Open Thread: Don’t Tread On…
I see the Gadsden Flag at a lot of Alaskan events. Since that was about the original colonies, “Don’t Tread on Me” means something completely different here. I think Alaska needs its own version. Here’s my take; maybe it’s time to start The Salmon Party. Original art by The Troll Brothers Donate to Renewable Resources here. Find out more about the No Pebble Campaign at here. By the way… Salmon Stock is going on RIGHT NOW.
Governor’s Picnic (PHOTOS)
It was a gorgeous day in Anchorage – a perfect day for the Governor’s Picnic.
Bird of the Week – Rhinoceros Auklet
Another portrait from the Alaska SeaLife Center’s excellent Seabird Aviary. Photos of this species in the wild are very rare; they are solitary on the open ocean, nest in crevices on remote islands, and are extremely skittish. The prominent rhinoceros-like “horn” (actually a vertical extension of the mandibular plates) projecting above the upper mandible is present in breeding plumage. The precise function of this hood ornament, which is the same size in males and females, is unknown. Technical stuff: f8, 1/500, ISO 1600 More bird photos at Frozen Feather Images.
Anchorage At Dusk
Last month, when we were having nicer weather I went wandering around town looking for the perfect sunset in Anchorage. I think that I found a couple of nice ones… but I’m still on the lookout for the right place for the perfect photo. Where in Anchorage do you go for the perfect sunset shot? Leave your comments below, would love to try them out.
15 Things Northern Exposure Got Right
My wife Michelle was born in Anchorage, attending high school at Bartlett High. At about the time I was attending college, when the show “Northern Exposure” started to air, she was splitting her time between Anchorage in the summer and the school year in college in Austin. She doesn’t like “Northern Exposure,” maintaining adamantly that it was an inaccurate depiction of life in Alaska. Her chief complaint? Bagels. She found the notion that Alaskans would not know what a bagel is in 1990 (the year the show began) a bit preposterous. On a very technical level, I can agree with…
The Your-State-Is-Small Generator
Dear everyone Outside, You’re small. Yes, I’m talkin’ to you too, Texans. You may be tired of hearing Alaskans talk about how big Alaska is, and how awesome our seafood is, and how gorgeous our sweeping mountain vistas are. And how we have more coastline than the rest of the country, and 3 million lakes, and spectacular wildlife, and aurora borealis. But be kind to us and let us have our due. Remember that our political leadership is taking us back to the dark ages, and we have no public transportation to speak of, and we’re a minimum of a…
Bird of the Week: Chicken Crosses the Road
The Alaska State Bird crosses the Denali Highway, west of Paxson. The reason the bird chose to cross is left to the speculation of the reader. The Willow Ptarmigan has been maligned recently. Some folks think that the species’ song – for a given definition of “song” – is so idiotic as to disqualify it from its current status. One birder went to far as to describe that song as “rejected Star Wars aliens, angrily standing outside the Mos Eisley cantina because their ID’s were rejected.” Harsh. Yet the Willow Ptarmigan survives and even prospers across a wide variety of harsh…
Blinded Me with Science: Begich Town Hall Videos
Alaska Senator Mark Begich discussed issues ranging from guns, to veterans benefits. to the 800-pound gorilla in the room – Pebble Mine – in a town hall May 1st. Out of the 50 or so attending the open Q&A with the Senator, roughly half of them were wearing either a “No Pebble” button or sticker. Attendees of the town hall were not pleased with Sen. Begich’s “let’s wait for the science to come in” responses to Pebble Mine concerns. Sen. Begich also discussed plans to help veterans work through the problems at the Veterans Administration, and saving a local landmark from…
UPDATE: Begich & Murkowski Down in Polling – Begich Office Responds
UPDATE: A Sen. Begich Office spokesperson got back to TheMudflats with this statement on the PPP polling: “Leading up to the Senate vote, the vast majority of Alaskans who contacted our office were asking Senator Begich to protect Alaskans’ 2nd amendment rights. Hearing their concerns and staying consistent with his long-held position, Senator Begich told Alaskans from the start that while there are things we can do to keep our communities safe, the Manchin-Toomey proposal was not the best approach.” [Below was posted earlier Monday the 29th] While no Alaskan polling firm has come out with data on the effect…
Repealing SB21 – The Fight Begins
Alaska Founding Father Vic Fischer, former Anchorage Assemblywoman Jane Angvik and Jack Roderick, author of the oil history book “Crude Dreams,” appeared in the shadow of the building that holds the Lt. Governor’s office – the Robert Atwood Building to call for the repeal of the controversial Senat Bill 21. The countdown for the referendum has already started. Over 30,000 signatures (10% of the votes cast in 2012) are needed within 90 days after the bill left the Senate, which was last Sunday, the 14th. Vic Fischer called the bill unconstitutional, and said that the founders looked to statehood, “to get…