Night Vision

Magical Night

nightvisionmissoula — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 21:41:22 +0000

Pagans devote nights to practice Story by Elizabeth Diehl Mismatched jars containing anything from mugwort to body salts line the shelves of the temple like suits of armor. The smell of sage, bundled and burned less than an hour earlier, swirls around a space filled with the crescendo of drums, tambourines and bells. Barely lit by flickering candlelight, the face of Raven Digitalis flashes in and out like old film-reel footage.

Trust and Courage

nightvisionmissoula — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 16:57:43 +0000

Blind University of Montana student finds her way in the seeing world Story by Joe Pavlish Kiira DeVries confidently follows the line of her white cane, Henry, as she strides directly into her biggest fear: the night, “a strange, dark place where I don’t feel comfortable.” Henry’s half-inch head is rounded at the tip, and DeVries, 23, softly grips the smooth but sticky worn rubber. The other end of the cane swims through the dense, rainy Missoula air.

Amateur Night

nightvisionmissoula — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 06:13:43 +0000

Karma is not your typical housewife Story by Tori Norskog By 10 p.m., the strippers were no longer stripping. A long-legged brunette with crimpy hair leaned against the pole on stage; hands behind her back, she wiggled an eight-inch platform stiletto around on her right foot, scanning the packed club for potential tippers. Earlier that night, a crowd of only a dozen people had netted her a decent amount of tips. But as Sunday progressed, there was no one sitting at the counter around the stage, also called sniffers’ row, to pay her for her work.

Stage Down

nightvisionmissoula — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 01:47:30 +0000

The life of a musician Story by Steve Miller If there's ever been a polarizing song, it's Prince's “The Beautiful Ones.” It's not so much the first two-thirds that elicit strong feelings either way (though the campy ‘80s synths and falsetto vocals alone can do that); it's the last third. After Prince states, “What's it gonna be, babe? Do you want him, or do you want me? 'Cause I want you,” he spends the rest of the song in a wild wail. For any live performer, there’s no better way to find out who his real fans are than busting out “The Beautiful Ones” within the first few songs of a set.

Predators and Prey

nightvisionmissoula — Tue, 25 May 2010 23:57:05 +0000

Searching for a potential killer Story by Andrew Dusek The darkness of the night makes it almost impossible to see, but I know it’s there. Just beyond the edge of the field, waiting for the spotlight to pass, so it can move from the shadows into the waning light of the moon. The air is still and its movements are imperceptible, but I can hear the nocturnal cries of its accomplices in the distance. The wails pierce the night just like the spotlight’s beam. They are high-pitched and distressed, sometimes long like a wolf’s howl, at other times short and staccato like the yip of a wounded dog. But there are no dogs for miles. This was a predator and it knew I was in pursuit.

Two Sides of the Same Coin

nightvisionmissoula — Sun, 23 May 2010 23:38:01 +0000

For a 20-year-old Missoula native, fighting is life Story by Karen! Garcia Upon first interaction, Andrew Peacock might be a bit much for some people. “I’m a glory hound,” he confesses. “I’m cocky; I’m vain. I’m a simple guy. I like myself.” Tensed up on the edge of his overstuffed black leather couch, he frantically but deliberately smashes the multi-colored buttons and swivels the arcade stick on an Xbox 360 controller. The game is “Super Street Fighter 4,” released on April 27, 2010.

Clash With Nature

nightvisionmissoula — Sun, 23 May 2010 23:27:15 +0000

On Montana roads, encounters between deer and humans are common — and sometimes deadly

Story by Kyle Spurr

Two glowing eyes stared back at him as he drove down Interstate 90 from Helena to Missoula. It was 3 a.m., and as he approached, the headlights on his car revealed a deer behind the shining saucers. The two sources of light met at that moment. He applied the brakes on the Pontiac Grand Prix, but it was too late. The compact car crashed into the deer, killing it on impact.

“It’s as if we were destined to hit,” said Victor Johnson, 19, a sophomore at the University of Montana. “We paused at the same time.”

Cold Enough for Ice Cream

nightvisionmissoula — Fri, 21 May 2010 00:14:29 +0000

Sampling the selection at Big Dipper Story by Kat Franchino Ice cream should not taste like fruit. Cone in hand, I sit shivering at a picnic bench. It is late April, but still cold enough to need a jacket. And despite the late hour — it’s close to 9 p.m. — I had to wait in line for 10 minutes. Why am I choosing to sit outside and eat ice cream that tastes like fruit? Because this is Big Dipper, where you hang out in Missoula if you’re sick of bars. I first tasted Big Dipper ice cream when I visited the University of Montana nearly three-and-a-half years ago.

The Other Universe

nightvisionmissoula — Fri, 21 May 2010 00:09:51 +0000

Escaping to a zombie apocalypse Story by Lily Rabil Respawn in three, two, one. Fists clenched, he’s back on his feet. Blood splatters the screen as he strikes an unsuspecting survivor. A warning flashes; he’s hit a teammate. “Do you want to go break open the fire doors?” Kyle Doyle asks. His voice is drowned out by screaming and manic laughter. The zombies of “Left 4 Dead 2” are plotting mayhem.

Train Teaser

nightvisionmissoula — Wed, 19 May 2010 21:29:42 +0000

Third-generation railroader spends his nights completing a never-ending puzzle Story by Justin Franz You can feel the vibrations as 15,000 tons of Wyoming coal slowly glide by the rattling windows. Pulling that coal are two massive General Electric diesel locomotives on their way from the Powder River Basin of Wyoming to the power plants on the Pacific Coast. Hundreds of working people spur it onwards; people like Jacob Galiher.