In honor of Helena, the most impressive baby since Reed and Sue Richards had Franklin, we have a Montana-themed question today. The state has a rich history, from Lewis and Clark on through muckraking exposes of the Amalgamated Copper Company.
In 1972, something happened in Montana that doesn't happen very often in the United States. It did, however, also happen in Illinois in 1847, in Alabama in 1901, and in Michigan in 1962. What was this momentous event?
As ever, eschew the black arts of Google and research libraries, choosing instead to let the answer well up within you. One guess per post, but you may post as many times as you wish.
The winner gets a hand-crafted replica of the entire state of Montana, made out of copper and molasses.
Um, was there a premature ejaculation of a volcano?
Posted by: bootsy on October 10, 2003 11:40 AMI will also go with geology, but look the other way. . . hit by a meteorite!
Posted by: Scott on October 10, 2003 11:43 AMOh, here's the key phrase: "In 1972, something happened in Montana that doesn't happen very often in the United States."
In 1972, Montana elected a qualified, non-sleazy, intelligent person to public office.
Posted by: Scott on October 10, 2003 11:45 AMCanadian Invasion.
(the Alabama one was especially surprising)
Four fine guesses, yet lacking that certain quality of correctness.
The two governmental guesses are closer than the two geological ones.
Posted by: Gavin on October 10, 2003 12:08 PMI suspicion that in those four incidents, widely separated in space and time, visitors to gas station bathrooms encountered hot air hand drivers on which no one had yet scratched "wipe hands on pants" as a final instruction.
Posted by: Scott on October 10, 2003 12:09 PMAn independant was elected governer.
Posted by: teenidol on October 10, 2003 12:18 PMBob Hope toked up?
Posted by: Mrs. Bill Clinton on October 10, 2003 12:25 PMThe Cubs took the pennant.
Posted by: teenidol on October 10, 2003 12:34 PMSomebodt got a hand-crafted replica of the entire state of Montana, made out of copper and molasses.
Posted by: teenidol on October 10, 2003 12:40 PMHand DRYERS. Jeezus. Hackers out to make me look stupid.
Posted by: Scott on October 10, 2003 12:46 PMSomebodt changed your words?
Posted by: teenidol on October 10, 2003 01:01 PMNone of these, I'm afraid.
The event in question took the work of many different Montanans. (Montanites? Montanese?)
Posted by: Gavin on October 10, 2003 01:09 PMThat Spencer Tunick guy took nude photos of large groups languishing in the countryside.
Posted by: teenidol on October 10, 2003 01:15 PMI think Schwartzy groped my verbiage.
All across Montana, people were gettin' together
From many ideals, they formed a single goal
Somepeople got to benefit, some others had to sacrifice. . .
Aherm. . . uh . . .
All them Montanans, like the Alabamans, Illinoyers, and Michiganites before them got together. . . and . . .went off and . . . smilingly and hopeful. . .
recalled their governor?
Posted by: Scott on October 10, 2003 01:27 PMRatified their constitution? That, or the world's largest ball of twine.
Posted by: Scott on October 10, 2003 01:46 PMI smell google!
Posted by: bootsy on October 10, 2003 02:13 PMThe world's largest ball of twine, if I'm not mistaken, is actually in Minnesota, though I guess it could have been in Montana in the 1970s. I thought I'd interject this to save a snarky Art correction, as happened when I inadvertently suggested that Ruggles Mine was in Vermont.
So, Boots, is the Constitution or the recall correct, thus giving you your googlewhiff?
Posted by: Scott on October 10, 2003 02:32 PMThe constitution is pretty much what we were looking for--each of those states had a constitutional convention at that time. (I know it got ratified in Montana, but frankly, I'm not sure of its fate in the other states.)
But I'd like to see somebody try to ratify a ball of twine.
Congratulations, Scott!
Posted by: Gavin on October 10, 2003 02:43 PMthank yuh, thank yuh very much.
Posted by: Scott on October 10, 2003 02:47 PMHere in New York, we call our constitution the ball of twine.
Scott, I think Google should stop searching the Internet and start scanning your brain, is all.
Posted by: bootsy on October 10, 2003 02:57 PMDAMMMIT! I'm always ruining my own damn punchlines --- Supposed to be:
Here in New York, we call our constitution the ball of WHINE.
It's funnier that way, see?
Montanans. (Montanites? Montanese?)
Mountains.
Posted by: Rory on October 10, 2003 04:27 PMWhiskey Rebe -- oh.
Sorry, I've been a little distracted.
A Montana-sized thanks to Gavin for picking up the quiz torch.
We all came home last night -- two nervous adults and one very small thing whose expressions, variously, suggest: the Dalai Lama playing a difficult session of Defender; Legolas feeling superior to Gimli; proof that humankind is actually descended from a not-unappealing genetic liason involving birds and golden monkeys; Voldemort.
Posted by: BT on October 11, 2003 12:42 PMSounds gorgeous!
I'll toot my own horn here (oh that I should have so flexible a spine!) I did a guest doodle for Boxjam. Speaking of surrogates, ya know.
Posted by: Scott on October 14, 2003 08:54 AMsnarky, eh? Yes, I think it is in MN. I drove from Minneapolis to Missoula (indeed seeing Helena along the way) and saw the Corn Palace and a giant Cow in South Dakota (I think).
Posted by: art on October 15, 2003 01:56 AM