Open Thread – Deep Sea Fish with Swivel Eyes and Transparent Head!
Who doesn’t love a good weird-looking deep sea fish? (looks around and sees no hand raised) That’s right, we all do. This fish is particularly interesting as it has two swively tubular eyes, which seem to come in very handy. And the eyes aren’t where you think they are. They aren’t the dark spots that look filled with ennui. Those are actually more like nostrils. The eyes are hidden behind the green hood-like appendages. Oh, and then there’s the transparent head. Enjoy the video!
Chuitna Coal Hearing in Kenai Draws a Crowd (updated*)
*A little episode of premature posting. All photos are now here. The “Magic Bus” pulled out of the parking lot in midtown Anchorage packed to the gunwales. People came out on a weekday evening, with the threat of an impending blizzard in Turnagain Pass, knowing they wouldn’t be home until well after midnight, to give public testimony on an issue that will impact every Alaskan, and that most have never heard of. Despite the fact that the specific project addressed by this petition is across Cook Inlet, and local residents of the area only amount to a couple hundred, the ramifications…
Voices From The Flats: Nick Jans Deconstructs Sarah Palin’s Outdoor “Skills”
Last week we learned TLC would not extend Sarah Palin’s Alaska television show. Nick Jans, a writer who lives in Juneau, put perfectly why the news would come with a sigh of relief. He has given his permission to repost his article that ran in USAToday last week. Nick Jans’ latest book, The Glacier Wolf, is available at nickjans.com. WHAT PALIN’S SHOW SAYS ABOUT US: Sarah Palin’s Alaska, a TLC miniseries, has been quite a spectacle. We’ve watched Mama Grizzly mush a dog sled across a glacier; stalk caribou on the tundra; paddle raging white water; and match her frontierswoman…
APOC Files Its Own Complaint Against Rep. Bill Thomas (Update)
Many of you know about the APOC complaint I filed against Rep. William Thomas, Jr. (R-Haines) because he claimed ads like this were “thank you ads,” not “campaign ads”: The status of that complaint is basically where we left it in my last post on the subject. The APOC staff re-opened the investigation, as the Commissioners tasked them to do in the Adminstrative Order. I know because they contacted me for more information. The new staff report should be out any day now, as I believe the investigation ended the last week of December. However, THAT complaint really isn’t the topic…
Open thread — Son of “Snowzilla”
After we’ve shared much anger, sadness and grief this past weekend here on the “Flats, I thought I’d show you something much “lighter” that I’ve been meaning to post. According to the Anchorage Daily News last week, the giant snowman known as “Snowzilla” may be reaching completion, if he’s not already finished. Anchorage is still pretty icy, though, and I think creator Billy Ray Powers may need it to snow once more to put on the finishing touches. I’ll grab my camera and check tomorrow to see if it’s done. This reminded me of the visit an 11-year-old Morrigan and I…
Open Thread — Candlelight Memorial
Here is another photo sent by Jay and Kathy Cross. They drove by Rep. Giffords’ office in Tucson, Arizona after dark and saw this beautiful candlelight memorial to the victims of the shooting. Folks had been contributing to it throughout the day and in the candle glow, you can barely make out the outlines of photos, flowers and other items people brought. The thoughts of the country rest with the victims and their families. Our thoughts are also with Jeanne and her family gathered on the East Coast preparing for her mom’s funeral. We wish peace for them all.
More on the Shooting in Arizona **UPDATE**
— As most of you know, this morning, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona was shot in the head during a meeting with constituents at a grocery store. The gunman killed at least six people and injured (from what we know at present) at least 13 others with a nine millimeter handgun. These pictures are exclusive to Mudflats and depict the scene at Rep. Giffords’ office in Tucson several hours after the shooting at the Safeway. People began to gather at the office, using it as a place for shared mourning. (A big “thank you” to Jay and Kathy Cross for…
Mom 1925-2011
Looks like I’ll be taking a little more time off than I thought, Mudflatters. I got the news last night that my mom passed away, so I’ll be tending to family matters until next week. Others will pop on and leave you things to read and discuss. I debated whether to post what I’d written today. It has nothing to do with politics, although my mom was a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat and progressive. There was no rebelling on my part. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Ultimately, I decided I would – a farewell to my mom. I am…
Moore Up North TONIGHT!
(Show up tonight so you can say you were at the taping of the first “Moore Up North” of 2011!) From Shannyn’s website: Join us tonight, Thursday, January 6, 2011 for the 45th taping of Moore Up North with Shannyn Moore, at the world-famous TAPROOT! Taproot is located in the Republic of Spenard at 3300 Spenard Road. It’s Mr. Whitekeys’ old Fly By Night Club! The taping starts around 5:30pm. Here is this week’s Moore Up North guest line-up: INTERVIEW: Corwyn Wilkey and Rob Woolsey from the Taproot talk about their business and their latest venture-a nod to their new…
Open Thread
Everything is melting around here. I can even see my lawn. But here’s one I snapped about a week ago when everything was still Winter Wonderland.