Alaska
updated
10:08 p.m.
I was having a hard time trying to make up my mind about the Kahtnu/CPGH situation. I can easily see the merits of both sides. Competition does help the consumer’s bottom line. But there is the truth that the hospital is able to offer a full service, including those procedures that will never be profitable, because other services might be more profitable and can cove...
SOL in Soldotna, Alaska - Sat 2:47 p.m.
Congressman Don Young [R-AK] was appointed by the Governor of Alaska to the state's single US House seat in 1972, after losing the election to Nick Begich [D], father of current US Senator Mark Begich [D]. The senior Begich was lost in a plane crash near Juneau two weeks before the 1972 election. Young has been re-elected to the seat every two years since then. Young always seems u...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Jan 25 - 2 clicks 
Before you dismiss this post as the opinion of a Bambi-loving extremest greenie, just for the record I'm a multiple gun owner who has hunted caribou, moose, deer and various winged critters. I think that if you eat meat or wear any sort of animal product (including leather), it is nothing sort of hypocritical to be opposed to hunting. Fine if you choose not to do so, but don't expe...
SOL in Soldotna, Alaska - Jan 22
Oh, the crazy world of Alaskan politics. We elect republicans because they are fiscal conservatives and scorn democrats because they love to spend. There are a series of bills before the new legislative session and included are several, all sponsored by democrats, that would force the state to save a sizable chunk of the state's growing wealth. Included in the bills is SB142 sponsored...
SOL in Soldotna, Alaska - Jan 17 - 8 clicks
Back in November, I wrote about Bob Ermold's opinion piece in the PC about predator control. Bob got all slobbery about the wisdom of Corey Rossi, the unqualified director of the State of Alaska's Division of Wildlife Conservation . Corey was originally selected by then Gov Sarah Palin to run the AK Dep't of Fish and Game, but he was not appointed after a near-revolution in the department...
SOL in Soldotna, Alaska - Jan 12 - 2 clicks
For any who may be reading this series for the first time : this is a thought experiment where I try to see what would happen if the size of the House of Representatives were doubled to 870 members from 435. And yes , I know Republicans have the trifecta. This entire series is theoretical to begin with, gimme a break. Ohhhhhhhhhhhk! La-homa where the wind comes sweeping down the plain! And t...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Jan 8
For those of us who have watched with dismay as the Obama administration moves forward with approval after approval of Shell's oil drilling permits for the Arctic Ocean, there's a logical disconnect: Why would the administration allow drilling in the Arctic Ocean when there's a reasonable likelihood of a disaster in the making? Consider these three critical concerns: • Very few of the post-BP...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Jan 2
Topics: BP’s Top U.S. Officer Called to Testify at Gulf Oil Spill Trial, Judge rules BP's 2009 oil spill in Alaska was accidental, BP Staff May Face U.S. Criminal Charges After Spill, WSJ Says, In a first, gas and other fuels are top US export, Deep Gulf drilling thrives 18 months after BP's oil spill, In a first, gas and other fuels are top US export, Shrimp season worst in recent history, A Gu...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Jan 2
New Year's Day, 2012: a time to appreciate the place where I live. Please add your comments about the good things Soldotna has going for it..Here's my start: 1) Tsalteshi Trails - this winter cross-country ski/summer running and biking trail system is a gem not only for Soldotna, but for Alaska. Get out there and get fit! 2) Maybe it's just me, but I love the bridge and the lights ...
SOL in Soldotna, Alaska - Jan 1 - 2 clicks
If you picked up the PC today, the lead story is a fluff piece praising the glories of Mike Chenault, the speaker of the AK House of Reps. "I was the best fit for the job" explained the not-too-humble north-roader. Jumping in with the alleluias was Kurt Olson, SOLdotna's representative to the state house. Mike is proud to have brought home the bacon to the Kenai as the peninsula rec...
SOL in Soldotna, Alaska - Dec 29
Putting major policy issues like air quality regulation by the EPA and promotion of the Keystone pipeline into the spending bill is a tactic I expect from the Republicans. That Senator Begich, Democrat from Alaska, agreed to both of these provisions is a huge disappointment. These kinds of issues need stand-alone discussion so the people's voices can be heard. That President Obama may sign...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Dec 17
OK, if you are a regular reader of SOL, you know that my take on things is a bit left of center. As such there's not too many Rs that my conscience will let me support. But there are a few. I've become a big fan of the Alaskan Senate President, Gary Stevens, who represents Kodiak, Homer and Seward. He's not in anyone's pocket, he's practical, and his reasons for supporting ...
SOL in Soldotna, Alaska - Dec 15 - 12 clicks
This just in - KPBSD Superintendent Steve Atwater is one of the two finalists for Carol Comeau's position in Anchorage. Read the ADN story here . By most all accounts, Steve has done a good job here on the Kenai, and after years of the previous superintendent's divisive school leadership, one can only hope that if he does get the Anchorage job, his replacement will be as competent and profession...
SOL in Soldotna, Alaska - Dec 15 - 12 clicks
Normal 0 0 1 488 2785 23 5 3420 11.0 0 0 0 I didn’t go to the last Borough Assembly meeting, but I listened to the KDLL news report about Debbie Brown’s and George Pierce’s testimonies against funding non-profits. Neither of them has any of their facts straight, but what do you exp...
SOL in Soldotna, Alaska - Dec 9
Topics: BP spill may lead to criminal charges: Prudhoe Bay Spill, Did BP violate its Alaska probation? Federal trial begins in Anchorage, BP Pipeline Rupture May Force It to Pay More for 2006 Spill, BP faces revoked criminal probation in Alaska, BP Alaska Probation Hearing: Was Worker Fired for Calling Company Unsafe?, BP manager's email listing safety concerns debated at spill trial, BP to Secu...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Dec 5
As I write this I am still regaining the feeling in my fingertips and and toes. It's been cold here in Anchorage. It feels like it's been hovering around 0 since winter started. As I was taking out the trash after returning from a Thanksgiving weekend away, I saw what first looked like a pile of rags. Instead it was one of the many homeless people who inhabit our city, wi...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Nov 27
Topics: Chevron Brazil oil spill may be bigger than thought, Brazil federal police official says Chevron unprepared to deal with oil leak, Major Oil Leak At Offshore Chevron Site In Brazil, Chevron takes blame for Brazil oil spill, Prosecutors aim to revoke BP probation: Prudhoe Bay Spill, Prosecutors seek to revoke BP's Alaska probation, BP leak causes big stink in Texas City, BP Can’t Use Tran...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Nov 21
I'm not a religious person. This video was sent to me today and it made me feel better. I hope it makes you feel better. If not, flame on. There seems to be plenty of that to go around. This video from the small Yupiq Eskimo Village of Quinhagak, Alaska, was a school computer project intended for the other Yupiq villages in the area. ...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Nov 17
BP Wants U.S. Probes Barred from Oil Spill Suits; Study: Change method to assess gulf oil spill; Researchers examine health effects of BP spill on cleanup workers; Luther Strange on BP spill; Editorial: Congress needs urgency in passing bill on BP spill fines; Oil companies need rules before drilling; Activist Leaders Explain How They Beat the Keystone XL Pipeline; Obama Administration Del...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Nov 14
Bob Ermold has an OpEd in a recent PC about predator control and the Peninsula moose population. It's kinda funny in a way, one thing he complains about is when facts or figures are applied incorrectly or out of context, yet his whole piece, which supports aerial shooting of wolves, is nothing but facts and figures being applied incorrectly and out of context. First, I hope that no one be...
SOL in Soldotna, Alaska - Nov 12
This is great news . Yesterday the Obama administration took another step in helping us break the shackles of foreign oil by offering up more areas for oil and gas drilling, including in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the Alaska coast . The only bad part about it is that the sale of the 15 leases will be stretched out over 5 years from 2012-2017 with the Alaskan leases coming up towards...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Nov 9
A storm that formed off the Aleutian islands is preparing to move inland over western Alaska with predicted winds of up to 100 miles per hour, record snowfall and flooding along the coast. The National Weather Service (you might recall it as ion of those "costly" federal agencies Republicans thought should have its budget drastically cut earlier this year ) is calling it a storm o...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Nov 9 - 2 clicks
Climate change is the largest threat that our natural heritage has ever faced. We must now actively work to create resilient habitats where plants, animals, and people are able to survive and thrive on a warmer planet. To fully protect wildlife and wild places for future generations to experience and enjoy, we need to expand the way we think about conservation. Protecting isolated places is no...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Nov 8
After reading Meteor Blades and Robert Greenwalds diary yesterday and with the encouragement of my husband, I am going to try my hand at writing another diary. Last Saturday after participating in Occupy Santa Fe, my husband and I went to eat at one of our favorite places and as I was paying I saw a card inviting people to come and see a showing of a documentary "Red Gold". The card said ...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Oct 27
Just what is happening here? The Peninsula Clarion poll has Fred and Mike running neck-to-neck. Considering the Clarion doesn't have much readership outside of the Central Peninsula, and that Fred probably has his strongest support in Sterling, Nikiski, Kasilof and Ninilchik areas, I'm not too sure how accurate the poll is. Again and again, I have to come back to the fact that Joe Mil...
SOL in Soldotna, Alaska - Oct 15
All along, the borough mayor's race pit Mike Navarre vs the other candidates, but who would have guessed that Fred Sturman would have been the top of those five? I guess I'm not really surprised by voters on the Kenai - just how many were snookered by Joe Miller after all? The run-off will tell a lot about who we are here on the Kenai Peninsula as the two surviving candidates offer completely di...
SOL in Soldotna, Alaska - Oct 5
Yay! What could make me happy to read a list of banned books Alaska Dispatch posted? A book I've been wanting to read by an author I love is on there - "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie. Each year during Banned Books Week I try to read at least one of the "most banned" books of the moment. Though honestly, it's not much of a challenge. EVERY good book ...
Alaska Real - Sep 28
KDLL/KBBI had a story Monday morning about the Borough receiving about $4.5 million for roads from the state. At the borough assembly meetng in Homer, Milli Martin asked why none of the funds were going to the eastern/southern peninsula. Mayor Carey stated that the legislature stipulated that the money only go to Districts 33 & 34 - and then he said that actually, the representative from one of th...
SOL in Soldotna, Alaska - Sep 26
Two American students held prisoner in Iran were finally freed today . Almost a million more young adults now have health insurance than had it last year . The Tasmanian Parliament voted in support of same-sex marriage , the first Australian State to do so (the definition of marriage is a Federal issue in Australia, so the vote does not have the force of law). Ten people pled guilty ...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Sep 21
I hope that you have all been following Jenny Neyman's most excellent reporting in the Redoubt Reporter on the international students who have come to the central peninsula on a cultural work visa, only to be left stranded with little work and no place to stay. If you haven't read the articles do so here and here . If you've been following the Republican presidential debates, each candid...
SOL in Soldotna, Alaska - Sep 16
I thought this article by Timothy Aqukkasuk Argetsinger in Alaska Dispatch was great - "Uqaġupta naalaġniuruksraurusi: When we talk, you listen." It's about the recent issue regarding legal action taken against parents for truant students. While I think there is risk to then excuse some of the parental action (or inaction) regarding ensuring kids are at school, where they might actually be jus...
Alaska Real - Sep 14 - 2 clicks
A few weeks ago, I was waiting in my car for my sister to come out of a grocery store, window down, and two young men, both white, were having a loud discussion about race. I tried (not very hard) to not listen, but as I was in the middle of the unnerving project I’ll describe in a bit, bad manners took over. They discussed different racial problems, whether minorities should be “blaming” eve...
Alaska Real - Sep 8 - 3 clicks
USGS: The large blue square. Magnitude 7.1 Date-Time Friday, September 02, 2011 at 10:55:54 UTC Friday, September 02, 2011 at 01:55:54 AM at epicenter Location 52.184°N, 171.684°W Depth 35.5 km (22.1 miles) Region FOX ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, ALASKA Distance...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Sep 2
The Kenai Borough's mayoral race had two mentions in this Sunday's ADN's Ear . First up was a bit about how a fund-raiser for Mike Navarre had across-the-aisle supporters including some influential Rs such as Lisa Murkowski, Gail Phillips and Arliss Sturgulewski. Considering that Dale Bagely, the leading R in the race, was a strong backer of the scoundrel, Joe Miller, it's no surpri...
SOL in Soldotna, Alaska - Aug 29 - 5 clicks
I haven't posted one of these in quite a while. This one is going to be a random selection of photos I have taken in the past couple of months. I hope you enjoy it. ...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Aug 22
I thought I'd share a few photos I took on our last trip to Alaska. Politically the state may be...interesting, but geologically and photographically, it's astounding. ...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Aug 22
Topics: Feds question former BP chief Hayward about financial records, Gulf oil flow; BP Holds Gulf Spill Assessment ‘Financially Captive’; Oil Company Who Profited In The Deepwater Horizon Spill Tries to Get Out Of Paying Royalties; Alaska oil pipe may flow only 10 more years; BP launches first TV ad since oil disaster; BP Finds Success in Reports About Its Failure; BP’s Mega Safety Program Ope...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Aug 22
Topics: Blowout could spill 58 million gallons of oil in Arctic, federal agency says; Arctic oil spill clean-up plans are 'thoroughly inadequate', industry warned; BP Is Fined $25 Million For ’06 Pipeline Spills; High-pressure deepwater well capping stack unveiled at offshore conference; BP investigates oil mats off Perdido Key; Attorneys in oil spill litigation now debate how trial should proce...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Aug 22
Topics: Medvedev raps Sechin over BP-Rosneft deal failure, Medvedev raps Sechin over BP-Rosneft deal failure, Is BP's latest fiasco evidence of Russian law or Russian chess?, BP chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg skewered again, BP chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg skewered again, BP oil rig worker aid fund draws little interest, Oiled birds collected near Pensacola numbered in hundreds, FLORIDA TRUNCATE...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Aug 22
Topics: Gulf Coasters turn to Colbert, A Year After BP Caps Well, Fishermen Still Fight for Survival, Year After Gulf Oil Spill, Columbus Company Still Waits For Claim, BP Oil Still Ashore One Year After End of Gulf Spill, Observations: What Was in the Oil Spilled during BP's Gulf of Mexico Disaster?, Feds' own data raise questions about effort to blame Gulf fishermen for sea turtle death spike,...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Aug 22
Monday is the last day to file for the various elected borough and city positions that will be open this fall. Predictably, many announced candidates are holding off making it official. For borough mayor, only Dale Bagley and Gary Superman have put in the paperwork although there's no reason to think that the remaining four will change their minds. I hope that they are all in as ...
SOL in Soldotna, Alaska - Aug 12
I've loved seeing the great comments left by my previous two posts on the question of language revitilzation and extinction. Here's the third installment in this subject I could go on and on (and seemingly have) about, and discussion of the many arguments I've heard against keeping Native languages alive: "We're all Americans now!" - or "Why do we have to dwell on the past?" This is possib...
Alaska Real - Aug 9
In The Oil Companies We Trust The keys to vast reserves of oil off the coast of Alaska may have been handed to Shell this week after President Barack Obama's administration granted it provisional permission to drill exploration wells in the Beaufort Sea's frigid waters despite fierce opposition from environmentalists. Shell's record for polluting is excellent pdf. Shell’s Big Dirty Sec...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Aug 6
Who could have possibly seen this coming? Staff member to Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) is going to jail. Arne Fuglvog, who has long played an influential role in Alaska fisheries politics, will be sentenced to 10 months in jail if a judge agrees to his plea deal on the charge of falsifying fishing records. This is the sort of thing that happens when you put the foxes in charge o...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Aug 4
In another beat-down to environmentalists, Shell oil company on Thursday received preliminary approval from the US Department of the Interior to begin drilling exploratory oil wells in waters off of northern Alaska starting next summer. Despite the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, despite a total inability to clean up even much smaller spills on sea ice, drilling may begin in a year. ...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Aug 4
The salmon are in the freezer, most of the big summer chores are almost done and maybe, just maybe, there will be some time to devote to this blog once again. The PC reported that there are now six candidates for borough mayor. New to the field is Tim O'Brien, a retired oil patch worker from Nikiski. Of course, that follows last week's announcement that former borough mayor, Mike Nava...
SOL in Soldotna, Alaska - Jul 29
Your view: Transgender bill is about dignity, not child safety is a heart-warming letter to the editor of SouthCoast Today by Albert Hess of New Bedford. I most whole-heartedly ask you to read it. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and talks like a duck where should the duck go to the bathroom? ... The outrage and injustice here is the imposition of outdated sexual more...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Jul 22 - 4 clicks
Sorry ladies and gentlemen, I have about 10 minutes to get ready for work and head out the door, but I saw this story and decided it might be worth it to be a few minutes late, however the diary will be short on my commentary. BP pipeline leaks oily mixture onto Alaskan tundra BP reported yet another pipeline leak at its Alaskan oilfields, frustrating the oil giant's attempts to rebuild ...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Jul 18 - 3 clicks
I posted the other day about Native languages and the ongoing conversation I hear about whether it is even of any value to do so. With as many "reasons" as others come up with on how it is not any value, I've split up my own discussion into several parts: "We're all going to one language anyways" Whether that is true or not (and it's certainly not happening in anyone's lifetime alive ...
Alaska Real - Jul 18
On Monday, I released a state that a future presidential contender has been working his way through - the state I'm dropping today was once home to the most infamous vice presidential candidate in US history - Sarah Palin. It should come as no surprise that the state with the smallest legislature in the country - 40 house members, 20 senators - produces some of the most interesting...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Jul 14
The threat of extinction for many (nearly all) Alaska Native languages has received some attention lately , much do to the release of an updates Alaska Native languages map . I'll leave some others (here, Talking Alaska ) to talk about the why and what is going on. What I get concerned with, whenever this topic comes up and the inevitable backlash of negative commentary, is the idea tha...
Alaska Real - Jul 14 - 3 clicks
The CPGH is in the news again and there are two interesting developments. The first story to break is that Mayor Carey has been given the green light to enter private negotiations to rewrite the lease and operating agreements the borough and the hospital currently have. In typical Carey Speak, the mayor is quoted in the CP as saying “One of the things we agreed to … was that while we are ...
SOL in Soldotna, Alaska - Jul 13
This Saturday I decided to take my young friend, Wesley, from South Florida for the first trip he has ever been on down the river. I introduced him to fishing for Copper River Red Salmon (in the Klutina River) the prior week and though we didn't catch any he was "hooked". I thought a trip down the Gulkana would be a good opportunity to show him the type of place he had moved to while providing a...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Jun 30
Cross Posted at Legal Schnauzer Does God have curious ways of making sure that corrupt SOBs pay for their misdeeds? I'm starting to think the answer is yes after learning earlier today that former Alabama Governor Bob Riley crashed his motorcycle in Alaska. Riley used his long-planned motorcycle trip as an excuse to escape testifying (so far) in the ongoing federal electronic-bingo pros...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Jun 28
Tea Party candidate for Senate Joe Miller has been ordered by an Alaska Court to cough up part of the State's expenses in rejecting Miller's spurious challenge to last year's election results. Remember Miller? He was the Sarah Palin and Tea Party (AKA Right Wing Of The Republican Party) darling who beat Lisa Murkowski in the Republican primary for Senate. She turned around and ran an improba...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Jun 26 - 2 clicks
I left before the FNSB Assembly had voted — in fact, at least an hour before public testimony had finished — but word has it that Ordinance 2011-32, a soft-pedaled version of a zoning ordinance defeated 4-4 a few months ago, was defeated by a vote of 6 to 3. Voting against were Natalie Howard, [...] ...
Fairbanks Pedestrian - Jun 24
Not much information as this earthquake just happened within the last few minutes, but a 7.2 earthquake has hit the Aleutian Islands (in Alaska), and a tsunami warning is in effect. Too early right now for information on damage or any tsunamis occurring, but I'll continue to update this diary (as I would with severe wx liveblogs) as information comes in. Information right now from the USGS : ...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Jun 23 - 3 clicks
Hello Daily Kos People! This is our first post here and we are happy to be here ESPECIALLY after such a great weekend at Netroots Nation! It is our mission to bring laughter to those who are fighting the good fight. If this is your first time watching: The Ironic News Report is an independent progressive political satire segment. Hosted by comedian and activist, writer and producer, Ju...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Jun 21
I think I should tie each of my blog titles to some song. The last posting about Dave Carey not seeking re-election could have featured Paranoid by Black Sabbath. I'd have to go with the Flaming Lips Waiting for Superman , something a bit more innocuous, for the news that Gary Superman has decided to make it a menage a cinq for the borough mayor job. I don't think anyone is surpr...
SOL in Soldotna, Alaska - Jun 18
I know this does not rise to the level of Joplin Tornados, Weiner roasts, Supreme court investigations and most everything else, but this is going to open up a HUGE mess in my opinion. In the past Bristol and Levi's troubles have gone from a public fight with Levi ready to spill the beans on the Palin family to a somewhat agreed upon deal to shut up and go away. Well now Bristol has a new book ...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Jun 18
It's old news by a day, but I am sure most of you are aware that Carey has decided not to seek a second term as borough mayor. It's been a rough first term for Dave: hiring inexperienced and unqualified people and giving them huge pay raises; having his chief of staff getting caught in a questionable business deal with the borough; getting blasted by the out-going emergency manager for the M...
SOL in Soldotna, Alaska - Jun 16
Today’s release of over 24,000 emails from Sarah Palin's Yahoo account may provide fascinating revelations. Here's a sneak peak at an exclusive collection of some that have already been found to be remarkable. ...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Jun 10
Yesterday my diary centered on domestic abuse among American Indians, wherein I included the example of a 1989 study that quantified domestic violence among 19 indigenous peoples of North America. Markers of low to minimal levels of violence included: ...shared decision making, wives' control of some family resources, equally easy divorce access for husbands and wives, no premarital se...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Jun 9
In response to a freedom of information request, the State of Alaska is releasing some 24,000 pages of Sarah Palin's e-mails sent from mostly private accounts while she was Governor. News organizations are asking for help from the public in sorting through them for the most interesting parts. ...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Jun 9
So there is this special session because the house, the senate and the governor can't play nice. It's costing the state tens of thousands of dollars each day and the bill is way over $500,000 already as the legislatures get their per diems and expenses covered. So what is the Speaker of the House, Mike Chenault's, plan to end the gridlock? He's gone to Atlanta to play golf for a week. And get...
SOL in Soldotna, Alaska - May 4
The tests never stop coming for the Obama Administration. Shell Oil is ready to bring glorious prosperity to American shores just like BP did just over one year ago. And right now there is still a chance that Obama might give them the green light. http://www.nytimes.com/... Whatever the administration decides, it will anger somebody. “If the Obama administration approves drilling in the ...
DailyKos (Alaska) - May 2
So sayeth Mark Twain. The war on terror isn't over. I feel a bit strange celebrating anyone's death. And nothing happened today to make 3,000 lives that were lost on 9/11 come back. So why do I feel a certain satisfaction knowing one mass murderer is off the streets? Well, it might be pretty obvious, but I am satisfied. Whatever that says about my humanity, I'm not sure, but I'm pretty sur...
Alaska Real - May 2
by Sarah Laskow, Media Consortium blogger The biggest news for the environment this week might just be that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took pains to add a couple of green touches to this morning's Royal Wedding. The flowers were seasonal, the food locally grown, and the emissions offset. ...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Apr 29
Energy issues have dominated the recent news cycles. Much of the news has been bad. We have been treated to stories about BP's debacle in the Gulf of Mexico, the nuclear nightmare in Japan, a big fracking mess in Pennsylvania, and skyrocketing prices at the pump. Fortunately, there is some good news to report. On Friday, there was a record clean energy spill in California with solar and wind po...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Apr 24 - 2 clicks
April 20 became another day of infamy in the history of the United States . The Oil Spill Commission report outlines the timeline of events as follows . The Deepwater Horizon oil drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico, leased by BP, began to experience pressure control problems shortly after 9 PM. A blowout was reported 40 minutes later, with the first of several explosions taking place at 9:49. T...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Apr 20
Who knew Mike could be so funny, especially in such a smarmy way? Mimicking Senate Leader Gary Steven's speech rebutting Sean Parnell's call for ending ACES, Chenault turned over the gavel at the State House to make his speech and let the Senate know that he wouldn't be bullied by passing the other house's capital projects budget on such a short notice. That budget was just passed on to the Hou...
SOL in Soldotna, Alaska - Apr 15
Sometimes you just have to smile. I hope you all read the most excellent OpEd piece in today's PC by Les Gara about the Governor's plan to give away a couple of billion dollars each year to the oil companies. A plan endorsed by Kurt Olson and Mike Chenault. Mr. Gara makes a convincing argument that the Governor is full of it, but if you've been following his attempt to overtur...
SOL in Soldotna, Alaska - Apr 13 - 3 clicks
The second diary covering the Senate; this one is a bit shorter, since the next part will have the rest of the section and it's mostly big paragraphs, so the material's hard to split up evenly. Enjoy! ...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Apr 13
Last week, I published a diary requesting Letters to the Editor via VoteVets. Let me tell you, I don't ask you to do something that I'm not willing to do myself. My letter actually got published! To the editor: I am appalled that Rep. Don Young supported the efforts of Speaker John Boehner and other Republican House members to keep pushing us toward a government shutdown, when it was clear ...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Apr 12 - 4 clicks
Captain Dave Carey has it out for white whales, but unlike Ahab, Dave doesn't have issues with a big sperm, but rather he has a thing for the baby belugas. Darn it, they might mess up Carey's vision of an industrial and polluted Kenai Peninsula and surroundings. Dave has been a big time promoter of the Chuitna and Pebble Mine proposals and it could be that it's not a good idea that poi...
SOL in Soldotna, Alaska - Apr 10 - 3 clicks
Two comments, seven tips, and five recs last time! That brings a bonus segment from the Congress section (because I wrote it after last Friday), followed by half of the Interesting Individuals: Congress is led by several individuals in both chambers, though only the positions of Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, and President of the Senate pro tempore are mandated by the Constitut...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Apr 4
David Vitter has a new fetish. It is also the favorite lubricant of Republicans - oil. Vitter has his panties in a wad over the president's energy policy speech . "Yesterday, the president offered some vague platitudes, but no concrete plans to rein in rising gas prices, even as they climb toward $4 per gallon," Senator Vitter said at a press conference. Vitter announced he and fellow ...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Apr 2
Did you happen to see the informal assessment earlier this week that pegged Alaska as the fifth dumbest state in the US? We here on the Kenai are doing our part to show the world that our stupidity rank should match our 49th state stature. Want some evidence? Kurt Olson and Mike Chenault held a town hall meeting to make the case that the oil companies need bigger profits and that the sta...
SOL in Soldotna, Alaska - Apr 1 - 3 clicks
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is the second most visited national park in Alaska after Denali. Popularized by the nature writer and environmentalist John Muir in early 1900s after his visit in 1899, it was created a national monument in February of 1925 and elevated to national park status in 1980 with the passage of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. Along with the ...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Mar 29
WOW, This is THE most awesome rant EVER! Apparently it has gone viral and I just wanted to share it here. Not much of a diary on my part, but please take the time to read this. ...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Mar 27
I have started a new group for Alaskans and discussion of Alaskan topics. Since the diaries about Scott McAdams' campaign have become moot, there has not been any place on Daily Kos for Alaskans to gather and natter about Alaskan politics and events. ...
DailyKos (Alaska) - Mar 26 - 4 clicks
I am angry and heartbroken tonight. By a 4-4 vote, the Borough Assembly just failed to pass Ordinance 2010-09, which would have created two new zoning types: a “retail hot spot” and a “supporting commercial district”. These new zones — which would have been merely codified, not even applied — were one of the key [...] ...
Fairbanks Pedestrian - Mar 25
Mudflats had an excellent post about the EPA's involvement in Pebble Mine, and the federal government's involvement with Alaska in general. It's always amazed me how much Alaskans (and especially Alaskan politicians) can rail against the federal government, yet many, MANY times the involvement of the federal government was neccessary to stop the overreaching of the state and state politicians....
Alaska Real - Feb 8 - 5 clicks
Saw this story in the Frontiersman, pretty cool. Palmer man leads fight against depression There's a very powerful message here, and it's still amazng to me when I hear this kind of thing: Pagaran admits that, “I myself was ashamed to say I was Alaska Native until I was 25 years old, and I grew up in Alaska,” he said. “I would tell people I was oriental, Mexican — anything but Native. I...
Alaska Real - Feb 4 - 3 clicks
I must admit, I'm still not used to the amount of ignorance people can come up with when talking about Native people and issues. I read this excellent article from Indian Country Today about a blessing Dr. Carlos Gonzales, Pascua Yaqui, gave for Rep. Giffords. At first I was wondering if there was really such a wide negative reaction to a simple Native prayer given. But even Googling the...
Alaska Real - Feb 1
I've been traveling and am completely exhausted, so won't wax much of an opinion, but this ADN article was pretty thought-provoking regarding Native corporation contracts. Not the most objective ever, but I do hope it's making ALL sides think a little bit about what's going on: Outside companies share Native contracts NO-BID: Subcontractors out of state often get bulk of work. _ ...
Alaska Real - Feb 1
The state of the Indian Nations address was today, and no, it won't be as remarked upon or debated as much as the other recent state of the union address, but it's worth a view or read. THEN go check out our own senator's congressional response . Watch live streaming video from ncai at livestream.com ...
Alaska Real - Jan 28
I've been wondering how this show I've been hearing about has been going, Flying Wild Alaska, about the Tweto family. Anonymous Bloggers has a great little summary . I must admit to being a bit hooked on Ax Men, though, on the History Channel. Especially after their cliffhanger episodes with the missing logger from the town I was born in (I kept looking for my auntie's house.) Though, really, th...
Alaska Real - Jan 26 - 4 clicks
All right, I wanna go to Sundance! From Indian Country Today Media Network: "Native Films Showcase at 2011 Sundance Festival" Including the Inupiaq film "On the Ice"! I actually knew about On the Ice, but didn't know Sundance actually had a Native Forum going: "The Native Forum is a cluster of events for the international indigenous film community that includes panel discussions, filmmaker ...
Alaska Real - Jan 23
Last night I "vocalized some frustration" about not recognizing the good things in and coming from the Alaskan villages - including encouraging the youth toward leadership and building the communities up. With serendipitous timing, I was forwarded this (also from the Tundra Drums) about a great opportunity some smart, hard-working kids have to go to New York City, and win huge resources...
Alaska Real - Jan 21 - 4 clicks
I read this opinion piece in the Tundra Drums today, and it was frustrating from the outset. Not because a lot of it isn't true, but because it's the least original thing to say about villages. "We've entered the Native Dark Age. Everything that used to be good, strong, and healthy about Alaska Native villages is gone or fading." It's the same perspective and complaint I've heard again and a...
Alaska Real - Jan 21 - 4 clicks
This has been making the rounds. Very cool, self-described "quirky" Tlingit piece of animation. ...
Alaska Real - Jan 20
A little collection of opinion on Native subjects, and Native opinions on "everybody" subjects. So, the first one isn't new, but I just found it, so it's new to me! I've seen different versions of this "Native American and immigration" joke, but it pretty much sums up how I feel about immigration today - and why I don't think many Native people (at least not up here) feel very strongly agai...
Alaska Real - Jan 19
A few topics/stories I've seen making the online rounds: A Yup'ik Swan Lake Too cool! The Alaska Dance Theatre, Alaska Dance Theatre School, Alaska Native Heritage Center and Eugene Ballet Company are collaborating on a revision of the classic Swan Lake ballet with Yup'ik storytelling and dance. I used to be skeptical of these kind of attempts, but several years ago I went to the Anchorage ...
Alaska Real - Jan 17 - 4 clicks
Okay... I haven't got the best track record of volunteering ON Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. I try and pick a few organizations or projects each year, but, though I love the concept , haven't yet taken my day off to specifically volunteer. This year, success! I will be volunteering tomorrow, but I'm also adding something else - a commitment to both direct impact, and monetary donation throughout ...
Alaska Real - Jan 17
I came across this article that I thought was an excellent summary of the Arizona shooting communication situation - "Who Is Winning the Tucson Murderer PR Blame Game." Clearly, right, left and center are talking about it, and many people I've talked to have had strong opinions - usually strongly pro-Sarah, or strongly anti-Sarah (we ARE in Alaska.) Not many undecideds in this one. But the arti...
Alaska Real - Jan 15 - 5 clicks
"At what point in our growing population do we draw a line that would further disenfranchise our descendents from benefiting from ANCSA? This very important issue needs a well thought out process by all Alaska Natives so that our descendents can benefit from ANCSA in perpetuity." I thought this was a pretty relevant issue brought up in the Cordova Times . As an "after born" myself - an Alaska Na...
Alaska Real - Jan 14 - 4 clicks
I liked this little bit in the ADN I just read , as it is part of, what I hope, are some moves in the right direction. I don't know if I even need to repeat the dismal statistics regarding Alaska Native people and suicide. The news has been out there about the bad numbers for years. Suffice it to say, there are far, far too many Alaska Native people dying each year in a 100% preventable way. I ...
Alaska Real - Jan 13 - 5 clicks
