el ártico bar and grill

So, I made this decision: I am going to be more involved in my community. However that is defined.  I rolled up my sleeves, did some online searching and found a borough commission that sounded interesting. Flexed the fingers, submitted the application, and heard nothing. For months. And months. Then, a la the tundra telegraph, I heard that my application was approved by the mayor's office and by the borough assembly. As were stacks of others. Apparently these things all get approved in one massive chunk at the end of the year. Would have been nice to know that. But - it's the tundra telegraph and you never know. So I go to the post office box, and yowza! I'm on the Senior Citizen's Advisory Board. And suddenly I'm COMMISSIONER Fleeks. Gee, really? For the first, and hopefully, last time in my life I have a title. And a new group of people to meet. And a whole bunch of new information to absorb. Like a good rookie, I head off to my first meeting determin...

In the last few days since word came out about the horrific earthquake in Haiti, most people - most Americans - have taken the time to give prayers, money, and aid to the victims of this calamity. Not so Rush Limbaugh and Pat Robertson who have issued the most hate-filled statements about the vast human suffering there that I have had the misfortune to hear and read. I could go on at some length about this, but here I am lucky. There's a guy on TV, yes - American television, who says it best. Look and listen. And thank you Mr. Olbermann.  The Proper Response To Hate

So, a new year begins and less than two weeks in, the world starts to come apart. Haiti is now in ruins, and Sarah Palin is now on Fox "News." I think the two are related. I think there's a Fifth Horsemen of the Apocalypse that somehow got left of the translation. To be honest, I probably know less about what Miz Failin' is up to than anyone else around. Mainly because I do not care. Seriously, do not care. As in, "don't ask me about her, 'cause I don't know." Because I do not care. She falls into that category that I label "use less." The woman has no useful purpose in the course of my life. If she actually did something useful - like lead an aid effort to Haiti, or Appalachia, that would be one thing. But since she doesn't I don't see the point in giving her any of my hard-earned time, or my attention. Of course, if she is the Fifth Horsemen - I'm wrong. But then we'll all be screwed anyway.

Alaska Real: Arctic tribute to MJ

This is a fun year. Apparently there are 3 - count'em - 3 Friday the 13ths this year. Which might explain why on earth the Alaska State Legislature, working on a shortened schedule (thanks to my fellow citizens) is spending it's time on: a House Bill to send a letter to the Prez whining about "sovereign rights". In case you haven't been keeping up with the Repubnuts lingo - that be code for "states rights". And a House Bill for getting a state death penalty, which we don't need 'cause the feds will gas our fellow citizens for us. And a House Bill for a "certification" that a child who was stillborn, really croaked that way. 'Cause you never know what evil us womenfolk will do. Yepper, it's all the Big G's (guns, God, and gays) again. Granted Reps. Kelly/Coghill haven't gone after the gays, but it's only mid-way through the session and I doubt they will surprise me. Meanwhile Rep. Jay Ramras (District 10) is busy tryi...

I t's a new month already and Spring is a mere 3 months away! It's becoming that wickedly busy time we get here when the sun comes back (we are well over 10 hours of daylight now) and all of a sudden there is almost a manic quality to life. For instance: this weekend will make the third weekend in a row that I have been to a concert, and there's more to come. For me all of this means it is time to start making serious plans about my garden. It's now to the point where I'm even going to be taking a Cooperative Extension course to become something called a "Master Gardener". Actually, aside from probably learning just how much I don't know, the part that I'm looking forward to the most is the volunteer commitment. For someone like myself who is doing this on the cheap, I have to do 40 hours of volunteer gardening - which apparently includes a mandatory stint booth-sitting at the Tanana Valley Fair this August. But other than the Fair gig, we are ...

Feb. 12- Lincoln’s Birthday 14-Valentine’s Day 16- President’s Day 17- Noon- Carlson CenterChamber of Commerce-Sen. Begich 20- Noon- Westmark Fahrenkamp-Dermot Cole 22-Washington’s Birthday 22- 4 PM- Concert Assn.-Cherish The Ladies 25-Ash Wed. 25 Interior Democrats Meeting? 6:30 Stone Soup 26- United Way Princess- 28- Single Ice Block winners announced in Ice Festival March 1- 4- Symphony 7- Multi Block winners announced in Ice Festival 7- Concert Assn. Quarteto Latino Americano 8-Daylight Savings 13-Flot-Cinderella and the Prince 14- Juneau legislative recess? 16-20 Fairbanks Schools Spring Break 19-21-Festival of Native Arts 20-22 Open North American Dog Races 25- Interior Democrats 6:30 Stone Soup 28 - Fabulous Feminist Fundraiser, Westmark Hotel, April 4 7:30 UA Museum of the North Chocolate Bash 4 8 Symphony? 5- Palm Sunday-no political activities on religious holidays 8- Passover 12 Easter 20- 3rd Monday in April-Patriots Day-celebrates Lexington and Concord, MA, ME, celebrate...