New West Network

My Page: PJ DelHomme

Beat That Hollywood

For the most part, Hollywood movies serve up a whole load of crap. From ex-Jackass front-man Johnny Knoxville crashing the Special Olympics to a couple of wedding crashers who deceive and sleep their way into a world of "true love." Everybody loves a happy ending because that's reality. Right? Try again.

For a good slap back into the realm of the real, the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival has a backhand cocked and ready to swing February 16-22 here in Missoula.

Now in its third year, the festival attracts documentary filmmakers from all over the world. This year, the festival will feature films from 28 countries covering issues ranging from the violence of the G8 in Scotland to documenting two guys who row across the Atlantic Ocean together. Did I mention they don't speak the same language? Beat that Hollywood. [more]

Forest Management

Montana is home to over 30,000 miles of active and decommissioned logging roads on national forest land. That’s enough road to wrap around the equator and still have 5,000 miles left over. Discussions are currently on the table regarding whether or not Montana needs new roads, after the Bush Administration overturned the Clinton-era ban on new road building in America’s national forests this year. Even if the state decides not to build new roads, the money to maintain those 30,000 miles of road simply isn’t in the budget.

So, what’s a state to do? [more]

Culture

When things go wrong in Montana, chances are it’s some Californian’s fault—at least that’s what many of us in Montana assume. When property values get too expensive for average folks, it’s got to be because of all those people moving here from California. When places like Reserve Street bring in the big box stores and accompanying cookie-cutter subdivisions, it’s those Californians.

Problem is, most of the transplants moving to Western Montana aren’t from California. [more]