A new paper by Cliff Groh, in collaboration with ISER faculty, looks at how the state government has dealt so far with a very big problem: the state's two largest retirement systems for public employees don't have enough money to cover future costs of pensions and benefits for state and...
Here is the Night Music Playlist with Kirk Waldhaus. All tracks played are listed below in the following format: Title Artist / Composer (if known or if blank the artist or unknown) Album Label Song Duration 8:00 – 9:00 I Didn’t Know About You John Colianni / Ellington I Never Knew Patuxent CD-309 4:15 Little
Israel pulls warplanes from Red Flag training exercises due to rising regional tensions; Cleanup continues for fuel spills in Savoonga and Nome; Mat-Su Borough Assembly approves Chijuk Creek timber contract; State renews Pebble land use permit; Fairbanks students need parents' permission to participate in walkout, district says; Washington State ferries to look harder at diesel […]
Attention Alaskans and would-be Alaska visitors! The Anchorage Museum Thomas Planetarium will officially reopen on Saturday, April 21 after an exended renovation period. International Astronomy Day is a fun way to not only introduce kids to stars and planets, it’s also a great opportunity to embrace the concept that there is far, far more to […]
Hello friends, We have a meeting coming up this Saturday at 3:30 on the fifth floor of the Pioneer Home in glamorous downtown Anchorage. To get a different angle on PD, my hope is to have a discussion centered around the question "What is something that I learned from having Parkinson's Disease? " So come […]
Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris My rating: 3 of 5 stars I listened to the Audible version mixed with reading the Kindle version. I was really looking forward to reading this book. Perhaps my excitement over it raised my expectations too high. It isn’t a bad story. The Audible version is excellently read. I […]
Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris My rating: 3 of 5 stars I listened to the Audible version mixed with reading the Kindle version. I was really looking forward to reading this book. Perhaps my excitement over it raised my expectations too high. It isn’t a bad story. The Audible version is excellently read. I […]
On the last day of November, I went outside after dark for a winter beehive check. I wanted to see if the honey bees were still alive and if they needed more food. This is our first winter with bees, and Alaska beehives don’t have high survival rates for wintering over. Alaska winters are extremely […]
Driving through neighborhoods during fall time, it’s common to see big black trash bags stuffed with raked leaves sitting on the curb, waiting for garbage day. When your yard (or a nearby neighbor’s yard) is filled with leafy, deciduous trees, although it’s a chore to rake up falling leaves, you’re actually bagging up brown gold that […]
These smooth and creamy Dairy Free Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes are so easy and convenient to prepare. I love being able to throw everything in the Instant Pot bowl and walk away, instead of... Visit Allergy Free Alaska to view the full post!
We came to this land in June of this year, in the midst of a heatwave. We thought we could make a home from the dust but we left after less than two weeks, frustrated. Our plans foiled. Maybe it wasn’t time yet. Maybe we wimped out. And so we left. For two months […]
I lack direction.Well, in addition to that, I mean I lack a sense of direction. I have been known to make four right turns and be utterly mystified that I came back to where I was. So negotiating a new place takes practice.In New York, this is how I leave a subway or a building: […]
When I was a teenager, my mother used to take me to Dora Myers Corsetry to buy bras, and I HATED IT. Old ladies with glasses strung on beaded chains would poke and prod at me, and – did I mention I HATED IT? Why couldn’t we just go to Macy’s like all the other […]
Alaska officials are denying they’ve officially cut a deal to let off easy Kami Cabana, the now notorious seine-boat skipper indicted on charges of felony assault with a weapon after a Prince […]
If Facebook = journalism = Facebook, why does the world need journalism? This might be the number one issue facing journalism today, but it’s unclear whether it is recognized by all journalism businesses. […]
So I’m in Tucson, with no Internet access (I’ve wisely scheduled these posts so that it looks as if I’m more connected than I really am, hee, hee), and when I finally got my butt to the library and opened up my email, I was met with good news: My hybrid creative nonfiction piece How Mary,… […]
Good news on tax day: I just started I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez and I am blown away. I’ve read a lot of good books lately, and while I’ve raved about some of them, this one is in a category all of its own. What I love most is the… […]
This is the best recipe I've tried in a long time. I found it over on "The Domestic Rebel"....my picky-picky husband is in love with this sweet treat!!!The bottom crust is a deliciously TENDER shortbread, then there is a simple layer of raspberry jam, nuts and more shortbread pieces on top. It couldn't be easier!!! […]
My list of 10 Best Gifts for Cooks and Food Lovers helps last minute shoppers buy great presents for the food obsessed; most of the items on the list I’ve used and loved for years. Most importantly, if you act quickly, there’s still time to order most of my recommended gifts and have them arrive […]
100 Plus Women Who Care is a group of inspiring women philanthropists who are contributing to the Mat-Su community Source: WelcomeFiled under: Ramblings
In Anchorage, Alaska right now it's about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. I'm putting out seeds that are safe for before the final frost, and my rhubarb is starting to come up. For all of you who are waiting for spring, I hope you enjoy this coloring page! You can print the blank Tulips in the Sun […]
Do you have unused gun or outdoor gear equipment around the house? Now you can sell it when the Sitka Sportsman’s Association hosts a gun and outdoor gear swap on Saturday, April 21, at the Sitka Sportsman’s Association shooting range … Continue reading →
I LOVE my grandmother’s navy bean soup, but it takes forever to make with soaking the beans overnight and then slow cooking the soup all day. I decided to try it in my Instant Pot and it was a success! Not only that, but my kids loved it…score! Ingredients: 1-2 Tbs. olive oil 1 onion, diced 3 […]
After the steadier rain of Wednesday, Thursday’s pattern shifted to more showery conditions. As the day went on, the sun broke through a few times, but the trade off was especially heavy showers at times. This lasted into the night, … Continue reading →
I woke this morning to the sound of wet weather – rain drops on the roof, and cars driving on wet roads. Rain continued through much of the day – with the forecast for more to come into the weekend. … Continue reading →
A few nights ago I had a “breakwater” experience in my photography career. A tidal one. A heart-stopping, adrenaline pumping, oh-shoot-what-now, moment. I’ve had quite a time laughing at it now and feel I need get it down for the record so that 10 years from now I can’t stretch the story too much. So […]
At the end of July we took the boat over to Halibut Cove to hike the Saddle Trail with the kids to picnic at Grewingk Glacier Lake. It's a great trail for kids to master themselves, and Riggs hiked the whole way himself. Raina was in the backpack, but more because we wanted to hike […]
Every spring feels like waking up from hibernation--despite best attempts at warding off seasonal affective disorder. I recall asking my cousins and aunt how they survived the winters when we visited Alaska three years before moving here, as that was my biggest reason for not wanting to live in Alaska. They said you need to […]
Well, 2017 was not a good garden year in my area, even for those of us with greenhouses/high tunnels. I'm sure I didn't help my chances at all; we had a month between returning home from the States and getting the roof on the high tunnel, and I didn't start any seeds or work the […]
The Friday Frenzy link up--dedicated to sharing YOUR best content across nine blogs and their social media channels. The post Friday Frenzy April 20th appeared first on Little House Big Alaska. No related posts.
One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. “Which road do I take?”, she asked. “Where do you want to go?”, was his response. “I don’t know”, Alice answered. “Then”, said the cat, “it doesn’t matter.” ~ Lewis Carroll It is Christmas day, and I […]
I’ll be the first to tell you I’m not a fan of pink, painting my nails, makeup, cutesy knick-knacks, or chick flicks. So when I look at those “best Christmas gifts for women” lists, there really isn’t much on them I’d actually want to receive for Christmas. I’m just not a girly-girl. I’d rather have […]
Mountain View voter turnout more than doubled during Anchorage’s first vote-by-mail election this spring. In precincts 500 and 505, where turnout has previously hovered below 7 percent, approximately 15.58 and 13.5 percent of registered voters cast a ballot in the 2018 municipal election, according to results published by the Municipal Clerk’s Office. It’s the first […]
WC has been accused of posting photos of boring birds. While there are no boring birds, it’s true that some have broader appeal than others. So here’s a lot of folks’ candidate for the most beautiful bird in the Western Hemisphere, the Resplendant Quetzal. The bird is about 15 inches long, plus about 26 inches […]
Labor Day weekend brought big change to the cabin...we got a driveway right up to the house! All summer we have parked out on the main driveway and used the quad or the 6x6 to get up to the house. In June my dad helped me cut a new trail in following what would become […]
There's no better way to start your day thanwith a piece of this incredible sourdough coffee cakeand a nice cup of hot coffee...Servings: (9) Prep: 10 Mins.Bake: 30 to 35 Mins.INGREDIENTSCake1 cup 'fed' sourdough starter --[Click this link for "Sandra's Homemade Sourdough Starter"]1⁄3 cup Mazola oil1 large egg1 cup all-purpose flour3⁄4 cup granulated sugar1⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt1 […]
A terrific addition to smoothies, hot or iced tea, cocktails, etc.Yield: 1-3/4 cups Prep: 5 Mins.Cook: 2 Mins.INGREDIENTS:1 cup granulated sugar1 cup waterJuice of 1 large lemonMETHODIn a small saucepan, combine the 1 cup of sugar with 1 cup of water and bring to a boil. Simmer over moderately low heat, stirring, until the sugar […]
Took me 4 years to get to this workshop. When I wrote a story about my garbage anxiety when the bears wake up and raid our cul-de-sac and the […] The post Erma Bombeck Workshop: Get Your Funny On! appeared first on Lois Paige Simenson.
[from SAFM cookbook] This wonderful recipe comes directly from I Heart Kale and their blog at http://iheartkale.blogspot.com 3 large red waxy potatoes, very thinly sliced 4 tablespoons melted salted butter 10 leaves kale (the curly-edged green or purple kinds are good here), washed, stemmed and finely chopped freshly ground black pepper 5 tablespoons grated parmesan […]
Welcome to the Friday Frenzy, the Best Food and Craft Link Party on the Web. Why is it the best? We’ll be sharing your posts on Facebook on our new Friday Frenzy page, we invite you to follow the page and share the posts When you link your favorite posts to the Friday Frenzy your […]
Winter ecstasyThis week is spring break for Kodiak schools.Waaaay back in the 20th Century, spring break trips to the mountains were a big part of my time as a student at the University of Alaska.This year, Elias and I revived that tradition of spring break trips to the mountains and made our long-planned foray to […]
Last week we finally got out on the water to start our pilot study of juvenile Pacific cod winter ecology.It was a little nerve-racking to use someone else's boat (the University's skiff). We're pretty used to knowing the gear we rely on.But everything went just fine. We had a cracker day, as you can see.And […]
I got a text message from a friend with a link. Being a troglodyte, I can't go to websites on my phone (but I do get texts!), so I checked on my computer. It was ominous in that it had FBI in the url and Kokayi thinks of himself as something of a trouble maker. […]
I can't keep up the pace I started this morning. Here are just some notesHeather Bryant presented on Using Data. A great quote went something like, "Data and Fact are synonyms in the dictionary only."This is a topic I've scratched a number of times. Heather reminded me of lots of things I've heard before but […]
Today's selection -- from Hallelujah Junction by John Adams. In 2003, composer John Adams composed the magnificent piece Dharma at Big Sur. Though it is now widely loved and often described as quiet, spacious, soaring and open, Adams considered the premiere of this piece to be a failure. The piece has two movements, A New […]
Today's encore selection -- from Seinfeldia by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong. The pilot for Jerry Seinfeld's new sitcom tested poorly and did not include a woman in the ensemble -- just Jerry, George and Kramer. When NBC, which considered canceling the series, ordered four more episodes, they suggested adding a stronger female presence: "The network did […]
It takes 7 Cascade Events to lead to a disaster. What can we learn from these events? What were the 7 events in the case of the Titanic? Why did Titanic Sink? from Cool Gus Publishing Cool Gus wants me to remind you that Area 51: Redemption comes out in 9 days. It will also […]
If you live in the red area on this map, you must read this. A large portion of the country is facing what is being called a history and unprecedented wildfire condition. Dry and windy is a very dangerous combination. Wildfires move fact and are unpredictable. Here is how to prepare and what to do […]
President Obama appears in a BuzzFeed video promoting the Affordable Care Act. FOXNews: “I yearn for my president looking presidential and serious right now.” George Will: “Some people think this diminishes the presidency.” President Obama in a radio interview with Marc Maron … Continue reading →
In the world of espionage, there are spies — and then there are spies. The majority of spies operate under an official cover. They may actually be agents of an intelligence service — the CIA, for example — but they’re usually … Continue reading →
Originally posted on Smorgasbord - Variety is the spice of life: Welcome to the new series of the Smorgasbord Sunday Interview – Getting to Know You…and to show you how it will look when you participate.. I am going first. As writers we tend to share aspects of our work in interviews, such as our…
Honestly, I feel like this week was dedicated almost entirely to errands. I remember driving a lot, weather being wacky, and a few really nasty anxiety attacks. Good thing I didn’t try to edit or write during this period because … Continue reading →
Originally posted on The Militant Negro™: The lovely and talented Ms. Sally Cronin who runs a first rate blog called Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life has started a new series…..I’ll just let you read all about it…. Here is…
One litmus test for being a serious procrastinator: there are items on your to-do list that were there a year ago. A year is more than one percent of even a very long life—what could be so difficult or intimidating that we’d avoid it for that long? For some of us, anything really: making a […]
Now that H has retired and his health insurance is that old people insurance – aka Medicare – Andrew is no longer covered for dental. So yesterday I was searching online for some dental insurance for Andrew. I just wanted to see the costs so I could compare. Of course this site wanted info so […]
"If you only walk on sunny days, you'll never reach your destination." Paulo Coelho PRINT SHOP! : new, new, new prints in the shop! check 'em out Even If You Don't Feel Ready : "there's no telling where a ripple might lead" How I Learned to Stop Absorbing Others' Emotions : so important! Warm Ocean […]
Souvenir Sheet, Great Illustrators, $4.25I was delighted to hear that artist Will Davies has been honored by Canada with a postage stamp.Mr. Davies, one of five artists honored, was an illustrator who created more than 500 covers for Harlequin, originally a Toronto-based company.Back in the day, cover art was created from original drawings or paintings […]
Since Sunday, all of Houston has known that former First Lady Barbara Bush was on Comfort Care. We knew that meant it was just a matter of days before this amazing woman passed.Word came yesterday afternoon that she was gone. We've lost a treasure, not just a former First Lady.Barbara Bush was everything I admire […]
Social Media have become a dominating force in our lives over the past decade. Just look at these mind-blowing statistics: The average person has 5 social media accounts The average person spends 1 hour 40 minutes per day on social media Facebook has over 1.4 billion users 50% of all Internet users are on Facebook […]
"My favorite word? Oh, honor. That to me is more than a word. That’s a way of life. I mean, I’d die for honor. That sounds melodramatic maybe, but, that’s how I feel." WASP Shutsy Reynolds Pioneering woman pilot, silversmith, lapidarist, silk screener, airbrush artist and humanitarian Florence Shutsy Reynolds took her last flight on […]
“It seemed to me that there were very clear issues in World War II, and I wanted to be part of it...to tell the truth, I really wanted to be a hero.” WASP Carla Howard Horowitz Carla Howard Horowitz was born May 28, 1922, in Chicago. It was there she […]
Hello and Welcome to this weeks podcast of "The Minstral Show"!Episode 40 After a long difficult week in the Geopolitical arena, its important to shed the build-up of negative emotional energy that is brought on by having to battle against the insolent insanity of our out of control establishment.Music is one of the best ways I […]
I’m looking for a book I read in the 1980s about a man who was diagnosed with a brain tumor while living on the mainland. He traveled to Kauai and spent time on the beach, and traveled back roads through … Continue reading →
Wicked Book Weekend is THIS WEEKEND!!! Over a year of work and it’s all coming to a head! Eeek! *This page will shut down the week of 4/18. This list will not be updated after 4/18 so make sure you check prices. Welcome to the weekly list! The 99¢ and FREE list has gotten […]
EYES OF THE TIGER, my 100th book, is not a story that came easily to me. I got the idea when I saw my first Bollywood movie, Om Shanti Om. The theme of karma and reincarnation generated ideas for a reincarnation romantic thriller. It took an amazing amount of research, multiple tries to get […]
Where did the term 420 come from (and what does it mean)? Anyone who has ever been a teenager and attended public schools probably already knows that 420 refers to marijuana. It’s legal now, either medical or recreational or both, in over half the states in the nation, so I suppose it no longer needs […]
We are excited to give away an Amazon Gift Card worth $20 to one of our lucky visitors. We will be doing many more of these in the future. This is the first one we have done in a while. To enter, please follow the instructions on the giveaway app below. Good luck! a Rafflecopter […]
We love introducing Instafreebie readers to great stories and big ideas. Take a chance on new authors and try great stories from old favorites. See it first every day with Instafreebie and be free to discover authors you’ll love. We’re thrilled to share the latest and greatest from our teen and young adult genres! Paranormal Fantasy A […]
"Ruins of San Francisco City Hall following earthquake and fire of April 1906." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.
When on the hunt for a diesel truck, there are many factors to consider. This is especially important if it will be your first diesel-powered vehicle. There are huge differences between the engine, maintenance, and fuel demands of gasoline-powered and diesel-powered vehicles. Without careful consideration, you might find owning a diesel truck to be a […]
Roman Holiday by Jodi Taylor narrated by Zara Ramm Genre: Science Fiction, Short Story Format: Ebook Series: The Chronicles of St Mary’s #3.5 Publisher: Audible Studios Publication Date: 2015 Length: 1 Hour, 12 Minutes Source: Purchased The Book: From the publisher: Question: What sort of idiot installs his mistress in his wife’s house? Especially when […]
This morning I received an email from the Organic Consumers Association about Ben & Jerry’s annual Free Cone Day. “There’s only one problem,” they wrote. “Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is never free—because we all pay for the health and environmental damage caused by Ben & Jerry’s factory farm dairy practices. Last summer OCA announced […]
I received an email from Well + Good a few weeks ago asking for an expert quote. They were doing a story about rugs shedding and wanted to know if particles from shedding rugs could affect your health. This is something I hadn’t considered before because I’ve had my attention on rugs outgassing toxic chemicals, […]
Today the 7th Annual Authors in Bloom Blog Hop begins and not a moment too soon. Granted, I’ve been gardening for months now, but many of you are chomping at the bit to get outside and get digging. Stop the snow! Hold the chill! Bring on the April showers and May flowers. After all, it’s […]
If you’re a chocolate lover like me, you probably crave a sweet bite of cocoa throughout the day. I know I do. But who needs the sugar? Who needs the extra fat? Certainly not me. Well, let me introduce you to a fabulous recipe for vegan brownie bites that will satisfy any sweet tooth. Any […]
I originally made these lotion bars for my husband. His primary job is as a rock mason and the mortar and rough stone often leaves his hands dry, cracked, and bleeding. At night, I put salve on them, and while that helped a lot, it just wasn’t enough. Lotion bars have a long history of […]
This creamy, hearty orzo dish makes for the best vegetarian side dish ever! Loaded with mushrooms, spinach and freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the most amazing garlic Parmesan cream sauce. You can also add chicken and turn this into a main dish! How bad is it that this was my dinner 4 nights in a […]
It’s your dream come true – a juicy Pork Shoulder Roast with Crispy Crackling AND Gravy. Ultra tender meat, crazy crispy crackling and a gravy to die for. SO easy – no scoring, no... Read More » The post Pork Shoulder Roast with Crispy Crackling appeared first on RecipeTin Eats.
[aka Why I Didn’t and Don’t Read Much RS] Hi friends! This was posted – gosh, February 23, 2011. It was my third post with H&H … and I’m sharing it for a few reasons. First of all, I plan on eventually reposting all my old HH stuff here. Secondly … this specifically ties into […]
I don’t … I mean it’s there, but I feel like I’m going to throw up, typing this. I think Romanceland should know, we lost one of our best this week. I don’t even want to type it out again so … You guys. I’m devastated to tell you that @c2s passed away unexpectedly earlier […]
Friday, not much to report, spent the whole day working on issues that basically remained unresolved anyways. The weather was cool and overcast as well so not conducive to going riding anyways. The sunset for Friday wasn't bad though:Saturday was clear, sunny and much warmer than the last couple of days. Rode out after breakfast […]
After an unusual productive day at work, I left a bit early to run down towards Hanksville, UT to gas up, get some more groceries and do a little recon of possible boondocking sites to the west of Hanksville along UT24. We did have a pretty good sunriseUma, the URRV, was out of position for the […]
Reblogged from Not Tomatoes: Two years ago the weather was the same. The New Hampshire climate is not so different from the Peak District of England. April can be sunny and warm, or it can return, in a moment, to the … Continue reading →
As I schedule a post or two in advance to cover my absence for the Silent Eye’s workshop weekend, there are few things I can predict with any certainty. You never know what is going to happen or how things … Continue reading →