Shell vs. Alaska (photos)
Look at ’em. Lazy, non-taxpaying sea lions just lying about, not creating any jobs, and looking for a handout. These photos were taken late last summer on a weekend trip I took to Resurrection Bay—a place en route if a somewhat tipsy crow were flying from the Mudflats office in Anchorage to the site of this week’s Shell oil rig crash landing (see map below). By Alaskan standards, it’s not far away (Seward to Kodiak is over 300 miles). I wanted to give our readers in the Lower 48 some geographical context, as well as a sense of what an…
America’s Congresswoman
As the 113th Congress is sworn in, The Mudflats salutes one of our nation’s—nay, one of Western Civilization’s—most distinguished legislators. Minnesota’s 6th is represented by Freedom, and Freedom takes its oath of office today. Michele stands ready to address the concerns of America’s corporate leaders! The book the liberal media doesn’t want you to see! Which is why you’ve had such a difficult time finding it: Rep. Bachmann’s totally heterosexual husband Marcus simply cannot keep his paws off her! Get a room, you two! Michele was truly moved this Christmas when fans from across America sent her…
Sloth Improves Productivity
We here at The Mudflats appreciate a good bit of irony. Read here how looking at a sloth will actually increase your productivity.
GOP Kills Violence Against Women Act
I sent a letter to House Majority Eric Cantor to bring to the floor a chance to pass the Violence Against Women Act that holds a provision giving Tribes the ability to go after offenders that have literally been getting a free pass to abuse and exploit American Indian / Alaska Natives for hundreds of years. The remoteness of reservations and rural villages makes us easy pickings and proving grounds for predators. The State and many staff with our federal delegation get so uneasy giving Tribes any sort of authority even though it is impossible for them, or fail to…
Fiscal Cliff: Alaska Roll Call
I’m always fascinated watching the roll calls for bills that pass through the legislature, especially when we have a rare moment of harmony across party lines in Alaska. On Tuesday, an 89-8 vote in the Senate passed the “Job Protection and Recession Prevention Act of 2012,” (aka the Fiscal Cliff Bill) which lobbed the ball to the House of Representatives. Voting yes on the Senate bill were 47 Democrats, 40 Republicans and 2 independents, including both Senator Lisa Murkowski (R) and Mark Begich (D).Voting no were 3 Democrats and 5 Republicans. The 257-167 vote by which the House passed the agreement, hours…
The Science of Cute
“A team of researchers at Hiroshima University recently conducted a study where they showed university students pictures of baby animals before completing various tasks. What they found, in research published today, was that those who saw the baby animal pictures did more productive work after seeing those photographs—even more than those who saw a picture of an adult animal or a pleasant food.” [Emphasis mine.] Thus reports Sarah Kliff in the Washington Post. If showing America’s workforce pictures of adorable baby animals will drive up productivity, then The Mudflats is prepared to salute the flag and jump-start the next economic…
Drill Rig Adrift Again (Update)
“The Unified Command reports that the Kulluk is now adrift. The Kulluk is estimated to be four miles from the nearest point of land.” Last summer, Shell’s “Noble Discoverer” drill ship ran aground at Dutch Harbor—or, as a company press release phrased it, “drifted toward land and stopped very near the coast.” Clearly, it was a harbinger of things to come. Another Shell drilling rig in the Gulf of Alaska is adrift again, amid worsening weather. A crew of around 250 is trying to get control of the situation as the drilling rig is now 4 miles from land, the…
Here’s to Auld Lang Syne!
As the waning moments of 2012 slip away, and we are faced again with a new 365 days of potential, we here at The Mudflats would like to wish all of you a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2013. We’d also like to thank you for ‘auld lang syne,’ which literally means “old, long, since.” If you’re not Robert Burns, or another 18th century Scot, it means “days gone by.” So, know that wherever you are ushering in the new year, we here at Mudflats Central are taking a cup of kindness for our days gone by with you, and looking…
2012 Parting Shots
If you live in the Lower 48, you may be under the illusion that your state knows how to do “trashy” and “no way—that’s not for real!” It doesn’t. Not compared to Alaska. So sit back with some popcorn and check out the pros. Parenting Fail If you’re going to engage your own son in LSD-fueled hand-to-hand combat in the street over a woman (!), at least don’t do it in the nude. In Spenard, that makes you such a cliché. Poor Kids Get Baked Speaking of excessive nudity, House Finance Co-Chair Bill Stoltze refused to allow a vote on…
Frankenfish or Cut Bait
When Barack Obama was campaigning in 2007, he said something that I’d been yearning to hear from a politician. He vowed, as president, he would strive to “let folks know when their food is genetically modified because Americans have a right to know what they’re buying.” I realize the difference between campaigning and being president is much like the difference between dating and being married — but that seemed like a pretty solid statement. Europe has required all foods containing ingredients genetically modified to be labeled since 1997. Fifty countries, including China and Russia, require food manufacturers to label GMOs….