While I doubt it was their intent, the soap makers at Dove created something that perfectly illustrates the power of one of the best sales and marketing tools you can use. It might be the best demonstration of that tool I’ve ever seen. Print readers, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpaOjMXyJGk&rel=0 The experiment The Dove “Real Beauty” experiment has […]

Serving you is the greatest privilege of my life. Over the past 40 years, I’ve had one goal: make life better for the people of this state. You don’t become longest serving senator in Montana without a lot of help from a lot of people. I am grateful for the opportunity you have given me. […]

I apologize to Commissioner Cal Scott. Before he was elected, I wrote letters in opposition of him to the media. At that time I did not believe he would make a good commissioner. However, after attending a commission meeting, my opinion of Scott has changed. My initial judgment of you was wrong. I was at […]

Stepper Hall, the son of some friends of ours in Montana, sent me the following email: I’m writing my senior thesis on small business in the ski industry and I’d like you to help me with the question: “How can a small ski business survive in the ski industry that is dominated by a few […]

By John Fuller One definition of a “statesman” is a politician who just lost an election. Another is a Republican who just broke ranks with his party and voted with Democrats. In the Montana Legislature this year, on several critical issues, a block of Republican senators abandoned their party and voted with Democrats. Since Republicans […]

In the days following the Boston Marathon bombing, I read several well-written stories about why amateur runners train for hours each week to prepare for grueling races. Why suffer for so long for so little recognition? It’s a good question, and reminded me of a phone call my dad made to me more than 10 […]

As someone on the dark side of 50, I’ve earned the right to use the “O” word. So what exactly was I referring to when I said “old”, and who’s doing the suffering? You might’ve heard of the term “SME”, or subject matter expert. Depending on the business, your SMEs might be young, old or […]

As spring emerges in Big Sky Country, with it comes the anticipation of summer vacations, farmers markets, gardening and enjoying the majesty of the great Montana outdoors. For the Montana Urban and Community Forestry Program, spring is for planting trees – specifically in celebration of Arbor Day – the official observation of which in Montana […]

Gosh, I hate Congress. About six weeks ago, the Senate Judiciary approved, on a straight party line, a gun control bill: S-649 – misnamed the Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act. While watered down slightly from what gun-haters in Congress really lusted for (gun and magazine bans), it still stank. Stinkiest of all was “universal background […]

I am one of the site managers at Whitefish Community Center. We have had an excellent nutrition program for 35 years provided by Agency on Aging. Our center alone serves 10 to 20 seniors who eat at the center daily and enjoy fellowship with each other and with the volunteers who serve them. We also […]

When President Barack Obama revealed his latest budget last week, it was greeted with a lukewarm reception from fellow Democrat and Montana’s longtime Sen. Max Baucus, who said he was “disappointed” in some of the entitlement cuts. Meanwhile, the U.S. debt continues to rise, although at a slower pace than previous years, and is nearing […]

By John Fuller Since the Supreme Court case of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, liberals have had their knickers in a twist about corporations and those with deep pockets being involved in political campaigns. By their attachment of the phrase “dark money,” liberals, progressives and RINOS have attempted to portray these efforts as sinister. […]

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council would like to thank the representatives and senators who came forward to support the proposed Water Rights Compact entered into by the Tribes, the State of Montana and the United States of America. The compact was an elegant solution to the complex pattern of land-ownership and water use […]

A recent study out of the U.S. has generated much discussion about the health of the Elk River (April 3 Beacon: “Watershed Concerns Surface”). As the operator of five steelmaking coal mines in the Elk Valley, which employ over 4,000 people who live in the region, we take environmental issues very seriously. Our employees raise […]

There are not many moments left in the Montana Legislature as next week lawmakers adjourn from the regular session. Their 90 days is up. The major policy decisions facing Montana will be made over this weekend, heading into the start of the next and final week. Bills once tabled easily resurface amended into other bills […]