Voices from the Flats – Orwellian Juneau and Sean Parnell’s $2B Oil Tax Rollback
By Rep. Les Gara (D-Anchorage) The slick oil tax ads are starting. And when political ads begin, you start to wonder whether telling a fib is cheaper than telling the truth. Well, because political ads cost lots of money, and they tend to be more fib than truth. So, fibbing must be cheaper than telling the truth, right? Or, maybe in politics it’s just more effective to mislead people. Nah. No one would ever do that. Not when billions in state oil revenue are at stake. As you know, the governor has proposed the biggest oil company tax rollback in…
Open Thread – Juneau State Museum
Any Mudflatter who’s been around awhile knows that if there’s one thing I can’t resist it’s a museum. I have a great time inside museums when I can find someone who will indulge me, and even if I have to go it alone. I stopped in at the State Museum in Juneau a few days ago, and took some shots of the things that struck me, so you all could go on a virtual museum walk with me. This was one of the first pieces I saw, and I fell in love with it immediately. Then I looked and recognized…
Everything You Never Wanted to Know About Synthetic Cannabis
I was in an Anchorage Assembly meeting a few weeks ago, and the question came before the body – Should synthetic cannabinoids be illegal? I had never heard of “synthetic cannabinoids” and thought that this sounded like some kind of manufactured drug that had the same effect as marijuana. After a few questions, I found out that this stuff which looked a lot like cannabis was being marketed as “incense” under the name “Spice,” “K2” and others, and being sold over the counter in Anchorage. The Assembly voted to illegalize the substance and I thought at the time that I should…
Open Thread – Looking For Reptiles In Alaska
Hey folks, Snoskred here. Some of you already know that I am a massive fan of Alaskan photographer David Jensen. I have mentioned it here on the blog before. David is looking for reptiles to photograph – Talking to Animals Model Search 2012 Leapin’ Lizards, Slinky Snakes, Acting Amphibians or Rockin’ Reptiles!!! Bring them to me to photograph and your session is FREE! Call 868-1680 to set up your session before March 11! Let’s have some fun! I’ll even toss in a FREE fb profile photo. www.alaskaportraits.com So if you are in Alaska and you happen to have a pet…
Alaska Dispatch Addresses Copyright of Leaked Palin Book
The news organization that broke the story about the unauthorized distribution of the draft manuscript of Blind Allegiance to Sarah Palin – A Memoir of Our Tumultuous Years has issued a statement. After being contacted by Bonfante Steinbeck, the legal firm representing authors Ken Morris, Frank Bailey and Jeanne Devon regarding use of their copyrighted material, they responded: The editors of the Alaska Dispatch respect intellectual property rights. They strongly support the rights of authors, including your clients, to exploit their copyrights so that writers and their publishers have the necessary incentive to invest time and energy to produce works…
Will The AK Liquor Lobby Benefit From Its Investment In The AK Legislature? *UPDATE*
When the word “lobby” is used in Alaska, the first thing that logically springs to mind is Big Oil. However, there is a very powerful lobby which has reigned supreme in this state longer than the oil companies and it revolves around Alaska’s favorite drug-of-choice, alcohol. Why is the alcohol lobby so influential in Alaska? The first picture that comes to mind is that of Alaska’s early Wild West days, including the Gold Rush of the 1890s. Along with these hopeful gold miners came early entrepreneurs and colorful vice-peddlers who discovered a different kind of “gold mining” in the “Land…
Senator Mark Begich Fights for Flight
Alaska is different. It’s said a lot, and it’s true. Things that work in the contiguous 48 states don’t necessarily work here. The lack of understanding by those “Outside” of this phenomenon contributes to Alaskans’ slightly xenophobic, and more than slight libertarian bent. “Get off my tundra, you meddlesome kids.” Nothing defines Alaska quite so much as the gigantic size and small population. We are far flung, and disconnected. When 1500 miles separates two towns, it’s hard to remember you’re supposed to be in the same state. Alaska is larger than many countries, and pretty darn empty when it comes…
Open Thread – Flex the Whale
No, that’s not a euphemism. Flex is the name of a rare endangered Western Grey Whale who received a cigar-sized tracking device on October 4, courtesy of the Marine Mammal Institute. The device has tracked the mysterious whale, about whose migration little is known, from Russia’s remote Sakhalin Island, across the Pacific to Alaska, past Canada and now down to the waters off California. Our gentle giant swims 24/7, moving at about 4mph. OSU professor Bruce Mate says “Flex” has traveled nearly 5,300 miles since [October]. “This is first time that we’ve learned about the winter habits of any of…
University of Alaska Will Decide Whether to Include Sexual Orientation in Non-Descrimination Policy
~In summer of 2009, proponents of the expanded equal rights ordinance stand in front of those wearing red in opposition. Remember in 2009 when mayor Dan Sullivan vetoed the Assembly’s vote to include sexual orientation and gender identity in Anchorage’s non-discrimination policy for employment, housing, education, and use of public facilities? Many of us do. We sat and watched more than 20 hours of public testimony about it. We rejoiced when the Assembly did the right thing and voted 7-4 to accept the language, and we cried when the mayor decided to embrace bigotry instead of the 21st Century. Fast-forward to 2011….