Thursday, December 29, 2005

Serum Run ~Iditarod Trail - Norman Vaughan passed away


Serum Run ~Iditarod Trail: "A Great Man Passes We are saddened to say a great man has passed away today, on the 23rd December2005 , Norman Vaughan passed away peacefully in Anchorage, Alaska.


Born in 1905," more from Serumrun.org

Monday, December 26, 2005

Alaskan People - Herskal.com

Herskal.com - Home: "Herskal.com is the personal website of Ryan E. Hannan; a Land Surveyor living in Alaska that likes to dabble with electronic gadgetry and web design. Still interested? Feel free to peruse the above links."

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Maize's Diary: Yes, I raced sled dogs in Alaska...

Maize's Diary: Yes, I raced sled dogs in Alaska...: "I've been receiving e-mails asking about my racing dogs in Alaska. Yep. It's true. In fact, I have proof. See this article? The person in the hot pink winter duds in the lower right hand side of this picture is Maize and I won 3rd place in the Exxon Open in Anchorage Alaska! Nice form huh? It's hard to explain the feeling of being pulled by dogs around a track of snow. It's really weird to do and is fun and addicting at the same time. My daughter won the Jr. World Championship race starting at age 4 until she was 6 and was featured in Sports Illustrated's 'Faces in the Crowd.' We managed to live in Alaska for 8 years, through a volcano eruption and very harsh winters."

Alaskan Plumb Line - Mission Statement

Alaskan Plumb Line - Mission Statement: "The Alaskan Plumb Line
Mission Statement

The purpose of the Alaskan Plumb Line is to serve as an advocate for Alaskans, and constantly strive to maintain an environment for efficient and cohesive expression of Alaskans opinion.

The Alaskan Plumb Line does not care if you are on the left or right of the political spectrum. APL will examine all sides of the issues that are affecting Alaskan’s today, and tomorrow.

The Alaskan Plumb Line will encourage and enhance the communication between Alaskans and their community.

The Alaskan Plumb Line is dedicated to ascertaining and promoting the needs, general welfare and rights of Alaskans.

The Alaskan Plumb Line will serve all Alaskans equally, regardless of age, gender, race, color, national origin, religion, creed, handicap, social status, economic background, veteran status, political affiliation, and/or sexual orientation."

Citgo is a Venezuela Oil Company -

"We love the holidays, because we get to spend time with our families and do nice things for people we love. Sometimes, though, with all the rushing around to buy gifts and visit relatives, it can be easy to lose sight of the point of it all. Well, here's a way to remember the spirit of the season and help out less fortunate neighbors, even in the midst of all your holiday traveling: buy Citgo gasoline.

You already may have seen the headlines about how Citgo, unlike every other oil company in the U.S., is making cut-rate heating oil available to struggling families in the Northeast. The Energy Department predicts a nearly 26 percent jump in heating costs this winter compared with last year,1 and despite a year of record oil company profits, the country's heating oil assistance fund is falling behind.

Citgo has stepped in to help out. They're selling heating oil at discounted rates to poorer communities in Massachusetts and the Bronx, NY, and working on deals to keep low-income homes in Rhode Island and Vermont warm, too.

So while you're out on the road this month, you can help some fellow Americans by filling your tank with Venezuelan gas. Here's a link to find the nearest one of the 14,000 Citgo gas stations in the U.S.:

'Citgo is not just another oil company,' says Citgo CEO Felix Rodriguez. 'With Venezuela's state oil company, of which we are a subsidiary, we share a broad social mission.'

That's our kind of company. If you need any other reasons to feel good, just remember that money you pay to Citgo goes primarily to Venezuela - not Saudi Arabia or the Middle East. Of the top oil producing countries in the world, only one is a democracy with a president who was elected on a platform of using his nation's oil revenue to benefit the poor.

And this winter Citgo is helping out less fortunate Americans, too.

Some have said that Citgo's generosity is a publicity stunt, part of the ongoing war of words between Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and President Bush. We think a recent USA Today editorial has the best response:

'Chavez might be trying to embarrass the Bush administration, but what's really embarrassing is how little help Americans will receive this winter from their own government.'

Naturally, if you can get where you're going without a car, do so. And we'll continue to work for a country with more renewable energy options. But in the meantime, help your Northeast neighbors by supporting Citgo on your holiday drive"

thanks to http://www.truemajority.org/

Newsday.com: Alaskans Await Passing of Winter Solstice

Newsday.com: Alaskans Await Passing of Winter Solstice: "Lloyd Leavitt shrugs off the subzero freeze that blankets the Arctic town of Barrow each winter. It's the weeks of endless night that get to him, filling him with insatiable cravings for carbohydrates and sleep and natural light.

'There comes a time when you don't know if it's morning or evening. You get confused,' said Leavitt, who has lived all his 49 years in the nation's highest-latitude community."

Alaska Star - News: Parks volunteer openings announced 12/15/05

Alaska Star staff
Despite the fact that winter hasn't officially started yet, Alaska State Parks is already looking to fill summer openings.

The State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation is accepting applications for full-time volunteer positions next summer.

Alaska State Parks volunteer coordinator Lynne Wibbenmeyer said in a press release that 60 campground host positions are available across the state and 80 additional volunteers are needed to fulfill positions such as backcountry ranger assistants, trail crews, natural history interpreters and park caretakers."

read more Alaska Star - News: Parks volunteer openings announced 12/15/05: "Parks volunteer openings announced

Sunday, December 18, 2005

WeatherOnline Weather Facts Hoar Frost

"Under clear frosty nights in winter soft ice crystals might form on vegetation or any object that has been chilled below freezing point by radiation cooling. This deposit of ice crystals is known as hoar frost and may sometimes be so thick that it might look like snow. The interlocking ice crystals become attached to branches of trees, leafs, hedgerows and grass blades and are one of the most prominent features of a typical 'winter wonderland' day. However, the fine 'feathers', 'needles' and 'spines' might also be found on any other object that is exposed to supersaturated air below freezing temperature."...more WeatherOnline Weather Facts Hoar Frost

Friday, December 09, 2005

WWII Internment of Alaska Aleuts Recounted - Yahoo! News

WWII Internment of Alaska Aleuts Recounted - Yahoo! News: "'It was terrible,' said Maria Turnpaugh, 78. 'We lived in little shacks full of holes and no running water. People got sick all the time.'"

Thursday, December 01, 2005

adn.com | alaska : Out with the old at Fireweed theater

adn.com | alaska : Out with the old at Fireweed theater

Sucks to see it go... I remember going to see some great movies there. It's funny that it opened in 1965 with Mary Poppins. I wonder what the last movie will be...

happy trails, Fireweed!