Ask Not for Whom the Bell Tolls…
By Diane McEachern Bethel, Alaska – A few weeks ago mystery man 1 posted flyers stating Taco Bell was opening a store in Bethel and job applications could be had at a number belonging to mystery man 2. The flyers were faked and the intention was part of an emerging, less than kind, vendetta. The flyers did not cause much of a stir in Bethel and were largely ignored. Except by national media. And Taco Bell, who seized upon the opportunity for some national publicity. Such was the germination of the Taco Bell event that descended upon Bethel Sunday. …
In My Alaska Garden–Busy Summer Addition: Flowers
I am wayyyyy behind on my photo blogging and I’m going to try and catch up a bit this week. I promise that I’ll show you the photos of setnetting and I’ll also get to the vegetable progress. As you can imagine, everything is exploding right now. However, I wanted to catch the flowers “while they are hot” so you can enjoy the beautiful colors this Fourth of July week! Yes, lavender is my favorite color…why do you ask? The Thrift was a victim of Dear Husband’s weeding…but notice, I said HE WEEDED — and without complaint! You can bet…
Parnell Continues to Fight Health Care for Alaskans
It’s been a big hairy week in Washington, D.C., with landmark Supreme Court decisions. Bigger than any of it is the way policy and politics are being touted as home runs and touchdowns by both political parties and pundits. It boggles my mind when two sides call the same point for themselves. I live and breathe politics like many people follow sports. Sometimes the stress is enough to make me want to pull the covers over my head and peek out around Thanksgiving. The tea party reaction was bizarre and almost comical. Congressman Mike Pence, R-Indiana, likened Thursday’s SCOTUS decision…
Open Thread–2012 Highland Games
I don’t know if it was the smashing success of the Disney Movie “Brave,” which introduced new generations to Scottish culture, the incredible weather on Saturday, or some combination. Whatever it was, this year’s Highland Games at Eagle River Lions Club attracted the largest crowds Alaska Scottish Club organizers had ever seen! I admit, I grumbled a bit at the lines. But once my friends, family and I got a table and had our traditional tea and shortbread at the Tea Tent, I set forth to enjoy the day the same way I have since I attended the Games in…
Hawaii Gets Sullied!
Mayor Dan Sullivan, who got elected recently to a second term, will take his oath of office not in his city… not even in his STATE. No, Mayor Sullivan will be taking his oath of office in Honolulu, Hawaii on Monday. Kid you not. But the mayor won’t be too homesick. He’ll have his pal/Municipal Attorney Dennis Wheeler by his side. The oath, taken 3,000 miles away from Anchorage City Hall, apparently coincides with his annual vacation to visit the family of his much beleaguered wife. Sorry, Aloha State for the proverbial turd in your paradise punch bowl. Do feel…
Arctic Drilling – You Just Gotta Believe…
There are those of you who have been worrying about Shell’s imminent offshore drilling plans in the Beaufort Sea, north of Alaska. You remember the live video of the billowing plumes of oil spewing from the Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico. You remember watching the news from Alaska in 1989, as film of viscous black liquid that was supposed to be seawater slopped up on the shoreline in Prince William Sound. Countless seabirds, otters, and other wildlife suffered death by crude. Many humans also suffered ill effects to their health from a toxic bath of oil and hazardous…
SCOTUS Decision is a Win for Alaskan Women
~President Obama signs the Affordable Care Act in 2010 Today’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on the Affordable Care Act means that critical new benefits for women remain intact. The constitutionality of Obama’s Health Care plan was in question, and a 5-4 decision (including Chief Justice Roberts) came down in favor of the President’s health care reform law. Even the individual mandate was upheld, not under the Commerce Clause, but under Congress’ powers of taxation. Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Northwest released a statement this morning stating that under today’s ruling, millions of women will have access to birth…
Anchorage Tea Party Embraces Extremes
I decided to pop in and see what was happening over at the Anchorage Tea Party’s candidate forum Monday night, because (believe it or not) that is my idea of a good time. And also so you don’t have to go. You, after all, are a regular person and it is not your idea of a good time. As I worked my way through the drizzly parking lot, I noticed that several candidates were advertising themselves on their cars. They ranged from the “so very Alaskan” duct taped model: To the “OMG I’m a State Senator! Look at ME!” mobile:…
Open Thread — Fish Lips (Why There Is No Garden Post)
Yes, it’s that time of year again! Morrigan (holding the fish), Josh (in the back) and I (taking the photo) didn’t get back from the sunny, glorious beach at the mouth of the Kasilof until late Saturday night. Every time I tried processing the almost-400 photos on Sunday, I kept falling asleep at the computer. The three of us slept off-and-on most of the day. I’m still exhausted. I’ll do a post about the fishing trip (and the results) in the next several days. I got some great photos from Soldotna AND because we made some stops on the way…
All Hail the Glorious Frankenfish!
There are times when people who have no idea what they’re talking about can really be infuriating. Then, there are other times when their overblown level of ill-placed self-confidence, and the astronomic scale of their own ignorance combines in such a way that it actually turns into comic relief. Case in point – the latest boil on the behind of the internet, The Northern Right blog (which is so thin on intelligent commentary you can actually see through it) has given a platform to one Mr. Alex Gimarc. Mr. Gimarc is not effusing about the usual right wing talking points…