The Weekend Off – News You Missed
Alaska Desmogblog – Keystone XL Scandal: Obama Attorney’s Law Firm Represents TransCanada’s Pipeline in Alaska A DeSmogBlog investigation reveals that Robert Bauer, former White House Counsel and President Barack Obama’s personal attorney, works at the corporate law firm Perkins Coie LLP, which does legal work for TransCanada’s South Central LNG Project, formerly known as Alaska Gas Pipeline Project. NBCNews.com – Airplane Warning After Alaska Volcano Erupts, Spewing Ash The National Weather Service on Saturday warned airplanes to avoid airspace near an erupting Alaska volcano as it spewed ash 30,000 feet above sea level. Winds were blowing ash from Pavlof Volcano to…
Bird of the Week – Red-faced Cormorant
Alaska is the only place in North America where you can find the Red-faced Cormorant. Cormorants dive for fish, and nest on cliffs and ledges like the bluffs of St. Paul Island. The body appears black, but actually has a greenish-purplish cast, best seen on cloudy days. Camera geek stuff: f4, 1/8000 ISO100 For more bird photos, please visit Frozen Feather Images.
AP Calls Senate Race for Sullivan, but…
The Associated Press last night called the Alaska Senate race for Republican Dan Sullivan. So, is it over? Well, not quite yet. There are still more than 20,000 votes to count, and overseas ballots still have almost a week to arrive. There are votes yet to come in from villages in which Mark Begich expects a high level of support. The campaign released the following statement even as Begich is back in D.C. for his probable but not definite lame duck months. A statement by a campaign structure that has seen their candidate win several elections by the slimmest of margins…
Morning, Baby! Look… Penguins Everywhere.
It’s only Wednesday, and there is much to be done. Time to turn up the gas and start accomplishing! And because we’re all about implementing the latest in scientific research to improve the bottom line (click for evidence), we present to you something which will help. Imagine if you will, lying on a beach full of baby penguins…
John Oliver on The Salmon Cannon – ‘We Can Do Great Things’
John Oliver on his always excellent HBO show, Last Week Tonight discovered a thing called ‘the salmon cannon.’ For those not in the salmon transportation industry it’s a “series of tubes” if you will, created by Whooshh (yes, whooshh) that allows salmon to be propelled over or around a dam. The system is currently being used in the Northwest where communities are trying to repopulate the blocked rivers that once held plentiful salmon runs. John Oliver creates his own and decides to shoot salmon across the TV world with some amazing cameos by actors, TV News broadcasters and one famous animated Dad. Mmmmm, salmon.
Bird of the Week – White-winged Crossbill
White-winged Crossbills are evergreen cone specialists. You can see that the bill does indeed cross at the tips, allowing the bird to lever open spruce and tamarack cone bracts to get to the seeds. The male is a lot flashier. White-winged Crossbills aren’t always easy to find. They follow the cone crop. When spruce and tamarack cone production is low, the birds will move elsewhere. This is a boreal species; further south, even in Southeast Alaska, the Red Crossbill is more common. Camera geek stuff: f5.6, 1/8000, ISO2500 For more bird photos, please visit Frozen Feather Images.
Alaska… You Crazy! Election Recap
On election night, one state in the nation voted to legalize marijuana, raise the minimum wage, and add an extra level of environmental protection for sensitive ecosystems facing development. It’s largest city also voted to overturn an anti-labor ordinance which was the brain child of a Mayor (running as a Republican for Lt. Governor) who appears to be about to go down in flames to a non-partisan gubernatorial ticket. That’s like a cool, edgy progressive place to live, right? What if I told you that this very same state has elected by a comfortable margin, a majority in the legislature…
Notes from Election Central
Here we go again! 8:30 – No numbers yet. Sitting in a sweet spot with lots of plug-ins and within earshot of the table belonging to Ethan Berkowitz and the Party Planner who are interviewing talk bloviator Dave Stieren who is loudly and intently talking about Mark BAGitch (learn the name!) “Every election is about the next election,” he drops the pearls of wisdom on the floor for us to scramble after. Now something about Joe Miller, and the Democrats sending out flyers for Mark Fish the Libertarian candidate, hoping to split the Republican vote. The Party Planner nods in…
Best Election Day Posts on Social Media… So Far
Have you voted yet? I voted!!! Have you…??? pic.twitter.com/kYA4gQHAlY — LeVar Burton (@levarburton) November 4, 2014 Your country needs YOU (to vote) pic.twitter.com/HnglnO1dNB — Patrick Stewart (@SirPatStew) November 4, 2014 If you haven’t voted yet, Gov. Jay Nixon wants you to get crackin’ http://t.co/DiW4HyZIwH pic.twitter.com/BdJBQiKPiz — Wonkette (@Wonkette) November 4, 2014 Not so subtle “Carpetbagger” message in the NH senate race. cc @NowWithAlex pic.twitter.com/FyanJzDp4g — Alex Wagner (@alexwagner) November 4, 2014 Amazing RT @rebleber: PHOTOBOMB pic.twitter.com/I4Ehcgfo8y — Patrick Caldwell (@patcaldwell) November 4, 2014 i gotta dedicate my life to wendy davis now RT @bomani_jones: #welcometo2014 pic.twitter.com/3Y2yI0Kw6Q — Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano)…
Cruz to Wasilla
Fueled by Jitters coffee and a sugar cookie the size of a frisbee, I was as ready as I was ever going to be. I and two companions were on a political road trip north to the Valley. As we arrived in Wasilla, a small plane flew laps over the AT&T sports center, towing a sign that read “Sullivan for Senate.” In a media market filled to capacity with political ads, this apparently was the only air time left. Inside, Toby Keith, Neil Diamond, Eminem, Corey Hart, and an unlikely play list of songs presumably chosen for themes of freedom, America,…