Bedtime in Alaska – Daily Wrap Up
26 01 2009Village Aid -
Kudos to Mudflatters Martha Unalaska Yard Sign and Alaska Pi for setting up a method of helping the village of Nunam Iqua. That’s the village mentioned in the previous thread, a diary by Ann Strongheart. Nunam Iqua, like Emmonak and other villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, and other areas has been hit hard this winter. If you want to help with food donations to Nunam Iqua, here’s how to get food assistance to the village.
- Call Span Alaska,(freight handler) toll free at 1.800.367.9833 if you want to use a credit card over the phone
- Ask for Efton and tell him you would like to make a donation to the “Nunam Iqua Village Aid” account
- OR mail a check or money order to: Span Alaska Sales, PO Box 1240, Monroe, WA 98272 (be sure to include the account name for Nunam Iqua and your return address for a donation receipt)
- OR fax your credit card info to Span Alaska at 1-800-226-5138 (be sure to include the account name for Nunam Iqua and your return address for a donation receipt
They will mail you a receipt for your payment with the account name on it for your tax records. They are CLOSED on the weekend, regular hours are Mon-Friday 7am -5pm PST.
This account will allow the village coordinator to coordinate deliveries of the food and supplies which are most needed.
Word of the crisis is spreading up the media food chain. Click HERE for a story in today’s Los Angeles Times.
Click HERE for Dennis Zaki’s video footage utilized on Anchorage local news. The story starts at about 3:00 in to the clip.
A Yellow Dot! - Check out the new little yellow dot on the map of Mudflatters out in Western Alaska! We’ve never had a dot out there before, so welcome to those out in the Y-K Delta tuning in to the Mudflats! (waves) And that dot in Juneau just got a lot bigger…hmmm.
Will the Real Pit Bull Please Stand Up? – Many of you have been asking me what you can do to help Andree McLeod with her efforts to bring to light the more than 1000 suppressed emails, and the other legal actions she may be taking to shine the light on some of our administration’s transgressions. I spoke with a third party today who tells me that Andree will let us know if she needs anything, and is grateful for the supportive words.
A Friendly Reminder – I know it’s tempting, but PLEASE don’t feed the trolls that pop up from time to time. They just get riled up and it takes time and effort to manage them. I appreciate your future restraint!
Rumblings and Grumblings - Remember that earthquake we had yesterday? Well, about 100 miles from the epicenter, we’ve got another event of geologic interest taking place. Volcanic Mt. Redoubt has been upgraded from “code yellow” to “code orange,” meaning that an eruption could be imminent.
The 10,197-foot peak — located about 50 miles west of Kenai and 100 miles southwest of Anchorage — last erupted during a five-month period from December 1989 through April 1990.
Scientists keep a close eye on ground monitors on Redoubt to detect any movement.
“Around 1 o’clock (Sunday) morning the seismic activity really started to pick up,” said AVO volcanologist Dave Schneider.
Good Quote -
I care not what others think of what I do, but I care very much about what I think I do. That is character. – Theodore Roosevelt
January 26th, 2009 at 1:18 AM
Thanks AKM – I’m very pleased to know that Andree McLeod knows she has an audience and a fan club. We are standing by…
January 26th, 2009 at 1:19 AM
Ak, you always surprise me on the # of hours you put in keeping on top of all this, thank you so much. I wish I had half your energy.
January 26th, 2009 at 1:38 AM
Thanks AKM, interesting times.
Andree McLeod and now BooBooBear from the Pit Bull post. Awaiting further very well informed posts.
January 26th, 2009 at 3:29 AM
@ AKM
Thanks for your great reporting & entertaining writing on the important topics of the day. There are loads of really good Alaskan blogs, but everyone comes here for the hot news and insightful if irreverent analysis.
President Obama asked us to do a day of service, in memory of Dr. MLK. You caught Nick Tucker’s letter a few days before that national day of service and got the word out. Mudpuppies around the world responded and _still_ did their local day of service work, in between doing relief work for Emo. You guys all rock : )
Yes we can. Yes we did. Yes we will. Everyone won this election, even the people who are too dumb to realize it yet.
January 26th, 2009 at 3:53 AM
“Everyone won this election, even the people who are too dumb to realize it yet”
That is just about perfect..!
January 26th, 2009 at 4:59 AM
You are taking this volcano and earthquake thing so calmly…. Usually that is bad news.
Another great source of energy for warmth, straight from mother earth, called Heatpumps being used here in Germany. Dig a long tunnel into the earth and somehow tap the heat… Gotta read up on this.
Makes me nervous from over here that you are sitting so close to a volcano.
January 26th, 2009 at 6:08 AM
For a morning laugh, only a bit OT in the grand scheme of OTness, go to this link after replacing the dots with real dots. Don’t forget to watch The View today if you can stand it, as Blago the Ridiculous will be on with his wife. It will be only the 3rd time I’ve tried to sit through that show, but Blago is just so fun I have to try.
wwwdotsj-rdotcom/news/x716054539/Blagojevich-not-crazy-experts-say
A shout out to busy sisters Martha Unalaska and Alaska Pi for their good work up there.
As for Redoubt, way cool. I love volcanoes.
January 26th, 2009 at 6:12 AM
MSM – LA Times Today:
In rural Alaska, villagers suffer in near silence. Nastasia Wassilie waited alone for days with little food and no heat before villagers in Tuluksak, Alaska, came to offer what little help they could spare. Bush residents struggle to balance the need for food with the need for fuel — the building blocks of survival in a frigid winter that has months to go. Some call for massive airlifts of aid. By Kim Murphy. Los Angeles Times, January 25, 2009: http://www.latimes.com/business/energy/la-na-rural-alaska25-2009jan25,0,7672403.story
January 26th, 2009 at 6:25 AM
AKM, I think you are now an official Internet Community Organizer!
January 26th, 2009 at 6:27 AM
@sardine…
Hey, geologist sis-! Think it’s gonna be hard for folks to understand the I love volcanos thing unless you maybe rename yourself something like womanwhopeersintovolcanosonpurpose…
Ms McLeod gets my vote -for the second time -for Alaskan for Transparent Government In Action.
Neighbors in the Yukon-Delta-
Hang on!
Hi-ho, hi-ho,
It’s off to Span we go!
January 26th, 2009 at 6:27 AM
Well I see I have my dates mixed up…
Here’s something else: Mount Redoubt, just W of Cook Inlet is back rumbling:
Mount Redoubt rumbles: eruption possible SEISMIC ACTIVITY: Volcano last erupted from 1989-90 . By GEORGE BRYSON, ADN: http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/kenai/story/667576.html
January 26th, 2009 at 6:28 AM
I apparently cannot read this morning…
I quit…
January 26th, 2009 at 6:37 AM
nisperos, go read the Blago is a narcissist article. That will make you laugh and think of the future Blagofication of Palin.
Hi Pi! I’ve given up being a geologist but will never give up my love of volcanoes exploding.
January 26th, 2009 at 6:38 AM
OK… so I must have missed a day or having a bad one or whatever…
But, one more thing:
University of Alaska scientist works to defeat silent killer of infants. By Christi Hang, January 26, 2009, Fairbanks News Miner: http://newsminer.com/news/2009/jan/26/university-alaska-scientist-works-defeat-silent-ki/
“…According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are six SIDS cases per 100,000 births in the United States. Michael Harris, an associate professor with the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Specialized Neuroscience Research Program, said the SIDS rate for Caucasian babies in Alaska is 2.3 times the national average, and the rate for Alaska Native infants is five times the national average…”
January 26th, 2009 at 6:39 AM
@ womanwithsardinecan
Thanks… I needed a laugh…
January 26th, 2009 at 6:56 AM
I just read Ann’s post about village life and it was fantastic. Felt like I was there and almost had a heart attack when I read the price on diapers. Crazy!
Pi thank you for getting the setup with Span I will be calling there this week.
Always amazed at how people pull together on this blog!
January 26th, 2009 at 6:59 AM
Good morning, mudpups!
Great post, as usual, AKM. I love volcanos, too- my sister lived in Portland when Mt. St. Helens last erupted; flying over it was amazing. lettersfromeurope has a great idea about tapping into geothermal heat- anyone know if studies are in the works? Does Blago count as a volcano? Perhaps we will see an eruption on The View…
Does Andree need donations for legal costs? As long as I have my trusty Visa out-
Too many questions, need more coffee…
January 26th, 2009 at 7:09 AM
AKM, I bow to you.
Am impressed with all the information and help you are giving to your neighbors.
You and the other tireless workers have restored the good name of Alaskans.
…Cheers….
January 26th, 2009 at 7:57 AM
Thanks, AKM as always. I sent an email along to Ms Murphy at the LAT to thank her for her coverage. Off to phone some $ in to the freight haulers. You guys rock!
January 26th, 2009 at 8:06 AM
Blago and Palin… narcissists separated at birth?
One thing is for certain… Sarah Palin ain’t no Teddy Roosevelt.
January 26th, 2009 at 8:37 AM
Once again, our governor leads the charge to address issues of importance around the state. . . .wait. . . .umm. . . no, I guess she’s too busy pitching the $11 million dollar book deal that surely she plans to donate to Alaskan villages to help with their food and energy costs. . . wait. . . ummm. . . . noooo. . . . .
Well, as the diva from Wasilla continues on her quest for fame and national exposure, I’m reminded that it’s all about “branding” these days. How about we Mudflatters help her out? I’ve been toying with appropriate monikers: Neiman Demon and Guvzilla are two that come to mind, but what say you all for the “Governor to Nowhere”?
January 26th, 2009 at 8:52 AM
I think I’d vote for “Governor to Nowhere”, except it could be seen as a slap in the face of all Alaskans, so maybe one of the others would be better, Palimonium.
AKM, thanks for the wrap-up. And thanks for the great Roosevelt quote. Maybe we should all send that to Palin and Blago. Well, maybe not. I doubt that they would understand it, since neither seems to be able to live that way.
Pat
(Must have some strong tea this morning before I try to watch Blago on The View – both are a bit hard to swallow.)
January 26th, 2009 at 9:00 AM
The Emmonak story went national today and Mudflats was mentioned everywhere!! Good going folks, let’s keep going…
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/scarce/emmonak-story-goes-national
January 26th, 2009 at 9:17 AM
I thought that the ADN lead story this morning would be Andree McLeod bringing new ethics charges against Palin and her toadeys. Instead the ADN gives us a pic of two yogi’s sweating. Alas, have to remember that somethings are more important than new ethics charges against the administration. This is just so laughable.
January 26th, 2009 at 9:34 AM
Guess Mcleod’s charges weren’t hot enough.
January 26th, 2009 at 9:52 AM
In today’s ADN:
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/interior/story/667557.html
Report on next year’s predicted King salmon run for the Yukon is grim. This bodes badly for another year of no commercial harvest for the villagers income, and probably, even a lack of subsistence harvest. The State is well for warned.
January 26th, 2009 at 9:55 AM
arrrgghh! I didn’t get home in time from shopping to watch the View. Did anybody see the Blagowindbagovich? (OT yes)
January 26th, 2009 at 10:15 AM
@ sauerkraut
“Blago and Palin… narcissists separated at birth?”
heh heh… who says they were born? I think these two got dropped off as part of an alien exchange program and they are really from the planet called Narcissa Major. It has some moons, I hear – Winky, NoBlinky and LieALot.
January 26th, 2009 at 10:25 AM
I just have to say that I love this blog. What a great community of caring, thoughtful, and intelligent folks. Thank you AKM for making this possible and for your excellent articles.
January 26th, 2009 at 10:34 AM
womanwithsardinecan (09:55:54) :
arrrgghh! I didn’t get home in time from shopping to watch the View. Did anybody see the Blagowindbagovich? (OT yes)
&*&*&*you didn’t miss anything. To quote Maureen Dowd “he looks like an ostrich in spandex trying to gallop”
January 26th, 2009 at 10:39 AM
pvazwindyNo Gravatar (10:34:57) :
&*&*&*you didn’t miss anything. To quote Maureen Dowd “he looks like an ostrich in spandex trying to gallop”
hahahahahaahaaa!! It’s fun to know there’s a trainwreck out there who is hilarious in his trainwreckiness. Come on, dear Sarah! Are you going to let this guy steal your narcissistic thunder? Where’s your competitive spirit?
January 26th, 2009 at 10:45 AM
Gosh those politicians are just so trainwrecky and mavericky – they are so interesting that we are developing an entire dialect to describe them.
Sorry, OT…I guess Blago wasn’t in the wrap up. But I’d like to wrap him up – with duct tape and tar.
January 26th, 2009 at 11:07 AM
I can see Mt. Redoubt from my house. (It’s not quite as far as Russia.)
January 26th, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Regarding a “brand” name for Palin: I still think “Alaska Disasta” has a nice ring to it.
Meanwhile, GooberGov better start ‘circlin’ those musk ox’ under the good North Star, oh! and fjord that Yukon too!
January 26th, 2009 at 11:58 AM
who me? (10:25:02) :
I just have to say that I love this blog. What a great community of caring, thoughtful, and intelligent folks.
That’s what keeps me coming back…
————
I think you forgot “silly”.
January 26th, 2009 at 12:12 PM
When I called in my small donation to the Nunam Iqua Village Aid they said they were just getting started on things. They took my info, and were gracious and courteous.
FWIW they wanted to get me a receipt, take address etc. I said for them to just take my phone number should they need it, and spend the money for villagers help instead of on staff, stamps etc. for a letter to me.
My credit card statement will have info on it should I ever need to contact them and I thought they had more important things to tend to now.
EatWildFish:
I vote for Alaska Disasta for the gov’s label from you.
womanwith sardinecan:
If everything in our country gets fixed you MUST come up with new laughs for us! Enjoy your posts!
January 26th, 2009 at 12:17 PM
didja notice (wink) how easy it is to impeach a governor? …not the same rules as a criminal trial. blago should be unseated maybe by the end of this week. pay attention, alaska! this means you, palin. you’re next! easy as pie
January 26th, 2009 at 12:18 PM
life is good
January 26th, 2009 at 12:24 PM
thanks for the ‘flat rate box’ information…i’m going to get a care package off to Ann as soon as i can…great job everyone!
January 26th, 2009 at 1:19 PM
@lettersfromeurope(04:59:55) :
You are taking this volcano and earthquake thing so calmly…. Usually that is bad news.
Another great source of energy for warmth, straight from mother earth, called Heatpumps being used here in Germany. Dig a long tunnel into the earth and somehow tap the heat… Gotta read up on this.
Makes me nervous from over here that you are sitting so close to a volcano.
—
It’s sweet of you to worry, but we’re accustomed to these sorts of things. All Alaskans with any common sense have Disaster Kits in their homes, along with plenty of bottled water and stuff. It’s not such a big deal if you’re prepared.
To keep an eye on Redoubt, you can follow the Alaska Volcano Observatory website. They keep it updated with real time info, photos, and (this is the important one), info on winds aloft. Volcanic ash plumes can interfere with air traffic — the ash can kill a jet engine that flies through a plume. Normally-aspirated planes (like Cessnas, Super Cubs, Twin Otters) can fly in an ashy sky — it’s not good for them, but it won’t stall the engines. We have 44 active volcanoes in Alaska. I can see one of them from my house. (Augustine.)
Anyway, here’s the AVO link: http://www.avo.alaska.edu/
And yes, we’re starting to use heatpumps in Alaska. And one place is generating electricity with geothermal. (Chena Hot Springs.)
The AVO and the geothermal turbine project at Chena were all developed with money that Senator Ted Stevens brought home. “Pork” to some of you. The Senator was working with a researcher at University Alaska Fairbanks to use naturally occurring methane gas produced by swamps and lakes to generate power. That concept could produce power for all of those villages out in the YK, with local powerplants run on methane.
I’m not awake yet. (I’m on deadline for an article for someone. Been up all night again.)
January 26th, 2009 at 1:54 PM
that’s very interesting! is there somewhere we can read more about it? thanks for the heads up!
grewingk wrote:
And yes, we’re starting to use heatpumps in Alaska. And one place is generating electricity with geothermal. (Chena Hot Springs.)
The AVO and the geothermal turbine project at Chena were all developed with money that Senator Ted Stevens brought home. “Pork” to some of you. The Senator was working with a researcher at University Alaska Fairbanks to use naturally occurring methane gas produced by swamps and lakes to generate power. That concept could produce power for all of those villages out in the YK, with local powerplants run on methane.”
January 26th, 2009 at 2:50 PM
Ok i wanted to show you this http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28858971/
I hope it works…if not it’s a link to story about a 93 year old man that froze to death. i saw the title and my heart sank. then i read it wasn’t from one of the villages but another person hit in these hard times. how sad is this.
I post this not to take eyes off the villages but for us to remember our neighbors, and that maybe a knock on the door to make sure they are ok is worth the five minutes. OK I am getting of my soap box.
January 26th, 2009 at 4:53 PM
Congrats on what you’re doing with this site. It’s great to see that in this world of “woe is me”, that people are still working hard for those that need help.
January 26th, 2009 at 9:02 PM
@charise820 -
It’s ok to take our eyes off the villages.
There MUST always be time to knock on doors, pick up the phone, notice if lights which usually come on do not.
This humanitarian crisis in the Yukon-Delta would not have happened if the people we pay to do that for ALL of us had done THEIR part last summer, last fall, before people had begun to exhaust their own resources.
These are citizens of Alaska, who no one charged with making sure they get the same shake the rest of us do even reached for a door, let alone knock on it to check on. ( I’m skipping right on by the dumb why-don’t-they-just-move-to-town deal for right now)
The few voices in the Legislature who attempted to deal with Rural power/fuel cost issues got lost in the feel good $1200 energy rebate thingy. AFN devoted much time at the annual convention trying to frame and present Rural issues .Leaders in govt like Mr Monegan warned of trouble ahead.
So- be sure to check on your neighbors.
It’s our job as human beings.
From our homes in our own neighborhoods,
to our state and federal capitals,
It is our job.