Palin’s ‘Mazin’ ‘Murrika!
“Git red, wiiiiiiild, and blue, Merrika!” Thus spake the cartoon of a parody of a cartoon that used to be Alaska’s half-term governor, and the Vice Presidential nominee on the Republican Party ticket. Once, as much as Alaskans were horrified by it, the rest of the nation stood in awe watching the sparkly, mavericky mother of five take her place in the klieg lights, delivering a powerhouse speech that turned her into a household name overnight. She was, for a few hours, America’s new kickass sweetheart and future first female Vice President. She roared onto the stage and breathed life…
Don’t Tread On Grammar: Reader Response
So, a while ago I made this No Pebble flag using art by the inimitable Ray Troll. It’s a riff on the Gadsden flag. Someone didn’t like it too much. I got this in my e-mail. Which, of course I forwarded to Jeanne. After some grade school corrections from Jeanne, I created this. Remember kids, fund public education.
Moose Gate!
Meanwhile in Canada, that’s a fine moose he got himself into! A random act of kindness by three Canadian men frees a terrified baby moose from a potentially fatal situation. We love when a moose story has a happy ending.
Open Thread: Found Aurora
Just searching through my Alaska archives and came across a folder of some wonderful aurora photos from late last year. You can see the rest over at my new photo site (and get prints, if you like) at www.zdroberts.com.
Subaru Love, or How I Lived
Tuesday morning on my way to school, I was driving on one of the back road highways that criss-cross Upstate New York. Coming around a slight bend, I saw a car half out into the road I was driving on. I had a decision – slam on my brakes and hope for the best, or swerve around the car blocking the road. I went with the latter. Deciding not to go into the opposite lane behind the car I attempted to go in front of it. there was more space on the side of the road there, and I thought…
Too Many Dans
In the first of what we hope will be many chuckle-worthy screw ups, the conservative Club for Growth came out with an endorsement recently which was picked up by the Associated Press, and then reported by KTVA Channel 11 News in Anchorage. Somewhere along the line, Dan Sullivan got lost in translation. Dan Sullivan (R-OH->DC->AK) moved to Alaska to become a U.S. Senator. The carpetbagging political climber went from Palin’s second choice Attorney General, to the Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources (the move that tipped us all off) and has been groomed and guided for quite some time….
Giessel “Reallocates” Wealth to Donors
I’m still getting used to seeing the Walter J. Hickel Expressway signs. I still think Wally’s Way would have been better, but it gives me a chance to remember to read “Who Owns America” again. My copy has a brown signature inside. A treasure. So, as I pull onto Wally’s Way, heading south, the voice of Lori Townsend making me feel better about the news on my radio. Seriously. If there’s a meteor bearing down on Earth and we’re all gonna die, she should be the one announcing it-she makes even Alaska news sound better. My phone rings. “Did you…
Pluto’s Still Not a Planet… but This is Heartwarming
It doesn’t mean it’s worth any less. Neil deGrasse Tyson was on Late Night with Seth Myers on Friday promoting his show Cosmos, and he received a surprise guest – the (former) planet, Pluto. Tyson, if you recall, is famous for working to knock Pluto off the list of planets. Definitely worth a watch even for the non-science geek. While our Managing Editor, Jeanne Devon, may have a disagreement – I think this ends the argument.
Bird of the Week – Northern Hawk Owl
Another Alaskan owl, now much harder to find, is the Northern Hawk Owl. The Hawk Owl has the longest tail among North American owls. The black border around the white facial disk is also a great field mark. Like the Boreal Owl, the Northern Hawk Owl is a plunge dive feeder, and is suffering from the unseasonable mid-winter rain storms, which make it impossible for them to punch through the snow to the prey below. Last year WC saw exactly one Hawk Owl. For more bird photos, please visit Frozen Feather Images.
Open Thread: Think Warm Thoughts
I know Alaska has had a weirdo Winter, but here in New York we’re ready for it all to end. For now, here’s a photo from spring of last year at Bird Creek. Think warm thoughts.