Did You Feel It?
I’ve had two phone calls and three emails asking that question.
The answer is Yes!
And the question, as anyone in Alaska will know, means we had an earthquake. It felt pretty strong here in Anchorage. Earthquakes have personalities, and this one was kind of an in-your-face sudden jolt, followed by just a bit of low rolling. It was over very quickly, and everything stayed on shelves….at least in Anchorage.
It measured about 4.7 on the Richter scale, and the epicenter was in the Matanuska Valley.
Details for earthquake wonks at The Alaska Report.
Alaska’s got it all! Volcanoes, and Earthquakes, and Corruption – oh my!
The Gods are angry with GINO!
DD
Hi! I sure didn’t like the roller coaster ride I got here in Palmer. But nothing came apart or fell over so I guess I’m OK with things. I have noticed that Yahoo is giving me fits when I try and check my mail. Must be something wrong with a lead to some server or other.
That’s interesting; here it was a rumble and a roll/sway/roll/sway. And the dog barking. ADN has lots of comments from folks who felt it. And it (and the aftershocks) shows quite nicely on the Redoubt seismic recorders!
Yowza! I said to some friends that the epicenter had to be close because the building I’m in was talking to me – the foundation, the rafters, and all the nails inbetween. Everyone – find the closest beam to stand under!
Yes! It was so strong in Wasilla!
Yeah, I felt it, even here in Venezuela. Guess it was a sympathy rumble from the Andes Mountain chain, about 2 seconds of the building deeply shaking, but all the dishes remain on the shelves. We are all connected at our core.
@DuckDriver – I reckon you are so right – the gods are very, very unhappy with GINO…..
I hope all the mudpups are spared from God’s wrath directed at Sarah Palin. Proximity is a dangerous thing–as if you needed yet another reason to avoid GINO
Keep safe up there, Alaskans!
Here in north Anchorage, the room just jolted suddenly, and the people walking in the halls didn’t even feel it. I felt it, though!
No, driving!
Earthquake directly caused by judge ordering Steven’s prosecutors investigated – 4.7 indirectly caused by Bush Administration-appointed DOJ inept/corrupt prosecutors who royally screwed up case against former Senator………
News at 11!
(Note – also posted on ADN forum)
Reposting this where it is at least ON topic!
I’ve lived on a fault line (Isle de Montreal) and, believe me, the aftershocks can cause a lot of damage, too. I remember one rumbler where nothing was knocked over, but was displaced enough (over uneven floors) so that the minor aftershock brought a fully loaded bookcase down on my bed. Take care, all, and shift the china back to where it was before the 4.5er!
I didn’t feel it, but I heard about it very soon after it happened (on the previous thread).
Stay safe!!
Heard about this on public radio today: http://www.hss.state.ak.us/dpa/programs/hap/
Income levels have been raised for those who can qualify for financial assistance with heating bills. So, even if you’ve not qualified in the past, you might do so under the new rules. Please, Alaskans, check it out, and pass it on so that everyone can get the help that they need.
Of course I didn’t feel it. Being in Ireland and all…..
Do take care. Earthquake keeps returning in central Italy. If you can`t make it out of the house: some have survived under their beds. A lucky few.
I wouldn’t be surprisedI felt something here in So. CA. I didn’t check the clock but think it was between 12 and 1pm. It’s not listed on the USGS site; so, if it was an earthquake, it was a little one.
Stay safe up there.
I can’t imagine. Be safe.
My name is Lance and I am an earthquake wonk.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/index.php
O T
Sarah can’t simply pick a name out of a hat.. (maybe Piper can help out..?)
but CNN is reporting that GINO is speaking out against President Obama. Trying to ‘stay in the spotlight’ … of course. The topic- about the missile defense … etc.
She needs to watch Bristol… and the Volcano. Obama can handle the rest.
Are you quite sure it was an earthquake and not Bible Spice dropping her eyebrow pencil?
sheesh, as if you didn’t have enough to worry about!
Take a deep breath Alaskans… something is rumbling under the surface and I suspect it’s about to blow. (not the volcano, though! *crossing fingers*)
O T
The Daily Kos is reporting that all of the remaining ballot votes have been counted now… and Franken Wins… his lead was increased.
Of course the GOP will try to tie it up in the Courts now.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/4/7/717464/-BREAKING:-MN-Sen:-Franken-WINS!!!!!!!
It is snowing now. * * * * **
For those who want to, go to http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/dyfi/ and fill out the questionaire if you felt it, or even if you did not. Last I looked there were 99 responses.
That sharp jolt at the beginning (which is often audible) is the arrival of the primary P wave which travels slightly faster than the S waves which you sense as the rolling motion, if you are relatively close to the epicenter the time difference between the two can be used to make an educated guess as to the distance.
There have been 3 aftershocks so far, one much deeper, one much shallower and one about the same depth.
Not even a “flutter” down here in MT
Pity – was hoping to head home early
My girl S. Moore @ HuffPost says it all!
“The governor has obviously misread the rules. She does NOT get to submit names. She approves someone from a list submitted by the Juneau Democrats!”
The weather is definitely quirky all over…we’re supposed to get snow showers tonight! I could not be more thrilled that I’m heading to Florida on Friday. We don’t have Spring here anymore… it goes straight from Winter to Summer the past few years…. I love Spring! I miss it.!
I had to go look it up but the time difference between the arrival of P and S waves is multiplied by 8 km/s to give an approximate distance to the epicenter. If the distance is greater than about 150-200 km you won’t feel the P wave at all because they are absorbed relatively quickly.
Also my previous comment is being filtered so it may appear out of sequence, I guess because I put in the URL for the USGS site ….
Poor Alaska! What next?? My money is on “swarm of locusts” as you already have Palin covering the “pestilence” part of the equation.
Stay safe AKM and other AK puppies! Move your laptops under doorways and maybe add a football helmet to your pj’s outfit.
Oh yeah, and it’s SNOWING here in VA after a 70 degree day on Sunday. Too bad GINO doesn’t believe in global climate change!
DuckDriver Says:
“The Gods are angry with GINO!”
YES!
On the other hand hope no one has been hurt.
GiNO is like a gnat…somebody get the bug spray.
Honest…”CNN is reporting that GINO is speaking out against President Obama.”
All the more reason WE must speak agains her…instead of paying attention to AK, GiNO keeps trying to put herself on the national stage….
Why can’t the Rethugs just leave Minnesota alone – Franken has won! Hope everyone stays safe, well most everyone. After all, I am sure the Gods of mad at GINO!
I didn’t feel it here in Oregon, but I got the email about it from the USGS right away. I’ve been on their maillist since the last big tsunami.
I was outside working in the garden when we heard Mt. Saint Helens blow in 1980.
I think God is sending GINO another message…and he’s getting really impatient with her refusal to listen.
Stay safe you guys – we’re hovering at 92 and no earthquakes in Arizona! But having grown up in Seattle, I feel your pain and uncertainty (and that’s just the earthquakes!!!)
Maybe GINO can wave her witch’s wand and make them stop? It has worked SO well with her volcano.
Mother Earth is reminding humans that she is, in fact, the one in charge.
Empathy to Italians who have lost so much at this time.
Minnesota’s Republican governor has to certify the vote? Will he?
been meaning to tell ya Erin……I love your little gravitar pic, lol, nothing like the behind of a diaper toddler in pj’s, too cute!
God I hope it swallowed Palin!
Way OT, but I’d like an answer to this and haven’t seen it in any comments. According to CNN, when Palin asked that the missile program not be cut, she said,
“I am deeply concerned with North Korea’s development and testing program which has clear potential of impacting Alaska, a sovereign state of the United States, with a potentially nuclear armed warhead,” she said in the statement. “?
Now, how is Alaska “sovereign.”? Is it now a nation-state? Is it superior in rank to the US? Does it have a queen? I mean a real one recognized by other states and nation, not just herself and her personal serfs.
This seems pretty darned stupid to me.
I can imagine her now, face and hands pressed to the window with her bunny tail all a quiver….just waiting for a glimpse of Putin!
sorry off topic………do you think Palin is punishing the legislature because of the contempt charges filed to her hubby and those in her administration?
BTW………awesome article Shannyn on Huffpo!!! you tell em!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shannyn-moore/face-it-alaska-palins-jus_b_184203.html#
It was about 1 mile from home here. Got a little creaking from the structure but no shaking or any damage. Scared the cr@p out of the cats though!
I live in Eagle River, 9 miles from the epicenter and it scared the crap out of me. I thought a bomb had gone off under my house. But enough of that as long as we don’t get it like Italy. Off topic: can someone tell me what you all mean by GINO? I must have missed a definition somewhere.
@madmatriarch –
Gov In Name Only. Waves from across the road (or thereabouts, since I’m in ER too)…
Hi Dennis, glad you’re okay, long time no hear much from you!
@CA dreamin of AK
“with a potentially nuclear armed warhead”
A rocket armed with a nuclear device (including fuel expenses), is prohibitively expensive. One can’t imagine that the North Koreans-and they aren’t really all that wealthy-would want to waste any rockets on Alaska. Really, they might be crazy, but they aren’t stupid.
You know what they say. Waste not want not.
The P wave was caused by God slamming the door shut in Palin’s face–after finallty getting her foot back outside. The S waves were her shaking in rage and stomping her naughty monkey shoes.
Being from the CA coast, where I lived at one time about 1 mile from the San Andreas fault, if takes a bigger earthquake to even be noticed by me or my family. Nevertheless, stay safe.
BTW, AKM, one thing I like about your blog is you DO know how to use apostrophes.
Ed Shultz and Hardball shows have both made comments about GINO’S sovereign state quote, they are wondering what she meant by that!!! Can’t wait for KO and Rachel, should be good. The lady is CLUELESS!!! She is either doing and saying all of this on purpose to get attention or she is totally a stupid person, the only people I’ve met like this are on drugs for philological reasons!!!
It was Bristol playing the new Eminem song about her mother too loud……..
@BigPete:
The North Koreans have never been known to spare a peasant a little malnutrition in order to pay for more military hardware. Their hats alone are so big they must cost a fortune. Makes one wonder just what they’re compensating for!
GINO–Governor In Name Only
If anyone has a link to KO’s or another’s comments about “sovereign state,” I’d sure like to look. I don’t have TV of any kind. Gives me more time to blog in my PJ’s, I guess.
AKM, what did Brian say about the earhquake. We’ve heard the dogs and cats were giving their opinions.
I’m guessing Brian said,
Moosst awful earthquake!!
Hope that the lack of permits on the Palin “house” didn’t mean it wasn’t earthquake safe…Oh, those pesky regulations!
I’ve got a moose cow laying in my back yard catching some rays right now. Maybe she knows Brian. I’ll go ask her if she’s talked to him today. Believe it or not, one my cats was outside lying NEXT to the moose about an hour ago. That’s OK though cuz our dog is this cat’s BFF. She’s all interspecies like that. Nope, the cat days the moose outside doesn’t know Brian. Apparently valley moose like her don’t talk much to city moose like Brian. Sorry.
Hi SMR. I’ve been checking in regularly, just not posting much. I’m so annoyed with Queen Sarah these days that I don’t trust myself to post anything civil. Speaking of Her Majesty, have you read Shannyn Moore’s latest. Excellent as always.
Palin and Bachmann are giving women with good brains and healthy intellects a very bad name. I’m actually embarassed for all thinking, rational and stable American females. It is difficult to understand how this type can be elected, let alone be taken seriously. Jaw-dropping incredulity that these types can even get a handful of votes. It doesn’t speak well of their electorate. WE really do have to improve our education levels.
56 akdennis Says:
April 7th, 2009 at 3:43 PM
I’ve got a moose cow laying in my back yard catching some rays right now.
_____________
What’s she laying? Easter eggs? Sorry, one of my pet peeves. She is actually lying in your back yard.
akdennis Says:
April 7th, 2009 at 3:43 PM
I’ve got a moose cow laying in my back yard catching some rays right now. Maybe she knows Brian. I’ll go ask her if she’s talked to him today. Believe it or not, one my cats was outside lying NEXT to the moose about an hour ago. That’s OK though cuz our dog is this cat’s BFF. She’s all interspecies like that. Nope, the cat days the moose outside doesn’t know Brian. Apparently valley moose like her don’t talk much to city moose like Brian. Sorry.
~~~~
akdennis-I would love to see a pic of your kitty w/Brenda’s cuz! My dog goes out in the back yard and tans her nose! She has a snow nose, lol!
I was on a conference call with Anchorage folks over the lunch hour. They had to interrupt the call to crawl under the conference table! After a short wait they climbed back out and resumed the meeting.
Definition of SOVEREIGN STATE–from Die Net.com–A state which administers it’s own government, and is not dependent upon, or subject to, another power. OMG-GINO does think she is the Queen!!! Maybe Alaska did secede from the union???
WinkWink…GiNO had a flashback to her AIP days…
winkwinkWA Says:
April 7th, 2009 at 3:53 PM — they must be smoking something. Or breaking into homes to pay for a drug habit!
I, too, want to see pictures of the cat with the moose.
I heard the quake before I felt it. I really rocked my house. The S waves reminded me of that 7 pointer near Fairbanks a few years back.
With regard to Sarah’s North Korea press release: Do you suppose Sarah is working from the AIP constitution, instead of the US constitution? She has twice used the term ‘sovereign state’ to define Alaska in recent press releases.
Her use of that term should be reason enough for us to Impeach her. She is behaving like a dictator!
To Shannyn Moore: Great article at Huff-Po!
Maybe that is why she is trying to be a little dictator….Remember they have been referring to themselves as the first family. Wow congrats ya’ll you have seceded and didn’t know it.
““The governor has obviously misread the rules. She does NOT get to submit names. She approves someone from a list submitted by the Juneau Democrats!””
No. If GINO didn’t make up the rule, it isn’t a rule.
re: SOVEREIGN STATE : She is too stupid to know what the phrase means; therefore, she uses it incorrectly.
I’m with Sue. But her press release writers should know better. Maybe they are the AIPers.
CA Dreamin – AKM, what did Brian say about the earhquake. We’ve heard the dogs and cats were giving their opinions.
_____________________
He might have “moosed” himself!
Hanoi Jane, meet Pyongyang palin
Hey, California’s got all that too, albeit on a much smaller scale and more in control.
Just drop that woman down the volcano. You know that’s what it wants, right? Can’t you just hear her on the way down?
“Also, tooOoooooOooooooOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooo!”
@Vlad the Impalin: It is difficult to understand how this type can be elected, let alone be taken seriously. Jaw-dropping incredulity that these types can even get a handful of votes. It doesn’t speak well of their electorate.
————-
same voter-types that shot up two police officers b/c he thought PO was going to take away his guns! Man, are they out there or what??!!! (literally & figuratively)
I just found out about your earthquake. A 4.7 is enough to get your attention.
I speak from experience having been through the Northridge Earthquake of the early 1970s and feeling the more recent one that semi-destroyed my alma mater in Northridge, although I lived hours away.
Pssst, I can see the San Andreas Fault from my house – yes, I can! It looks like a mellow mountain range until it starts going haywire.
Between the volcano, an earthquake, and GINO… things have been quite explosive in your neck of the woods. Glad that all mudpuppies and even those on the dark side wasn’t too affected by this shake up.
Palin is beginning to sound like Toddler Laws.
http://www.murphys-laws.com/murphy/murphy-toddler.htm
The intensity of the tantrum is directly proportional to the amount of people around to witness.
If it’s mine it’s mine,
if it’s yours it’s mine,
if I like it is mine,
if I can take it from you it is mine,
if I am playing with something ALL of the pieces are mine,
if I think it is mine it is,
if I saw it first it’s mine,
if I had it then put it down it is still mine,
if you had it then you put it down it is now mine,
if it looks like the one I have at home it is mine,
if it is broken it is yours.
If I make a mess you must clean it up
If I broke it, its your fault
If I hid it well enough it will always be mine
Dear Sarah,
The only other “sovereign” governments within the USA, aside from our US Federal Government, are the American Indian sovereign tribal nations.
Alaska is not a sovereign state or nation. Alaska is one of 50 states which make up the United States of America.
When you became governor of Alaska, you should have dropped the Alaskan Independence Party vocabulary from your memory banks.
@tealwomin
OT…From a previous thread. Go Tarheels. I lived in Chapel Hill when they won in the 50′s. Big fire in the middle of Franklin Street. Sorry, she says sheepishly.
4.7 on 4/7…
Go figure!
Another example of the spirits of the natives coming back to show their dislike for what is happening to the “sovereign” state under GINO’s rule. Watch out and be safe. They are mad as heck!
Is it just me or is SP using some strange terms these days? Things like “Alaska’s birthright” in her Op Ed recently, and now “sovereign state.” Sarah, your AIP roots are showing!
Awww, AK Dennis, moose cat.
mlaiuppa–funny!
I hate I’m here in boring ol’ Tennessee with nothing but a slightly cloudy cold day in which a percentage of the locals stayed home r/t a forecast of ‘possible snow flurries’…hehe
I missed the ‘big one’ in ’64 ’cause I was in college in Michigan….whine and cry…maybe I can follow your fearless wolf hunting leader, reaction wise…
Oh…but, I remember Mt Spurr laying it on us big time there in Anchorage in ’53…I was 8 and knew that something was funny when I woke up at 0900 and it was pitch dark outside…I think I still have some of that fine silt in the corners of some old bags in the closet.
uh oh…I wonder if SP can still see Russia through the ash…or maybe she’ll see that it’s God’s ‘fire and brimstone’ coming to get her…
oh..wait…this is a ‘red’ state I’m in…I’m sure the news here will have plenty to say about your ‘fire and brimstone’ being the result of whatever gay population or the liberals up there…it can be depended upon…they might even through up a billboard or two to remind the rest of us of how fun it is living in the ‘buckle of the Bible belt’…
@ds55. I didn’t get it either… Here is the recently passed House resolution 9.
http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill_text.asp?hsid=HR0009A&session=26
I agree though. Gov Palin and AG (in name only) Ross make it sound like Alaska is under attack.
snowbound Says:
April 7th, 2009 at 5:00 PM
I agree though. Gov Palin and AG (in name only) Ross make it sound like Alaska is under attack.
Hey! AG (in name only) = AGINO!
I just googled ‘sovereign state of Connecticut’ and got a couple of hits:
“…it is interpreted to permit a private company to bring suit against a sovereign state in federal court to challenge the state’s denial of water quality certification.”
From http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Sovereign+state
SOVEREIGN STATE. One which governs itself independently of any foreign power.
Who wants to bet me that part of AGINO’s interim duties includes a lot of writing for GINO?
@akdennis –
I know how you feel! I am all palin’d out. Total overload/burnout. It just. never. ends.
And of course the big question of who we will get as the mayor… biting nails.
Sorry you couldn’t make it to my gathering way back when for you know who. I am putting together a trip for my eldest (graduating in May) & I to go to Juneau next month. Mudstock in Juneau!
Then it is up-stakes for us, around May 20th, heading off to new adventures in Canada, with Bible Spice & all of her craziness in the rear-view mirror. Canada mudstock!
Enjoy the moose, and the cat and the snow and the political craziness — I will still be dropping in at the ‘Flats, of course, but will be faaaaar away!
@snowbound –
What. in. the. he%%. is. that. all. about? I cannot conceive what possible use that bill would be, what the point of it is, how it would/could get passed.
That is the most seriously disturbing piece of legislation that I have ever seen in our state. How did that happen? I’m stymied.
Any lawyers here or anyone else who can shed light on snowbound’s link at number 84 (sorry I don’t actually have one of those hash mark signs on my keyboard)?
I hope PO takes her up on this threat…and we can happily go back to 49 states.
I’m palin’d out myself…to HELL with her and her taken-out-of-context, anti-American sentiment.
re: “sovereign state” –
She’s been talking like this more and more lately. You don’t suppose there’s some new party a-brewin’, do you? or that maybe AIP is aligning itself with a faction of the GOP?
I really think Charlie’s Angels (do we have any in AK?) need to infiltrate and check this out!
———
re: earthquake -
My very FIRST earthquake was in Anchorage! Was at a conference in the basement of the Captain Cook. We all knew what was going on, but when my spouse picked me up he was clueless … he thought the car parked in front of him had backed up and hit our truck! I had to tell him, “dear, that was an earthquake.” It was a pretty small one.
90 yukonbushgrma Says:
April 7th, 2009 at 5:57 Pm
I really think Charlie’s Angels (do we have any in AK?) need to infiltrate and check this out!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You rang ??
I have a question for those of you in Anchorage.
When do yours polls close… and how soon afterwards are the results known..?
Is it hand counting… or will they know electronically?
92 honestyinGov Says:
April 7th, 2009 at 6:07 PM
I have a question for those of you in Anchorage.
When do yours polls close… and how soon afterwards are the results known..?
Is it hand counting… or will they know electronically?
____________________________________________________________
If they are using Diebold machines , they already know the results.
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7040
OT – sorry, but it was brought up in the thread
The State Sovereignty thing is all part of the anti-socialist, “the federal government is getting too big and impinging on the rights of the states by forcing its help on the poor, disenfranchised, unemployed, uninsured, under-insured, foreclosed-upon (you know, not the REAL Americans)…” meme. Palin has latched onto it.
Doncha know…
phoebe…good old CH, NC…the summers were the best…miss it, the TH’s winning will have to do till I get a chance to come home…can’t wait till Obama invites them to the WH!
All Alaskans (and everyone else, I guess, lest this start some sort of precedent that should not be started!) should read this, linked by snowbound above.
Is this the answer to the scary sovereign wording question?
http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill_text.asp?hsid=HR0009A&session=26
I do NOT like this resolution, and have asked my local Senator (Dyson – ugh) and Rep (Fairclough) to provide me an explanation of this resolution, its meaning, its implications, its origins, intent and how it benefits Alaska.
And I’d really like to know who introduced it.
I think the basis for Resolution 9 is that the wingers are reserving their right to rip off for themselves without having to engage in commie things like citizenship and giving support to “the least of them”. God forbid that the Fed force them to meet any reasonable standard. I think they are upset that they have to do something about the sorry state of their schools and meet some standards. The wingers don’t believe in education for the peasants.
@SMR
Here is the sponsor statement of that resolution (state sovereignty)
http://housemajority.org/spon.php?id=26hr9
“Technically and legally, states are not “divisions” created from the United States, but units that compose the US, because the United States and the several states that constitute it operate with a system of parallel sovereignty.” – Wikipedia
Thus, “Alaska a sovereign state of the United States”.
SMR – Sponsors are listed as KELLY, Johnson, Keller, Harris, Gatto, Johansen, Dahlstrom, Wilson
@ SMR:
The sponsors are (not surprisingly) Reps. Kelly, Johnson, Keller, Harris, Gatto, Johansen, Dahlstrom, & Wilson. Ghostwriter would appear to be um… let’s see… Mark Chryson? What is the deal with this bill?? Is this a joke?
Here’s a link to the Legislature’s “Basis” website, where you can follow it:
http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill.asp?session=26&bill=HR%20%20%209
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090408/music_nm/us_palin_1
maybe the celebrity road will appeal to palin and she can forget politics for her millions…she can exercise her diva rights in the entertainment world, also too.
SMR:
http://www.therightsideoflife.com/?p=4217
@SMR:
Thanks for the link. That’s some funny reading. It offers the Legislature of the State of Alaska the opportunity to demonstrate that they are legally illiterate (or maybe not so).
I have no idea what Federal laws the author(s) is/are wired up about, but the “bill”, amongst all its “Whereas”s, ignores the fact that the Constitution grants pre-eminent authority in many areas to the Federal government, and explicitly authorizes the Federal government to compel the states to comply with Federal law in those areas.
This bill is so badly written that it doesn’t even matter that it is un-Constitutional on its face: it is either pointless, or — if one takes the assertion of state sovereignty as meaning the state is superior the Federal government — seditious.
The question of whether the Federal Union is the servant or the master of the States was resolved extrajudicially (Lee v. Grant) some years back.
Here’s an editorial from my local rag that could give some insight to the Guv’s problems. (can’t post a link because it is subscription).
Not unlike the federal bailout money for Detroit’s automakers, the economic stimulus money targeted for education comes with strings attached. And the leverage that those strings provide is expected to give the federal government the power to improve education standards, student outcomes and teacher quality across the nation.
The New York Times reported last week that Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has told governors that he wants detailed information from them before they can qualify for the second helping of federal stimulus money targeted for education.
The first round of federal money for education, amounting to about $44 billion, is being made available to schools immediately. A second phase of funding, however, amounting to about $54 billion, comes with strings attached.
The Times article notes that some, maybe most, governors will have a problem with Duncan’s requirements for receiving phase-two money. That’s because Duncan is demanding detailed performance data much of which could reveal embarrassing information before the second phase of money is released.
The Times article suggests that the information Duncan wants is expected to reveal that most states have dumbed down academic testing so that their students’ test scores are higher than when those same students take more rigorous tests administered by the federal Department of Education.
As evidence that dumbed-down tests and grade inflation are rampant across the country, the Times article noted that millions of high school graduates are being forced to enroll in remedial courses when they enter college. That fact, which was documented recently in Pennsylvania, is a clear indication that many public high schools are failing not only the students, but also the taxpayers funding the system.
The Times article also notes that the education data to be provided by the 50 governors are expected to show that most states have such a meaningless system of evaluating teachers that 99 percent of all teachers will be ranked as outstanding. Clearly, that’s not realistic.
In teaching, as in any other profession, people have a range of skills and effectiveness. And just as it’s true that not all accountants or all lawyers are excellent not all teachers are excellent. To suggest otherwise damages the credibility of state education departments, school districts and teachers unions.
For years, there has been speculation that state governments have dumbed down tests to make their students and teachers look better.
There also is solid evidence that states play games with their graduation figures to hide shockingly high dropout rates.
If Duncan’s inquiries reveal the truth, and explode the notion that public schools are doing a uniformly good job, he could be taking a first step toward raising talent in the classroom something President Barack Obama has pledged to do.
And properly identifying teacher talent could lead to merit pay for the most outstanding teachers, something else Obama has pledged to do.
And with merit pay for the best teachers as well as an exit path for the least-effective teachers something else Obama has promised, the quality of work done in the nation’s classrooms, will improve.
Obama has listed energy, health care and education as the pillars of his ambitious reform agenda. It’s encouraging to see Duncan taking early action that could lead to the kind of education reforms that are long overdue.
J.L.W.III
…is that ‘bill’ a JOKE?
Looks like a conservative dogwhistle/ shot across the bow re: state’s rights. Will make the AIP & “conservatives” very happy, but I’m sure it won’t stop them from taking stimulus money, no matter what strings are attached.
@Lainey, IMHO, the fact the Eminem is lampooning Palin just shows how people in his target demographic think she’s an old joke….
It is so tempting to say that Alaskan Republican senators & representatives are completely and utterly insane, except that I really looooove Hawker.
That Kelly has been listening to too much Limbaugh. I mean serious crazy time. I hope that the Feds give Alaska a HUGE smack-down on House Res 9 and that Alaska gets slapped with a lawsuit.
I need a big countdown clock to our moving day. A huge one, 6 feet high. And a dartboard that I can stick different faces up on. Kelly’s face would go on it, as well as the rest of the tinfoil wearing yahoos whose names are on that resolution, and our dear gov.
How in the world did that get passed?
Alaska seriously needs to get rid of the 90-day session, if that sort of shite is what is getting passed. The dems have to get on board with that one in order to get some money for schools and starving children, or something?
@ Professor Says:
April 7th, 2009 at 7:01 PM
@Lainey, IMHO, the fact the Eminem is lampooning Palin just shows how people in his target demographic think she’s an old joke….
_________
As much as I can’t stand her, that was a cheap shot by Eminem and it’s nothing to be proud of on our end.
Are you sure that was a real earthquake and not just the AIP rumbling?
This State Sovereignty bill sounds as though the AIP are on the marach. And, in all her posturing lately, Palin is showing her true loyalty. Her choice of WAR as AG would bring a whole new level of legal interpretations out. Make way for the Queen of the Independent Nation of Alaska.
Quoth Jimmy Buffett,
“Shake ‘n bake life with the quakes, the secret’s in the crust.”
It’s from a song called “Fruitcakes”, about how nutty everyone is. I think that might aptly describe Seam Tarah…
Hope you all are ok up there.
Re: the Eminem song…
Well, I’ve not listened to it. I’ve got an 18-yr old, so I really really had a thing against Eminem when he first became popular. It seemed to me that his songs glorified all of the worst of everything — violence against women, women as objects, drugs, guns, etc. Then I heard the song “Cleaning out my Closet” and I had to re-think that, it’s definately a soul-baring song.
As to his latest song, still not having heard it, but seeing something on HuffPo or Alternet or some site like that, it looked to me like it was satyrical or some such — a lot of popular people, popular for no discernible reason (say Paris Hilton or the Kardashians) or because they incite the angry mobs (Palin & Ellen DesGeneres (sp?)). The name of the song is “We Made You” and you must agree that SP is a perfect example of someone who has no credible thought or deed or anything of substance or value to add to the national equation, she has the popularity that she has because she appeals to the lowest common denominator &/or far-right wingnuts.
I think he was making a statement about our country, he was right on target, and so I have to like that about the song, whether or not it sounds good!
@WaCalGal, Sourdough & MonaLisa –
My first response to you all was eaten by spam. I don’t think my curse word was on the approved curse word list.
Anyway, thanks for the links. I’ve emailed my local senator (dyson, ick) and rep (Fairclough) asking for an explanation as to how it benefits Alaska, among other things.
I hope that our state gets sued. I would think that this is unconstitutional. What a dangerous precedent, and what a shameful bit of legislation to have to our state’s credit. It smacks of Confederate b.s., next step secession?
I am disappointed that this was able to pass, to say the least. It gives me a thorough disgust of our legislators, all of them. Did the Dems have to go along with this to get children & senior citizens fed? It is time for the 90-day session to go away. Too many back-door deals & compromises, going along to get along to get things passed.
Alaska politics sucks more and more every single day.
Oh yes, have also emailed it to Andrew Sullivan, hopefully it will make it to his list, perhaps qualify for either the Malkin or Hewitt award.
Sending it to Keith O and Rachel next. Bet they’re jumping all over the sovereign thing, and this is right up their alley…
I remember the 1964 Anchorage earthquake from the front page of my paper in California. I was 8. They had a picture of a broken store front window with Easter stuff in disarray–you know. Stuffed bunnies and such. I was so concerned that, if stores and stuffed animals could be smashed, that kids might have gotten hurt. My parents told me everyone was OK, but today I started thinking that maybe they just told me that because I was so young and also worried about my aunt and uncle and their baby in Alaska. They were fine, though. They lived in Fairbanks. Not being a geographic wunderkind, anywhere in AK was too close to the earthquake for me. I dreamt about that newspaper photo off and on for years.
@Karin in CT: As much as I can’t stand her, that was a cheap shot by Eminem and it’s nothing to be proud of on our end.
”””””””””””””””’
I don’t see it as a cheap shot at all…she earns every negative comment with her words and actions, by us here on Mudflats or from Eminem.
I’m hoping @Professor is correct that “his target demographic think she’s an old joke”.
I think it’s funny and helpful to get the word out.
@SMR: SP is a perfect example of someone who has no credible thought or deed or anything of substance or value to add to the national equation, she has the popularity that she has because she appeals to the lowest common denominator
””””””””””””””””””’
you all know my opinion of the palin…I couldn’t agree more
the fact she appeals to ANYONE scares the H outta me!
From Andrew Halcro’s blog:
……..Salazar’s authority over federal lands and waters makes him a key player when it comes to Alaska issues due to the fact that 60% of Alaska is under federal ownership…..
Does this mean that Sarah’s Sovereign State is only 40% of Alaska?
Oops — I should have clarified about Ellen De. I love her, I think she’s great. However, she really gets those religious types riled up, you know, SP’s friends & fans… I actually think that she’s got a lot that she brings to the table, so I’m not sure why she’s included in that song/video, but there you go… I’d have to listen to watch the video to figure it out, maybe some day in the future.
OT – at Redstate – catch the last paragraph
http://www.redstate.com/josh_painter/2009/04/07/its-alive-the-first-sarah-palin-defense-fund/
We shall see; we shall see.
@ Rop Says:
April 7th, 2009 at 4:51 PM
4.7 on 4/7…Go figure!
””””””””””””””””””””””””””
Those were my thoughts exactly! There’s a distinct message up there somewhere…
I think it’s funny about the other Palin story on Huffpo…
“Sarah Palin Used To Attack GOP Candidate In Virginia”
The Democrats are using Sarah’s name and words in commercials to turn people off to get the Dems. elected. Too bad there is no one who will interview her and ask her to comment about this new tactic. Meg…?… what do you say…?
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1608698/20090407/eminem.jhtml
hilarious…catchy tune…palin is a riot….nobody can degrade better than Em.
palin belongs in this video!
Oh that bill! Is this George Wallace in Alabama revisited? States’ sovereignty sounds more appealing than states’ rights.
Whatabunchanuts.
I wish I had known decades ago that I could be a complete idiot and still get elected Somewhere. (Not that I am an idiot or want to be elected . . .)
Dragon Lady (#118)
I had never been to that website but since you linked it I was curious and checked it out. Funny Stuff. (Red state)
I liked the fact that they were quoting a PEW Poll that said Obama had the ‘highest’ disapproval rating EVER…? Sounds bad… Except…
The logic: Based the the fact that Most people vote him so High…. and yet GOP people vote him so Low… the difference between the two gives Obama a record disapproval number. (scratching my head…?)
It’s all ‘our ‘ fault then…. because we vote him so High. I would be sooooo embarrassed trying to explain this flawed thinking. Someone tell Sarah about this poll ‘ Obama’s highest disapproval ‘… and she may repeat it.
Pssstt….. can we email the Poll to her…anonymously..?
#114 @SMR et al:
re: HR 9
“I hope that our state gets sued. I would think that this is unconstitutional. What a dangerous precedent, and what a shameful bit of legislation to have to our state’s credit. It smacks of Confederate b.s., next step secession?
“I am disappointed that this was able to pass, to say the least. It gives me a thorough disgust of our legislators, all of them. Did the Dems have to go along with this to get children & senior citizens fed?”
———————
What TOTALLY DISGUSTS me the most is why we Alaskans never heard a word about this sh%t !!! This has the power to change the very fabric of my life as an Alaskan! — and what, I don’t even hear a word about it? WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE????? and they REPRESENT us???
re: HR 9
Looks like most of you have long since gone, but just have to get this said.
I think it went something like this. WAR starts advising GINO. She has this nasty ARRA thing to deal with, and she doesn’t want to even look at it. He says, “hey, we’ll just pass a resolution to declare Alaska a sovereign state, and make sure our resources are all ours and nobody else’s. And then, if they try to get our oil or gas, we can just take ‘em to court! So go ahead, Sarah, it’s OK, sign the d@mn thing.”
Not sayin’ that makes any sense, of course ….. but wouldn’t be surprised if something like that might have happened!
My thoughts this morning regarding HR 9 are first how the people who wrote it would address SP: ALL HAIL SARAH!
Of course the rest of the country uses a different address: AWWW HELL, SARAH!
Wow. The chaos theory is definitely in affect in Alaska!
And ADN appears to have nothing on the issue…
I just posted this on the wrong thread (this may be also, but at least it’s currently under discussion).
Would someone tell me if I’m reading this incorrectly? On that “Amendment 10″ idiocy… lines 17-19: “…all compulsory federal legislation that directs states to comply under threat of civil or criminal penalties or sanctions or requires states to pass
legislation or lose federal funding be prohibited or repealed.”
Could that be a ploy to get the stimulus funds, but without the “strings attached” – ? As in “we’ll take the money, but we’ll use it the way we want & you can’t stop us”
And Yukonbushgrma – you’ve probably hit the nail on the head.
wow
We who live in Cobb County, GA beat you to it…we had an earthquake earlier this week, and it was very faint, but like a very big rumbly freight train’s effect on your home.
Heck, when I lived in NYC in the early/mid 80′s we had one there too. That was at the time of all the cars having audible alarms go off if you touched the car or it got “moved”. Needless to say, every car alarm was blaring loud & clear, since everything shook a bit…
A person I talk to who is a republican made a remark about the new constitution party from the old GOP ??????? I still think if and thats a big if North Korea launched a rocket at anyone it would be at one of our west coast big cities.They have more people then the whole of Alaska,GINO is just looking for media coverage.If AIP took over all protection from the US would be gone along with the Base then where would she be.Just a thought.Another thought before I leave for the night if anyone is from or near Wallasa or Eagle river tell the whole Johnson family to watch their backs and remember what she did to her ex brother-in-law,Maybe that is why he is speaking out now to protect himself and his family from both her and the GOP!!!
@yukonbushgrandma –
It has passed the House (What the he##?) and is on its way to the Senate for voting. Contact your legislators! I did, got an interesting reply from mine, said it was likely to do with stimulus funds, then backtracked w/another email that said no, it was about the management of game, blah blah blah…
I have no hope for my rep & senator, they are in the can for any sort of craziness. The downside of life in my little pocket of Alaska crazy.
I agree that it’s infuriating that we heard nothing about this. I’m mystified as to why there is not some sort of public document that gets published as an insert in the local papers or available to be picked up at local government offices that explains each Resolution or Bill that is to be proposed, as well as the sponsor statement. The sponsor statement for HR 9 is just plain nuts. Sounds like something written by WAR (which actually wouldn’t surprise me if it were).