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Open Thread – Islands

Islands come in many forms.

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Comments
74 Responses to “Open Thread – Islands”
  1. bb says:

    Do you have beavers there to help make wetlands and islands? 🙂

  2. Krubozumo Nyankoye says:

    I am skipping over all the other comments here because the picture is evocotive of several things I learnt when my focus was more on pleistocene geology than igneous petrology.

    From that experience my best guess would be that the large elliptical island that is tree covered is what we call a “pingo”. Essentially a zone of ground forced up above the frost line such that trees can survive on it because their roots do not freeze indefinately. The matrix of water and small islands that surrounds this pingo appears to be a fairly classical example of polyganal ground resulting from deep frost. Pingos are created because when water freezes it expands.

    That simple rule created all that is seen in the photograph.

  3. OMG says:

    Heard on Fox, Palin says if she’s “the one” then she’d be willing to give running for President a shot:

    http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/09/17/palin-opens-possible-run-says-shed-shot/

  4. johnny says:

    http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2010/09/sarah-palin-plans-to-be-at-dangin-with-the-stars-opener/1

    Missus Palin to grab all the attention on poor Bristol’s debut night. Who’d a thunk it.

  5. austintx says:

    Oh noes !! Do you mean to tell me the b^*ch lies ?!?!
    ********************************************************************
    Mama Grizzy Sarah Palin’s Hunting Fraud Exposed
    http://www.politicususa.com/en/palin-hunter-fraud

  6. jimzmum says:

    Have been in hospital for five days. Will be here maybe weeks more. Trying to blame idiots, but it is a virus that seems to want to eat me or something. Cat see to reag because of it, so signing off for now after asking for good thoughts for my vision. Can deal with the rest, but gosh. Thanks.

  7. Blooper says:

    Here’s the last poll taken on a 3 way McAdams/Miller/Murkowski race in AK:

    “Murkowski was in the lead with 38 percent, while Miller stood at 34 percent, and McAdams was far behind at 22 percent.”

    This was released on August 29th, and of course assumed Murkowski would not be a write-in candidate. Plus McAdams was still an unknown at that point so no doubt these numbers have
    changed somewhat.

  8. Blooper says:

    LISA IS RUNNING: http://community.adn.com/adn/node/153185

    I don’t know what other conclusion to draw from this article that was just posted at the ADN. And if I’m wrong, y’all can punish me. 😉

    • Blooper says:

      Oh, and I DO think this is a terrible choice by Mrs. Murkowski… but anyways, go SCOTT!

    • Alaska Pi says:

      ah jeez… looking like she is…we’ll see at 5 pm
      dumb. I never thought she was dumb before…dumb.

      • Blooper says:

        I know, with this decision she may have single handedly given the race to Joe Miller. So much for looking out for Alaska’s best interests!

      • pacos_gal says:

        It certainly sounds like she is going to run. How will it affect Scott McAdams?

        • Alaska Pi says:

          It will likely dilute his chances…

          • pacos_gal says:

            Well, that sucks. 🙁

            I’d rather have a democrat than a republican any day of the week.

            One reason that I absolutely do not want any more republicans is that if they have the majority, then they set the agenda for what will be voted on and the bills themselves.
            The other is every darn republican except for one or if lucky two on a specific bill, vote lock stock and barrel (your daily gun innuendo) together as a unit and not as a representative of any of their states.
            grrrrrrr on Lisa if this hurts McAdams chances.

      • Millie says:

        They didn’t call me when they did the poll for Murkowski. She lost in the primary fair and square and is the ‘party of no’! I’ll do everything I can to campaign against her should she go the ‘write-in’ route.

        • LoveMydogs says:

          I’m with you there. Remember her crap with the EPA? I distinctly remember all of her e-mail blather back to me when I wrote her about my concerns with her obstructionism. She is definitely part of the problem. I told her I wouldn’t vote for and I won’t.

          At the same time, part of our population is dependent on the Fed dollars that her seniority brings (remember Uncle Ted).

          • Alaska Pi says:

            We , whether this election cycle, or one in the near future will have to deal with the change of the Old Guard for a new…
            things always change sooner or later…
            We can’t be sissies about stepping up to the plate about it either.
            Mr McAdams has MY vote .

            Ms Murkowski fumbled with that EPA garbage, health care waffling, and spinning for oil interests.

  9. Mo says:

    Good stuff from President Obama’s speech last night:

    http://www.bobcesca.com/blog-archives/2010/09/quote_of_the_da_135.html

    “I want you to consider this — right now, all across the country, special interests are planning and running millions of dollars of attack ads against Democratic candidates. Because last year, there was a Supreme Court decision called Citizens United. They’re allowed to spend as much as they want without ever revealing who’s paying for the ads. That’s exactly what they’re doing. Millions of dollars. And the groups are benign-sounding: Americans for Prosperity. Who’s against that? Or Committee for Truth in Politics. Or Americans for Apple Pie. Moms for Motherhood. I made those last two up.

    “None of them will disclose who’s paying for these ads. You don’t know if it’s a Wall Street bank. You don’t know if it’s a big oil company. You don’t know if it’s an insurance company. You don’t even know if it’s a foreign-controlled entity. In some races, they are spending more money than the candidates…. They’re spending more money than the parties.

    “They want to take Congress back and return to the days where lobbyists wrote the laws. It is the most insidious power grab since the monopolies of the Gilded Age. That’s happening right now. So there’s a lot of talk about populist anger and grassroots. But that’s not what’s driving a lot of these elections.

    [Let me see how this affects Alaskans…hmmmm…Pebble Mine, Joe Miller, BP, Teabaggers…]

    • LoveMydogs says:

      I like this comment on that article:

      “Now who says the President doesn’t call out the Republicans well enough? That is one giant slab of raw red meat right there.

      Unfortunately no one can force the media to pay attention. Why should they? Those same corporations are feeding them advertising money.”

  10. A Fan in CA says:

    Watching a very young man on MSNBC who is the author of the Time cover story on the baggers. He really doesn’t look old enough to remember the Moral Majority. He’s claiming is all about fiscal issues. I’m so sick of writers who just buy the PR and do no digging into what they are really about.

    Let’s not forget the if it is about “economics” $P admitted in her book she got a “D”.

    • OMG says:

      I still want to see proof of her entire college career as I would expect that she earned more than one “D” and probably had a few incompletes at one institution or other. With her total lack of intellect and knowledge, it would not surprise me to learn that she, in fact, did not receive her degree. But if she honestly did, then the institutions that she attended should be held liable for awarding a degree to someone who obviously did not earn it.

      • Irishgirl says:

        Yes, and what is more, O’Donnell can play to the cameras. I think Palin just out played herself.

        • Irishgirl says:

          Sorry, was skimming through the posts and thought you were talking about O’Donnell. However, I do agree with you…..I don’t think Palin ever got a degree. The photo in her book tossing the degree in the air looks like her sister.

  11. OMG says:

    O’Donnell wins with a wacky philosophy, honesty impairment, and questionable finances, including being evicted from property and being investigated by the IRS. Now she has money on her side (thanks to the Koch brothers?).

    The time for laughing is over. The time for counting senate seats is premature. The time to take seriously the insanity that is consuming much of the country is here.

    If Sharon Angle can be running even with Reid, Rand Paul can be running ahead of his opponent, Jan Brewer can be considered a shoe-in for reelection and Joe Miller can beat the popular senior Senator from Alaska then anything can happen.

    We all need to fight back as if this is the most important election of our lives. Because if these people get into office, it will translate into more power for Sarah Palin.

    http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/09/odonnells-fundraising-skyrockets.php

    • A Fan in CA says:

      What’s becoming very clear is that these people are the Moral Majority by another name. They are well organized by their fundie churches and they vote. That is what happened in AK and Delaware.

      Yesterday I finally started to hear some of the MSNBC folks discuss this. The baggers are not a new group it’s just re-branding for the movement that wants their “church” to rule our politics. They have their targets set on our Religious Freedom and it’s time to fight back.

      What interesting is that the bagger PR does not want this election to be about “social” issues but about jobs. Let’s not let them deflect.

  12. OMG says:

    Whether Palin really believes she is Esther or is simply using it to market herself (just as Queen E. remade herself into a virgin to become “The Virgin Queen” to play to the people), she is succeeding with a frightening number of right wingers:

    http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2010/10/sarah-palin-as-queen-esther-201010

    • gran567 says:

      Actually – on another blog they refer to her as Queen of Babbleon – very appropriate

    • thatcrowwoman says:

      I resent $arah co-opting Hadassah (Queen Esther) from my tribe. I know Queen Esther, and granny pit grizzly hockey-mom with lipstick is No Queen Esther. Queen of Denial, maybe, but Esther? Not in my Book!
      Meh.

      Getting ready to feast before the fast…Yom Kippur starts just before sunset…time to wrestle with my demons, to seek forgiveness, to forgive, to reflect…

      The Mudflats and all my fine friends here are such a blessing in my life…Toda raba, quayana, many thanks.
      I’ll be wrapping my wings around you all, and holding you close in my prayers.

      Until sunset tomorrow,
      L’Shalom.

  13. BuffaloGal says:

    Hey NYC Mudflatters – hope everyone’s ok after that nasty storm. Just saw some of the footage. Since when do tornadoes hit that area? yikes!

    • nswfm says:

      Yes, I want to second that. I just got off the phone with a NYC friend whose wife was stuck for 5 hrs trying to get home because of traffic problems due to the storm. She lives 10 mi from Manhattan.

    • bubbles says:

      storm? what storm…. just kidding. to be honest my heart was in my mouth. i was so scared. me and the cat ran into my bedroom and hid under the covers. it didn’t last long but wow!

  14. Alaska Pi says:

    http://www.alaskainternetnetwork.com/index.htm
    here’s a video of McAdams/Miller debate in Juneau yesterday

  15. Valley_Independent says:

    Somehow I had missed this. The scary part is near the very end, starting at about the 6:16 mark.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nunTTyfCr8Y&NR=1&feature=fvwp

    What’s scary is that there are people like this man in both major political parties, and they vote.

    • thatcrowwoman says:

      New Left Media does really good work…reasonable, thoughtful, well-spoken, calm, professional.
      How’s that for a quintabulation?!

      These young journalists keep Hope alive. Good on them. Good for us.

    • twain12 says:

      just like Sarah’s comment about facts don’t really matter and that is the scariest part

      • Lower48 says:

        `

        Let’s talk about “facts don’t matter.” I’ve left the following post splattered ALL OVER HuffPo today:

        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

        Witness Senate hopeful Joe Miller, Alaska Tea Party candidate, endorsed by $arah Palin. He believes in smaller government – even as he benefits immensely from it:

        Joe Miller’s Education at West Point and salary as an Army officer (for his shorter-than-obligated stint) was paid for by the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. Joe Miller’s salary as a part-time State Judge was paid by the STATE GOVERNMENT. Joe Miller’s salary as a part-time Federal Magistrate was paid by FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. Joe Miller’s salary as the part-time Fairbanks, AK North Star Borough Attorney AND his Masters in Economics degree were PAID FOR by LOCAL GOVERNMENT. Although most of his personal income was earned via his private practice at the time, his HEALTH INSURANCE was a benefit provided through part-time work at the Borough!

        His enormous family receives money from Alaska State govt. to home school his eight kids (about $2,000 per kid) and EACH family member (as Alaska residents) receives an Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend check. In 2008, when The Alaska PFD paid-out $3,269 PER PERSON (when a one-time $1,200 Alaska Resource Rebate was added to the dividend amount), the Miller family – with EIGHT kids – received $32,690 just in PFD, about $16,000 for home schooling eight kids and about $1,555.00 for a Federal Farm Subsidy.

        He received over $50,000.00 in state and federal government subsidies for 2008!

        http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/04/us/politics/04alaska.html?_r=3&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1284735625-sDH8Y3wIMXBT28r+fud27g

        Hypocrisy much?

        `

  16. thatcrowwoman says:

    How very cool, AKM.
    Love the water-lace reflecting the sky and surrounding the islands of trees.

  17. London Bridges says:

    Here is a documentary on the Palin School of Mentoring Political Teabagger Candidates. Swallow coffee before viewing, Uncanny!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNBNqUdqm1E

  18. London Bridges says:

    This is perhaps the best article which explains the difference between the teabaggers and our standard right wing politicians. Glen Greenwald is correct. Before reading, take two deep breaths, open mind, then read! 🙂
    http://tinyurl.com/2e3sqrq

  19. OMG says:

    As people in Delaware laugh off O’Donnell, I do hope that they also get out to vote in record numbers. If they view her as a sure loser and decide to stay inside an warm in November instead of casting a ballot, then they may wake up to a true nightmare:

    http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0910/42307.html

  20. twain12 says:

    lovely picture AKM and thanks for the chuckle austintx 😉

    Stewart, Colbert: ‘Rally To Restore Sanity’ vs. ‘March To Keep Fear Alive’ (VIDEO)
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/17/stewart-colbert-rally-to-restore-sanity_n_720588.html
    “Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert will march together on Washington.

    Or against each other in Washington.

    Either way, expect plenty of Comedy Central fans to show up on October 30 when Stewart’s “Rally To Restore Sanity” will meet Colbert’s “March To Keep Fear Alive” in the nation’s capital.

    The duo have been hinting at a major announcement for several episodes in a mock response to Glenn Beck’s own “Restoring Honor” rally that was held this year on the anniversary of a famous Martin Luther King speech at the same monument. There’s no indication that the announced get-together is a joke, though. Both comedians are telling their audiences to book hotel rooms now (though for different reasons, as you’ll see).”

    OH how i wish i could attend !!

  21. austintx says:

    New island forms in the pacific while people are watching
    http://www.funzug.com/index.php/nature/amazing-sight-in-the-south-pacific.html

  22. austintx says:

    Too funny !!

    Limbaugh Taken In: The Judge Was Not Loaded for Bear

    http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/16/us/16judge.html

    • ValleyIndependent says:

      Thanks, austintx. Think his staffer still has a job? Will he share the news that Wikipedia is not an authoritative source?