In an essay for New West, writer Clarence Worly says that carp (golden bonefish. GBs. Renegades. Mud suckers. Wronguns) have gotten a bad rap: “Whatever moniker you prefer to hang on these persecuted bottom feeders, they occupy every major tributary in Idaho south of Lewiston and they are here to stay.” Worly goes on to give a history of carp in Idaho. He concludes by singing the praises of carp tacos, which were offered to him unexpectedly by a friend: “To my relief, all I could taste was the eye-watering hot pepper sauce Ernesto had slathered all over the tortilla. There was no unpleasant taste from the fish and no bones. I was so impressed I ate four more.” More here. (Wikipedia photo of a common carp)

Question: Have you ever eaten carp? Would you consider doing so?

Here in Montana, the tempera paint wasn’t even dry on the misspelled Tea Party congratulations posters when former U.S. Representative Rick Hill announced that he’s running for governor. And he wasn’t even the first. Two other Republicans, Ken Miller and Cory Stapleton, had already decided to dedicate two solid years of their lives to campaigning to win the post being vacated by term-limited Brian Schweitzer. No Democrats have announced as of yet, probably because they’re waiting for Harry Reid to tell them Nancy Pelosi said it’s okay/Bob Wire, New West. More here.

Question: Is there any way to discourage politicians from announcing too early?

I didn’t know what to expect at my first Warren Miller ski film, but a bunch of friends were going and I decided that if I was going to live in Steamboat, Colo., I should know about the popular ski films. “Off the Grid,” which I saw in 2006, pretty much changed my life, starting with the shot of a snowplow blowing across the screen to reveal the “Steamboat City Limits” sign. At that moment, at that screening, the crowd roared. Amid the clapping, I got goosebumps from the electricity in the room. I left the Steamboat Grand that night knowing I was in the right place, choosing the right life, living in one of the best ski towns/Kristen Lodge, New West. More here. (Photo courtesy of Warren Miller Productions)

Question: Do you attend Warren Miller ski firms at North Idaho College or elsewhere annually to get you in the mood for the coming winter season on area mountains?

How many kids have to die? How many family pets have to be savagely attacked? How many people have to have their limbs chewed off or their faces gnawed to mush before we say enough already with the pit bulls? Last week, right here in western Montana, a bloodthirsty pit bull burst out of the darkness in a campground to attack several mushroom pickers and their German shepherd, who were provoking the pit bull by aggressively sitting around a campfire, relaxing and drinking beer. By the time Mineral County sheriffs arrived on the scene, the wandering pit bull had injured the campers’ dog and chewed on a guy’s face. It took several choke holds by Larry Evans, a mycologist with a black belt in judo, to subdue the beast/Bob Wire, New West. More here. (SR 2008 File Photo)

Question: Why do we tolerate pitbulls?

What we need is a Party that focuses on municipal and county offices, and no higher. Let the Democrats and Republicans gridlock themselves at the state and federal level; what we need is action at the local level, such as the promotion local food production, or the creation of local energy trusts. We need a Party that focuses on the wealth of local communities – by that I mean local history, culture, economic opportunity, and can-do spirit. Let’s call it the Commonwealth Party and let’s say its mission is to build economic and ecological resilience to meet the steep and diversifying challenges of the 21st century/Courtney White, New West. More here.

Question: I think this is a swell idea. I’m sick to death of partisan R’s and D’s screwing up politics on the federal level and in some instances adding their stink of gridlock to local politics. I’d relish seeing a party emerge to seek the common good on the local level. How about you?

The wildfire popularity of texting and tweeting is shoving a whole generation of telecommunications lemmings off the cliff of basic knowledge, to perish below on the sharp rocks of sloth and ignorance. I read a lot, and I write a lot. I’ve come to understand the rules of language, grammar, punctuation and spelling. And I break those rules constantly. But at least I know they’re there. Notice I didn’t say “their they’re” or “their there?” That’s what I’m talking about. If you want to see evidence that our society is quickly sliding into the abyss of boneheaded duncery and moronic disregard for the basic rules of English, take a look at Facebook or craigslist/Bob Wire, New West. More here.

Question: Do you agree w/New West columnist Bob Wire that texting, Facebook, Craigslist, etc., have made us a nation of morons?

My father gave my first gun back in 1956, a single shot .22, and I’ve owned guns ever since. But until two weeks ago, I’d never been to a gun show. Since I’ve been writing about guns and firearms legislation of late, and gun shows often came up in the comment sections of those articles, it seemed like my professional and civic duty to see what was really going on there. So I did it. What I found surprised me, and it probably would surprise a lot of people. First off, and no surprise here, gun shows are big business. I tried to find a total number of shows or sales, but couldn’t find a figure, but rest assured, it’s huge. Every state has gun shows, and nationally, those hundreds if not thousands of shows generate many millions in sales/Bill Schneider, New West. More here.

Question: When did you get your first gun?