Better living through science
Science provides important answers from how hair dye chemicals work covering the gray to why aren’t as many salmon arriving this year. In Kachemak Bay, we stumble on good science questions each time we take a walk on the beach or drive down the Homer Spit. Tourists ask some good ones as well, like “what [...]
Baiting black bears
Bear-baiting was a popular event in England until the 19th century. Herds of bears were locked away, then brought out to an arena or so-called “bear-gardens.” At the center of the fenced area was a Roman-style pit with raised seating for spectators. A post would be set in the ground toward the edge of the [...]
Help save governor from his current path
It’s understandable when politicians desire to break down big government decisions into bite size doses the masses can more easily digest. How oil companies work or don’t work unless you give them tax breaks. How the sun rises on a full pipeline loaded with crude or it sets on a half full one, in which [...]
Pound of prevention … worth ounce of cure
A disaster drill, held by the Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management, re-enacted a scenario that isn’t too unrealistic: prolonged subzero temperatures combined with fuel shortages from the Mat-Su Borough to the Kenai Peninsula. In the drill, Enstar issues a Code Red Energy Emergency notification due to a severe shortage of natural gas and [...]
Do public officials really listen?
“Please cooperate with federal land managers, especially National Park Service lands, so that federal-state conflicts do not increase regarding wildlife management. The wildlife in NPS areas including the National Preserves, should be managed for ecosystem function, natural fluctuations in all populations, and not managed to prefer certain species over others.” – Richard Anderson, Anchorage “Alaska [...]
Suggested reading on proposed bills
Among the bills introduced in the Alaska Legislature this session, there seems to be a variety of matters, unlike some years when the chances of politics being a spectator sport aren’t so good. Of the 120 plus bill list introduced so far, citizens can, and should, spend a bit of their couch time browsing the [...]
Parnell lays out path to gas line
In his state of the State address last week, Gov. Parnell set out a path for reaching Alaska’s hoped for natural gas development. Its two pronged approach looks at getting Alaska gas for Alaskans, and as an ambitious new economic project to serve for years to come. Let’s hope this new momentum holds so that [...]
Reflections of snow
By Naomi Klouda The recent spate of snow storms and blizzards reminds us how vulnerable humans are when the elements turn against us. Enduring the cold to shovel out huge snow drifts is one thing. It’s another matter when even standing outside grows impossible, sharp winds and horizontal snows aimed straight for ones eyes. Homer’s [...]
Navigating the politics of food
A sure way to feel alienated from food is to avoid knowing where it comes from. Alaskans in particular may fall into the danger of that: red tomatoes show up in the cold of winter, loaded off planes from who knows where. Grapes appear with south America stickers. Corn on the cob that couldn’t possibly [...]
What will 2012 bring?
“An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.” – Bill Vaughn It sure seems that the year 2011 will be remembered for odd storm surges. If there were any necessary proof of a changing climate, one only need point out [...]
