Oyster Roundup!
Posted by Jeanne Devon on Thursday, June 21, 2012 · 27 Comments
~Thick and fast they came at last, and more, and more, and more!
Some slurpable nuggets for your Thursday. Don’t forget to tune in tonight for Thursdays in the Mud on 1020koan.com (1020am and 95.5fm in Anchorage) at 8pm Alaska time.
Baby Beluga Rescue!
A beluga calf estimated to be only a few days old was rescued after a storm in Bristol Bay. The young whale is now being treated at the Alaska Sealife Center in Seward.
“SeaLife Center president and CEO Tara Riemer Jones says the biggest challenge has been providing 24-hour care. She says staff from U.S. aquariums with experience with belugas have come or are coming to help.”
The SeaLife Center is the only permanent stranding facility in Alaska, and has rescued many marine mammals that were either orphaned or stranded, such as harbor seals, and otters. Ultimately a federal agency will decide what happens to the beluga. Wild belugas nurse from their mothers for up to two years, and are grey at birth, turning white as they reach maturity.
Miller Wins Offer of Judgment in Lawsuit
For those of you who have been following the court case of Joe Miller, it has reached a conclusion.
Most articles on the subject referenced a “settlement”, but it is actually an “Offer of Judgment”. The difference is that a judgment is a decision reached by the court. A settlement is a voluntary agreement by the parties to resolve the case. So, in this case, it’s an enforceable judgment in favor of Miller that will be recorded and entered against both the Fairbanks North Star Borough, and former Mayor Jim Whitaker. The offer of judgment states that it is “inclusive of all claims asserted by Miller against the Fairbanks North Star Borough and/or Whitaker.” The damages agreed upon were $5000, a far cry from the $160,000 originally sought by Miller.
There are two points of view, of course. Miller’s press release is
HERE. Details and history of the case
can be found at Alaska Dispatch, who will forever be tied with Miller. The Dispatch’s Tony Hopfinger was the journalist detained at a Miller event by Drop Zone security, and its owner Bill Fulton, who was then (unbeknownst to anyone) working as an informant for the FBI in the Alaska 2-4-1 Militia case.
The Ice Park in Fairbanks has its share of excitement. Not only is it famed for the annual Ice Carving Competition, and the location of the stashed trailer full of armaments we learned about in the recent Militia trial, it was also the site of an interesting rescue this week.
A Fairbanks man who wanted to climb a tree (It was THERE, right?) leaned back to take a rest, and ended up ass over teakettle, hanging from a safety belt. Fortunately his cell phone was attached to a lanyard around his neck, and he was able to call for help. He only had to wait about 15 minutes for rescuers to arrive. They told him next time he should climb trees with a buddy.
It may be shaping up to be a disaster on the Yukon River this year, with the coveted king salmon run looking skimpy at best. In order to keep a healthy fishery, 100,000 fish must be allowed to live out their natural life cycle and spawn. Add to that the fact that an international treaty with Canada says Alaska must let a certain number of kings reach the international border, and the subsistence food requirements for villagers along the Yukon (usually about 50,000 fish a year), and commercial fishing, and there just may not be enough fish.
There are mitigating factors this year including a late run because of excessive sea ice that barred kings from entering the Yukon for about 10 days past their expected date. But issues of bycatch (the number of kings destroyed at sea by commercial fishing operations that are fishing other species of fish) loom large. The bycatch numbers can meet or exceed the entire subsistence allocation for the United States and Canada. And that’s assuming the numbers are reported honestly.
“Myron Naneng, the head of the Association of Village Council Presidents in Bethel, this week asked Gov. Sean Parnell to declare a disaster over the lack of king salmon available in the Kuskokwim and Yukon Rivers. Naneng told KTUU-TV in Anchorage the situation is nearly critical for people who depend on wild salmon.”
In a very recent and sobering development, the situation in the story above has now resulted in the seizure of 1100 pounds of salmon and 21 nets from subsistence fishermen on the Lower Yukon. Some of the fishermen may have been engaged in planned acts of civil disobedience protesting restrictions from fishing the salmon they need to feed their families this winter.
“Two communities — Tuntutuliak and Akiak — issued resolutions or statements encouraging residents to fish despite the government ban that began earlier this month, according to a troopers’ spokesman.
State and federal wildlife officers issued 33 citations in all. The offense is a criminal misdemeanor, said troopers’ spokesman Tim DeSpain.
Myron Naneng stated that those who had nets confiscated may not get them back in time for the opener on Monday.
He’s Beee-eck!
“Beck is back, and we’re gonna be sorry…” Sing it!
That’s right, the Fired by Fox bloviating weeper will revisit Alaska for a show in Fairbanks, and another in Anchorage this September. The last time he was here, on September 11th, 2010, his special co-star was Sarah Palin, and I attended the event. It was surreal to say the least.
The name of the show is “Unelectable II” which I don’t believe refers to Palin, but rather to the current president. The presentation will also, according to Beck, involve “humor.” If you are looking for a way to part with $46-$91 that will leave your brain bleeding, you know where to go. The last time they served alcohol.
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Since there’s no new open thread (yet), I direct mudpups to this great post from Daily Kos, with a link to take action:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/06/21/1101964/-Activist-Supreme-Court-makes-separate-rules-for-corporations-and-unions-of-course
Unions now have to “opt in” as to whether to support a political campaign. Shareholders of corporations have to do no such thing; this would change that.
Well hell. I woke up several times this morning and figure I’m still alive,sort of, so I want to congratulate Mary Cheney and Heather Poe on their same-sex nuptials and wish for them and all people everywhere that wish to exert their rights to marry the person of their choice, a long and happy,love filled life. For rwnj detractors and haters-I simply wish the same for you. Perhaps someday love will be strong enough to overcome your bias and allow you to enjoy the world the way ot is.
How sweet you are, Mike from Iowa!
Amazing…the world did NOT come to a screeching halt or fiery end when they were pronounced married. Imagine that!
I join Mikey in wishing them many years of joy and love together.
And I also wish that the states that do not permit loving couples to marry, regardless of their personal lady or man parts, will find wisdom and compassion in their tiny little hearts and someday permit everyone to have the same opportunity that Mary and Heather had.
YESSSS! Sandusky will spend the rest of his life in prison! But how many, many, many more boys were abused? Why did the current PA Governor, Tom Corbett, sit on the investigation, while the Second Mile and PSU officials PAID for his election? (He was the PA Atty. Gen. that SHOULD have prosecuted Sandusky years ago – there were guilty verdicts that HE should have been part of) It makes me ill that a man sleeps in our Governor’s mansion tonight COULD have prevented sexual abuse of young boys, but did not – because he got campaign finances from these people. Of course, look at Sandusky’s attorney….
On a side note, I know it has always been a bit of a mystery as to why “Francis Cox” chose to be known as “Schaeffer Cox.” It bothered me, and I checked out my hunch: “Schaeffer (or in the German form, Schäfer) means “shepherd” in German.
Psychologically, does this indicate that SC saw himself as a shepherd to his flock? A leader of sheep? If so, it serves to highlight his apparent need to lead, especially over men older than he. Sounds like this is an addition to his narcissistic tendencies.
A good weekend to all!
My deepest sympathies for the pollution that will be descending on your beautiful state in the form of Glenn Beck. His absence from the daily media has been so delightful that I’d quite forgotten he’s still circulating, spewing his vile and smelly excretions on poor, unsuspecting audiences.
On a happier note, today was my last day of school for the year. me —> 🙂 <—
The past few days have been just brutal, with temperatures in the mid 90s and a heat index close to 100. I work in a very old building that has no AC and very little cross-ventilation so it's been a horror for staff and students. The school is brick so it was very similar to working inside a pizza oven, with a lot of cranky people, large and small, taking the place of dough and tomato sauce (and smelling a lot smellier!).
My colleagues and I had to interpret moving up ceremonies for kindergarten and 6th graders with sweat literally pouring off of us….and THAT looked really classy! One of the staff members even had to be taken away by ambulance on Monday when dehydration caused her to pass out and hover on the edge of heat exhaustion. End-of-year packing and cleaning is always such a joy but the heat made it just unbearable. However, rumor has it that I should be in the same position and in the same location come September, so that's a good thing!
And, best of all, next week will be delightful with temperatures in the 70s so I can catch up on all the work to be done in my poor, neglected garden!
Happy, happy Friday to all oysters, walruses, baby belugas and mudpups!!!
Happy Summer Vacation, leenie!
Thanks, TCW…and to you too!
Well, it’s official. Bethel was hoaxed re Taco Bell:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-taco-bell-alaska-20120614,0,688755.story
“It was some unique form of tundra humor at work, apparently, that led to the fliers posted on various local bulletin boards, promising an opening in time for Bethel’s annual Independence Day parade and offering employment.
““We got excited, because we don’t have any fast food chains out here, and the idea of Taco Bell coming in? And they were going to be here for the 4thof July?” Chamber of Commerce director Bonnie Bradbury said in an interview.
““You bring a McDonald’s or a KFC, people will go crazy out here,” said Tatiana Dotdot, who works at the local AC store, the rambling supermarket that sells everything from diapers to all-terrain vehicles, as long as it can be brought in on a barge or a plane.”
Fast food is a relative term. You want really fast food-eat a cheetah or a peregrine falcon. Now that is fast. Problem with that kind of fast food is there is zero fat and therefore zero flavor.I want fast food with fat and flavor. I don’t necessarily need french fries floating in stale grease or needing to degrease my whiskers after every meal. If I am alive after sunup tomorrow I swear to start a personal journey to find decent tasting,half-way healthy fast food in my county. I can’t afford to travel more than thirty miles in any direction.
I was nowhere near there! That was somebody who looked like me!
Of course, slipstream. I’ll vouch for you. Weren’t we in the chatroom?
Actually, we were not in the chatroom. We were having breakfast at Denny’s, remember? That Grand Slam breakfast is really good!
This is apropos of not much but this morning, while ironing sheets, I saw a really cute ad for Denny’s on the Weather Channel. It’s full of people talking about what’s great about America and ends with a sweet little old lady (though not that much older than me) saying loudly “the right to bear arms.” At this, the man who started the whole “what’s great” conversation stops with burger half-way to his mouth, looks over at the lady, and then looks at his little girl sitting across the table from him. She is clasping her teddy bear and she says, in a very questioning voice, “the right to – bear arms.” It’s an ad for the new Denny’s menu but I thought it may have been made to counterbalance some of the chatter about the Cox trial at the Denny’s restaurant. It also makes these 2nd Amendment kooks look just like that – kooks. Of course, bears have a right to their arms and, of course, anyone has a right to bare arms, especially in the summer. Anyone knows that!
And then there is my favorite, the right to arm bears.
Well it has been nice knowing/sharing thoughts with fellow Mudpups. I’m gonna spend the little time any of us has left doing what I normally do-which is not much. I would have preferred knowing you in person and regret that due to the selfish actions of two contemptible women,the world as we know it will end tomorrow. See Mary Cheney and her long time partner were legally married in Washington D C this morning. Dear old dad Dickless Cheney announced the union but didn’t say whether he attended. Any god fearing rwnj christians know that is blashemy and will end our world post-haste. So this is adios until my next post.
It will be interesting to see how Fox News reports on the marriage. But then–I don’t watch Fox news.
Here’s where the world ends: I am happy for the entire Cheney family, and I applaud Mr. Cheney for his support of his daughter’s marriage, and of gay marriage in general.
“This is the way the world ends,
This is the way the world ends,
This is the way the world ends,
Not with a bang but a whimper.
– T.S. Eliot
Reckon Parnell et al will use low saimon numbers to push approval of Pebble mine so Native subsistence cultures can subside? On a curiouser note, didn’t the supreme court find a right to privacy in the Constitution and didn’t enough states ratify an amendment to that very same Constitution giving women the right to an abortion? If that is true,why do rwnj claim you can’t touch their second amendment rights to own guns and yet do everything imaginable to restrict women from their rights? I don’t generally oppose guns but just maybe someone should restrict access to bullets for guns. rwnj would have no legal grounds to complain. The second amendment only guarantees you the right to own guns-not any and all appurtenances there to.Just something to think about.
An offer of judgment is a technique used to strongly encourage the other party to settle. If the case goes to trial and the party making the offer does better than what he or she offered, that party gets an enhanced attorney fee award. So basically Fairbanks was telling Joe, take your $5,000 or when we win at trial you are going to have to pay us a penalty. And even if you win, but are awarded less than $4,500 in damages, you are still going to owe us a penalty. It is a good deal for Fairbanks because going to trial would cost them more than $5,000. It is a good deal for Joe because he can avoid being embarrassed at trial, and he gets to collect $5,000.
Joe was going to have to reveal how and who was paying his attorney two business days after this settlement. Tiemessen has been on a $10,000 monthly retainer and part of the lawsuit was requiring proof Tiemessen had been paid and how and where the funds came from. Ol’ Joe didn’t want that info revealed, so take a little money and run!
John, you are absolutely correct about what an offer of judgment is and why. All civil lawsuits in Alaska have offers of judgment made before they go to trial.
The walrus and the carpenter were walking close at hand … as always, an interesting roundup. Thanks, AKM.
Beck?
Isn’t he the the prince of Makecrapupistan?
Salmon and the Yukon…
one corporate person’s “By-Catch”
is another actual community’s Sustenance,
much less subsistence, eh?
Climbing trees, like swimming, is safer with a buddy.
Important lessons my daddy taught me;
I was a swimmer before I could walk…
Thanks, daddy. {{{{{daddy}}}}}
Good luck, baby Beluga.
(am I the only one humming Raffi’s song now?)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbNlPWtjkA4
“…way down yonder where the dolphins play…”
thatcrowwoman
Makecrapupistan. Good one, can I use it?
Actually, I have to credit Mrs. Todd Payme, er, Palin, in her Rage Against the Machine speech at RightOnline in Las Vegas. No telling who she stole it from, or if it’s just a happy accident from her word salad shooter. I’m imagining the letterhead on herown$self’$ stationery: Queen of Makecrapupistan.
$he may threaten to $ue, but go ahead, use it. 🙂
http://www.lvrj.com/news/palin-marshals-new-media-against-the-establishment-159279915.html
“You do what the old media won’t do and can’t do and that’s tell the truth,” she said…
She said some mainstream media don’t always fall prey to political spin and “don’t want to be the prince of Makecrapupistan…”
“Rage against the machine,” Palin said to cheers.
Yeck, Beck!
“You got to lie me baby, un hunh…”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3KnCL0S_Ws
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The Yukon-Kuskokwim salmon closures related to record low king numbers ( and closures on chum coming in at the same time as the few kings ) is going to harm neighbors. We need to be paying attention- thank you AKM!