New West Network

My Page: Joe Prebich

Snow Blog

I was going to write this last night, but I didn’t want anyone to steal my powder! So for everyone at work today, you missed out. Donnelly, ID was hit with about 25 inches of fresh last night and the riding was amazing. Normally on a powder day you are fighting for first lift and your best bet is three runs before it is tracked out. But not in Idaho, nope, the powder just sits there. We rolled up to the Tamarack, located just outside of Donnelly, ID, just as the clouds cracked revealing a bluebird sky that hadn’t been seen for days because of all the snow. Amazingly the parking lot was empty, not a lift line in sight, but there was plenty of fresh powder.
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Let it SNOW!

Well there is some big news in the winter sports scene!! Loveland Pass in Colorado has opened its lifts for the 05-06 season, again becoming the first resort to open up. Last week's amazing snow storm added to the early opening and has everyone itching for a little Montana snow!

Also, on the snowboard scene, local boardshop, Edge of the World is having their annual snowboard party with tons of fun lined up like bobbing for discounts, ninjas, and music. The party is on Saturday, Oct. 22, and should be a good time to do some meetin' and greetin'!

Support Missoula!!

And the bidders are off!! Today bidding began on almost 60 skateboard decks that have been painted and customized from utilitarian tools to works of art.

All of this is part of a fundraiser for the new Missoula Skatepark and has brought out some amazing artists and artwork. If you have ever wanted to own a piece of skateboarding then THIS is your chance! Remeber, bidding ends at 5 p.m. MST on Oct. 14, 2005, so get YOUR'S now!

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Campus Safety

In the Kaimin today there is a story about a 15-year-old girl who alleges that she was raped by the tennis courts after the Atmosphere concert in the UC on Sept. 27, 2005.

Also an interesting note, a 16-year-old girl, Mathy-Zvaifler, was killed at the Sunshine Theater in Alberquerque, New Mexico, on July 16, 2003 after an Atmosphere show. The group then came back and did a benefit show for the family and to raise awareness for women's self-defense.

Campus Action

Today campus is buzzing with word of a big bio-diesel bus, splattered in pastel greens and doves, spouting off pamphlets and anti-war messages. The Wheels of Justice, rolled up onto the Oval today, and its members have been talking all day about the war in Iraq and the conflict in Palestine.

Wheels of Justice is an organization that calls for non-violent actions and education all in the effort of bringing peace to us all. There will be a lecture tonight at 7 p.m. in the Urey Lecture Hall.

You can see the bios of these speakers here, and if you are wondering a little bit more about The Wheels of Justice Tour, then click here to get information on what they are driving for. They have been traveling all over the country spreading the message. After UM it is off to Butte, and then back on the road.

New Stuff

Sometimes, with a new tool like blogging people are slow to come around. Here at the University and the J-School, technology Has not exactly been up-to-date. So it was a surprise to me when I dug up a little nook of forward motion here at the University.

Tucked away in the most obscure corner of the Social Science building, is the IT-Services department. Rooms filled with broken sofas from the 80's burning brown and tacky and through mountains of computers and wires there is a mini-Manhattan Project brewing. For the past two years a few techies have been building a Web Portal, or a one-stop-shop for all students and faculty of UM. I got a sneak peak at what they are building and what I saw looks like it will change the way students interact with each other, faculty and the community. [more]

Thoughts for Food

Welcome to the Food Zood, will you be having the floppy burger, the old pizza or the "Montana-inspired Braised Lamb Shank With Big Sky Mushroom Ragout, Goat Cheese Quenelles and Emerald Basil Oil"?

Believe me read on... [more]

Campus Nightlife

If you missed it last night, Atmosphere killed it. The crowd was rowdy and fun and everyone seemed to have a great time. I for one was stoked to see an artist pumped on the few hundred people that showed up. No big venues for these guys, just Econolines and college campuses. Pre-show, Slug and Ant were just chilling in the Beer Garden, waiting, watching, and vibing off the opening act and most of the people didn't even recognize him. There was an interaction between Slug and the crowd. No insincere image to uphold just down-home Midwestern love for hip-hop.

But, people will continue to discuss Slug, and his rhymes and his style, but I know where I stand-- Slug is fun. Remember, the new Atmosphere disc comes out on Oct. 4, 2005. Here is the interview.

Hip-Hop Missoula

Finally, tonight is the night Atmosphere rolls in for a few hours of craziness before motoring on to may more towns in their "Pour Me Another" Tour. Remember, 8:00pm at the UC Ballroom.

Well, if you just can't wait and want to wet your appetite before the show, here is the NewWest interview with Slug, frontman for Atmosphere.

Nature

Montana has a long-standing tradition with its wilderness. People pride themselves on the minimalist inside each of us. Be it biking, walking, or hiking; Montanans love the outdoors. Primitivism. Well, maybe not that, but there is a movement, especially among college students, hiking, living and fighting to save nature. But what happened to Ted Kaczynski in our Montana woods before he became the "Unabomber"? Also, primitivism, the theisis around it and the hypocracy embedded within it. Read on to find out more. [more]