The Minute After

Kelp Forest

2011-11-04T09:58:00.000-08:00

Who would've thought that we have a kelp forest? I'm sure everyone's heard of it. We never see the kelp forest though. We only hear or see pictures of it. Well thats gonna change if you change. I'm here to help you change your ways and your thinking about kelp forests.

This Inchinapinch.com has a little fascination with kelp forests and you can become more aware of kelp forests from the site. They say that ;

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...Kelp grows in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. In the Southern hemisphere they occur in Argentina, through the Straits of Magellan to Chile, off South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and many sub-Antarctic islands. In the Northern Hemisphere they occur from central Baja California to Sitka, Alaska. But the kelp forests are the most developed off of the California coast, from San Diego to Santa Cruz.

Its interesting to hear that kelp forests have so much and are so related to things we didn't know about including stuff on land, like bears, wolves and even bald eagles. Thats right, its not a far stretch to say that kelp forests help land predators and other sea life.

An article by Steneck, et. al, mentions that kelp forests, among other things, are:

....structurally complex and highly productive components of coldwater rocky marine coastlines.

......Global distribution of kelp forests is physiologically constrained by light at high latitudes and by nutrients, warm temperatures and other macrophytes at low latitudes. Within mid-latitude belts (roughly 40–60° latitude in both hemispheres) well-developed kelp forests are most threatened by herbivory, usually from sea urchins. Overfishing and extirpation of highly valued vertebrate apex predators often triggered herbivore population increases, leading to widespread kelp deforestation. Such deforestations have the most profound and lasting impacts on species-depauperate systems, such as those in Alaska and the western North Atlantic.

.......Kelp forest ecosystems include structure-producing kelps and their myriad associated biota such as marine mammals, fishes, crabs, sea urchins, molluscs, other algae and epibiota that collectively make this one of the most diverse and productive ecosystems of the world..

You'd have to read the whole article to see how there is so little kelp forest habitat compared to other ocean resources. Makes you wonder what we're doing and where we should go with this kelp forest. All you have to do is just become aware of kelp forests.

There is a lot we don't know, but we are learning about kelp forests and their effects on coastal ecosystems. Just because we can't see the kelp forest from the beach or from your window, doesn't mean it is there or that it is living amongst us.

Paul Laustsen wrote an article about kelp forests and predators at USGS. His take is interesting in how;

...resource managers need to focus on entire ecosystems, not single species, when they develop management strategies.

....Who would have guessed that as the number of sea otters in Alaska's Aleutian Islands plummeted over the past 15 years, bald eagles would be forced to change their diet?
That's right. Two top-level predators, one in the ocean and one on the land, are linked through a marine food web that includes sea urchins, kelp, and fish—an effect never documented before.

"It's like an ecological chain reaction, affecting many different species and many different levels of the food web," said Jim Estes, retired marine-mammal specialist from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and one of the authors of the new study published in the journal Ecology. Estes suggests that the sea-otter decline is due to an increase in predation by killer whales.

Thats it, since you can't see me, I'm out like the kelp forest.

Baby we all know how its like

2011-07-16T10:38:00.003-08:00

Baby we all know how its like, baby we all know how its like.

You love each other, you love each other..

And we're here for you.

Baby we all know how its like, baby we all know how its like.

You love each other, you love each other..

And we're here for you.

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That is going out to Hanna and Justin who are getting married today.

Might even extend that to Nikki and TT.

Congratulations.

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Here's a cover by Slobberbone on the BeeGees, hit "Love Somebody"

Thats it, I'm out like the BeeGees!!

St. Patties Day

2011-03-19T11:02:00.003-08:00

After all these months, I've forgotten about my people, my community. Here's to you. Happy St. Patrick's Day. Went to listen to the Irish Band at the Golden Eagle on St. Patties Day. Kelts and lots of dancing.

Was surprised to see Jass Pharm play at Ivory Jacks. Damn if I love that band. Had to leave early, but not without listening to the first set.

Trying out my new snowmachine today. A 1997 skii doo skandic widetrack. I think spring is officially here.

Awesome.

Thats it, I'm out like old man winter.

Guitars in Philadelphia

2010-12-24T14:21:00.004-09:00

As I was saying, way back in August, I had a chance to travel. And in those travels, I stopped by Philadelphia to visit with some people. While there, I decided to go to a guitar repair shop and managed to pick up an acoustic guitar before heading out to NY City.

But before I'd left, Fairbanks....I bought another guitar or rather traded for one for the use of my truck. It is an applause and looks a lot like a Ovedo Guitar. Doesn't have another name to it, and its a nice cherry red/ brown body.

All I did to get this guitar is haul two truck loads of trash plus another trailer load to the transfer station. What I deal that was.

Back to the trip. I stopped at the BlueBond Guitars shop and was searching for a basic guitar to travel with. Great luck!! I got a deal with the owner, picked up some stickers, and picked up a Takamine Jasmine.

What travels. Ate some great food at the Market in downtown, had some great brew in South Philadelphia..er, old town and was on my way.

Thats it, I'm out like a traveler.

Knoxville, Tennessee

2010-09-30T19:59:00.005-08:00

I've always wondered who Knoxville, Tennessee was named after. Thought it might have something to do with Johnny Knoxville. Have always enjoyed wild Johnny in the Jack Ass series.

Turns out its named after Henry Knox who was one of the Generals for George Washington.

Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is also the largest city in East Tennessee. As of the 2000 United States Census, Knoxville had a total population of 173,890; the July 2007 estimated population was 183,546.

Thats it, I'm out...like Johnny.

Atlantic City

2010-08-09T20:44:00.004-08:00

Nothing like a little gambling along the way. If you're ever in the neighborhood on a hot sunny day in late July...gotta visit Atlantic City just for the beach and gambling!!! According to Atlantic City online, there is more to this city than meets the eye..

Atlantic City has a long and varied history. Though much has been written about the post 1977 casino years, and the heyday years of the 30's and 40's when the Atlantic City Boardwalk was the in place to be seen, there is a wealth of rich history which dates back over two hundred years before the first dice were thrown or the first jitney hit the pavement. Let's take a look back into history and discover all the people who helped make Atlantic City, not only what it is today, but what it will be in the future.

The original inhabitants of Absecon Island, on which Atlantic City rests, were the Lenni-Lenape Indians. The Lenni-Lenapes would travel over the Old Indian Trail from the Mainland to the island to spend the summer months. The trail, which was located approximately where Florida Ave. is today, was five miles long over the marshland. The Indians would partake of the abundance the ocean and bay had to offer, along with the varieties of wildlife and flora of the island.

The first recorded owner of Absecon Island was Thomas Budd, an Englishman, who arrived in Atlantic County in late 1670's. Budd was given the island and other acreage as settlement of a claim he had against the holders of the royal grant. His mainland property was then valued at $ 0.40 an acre, while the beach land a mere $ 0.04 an acre. That same piece of beach front property today would be worth millions of dollars per acre.

For the next hundred years, the island would be visited by not only the Indians, but also hunters and some of the early mainland settlers. Among these brave soles, was Jeremiah Leeds. Leeds, born in Leeds Point in 1754, was the first white man to build a permanent structure on the island in 1785 at what is now Arctic and Arkansas Ave. His grandfather had built a cedar log cabin on Baltic Ave. at the site of the recently demolished bus terminal as early as 1783. Jeremiah and his family were the first official residents of Atlantic City. Their home and farm was called Leeds Plantation, and Leeds grew corn and rye and raised cattle. A year after Leeds death in 1838 , his second wife Millicent got a license to operate a tavern called Aunt Millie's’s Boarding House, located at Baltic and Massachusetts Ave.. Thus, the first business in Atlantic City was born.

Loved the cool air conditioned gambling area and the varied options. After a while, I get too cool, so the benches along the boardwalk are a nice place to warm up again.

Like LLCool J, once said in one of his songs,.."Her bikini - small; heels - tall....She said, she liked, the ocean." No sooner that my phone rings and I'm back to reality. Getting hot again, going back inside to have a cool drink.

Thats it, I'm out like a cold day in Atlantic City in July.

Crystal City Kabob

2010-08-06T06:48:00.006-08:00

I was a one man army....traveling the East coast visiting places as novel as they can be from my far away experiences camping along the Upper Yukon River to visiting Old City, Philadelphia to Brooklyn, Lower East side Manhattan, Long Pond, Pennsylvania and Washington DC.

Sitting on the corner of 23rd and Eads St. in Crystal City, at Arling Virginia, I looked at the menu as I was waiting in line. Enjoying the semi cool air as the little Kabob Palace restaurant was struggling to keep the warm humid air outside at bay. Imressive menu.

The lamb kabob stood out as I got a large serving of flat bread, chickpeas, mango lassi, garbanzo beans and some rice!!! Oh how tasty the curry flavor of the lamb kabob. This middle eastern restaurant is friendly, and at 11pm, was quite popular with everyone this Saturday. Maybe it was the witching hour before the late night crowd went out for the wee hours.

This is just the beginning as I was to later experience. Whats important, was I've only begun to transcend the Tanana Valley town of Fairbanks Alaska in the heart of Alaska.

Receiving text from staff, I couldn't help but stay connected to Fairbanks, but I was transitioning and didn't seem to mind as it had all yet to sink in. The warm humid air was refreshing in a sort of way that reminded me of the extreme opposite winter temperatures of Fairbanks which can be bitter cold and dry. 85F at night with 90% humidity, what a feeling.

Thats it, I'm out like I felt that day in Crystal City.

40 Mile and Bristol Bay

2010-07-16T09:16:00.004-08:00

40 Mile Flood

Was hanging recently in Eagle Alaska, when all that debris went down the Yukon River from the 40 Mile River flood. The Yukon was high as a result. Worst than that was Chuck the Customs guy missing after an unfortunate slide down an embankment off the Taylor Highway.

I only met Chuck for a few minutes that fateful day when he was talking to a german floater in front of the Eagle Trading Company store. I wish his family well. It sad. See rest of story.

Got to know some Canadian though eh?? Here's to Lee and Jaeger, may your travels be safe and enjoyable.

Bristol Bay Salmon

There is so much we dont know about salmon. Did you know there are several species of salmon all in one bay?

Though they're all the same species, Bristol Bay sockeye comprise hundreds of populations, each adapted to its own river, stream or tributary. Some of the populations return from the sea after one year. Others spend two years foraging in the ocean before heading back to spawn. Some sockeye flourish when it's cold and wet. Others do better in hot, dry years.

That variety means the species as a whole survives and thrives, even when bad weather or a shortage of food in the ocean hammers individual populations.

"There are enough winners to make up for the losers every year," said UW ecologist Daniel Schindler.

Humans benefit, as well. Fishermen can rely on the $120 million annual Bristol Bay sockeye harvest - as can those who relish the red-fleshed fish. The UW analysis found that if the sockeye populations in Bristol Bay were less diverse, managers would have been forced to shut down fishing every two to three years as a result of boom-and-bust cycles.

See the rest of the story at FDN.

Thats it, I'm out.

Nude Hikers and the Toklat Fire

2010-05-29T15:34:00.003-08:00

I was surprised recently about the nude hikers in the Anchorage area. Reading Julia O'Malley's article caught my eye. As she says, They called themselves "Anchorage Naturists." They said they were "a low-key, non-sexual social group for naturist-minded Alaskans," a way for people to meet who liked to do things that were "simply more comfortable in the buff."

The group has nine members and a couple of hikes scheduled on local trails. They have a busy message board. A post announcing an upcoming hike suggests hikers meet at Carrs on Huffman and bring "a sack lunch, boots, and layers that might not be needed in the sun."

I was a bit more intrigued with the Toklat Fire. Apparently started by lightening last week. Hey we had 1200 lightening strikes a couple of days ago. The Midnight Sun hotshot crew and others are battling the Toklat Fire, mostly protecting remote cabins and letting everything else burn.

Noticed its a little smokey in Interior Alaska from the Toklat Fire mostly.

The wildfire season is getting off to an uncharacteristically early start in the Interior this year. The type of activity being seen is more characteristic of what occurs in mid-to-late June. So far this year, 153 fires have burned nearly 32,451 acres statewide.

Thats it, I'm out like a smoke free interior.

A Boat Ride from Bethel to Marshall

2010-05-09T14:15:00.014-08:00

Life in the Yukon and Kuskokwim river deltas continued almost unchanged during the early years of American ownership. One of the first Americans to travel through the Yukon Kuskokwim river deltas was Edward W. Nelson. Stationed at St. Michael to collect weather data for the U.S. Signal Service, Nelson made several long journeys to collect ethnographic specimens and data about the Natives. In winter, 1878, he crossed the delta to the Kuskokwim River.

The Signal Service established a station at Nushagak in 1881 and Nelson transferred there from St. Michael. He continued to collect information about the weather, birds and animals, geography, and Natives of Bristol Bay.

The Russian Orthodox church was the only active mission group in Southwest Alaska until 1884. That year Sheldon Jackson, the general agent for education in Alaska, invited Protestant churches to open missions and schools around Alaska. He appealed to the Moravians to consider mission work in the Nushagak and Kuskokwim River areas.

When the Moravian missionaries, J.A.H. Hartmann and William H. Weinland arrived at Nushagak Bay in 1884 to investigate the area, they learned the Russian Orthodox had an active mission and school at Nushagak. The two men continued investigating the area, ascending the Kuskokwim River as far as Napamiut.

The missionaries recommended a site near a village named Mumtrekhlagamute on the lower Kuskokwim River for a mission. In 1885 Weinland, John H. Kilbuck, and Hans Torgerson sailed the Bethel Star up the river's shifting channels with lumber and supplies for the new mission. They named their new mission Bethel. Several years later they opened a mission, Carmel, near Nushagak. See the rest of the story @ Alaska History and Culture.

A fellow named Ted Horner was inspired to explore this region and managed boat in a large circle in the Delta Region. After reading this article it seems like a long slog through the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. While researching the portage from the Yukon to the Kuskokwim River, I came upon this family's trip some time ago in 2003. Its an impressive feat to cover 800 miles portaging and boating from Bethel to Nelson Island to Marshall to the Yukon-Kuskokwim portage and back to Bethel.

Here's a small section of Ted's article.

Armed with maps, GPS coordinates, a 100 foot Come-A-Long and loads of advice from Mike Rearden, Robert Sundown and Earl Atchak I headed out of Bethel Sunday morning last week. (See map route page 12.)

The trip down the Kuskokwim to the Johnson under a light rain was uneventful as was the well-traveled route to the tundra village of Kasigluk.

Here's where it started getting tricky.

The way to the 1/4 mile portage to Takslesluk Lake is a complicated route through many small and large lakes connected by tiny, hidden sloughs.

Passing the old village of Nunachuk, I was passed by a lone fisherman in a skiff heading out to check his net on Kayigyalik Lake. I followed in his wake taking advantage of his shortcut through the dense underwater lake grass.

As I passed him and waved, he was to be the last soul I would see for over 100 miles. The further I traveled, the narrower the sloughs and the shallower the water until the boat was parting the grasses and the outboard churning mud.

Completing the Circle of the Delta

Completing the first leg of my boating journey from Bethel to the coast and up to the Yukon, I left my somewhat battered 16-foot Jon boat and gear in Marshall under the care of Leslie Hunter, Sr. and flew back to Bethel to file the report in last week's newspaper edition.
The ocean trip and crossing of Hazen Bay had taken its toll on the lightweight riveted boat, not really designed for rough water. Rivets had worked loose and the already leaky boat was only getting worse. Leaving the boat in Marshall for a few days, I hired Nick Andrew, Jr. to attempt patching repairs on the poor vessel which he did but when we put the boat in the water last week when I returned, we discovered a weld had cracked near the bow and had to make-do with emergency patching compound, which only helped a little.

Monday morning, I pointed the boat upriver in the direction of Russian Mission for a four-hour ride. Strong southwest winds stirred up huge waves along certain stretches forcing me to run along the beaches and sandbars. Rounding the bend at Ohogamiut, I encountered some of the worst waves I had seen yet.

Early that afternoon, I pulled safely into Russian Mission and located Joe Kozevnikoff who I had arranged to help me make the trip through the portages from Russian Mission back to the Kuskokwim. Joe Boy, as he is widely known throughout the Yukon, is one of the few people who still regularly makes the "High Portage" crossings that link the Yukon and the Kuskokwim Rivers.

The story by Ted Horner can be found @ "A Boat Ride from Bethel to Marshall"

I wonder how this trip would be like in a 20 foot canoe or better yet a kayak? But...how to go upstream along the Yukon or if you're headed the other way, to go upstream on the Kuskokwim?

I don't know, but it sounds like the portages are falling apart from lack of use and maintenance.

Thats it, I'm out like all these portages.

Kobuk 440

2010-04-06T23:28:00.005-08:00

My new favorite dog race route is the Kobuk 440. It starts in Kotzebue, goes through Selawik, the Venice of the North, on to Ambler, the scenic village on a bluff, then on to Shungnak up the river to Kobuk and turns back to Ambler, Kiana, Noorvik and finally back at Kotzebue.

Here is a list of the dog racers this year.

Ray Redington
Micah Degerlund
Hugh Neff
Jodi Bailey
Jake Burkowitz
Pete Kaiser
John Baker
Tracy Schaeffer
Quinn Iten
Harry Douglas
2 Other Musher

I don't know who the 2 Other Musher is. Must be either two mushers or maybe thats the name of the musher, 2 Other Musher.

This year, I'm rooting for Jodi Bailey, Hugh Neff and Pete Kaiser, in that order.

Back to Selawik, you might be able to see photos of Selawik at Tundra Tantrum blogspot. There is a photo of a bridge along the Selawik River in March 31, 2010 post.

Jodi is the wife of 2010 Iditarod Rookie of the Year Dan Kaduce at Chatanika. You can visit their site at Dew Claw Kennels.

Recently I had the chance to take a short snowmachine trip between Shungnak and Kobuk last month. Its very scenic up there in the Upper Kobuk River. Great spring weather right now. Not too cold and lots of daylight.

Its easy to see how people can fall in love with exotic looking places and gain an appreciation for how people live out there away from the rest of us. Gasoline at Shungnak was 6.90 a gallon. Not as high as Allakaket which I notice is 7.20 a gallon.

Thats it, I'm out like old man winter.

Wild Alaska Salmon

2010-03-31T09:18:00.007-08:00

I can't wait for the summer. I can't wait to go fishing for Copper River Reds!! Love the salmon. Love it absolutely. I think I'll have a salmon tossed in my grave with me when I die.

Recently went fishing in the Alaska Range for some lake trout. It was a doozy catching fish through the ice. Would love to do that again. Came back with a few fish and ate well.

This story makes me want to go shopping at a Target store next time. Its inspired me to go there next time and try out the Wild Caught Alaska Salmon they are selling.

A major retailer is tossing out farm-raised fish in favor of wild caught Alaska salmon.
Environmentalists call Target's announcement a victory for customers and Alaska's fishing industry.

For a lot of Alaskans, the fish in the freezer came straight from the stream, but now Target wants to put Alaska salmon in freezers across the country.

Now at Target, wild-caught Alaska salmon is in; farmed fish is out.

"We're very pleased to see Target's recognition of Alaska and our sustainable methods. We tell people that we are the model for the world and (know) how to raise and manage our fisheries or our salmon fisheries and I think this recognition by Target speaks volumes to that message getting out," said Ray Riutta with the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute.

Rest of the story @ ktuu.

Want some cool ideas on how to make seafood taste like chicken? See Chef John Besh's Wild Alaska Seafood Recipes at the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute.

Hey I was there last week. Was snowmachining back from Shungnak to Kobuk on a -20F morning when I stopped at the Kobuk store and saw something that looked so familiar. Yet, I couldn't place where I saw this sign before. Then I realized it wasn't the painkillers I was taking at the time and remembered that I saw this photo at Fireyblazing handbasket.

Hey, I was there Cabin Dweller!!! I was there!!

Thats it, I'm out like the farmed fish at Target Stores.

Huslia Hustler

2010-03-15T11:09:00.003-08:00

George Attla of the Interior village of Huslia won 10 Fur Rendezvous World Championship sprint dog titles in Anchorage and 8 North American Open sprint dog titles in Fairbanks during a distinguished mushing career that included a stirring rivalry with Roland “Doc” Lombard.

Attla, also known as the “Huslia Hustler”, was an unknown when he arrived in Anchorage for the 1958 Fur Rondy. Handicapped by a fused leg caused by childhood tuberculosis, Attla shocked racing fans by capturing his first world title. When the two sprint championships were in their heyday and thousands of fans crowded city streets to watch their favorites, Attla was the best musher in the world. See the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame for the rest of the story.

He has an amazing record of races and wins throughout the years since 1958. Can't say he's a woos' for doing that for so long.

In September 2009, The Willow Dog Mushers held its second annual symposium, with keynote speaker George Attla delighting the crowd for over an hour. Other notable speakers included Iditarod Champion Martin Buser, Sue Firmin, and Joe May. Attla thoroughly entertained the crowd with stories of old, sharp quips and anecdotes. If you are a fan of sled dogs, and have the chance to see George speak, don't miss it. See the following pics and video clips at Mushing Magazine.

Thats it, I'm out like George's competition.

Lucky Times, Standing Together Against Rape

2010-03-05T06:27:00.004-09:00

Its very unfortunate that the non-profit group STAR, Standing Together Against Rape cannot raise enough money to hold a 500K Alaska lottery. If you missed the first chance that ended January 1, 2010 STAR has opted to give more people a chance to buy tickets so they can guarantee the payout.

That got pushed back to Sunday night February 28, but it's been delayed again according to KTUU. Here are parts of the story.

"When we first started this off, the lotto off, our ticket sales were through the roof basically. This year, I really, truly believe Alaska finally caught up with the recession," said Abe Spicola with Lucky Times Pull Tabs.

Tudor Road Bingo owner Jack Powers says he knows a little something about marketing a lottery on his own and wants nothing to do with the other lottery.

"He's trying to make me look like I'm part of his problem and I'm not," Powers said.
The two agree that people are confused. Another thing they share is a restraining order against each other to keep them physically separated.

"You can't promise people, ‘Give me $5, you are going to have a chance to win $500,000,' and then cancel the drawing and then for the second time cancel the drawing. The public doesn't want to hear that," Powers said.

The non-profit benefiting from Luck Times' half million dollar drawing, Standing Together Against Rape, tells people the lottery is not a scam.

"Please be patient with us, we are working to sell enough tickets to pay that draw and it'll happen we are just asking that people be patient with us," said Ginger George-Smith with STAR.

If you'd like to buy tickets, here is one of the venders still selling the STAR benefit tickets.

Lucky Time Pull Tabs
4608 Spenard Rd Ste E
Anchorage, AK
Phone: 677-2133

Thats it, I'm out like the Alaska economy.

LibraryPalooza 2010

2010-02-28T10:27:00.003-09:00

An event not to miss on a Sunday at Ester to benefit the John Trigg Ester Library.

Here is a post from one of my contributing editors, Amy Cameron at the Annex.

"people come across with foot gear that is either hand made or significantly changed from it's mass produced self. Said items need to have more gravitas than a sock -- something that stands alone. OR embellishments for shoes (see flier for suggestions). They should be accompanied by a brief title and description which could include a materials list and the motivation for making them. They will be modelled 'prince charming style' on, say, platters then silently auctioned off at the John Trigg Ester Library Benefit AKA "The Librarypalooza). It would be cool to have submissions a few days in advance so we can plan. Contact info on the image. THANKS! AMY"

1421, The Year China Discovered the World

2010-01-29T13:51:00.004-09:00

In his first book, 1421, Gavin Menzies argues that a huge Chinese fleet circumnavigated and charted the world years before the first great European voyages of discovery. The evidence for this comes in many different forms: from shipwrecks and ancient maps, to local peoples accounts and their DNA.

When they returned Zhu Di lost control and China was beginning its long, self-imposed isolation from the world it had so recently embraced. The great ships rotted at their moorings and the records of their journeys were destroyed. Lost was the knowledge that Chinese ships had reached America seventy years before Columbus and circumnavigated the globe a century before Magellan. They had also discovered Antarctica, reached Australia three hundred and fifty years before Cook and solved the problem of longitude three hundred years before the Europeans and last of all comes the biggest controversy. New Zealand historians have been the most apoplectic of all about my book. Anything that challenges Maori legend is to be resisted at all costs! Accepted New Zealand history has it that the foreign animals and plants found by the first Europeans were brought by the Maoris in their open canoes - that is, horses, pigs, dogs, rats and an array of plants from South America, North America, Asia and the Pacific. According to New Zealand historians, the Maoris traded all over the world.

Rest of story @ 1421.tv

Of course there is the otherside that wants to discredit some of these wild claims by Gavin Menzies book, 1421, The Year China Discovered America. There are many claims on both sides. Here's the main page for the Myths of Menzies.

He states that he has traced voyages made between 1421 and 1423 by fleets of Chinese junks to both coasts of the Americas, to the Arctic, Antarctica and Australia. The Chinese government’s sudden adoption of an isolationist policy after their departure, led to the official destruction of all records of those vessels that made it home, so there is ‘virtually no evidence to show where they had sailed or what discoveries they had made’ (p. 81).

W. A. R. (Bill) Richardson, Associate Professor (Spanish and Portuguese), School of Humanities, The Flinders University of South Australia. Menzies’ thesis is based on two major, but very dubious, assumptions. One is that the locations of a number of supposedly Chinese artefacts, plants, DNA traces, etc. worldwide are evidence that the Chinese took them there in the 1420s, and that a number of unidentified wrecked ships are Chinese ones dating from the same period. The other major assumption is that his often highly speculative identifications of specific features on certain early maps are all correct. He even bases wild hypotheses on the reported contents of maps of notoriously dubious authenticity and date that have not survived. Then, bearing in mind that Chinese junks were more or less restricted to sailing before the wind, he charts routes between his artefact and shipwreck sites, and his speculatively identified features, in accordance with prevailing wind and current patterns. However accurate his routes between his various landmarks may be, his assertion that Chinese junks sailed along them is a completely unproven hypothesis.

Thats it, I'm out like the discovery of America.

Inuit

2010-01-08T20:19:00.004-09:00

Who are the believers out there??

I'm talking about GOD!!! GOD is not happy with the Uummannaq, a region in northwestern Greenland with some 2,800 Inuit natives.

See what GOD is doing to the Canadian Inuit.

I'm out like the Inuit.

Asian Carp are Changing the World

2009-12-23T10:51:00.003-09:00

After nearly four decades as a fishing guide on the Great Lakes, Pat Chrysler has seen enough damage from invasive species to fear what giant, ravenous Asian carp could do to the nation's largest bodies of freshwater.

"It's like introducing piranhas to the Great Lakes," Chrysler said from South Bass Island in Lake Erie, which teems with walleye, perch and other fish that draw anglers from near and far.
Federal and state officials are mounting a desperate, last-ditch effort to prevent the marauding carp from breaching an electrical barrier and slipping into the Great Lakes from the Mississippi River. Michigan is drawing up a lawsuit demanding the closing of shipping locks on a waterway that links the lakes with the Mississippi. And last week, Illinois officials poisoned a six-mile stretch of a canal to wipe out any of the carp.

The prospect of a carp invasion alarms environmentalists and people whose livelihoods depend on a strong fishing and tourism economy, from charter boat skippers to those who sell bait and tackle, rent personal watercraft and operate lakefront restaurants and motels. The Great Lakes fishing industry alone is valued at $7 billion a year.

"I'm afraid they can wipe us out in a hurry," said Jim Conder, a charter boat operator on Michigan's St. Joseph River, which flows into Lake Michigan. "We need to spend all we can to keep them out."

Over the years, parasitic sea lampreys, zebra mussels and other invasive species have killed trout and birds, left prized salmon and whitefish skinnier, and done other damage to the lakes.
Now, many fear that the despised Asian carp, which can reach 4 feet long and weigh up to 100 pounds, will wreak havoc, too — not by attacking native fish, but starving them out by gobbling up plankton.

The carp were imported from Asia to cleanse fish ponds and sewage lagoons in the Deep South but escaped into the Mississippi and have been working their way north since the 1970s. Rest of story at The Palm Beach Post.

I wouldn't have done that...ERic Clapton has an idea about that. He's the only one who could change the world.

Thats it, I'm out like those native fish in the Great Lakes.

Seward Alaska Prostitutes

2009-12-18T08:31:00.005-09:00

It was the end of the line in more ways than one. Seward, Alaska, at the close of the 19th century was a remote, rough-around-the-edges seaport freshly hewn from the wilderness. When Congress authorized a new railroad in 1914, Seward was the terminus. As a tide of merchants, sailors, railroad men, soldiers, and miners came and went, the unpaved streets and wooden sidewalks teemed with commerce of all kinds.

Now a study by the National Park Service–which sheds light on activities in a waterfront alley known as the Line–offers a fascinating portrait of morality on the frontier. The research was prompted by a plan for a visitor center where a cluster of tiny houses once served as Seward’s red light district from 1914 to 1954. Today, the city is the gateway to the popular tourist destinations of Kenai Fjords National Park and Chugach National Forest.

This seemed to for everyone as the story from Common Ground later notes that... A relationship evolved between the prostitutes and “respectable” society. The women of the Line, voluntarily segregated, restricted their trips to town to certain hours. But they were as much a part of the community as the other institutions. One Seward resident doubts that there were any businesses without financial ties to the women. “They were where you went to get money when the banks [wouldn’t loan it]. A big share of the old madams all dabbled in real estate . . . [Prostitution] didn’t have the dirty name it’s got now.”

Researchers found that the social barrier between the women and the town was not a rigid one. Prostitutes were not allowed in bars, but for many years, the Line was the only place to get a drink after one in the morning. They did business with the locals, were punctual about their bills, and–often sporting the latest New York styles–gave local women makeup tips. Accountants did their taxes; shopkeepers delivered their groceries. Some opened roadhouses and cafes; others invested in fishing boats.

It remained, however, a relationship of convenience. There was money to be had here, which allowed the Line to stay in business and reap the added benefit of sparing local women the advances of sailors and railroad workers.

Rachel Mason has a more personal side to it...people in Seward thought the prostitutes who worked there provided a necessary commercial service to transient men. Respectable women supported the Line, in an effort to confine vice to a single part of town. The Line women usually did not socialize with respectable women or even appear in public except at certain times. Despite the prostitutes’ isolation, though, one of the main conclusions I drew from researching their history is that that you can’t talk about the Seward Line without talking about the whole community.

Local historians have documented much of Seward's early history. Mary Barry's three volume
history gives detailed year-by-year accounts through 1993. John Paulsteiner, Barry's father, wrote a somewhat different book called Seward, Alaska: The Sinful Town on Resurrection Bay, published in 1975. Focusing on bootlegging, prostitution, and other illegal activities, the book gives personal vignettes of the characters that populated the town.

Thats it, I'm out.

M&Ms

2009-12-05T09:36:00.003-09:00

Who knew that the Spanish Civil War would play such a profound role in the commercial success of M&Ms today??

M&M's - History

M&M's were created in 1940 after Forrest Mars Sr. saw Spanish soldiers eating chocolate pellets coated in sugar during the Spanish Civil War, to prevent the soldiers from gaining sticky hands after eating chocolate. M&M's were first sold in the United States in 1941. By World War II, American soldiers were given the candy by the United States Army; soon after this it was marketed to the public. The candies were named for "Mars & Murrie" (Mars' business partner was Bruce Murrie, son of rival Milton S. Hershey's partner William Murrie.) M&M's soon became a hit because, in those times when air conditioning was not usually found in stores, homes, or the automobile, melting chocolate candy bars were a problem; but in M&M's, the candy's coating kept the chocolate from getting messy.

In France, Germany and the United Kingdom, Peanut M&M's were known as Treets until 1990. Additionally, Toffee Treets were also available for some time. The chocolate versions were not introduced until the brand became M&M's. This was partly to do with the market dominance of the similar candy Nestlé Smarties which made competing under anything but a very high profile brand difficult, with the added risk of reducing sales of the existing Treets brand. Though Treets used the same "melt in your mouth not in your hand" slogan in the UK in the 1970s, this was transferred to Minstrels when the Treets brand was dropped.

In 1954, Peanut Chocolate Candies were introduced, while the M&M's brand characters and the famous slogan "The milk chocolate melts in your mouth, not in your hand" were both trademarked.

In 1988, "Almond M&M's" hit stores with limited release, with appearances only during Christmas and Easter times. These candies are much like the peanut variety, but with an almond instead of a peanut inside the candy. Due to rising popularity, Mars gave them full releases in 1992.

There are other versions of the same story at the official M&M site.

Back to the Spanish Civil War. Who won that battle anyway?

In a longer historical perspective the Spanish Civil War amounts to the opening battle of World War II, perhaps the only time in living memory when the world confronted—in fascism and Nazism—something like unqualified evil. The men and women who understood this early on and who chose of their own free will to stand against fascism have thus earned a special status in history. Viewed internally, on the other hand, the Spanish Civil War was the culmination of a prolonged period of national political unrest—unrest in a country that was increasingly polarized and repeatedly unable to ameliorate the conditions of terrible poverty in which millions of its citizens lived. Spain was a country in which landless peasants cobbled together a bare subsistence living by following the harvests on vast, wealthy agricultural estates. The hierarchy of the Catholic Church, identifying more with wealthy landowners than with the Spanish people, was in full control of secondary education; education for women seemed to them unnecessary and universal literacy a danger rather than a goal. Divorce was illegal. The military, meanwhile, had come to see itself, rather melodramatically, as the only bulwark against civil disorder and as the ultimate guarantor of the core values of Spanish society.

When a progressive Popular Front government was elected in February 1936, with the promise of realistic land reform one of its key planks, conservative forces immediately gathered to plan resistance. The Spanish Left, meanwhile, celebrated the elections in a way that made conservative capitalists, military officers, and churchmen worried that much broader reform might begin. Rumors of plotting for a military coup led leaders of the Republic to transfer several high-ranking military officers to remote postings, the aim being to make communication and coordination between them more difficult. But it was not enough. The planning for a military rising continued.

Rest of this story @ Modern American Poetry.

Thats it, I'm out like fascism.

E/85

2009-12-01T19:37:00.006-09:00

Too all who dread December, I have some very good news...maybe even some great news. Well, after pondering this next question, I realized how dumb the answer is. How much corn does it take to produce a gallon of ethanol and how much petro does it take to produce that gallon of ethanol and how much per gallon of petro does it take to produce ethanol????

I know that was a run - on sentence. Its very shocking news!! It should be a dead issue, but I'm putting a stop to the myths right now. Anytime you see an E/85 pickup truck, its mandatory that you puke, cause I saw one the other day and almost drowned from holding my puke!!

Enough about this rant, here are a couple of facts from Alcohol:

Say WHATTT?!!!!

1. The average U.S. automobile would consume eleven acres of farmland to make ethanol fuel for one year. That same space of food supply is enough to feed seven people in one year!

2. 131,000 BTUs are needed to make one gallon of ethanol, but only provides 77,000 BTUS. That’s a net loss of 54,000 BTUs per gallon!

3. 1 acre of corn yields 7,110 pounds of corn to process 328 gallons of Ethanol. However, planting, growing and harvesting that much corn requires about 140 gallons of fossil fuels and costs $347 per acre.

4. There are 3 distillation steps needed to separate the 8% ethanol from the 92% water.

5. Ethanol costs $1.74 a gallon to produce vs. $0.95 a gallon of gasoline.

6. Subsidized corn causes higher prices for meat, milk and eggs because about 70% of corn grain is fed to livestock and poultry in the United States. Therefore, increasing the ethanol production would inflate corn prices.

7. If all automobiles were to run on 100% ethanol (no gasoline mixture), corn fields would have to cover 97% of the United States.

Back in 2007, Business Week had a much more balanced approach to this than I can explain. Mostly they focused on the cost of producing ethanol, and the subsidies required to make this a viable option for American consumption.

One problem with ethanol is its cost. It’s subsidized by the U.S. government at a rate of 51 cents per gallon, and federal and state subsidies for the fuel added up to $6 billion last year. As the number of gallons produced multiplies, so will the cost to the taxpayer.

Taxes aren’t the only burden that will fall on consumers. As ethanol usurps more of the corn crop, the price of corn rises, boosting food prices. Already, about 20% of the corn crop goes toward ethanol production, up from just 3% five years ago. That drove up corn prices 80% in 2006 alone. This week, Richard Bond, the chief executive of meat producer Tyson Foods TSN, warned that if corn continues to be diverted from animal feed, consumers will likely pay “significantly” more for food.

See if you're convince from the Ethanol Research Center.

I may be opinionated sometimes, but this time, I agree with David Pimental, a leading Cornell University agricultural expert.

Thats it, I'm out like ethanol.

Blue Riders

2009-11-17T08:12:00.002-09:00

Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself.
Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself.
You say I've been spending my money on other women.
You've been taking money from someone else.

The Blue Riders did an excellent take on Eugene McDaniels song.

Discriminant Function Analysis

2009-11-05T23:14:00.004-09:00

What is discriminat function analysis? That, I don't know. Here are some various explanations of a complex form of figuring out the differences between two like groups, based on the breakdown of their differences. Apparently you can predict where the group membership of two groups that are seemingly the same came from based on single or multiple variables. Or you can predict what characters are likely to differentiate those two like groups.

The main purpose of a discriminant function analysis is to predict group membership based on a linear combination of the interval variables. The procedure begins with a set of observations where both group membership and the values of the interval variables are known. The end result of the procedure is a model that allows prediction of group membership when only the interval variables are known. A second purpose of discriminant function analysis is an understanding of the data set, as a careful examination of the prediction model that results from the procedure can give insight into the relationship between group membership and the variables used to predict group membership.

If discriminant function analysis is effective for a set of data, the classification table of correct and incorrect estimates will yield a high percentage correct. Discriminant function analysis is found in SPSS under Analyze, Classify, Discriminant. One gets DA or MDA from this same menu selection, depending on whether the specified grouping variable has two or more categories.
Multiple discriminant analysis (MDA) is an extension of discriminant analysis and a cousin of multiple analysis of variance (MANOVA), sharing many of the same assumptions and tests. MDA is used to classify a categorical dependent which has more than two categories, using as predictors a number of interval or dummy independent variables. MDA is sometimes also called discriminant factor analysis or canonical discriminant analysis.

Stepwise Discriminant Analysis

Probably the most common application of discriminant function analysis is to include many measures in the study, in order to determine the ones that discriminate between groups. For example, an educational researcher interested in predicting high school graduates' choices for further education would probably include as many measures of personality, achievement motivation, academic performance, etc. as possible in order to learn which one(s) offer the best prediction.

Model. Put another way, we want to build a "model" of how we can best predict to which group a case belongs. In the following discussion we will use the term "in the model" in order to refer to variables that are included in the prediction of group membership, and we will refer to variables as being "not in the model" if they are not included.

Forward stepwise analysis. In stepwise discriminant function analysis, a model of discrimination is built step-by-step. Specifically, at each step all variables are reviewed and evaluated to determine which one will contribute most to the discrimination between groups. That variable will then be included in the model, and the process starts again.

Backward stepwise analysis. One can also step backwards; in that case all variables are included in the model and then, at each step, the variable that contributes least to the prediction of group membership is eliminated. Thus, as the result of a successful discriminant function analysis, one would only keep the "important" variables in the model, that is, those variables that contribute the most to the discrimination between groups.

F to enter, F to remove. The stepwise procedure is "guided" by the respective F to enter and F to remove values. The F value for a variable indicates its statistical significance in the discrimination between groups, that is, it is a measure of the extent to which a variable makes a unique contribution to the prediction of group membership. If you are familiar with stepwise multiple regression procedures, then you may interpret the F to enter/remove values in the same way as in stepwise regression.

Capitalizing on chance. A common misinterpretation of the results of stepwise discriminant analysis is to take statistical significance levels at face value. By nature, the stepwise procedures will capitalize on chance because they "pick and choose" the variables to be included in the model so as to yield maximum discrimination. Thus, when using the stepwise approach the researcher should be aware that the significance levels do not reflect the true alpha error rate, that is, the probability of erroneously rejecting H0 (the null hypothesis that there is no discrimination between groups).

Thats it, I'm out like a variable.

Greenland Musk Ox

2009-10-29T17:27:00.004-08:00

The very qualities that made the musk ox survive for millions of years was the cause of their demise in Alaska. They tend to form a circle as a defense, where the young stay in the center. Awesome survival technique, but no match for market hunters in the 1800s.

The return of muskoxen to Alaska is an important success story in wildlife conservation. The original Alaska muskoxen disappeared in the mid- or late 1800s as they had much earlier in Europe and Asia. Overhunting likely contributed to their demise, at least in some areas. By the 1920s, muskox distribution was reduced to arctic Canada and East Greenland where a high take by whalers, hide hunters, and natives continued. Concern over the impending extinction of the species worldwide led to a move to restore a protected population to Alaska. In 1930, 34 muskoxen captured in East Greenland were brought to Fairbanks. In 1935 and 1936, all survivors and their calves were transported from Fairbanks to Nunivak Island and released. Muskoxen thrived on Nunivak Island and increased from 31 in 1936 to an estimated 750 by 1968.

Muskoxen from Nunivak Island were intended to provide stock for relocating animals to formerly occupied ranges. Nunivak Island muskoxen have been transplanted to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Cape Thompson, the Seward Peninsula, Nelson Island, and to Wrangel Island and the Taimyr Peninsula in Russia. Additional animals have been donated to zoos and other institutions.

How else could the Musk ox have rebounded? With the help of these transplants and a hunting ban for decades and limited permited hunts they're doing good now. The market hunting during the Whaling period didn't help but to exterpate the species out of Alaska in the late 1800s. Whew, glad the European whalers are gone.

Maybe in some instances...the musk oxen of the Seward Peninsula in northwest Alaska love sex. How else to explain how one of the biggest success stories among large Alaska wildlife -- particularly a species that produces just one calf a year. In 1980, just 104 musk oxen roamed the peninsula, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Today, after 25 years of very restricted hunting, that number is nearly 3,000 animals.

"It's phenomenal," said wildlife biologist Brad Shults of the National Park Service, who is studying them as part of a project to compare the population and ecology of musk oxen on and adjacent to Bering Land Bridge National Preserve to those around Cape Krusenstern National Monument along the Chukchi Sea near Kotzebue. "It was averaging around 16 percent a year, although once we starting clipping the population with hunting, it leveled off."

Thats it, I'm out like the Whalers.

Karsting the First Stone

2009-10-26T11:51:00.003-08:00

Thanks to those at Toolik Field Station, and its Environmental Data Center, I'm much more aware of studies going on in the Arctic.

About the Environmental Data Center
The TFS Environmental Data Center (EDC) offers support to the science community in three ways; 1) collection of long-term baseline environmental and biological data, 2) management of common-use laboratory and field equipment, and 3) limited assistance with field work. The EDC was developed to meet the needs of an expanding scientific community (Science Support - Direction for Next 10 Years ).

Karsting the first stone
The project, which is led by Breck Bowden of the University of Vermont in Burlington, involves 17 research groups from America and Canada. To start with, they will use a combination of aerial photography, field measurements, and ground- and satellite-based sensors to compile a map of all the thermokarstic areas of Alaska. This will provide a reference point from which changes can be measured.

The team will then try to work out how the development of features such as “retrogressive thaw slumps” and “active-layer detachments” (different ways in which thawing permafrost can cause a hillside to slip) are associated with the local climate, geology and vegetation. They will look, too, at the amount of ice in the ground, and the temperature and the moisture of the soil. All these data will be fed into computer models which, the researchers hope, will allow them to develop an automated way of predicting where and when new features will form, and to monitor them when they appear.

Dr Bowden and his colleagues also hope to understand the impact of thermokarst activity on the structure of the soil, and its nutrient content. They will concentrate on a few sites that can be studied intensively and which are affected by different types of activity. They will measure the amount of carbon, phosphate and nitrate in the soil, together with the rate of plant growth and microbial decomposition. That will let them work out just how “leaky” thawing permafrost is and thus how big its contribution of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere might be, should the worst come to the worst.

It will also help them forecast changes in the tundra’s vegetation. The softening of the soil and the consequent release of nutrients is likely to encourage the growth of shrubs on land that is now dominated by grass, moss and lichens. The researchers will monitor the growth of this vegetation around newly formed thermokarst features and use experimental field plots to test how conditions mimicking such features affect which species will thrive.

Last, the project will try to work out how thawing permafrost will affect the numerous streams, rivers and lakes of the Arctic. Together, these amount to the biggest acreage of water on “dry” land. As water moves through affected areas, it picks up both nutrients and sediment that would otherwise be held in the permafrost’s icy grasp. These, paradoxically, have opposite effects on the growth of algae. The phosphates and nitrates stimulate it whereas the extra sediment suppresses it by trapping nutrients in the beds of such bodies of water.

Rest of the story @ The Economist.

Thats it, I'm out like Permafrost in the Arctic.

Louis Kissel

2009-10-19T18:31:00.003-08:00

On June 5th, 1906, Louis Kissel and his sons decided to get into the automobile business and formed the Kissel Motor Car Company, based in Hartford Wisconsin. Their first car, The Kissel Kar, was offered in 1907. The Kissel Kar had a conventional four-cylinder, 35-horsepower water cooled engine. They were a bit unusual in that they began making almost all of the components for its cars themselves, including the engines. In 1909, a six-cylinder model was introduced, electric starters were added in 1913, and a short-lived Double Six V-12 was introduced in 1917.
.1921 Kissel Tourster

The company's reputation was based on quality, durability, advanced design, outstanding performance, and dependability, which they were able to provide because they were a low production company. The name Kar was dropped during WWI, as anything that sounded German was unpopular at that time.

Kissel also produced a model called the All-Year. It had a removable hardtop with glass windows and curtains. It made the Kissel into a closed car, and passengers enjoyed the protection from the elements.Kissel's look began to change in 1917, under the guidance of Conover T. Silver, the New York Kissel distributor and part-time designer. With his encouragement, Kissel developed the Kissel Kar Silver Special Speedster in 1918, named after Mr. Silver himself.

Amelia Earhart happened to own a 1923 Kissel Speedster(Gold Bug). Amelia and her mother left Los Angeles for Boston in May 1924, traveling through Sequoia, Yosemite, Lake Louise and Banff. They drove across Canada and arrived in Boston 6 weeks later.

Considering the condition of roads at that time and the rarity of mechanical help, especially in the more remote areas, this was a daring adventure covering 7,000 miles and covering the car with tourist stickers. Cross-continental travel by automobile was still a novelty, so Amelia and her mother were continually stopped by people and asked many questions.

She found the bright yellow car, unremarkable in Los Angeles, to draw attention across the country. "The fact that my roadster was a cheerful canary color may have caused some of the excitement. It had been modest enough in California, but was a little outspoken for Boston, I found."

This yellow bug happens to be at the Korney Museum of Transportation East of Denver, at East Colfax.

Thats it, I'm out like the Double 6 V-12.

Can't you See??

2009-10-18T10:21:00.002-08:00

Can't you See??

Love Kid Rock's Version.

Nenana

2009-10-11T14:50:00.003-08:00

Nenana Alaska

Toghotthele Hill is a very visible landmark, and why Nenana, long ago, became a traditional gathering place for hunting, fishing, trade, meetings and celebrations by different groups of Athabascan Indian. The sternwheeler, later the barges, the highway, the train all converged here changing Nenana and making it a melting pot of diverse cultures. If you visit Nenana you can see miners, trappers, homesteaders, Alaskan Natives, shopkeepers, boat crews and others together in this little river town we call Nenana. These people are not actors in costumes putting on a show for tourists; this is the reality of how we live. This is one thing that makes Nenana unique, being an authentic year round village on the Parks Highway. We are also a full service community offering an RV park, airstrip, and places to eat, stay, a museum, many diverse business ventures. Nenana has gone from boomtown to small town several times in its history. The population now is about 460, with additional 600 or so residents in the surrounding area.

We all know Nenana from the Nenana Ice Classic. Its what the town is known for throughout the state. If I was a betting man, I'd put money down on the annual event since it supports many organizations on this list.

Its generally a nice place to take out on a river trip for floaters. I've personally done the Rex bridge to Nenana several times over the years and enjoy the relative remoteness of the area despite being so close to the parks highway. I enjoy hearing the railroad in the evenings as it goes up and down the tracks paralleling the River.

Thats it, I'm out.

Beaver Traps

2009-10-05T06:58:00.004-08:00

He wanted us to show him how we set beaver traps under the ice, so we invited him to accompany us. It is a simple system. Bait sticks are nailed to a pole, and a trap is fastened near the bait. The pole is then thrust through a hole cut in the ice of a beaver pond. We found six beaver in our fourteen traps. Rimmer's eyes were big as we hauled number six from the water.

Excerpt from, " Sam O. White, Alaskan" by Jim Rearden, a Homer resident writer.

Denali

2009-09-30T22:04:00.006-08:00

"Its kinda sad that no one is going on the north side"**.

** anonymous Mt. Denali Climber.

What are you saying??

Everybody on the West Buttress route is a wousse???

While I might beg to differ on some things...yeah...everyone is quite a woussee...

...in the climbing world...

There are certain mountains which need no explanation as to "why climb." Denali is such a mountain as its natural magnetism constantly draws climbers to the great Alaska Range. This type of ascent is one which touches the psyche of all alpinists and those who have undertaken this challenge have been rewarded with a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

As Everest is to the Tibetans, Denali is inseparable from indigenous Alaskan lore. Every native who saw Denali towering over their horizon, named it accordingly, the great one or the high one.

When Dr. Bradford Washburn pioneered the West Buttress route, he heralded in a new era of Denali ascents and offered climbers a unique approach to the summit. His 1951 landing on the Kahiltna glacier, literally opened the Denali (via the west Buttress) climb to intermediate mountaineers. The West Buttress route remains, by far, the most successfully climbed route on the mountain.

Denali is often considered America's most classic climb. No other region offers such breathtaking and diverse views each day of the ascent. The flight to the glacier is a trip in itself, as one is quickly taken aback by the extent and immediate overwhelming views of the Alaska Range. The summit views from Denali are unparalleled, unveiling austere vistas of the Alaska Range, Mt. Foraker, Mt. Hunter and Mt. Huntington. The North Face of Denali rises nearly 18,000 feet an elevation gain unsurpassed anywhere in the world. At a northern latitude of 63°, it is the most northerly of any big mountain over 20,000ft.

A BRIEF HISTORY: Denali has always been revered by native Athabascans who inhabit this northern region. The first climbing attempt was made by the Sourdough Expedition (William Taylor and Pete Anderson) utilizing the Muldrow Glacier. They summitted the north peak (19,740ft) in 1910. About three years later, in 1913, the true summit was attempted via the Karstens Ridge. A team comprised of Archdeacon Hudson Stuck, Robert Tatum, Walter Harper and Harry Karstens successfully conquered the south peak. It was Harper, a native Athabascan, who first stood atop America. Between 1913 and 1950, there were very few ascents of Denali. The landmark achievement, which opened Denali to a larger group of climbers, was Bradford Washburn's 1951 summit of the West Buttress. Washburn's team, using a plane with skis to access the Kahiltna glacier, pioneered the most popular route on the mountain.

I'm out like the sourdough expedition routes!!!

Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Map

2009-09-04T17:15:00.006-08:00

This is fasinating stuff. I've always looked for this site and finally found it. It was like the crook who kept getting away before the cops show up at the scene of the crime. Its like that Wilson character in the movie, "Oh Brother Where Art Though." Remember folks, he once said, "Jesus Saves and Wilson Withdraws!"...as he was robbing a bank.

The Map Project has been around for several years. I just didn't bother looking for it that much. Just the occasional search. It is based on the general outward appearance of a plant community, determined by the life forms of the dominant species, e.g., grassland, forest, tundra. Or what is called Physiognomy

Notice how Norway, Sweden and Finland aren't even on the northern limit of forests. Much milder temperatures there are warm ocean currents through that side of the Atlantic Ocean.

Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Map (CAVM) shows the types of vegetation that occur across the Arctic, between the ice-covered Arctic Ocean to the north and the northern limit of forests to the south. Environmental and climatic conditions are extreme, with a short growing season and low summer temperatures. The region support plants such as dwarf shrubs, herbs, lichens and mosses, which grow close to the ground. As one moves southward (outward from map’s center in all directions), the amount of warmth available for plant growth increases considerably. Warmer summer temperatures cause the size, abundance, and variety of plants to increase. Climate and other environmental controls, such as landscape, topography, soil chemistry, soil moisture, and the available plants that historically colonized an area, also influence the distribution of plant communities (see other side).

The colors on the map indicate the differences that occur in the general outward appearance of vegetation (physiognomy). The CAVM team grouped over 400 described plant communities into 15 different physiognomic units based on plant growth forms. The insert diagram (upper left) shows the relationship between the map units (except for B2, B3 and B4, which are baren rock or mountain complexes) and the principal environmental controls, summer temperatures and site moisture. The total area of each map unit (in square kilometers) is summarized in the bar chart (upper right).

Thats it, I'm out like my search for the Circumpolar Tree Line Map.

Coffee

2009-08-24T17:36:00.003-08:00

There are many ways to enjoy coffee. Some like it hot and some like it cold. Some like it luke warm and some like it cool. I can't say I speak for everyone, but I like mine with a cube of ice if its hot.

Burned my tongue at some point in my time drinking tea. Its not a long story. When you say, "Its a long story." That means you're in a hurry. Why should we be in a hurry to not explain the story?

Coffee roasters frequently are asked questions about coffee storage. Should coffee be stored in the refrigerator? The freezer? Away from sunlight? In glass jars? The truth is that there are many myths wandering around the coffee world about coffee storage, some of them repeated so often that they’ve taken on the patina of truth. The truths about coffee storage may surprise you.

Coffee Storage Tips
When considering coffee storage, keep in mind the two main enemies of fresh coffee flavor – air and moisture. Your coffee storage solutions should prevent either from getting at your coffee beans.

1. Don’t store ground coffee. Buy your coffee as whole beans, and grind it when you’re ready to brew. If you do buy ground coffee for the convenience, store it at room temperature in an airtight container after it’s been opened. A ceramic canister with a vacuum seal is a good choice – but avoid clear glass. Sunlight and heat are not good for your coffee.

2. Store up to a one week supply of whole coffee beans in an airtight canister at room temperature. You can use those pretty ceramic canisters, but they’re really not necessary. Any canister that you can seal with an airtight seal is fine, including the can that you bought it in.

3. If you find yourself with more coffee than you’ll use in one week, you can store up to another week’s supply in the freezer – but you should take some precautions to keep the air and moisture away from it first. Here’s how to store coffee safely in your freezer:
- Put the beans in an airtight canister.- Or – put the beans in a zippered plastic storage back. Whoosh out all the extra air, or use a straw to suck it out. Then wrap the bag in one or two layers of plastic wrap and finish up with a layer of aluminum foil.
- Either way, once you take the canister or package out of the freezer, don’t put it back in. Refreezing your coffee will only dehydrate it and hasten the flavor decay.

Some say, you should only buy beans and store in room temperature. I don't know, but I'd at least seal it and store it at room temp if I'll use it quickly. If not, I'd store it all in my freezer with all my ideas.

If you can't use up your whole bean coffee in 2 weeks, then you should freeze it. Coffee stored this way will last about a month, maybe two. Wrap it up in several layers of plastic wrap, or use an airtight container with as much air removed as you can manage. Once your beans have been frozen and thawed, do not refreeze. You don't even have to thaw them out before grinding. Frozen beans will grind up just fine.

Don't try to compromise by storing in the fridge. That is the worst place for your coffee. It's just not cold enough to prevent your coffee from going stale. With all the other foods in your fridge, your coffee is likely to pick up flavors and odors too. That's just not good.

The last kind of coffee would be roasted and ground. This is the most volatile form, and isn't good for storage beyond a few days. Again, use an air-tight and light-proof container. Don't bother trying to freeze ground coffee. With all that extra surface area, it's going to go stale anyway.
The bottom line is that good coffee is fresh coffee. Only buy what you can use up quickly.

Short Coffee History

According to a coffee history legend, an Arabian shepherd named Kaldi found his goats dancing joyously around a dark green leafed shrub with bright red cherries in the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Kaldi soon determined that it was the bright red cherries on the shrub that were causing the peculiar euphoria and after trying the cherries himself, he learned of their powerful effect. The stimulating effect was then exploited by monks at a local monastery to stay awake during extended hours of prayer and distributed to other monasteries around the world. Coffee was born.

Despite the appeal of such a legend, recent botanical evidence suggests a different coffee bean origin. This evidence indicates that the history of the coffee bean beagan on the plateaus of central Ethiopia and somehow must have been brought to Yemen where it was cultivated since the 6th century. Upon introduction of the first coffee houses in Cairo and Mecca coffee became a passion rather than just a stimulant.

The coffee plant belongs to the family Rubiaceae which is a woody evergreen perennial dicotyledon. The plant has an orthotropic trunk with primary, secondary and tertiary plagiotropic branches. There are several species of coffee plants, the two common species cultivated are the Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora. Throughout the globe Coffea Arabica is widely cultivated; Coffea Arabica is also called the Arabica coffee. The Robusta coffee is the Coffea canephora, which has very high caffeine content but the taste seem to be inferior. Both Arabica and Robusta coffee are grown at high altitudes and in places where the temperature is low.

Thats it, I'm out like coffee storage tips.

LIfe in a Northern Town, Canada

2009-08-11T11:27:00.006-08:00

Hey I may not have the biggest boat in the marina, but nobody rows harder than I do.

Baffin Region

Historians identify the Baffin coast with Helluland of the Norse sagas, and there may have been sporadic contacts between Norse and Inuit. But the recorded history of Baffin Island began in 1576 when Martin Frobisher, on an expedition in search of a Northwest Passage, discovered what he thought was gold in the bay that bears his name. The ore was worthless and Frobisher's encounters with the Inuit were not friendly. He seized four Inuit in 1576 and 1577 and took them to England where they quickly died. In 1585, John Davis, also in search of the Northwest Passage, explored Cumberland Sound; unlike Frobisher, his relations with Inuit were cordial.

Henry Hudson, in 1610, followed the south coast of Baffin Island into Hudson Bay, and five years later, William Baffin and Robert Bylot mapped that coast. But Baffin Island itself was, at best, only a landmark and, at worst, an obstacle in the path of those searching for a Northwest Passage. Its coastline remained largely unexplored.

In 1616, Baffin and Bylot sailed north as far as Smith Sound and discovered the entrances to Lancaster and Jones sounds. Returning south, they mapped a good deal of the Baffin coast, but after this voyage, northern Baffin Island was ignored for two centuries.

In the early 19th century, the search for a Northwest Passage came in vogue again. John Ross entered Lancaster Sound in 1818 and concluded erroneously that it was a bay rather than a strait. The next year his second in command, Lieutenant William Edward Parry, travelled through Lancaster Sound; the following summer he discovered the entrances to Admiralty and Navy Board inlets. In 1821, under Admiralty orders, Parry passed two winters exploring and mapping the Igloolik area, and established good relations with the Inuit.

The University of Saskatchewan has a Northern Research Portal, with some cool photos in an article about Life in a Northern Town by Jennifer Jozic.

The Inuit, Dene and Cree

The word Inuit translates into English as ‘the people’ and the language they speak is called Inuktitut. Traditionally Inuit people lived mainly on the tundra and used igloos, tents and dog sleds. They moved around a lot (or migrated) to follow animals that they hunted for food.

The Inuit still hunt these animals today, but now their methods are modern. Instead of dogsleds and spears they use skidoos and guns. They also fish with modern fishing lines and nets, all of which are composed of man-made materials.

There are five Dene Nations within the Northwest Territories: the Gwich’in, Sahtu Dene, Tåîchô, Dÿne Súåine and South Slavey. They refer to the land that they have traditionally lived on as Denedeh. The Dene and Cree peoples have hunted in the boreal forests of Canada since time immemorial, and are closely associated with the moose, bears, caribou, and fish. Dene and Cree also make up a significant part of the population in the Yukon and northern parts of the provinces.

Thats it, I'm out.

Hamburgers

2009-08-07T07:35:00.005-08:00

Hamburgers on the grill are a treat that few can resist. There is something almost primal about the smell of grilling meat, which draws back to a more primitive style of eating. Summertime gets us out into the yard to relive this experience annually, but where did Hamburgers come from? Who invented them?

Not unlike so many dishes, the origins of the hamburger are lost in the depths of time. References to ground meat date at least as far back as the Egyptians. The Mongols and Ghengis Khan feasted on patties of lamb softened under their saddles as they rode. Steak tartare was an invention that came from a cultural cross between the Mongol empire and the Russians, but in the 1600 steak tartare made it to Germany.

In the 18th century sailors reported eating Hamburg steak, a German specialty that focused more on durability than taste. Salted, hard beef was minced and mixed with breadcrumbs and onions. Often served to the poor, this food was carried across to America by Jewish immigrants destined to become an American icon. It took another century to become the product we know today.

Read a related story at Hotdogs, Hamburgers, & Fries.

The history of the hamburger is truly a story that has been run through the meat grinder. Some sources say it began with the Mongols, who stashed raw beef under their saddles as they waged their campaign to conquer the known world. After time spent sandwiched between the asses of man and beast, the beef became tender enough to eat raw—certainly a boon to swift-moving riders not keen to dismount.

It is said, then, that the Mongols, under Kublai Khan later brought it to Russia, which turned it into the dish we know as steak tartare.

Several years later, as global trade picked up, seafarers brought this idea back to the port city of Hamburg, Germany, where the Deutschvolk decided to mold it into a steak shape and add heat to the equation, making something that, outside of Hamburg, was referred to as "Hamburg steak."

Charlie “Hamburger” Nagreen made claim to having served the first hamburger sandwich in 1885 at the Outgamie County Fair in Seymour, Wisc. He was 15 at the time. His concoction is variously described as a “flattened meatball” and “butter-fried ground beef.” In either event, he stuck it between slices of bread.

Louis Lassen of New Haven, Conn. is also portrayed as the inventor of the hamburger sandwich. It seems that Lazen sold steak sandwiches from his lunch wagon and would take the trimmings home which he ground and made into patties or meatloaf for his family. He’s said to have started serving the patties on bread to customers at his three-stool stand in 1900.

Fletcher “Old Dave” Davis of Athens, Texas is thought by some to have been the originator of the hamburger at his lunch counter in the late 1880s. It was apparently “Old Dave” who sold the hamburgers at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. The hamburger attracted press attention there, and the birth of the hamburger is frequently associated with that event.

John E. Harmon, professor of geography at Central Connecticut State University, points out in his “Atlas of Popular Culture in the Northeastern United States” that none of these tales of the invention of the hamburger sandwich entails use of a bun. Each of these first burgers “was first served between bread or (in New Haven) toast,” he notes.

Whoever it was who first plunked a hamburger patty on a bun and undertook to sell this product is the true inventor of the American hamburger, but probably destined to forever remain unknown.

I'm out like anyone who claims to have invented the hamburger.

MODIS

2009-08-06T20:00:00.003-08:00

Thanks to NASA's MODIS Rapid Response System we have the following image.

I'm out like a clear day in Fairbanks.

Davidson Ditch

2009-07-14T10:05:00.006-08:00

Not sure if everyone is aware. For those not living in Fairbanks, its very very smoky right now. Good thing I'm leaving town tomorrow. Don't like the smoke too much. Maybe if I had some fish drying I could leave it out and have smoked fish.

I've always wondered about the Davidson Ditch. Driving north from Fairbanks on the Steese Highway, it is possible to see two pipelines. One is bright and shiny and carries oil; the other is old and rusted and carried water years ago. They are both remarkable examples of engineering for their day.

The rusty pipe, almost exactly the same diameter (46 to 56 inches) as the Trans-Alaska Pipeline (48 inches), represents the remnants of a project undertaken during the years 1924 to 1929 to bring water to the Fairbanks area gold mining operations. The operation was carried out under the auspices of the Fairbanks Exploration Company (known locally as F.E.), a subsidiary of United States Smelting, Refining and Mining Company (U.S.S.R. & M.).

This project, known as Davidson Ditch, was a 90-mile-long conduit designed to divert water from the Chatanika River at a point below the junction of Faith and McManus Creeks to hydraulic sluicing (stripping) operations at Cleary and Goldstream, just north of Fairbanks. The term "ditch" does not do the project justice because, although the open earthwork section comprised most of its length, the course included a 0.7 mile long tunnel near Fox, and 6.13 miles of inverted siphons along the way. (Anyone who has tried to suck gas from a gasoline tank and drain it into a bucket through a hose knows what a siphon is. It carries fluid over a high point into a lower one. An inverted siphon carries fluid across a low point--in this case, a stream bed, back to a higher one.)

How did all these settlers come into the country? They were here for the gold discovery on the Chena River in 1902. Some people made it here before the railroad was built, the masses came after 1930.

Just 15 years earlier, in 1915 eight Athapaskan chiefs from the Tanana river valley met with Delegate to Congress Wickersham and federal officials. Construction of the Alaska Railroad was underway. Its completion was expected to bring homesteaders to settle Interior Alaska. Wickersham advised the chiefs that settlers would take up all the best land. The government wanted to give the Natives the first chance at land ownership before the settlers arrived. He offered them a choice between a reservation system or 160-acre homesteads.

Thomas Riggs, Jr., of the Alaska Engineering Commission agreed with Wickersham. He warned the Natives that the country would soon be overrun with white people who would kill off your game, your moose, your caribou and your sheep. They will run them all out of the country and they will have so many fish wheels on the river that the Indian will not get as many fish.

Chief Charley of Minto responded. If the white people are coming in here like the slush ice to cover all the villages, we expect your people to protect us from them." The chief asked that Natives be notified in writing of laws that affected them. "There are times when we cannot reach you people, the government of this United States," he said, "and there is no way we can learn what laws have been made for us." Chief Evan of Cos Jacket echoed this view. "We have never had a chance to see the government officials and tell them what we wanted."

Back to Davidson....who was Davidson????

It was James M. Davidson, an engineer who laid out the ditch beginning in 1928. the Fairbanks Exploration Company began constructing the 12-foot-wide Davidson Ditch from the Chatanika River to the Fairbanks gold fields. Construction workers built a series of siphons, branches, water ways, and tunnels on a constant grade of 2.1 feet per mile. The finished waterworks could deliver 81 million gallons of water per day to the five giant dredges that the company was operating by 1930.

By the late 1950s, the increased costs of labor and machinery had made gold dredging and hydraulic operations impractical. The ditch was sold to the Chatanika Power Company and used to generate electricity. When the 1967 Fairbanks flood damaged part of the structure, the power company gave up the operation, too. Although some segments have collapsed from repeated freezing and thawing, the ditch is still in good condition from Mile 32 of the Steese Highway to Faith Creek. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the State Division of Parks have proposed that this section be preserved as a historic site.

Thats it, I'm out like the Davidson Ditch.

Anchor River

2009-06-18T07:40:00.004-08:00

Ever heard of the Anchor River before? I've never been there. Didn't even know there was an Anchor River. According to the milepost, the Anchor River Road is 1.6 miles long. One of the shortest roads in Alaska.

Although the Anchor River is often lost in the excitement over the Kenai River to the north and Kachemak Bay to the south, those who live along it are well aware of what it offers—its fisheries, wildlife, scenic beauty, and seasonal moods. Fortunately, in recent years interest in and appreciation for the Anchor River and its surroundings have been growing. As a result, much new information is becoming available, such as the information below, that can help us increase our understanding of the river and its environments and to convince others of the River’s significance. This compilation of Anchor River facts can be used as a tool to help those who live and play along the Anchor River to share their excitement for the River, so that proper attention is given to the long-term preservation of its special features.

The Anchor River Itself:

The Anchor River supports four species of Pacific salmon: king (chinook), coho (silver), sockeye (red), and pink, as well as anadromous Dolly Varden and rainbow trout (steelhead). A small number of resident rainbow trout inhabit the upper reaches of the river. King and coho are the most abundant salmon species. Anadromous Dolly Varden is the most abundant species in the Anchor River.

The Anchor River is one of the best road-accessible, wild-stocked, steelhead trout streams left in the United States.

By the time the Anchor River reaches the USGS gaging station in Anchor Point, it has drained 224 square miles of watershed, or 143,360 acres. (15) The river’s mainstem channel is about 27 miles long; the mainstem slope drops about 51 feet per mile before reaching sea level at Cook Inlet.

At the Anchor Point gaging station, the Anchor River’s discharge (volume of flow per time) averages 298 cubic feet per second (cfs). The highest peak discharge so far recorded at that station was 11,000 cfs on November 30, 1983; the lowest was 28 cfs on July 28, 1953.

The Anchor River has five main named tributaries. To the north, these are the North Fork and its main tributary, Chakok Creek. To the south, these are Beaver and Twitter Creeks and Twitter Creek’s main tributary, Bridge Creek. (The 35-acre Bridge Creek reservoir is the City of Homer’s main water source.) Anchor River is also fed by numerous unnamed tributaries.

Melting snow, rain, and groundwater inflow drive the hydrologic system of the Anchor River and determine the timing of peak flows.

In Anchor Point, mean annual snowfall is 80 inches on the Anchor River.

Well next time I'm down there, I might pay a visit to the Anchor River. Seems like Kachemak Bay can be a good fishing spot.

You can pretend to care but you can't pretend to be there.

I'm out like all the fresh water tributaries of the Anchor River.

Ming

2009-06-15T08:24:00.003-08:00

Ever heard of Simply Ming? Ming is currently the host and executive producer of the public television cooking show, SIMPLY MING, currently in its sixth season. Ming was raised in Dayton , Ohio , where he spent hours cooking alongside his mother and father at their family-owned restaurant, Mandarin Kitchen. His love of cooking (and eating!) great food was forged in these early years, while also gaining valuable experience in front and back of the house.

Ming once said on his show, " If you can't find Tofu in your town,..Move."

I'm out.

Western Arctic Caribou

2009-06-11T09:32:00.003-08:00

Alaska's largest caribou herd, the Western Arctic Caribou herd, has grown to at least 490,000 animals, according to a survey recently completed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

This vast herd ranges over a 140,000 square-mile area bounded by the Arctic Ocean, the lower Yukon River and the trans-Alaska pipeline. About 40 communities and 13,000 people are located within the range of the herd. For the indigenous people of these communities, the herd is both a vital link to their cultural heritage and a staple of their diet.

There is also growing use of the Western Arctic Caribou Herd by resident and nonresident hunters living outside the herd's range. These caribou are an important source of income for commercial operators that provide services to these hunters.

Its a tough sell to predict a caribou herd, its movement and population. None of these things really are concrete, so Woodford and Dau do the best they can to give us an update on the largest caribou herd in the state.

Who know what's happened since. You can read the Critical Evaluation of the Western Arctic Caribou Herd Cooperative Management Plan and see how complex this is. The herd even fluctuates so much with unknown weather patterns effecting its winter range that it could also crash like it did in 1976.

1970: Herd numbered 243,000
1976: Declined to 75,000
1996: Peaked at 463,000

You can download the plan at the ADF&G site.

Thats it, I'm out like caribou population predictions.

Beer

2009-06-03T09:30:00.002-08:00

Seen at the Golden Eagle last week.

"Remember beer has food value, but food has no beer value."

I'm out like food.

Nuiqsut

2009-06-02T09:01:00.003-08:00

Hey, here's to the month of June!!!! It happened so quickly, because this year, May was like two weeks long. As I've been digging out an outhouse hole, its been a learning process. First I got the auger stuck, then I had to dig out the auger. By that time, I had an outhouse hole!

I do have a very nice tank though. Its an old 100 gallon water tank, I was using for hauling water in my little truck. Its gonna do well.

Went to the Greg Brown concert last weekend at the loon. One of my favorite lines from Greg came from the song about Jesus and Elvis. It went something like this.

"Jesus took some water and said, wine would be better yet. Elvis pulled out his guitar and got all the women wet."

Inspiring lyrics and funny story lines. Here's to Chris...you know who you are...who couldn't believe I had a blog as Super Smooth ANDY-G. Here you go Chris, you owe me a drink at the Golden Eagle.

I've never been to Nuiqsut, but I like their little post office photo. Nuiqsut is located on the west bank of the Nechelik Channel of the Colville River Delta, about 35 miles from the Beaufort Sea coast, 60 miles west of Prudhoe Bay, 380 miles north of Fairbanks. In other words, its on the North Slope, Alaska.

I must give it to Detroit for beating up on the Penguins so far. At this rate, the Penguins will sign off like I do.

I'm out....or the Penguins are out.

Defining Subsistence

2009-05-23T10:28:00.004-08:00

The most difficult description of Subsistence in Alaska is made very simple and clear by Polly Wheeler and Tom Thornton on their research paper Subsistence Research in Alaska: A Thirty Year Retrospective.

There is so much to cover, and I aint no expert on the topic either. Rather a curious participant as I was born into a subsistence lifestyle. The experts are those who have lived it and communicate it through stories.

In my attempts to understand what subsistence means in Alaska, I found that this paper shows the complicated management schemes by the state of Alaska and the federal government in trying to grasp the concept of subsistence in management of fish, wildlife, lands and its people.

DEFINING SUBSISTENCE

Before going any further, it is useful to discuss the meaning of subsistence, both in terms of the Euro-American consciousness as well as the understanding shared by Alaska Natives, and most anthropologists (see Bennet1982; Berger 1985; Lonner 1986 for further discussion). Euro-American conceptions tend to be static, restrictive and minimalist, often defining subsistence as "the minimum resources necessary to support life." As Case (1989:1009) observes, ".. .to many people, the term subsistence connotes the bare eking out of an existence, a marginal and generally miserable way of life." The latter perspective leads to the mistaken view that subsistence is (or should be) a welfare policy to combat poverty. Likewise, it fails to take into account the dynamic nature of subsistence,5 as well as the rich cultural and historical context
within which subsistence exists among Alaska Natives.

As noted by Schneider (1982: 169):
Attempts to define subsistence characteristically fail to account for the historical record which
reflects the important survival values of flexibility, innovation, and change. Survival in a
subsistence economy depends upon a blend of traditionally proven patterns and an opportunistic eye for improving chances in the hunt. This has always been the case even though the modern
European concept of subsistence emphasizes the traditional patterns and fails to appreciate
the adaptive dimensions.

These understandings of subsistence as a meager economic existence, or as a static relic of the past, are the antithesis of the Alaska Native (and, generally, the anthropological) view and have no basis in law or in practice. In contrast to Euro-American conceptions, Alaska Natives typically define subsistence in dynamic, broad, and holistic ways, as "our culture," "our way of being," or "our life." As described by Harold Napolean, a Yup'ik Alaska Natives from the moratorium on hunting marine mammals), ANILCA nonetheless acknowledges a difference between Native and non-Native subsistence: specifically, the law states that "... the continuation of the opportunity for subsistence uses by rural residents of Alaska, including both Natives and non-Natives is essential to Native physical, economic, traditional and cultural existence, but only to non-Native physical, economic, traditional and...rest @ Subsistence Research.

Thats it, I'm out.

Carr-Gottstein

2009-05-14T16:48:00.002-08:00

Didn't know this, but Carr-Gottstein in Alaska has been around a long time. The Sitka Sentinal in use Sep 23, 1985 to give contextual information about this day in history. View this Daily Sitka Sentinel image to see these details. Carr Tops List of Raps on ANCHORAGE (AP) Based on sales volume and the number of em- Carr Gottstein Co. ... From Daily Sitka Sentinel (Sitka, Alaska) on 09 23, 1985 Newspaper Archives at … - Related web pages

Remember the grocery store chain Carrs? Thats them, the Carr-Gottstein company who sold their shares to Safeway and now operate as a subsidiary of Safeway. Carr-Gottstein is the leading food and drug retailer in Alaska, with over 50 stores in several different formats. ... Additionally, Carr-Gottstein operates smaller stores for less populated markets under the Eagle Quality Centers brand name.

I'm out.

Fire Season

2009-05-12T20:31:00.002-08:00

Got to say hi to all those people in Fairbanks. I hope its nice up there. I heard they cancelled the fireseason. I checked the Alaska Fire Service website and they said it was cancelled. Is it raining? Well it was a good summer.

Eagle Village

2009-05-11T20:01:00.004-08:00

You don't know unless you've been there. Thats what I keep saying to myself. You don't know unless you've been there. Well, I've never been there so I can only speak from my one experience.

Thanks to IceRayChristie, someone's mentioned the damage of the Yukon River ice.

What's understated is Eagle isn't actually one town. Its two towns. One town is Eagle Village, where the last of the Han-Athabascans live and Eagle proper where the end of the roader, miner, white settlers live. Its separated by 6 miles. Eagle village is upstream of Eagle.

What really happened is this!!! The ice broke through Eagle Village and plowed through Eagle Village and wiped out the whole town and the road. It plowed trees like they were toothpicks. What we see in the news is all the damage to Eagle where you can drive to and fly to.

Eagle Village on the other hand isn't very news worth, but thanks to the late miner, it got some press. Regardless, the ice is devastating. I wish I could rap about it, but its not very funny.

Who's your daddy now. Not me. I'm just trying to see how bad things got.

I'm out like Eagle Village

Milk and Wine

2009-04-29T22:23:00.006-08:00

I can't blame Fairbanksans for feeling warm in this weather. It was 74 degrees in town today. It is actually warm. After the snow melts so fast, it is a shock to the system to be that warm again. Don't worry though, we'll adjust to the warm weather soon enough. Here's to all those beached beluga whales, lets all get some sun where the sun never shined this winter!!!!

Yeahhh...!!!!!

Four cheers to the summer fast approaching. I'm waiting for my guesses on the Nenana Ice Classic to be right on this year. I pledge to donate to some personal causes if I win!!

Jayesh Tekchandaney wrote an article for the The Chemical Engineers' Resource Page, about wine. What is wine?

Wine is fermented grape juice.

Wine can be made from grapes, fruits, berries etc. Most wine, though , is made from grapes. And no matter what the wine is made from, there must be fermentation, that is, that sugar be transformed into alcohol. If the amount of alcohol is relatively low, the result is wine. If it is high, the result is a "distilled liquor," something like gin or vodka

There are red wines, pink wines (also known as "rose" or some-times "blush") and white wines.
Red wine result when the crushed grape skin pulp and seeds of purple or red varieties are allowed to remain with juice during fermentation periods.

Pink / rose wine can be produced by removing the non-juice pumace from the must during fermentation.

White wines can be made from pigmented grapes by removal of skins, pulp and seeds before juice fermentation.

Wines might be "fortified," "sparkling," or "table."

In fortified wines, brandy is added to make the alcohol content higher (around 14 to 30 percent). These are less perishable and may be stable without pasteurization.

Wines are termed still or sparkling depending upon the amount of CO2 they contain. The carbon dioxide may be formed naturally during fermentation or may be added artificially.

Both table and sparkling wines tend to have alcohol contents between 7 and 14 percent.
Sparkling wines are the ones with bubbles ( greater CO2 ) , like Champagne.
Table wine (which can also be called "still") are the most "natural". The alcohol concentration itself is not sufficient to preserve natural wines, they are pasteurized.

The term light wine is also used to describe wine having alcohol content from 5 - 10 %.

The process of pasteurization was named after Louis Pasteur who discovered that spoilage organisms could be inactivated in wine by applying heat at temperatures below its boiling point. The process was later applied to milk and remains the most important operation in the processing of milk.

There are two distinct purposes for the process of milk pasteurization:

1. Public Health Aspect - to make milk and milk products safe for human consumption by destroying all bacteria that may be harmful to health (pathogens)

2. Keeping Quality Aspect - to improve the keeping quality of milk and milk products. Pasteurization can destroy some undesirable enzymes and many spoilage bacteria. Shelf life can be 7, 10, 14 or up to 16 days.

The extent of microorganism inactivation depends on the combination of temperature and holding time. Minimum temperature and time requirements for milk pasteurization are based on thermal death time studies for the most heat resistant pathogen found in milk, Coxelliae burnettii. Thermal lethality determinations require the applications of microbiology to appropriate processing determinations. An overview can be found here.

Real Milk Articles claims that there is no substitute for clean raw milk as food compared to pasteurized milk. If we are to be compelled to drink pasteurized milk, we should at least understand what pasteurization means. It set out to accomplish two things: Destruction of certain disease-carrying germs and the prevention of souring milk. These results are obtained by keeping the milk at a temperature of 145 degrees to 150 degrees F. for half an hour, at least, and then reducing the temperature to not more than 55 degrees F.

It is undoubtedly beneficial to destroy dangerous germs, but pasteurization does more than this-it kills off harmless and useful germs alike, and by subjecting the milk to high temperatures, destroys some nutritious constituents.

Pasteurization's great claim to popularity is the widespread belief, fostered by its supporters, that tuberculosis in children is caused by the harmful germs found in raw milk. Scientists have examined and tested thousands of milk samples, and experiments have been carried out on hundreds of animals in regard to this problem of disease-carrying by milk. But the one vital fact that seems to have been completely missed is that it is CLEAN, raw milk that is wanted. If this can be guaranteed, no other form of food for children can, or should, be allowed to take its place.

Dirty milk, of course, is like any other form of impure food — a definite menace. But Certified Grade A Milk, produced under Government supervision and guaranteed absolutely clean, is available practically all over the country and is the dairy-farmer's answer to the pasteurization zealots.

I'm out like raw milk.

Alaska Railroad

2009-04-25T14:33:00.004-08:00

It was Ronald Reagon who authorized the transfer of the federally owned Alaska Railroad to the State of Alaska on January 14, 1983. A year later, on October 26, 1984, Frank Turpin is appointed the first President & CEO as a state-owned enterprise. Two years later, on January 5, 1985, the Alaska Railroad becomes the property of the State of Alaska in transfer ceremonies held in Nenana and Seward.

Way back in 1903, the Alaska Central Railway built the first railroad in Alaska starting in Seward and extending 50 miles north. It only lasted several years before going bankrupt. It eventually was reorganized as the Alaska Northern Railway Co. in 1910 extending the railroad to Kern Creek - 71 miles from Seward. US Congress agreed to fund construction and operation of a railroad from Seward to Fairbanks in 1914 at an estimated construction cost of $35 million.

It took about ten years for the Railroad to be completed. And on July 15, 1923, President Warren G. Harding traveled to Alaska to mark the completion of the Alaska Railroad by driving the golden spike in ceremonies at Nenana, one of the state's largest cities at the time. President Harding died from an attack of food poisoning on his return trip to San Francisco on August 2, 1923.

At the very station, some 64 years later, 1987 saw the Nenana Station transferred to the City of Nenana and the establishment of the Alaska State Railroad Museum in the building. A restoration program was undertaken which resulted in return to the dark green paint with white trim. Utility poles and guard rails were removed from the south side. A 75th anniversary stone monument was added next to the 50th monument at the east end of the depot.

Today the Alaska Railroad is very much in business with a lot more stops and plans are on the way to connect Delta with the railway.

Thats it, I'm out.

Romano Cheese

2009-04-06T22:14:00.006-08:00

What do you say when you gotta do something??

...I don't know.

Gotta do it?

Gotta do it.

Sorry to hear about Michigan State losing to North Carolina.

Must give it to Dan Kaduce and Jodi Bailey at the Fort Yukon sled dog races. Way to go Dew Claw Kennels!!

Must give some praise to Romano Cheese!! Really brings out the Italian in me. Romano cheese is a traditional Italian cheese, named after the city of Rome, which has been manufacturing it since before the birth of Christ. The cheese has a rich creamy yellow color, a slightly granular texture, and a sharp, tangy, salty flavor, and is usually grated over other dishes, although it can be eaten plain.

I'm out like the Spartans.

detraction

2009-03-31T22:56:00.006-08:00

Made it to the Open North American Championships a couple of weeks ago to see my neighbor Jeff Conn go down the starting chute. Dog races were exciting. Sunny and cold. Very nice combo.

Like the CabinDweller, the volcano ate my homework!!! Love it. I was half tempted to cancel my trip to Anchorage till Mt. Redoubt did it for me. I missed one day of a three day meeting and just cancelled out. Alaska Air didn't mind either. They're mostly booked now.

Thank you Redoubt!!!

I will cherish my next trip to Anchorage though. Can't avoid it all together. Its a part of doing business. That's how I roll.

I'm just saying. I've been trying to contribute, but it usually turns out to be a detraction of the flow of things when I say something.

That's it, I'm out like those regular flights to Anchorage.

Bush Hawk

2009-03-25T23:52:00.005-08:00

The Bush Hawk Aircraft. I'm wondering why these little airplanes aren't more popular? It would seem to be useful for Alaska, but then, its more popular in Canada. Thanks to one of my contributing editors for bring this forward. The factory payloads seem to be way higher than what some of the air operators suggest they can carry. Maybe its a safety thing, so you don't operate these planes near maximum loads.

Useful Load On The Basic Aircraft:
1500+ pounds on wheels
1450+ pounds on straight floats
1150+ pounds on amphibious floats

Found Aircraft Canada Inc. was incorporated May 6th, 1996 to develop and produce the FBA-2C1 Bush Hawk-XP. Found Aircraft has over 75 employees and operates 25,000 square feet of production and testing facilities at the Parry Sound Area Municipal Airport (CNK4) and the Brampton Airport (CNC3). The Parry Sound Area Municipal Airport is located 30 km south of Parry Sound, Ontario and 200 km north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

King Fisher Air out of Kodiak apparently has Bush Hawks and they say its a 5 place (pilot plus 4) aircraft that is being built NEW outside of Toronto Canada which is designed to meet the needs of the Alaska operator looking for a utility aicraft. We figure our payloads to be 850 pounds -- which is slightly more than the Cessna 206 or Cessna 185 aircraft that operate around Kodiak. It has the same cabin size as a Cessna 206, but we can legally carry more weight, load and unload from either side of the plane, and performs better at gross weights. It is not a replacement for the de Havilland Beaver, but if you have more than a Beaver load, it is typically more efficient to use 2 Bush Hawks than a Beaver & 206.

Thats it, I'm out like the factory payloads.

Still got your back!!!

2009-03-16T23:02:00.004-08:00

I'd hate to rub it in. Way to go Lance, way to go. Still rooting for you. Still got your back!!!

As long as the lead holds up, I'll be happy. Actually, money makes me happy. The happiest people in the world are the poorest, but in general those not struggling to make ends meet are also happy.

I used to think that money makes you happy, but now that I'm older, I know money is one of the main reasons you are happy. Who wants to struggle all the time, when you don't have to?

I'm only wishing Aliy Zirkle and Ken Anderson make a push to the top 12 so they can find happiness too.

I'm out.

Aerial Wolf Hunting

2009-03-16T11:32:00.004-08:00

Exciting times this weekend. Apparently the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has started the aerial wolf control efforts in the Upper Tanana, East. I don't know how many were shot, but its going on right now. Visit the ADFG Predator control site and there's no listing of the current activities.

It'll be interesting to see what kind of news coverage this gets. I'm hoping we talk about why that 40 mile caribou population dropped from 100,000 in the early 1900s to 40,000 today.

Wasn't there three roads built on its migration range? The Taylor to the South, the Richardson to the West and the Steese to the North. Didn't we poach several thousand a year, if not 10s of thousands a year in the 1960s and during the pipeline days in the 70s?

My other take on this is, why the wolf, when the Grizzly bears are really the ones who do the most damage?

I'm out like the wolves in the area.

How to Save Your Own Life

2009-03-11T22:35:00.007-08:00

I was stumbling for famous quotes until I found the Hippy Quote Site. There are some quotes we take for granted and some I don't quite know what to think of. They say if you remember the 60s', you weren't really there.

"Hippies started the ecology movement. They combated racism. They liberated sexual stereotypes, encouraged change, individual pride, and self-confidence. They questioned robot materialism. In four years they managed to stop the Vietnam War. They got marijuana decriminalized in fourteen states during the Carter Administration." by Timothy Leary

"Do you want me to tell you something really subversive? Love is everything it's cracked up to be. That's why people are so cynical about it. . . . It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. And the trouble is, if you don't risk anything, you risk even more."
by Erica Jong - How to Save Your Own Life

"A time for love, a time for hate, a time for peace, I swear it's not too late. "
by The Byrds.

"We're more popular than Jesus now; I don't know which will go first- rock and roll or Christianity." by John Lennon

"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows." by Bob Dylan

I used the ingredients in the photo to make the awesome moose and the sauce in the other photo. Damn it was good!!!

I feel lazy today, so I"m out like ANDY-G.

Top 12

2009-03-09T22:27:00.006-08:00

Gotta give some love to Ken Anderson, Aliy Zirkle, my new favorite Sebastian Schneulle, Lance Mackey and last but not least, Jessie Royer. This is the group I'm rooting for. Here's my predicted top 12, like they do at NASCAR.

1. Lance Mackey

2. Sebastian Schneuelle

3. Mitch Seavey

4. Ken Anderson

5. Paul Gebhardt

6. Jeff King

7. Bjornar Anderson,

8. Jessie Royer

9. Hans Gatt

10. Martin Buser

11. Ramey Smyth

12. Aliy Zirkle

Forgot to post the snack photos and the anonymous hand model. I like the hand model deal that goes with the snacks. It really brings out the cheese flavors. I must say the mozarella brings out the Italian in me. The other cheese was Medium Cheddar.

Hey, I'm just a small time crook, not a real street thug so take my top 12 list and figure on me being 45 percent right. Thats my average when I'm trying to get to work on time. Its only 45 percent. I'm usually 10 minutes late 65 percent of the time. I'm just talking.

Remember the All Alaska Sweepstakes where the winner too all the prize money last year? Mitch Seavy ended up winning 100K.

HISTORY OF THE ALL ALASKA SWEEPSTAKES

Since out of the far North have always come tales of adventure and achievement, hardship and heroism, it is not strange that out of the far North have come also the records of a sport unequalled in history for excitement, speed and endurance - the records of the famous Dog Races of Nome.

The winter season here extends from departure of the last boat of the open season late October, to the arrival of the first boat early in June, and during this time the people of Northwestern Alaska are cut off from the rest of the world by a barrier of over a thousand miles of ice and snow; the only direct communication with the "Outside" being by weekly Government Dog Team mails, and Wireless Telegraph System.

The men and women of this shut-in community, unusually activementally and physically as is always the case in any frontier civilization, need an outlet for their superabundant energy in some diversion that is characteristic of their surroundings--for many pleasures are geographically impossible. The diversion they have found in these thrilling contests over the snow-swept wastes of Seward Peninsula.

Thats it, I'm out like the mushers chasing the frontrunners to Nome.

Barrow 737

2009-03-07T14:21:00.003-09:00

Awesome display of snacks after a good ski in on the Tanana. With all this snow, and somewhat cool weather, hey maybe springs isn't so close as the sun indicates. Gotta love that sun. Gotta love that sun.

Back in September 16, 1968 the City of Barrow Alaska had its first Boeing 737 Flight landing. The Wein Airlines flight was greeted by lots of residents. I don't know if that ever happens anymore except in some of the villages today.

I'm out like the village greeters.

Elizabeth Peratrovich Day

2009-03-03T07:09:00.005-09:00

Last month, barely two weeks ago was Elizabeth Peratrovich Day. February 16 was the day, according to the Anchorage School Board, Elizabeth Peratrovich Day provides an opportunity to remind the public of the invaluable contribution of this Native Alaskan leader who was an advocate for Native citizens and their rights. This courageous woman could not remain silent about injustice, prejudice and discrimination. In 1988, the Alaska State Legislature established February 16 as the annual Elizabeth Peratrovich Day to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the Anti-Discrimination Act.

Thanks to the Anchorage School District for the recognition this year.

My Spirit Raised Its Hands

“My Spirit Raised Its Hands” – is a staged performance of the story of Alaska Native Sisterhood leader Elizabeth Peratrovich and Civil Rights in Alaska, written and performed by Tlingit actress Diane E. Benson. This twenty-five minute one-woman play re-enacts the speech Elizabeth Peratrovich made before the Alaska Territorial Legislature in 1945 that inspired the passage of the Anti-Discrimination Bill.

During territorial days Alaska Native people were treated differently than other American citizens and were often denied admittance into restaurants, hotels, and other establishments including some public schools. Alaska Natives were also afraid for their land and food sources and equal access to commerce and title. The play brings to light, Elizabeth’s passionate words to the territorial legislature, her commitment to and love for her people, and the strong desire of the Alaska Native Brotherhood and Sisterhood for all people to be treated equally.

Elizabeth Wanamaker Peratrovich was born July 4, 1911, in Petersburg, Alaska. Her Tlingit name was Kaaxgal.aat. She was of the Lukaax.adi clan of the Raven moiety. Her parents died when she was young and she was adopted. She attended Petersburg Elementary School, Sheldon Jackson School, and graduated from Ketchikan High School. She continued her studies at Western College of Education in Bellingham, Washington.

Elizabeth married Roy Peratrovich of Klawock on December 15, 1931, in Bellingham, Washington. They moved back to Alaska to raise their family in 1941. On moving from Klawock to Juneau, they were astonished to discover signs in business establishments revealing blatant discrimination against Alaska's Native people. With the help of then Governor Ernest Gruening and Congressional Representative Anthony J. Dimond, legislation was sponsored and introduced in the Legislature in 1943. However, the "Equal Rights" Bill did not pass until the next legislative session in 1945.

Thats it, I'm out.

Sab beats Neff

2009-02-25T06:37:00.005-09:00

Kudos to Sebastian Schneulle for winning the 2009 Yukon Quest that ran from Whitehorse to Fairbanks this year. I was giving him some love a while back predicting him to finish second and I thought that would pan out, but when Hugh Neff received the dumb move reward for riding his team on the road for more than a few miles (5-6), Sab as his peers call him took the lead. Neff's two hour penalty cost him the rast as he lost by 4 minutes.

So who is Sab? If you're wondering, Gerry Willomitzer has a revealing story of what its like to be SAB. Sebastian was born in Wuppertal, Germany and grew up on the northern coast of the country, with the North Sea as his playground. Sailing is still one his hobbies today. Another one would be old cars. He apprenticed as a mechanic at Mercedes Benz, later studied Environmental Engineering.

In the mid 90s he spent some time travelling in Canada. In 1996 he returned to Canada with a landed immigrant status in his pocket and went on a solo-canoe trip down the mighty Mackenzie River to the Arctic Ocean. He then moved to Yellowknife for the winter 96/97 and made the acquaintance of Grant Beck, one of the top Canadian sprint mushers. When he left Yellowknife a few months later he was Yukon-bound, had a late 70 Chevy pick-up with a camper and about 30 dogs in the trailer behind it.

I was grossly wrong about some things in my top 9 predictions, but it wasn't a disappointing race at all, with a new winner. It keeps the Quest entertaining. It looks like Warren Palfrey is on his way to securing the number nine slot. See the rest of the field @ Race Updates.

Here are the current top 8 with number 9 likely secured by Warren Palfrey.

1. Sebastian Schneuelle

2. Hugh Neff

3. Jon Little

4. Martin Buser

5. Michelle Phillips

6. William Kleedehn

7. Brent Sass

8. Dan Kaduce

9. Warren Palfrey

My race favorite Dan Kaduce didn't disappoint. I'm still impressed with Kleedehn and Sass for what they're doing. Too bad Hans Gatt bugged out at Dawson to focus on the Iditarod. How lame is that? I don't know what happend to Dave Dalton (scratch) and William Pinkham(still running strong at 17).

I'm out like Neff.

Petro-driven Vacuum Cleaner

2009-02-18T20:05:00.004-09:00

What about that? The first vacuum cleaner was powered by petro. It was run outside with tubes going into a house to clean rugs. Ives McGaffey patented the vacuum cleaner, a "sweeping machine" in 1869. It wasn't until Hubert Cecil Booth patented his variation on the vacuum cleaner on August 30th 1901 that things began to take a turn. This took the form of a large, horse-drawn, petrol-driven unit which was parked outside the building to be cleaned with long hoses being fed through the windows.

In 1907, James Murray Spangler, a janitor in a Canton, Ohio department store, deduced that the carpet sweeper he used was the source of his cough. He tinkered with an old fan motor and attached it to a soap box stapled to a broom handle. Using a pillow case as a dust collector on the contraption, Spangler invented a portable electric vacuum cleaner. He then improved his basic model the first to use both a cloth filter bag and cleaning attachments, and received a patent in 1908, and formed the Electric Suction Sweeper Company.

One of the first buyers was a cousin, whose husband, William H. Hoover, later became the president of the Hoover Company, with Spangler as superintendent. Hoover's improvements resembled a bagpipe attached to a cake box, but they worked. Sluggish sales were given a kick by Hoover's 10 day, free home trial, and eventually there was a Hoover® vacuum cleaner in nearly every home.

John Thurman started a horse drawn (door to door service) vacuum system in St. Louis, similiar to Booth's. His vacuuming services were priced at $4 per visit in 1903. He invented his gasoline powered vacuum cleaner, in 1899 and some historians consider it the first motorized vacuum cleaner. Thurman's machine was patented on October 3, 1899 (patent #634,042).

Charles Lester has an interesting history about American Electrolux, a vacuum factory.

IF ONE WORD could describe the attitude of the U.S. in 1933, that word would be "hope." Men and women from all over the world came to America to reap the harvest in a land where "the streets were paved with gold." They brought their friends and families with them. But when they arrived, they found their future in America was bleak. With few jobs, and those jobs that were available were at poor pay, they found it difficult to feed their families.

America was in the middle of a great depression. Banks were closing and businesses were collapsing. Times were hard. Yet, out of this "brother can you spare a dime" era, people were beginning to sing a new tune that reminded "every cloud had a silver lining." Politicians promised that prosperity was just around a corner and there would be a "chicken for every pot."

The nation's people began to hear new phrases .. WPA ... NPA ... and hope began to rise anew. But it was a hope built out of despair. For things couldn't get any worse, it seemed. The people had been hardened by defeat upon bitter defeat.

Against this grim backdrop — in the very midst of the turmoil and hardship — a small group of European businessmen with a vision made a major decision based upon great faith in the future of the United States. They decided to begin manufacturing, in the US, a quality product that the American public could afford to buy.

And that is where the story of the American Electrolux begins.

However, to fully know this story, we must turn the clock back three more decades; and we

must travel around the world to Stockholm, Sweden.

I'm out like carpet sweepers.

Entourage

2009-02-15T16:51:00.004-09:00

Am excited to see we're near the end of winter. One more month of winter and we're done. I'd like to see a couple more cold spells though just to get into the spring weather.

I've been inspired to get a netflix account for the rest of the winter by this story. Thanks Dermot.

Have become a big fan of Entourage and the movie, Swingers.

And am tackling Deadwood next.

Today was the first day of NASCAR. The Daytona 500 was stopped by rain, but didn't disappoint.

In Dog Racing, my lone favorite is Dan Kaduce. Go Dan.

Love these two photos....

I'm out.

Yukon Quest

2009-02-11T07:23:00.005-09:00

This one goes out to Flicthebic. I wish you safe travels. I hope you brought your passport in case they think Fairbanks is another country.

This weekend is the first big sled dog race. The Yukon Quest. My predictions for this year's race are very easy. The rookie of the year Martin Buser will win the 2009 Quest.

Here are my predictions:

1. Martin Buser
2. Sebastian Schneulle
3. Hans Gatt
4. Brent Sass
5. William Kleedehn
6. Dan Kaduce
7. Hugh Neff
8. Dave Dalton
9. William Pinkham.

I was disappointed to hear Lance Mackey and Ken Anderson pull out. They have their reasons. So do I. I wanted them both to run the race.

Thats it, I'm out like these guys.

Porter & Zukerman

2009-02-07T11:30:00.002-09:00

That was a hell of a show, thanks to the MacDaddy. I was able to sit down and listen to Willy Porter & Natalia Zukerman last night.

I put on a suit and tie, join the board, thats how you rob a bank.

He was going, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. I love you honey, (shrieking voice, eh heh).

You had to be there.

Its nice out there.

I"m out like that cold weather.

Bering Sea Fisheries

2009-02-04T02:44:00.003-09:00

Who ever heard of the Pacific Decadal Ocilation???

Not me...

The "Pacific Decadal Oscillation" (PDO) is a long-lived El Niño-like pattern of Pacific climate variability. While the two climate oscillations have similar spatial climate fingerprints, they have very different behavior in time. Fisheries scientist Steven Hare coined the term "Pacific Decadal Oscillation" (PDO) in 1996 while researching connections between Alaska salmon production cycles and Pacific climate (his dissertation topic with advisor Robert Francis).

Two main characteristics distinguish PDO from El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO): first, 20th century PDO "events" persisted for 20-to-30 years, while typical ENSO events persisted for 6 to 18 months; second, the climatic fingerprints of the PDO are most visible in the North Pacific/North American sector, while secondary signatures exist in the tropics - the opposite is true for ENSO. Several independent studies find evidence for just two full PDO cycles in the past century: "cool" PDO regimes prevailed from 1890-1924 and again from 1947-1976, while "warm" PDO regimes dominated from 1925-1946 and from 1977 through (at least) the mid-1990's. Shoshiro Minobe has shown that 20th century PDO fluctuations were most energetic in two general periodicities, one from 15-to-25 years, and the other from 50-to-70 years. http://ingrid.ldeo.columbia.edu/%28/home/alexeyk/mydata/TSsvd.in%29readfile/.SST/.PDO/

I would venture to say that these anomolies are just that..anomolies....

....its just 30 year later.

Who ever heard about a 30 dip in Pacific average temperatures???

The Bering Sea is connected to the major warming of the Pacific Ocean....

....You guessed.....

.......the Pacific Decatal Ocillation.. Whatever happened to the King Salmon Run on the Lower Yukon? Who ever heard about the low Bristol Bay Salmon Runs???

Its a big dip on the horizon....its a big dip...

Major Pacific temperatures....do effect the Bering Sea Fisheries....

...I'm just talking....

Nation Building Village Alaska

2009-01-26T11:30:00.002-09:00

I just happened to be visiting the UAF School of Education site this morning and found this event happening tonight at the WoodCenter Ballroom. Its a speech by Byron Mallot on Village Alaska.

Hope you can make it. See the flyer at the school site above.

Byron Mallott Visits UAF,

The UAF School of Education invites the Fairbanks community to a public presentation by Mr. Byron Mallott, Visiting President’s Professor in Education,

Monday, January 26, 7:00 p.m.,

in the UAF Wood Center Ballroom. Mr. Mallott's topic will be “Nation Building Village Alaska: New Paradigms for the Future." A discussion and reception will follow.

Mr. Mallott has served the State of Alaska, and Alaska Native and Indigenous Peoples in many roles, including Mayor of Yakutat and Juneau, Executive Director of RuralCAP, CEO of SeaAlaska, Director of Alaska Air Group and numerous other corporations. He has presided as President of Alaska Federation of Natives, CEO of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, Founding President of First Alaskans Institute and Senior Fellow Alaska Native Policy Center. Mr. Mallott’s visit is graciously supported by BP and ConocoPhillips through UA President Mark Hamilton and the UA Foundation.

More details of Byron Mallott:

Byron I. Mallott is President & CEO of the First Alaskans Foundation. He was born and raised in Yakutat, the ancestral home of his mother's Tlingit Clan. He is the Clan Leader of the KwaashKiKwaan Clan of the Raven People of Yakutat. He is married to Toni Mallott who teaches elementary grades in the Juneau School District. Together they have raised five children, the youngest of whom attends Juneau High School. Mallott was variously a Director, Chairman and President and Chief Executive officer of Sealaska Corporation from 1972 until 1992 when he retired after 10 years as CEO. During Mallott's tenure, Sealaska established a shareholder's Permanent Fund and a corporate investment portfolio with total holdings in excess of $100 million.

Mallott has been active in both the public and private sectors in Alaska since 1965 when he was elected Mayor of Yakutat at age 22. He has served every governor since statehood, including Governor William A. Egan, in whose Cabinet he served as the first Commissioner of the Department of Community and Regional Affairs from 1971 to 1974. Prior to his current position, he served as the Executive Director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation from February 1995 to January 2000. Before that, he was appointed to the Fund's Board of Trustees by Governor Jay Hammond. He was re-appointed by Governor Bill Sheffield and again by Governor Steve Cowper. During his eight years of service as a public Trustee he was three times elected Board Chair.
Besides serving as Mayor of Yakutat, Mallott's public service includes his election as Mayor of the City and Borough of Juneau in October 1994. He resigned that position in February 1995 to focus his full attention to his Permanent Fund duties. In 1977 and 1978, he was President of the Alaska Federation of Natives. Among other positions, he was appointed co-chair of the Governor's Commission on Rural Governance and Empowerment by Governor Tony Knowles in 1998.

Outside of Alaska, Mallott served as a Director of the Seattle Branch Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco from 1982 to 1988 and served in 1999 on the Federal

I'm out.

Open Letter to President Barack Obama

2009-01-20T18:17:00.003-09:00

Dear President Barack Obama,

Here are 4 things you must do in the next four years in office. While I consider this letter to be a great opportunity for me to express my opinions, it is also a great opportunity for you to make these changes in the social fabric of our sports world.

1. Do away with the Bowl Championship Series in College Football. Instead, institute an 8 playoff team series, with 2 play-in bowl games leading up to the playoffs. Six teams get in for sure, while four teams duke it out for the final two spots. This year Utah was undeated and didn't even compete for a championship.

2. Cancel guaranteed contracts in the NBA. See the Jon Koncak rule, and Stephon Marbury, making 21 million to not play in New York. Provide a waiver clause in contracts longer than 3 years.

3. Reinstitute the bump and run rule within the first 10 yards from scrimmage, that allows cornerbacks in the NFL to rough up wide receivers. The wide receivers are prima donnas and ruin the game with their antics and get away with too much room to run their routes.

4. For serious injuries in the NHL, allow a sliding scale for suspensions for players who intentionally inflict life threatening injuries to other players. If a player is out for the rest of the season due to an infraction, than the person responsible for the injury is out for the same amount of time without pay. If someone dies, you're out for life.

These truths in major sports would only add to the integrity of all sporting activities, not to mention a desire for sportsmanship in the American landscape. One thing I must add involves amateur sporting events in general.

It goes without saying that one of the major disappointments in college sports includes universities making hundreds of millions of dollars from sporting events while the players get a scholarship and nothing else. Most players don't make it in the pros and often come from poor financial upbringings. Why not pay the college players?

I am already pushing my luck with that one, Mr. President.

I must say this though,

....I"m out like George Bush.

Cable

2009-01-17T09:12:00.004-09:00

I don't have cable, but I was visiting someone with cable last week. We were sitting around and the guy says, Man I've got to help my brother out. He's been in trouble left and right and can't keep a job. And my sister can't seem to come through when I ask her to do something!!

I said, hey dude, at least you got family. Some people don't.

We were switching channels when one movie turned out boring, we went to sports and when that got boring we went to comedy. Then the guy says...you see, Cable is better than family because it never lets you down.

One of his favorite channels was down though. Put a smile on my face. Cable isn't really better than family. The guy is mentally ill. I recommended my therapist, so he can join in on my group therapy.

I"m out like the guys mind.

Tea Combo

2009-01-15T19:26:00.004-09:00

This is a very tasty herbal tea combo. Apple cider and ginger snap.

This is also a very tasty dog food. Straight out of the bag on the floor.

I'm out.

Warm Spell, Oil Spell

2009-01-15T00:42:00.012-09:00

Hello again, recent oil spills...though this time its an ocean-mix spill. Is any spill a low key event?

Maybe...

................Maybe

Not according to Twilight Earth... An ill maintained and corroded oil pipeline burst at the Conoco Phillips’ Kuparuk oil field in Alaska, causing one of the largest spills of oil-laced water on the North Slope in US history.

Dumping nearly 95,000 gallons didn’t hamper production though, and things were business as usual as workers finally finished cleaning up the spill that occurred almost three weeks earlier.

This is the second incident of its kind, and you may remember the BP spill of 2006 where 200,000 gallons of crude oil spilled onto the Prudhoe Bay oil field. That spill was also caused by corrosion.

The latest breaking news though is the NOAA prediction for this warm spell. We're slated for +44F tonight. It was -52F last week, and current temperature of +5F today.

...................

Thats it..............

------------------I'm out like the Fairbanks cold spell.

Elvis

2009-01-12T23:28:00.006-09:00

Here is the unlikeliest football matchup this weekend.

The Philadelphia Eagles (who beat the defending champion NY Giants) against the Arizona Cardinals (who beat the Carolina Panthers). Both teams barely made the playoffs as wildcard teams. They ended up beating the teams who were well rested and had a bye week.

To top it off, they have quarterbacks who were considered to be on the way out, or were in a critical year with their fans. Donovan McNabb with the Eagles and Kurt Warner with Arizona. No one gave these two teams a chance.

The Ravens and Steelers were not surprises, though the Ravens did beat the highly touted Titans, and the Steelers ran over the happy to make the playoffs, Chargers.

Was surprised recently when I saw an Elvis look alike at Fred Meyer. Didn't know if the guy intentionally looked that way or whether it was a coincident. Elvis still is out there.

Another surprise?? Seeing someone wearing a knee high dress, with tighties on, in the supercold last week.

Here's how you park at a dinner party. You figure out which cars have lots of snow on them and you can block those cars in. Those with minimal snow, you shouldn't block in.

Some people might already know which cars belong to the hosts and just block those in without any hesitation. If you don't know, where to park, you don't know. You had to park somewhere, so you block someone in, until you're told to move.

Some people will back into a spot so they can negotiate their way out, while others don't bother. As my Italian friends would say, "Hey!!! Thats how I roll!!!"

I'm like the Giants.

Simple Dishes

2009-01-06T18:04:00.006-09:00

This set has to be the world's biggest moose antlers. Probably not the biggest bodied moose, that belongs to remote species in Northern Alaska. But the biggest antlers? See this at Moose Heaven. This one was shot in Alaska too.

An interesting story about Joe Chythlook from Southwest Alaska in Dillingham as told by Art Hughes. Joe was just a really neat guy - an Eskimo, a bush pilot, a Bristol Bay fisherman, a Christian and a really interesting fellow with great stories about the old days and life in the bush. He lives in Southwest Alaska in Dillingham and I live in Southeast Alaska in Juneau, and our work with the Alaska Department Fish and Game brought us together. Every time I bumped into Joe he had dried fish strips or moose or caribou for me to try and it was always delicious. I brought him venison and king crab from Southeast Alaska, and we began trading subsistence foods. Over time, he began inviting me moose hunting.

Art counts a couple of lessons learned camping with Joe. When you eat Native food you know you’re not eating at Pizza Hut. Natives are very practical and don’t really dress up their food with fancy spices and presentation. What you see is what you get. In Eskimo country pretty much everything is either boiled or dried and it looks like whatever it is called. If you eat dried fish it looks like a dried fish; fins, lips, head, teeth and tail. If you eat boiled red fish, it looks like a boiled red fish. A fish strip, yup, you guessed it, it looks like a strip of fish.

They were camped out hunting when Art learned his second lesson.... if you have not steamed with a Yup’ik Eskimo you have not steamed. The intense, searing heat I endured had to have defied the laws of thermodynamics. Wood just does not burn at the temperatures I suffered. I’m sure that Joe was just playing a trick on me when I saw him splitting kindling for the steamroom. I suspect he had come across some old stock of napalm or rocket fuel at an abandoned air force base or something. I have charred marshmallows around blazing campfires, I have drunk warm beer around bonfires, I have tortured my sinuses with wasabi, and recently I splashed some Sriricha Thai Hot Chili Sauce in my eye, but let me tell you that nothing compares to the feeling of 300 degrees of hissing lake water steaming your franks and beans. Nothing!

Here's a series of temps I unscientifically observed in the last week, comparing my home temps to the Fairbanks International Airport temps. I'm a believer in inversion now. Sometimes, its not there, but most times there is an inversion. The temps varied so greatly I had to do a test on my thermometer just to make sure. My thermometer is fine.

Fairbanks Int. (-41F), in the Hills (-18F) +23F (5pm)

Fairbanks Int. (-46F), i the Hills (-28F) +18F (6am)

Fairbanks Int. (-36F), in the Hills (-33F) +3F (10pm)

Fairbanks Int. (-43F), in the Hills (-16F) +27F (7am)

Fairbanks Int. (-38F), in the Hills (-26F) +12F (9pm)

Fairbanks Int. (-45F), in the Hills (-22F) +23F (6am)

Average Temp difference: 17.7F

That's it. I'm out like fancy spices in native foods.

Last Great Lovers

2009-01-01T23:52:00.002-09:00

This one has to be one of the Last Great Lovers.

Rear Coil Springs

2009-01-01T16:31:00.007-09:00

Hey, if I was thirsty, I'd be doing the same thing this guy is doing.

I'm lactose tolerant, meaning that I can drink milk, but after a few cups, it gets to be too much. Its tough for me to admit that I've started using less and less real milk in my coffee or tea. Do love the stuff though.

Must ring in the new year with my all time favorite photo display of the foods I've been cooking and eating.

Also, with the new year, comes a surprise from one of the major

automakers. Dodge, has come out with a rear coil-spring half ton truck. Whats so different about that? Most trucks have a rear leaf spring setup to haul more weight. Well this model will be able to haul 1850 pounds much like other leaf spring 1/2 ton models would. The major advantage is the ability for wheel articulation and better ride. Maybe this will solve the problem of Concrete Oscillations when driving over bumpy roads. Don't know, but maybe I'll do a test drive in one of those to see how it rides.

Next time you walk by any truck, whether its a mid size (toyota tacoma, dodge dakota, ford ranger, gmc canyon, chevy colorado, nissan frontier) or any other 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, or 1 ton truck, look under the rear wheels and see the leaf springs. Those are tried and true designs but apparently you can get a better ride with a rear coil spring.

Here's to the MacDaddy who complained about the leaf springs. This is a major change in truck suspension design. Too bad its a bad economy for trucks right now. We've only seen this design in small suv's and cars, but watch out here comes the rear coil spring. May the new dodge truck owners have a better ride.

Happy 2009 everyone......I"m out like the rear leaf spring.

Last Dog Patrol

2008-12-28T12:03:00.005-09:00

The very, very last dog team patrol by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police was in April of 1969. Andrew Tizya, from the Vuntut Gwitchin from Old Crow was one of the original participants in the last patrol. Andrew even participated in the 2004 memorial patrol to retrace that last dog team patrol.

The RCMP did not start out as the RCMP, but rather as the NorthWest Mounted Police. In the 1870s a new wave of traders from outposts of the American NorthWest crossed the border (to compete with the Hudson’s Bay Company) into the foothill country of present day
Alberta, the tribal home of the Blackfoot.

These tough, adventurous men, representing many nationalities, often veterans of the Civil War, had little concern for the welfare of Canada’s aboriginal peoples. They soon established themselves in fortified posts whose colourful names reveal something of their picaresque character – Slideout, Kipp, Standoff and the most notorious of all, Whoop-up.

By 1873, these “free traders”, as they were called, had captured most of the Blackfoot trade. The newcomers brought cheap whiskey from Chicago and St. Louis distilleries; it was often adulterated with various ingredients to potentiate its effect and increase profits.

Integral to every great Yukon Mountie story is a First Nation guide or special constable. But enduring the North required something the Mounties themselves did not have: In-born knowledge of the land, the local game and the landscape, and how to travel long distances in all conditions of snow. Some of this knowledge was gradually acquired by the Mounted Police, but this could never equal the knowledge and experience of their First Nation guides and special constables.

I"m out like the Mounties in the cold.

Baby Jesus

2008-12-23T23:27:00.003-09:00

This is an annual event, baby Jesus is stolen from a nativity scene. The latest comes to us from Stockholm Sweden. Officials in Sweden pleaded Tuesday for the return of a baby Jesus stolen from a life-size nativity scene outside a hotel in the southern Swedish town of Joenkoeping, in the country's bible belt no less. "We'll forgive them but then we really want to get this baby Jesus back," Curt Ankarberg, who is responsible for the manger, told Swedish Radio.

Last weekend, a marble baby Jesus valued at $250 was stolen in Omaha Nebraska. This one was a switcheroo, where the thieves weren't completely cold hearted and left a plastic Baby Jesus in the nativity scene.

Even more recently, there was an incident also involving a baby Jesus in Philadelphia. Bishop McFadden was prepared though and had a replacement ready for his activities. For the past 12 years, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and Knights of Columbus have constructed a nativity display on Independence Mall to remind passersby of the real reason for Christmas and for religious freedom in America.This year, that freedom was slighted with the theft of baby Jesus one day before the Christmas crèche’s blessing. Although the statue was not found prior to the 4 p.m. ceremony....., Philadelphia Catholic Auxiliary Bishop Joseph P. McFadden nevertheless blessed the crèche complete with a borrowed baby Jesus.

Even in Ketchikan, we have a stolen baby Jesus. This one included a stolen camel as well. Interesting how the thieves managed to break the chain to steal these elements of the nativity scene. Denny Terry, the church member who set up the display, says the baby Jesus was stolen out of the manger. The hand-carved, life-sized figurine had been chained to the set, but Terry said someone got the chain undone and took it. Terry says the heavier pieces of the set were still there, such as Mary and Joseph. However, a camel went missing from the set on Saturday.

You guessed it.........

.................................I'm out like Baby Jesus.

Lions

2008-12-21T15:21:00.004-09:00

The Tennessee Titans pulled out an impressive win over the Steelers and clinched the homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. Terry Collins, who is that again?? He has to be the comeback player of the year.

Any Patriots fans out there? They wupped the Cardinals today. Man oh man....The Jets also lost to the Seahawks. How disappointing. Seattle isn't going anywhere, but the Jets got into the playoffs. The Eagles are in too. We'll find out next week, with the last set of games before this settles down.

Here's the current fall out. The Patriots still might not make it. The Cardinals are in. The Jets might make it. Seattle is out. The Eagles made it but its better explained below. See the current standings at NFL.com.

There are some bad teams out there. Detroit is 0-15 today after losing to the Saints. Other Super Bad teams?? What about Kansas City and St. Louis?? Both are 2-13 teams. Notable teams that didn't even register a threat at a wildcard playoff? Green Bay and New Orleans.

An updated bracket at CBS:

AFC: PLAYOFF Bound.

Tennessee

Pittsburg

Miami

Denver

Indianapolis

Baltimore

Maybe in (Two Slots Open):

New England, NY Jets, San Diego

NFC: PLAYOFF Bound.

NY Giants

Carolina

Minnesota

Arizona

Atlanta

Philadelphia

Maybe in (Two Slots Open):

Dallas, Tampa Bay, Chicago, Washington

Thats it, I'm out like the Lions.

Same as last year,

2008-12-17T10:00:00.005-09:00

As the big holiday is around the corner. I wanted to wish everyone a merry christmas and a happy new year. Here's what 2009 will look like. Same as last year, but much better.

Same as last year, but much better.

Here's my new view from my new neighborhood. Its awesome. Don't mean that in an overly enthusiastic way, but its good. I've also decided to change my location to Ester, though the Goldstream Valley is still in my heart.

With our new president, we can look forward to new skits by comedians.

The movie W. is on at the Blue Loon. Its about George W. before he was even able to finish out his term as president. Another movie at the loon is Changeling. I'm quite intrigued by Changeling. What an interesting story.

I'm out like W.

twilight

2008-12-11T10:33:00.002-09:00

Mild out there today. Zero Degrees Fairenheit.

TimeANDdate says:

Sunrise: 10:46am

Sunset: 2:43pm

Total Daylight: 3 hours 56 minutes.

Don't let these numbers fool you. You can add an extra two hours of twilight. So we're getting around six hours of daylight.

I'm out.

parking your car

2008-12-08T18:02:00.005-09:00

December is dark and cold. Today we had 15 hours and 64 minutes of dark and it was -18F this afternoon. Dark and cold. Dark and cold.

There is an upside though if your car is ready for the cold. There are exhaustive lists on prepping your car for the winter. If you haven't done that, its time to do it.

1. Get the right kind of oil change. Check your owner’s manual for guidance about which oil to use in different climates and temperatures.

2. Make sure you can see. When’s the last time you replaced your windshield wiper blades? Also check to see that your heater and defroster are working properly so you can keep the windshield nice and clear.

3. Give your battery a little TLC. This is an ideal time of year to make sure your battery’s posts and connections are corrosion-free and that your battery has all the water it needs.

4. Examine your belts and hoses. When you have that full service done on your vehicle, make sure the belts and hoses get checked for wear and tear — even if you’re driving a modern car. Cold weather can do a number on belts and hoses, so they deserve attention.

Rest of list @ 10 tips to winterize your car.

There is a more customized local guide for Alaska brought to you by GVEA. They mostly talk about regular maintenance and what you actually need for your auto. This may include, a thermostat check, preheaters, tranny heaters, circulating and frost plug heaters, etc., etc.

What none of them tell your...you'll have to find out by purchasing my new guide.

Some of my personal guidelines include, turning off any unneeded electronics before parking for the day or at night, or turning down the fan. You don't want unnecessary power robbing gadgets running when you turn on your car to warm up.

So here's my illogical guide, in addition to your guidelines listed above. This guide is for parking a rig in cold weather.

1. When you stop to park, turn off your stereo. If the stereo freezes, you have more of a chance to break fuses or your stereo, or short out your speakers, or your lcd screens may go.

2. Also turn down your fan to low or medium. Frozen fan bearings may not be so accomodating when starting at high. Start low. This also allows your heater box to warm up the heater core, as you're not blowing so much air. Cold starts usually aren't that good for blower motors either. You can turn it up when you travel.

3. Turn up your heat. Don't want to be fussing with the heater elements when they're cold as well. Always leave it on high heat.

4. If its not snowing or any chance of snow on the windows, turn your heaters to the floor. Kicking heat to the floor allows you to heat the cab much more efficiently. When you don't need to heat your wind shield, the warm air isn't doing as much to heat your cab as it would from heating your seats from the bottom up.

5. If you drive an automatic and its supercold, this works much better for old cars or cars with a questionable automatic tranny. Put the parking break on and warm up your car with the automatic on neutral. This allows for the tranny fluid to flow in both directions, back and forth, instead of just forward all the time.

6. Turn off your windshielf wiper if they were on when you were traveling.

Thats it, I"m out like some people's blower motors.

King Salmon

2008-12-04T20:33:00.003-09:00

One of the things Alaska is known for is the King Salmon. What some people don't realize is, you can fish for King Salmon year round. Its just colder out there in the winter. They're not as plentiful, but they're out there swimming around.

Where to go? Prince William Sound, Southeast Alaska, generally the north Pacific.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has the following info on the King Salmon.

Life history:

Like all species of Pacific salmon, Chinook salmon are anadromous. They hatch in fresh water, spend part of their life in the ocean, and then spawn in fresh water. All Chinooks die after spawning. Chinook salmon may become sexually mature from their second through seventh year, and as a result, fish in any spawning run may vary greatly in size. For example, a mature 3-year-old will probably weigh less than 4 pounds, while a mature 7-year-old may exceed 50 pounds. Females tend to be older than males at maturity. In many spawning runs, males outnumber females in all but the 6- and 7-year age groups. Small Chinooks that mature after spending only one winter in the ocean are commonly referred to as "jacks" and are usually males. Alaska streams normally receive a single run of Chinook salmon in the period from May through July.

Chinook salmon often make extensive freshwater spawning migrations to reach their home streams on some of the larger river systems. Yukon River spawners bound for the extreme headwaters in Yukon Territory, Canada, will travel more than 2,000 river miles during a 60-day period. Chinook salmon do not feed during the freshwater spawning migration, so their condition deteriorates gradually during the spawning run as they use stored body materials for energy and for the development of reproductive products.

Each female deposits from 3,000 to 14,000 eggs in several gravel nests, or redds, which she excavates in relatively deep, moving water. In Alaska, the eggs usually hatch in late winter or early spring, depending on time of spawning and water temperature. The newly hatched fish, called alevins, live in the gravel for several weeks until they gradually absorb the food in the attached yolk sac. These juveniles, called fry, wiggle up through the gravel by early spring. In Alaska, most juvenile Chinook salmon remain in fresh water until the following spring when they migrate to the ocean in their second year of life. These seaward migrants are called smolts.

Juvenile Chinooks in fresh water feed on plankton, then later eat insects. In the ocean, they eat a variety of organisms including herring, pilchard, sandlance, squid, and crustaceans. Salmon grow rapidly in the ocean and often double their weight during a single summer season.

Generally speaking, King Salmon swimming up the Yukon have the greatest amount of oil, i.e. fat so they can swim up to 3,000 kilometers up the River to spawn in Canada. The Kings on the Kuskokwim have a lot less to swim, so they're not as fatty. The Kings on the Kenai River, Nushagak, Kvichak and even smaller streams in southcentral and Southeast Alaska hardly have a swim either.

The biggest sport fishing kings are usually caught on the Kenai River. Makes me wonder if there are ever big Kings caught for subsistence fishing groups on the other rivers. We know that commercial fisherman catch some of the biggest kings out there, but that's commercial fishing.

According to NOAA Fisheries, there are two distinct types or races among Chinook salmon have evolved.

One race, described as a "stream-type" Chinook, is found most commonly in headwater streams of large river systems. Stream-type Chinook salmon have a longer freshwater residency, and perform extensive offshore migrations in the central North Pacific before returning to their birth, or natal, streams in the spring or summer months. Stream-type juveniles are much more dependent on freshwater stream ecosystems because of their extended residence in these areas. A stream-type life history may be adapted to areas that are more consistently productive and less susceptible to dramatic changes in water flow. At the time of saltwater entry, stream-type (yearling) smolts are much larger, averaging 3 to 5.25 inches (73-134 mm) depending on the river system, than their ocean-type (subyearling) counterparts, and are therefore able to move offshore relatively quickly.

The second race, called the "ocean-type" Chinook, is commonly found in coastal streams in North America. Ocean-type Chinook typically migrate to sea within the first three months of life, but they may spend up to a year in freshwater prior to emigration to the sea. They also spend their ocean life in coastal waters. Ocean-type Chinook salmon return to their natal streams or rivers as spring, winter, fall, summer, and late-fall runs, but summer and fall runs predominate. Ocean-type Chinook salmon tend to use estuaries and coastal areas more extensively than other pacific salmonids for juvenile rearing. The evolution of the ocean-type life history strategy may have been a response to the limited carrying capacity of smaller stream systems and unproductive watersheds, or a means of avoiding the impact of seasonal floods. Ocean-type Chinook salmon tend to migrate along the coast. Populations of Chinook salmon south of the Columbia River drainage appear to consist predominantly of ocean-type fish.

What am I saying? Got to eat some king salmon next summer. Thats all I care about right now. Didn't get a chance to go fishing this year, so I shopped at Freddies for some fresh caught copper river reds. Price tag? 20 minutes of waiting for the 20 fish to be wrapped up. Though, I still ended up getting some fresh reds from Bristol Bay later on in the summer. What a relief!!!

Speaking of Fred Meyer. I accidently Fred Meyer-Schwayed my life recently. Either way you look at it. I've opened an account with Mt. McKinley Bank, next to West Fred Meyers and also have an account at Alaska USA Federal Credit Union, which is located inside West Freddies. Plus Freddies has a gas station right there in the parking lot?

I guess you can also add the Safeway store too, just across the street. Safeway-Schwayed customers can access Denali Alaskan Federal Credit Union inside the store, and recently Safeway opened a gas station on their lot as well. Come to think of it, the old University Center is a lot smaller.

With Papa Murphy's opening up at the center, Block Busters next door. Maybe this corner is the place to do business? I've effectively Safeway and Fred Meyer-Schwayed my life. Just a thought, when your life centers on the corner of University and Airport way, you've thought too much about it.

I'm just talking, I'm just talking.

I'm out like the other shopping areas in town.

Larches

2008-11-30T10:52:00.005-09:00

This weekend, I was in the old neighborhood and was struck by this row of larch trees planted by someone at the bottom of Goldstream Creek. I was amazed that this larch tree could make it up here in Interior Alaska. I know of only three spots where the larch tree is growing in Fairbanks. Two of them are in town. I've seen bunches on the Alaska Highway near the 1988 Tok Fire area.

The Larch is essentially a mountain tree. It abounds on the Alps up to an altitude of 5,000 feet, and occurs on the Apennines and Carpathians, but is unknown in a wild state on the Pyrenees, or in the Spanish or Scandinavian peninsulas. It forms large woods in Russia, but is represented in Northern Asia by a variety (Larix sibirica), with smooth, gray bark, sometimes considered a distinct species.

Though it grows well on a limestone subsoil, it is on sloping mountain sides, where the oldest rocks of the earth's crust crumble into crystalline fragments over some brawling beck that tumbles through the glen, that the Larch is seen in its greatest beauty. The regularly-tapering stem, with its scaly, reddish-grey bark, so prone to become covered with the shaggy tufts of hoary lichen, then loses its stiff, erect posture, curving in a direction slightly sinuous, as well as oblique.

The genus Larix, to which the Larch (L. europaea) belongs, is distinguished among Firs by its deciduous foliage, and the whole joyousness of spring seems heralded and epitomized in the emerald glory of its April frondescence. The light-green needles appear in tufts, as they do also in the evergreen Cedars, upon the old wood of the slender branches, surrounding the extremities of "dwarf shoots," which gradually lengthen out, until, as on the youngest shoots, each needle stands alone as one of a spiral series.

Had the occasion to visit my new bar, the Blue Loon. One good thing about the loon is the movies. Its much closer to any theater at my new location. My new bar is the Golden Eagle in Easter. Haven't visited though to make my announcement of residency. The switch to the Gold Hill Liquor store is also a pleasant surprise. There is a super small grocery aisle there. Its getting dark out there. Gotta be careful about the lack of Vitamin D.

I'm out like the daylight.

Cell towers

2008-11-26T06:07:00.003-09:00

Alaska Digitel, the new employee trying to make an impression on the boss. Making copies for anyone and everyone who asks. Delivering mail to middle managers and keeping a clean profile. Wait, I take that last comment back!!

As I'm making my move to Parks Ridge, I've come upon a very very very controversial subject in Fairbanks. The construction of cell towers. There was one recently in the Birch Hill Cemetary and one at the Public Library, now one in a residential zone on Parks Ridge.

See Leon Lynch's letter to the editor on the News Miner.

There are a nice set of background information and whats been brewing in Fairbanks compiled by Diedre Helfrich at the Ester Republic.

My question to the people is,

"Do all of these cell towers liberate the masses?"

Don't we get enough cell tower coverage?

Cell towers in commercial zones seem right, but not in residential zones!

I'm out like residential zones.

Flying Bishop

2008-11-23T22:08:00.004-09:00

Have you read any of the non-fiction books on this list called, "The People of Fairbanks" compiled by Sylvia Burns? An excerpt:

An Angel On His Wing by Tay Thomas (1989) 228 pages
Known as the "Flying Bishop" by people throughout Alaska (and as "Go-go" by the priests),
Episcopal bishop and pilot Bill Gordon was innovative, dynamic, unorthodox and always on-thego.Filled with anecdotes of his wife and family, life in the villages, flying, and their years in
Fairbanks.

Arctic Dance: The Mardy Murie Story by Charles Craighead and Bonnie Kreps (2002) 119 pages. A photo-essay on Margaret and Olaus Murie -- and their love and dedication to each other and to wilderness conservation. Margaret spent part of her childhood in Fairbanks, and was the first woman to graduate from what is now the University of Alaska. Based on the video of the same name.

The Blue Parka Man by H.C. Landru (1980) 196 pages. In 1905 miners on the trails leading to Fairbanks were being robbed by a man in a blue parka. Written by a historian, the book provides a vivid picture of the justice and law of those early days.

That flying bishop guy is intriguing. Bill Gordon, a native North Carolinian, arrived in Alaska as a young missionary in 1943. On board ship he had met Shirley Lewis of Washington. They were married in Seward in July, 1943. After their wedding, they moved to the villages of Point Hope, where he was the missionary-in-charge for 5 years. During those years he traveled 6,000 miles by dog team between the Arctic Coast villages, and learned lessons from the Arctic and its people that shaped the rest of his life.

A strong proponent of the rights of Alaskan Native people, his Vision of the Church emphasized the call of all people, lay or ordained, to ministry, wherever and whoever they were. This emphasis led to significant changes in national church canons, to allow for the ordination of "sacramentalist or local" clergy, and a national/international interest in "Total Ministry". Under his episcopacy, a number of Alaskan Natives, beginning with David Paul of Tanacross, were ordained.

Resigning from Alaska in 1974, he became assistant Bishop in Michigan in 1985 and died there January 4, 1994. A memorial service was held here at St. Matthew's, January 12th, timed to coincide with services in Michigan. On Thursday, June 16th of that year a final gathering/picnic/potlatch in his memory was held here, and, on Saturday, June 18th, his final services and burial were held now in Point Hope, where it all began.

This summer, during the Morris Thompson Visitor Center Ceremonies, Rev. Scott Fisher with the Episcopal Diocese said the family of the late Bishop William Gordon — also known throughout the Interior as the Flying Bishop — is pledging $200,000 and is tracking down one of the bishop’s original planes to hang in the center’s main chamber. BP presented a $50,000 donation, and the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation and people offered a pair of walrus tusks mounted on a wood frame. In addition, the Rasmusen Foundation is matching pledges made within the next few weeks.

Elders blessed the center this summer, where business, industry, politicians, native leaders and interested parties attended. Thompson was born and raised in Tanana. Before his untimely death in a 2000 plane crash, he earned a reputation as a leader, businessman and politician who believed in celebrating diversity while working together, according to the center.

Like the man whose name the building bears, the center was a joint effort by three groups — each with its own organizational culture — to bridge the sometimes-gaping chasms in Interior Alaska. The Tanana Chiefs Conference, Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau and Alaska Public Lands Information Office all needed more space — and discovered they could do more together than standing alone. Joining the three groups in the new quarters will be the nonprofit Alaska Geographic bookstore and Denakkanaaga, a regional Native elders’ association. Each brings distinct skills that can benefit the another — and each understands that the success of one is the success of all, project director Cindy Schumaker said.

Thats it. I'm out.

Jorgy

2008-11-22T08:18:00.003-09:00

The Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum is selling Jorgy, about "an Inupiat man, born in an isolated mining community in the 1920s, having only an eighth-grade education, who, amidst a frontier mentality of conqueror superiority, surpassed the prejudice of his time to become a legendary aviator. Holger Jorgensen recounts events in his life with a dry wit, describing his early years living a subsistence lifestyle, working in the gold mines of Haycock, mushing dogs as a youth and later in the Alaska Scouts, working for Sig Wien as a fire potter, learning to fly; he relates his experiences in early Alaskan aviation, flying the DEW line, shipping for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, and working for various cargo services and airlines. Telling his story in spare, no-fuss fashion, this book allows a vivid glimpse into a tumultuous and exciting period in aviation from the point of view of one of Alaska's early Native bush pilots.'

Deirdre Helfferich has a dedicated blogspot to Jorgy @ jorgyjorgensen.blogspot.com. Very impressive glimpses of the man. I've been inspired by the snipet that this man can overcome so much in life to become a topnotch pilot. One of the reviews in this blogspot shows a quote from the News Miner review that goes:

While living in Nome, Jorgensen also directly confronted the local segregation with an act that provides the most dramatic moment in the book. Nome’s theaters were sectioned off at the time, with only one area of seats open for Natives. At the behest of a white friend who wanted this practice abolished, Jorgensen went on a date and deliberately sat in the white section of the theater. This led to his arrest, but his friend (who was also the father of his date) bailed him out, hired a lawyer, and succeeded in opening the theater to all patrons.

This incident, similar to Rosa Parks’ act of civil disobedience in Montgomery, Ala., a few years later, reminds us that although Alaska was far removed from the South, racism was every bit as prevalent (though far less violent). It’s an important piece of civil rights history, and one that should be taught in the state’s schoolrooms.

Here is the full text of the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for Jorgy.

I'm out like the barriers and walls Jorgy broke through for the rest of us.

Boone and Crockett

2008-11-18T16:19:00.003-09:00

It was April 15, 1966 when Secretary of the Interior, Stewart Udall applauded the Boone and Crockett decision to remove the polar bear from its competition for North American big-game records. The polar bear is a source mixed-emotions for everyone. Though it provides income for Canadian guides, there is the risk of overharvest. Good decision by the Boone and Crockett on this one.

According to B&C, unrestricted killing of wildlife for markets, pioneer settlement of the West, and Native American/government conflict had taken their toll on most North American big game populations, and on many species of bird and fish. At that time, a national conscience that opposed the destruction of America's wildlife and natural resources was in its infancy.

Theodore Roosevelt was a firsthand witness to the near decimation of one of our nation's most valuable resources -- its wildlife. When he committed himself to restoring America's wildlands he did so with characteristic zeal. Founding the Boone and Crockett Club was one of his first steps. Working with Club Members George Bird Grinnell, General William Tecumseh Sherman, Gifford Pinchot, and twenty other visionaries comprised of outdoor sport enthusiasts, scientists, military and political leaders, explorers, artists, writers and industrialists, the foundation for the world's greatest conservation system was laid.

Thats it, I"m out like the Polar Bear competition.

The Boxer

2008-11-16T17:13:00.004-09:00

Wonder whats going on with the Ohn's Egroll. I hope they can rebuilt that restaurant because I haven't even tried it out yet. I've heard some good things about the place. Its probably too cold to rebuild now, but then you never know. This is my ode to Ohn's Egroll. Good luck with getting back to business.

Just watched the movie The Boxer, with Daniel Day Lewis. What a religious war!!! And it includes boxing. Its the protestants versus the catholics. Thats British and Ireland history. We're talking about colonialism that the Irish have been fighting for over 500 years.

I'm out like Ohn's Eggroll.

Tyonek

2008-11-13T06:37:00.002-09:00

The Scurvy Dog, it should not surprise you, was a pirate bar in the West Village. Although threatened with enduring extinction, it somehow survived thanks to a cast of caricatures in search of cheap drinks. You know the ones. Old, grizzled drunks with better days lagging lazily behind them, sagging single women with smeared makeup on safari, and destitute students hoping to get so hammered they might look back fondly on what little they remembered. It was all sadly predictable. Those black Jolly Rogers blowing on an air conditioned breeze, spindly fish nets drooping drearily with the miniscule bounty of their plastic catch, bartenders bound beyond embarrassment in puffy shirts and scarves. And then there was the signature smell. An aroma that called to mind a thousand years of beer saturated wood, greasy French fries sacrificed underfoot, a musty corpse rotting in a basement below, and great gusts of urination blown like trade winds from the bathroom stalls.

Rest of the Scurvy Dog vol. 6 is amusing.

Went to the AFN Convention last month and was very, very impressed with the new Dena'ina Center in downtown Anchorage. It makes the Eagan Center look like a dry cabin in the Goldstream Valley. These facts about the Dena'ina Center from the Anchorage Big Wild Life site:

The Dena’ina Center décor includes $160,000 in plants, most of which are live

$2.7 million in furnishings outfit the Dena’ina Center, including 4,500 banquet chairs

One of the two service elevators is large enough to hold an African elephant; the two public

elevators travel at 350-feet per minute

Shimmer Screen Beads cover the upper walls in the ballroom, gently swaying as the air

circulates; center executives joked they were installing a “glorified key chain”

The state-of-the-art kitchen includes a flight-type dishwasher that can clean and sanitize up

to 15,700 plates per hour; an additional conveyor dishwasher can accommodate up to 8,000

glasses per hour

Two “on demand” kitchen coffee machines are capable of brewing up to 9,576 cups per hour

and two “steam-jacket” kettles have a total capacity of 100 gallons of soup or sauce

Refrigeration capacity at the Dena’ina Center will allow for up to 10,000 boxed lunches to be

prepared and stored for next day delivery

The kitchen is equipped with two, double-sided, conveyor belt type “dish up” stations.

Heated plates move along an assembly line as hot foods are placed on them. A photo-optic

activated shut-off system keeps plates from flying off the line.

The Dena'ina Indians have an extended history in the Cook Inlet area, and Tyonek was a big village before Anchorage became a town. Tyonek lies on a bluff on the northwest shore of Cook Inlet, 43 miles southwest of Anchorage. It is the only community in the Kenai Peninsula Borough that is not located directly on the Peninsula

After gold was discovered at Resurrection Creek in the 1880s, Tyonek became a major disembarkment point for goods and people. A saltery was established in 1896 at the mouth of the Chuitna River north of Tyonek. In 1915, the Tyonek Reservation (also known as Moquawkie Indian Reservation) was established. The devastating influenza epidemic of 1918-19 left few survivors among the Athabascans. The village was moved to its present location atop a bluff when the old site near Tyonek Timber flooded in the early 1930s.

The population declined when Anchorage was founded. In 1965, the federal court ruled that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) had no right to lease Tyonek Indian land for oil development without permission of the Indians themselves. The tribe sold rights to drill for oil and gas beneath the reservation to a group of oil companies for $12.9 million. The reservation status was revoked with the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1971. Beluga, a site near Tyonek, is owned by Chugach Electric Association and provides some electricity for Anchorage.

I'm out like the Eagan Center.

King Eider

2008-11-11T06:52:00.004-09:00

The King Eider Duck passes through Barrow Alaska in late May on its way to the Arctic Ocean and Victoria Island where most nest. Some do nest on the Coastal Plain of the North Slope according to Woodby and Divosky. The common Eider might be overlooked because its generally mixed in with the spectacular looking King Eiders.

King Eiders do winter in the Bering Sea though, out in the cold!!

Should I stay or should I go? There does not seem to be a unique answer to that question for wintering King Eiders, at least not based on the environmental variables that we measured. The most important variable that explained the variability in wintering strategies was the individual - different birds simply use different strategies. Some birds stay in one spot all winter, other birds move among several wintering sites. We found no support for the hypothesis that sea ice or food shortage would force birds to move away from certain sites.

So why are King Eiders so individually different? A potential explanation is that some birds may use favorable conditions (when days are long enough, and sea ice is decreasing) to explore alternative wintering sites. This might be beneficial in a future year when their preferred wintering site suddenly becomes unavailable.

The Department of Wildlife Biology at UAF has an excellent study on the King Eider. King Eiders (Somateria spectabilis) are large sea ducks that breed at high latitudes across the arctic tundra and winter at sea along the southern extent of the pack ice. Sea ducks include species such as Common Eiders, Spectacled Eiders, Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Harlequin Ducks, Common Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks and Buffleheads. All of these birds spend a large proportion of their annual life cycle at sea. For more information on sea ducks visit the Sea Duck Joint Venture web site. For a detailed account on the biology of King Eiders visit the Birds of North America online.

King Eider populations have decreased by over 50% across the western North American portion of their range since 1975. This decline reflects that of other sea ducks across the globe. Concerns about the status of these species has prompted the development of a number of studies on sea duck population trends and ecology.

Happy Veterans Day everyone!!

Finish Line

2008-11-08T09:45:00.003-09:00

I would say the Finish Line Restaurant deserves a chance to prove itself. It just opened this summer and serves lunch and dinner. Just had lunch there in search of the illusive reuben sandwich. I was surprised by the rye bread on the Reuben, it was good. Haven't tried the rest of the menu items. It was a little slow though. With a wait time of a little 20 minutes, that might be a little what turns customers away. There were just two other tables occupied so I don't know what the wait was. One table was already eating so there were just two tables waiting for their food.

I would say though, its a very clean restaurant, with a new restaurant feel, earthy tone colors, nice booths. Some 2 place tables and a bar, plus a large table or two for large groups. I looked at the Alpine Lodge website, associated with the Finish Line, and didn't realize its a locally owned, non-franchise restaurant. Joyce McCombs did a restaurant review this summer for the News Miner.

I just found out there is free food and wine tasting today, November 8, from 3-6 pm.

There has to be other restaurants out there in Fairbanks who serve the Rueben. This winter, I'll be visiting downtown to see where the ruebens are.

I'm out.

ARPANET

2008-11-06T08:05:00.005-09:00

It looks like this First Fridays event at The Annex are Art Galleries by Jen Otey and Corwin Wilkey. A preview of the art makes me wonder if I should show up and check things out. I don't know anything about the two artists but hey, why not support local artists?

I remember a time when I crashed an Apple II computer, I thought I was in trouble but my teacher somehow fixed it. I went through the same thing many years later, only a couple of months ago and had to reformat my drive. I pretty much tore it down and started over. That sounds like an apprentice carpenter. You might as well tear it down...and start over!!!

I like this quote from the Internet History Museum:

"In the Beginning, ARPA created the ARPANET.

And the ARPANET was without form and void.
And darkness was upon the deep.

And the spirit of ARPA moved upon the face of the
network and ARPA said, 'Let there be a protocol,'
and there was a protocol. And ARPA saw that it
was good.

And ARPA said, 'Let there be more protocols,' and it
was so. And ARPA saw that it was good.

And ARPA said, 'Let there be more networks,'
and it was so."
-- Danny Cohen

There is even the birth of ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange), the first universal standard for computers. It permits machines from different manufacturers to exchange data. 128 unique 7-bit strings stand for either a letter of the English alphabet, one of the Arabic numerals, one of an assortment of punctuation marks and symbols, or a special function, such as the carriage return.

I knew what I was missing in life till I saw this alphabet. We should all speak ASCII. Now I just have to tackle, Spanish and French...not to mention my British Accent.

By 1973, thirty institutions are connected to the ARPANET. The network users range from industrial installations and consulting firms like BBN, Xerox PARC and the MITRE Corporation, to government sites like NASA’s Ames Research Laboratories, the National Bureau of Standards, and Air Force research facilities.

Things developed by leaps and bounds with the appearance of the first very small computers in 1978, and their potential for communication via modem to dial up services starts a boom in a new set of niche industries, like software and modems.

I'm out like ARPANET

Did you vote today?

2008-11-04T07:41:00.000-09:00

Hoonah

2008-10-30T06:35:00.003-08:00

Richard Dalton III is originally from Hoonah, Alaska. His heritage is half Tlingit Indian from Alaska and half Navajo from New Mexico. Mr. Dalton was born into the Raven moiety and of the T'akdeintaan clan, belonging to the Frog clan. Most of Mr. Dalton's designs depict images of the Raven side of his heritage. He is listed in the Metal Arts Group Artists.

Other notable things about Hoonah Alaska...Tlingit families have inhabited the southeast Alaska archipelago for many hundreds of years. The original village of the Huna Tlingits was located in what is now known as Glacier Bay. More than two hundred years ago, during the last small Ice Age, advancing glaciers forced them to relocate. Since the area twenty miles to the south was used each summer as a subsistance harvesting camp, it was a natural place for them to settle.

At first, the new settlement was referred to as Gaawt'ak'aan, or "village by the cliff", but later the name was changed to Hoonah, meaning "land where the north wind doesn't blow".

As with most southeast Alaska villages, the economy is built on logging and salmon fishing. Well today, Hoonah can depend on cruise liners for the summer season.

I'm out like the original Hoonah village.

Sitka!!

2008-10-27T21:41:00.012-08:00

The theme for this year's celebration is "Sawdust and Ice", calling attention to the role of ice (and Swan Lake) in Sitka's economic and cultural history.

If anything,

you've gotta visit the alternate Sitka.

I'm just talkin'''...I'm just talkin'''

Alaska Day, is October 18, every year!!!!

This day is the anniversary of the formal transfer of the territory and the raising of the US. flag at Sitka on October 18, 1867.

Who knew Alaska Day passed by so quickly???

Can't tell but Sitka photos has some cool ideas...Gotta see what thats all about.

Sitka is the only town in the state that celebrates Alaska Day...

I'm out ....

...like Alaska Day.

Walter Harper

2008-10-23T17:41:00.002-08:00

7th June 1913 marked the true ascent to the highest summit of Denali by a team led by Hudson Stuck. Walter Harper, an Alaskan was the first man to set foot on Denali. The route they had chosen was the one via Muldrow Glacier. The group proclaimed that the view from the top was heavenly. Stuck also stated that he saw a large pole close to the North Summit.

I couldn't find much history on Walter Harper, who apparently died in a shipwreck on the ship Admiral Evans in 1918. I was struck by this tragedy because I saw a conference room dedicated to the man at the Westmark Hotel in Downtown Fairbanks.

Here's to you Walter!! Your memory lives on.

I"m out.

Liquid Crystal Display

2008-10-19T14:37:00.005-08:00

Have you thought about converting to the new digital tv yet? Well if you do, I'd recommend the LCD HD tv.

Some may recommend the DLP, but that works best for large screens, 50 inch screens or better. Same for those who want the high definition LCD. You pretty much have to get the high end LCD or high end DLP for a very large screen. When picking the LCD see the description by Obsessable LCD description.

LCD, or liquid crystal display, is a thin, flat display used in computer monitors, televisions, digital cameras and other consumer electronic devices. Originally invented at the end of the 19th century and developed extensively over the last 30 years, LCD technology works by passing an electrical current through a liquid crystal material sandwiched between two pieces of polarized glass or "substrate." Molecules in the liquid crystal solution respond to the electrical current by aligning in such a way that they allow only specific levels of light from a backlight passing through the first substrate to continue onwards to the second subtrate, creating the images and colors seen on the display panel.

Its very common to confuse technologies when you're picking the lower end television. The thing to look at is the contrast ratio. I did a little research into it by looking at 32 inch and 42 inch televisions around town. The sharpness is important with a large screen, so for these units, I found that 1500 - 2500 works well for the 32 inch and the 42 inch, you should choose 4000 to 8000 contrast ratio.

Otherwise you get a little too fuzzy with the pictures when going below these ratios. You don't have to pay too much and still get the relative sharpness with a big screen. See them yourself next time you're in an electronics store.

Projector Central has a very good objective view of both technologies, though the article is dated 2004, so many changes and advancements have occured since then.

LCD (liquid crystal display) projectors usually contain three separate LCD glass panels, one each for the red, green, and blue components of the video signal being fed into the projector. As light passes through the LCD panels, individual pixels ("picture elements") can be opened to allow light to pass or closed to block the light, as if each little pixel were fitted with a Venetian blind. This activity modulates the light and produces the image that is projected onto the screen.

DLP ("Digital Light Processing") is a proprietary technology developed by Texas Instruments. It works quite differently than LCD. Instead of having glass panels through which light is passed, the DLP chip is a reflective surface made up of thousands of tiny mirrors. Each mirror represents a single pixel.

In a DLP projector, light from the projector's lamp is directed onto the surface of the DLP chip. The mirrors wobble back and forth, directing light either into the lens path to turn the pixel on, or away from the lens path to turn it off.

The era of the boob tube is coming to an end with the mandated Digital conversion. This can be remedied with a digital converter box attached to your tv or you can buy a ditigal television. According to the Federal Communications Commission, you'll need to get one of these upgrades by February 19, 2009.

Digital Television (DTV) is an advanced broadcasting technology that will transform your television viewing experience. DTV enables broadcasters to offer television with better picture and sound quality. It can also offer multiple programming choices, called multicasting, and interactive capabilities.

Converting to DTV also will free up parts of the scarce and valuable broadcast spectrum. Those portions of the spectrum can then be used for other important services, such as public and safety services (police and fire departments, emergency rescue), and advanced wireless services.

Yes, you guessed it, I'm out like the boob tube.

Brice Alaska Gold Rush

2008-10-15T19:43:00.009-08:00

I had some emails about the description of the suspended sediment load of the Tanana River compared to the river volume as it relates to the inputs on the Yukon River. These figures from the Yukon River Report may describe it better than I can explain. Click on the photo to get a close up view.

Basically, the Tanana River has lots of sediment load, from all that glacial silt in the Alaska Range. There are a lot less glacier fed streams in the Yukon headwaters, mainly the Ogilvie and Pelly Mountains. This means, despite the Tanana River providing less volume of water, it provides a lot of sediments into the Yukon River. Note the difference in the size of the Tanana River in each figure.

Its been good to see some russian scientists at the International Polar Year Conference this week. Can't speak russian, but I can actually see russians this week.

With the full moon closing in on us, lets party!!! Actually, do support your local businesses and listen to local music and eat out this weekend. There is the Brice Alaska Gold Rush Tournament this weekend at the Carlson Center.

The Games are on Friday and Saturday, games start at 430 and 730 pm, with UAF playing both 730 games. UAF plays Mercyhurst on Friday and Maine on Saturday. UAA, the fourth team plays Maine on Friday and Mercyhurst on Saturday. See the NANOOKs Schedule.

I'm not sure if I can make both nights, but I'll be there for one of the nights.

I'm out like the glacial sediment.

Squeeky Wheel

2008-10-13T14:59:00.002-08:00

Didn't know the Tok Library is accepting books. This library is on a minimal budget and accepts book donations, because it's run by an all volunteer crew. Books and DVDs in good condition may be sent to:

Tok Community Library,
Box 227,
Tok, AK 99780-0227

I'm sorry about the Cubs. Despite the best record in baseball, the Dodgers and Joe Torre wooped 'em. I'm now rooting for the Joe Torre.

Hey, it was good to see some new faces at the Disco Party. I'll probably see some of you again at the next event. Maybe this weekend.

Skagway's White Pass & Yukon Route is the "Scenic Railway of the World". Built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush, this narrow gauge railroad is an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark - a designation shared with the Panama Canal, the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty.

The WP&YR climbs nearly 3000 feet in just 20 miles and features steep grades of up to 3.9%, cliff-hanging turns of 16 degrees, two tunnels and numerous bridges and trestles. See the steel cantilever bridge which was the tallest of its kind in the world when it was constructed in 1901.

Found a fellow named Don Marin writing an e-book, called a tour of duty. He talks about his experiences in Alaska in the 1950's. His site is called the Squeeky Wheel. Found lots of links that are uniquely Alaskan.

Thats it...I"m out like the Cubs.

Tanana River

2008-10-05T19:09:00.003-08:00

Clearly we're only a small part of the Yukon River, as the Tanana River provides a small part of the streamflow of the whole Yukon River...but as far as suspended sediment flow of the Yukon River, the Tanana River is a major tributary. What am I sayin'..???

Despite the length of the Yukon and the volume from upstream rivers like the Kandik, Nation, Steward, Pelly, Teslin, and the White River, the sediment flow doesn't match the much smaller Tanana River. See the rest of the story @ USGS.

According to Nature Publishing, More than 500 km of late Cretaceous dextral slip is indicated for the SW−NE trending Kaltag fault system in Alaska and northwestern Canada. Terminating against the Kaltag, an older fault system trends along the Canadian Cordillera, with dextral slip of thousands of kilometres. Its offset by the Kaltag is postulated to follow the southern margin of the Canada Basin.

Sorry to hear about the Bills. A quiet moment to the Chiefs today.

I'm out like the Chiefs.

DC-6

2008-10-02T10:00:00.004-08:00

Northern Air Cargo retired its last two Douglas DC-6 cargo aircraft Tuesday with a ceremony at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. The crew of the last flight included captain Becky Wilbur, first officer Jim Foss and flight engineer Ron Valentine.

See the rest of the story at ADN.

Powered by 4 - 2,400 horsepower engines, had its first flight in 1946. Its rich history as a cargo airplane includes stints in the Korean war, and commercial stints as passenger transporters with American and United airlines.

According to the Boeing History files, the all-cargo DC-6A first flew Sept. 29, 1949; the larger capacity DC-6B, which could seat up 102 people, first flew Feb. 10, 1951. After the Korean War broke out in 1951, the military ordered DC-6As modified as either C-118A "Liftmaster" personnel carriers, as the Navy's R6D transports or as MC-118As for aeromedical evacuation. Between 1947 and 1959, Douglas built a total of 704 DC-6s, 167 of them military versions. By 1998, the DC-6 was still flying with smaller airlines around the world.

Its finally winter out there. Don't think its melting anytime soon.

You all know, I'm out like the DC-6.

2 or 4-stroke

2008-09-30T09:33:00.003-08:00

Ever wonder what the comparisons are between the 4-stroke and the 2-strokes outboard engines? Discover boating has an excellent comparison between the 2-stroke and 4-stroke outboard engines.

Here's their description of the 2-stroke.

* Generally better acceleration out of the hole and at top end
* Overall, excellent power to weight ratio
* Basic models are simple by design
* Generally lower priced than a 4-stroke (carburated 2-Stroke only)
* No need to change the oil
* Generally weighs less than a 4-stroke
* Usually better fuel efficiency than carburated 2-Strokes (comparable to 4-Stroke)
* Usually quieter than carburated 2-Stroke (comparable to 4-Stroke)

Then the 4-stroke.

* Low emissions – Meets all state standards, including California
* Strong top end and good acceleration
* Excellent fuel economy
* Quiet operation
* Engine management systems
* Electronic ignition systems
* The oil is added to the engine rather than the fuel allowing for clean and efficient fuel consumption

While Small Outboards thinks they're both ok, they're not trying to sway people into buying one over the other. When faced with this decision you must prioritize several features that are prevalent in each motor. For example, two-stroke motors are lighter, faster (in most cases) and less expensive. Four-stroke motors are cleaner, smoother, and more economical.

Many people who run in lakes and rivers prefer 4 stroke boat motors because they make great trolling motors and meet the 2006 EPA mandated requirements. Others prefer 2 stroke engines when the need for top end performance and acceleration takes precedence. This is not to say that two-stroke engines cannot troll or four stroke motors are not fast. It's just a matter of preferences, features, and benefits that attract customers.

I"m out.

10 years

2008-09-24T21:48:00.003-08:00

Where has all that summer gone? For some it come here soon enough. For others, about time!!!

Today, we're celebrating my new link. The Amantes Sun Amentes link. This has to be the most outrageously funny podcast out there. Come on, I'm just talkin'. I'm just talkin'. See the new blog link.

In the meantime, ....

....back at the ranch,

I've discovered that the world almost came to an end in America. What about that 700 million dollar bailout? This is history for me to write in 10 years. See what Time says about it.

Almost missed the whole thing, but I guess we're close to it.

I'm out like Wall Street.

Classifying Apparatus and Method

2008-09-12T06:30:00.003-08:00

Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver had quite an idea back in 1940s. They decided there was a faster way to speed up the checkout line at the local store. In 1948, Bernard Silver was a graduate student at Drexel Institute of Technology in Philadelphia. A local food chain store owner had made an inquiry to the Drexel Institute asking about research into a method of automatically reading product information during checkout. Bernard Silver joined together with fellow graduate student Norman Joseph Woodland to work on a solution.

Woodland's first idea was to use ultraviolet light sensitive ink. The team built a working prototype but decided that the system was too unstable and expensive. They went back to the drawing board.

On October 20, 1949, Woodland and Silver filed their patent application for the "Classifying Apparatus and Method", describing their invention as "article classification...through the medium of identifying patterns".

This began a series of steps that eventually ended up with a standard bar code that is used today.

Due to some scheduling conflicts, SS ANDY-G will be off line for a week and a half.

As I would say in Brooklyn, "Forget-about-it."