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Open Thread – This and That

I Want My Corrupt Bastard Fix!

Time was, they were dropping like flies.  It seemed like hardly a month went by when a legislator wasn’t indicted for something.  After the fiasco that was the botched Ted Stevens trial, Alaskans have begun thinking that maybe that’s the end for our favorite past-time of watching the deserving get their just desserts.  Not so according to the Justice Department.  There’s an excellent article by Richard Mauer in today’s Anchorage Daily News, that addresses the issues, including the current investigations of Ted Stevens’ son, and former Alaska State Senate President Ben Stevens, and current-for0the-moment congressman Don Young.

For those of you needing a “Stevens the Lesser 101” refresher course:

Ben Stevens, a former president of the Alaska Senate, was one of several legislators whose offices were raided in 2006 by FBI and IRS agents, though he has not been charged with a crime. While he was a state senator representing Anchorage, he received hundreds of thousands of dollars in “consulting fees” and others from oil and fishing interests seeking favors from the state and from Ted Stevens. His Seattle attorney, John Wolfe, didn’t return a call last week seeking comment.

Nice Nods

 The Mudflats got a couple nice nods recently.  The social media blog Viralogy did a ranking of the top 10 political blogs, and Mudflats came in at lucky #7!  You can check out the post HERE

The warm fuzzy wing of the Mudflats compound “I Heart Mudflats” got a nod from Blog Me No Blogs, as one of the best blogs in the category “Small Personal Blogs That Show Genuine Hospitality.”  So pop on over.  Someone is sure to be there with some virtual iced tea and a nice lawn chair.

And Geoffrey Dunn wrote another great piece at Huffington Post that I’ve been meaning to mention.  In it he dissects Palin’s stimulus shenanigans, and how they’ve painted her into a very tiny corner.  And he calls Mudflats “delightful.” (looking at the ground, scraping toe in the dirt)  Aw, shucks.

Don Devalued

Political fundraisers often come with the dreaded “suggested donation” at the bottom of the invite.  For bigger, swankier shindigs, you’ll see suggested donations of $100-$200 quite often, and they always gently remind you of the upper limit of the maximum donation….just in case you’re interested.  So, I thought it was quite amusing that Don Young’s going rate for his annual pig roast fundraiser (yes there’s really a pig, yes it’s meant to symbolize that whole ‘pork’ thing, and yes he used Veco’s giant bazillion dollar barbecue grills in the past) is a staggering….. $20?  With only one zero?  Truly?  Heck, for one measly Andrew Jackson, even I could afford a piece of the Don.

Please Make it Stop

Why is it that the very people I want to go away the most, are not only clinging to the spotlight as though their life depended on it,  but invading the literary world with…..memoirs.   The way I figure it, in about a year, you’re going to need a haz-mat suit to enter the biography section at Barnes & Noble.   Sarah Palin, Ted Stevens, and now…

Mr. Cheney is actively shopping a memoir about his life in politics and service in four presidential administrations, a work that would add to what is already an unusually dense collection of post-Bush-presidency memoirs that will offer a collective rebuttal to the many harshly critical works released while the writers were in office and beyond.

Already working hard to meet publishers’ deadlines is an informal writers’ workshop of historic proportions: President George W. Bush; Laura Bush, the former first lady; former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; former Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr.; former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld; and Karl Rove, the former presidential political mastermind.

Members of the Bush group are in regular contact as they seek to jog their memories, compare notes and trade stylistic tips in their new lives as authors, according to friends and current and former aides.

That “regular contact” would be called the “Getting Our Stories Straight” conference series.  They’d better hire a team of consistency editors to make sure they’re all on the same page, as it were.  I’m having a hard time deciding which one of these works of fiction I’d least like to read.  So far it’s a toss-up between Donald Rumsfeld and Karl Rove.  And I’d be fascinated to know what Dick Cheney’s “stylistic tips” might be.  Maybe he discloses the secret of inserting the word “frankly” in front of every sentence where you’re about to lie.  Or maybe he shares the trick of how to grind up your own dead black soul, add water, and use it in a refillable ink cartridge.

A Day Late

By the time this posts, we’ll have missed it, but a happy belated birthday to Walt Monegan.  The Mudflats affectionately bestows upon you the coveted trans-fat free virtual pink cupcake.  Enjoy it in good health.

cupcake

Comments

comments

Comments
220 Responses to “Open Thread – This and That”
  1. TBNTJudy says:

    Thank you, UK Lady. You know how I feel.

  2. UK Lady says:

    TBNTJudy

    Sorry to hear that, know how you feel. A business I owned was finally ground to dust at the end of our last recession, saw it through to nearly the end but everything round me shut down, It was awful.

  3. UK Lady says:

    polarbear

    Yes, but free at the moment, and not I think quite the full newspaper. I have to admit, I used to get the Times every day, but for the last year or so, have only bought the Saturday and Sunday Times. I go online more for the news now.

    I think local papers also need to get readers more involved, start blog sections where people can ask and answer questions and get involved in their own community. I am sure people would be more inclined to pay a fee if they felt they were a part of a neighbourhood. The could have local politicians and police spokespeople and all sorts on hand to interact.

  4. TBNTJudy says:

    @UK Lady, I agree. One thing I know for sure is that I have only my perspective as a (former business) owner. I was downsized by Bush’s economy.

  5. polarbear says:

    UKlady: All good questions. As I understand it, the print news media is having trouble figuring out the profitable business case for the changing landscape of print subscribers, print advertising, online readers, and online advertisers, all accompanied by bloggers developing a lively and interesting online community. Complicated. Of course, all of this change is also occuring in the setting of a general economic downturn. To be honest, I do not see how the local newspaper can avoid charging for online access subscriptions, in the basic spirit of charging for their product, and to restore the metrics for measuring advertising effectiveness. Does your local newspaper have an online presence?

  6. UK Lady says:

    TBNTJudy

    Gosh, I don’t know, I guess the newspaper industry is going to have to come up with a new business model. It is the nature of the world to change and evolve, Change never comes easily, we seem to be at a crossroads but it was ever thus. Looking back at the industrial revolution the old massive factories mills and workhouses seem like another planet but wasn’t in the scheme of things that long ago.

  7. TBNTJudy says:

    As a side note, my local paper, The Spokesman Review, didn’t bother to cover at the time, nor have they ever covered, the two local geologists who were flying over Mt. St. Helens when she blew in 1980. These people have world-class photos, recognition, and coverage, but my local paper has never called them for an interview. Go figure.

  8. TBNTJudy says:

    @UK Lady said: “Hmmm!, advertising. Wouldn’t the cost of producing a print newspaper be much higher than producing an online paper, by a large margin? Offsetting the need for much advertising. Advertisers can tell how many hits they are getting from an online paper”

    Trust me, I can definitely be wrong here, but I don’t think the costs would necessarily go down as much as you might think. The newspaper now has the expense of maintaining its internet presence which would include, among other things, security and access. IT people don’t come cheap. And, as I said above, I would use Craig’s list to advertise for new employees. As for advertising my business in general, I used Google because I got way more bang for my buck than I did from the newspapers. My business, for less than $10/month was consistently at the top of the search engine when people googled my type of business.

  9. TBNTJudy says:

    Uk Lady, Goddess, I hope so. The very best minds have been focused, and stifled, for a long, long, time. Here’s to their success this go-round, because they have an uphill battle against the vested interests.

  10. UK Lady says:

    Hmmm!, advertising. Wouldn’t the cost of producing a print newspaper be much higher than producing an online paper, by a large margin? Offsetting the need for much advertising. Advertisers can tell how many hits they are getting from an online paper, they could sell direct from such an advertisement. Not a know anything here, just making guesses.

  11. UK Lady says:

    TBNTJudy

    It is scary, but don’t forget, necessity has always been and always will be the mother of invention. Renewable energy sources are now that necessity, the very best minds in the world are now focused.

  12. TBNTJudy says:

    @IrishGirl, I, too, hope she is okay. It wasn’t too long after she lost her friend that she disappeared.

    @UK Lady, If I am correct, the cost of your local newspaper is heavily subsidized by advertising…at least ours are. With the advent of Craig’s lists, much revenue has disappeared for the papers. I know when I had my business, I advertised for new employees on Craig’s list because the cost of a newspaper was too high for my budget.

    I guarantee that I don’t know all the ins and outs of newspaper viability. But, it would seem to me, a charge of a fifth or a quarter of print paper is probably not nearly enough given the loss of advertising revenue.

  13. polarbear says:

    UK Lady: Glad to have your perspective. My understanding of one part of the problem in Alaska is that print advertising has historically been quantifiable with good metric results. For example, an advertiser knows how many print subscribers are being reached, how many column-inches of print advertising are being purchased, and how much resulting revenue might be expected from that formula. Online advertising is less measurable, and is now, with some initial experience, believed to be less effective than print, radio, or TV media, especially when targeted at local markets. So, as newspapers lose print subscriptions, transformed to online readers getting news for free, they also lose the basis for the historically successful advertising formula which has been the underpinning of their revenue.

  14. TBNTJudy says:

    UK Lady, If you are referring to the link I left, I think the central theme of his argument is that we are using finite resources to power everything, including the newspapers that are going out of business. I agree that they should go online and charge a fee, but if what the Archdruid report says is true, it is only a matter of time before we lose this venue, too, or that it becomes so prohibitively expensive many of us can’t afford it. I know, I know…this sounds like a “sky is falling” scenario, and believe me, I don’t want it to come true. I have met through the web some very fine people whom I would not have met otherwise, many of them right here on the ‘flats. We came together because we had a common interest – SP – and we have remained because of the incredible camaraderie promoted and fostered by AKM…

    From the link I provided above:

    “The energy cost to run a home computer is modest enough that it’s easy to forget, for example, that the two big server farms that keep Yahoo’s family of web services online use more electricity between them than all the televisions on Earth put together. Multiply that out by the tens of thousands of server farms that keep today’s online economy going, and the hundreds of other energy-intensive activities that go into the internet, and it may start to become clear how much energy goes into putting these words onto the screen where you’re reading them.”

    He does not provide links to corroborating evidence, so I cannot verify if what he says is true. Nonetheless, he does have compelling arguments.

    I was reading a fellow out of Seattle, Bill Fleckinstein, long before anyone else had a clue as to what the Fed policies under Alan Greenspan were doing to the U.S. Greenspan was God, and not many voices were raised in opposition to his policies. Fleckinstein was shouting from the rooftops that Greenspan was leading us into serious trouble, and he was completely poo-pooed. I prayed Fleckinstein was wrong; he wasn’t. I feel the same way about the fellow who writes the Archdruid Report, but I fear he may be right.

  15. UK Lady says:

    polarbear

    It is extremely worrying. What I don’t get is why online papers can’t make it viable. In the UK (don’t know about US), when you physically buy a newspaper you either get it delivered for a fee or collect from a newsagents. The paper (good quality, not tabloid) will cost just under £1. A charge of about a fifth or a quarter of that would seem reasonable to access online. We do have the same problems with online v print here.

  16. Irishgirl says:

    TNBT Judy,
    Yes I think so. I hope she is ok.

  17. polarbear says:

    UK Lady: If you want a snapshot of how things are going in the print media, try going to Google, enter ‘quote MNI’ , open the page, zoom it to five years, ‘Add’ another ticker symbol, NYT to the chart. You will get a 5-year view of the New York Times stock performance next to that of McClatchy Newspapers. Those would be the number 1 and number 3 news outlets in the states, I believe. Not an encouraging view. McClatchy is about to get booted off the NY Stock Exchange for failure to maintain share value over $1.00.

  18. UK Lady says:

    Another ‘blow in’ here, don’t really understand all the questions let alone the answers to newspapers via internet arguments. I don’t understand why newspapers can’t go online and charge a very small fee for viewing. The big problem with that for me would be people who can’t afford a pc or people who are older and can’t get to grips with IT. That aspect worries me.

    As for the energy used by the internet, wouldn’t that be largely offset by not using huge printers, forests/sawmills for the paper, manufacture/fuel and use of lorries etc. used in delivery, all that kind of stuff. I am confused.

  19. polarbear says:

    No mea culpa required, IrishGirl. My chatter was too intense. I am going to miss our daily newspaper.

  20. TBNTJudy says:

    IrishGirl, wasn’t Peaceful Granny the one who lost her best friend? She continued to post for a while, and then we lost her voice.

  21. Irishgirl says:

    I was wondering about Peaceful Granny too!

  22. Irishgirl says:

    Forgive me….as they would say in Ireland…*I’m a blow in.*
    Sometimes we weigh in, and forget about the community. Mea culpa.

  23. TBNTJudy says:

    You guys, does anyone know whatever happened to PeacefulGranny who used to post quite regularly? I believe she was from Idaho? Maybe she is going by another name now?

  24. polarbear says:

    Regarding options for the Anchorage Daily News, here is a report on what happened after the Rocky Mt. News in Denver failed, and a venture group tried to form a regional news service online to fill the void:

    http://www.thestandard.com/news/2009/04/23/denver-online-newspaper-misses-subscription-goal

    How are we going to fill the void if McClatchy / ADN goes under? I think we all believe that efforts like Mudflats are important. I feel the better for the conversation here. But our bloggers are not daily community news media, eh?

  25. Irishgirl says:

    You are right of course…I was only thinking of politics. The newspaper is needed for all of the community.

  26. polarbear says:

    IrishGirl: The Alaska blogosphere did a good job during the election cycle, about election politics. But what about the everyday news of our community, the community council meetings, the youth sports, the borough meetings, the Anchorage school district meetings, the meeting notices, public notices for contracts, community events, the whodunnits of our court system, the obituaries of friends and elders passing, and the accomplishments of our neighbors. How do we stay in touch with the fabric of our town and state?

  27. Canadian Neighbour says:

    189 WakeUpAmerica,
    That’s why I made reference to it must be in the DNA — It’s a ‘Full Family Activity’

  28. TBNTJudy says:

    IrishGirl, I’m not so sure that the internet will be around forever to take the place of the newspapers. This fellow has an interesting take on the future, and at least for the internet, it’s not pretty. I wish I could say beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is wrong…

    http://thearchdruidreport.blogspot.com/2009/05/end-of-information-age.html

  29. Irishgirl says:

    Polarbear,
    Maybe it is down to the internet now! It has been doing a fine job since August, but I can appreciate your worry over the demise of your newspaper.

  30. polarbear says:

    Regarding our Corrupt Bastard’s Club fix, and the fine article by Richard Mauer on the ongoing investigation, I am just wondering, dear neighbors, what do we all plan to do when the Anchorage Daily News folds (bad pun) as McClatchy (MNI:NYSE) goes under? At this point, the demise of McClatchy looks inevitable. Can we get along without a serious Anchorage newspaper? What will our municipal and state governments do without scrutiny? (Look what they did with scrutiny! ) Where is the business case for an Anchorage newspaper?

  31. curiouser says:

    #190 austintx Says:
    WakeUpAmerica Says:
    May 25th, 2009 at 12:34 PM
    Seems like the PO for all the appliances and materials for the sports complex should be available through the FOIA. If you could get that, it shouldn’t be too difficult to go through the complex and count items like sinks, refrigerators, windows, etc.
    *******************************************
    ………..and linear feet of railing material. Several people who have been in the complex have said the railing there looked exactly like the railing in the house that you could see in the video of the interviews.
    ——————–

    Sounds like a good place to start. It would be a way to see if anything fell off the truck and probably take less effort to count the railings than other building materials.

    pictures of the sports complex railing
    http://alaskarama.com/musc/

  32. austintx says:

    WakeUpAmerica Says:
    May 25th, 2009 at 12:34 PM
    Seems like the PO for all the appliances and materials for the sports complex should be available through the FOIA. If you could get that, it shouldn’t be too difficult to go through the complex and count items like sinks, refrigerators, windows, etc.
    *******************************************
    ………..and linear feet of railing material. Several people who have been in the complex have said the railing there looked exactly like the railing in the house that you could see in the video of the interviews.

  33. WakeUpAmerica says:

    Canadian Neighbor, our Army won’t take anyone with a problem that would compromise his ability to lift and carry heavy weights long distances. It is a bogus, asinine lie from the young man. He wouldn’t have made it through boot camp if he had a shoulder problem. Do you see someone with a shoulder problem doing 100 push-ups, climbing up ropes over walls, doing dead lifts, etc? No. That is just another Palin apple that hasn’t fallen far from the tree.

  34. WakeUpAmerica says:

    Seems like the PO for all the appliances and materials for the sports complex should be available through the FOIA. If you could get that, it shouldn’t be too difficult to go through the complex and count items like sinks, refrigerators, windows, etc.

  35. curiouser says:

    UK Lady…..Wouldn’t it be beyond wonderful for everything to be exposed for what it is. Seems like anything that gets her out of office will be an adjustment for the family. Todd might have to go back to the slope to bring home the bacon and keep health insurance coverage. I think the “other thing” will be a blessing for the innocents.

  36. UK Lady says:

    I was really hoping that the house or the emails were going to be ‘the iceberg’ I hope it isn’t the ‘other thing’. It needs to be so bad that she is drop kicked out of politics for ever, but not so that it involves anyone innocent.

  37. curiouser says:

    #182
    the problem child Says:
    curiouser, Like you scratch my back with this contract to supply railings and I’ll see that you get a deep discount on this separate, unrelated, non-City owned project? Like that kind of discounts, or the kind that fall off the truck on the way to the construction site?
    ———

    LOL! Yup! Maybe both. Either way would be a ‘thanks for getting us the big city job’ and the city might have paid too much.

    **********************

    183 Irishgirl Says:
    If there was any sort of an investigation into Palin’s house, it would be the end of her.

    #175 austintx Says:
    Oh those pesky permits…

    ——–

    Yeah…..(sad–I don’t think an investigation will happen–sigh)

  38. austintx says:

    182 Irishgirl Says:
    May 25th, 2009 at 11:04 AM
    If there was any sort of an investigation into Palin’s house, it would be the end of her.
    **************************************
    Yup – Yup !!

  39. austintx says:

    181 the problem child Says:
    May 25th, 2009 at 10:39 AM
    Like that kind of discounts, or the kind that fall off the truck on the way to the construction site?
    **********************************************
    I like the fall off the truck version…………

  40. Irishgirl says:

    If there was any sort of an investigation into Palin’s house, it would be the end of her.

  41. the problem child says:

    curiouser, Like you scratch my back with this contract to supply railings and I’ll see that you get a deep discount on this separate, unrelated, non-City owned project? Like that kind of discounts, or the kind that fall off the truck on the way to the construction site?

  42. curiouser says:

    #

    #
    180
    austintx Says:
    May 25th, 2009 at 9:29 AM

    179 curiouser Says:
    May 25th, 2009 at 9:20 AM
    In the 2007 budget, Palin funds a $630,000 kitchen for the Wasilla sports complex while cutting funds 40 sports-related projects around the state because “sports was not an essential government service.
    ******************************************
    In the Lauer and Greta interviews , sarah is in the kitchen , and those sure are some nice commercial grade , stainless steel appliances in the background. I would LOVE to see the purchase order/bill for the two respective kitchens.
    ————–

    Not sure about the kitchen appliances unless the Palin’s upgraded in ’07, but I would definitely make a bet that much of the ‘stick & bricks’ that are the Palin house were deeply discounted or otherwise purchased by the city of Wasilla (said with experience in real estate development/construction accounting & auditing.)

  43. austintx says:

    179 curiouser Says:
    May 25th, 2009 at 9:20 AM
    In the 2007 budget, Palin funds a $630,000 kitchen for the Wasilla sports complex while cutting funds 40 sports-related projects around the state because “sports was not an essential government service.
    ******************************************
    In the Lauer and Greta interviews , sarah is in the kitchen , and those sure are some nice commercial grade , stainless steel appliances in the background. I would LOVE to see the purchase order/bill for the two respective kitchens.

  44. curiouser says:

    In the 2007 budget, Palin funds a $630,000 kitchen for the Wasilla sports complex while cutting funds 40 sports-related projects around the state because “sports was not an essential government service.

    http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/background/story/213620.html

    Maybe if I would just keep banging my head against the wall she would start to make sense.

  45. Canadian Neighbour says:

    Found my survey company!!

    PND provided civil, structural, survey and geotechnical services for this complex as a subconsultant to Kumin Associates

    http://www.pnd-anc.com/projects/structural/wasilla_sports_complex.htm

    177 austintx – ROFL!!!!

  46. austintx says:

    172 Canadian Neighbour Says:
    May 25th, 2009 at 8:18 AM
    Regarding the land, would there not have to be a survey and a surveyor?

    Surveyor would be needed to mark out footings etc and would use a survey. You don’t just start throwing buildings like this together.
    **************************************************
    Oh yes you can…………………If you are one of Todd’s “contractor buddies”……..

  47. curiouser says:

    More on Palin’s house sale variances and carport. The details are toward the end of the article.

    http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/background/story/540128.html

  48. austintx says:

    173 curiouser Says:
    May 25th, 2009 at 8:20 AM
    168 austintx….There’s another article that covers Palin’s rush to sell her house and start building the new one…haven’t found the link yet.

    Palin had to get a special ruling from the city to sell her house but then she didn’t comply with the requirements….I think it was something about removing a carport that was too close to the lake.
    ************************************************
    Oh those pesky permits……..If InJuneau cks. in , she/he has been extremely helpful in links to things pertaining to the house.

  49. austintx says:

    171 Canadian Neighbour Says:
    May 25th, 2009 at 8:12 AM
    Can’t play hockey with a screwed up shoulder but you can enlist — I wouldn’t think so!! Unless the paperwork for enlisting was not truthfully filled out!
    ******************************************
    Was there a rash of school bus vandalism going on at the same time as Track’s visit ?? Just askin’…….no rumor mongering……..trouble just seems to follow the young man around. Hopefully his stint in the service of his country can help with his anger management issues. And I do mean that seriously , on this Memorial Day. Bless and protect all that serve.

  50. curiouser says:

    168 austintx….There’s another article that covers Palin’s rush to sell her house and start building the new one…haven’t found the link yet.

    Palin had to get a special ruling from the city to sell her house but then she didn’t comply with the requirements….I think it was something about removing a carport that was too close to the lake.

  51. Canadian Neighbour says:

    Regarding the land, would there not have to be a survey and a surveyor?

    Surveyor would be needed to mark out footings etc and would use a survey. You don’t just start throwing buildings like this together.

  52. Canadian Neighbour says:

    Must be in the Palin DNA. Found this to be a very strange comment:

    But that summer, Mr. Smith said, Track Palin called him and said that his shoulder was not better and that he was going to enlist in the Army instead.
    (Smith was the team’s General Manager).
    Plot twist: The coach thought the shoulder was fine. So maybe there’s still more to the story than meets the eye, and it’s too soon to rule out any of the rumors.

    Can’t play hockey with a screwed up shoulder but you can enlist — I wouldn’t think so!! Unless the paperwork for enlisting was not truthfully filled out!

    http://gawker.com/5048904/palin-boys-rage-and-unraveled-dreams

    Also note Curt Menard’s comment as to temper. The sport complex carries the name Curt Menard.

    A tangled webb the Palin’s do weave!!

  53. austintx says:

    166 curiouser – Thanks for that !! I would believe the Nature Conservancy anyday over these Wasilla hacks. They do these kind of land deals all the time. This is juicy !! Throw in the same materials that appear to be used at “Casa de Palin” , and this could get fun !!

  54. curiouser says:

    This Village Voice article disses Palin’s record and covers the sports complex and house on page 5. KO had the author on after the piece was published.

    “The odd timing of Palin’s house construction—it was completed two months before she left City Hall and while she and Todd Palin were campaigning statewide for the first time—raises questions, especially considering its synergy with the complex.”

    http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-10-08/news/the-book-of-sarah/

  55. curiouser says:

    #157 austintx….

    Here’s a great article on the land sale debacle.

    Palin’s Hockey Rink Leads
    To Legal Trouble in Town She Led
    By MICHAEL M. PHILLIPS

    http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122065537792905483.html

  56. Canadian Neighbour says:

    austintx
    I search Track Palin Michigan and found the story.

  57. austintx says:

    Isabella and Canadian Neighbour –
    google “Palin and Portage Mi. family”.

  58. Isabella says:

    “When Track left to attend school in lower 48 — Wasn`t it Michigan he went to?”

    I recall being curious when Palin, said about Michigan, that her son, Track never told her how beautiful it was. The red flag was why did she send her kid to go live with people she did not know to a state she never visited his senior year AND how much she does not have basic concern over her children;s wellbeing. A super sleuth internet guru could surely find her saying this during the RNC run.

  59. austintx says:

    160 the problem child Says:
    May 25th, 2009 at 5:41 AM
    austintx Says:
    May 25th, 2009 at 4:59 AM
    It’s not the real estate agent’s job to guarantee the title; that’s why you hire lawyers — to search the title and find any problems so that 1) they can be rectified by the seller before the purchase is completed or 2) the purchaser can decline to purchase and go look elsewhere if it looks like it will take to long to rectify the problems.
    ******************************************************
    Yes , you are absolutely correct. To guarantee the title is the the title company’s job.But it is the due diligence of the real estate agent to do the legwork and ck. these things. It’s not just plopping the sign on the property and collecting the commision at the closing table. Although not current , I have a license to be a real estate agent in Texas. The Broker that would be my “Sponsor” is totally and legally responsible for my action/inaction on any transaction. I took a quick look at the Alaska Real Estate Commision site and it appears essentially the same. There is some thing squirrelly at the least going on in this deal.This was not some little cabin in the boonies where there were handshake deals thru several generations. This was by any standard , a large commercial transaction. To “overpay” 1.5
    mil. AND not have clear title is B.S. I’m curious who the agent who represented Wasilla is.

  60. Canadian Neighbour says:

    143 ValleyIndependent:

    @ #39 Canadian Neighbour – Re the Wasilla Chamber of Commerce – No, the Metivas are not long time friends of the Gov. They have only been in Wasilla a few years. They are both part of the local Republican Party group, but certainly not close, from what I have seen.
    ——-

    Since I posted comment #39, a Mudpup directed me to a site with the story which has a pic of the Metivas together with Palin at her Inaugural Ball.

    Contained in a statement given by Cheryl Metiva, it informs you that she (and I gather her husband too) attends Wasilla Bible Church with Palin. The fact that Marty ran for Mayor of Wasilla would also draw some links to Palin.

    I find it strange for a couple to only move to Alaska in 2004 and he is a standing City Council Member and the Executive Director of Mat-Su Resource and ran for Mayor in 2008. Cheryl too has infiltrated various things like the Chamber of Commerce, President Elect of Rotary Club, and his/her or their involvement in a number of various charitable organizations.

    Considering how so many speak that people don’t understand Alaska as it is a different way of life compared to the lower 48, to move that quickly in 4 years into those positions — has familiar ring of not vetting to understand what they let in. My alarm bells go off in that they are involved in so many charitable organizations in forms of leadership — all dealing with fundraising, budgets, plain and simple — money. If there’s such a problem with the budget, pay increase, etc. under the Chamber of Commerce — what about the numerous charititable organizations?

    I found this statement on the run for mayor website, which I find very strange for only 4 years residence “Marty is intimate with the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the City of Wasilla”. (Really.)

    Another possible connection as the Metivas are from Michigan:
    Marty Metiva grew up across the state in Standish, near Lake Huron. Her father, Dean Cheadle, owned a worldwide dog-sledding supply company in the Lower 48, Tun-Dra Outfitters. (Anchorage Daily News)
    (FYI: Cheryl’s maiden name – Cheadle)

    When Track left to attend school in lower 48 — Wasn`t it Michigan he went to?

  61. the problem child says:

    austintx Says:
    May 25th, 2009 at 4:59 AM

    158 Isabella – Someone , I wanna say pvazwindy or sauerkraut maybe , has posted some really cool links and pics. on the the rink/house connection. They were built around the same time , and that is when sarah imposed the moratorium on building permits. If I lived in Wasilla and my taxes were being used to pay for the 1.5 mil “overpay” on land we don’t even own yet , I’d want some answers. The real estate agent should be held accountable for at least the attorneys fees.
    ————-
    It’s not the real estate agent’s job to guarantee the title; that’s why you hire lawyers — to search the title and find any problems so that 1) they can be rectified by the seller before the purchase is completed or 2) the purchaser can decline to purchase and go look elsewhere if it looks like it will take to long to rectify the problems.

  62. austintx says:

    158 Isabella – Someone , I wanna say pvazwindy or sauerkraut maybe , has posted some really cool links and pics. on the the rink/house connection. They were built around the same time , and that is when sarah imposed the moratorium on building permits. If I lived in Wasilla and my taxes were being used to pay for the 1.5 mil “overpay” on land we don’t even own yet , I’d want some answers. The real estate agent should be held accountable for at least the attorneys fees.

  63. Isabella says:

    austintx….Wow, AWESOME questions!!!

  64. austintx says:

    146 ValleyIndependent Says:
    May 24th, 2009 at 7:14 PM
    As to title for the land under the sports complex, that’s still tied up in court, though we hope it will be resolved soon. As it stands, it looks like we paid somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.5 million more than what it should have cost, thanks to that little problem of building on somebody else’s property. It really is a nice facility, especially with the new kitchen and it gets lots of use and well as doubles as our emergency shelter should we need one. It is not a money maker, but then most facilities of its type aren’t in other communities, either. Essentially, it’s fair to tag Palin with the extra cost, and maybe not putting projects like septage treatment or a new library first, but she’s not responsible for the ongoing operations.

    Hope that helps.
    *******************************************
    Funny you mention the kitchen. When the Lauer and Greta interviews came out , more than a few people marveled at the exact materials that are in both her home and the complex. Many pictures were compared and sure seem to bear out speculation that the supply truck made 2 stops. And on the land deal , how much land are we talkin’ ?? I mean , 1.5 mil. is a lot of money to “overpay”. Especially on a parcel of land where it does not appear there was due diligence done and a free and clear title secured. BTW – Was the real-estate agent who handled all this the lady who recently set up the trust ??

  65. lisabeth says:

    I have insomnia so of course came here. Oh boy, Martha, how can you stand to go to that page. The people are NUTS honestly. I hate saying that but you know the things they say! Now I must go write David Axelrod and check on that paycheck he sending me for posting something about Palin. You know how we all have time cards and all……. (they think this!). It doesn’t occur to those people at all that something is wrong with Palin. They are exactly who Dan Fagan is describing in his article at ADN. I am sorry there are some screws loose upstairs…….

  66. Martha Unalaska Yard Sign says:

    OK I’m dying from laughter! I never do this, but I had to go to the Pee site quickly because they were having such a stupid discussion the other day (don’t hire these folks as PI’s, people – OMG are they dim!). Anyway, I read for thirty seconds and had to recover from spitting wine out my nose. They are now calling the media the OSM, not the MSM, because it stands for Obama’s Stream Media.

    OK, I know that you can’t sell stupid – but somehow, somewhere – someone figured it out and Palin’s freaks bought it all lock, stock and barrel! I would be looking at bridge jumping if I were as dim as these folks. Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dimmer. The rest of them just go downhill from there….

  67. Canadian Neighbour says:

    On Huff, Greta defending her husband’s consulting work for Palin (PAC & Legal Fund)

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/25/greta-van-susteren-defend_0_n_207246.html

    Won’t they just go away — far, far away

  68. Canadian Neighbour says:

    Snoskred,
    Great space shots!! My fav is still the reflection in the visor. Something we don’t usually see.

  69. Closet Mudpup says:

    Great astro-link, Snoskred. Thanks!

  70. Isabella says:

    Don’t forget to get the VOTE out!!! We do not want a sneak attack on the number one spot.
    http://www.democracyforamerica.com/netroots_nation_scholarships?order=supporters

  71. Isabella says:

    Seems Britta Hanson is as well the official babysitter for Palin.
    http://www.juneauempire.com/images/031407/16694_500.jpg

  72. Snoskred says:

    Here are some awesome pics of this most recent shuttle mission – prelaunch, launch and while in flight – Hubble – Final Servicing Mission

    Endeavour is due to launch on June 13, I’ll be posting comments about it for ya’all’s info. 😉

  73. sauerkraut says:

    From another thread (do comments section close off after a certain time period??), there was this comment which is too good to pass by…

    “Why would Bristol and Track BOTH be sent away to live with others when they have such an extraordinary, loving, stable, supportive family in Wasilla?”

    cough.

    The answer to that should be fairly obvious…

  74. sauerkraut says:

    I’m thinking Moneghan isn’t a guy who does pink too often. …

  75. ValleyIndependent says:

    @ 123 Isabella and 126 austintx

    The recent Wasilla Chamber of Commerce troubles are not linked to Palin in any way.

    Neither is the lack of inclusion of funds for the Iditarod or Iron Dog in the city budget. The mayor and city council are watching the recession’s impact on sales tax revenues closely and taking a very cautious approach to spending. (Sales taxes make up almost all of the city’s revenue.) For all practical purposes, the Iron Dog really starts in Big Lake, and the Iditarod has re-started in Willow, not Wasilla, most of the last ten years. The city does still support Iditarod with a pretty much free long-term lease of the land and building used as the Iditarod headquarters, though.

    As to title for the land under the sports complex, that’s still tied up in court, though we hope it will be resolved soon. As it stands, it looks like we paid somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.5 million more than what it should have cost, thanks to that little problem of building on somebody else’s property. It really is a nice facility, especially with the new kitchen and it gets lots of use and well as doubles as our emergency shelter should we need one. It is not a money maker, but then most facilities of its type aren’t in other communities, either. Essentially, it’s fair to tag Palin with the extra cost, and maybe not putting projects like septage treatment or a new library first, but she’s not responsible for the ongoing operations.

    Hope that helps.

  76. Isabella says:

    “No, the Metivas are not long time friends of the Gov. They have only been in Wasilla a few years. They are both part of the local Republican Party group, but certainly not close, from what I have seen.”

    Sure seems like a crush to me.

    In the least they are, “Churchy” toward one another.

    “We like to call this the Bible Belt of Alaska,” says Cheryl Metiva, head of the local chamber of commerce. Churches proliferate in Wasilla today, and among the largest and most influential is the Wasilla Bible Church, where the Palins worship.
    http://www.gossiprocks.com/forum/u-s-politics-issues/80967-sarah-palin-mayor.html

  77. Aussie Blue Sky says:

    lynnrockets Says:
    May 24th, 2009 at 5:41 PM
    OK, I now believe that I have run across my all-time favorite blogging name…

    “cosanostradamus”. Brilliant
    ————————————————–
    Cosanostradamus is Irish, too also.

  78. ValleyIndependent says:

    @ #39 Canadian Neighbour – Re the Wasilla Chamber of Commerce – No, the Metivas are not long time friends of the Gov. They have only been in Wasilla a few years. They are both part of the local Republican Party group, but certainly not close, from what I have seen.

  79. TBNTJudy says:

    If she is preggers again, what do you think for a baby name? Truck, Trunk, Trick, Trapp, Wallow, Wallop, Whinny, Whimper, Peapod, Peanut, Pipette, Peeper, Pepper?

    Actually, I really do like the names Willow, Piper, and Bristol. Some sensibility shown with those choices.

  80. austintx says:

    Hey – sarah’s therapist could have changed her meds. Seroquel is known to cause weight gain. It is prescribed for bipolar depression.

  81. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    TBNTJudy Says:
    May 24th, 2009 at 5:43 PM

    Re: Photos of Palin:

    Good lord! If my late mother could see those shoes with that black suit
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~
    😆

  82. Isabella says:

    austintx Says “Hey – when she gave the speech in Indiana , she said she loved the donuts they gave her. She is probably plowing thru boxes of ‘em in nervous energy while reading all the blogs predicting her downfall.”

    Are edible gifts required to be declared on taxes 🙂

    Palin, the nitwit behaved with wild abandonment to commonsense greedily taking everything that was not nailed down. You cannot do such a thing with public monies against public trust and think you are invincible even if Uncle Ted co-signed. Ted vouching for Palin got her *IN*….he just as easily could be one of the top two taking her out.

  83. Isabella says:

    IF she were knocked up, after the way Palin, has shown to exploit her kids…pursuits of wrongdoing would still have an impact, Palin, will not be treated with kid gloves.

  84. Isabella says:

    Isabella, here is a link for the Wasilla chamber of congress
    “Please note Sarah’s elaborate hairstyle” Lol.

  85. TBNTJudy says:

    Re: Photos of Palin:

    Good lord! If my late mother could see those shoes with that black suit, she would be rolling over in her grave.

  86. lynnrockets says:

    OK, I now believe that I have run across my all-time favorite blogging name…

    “cosanostradamus”. Brilliant.

  87. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    This is speculation, not for the “iceberg” but what if….the Indiana speech was to “announce” her Real “to keep” pregnancy NOW???? We all took it to mean Trig, but what if…..?
    Look on the state site since then….
    http://www.gov.state.ak.us/photos.php?&start=32&total=8

    Her facelift or whatever is def. “lowering” in some of the pics. Could she be Really preg. this time? Change of life baby??
    Wonder how this will affect the iceberg?
    God, it would be so palin to step in the moose pucky and come out smellin’ like a rose 🙁

  88. austintx says:

    125 Isabella Says:
    May 24th, 2009 at 4:31 PM
    Maybe the extra poundage is all the time Palin has spent away from the gym these 2 weeks trying to appear governish.
    ********************************************
    Hey – when she gave the speech in Indiana , she said she loved the donuts they gave her. She is probably plowing thru boxes of ’em in nervous energy while reading all the blogs predicting her downfall.

  89. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    Isabella, here is a link for the Wasilla chamber of congress:
    http://palingates.blogspot.com/2009/05/sarah-palins-valley-friends.html
    ****
    Lisabeth Says:
    May 24th, 2009 at 4:22 PM

    A baby bump?
    What is this now??

    Crystalwolf I always assumed the iceberg was about babygate. I have never seen Gryphen say it wasn’t!
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Well, maybe I’m thinking one time about a filing? Anyway he has never said it WAS, and Alaska report just says the “Palin’s” house of cards…?
    I don’t pretend to know WHAT it is…I do know something is going to BREAK and its big.
    Step back and look at the big pic.
    Hmmm? GiNO preg???
    I saw her Eagle vid and she was wearing a snow jacket but she looked all aderalled out, IMO…!
    That would be shocking! GINO preg.

  90. pem says:

    uklady..peepeelan lol…..i’m all thumbs on this phone…..fingernails woud help. headed to see our grand baby n colodado….at least I can read mudflats while hubby drives.

  91. .
    Thanks for the link, thanks for the I ♥ The Mudflats site, and thanks to all our vets this Memorial Day. A Long Island Iced Tea for each & every one of them!
    .

  92. UK Lady says:

    Isabella – Scarah does seem a little larger, the first pic is funny, all those folk don’t seem much impressed.

    austintx – Think that title suit is still ongoing.

  93. austintx says:

    Isabella – Wonder if the 20 mil. Sports Complex is putting a crunch on the Wasilla budget. Man – did sarah hang a millstone around their neck , or what ?? And did they ever settle the lawsuit on the title to the land ??

  94. Isabella says:

    Maybe the extra poundage is all the time Palin has spent away from the gym these 2 weeks trying to appear governish.

    http://www.gov.state.ak.us/photos/generalchandlervisit_may182009.jpg

  95. Isabella says:

    Lisabeth Says “A baby bump? What is this now??”

    Click on picture to supersize.
    http://www.gov.state.ak.us/photos/wrangellbillsigning02_may202009.jpg

  96. Isabella says:

    Lisabeth Says “A baby bump? What is this now??”

    Maybe the extra poundage is all the time Palin has spent away from the gym these 2 weeks trying to appear governish. (Click on photos to supersize)

    http://www.gov.state.ak.us/photos/generalchandlervisit_may182009.jpg

    http://www.gov.state.ak.us/photos/stewartannex01_may182009.jpg

    http://www.gov.state.ak.us/photos/wrangellbillsigning02_may202009.jpg

  97. Isabella says:

    “5 out of 7 in wasilla resign from a committee”

    Did you note as well, Wasilla has suspended contributions to, Iron Dog? A link maybe to, Todd?

    Iditarod and Iron Dog lose funding from Wasilla
    SURPRISE: City council drops sponsorships in its recently approved budget.
    http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/matsu/story/801470.html

  98. Lisabeth says:

    A baby bump?
    What is this now??

    Crystalwolf I always assumed the iceberg was about babygate. I have never seen Gryphen say it wasn’t!

  99. Isabella says:

    Isabella/palinsucks Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.

    Hey, Cali, seems like a name change isn’t automatic.

  100. Isabella/palinsucks :) says:

    crystalwolf aka caligrl Says “Isabella, can you please do Isabella/palinsucks until we get used to your new handle?”

    Uh huh 🙂

  101. Isabella says:

    austintx and aka caligrl, then Palin, she knows the flood gates are about to open? Is this why she has been all over the state in the past two weeks signing everything in front of her (Of course everything with the exception of Stimulus funding for freezing Alaskans) and eluding to a baby bump?

    She is one low down dirty bird!!!

  102. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    Isabella, can you please do Isabella/palinsucks until we get used to your new handle?
    🙂

  103. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    AKM Photo contest thread up 🙂

  104. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    Isabella-keep your eye on Alaska Report
    http://www.alaskareport.com/

    Rumor Central: Big story still heading towards the S.S. Palin
    A deal-breaker is heading toward the Palins. Can it be stopped? I don’t think so. Will it topple the house of cards, all signs say yes. Stay tuned…

    And Gryphen’s blog “theimmoralminority” He has been dropping hints bigtime.
    Yesterday Shannyn Moore said there was something she couldn’t talk about on her show.
    also, too,
    I have been dreaming about this, I see Headlines on blogs about GINO! Not good headlines either, not newspaper headlines Blog headline!
    And if you step back and look at the big picture….
    5 out of 7 in wasilla resign from a committee…the grifter is a friend of GINO’s a Wasilla bible churcher….Why did GINO pull out the last min and send dud to NY? For Alaska’s flood????
    This information is bursting at the seams. I wouldn’t be surprised if she suddenly canceled her Auburn NY trip.
    But we will see. Meanwhile keep eyes open and popcorn popper stoked up! 😀

  105. austintx says:

    114 Isabella Says:
    May 24th, 2009 at 3:42 PM
    Oh BTW, I am formely…PalinSucks.
    I have been unable to keep up this week. Is there a hint, is the exposure personal or with the govs office (Although Palin, obscenely mixes both). Any chance of an impeachment or will there “Just” be public shame & ridicule? Anything jailable?
    *********************************************
    Well – I wish I could say : d. All of the above.

    On the name change……..I liked PalinSucks because I’m a smart-ass sometimes. On the other hand , I’m queer for everything latin , so Isabella is fine also.too.

  106. Canadian Neighbour says:

    lynnrockets,
    Niagara-On-The-Lake – A wonderful place for a wedding!!!

  107. Isabella says:

    austintx Says “Caligrl watches all the blogs that say something is coming. She’s getting mighty antsy I might add.”

    Oh BTW, I am formely…PalinSucks.

    I have been unable to keep up this week. Is there a hint, is the exposure personal or with the govs office (Although Palin, obscenely mixes both). Any chance of an impeachment or will there “Just” be public shame & ridicule? Anything jailable?

  108. CorningNY says:

    This gave me good chuckle–it’s a comment from an article about how Sarah is attending a Founder’s Day event in Auburn, NY.

    The true facts about Sarah Palin!
    Sarah Palin used to wrestle Kodiak bears in Alaskan bare knuckles fight clubs.
    Sarah Palin once bagged a caribou by staring it down until it died.
    Sarah Palin turned down a job as skipper of a Deadliest Catch boat because it wasn’t challenging enough
    Sarah Palin fishes salmon by convincing them it’s in their interest to jump into the boat.
    Sarah Palin once guided Santa’s sleigh through an Alaskan blizzard with the light from her smile.
    Chuck Norris wishes he was Sarah Palin trapped in a man’s body.
    Sarah Palin paid her way through school by hunting for yeti pelts with a slingshot.
    Sarah Palin knows the location of DB Cooper’s body because she threw him from the plane.
    The Northern Lights are really just the reflection from Sarah Palin’s eys.
    The raw energy of Sarah Palin melts the Alaskan ice roads every spring.
    We don’t know who would win in a Chuck Norris – Sarah Palin cage match because they’ve never invented a cage that can hold Sarah Palin.
    Alaska is the 49th state solely because they knew even before she was born that Sarah Palin would never finish last.
    Global Warming doesn’t kill polar bears. Sarah Palin does – usually with her bare hands.
    Three of Sarah Palin’s five kids came out sideways – she never flinched.
    Sarah Palin’s hotness is the largest single contributor to melting polar ice caps.
    It’s not raining in DC. Those are Liberal tears of hate that McCain picked Sarah Palin.

  109. jojobo1 says:

    I get updates fro the anchorage daily but since IMO they are now pro Palin You can’t always get the news at the time it is first time news.

  110. austintx says:

    re: Britta Hanson – I am sorry that I stated Britta was Brad’s daughter. I was repeating a rumor. Before I could say this on the thread it closed. The following is an e-mail that I immediately sent Patrick.
    rumormongering

    show details 1:12 PM (4 hours ago)
    Thank you for correcting me for repeating rumors. The thread has been closed , or I would have done this there. I also was going to say something to the person who was dwelling on Levi’s “lies”………..pffft….Any 19 yr. old would’ve acted like that. The lies that come out of the Palin camp are outrageous. He was put on the spot and was just reacting. The Palin’s methodical lying must be called out. You are doing a great job. Thank you for correcting my misinformation.

  111. lynnrockets says:

    @ Canadian Neighbor
    Now that I think of it, I was in Canada last Victoria Day to attend a wedding of an old teammate in Niagara On The Lake.

  112. lynnrockets says:

    @ Canadian Neighbor
    I actually knew the Canadian holidays but I couldn’t think of all the names of the Canadian commentators. I used to spend my summers playing hockey in Quebec as a youngster. i actually had to use a fake french alias.

  113. UK Lady says:

    Thank you lynnrocketts.

  114. austintx says:

    This guy went to my son’s high school and is set for the next shuttle flight.
    http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/05/24/0524astronaut.html

  115. Daisy Daisy says:

    @London Bridges

    Patrick from Palin’s Deceptions posted info about Britta Hanson on the last comment on the Johnston’s thread. Interestingly, Patrick said Britta couldn’t be Trig’s mom because she was on an “extended” European vacation in early 2008. Sounds like the perfect way to cover up a pregnancy and/or birth. Does Britta watch Trig while Sarah works in the capitol? Didn’t she travel with the Pale-0ns during the convention, too?

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    It seems to me that Patrick is correct in his assessment about Britta as there are photos on the blog of her taken during the period whilst she was abroad……they DO NOT show a pregnant Britta and extend across a 4 month time period from January 2008 until April 2008. Some of them actually show her in London beside London Bridge…imagine that! You will find the link to her blog and all the pictures at the end of the Johnston thread. Britta is not Trig’s mother and she is not Brad Hanson’s daughter either.

  116. lilybart says:

    London Bridges, I looked at Britta’s Euro trip blog and she was not pregnant.

  117. austintx says:

    98 Canadian Neighbour Says:
    May 24th, 2009 at 2:37 PM
    Here’s a link to some neat Shuttle Space pics:

    http://technology.sympatico.msn.ca/News/Articles/NASAs_Repair_of_the_Hubble_Space_Telescope.htm?feedname=TECH_STS-125&pos=7&nolookup=true
    ***********************************************
    WOW !! That first one they show is cool !! The reflection…..

  118. Canadian Neighbour says:

    Thanks Lynnrockets. We had Victoria Day last weekend. Our next is July 1 – Canada Day.

    Have a safe, happy, thoughful, Memorial Day. Have some great BBQ too!! (I envy the BBQ!!)

  119. Irishgirl says:

    (((lynnrockets)))

  120. honestyinGov says:

    Does Sarah have anything to do with the Church that Shannyn is talking about on her website. (Has she attended THAT one.
    The one that is trying to defeat the ordinance up there.

    I went to the link she posted and they are some truly hateful ‘people’. I won’t even call them Christians…. but that is what THEY call themselves. maybe even worse than Sarah’s friend the Dobson’s back in Texas. Or they may be ‘ first Cousins’.

  121. lynnrockets says:

    Hello, folks. Just checking in on Sunday evening to wish everyone an enjoyable Memorial Day. As for you, Irishgirl and UK lady and Canadian commenters, I’m wishing you an enjoyable next holiday, whatever that may be, also too.

  122. Irishgirl says:

    UK Lady..that was funny!

  123. austintx says:

    94 Isabella Says:
    May 24th, 2009 at 2:13 PM
    austintx, what is the big pay dirt going to be released on Palin? Who has the info and when are they going public?
    *********************************************
    Caligrl watches all the blogs that say something is coming. She’s getting mighty antsy I might add.

  124. Irishgirl says:

    Seeing as this is an open thread….check out The Verve

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx3m4e45bTo

    It’s my ring tone….

  125. mwThatOne.. says:

    ======
    If you want to let ’em know whether SWWNBN should run in 2012, there is a poll here…. I was thinkin’ we oughta let them know, you betcha….sorta like close that door…

    http://www.sarahnet.net/component/poll/24-sarah

  126. Isabella says:

    austintx, what is the big pay dirt going to be released on Palin? Who has the info and when are they going public?

  127. Isabella says:

    Not as enchanted this time with Susan, yet she is a guiding light and a star. Poor little girl dancer, she was too young for rejection. The guys had her though, they were awesome!!!

  128. austintx says:

    If sarah wanders out on the national stage to run for anything , she’ll get clobbered bigtime. Too much dirt out now and more coming. She skated last time. And who is gonna write a one page letter on the eve of election that she say’s is her medical records ?? M.I.A. Dr. ?? Hahahahaha……

  129. UK Lady says:

    thanks austintx, will look forward to hearing all about it.

    And just to prove that the Brits really are a bunch of nutters, watch this clip from Britains Got Talent. Hilarious.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Tu0PAbW75A

  130. austintx says:

    UK Lady – Sat. June 13th. It’s on the link I left for bubbles.

  131. UK Lady says:

    http://talent.itv.com/videos/video/item_200228.htm

    Susan Boyle’s semi final song if anyone wants to see it.

  132. bubbles says:

    irish girl …… susan boyle is magnificent. there is some quality in her tone that pulls at something in deep inside and my spirit rises to meet it. i am sure that there must be a musical term for that quality. i cannot explain it but perhaps someone else will know..loveb

  133. UK Lady says:

    austintx – how did your son get on – was it last night? Loved the ‘Twilight Zone’. and BTW, the gals in the UK that go to the ‘races’ have to wear fugly dresses to cover up for the fact that they are, in fact, horses a*ses.

  134. austintx says:

    75 honestyinGov – Yup , I thought about the e-mail request on Thursday when I read this on the front page of the NYT.
    http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/20/world/europe/20britain.html?_r=1

  135. lisabeth says:

    Londonbridges, I must have missed that, sorry! There are still a lot of good links on that blog to some things I did not know about at all. It is worth looking through the blog.

    and UK lady, I saw that as well. VERY INTERESTING. She is probably deciding still whether to run as gov or not. She will never be elected president, maybe she is finally seeing that although I doubt it. she seems blind to her own weaknesses

  136. UK Lady says:

    Lisabeth

    Those commenters on ADN who are rabidly pro Palin are from PeePeeLand, I have been lurking and they have a troll who is tormenting them, said troll posted Fagan’s letter on their open thread so they all flew over to ADN to defend their queen and to report abuse on the anti Palin comments to hide them. Tis hilarious 😆

  137. UK Lady says:

    Interesting that in the Dan Fagan letter he says Scarah has got Megamouth Stapleton to employ a local pollster. Just how worried is she about local polls?
    Also’ too, I would love to see the results of said polls.

  138. London Bridges says:

    lisabeth: the blowpop page notes (toward the bottom) that it was reported as a fake site as Sarah’s grades seemed inflated!

  139. lisabeth says:

    A MUST SEE BLOG –

    Have any of you seen this blog called Blow-Pop-Palin ? It looks like this Wasilla high school student is just getting going but take a look at this post where he shows Sarah Heath’s report card! It shows her SAT scores too. No surprise, she was not a good student. We know she does not value education by her actions. On to reading the rest of this blog. Please take a look!

    http://blowpoppalin.blogspot.com/2009/05/wasilla-high-alumni.html

  140. lisabeth says:

    Dan Fagan’s story is very good. Yet you still people who don’t see Palin for who she is. Some of them are still posting on there. I do not understand those people. What is wrong with them? Are they blind or just one issue (anti-choice) people.

  141. Closet Mudpup says:

    Irishgirl @ 77

    The BGT clips just began hitting Youtube about ten minutes ago – I’m addicted!

  142. pearl89 says:

    The salmon recipes sound very similar to the ones my mother use to make. She used crackers for filler and shaped them into patties. I will try them with Rice Krispies…I love anything involving Snap,Crackle,and Pop.

    Yeah, Nan, I myself could use a good old fashion pickin’. NC is pretty much world famous for its Q. Shipped some to my son in FL for Christmas, but it was awfully expensive…but what’s a mom to do; the boy was homesick for bbq.

    I am miserable today. Did some gardening this week…mostly pulling up weeds and such. Learned my lesson about always wearing gloves, since I came away from that experience with a sore back and poison ivy all over my face (eyelids, nose, and around my mouth). So now I’m sitting here typing all pink-faced as I’m covered in calomine lotion. To make thinks even worse, the cats keep trying to lick it off with their sharp little tongues. So my day so far has been spent trying not to scratch (losing that battle) and fending off cats (winning that battle, tho). This too shall pass.

  143. Irishgirl says:

    Oh bubbles…good luck then with the shrimp. Don’t cook it!!!

    Susan Boyle was just on tv here…another great performance.

  144. bubbles says:

    .hi irish girl–my neighbor, sonia, is also one of my dearest friends. whenever i go away she takes care of my cat and waters my plants. it doesn’t matter if i am gone for a weekend or weeks at a time. this time sonia and her hubby went to vegas for the wedding of their daughter. the son-in-law adores them and insisted that they come out for month. so now it is my turn to take care of her tomato plant and the shrimp and get the mail and make sure there are no circulars left in front of her door. this is the first time she has ever asked me to help her although she is always helping me so i am happy to comply. i just worry about the shrimp because it is old and lonely.poor critter. i pray the little thing doesn’t die before they get back. i am a wreck worrying…..loveb

  145. honestyinGov says:

    I saw they guy with the Briitish accent on CNN with ‘Reliable Sources’ talking about the Brittish Parliament scandal. He filled me in on some things and how this all came about by the American journalist Heather Brooke.
    (from Publisher & Editor-online)

    Brooke wrote a book, “Your Right to Know,” suspecting that the British public needed a lesson in how to use freedom of information laws — legislation being newly introduced to the U.K.

    She worked for the Herald-Journal from 1994 to 1996, then went to the Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Wash., where as an intern she was dispatched to the state legislature to rifle through lawmakers’ expenses. A trawl through box after box of airline tickets and room service bills brought no story, but left Brooke certain about the importance of accountability.
    (now HER quotes… from guardian.co.uk home

    ” So I began filing my first freedom of information requests. These are simply letters or emails written to the FOI officer of the Commons laying out what you want to know. You can make these requests to all public bodies and they have 20 working days to respond – though many exceed the deadline and are not punished for it. If they refuse, you can appeal internally and then to the outside regulator, the information commissioner.”
    ——————————————–
    Essentially this is very similar to what Celtic Diva is trying to do. Just like Burke… she is simply requesting FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) documents…. and just like in Britain there is an attempt to find ways to ‘block’ ways of not letting this info out. Brooke tells more in the story.
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/may/15/mps-expenses-heather-brooke-foi

    Maybe Celtic Diva , Gryphen and AKM could get some pointers from her as far as how to get it done… because there is a ‘contact’ link on the story. I’ll bet she would share some tips…..? Who wants to email her………

  146. Irishgirl says:

    Austintx…congrats on son. Glad you reposted that as I didn’t know what exactly was happening.

    Bubbles..I have also missed the beginning of the shrimp story. What are you doing babysitting a shrimp?

  147. bubbles says:

    austintx-yeah. the little seahorse would be perfect. the poor little shrimp is all alone in his tiny universe. all his buddies are deceased.if my cat could figure a way to liberate him, all his troubles would be over.tout suite. he seems happier since i put him next to my bed. now he can watch tv with nubia..love b

  148. London Bridges says:

    Patrick from Palin’s Deceptions posted info about Britta Hanson on the last comment on the Johnston’s thread. Interestingly, Patrick said Britta couldn’t be Trig’s mom because she was on an “extended” European vacation in early 2008. Sounds like the perfect way to cover up a pregnancy and/or birth. Does Britta watch Trig while Sarah works in the capitol? Didn’t she travel with the Pale-0ns during the convention, too?

  149. Gramiam says:

    I was noodling around the web and found this totally hilarious video from the campaign. Be sure to watch the entire thing because GINO has a “buttinsky ” moment
    that is priceless.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzyT9-9lUyE&feature=related

  150. ChiCat says:

    Susie Snowflake and anyone else interested in Victoria’s salmon stick recipe,
    the recipe Just had to chime in posted on page 1 of the comments is pretty much it. Can of salmon, egg, rice krispies. I made balls rather than sticks, as it was pretty sloppy and hard to mold, and actually fried them in a little olive oil. (I’m Italian-American, we fry EVERYTHING in olive oil)

  151. austintx says:

    bubbles – I found a friend for the shrimp. Did you see the link up there ?? ^^^

  152. bubbles says:

    p.s. austintx–the shrimps’ dad [human] works there so if they are back from vegas on that date, your son will have two fans in the audience.

  153. bubbles says:

    CARNEGIE HALL. WOW!!!! austintx your son is going first class. goodness. my daughter had her masters’ ceremony there. beautiful and venerated venue. i performed there years and years age with the all-city choir and orchestra under the direction of a young leonard bernstein. what an evening that was. i can still remember how excited we all were.

  154. here_in_PA says:

    There is an article in the newsminer about the pipeline written by Les Garas.

    http://www.newsminer.com/news/2009/may/23/gas-line-challenge-coming/?opinion

    It’s no secret that Gov. Sarah Palin’s national interests have caused emotions to run high in Alaska. And it’s creating a dynamic that threatens Alaska’s hopes for a gas pipeline. A growing number of people on all sides now want complete allegiance or opposition to the governor on everything. And some Alaskans — including many Republicans — say they don’t support the gas line plan we passed last year because they don’t support the governor

  155. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    Speaking of the people search thingys (from the johnson thread) I’ve noticed they’ve been scrubbed. Right after Tripp was born I did one on GINO and Co and the whole family was listed. (not Trigg or Tripp) but everyone else.
    Johnson’s too (not Tripp)
    Now its all been scrubbed???? WHY????
    Only GINO and Dud come up?

  156. Terpsichore says:

    ” I went to make breakfast, but now that I’m done, one of my cats is INSISTING on sitting on my lap, purring up a storm.”

    Awwww …. I miss my kitty. Been a long time, the half-siamese helion who was my pet growing up. We rent, no pets allowed, but the landlord and his wife now have three outdoor kitties that we can ‘borrow’ – I named them Sylvester, Tweety, and Anakin (Anakin whines alot).

    BTW, tried to post over on the Johnston thread and got (first time ever) a message that said comments for that thread were closed. Seems odd – thread’s not that old. Perhaps I’ll try again later.

  157. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    This is from the Johnson thread that has been closed down?

    curiouser Says:
    May 24th, 2009 at 7:48 AM

    #90 crystalwolf aka caligrl Says:
    May 24th, 2009 at 1:59 AM
    curiouser Says:
    May 23rd, 2009 at 7:42 PM

    With all the speculation about babygate, why wouldn’t AKM (or one of the other AK bloggers in the know) just say, “Hey folks, it’s not about babygate”?
    ~~~~~~~~~~~
    I might be wrong but I could swear Gryphen said its not babygate? I don’t know where Patrick thinks that is it?
    ————–

    Dang. I thought Gryphen pretty much said it was babygate. But I can’t remember what I think he said and surely wouldn’t swear to it. Interesting that you have the opposite impression.

    Is it possible the iceberg and Levi’s ‘bombshell’ are two different things?
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Maybe I’m thinking of something different that Gryphen said before, that is wasn’t BG.
    Anyway, whatever the “iceberg” is…it will be huge…I’ve been dreaming about it and I see big headlines..not newspaper, but BLOG headlines! ❗

  158. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    honestyinGov Says:
    May 24th, 2009 at 8:05 AM

    I found this story late last night and posted on the open thread but some may have missed it. AKM had talked about Eric Boehlerts book “Bloggers on the Bus”

    ‘Crooks and Liars’ had a very long online chat with Eric with questions and answers and there is a transcript on the C&L webpage.

    I particularly liked this comment when he was talking about ‘Right -Wing bogs’
    ——————————————
    Thu, 05/21/2009 – 09:45 — boehlert

    i think it is part of human nature. and as you note it’s far more pronounced among the right-wing blogs, whose readers, as far as i can tell, almost never call bloggers out for concocting phony stuff. in fact, the readers seem to thrive off it.
    ———————————————-
    Sounds like a certain Palin fan-site we know of…..you think…
    =====================================
    Yes it does, the “fake lemonade stand story” 🙄
    and as proved on the view, although not a blogger site faux “news” lies blatantly, glen beck lied to whoppi and then went back and demanded a apology!
    What’s with these people?

  159. nswfm CA says:

    Lori in LA, I went to make breakfast, but now that I’m done, one of my cats is INSISTING on sitting on my lap, purring up a storm. She probably would let me put pjs on her, but the other one is sooo cute, she doesn’t need pjs to be adorable. They are both gorgeous, but because they are nearly black Burmese, it’s hard to get good photos.

  160. BahstinBoyo aka Wrangler Tractor Palin says:

    Speaking of’Nice Nods’… send one out to ‘Fressia2’ from the comments section at HuffPost under Geoffrey Dunns piece! Grow, Mudflats, GROW!

    “This is off topic, but if any of you need a laugh today, go to the Alaskan blog, the Mudflats, to read the results of a contest they held asking people to name Sarah’s 300 page ghost written lie – oops I meant upcoming self-penned book – and the results are in today. The blog had many entries and you can read the suggested titles. Some of them are too funny.”

    It may be a few days old, but a nod’s as good as a wink, you betcha!

  161. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    Canadian Neighbour Says:
    May 24th, 2009 at 7:19 AM

    From ADN: Five resign from Wasilla Chamber board

    “they decided to resign in part because of threats from Metiva’s husband, Marty Metiva.”
    “Metiva left a message Tuesday on her voice mail ”
    “And if you don’t give you my money back, it will not be very nice for the Chamber of Commerce board of directors.”

    This has that familiar ring to it. Like something we’ve heard before — what could that be — Let me think. Oh yea — Troopergate! That old Hubby involvement.

    Haven’t looked to find out, but it smells like Metiva might be another Palin schoolmate or in the Palin ‘Pal’ circle as it appears they operate the same.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Wasilla Bible church “buddies”…palingates did a story yesterday:
    http://palingates.blogspot.com/2009/05/sarah-palins-valley-friends.html

    I wouldn’t be surprise if there Was a lot more to this and where it could lead to!

  162. austintx says:

    bubbles – Here is the link on my son’s performance. He goes on at 8pm. http://www.macorchestrafund.org/carnegie.html

  163. austintx says:

    bubbles – First things first………
    12 austintx Says:
    May 24th, 2009 at 5:09 AM
    4 Aussie Blue Sky Says:
    May 24th, 2009 at 4:04 AM
    hey austintx, I just read about you telling your son that bubbles might go meet him in NYC. But you forgot to mention that bubbles might have to make it a short visit because she’s babysitting a shrimp …..
    **********************************************
    Funny that you brought up the shrimp. I saw the following story yesterday and have been waiting to share with bubbles. She is due to ck. in , so I’ll post it now. I think we have a friend for the shrimp and free up bubbles to go out on the town. We just have to figure out how to get the little rascal to NYC.

    http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/05/22/top.10.new.species/index.html?eref=rss_topstories#cnnSTCPhoto

  164. bubbles says:

    austintx–bubbles checking in. i go away for few hours and i can’t find the link you posted. i have looked through all of the posts still up. i would very much like to go see your boy play. please repost the info. lincoln center is the pride of nyc since wynton marsalis redid the music hall.. it is said to have the finest acoustics in the country. please tell your son that i won’t embarrass him [ no hugging and kissing and stuff] i am way too cool for that. although i might just bring the shrimp with me….love..b

  165. WakeUpAmerica says:

    “Or maybe he shares the trick of how to grind up your own dead black soul, add water, and use it in a refillable ink cartridge.”

    AKM, that statement is truly a thing of beauty! How did you think up that one? It’s perfect.

  166. WakeUpAmerica says:

    “Or maybe he shares the trick of how to grind up your own dead black soul, add water, and use it in a refillable ink cartridge.”

    AKM, that statement is truly a thing of beauty! How did you think up that one? It’s perfect.

  167. lynnrockets says:

    Congratulations on the “Blog Nods.” They were well deserved.

  168. mwThatOne.. says:

    MonaLisa: “Also, reports of spontaneous cures of profound blindness is on the rise in AK: ”
    ==
    Yes! this is a must read…..especially if you have any ‘undecided/wavering’ people on your email list…. thanks for posting.
    *****
    Martha ~ When “they’ve FORGOTTEN the lemon. Then I have to go through this tantrum where I pull at my hair and stomp my feet, and it always brings on weird looks.” does it also bring on the lemon?!

  169. Lori in Los Angeles says:

    nswfm – I was just jokng re my kitty – she would not cooperate, the little devil.

  170. winkwinkWA says:

    Speaking of salmon recipes–I work for a catering co. and this is the best–Bourbon Marinated Smoked Salmon–3# salmon skinned and boned fillets, cut into serving pieces -rub with canola oil-mix together in a zip lock bag {1 c. bourbon-1 c. soy sauce-1/3 c. fresh grated ginger-1/3cup black pepper-1 tsp. chili powder-2 tbsp. minced garlic-1 1/2 oz. sesame oil- 1/2 c. brown sugar} but the salmon in the bag and marinate overnight. Baste w/sauce while cooking- grill and enjoy. yummmy

  171. nswfm CA says:

    Lori in LA, I need to check out the photos now.

  172. nswfm CA says:

    Canadian Neighbor, I was going to say something about the weather in FL vs the desert in CA, but deleted it in my first post.

    To be honest, I was afraid something would happen on re entry because of that thing they found, but luckily it was OK. One of the reasons I got out of engineering was the first SS disaster. But I still like science and am sorry I didn’t take astronomy in college. (I was focused on the atoms and chemicals as a chem e).

  173. honestyinGov says:

    I found this story late last night and posted on the open thread but some may have missed it. AKM had talked about Eric Boehlerts book “Bloggers on the Bus”

    ‘Crooks and Liars’ had a very long online chat with Eric with questions and answers and there is a transcript on the C&L webpage.

    I particularly liked this comment when he was talking about ‘Right -Wing bogs’
    ——————————————
    Thu, 05/21/2009 – 09:45 — boehlert

    i think it is part of human nature. and as you note it’s far more pronounced among the right-wing blogs, whose readers, as far as i can tell, almost never call bloggers out for concocting phony stuff. in fact, the readers seem to thrive off it.
    ———————————————-
    Sounds like a certain Palin fan-site we know of…..you think…

  174. Lori in Los Angeles says:

    my kitty cat, all dressed up in her pj’s and positioned on keyboard – and no photo contest yet announced. Happy Birthday Walt and a glorious Sunday to AKM and fellow mudpuppies.

  175. Canadian Neighbour says:

    nswfm CA,
    NASA would be totally upset with you as you’ve used logic in your thinking!!!

    Their way of thinking is what’s an extra day or two and millions spent to do it.

    I call it half ar$e backwards thinking!!

  176. nswfm CA says:

    Boom boom said the shuttle. I’m glad it landed in CA. Someone here said they wanted to see it piggy back ride to FL. I know it costs more, but what is the cost of the extra days in orbit?
    Anyway, yea Hubble!

  177. Canadian Neighbour says:

    Martha,
    Would love to join you for breaky but think it would be a wee bit cold by the time I got there and you would be far to hungry to wait that long!!! I’d be afraid you might gnaw my leg off by then!!

  178. Martha Unalaska Yard Sign says:

    So it’s only 7:30am in Alaska – anyone want to join me for a breakfast of salmon sticks? God dang it, the cats can READ now! They are drooling on the keyboard. Thank you Victoria!!!!!!!!!!!!

  179. Just Had To Jump In says:

    FISH STICKS OR FISH BALL recipe:-))
    I had a little bird tell me the discussion was going on for the recipe.
    We do all sorts of versions so this one is workable too but might be slightly different than the orginal-
    Canned salmon – we use skinless boneless only cause that is what we process at our plant BUT any works- just stir the can so all parts are mushed.
    6 ounces of salmon + 1 egg+ ~ 1/2 cup rice krispies (I use bread crumbs when out) and any seasoning you like- we do cajun, Old Bay, etc.
    Use about 1 -2 tsp per 6 ounces.
    Mush all together – form patties, balls or sticks.
    Can brown with a good non stick skillet or bake in over 400 for 20-30 minutes.
    So much of this is just see as you go but you get the idea:-))
    Kids love the Rice Krispie idea so that helps.
    Some time soon will try and do other simple ones.
    Remember pretty much anything you use for tuna canned salmon can be used.
    Hope this spurs lots of ideas :-))

  180. Martha Unalaska Yard Sign says:

    Now I am going to have to go out later and get some canned red salmon – you guys are making me HUNGRY. I give it to my kitties, and do so with my back turned to them so they don’t see how much I’m “sharing” with them. Now I want fish sticks. I don’t have the recipe, either so I hope Vic will re-post here today!

    If you are citrus lovers, be sure to try lemon w/ smoked salmon if you haven’t already. I am amazed at how many times I see smoked salmon laid out in AK as a spread for lunch, brunch, snacks, whatever and they’ve FORGOTTEN the lemon. Then I have to go through this tantrum where I pull at my hair and stomp my feet, and it always brings on weird looks.

  181. Canadian Neighbour says:

    From ADN: Five resign from Wasilla Chamber board

    “they decided to resign in part because of threats from Metiva’s husband, Marty Metiva.”
    “Metiva left a message Tuesday on her voice mail ”
    “And if you don’t give you my money back, it will not be very nice for the Chamber of Commerce board of directors.”

    This has that familiar ring to it. Like something we’ve heard before — what could that be — Let me think. Oh yea — Troopergate! That old Hubby involvement.

    Haven’t looked to find out, but it smells like Metiva might be another Palin schoolmate or in the Palin ‘Pal’ circle as it appears they operate the same.

  182. honestyinGov says:

    NASA channel on cable has the landing in 14 minutes…….

  183. fawnskin mudpuppy says:

    ok, then.

    another 20 minutes to wait for the big bang.

    thanks, closet.

  184. Closet Mudpup says:

    Atlantis landing update – touchdown in about 22 mins.

    http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html?param=public

  185. MonaLisa IS MY NAME! says:

    Correction: “… reports of spontaneous cures of profound blindness ARE on the rise….”

    (Sheesh…! Miss DeFonzo would be so ashamed!)

  186. fawnskin mudpuppy says:

    oh, i should be hearing the reentry of the shuttle here in southern california.

    any minute now, right !!!!

  187. honestyinGov says:

    as per snoskred’s earlier comments about the NASA landing the latest news said it was supposed to be about 11:00 EST… or about 5 minutes from now.

  188. Susie Snowflake says:

    I somehow missed the postings on the salmon fish sticks and they sound really good. Can someone please tell me which date the recipe was mentioned, or else post it again? Our family LOVES fish, especially salmon, and I’m always glad to find new recipes to change it up a bit for us. Thanks!

  189. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    Say NO to Palin in Politics Says:
    May 24th, 2009 at 6:39 AM

    crystalwolf……..my brain isn’t totally awake either, lol……..what I meant was the healy coal deal fell apart recently, which is a fail for Scarah and a good thing for the world.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    OK then, yes! That is good! 8)

  190. Irishgirl says:

    MonaLisa IS MY NAME! Says:
    May 24th, 2009 at 6:36 AM

    Also, reports of spontaneous cures of profound blindness is on the rise in AK:

    http://www.adn.com/opinion/comment/fagan/story/806255.html
    —————————————————————-
    ROFL

  191. KJ in NC says:

    I have to say thank you, thank you for the Huffington Post article link. Excellent. Plus the comments were great.

    I am borrowing one comment in particular…it is too good to waste. Someone, in response to Palin’s latest garbled statement, quoted from the movie Billy Madison:

    “What you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul. ” Too bad Katie didn’t say something similar.

    As for the rest of the movie, I bought it to keep my nieces occupied once when they were visiting and their mother has never forgiven me. They torture her with it and if you have ever seen it, you know what I mean.

  192. Say NO to Palin in Politics says:

    crystalwolf……..my brain isn’t totally awake either, lol……..what I meant was the healy coal deal fell apart recently, which is a fail for Scarah and a good thing for the world.

  193. Say NO to Palin in Politics says:

    what award is Scarah receiving?

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

    “Just a thought about Gov. Palin’s visit to Auburn for Founders Day on June 6th, and her receiving an award on Long Island June 7th. The GOP fundraiser is on June 8th, I’ll bet it will be noticed by those attending that event that Palin is helping to raise funds for two non-political organizations, and that if they had only waited a few days, she could have attended their event as well. I sometimes think she played it that way just to keep the beltway crowd at arms length. The same goes for her endorsement of Steele. It goes a long way to establishing her as the outsider, and the insurgent.”

  194. MonaLisa IS MY NAME! says:

    Also, reports of spontaneous cures of profound blindness is on the rise in AK:

    http://www.adn.com/opinion/comment/fagan/story/806255.html

  195. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    Say NO to Palin in Politics Says:
    May 24th, 2009 at 6:12 AM

    hmmmmmm……was Palin in on these meetings?

    http://www.adn.com/news/politics/story/806223.html

    Pelosi and delegation stop in Alaska en route to China

    MEET WITH NATIVES: Effects of climate change discussed.

    “According to Pelosi’s office, the delegation met Friday with Alaska Natives, who said that climate change is affecting their culture and habitat and that villages are crumbling into the sea.”
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Looking at her twitter it doesn’t look like it…LOL Pelosi and Speier would mop the floor with her, lol! Tough cookies they are not paper tigers!
    Ha that would be funny if they didn’t invite her? Or did she diss them?

  196. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    Say NO to Palin in Politics Says:
    May 24th, 2009 at 5:22 AM

    so basicly this is a Scarah fail……..which is a good thing.

    http://www.adn.com/opinion/comment/erickson/story/658558.html

    State scrambles to help Healy beat emission upgrades

    “The deal allows Palin to rid herself of an embarrassing legacy, or at least put the problem off to another day; GVEA gets a power plant for less than half of what it would cost to build a new one from scratch. So why didn’t the parties settle long ago?

    “It’s a foot race to see if the plant can get grandfathered before Congress adopts new standards for mercury, carbon and a bunch of other stuff,” says Mark Foster, a Fairbanks-born, Stanford-trained consultant who formerly held the engineering seat on Alaska’s utilities commission. “
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Say No…I’m not getting this here? (only on 2nd cup of coffee!) Are you saying this is good to get grandfathered in?
    During Bush Administration many Spewing pollution companies where “grandfathered” in, some of which had been built in the 70’s, and Bush’s EPA was a joke also..too!
    I don’t see how this clean coal thing would be good for Alaska? Especially since there is no such thing as “clean coal” anyway?

  197. Say NO to Palin in Politics says:

    hmmmmmm……was Palin in on these meetings?

    http://www.adn.com/news/politics/story/806223.html

    Pelosi and delegation stop in Alaska en route to China

    MEET WITH NATIVES: Effects of climate change discussed.

    “According to Pelosi’s office, the delegation met Friday with Alaska Natives, who said that climate change is affecting their culture and habitat and that villages are crumbling into the sea.”

  198. Say NO to Palin in Politics says:

    Ann, I hope all is well in your village.

    http://www.adn.com/news/environment/flooding/story/806132.html

    “Utilities in Emmonak were still functioning, though earlier in the day water rose within 6 inches of the power plant, said city manager Martin B. Moore, Sr.”

  199. Snoskred says:

    Times above there are Central times, btw. 😉

  200. Snoskred says:

    The shuttle *is* landing today, for certain. It is landing at Edwards.

    The second Edwards opportunity would begin with a deorbit burn at 9:25 a.m. and culminate in a 10:40 a.m. landing.

    You can tune in to NASA teevee for the landing – the de-orbit burn is about 20 minutes away, landing is about an hour and a half away.

    http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv

  201. Nan says:

    Drat. Every time I click on a link to ADN, I get the registration page. I imagine I’ll sign up sooner or later (probably later today, even), but it’s a little irritating to *have* to.

    Nan
    in snit mode

  202. Say NO to Palin in Politics says:

    so someone should ask Scarah how she feels about robbing “future generations”, she and the repub party sure are all over Obama for the nations debt and future generations.

    http://www.adn.com/opinion/comment/story/723540.html

    Lawmakers’ Permanent Fund raid will gut future payouts

    “Alaskans who voted to establish the Alaska Permanent Fund thought the money we put in the fund principal would be constitutionally protected, meaning that it could never be spent.

    We were wrong. Today, Gov. Sarah Palin, with the acquiescence if not support of legislators, plans to take a billion dollars out of what just about everyone thought was the principal and pay it to ourselves as a dividend.”

    “And finally, I know we are all going to have a hard time looking our grandchildren in the eye if we continue let our leaders loot the Permanent Fund to pay us a dividend.”

  203. Say NO to Palin in Politics says:

    so basicly this is a Scarah fail……..which is a good thing.

    http://www.adn.com/opinion/comment/erickson/story/658558.html

    State scrambles to help Healy beat emission upgrades

    “The deal allows Palin to rid herself of an embarrassing legacy, or at least put the problem off to another day; GVEA gets a power plant for less than half of what it would cost to build a new one from scratch. So why didn’t the parties settle long ago?

    “It’s a foot race to see if the plant can get grandfathered before Congress adopts new standards for mercury, carbon and a bunch of other stuff,” says Mark Foster, a Fairbanks-born, Stanford-trained consultant who formerly held the engineering seat on Alaska’s utilities commission. “

  204. MissSunshine says:

    Here is a quote from Abraham Lincoln:

    “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”

  205. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    Walt, Happy B-Day! 🙂

  206. crystalwolf aka caligrl says:

    nswfm CA Says:
    May 24th, 2009 at 4:41 AM

    Semper wrote some good points 92 and 93 on the Keeping up with the Johnstons thread a few points back. McCain blew off campaining in MI because it was going to be a blow out, but Caribou Barbie still wanted to go. I think that was when the disharmony started showing for real and got worse.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Yes her narcissism started getting the upper hand…wasn’t that when the “palin country” signs started showing up at unauthorized rallies and she started calling it the Palin-McCain campaign???

    On Cheney AKM said “Or maybe he shares the trick of how to grind up your own dead black soul, add water, and use it in a refillable ink cartridge.”
    That is perfect! A keeper and…where is the “lie” section in Barnes and Nobles????

  207. Isabella says:

    “Bristol did not even know Levi was going on the show.”

    Did Levi, know Bristol, was going to expose his son on Fox? How does he feel having to learn about where and who was holding his son by reading People Magazine?

    I love the attorney. About time, Levi, gets to be with his son.

  208. austintx says:

    4 Aussie Blue Sky Says:
    May 24th, 2009 at 4:04 AM
    hey austintx, I just read about you telling your son that bubbles might go meet him in NYC. But you forgot to mention that bubbles might have to make it a short visit because she’s babysitting a shrimp …..
    **********************************************
    Funny that you brought up the shrimp. I saw the following story yesterday and have been waiting to share with bubbles. She is due to ck. in , so I’ll post it now. I think we have a friend for the shrimp and free up bubbles to go out on the town. We just have to figure out how to get the little rascal to NYC.

    http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/05/22/top.10.new.species/index.html?eref=rss_topstories#cnnSTCPhoto

  209. Say NO to Palin in Politics says:

    It’s rather amazing to look back on Scarahs past, don’t you think?

    http://www.adn.com/opinion/comment/story/756911.html

    What caused Palin and her cult followers to turn on this young man? He agreed to go on the Tyra Banks show.

    Enter “Truth Squad” hit woman Meghan Stapleton.

    “Bristol did not even know Levi was going on the show. We’re disappointed that Levi and his family, in a quest for fame, attention, and fortune, are engaging in flat-out lies, gross exaggeration, and even distortion of their relationship.”

  210. Isabella says:

    Yukon floods Emmonak and Alakanuk
    http://www.adn.com/news/environment/flooding/story/806132.html

  211. Isabella says:

    Will everyday be a Bristol, tabloid exclusive with, People?
    http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20280580,00.html

  212. Marnie says:

    “Or maybe he shares the trick of how to grind up your own dead black soul, add water, and use it in a refillable ink cartridge.”

    Gee, sounds like you don’t like our former VP. Where’s the patriotism?

    The bible talks about turning your heart to stone. Chaney/Rove/Bush and most of the top Bush appointees are way into that one.
    I just put the first CD of “The Fall of the House of Bush” on in my car yesterday. Right off the bat the author says that Duhbya is a devout Born Again Christian. I assume the rest of the book is a pack of equally obvious lies, or comedy relief.

    Sarah’s just childishly, selfish and vindictive and extremely weird, as in, altered reality. Bush is a childish spoiled brat with an intellectual Black Hole between his ears that turns knowledge into anti-matter.

    But Rove and Chaney are truly evil men who enjoy power for the sake of hurting other people, and using that sensation to gratify their egos. Nothing but unholy hell will ever come from the Bushies.

    Sarah isn’t there yet but given sufficient power, based on her non-response to the needs of rural Alaskans last winter and this spring she’s right there, wanting for it to happen.
    See, there she is in the back yard in Wasilla with the cement mix turning, humming the theme music from the Exorcist.
    If turning your heart to stone is the door she has to open to get the power and glory she wants, she’s already mixing the stone. When the devil cracks her chest she’s ready to pour.

  213. Nan says:

    Pearl honey,
    I’m ready!

    Livin’ “up Nawth” in St Louis (a very Southern town otherwise, all things considered – really), they just don’t know what good Southern BBQ really is. And you just can’t find hush puppies here at all.

    I just read your post to my husband, a St Louis native and his mouth is watering just from the description. Just say the word, and we’ll be on our way.

    (don’t panic, I’m just kiddin’. Mostly)
    Nan
    😉

  214. nswfm CA says:

    Semper wrote some good points 92 and 93 on the Keeping up with the Johnstons thread a few points back. McCain blew off campaining in MI because it was going to be a blow out, but Caribou Barbie still wanted to go. I think that was when the disharmony started showing for real and got worse.

  215. pearl89 says:

    Here in the South we have what are known as pig pickin’s. They usually start the night before when a small group gathers to cook the pig. The pig is cooked either over coals placed in a hole dug in the ground or in a pig cooker (an oil drum cut in half with hinges attached to the back) and a lot of beer or Jack (Daniels) (won’t find many wine drinkers at a pig pickin’).

    The menu usually consists of pig, cole slaw, potato salad, baked beans (with brown sugar/molasses, bacon, & onions), and hush puppies, desserts (banana pudding, bread pudding, sweet potato pies). Makes my mouth water just thinking about it. There is usually a rag tag blue grass band composed of friends and family.

    Not very sophisticated, but an incredible amount of fun. Always lots of kids and dogs running around, but very few; if any, politicians.

  216. Aussie Blue Sky says:

    hey austintx, I just read about you telling your son that bubbles might go meet him in NYC. But you forgot to mention that bubbles might have to make it a short visit because she’s babysitting a shrimp ….. 😀

  217. ChiCat says:

    UgaVic,
    A few weeks ago you recommended making fish sticks from canned salmon–I finally tried it and both my son and husband loved them! Thank you!

    AKM, you and this blog deserve every “nice nod” you get, and then some! My husband was asking me why I’m so interested in Alaskan politics but I told him this blog is so much more than that. In fact, we had that conversation as he was chowing on homemade fishsticks, made with a recipe I got here (see above 😉 ).

    Helen Philpot has a nice commentary on Dick Cheney at http://margaretandhelen.wordpress.com

  218. DrChill says:

    Oh great, they’ll all write on page 57,”gee whiz, no one could have predicted 9/11″ Is Cheney’s undisclosed location really his living room couch?

    Congrats on the nods. Woo Hoo Go Mudflats!

    (7:56 am… must drink coffee…)

  219. Aussie Blue Sky says:

    Happy belated birthday to Walt Monegan. And many more. 😉