Alaska Canine Insanity

We really have a canine mental health issue going on in our household right now. It started with these weird power flickers two days ago. I guess they are called brown outs or whatever. But they freak my dog Dinga out like the end of the world is near.
Because the lights flash and the appliances click..to mention a few of the weird sights and sounds that happen with each flicker. And then Dinga just freaks out. She hides behind chairs, under desks, shakes and shivers by the door. Even walks into the bathroom with me--which is just strange and annoying.
Then we go to bed and the real fun starts (it has been 2 nights now). A few hours after we are asleep Dinga starts whining by the door--I take her out to pee. But she keeps whining, and then barking. Last night (after only sleeping for 2 hours the previous night) my husband gave up and slept on the couch with her next to him (as she is not allowed in the bedroom). This finally settled her as well as the Enya CD I put on. But in the meanwhile she started peeing blood clots.

Now I know most doggy lovers would run to the vet with this-and maybe we should. But as we have seen Dinga suffer from anxiety before, this too isn't surprising. She has actually on more than one occasion managed to give herself bloody diarrhea from anxiety alone (she keeps forcing herself to go). I am hoping that is what the blood pee is as well, because of the correlation with the panic attacks, and I noticed her most recent pee a few hours ago was just fine.

On top of this nonsense is the usual Alaska fun. The temperature rose 50 degrees in two days (did this freak the dog out as well?) From -10 to 40 degrees today. So my hubby is outside with the tractor, trying to move wet snow. But then he gets stuck and I go out and help push...And a moose trampled our little ice skating rink. But I guess I don't really want to trade these weird annoyances for a tamer life in the suburbs.

My Prediction for 2011 or Maybe 2021

I want to write something here about social networking. Granted, I am no expert about anything regarding technology nor do I engage in social networking. Nevertheless--that's exactly why I have a strong opinion about it--I don't see social networking as being very gainful.
I regularly receive these little "join Facebook emails" (regular email I do like) or "check my profile on Facebook".
Well the more I learn about Facebook the more I am disinterested in it.
Why do I find it discouraging?
A) People seem to use it only for their own cheap narcissistic gain, not to spread anything useful (unless you consider cyber bullying useful).
B) Why is the age of privacy over? Instead, everyone allows greedy marketing companies to track their individual likes and dislikes. Facebook has become a tool of "the man"as it encourages you (for free!) to advertise where you shop and which movies you like.
C) The age of gentile correspondence seems to be over. I can't get individuals to reply to emails anymore, because I "should" instead check their updates on Facebook. Like everyone is a rock star now without five minutes for a reply or phone call anymore?

So my prediction for Facebook is that the empire may just come crashing down. I saw that their stock is soaring currently--never a good thing. (remember that over-inflated real estate market?) The type of person who enjoys social networking also seems to be a bit fickle. They jump to the next new and terrific thing. Isn't everyone finally going to be sick of looking at other people's photos? I still can't get over all the photo Christmas cards I get now, and then everyone still checks each others pics on a weekly basis on top of that? I mean come on people.

The Wasilla Windbag Speaks

I know the taping of Sarah Palin's Alaska happened already over the summer, so her little "I feed my kids smores " comment to protest Michelle Obama's (horrid!) recommendations against childhood obesity are already way outdated.....But nevertheless, I need to comment.

This again is like the millionth example of why Sarah P. has absolutely no critical thinking skills. It is a fact that Palin lives in Wasilla--surrounded by a huge population of people struggling with obesity. As I know locals bump into her at the Wasilla Wal-Mart, she must be aware of this. She does not pretend to surround herself with the well-off or well-educated.

So in Sarah's brain the obesity epidemic looks something like this: "well these poor folks choose to eat lots of chips, cakes and soda, yet don't exercise. Bless them and their future health problems, because it is their choice as Americans, you betcha!".

Here's where her thinking stops. Just stops I tell you. She can't comprehend what's next. Does she think low income obese people just disappear? Or do they all have some kind of magical free-market health plans that take care of life-style related illnesses and pay for them?

Back to reality--I worked for two years in low income disability services in Wasilla Alaska. Sarah's precious town. Does she have any idea how many people in WASILLA apply for Social Security Disability payments due to lifestyle related illness? A conservative estimate would be about 1/2 of those applying for SSDI had lifestyle disability. Heart disease, Diabetes II, lung cancer. Not to mention the Medicare & Medicaid payments.

So in Sarah's world, the Government has no right to recommend what to eat--just pay the disability $$ later on? Oh no, that's right -the Tea Party feels we should slash SSDI payments and Medicaid, etc....Those non-constitutional entitlement programs. So the answer for Sarah is: (if you can swallow this) "Eat what you want precious child. Get diabetes and heart disease--then I will make sure your government never pays to care for you, ha, ha!"

So is she just dumb, or EVIL?

Does Sarah Palin Have the Guts?

Recently an article in the Atlantic about Ron Paul called him the "brain" behind the Tea Party. Assuming he's the brain, then Sarah Palin might be the mouth, the body or maybe just the legs?
Nevertheless, I have always thought Ron Paul isn't a complete dumb ass and I even approve of some of his ideas--but absolutely hate others.
Nevertheless, Ron is a big fan of the Austrian Economic school of thought--that the markets should be allowed to just fail and rebuild themselves. (As opposed to what Bush and Obama did with the government bailouts). Ron Paul's quote is: "Obama should have just stepped aside and let the economy fail".
I find that comment hysterical. So if Queen Sarah (and does she even GET this?) becomes president (if pigs fly)-- as the Tea Party candidate she will be expected to allow the US economy to fail!!???
Funny, funny stuff. First off, when she was McCain's wing-gal in 2008, she supported the bailouts (of course her supporters are too brain-fogged to remember this) secondly, the secret behind Sarah is that she loves to be popular. She is still in High School mode, always looking for approval and adoration....and she knows how to make a crowd happy.

Now imagine her being like: "Ok, now sit back folks and enjoy this! We are going to have a wild economic ride and some job losses here...." Actually increasing unemployment, and no one knows for sure if this will work well, and when we'll recover...but.....
Obama should actually dare her!!

Alaskans Are So Over Sarah Palin

Lisa Murkowski beating Palin's pick Joe Miller in the Alaska senate race states loud and clear: Sarah's voice means nothing in this state.
Face it: only 34% of people who voted in this election cared about the Palin endorsement. About 50% of the Alaskan population voted, so the end result is more like 17% of the state.
Reading message boards and listening to the people in the Great North you get a good sense where most Alaskans stand. They remember pre-fame Sarah and they know who she really is. The Sarah parading on the TV every day is foreign to them. A celebrity with a new dialect, fierce politics and obsessed with fame. In other words a big phony. Secondly, most Alaskans have never forgiven her for quitting her job as Governor -especially to pursue self serving financial interests.
I am guessing the reason Lower 48 folks are still impressed by her is the "Alaska thing" or just the pretty political face. But nobody in Alaska, is impressed by anyone else living in Alaska--so that's a strike against her. And maybe the pretty face is wearing off too. Just look at the latest silly "Facebook war" between the Palin's kids friends. The topic of the fight is that some teens in Alaska don't like the Palin-centric reality show! gasp!
That's the thing... Alaskans are over her, not fascinated at all. When will the lower 48 get it and get bored as well?

This Just in: Joe Miller Explodes

Update: 12:30Pm AKST.
Joe Miller was seen this morning at the Ted Stevens Anchorage airport. He had arrived in his usual manner, driving a large souped up Hummer, sporting an American flag and AK47. His mission appeared to be airport pick up of minions and lawyer goons. Scores of paranoid and vindictive Miller associates were expected to arrive any minute to help Joe with his fight against fellow Republican , Lisa Murkowski.
Due to wet snow and ice in the Anchorage area, the flight was delayed. Joe became visibly angry. As his face reddened he stomped around the airport screaming: "The Federal FAA needs to be dismantled-- It is our constitutional right to fly in bad weather."
In order to appease himself, Joe handcuffed a ticket agent to a chair- for being an enemy of the state. This quick fix didn't last, as the television monitors announced more write-in votes coming in amongst absentee ballots. The lamestream media was reporting they were most likely for Lisa Murkowski.
Joe began hyperventilating and barricaded himself behind the ticket counter screaming: "Those votes are all for Mickey Mouse, I will read every damn ballot myself and fight it!--stop with the conspiracy!" "Alaskans can't spell--they shouldn't even be allowed to vote ! repeal the 17th!"..............then KABOOM!
He simply imploded into 4000 little pieces. Right there in the terminal. Full story on the 10:00 news.

Getting What the People Want?

I believe Bill Clinton said something about this midterm election resulting in the people voting for something they don't even want. I get what he's saying--that they are misinformed and mad, therefore taking out anger they should have against corporations on the government (and in effect giving Wall street and the corporations more power). The sad thing is, can anyone (especially the average voter) pinpoint what is this "thing" they feel so angry about?? I have heard so many different answers: Wall street, Federal Health Care, Government bailouts (this one is funny--people are mad that the economy didn't collapse), Taxes (another funny one, the rich got the poor to fight this one for them) and lastly in Alaska- they just call it "overreaching Federal Government", something to the effect that they are coming for your guns of course. Yet, ask any serious pundit (like not on Fox news) and they will tell you how much more complex and global our economic issues are-that almost none of it can be easily manipulated by our government in a short period of time. There is no fast fix and there is no easy blame...

But what is a fast fix is Sarah Palin. The queen of reckless finger pointing, as she too can't grasp complex problems and breaks them down into bite size candies. She has proven herself awesome at getting uneducated people to take on the causes of the rich and powerful. Calling it populism to tax the rich less--it's like an alternate reality. So my hat goes off to Lisa Murkowski the loudly anti-Palin republican. (not that Lisa isn't a corporate shill , but at least she isn't nuts). Did anyone notice how the Alaska senate race did make a clear point--that in Alaska, we are fed up with the quitting, sniveling ex-half governor. That's really what Murkowski voters are saying. Now why can't the rest of the country at least agree on this?

I Am Not Joe Miller and Do the Youth Know Better?

As if the tea baggers haven't overused the statement already, Joe Miller has decided to excuse his shady background with the lame line: "I am just like you...the voter... warts and all..." I hate that line. 1-because I don't have your warts Joe and 2- I want elected officials to be better than me. Only tea party nuts would want their politicians to be of average intellect and never better!
Another election topic:
I am reading about the potential young voters in the 2010 election and the question on everybodys' mind is--will they be participating or not? Analysts cringe as they speak of young voters being unmotivated and lacking the enthusiasm to participate in the political process. To prove how unenthused they are, many young people are stating it won't really make a difference who gets control of congress. The Dems worry about this all the time--especially because currently young voters are polling as having a much better impression of Obamas' job performance than their parents' generation does. So what gives?
Well my theory is that the young people are actually more pragmatic than their paranoid parents. I always love saying stuff like: if the youth of today would stop sexting each other and doing bong hits, maybe they would pay more attention and vote. But I can't help but notice their instinctive honesty about Obama--like what's the problem? I still like the guy, I knew the world wasn't going to reverse directions in a few months....It looks like the older generation is the one with the crazy unrealistic expectations for Obama--and they really should know better!!! I remember when the Tea Party and queen Sarah started criticizing Obama--he had barely slept a night in the white house, and they wanted everyone to think he had failed, failed and failed--at everything.
Well if you scream and yell loud enough--people do hear you. Eventually all the dumb-asses who hear this nonsense believe it and there you go--a ridiculous midterm election where voters are swaying towards the Republicans based on bad sound bites. Totally ignoring that Obama did not fail-- afterall he did stop the giant depression everyone was excited about just two years ago. And real change will take a long time to be appreciated and noticed. But for now, it seems only the young stoners seem to have the patience to understand this....

The Funny House as Status Symbol?

My house looks funny. It is what in Alaska is known as "Owner Built", which means no professionals were ever consulted in the building of our property. This probably seems impossible to lower 48 folks, but this house was built with no permits, no codes, no nothing but a "git her done" attitude. It started as an old garage in 1936, then was made into a house in the 1950's, an addition in 1978 and lastly a dining area in 1990. The resulting creation has four different roofs, half-assed foundations (notice the plural) and plumbing secured to floor joists with shoe laces.
Nevertheless, it is a happy little place. Nestled on a glacial river with lots of privacy. We have also added wood and tile accents (mostly to hide bizarre sheetrock cracks of unknown origins) and thus most people actually call our cottage "cute".
I too like our house, and often feel happy entering the door after traveling and nestling by the wood stove. It even has a bizarre doughnut lay-out which we really enjoy and keeps everyone running in circles.
Here's the problem: society hates my house. I feel this pressure all the time. Most people I know are fairly well educated and thus have attained good paying jobs. The way "society" tells them to exhibit their hard working success is with a pretty house, at the least, a pretty big house. I know my own brother has mocked my "white trash home", heard it called a "starter house" or even worse had friends on the East Coast refer to homes nicer than mine as "shacks". Yikes!
So it stings, as I know many people feel my little crooked cottage must mean we are unsuccessful and clueless dorks. So about 5 times a year I get all self-conscious about it and start looking at nearby homes more appropriate for our means. The problem is--we always hate these "normal" houses. They have no character, privacy or lousy floor plans. What is important to us, doesn't matter to anyone else and vice versa (like I say- screw the stainless steel fridge) you'll spend the rest of your days wiping paw prints off of it....and cheap granite counter tops emit radon--fun for them!

I just can't believe that I sometimes succumb to this nagging feeling that we need a nicer home to prove to others that we are not bums. (and rebuilding this home would never pay off in our rural neighborhood). For now I am over it, but I am sure it will return...

Why Do I Dislike What Everyone Else Likes??

I am not afraid to know who I am. Increasingly I have become aware that most people around me just want something different out of life than I do. In these times of "constitutional rights" -do I even have the right to not want what everyone else does?
Here's my list of top offenders:
1-McMansions- So they say this trend is winding down. Phooey! --I have not seen it here at all, people in Alaska still look for big, bigger and biggest homes.

2-Costco- It would be like a national sin to reveal that I am afraid of Costco. So "they" tell me to go during the week, not Saturday--tried it, and I was still scared. Nothing but giant items on creepy warehouse shelves about to fall on your head. Not to mention the giant people buying buckets of mayonnaise and chicken wings. A true haunted house, I return only for their very good pizza price...(Alaska pizza is highway robbery)

3- WalMart- Even though I have never entered a Wal-Mart, I can't support it. Then I read that some fancy US reporter is going to China to see why their economy is working...duh reporter--ever been to Wal-Mart? That's why China is working.

4- Social Networking- Creepy! I joined a site once, only to get Eastern European men sending me half naked pictures of themselves with inquiries about gold mining in Alaska. All these sites do is sell your info for advertising revenue so you can tell everyone that your cat coughed up a hairball. When people start using social networking to spread real news and help society (instead of cyberbullying) maybe I'll take a look...

5- Minivans- so they are safe and roomy for the kiddos. But if you buy the world's most boring car, all that will happen is this: you will have an early midlife crisis, drink three shots of tequila and wind up with a daffy duck tattoo thinking that you are now cool. My recommendation: lose the van.

6- Big screen TVs. Don't want want, don't care. Why is it that my family is the only one that never finds the time to watch TV?

7- I phone- Don't even think I am spelling this device right. Don't need it, whatever it is. Or if I had one, would I finally have enough time to watch that big screen TV? Doesn't anyone realize that techno gadgets are a downward spiral--once you get hooked you always need to buy the newest one??? Goodbye money.

8- Scenting parties. This sounds perverted to those that may not know what it is (so maybe it doesn't count on my little list) Nevertheless--it's a sober gathering to sell scented candles to mothers wanting a brief social outlet. (The new tupper ware party) Yikes. Quite popular here in Alaska. I could not do this soberly and I am allergic to chemical scents. Maybe I would do an organic essential oil & wine tasting party instead??

9- Subdivisions.- Instead of community building, neighborhoods today are usually part of the "keeping up with the Jones'" disease. Besides, my family wants to run around loudly outside and let the dogs howl. In the end I would be spending oodles of money on apology gift baskets to the neighbors.

10- Not leaving the wilderness wild. In Alaska one can't read a newspaper or drive a car without seeing some sort of pro-mining, drilling, developing something statement. It has taken me a while to see how the "other side" views this issue. They just feel the wilderness holds no value as is. It is "unimproved" land needing the awesome hand of man to extract or build something from it instead. According to these folks the right of man to extract resources for financial gain (see above- to afford their McMansions and Costco) trumps my "right" to enjoy virgin landscape.

That's the list for today. I have not found the place I belong within my own society...

Stress as Status

I was reading an article the other day, in which a female university professor was ranting about the girls in her feminist class wanting to be "stay at home mommies". This professor spewed all the old 70's lines about how the kiddos need to see mommy go off to work and make something of herself instead of becoming a dysfunctional helicopter parent.
Yet I don't really understand where this educated lady gets her data and ideas. The argument has gotten pretty old and I thought everyone already knew there are truths on both side of the coin--(some families do better with stay at home parents and others just don't). You could never prove one side completely right as there are too many variables- actual family dynamics, communities and income to name a few, that would affect the outcome of such a study.

So then let us focus on the mommies instead. As a feminist professor, can't she get over her hang ups about all the educated ladies needing careers? Can't she just embrace the fact that true liberated women do what is best for them and their families?
So many working women don't even like their careers and ensuing stress. I have seen it for myself--as a working mom comes home, stressed out of her pickles and just rolls her eyes at the kids, blames the laundry pile and orders a pizza. Is this the enviable goal?
Not to mention, that there is nothing wrong with dad quiting a stressful career as well if the family can make it work.
I can't get over how some people who moan about unemployment --yet don't ever blame the "dualies" (dual income families) for sucking up all the good jobs. Some numbers show that 43% of ladies worked in 1950 compared to about 80% in 2010--You could say I am blaming women, but I am not--if they really want those jobs, then maybe the men should step aside..
Of course at this point, my little essay would piss off any dual income family that says they need to have two jobs to get by. And I can't argue with that. There are really crappy jobs out there, where only 2 jobs make any financial sense.
Unfortunately, for every family that needs two jobs, I can pull one out of the hat that just "wants" two jobs. Families where mom and dad hate being home, or families that like brand new cars and high mortgages. Or even worse--families that fill giant play rooms with buckets full of tacky toys made in China--yuck, don't work for that! (hasn't anyone noticed that unemployment numbers are based on 'wanting' a job, not 'needing?')
And this stems from what I call the "status of stress": that I-have-made-it in crazy America, because I am too tired to mow my own lawn, or cook my own dinner or even read a real book....The last thing we need is some bitter professor professing that this is something worth achieving.

Life Less Seriously

I know, I stole the less seriously line from an 1980's song, but it came to mind today... As I was sipping my morning coffee and watching the sheeple panic inducing Today show. The populist program was doing a quick piece on bullying and suicide, specifically about some teens in Ohio, that were bullied for their differences, ultimately leading to their suicides.
I have always stood by my simple belief that teens are wolves. The alphas will circle the omegas until they are kicked out of the pack. I am not sure what omega wolves do from there, but I believe they become "lone wolves" until they find another pack...
But suicide is not the answer for the wolves. Why is it for the humans?? I can certainly appreciate and remember how when you are a human teen "fitting in" seemed like life and death. It was crazy. And of course humans are more analytical than wolves and take this omega status so much more to heart--thus the resulting depression.
But what if we could somehow stop taking the "pack" so seriously? Easier said than done, but part of the problem is our rat-race society, and the resulting inflexibility.
I always go on and on, about how nobody seems to care about education in Alaska--but there is actually a silver lining to all that. It's the home-school, GED is ok, whatever mentality. One of my coworkers in Alaska nonchalantly remarked how instead of high school she just dropped out at 14, got her GED and lived in a cabin and worked in Girdwood. No big deal. But to someone coming from NJ--it sounded sooo outrageous.
Would it help if more bullied teens felt they had such flexible options? If you don't fit in, feel bullied, whatever, just leave the school. What if there was more support to just find a new school, get home schooled, get your GED and start community college...?(I don't ever feel no education is an answer).

But people might just freak out about these alternatives, they take it all so seriously...like leaving school will screw up their college transcripts..or they need to tough it out. Well the "tough it out" thing doesn't really fly anymore, as these days job-jumping is the norm as well. Besides, so many of these "different" kids are actually the geniuses of tomorrow, they can't fit in, nor should they. Colleges certainly respect home-schooled kids and GED kids, especially if they do something productive. (I know of a kid in Chicago who dropped out of high school to start a nightclub and went on to become a genetic engineer)
I don't proclaim to have all the answers to this sad and complex issue, but a bit of flexibility couldn't hurt....sending a howl for all those omegas out there!

The Irony of Alaska's Joe Miller

Alaska has it's own circus going on right now regarding the upcoming election. Lisa Murkowski's non-traditional write in bid is actually quite boring (yawn) compared to the wacky, wacky contradictions of Tea Party sweetheart Joe Miller...
I can't quite figure out, who is a Joe Miller fan? Ok, the well-off, I see some nice houses with Joe signs and that makes sense to me--they are doing well, don't want more taxes, and screw the "lazy poor".
But it's the underprivileged voters that get my goat--the trailers and yards full of jalopies with their "constitutional freedom" and "Joe Miller" signs that send my mind spinning...
So these not-rich folks, want to benefit less from government programs--like Denali kidcare (medicaid) or social security...right? and then these poor folks also don't want to pay their imaginary taxes -- (aren't you exempt from taxes at low incomes in this country ?)
Whatever. The great irony of Joe Miller is that without much advanced snooping, the press is all over his past of government programs--are there any he didn't even apply for?? I mean farm subsidies, unemployment, low income hunting license and Denail kidcare (medicaid) for his kids.

Now Joe's statement is "my family has had its struggles". Ok, so the Miller family struggled, used these programs, he got a good education & job, then zoomed ahead in the capitalist system. But excuse me--no other poor person should have these 'unconstitutional' benefits, right? And the best part is-- that he can fool a bunch of uneducated people to put signs in their yard in support of 'no benefits for me' (heaven forbid they become successful like Joe Miller--right??)
There used to be a joke: that an environmentalist is someone who builds a house in the woods, and then doesn't allow anyone else to do so.
I guess the new joke is: a Tea Party conservative is someone who uses government benefits to get ahead--and then doesn't allow anyone else to do the same....

Understanding Palin Vindictiveness

Often when one reads about Sarah Palin and company, especially in more local venues...the term "vindictive streak" is used to describe her. In other words, if someone speaks ill or wrongs the Palins, they just can't let it go....I have not yet read the book "Going Rogue", but apparently, a few former friends are thrown under the bus in that wonder of modern literature.
Living in Alaska, the vindictive thing is simply commonplace normality--but I want to clarify this type of behavior to the Blue State people who may not have experienced it....
First of all, remember, I love Alaska--the folksy values, honesty and old fashioned people--it is the friendliest place I have ever lived. That said though, there is this wacky (may I say 'red-neck?') type behavior in a few people where they just can't back away from a fight, pissing match, what have you...
Stories of shooting matches over fishing spots, beating up the neighbor over a fence line and other such civilized behavior makes the local news quite often. I remember hearing in Anchorage from a friend whose wooden bear statue was stolen by neighborhood kids. The family knows who did it, told the authorities and wham! statue was returned to the lawn...but beheaded. Just to show them, that they should not have told. I'll admit beheading is not that common, but the "I'll show them", thinking is.
Here's a completely unknown Sarah story: when Sarah Palin was a nothing, about 10 years ago, her sister was paying housing rent to a man that she also shared the bedroom with. This upset Sarah's sense of justice and brought out her inner vindictive 'pitbull'. She marched up the drive and demanded that said man stop requesting rent from her poor sister as the relationship was more than just renter. I guess it's sweet that Sarah wants to defend her sibling, but couldn't the adult sister decide for herself whether she should split the mortgage with her lover?
That said, it just doesn't seem like the Palins can outgrow this type of thinking, to start choosing their battles wisely, letting it roll off their backs and taking the high road...
And this could be our next president! Where's that new habitable planet that was discovered? Get me a launch ticket!

Never Ending Poop Saga

Now that the excavator showed up and dug up our sewer line one would think that my poop lifestyle would finally come to a reprieve. Unfortunately, I have no such luck.
After the excavator left, my husband mentioned he had chatted with him briefly about the septic tank. It appears that (behind my back) the dude mentioned to my husband that the entrance to our septic was jammed with a "kotex like material". WTF does that imply?
Am I so stupid (being the sole female in the household) to not know that after 9 years of living with a septic system I should not flush a giant maxi pad down the toilet?? Doesn't every woman on earth know not to do such a thing? (Even in a city system.) Did we have crazy guests over just itching to dispose of their feminine products down our country toilet??? Or do imps and gnomes show up and flush kotex down my toilet? What could this "product" really be?

Luckily the power went out due to a windstorm that knocked the neighbors tree down--distracting me from fuming about the sexist assumption that women screw up septic systems...So we took the dogs to the "self-serve dog wash"--a popular thing in Alaska instead of fancy groomers. Two hours later the beasts were brushed and clean. Unfortunately the dogs don't think of this as clean--they think of it as "odor vulnerable" or something like that.
The first thing they do at home is try to rub their necks in dirt (I have been told that is where the scent glands are). We steered them away from this activity, and they spent the night smelling like spring breezes and sunshine.
Of course the following day, they had had enough and sensed their canine opportunity when I opened the front door--sprinting past me in a mad gallop...heading for the hills. I can never stop the 120 pounds of determined muscle when they decide to knock me over and run away. I had a good idea where they were heading though--the neighbors house.
Sure enough, they returned only 20 minutes later, and Dingbat was covered with a yellow substance--horse manure. She just had to roll in horse manure...! That will show us to stop trying to get away from our poop-centric lifestyle...good grief, it's my calling.

My Life of Crap

Ok, this is not an entry complaining about my life, or saying it is crappy--it is not crappy in the sense one might think, but in the literal sense: just crap, poop, manure.
It all begins with the excessive pet situation here at the house. One rescue dog, one stray that never went away, and two elderly cats set via Northwest airlines to our home...
Obviously the combo of these critters produce a lot of waste (oh did I mention that the dogs are 50 pounds plus and the cats are FAT) It is obviously my job to deal with their waste--and I hate poop piles on the lawn, so I am out there scooping away...
Speaking of poop piles--the moose is just like any other inefficient ungulate--it just walks and poops all day long , leaving behind these large towers of olives--they don't even decompose or collapse--so I have no choice but to scoop 'em too. (I didn't mean to imply I have a personal moose, I don't--it is everyone's to share in the neighborhood).
Lastly, is the sewer lagoon underneath my home. This is by far the crappiest. Sometimes we joke--"do we even have indoor plumbing?" As my sewer pipe seems to overflow whenever it feels like it. It does this is in the most interesting way--by blowing out the giant steel clean-out plug on the main line, without any warning to us. Resulting in a blast of sewage pouring into the basement--at which point it takes a few days for the odor to creep back up the pipes and remind us: "don't look in the basement, you don't want to know".....
So finally we paid the sewer guy $275 to film a "dirty movie" down our sewer line to see why it has this magical power to gross out our home. And it appears the line outside has buckled/bellied, another way to say: it fell into a sink hole.
So a fun excavator dude will be coming to dig it all up soon--and maybe the poop party will end once and for all for us...but what can I do about all those pets??

Honest Talk About Failing School Districts

School district funding is back in the news again, thanks to the Facebook founder kid donating a good chunk of change to the failing Newark NJ school district. All the news articles fawning over this event readily admit that spending per student is already high in this district--but nobody will mention the real bogeyman here.
It drives me nuts when so many media articles yap on and on about failing school districts and bad teachers and need for new programs, yet dance around the real issue. Which is: that students residing in communities with low social economic standards are screwed. It's just not P.C. to admit that the problem begins with the community and the home. One teacher I know was telling me how it's a known fact (among teachers) that when a school district reaches 40% free lunch (low income) the district is as good as doomed.
Why is this ? Because when you are raised in a home where nobody believes anything good will come from education (because, hey, it didn't work for me) they don't give a damn if you succeed or not. If your economic reality is only the crooks and pushers are rich-then you know that school is a joke. Out here in the poor communities of Alaska--they always feel that success comes from "connections", not education. It simply feels useless. It also doesn't help when the community at large mocks "nerdy" or successful kids in these types of impoverished areas.
You won't solve this ingrained mentality by blaming the poor teachers (and bless them for sticking it out in these difficult districts). But you need to target the parents. Everyone who was raised upper middle class knows that they were expected to succeed by their elders--not mocked for trying.
So take that Facebook money, and redirect it to the community--advertise on billboards, buses and TV that education is the real path to success and popularity. Change the "it's no use" mentality instead of bashing your head against the wall and flushing money down the drain.

My Adventures With Burnt Raspberry Jelly

Not too long ago, my family picked a gallon worth of wild raspberries from the forest on our property. As anyone knows, picking raspberries is usually not that fun- as you get constantly pricked and in Alaska the fun includes multiple mosquito bites on your fingers and ears..
I recently pulled out the freezer bag and thought the time had come to make some good wild raspberry jelly. I boiled, strained, added lemon and sugar-- it was looking really good. As it was cooking I noticed it had boiled over a bit--no problem, I skimmed the top, added some more sugar and set the heat on low. Or did I?
At the same time I set a pot of water to boil on high and went outside for five minutes...at least that's what I though. But oh crap--I came back in and the jelly was set on high and the pot of water was actually on low!
My beautiful raspberry sauce was now a thick brown goop. I couldn't stand to throw it out so I sealed it in a mason jar. The next day I forced myself to actually eat a peanut butter and burnt goop sandwich--yuck! It sort of tasted like weird molasses.
So I went on the oracle that is the internet and asked "what now??"
The first two articles I found seemed to imply: "tough luck, throw out the burnt jelly." I wasn't ready to give up and scrolled down further to a more optimistic idea: "use it for BBQ sauce."
So that's what I tried--cooked it lightly, adding vinegar, and ketchup--basting all over some broiled chicken. Holy doodles! It tasted great! Not like BBQ, but like Chinese food...
So now I call it my "secret sauce base". We have used this "burnt jelly goop" for fajita sauce, sesame chicken and other homemade concoctions. Sometimes adding some molasses or fish oil, even garlic. But I still can't believe that my "burnt jelly mistake" turned into one of the best sauces I have ever made (and I am not even a good cook).
Like lemonade out of lemons....

The Queen of Suburban Angst

Just like the public health community spreads the word of the latest salmonella outbreak, Arcade Fire has their own PSA, warning of the dangers of suburban angst..
I guess it's good to get knowledge of this social disease out in the open. But as I myself was once a self-professed Queen of Suburban angst, (well before it was identified as a marketable medical condition) I feel I have a few valid observations.
First of all, I cured my suburban angst quickly and completely by moving to Alaska. Luckily, once you are cured of this condition, it is much easier to reflect on its cause.
The first observation is that not everyone does hate the suburbs (wow!). Only after leaving did I realize that parents feel their kids are safe there, kids like to ride their bikes around and don't even need to fear their neighbors! Neat stuff.
Now the angst part usually only develops when you are a teenager. The two causes of angst are: A) realizing that safety is boring (as any philosopher will note: humans crave adversity). B) it is exhausting to constantly conform and "fit in".
At first one might think that only the artsy goth kids hate conformity. But now as an adult I realize that the peppy kids had it even harder. I mean by accepting that you aren't one of them, you can just breathe, claim your angst and detour around the conformity game. But if you are actually succeeding, then watch out--you need your eyes on the ball 24/7--are you wearing the right clothes, saying the right thing...? Then adults need to watch out for the proverbial Joneses next door--keeping up with the right car, landscaping and heaven forbid you have not painted your house beige!
The funny thing is, after overcoming my own suburban angst, I realize the safety thing isn't bad for little children after all, and can't say that everyone living in the suburbs will become nuts. On the other hand, those beige houses have got to go....

Your Constitutional Right to Rot

Yelling and more yelling about our freedom and rights, the constitution blah, blah-- it's all I ever hear in Alaska these days.
I don't know what exactly everyone is so upset about. What is the federal government doing to everyone?? Taking away their weed? Taxes?--guess what --nothing new. Then it must be health care reform...true enough there is that pesky new provision (as I understand it) that health insurance will become mandatory in the future. Maybe we can help folks worried about this with a "splat" amendment.
The splat amendment would be signed by those choosing to opt out of mandatory health care. These individuals swear that if they become disabled (say with diabetes--huge increase in cases) or get cancer or happen to fall "splat" off a building they are to be left to die. Just leave them there or send them out on an ice floe. No government benefits, or social security will ever be requested. Simple enough.

Tea Party, Libertarians, and the People

So I have been reading up on the differences between the tea-party people and what the libertarians have been saying all along. The most significant difference is obviously that the libertarians don't support useless & expensive wars, while the tea party folk feel they are quite all right (talk about spending tax payer money) but whatever.
Yet, if you truly look at honest libertarian ideas (say Ron Paul) you will find that "removing government" or less government as everyone yells & chants these days is really a much bigger sacrifice than anyone realizes.
Government is so entrenched in our system (food prices, utilities, mortgages, banks, credit) that if you yank the plug we would have the craziest price inflation, unemployment & poverty that anyone has ever seen or even dreamed of. I sort of agree (for environmental reasons) that it would be interesting to let the system collapse and start over again--but give me a break people. Who in their right mind would do this? The elected official (say a president) who actually followed through with this sort of idea (and eliminated corporate welfare as they call it) would be burned at the stake.
Then say you stopped social programs such as social security --did history disappear here? We can't remember why it was created in the first place???? Just travel to any country (say third or second world) and see what happens when people are left to take care of themselves....It's not nice--ever seen an orphanage full of disabled kids? That's where they go without government benefits--because you can't afford to keep them at home. Not to mention the terrible poverty of the elderly, disabled adults & increased death rates.
Have a good day people...

What Does 911 Have to do With Wasilla?

I am so frustrated having to drive around southcentral Alaska this week and see signs announcing "Rally to remember 911" at Wasilla sports complex. I have been in Alaska every year since 911 and nobody has given more than the occasional mini-speech or moment of silence up until now (sometimes not even that). Why the new interest in 2010?

As someone who actually was in the NY area during 911 I find this whole neo-concern obnoxious and suspicious at best. I don't know how many Alaskans were in NY then and saw the persistent smoke--(it went on for weeks), the strange smell in the air, the silence on the radio followed by excessive Enya songs for days on end....Not to mention the larger, more painful things--missing persons, knowing of a friend of a friend who was lost, or on their way downtown. The anxiety or phone calls from far away asking if you were ok, military jets flying overhead....

But now 9 years later Wasilla is all up in arms and going to show a massive graphic 911 slide show, supposedly with G. Beck and S. Palin in attendance--why? It doesn't sound like a vigil or respectable memorial service for the dead. The only thing a slide show will accomplish is getting people all paranoid again. Those images had to be stopped on the National media years ago, because they were scaring children!! Remember folks, all those ominous warnings--but yet nothing significant like this has happened in the 9 years since--so why get peoples panties in a bunch now?? I shudder to think what their real motive is to perpetuate this fear out of the blue.

No Child Left Behind is a Socialist System

Fidel Castro has recently admitted that his former policies are no longer workings. After I read an article about this topic I scrolled down to the comments section, to see what average Joe had to say about it.
Well interestingly enough, I saw many sensible ideas about "not too right, not too left" is usually the best way. But of course other people had to get their two cents in about the failures of socialist ideas such as:" if everyone is treated too equal then their is no reason to excel". The usual drivel how these ideas stomp on entrepreneurship, individualism & intellectual greatness--fair enough, blame that on the socialists.
But this brings up an idea that I often think about: what in the world is "No Child Left Behind" if not a really socialist idea brought upon by George Bush?? Of course I am 100% behind free education and feel children are our Nations future--but has anyone seen what this policy really does?
As someone who has looked over many public school systems at the elementary level, I see a new pattern developing. Thanks to websites like "Greatschools" that are directly linked to Realtor.com, the number one criteria for evaluating a school district is their test scores. Now do these "test scores" actually show how smart the kids are?? No, the data I have seen on these sites only show how many % pass or fail. So for your school district to get a good score--it only makes sense to help the slowest students. Those kids that can pass easily are neglected. Gifted & talented programs are cut in order to focus on the students needing a boost up, not the other way around.
So the thing I can't understand is why Obama is called the big "socialist" when Bush created this giant socialist scheme himself?? I'm all for helping struggling students, it is essential to educate everyone to help the country at large. But with limited education funding--are we paying as much attention to those kids that will be our future leaders, the ones bored in school?? Aren't we telling them--you only need to "pass the test"....shouldn't we expect more of them?
I just don't get this double standard...

Obama Opinion Polls

I don't trust the public. I feel they are misinformed, have no attention span and spend all their free time watching the boob tube or facebooking about how their cat did the cutest thing.
I rarely meet anyone that actually reads good books or the newspaper everyday. But public opinion polls have no problem asking all these morons what they think. I always love the question : "is congress doing a good job?". It cracks me up. Even with mostly college educated friends, I know only a handful of folks who even know what congress does, let alone actually follows their day to day work...so why are we asking them? It's like asking my dog--"do you approve of the financial bailout?"
That said, the media is obsessed with Obama's numbers declining. I truly feel for the guy. Can the so-called "public" actually explain why they feel this way? Or did they happen to see too many misspelled protest signs and think to themselves: "well it looks like neighbor Bob doesn't like this Obama fellow, I better think that too..."or more likely--"the tabloids are saying Obama is a drunken Muslim" (hard to believe these two completely opposite ideas can be side by side in the same supermarket checkout line).
What did Obama really do that upsets them so much?? The spiraling debt perhaps. But what does "the public" want him to do about the economy? Let it crash and burn? No debt or bail outs then...just poverty.
Same with health care. Something had to be done. You can eliminate Medicare/Medicaid and Social Security or you can radically change the whole system. The public hates both options...so what again did they want the president to do about it? It's like you can't win. Do nothing and they complain, do something and they complain....
It's not like he started a mistake war or anything...so give the guy a break!

My Simple Challenge for Sarah & Glenn

Well I am sure I don't even need to use Palin's and Beck's full names for anyone to know exactly who I am talking about.....
We all know they are good at being snarky, critical, snappy and what have you--but what I don't believe they are good at is something else: world travel.
I'll be honest--I don't know Glenn Becks world travel history. But I am pretty sure Sarah hadn't seen much more than good old Wasilla up until a few years ago. And now that she does travel a bit it is in an insulated vacuum--where you see a sanitized version of cars & hotel rooms, nothing else.
What does traveling have to do with anything you may ask? Well everything in my opinion. Before you say what's right or wrong about America. Or what the people need or want, how they should live and dismantle the UN...you really need to take a good trip around the world and see what works and what doesn't. It's like the best school in the "world". Any idea you have-some other country might have already tried it. Saves valuable time.
Ask people in Canada, do they like their lives? How about in Denmark?--talk to real middle class folks. Then see what true government deregulation looks like--try some third world countries. My travel schedule for Glenn & Sarah would include a few evil "socialist countries" like France or Sweden. Then try some deregulated economic fun--like Latvia or Chile. Definitely see India. And no hiding out in fancy hotels!
Better yet, make it a reality show: Sarah & Glenn's excellent adventure....then come back and talk .

What the Tea Party Really Thinks About Average Americans

Listen up average people, and by that I mean those who make about 100,000 a year or less. Those that make more, may stop reading now.
Here's the honest thing that doesn't get discussed by political conservative types, such as the Tea Party Express. Why they really don't want to pay federal taxes...It is because they think you are a loser. That's right folks--incompetent, unable to be rich, lazy loser.

I have been reading up on conservative theory, and the pro-industry, anti-tax types all share a similar belief. The rich are simply better. They are smarter, more able bodied and hyper-active. This is the way it should be and it's not their problem if you are not like them. So they have no reason to spend even one dime on your silly little public schools (there's always private school for the rich), Medicaid or Medicare (heck, they are already covered) or any other stupid public project. Like public transportation- (get a car you lazy s.o.b.) They simply feel that when they are taxed, they are being robbed for the worst possible reason--keeping all these dumb losers on life support ("why don't you just go die somewhere" is more acceptable)

If you really knew what the rich think about everyone else, you just wouldn't vote Tea Party--no way. They hate you, but are smart enough to recruit you for their own cause. Make you shoot yourself in the foot.
So what if you were born disabled, low IQ, into an abusive home, whatever--that's your stupid problem, not theirs. And granted some people do make it out of horrible or even just plain simple circumstances to become great and wealthy people in America, no question. But many more just do not. And this my friends, is what the rich consider your moral shortcoming.

If you don't believe me, just read something like "Atlas Shrugged" from beginning to end--it will take a good year, but you can see the hate & loathing towards those who have less money. (and Reagan was a fan of Ayn Rand) You betcha! (ever wonder why the richer Sarah Palin gets, the angrier her rhetoric?)

In 2008 Sarah Palin Liked Government Bailouts!

Ugly hypocrisy. The most frustrating thing about American politics is the public's constant memory loss when it comes to political hypocrisy.
If anyone does a quick Google search of the 2008 election with "depression", Sarah Palin" and "bail out"- what you will find are her eloquent quotes about America heading for a Great Depression if we don't spend billions on a federal bail-out package.
Now fast forward to 2010, what are Mrs. Palin's favorite talking points?? How's that hopey changey thing working for you?? Well guess what Sarah--so we aren't doing super great--but Obama did prevent that other "great depression" you used to believe in, and how did he do it?? With Federal bail out money...just as your sweet lipsticked face suggested. Changey , right?

So now Glenn Beck and Palin are feeding on the public's short term memory loss and utter inability to think for themselves, about how the economy should have been 100% fixed and perfect, in what, like 12 months?? No thanks to Obama for preventing the Depression that she herself predicted.
How it's a good thing that folks like Joe Miller (running for senator of AK) will reduce Medicare (wait, wasn't Sarah all pro-Medicare just 6 months ago?) and other entitlement programs ruining our budget. Right then, that pesky military budget and those two little wars aren't bothering the budget at all. What about my pro-life stance (I am pro-American soldiers coming home alive)? Where are my constitutional rights, if I don't want to fund useless wars that just cause huge loss of life and limb?
Don't get me started on my constitutional right to happiness (and enjoy Alaska wildlife viewing) that Sarah and her cronies enjoy stomping all over on a regular basis with predator control... But that's another story....

Hungry Grizzly Bear Attack

So maybe I am not a certified wildlife expert, but I live in bear country and follow bear attack stories closely. The media sometimes plays them up as "bears gone wild" to make sure the public stays very scared of the wilderness...but if you read and closely look at all aspects of bear behavior some things just stand out.

In Alaska, many of our quasi-urban bear attacks have a common thread: startling the bear or alerting their "chase" instinct. Case in point-joggers bit in the butt, or bicyclists mauled. Silent persons speeding by bears in the woods--not a good idea.

Second aspect I have noticed, is a possible cause behind remote wilderness bear attacks--seems to be the "hungry bear" phenomena. A few years back some campers were mauled in ANWR, or even the famous killing by Timothy Treadwell appears to be caused by a desperate "malnourished bear". As far as I understand it, human doesn't taste good to bears, but if they are really, really hungry- probably the bear isn't picky.

Back East in the Catskill mountains of NY I know of a children's summer camp frequented by roaming black bears (these are not the more aggressive grizzly bears). But nevertheless, they actually cause no problems for the campers except leaving a mess, breaking screen doors and some interesting amusement for all. Always happy and well-fed on garbage, these bears seem to exhibit "Yogi bear behavior".

Now the recent Yellowstone bear mauling has reportedly involved "malnourished bear cubs". Tragic story, and makes me wonder about all the "bear proof" containers at the park. On the one hand, you don't want to encourage all that begging and garbage picking--but I can't help but wonder--aren't dumpster diving bears safer for us than crazed tent divers? It seems they can make the distinction between humans leaving behind food, versus actually being the food--and I believe most bears would choose KFC and mm's versus homosapiens.

I know my opinion seems backwards and controversial, but I often wonder how many 'hungry" bear attacks could be avoided if we just threw chocolate bars at them instead of pepper spray....

Sally Likes This

I wish this new trend would go away. The trend of capitalizing on the sheeple mentality of the people. Why is it that every so-called legitimate online news organization now rates their articles based on--"most popular", "most read", "most emailed...?" Besides the curiosity factor (like why are so many people interested in that dumb story?) It is useless and actually harmful information.
I fear it will simply dumb down all the media, as you can tell the "most popular" article is usually something like: "suburban mom gives child to grizzly bear", or "stupid celebrity is having another affair", This is not helping the information quality that we receive. And the rush to get these trivial stories to the internet press results in articles written at a third grade level. I can't even believe the grammar and spelling errors--using spell check , but not understanding the meaning of the word, has disastrous results.
Even worse, Facebook has normalized the trend to write : "Becky likes this" or whatever on every comment ever written. Good grief!! Who cares?? Becky could be a psychopath for all I know.
I thought we adults eventually grow out of the high school phase, interested in only what the popular kids are doing and thinking--apparently not. What happened to caring about what is actually best?

Al Gore and Global Warming

I'll admit I was reading a bit about the ridiculous Al and Tipper Gore divorce scandal. I'm not really interested who caused it, but that said, I am saddened by a solid-looking union calling it quits...
But moving on...this story led me to read about other Al Gore events I was not aware of--namely the California home he bought in April. This I found even more interesting than the divorce, as I firmly believe huge houses are environmental nightmares. No matter how many solar panels you have--they usually are a resource and energy drain. So I wanted to cut Al some slack and tried to research the square footage of said controversial property--is it really ostentatious or maybe just a tad fancy??

Instead I was hit by the brutal reminder that many, many Americans believe that Al Gore started a Global warming hoax. This absolutely blows my mind. I do remember a statistic somewhere about the percentage of Global warming believers in the USA declining. But what are they denying ---that the earth is warming--or that humans caused it?? Denying the earth is warming reminds me of ancient history--when people would argue about the earth being flat. Anyone who doesn't believe in climate change should just travel a bit and get off their fox news watching couch. They'll see how respected scientists all over the world agree on this topic, how certain islands are going under water, the ice caps are melting--just look people. (seeing is believing)

I can better understand the "humans caused this" factor being controversial-it's probably more vague. But who cares who caused it?? If new energy sources and carbon caps can curb this event from happening faster--why be against it??? Instead like little toddlers they argue about who broke the toy (or lying that the toy is not broken at all) instead of just cleaning it up. Weird. It just makes me worry about Americans in general and their ability to compete with international scientific minds. Are we doomed folks??

I Think I Give Up

I just don't know what to think. I usually have this enthusiasm to follow politics, read about what is going on, but not anymore.
This is the first time in my life that I don't want to read the newspaper or watch the evening news. Sometimes I even find it hard to be out and about and overhear others conversations. Hopefully it is just an Alaska thing--surrounded by folks that drink up Fox news and worship in Palinville. People that don't read and research anything intellectual and are following the party of "no".

It seems the majority around me just wants to spread negativity and lies. When the Democrats got mad at Bush they actually waited until something really devastating came up--like a needless & expensive war. Killing tons of people, and causing injury and destruction. What kind of country am I living in when people get more angry and crazed out of their mind about health care regulations, than having their tax dollars go to fund brain injuries & deaths to our own soldiers? How can we trust government warfare if we can't trust government health care?

Iditarod Dreams

The Iditarod makes me cry--especially watching the ending at Front Street in Nome, Alaska. (they show this live on TV in Alaska).
But I do not cry out of sadness for the doggies or something like that. No, I cry because the Iditarod sled dog race--1,000 miles through remote Alaskan wilderness is just so incredible. These mushers don't sleep, get hit by trees, suffer broken bones & illness--some of the most adventurous athletes I have ever seen.
And the craziness of the trail--moose, wolves, half frozen rivers, -40 degree temperatures. It's so wild and primitive. And just about 70 humans a year try this sort of thing.
Compare that to the millions upon millions sitting at their desks , sipping coffee, driving a Honda home after work to watch CSI on TV--that's about as adventurous as most Americans get.
But here is this great sled dog race-- completely wild and difficult. It touches my heart that dreamers everywhere can still pursue this sort of crazy challenge--that everything hasn't been made boring and safe. And one can still dream of a wild and beautiful world.....

Why do Sled Dogs Keep Running???

I know there are quite a few animal groups out there that despise the really long Alaskan sled dog races--like the Yukon Quest and Iditarod. Mostly because these crazy races have dogs running about 1,000 miles in approximately 10 days. The leader's dogs often only sleep about 7 hours per day and run almost 17 daily. That is nuts!

It is true that dogs get injured (but so do almost all the humans), and that their lungs take a toll (as do human marathon racers). And their paws need constant ointment and booties to keep going....so the question is:-- is this some kind of dog abuse?

Some make the claim--"well the dogs didn't volunteer for the race-- the humans make them do it." But I ask: what dog anywhere really has a choice about anything?? (except for one of my nutty dogs that wandered in from the street as a stray, refused to leave and is now our dog!) I mean, does any dog request to be a latch-key dog--left alone in a crate for 9 hours while their owners toil at work??

And then some people keep up the old notion that the dogs are whipped to keep going. Nice try--used to happen (that's the truth) but so many people now watch the race & times have changed that you really couldn't get away with it....

So why do these doggies run like this??? Well I think I have the answer--simply because I have a crazy Alaskan sled dog at home.

She is the weirdest thing ever. Somewhat feral & wild. Obsessed with competition and pack order. She always tries to show off and would never say no to a sprint race . She stays up for days on end if we are on a road trip...always excited about more excitement. We know this crazy animal would run until she dies--it is in her blood.

Not only does she love the spirit of competition, she wants to do whatever the "alpha" wants to do. Not to please him I think, but just to be like him. So as long as the musher is awake and the dogs know what they need to do--they will keep on running...these are not the same dogs you find in the lower 48, they can't be compared.

Worst Week for Alaska Wolves

As long as I have lived in Alaska now, I have never seen such a ridiculously bad week for the Alaskan wolves.
First of all, Denali National Park and various organizations had requested the Alaska Game Board to extend the wolf buffer outside Denali Park. In other words--wolves that are watched (and even radio collared) in Denali would be able to roam outside park boundaries without fear of trapping. But no, the Board of Game voted instead to REDUCE the buffer for the most viewed wolves in Alaska--hence increasing the chance for them to be trapped instead of having a tourist photograph them. The crazy part of this, is the reasons the "so-called-adults" on the Alaska Game Board gave for this decision.
One reason: "Why would someone from New York want to see a wolf that comes right up to a tour bus?" Secondly: "The feds and wildlife organizations have pushed us too far". So in effect they are saying--we will not protect these wolves because:
A) we are too narrow minded to understand city people.
B) out of spite to the Feds.
Next comes the appointment of the new head of Alaska Wildlife conservation--who's only mission is to maximize species for hunting them down--and therefore more wolf shooting (known as predator control).
Lastly, the Alaskan wolves themselves decided--"well hey, everyone hates us this week anyway, so lets do a heinous act to show just how bad-ass we really can be". And they proceeded to eat a lower 48 school teacher that was out jogging in a remote Alaskan village. My condolences to the family. But note to anyone coming to Alaska--you can not jog around predators (or even loose dogs) they have a chase instinct! I wish someone could have warned the poor girl.

The Alaska Department of Wildlife Conservation needs to be contacted, as well as the tour companies (www.Princesslodges.com & www.Graylinealaska.com) two of the biggest with financial stakes in wolf viewing, especially around Denali. They need to lobby the state to protect opportunities for tourists to view wildlife.

The Trouble With Sarah

I had expected to eventually hear the unsettling news that Sarah Palin was going to consider a presidential run in 2012.
It's not only her lack of experience and good education that I find troubling, but I know what she truly believes, as I have had the joyful (?) experience of living near her hometown, and being under her "get up and run away" governorship...

Sarah has a strong fundamental belief that good jobs (i.e good pay, good money) solves all social ills. I can't argue with her point that in most cases, especially here in the Matanuska Valley of Alaska, people with money don't start meth labs, shoot their neighbors, or rob liquor stores. She makes a valid point. Her theory just doesn't fly outside a "go and grow" state like Alaska or Texas or any other huge state filled with natural resources. Sarah has most of her experience in Wasilla, where she was all for huge ugly box stores and development galore. This can only be achieved when land is plentiful and cheap. Once you build the super Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Target and a bunch of Mc Mansions where do you go from there?

Or take the good paying natural resource jobs--like oil and minerals. Does this kind of work hold promise 50 years from now? Construction is huge here too--but when you have paved over all the country what then? Her economic theory works--for now--but is not sustainable in the long term. And how do box stores help small mom & pop shops that go out of business or "good paying manufacturing jobs" right here at home? Sarah herself is often spotted at Wal-Mart (at least up until last year). But what does Wal-Mart do for Made in USA manufacturers?? Puts them out of business, that's what.

I would love to hear her explain herself on this. How do you develop these "good paying, low-education jobs" in states that have little land left?? (like NJ) Especially when the factories shut down because you are buying your own crap from China.

Why Should I Facebook You?

Over the Holiday season I did an outrageous thing--I tried to make one on one contact with a few old acquaintances by sending apparently old fashioned email. Not a mass email have you, but individual correspondence asking how they have been.
Well, I guess that was just too difficult for some to muster. I did get hastily written replies, but usually with a: "well if you really want to know what I am up to--join facebook and check my page"....
Unbelievable. Everyone has become such a delusional "rockstar" that it is in no way considered pretentious to suggest that everyone should be following their impersonal web updates. Before the internet this would be equivalent to someone saying--"well if you really cared about my life: buy my autobiography."
The really silly thing is, that all these bozos putting all their personal details on Facebook don't seem to understand human nature. At least half of your friends and or acquaintances are probably making fun of your facebook info at any given time. Saying stuff like: "why did she put that photo out there" or "why did they move to that house?", "who lets their kids on a bike without a helmet"...etc...doesn't everyone know people just get a kick out of judging one another???
Of course any old letter or email could be made fun of as well, but in my opinion when it is more personal and delivered only to the receiver--then it is simply "sharing", but when you post on facebook or send out tweets--it sort of crosses into "bragging"--and thus more scrutiny.

Quit Your Job and Help Your Fellow Americans

This is my shout out to all those stressed out two income families, driving around in their Yukon SUV's on their way to their high pressure careers....why is mom and dad both working if you clearly have no financial struggles???
As crazy as it sounds--but when everyone wants a job (even if they don't need one) that raises the unemployment rate. People hate to admit it, but not every American family actually needs to work two jobs to put "food on the table". I know plenty of families where mom and dad work, even with incomes way above $100,000 a year simply because staying home is "boring". Or maybe they think it's lazy to bake cookies and volunteer for the PTA, or usually they just like a bit more money.
Of course it can be argued--that no matter what, two income families do pump money back into the economy either through being in a higher tax bracket or buying their endless supply of McMansions (I don't care what Time magazine writes, I feel the McMansion lifestyle is still alive and well) So that argument is fair enough.
BUT I still can't help but notice that if an affluent mom or dad quit one of their careers, presto! A job would open up for some man or woman that needs to make a mortgage payment in a zero income family...