The Mudflats

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!  Here’s hoping your day is festive, and a celebration of all things Irish.  Remember, wear green or you might get “affectionaetly pinched” according to Wikipedia.  Then again, maybe you might NOT want to wear green.  I suppose it all boils down to personal preference.

And if you do indulge in the traditional green beer or two or three, remember to call a cab or bring a designated driver!

While we’re in a festive mood, I thought I’d do a little cross post from the Events page.  There are so many things going on this week, I thought I’d post them here, and remind everyone that the Events page is always there, and you are welcome to send me an email with an event, or just invite me on Facebook (AK Muckraker) and I’ll post it.

Events!

Cook Inlet Historical Society presents “Alaska Far Away”
Wednesday, March 17th, 7:30pm at Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, 121 W. 7th Ave., Anchorage, AK

Fundraiser for Keli Booher & Paul Honeman for Assembly
Thursday, March 18th, 5:00pm at 5063 Heritage Heights Drive

Open House: Bob Poe for Governor Anchorage Campaign HQ Reception
Friday, March 19th, 4:30pm at 207 E. Northern Lights, Suite 111, Anchorage

Alaskans for Peace & Justice and Students for Social Equality
Saturday, March 20th Noon-4pm at UAA
Panel Discussion to mark the anniversary of the Iraq War and discuss effects on the economy, the soldiers, the environment, etc.
Panelists – Diane Benson, Larry Weiss, Steve Heimel, Diddy Hitchens, and Cezar Martinson.

Anchorage Democratic Caucus Convention
Saturday, March 20th, 9:00am at UAA Lucy Cuddy Center

UAA Film Night – “This is What Democracy Looks Like”
Monday, March 22nd, 7:30pm at University of Alaska Anchorage

Anchorage Assembly Meeting***
Tuesday, March 23
Assembly Chambers – Z.J. Loussac Public Library
5:30pm

Celebrating the Power of Women’s Voices with Diane Benson
Tuesday, March 23rd, 7:00pm at Schaible Auditorium, UAF Campus, Fairbanks

An Evening with Candidate for Governor Bob Poe
Wednesday, March 24th, 5:00pm at The Hangar Ballroom at the Wharf in Juneau

A Tale of Two Disappearing Women
Thursday, March 25th, 1:00pm at UAF Alumni Lounge, Constitution Hall, Fairbanks

Girl Scouts of Alaska Lunch
Friday, March 26th, 12:00am at Dena’ina Convention Center

Gospel Benefit Concert for the Haiti Relief Fund
Sunday, March 28th, 4:00pm at 855 East 20th Ave. Anchorage

Ben Masters’ First Solo First Friday Show ‘Just Pressure’
Friday, April 2nd, 6:00pm at Katie Sevigny Gallery

A Food Bank of Alaska Promotion Like No Other
Saturday, April 3rd, 8:00pm at Elixer’s–the bar out by Merrill Field on 5th, Anchorage

And of course, every Thursday night, you can attend the taping of Moore Up North, Shannyn Moore’s TV show!  You’ll want to get to Bernie’s Bungalow on D street between 6th and 7th Ave. at 5:30 sharp.  Enjoy a pomegranate martini, or a ….  well, I’m sure they have something else, even though I’ve never tried it.  And they also have great food, lots of space, and a bunch of people you’ll enjoy hanging out with!

And the Caper of the Day is brought to you by:

polluterwatch.com

Three Greenpeace activists deployed a floating banner in the atrium of the Hart Senate Office Building in plain view of a favorite destination for polluter lobbyists — Senator Lisa Murkowski’s Washington DC office. The banner exposed Murkowski’s close relationship with dirty energy interests and promoted PolluterHarmony, a spoof online dating site launched just before Valentine’s Day to help connect polluters, industry lobbyists, and politicians.

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Iditarod Update for “My teams”.

#50 – Aliy Zirkle is #11. She’s out of Koyuk.

#36 – Michelle Phillips and her fabulous lead dogs are running at #29 out of Shaktoolik.

#61 – Colleen Robertia (who you can read about in today’s Voices from the Flats) is #36 out of Unalakleet.

#4 – Wattie McDonald from Scotland is running #42 out of Kaltag.

#14   – Newton Marshall from Jamaica is #48 in Kaltag.

Lance Mackey is holding on to the #1 spot and is in striking distance of doing what no other musher has ever done – claiming the title of 4-time consecutive Iditarod champion.  He left White Mountain at 8:43pm with 11 dogs.  Nipping at his heels are Hans Gatt and Jeff King with 12 dogs apiece.  They are all heading to Safety and then Nome.  One of them will make it first, and it will happen some time tomorrow.

Here’s your link to the leader board.

And your link to the race map.

[Don't forget to set your clocks ahead an hour for daylight savings time.  Grrr.]

Time to empty the spam bin again.  More often than not, the comments in the spam bin are less than flattering.  Once, my intelligence was even disparagingly compared to a ‘fugus.’ (They meant fungus, but I was able to comprehend the typo, even with my limited intelligence).  That’s right – the fugus [sic] was smarter then [sic] me.  Ouch.

But this time, the bin was full of a new and different kind of spam.  It was full of flattering spam.  Presumably, blog software will be so taken with these generic cookie-cutter compliments that it will allow them through.  And then, the sneaky link to a video site, or somewhere that sells vinyl repair kits, or a dating site will sail right on through into the comments section.

Despite this new spam strategy devised to get these comments posted on the blog, the Wordpress gatekeeper out-clevered it but left me a whole pile of fan-spam in the bin, which I have to say, was pretty fun to read.  Not only were the randomly generated comments amusing – sort of like a spam Mad Libs –  but the names of the “commenters” were really great.  Here they are for your enjoyment, minus the links, of course.

Kirk Chimillo – I must say dude, your website is simply great. I found it simply by scoping around Bing and imo I am immensely grateful that I did. Keep it up.

Hunter Giel – I must be honest fellow, your blogroll is simply stunning. I found it simply by scouring around Yahoo and tbh I am 100% grateful that I did. Keep it up.

Earnestine Brendlinger – I must be honest man, your blogroll is simply breathtaking. I found it simply by scouring around Yahoo and fwiw I am immensely grateful that I did. Keep it up.

Wanetta Tamoyo – I must say homey, your website is simply by far the greatest. I found it simply by searching around Bing and to tell you the truth I am without a doubt thankful that I did. Keep it up.

Williams Liemer – I must admit homey, your page is simply out of this world. I found it simply by crawling around Bing and seriously I am definitely thankful that I did. Keep it up.

Branden Dunckel – I must admit friend, your site is simply addicting. I found it simply by looking around Google and imo I am certainly joyful that I did. Keep it up.

Delicia Stefano – I must admit bro, your website is simply stunning. I found it simply by scanning around Google and to be honest I am certainly happy that I did. Keep it up.

Louann Furmanik – I must admit dude, your website is simply miraculous. I found it simply by crawling around AOL and imo I am without a doubt over the top that I did. Keep it up.

Earlene Garlick – I must be honest bro, your blog is simply by far the greatest. I found it simply by looking around Bing and in all honesty I am without a doubt happy that I did. Keep it up.

Jung Sulc – I must confess dude, your blogroll is simply far out. I found it simply by investigating around Yahoo and tbh I am certainly grateful that I did. Keep it up.

And before I head off to bed for one less hour of sleep than I usually get, let me just say this…

I really have to say peeps, your participation is really simply tops.  You found me simply by snuffling around the internets, and imho I am euphoric that you did.  Keep it up!

I was turning down my street after work today, deep in thought and I almost missed him.  He was lurking behind a patch of alders and willows, but the large dark shape just managed to register in my brain as I turned in to the driveway.  Brian!

It’s been a long time since my favorite moose has been spotted at Mudflats Central.  I think that most of the reason for that is because of the long dark months of winter, and the fact that it’s difficult to spot a moose in the dark.  I could tell he was out there at times because Buf the dog would start that special bark that she does whenever Brian is around.  And I pictured him reacting as he always does.  By standing there and chewing on whatever he was chewing on, and looking at the barking ginger-colored dog with the raised hackles and thinking, “There’s that thing again.”  And then he’d go back to chewing on the tips of bushes, and the little shoots that grow out of the trunks of birch trees.  And then Buf, after doing her duty, would come back to the door and bark to be let in.  They have an understanding.

But today, Brian was back in visual range.  He even cooperated and waited for me as I drove up to the house, ran inside, got my camera and came back.  I got a few nice shots, so I’ll spread them out and share over the span of a few open threads. 

If you’re wondering how it’s possible to drive right past a 1500 pound mammal and never see it, here’s how.  A shadowy Brian lurks among tasty branches.

It was about 5 degrees here today, and snowing diagonally due to a bit of a breeze.

And yes, Brian was buck naked.  I’m not referring to a lack of clothing, but rather to a lack of accessories.  You can see the little bald spots where his antlers fell off at the beginning of the winter, and where they will start to grow back soon. 

He’ll have a bigger rack than he did last year, and soon his mundane diet of bark and twigs will be supplemented by all sorts of green, tasty treats.  OK, maybe not ’soon’ but it sounds nice to say it.  His favorite treat is fireweed, and I seldom have any left around here by the time he gets finished with it.  I don’t mind, though.  I’d rather have him eat fireweed than my broccoli, although he usually ends up getting both.

Here’s a close-up of the antler site.  No sign of new growth yet.

More pictures to come.