Oh my - if all you've done is read news stories about Don Smith's "Running" interview, you really need to watch the actual exchange.
https://www.youtub...watch?v=9ecwOOsuL3M (www.youtube.com)
Skip to 9:00 on the timer.
Fidelity Investments sells off short-term US debt: http://www.cnbc.com/id/101075950 (www.cnbc.com)
Bill Gross of PIMCO doubles down: http://www.cnbc.com/id/101100268 (www.cnbc.com)
I bet Vegas is running some crazy bets on whether or not we default.
Congress: "We love to give blowies scratch the back of those who pay us! Stop Online Piracy! Protect IP!
The Internet: 
Congress: "Um. Nevermind. We'll give them blowies scratch their back later."
Googling Santorum first timers: http://www.buzzfeed.com/mattcherette/25-people-who-just-googled-santorum-for-the-firs (www.buzzfeed.com)
I'm guessing that Dave probably knows more about the process than anyone else here. I want to petition the city council to allow small domesticated goats on lots smaller than 3.5 acres. This would bring the urban agriculture laws more in line with Seattle and Tacoma.
This might all be futile because Katy says she doesn't want farm animals, but my contention is I'd rather have a pair of goats (Mr and Mrs. Bleats) than a dog. And small goats are probably less annoying and less destructive than the two pure bred german shepherds we moved next door to.
I think this article is well written and identifies several things I've been thinking about over the last two days:
Monty Dickson's body has been recovered in Japan according to the Anchorage Daily News. It's better to know for sure, right?
http://www.adn.com/2011/04/05/1794259/body-of-alaska-teacher-found-in.html (www.adn.com)
Man to his wife: "OOOOOOHH YOU GOT PUNK'D!!!!!"
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/02/uk-border-http://www.wired.co...eed:+wired/index+( (www.wired.com)gle+Feedfetcher (www.wired.com)
Egypt seems on track to topple its government. Anyone catch the youtube of their own Tiananmen Square incident?
This, on the tails of Tunisia and Yemen? Crazy!
This is so creepy... WAHS Choir Teacher accused of sexually abusing three students (www.adn.com)
I went to elementary school with this guys wife and was good friends with her back then. Granted I haven't talked to her in many years other than occasional quick comments/notes on facebook, but still...
How does this sort of thing happen? His wife seemed (to an outsider) so happy and in love with him. He did really sweet things for her all the time. They had their first baby just before Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, he's fooling around with high schoolers! While they were married, before she was pregnant, and while she was pregnant.
It makes no sense to me at all
a) why someone would cheat on a spouse, especially so early on in a marriage and while moving the relationship forward (buying a house, having a baby). I know people cheat all the time, but it is still hard for me to comprehend.
b) why someone would have a sexual relationship with a minor knowing full well that it could lead to serious jail time and will have huge repercussions on all aspects of life. I don't understand how a 15 year old or 17 year old could be attractive to a 29 year old. yuck.
c) why a teacher would have a sexual relationship with his student. It will only ruin his career fore the rest of his life...
This whole situation has me really disturbed, especially since I know his poor wife.
Question: Is it a RIGHT to be able to have as many children as you want?
I want to say no, but it's really difficult to come up with a valid argument one way or the other without just saying, "The planet's overpopulated, come on now."
Wikileaks? Noble effort, illegal annoyance, or something else? Here is an article about their latest release: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11858895 (www.bbc.co.uk)
From what I can tell, the current ballot count is not looking hopeful for Murkowski. What is the news saying in Alaska? What's the latest? I'm getting nervous about this.
I guess if Miller wins, I don't think I will be as adamant about not giving up my AK residency and license... So that might be helpful to me.
Have y'all seen the story about the ADN Editor who was handcuffed by Miller's private security force? If so, what do you think of it? If not, here's the article and video that was shot at the incident: http://www.adn.com/...ards-handcuff.html (www.adn.com)
I just got done with a lunchtime forum put on by Commonwealth North.
The title was "How Will Alaskans Effectively Deliver Our Message to Washington?"
Two federal lobbyists, Republican Jack Ferguson and Democrat Daryl Owen traveled from DC to jointly present.
Before becoming a lobbyist, Jack Ferguson worked as Chief of Staff for Don Young and Chief of Staff for Ted Stevens in the 70's.
Daryl Owen was a research assistant, legislative assistant, and Chief of Staff to Bennett Johnston (D-LA) in the 70's and the 80's before forming his lobbying firm. When Owen was a staffer, he worked on pieces of legislation like the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, legislation regarding the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, legislation regarding the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, and legislation regarding the Tongass National Forest and the lumber industry there.
I think this shows both men have the experience to answer the question, "How Will Alaskans Effectively Deliver Our Message to Washington?"
Ultimately, their conclusion, based on their experience and opinions, is that any state will benefit if it has relatively senior senators, which results in effective chairmanships. Additionally, any state would benefit if it had a senator in the majority and a senator in the minority, which results in a higher chance that you will have a senator with a chairmanship, and helps spread the concerns of your state to a larger audience.
They also expressed their opinion that the most dysfunctional committees and the least productive congresses as a whole are ones that have had lots of extreme (right AND left) members.
I was looking through old files, and found a jpeg of a newspaper clipping from what I assume to be the Anchorage Daily News, although there is no date. This editorial is so fucking classic, I thought it needed to be transcribed for us here:
"Letter to the Editor
'Reader voices strong opinion on atheists'
It's time to stomp out atheists in America. The majority of Americans would love to see athesits kicked out of America. If you don't believe in God, then get out of this country.
The United States is based on having freedom of religion, speech, etc., which means you can believe in God any way you want (Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, etc.), but you must believe.
I don't recall freedom of religion meaning no religion. Our currency even says, "In God We Trust." So, to all the atheists in America: Get off our country.
Atheists have caused the ruin of this great nation by taking prayer out of our schools and being able to practice what can only be called evil. I don't care if they have never committed a crime, atheists are the reason crime is rampant.
Alice Shannon
Soldotna"
I seriously hope this is some sort of farce. Otherwise, there is no hope for a culture with people this ignorant.
Currently I'm listening to Steven Colbert's testimony in front congessional subcommittee on immigration and farm labor. Painfully hillarious, but this may be the only government committee meeting I could ever actually give enough of a shit to listen to.
Even though I'm no longer living in Alaska I am seriously considering donating a considerable sum of money to the Murkowski campaign. Who's with me?
