OT: Shell Games & Hammertime
The excellent Heather Aronno (at right) and some other blogger.
[This is an open thread.]
The backspin on Shell’s latest Alaskan Coastline Enhancement Initiative has already begun, with “we’ll probably mostly skate this time” apparently the central thrust. You should also send a thank-you note to the burglar who broke into your house because, hey—no arson. Thanks, bro.
Here now is some context involving Conoco’s Alaska’s US Senator Lisa Murkowski (R).
Our friend Heather Aronno over at Alaska Commons produced a July 2011 NPR interview she describes as “Shell making their sales pitch for the offshore drilling that’s going so spectacularly.”
“At the time, Senator Murkowski voiced concerns about the efficiency of the permitting process” and appeared to be more concerned with doing it fast than getting it right, according to Heather’s excellent Alaska Commons piece which you should totally read.
It’s almost as if there’s a pattern of companies putting profits ahead of safety in areas like Kodiak Island, Prince William Sound, the Gulf of Mexico, and in deadly West Virginia mines.
Nah… that’s just socialist crazy talk.
Hammertime
On a happier note, former exterminator, Clinton impeachment jihadist, Alpha House Republican, and Dancing with the Stars Contestant Tom “The Hammer” Delay was sentenced to 3 years in prison today. And we have to take our victories where we can get them. Here’s Twinkletoes getting in shape for the big house.
According to her name tag,the other blogger is Yes on 5. Prolly an alias. Slip-how did you miss this one?
Must have slipped by me . . .
No, no, no! Do not put the assault weapon shooting range a few blocks from the airport!
Think about this. At any time, there might be dozens of bored travellers, even hundreds of travellers, sitting in the terminal waiting for a flight. Or waiting out a weather delay. Bored. Trapped inside the security gates. Already been to the snack shop. Already had a few at the bar. And still no flight.
There’s the customer base for the shooting range! It’s obvious — brilliant even. Build the assault weapon shooting range inside the airport terminal, just across from the boarding gates. Rent ’em a.30 caliber belt-fed light machine gun and watch the smiles light up their faces!
Why yes, it’s always a good idea to encourage violence as an antidote to boredom and frustration.
How about a marijuana cafe instead?
Gee, this list doesn’t appear to be alphabetical:
The highest per-capita gun death rates were in Alaska, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi — states that the law center said have weak gun control laws.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2013/01/tough-gun-control.html
Meanwhile, in Juneau, we’re still debating the wisdom of having an assault weapon shooting range a few blocks from our airport.