Read about the ridiculous fees the State of Alaska (under former half-Gov. Sarah Palin and now) requires citizens to pay for public information!
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Thank you!
Though many of us suffer from Palin Factor Fatigue, it is irrefutable that there is a nagging curiosity to have the question answered, ?How in the world did Sarah Palin become so popular and why do we still need to hear about her?? My book answers these questions in detail and urges us all to be vigilant. She is one of a small pool of ?rising stars in the republican party? as John McCain stated as recently as January 25, 2009 on Fox News Sunday.
As unbelievable as her meteoric rise was we cannot delude ourselves, turning our backs once again, into thinking that she and those like her are going away. This woman is joined by millions of loyalists whose perception is that she was persecuted in the media, stifled by McCain, and mocked by liberals - and now the theocratic conservatives are regrouping with a vengeance!
"Blue Oasis" began in 2005 in its Blogger format (now an archive) and became possibly the first Alaska Blog on Progressive Politics. At the 2008 Democratic National Convention, Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis was honored to represent Alaska as the state blog.
Transition--Community Blog
In September 2008, Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis moved to a Soapblox Community Blog format. Readers can become full participants by registering on the blog to comment and write "diaries." Diary titles appear on the right sidebar for folks to read and provide comments. Blog editors may choose to move some of these diaries to the front page.
While this Community was formed specifically with Alaska in mind, all "friends of Alaska" are welcome as members!
**Note about registering** Scroll down the right side until you find the link to register. Then, just follow the instructions!
**Note about comments** To comment on a story, click on the heading and then look for the "comment bar" at the bottom (it's light grey, I can't seem to change it). I believe the font color NOW permits you to see the "post comment" text.
YOUR BLOGMISTRESS
My name is Linda Kellen Biegel and I am a former 15-year Federal employee. Thirteen of those years were spent working for the US Army Corps of Engineers. I am also semi-retired from the Alaska music scene (singer, sound tech, stage manager, logistics).
When the blog was chosen to represent Alaska in the DNCC State Blogger Pool at the Denver Convention, I attended with the help of Alaska Real blogmistress, Writing Raven and my daughter Morrigan. On August 29th, one day after Barack Obama's inspiring speech at Invesco Field , my life took another turn as it did for all Alaska bloggers when Gov. Sarah Palin was chosen to be John McCain's VP running mate. Since then, I've either assisted or have been interviewed by media from the UK, Italy, Australia and Germany as well as national media outlets such as Wall Street Journal, NY Times, ABC Good Morning America's Kate Snow, National Journal, Dallas Morning News, LA Times, and NPR.
Presently, I work as a freelance writer, PR, event coordinator, community organizer, wife to computer programmer Josh and mother to 11-year-old Morrigan. Our family especially enjoys our summers in Alaska where we get to subsistence set-net fish Sockeye salmon as well as halibut fish/whalewatch in the family's homemade aluminum boat, "The Neverdone" (when it's working). We reside in Anchorage, Alaska.
Origin of "Celtic Diva"
I've used "Celtic Diva" as a screen name since the early 1990's on Web TV.
"Folks have asked about my Celtic heritage, especially in light of my name. What they don't realize is that I'm adopted. I was born Valerie Morehead of the Clan Muirhead. I was adopted at three-months-old by the Kellens. I always "knew" I was Celt even before really knew. I was drawn to all things Scottish, especially music. That's why my parents eventually told me at age 16."
"Linda is well-known in Alaska & beyond as the prominent progressive political blogger Celtic Diva of Celtic Diva?s Blue Oasis. But back in the day, the early 1990s, I knew her as Linda Kellen, a member of the local folk/rock band Sky is Blu, which amongst other things performed in at least a couple or so of the annual women?s show Celebration of Change, in which I also performed. And if you don?t already know, let me tell you: Linda is one fine damn singer."
I went on after the break-up of "Sky is Blu" to perform with various Alaska musicians and work with national folks like Bo Diddly, Coco Montoya, Debbie Davies, Taj Mahal, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Bad Company, Creedence Clearwater, Carny Wilson, etc...
A bee on Dragon Tongue Stonecrop in my rock garden
August 2010
(Scroll down to find posts.)
(Please register to participate in diaries and comments! We'd love for you to join our Community!)
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The Blue Moon (a little blurry without a tripod...sorry)
"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year..."
Well, today the kids go back to school, Tuesday January 6th will be Epiphany, the 12th Day of Christmas and the time our Russian Orthodox friends celebrate and open their presents. That's the traditional time for us to take down our tree and decorations, as the Holiday Season is "officially" over.
This year, it went incredibly fast (getting older?) and taking a semi-break worked really well...we had some really nice family times. It was also an interesting mish-mash of emotions, including gratitude at watching 2009 slip away and a reaffirmation of the work that needs to be done in 2010. It was fitting that one of the last events I attended in 2009 was Phil Munger's Holiday Party/30-year Wedding Anniversary Celebration. I got a chance to see some of my blogger friends as well as folks in the Progressive Community and wish them well for the New Year.
Phil, looking like the farmer from "American Gothic" is standing with friends Diane Benson (2010 Candidate for Lt. Governor) and her campaign manager, Tony Vito.
Folks brought books to be signed by bloggers and other progressive types
The Mungers sure set a pretty table
A true party animal, I understand the dog (whose name is being withheld) will be the target of the reality show "Intervention" sometime in 2010
"Another word from our (not-so) friendly Palinpsychotics"
Once again, three of us (Jean, Shannyn and I) were the target of another hilarious fictional YouTube video, called "Alaska Bloggers Fall from Grace." I guess since they completely fabricated our connection to Obama in the first place as they did in the "three witches" video (that's what I call it), they've now decided that we've fictionally "fallen from grace."
According to the end of the video, we get to look forward to another installment of these incomprehensible ramblings punctuated with mysogynistic insults. Now THAT'S entertainment!
And now the local nutbags...
And then we come to more pictures from Palin's book signing in Wasilla, emailed in the last several days by Kim Chatman:
This woman was obviously very committed (tatoo and all) to the evangelical pro-Dominionist organization The Christian Motorcyclist Association. I got the impression that the overheard conversation from this woman wasn't very...errr..."charitable."
The most disturbing aspects of this photo are two-fold: 1) There was an entire line of police vehicles next to this one (paid for by whom?) and 2) The guy standing next to the police car looks like one of the creepiest guys there.
I also went to lunch with Kim Chatman and she provided me with the documents that were being handed out at the the book signing...including this "Lyndon LaRouche" magazine:
The entire magazine is a printing of the longest, crazy-ass speech on the planet. I believe you can hear it/read it on the website the magazine advertises or on YouTube.
Also, the Conservative Blah, Blah, Blah Teabagger group was handing out this "manifesto":
I especially liked this:
"2) Conservatives believe that government is best that governs least."
Because those were being distributed right next to this:
I understand lots of Palinistas were also partaking of the free flu shots. I wonder if they saw the irony?
I also wonder how many of them were the first to scream about the need for all government agencies to work together with countries across the globe to keep potential terrorists out of the US.
But I digress...
Now, it's on to 2010 and new territory as well as some clean-up of 2009! Later today I'll talk about some exciting upcoming plans, including (of course) a 2010 Garden Extravaganza!
