Former UA Professor Receives Cook Inletkeeper’s Highest Award
A Commentary By Susan B. Andrews and John Creed KOTZEBUE—Finally, he’s getting a dinner. For almost 30 years, Rick Steiner toiled away at the University of Alaska, rising through the ranks to become one of the most accomplished, high-profile professors in the history of UA’s Marine Advisory Program. But when Professor Steiner left our state’s public university system earlier this year, the employer to which he dedicated virtually his entire career showed him less regard than it would a temp. Most UA faculty members who rise to the rank of “full” professor and serve as long as Steiner are conferred…
Open Thread – 2010 Muckrakers Ball!
Don’t forget to come join Cook Inletkeeper for the annual Muckrakers Ball tonight! Hope to see you there!
Open Thread – Fish First!
Join in the Fish First, Save Bristol Bay Rally! Time Friday, December 3 · 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location UAA Consortium Library Lawn (Facebook Page HERE) Pebble’s trying to legitimize their controversial risky project during a stakeholder meeting on December 3rd through a group called the Keystone Center. But Keystone’s process is flawed: Pebble is paying for it, and it starts with the biased question on HOW to “develop responsibly,” only providing perspectives of mining in other parts of the world and not giving more time to experts who understand the unique fragile complexities of the Pebble Project, the Bristol Bay…
Voices from the Flats – A Joyful Noise
By Pati Crofut This year the violin section in the Hiland Mountain Correctional Center Women’s String Orchestra was hit hard by attrition, good news for the inmates but bad news for the orchestra. Cathleen was released and relocated to California. Pam was released to a halfway house. Angela is out. Cassandra is at the Clitheroe Center. Intermediate players moved up to fill the vacated advanced slots but musically, the group slid back to accommodate this less experienced section. Prison orchestras are only as good as the members with the lengthier sentences so a prisoner’s release is bitter sweet. Our conductor,…
Time to Storm the Castle! Sullivan's Budget
OK, boys and girls. The election is (almost) over and now it’s time to redirect our focus just a tad. It’s kind of like when the dishwasher overflows, and the dog is barking to get in, and someone drops a glass… Then when you finally get it all sorted out, you look over in the pantry and you see the five year old elbow deep in a bag of chocolate chips, with scared eyes and melted goo all over his face. He thinks because you haven’t had time to pay attention during all the chaos, that he could just keep…
Voices from the Flats – Dear Sarah, You're Not Alaska.
By Zach Roberts Special note: This is a message to Sarah, that I sent to her via Facebook. Alaskans will get all the places, some of the references and some of the names. If you don’t get them, give it a Google, or read TheMudFlats.net (why aren’t you reading it already? What’re you a member of the Paliban?) Or better yet, get your butt on the next flight up to Anchorage. Yes I know it’s November and it’s cold… that means flights should be cheap. Go to Spenard Roadhouse get the Bacon Jam and tell them I sent you. ***************…
Signs of Things to Come – Alaska Election 2010
Nothing says political season in Alaska like signs. Sure, sign waving happens in all elections, but Alaskans love our signs more than most. And nowhere in Alaska can you witness the traditional Election Eve battle of the signs like you can in two locations – The New Seward Highway and Northern Lights Blvd., and down the road at Northern Lights and Minnesota, in Anchorage. It’s a combination of spectator sport, pissing contest, and ritual. So, I took a little drive to see what was to be seen at these two prime areas of sign real estate. I pulled up to a…
Joe Miller’s Alaska Militia
Joe Miller is fond of private security. In the Spring of 2008, Joe Miller showed up wearing Eric Estrada circa 1984 mirrored sunglasses, with security guards in a staged coup d’état of the leadership of the Alaska Republican Party. He lost. Randy Ruedrich still stands supreme as the party Chair, and now supports the man who once tried to oust him. Fast forward to July 4, 2010 – US Senate candidate Joe Miller’s supporters marched with assault rifles and campaign signs. The Alaska Dispatch has been doggedly pursuing a story on why Joe Miller lost his job several months after…
Next Stop 2012? Where Will Palin Make the Announcement?
When we last left AKM and Legal Eagle, they were deep into a glass of wine, sitting at the Glenn Beck/Sarah Palin Exploit-a-Palooza to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Lights down, and first up is Sarah Palin. “Let me ask you first Alaska, do you loooove your freedom?” Hey… didn’t I just hear that a couple hours ago at the 9/11 rally at the Wasilla Sports Complex? Yes, I did. These Alaskans also apparently love their freedom too. You’d think after how much she asked she’d figure out that everyone pretty much loves their freedom. But, whatever….