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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!)
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fuel shortage

AK Village of Emmonak in dire need--UPDATE WITH AUDIO

by: Celtic Diva

Wed Jan 14, 2009 at 13:58:41 PM AKST

---------------------UPDATE-----------------------

Audio interview of original letter-writer and Emmonak resident, Nick Tucker by "CC" on KUDO 1080's "The Cutting Edge" Jan 14th--in three parts:

**Warning** Make sure you have a box of tissues...it's heartbreaking.

http://divasblueoasis.com/uplo...

-------------------------------------------------

(The Alaska blogosphere is doing our best to ride to the rescue...another Alaska village is in serious trouble!

Tlingit blogger Writing Raven has done an excellent post on the subject. Afterwards, I'll link the stories from my other compadres as well as the ways YOU can help!)

Another Alaska Village in Trouble--by Writing Raven

When I spotted this in the ADN Newsreader, I had a sinking feeling becoming very familiar. I've talked about a few dying villages, and villagers just trying to make it this winter. This story is one of the more heartbreaking.

Originally in the Bristol Bay Times, the article is actually about a letter written by an Emmonak resident, asking for help for his village. Short of fuel, short of money, short of food, he talked to 25 of the 200 households in the area, and every one of them had a grim story to tell. Just one:

P. R: Single, separated, with five children. (He chokes occasionally, holding back crying.) He and his children are staying in the same household with his brother's family. Cost of fuel is so high and everything else and we're able to get just a few things at a time. We have no other subsistence food left. Only thing we're surviving on moose meat alone and it is almost gone. Everything is so high - only able to get little bit. We can't catch up on our bills. We're really hurting even we are given some from other people. Right now, we can't eat during the day, only at supper time. And, it is still not enough. If there had been no school lunch, our kids would be starving. It is going to get worse in two weeks when our new heating fuel supply is airlifted in. Price of fuel will go way up again. I am lucky that the Women's Shelter is able to give me some coffee.

Yes. This is America today.

I was privileged to meet with a family from Emmonak last month, getting to know them. Although going through a tough time, a death, I had no idea of the rest of this. This also makes me wonder how much the economic situation is affecting the alarming news of the suicides in the area. Although the area, and the area just above, are the two highest in Alaska for suicide rates - and Alaska the highest in the nation - lately there has been even more than usual.

This is just one village. I wrote before about a village on the Aleutian chain being told they should leave because the village couldn't power itself. Despite an article proclaiming that it's not as bad as people have said... it seems pretty bad.

The letter left some information on where to go to help. As he says in his letter though - these are just the ones he was able to talk to - how many more are remaining silent?

--Writing Raven

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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

To help, please call:

City of Emmonak, (907) 949-1227/1249 (They will take donations by credit card. Please specify the donation is for heating oil!)

Emmonak Tribal Council, (907) 949-1720
Emmonak Corporation, (907) 949-1129/1315/1411
Emmonak Sacred Heart Catholic Church Pastoral Parish Council Chairman, (907) 949-1011.

Also, send a check to this address and make it out to Emmonak Tribal Council.

Emmonak Tribal Council
ATTN: Christine Alexi
P.O. Box 126
Emmanok, AK 99581

OTHER LINKS **UPDATED**

KTUU story from December with good background information. This didn't just "happen" all-of-a-sudden:

http://www.ktuu.com/global/sto...

Writing Raven at Alaska Real with a follow-up and a message to her fellow Alaskans/bloggers:

http://alaskareal.blogspot.com...

Forgive my sentimentality, but I feel very much the comment a woman made to me when she heard the drumming of our group - drumming not typical to this region:
"When I heard the drums, I could feel it in my heart, and my heart felt good."
I have remembered what she said for so long, because at times like this, it is the only way I can relate what I feel.
Gunalchéesh, hó hó.

Gryph (on this story from the start) at Immoral Minority:

http://theimmoralminority.blog...

Mudflats on the blog AND on HuffPo:

http://www.themudflats.net/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...

Phil on Progressive Alaska AND on Firedoglake (where he describes how donors are sending videographer Dennis Zaki up there to get footage that, hopefully, CNN will use)

http://progressivealaska.blogs...

http://firedoglake.com/2009/01...

APRN radio:

http://aprn.org/2009/01/13/ext...

Texas Liz at DailyKos:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/...

John Aravosis at Americablog rides in with the national blog-cavalry:

http://www.americablog.com/200...

Kyle Hopkins at Anchorage Daily News:

http://www.adn.com/rural/weste...

ADN's Mark Dent does some extensive coverage on the Alaska Newsreader...and gives bloggers credit!!!!

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska...