines face and the possibility of regional extinctions of the species throughout their historic range. Studies show that trapping pressure can be intense on regional populations. Moreover, in the face of climate change and increasingly fragmented and shrinking habitats, it is incumbent upon wildlife managers to do all that they can to protect this rare species.

Now some highlights:
-- FWP plans to close the heavily human trafficked Blue Mountain, Rattlesnake and Pattee Canyon Designated USFS Recreational areas to trapping.
--They are also proposing to change the setback distance from public trailheads from 300 to 1000 feet.

Click on pic for story.

Now here's one that is an improvement, but I use that word lightly. It's a start in trying to gather some statistics on part of the problem. It fails to address the other non-targeted species that get caught in traps, since there is no requirement to report. I also find the inclusion of the word "accidental" problematic:
--Changes proposed to require the reporting of accidental dog captures to the nearest FWP regional office within 48 hours.

~~~~~
It only takes a minute folks - hell, you're already in front of your computer for crying out loud! - please consider clicking here and letting FWP know what you think.

You might want to consider leaving "chicken-shit" out of the email.

Now we have to contend with the USFS approving 'em on the National Forest.

Lovely.

Oh, and a real sense of irony, it's Ravalli County that's gonna use it.

As reported by the Missoulian's Keila Szpaller, city council conservatives are all aflutter over a recent post on the list serve called MissoulaGov. The first thing to note is this is not an organ of Missoula's city government but a private list serve created by Ward 3's Bob Jaffe to keep citizens informed on Missoula City Council issues.

Ward 1's Jason Weiner Wiener wrote the most recent post as Jaffe was out of town. Wiener revealed how committees would be run if the conservatives were in the majority (which they happened to be on the Public Safety and Health Committee because a bunch of committee members were out of town for work, vacations, etc.). From Wiener's report:

"With the self-style conservative minority firmly in control of the votes, I'd venture to guess we got a taste of their governing style."

That style included questioning contracts without good reason and also some vote changing that went so fast a minute-taker couldn't keep track, plus the meeting cut into the following Plat, Annexation and Zoning Committee because of the PS&H Committee's "pile-up."

Well, John Hendrickson (Ward 2) and Jon Wilkins (Ward 4) got their panties in a knot over Wiener's report. Sometimes the truth can hurt.

So, John and Jon, you don't like Jaffe's list serve? Start your own.

(Here are some tidbits gleaned from weekend newspapers, a magazine, some websites and emails. This post's headline is to be sung to the tune of Kris Kristofferson's "Sunday Morning Coming Down," as performed by Johnny Cash.)

First, a little humor from Sunday's Pearls Before Swine comic strip. It's for all of us bloggers who sometimes take ourselves a little too seriously.

Both Jay at LiTW and jhwygirl here at 4&20 are promoting an ActBlue site via this link. Your donations in these critical Montana House races can make all the difference. For example, I received this email from a progressive friend in Miles City (yes, there are progressives in Miles City): "We need to raise more money for Bill McChesney...his opponent is a wealthy ranch/real estater with ambitions akin to Taylor Brown." This race in HD 40 pits incumbent Democrat McChesney against Republican Jeff Harding.

Missoula County Democrats are holding their summer picnic. Here's the skinny: "Tuesday, July 15, 6:00 p.m. in Bonner Park in Missoula and all are invited. This is great opportunity to get together with your fellow Democrats over a burger and a beverage, hear some short political speeches and generally have a good time. Local and statewide candidates will all be taking part in the festivities. The Democrats are providing the main course of grilled meat or vegi. Wayne Fairchild of Lewis and Clark Trail Adventures (www.trailadventures.com) is providing the equipment and his guides will be doing the grilling. We are asking attendees to bring a side dish if their last name starts A - K. A salad if name starts with L - R and a desert for those whose names start with S - Z. We will be providing the rest. If you don't have time to bring a dish to pass, come on anyway. We'll have plenty of food. This is not a fundraiser although a donation of 5 - 10 dollars would be appreciated to cover the costs of food and beverages."

Sadly, there's this news out of Afghanistan. The op-eds, letters and pundits say we're winning the war in Iraq -- that remains to be seen. For now, we're losing ground in Afghanistan, which was our first mission. We have international support in Afghanistan yet there's no solution in sight. The sooner we can disentangle from this mess, and let the locals decide their fate, the better. Our heartfelt condolences to the families of those who have given their all.

Does John make flights to other countries to bring drugs back to the US? He says he does...he says it's for the "DEA"...Does the DEA know you make flights to smuggle illegal drugs for them? I'll bet that would come as a surprise to them! LOL!

See you there!

http://catharsis.scriptmania.com/

Jay's been doing some worthy yet untrumpeted grunt work on some of the battleground state house races over at Left in the West. Time to start trumpeting his hard work.. while I must admit I've been slacking, big time.

A very modest goal, he's set up an ActBlue page to raise $250 by next Sunday. You can pick each individual candidate you want to throw some cash at.

With such a modest goal, folks, 5 bucks can go a long way. Donating is easy, really. Click here - go ahead, don't be shy - and give it a try.

He's laid out some background in this first piece, then this one and then finally, this one. He's set his sights on ridding us of gravel pit loving Bill Nooney (HD-100) with his support of Gary Brown and he's also got the back of one of my favorites, Jill Cohenour (HD-78), who isn't afraid to chastise her colleagues for slacking or playing politics when it comes to her work on the state's Water Policy Interim Committee. (You can, incidentally, listen to her in action here.) The goal is to also help some Democratic incumbents: Gallatin County's JP Pomnichowski (HD-63); Custer County's Bill McChesney (HD-40); and Cascade County's Steve Bolstad (HD-24), and Deb Kottel (HD-20).

Also on his list is some newcomers and even some names you might recognize: alternative energy analyst Ross Keogh is running in HD-60 against some California carpetbagger; local business owner and executive board member of MSU-Billings Paul Beck is running in HD-59 against Scott Boggio; Doc Woerner is running in HD-58, Yellowstone County on a platform of ensuring public access and health car reform. He's also got Del Dinstel in HD-43; Dennis Getz, who is a board member of the Northern Resource Council, is running in HD-38; Nick Ethridge in HD-19; Jim Elliot, a termed-out Senator in Sanders County and strong supporter of Senator John Tester during his run is seeking HD-13; Cheryl Steenson (who has her dyed-in-the-wool Republican grandfather as her treasurer) is running up in Flathead's HD-8; and, finally, former legislator Eileen Carney in HD-1.

It's gotta be tough running a campaign - and even harder to do it in Montana, in the summer - and even harder with a recession bearing down. Take some of those stimulus checks and stimulize some of those candidates above by hitting the Left in the West Act Blue page.

Don't want our readers to miss it: In an attempt to avoid the weekend news dump, at 4:30 p.m. MST yesterday federal bank regulators seized Indymac Bank. It is the largest bank collapse in United States history.

The second most largest bank collapse, incidentally, was in 1984, when Continental Illinois collapsed. The two most expensive failures (so far - we have yet to see what this current one is going to ultimately cost) were both in 1988: the American Savings and Loan Institution of California and First Republic Bank in Texas.

Gee, who was President of the United States in 1984? That would be Ronald Reagan.

And who was President of the United States in 1988? That would be Ronald Reagan also.

The U.S. has been racking up quite a list of failed banks since ole' George Jr. took office. Take a look.

Indymac specialized in Alt-A loans - loans in which the buyers didn't need to produce little, if any, evidence of income or assets other than the home they were buying.

That arrangement was peachy-keen, until what-is-now-today's mortgage crisis began a little over 2 years ago. As homes began to loose value, with creditors owing more than the home was worth, investors in Indymac began to worry about those mortgage-backed securities. The rest is history in the making.

Meanwhile, on the larger front, Wall Street firmly implanted itself yesterday as a bear market: Investors fled from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac securities. Here's Piper Jaffray analyst Rober Napoli, on the collapse of Fannie and Freddie shares:

“Investors have lost total confidence in Fannie and Freddie and are looking for a government bailout. If Fannie and Freddie have to pull back substantially in their lending, we're taking another leg down in the market and housing prices. There are no other lenders right now in the U.S. mortgage market other than Fannie and Freddie."

Fannie and Freddie are backing $5.2 trillion in mortgages. That's half of all U.S. mortgages.With investors calling their stock worthless, we're in deep doo-doo here, given even U.S. Treasure Secretary Henry Paulson is feeding the flames. And while that statement on Paulson might not seem fair consider this: He regulates these damned banks for God's sake. What is he doing, just sitting back and watching the paperwork float through? We have banks that won't do Stafford Loans - and given the confidence level in Freddie and Fannie, it's going to be real soon that mortgages - given the magnitude of what Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans provide in mortgage backings - may simply to cease or at least be nearly impossible to obtain for virtually everyone.

Neocons, it seems are rejoicing in this stuff. Look - I read Missoulapolis just like she reads 4&20 - and her reports on the mortgage crisis, especially her local stats reporting, is good stuff to know - but it is the joy that she takes in reporting it and the gleeful comments that I can do without. Does she talk about this stuff with her neighbors and friends? Man, I try, with those that own homes - and it is downright uncomfortable. They don't want to talk about it. I mean, start talking about housing or real estate and bring up the current stats and conversation screeches to a halt. People not only simply don't want to believe it, they think it isn't going to happen here in Missoula. No wonder - look at Carol's June report on the local market. The year's sales are down by 35%, and June sales are half of 2006's - yet the prices haven't dropped by even 1%. Realtors are feeding a whole bunch of real sweet kool-aid out there, folks. But make sure to check the comments to her posts - because that's where the "gleeful" comes in, not only from her, but her readers. Then there's May, and April.

She tags it all with "affordable housing" too. That's the real kicker. She seems to forget the definition of affordable housing and is thinking that the median price of homes here in Missoula are going to dump to or below 3 times the median income. I doubt that is going to happen, considering that home values have been rising for more than a decade here - long before all those funky loans ever came around.

Then there's Missoula's other neocon, Dave Budge. Linking to a WSJ piece calling Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac socialism. There's a 2nd piece - seems Budge couldn't contain himself.

It shows some difference here....I hate bailouts, but at a point where the whole damned U.S. economy is going to collapse, something needs to be done - and having both sides work together instead of each side saying "my way or the highway" leads us to paths of extremes. Moderating the solution - and I agree, corrections based solely on the market certainly need to be made - would be better, no?

Of course, what I suggest above requires some regulating of the market that sent these real estate prices soaring. Easy money feeds on the greed of not only investors and CEO's, it feeds on the greed of buyers who bite off more that they should.

I guess what I'm saying is that I'll go for minimal bailout if neocons will go for reasonable banking regulations.

The free market and Ayn Rand be damned.

So, we woke up nice and early this morning and were on the road before 7am.  Frankly, I was a little surprised that we managed to pull that off, but the rest of the party heading to Livingston was in Missoula, a 2-3 hour drive in front of us.  I don't know why we worried.  When we reached Missoula at 11:00am (we lost an hour in there as we crossed into the mountain time zone), the rest of the party had not yet left their RV park.  So, after stopping to chat and to rub in the fact that their plan to "get going early" never materialized, we took my Studmuffin's LilBro and headed on.

By the time we hit Butte (in our vehicle, it is pronounced either "butt" or "booty"), we realized that it was lunchtime.  So, we pulled off in search of cheap gas ($4.09) and food (A&W/KFC).  I'm sure that the poor girl at the A&W/KFC wished we had never come in since we completely confused her with our (very simple) order.  But, in the end, we did get our assorted hot dogs, deep fried cheese curds, and root beer floats, which led to our first picture of the day: LilBro sharing the love with the Colonel:

Back on the road, we were still a while (a couple hours) ahead of the rest of the party, so we decided to pull over and take in the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman.  For a college-affiliated museum, it was actually quite impressive.  It started out with dinosaurs, followed by Native Americans, then cars, then Science Fiction costumes and, finally, glow in the dark sea creatures.  Yeah, I was a little lost on the logic there, too.   Anyhow, my Studmuffin was especially enamored with the AUTHENTIC gold vest worn by none other than Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner.  Yes, I have a picture of him admiring it and I would post it here, but I snapped it without realizing that we weren't supposed to take pictures in that room.  So, if you want to see it, it will be up on my flickr account soon.  In the meantime, here is your second picture of the day....again, LilBro, showing off his guns.....

Public policy geeks across the city of Missoula thrilled to the news that Module One of the Missoula Zoning & Subdivision Update was released today. (Accompanying maps are available on the same site -- zoningmissoula.com -- which serves as a clearinghouse for information about the overall effort.) Module One is the first part of a three-part initial draft being written by consultant Duncan Associates as a replacement for Missoula's current land-use ordinances, which mostly date from the 1930s and 1970s.

News of the draft came in an e-mail from OPG planner Laval Means to the 25-person advisory group that has helped guide the process thus far, a process that has included a town hall meeting, several months of small-group listening sessions and a public workshop as well as several meetings with both City Council's Plat, Annexation and Zoning Committee and the Consolidated Planning Board. The public workshop covered the material in the Concepts & Directions Report issued in February and serves as the blueprint for the initial draft ordinance language being released today and over the next few months.

The following information accompanied my e-mail about the update. It's worth reading as a guide to, as it says, "negotiating this unfamiliar document":

The module is referred to as the "district framework" since it's intended to facilitate a more in depth discussion of the new ordinance's zoning district framework.  The module includes an initial draft of several key ordinance sections, set within a proposed outline for the document:

Chapter 19.01 | Introductory Provisions
Chapter 19.05 | Residential Districts
Chapter 19.10 | Business and Commercial Districts
Chapter 19.15 | Industrial and Manufacturing Districts
Chapter 19.20 | Open Space and Public Districts
Chapter 19.55 | Open Space and Conservation Developments
Chapter 19.100 | Use Classifications

As you review this material, please keep in mind that is an initial draft. We’re trying some new ideas and there may be some missteps as we attempt to adapt these concepts to best meet the city’s needs. Changes—even course corrections—can be made if necessary.

Remember too that because the draft ordinance is being delivered in pieces, there are likely to be as many questions raised as answered—What are we going to do about parking? What types of standards will there be to address the possible impacts of XYZ use? The absence of one regulation or another can mean many things: we forgot to deal with it, we are planning to deal with it or we hadn’t planned to deal with it. Don’t hesitate to raise these sorts of questions.
Here are some suggestions for negotiating this unfamiliar document.

1.    Start by looking at 19.01.110F to see how the existing zoning district framework is proposed to be converted under this initial proposal. You’ll see we’re proposing entirely new nomenclature, which though intended to be more intuitive, will surely be disorienting at first. You’ll also see that this draft proposes the consolidation of several districts:
- the A and R-I districts would consolidated into a single classification that we’re calling R5.4 (denoting the minimum lot area, in thousands of square feet);
- the R-XII and MU districts would be consolidated into a new R2.7(M) district;
- the R-III, B and R-IV districts would be consolidated into a single (R1) classification;
- the R-V and BC districts would be combined into a new B2 district; and
- the C-I and C districts are combined into a new C1 district.

2.    You may want to have the district conversion table handy as you review the document. You’ll also want to look at the attached maps to see which areas of the city are affected by the (proposed) consolidated districts.  These maps are intended to support your review and would not be a part of the final ordinance.

3.    After familiarizing yourself with the proposed district conversions start to look through the zoning district chapters, which organize multiple zones into broad groupings: “residential,” “business and commercial,” “industrial and manufacturing” and “open space and public.”  The tables in these chapters should provide an easy way to compare differences among the zones in terms of allowed uses and the types of lot and building standards that would apply.  As a general rule, you’ll find that most of the renamed and consolidated districts are quite similar to today’s districts. That said, there are some substantive changes and new concepts presented here.  A summary of substantive differences between the current ordinance and this module is being prepared and will be distributed next week.

This draft Module includes an overall Table of Contents, so you may view the developed chapters (primarily district chapters) in the context of the overall Zoning Regulations.  The remaining chapters will be developed in depth and distributed as a future Module (but are included with some annotation as you go through this document).  So, while the document may be hefty many pages are included as supportive or background material.

Please keep in mind that there will be many opportunities to comment on this Module and future Modules as this project makes its way through Public Review, Planning Board review and Governing Bodies Review.

If you have any questions or have difficulty reviewing the document please let us know.  Tom and I are available for questions and comments.  I can be reached at 258-3797, and Tom can be reached at 258-4983.

The Advisory Group will review the draft at two upcoming meetings -- Wednesday, July 23rd from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, August 14th from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Both meetings will be in the City Council Chambers, 140 W. Pine St. Comments can also be submitted by e-mail to Laval Means.

Ever the consummate politician, Governor Schweitzer jumped at the opportunity to generate support for his coal-to-gasification and Otter Creek tract dreams when asked by Mayor Engen to help with affordable housing.

"Put your brains to affordable housing with me," Engen asked, while touring Brian around town, within sight of the Intermountain Lumber site.

Schweitzer obliged, according to The Missoulian, and and turned to a staffer and asked how the coal tax fund could help.

~~~~~

In another part of the visit, Engen asked the Governor to help stump for some reform with Director Lynch, of the Montana Department of Transportation. Something was mentioned about "red tape".

Council members have complained about MDOT's heavy-handed review and approval authority over city projects (dare I say Hill-Beckwith?) and funding methodology. Heavily populated and shopping destination Missoula generates a whole bunch of gas tax revenue, yet doesn't receive funding proportional to its generation of funds. Engen, surely, was looking for a more equitable solution.

As for cutting through that red tape, I say keep that push on, John - the squeaky wheel gets the oil.

I often refer readers to Bob Jaffe's (Ward 3) excellent city government list serve/blog. It gives you the news from city council committees, where most of the work gets done.

Well, Bob is out of town, so Jason Weiner (Ward 1) is doing the writing this week. Jason has more of a conversational style, which I enjoy. Lots of nuggets of info -- from parks to planning to budgets.

Jason offers some insights into how the conservative element on council deals with issues when they're in the majority which, thank god, isn't often. He also gives an update on the Higgins-Hill-Beckwith roundabout and asks for input from the list serve's readers. As of this writing, eight respondents are in favor of constructing the roundabout ASAP and two are for postponing.  You have to subscribe to the list serve if you want to view comments.

So, if you're interested in city government, a subscription is a must.  I wish the county provided the same sort of service.

Of course we had to go be good gapers, and immediately jumped in the truck to go observe.  The fire was, in fact, very beautiful, but a scary reminder that despite our late spring, Missoula is still very dry.  Good pictures at www.missoulian.com.

Emily and I telemark skiing/snowboarding at Snowbowl ski resort in Montana on March 5, 2008.