Data is one of the most significant challenges that companies face in the modern world. In today's digital age, data has become one of the most valuable assets that a company can have. Every interaction and decision creates data that could be used to drive forward things like analytics, customer profiles, and marketing. In addition, data-driven decisions can make companies stand out and help improve their systems.

Data is a challenge to so many companies because put simply, it is easy to create, but it’s hard to aggregate and then use. There’s a lot that goes into making data available and useful for a company. The most common way businesses overcome this dilemma is through the modern data stack. Taking data from a silo that remains inaccessible or unusable, the data stack puts that data in a warehouse and makes it available.

However, while the data warehouse has long been the solution to a silo, the problem is that businesses are finding that even though their data has gone through ETL, their warehouses have taken on similar characteristics to silos. So, regardless of the fact that it’s transformed and loaded into a warehouse, it comes down to the human resources and skill to access that data and make it available to the various company departments that need to use it.

This is where dbt Cloud comes into the picture in a powerful way that helps alleviate your data team's stress and leverage their time for your company’s success. If you have been wondering what the key features of dbt Cloud are and if it’s worth the price point, here is everything you need to know.

What is dbt Cloud?

The modern data stack is the milk and honey of any company’s data integration. How the stack works and the ease of access it has across a company can bring many powerful benefits. Accessing data and pushing it out to different departments takes a lot of skill, time, and knowledge. Data teams, especially smaller ones, can often get bogged down by tedious tasks that take them away from worthwhile projects.

This is where dbt Cloud wants to make a difference. Designed as a SaaS, this tool is designed to increase efficiency in your team by limiting distractions and leveraging their time wisely. It does this through key features designed to complement the data stack. Here are some of the key features that dbt Cloud offers.

Easy Orchestration

Effective, easy orchestration is the number one way that you can free up your data team to focus their time away from tedious, time-consuming jobs. Orchestration is a team's ability to automate processes and run things on a schedule. This product has a few key features, such as notifying you of problems before merging into the main, that can save you time and stress later down the line. While larger, more robust teams may need an orchestration tool like Dagster, Airflow, or Prefect, dbt Cloud offers competent, easy-to-use orchestration for small teams.

Query With Ease

dbt Cloud’s main features are its integrated development environment or IDE. This helps to streamline live query results and decrease stress. With this feature, you can create your query, send it to your data warehouse, and see results from one browser. This helps minimize distractions and steam line a process that could bog down your data team.

Document Viewer

Out of the box, there is a native document viewer that is designed to show your team the size, stage, and dependencies of the projects you are working on. Access to this kind of documentation site allows democratizing of your documents so your entire team can have access. In addition, because the site is secure and viewer accounts are free, you can create accessible information without worrying about security and deployment logistics.  

Price Point

So how much will this SaaS tool cost your team? Is it worth the cost if you are looking for a way of complimenting your data stack in meaningful and impactful ways that move your team forward? The good news is that this tool is very affordable and gives you a massive bang for your buck.

There are three tiers of pricing, with the first tier being free to single developers, which is very generous in product features. After that, the second tier goes up to $50 per developer seat a month. While this tool is aimed at helping small to midsized businesses, it can complement and improve any data stack. You have to contact enterprise-sized companies to get special pricing, but they do offer this option.

On June 18, 2022, at 7:10 pm Gallatin County Dispatch received multiple calls from several residents along the Gallatin River who had watched an empty 14-foot raft go by their homes. While investigating, a deputy came across two other individuals who were kayaking but appeared to be stranded on the west side of the river near mile marker 59.  One member of the party had flipped their kayak and was able to get to shore, but was cliffed out and unable to get to the other side of the river.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue volunteers from the Valley and Big Sky Sections responded to mile marker 59 where the kayakers were waiting for assistance. On the way to the second scenario, a SAR Command unit spotted the first party, out of the river and near their raft.  Search and Rescue made contact with this group of floaters and once it was determined all parties were safe and not in need of medical attention, the volunteer continued on to help with the second mission.

The kayakers were able to swim/paddle to the roadside of the bank where deputies and Search and Rescue volunteers acted as downstream safety and were waiting to assist with throw bags. Both kayakers were uninjured and ultimately they were given a courtesy ride to their vehicle.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to remind recreationists that even experienced individuals can have unexpected events. Thank you to the concerned citizens who reported this incident, it is always a rule of thumb that if you see something, say something.  Should you lose your vessel, please contact the non-emergency line (406-582-2100) as soon as possible so we do not send resources where they are not needed.

Photos courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

If you're thinking of trying cannabis for the first time, congratulations! You're about to embark on a new and exciting adventure. However, while people of all ages and lifestyles can enjoy cannabis, it's important to know how to have a safe and enjoyable first-time experience. So, here are five tips to help you get started.

Take It Slow

The big mistake many people make, especially those who consume cannabis for the first time, is consuming a lot at once. The main reason why many people think it is necessary to do this is that there is this misconception that you won’t get high when you consume for the first time. This misconception is because people who have never smoked before don’t know how to smoke don’t inhale the cannabis smoke properly.

Regardless, there is no rush when consuming cannabis for the first time. If you consume too much too quickly, you will have a bad trip. This is usually categorized by increased levels of anxiety and paranoia, something that you are definitely going to want to avoid.

Consumption Methods and Effects

The next thing you have to do to have a great first-time cannabis experience would be to choose the best cannabis consumption method for this situation. Of course, this is only possible if you understand the differences between the consumption methods and their effects. Some of the most popular consumption methods are dry herb vaporizers, edibles, bongs, joints, one-hitters, dab rigs, and more.

Consumption methods matter because different consumption methods have different durations of effects. For example, if you were to consume cannabis with a dry herb vaporizer, the duration of effects will be slightly less than that if you were to smoke it. However, the high will be much smoother, averaging around 2 hours. Conversely, if you consume an edible, you should be prepared to experience the intoxicating effects of cannabis for around 6 to 8 hours.

Clear the Day

Many people assume a cannabis high is very similar to being drunk. This is not the case at all, and if you are under this impression, you'll be surprised. So, the best thing you can do for yourself is to clear the day and ensure that you don't have anything important that needs to be done since, chances are, you probably won't get around to doing it. You should also absolutely avoid driving at all costs.

Get Snacks and Put on a Series

If you truly want to enjoy your day when consuming cannabis for the first time, you should prepare for the occasion. One way that you can prepare is by getting snacks. Something that happens when you consume cannabis is you get what's called the munchies. For some reason or another, smoking cannabis makes you very hungry, so preparing a few snacks would be a great idea.

More than this, you will probably want to do nothing more than lay down. A great way to experience the high would be to put on your favorite series or watch a movie you haven't seen before. In all honesty, there's nothing quite like it.

Choose the Best Strain

Finally, the last thing you should do if you want to have a great first-time cannabis experience is to choose the best strain to consume. Two strains are the most common, Sativa and Indica; Indica will leave you feeling extremely relaxed and lazy, whereas Sativa will make you feel slightly more energized and creative.

More than this, different cannabis strains have different levels of THC. If this is your first time-consuming cannabis, then you will want to know how much THC is in the specific strain you are consuming since this will determine how much you will need to consume.

You can dream it; you can brew it. With the recent rise of craft breweries, many people are getting the chance to open their breweries. But what if you’re a less experienced brewer and don’t know where to begin? If this sounds like you, read on to learn everything you need to know about opening your brewery.

Working on your terms is a great way to improve as a brewer. It’s also an exciting opportunity that not everyone can take advantage of.

Owning your own brewing business can be challenging at times, but with the right planning and hard work, there's no reason why you can't succeed.

What Does it Take to Open a Brewery, and What Are the Costs Involved?

If you’re thinking about starting a brewery of your own, you’ll need to decide first on what kind of brewery you’d like to open.

There are many different types of breweries, and depending on your preferences, you may choose to open a brewery that brews lagers, pilsners, American-style light lagers, or American-imported dark ales.

The costs of opening a brewery can vary greatly depending on several factors, such as the type of beer you plan to brew, the equipment you will be using, and the location of your brewery. Once you’ve determined what you want, it’s best to start looking into the feasibility of opening a brewery.

How Do You Come Up With a Beer Recipe that Will be Successful in the MarketPlace?

There are many different ways to go about this. One method is to head to a local brewery and chat with the brewers. Talking to the brewers can be your next best thing if you’re not a professional brewer and don’t know the ins and outs of beer production.

Ask them what beer they brew and what styles they are most successful with, and then use that data to go from there. You’ll need to know the ideal strength for your beer, the most important feature you’d like to see in your beer, and how you can incorporate that into your recipe.

What kind of Marketing and Advertising Should You Do
to Get Your Brand Out There?

You can use many methods to get your beer out in the marketplace. The only way to go if you want to gain traction with the masses and find customers is to release a great beer. One way to do this is through social media.

You can follow your favorite social media accounts and then repost your beer whenever you have a new beer release. This is the best way to get your beer out there and get potential customers to discover your products. You can even look into streaming your beer on YouTube to get the word out faster.

How Do You Handle the Distribution and Sales of Your Beer Products?

This is where you get to put your spin on it; you can either choose to do it the traditional way or go with an on-site model. Traditional distribution methods involve buying a barrel of beer, bringing it to a Liquor Control Board (LCLB) store, and selling it to consumers there.

This is the slow, complicated and expensive way to go. On the other hand, on-site distribution lets you sell directly to consumers at your location. This is much more efficient and quicker. It also allows you to avoid paying brokerage fees and bottlenecks that traditional distribution methods cause.

How to Price Your Beer

There are a few things you need to consider when pricing your beer. The first is market size. What is the market size for your product in your location? If you’re unsure, you can check out Untappd for more insight.

Once you have the market size, you can use that number as a guide for setting your beer price. Now, with market size in mind, you need to decide how much money you would like to make per barrel.

You can look into buying a custom brew system and running your small-batch brewery. This will save you time and money and provide you with a much more personalized experience than purchasing a commodity system.

Starting a brewery business is a great idea; you should consider it. However, you must ensure that you are prepared for the challenges ahead. You’ll want to start with a clear business plan and financial projections. After that, you’ll want to do your research on the industry and find out what it will take to start your own brewery business.

HELENA – Following conversations with officials in Stillwater County, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has closed to recreation the Yellowstone River in Stillwater County, the Stillwater River, and West Rosebud Creek from Rosebud Isle Fishing Access Site to the confluence of Rosebud Creek and Rosebud Creek to the confluence with the Stillwater.

FWP, working with Stillwater County, moved to close the rivers to recreation due to many hazards, including downed powerlines, exposed pipelines, and structures that may still collapse into the river as erosion continues. In addition, county emergency and rescue resources are already at capacity. The county and FWP will continue to monitor conditions and work to open these areas to recreation again as quickly as possible.

Following is a list of sites that are also closed due to flood damage, leaving the sites unsafe:

• Absaroka FAS
• Buffalo Jump FAS
• Castle Rock FAS
• Cliff Swallow FAS
• Fireman's Point FAS
• Jeffrey's Landing FAS
• Moraine FAS
• Swinging Bridge FAS
• White Bird FAS
• Rosebud Isle FAS
• Holmgren Ranch FAS
• Indian Fort FAS

Closures will be strictly enforced.

Refer to the FWP website for a current list of closures and restrictions. Site closures in other areas of the state may be put in place as flooding occurs. FWP will work to reopen closed areas as soon as conditions allow.

Flooding poses significant safety hazards, especially to recreationists. High water levels and related river hazards can appear and evolve without warning including bank collapses, debris jams, as well as exposed and dangerous infrastructure. Recreationists can avoid accidents and injury to themselves and others by observing all safety closures and avoiding other areas with high flows.

HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on shooting range grant proposals. Public comments will be accepted through Friday July 15, at 5pm.

Montana's Shooting Range Grant Program, administered by FWP, provides funding to non-profit shooting clubs, organizations, local governments and school districts to build and improve public shooting ranges throughout the state.

The program received proposals from:

• Billings Rod and Gun Club
• West Yellowstone Ski Education Foundation
• Thompson Falls Trap Club 
• Helena Trap Club
• Prickly Pear Sportsmen’s Association
• Gallatin Sporting Clays 
• Whittecar Rifle and Pistol Range

More information about the proposals, including an environmental assessment for each one, is available at https://fwp.mt.gov/news/public-notices.

Comments can be mailed to: Montana FWP, Attn: Seth McArthur, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701; or emailed to: fwp.shootingranges@mt.gov.

HELENA – Escape the summer heat and enjoy a cool adventure over Father’s Day weekend, when everyone in Montana can fish for free.

While anyone can fish without a license on June 18-19, all other fishing rules and regulations are in effect and must be followed.

All would-be anglers are encouraged to be aware of boating and water safety on Montana’s rivers and streams. With recent heavy rains and snow runoff, many of Montana’s rivers and streams are swollen and dangerous. In northwest, southwest, and south-central Montana, several fishing access sites are closed or restricted due to high water. Please be mindful of current river flows and area closures.

To view current waterbody restrictions, visit https://fwp.mt.gov/news/current-closures-restrictions/waterbody-closures.

Additionally, those with watercraft of any kind must remember to stop at all AIS inspection stations.

For water and boating safety tips, click on the Recreation tab at fwp.mt.gov and choose your activity. 

For more information on AIS, including how to locate your nearest inspection station, visit to www.cleandraindrymt.com

HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Licensing Bureau is soliciting proposals from conservation organizations that are interested in conducting a competitive auction or lottery for some 2023 licenses.

Licenses available for auction include bighorn sheep, Shiras moose, and mountain goat. Licenses available for auction or lottery include mule deer and elk.

The Montana Administrative Rules that apply to these licenses include eligibility requirements and can be found at https://rules.mt.gov/gateway/RuleNo.asp?RN=12%2E3%2E801.

All proposals must be submitted by July 15. Written proposals can be hand-delivered to the FWP Licensing Bureau at 1420 E. 6th Ave. in Helena; mailed to P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT, 59620; or emailed to devon.boone@mt.gov. Large proposals or proposals with sensitive information can be sent via the state of Montana file transfer service found at https://transfer.mt.gov/Home/Login.

Montana’s Fish and Wildlife Commission will select the conservation organizations to conduct the auctions and lottery at its meeting on Aug. 25. Organizations submitting proposals are encouraged to attend the meeting. Selected organizations and individuals will be required to complete a cooperative agreement with FWP prior to auctioning any licenses.

Dealing with pain – especially any kind of chronic – can feel incredibly debilitating and make daily living life quite difficult.

For many people, it is often the case that they deal with this kind of pain by using (and in some cases over-using) over-the-counter medicines such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen.

While these medicines can undoubtedly serve as effective pain relievers, consumers should know that by using these medications for an extended period, they can encounter some detrimental side effects – as in the case of liver problems and, in some cases, addiction.

That said, there is a solution – turning to natural ways to relieve pain. Some of the ways that people have traditionally turned to natural ways to relieve pain include using essential oils, herbs, and alternative therapies as part of their strategy to address pain.

While there isn’t any conclusive research on this, there is enough evidence to suggest that these remedies and therapies have helped many people – and that natural remedies more generally help people address pain.

Below, we explore five things you should know about the topic of natural pain relief.

Essential Oils Do Help

For an extended period, many people have turned to essential oils to help them deal with pain.

For example, some research suggests that consumers can extract oils from natural plants such as peppermint to address pain as this plant has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and pain-relieving properties.

This is because peppermint plants have active compounds that include carvacrol, menthol, and limonene. Therefore, to address pain in its wide varieties, peppermint essential oil can be diluted and used as a topical treatment that is then rubbed in the localized area where the pain exists.

According to 2015 studies, this essential oil is known to relieve arthritis, painful spasms, and tension headache pain (by rubbing the oil on the temples and forehead).

That said, experts caution that users should avoid putting peppermint oil on broken skin as it can lead to allergic reactions and irritation.

Another great essential oil to make use of to secure pain relief, ease anxiety and serve as a sleep aid is lavender oil.

According to a 2012 study, inhaling lavender oil can also address any pain associated with migraine headaches.

This is because lavender oil has pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. That said, like peppermint oil, users should exercise caution as it can be toxic if used directly.

And so, as a practice, experts recommend that people dilute it using a carrier oil if they are applying it topically – and, of course, never ingest it.

Another great oil to use is eucalyptus oil which can reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation in the body when inhaling it.

That said, experts caution that eucalyptus oil should not be used around children, pets, or public more generally as it can trigger asthma.

And when applying it topically, it is always wise to first do a spot check to ensure there won’t be an allergic reaction.

Spices and Roots Address Pain

Many do not know that if they are looking to deal with pain naturally, a great place to start is to go into your kitchen and find the spices and roots in your cupboards and fridge.

Two such examples are ginger and clove. This root is known to be a natural pain reliever in the case of ginger.

According to a 2015 study, experts found that ingesting 2 grams of ginger daily led to a modest reduction in muscle pain, accelerated recovery, and reduced inflammation – especially among those who engaged in rigorous exercise.

While you can undoubtedly build ginger into your diet by using supplements, you might just want to begin by adding raw ginger as a fresh ingredient to smoothies or teas.

In the case of cloves, people have historically used this spice to relieve pain from toothache. But, according to a 2006 study, experts agree that clove gel can be just as effective as benzocaine gel – that is, the topical gel used by dentists to reduce needle pain when getting any kind of minor dental surgery.

Experts agree that while more research is needed, it appears that cloves can be a great natural stand-in to address pain as cloves have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antiviral activity.

Correct Your Posture

Would you believe that slouching – which leads to poor posture – can cause tremendous strain and pain in your back and neck.

When using Hempvana Straight 8, it has become clear that this item provides pain relief and helps you stand taller so that you are not slouching.

As a result, Hempvana Reviews have expressed excitement over the ability to stand straight and feel better with help from Hempvana Straight 8 training tool.

In addition to the pain relief it provides, Hempvana Straight 8 is discreet – that is, you can wear it underneath your clothing, and this one-size-fits-most training tool has fully adjustable straps and works on all body types.

Acupuncture

Another strategy to deal with natural pain is to turn to acupuncture. According to The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), this alternative therapy is excellent at reducing low back pain, neck pain, knee pain, tension headaches, osteoarthritis, musculoskeletal pain, and more generally.

Turmeric  

Finally, turmeric – which is also considered a spice – is also great at relieving pain. According to a 2014 study, turmeric is considered as effective as ibuprofen in managing pain and reducing inflammation.

Many use it as a natural ingredient by adding it to their curries, smoothies, or juices.

HELENA – Flooding is impacting many areas of the state prompting Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks to close or restrict access at several sites in southwest and northwest Montana.

“Right now, our focus is on keeping people safe and helping out with emergency operations where we can,” said FWP Director Hank Worsech. “We’ll open sites and ease restrictions as soon as it’s safe to do so.”

On Monday, after working closely with Park County officials, FWP closed the upper stretch of the Yellowstone River to all recreational use. On Tuesday, the closure from Springdale Bridge Fishing Access Site (FAS) upstream to the Yellowstone National Park boundary was still in effect. Most of the fishing access sites downstream of Springdale Bridge to the confluence with the Bighorn River are closed to motorized access.

Additionally, several fishing access sites on tributaries to the Yellowstone River in that area are either closed or access is restricted.

In northwest Montana, flooding on the Flathead River has prompted the closure of Old Steel Bridge FAS in Evergreen and restricted access to the Pressentine FAS and Kokanee Bend FAS. Access may be limited at additional public sites in the area as river levels rise.

“It’s critical that people take these closures seriously,” Worsech said. “This is no time to be taking risks around these rivers. Our staff will continue to work closely with local officials and emergency responders to help keep the public safe.”

FWP provides a complete list of restrictions and closures online. You can also follow FWP on social media for updates: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.