Congratulations to the 2009 Rasmuson Foundation Distinguished Artist, Nathan Jackson.
Every year Alaska’s Rasmuson Foundation bestows a Distinguished Artist Award to one of Alaska’s talented artists. How they ever decide which one person gets this top distinction is beyond me. This year’s recipient is truly remarkable. A visual artist, jewelry maker, carver and mentor, Nathan Jackson is known best for carving traditional totem poles. To stand at the base of a totem pole and look up is a remarkable experience. They seem to practically vibrate with life and meaning, and He has also been tireless in his efforts to pass this dying art on to a new generation, passing on…
Palin’s Priorities.
I have to confess, that Mudflats has been in a lower gear than usual this past week. Maybe it’s the sunshine – that sudden burst of Vitamin D and warmth that makes the world and the fingers seem to slow down. I’ve got some catching up to do. What’s to say about the whole Miss California thing that hasn’t been said? We all know she only favors “opposite marriage.” We know about the breast implants paid for by the pageant, we know about the topless photos, and we know that she and Sarah Palin have a lot in common. Both are…
Open Thread – And the Winner IS….
Well, here’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for. The top 10 titles for Sarah Palin’s memoir. So many wonderful suggestions came in after the poll went up I’m almost tempted to have another one. You notice I said “almost” because frankly, I don’t know if I can handle another day of non-stop laughter like that. It’s rather a shock to the system, especially so close to the end of the legislative session. But, without further delay, here are our top 10 vote getters out of 1561 voters over a 48 hour period. Remember that The Audacity of Hype, and…
High School Student Sues Governor Over Stimulus Money
I found this bit of news quite interesting. At this point, most 18-year olds would be coasting through their last weeks in high school. But Casey Edwards is taking Governor Mark Sanford all the way to the state Supreme Court over the governor’s refusal to accept federal stimulus money – some $700 million in aid for South Carolina’s schools. “The fact that we’re going to turn down money when we desperately need it, really bothered me,” Edwards said. Over the past year, Edwards and her friends have been working to improve impoverished schools along South Carolina’s I-95 – a stretch…
Rural Update – Report on Flooding in Eagle
As many of you know, Mudflatter yukonbushgrma has an unfortunate ringside seat to this year’s unprecedented flooding of the Yukon, which devastated the community of Eagle. Here is her report from the scene and some unbelievable photos of how everything looks today. Fortunately all the people managed to get out of their homes and there was no loss of life, but there is a huge cleanup and rebuilding effort that lies ahead. For those who have asked “What can I do to help?” there is information after the report. **************************************************** From yukonbushgrma This week we will be moving for the…
Jefferson Jackson Democratic Party Dinner
Just got back from a lovely evening in the Dena’ina Convention Center, where Alaska Democrats gathered together for a fundraiser/celebration dinner. During the evening, I thought back many times to my infiltration of the Republican party’s counterpart event, the Lincoln Day Dinner back in March. There were some interesting comparisons, one being that the dinner tonight left me feeling happy, instead of nauseous and depressed. The Hallway: Lincoln Day Dinner: There were many tables set up handing out literature on anti-abortion issues, the Father/Daughter Purity Ball encouraging abstinence until marriage, and a laptop with the home page of The Alaska Standard…
Palin Gets the Aluminum! But Will She “Get Motivated?”
Trying to get kids to use seat belts can be a daunting task. Even when mine were small and told me they had seatbelts on, I always used the “trust but verify” rule. When driving together as a family, we’d have a carload of four. And one day wefigured out an ingenious solution. Putting on seat belts became a contest. When the key was turned, that was the starting gun. Then whoever was first with the seat belt got the “gold medal.” Second place was the silver and third was the bronze. This system worked well, but it always left one…
The Book of Ted?
What do Ted Stevens and Sarah Palin have in common? Popular high-level Alaska politicians? Check. Republican? Check. Like to go fishing? Check. Used to like each other? Check. Intense dislike of the media? Check. Included in the deck of Alaskan Outlaws playing cards? Check. Legal defense fund? Check. Book deal? Looks like another check. “Curmudgeonly ex-senator Ted Stevens is back on the Washington party circuit – vindicated, shrimp cocktail style. The famed former senator from Alaska, who narrowly lost re-election in November after he was convicted on corruption charges, showed up at a fancy book party Thursday night for Philadelphia…
Wasilla High Abstains.
Well, looks like Palin got expelled. No, not Bristol. Sarah. Tonight is the graduation ceremony for Wasilla High School, and Bristol Palin is graduating. This did surprise me a little. Back when I was a youth, if your hind end was out of the chair for more than 18 days out of the 180 day school year you were toast. Summer school for you, unless you were dead. I know that if I had had a baby and accompanied my parents on the campaign trail during the school year, I’d have missed way more than 18 days. But times change,…
Sarah Palin’s Book Title – Time to Vote!
You realize, of course, that actually trying to choose the best of your entries to put into a poll is an impossible task. I guarantee I have not listed many titles that left me in stitches! But a poll can only be so long, and this one is ridiculously long as it is with 113 entries. Why 113? Because I had to stop somewhere. Have I left off your favorite? Please hat tip them in the comments. I have tried to attribute the entries, but some had several people who were the same or close. If I’ve forgotten to attribute something to…