Governor’s Picnic (PHOTOS)
It was a gorgeous day in Anchorage – a perfect day for the Governor’s Picnic.
Spawn Till You Die! (Live Webcam)
What’s almost as good as eating them, or catching them? Obsessively watching them under water, that’s what. This samcam is located underwater in Steep Creek in Juneau, and just might be the best reality TV around. See Alpha Fish collide as they vie for spawning territory. Frigid underwater hookups are challenging enough, but these young coeds live under constant threat of the ultimate mood killer – bears. Watch them spawn until they die! Tune in 24/7 to witness the copulation, carnage and relationship decay! It’s literally streaming live! *Spawn till you die artwork, of course, is by the inimitable Ray Troll.
Time to Stop Blaming the Victim
A few decades ago I was in one of my favorite pubs in Seattle. I eventually made my way to the ladies’ room, which had signs posted in the stalls and by the mirrors: “There have been several rapes & attempted rapes this week. Please be careful.” Well, that’s good to know. Travel in packs — it’s safer. Some poor woman may get attacked if she strays too far from the herd. Bam! Raped. Should have kept up, Missy. It’s just Nature. So National Geographic. I’ll admit to some liquid courage, but I walked into the men’s room to…
Mudflats Chats: Paul Begala on Pebble & Democrats
I sat down with Presidential adviser Paul Begala, and asked him his thoughts about the proposed Pebble Mine project, Senator Mark Begich, blue lawmakers in red states, and what it really means to be a Democrat. One of the lead advisers to President Clinton, Begala and James Carville shaped a moderate campaign agenda that focused on balancing the budget and creating 22 million new jobs. I’d been told that Begala is an avid hunter and fisherman, and has been fishing near Bristol Bay. So, I knew where I wanted our conversation to begin – with an issue that is of…
Bird of the Week – Rhinoceros Auklet
Another portrait from the Alaska SeaLife Center’s excellent Seabird Aviary. Photos of this species in the wild are very rare; they are solitary on the open ocean, nest in crevices on remote islands, and are extremely skittish. The prominent rhinoceros-like “horn” (actually a vertical extension of the mandibular plates) projecting above the upper mandible is present in breeding plumage. The precise function of this hood ornament, which is the same size in males and females, is unknown. Technical stuff: f8, 1/500, ISO 1600 More bird photos at Frozen Feather Images.
Good News out of Detroit
Good local news is hard to come by. Well produced local news is nearly impossible to find. We’re lucky here in Anchorage to have some great local journalists at the ADN, KTUU, The Alaska Dispatch, and AlaskaCommons.com. In Detroit they’ve got Pulitzer Prize winning Charlie LeDuff. He’s the classic local TV news investigative reporter – just funnier. I have to admit am completely addicted to Charlie LeDuff’s journalism. It’s sensationalist, it’s absurd – but in a real way it does what top notch local journalism does – speaks truth to power. Please check out this story on police wait times in…
Chef Ramsay Expert Salmon Filleter?
I have to admit, my one reality TV guilty pleasure is Kitchen Nightmares with Chef Ramsay. I think I’ve seen every episode at least once. I’m not sure what gets me in the show, but it’s addictive. So when I saw this video on YouTube, I immediately clicked it – Chef Ramsay and salmon… two of my favorite things. Since shamefully, I have never actually filleted a salmon, I’m not 100% sure how good he is. So Alaskans – can you do it better than this sometimes-rude British chef? *warning, I’m not certain if this is Alaskan salmon or not….
Why Big Oil Fears This Man (EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW)
More than 50,000 signatures were gathered in the effort to put the question of repealing SB21 on the ballot in August of 2014. The massive no-strings-attached giveaway to big oil companies will drain Alaska’s coffers into the bank accounts of the wealthiest multinational corporations in the history of the world. Alaska gets nothing – no commitment to exploration, production increases, or jobs. We do get to sacrifice the future of education, infrastructure projects, parks, public safety, and other critical needs. It’s not much of a deal. And yet, the Parnell administration and most Republicans in the legislature voted for it,…
Blimps in the Last Frontier!
Thursday, I attended the Cargo Airships for Northern Operations Workshop . That’s right, the Blimp Convention! Earlier this year, I reported that a blimp was coming to Alaska this July for the first time since the 1920s. And not just any blimp – we’re talking the 200-foot long Skyship 600. Even though, to my disappointment, it was not coming up to give people rides, I had still planned on trying to blog the event and get some pictures if it came to Anchorage. Sadly, that never happened. But the dream is not dead, my friends. And there are many smart and motivated…
Palin for Senate? Buckle up, Alaska.
A friend of mine answered his phone this week with, “Palin for Senate.” I gasped before I laughed. Oh, it’s easy to make jokes about the former half-term governor’s announcement that she’s considering running against Senator Mark Begich in 2014. “Senator Palin 2014 – 2015 ½!” I’d guess the late night joke writers have already contributed to her PAC. Christine Pelosi (yes, her mom is famous) tweeted, “With Palin exploring a Senate run, It’s Christmas in July for @shannynmoore.” It’s true. If it weren’t for Sarah Palin, you probably wouldn’t be reading my column. I wouldn’t have met a long-lost…