How Montana Was Almost Tied to Jeff Bezos and the Mona Lisa

This is a story about an absurd petition to eat the Mona Lisa, a reminder about fact-checking, and the power of the internet to make a statement.

The petition, which asks Jeff Bezos to buy and eat the Mona Lisa, has almost 20,000 signatures as of this writing 18,900, to be exact, and has been floating around the internet for three years. There's also an interesting detail about the person who started the petition in The Messenger's article:

Kane Powell, a resident of Montana, launched this petition... -themessenger.com

Turns out, the petition was a joke that became something more, according to a New York Times article from 2021. But here the plot thickens.

The New York Times says that Mr. Powell is from Stevensville, Maryland.

Given that the New York Times had an interview with Powell, I'm guessing The Messenger saw Stevensville, did a quick search, and Stevensville, Montana came up. That or they mistook the Md. for Mt.

The New York Times interview says that Powell came up with the idea while having dinner with friends and they started to order from the drink menu, priced at $1. Back in 2021, the petition had only started to gain traction, but now the petition is up to almost 20,000 signatures. The interview also explained the reasoning beyond the joke:

In his call to action, Mr. Powell is making a statement about the absurdity of massive amounts of accumulated wealth, as well as the bizarreness of the current internet era.

That absurdity and bizarreness, and the call to action, is echoed in the many comments that accompany the petition.

"gobble da lisa"
"This is the most important petition in modern times. Jeff Bezos needs to eat the Mona Lisa to save the world."
"I believe it is absurd and unconscionable that we live in a society where jeff bezos has not eaten the mona lisa."
"It should be rolled up like a froot roll-up and swallowed whole"

Montana or Maryland, Powell's petition certainly seems to have struck a chord with people.

These are the Top 8 Cheapest Towns To Live In, In Montana

Have you been contemplating moving to Montana? Maybe you already live here and the town has gotten so expensive you are having to relocate by no fault of your own. The good news, you can stay in Montana by moving to one of the cheapest towns in Montana.

PropertyClub.NYC has announced its 2023 list of the 8 cheapest Montana towns.

Gallery Credit: megan shaul

Here's 8 States That Have Longer And Harsher Winters Than Montana

Winter can be brutal here in Montana with lots of wind, snow, and temperatures well below zero. In fact, that alone should be a word of warning for those thinking of moving here from warmer climates.

A lot goes into being prepared to live in a state with rough winters and if you've never done it before, you certainly need to make sure that you are prepared. You need to make sure you have the right tires, vehicle, and winter clothing. Plus, I would highly suggest you learn how to drive in winter conditions before moving to a state that celebrates winter 6 months out of the year.

And while winters can be very rough here in Montana, we don't even crack the Top 5 for States With The Most Brutal Winters.

Gallery Credit: Derek Wolf