I loved this picture of snowy Cordova, Alaska and residents shoveling off the roof. The caption read: “Happy New Year, all!  Don’t plan on parking in the alley next to Laura’s early Monday morning. That spot’s taken!” Cordova sees about 89 inches of rain and 125 inches of snow per year. [Photo by David Little, [...]

Here’s one for you. It’s Rick Santorum on contraception. “It’s not OK. It’s a license to do things in a sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be.” A Des Moines Register poll has Santorum within one point of Iowa Republican caucus frontrunner Mitt Romney, and well within the margin of [...]

[Photo by Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images] Iowans who are less than enthusiastic about Mitt Romney might want to take heed. Just in case the crocodile tears of Newt Gingrich, or Rick Santorum’s “surge from behind” are influencing your voting decision, you’d better listen up. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie ventured west from the Garden State [...]

Whew! We’re HOME!!! It’s been a long couple of days, but we made it — Andrew and I are finally home. It feels really good to not be wishing you good evening from Kinshasa. We almost didn’t make it. At 4:15 p.m. on Thursday, we had no exit visa and a flight at 9 p.m. [...]

For me, this pretty much sums it up. I never thought I’d be on the side of the one dousing the elderly with pepper spray, but… Go 2012! Wishing you all more love, directed energy, optimism, good work, health, and happiness for the new year.

STOP THE PRESSES! This just in – Mayor Dan Sullivan finds way to grease palm of incompetent corrupt crony! Also, sun appears poised to rise tomorrow at daybreak. There’s an old expression – “A boat is a hole in the water into which one pours money.” Boat… port… whatever. The same definition could apply to [...]

Finally today the sun popped out, and we had some blue sky. The light on the snowy trees was just gorgeous all day, in its various colors and angles. I snapped this shot on my way home from Thursdays in the Mud. Gorgeous.

Unlike the object of their affection, Palinbots refuse to quit. A radio, and TV ad are appearing in Iowa this week, in advance of the Iowa caucuses, urging people to “vote rogue” and write Sarah Palin’s name on the ballot. Behold. The Sarah Palin Earthquake Group (so named because Palin said that nothing save a 10.3 [...]

2012 is coming…

~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 [...]

After both Newt Gingrich, and Rick Perry have spectacularly failed in their attempts to get on the Virginia primary ballot, analogies are being made. Gingrich’s National Campaign Director Michael Krull stated via Facebook on Saturday that the campaign “will make all other deadlines” and said it “will continue to learn and grow.”  Don’t think of [...]

For those of you who may be a little challenged in the “fix it” department, please make sure to copy and keep handy this informative flowchart. Seems to work for everyone up here.

~Christmas greetings from Santa Andrew, 2011 Good evening from Kinshasa- To answer the obvious question right off the bat, NO, we did not get the exit visa today.  The DGM boss again decided not to show up for work, which means that no one was there to sign my papers.  The Congolese work ethic makes me [...]

~One of my favorite Christmas ornaments, the Mudflats yellow boots made by a fan. Merry Christmas, Mudpups! Today the flats will be taking a day off to spend time with family and friends. Thanks to all of you wonderful mudpups for your thoughtful participation on the blog throughout the year, and to the hushpups for [...]

My wrist hurts. Really, more that it probably should. This is not good. I’m a writer, a photographer, I like to shake people’s hands. I need my wrist functioning. And I haven’t even been arrested yet. It’s 12 o’ clock, and there’s maybe 100 people here including the press. #D17 is not looking to be all [...]