tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77598552133245901022011-07-08T03:46:23.223-08:00Thoughts about Alaska and the world.Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.comBlogger571100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-18484793935867385052009-10-24T12:23:00.004-08:002009-10-24T12:41:42.075-08:00

Just a few thoughts about the Obama administration taking on Fox News's bonafides as a news organization...I was watching The Young Turks, one of my favorite political commentators, who commented on the fightTwo minutes and five seconds in Baltimore Sun Critic David Zurawik performs a slight of hand (perhaps unintentionally) with the terms being used by using the term 'press.'The Obama

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-32159703066454617742009-10-05T14:22:00.003-08:002009-10-05T14:35:28.800-08:00

My workplace (a secure treatment facility) has recently been racked with the swine flu. We have had two confirmed cases and so we just assume now that everyone with flu like symptoms has the H1N1 strain.Some notes:In most cases, the fever responds well to Tylenol.People with Alaskan Native or American Indian descent appear to get sicker than other demographics. Even 'city' Alaska Natives that

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-73240389855988438962009-09-11T23:37:00.002-08:002009-09-11T23:50:13.689-08:00

Today I watched what had happened live, eight years ago. The news channels replayed the original news feed of September 11, 2009.Two slogans that followed that day came to my mind...September 11 changed everything;andMore United Than Ever.The last one hits me the hardest. I remember the United States flags that waved proudly, the sense of unity and togetherness that, momentarily it seems,

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-89537218466793145872009-09-01T16:14:00.007-08:002009-09-01T16:43:03.055-08:00

Sometimes the tricks politicians play crack me up. And I have to admit, I am sympathetic to the games they play.Senator Murkowski has changed her colors. To the right we see her official portrait, wearing red. Her head shot from that photo also appeared on multiple campaign document (old website, postcards, etc).And to the left we have her new look, which I first noticed on a post card she

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-22552194334747892462009-07-27T18:26:00.003-08:002009-07-27T20:20:52.458-08:00

The arrest of Dr. Gates has prompted a lot of conversation of the current standing of race in the United States. Some of the conversations appears to be deliberative and thoughtful, while other conversations are the usual canned responses we see around any controversy. At this point, I hope mine are the former.Everyone has had a different experiences that shape there world view, and before I

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-17466222743806098612009-07-04T20:44:00.002-08:002009-07-04T20:48:13.909-08:00

Hello all,A while back I wrote a post stating I was stepping back a bit from the blogging thing-thing I had been doing.My situation has improved drastically since then, in one part I have obtained a better paying job with the increased hours I was looking for. So while I have less time overall, I have a lot less mental stress.There were a couple of blogs post I started that are still in draft

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-28899986296312807932009-07-04T19:41:00.003-08:002009-07-04T19:55:51.158-08:00

Fourth of July, obviously, comes around every year and everyone experiences it differently. I came as close to actually 'lol-ing' as I do in the real world as I read an article I received from Yahoo! News: Marines march in grueling Afghan sun for July 4. Selected Quotes:Some 4,000 Marines are moving through southern Helmand to take back Taliban-held territory and pinch the insurgents' supply

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-45758237327138429712009-07-03T20:24:00.002-08:002009-07-03T20:31:50.031-08:00

Who is going to run against Sean Parnell in the 2010 Republican Primary?Sarah Palin is one of the most charismatic the Alaskan Republican party has produced in quite a long while, and despite her divisiveness would have been a strong candidate for the Republicans to run again.Sean Parnell... is not as charismatic as Palin, and he also seems to have the same lacking grasp on policy issues as the

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-17926579152028310812009-05-05T09:31:00.003-08:002009-05-05T11:47:17.755-08:00

President Obama is facing one of the most important decisions he will make in his presidency, and the ramifications of his selection could last for the duration of the Union. The United States still lives under the jurisprudence developed by Chief Justices Marshal and Warren, as well as Justices Black, Brandies, and Holmes just to name a few.The recent developed process for selecting new

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-66622526622560092132009-03-23T15:30:00.005-08:002009-03-23T16:12:37.098-08:00

If you are watching the news anywhere on the planet, you may have heard that Mount Redoubt has erupted.The ash from Mount Redoubt has the potential to disrupt international air traffic through one of the worlds busiest air corridors. But that is not the real problem. If the movies have taught me anything, when a volcano starts to be active after period of dormancy, it means are greatest fears and

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-55922954757139749562009-03-22T17:41:00.002-08:002009-03-22T17:49:16.081-08:00

Anybody who has followed by experiment of a blog knows, I have not posted in about a month. The reason, of course, is the ever-present 'personal reasons' that seems to pop up in peoples lives from here to there.It is not that I lack the time, certainily I have the time to blog, but for personal reasons I lack the energy. I am going to attempt to get in the few odds and ends, but I think it

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-41659658916035691142009-02-26T21:31:00.003-09:002009-02-26T22:01:21.097-09:00

Recently the AP reported that a charity with close ties to the army, aptly named Army Emergency Relief has been holding onto the donations it receives instead of using it to provide emergency relief.Apparently the charity lacks the same independence that the Navy and Air Force charities posses. Army Officers pressure enlisted men to make contributions, and when soldiers take out loans due to

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-85334981327246498182009-02-25T22:24:00.004-09:002009-02-25T22:48:49.926-09:00

As Al Jazeera reports, Palestinians are negotiating with Palestinians for the release of Palestinians....And I say that becuase I am not sure that most Americans know the difference between Hamas, Fatah and Hezbollah. Which ones are in Palestine, which one is in Lebanon, which ones are secular, Sunni or Shi'a, any of the basic information, much less the history of those groups. And I have to

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-16995500548321635132009-02-24T21:01:00.002-09:002009-02-24T21:29:51.131-09:00

HB 9 had a good hearing in the House Judiciary Committee, and no matter which way the bill goes, I think the conversation a great chance to improve the justice system in Alaska.Rep John Coghill expressed concern for the integrity of the justice system; the chances of a false conviction and execution of an innocent person. I guess if the research and numbers show that we have flaws in the justice

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-24340038535936641872009-02-21T20:40:00.006-09:002009-02-22T23:31:44.924-09:00

On April 7 2009, voters will take to the polls to elect a new mayor and vote for an initiative that would recalculate the tax cap.There are some jaded people out there that believe the two occurring in the same election cycle is not a coincidence. The formulation of the tax-cap was altered back in 2003, and despite the Assembly being dominated by self-proclaimed fiscal conservatives, there was

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-58479942483186856462009-02-19T21:00:00.006-09:002009-02-21T12:58:43.032-09:00

Rep Fairclough came to UAA today to speak about education, resource development and funding the Alaska University system.I did not take detailed notes or record the event in any way, so right now we are stuck with what I remember and how I remember it. I was counting on reporters from the UAA newspaper, The Northern Light, to report more fully on the event so I could not be distracted with

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-23311641935901099152009-02-17T22:30:00.009-09:002009-02-18T00:03:08.408-09:00

Rep Fairclough has come under some heat recently for some comments she made in a House Finance hearing on the University of Alaska budget. Rep Fairclough has posted a rebuttal to the claims that she is anti-education, or specifically, against higher education at the Alaska Standard.Alaskan Eyrie posted its thoughts on the issue, more musing about Rep Fairclough apparent anti-University leaning

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-30842844016000931392009-02-17T21:04:00.004-09:002009-02-17T21:09:55.230-09:00

I have been watching the White House Press Office Feed via Google Reader. Everything was going fine, I was getting about 2 to 5 items a day, most of them garbage, when today I had 165 press releases flood my Reader.I am not amused.I don't have the time to go through 165 press releases in one day, maybe not even a bloody week. I am left with the feeling that this avalanche of information was to

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-63728918341527835262009-02-16T22:11:00.007-09:002009-02-16T22:50:22.597-09:00

I first saw this video posted at The Alaska Standard:Therein Sen Murkowski gives a mostly fair criticism of the bailout plan that was recently passed by Congress. Of course, she takes a few pot shots, including referring to the other party as DemocRAT party, but this is politics, and I guess that passes as fair.Sen Murkowski mentioned the Republicans alternate plan. I have not read the actual

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-13459036128046454762009-02-15T20:52:00.004-09:002009-02-15T22:01:32.524-09:00

Mr. Halcro posted on the recently completed price gouging investigation. As usual, he gets all the facts right, but (unusual in this instance) is off on his analysis.He was right when he predicted (in September, no less) the investigation would show there was no price gouging and the findings would parallel the investigation completed under the Knowles administration. Namely, market forces such

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-17573102725587834042009-02-15T12:14:00.002-09:002009-02-15T13:00:27.009-09:00

While on the topic of altering the Alaska Constitution, I just want to mention one of the better ideas I have heard.Increase the size of the Alaska Legislature. Right now there are forty representatives and twenty senators, which is what we had when we became a state and our population was about 220,000 people. Just on the numbers, with a population of about 670,000 it is clear that the people

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-73974415365567530152009-02-14T18:08:00.006-09:002009-02-15T16:11:23.257-09:00

Right now the Alaska Legislature is looking at a handful of constitutional amendments. Some of them don't actually do anything in a legal sense (removing references to the Secretary of State and making gender-neutral references).One of the more interesting and important proposed amendments comes from Sen Menard. SJR 1 would amend Article II Section 3 impose term limits, four terms for a

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-84128661765958339802009-02-11T16:13:00.007-09:002009-02-11T16:54:24.261-09:00

In one corner is Andrew Halcro, former state representative and candidate for governor, current small business owner, talk show host and blogger. Pro-business outlook with a analytical mind and apparent disdain for shallow thinkers.In the other is Les Gara, current state representative . He fought to toughen ethics laws and wants to minimize the affect of big business in the legislature.

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-44406729265888446542009-02-11T12:03:00.002-09:002009-02-11T12:18:14.147-09:00

I can't remember what show specifically I was watching, but there was the usual argument about Wall Street bankers getting bonuses. One one side, there was the fellow who thought no way, no how should tax-payer money go toward bonuses.The other fellow used the example of a currency trader at a bank. They may only earn $20,000 a year, and they need their yearly bonus if they are going to stay

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-90237759722350764802009-02-10T16:22:00.005-09:002009-02-10T17:11:00.283-09:00

Rep. Fairclough has been catching some flak from her Democrat Counterparts for not supporting the budgetary needs of the Alaska University system because the University is anti-development. It is not the first time she has made this argument.She was making the same arguement last spring, stating she would not support increased funding for needs-based grants becuase 60% of UAA students were

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-27998122581348789652009-02-10T08:37:00.005-09:002009-02-10T09:11:38.753-09:00

As the ADN covered yesterday, there are four members of the Alaska State Senate that have become completely powerless in affecting state policy and representing their districts.The Senate majority got where they are today because three of the four members of the majority have deep personal flaws. Flaws that they can cover in public, but come out when you get past superficial conversation.If

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-40550258653740026222009-02-09T22:22:00.006-09:002009-02-09T22:56:56.263-09:00

There are few statesmen I look up to more than Senator Patrick Leahy.I have been following him since he raked Alberto Gonzalez and Sara Taylor over the coals for their support for George Bush as opposed to the the Constitution of the United States, one of the most important documents in the whole world in the last 1,000 years.His proposal for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission is one of the

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-49581962483698309852009-02-08T16:25:00.005-09:002009-02-08T17:04:12.339-09:00

All of the talk out there about transparency in government, more accountability, and so forth has had a good affect on me. I am taking time to take a close look at what the new administration is doing with its time.Hopefully one of the best ways for me to cut past the posturing and the rhetoric will be to follow presidential actions (which has it's own webpage). I am going to be keeping a close

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-33779200207675417992009-02-07T21:31:00.004-09:002009-02-07T23:35:07.769-09:00

Today, Alaska Standard posted a contribution by Walter E. Williams, professor of economics at George Mason University (who quotes his own professor here.Any so-called stimulus program is a ruse. The government can increase its spending only by reducing private spending equivalently. Whether government finances its added spending by increasing taxes, by borrowing or by inflating the currency, the

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-42864534129172119382009-02-06T14:46:00.006-09:002009-02-06T23:32:44.889-09:00

Today the Alaska Senate voted to find the First Gentleman, Todd Palin, and nine aides to Governor Palin in contempt of violating legally issued subpoenas in the Troopergate Scandal. The vote was 16 Yea, 1 Nay, and 3 Exempt.First off, the 1 Nay (Con Bunde) and three Exempt (Tom Wagoner, Fred Dyson, Gene Therriault) are the only members of the Senate Republican Minority (the website currently

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-89712995345342686522009-02-04T13:04:00.003-09:002009-02-04T13:19:14.468-09:00

Today a story popped up in the Anchorage Daily News about a man being arrested for sexual assault.Since the story did not include his criminal history (and possible prior sexual assault charges/convictions) I decided to check it out myself.If you want to know how to check if someone has had charges filed against them in Alaska here is how you do it:Go to this web site: http://

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-73569930760254522462009-02-04T09:31:00.004-09:002009-02-04T09:47:39.127-09:00

The Economic Policy Institute call Congress on its irresponsible handling of the stimulus bill (more my words then theirs).Infrastructure projects are 25-50% more effective in stimulating the economy than tax cuts. Combined with the fact that The American Society of Civil Engineers identifies over a trillion dollars of improvement to bring the countries infrastructure rating up to good (good, as

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-2102783018759660182009-02-04T09:28:00.002-09:002009-02-04T09:30:59.654-09:00

The EPI has put out fifteen questions and answers on the EFCA. No matter how you fall on the issue this is worth the read.

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-44240681919908432692009-02-04T00:08:00.003-09:002009-02-04T00:28:24.152-09:00

President Obama has nominated Sen. Gregg to be the Commerce Secretary.Whatever, I don't know enough about his voting record to be torn one way or the other. What does concern me is some are calling it Democratic weakness that his sucessor to be appointed by the New Hampshire governor will be a Republican.Perhaps some clarification is in order. Sen. Gregg is a Republican, the governor who would

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-32621255669495470462009-02-03T22:25:00.002-09:002009-02-03T22:41:03.593-09:00

This is why I read Al Jazeera.I have not read or heard about this anywhere else in the American media.Just for those who somehow have the time to read this, but not read the Al Jazeera story, Wen Jiabao (that's a name I can recognize on paper but could never pronounce correctly) was speaking at Cambridge University when someone threw a shoe at him, apparently yelling " "How can the university

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-88278547916339643202009-02-02T22:33:00.002-09:002009-02-02T23:22:12.269-09:00

We were promised $850 billion in capital projects. Green technology, road improvement, building refurbishment. Improvement that were suppose to be similar to Eisenhower Federal Highway Program.Somehow I get the feeling that the money is getting frittered away. People don't want to hear it, but tax rebates and more exemptions don't stimulate the economy. I was reading the Anchorage Daily News

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-55760416580526820402009-02-02T22:24:00.001-09:002009-02-02T22:33:26.307-09:00

Now I can't prove this, but I have been talking about Jon Stewart's stimulus plan (give the bail-out money to tax payers in a 'trickle-up technique to increase liquidity).Only my plan was better than his. My plan was that the money that each consumer receives would be 100% tax exempt so long as when they file their taxes the next year they can show they used that money to pay down their

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-2035612896241628332009-01-15T17:44:00.005-09:002009-02-03T21:56:20.443-09:00

Rep Harry Crawford (D-Anchorage) wants to amend the Alaska Constitution to provide for the election of the Attorney General. His reasoning for doing so is solid. Recent attorney generals have been disappointing.Gregg Renkes, attorney general from 2002-2005 resigned under a ethics cloud. He had $100,000 of stock in a company that stood to benefit from a trade deal between Alaska and Taiwan

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-21819982940694089742009-01-15T14:04:00.008-09:002009-01-15T16:51:35.878-09:00

Last Friday the pre-filed bills of the Legislature were released and one bill, HB 9, quickly jumped to the front as an attention-getter.Rep. Mike Chenault, (R-Nikiski) introduced a bill to bring back the death penalty in Alaska. The death penalty was abolished in Alaska in 1957, and really has not been missed.But rather than speak about the death penalty today, I want to spend some time on the

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-75113143461990097162009-01-15T12:35:00.006-09:002009-01-15T17:31:20.261-09:00

That's right. The first bill Carl Gatto pre-filed for the 26 Alaskan Legislature, In fact, the very first bill pre-filed in the house, HB 1, seeks to repeal long needed increases in the Base Student Allotment (BSA).Of course, a quick look at the bill does not tell you that, it is hidden in bill speak:* Sections 9 and 10, ch. 9, SLA 2008, are repealed. That is pretty meaningless if you don't

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-52005234242150377612009-01-12T19:19:00.008-09:002009-01-15T14:55:49.101-09:00

The Alaska Standards post today on the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) reminds me of Mr. Hollywood from Two Stupid Dogs, a cartoon I watched as a child:Isn't that cute...BUT IT'S WRONG!Rebecca Logan comes out swinging at Vince Beltrami of the Alaska AFL-CIO for an opinion piece he wrote for the ADN in August, selectively quoting portions of the EFCA and suggested he was out of step with other

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-65948018277869443532009-01-06T01:59:00.001-09:002009-01-06T02:00:32.507-09:00

Strikes again.

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-31222594815640601972009-01-05T19:43:00.004-09:002009-01-05T20:12:25.221-09:00

Every nation with a scrap of dignity looks back with its founding with pride. In the United States our Founding Fathers are revered for their dedication, bravery, and wisdom.As well they should be, they helped create the most powerful nation the world has ever or will ever see.And we where founded on the express values of liberty and freedom. We know we have fallen short and stumbled at

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-2512756291000673552009-01-05T18:29:00.005-09:002009-01-05T19:39:30.995-09:00

Senate Democrats have no constitutional arguement against seating Gov Blagojevich appointment to Obama's vacated senate seat.None, zip, ziltch, and zero.The senate Democrats need to realize that the Constitution is pretty clear on this. And anybody with a laptop can figure it out, so the senators should not mess it up.If they don't want Burris in the senate, they have to EXPEL him after they

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-84551443584680505182009-01-04T10:10:00.006-09:002009-01-04T11:14:58.345-09:00

Politics. Politics never changes.By many accounts, George Wallace was a very progressive person in his time. As a young circuit judge in Alabama he demanded that black litigants be treated with respect, and in bench cases, was able to find the case in their favor.Then in 1958 George Wallace ran for the governorship of the very racist state of Alabama against John Patterson. After the election

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-25592594035487626842009-01-01T23:52:00.005-09:002009-01-02T00:23:26.674-09:00

I wonder how many years it will take me to stop associating New Years with my 2005 New Years.It was January First, about 1am and I was sleeping in what was basically a huge sardine can at Al Asad, Iraq. Some Iraqi patriot thought it was his duty to wake me (and the whole base) by mortaring the base. The mortar-fire was inaccurate, as was the rule, but I still had to throw my gear on and to my

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-67349603270132909522009-01-01T23:34:00.002-09:002009-01-01T23:49:06.977-09:00

...and I am sure that will always be the case. If I wanted to seriously blog, I would force myself to do a post a day. (At this point I would be lucky to do a post a week).I think I lack the narcissism (but not the arrogance, if that makes sense).It has to take some narcissism to post and expect that a slice of the internet is going to swing buy and take notice of your post.Especially if you

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-73544870175943700212009-01-01T21:11:00.008-09:002009-01-01T23:33:58.059-09:00

To start off, I really try to avoid watching T.V. So, in order to get my news I follow some blogs, read the paper, and subscribe to The Young Turks channel on Youtube. Through my Youtube account I saw Cenk Uyger delighted that Zbigniew Brzezinski told Joe Scarborough that his knowledge of the late 2000 early 20001 peace talks between the Israelites and the Palestinians was "stunningly

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-4286130279432954032008-12-21T21:58:00.007-09:002008-12-24T15:36:11.621-09:00

One of the major news stories for the last couple of weeks has been the corruption scandal surrounding Gov. Blagojevich of Illinois. Not only did the governor try to sell a senate seat to the highest bidder, but apparently took time to taunt Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. that his wife did not get a political appointment because the Jacksons did not contribute $25,000 to the governor's campaign.My

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-60874009285902261372008-12-15T16:12:00.003-09:002008-12-15T16:55:02.555-09:00

I find the fact that Mrs. Kennedy could be appointed to fill the senate seat currently occupied by Sen. Clinton to be deeply disturbing. She has done nothing in my mind to warrant such an appointment.Mrs. Kennedy's most singular distinction is her last name and family. We have no idea what kind of arch her life would have taken if she was President Kennedy's daughter. Its safe to assume she

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-25247417287966673432008-12-09T19:23:00.001-09:002008-12-09T19:37:30.218-09:00

Good news for Alaskans. It gets me down when the international news reports on how corrupt the political culture is up here.Now the international news is going to be reporting on how Illinois is the most corrupt state. Rod Blagojevich, Governor of Illinois, attempting to use his power to appoint the next senator from Illinois attempting to cash out big by selling the seat to the highest

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-89266121256231852232008-11-19T19:53:00.000-09:002008-11-19T20:36:50.461-09:00

Mark Begich was just elected the new senator to represent Alaska in Congress (and only 15 days after the polls closed).Even though the campaign is over there is some concern that the senator-elect does not have a college degree. It was a topic of call-in radio shows, op-eds and blogs. Over at the Alaska Dispatch they are asking if this is a big deal.Of course it is not a big deal.I went to

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-64522437790506394382008-11-19T19:39:00.000-09:002008-11-19T19:53:11.241-09:00

Three years ago I ended my active service in the Marines, left San Diego and returned home to Eagle River. Since I have been back I have been productive. I went to University and graduated with a BA in Justice, got involved in the local community and ran for public office (losing badly in the general election).One thing I did not do is stay in shape. Since I got out I have gained, on average,

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-52418855321128115172008-11-19T18:36:00.001-09:002008-11-19T19:38:50.096-09:00

Off to the right I added the books on my reading list. I do a lot of reading and usually do not stick to one genre. Aside from the news and blogs I read a lot of history, science fiction, fantasy, suspense and philosophy.Right how I am slogging my way through:The Spirit of the Laws by Montesquieu. I was first introduced to this text through a political philosophy class taught by Dr. Muller at

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-36197995705849660502008-11-17T15:19:00.000-09:002008-11-17T16:27:31.089-09:00

The pirates in the Gulf of Aden are up to it again. In September they captured Ukrainian freighter that was carrying thirty Soviet area tanks and today they captured a supertanker carrying up to two million barrels of oil.News like this brings out the hawk in me. Somalia has been a failed state for close to two decades now. The pirates find safe haven in coast cities and show obvious strength

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-37330446406249401042008-11-16T16:21:00.001-09:002008-11-16T19:00:57.057-09:00

For years there has been social turmoil over gay rights and right now the focus is on gay marriage. Laws like Prop 8, The Defense of Marriage Act, and the like are not only morally wrong, they are also unconstitutional. Lets look at the constitutional issues.First, a quick overview of how the law is suppose to work. There are different levels of law in the United States, with higher levels

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759855213324590102.post-65931780071175923082008-11-16T15:59:00.001-09:002008-11-16T15:59:41.205-09:00

For a while now I have wanted to put the thoughts I have running through my head down on paper. This would help me make some sense out of them, as well as share and refine them. Some ideas on what I want to post are about current events in Alaska, the United States, and the World. I will try and give my two amateurish cents on the Supreme Court (but they seem to be hibernating since they

Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951999523806556478noreply@blogger.com0