Comment Archives: stories
Re: “Rockies Today, April 24”
RE: American Lung Association air quality report
According to the ALA, Missoula's air quality is among worst in nation for short-term particle pollution. Meanwhile, apparently there's a mole at the State DEQ who let's Roseburg Forest Products know when the state isn't available for monitoring, hence Roseburg can dump extra emissions into our fragile airshed. Does this DEQ insider also alert other industries around Montana when monitoring will, or will not, take place?
Re: “Chopping block”
Another professor didn't ask a question so much as give a speech, which ended when he approached Engstrom and shoved a pair of shoes in his face. He told the president to "try walking." And this could be all that is needed to turn the situation at the University around...
Re: “Cowardice to courage”
I am sure Dr. Kress means well in what he is saying and is a very good doctor. But, if he had been my primary doctor in 2000, I am not sure I would be here to celebrate twelve years of seeing my birthday Sunday and turning 68 with my son encouraging me to live on.
In 2000, I was diagnosed with cancer and my colon doctor had given me 6 months to a year with an inoperable tumor; and I would have to see the chemo and radiation doctors, in order, to see another birthday. I started to write myself off right then, because I was not going through those treatments, and especially radiation. But, entered Dr. Stevens (my radiation doctor) who cared enough about me to persuade me to hold off doing Oregon's law and kept encouraging me to fight. He gave me hope when I had none. He wouldn't let my pleas of "I can't do this" and my hostile attitude of too much pain in my legs, and I don't want to look like my aunt in the end with no hair. He cared enough to see me live and not die. And, I am here today to thank him again.
I, also, was able to hold my mother's hand at the end of her life with alzheimer's. She still died with dignity, even though, she did not recognize me. She said I was the one in pain, not her.
Death comes in many ways, but I do not fear it like I use, too.
Thank you, Dr. Stevens, to see me through the first hurtle in running this race to the end. And, thank you for being there again for me last year in ER at Oregon Health & Science University Hospital when the ambulance came four (4) times that week with those seizures and TIA's. You know when I need you again, just to encourage me.
Thank you and "It's Great to be Alive." I was given a second chance and hopefully more. I thank all the doctors who care to encourage their patients to live.
http://www.montanansagainstassistedsuicide.org/2013/03/112-montana-physicians-who
-support-hb.html
I am sorry HB 505 failed, but I hope all doctors will continue to encourage their patients to live and give them hope to the end without a physicians-assisted suicide. I would have been just another statistic, without a name. Thank you, Jeanette Hall
Re: “Bette Midler has something to say about a Montana senator's testicles”
She's right.
Re: “Bette Midler has something to say about a Montana senator's testicles”
And why do we care what celebrities think?
Re: “Equine overload”
Did you actually research any part of any of your statements? Horses do not reproduce at 20% a year unless they have found a way for male horses to reproduce as well. The fatality rate of horses in most ranges are over 80% by year one as well. They take all the water sources? How many photos from how many years would you like me to send you showing wild horses drinking right along side other native animals in the ranges, that is expect for cows and sheep who camp out on in and around the water holes instead of visiting them, drinking, cleaning and moving on. Wild horses travel at LEAST 15 miles a day, even as fast as they are they cant do that by sitting around chewing cud for hours on end, How do they bring in non native species when all they eat is what is out there in the first place. I agree we need to stop spending millions of dollars on long term holding. We need to instead turn them back on their range. Let them starve, thirst and adjust their populations to what they can, will support and themselves. Kick all the welfare ranchers off the land who abuse it. Monopolize it and take government welfare checks for using it not to mention paying not even enough to pay for the salaries of the corrupt and usually relative BLMs personal that supposedly manage them. You sound like a Safari club supporting, if you can hunt it then eliminate it, Sierra club member to me Mr. Environmentalist.
Re: “Equine overload”
I am Native American also, but I know that horses don't sell today unless they are papered horses. I have friends in Oklahoma that gave their horses away because of the $1000.00 every winter to feed them. There are so many nations that are starving for anything to eat. Can't we send 50,000 to Africa or other nations? Two Arrows
Re: “Equine overload”
"I don't know if all of the commenters hear are vegan; but, if you like red meat from sources other than CAFOs, the animals must graze."
According to the Atlantic, factory farming produces 99% of the meat that people eat. To suggest that grazing on our public lands provides an accessible alternative source to factory farmed misery meat is misleading, at best.
And I, for one commenter, am vegan. Anyone who'd like to explore further this just, compassionate, and healthy way of living, you'll find resources (some local to Missoula & MT), faith-based links, and inspiring videos here http://www.othernationsjustice.org/?page_i…
Link to Atlantic article: http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/…
Re: “Woody”
Jesus !!, another "Spotted Owl" episode that shut down all the Pacific Northwest Wood Prducts Industries. We just as well give up of ever being allowed back in the woods for just an outdoor experience because there won't be any "Outdoors" available to us !! The EPA and The Endangered Specie Act must pull in it's Regulation oversight activity NOW!! The Center For Biological Diversity is the same outfit from arizona who threatened The Obama Adminstration a few years ago with a legal suit if Obama didn't have Wolf Recovery program for the lower 48 in 60 days or they would file the legal brief !!!
Re: “Equine overload”
As soon as I read the first paragraph, I knew that your article would elicit only negative comments on this web-site. Good try, though, to bring some rationality to the subject.
There were 15,000 feral horses on the rangelands of the Yakama Nation within the last 5 years. The land can support maybe 1,500. There is little competition on these particular lands from sheep or cattle.
I don't know the statistics about grazing allotments on federal lands in general, but they are few and highly restricted on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. And early-seral habitat in general (mostly meadows or open timberland) is declining.
Were public lands over-grazed over the past 100 years? Yes. Could it happen again? Sure, but the best preventative is involvement - preferably in a collaborative mode.
I don't know if all of the commenters hear are vegan; but, if you like red meat from sources other than CAFOs, the animals must graze.
Re: “Path less taken”
Would it kill you to say Thank You?
This is how this article reads if you reverse the genders.
“Hi, I am a man, I need to compare my self worth to women. and I am going to the kitchen to cook food. This is a field that women have dominated. Man, the food I cooked for my own selfish purposes is delicious; I guess women aren’t special after all.”
This Of Course Is ridiculous and offensive. When my girl cooks for me, I say, “Thank you. I appreciate the effort you put in.” and most of the women I know appreciate the things that men do for them. Why does the Independent always paint women as ingrates that derive all their self worth from comparing their achievements to that of men?
I learned three things form this article:
1. If women want to work in a hard field she is welcome to, and no MAN tries to stop her.
2. Male dominated fields are the hard, dangerous jobs that most people don't want to do.
3. Men receive neither Recognition or Appreciation for their hard work and contribution.
They could have slanted this article with: Men have traditionally taken on this thankless toil for centuries. Thank you guys for your hard work. But the independent never does this.
Regards -S
Re: “Equine overload”
Your article reiterates the same tired old arguments and misconceptions which the BLM, ranchers and slaugherhouse killer-buyers have been spreading for decades. The fact is that this "feral" horse evolved in North America and was only exterminated less than 11,000 years ago by the First Nations peoples, that is, humans. This is an undisputed fact, not a theory, and yes, they were the exact same species, completely adapted to their specific ecological niche, which they have now reclaimed. Therefore they deserve the same rights as any other wild, native species. Horses do not eat the same things as deer or elk and, being quite mobile, do not trash the land unless they are forcibly enclosed. Their hooves are no harder than any other large four-footed, unless you think they are born with iron shoes attached to their feet? Certainly they cannot do a fraction of the damage incurred by the vast hordes of profitable, Non-Native European cattle and sheep who somehow have come to take precedence over every other species in the native landscape, including large predators, which if allowed to do their job would balance the ecosystem nicely in just a few years, mostly by killing off the cattle. Like the bison of Yellowstone National Park, the problem is not that mustangs overbreed, it is that they are not allowed to migrate. Like the bison, they are a wild, native species being managed as livestock by agencies who are bought, sold and fully controlled by the livestock industry.
With regards to "recycling" these mustangs, I do hope you realize that the entire slaughter industry, from transport to slaughter, is designed for cattle, right? And these practices, horrific as they are for cattle, are even more nightmarish for horses. If, as you claim, you know anything about horses, then you know that horses are nothing like cattle, being flighty, relatively intelligent, and considerably more prone to serious injury than cattle. Horses are easily terrified and frequently sustain horrific injuries during transport in trailers designed for more placid animals. Stun guns used for cattle during slaughter frequently do not work on horses, who are then subjected to literal vivisection, as well documented by many undercover videos easily available on the internet.
Mustangs are simply pawns in an intricate game of misdirection perpetrated by several powerful lobbies who have vested interests in maintaining the option of slaughtering "excess equines," including the livestock and equine breeding, racing, and showing industries as well as the slaughter industry itself, which "recycles" that horsemeat not here in the US, where there is a long-standing, strong cultural taboo against the use of horsemeat, even for dog food, but rather overseas where there is a thriving market.
If you were really, as you say, an environmentalist interested in "solving" the "excess" equine population, thereby saving the West from overgrazing and desertification, you might do better to support measures fully protecting and restoring large predators, limiting the free range of non- native, privately-owned, disease-ridden large ungulates on our public lands, and regulating the larger equine industry so that it no longer produces 1000,000 "unwanted" horses per year which must be gotten rid of somehow.....
Re: “Equine overload”
Mr. Guilliford, you're wrong on several points, the most glaring one being your repeat of the oft-quoted figure of "37,000 animals on the range". There's probably 37,000 cattle on the range, but not wild horses. There are not 37,000 free-roaming wild horses in all of North America! Another point you're wrong on: "the herds double in size every 4 years". No, that's impossible, Mr. Guilliford, even in a controlled, stable environment with no predators. Think for yourself, sir, don't just quote some nerd behind a desk who only shuffles papers for a living!! All these big numbers are being pushed by the ranching industry pressuring the big politicians for more "free" grass.
Re: “Support DIY/Punk Shows at the ZACC Starting Sunday”
Well said
Re: “Out of context”
Sort of like how the University Montana removed the National Coalition For Men from their campus for telling the Truth?
I say BOYCOTT all the companies that use misandry in their marketing, and don't give the University of Montana tuition money until they Welcome the NCFM with open arms and stop trying to stamp out the truth.
Please look up the NCFM for yourself and find out what they actually do and what they actually stand for.
with peace and love. -S
Re: “Path less taken”
so Thoreau is a fraud, and Byl is a hero? every other writer should feel shame, even you Kate Whittle? once again instead of women being proud of their own achievements, they have to loop it back to "men are oppressive, kick them in the balls."? and "see? i'm better than men for doing the same job." and how is it that all the men that did this same dangerous, hard job are frauds, but one woman does it, and she is a hero? i guess Jamie Rogers is right, men are never discriminated against. and Skyler Browning is right too, the Independent never prints slanted articles with an agenda to program you to think a certain way.
regards -S
Re: “Unlikely ally”
58 dislikes Chuck? That should tell ya something...
Re: “Unlikely ally”
Chuckle, you're a real closed minded idiot aren't you? Grow up kid. Step into the current century
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Re: “Wyoming coyote trapper defends graphic photos”
As a hunter and trapper, educator and a pure red-blooded American conservationist, I find it amusing that a majority of the people writing incoherent thoughts are those against hunting/trapping. The same hunters and trappers who recognize and understand that hunting and trapping regulations are based off of scientific data and proven management methods (as opposed to the European model), the group that the antis claim to be uneducated fools in their sideways writing. Preservation rarely works in today's changing ecosystem, and instead monitored and regulated conservation of all of our renewable resources is sustainable.
TO ALL HUNTERS AND TRAPPERS: With that said, I personally wouldnt have posted these photos publicly. Without knowing the situation at hand, I would say that these photos and this article leave me with questions unanswered. As hunters and trappers, it is important to use discretion when taking photos and posting in public media. I frequently post photos of kills and harvests online and I always take several photos from different angles, positions, and lighting. With today's digital world, look at multiple photos youve taken, pick the most tasteful one and share with your world. Please, celebrate your harvest, put it to use, and keep conservation in mind.