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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Alaska Newspapers, Inc have been doing food and supply drops out to the villages since the crisis in Emmonak was revealed. Here is their latest update:
KOTLIK - State officials assessing hardships on the lower Yukon River for a possible disaster declaration said they'll push to create a fuel voucher that could help the poorest families.
After two days of listening to crushing testimony from scores of residents in Emmonak and Kotlik, the team said they would do all they can to help quickly.
"In both communities, we hear loud and clear that the children are going to school not ready to learn, that they're hungry and cold. That's really troubling to me," said Tara Jollie, director of the state Division of Community and Regional Affairs.
"We're hearing that there are families that are hungry and that's not acceptable," she said.
After the team flew to windy Kotlik on Wednesday, a Yup'ik village of 600, local leaders placed a call on the VHF radio and villagers flocked to the meeting in the decrepit bingo hall.
Kotlik residents, like those in Emmonak, said they had been slammed by the lack of a king salmon fishing season. The commercial fishery is the economic backbone of the Southwest Alaska region.
Read the entire article, as it validates everything the "left-leaning bloggers" have been saying about what is going on in the villages.
There was an interesting piece of information (that I received by email before it was reported on the ADN) regarding Emmonak. The story on ADN by Kyle Hopkins, who has been doing pretty good coverage (except for the "left-leaning blogger" comment):
Meantime, an Emmonak city councilman called into Dan Fagan's KFQD show yesterday to warn people about sending money to the village.
"I want to caution all Alaskans to be very cautious sending anything out to Emmonak, because it's just a big scam. There are lots of villages with poverty, but there are a lot of villages that are actually in a much worse economic situation and logistically challenged than Emmonak, that are sending stuff to Emmonak right now," said John Dickens, who says he's been on the city council for two years.
Dickens was generally critical of sending more government money to the Bush. Without a better sense of local politics -- and without hearing from other council members -- it's hard to know what to make of that.
It's certainly not going to sit well with people like Nicholas Tucker -- the Emmonak man whose letter about the plight of the village spurred an Internet outcry and donations of money and food.
I give Kyle credit in saying that it was impossible to know what to make of it all with limited information. However, I took it a step further and consulted "The Google" when it comes to Mr. John A Dickens. Amazing thing, that Google:
Governor Palin appointed Sharron K. Breaker and Dr. Danita N. Koehler, and reappointed Ronald L. Bowers, John A. Dickens and David I. Hull, and to the Alaska Council on Emergency Medical Services.
Yes, that's the right John Dickens:
Dickens, of Emmonak, has been the safety and security manager for Grant Aviation since 2001. He was elected to the Emmonak City Council in 2007...
It seems to me that makes his protests rather late and a little bit suspect. We're eagerly awaiting the arrival of Dennis Zaki, who has been out in the villages most of this week gathering video and interviews to get the inside story.
