MontanaWithKids.com

Let’s pretend for a minute that this whole publication is more than just an exhibit in meta-journalism, and that we are in some modest ways permitted to actually make comments on the world in which we live, though by such tools most subtly or humorous we must employ. We’ve been critically lambasted for doing so in the past, but pretend for a second we have a message to send, and that we can do it within the confines of a review of Pixar’s new film Wall-e.
(more…)

As a man of miniature stature myself, I’m always on the lookout for new things more me-sized than medium. Mostly my size-based pursuits lead to nothing (thanks a lot, jumbo shrimp!) but there is one thing sized to pint that’s true to its name, and it is miniature golf. I discovered it, and I immediately learned to love it.
(more…)

THE VAN DER VALK GAS PRICE ADVISORY FOR 3-27-09 – West Texas Intermediate crude oil price settled at $54.37 a barrel yesterday, up from below $32 just after New Year’s Day this year. Wholesale and retail diesel prices have increased 2.5 cents per gallon almost in lockstep for each one dollar increase in the price for a barrel of oil. There are 42 gallons in a barrel of crude oil. (more…)

THE VAN DER VALK GAS PRICE ADVISORY FOR 3-25-09 – The quote by William Shakespeare is one of the Bard’s best and something will come of something in the petroleum industry with all that is happening in the petroleum market today. Crude oil prices were lower earlier this morning but are expected to go back up after the release of a bullish “durable goods” report. A 14-month high for February 2009 was reported by the US Department of Commerce that durable goods orders increased 3.4% to $165.6 billion in the latest month. (more…)

THE VAN DER VALK GAS PRICE ADVISORY FOR 3-23-09 – Aretha Franklin’s signature song is being revived by the banking industry and US Government to convince the skeptical American taxpayers to throw more of their good money after bad investments made by the Wall Street banks. Other bad news will follow as crude oil will follow suit and increase in response to this program, which is the government’s latest attempt to keep the financial industry afloat. Crude oil for May delivery raised towards the $53 a barrel mark this morning, the highest in almost four months. (more…)

If you aren’t a Montana native, it would seem a bit unlikely you’d be traveling south away from Interstate-90 along the general Missoula-ish swath of the state. Maybe you’re passing by that way because you’re looking for adventure, or your taking a different route to find your way to stones yellow or jelly. I can’t speak to your motivation for driving in such directions, but I can give you advice once you commit to doing so.
(more…)

As an ever-traveling tourist, it’s easy to give up the easy “gimme” destinations in any given town. If you’re in San Francisco, you need to check out the Golden Gate Bridge, or if you’re in Shanghai you need to check out the Great Panda, but when you’re in any town, you really should stop in the local visitors center, and Butte Montana has a great one.
(more…)

Dateline: Terry, Montana – If Elvis was alive today he would have been on his knees looking forlorn at his adoring audience while singing one of his signature songs making you feel even bluer after all that is been happening in the world today.
(more…)

The van der Valk Gas Price Advisory for 3-20-09. Once again it’s back to Bob the Gas Guy in rainy Seattle from being Cowboy Bob in Big Sky country Montana. But gasoline pump prices have not changed very much during the two weeks I was gone. (more…)

If you have an occasion to go through Helena, Montana, and I can’t see too many reasons why you would, but I’m not here to judge, only to help you make the most of your time, you should spend at least a few hours at the Exploration Works Museum. It’s as great as any of its kind of place, far better than most, and the location just can’t be beat.
(more…)

US Energy Secretary Steven Chu’s mission accomplished what the Obama administration asked him to do. He was sent to Vienna last week to visit with the Saudis, who are shouldering the brunt of OPEC production cuts, while other non-compliant nations continue to produce barrels beyond their quotas. (more…)

Our editorial board has seen zoos in Shanghai, San Francisco, Seattle, and probably other places for all I can be bothered to recall, so it takes a bit to impress us. The zoo in Billings, Montana did impress us, even if it didn’t knock our collective socks off. It’s a nice place, and a good value, but don’t get too giddy just yet.
(more…)

We’ve run articles all over the world, as any of our most faithful readers has known as years have gone by and stories have unfolded, but it still comes to us as a great contribution when we pick up new syndicates, especially ones of notable merit. Such is the case with our latest syndication to MontanaWithKids.com.
(more…)

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said on Wednesday he will speak to OPEC ministers before their meeting this weekend and warn them as they consider another oil production cut that high crude oil prices will harm the fragile world economy. That is the same “pity line” used on OPEC by the Bush administration last year when crude oil prices spiked up to $147 a barrel in order to get them to increase oil production thereby lowering oil prices. (more…)

A study released last December refuted the effectiveness of the “Montana Meth Project”. With the 2009 Legislative Session approaching, MMP will soon be fighting for its fat slice of the budget pie to continue radio, television and billboard advertisements, even though the presence of which have only witnessed an increase in meth use among teens and adults.
(more…)

Historically, the train never made it all the way out to Virginia City, and it cost the settlers untold monies, whether they wanted to get goods or even just their mail (more than $1 over 100 years ago, if you can believe everything they tell you on your local tour), but that hasn’t stopped the local chamber of commerce from getting motive with their own chugga-chugga-short-line-choo-choo, and as a kid right in their demographic wheelhouse, I must admit it makes for great fun to ride.
(more…)

U.S. plans for boosting of alternative energy supplies and conservation. Quoting from President Barack Obama’s campaign speech, “We can’t drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times… and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK. That’s not leadership. That’s not going to happen.” (more…)

Republican leaders are up in arms over the apparent concession from democratic leaders over radio host Rush Limbaugh and his elevation to the leadership position over the GOP. Republicans have called the move “strategic”, “cynical” and an “outrage”, among other things, while failing to understand the reasoning behind it. The republican party was waiting for a leader to step up, Limbaugh took the reigns and nobody stopped him… Why is that so hard to understand?
(more…)

In the heart of the coolest part of Missoula, Montana, and I assure you such a place can and does exist, is a playground park like no other I’ve ever seen. When I say it’s the tallest playground ever, I am so beside myself I can’t possibly be expected to back it up with facts or figures.
(more…)

The WTI crude oil price gained $1.50 a barrel yesterday with news about more rebel attacks on Shell facilities in Nigeria. There was also more speculation swirling around that OPEC will cut additional production at their March 15th meeting in Vienna, Austria. The up note in energy markets was contrary to the continued weakness in the equity markets, which were all dangerously close to forming fresh lows again yesterday. (more…)

THE VAN DER VALK GAS PRICE ADVISORY FOR MARCH 3, 2009 – Yesterday was a Blue Monday or should we say Black Monday for the stock and petroleum markets but Tuesday we were humming a different tune. What goes up must come down, Spinning wheel got to go ’round, Talkin’ ’bout your troubles, it’s a cryin sin, Ride a painted pony, let your spinning wheel spin . . . . .
(more…)

April WTI crude oil is down over $3 to $41.50 a barrel so far this morning. That should be good news for oil refiners as long as the prices of gasoline and diesel do not start coming down again. Even though wholesale spot market pipeline prices for gasoline and diesel on the West Coast dropped 8 cents per gallon this morning, retail gasoline prices in the U.S. increased over the weekend. Increases in pump prices will unfortunately be a continuing trend regardless on where crude oil prices are heading at least for the next two months.
(more…)

Our crew has only worked in the travel writing field since 2001, but we’ve hit the market pretty hard since then. Even when baby Brendan was just one year old, he was himself a foreign bureau chief, and we could tell because people gathered around him like a local celebrity. Still, almost every guide book is every bit as good as the next, but “Hidden Montana” from Ulysses Press is something different, and in a good way.
(more…)

Hope springs eternal for motorists with West Coast spot market pipeline diesel and gasoline prices down 3 cents per gallon this morning. But this is just an adjustment of the big upward momentum in prices of the last two days for these two products with diesel up 7 cents and gasoline up 16 cents per gallon.
(more…)

Get ready for six more weeks of winter. Montana’s top cow seer emerged Monday morning to see her shadow, dashing hopes of an early spring. Montana’s Phil the Cow poked her head out into the elements early Monday morning, only to be met by her shadow.
(more…)