People notice things

Like the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, for example. In today's "What's Up With That?" section, Chronicle staffer Brook Griffin noticed my Christian Science Monitor article about Ron Gompertz, owner of Bozeman's EcoAuto.

The Chronicle's website doesn't show the article without subscribing, but it's just a blurb so I think it's okay if I stick it here.

Monitoring Gompertz: Ron Gompertz is in the news again. The Bozeman resident and chief purveyor of tiny, fuel-efficient cars, is featured in the July 9 edition of the Christian Science Monitor in the science and tech section.

The story follows Gompertz around town in one of his 1,500 pound cars drag racing with diesels on Main Street and telling a complicated and convoluting life story.

The gist of the story centers on Gompertz selling environmentally aware vehicles in a state that doesn't really care about being that environmentally friendly. At one point Gompertz is even quoted as referring to Montanans driving big trucks as a "Neanderthal kind of thing."

While this kind of thing probably won't sell any more of those tiny cars, it was an interesting read. Those who want to know more can check the article out at www.csmonitor.com, click on the "sci/tech" button.

Should I take this mentioning of my article as a compliment? Of course!

This time, with chutzpah

This is Ron Gompertz, owner of Bozeman's EcoAuto dealership (photo by Anne Sherwood), and subject of my second Christian Science Monitor article.

When doing a scientific experiment, it doesn't count if you achieve success just once. You have to do it twice, in case the first time was a fluke. So I'm pretty proud of myself for having two articles in the Monitor.

This article is also important because it represents the first collaboration between myself and Bozeman-based photographer Anne Sherwood, who primarily shoots for the New York Times. I met Anne through a mutual friend several years ago; this past winter we met again, which was strange in that it was like we had always been close friends. We were familiar with each others' work, and we both expressed interest in collaborating. We both share an interest in exploration, adventure, and meeting fascinating people (like the dude in this article), so I think we both hope this will be the first of many collaborations.