By Rep. Les Gara (D) I might lose my honorary Mudflats Fan club membership over this one. But I really need to say this. The future of an Alaska gas pipeline, and whether this state cedes its sovereignty over our natural resources to the Exxon’s of the world, depend on it. How do I say [...]

“Extreme Ice”.  That’s the name of an amazing photographic odyssey and scientific documentation of climate change in the Arctic. Once a climate change skeptic, [James] Balog here presents stirring time-lapse images of melting bodies of ice. By placing cameras throughout the Arctic and programming them to shoot one frame every daylight hour for three years, [...]

Here’s a press release from Alaska Senator Mark Begich (d).   (Yes, I made that lower case on purpose) WASHINGTON – A diverse group of 15 Senate Democrats today announced the formation of a new moderate coalition that will meet regularly to shape public policy. The group’s goal is to work with the Senate leadership [...]

Lance Mackey just pulled into Nome!  The three-time Iditarod champ still had a team of 14 dogs who crossed the finish line.  The stars were aligned for Mackey this year, and he sailed in to first place with the second place team nowhere in sight, crediting his amazing dog team whom he called “superstars”.   When he [...]

Wow. I’m glad I saved this one for last this evening because I’m just about speechless.  I finally had time to sit down and read the five page article in Portfolio, by Joe McGinnis entitled “Pipe Dreams” about Sarah Palin and the fantasy pipeline.  I’ve been waiting for an article like this, and Mr. McGinnis has [...]

Where to begin? Very fitting, considering it’s Muckraker Day, that we should be given what is the equivalent of two enormous entrees of ….. muck from two superior muckrakers.  They’re both so appetizing it’s hard to know which to choose first. (closes eyes, moves index finger in wide circles….and…..squish!)  OK, we’ll start with this one. One [...]

That’s right….It’s Muckraker Day!  You’re all wearing brown, right? The muckrakers name applied to American journalists, novelists, and critics who in the first decade of the 20th cent. attempted to expose the abuses of business and the corruption in politics. The term derives from the word muckrake used by President Theodore Roosevelt in a speech [...]

Just got a call from blogger Shannyn Moore.  She’s very excited about a meeting she is leading tonight at the University.  Anyone interested in alternative energy should definitely attend.  Here’s her message: I am leading a meeting at the University tonight on resource use and paradigm shifts in Alaska.  Please join me! Rasmussen Hall, Room [...]

Well, everyone’s been asking, and here they are – hot off the presses.  The latest Sarah Palin popularity numbers from Hays Research Group are in.  In order to give you a little perspective, we need to start by looking at these numbers beginning in August of 2007, one year before becoming McCain’s VP pick. Approval index = +55  [...]

So, the popular girl, the head of the cheer-leading squad made a date with a guy we’ll call Joe, for lack of a better name. Joe Average. He isn’t particularly popular, nor particularly bright, but he really really likes Popular Girl. A lot. He cannot believe she agreed to go out with him, and he [...]

Some interesting new numbers have been coming in this week.  It would appear that the approval rating of the GOP leadership is plummeting among…. Republicans.  And by ‘plummeting’, I’m talking about a 12-points free fall in one month, according to a Pew Research poll, down from 55% at the beginning of February to 43% now.  [...]

Apparently the GOP leadership has gotten over it.  Last we heard from them, they were all sniffly about the fact that Sarah Palin said she was cancelling her appearance at their winter retreat because of “pressing state business”, when she was actually right down the road at the Alfalfa Club dinner, and palling around with [...]

It’s late on March 15th, and I’m still pondering whether “Happy Ides of March” is the appropriate thing to say.  Originally this day was to mark a Roman celebration dedicated to the god Mars….but then there was that whole “Julius Caesar being assassinated” thing that kind of sucked the air out of the festival.  So, now we [...]

David Shertleff, a talented reporter for Alaska Public Radio Network is out in Anvik (population 104, give or take) this weekend to cover the Iditarod.  Rural Alaska has definitely been on everyone’s mind lately.  I’m noticing that the topic of food and fuel shortages in rural Alaska is starting to come up in regular conversation with friends, [...]

Rick Steiner Speaks on “Crisis in the Oceans and Free Speech” Professor Rick Steiner, who recently lost federal grant money for being too “mavericky” in speaking out for sustainable oceans, will be speaking on Sunday morning, March 22 at the Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 3201 Turnagain St. in Anchorage.  Mark your calendars now, and be [...]