Open Thread – Skilak Lake
29 11 2009
The official Mudflats aviator “Mudflatter Don” is back! I love when he does a “fly by” over my inbox and leaves pictures he’s taken on his Alaskan flying adventures. Here’s a beautiful shot of Skilak (skee-lack) Lake on the Kenai Penninsula, south of Anchorage. He and his flying companions stopped off last week at the Quartz Creek airstrip and enjoyed a lunch of “$100 buffalo burgers.” (well…after you factor in gas, etc.) He reports temperatures in the 20s and smooth flying all the way.
November 30th, 2009 at 12:14 AM
I love Skilak Lake! Camping there years ago, I had to leap on to my dog several feet away as he was heading into the trees to investigate some squealing bear cubs! Luckily for all of us I caught him just in time. We were such chickens – we hung out in the ‘Burb for at least an hour with all the doors locked (2 dogs, 4 people). Just in case the mama bear had a key you know.
November 30th, 2009 at 12:51 AM
Beautiful. Nature is the greatest artist.
November 30th, 2009 at 1:50 AM
It looks so beautiful, but so cold! This is the sort of picture I enjoy a lot more in the summer.
November 30th, 2009 at 2:01 AM
Gorgeous photo and to see those brightest white peaks in the distance are awesome!
I almost felt embarassed for Palin as I just read Geoffrey Dunne’s latest posting. Note I said almost….. if her face doesn’t get a little red, then she reaffirms to the rest of us that she has zero integrity and character.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/geoffrey-dunn/palins-latest-emrogueem-g_b_373453.html
There are still some families in Nunam Iqua who need some assistance. Ann is matching up groups of people to share in adopting families. Any help, no matter the size, is very welcome. Check out the newest post at Anonymous Bloggers if you can help.
Happy Monday to all.
November 30th, 2009 at 3:38 AM
just gorgeous
November 30th, 2009 at 4:02 AM
What an amazingly beautiful place Alaska is . . . .
November 30th, 2009 at 4:58 AM
Looks like the illustration on my bottle of “Cold Activated Coors Light.”
November 30th, 2009 at 5:00 AM
For the Holidays, we gave ourselves a new computer and since (FINALLY) Verizon got a DSL up our way (been talking about it for 3 years) we can now do Google Earth. Whenever you mention a place or if I just have time on my hands. I’m Google Earthing Alaska.
This lake is huge and it’s beautiful.
I love counting in the gas on the burger cost.
November 30th, 2009 at 5:09 AM
Is that Sarah’s wedding ring that I see twinkling?
November 30th, 2009 at 5:19 AM
Majestic
November 30th, 2009 at 5:25 AM
The photo reminds me of this gem, “Denali, the great one, soaring under the midnight sun. And then the extremes. In the winter time it’s the frozen road that is competing with the view of ice fogged frigid beauty, the cold though, doesn’t it split the Cheechakos from the Sourdoughs?” A classic, don’t you all agree?
November 30th, 2009 at 5:39 AM
Beautiful Picture!
Come to Alaska and do a float trip from Kenai Lake in Cooper Landing to the Upper Skilak Lake Campgrounds – it is marvelous.
You go through the Kenai Canyon (!) on the blue waters of the Kenai River.
You can also do a nice hike on the Skilak Lake Overlook Trail, and see the lake, the glacier and lots of mountains.
Bring your bear spray and bear bells, though.
Come on up.
November 30th, 2009 at 6:14 AM
very nice.
as an aside, before coffee this morning, I opened an e-mail from a cop in RI that I know. It was one of those “Obama bad, Palin good” ones. I don’t usually even open political ones, but I didn’t expect one from him. It was one that uses Snopes as it’s source.
It was one of those ones that ends with “Keep this going!!!” and had the Michelle Obama assistant costs in it.. you’ve probably seen it. It was all “Rah Rah” about how much good Palin did for Alaska!!! If I had coffee in my mouth I would have spewed it.
Anyway, since I was pre-coffee, I let fly with a response. I listed probably 20 things about $P that the regular people don’t know, and told him to google them all. I also gave him links to some of the blogs to read, making sure to include the one by Evangel at firstthings.com because I wanted to show that the “other side” even thinks she’s a bit of a liar and a loon.
I encouraged him to get informed before sending out those stupid e-mails, no matter what his feelings are about President Obama. I told him that no matter what his politics are, that supporting Palin in any way was dangerous and ill-informed. I brought up all the “gates” I could remember… and I shocked myself as to how informed I actually am! Thank you AKM and the other AK bloggers.
I’m having my coffee now, so you’re all safe now!
November 30th, 2009 at 6:38 AM
Good work, Ripley. Keep fighting the good fight.
November 30th, 2009 at 7:36 AM
Geoffrey Dunn named Ms. Ivy Frye in his Huff Po piece….I bet heads are spinning this morning!
November 30th, 2009 at 8:03 AM
As someone from the NE, I look forward to these beautiful pictures from Alaska! Breathtaking to be sure. Thanks for sharing. They add such perspective to an otherwise upside down world.
November 30th, 2009 at 8:12 AM
The High Priestess of Hatred’s latest FB: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/30/palin-facebook-page-featu_n_373819.html
She really needs to be stopped, I am livid. How dare she spread this garbage. Alaskans, whatever you know that could take her down, you need to speak up NOW!
November 30th, 2009 at 8:56 AM
Here’s what happens when you give an Italian cop a hi-power sports car…..
http://images.corriereobjects.it/gallery/Cronache/2009/11_Novembre/lambo/1/img_1/LAMBO_01_672-458_resize.jpg
November 30th, 2009 at 8:58 AM
Joe McGinniss picked “the phony bus tour” up from Palingates, heh heh
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-11-29/palins-bus-hoax/?cid=hp:mainpromo2
November 30th, 2009 at 9:00 AM
Sarah wings her way around the USA (when her fans cheered that she was taking the bus).
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/11/the-gulfstream-populist.html#more
More of the ridiculous Palin charade.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:03 AM
The airplane is 4000.00 per hour! Fiscal Conservatism yeah!
November 30th, 2009 at 9:04 AM
laprofesora @17 – I was just coming over here to type that very same thing. I am BESIDE myself . I read her post and then read the letter from Estes and am about to blow a gasket. If that was indeed a letter truly written by a 95 year old veteran, I’m willing accept his right to speak his mind. But for her to co-opt it as she has is beyond the beyond.
Personally, even though Snopes has semi traced it back to an actual veteran, I find it hard to believe that those words and phrases actually came from a 95 year old man. This guy has not been contacted directly yet and it’s only hearsay that the words are entirely his. It could be partially his idea but it seems doctored. There are phrases in there that don’t sit right. But again, even if they are his, for palin to use them in her freakin’ facebook posting is just too much. I swear to goodness, as of today I am redoubling the time I have been putting in to get this woman seen for what she is.
If you have Palin related articles & videos that you feel shed true light on her, please go to http://www.PalinDigest.presspublisher.us and use the email address at the bottom of the page. Thanks. I’ve absolutely had it with this horrible person. Earlier today I took a long walk trying to remind myself that she is part of the life web, to try remembering that she is a product of upbringing and religious brainwashing. Then I come home to read this and that was it. She is dangerous and toxic. She’s got to go.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:07 AM
Absolutely beautiful! Having flown over Denali in the winter time when it was absolutely crisp, clear, and cloudless, the photo brought back the smell of the air and it brought back that flight. I can feel that cold all over again. Wonderful!
November 30th, 2009 at 9:20 AM
What a lovely peaceful scene. After the assassinations of four police officers yesterday in my neck of the woods, and the ongoing search for the alleged assassin, I needed this beauty to provide balm to my spirit.
But of course, the truth that this assassin had his sentence commuted by Huckabee who takes no responsibility for the ensuing havoc waged by this man but instead places it on law enforcement/judges in Arkansas and Washington states just blows my mind. Agreed, this man has been allowed out of custody way too many times, but this could not have happened at all if Huckabee had not intervened nine years ago.
And now this letter from a man who professes to be living in a retirement community outside Pearl Harbor HI but signs off from McAlpin FL (picked this up on other comments) has my heart racing again.
Thus, I am going to go back and drink my fill of this lovely lake again. Thanks for these moments of serenity in a world of hate these days.
November 30th, 2009 at 10:08 AM
@17 laprofesora & 22 BuffaloGal
I’m with you guys. Usually I can just laugh her off, but this is enraging. The high school basketball mentality (”in it to win it”) applied to Afghanistan? She FB-posts the death rattle of a pompous WWII vet who should wipe the drool off his chin long enough to ponder the complexities of Vietnam: “Patriots: The Vietnam War Remembered from All Sides” or ” A Rumor of War.” Then start on
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/oct/20/opinion/oe-dorronsoro20?pg=1 and see that ever being “greeted as liberators” there is not so likely.
In Palin’s numbnuts view, health care is easy (the insurance companies will provide for us), war & diplomacy & justice is pretty much “hang ‘em high,” and any other environmental or social policy is “I’m a mama bear grabbin’ all I can for me & my cubs, screw the rest of you.” (Until the Rapture when Gawd swoops up her and her pals to a really nice place, kinda like the Four Seasons.) Common sense, pah. It is worthwhile to make sure her view stays out on the lunatic fringe.
November 30th, 2009 at 10:19 AM
The Washington Post hosted a focus group about Palin with Independents and Republicans, you can watch it here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2009/11/30/VI2009113002196.html?sid=ST2009113000012
On Palin’s bus (luxury jet) tour–if anyone is going to one of her book signings, it might be an idea to get out to the airport and try to snap a few pictures of Princess Palin exiting her aircraft.
Yep, you betcha…she’s one of the people. I often travel from place to place in a $4,000/hr private jet but tell everyone that I’m taking the bus cause I’m one of them. I also publicize that I’ll be running in a race then pull out of the race because there will be too many people at the end of the race (all cause I told them I’d be there), but I really don’t want all that publicity. Yep, she’s one of us alrighty.
November 30th, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Second cartoon down re McCain (from NYT oped page yesterday)
http://www.newsday.com/opinion/walt-handelsman-1.812005
November 30th, 2009 at 11:56 AM
sooooo off the current topics charts but…
i need to know if Zhu Zhu Pets are appropriate for 2 1/2 year olds.
(forgive the transgression. i just found out that grandaughter is coming here for the holidays and i have no gifts!)
(sorry, akm, also too and there)
November 30th, 2009 at 12:04 PM
HuffPo is full of Palin this afternoon and we all know what Palin is full of. Here’s an article by Geoffrey Dunn exposing Sarah and her team for not even being able to accurately quote John Wooten…they quoted John Wooden Legs and only part of his quote.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/geoffrey-dunn/palins-latest-emrogueem-g_b_373453.html
November 30th, 2009 at 12:19 PM
My son is concerned about me because of my obsession with Palin, so I told myself on Sunday that I would take a do-not-click on Palin articles for this week. Well, as you can all that did not go so well.
Now, I know why the obsession, Sarah Palin is dangerous. Her and her troop of followers/believers are dangerous. BuffaloGal (#) put it way better than I can. All I know, is that she needs to be watched and watched closely. Every lie that spews forth needs to be documented…I’ve never meet anyone like SP and I hope I never do. Someone that is so comfortable with lying that they don’t even recognize the truth. Her lies are her truths. I think she honestly believes them no matter which version she’s telling.
I had never seen this article before, but it’s worth checking out…it points out how Sarah lies about everything, not just the big stuff. It looks like she even lied about the weather.
http://alaskadispatch.com/news/politics/3059-palin-hunting-devils-in-the-details
November 30th, 2009 at 12:46 PM
I am pretty sure you can see Russia on the horizon.
November 30th, 2009 at 2:54 PM
Arctic ice thinning. I find this especially troubling after spending time just looking at the lovely picture above.
http://crooksandliars.com/
November 30th, 2009 at 2:55 PM
Sounds like the letter writer is a real person
From 2003 newsletter
http://www.navyleague.org/sea_power/sep_03_46.php
The idea for the show came from a dyed-in-the-wool Sailor, retired Navy Chief Boatswain’s Mate Harold B. Estes of Honolulu. It was Estes–a charter member of the council, a Navy League life member, and a past national vice president who is now a national director emeritus–who urged Bigelow, as president of the East Oahu Council, to go on TV with his stories about the sea services.
November 30th, 2009 at 3:01 PM
… rest of my comment
and from 2000 newsletter
“Navy Leaguer of the Year” Harold B. Estes of Honolulu was selected to receive the League’s 1999 Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor the Navy League bestows on one of its own members;
November 30th, 2009 at 3:08 PM
If you click on the link above for Crooksandliars.com scroll down to the article about food stamps and Wall St. luxury spending. It says 1 out of 8 adults and 1 out of 4 children receive food stamps. I worked in the food stamp program for close to 10 years and never saw figures like this.
I guess this is how the repubs intend to take care of our children once they are born…by keeping them in poverty.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:26 PM
Just in case we haven’t been Palinized enough today –
Another HuffPo article regarding “The Book”
[snip]
In the past, Palin could blame Katie Couric for leaving her more substantive answers on the cutting room floor. She could blame the liberal media for engaging in “gotcha journalism.” But now, she only has herself to blame for the consistently hypocritical persona she presents in Going Rogue. In Palin’s words, “I want people to read my book so they can read unfiltered what my values are, what my record is, what my accomplishments are…” Based on the book, her overriding moral code seems to be, “I’m going to look good at all cost, even if it means throwing everyone else under the bus.”
read more @ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mario-almonte/sarah-palin-spins-out-of_b_373792.html
November 30th, 2009 at 4:48 PM
Reminds me of the year we lived out in Denver CO. We would drive up in the mountains to cool off. The beautiful lakes in the valley’s and craters.Drives thru the tunnels.Being on the point where the rivers and streams go the opposite direction.