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About

THE BLOG--HISTORY

"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.

"Celtic"

"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."

"Diva"

"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...

Proud Member of These Organizations:

Published Writings

"Blogging fills voids left by more traditional media"
--Anchorage Daily News "Community Voices" column 8/13/08

"Fishing for a family's food"
-- Crosscut.com 7/17/08

"Stevens endorses book's prejudiced view of Muslims"
--Anchorage Daily News "Community Voices" column 7/9/08

"Democratic Blogging Pool needs to work towards integration"
--Anchorage Daily News "Community Voices" column 6/4/08

"On race, Fagan woefully off the mark"
--Anchorage Daily News "Community Voices" column 4/30/08

"If you want to help a vet, mark April 26 on your calendar"
--Anchorage Daily News "Community Voices" column 3/26/08

"I know from experience: Assault victims don't 'ask for it'"
--Anchorage Daily News "Community Voices" column 2/21/08

"Heads up: Crime strikes even 'nice' neighborhoods"
--Anchorage Daily News "Compass" column 10/24/07

"Beware of those earnest 'college kids' selling magazines"
--Anchorage Daily News "Compass" column 08/06/07

Archive Search by Topic (Prior to September 9th)

Walt Monegan's firing, "Troopergate"

Chuck Kopp, 10-day wonder

Sarah Palin, VP Candidate

For the Alaska Community and beyond...

My daughter touched a Silver Medal!

USA Women's Olympic Hockey Team Star Kerry Weiland with our friend Isabella and my daughter Morrigan at St. Baldrick's Day

(Scroll down to find posts.)

(Please register to participate in diaries and comments! We'd love for you to join our Community!)
******************************************************************************************

early voting

Latest numbers from the Alaska Division of Elections UPDATED NUMBERS 2

by: Celtic Diva

Fri Nov 14, 2008 at 14:34:17 PM AKST

************2nd NUMBERS UPDATE****************

BEGICH NOW AHEAD BY 1022

That was the last update of the day and I'm guessing the numbers went down a little bit because Fairbanks and Mat Su Valley finished their counting.

Exciting news in Fairbanks...Republican Representative Mike Kelley (District 7) is only ahead of Democrat Karl Kassel by one vote! So, there will probably be at least one recount!

Remember, overseas absentee ballots can arrive up through Nov. 19th!

Per my phone calls to the Division of Elections:

Region 1: Juneau is done for the day but will be doing their final count (we hope) on Tuesday Nov. 18th.

Region 2: Mat Su Valley--DONE

Anchorage will be finishing their count on Tuesday Nov. 18th as well.

Region 3: Prince William Sound--DONE

Region 4: Aleutians, Western AK, North Slope--DONE

About 25,000 votes left to count between Anchorage and Juneau!

I need more cayenne for my nails!

************UPDATED NUMBERS*****************

BEGICH NOW AHEAD BY 1061 VOTES!!!!!

********************************************

I know there is a count going on today in Regions 1, 3 and 4. However it looks like they may be waiting to update until: folks are done with the count or all regions are in or all of us bite our fingernails AND toenails down to the quick!

Until then, here's something to keep your brain busy...and the good news is at the bottom!

Votes still left to be counted:

Region 1--Southeast and Kenai:

Absentee & EV: 8,357
Questioned Ballots: 511

Region 2--Mat Su and Anchorage:

Absentee and EV: 10,144
Questioned Ballots: 10,747

Region 3--Fairbanks:

Absentee and EV: 5,006
Questioned Ballots: 2,671

Region 4--Aleutians, Western AK & North Slope:

Absentee and EV: 2,282
Questioned Ballots: 1,312

--------------------------------------------------
TOTAL ABSENTEE AND EARLY VOTE: 25,789
TOTAL QUESTIONED BALLOTS: 15241

TOTAL OF ALL BALLOTS LEFT TO COUNT: 41,030

TOTAL COUNTED VOTES: 282,996

GRAND TOTAL OF ALL VOTES (counted and uncounted): 324,026

Percentage of registered voters: 65.36%

More people have voted in this election than any other in Alaska history - by 10,434 votes!

Discuss :: (1 Comments)

Stolen election in Alaska? Five reasons why that accusation is premature.

by: Celtic Diva

Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 14:06:06 PM AKST

Many people are shocked that convicted felon Ted Stevens could possibly be ahead of Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich in the fight for his US Senate seat, or that under-investigation Congressman Don Young has probably held on to his seat against Ethan Berkowitz. This seems especially dubious as polls that were correct in every other state were seemingly way off in Alaska. An article in the Anchorage Daily News titled "The Pollsters missed the mark" discusses this:

"The real question is where were the all the Democrats?" Dittman said, noting the voter turnout was supposed to be in record proportions. Instead, only an estimated 57 percent of registered voters had a say - a far drop from the 66 percent turnout in the 2004 presidential election, according to state elections division figures.

The issue of the incorrect polls has triggered some concern both here and in other parts of the country, especially on the "interwebs" where folks have raised the specter of a "rigged election." It's understandable that we're all having flashbacks to Alaska 2004, where the Division of Elections reported some precincts had over 100% turnout. (Voting "early and often" is not just a tongue-in-cheek saying in Chicago!)

However, we should all subscribe to the "Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy" mantra of "Don't Panic!" I can think of at least four reasons why:

1) Per the Division of Elections, there are three different types of ballots that still must be counted: 1/2 of the early voting ballots (9,500), the absentee ballots (48,000) and the "questioned" ballots (16,000). ("Questioned" ballots come from registered voters who go to a different precinct and are allowed to vote the Congressional and Presidential elections or un-registered voters who go to a precinct and are allowed to register and vote in the presidential election only. All of these votes are checked by hand to determine the voters status.)

That's 73,500 ballots which equal about 15% of all registered voters in the state of Alaska. That's a lot of votes yet to be counted.

2) While Ted Stevens is making the claim that absentee votes "always break conservative," we are operating in an entirely new world because of Barack Obama's campaign strategy. As the result of an Obama and Begich Campaign "Get Out the Vote" juggernaut, it's quite possible that those absentee, early voting and questioned ballots will break Progressive (I know mine is in there)...completely turning that "conventional wisdom" on its head. Also, the absentee ballots are often military-dominated, which has caused them to trend towards conservative in the past, polls and FEC records have shown this election cycle that both the oversees and US-stationed military have heavily favored the Democratic presidential candidates...specifically Barack Obama...over the McCain ticket when it comes to political donations. The "conservative assumption" no longer carries any weight.

(more below the fold)

There's More... :: (1 Comments, 431 words in story)

Good Morning. Early Voting is Open Today! UPDATED with statewide voting locations

by: Celtic Diva

Mon Oct 20, 2008 at 09:40:18 AM AKDT

It's time!

Get it out of the way...go vote today!

If you have questions, here are the phone numbers at Alaska Division of Elections:

Anchorage: 907.522.8683
Fairbanks: 907.451.2835
Juneau: 907.465.3021
Nome: 907.443.5285
Matanuska-Susitna: 907.373.8952

Director: 907.465.4611

ANCHORAGE EARLY VOTE LOCATIONS AND TIMES

Region II Elections Office: 2525 Gambell Street, Suite 100

Mon. - Fri., 8am - 5pm
Sat., Nov. 1, 10am - 4pm & Sun., Nov. 2, 12pm - 4pm
Election Day, Nov. 4, 7am - 8pm

Anchorage City Hall: 632 W. 6th Avenue, Suite 105

Mon - Fri., 8am - 5pm
Election Day, Nov. 4, 7am - 8pm

UAA: 3211 Providence Drive, Student Union, 2nd Floor

Monday, Nov. 3, 2008, 8am - 5pm
Election Day, Nov. 4, 7:00am - 8:00pm

JUNEAU EARLY VOTE LOCATIONS AND TIMES

Region I Elections Office: Mendenhall Mall Annex: 9109 Mendenhall Mall Road, Suite 3

Mon. - Fri., 8am - 5pm
Sat., Nov. 1, 10am - 4pm & Sun., Nov. 2, 12pm - 4pm
Election Day, Nov. 4, 7am - 8pm

Court Plaza Building: 240 Main Street, 1st Floor

Mon. through Fri., 8am - 5pm
Election Day, Nov. 4, 7am - 8pm

FAIRBANKS EARLY VOTE LOCATIONS AND TIMES

Region III Elections Office: State Office Building, 675 7th Avenue, Suite A2

Mon. - Fri., 8am - 5pm
Sat., Nov. 1, 10am - 4pm & Sun., Nov. 2, 12pm - 4pm
Election Day, Nov. 4, 7am - 8pm

University of Alaska, Fairbanks: Wood Center

Monday, November 3, 2008, 8am - 5pm
Election Day, Nov. 4, 7am - 8pm

NOME EARLY VOTE LOCATION AND TIMES

Region IV Elections Office: State Office Building, 103 E. Front Street, 2nd Floor

Mon. - Fri., 8am - 5pm
Sat., Nov. 1, 10am - 4pm & Sun., Nov. 2, 12pm - 4pm
Election Day, Nov. 4, 7am - 8pm

SOLDOTNA EARLY VOTE LOCATION AND TIMES

Kenai Peninsula Assembly Chambers, 144 N. Binkley

Mon. - Fri., 8am - 5pm
Election Day, Nov. 4, 7am - 8pm

WASILLA EARLY VOTE LOCATION AND TIMES

Mat-Su Elections Office: North Fork Professional Bldg., 1700 E. Bogard Road, Building B, Ste 102

Mon. - Fri., 8am - 5pm
Sat., Nov. 1, 10am - 4pm & Sun., Nov. 2, 12pm - 4pm
Election Day, Nov. 4, 7am - 8pm

PRUDHOE BAY (DEADHORSE) EARLY VOTE LOCATION AND TIMES

Service Area 10 Hotel, Old Spine Road
Nov. 1-4, 8am - 8pm

SITKA EARLY VOTING

City Hall, 8-5, through Nov 3.

***********UPDATE*****************

From the comments:

Also if you are out of district and haven't had a chance to re-register or apply for an Absentee ballot (applications for absentee must be received by Oct 25) then there are state-wide absentee voting locations such as

Oct 20 - Nov 3
Anchorage: Gamble St Location and City Hall (listed above),
Fairbanks: 7th St Location, listed above
Juneau Mendenhall Mall Road location, listed above
Nome, location listed above
Wasilla, location listed above
Soldotna, location listed above

There are other locations that are open Nov 3 and 4 and some open Nov 4 only - also more locations that have district-wide ballots - see page 10,11 of the Election Pamphlet. For example Sitka Airport has statewide voting Nov 4.

Discuss :: (2 Comments)