Odds and Ends and Robotic Clams
Honey, Lemon or a flask of Jack Daniels?
Got an extra $350 burning a hole in your pocket after the holidays? Well, pool those Christmas checks and get ready. For $350 you get to see Sarah Palin deliver the keynote speech at the National Tea Party Convention in scenic Nashville Tennessee! If she shows up! Toss in an additional $200 and you can attend the rest of the convention too. Maybe she’ll do what she did for the local Tea Party in Wasilla. I think she actually got out of the car for a few minutes! We can only hope.
Look, they’ve even got their own logo.
Hmmm… If you remove the angry bird of prey that looks like it’s going to rip your eyes out, and bend those red bars a little… it looks kind of familiar.
Just sayin’.
A Story
I stumbled across a wonderful website full of stories. The site says that “All elders 50 and over” are welcome to submit their stories to be published on the blog, which is called “The Elder Storytelling Place.” What a fantastic idea! And today I discovered a story written by Anchorage resident Jeanne Waite Follett that I wanted to share. The author takes a visit to the Anchorage Pioneer Home to visit a classmate who has had a stroke. It’s a sweet, funny, touching story. I hope you enjoy it!
Critical Habitat for Belugas
If you’re frustrated that you can’t attend the Citizens’ Advisory Council for the Alaska Department of Fish & Game meeting on Tuesday, here’s a little thing you can to to speak up for Alaska wildlife. Remember those damn beluga whales? The endangered ones that wannabe wildlife biologist, but instead corrupt GOP congressman Don Young just “knows” aren’t a separate species? The ones that just hang out in the Inlet to irritate Mayor Dan Sullivan? (You gotta love ‘em for that alone) You can click HERE and sign a petition supporting NOAA’s proposal to establishment a critical habitat area for the belugas. They would say thank you if they spoke English.
An Award for Ossiander
The Alaska Ear has given an obligatory round of year-end awards. Since Ossiander got dissed by the Muddies, I thought I’d post her achievement here.
I’M THE DECIDER AWARD . . . To Assembly chair Debbie Ossiander, who was shocked, just shocked, when a majority of the body she allegedly headed voted her out. Let’s see — when you’re the head of a political group and don’t know most of them want you gone, are you really the head of the group?
Good point.
Polar Bears in Seward??
Not polar bears like the big white carnivores of the arcitc, but polar bears like crazy people. Crazy in a good way, but crazy nonetheless. On January 14th, the good people of Seward, Alaska will celebrate the city’s 25th “Polar Bear Jump.” This does not involve leaping over the aforementioned deadly killers. It involves seemingly rational people leaping into the frigid waters of Resurrection Bay. Jumpers will dress up in crazy costumes, march through town, and jump in the drink to raise funds for the American Cancer Society.
The weekend full of activities begins Thursday January 14th with a poker tournament at the Pit Bar. Friday, January 15th is the big auction at Tony’s Bar. There’s a Saturday breakfast put on by the Elks Club, turkey bowling (no I have no idea and I don’t want to know), a children’s winter carnival, the parade, a seafood feed, an Air Force Band mini concert and more. Awards are given to the top 10 fundraising jumpers in the afternoon. In the evening, there’s a Lip Sync contest, oyster slurping contest, live music, and a Karaoke contest. Sunday’s activities include a hair cut off, which benefits Locks for Love, and there’s a pool tournament. Wow. And you thought there was nothing to do in Alaska in the winter!
Any Seward Mudpups (and I know you’re out there) who want to send pictures? Email them to me at akmuckraker(at)yahoo(dot)com!
Excitement in the Mudflats!
OK, nothing happening on these Mudflats can top this. Here’s another one of those awesome headlines that grabbed my attention immediately. “Robotic Clam to Detonate Underwater Mines.”
Mechanical engineers Anette “Peko” Hosoi and Amos Winter at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology designed robots after the Atlantic razor clam (Ensis directus) because it is one of nature’s best diggers. Using its relatively simple anatomy, the razor clam — which the researchers dubbed the Ferrari of underwater diggers — can burrow into the bottom of its native mudflats at a remarkable rate of roughly a centimeter per second.
When underwater mines are discovered, the little kamakaze roboclams can be sent down to tunnel through the mud and detonate it.
These robotic clams work as fast as the real ones do, and can also be used to assist in underwater drilling and anchoring submarines. No word yet on what the real ones think of this invasion of the roboclams.
I guess those tea partiers will have to put their money where their mouths are.
Don’t know why I did it, but curiosity got the better of me and I checked out their website – here’s some info:
Tickets for the whole shebang (3 days – 1 person) are $549 plus a $9.95 “fee” (it doesn’t say what this “fee” is)
There is also a “banquet only” ticket, for $349, plus that mysterious $9.95 “fee” again
Finally, there is a “convention only” ticket, also for $349 plus the “fee” – but you don’t get to hear Sarah speak at the banquet
Oh, hotel rooms are NOT included, so tack another $525 (3 nights) plus “other charges and taxes” onto the above prices if you want a room with an “atrium view”
Only $330 plus “other charges and taxes” if you just want a plain room with a “traditional view”
Total price for the 3-day weekend for 2 people, deluxe room with atrium view, everything included = $1,722.96 per couple
And of course, that price does not include transportation to Nashville, so add that amount also, depending on where you are traveling from.
So after you fork over some 2 grand plus, be sure to obey their rules too:
*Please be aware that any disruptive behavior will result in the immediate removal from the convention site and all ticket purchases will be forfeited. There will be no exceptions !
I couldn’t get the link to NOAA to work.
I remember those Polar Bear Jumps in Seward. There’d be a marching band to see them down to the docks and people on the docks with score cards that they’d hold up after each jump. Someone said that the most fun thing is seeing the expression on the jumpers’ faces when they came up to the surface.
petition signed
pretty cool about those clams!!
Maria Says:
January 4th, 2010 at 1:30 PM
I couldn’t get the link to NOAA to work.
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I couldn’t either so just went to the sight and did a search
this one should work though :
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/844023344
Thanks for the link, twain12. I, too, could not get the link in AKM’s article to work.
NYDem, ah…..this is newly added, lol, I was checking it out last week and wondered where the paranoid restrictions were, the banned lists as per Comrade Scarah’s contract. Big wussy baby.
“*Please be aware that any disruptive behavior will result in the immediate removal from the convention site and all ticket purchases will be forfeited. There will be no exceptions !”
I’ve actually met a couple of robotic clams before…….
What a wonder story by Ms. Follett. It was so simple, full of truth and humor. Thanks for sharing that gem. I’m sure that “The Elder Storytelling Place” is a site that I will be visiting often.
Oy, Mudpuppies!
“Got an extra $350 burning a hole in your pocket after the holidays? Well, pool those Christmas checks and get ready. For $350 you get to see Sarah Palin deliver the keynote speech at the National Tea Party Convention in scenic Nashville Tennessee!”
Have mercy on me. I only live a few miles from Opryland Hotel. The rooms there are quite expensive although they have a campground a few miles up the road tucked away. Only the wealthy will be able to afford a room there.
Let’s all hope she doesn’t show up. But then we are still stuck with Bachmann, Blackburn, Beck(?) and only Satan knows who else. (snark)
NYDem,
The Atrium View is absolutely beautiful! It is a really, really nice Hotel.
“Only $330 plus “other charges and taxes” if you just want a plain room with a “traditional view””
The Traditional View is the highway or the Opry Mills (Mall). The $9.99 fee is probably just to register. And they pay and treat their employees worse than Walmart. They used to always be in trouble with the Labor Board. But now, they get away with it all. Gaylord Entertainment owns Opryland and many, many other places in and around Nashville. Hell, they may as well own Nashville.
I have to wonder about some of the people in the Tea Party. In December, by parents’ neighbor came by and invited them to a party. It being the holiday season, they naturally assumed it was a Christmas party. You guessed it – it was a tea party. They socialized for a little while, then quietly left before the political part started. And my parents are small-town Texas conservatives who would vote Obama out in a minute.
I hate to hang this dirty laundry out in public, but here goes:
Turkey Bowling (a dubious sport began, I believe in the lanes of the Alaska Commercial Company):
Bowling ball is a frozen turkey
Bowling pins are paper towel rolls.
Once the action gets going, and the turkey begins to thaw, it gets really exciting.
Oh, thank GOD, I’m going to be in Nashville at the very same convention center the week before her arrival. Praise Jebus I won’t have to deal with thousands of rabid tea-baggers. I’m shaky just thinking about how close I came to that reality.
“Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming ‘WOOOO-HOOOO! What a ride!’”
Wow, that’s how I want to go. Can’t do the wine with the liver problem but just put in there ginger ale AND always the chocolate!
CRFlats -
Wow , I went looking and Turkey bowling is popular.
http://www.eatmedaily.com/2009/11/nine-frozen-turkey-bowling-videos-youre-doing-it-right/
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!AUSTIN TX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WTF are you talking about? clams?…….oooooh ‘those clams’. you is jest God awful Austin….awful and bad.
Also had to use the second link for the petition. Wrote this . . .
It is time for science to prevail over the incorrect musings and declarations of politicians and corporations. We will always have a surplus of politicians and corporations but we are creating a dearth of healthy habitats for all animals including the Cook Inlet beluga whales.
I’ve got an odds or ends item for you. Today, 1/4/2010, when Congress convened for the first time post-holiday, Rep. Parker Griffith of Alabama’s staff by and large resigned. Parker Griffith, a physician from Huntsville, AL with a dubious past regarding ethics and financial management, and other things, ran and got elected as a Democrat from the 5th District in Alabama. I live in this district. I am a Democrat. However, I did not vote for Dr. Griffith as I am aware of his past. Still, one might hope to have some Democratic representation in Congress. Nope. On the larger issues, such as Healthcare, he voted NO. He voted with the Republicans. So a couple of weeks ago, he suddenly announces he is leaving the Democratic Party and becoming a Republican. And how do I hear of this? By reading a Sarah Palin twitter on Bree Palin’s blog. I was livid. She had the audacity to “welcome him to the Republican Party.” She had the nerve to say that finally an Alabamian had “done the right thing.” Yuck! (I have questions about why she would be aware enough or who made her aware of Griffith and his actions.) But, today, the majority of his staff resigned and they did so making classy but scathing comments about principles and integrity. Karma.
Too bad. A robotic oyster would have earned us another Walrus and Carpenter post. I’ve been missing those.
I read on another blog that Scarah backed out of an appearance somewhere else this Spring (?)….I think. Guess I didn’t pay attention to the event or the date. I haven’t confirmed any of this, it just said that via facebook, she would not be speaking at said event. I better go back and reread the post for details. LOL I just noted that the post said that she quit (something) again.
Anyone know?
bubbles -
Um-m-m-m………let’s just settle on down here.
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” So if the Republican Party is wise, they will allow themselves to be re-defined by the tea party movement. And I hope that will be the case.”
Oh dear God , please let this dips^*t keep wandering in front of a microphone.
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/01/04/bachmann-redefined-tea-gop/
this in regard to both the teabaggers and the previous posted video:
I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: ‘O Lord, make my enemies ridiculous.’ And God granted it.
– Voltaire
trisha…I read that too…I think it was a southern state’s GOP fundraiser (Alabama…Arkansas…?). Sadly, I can’t remember where I read it.
Another interesting (and fun) read was in The Alaska Dispatch (http://alaskadispatch.com/blogs/palin-watch/3521-do-jews-hate-palin) referencing an article by David Frum (http://www.frumforum.com/do-jews-hate-palin) about why Jews hate Palin. Frum is actually responding to another article where he disagrees with many of the original author’s reasons for the anti-Palin feeling of Jews. But he agrees that there is reason to hate her. Good stuff!
CRFlats -
Yup yup and thanks for that quote.
If you read Frum’s article: http://www.frumforum.com/do-jews-hate-palin make sure to read the comments–Frum has a very conservative following and even his readers deem Palin an idiot.
23 OMG Says:
January 4th, 2010 at 3:05 PM
trisha…I read that too…I think it was a southern state’s GOP fundraiser (Alabama…Arkansas…?). Sadly, I can’t remember where I read it.
———————
S’error was SUPPOSED TO BE going to Arkansas…
You may leave a comment there if you wish… I did.
It should recognize you by your log in on blogger or WordPress.
was suppose to be site not sight in my previous post (darn spell check lol)
Austin! (wtg Bubs!)
OMG@25 – thanks for that great link to Frum.
Expensive food with your teabag? Who needs Sarah?
In Florida the plain tea crowd are protesting the pricy steak dinner chomped down by six organizers of a Tea Express PAC for a total $1597 tab.
See the Mother Jones story. http://motherjones.com/politics/2009/12/tempest-tea-party
Robotic Clams…..Oysters……. I’m having a VERY difficult time ….Think I’ll just send myself to the naughty corner for a while….. There once was a girl from Nantucket…
Yup…She bailed out of the RPA fundraiser..Repub Party of Arkansas… Guess they thought she’s actually try to raise money for THEM and not for HER …
So she bailed on another one. . . at least she’s consistent.
Sarah must be getting ahead of herself–I heard this time she quit the National Tea Party Convention before she was even invited!
Ah, late in the day. Nevertheless:
austintx, I was going to inquire about those robotic clams, but I believe bubbles has already TC
benlomond2: I believe that ode starts “There once was a girl from Wasilla”
Razor clams: 1 cm/sec into mudflats? Bloody hell. Could Brian use a junior mascot? Sort of like the Death of Fleas (for those who don’t know, that’s a reference to the Terry Pratchett Diskworld series, which I highly recommend for both humor and humanity).
That is one heck of an expensive convention. And a fee tacked on?? Sounds like teabaggers love taxes. But, Erin… I doubt there will be “thousands” of real teabaggers cuz the real ones are without the means to pay for all those things. Perhaps the astroturfers are trying to make money off this for their personal benefit? Suckers being born every minute, yanno.
As for clams that go boom… sounds like too much excitement is gonna arrive at some unfortunate mudflats. Or, in austin’s world… the girl is really getting her groove on.
I’m Maria too. Or should that be Maria2? Hi Maria, are you from Alaska?
Maria from Cape Town
Gotta love the Tea Party Nation’s slogan: “Quench your thirst for freedom!“. [ http://www.teapartynation.com/ ]
Possibly they got it from here: http://thesurrealist.co.uk/slogan.cgi?word=tea+party+nation
The Colbert Nation should be as classy. beth.
beth Says:
January 5th, 2010 at 12:01 AM
Gotta love the Tea Party Nation’s slogan: “Quench your thirst for freedom!“. [ http://www.teapartynation.com/ ]
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that is just so wrong on so many levels. these are the folks whose idiocy allowed our country to be brought to it’s knees. i would love to see these teabags “quench their thirst” for breathing.
Many thanks for the link to the Elder Storytelliing Place, and for featuring my “Father Time is My Peer.” Someday, somehow, I’ll have a printed book full of these stories.
s/Jeanne Waite Follett aka Gullible
http://gullible-gulliblestravels.blogspot.com/
You are very welcome. Thanks for the great read.
AKM
The beluga link petition was blank for me.
Enjoyed the elder story. Wish I could write that well.