Open Thread – Lights
If you’ve never seen the northern lights, this incredible reel gives you a better sense of them than any still photo can. Courtesy of an Anchorage barista from Steam Dot Coffee.
AK Must Redraw District Map
Remember the new district map for Alaska? Well, it has had a tumultuous, though brief life span. Some hated it, some disliked it, some said it was fair, and a lot of Democrats clutched their pearls and gasped, “Don’t make a stink, because it could be worse!” Um. Worse than losing the bipartisan coalition in the senate, and maintaining a solid minority in the house? Gee, I’m glad we didn’t go there. Well, the kerfuffle over the map went all the way to the Alaska Supreme Court, and the divided opinion said … (drumroll please) … Back to the drawing…
Flex Your Civic Pride
Vermont has banned fracking, Wisconsin permits same-day voter registration, Montana and San Francisco have enacted forward thinking initiatives addressing political money and health care access, respectively. Forgive us for living vicariously through you, but if “states are the laboratories of democracy” ours gets an “F” in this particular science experiment. When the discussion turns to sound public policy, Alaska just isn’t the first place that leaps to mind these days. But what of your state or local government? What’s your favorite law, program or other policy—the thing of which you wish the rest of the nation knew? When traveling, do…
Dancer Steals Xmas Mail?
Wait. What? Someone stole Christmas mail? On Christmas DAY? And they didn’t just grab stuff out of people’s roadside mailboxes, they stole the whole big giant blue mailbox itself… right in front of the post office? And they stole FOUR of them? A brazen culprit indeed. This Christmas caper would be bad enough, if the prime suspect wasn’t … Dancer! Hold on Dasher, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder and Blitzen. Before you get your antlers in a twist, it’s not THAT Dancer. The lack of opposable thumbs should have been a dead giveaway. Authorities are seeking information about THIS Dancer,…
Oyster Roundup – Lost Pigs, Blind Dogs & Happiness
~Thick and fast they came at last, and more, and more, and more! It’s Hibernation Week – that space between Christmas and the New Year when kids are home, and food is plentiful, and all you want to do is hunker down with a book and a dog and a mug of something warm. I know you probably can’t eat another bite, but here are some delicious little nuggets on the half-shell that may tempt you. Shortest Day in Fairbanks Here, Pig! Now they’ve done it. Alyeska Pipeline has lost two pigs in the pipeline this year. Before you get…
Open Thread – Loot
Happy Boxing Day, Mudpups! Have you recovered? Was Santa good to you? Are you as skilled on your new gear as she is?
عيد ميلاد مجيد
Today is for peace on earth and human solidarity, not partisan snark. In that spirit, we dedicate to our brothers and sisters in the Tea Party this gorgeous version of “Silent Night” in Arabic:
Merry Christmas, Mudflatters!
Here’s a Christmas card from all the crew here at Mudflats Central to bring you cheer. We’re hoping you and yours have safe, healthy, and happy holiday. Merry Christmas, Mudpuppies! The blogosphere just wouldn’t be the same without you.
Xmas Eve Shoutouts
Two Quite Random & Unrelated Christmas Eve Shoutouts If you’re a foodie, you already know who Amanda Hesser is. A former NY Times food writer and current publisher of the best food blog in the land—the mighty Food 52—Hesser has to her credit James Beards award for both The Essential New York Times Cookbook and The Cook & The Gardener. The latter is a lyrical account of her year as a cook at a French estate, over the course of which she gradually befriended a cranky gardener who was disarmed by what a brilliant young cook could do with his…
NORAD, North Pole & Santa
As the undisputed authorities on all matters Santa (see above), Alaskans are here to keep you in the know on the subject. For instance, did you know that NORAD’s Santa Tracker will track the jolly old elf across the world so you can keep tabs? The five-letter acronym has you (and him) covered. We at Mudflats Central have used this site for several years now to make sure we are all tucked snug in our beds before Santa reaches Alaska, thus averting present disaster.