It’s always nice to report good news, and today’s news was really good. The Mudflats has had ongoing coverage of the protests against the Anchorage Hilton and the Anchorage Sheraton, and on Friday a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction against Remington Hospitality (which demonstrates none.) ~The President of the AFL-CIO, Richard Trumka in Alaska [...]

We’ve had several occasions to bust our buttons here at The Mudflats over the last few years. Readers and those in the blogging and journalism communities have been kind to us with various honors and praise over the years. But today is an especially proud one for us. Our very own Shannyn Moore is taking [...]

By Elstun Lauesen Ring the Bells that still can ring Forget your perfect offering There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in — Leonard Cohen, “Anthem” Alaskans seem frozen in place. After a promising beginning 54 years ago, we established a solid foundation for our state. Now, after a pipeline and [...]

Here’s hoping all you Alaskans and honorary Alaskans alike had a Happy Marmot Day!  That’s right, we have Marmot Day, which replaced Groundhog Day. Groundhogs are marmots, but marmots are not necessarily groundhogs, and there are no groundhogs in the 49th state. It’s the third one in our state’s history. Marmot Day came about thanks to [...]

March 10 on HBO. Prepare for the deliciousness! Trailer Preview 2

  By Elstun Lauesen There is a culture war going on. And the epicenter of that culture war is right here in Alaska. It is outrageous in its brazenness and tragic in its effect. It is political in its tactic and economic in its objective. It is a classic tale of western frontier conquest. I [...]

By Wickersham’s Conscience The Costa Concordia still lies on her side off the Tuscan coast, with 16 confirmed dead and many still missing. Alaskans know, to their sorrow, that not all ship’s captains are scrupulously careful, not all crew members fully qualified, and not all accidents truly accidents. A Dutch salvage company is struggling to [...]

From my Fairbanks friend, the talented and incomparable Jamie Smith. Check out his work at Ink & Snow.

By Elstun Lauesen One of the terms we often hear lately is “agenda.” This politician has an “agenda” or that group has an “agenda.” Mostly we mere mortals are left to speculate what an “agenda” might be among the players in the rarified climes of politics. Thanks to the just concluded trial over the lines [...]

To say that here in my neck of the woods it’s been an unusual winter is stating the obvious. Southcentral Alaska, in general, has had an exciting month. The National Guard (really!) had to be called in to assist Cordovans digging out of the snow. Roofs collapsed, and some were even trapped inside their homes [...]

~Thick and fast they came at last, and more, and more, and more… Adorable on Steroids Be warned. Do not play this video unless you are able to handle a serious overdose of cuteness. This is a polar bear cub from the Scandanavian Wildlife Park. His mother was unable to nurse him, so little Siku [...]

I think most Alaskans can relate to this one…

You might remember that in September, a coalition of organizations launched the One Anchorage Campaign: The One Anchorage campaign filed an application this morning with the Anchorage Municipal Clerk’s Office to place an initiative on the April 2012 ballot asking voters to include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Alaskans in the same legal protections [...]

  I heard the song Winter Wonderland several times today, and it seems like it ought to be Alaska’s seasonal state song. This was one of those times when it looks like someone went a  little too crazy with the fake canned snow.

This morning, sitting with my cup of coffee, I noticed out of the corner of my eye, the first bit of light over the mountains. Pre-dawn is a beautiful time in the winter. It’s been dark since early evening the previous day, and all of a sudden out of the inky blackness you can barely [...]