By Ken Morris and Jeanne Devon This is the first article we will be posting on material that was ultimately cut from Frank Bailey’s memoir - Blind Allegiance to Sarah Palin. That book was Frank’s story, but we felt it was important to share what we learned that was outside the scope of Bailey’s direct [...]

A beautiful Dall sheep overlooking the traffic on the Seward Highway south of Anchorage.

‘Tis the season! No, not the moose rut. No, not the last run of silvers. ‘Tis the season that conservatives emerge from the sea and make their landfall on the arctic shores of Alaska. We’ve talked before about the “Tea Party at Sea” ship on The Mudflats. And now, there seems to have been yet [...]

A beautiful late summer day with shades of light and dark on Cook Inlet from the Chugach Range behind Anchorage. The tide line is at the right with a view of a sliver of mudflats. [Photo by HappyPlace]

  by Mel Green Court documents in the divorce of Allen Prevo, son of Anchorage Baptist Temple pastor Jerry Prevo, and Holly Jo Prevo raise questions about ABT religious exemption housing. Or, in the judge’s words, “if there was a tax appraiser or a reporter from the Anchorage Daily News, things would not look good… [...]

In Alaska, the season of flowers is over, and the berries have taken over. The tiny tundra plants are turning impossible shades of red and orange.  Soon the high slopes above tree line on the mountains will be awash with maroons, and deep reds and gold. It’s a welcome diversity of color, since the deciduous [...]

By Erin Pohland [Read Part One HERE] After choosing to join a pilot program and adopt from the Congo rather than Ethiopia, I broke the news somewhat gingerly, aware that such news might not be welcome. The reaction was mixed. Friends and family members who were more savvy about world affairs were immediately worried; the [...]

No, The Mudflats hasn’t “jumped the shark.” This picture was taken on a street in Puerto Rico after Irene passed through. Another good reason not to go swimming after a hurricane. Sending good thoughts to all Mudflatters on the east coast. Stay safe. UPDATE: OK, we were wrong. Mudflats DID jump the shark. Turns out [...]

It has always seemed to me that September has the most beautiful sunsets in Alaska. We’re not quite there yet, but tonight’s gorgeous colors deserved the Open Thread.

By Elstun Lauesen There is a powerful tale of biblical dimensions unfolding in the politics of these latter days. It comes through the drama within the Grand Old Party. As we all know, the Republican Party has used religion and ‘faith’ as its most powerful organizing weapon. But what we are witnessing in the political [...]

I got a great chuckle from this email from Mudflatter Butch: This is really inspiring for people fascinated by the richness of the English language. Please know that I didn’t make any of this up, but am merely passing along the work of scholars more assiduous than myself. Did you know that the words “race [...]

By Jim Thrall The public is generally aware of climate change, or, as it is more commonly known, global warming. Despite the efforts of the climate deniers, largely funded by the oil, gas, coal and auto lobbies, rational and informed members of the public understand that the major cause of climate change is our continual [...]

This sign in a Fairbanks restaurant lavatory indicates an apparent epidemic of the deliberate flushing of car keys, computer equipment, and what appears to be a power drill. (?) [h/t Mudflatter PottyHumor]

In February of this year, there was a deliberate and unauthorized leak of the draft manuscript of the book Blind Allegiance to Sarah Palin (Frank Bailey with coauthors Ken Morris and Jeanne Devon). Rival Palin author Joe McGinniss obtained through his publisher a copy of the copyrighted manuscript and emailed it in its entirety to [...]

This Dodge pickup truck that I spotted yesterday was picture worthy. Why? Because it is sporting probably the two most ubiquitous bumper stickers in Alaska. The No Pebble sticker is more recent, and the other (talking about whether to have an all-Alaska gas pipeline route) was more common a few years ago. But as many [...]