Back to the Sidewalk — Assemblyman Traini will introduce Repeal on Tuesday
(photo courtesy of Alaska Commons)By Linda Kellen Biegel A few days ago, Jeanne recounted the tale of Anchorage City Attorney, Dennis Wheeler and his role in the Mayor’s no-lying down/no-sitting sidewalk Ordinance. If you remember, Municipal Attorney Wheeler lied used “a poor choice of words” when he claimed the ordinance had been “run by” the Alaska [...]
Open Thread – Saturday Drive-Thru for Equality!
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 [...]
Twin Sons, Newt Gingrich & Dan Sullivan (New Sidewalk Ordinance–Public Testimony TONIGHT!)
by Linda Kellen Biegel (Homeless Anchorage protestor John Martin and his faithful friend) On the same day that the world is outraged by the pepper-spraying of peaceful UC Davis protestors, Newt Gingrich still manages to capture the attention of the media. Friday, his announcement of “extraordinarily radical proposals to fundamentally change the culture of poverty [...]
The Swindling of Our Wounded Warriors — A Request for Assistance *UPDATED*
By Linda Kellen Biegel Those of you who live in Anchorage may have heard about a fundraiser put on by Arkansas transplant politico and drag performer Caleb Pritt for an organization called “Homes for Our Troops.” The money was supposed to be designated towards a home for Latseen Benson and his family. Latseen lost both [...]
Almost a Year Later, APOC Will Render a Verdict on Rep. Bill Thomas
By Linda Kellen Biegel Mudflatters, think wayyyyyy, wayyyyyy back to October of 2010 and you might remember Representative William Thomas, Jr., a Republican legislator from the beautiful little town of Haines, Alaska. Representative Thomas is not someone who generally comes to my attention way over here in Anchorage. However, in September of 2010 while [...]
“One Anchorage” Takes the Case for LGBT Rights to the People
Last week, an organization called Equality Works launched the One Anchorage Campaign for a ballot initiative to be voted on by Anchorage residents in the Spring 2012 Municipal Election. The initiative would add sexual orientation and transgender identity to the Municipality’s Equal Rights Code. Per the Press Release from Equality Works: One Anchorage Files Initiative [...]
Mayor Sullivan’s Appointees Don’t Want to Let the School District Spend Their Own Money
On August 3rd, there was a regular meeting of the Municipality Budget Advisory Commission. (You remember, this is the commission that used to be two — the Budget Advisory Commission and the School Budget Advisory Commission. However, when the word “school” made people think twice about the appointment of one of the Mayor’s LGBT-hating wing-nutter [...]
Open Thread – Fuchsias (LKB)
I have tons of work to do in my garden, but fortunately, my hanging plants are absolutely gorgeous this year. Here’s my 2-tone pink/lavender fuchsia combined with blue, lavender and white lobelia, and… Here’s the one with pink/lavender flowers with just blue lobelia. I’m hoping to have more garden pictures for you this week…if I [...]
Open Thread – Scenes from Setnetting the Kasilof (LKB)
Here are just a few pictures from my weekend at the mouth of the Kasilof River: The constant, beautiful view from the beach is Mt. Redoubt Volcano — if you remember, it was the one spewing a bit in 2009. Occasionally in the nets we catch more than just Red Salmon — here a King [...]
Beware, Netrooters! Breitbart’s “Pimp Suit” is Heading Your Way!
Yes, Progressives, convicted felon and liar extraordinaire James O’Keefe is en route to Minneapolis thanks to a benevolence of a federal judge. Per The Smoking Gun: Since O’Keefe needs judicial approval to travel outside New Jersey (due to his federal conviction for last year’s harebrained scheme targeting Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu), yesterday he filed a [...]
Open Thread: Preparing for Setnetting!
Here’s a picture from several years ago of our campsite where we were setnetting during the annual personal use fishery. I’m looking forward to being there in just a couple of days! Setnetting at the Kasilof is already going on and in the Alaska tradition, we have a number of families sharing the nets and [...]
Palin Emails: Todd is a “private citizen”…except when he’s not…
I have a little bit of personal experience with this Palin email thing. However, mine were so redacted, they were no fun at all. So, like many others, I’ve enjoyed making up my own searches of the awesome 2011 Palin Email Database, courtesy of MSNBC and Crivella West. The REAL fun happens when I’m searching [...]
Open Thread — Answer: Rogues, Wenches, Rock & Roll
Question: What does a typical summer weekend in Anchorage, Alaska involve? On Sunday, husband and I braved the pirates, shifty-eyed musicians and other neer-do-wells at the Crooked Toad Pub during The Three Barons Renaissance Faire. We were treated to raucous entertainment, deliciously bawdy jokes, (We had the kids go to more G-rated events at the [...]
Why Is Twice-Failed School Board Candidate Bob Griffin Following School Busses?
By Linda Kellen Biegel No, this is not a joke. Bob Griffin, Mayor Sullivan’s candidate for School Board (including personal donations from the Mayor and his wife) even had an encounter with the Anchorage Police School Resource Officers over the whole thing. From a recording of the May 23rd School Board Meeting: Don Smith: The [...]
Open Thread: Saturday in Fairview — The Joint is Jumpin’! (by LKB)
If you missed your invitation from about 100 different sources on Facebook or didn’t read one of the news articles or blog posts, there’s a block party going on in Fairview today! The events are listed on the flyer above. For a larger copy, just click on it. As it turns out, something that could [...]








