http://alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com/Life at the edge of the continent and top of the world it can change your perspective. This is my attempt to offer The View From Up Here.ennoreply@blogger.com (R. Brett Stirling)Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:58:42 PSTBlogger http://www.blogger.com115125Alaska,,AlaskBlog,,Writing,,Dogs,,Rural,life,,Mushing,,DogsleddingSociety & Culture/Personal JournalsSociety & Culture/Places & Travelstirling25@yahoo.comR. Brett StirlingR. Brett StirlingnoAlaska,,AlaskBlog,,Writing,,Dogs,,Rural,life,,Mushing,,DogsleddingWhen you live at the edge of the continent and top of the world it can change your perspective. This is my attempt to offer The View From Up Here.When you live at the edge of the continent and top of the world it can change your perspective. This is my attempt to offer The View From Up Here.AlaskaTheViewFromUpHerehttp://feedburner.google.comhttp://alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com/2007/09/new-adn-article.htmlWritingRural lifeAlaskaTununakstirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling)Sun, 23 Sep 2007 13:49:57 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20013846.post-2366969917281587371<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">My new job as a K-12 principal is rather all-consuming. Hence the lack of posts since school began. Here is the link to my newest article from the ADN. Something I was able to squeeze in late one night.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.adn.com/life/story/9325941p-9241090c.html">Anchorage Daily News Article 9.23.07</a><br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20013846-2366969917281587371?l=alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com'/></div>0http://alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com/2007/07/photo-post.htmlAlaskaTununakPhotosstirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling)Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:49:02 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20013846.post-8081823664568625746<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">A few photos taken around Tununak recently:</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RqfNQ9CCmDI/AAAAAAAAAIM/p0_nZj2pJvQ/s1600-h/BeachWaves.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RqfNQ9CCmDI/AAAAAAAAAIM/p0_nZj2pJvQ/s320/BeachWaves.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091263594910357554" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RqfNRdCCmEI/AAAAAAAAAIU/sbiqOuHEUKY/s1600-h/IMG_2846.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RqfNRdCCmEI/AAAAAAAAAIU/sbiqOuHEUKY/s320/IMG_2846.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091263603500292162" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RqfNSNCCmFI/AAAAAAAAAIc/Hh_XJAi3aNE/s1600-h/RainbowBeach.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RqfNSNCCmFI/AAAAAAAAAIc/Hh_XJAi3aNE/s320/RainbowBeach.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091263616385194066" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20013846-8081823664568625746?l=alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com'/></div>6http://alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com/2007/07/and-now-for-something-completely.htmlstirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling)Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:49:02 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20013846.post-3151453006566316904<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/Rp-Zor6IjoI/AAAAAAAAAHs/zBQHErXyDaI/s1600-h/your_image.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 286px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/Rp-Zor6IjoI/AAAAAAAAAHs/zBQHErXyDaI/s400/your_image.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088955028212321922" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;">I try rather diligently to avoid the rather vapid mass media fare. I confess that once last year I read an article about Britney Spears. It was an accident. Honest. Careless surfing. I've never read a thing about Paris Hilton or Anna Nicole on purpose. If it weren't for headlines, I'd know nothing about Rosie and Donald or Lindsey Lohan's shrinking waistline and growing stints in rehab. Sadly, despite the fact that I live on the edge of the continent, our "culture" still seep</span><span style="font-family:times new roman;">s in.</span> <span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /><br />Over the nearly ten years I've lived in Alaska, I've owned a cable television subscription one year. To be honest, there are really only two things I miss about not having a television: Dave Letterman and The Simpsons. </span> <span style="font-family:times new roman;">In anticipation of the upcoming Simpsons movie (and as a self-acknowledged shameless marketing ploy) you can be </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.simpsonizeme.com/index.php">Simpsonized.</a><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> This is me, Homer's Alaskan cousin. If you can't get the thing to work. Don't blame me. I'm not listening. I'm up at school working. </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/Rp-dBb6IjpI/AAAAAAAAAH0/TP70Rd_YFBs/s1600-h/school.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/Rp-dBb6IjpI/AAAAAAAAAH0/TP70Rd_YFBs/s320/school.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088958751948967570" border="0" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20013846-3151453006566316904?l=alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com'/></div>0http://alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com/2007/07/dead-whale-found-with-car-size-tongue.htmlAlaskastirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling)Wed, 18 Jul 2007 12:58:20 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20013846.post-3885806250918625064<span style="font-family: times new roman;font-size:100%;" >Every once in a while, you see something online that, like the rubbernecking phenomenon on America's highways, you can only stare at and go, "Humph." You surf away from it and then later by some twisted sense of awe, you find you have to go back through your history files to find the page again and have a second look.<br /><br />For that reason I am posting this link to a photo from the National Geographic website. That and also because recently a friend of mine just returned from a cruise through the Inside Passage. And currently my girlfriend and her family are cruising the Inside Passage in one of the many floating hotels that weave in and out of the fjords each summer.<br /><br /><a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/07/070718-whale-tongue.html">Photo in the News: Dead Whale Found With Car-Size Tongue</a><br /><br />The possibility that this whale death was caused by the collision with a cruise ship brought back to mind an earlier story that most likely missed people's attention.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/wildlife/marine/story/8101826p-7994326c.html">Whale Carcass Docks in Seward<br /></a><br />Nor does this kind of incident appear to be isolated:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6132468/">Cruise Ship Impales Finback</a><br /><br />I will keep my opinion to myself and let these articles stand for themselves.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20013846-3885806250918625064?l=alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com'/></div>0http://alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com/2007/07/anchorage-daily-news-article.htmlAnchorage Daily NewsAlaskaTununakstirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling)Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:49:03 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20013846.post-933214654062331973<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RpFPFqp6VkI/AAAAAAAAAHk/cHPxkj0emew/s1600-h/IMG_2818.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 177px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RpFPFqp6VkI/AAAAAAAAAHk/cHPxkj0emew/s400/IMG_2818.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5084932413046019650" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;">This morning, the <a href="http://www.adn.com/">Anchorage Daily News</a> published my newest article. I don't usually write for them during the summer, but they asked and when this strange craft paddled and sailed its way into shore ahead of the receding tide last Sunday night, I had to oblige. Here is the link to my article:<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><a href="http://www.adn.com/life/story/9116093p-9032356c.html">ADN 7.8.07</a></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br />In addition, here is the link to Babouche and their expedition. Their last update, last night, indicated that they should be arriving in Nome sometime tonight.<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><a href="http://www.babouche-expe.eu/home.html">Babouche Adrenaline Expedition: Anchorage to Greenland </a></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20013846-933214654062331973?l=alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com'/></div>2http://alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com/2007/07/in-hills.htmlWritingAlaskaTununakPhotosstirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling)Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:49:03 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20013846.post-2887751266190173385<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/Roxsj6p6VjI/AAAAAAAAAHc/oEw7hOS-3hU/s1600-h/IMG_2781.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/Roxsj6p6VjI/AAAAAAAAAHc/oEw7hOS-3hU/s400/IMG_2781.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083557443690714674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Morning broke as one of those rare days here where the sky is clear and the wind light. The hilltop behind my house was cloaked in a fog being created as the wind smacked into the rocky face and drifted inland.<br /><br />I hiked into the fog and then climbed above it. The upper reaches of the hill were clear and as I crested the hill and headed inland myself, the village below me and shrouded in the finger of fog.<br /><br />Four musk ox, two cows and two calves grazed below me. The fog dissipated and the wide valley opened to the nearly cloudless sky. The only mark on the blue above, the thin white line behind an intercontinental cargo flight to China.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20013846-2887751266190173385?l=alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com'/></div>2http://alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com/2007/06/tununak-sunset-1229-am.htmlWritingAlaskaTununakPhotosstirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling)Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:49:03 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20013846.post-2732645320373994411<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/Rn4t26ZFU_I/AAAAAAAAAHM/ioLV1VVi-pI/s1600-h/IMG_2715.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 385px; height: 287px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/Rn4t26ZFU_I/AAAAAAAAAHM/ioLV1VVi-pI/s400/IMG_2715.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079547851131147250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;">All day long the wind blew off the ocean. The wind smacked into the twin hills that guard our shallow bay and kept the rocky peaks covered in clouds.<br /><br />Midnight passed and the wind died as the sun dipped toward the horizon. Of course here in the north midnight does not mean sunset. Tununak lies at 60 degrees 35 minutes North roughly the same latitude as Anchorage at 61 degrees 13 minutes.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">It took nearly a half an hour after midnight for the sun to complete it's daily circuit and pass into the ocean. And for a few short hours it will hide from view as the village fades to heliotrope hues. It is as if with the setting sun we were carried into the Belt of Venus.<br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-size:85%;" ><br />(*See my comment on this post.)</span><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20013846-2732645320373994411?l=alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com'/></div>5http://alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com/2007/06/seas-detritus.htmlWritingAlaskaTununakPhotosstirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling)Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:49:03 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20013846.post-2285972010979362791<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RnoVd6ZFU-I/AAAAAAAAAHE/Xjp8X5I2eLU/s1600-h/IMG_2676.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RnoVd6ZFU-I/AAAAAAAAAHE/Xjp8X5I2eLU/s400/IMG_2676.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078395133448508386" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:100%;">In many ways the sea itself is like a living creature. In perpetual motion, as if breathing, it casts its breath on the shore. <br /><br /> The never ending rush of the waves wears down the toughest rock, pummeling the coast again and again slowly polishing the world at its edge, dulling the jagged points.<br /><br />From its depths come the insignificant remnants of our existence. Pepsi cans torn to shreds. Salmon nets, twisted and shredded against the rocks, a damp mess left at the high tide line like the entrails of the fish it was meant to catch. Spruce logs felled hundreds of miles away, their spiral grains exposed to the sun. Their bark skin sanded away. <br /><br />And with the seas deep exhalation of tides it leaves death on the shore. A severed beluga head. A ripped and torn seal carcass the jaw open and teeth exposed in a rotting growl. The bloated behemoth of a walrus rising from the beach like some smooth boulder. The head and tusks hacked from the body and carried away for the ivory. <br /><br />The tide switches, rising now. Soon it will surround the detritus on this beach. More will be deposited. Some will be lifted and carried away. Some will become mired in the silty sand, slowly covered and crushed under the weight of time. Eventually it will disappear, the only reminder the dark fossil lines etched in new stone like the current cliffs above, broken and cracked by the seeping water and freezing wedges. Shattered by time and only then returned to the sea to be smoothed by the eons long after my own footsteps have ceased.<br /></span> </span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20013846-2285972010979362791?l=alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com'/></div>0http://alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com/2007/06/tununak-sights.htmlAlaskaTununakPhotosstirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling)Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:49:03 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20013846.post-7611691646102819055<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RnhsKaZFU9I/AAAAAAAAAG4/VU4TPW5d3yA/s1600-h/IMG_2689.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RnhsKaZFU9I/AAAAAAAAAG4/VU4TPW5d3yA/s400/IMG_2689.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077927505999254482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: times new roman;">After days of rain and wind and overcast skies, the winds switched direction yesterday evening, the clouds blew south and the sky opened up. Along the beach side cliffs, Pelagic Cormorants and ravens have built their nests among the jagged rocks. Drifted snow still lingers on the upper reached of the hillsides and the meltwater trickles through the earth and stone to drop down the to the rocky beach. Spray from the falling water lifts into the air and dampens the surroundings.<br /><br />The trickling of the water is quiet compared with the roaring surf. The low tide breaks itself on the shallows a quarter mile off shore, and the roar of the waves echoes off the steep cliffs. Further off, the dull thud of an aluminum hull resounds across the water as fishermen return from drifting for the running salmon.<br /><br />The sunlight does not last though, as the fickle Bering Sea weather changes yet again, twisting direction and mood. In a few minutes the wind turns and the once clear skies are awash in fog so thick the village a couple miles distant disappears. The salt air thickens with moisture and the black legged Kittiwakes and Parasitic and Long-tailed Jaegers hover in the uncertain atmosphere above the tidal flats.<br /><br />As the fog recedes from shore, boats appear on the rippled flats like apparitions, their pilots mysteriously vanished. Foot prints in the mud the only indication of their path home to wait for the coming tide.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20013846-7611691646102819055?l=alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com'/></div>2http://alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com/2007/06/high-and-dry.htmlRural lifeAlaskaTununakstirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling)Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:49:03 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20013846.post-6899076779958157460<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RmrfdKZFU3I/AAAAAAAAAFs/Vfo7OCLuhB0/s1600-h/IMG_2628.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RmrfdKZFU3I/AAAAAAAAAFs/Vfo7OCLuhB0/s200/IMG_2628.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074113622285046642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Earlier this week the much awaited fuel barge arrived to pump gasoline and stove oil into our school and village tanks. It took them several hours to deliver the fuel by which time the tide had gone out sufficiently that they had to hang out on the tidal flat and wait until the next good high tide nearly 12 hours later.<br /><br />This is really the only option for getting stove oil and gasoline into the villages. Though I haven't checked the store yet, most likely the new barge means a new price. And in the 6 years I have lived out in the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta, there is only one way for fuel prices to go: up. Currently, our village prices are hovering around the $4/gallon mark. Relatively inexpensive by local standards. In Toksook the price of gas is over $5.50/ gallon. And in nearby Newtok who ran out of fuel in the spring and had to have fuel<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> flown</span> in, the current price is $11.83/ gallon. <br /><br />Keep that in mind when you complain about filling up your SUV at $3/gallon.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20013846-6899076779958157460?l=alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com'/></div>0http://alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com/2007/06/first-fish.htmlNative AlaskansRural lifeAlaskaTununakstirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling)Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:49:03 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20013846.post-2175553140245397031<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RmiTIKZFU2I/AAAAAAAAAFk/iax3_MoamWA/s1600-h/IMG_2623.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RmiTIKZFU2I/AAAAAAAAAFk/iax3_MoamWA/s200/IMG_2623.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073466748670661474" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Each May, people all around Alaska await the first fish. There are always stories in the local papers <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">chronicling</span> the arrival of the Copper River Reds the famous first salmon of the season and their arrival in Seattle, LA and New York via transcontinental jets. Not nearly as storied is the arrival of the herring.<br /><br />These relatively small fish come in three waves. Here on Nelson Island the traditional method of drying the fish is to gut them and then braid them together in long loops made of grass. The grass itself comes from a couple special locations around town. One particular spot down by the airport was even illustrated on a local map as being "Reserved for Grass." The strands of grass are braided together into a long loop and then hung from driftwood poles right above the beach.<br /><br />There is a line of these traditional drying poles all the way down the spit. Most families also have a fish pit. After the fish are brought in, the spend a day or so in these pits before they are cleaned and hung. The pits themselves are dug into the ground. Most are lined with grass on the bottom and plywood along the sides. Once full, they are covered with plywood or tarps and then later, once the fish have "rested" they are hung. Most families put up several hundred of the fish. Others clearly break the thousand fish mark. People work long hours braiding the slippery fish together until the pits are empty.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20013846-2175553140245397031?l=alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com'/></div>1http://alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com/2007/05/sunset-in-tununak.htmlAlaskaTununakPhotosstirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling)Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:49:03 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20013846.post-1494948261037953035<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RlvFpmpPbgI/AAAAAAAAAFc/CiL1VM7_xWY/s1600-h/IMG_2570.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RlvFpmpPbgI/AAAAAAAAAFc/CiL1VM7_xWY/s400/IMG_2570.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069863124074458626" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20013846-1494948261037953035?l=alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com'/></div>7http://alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com/2007/05/moving-again-part-ii.htmlDogsRural lifeAlaskaTununakstirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling)Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:49:04 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20013846.post-4802386113861028486<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/Rlo5NmpPbcI/AAAAAAAAAE8/QXNL9JbwR24/s1600-h/IMG_2571.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/Rlo5NmpPbcI/AAAAAAAAAE8/QXNL9JbwR24/s200/IMG_2571.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069427236433522114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;">So after my last post, mpb asked if it was complicated to move a team of dogs. How do you get 9 dogs moved 7 miles when there isn't a road for 500 miles? Sound like a math problem my father would enjoy. In reality it is more like those logic puzzles involving a fox, a chicken and a bag of feed trying to cross the river. Leave the fox and the chicken on the far shore together and return to find only one.<br /><br />I only have 5 carriers for the 9 dogs. And so to move myself and all my stuff in addition to 9 dogs and 9 dog houses, it took three trips in a Cessna 207. The females are relatively small (when compared to the males) weighing in between 45 and 55 pounds. The males on the other hand range from 60 to nearly one hundred for the big Malamute. In addition to their weights, the males tend to be a bit more temperamental. In other words, if anyone is going to fight, it will be the males.<br /><br />So the plane landed at around 6:20 in the evening and we began the process of loading the team. We packed four girls into two carriers (like I said, the girls are smaller and much more amenable to tight quarters and company). And then packed the rest of the plane with my stuff. Barely had the plane leveled off before we were on the descent. Seven miles in a plane is not a great jaunt. I had just enough time to trace the course of the creek and note several beaver lodges and dams in a mental map before we landed.<br /><br />We offloaded the dogs and most of my stuff and then hurriedly trucked it up the hill in the school's suburban where I hastily put out the four dogs on a picket line secured to the wooden pilings my house rests on motored back down the hill in time to meet the second load with three more dogs and my girlfriend. She stayed with the dogs and our stuff while I hoped back on the plane with the empty carriers to pick up the last two dogs and as many of the dog houses as we could.<br /><br />The plane left Tununak and skimmed along the 700 foot hill between the two villages. The hill rose above us to the right and I followed the dark track of turned up tundra with my eyes, tracing the inter-village trail that was now a soggy impassable mess.<br /><br />Just after 8:30 we touched down one last time in my new home, offloaded the rest of the gear and watched as the pilot took off, in a hurry to be headed back to Bethel. It took several more trips back and forth between the airport and my new home to ferry all my belongings up the hill but eventually, everything was here. Of course, it is all still in boxes but at least the dogs' houses are put back together and the huskies are staked out and happy.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20013846-4802386113861028486?l=alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com'/></div>2http://alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com/2007/05/moving-again.htmlAlaskaLifestylestirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling)Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:49:04 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20013846.post-279536400771062963<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/Rlo5gGpPbdI/AAAAAAAAAFE/35w9Ed12eTw/s1600-h/IMG_2552.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/Rlo5gGpPbdI/AAAAAAAAAFE/35w9Ed12eTw/s200/IMG_2552.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069427554261102034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;">I moved to Alaska in 1997. August 12th, 1997 to be specific. I bought a one way ticket to Anchorage and then a one way ticket to Fairbanks. Unfortunately the tickets were 10 hours apart, so I spent nearly a dozen restless hours waiting for that flight to Fairbanks. I lived out of a hotel for over two weeks while I waited for my belongings to arrive via barge from Seattle.<br /><br />Though I know it isn't true, I feel like some of my belongings are still in the cardboard boxes they were in a dozen years ago. Since I moved out of that hotel on Geist Road, I have moved ten times in ten years. I lived in three different places in Fairbanks including the old A-frame with almost no insulation, 1x2 walls and an ancient oil drip heater that had three settings: low, medium and Hell. You could put a glass of water on the floor at night and by morning it would be frozen, yet meanwhile in the sleeping loft you would have to open the window at 25 below or else you would cook like a roast chicken.<br /><br />And then I moved to the hills. Chatanika, 30 miles out of town where I spent the first year freezing and sleepless most of the winter because the barrel stove just didn't retain enough heat to make it through the night.<br /><br />Despite the fact that I lived in Kongiganak for five years, I moved four times. And now again, my life is in boxes, awaiting the chartered 207 to take me and and the nine huskies the seven miles over the hill to my new home in Tununak. Ten moves in as many years. My hope is to unpack the boxes and not repack them again for years to come.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20013846-279536400771062963?l=alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com'/></div>4http://alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com/2007/05/pictorial-essay-for-adn.htmlAnchorage Daily NewsRural lifeAlaskaPhotosstirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling)Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:49:06 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20013846.post-6587333149077452331<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RkdRtfT0KtI/AAAAAAAAAEU/mygTNNzG-Tk/s1600-h/IMG_2466.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 127px; height: 95px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RkdRtfT0KtI/AAAAAAAAAEU/mygTNNzG-Tk/s200/IMG_2466.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064106147941984978" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;">This morning, Mother's Day, my newest article for the Anchorage Daily News was published. It is not about a thrilling dogsled ride or battle with a </span><span style="font-family:times new roman;">musk ox. It's not even about hunting or fishing or basketball. It </span><span style="font-family:times new roman;">is sim</span><span style="font-family:times new roman;">ply about time I got outside and looked around. Winter has lifted and despite the mud and the frigid mornings, it is sometimes necessary to pay attention to the small details.</span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><a href="http://www.adn.com/life/story/8881186p-8781527c.html"><br />May ADN </a></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><a href="http://www.adn.com/life/story/8881186p-8781527c.html">Article</a></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">So in order to accompany my article for today I want to provide you with some of the pictures that I took while taking the walk for this piece. Again, nothing fancy or elaborate. But to be honest, life is rarely thrilling and exciting.</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RkdM3_T0KqI/AAAAAAAAAD8/htSHbfM3J5E/s1600-h/IMG_2463.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 165px; height: 124px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RkdM3_T0KqI/AAAAAAAAAD8/htSHbfM3J5E/s200/IMG_2463.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064100830772472482" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RkdM4fT0KrI/AAAAAAAAAEE/xFjiGZjC8o8/s1600-h/IMG_2455.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 162px; height: 122px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RkdM4fT0KrI/AAAAAAAAAEE/xFjiGZjC8o8/s200/IMG_2455.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064100839362407090" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RkdRs_T0KsI/AAAAAAAAAEM/jeYGukLgVSM/s1600-h/IMG_2457.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 166px; height: 125px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RkdRs_T0KsI/AAAAAAAAAEM/jeYGukLgVSM/s200/IMG_2457.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064106139352050370" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RkdRtvT0KuI/AAAAAAAAAEc/F3vIrNVy-Wk/s1600-h/IMG_2473.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 120px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RkdRtvT0KuI/AAAAAAAAAEc/F3vIrNVy-Wk/s200/IMG_2473.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064106152236952290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RkdWjPT0KxI/AAAAAAAAAE0/WSB1E_rAl5Q/s1600-h/IMG_2478.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 162px; height: 121px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RkdWjPT0KxI/AAAAAAAAAE0/WSB1E_rAl5Q/s200/IMG_2478.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064111469406464786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RkdM3PT0KoI/AAAAAAAAADs/Ydfg3U6pMUc/s1600-h/IMG_2451.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 163px; height: 122px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RkdM3PT0KoI/AAAAAAAAADs/Ydfg3U6pMUc/s200/IMG_2451.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064100817887570562" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RkdRufT0KwI/AAAAAAAAAEs/rlHNE4D9UK4/s1600-h/IMG_2469.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 163px; height: 122px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RkdRufT0KwI/AAAAAAAAAEs/rlHNE4D9UK4/s200/IMG_2469.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064106165121854210" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RkdRuPT0KvI/AAAAAAAAAEk/wANJeXfIkMg/s1600-h/IMG_2468.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 162px; height: 123px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RkdRuPT0KvI/AAAAAAAAAEk/wANJeXfIkMg/s200/IMG_2468.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064106160826886898" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RkdM3fT0KpI/AAAAAAAAAD0/DzoK2st2CMk/s1600-h/IMG_2454.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 162px; height: 121px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RkdM3fT0KpI/AAAAAAAAAD0/DzoK2st2CMk/s200/IMG_2454.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064100822182537874" border="0" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20013846-6587333149077452331?l=alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com'/></div>3http://alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com/2007/05/breaking-up.htmlWritingAnchorage Daily NewsRural lifeAlaskaLifestylestirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling)Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:49:06 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20013846.post-8644724344960721384<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RkPEVPT0KnI/AAAAAAAAADk/dNRRCGUogBU/s1600-h/IMG_2494.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 128px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RkPEVPT0KnI/AAAAAAAAADk/dNRRCGUogBU/s200/IMG_2494.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063106275260508786" border="0" /></a>As I stepped off the boardwalk today on my way home, I traversed solid ground for the first time in a week. The sun was shining and the azure sky took a minute to get adjusted to after the obnoxious florescents of the school.<br /><br />I looked out across the bay as I have nearly every day for the past six months to see something unexpected. A huge swath of deep blue water had worked it's way into the ice. The lead looked crystal clear and pure through my binoculars. No doubt amid the chunks of floating ice, seals were swimming. I suppose that despite my reluctance to admit it, winter is truly gone. There is no turning back. Soon the ice will be gone completely, men will launch their boats for herring and then halibut and then the salmon will arrive. Nets will fill and racks will be lined with drying fish. <br /><br />And with the end of winter comes the end of the school year. Our six students will graduate tomorrow and I will travel to my old home in Kongiganak for their graduation Saturday and in a week the year will be behind us. And once again for the tenth time in as many years I will be boxing up my life and moving. <br /><br />On another Note:<br />Sunday will see my newest article for the <a href="www.adn.com">Anchorage Daily News.</a> As usual, I will post a link to the article here. However, this Sunday I will include a pictorial essay to accompany the story so come back Sunday morning to check it out. If you don't see it early Sunday morning remember, Alaska Standard Time is four hours behind the East coast. I may not be up yet!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20013846-8644724344960721384?l=alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com'/></div>0http://alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com/2007/04/mud.htmlAlaskaLifestylestirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling)Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:49:06 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20013846.post-2863561738452876296<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RjRAgg2-p_I/AAAAAAAAADc/D4x7fsYxIbg/s1600-h/IMG_2427.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RjRAgg2-p_I/AAAAAAAAADc/D4x7fsYxIbg/s200/IMG_2427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058739208764434418" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Back east, my mother and father are putting up blue bird feeders and picking flowers. Here, I am mired in mud.<br /><br />Alaska Magazine usually runs reader submitted lines to complete the following sentence starter: "Real Alaskans..." My own response to this would be simple. Real Alaskans' favorite season is winter.<br /><br />This might seem counter-intuitive to those who do not live here. And yet every April as the melt water runs and the first inch or two of ground thaw to a soupy slurry that collects on everything and then dries to a fine dusty powder that is impossible to completely clean, I become nostalgic for the dying winter.<br /><br />Millions of tourists are readying their hip bags and cleaning their lenses and gassing up the RVs. Soon they will descend on our state in much the same way that every year the billions of pesky mosquitoes do. The first ones of the season are slow and stupid. As the season progresses their numbers increase exponentially and and their speed and perpetual buzz become nearly unbearable.<br /><br />Sure, I look forward to salmon hanging from the racks and the shallow sunsets that ski the horizon with golden hues. Still, deep within me, there is some sense of longing for the pure white world of winter. Even as it is ending in muddy streams all around me I am waiting for the first freezes of autumn and the dusting of powder on the hills and for all the dog crap to refreeze.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20013846-2863561738452876296?l=alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com'/></div>5http://alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com/2007/04/april-adn-article.htmlNative AlaskansWritingAnchorage Daily Newsstirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling)Sun, 08 Apr 2007 18:36:20 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20013846.post-3445969504295971093<span style="font-family: times new roman;">After a long accidental hiatus, I have a new article in the Anchorage Daily News. If you have been watching "Deal or No Deal" lately, then you have an idea what it is about. One thing that didn't make it into the article was the way my students conducted a genealogy in class. When they started talking about Alaska Native Heidi Kurtz, they quickly started tracing her family ties. They quickly knew she was related to someone in Toksook Bay. That only seemed to add to her fame.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.adn.com/life/story/8776467p-8677896c.html">April ADN Article</a></span><a href="http://www.adn.com/life/story/8776467p-8677896c.html"><span class="on down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);"></span></a><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20013846-3445969504295971093?l=alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com'/></div>4http://alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com/2007/03/on-runners.htmlDogsDogsleddingAlaskastirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling)Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:49:07 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20013846.post-3887370645891129302<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RgIX4ypQZUI/AAAAAAAAADA/yIYCbb7ohvc/s1600-h/IMG_2356.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RgIX4ypQZUI/AAAAAAAAADA/yIYCbb7ohvc/s200/IMG_2356.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044620797043303746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;">After months of procrastination and small progress, I was able to crank out a couple solid days of work on my new dogsled and get her finished. I had intended to simply replace the runners on my old sled, but the more I looked at it the more parts needed to be replaced and in the end what I have is a completely new sled. So last Saturday I took the chance to take it out and pack my camping gear for an overnight run. Temperatures were rising to about 10 above in the day time and dropping to around zero to 10 below at night. Perfect.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RgIYvSpQZVI/AAAAAAAAADI/GMYlPoiCT_Y/s1600-h/IMG_2364.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RgIYvSpQZVI/AAAAAAAAADI/GMYlPoiCT_Y/s200/IMG_2364.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044621733346174290" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">I took out an odd team of seven, leaving Cormac and the injured Kafka, and set out across the frozen bay around six in the evening. The sun set around nine and we ran on into the night, stopping at midnight, thirty miles down the trail from Toksook Bay. There I set up camp for the night fed and bedded down the team and slept fitfully in my Arctic Oven.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RgIZmSpQZWI/AAAAAAAAADQ/HpHAm7Rd7m4/s1600-h/IMG_2365.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RgIZmSpQZWI/AAAAAAAAADQ/HpHAm7Rd7m4/s200/IMG_2365.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044622678238979426" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;">At dawn I rousted myself and the team and headed back for home. We found an easier and straighter trail, cut three miles from our trek and made the total trip of 57.5 miles in just about twenty and a half hours. Certainly not up to <a href="http://www.iditarod.com/">Iditarod</a> standards, (especially after<a href="http://www.adn.com/iditarod/race_2007/features/story/8704738p-8609221c.html"> Lance Mackey</a> destroyed all standards for the <a href="http://www.iditarod.com/">Iditarod </a>this year) but a great run for my little team.<br /><a href="http://www.mackeyscomebackkennel.com/">Lance Mackey's Kennel Page</a><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20013846-3887370645891129302?l=alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com'/></div>6http://alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com/2007/02/i-stepped-out-of-school-this-evening-at.htmlToksook Baystirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling)Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:49:07 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20013846.post-4655174410438993385<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RdqgcuudFvI/AAAAAAAAAC0/p3L7FyX0D2A/s1600-h/IMG_2303.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 138px; height: 111px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RdqgcuudFvI/AAAAAAAAAC0/p3L7FyX0D2A/s200/IMG_2303.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5033511948979607282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;">I stepped out of the school this evening at a few minutes past eight o'clock. The students who had for the last hour or so filled the commons with the beating drums and stomping feet and laughter that is Yuraq or Eskimo dancing, have all left. In it's place is the hollow thrumping of a half dozen basketballs echoing off the gym floor as the high schoolers enjoy their "Open Gym" night.<br /><br />Yesterday the wind had blown and the clouds were low and thick. Today, is another thing entirely. As I step into the air tonight there is not a hint of wind and I am greeted by the scythe-like sliver of moon hanging in the West and below it, beaming and twinkling through the fat atmosphere, the planet Venus. I stopped, stared at the gem colored sky and was reminded of a conversation I had had not three days earlier with one of my students. We were looking at an image in the book I'm reading, <a href="http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=65-9780345376596-2">Carl Sagan's Pale Blue Dot</a>,* when I stopped to explain that it was an image of my favorite word in the English language: Earthshine.<br /><br />It is a simple compound word. It practically states its meaning for you. The Earth, over 75% water and ice, acts like a giant mirror in space and reflects light back onto the moon. That is why during the thinnest of crescents, the entire orb is visible. The Earth shines. I stared at the moon and the Earth's reflection on her darkened face and I found myself singing a line from Pink Floyd,<br /><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/pinkfloyd/shineonyoucrazydiamondiv.html"><span style="font-size:100%;">"</span></a></span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/pinkfloyd/shineonyoucrazydiamondiv.html"><span style=";font-size:100%;" >Remember when you were young,<br /> you shone like the sun.<br /> Shine on you crazy diamond."</span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">*</span><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:85%;">By the way, if you have never seen the 1989 Voyager view of Earth, check it out: <a href="http://earthbydavidbrin.pbwiki.com/f/earth-pale-blue-dot.jpg">Pale Blue Dot</a><br /><a href="http://www.humanistsofutah.org/2001/PaleBlueDot_6-01.html">Excerpt from Sagan's book</a> in explanation of the photo.<br /> And more recently as seen by the<a href="http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.cfm"> Cassini spacecraft</a> orbiting Saturn: <a href="http://static.flickr.com/93/254916322_4b836653ee.jpg">looking back through the rings</a></span> <br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20013846-4655174410438993385?l=alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com'/></div>1http://alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com/2007/02/oh-waiter-reality-check-please.htmlstirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling)Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:49:07 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20013846.post-4217130563323634883<span style="font-family: times new roman;">Yesterday I came home late from school and sat down in my chair with a bowl of popcorn and read the news. I have become a bit of a news junkie over the past few years, in part because my remote location can make you feel out of touch. Over the course of the last few months I have picked up a plethora of strange stories including the </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.local6.com/family/8956581/detail.html">mummified fetus,</a><span style="font-family: times new roman;"> a </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/02/18/india.skeletons/index.html">bag of baby skeletons</a><span style="font-family: times new roman;"> and a </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/02/17/death.television.reut/index.html">mummified television watcher</a><span style="font-family: times new roman;">. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">And let's not forget the story about this guy:</span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RdkrSHyxt5I/AAAAAAAAACo/K-p3KxSHCCI/s1600-h/Hogfarmer.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 115px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/RdkrSHyxt5I/AAAAAAAAACo/K-p3KxSHCCI/s200/Hogfarmer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5033101648892901266" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">He's a </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.missingpeople.net/trial_set_to_begin_for_pig_farme.htm">hog farmer from Canada</a><span style="font-family: times new roman;"> who reportedly murdered 49 women and disposed of their remains by feeding them to the hogs. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">As CNN loaded I found myself confused. That's not accurate. With everything happening in the world I had suffered through days of seeing real news pushed off the headlines by the death and "controversy" of Anna Nicole Smith. Then yesterday, Anna was gone save for one small headline about the embalming of her body. Instead articles and videos and podcasts about Britney Spears' shaved head. I'm sorry but this pushed me over the edge. It was time to truck out one of my favorite words to describe this kind of news coverage (if you can call a haircut news). And here's the word of the hour: assinine.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">I did a quick internet experiment. I surfed over to Google and punched in </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.google.com/search?q=%22britney+spears%22&ie=utf-8&amp;oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&amp;client=firefox-a">"Britney Spears."</a><span style="font-family: times new roman;"> The results? Frightening. In 0.22 seconds, Google located 15.8 million sites with references to this train wreck of American culture. This is where our internet energy goes? This is where the world spends its energy? Writing about some girl whose most famous song was an ode to potty training? This simply can't be true. So I continued my research a few partial seconds further. </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.google.com/search?q=%22quantum+mechanics%22&ie=utf-8&amp;oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&amp;client=firefox-a">"Quantum mechanics" </a><span style="font-family: times new roman;">yielded only 5.79 million sites. A full third fewer than the "pop icon." </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Perhaps quantum mechanics was too esoteric a field to warrant a large response. Still, as one of the most promising areas of our future I would have hoped for a better showing. Well, then surely a wide spread concept, something with popular appeal would out-Google Britney. So I cracked my knuckles and started typing, </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.google.com/search?q=%22world+peace%22&ie=utf-8&amp;oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&amp;client=firefox-a">"World peace."</a><span style="font-family: times new roman;"> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">World peace brought up a paltry 1.77 million sites. Clearly, everyone living in peace and harmony is not as wide spread an idea as beauty queens would lead us to believe. I was left with one conclusion. We are screwed up as a species. If the prepubescent ramblings of some little girl and her subsequent antics as she attempts motherhood and marriage are one of the key focal points of our species then we deserve to </span><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">go extinct like the Dodo.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Only one tiny little bit of research provided me with the glimmer of hope that perhaps all was not lost with our species and our time on this planet. I carefully (a bit embarrassed) typed in "Carrot Top." Low and behold some semblance of taste and dignity does exist out there in the inter-space. Carrot Top produced only a measly 737,000 sites. Praise the mighty Google. </span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20013846-4217130563323634883?l=alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com'/></div>4http://alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com/2007/02/webcam-experiment-redux.htmlWebcamRural lifeAlaskaToksook Baystirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling)Thu, 15 Feb 2007 00:36:49 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20013846.post-4652185236662094005<span style="font-family:times new roman;">More later on the interesting process that this went through before installation. But for now, let's just actually make sure it works. The link below should take you to the active webcam page. I'll work on streaming it later, but for now 30 second refresh is all you get. Not much happens around here in 30 seconds so you ain't missing much. Hell, I could set it on 3 hours and you wouldn't notice much. Especially since we haven't seen the sun since.... well......</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">OK, here's the deal. I think that since January 6th I have seen the sun, I mean the actual orb in the sky free from clouds and shining into my eyeballs, 5 times. So part of the impetus behind this webcam is to reassure me that yes, indeed the sun still exists.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://209.165.143.141:8080/">Stirling's Toksook Webcam</a><br /><br />If you get an error message be patient and check back later. The cam is only online in the daylight, Alaska time!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20013846-4652185236662094005?l=alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com'/></div>1http://alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com/2007/01/funniest-thing-ive-read-in-years.htmlAlaskaWildlifeLifestylestirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling)Mon, 29 Jan 2007 23:55:50 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20013846.post-595780853731946289<span style="font-family: times new roman;">I was just about on my way home from work late this evening when I decided to check the <a href="http://www.adn.com">ADN </a>headlines. I was scanning the headlines while conversing with two coworkers and grading papers and responding to an email when I came across this headline: </span><br /><h2 class="story_headline" style="margin: 0px 5px 5px; font-size: 20px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-align: center;"> Eagle lugging deer head causes Juneau power outage</h2><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Well, of course, you can't read that and not check out the article. Here's the link: <a href="http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/8599945p-8492803c.html">Eagle Story.</a> I'm not the only one passing this story around. Jill mentions it <a href="http://arcticglass.blogspot.com/2007/01/back-in-saddle.html">here.</a> Apparently a couple guys head out to the dump to check the power outage and find a toasted national bird and a rotten deer's head a few feet away. Now, I'm trying to imagine the conversation that took place.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;"> Hal walks up to the still smoldering American emblem, looks up at the wires and then looks at Earl. "Welp, whaddya make of it?"</span><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;"> "Got fried I guess," Earl says slowly, rubbing the three day growth of whiskers at his chin.</span><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;"> "Of course it got fried, Earl. I mean how'd it happen?" Hal says, while poking the dead bird, not so gently, with a stick.</span><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;"> "Well, it prolly crossed the lines," Earl says, his arms crossed at the chest, head nodding knowingly.</span><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;"> "Jesus, Earl," Hal says standing up. "Why would a bald eagle fly into a set of power lines?"</span><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;"> "Hell, I dunno Hal," Earl says again rubbing his chin, a bit more forcibly. "Maybe he was carrying that there deer head."</span><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-family: times new roman;"></span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/8599945p-8492803c.html"></a><span style="font-family: times new roman;"> At that moment, the news truck from the local station pulls up, bouncing it's way down the rutted track into the dump.</span><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;"> "You wanna tell that to them?" Hal says.</span><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;"> "Well, I guess." says Earl and a legend is born.<br /><br />OK, I'm making up Hal and Earl. I have no idea how anyone found a charred eagle and a rotten deer head and a power outage and said eureka I've got it. Still, the mental image I have of this event, true or false will stay with me forever. In fact it ranks right up there with the other Alaska bald eagle urban legend.<br /><br />That one goes like this:<br />A lady takes her miniature schnoodle lap dog, rat with long hair (OK I confess, if it can't pull a sled or come up to my knee I generally don't consider it a dog.) out for a walk from the long RV ride to Valdez. A few minutes waiting for Feefe to pee the woman spots some wildlife. Unfortunately, the eagle spots Bitsy, swoops down out of the sky, seizes the dog in it's talons and lifts it into the air ripping the leash from the woman's hand. Again, the thought of some little rat dog (who when I envision this scenario had to have a bow in its hair and one of those ridiculous doggy sweaters) flying through the air in the grips of our national symbol just... well, it just says something great about our country. Of course the most hilarious part of the story was the woman's reaction: she wrote to the local government complaining that they needed to keep better control over the wildlife.<br /><br />Again, I don't know if that story is true either. I don't care. That story says what I want to say about Alaska, America, yipper dogs and tourists. <br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20013846-595780853731946289?l=alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com'/></div>3http://alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com/2007/01/alaska-show.htmlAlaskaLifestylestirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling)Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:49:07 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20013846.post-6671511303062715302<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ia311534.us.archive.org/2/items/R.BrettStirlingTheAlaskaShow/AlaskaSeries2.mov"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/Rbv9c6w9rdI/AAAAAAAAACQ/tFMtwMwfnVg/s200/AlaskaShow.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5024888482514709970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Several months ago, an email circulated in our district email offering up an invitation to audition for an Alaskan television show. They were looking for an Alaskan man between 25-50 with life experience in the Bush. Enter Brett.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">I have never had much of a desire to be a national television host, but this seemed like the perfect opportunity, so I conned one of the other teachers into holding the camera and we spent a couple hours filming a few silly scenes around town. It was a good weekend distraction from the lesson plans and normal work of a Sunday afternoon.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">A few weeks later on another Sunday I get a phone call asking me to come to Anchorage to audition in person. In the end there were about 25 other guys who made that first cut. I didn't get the job, obviously, but I guess I can say I came fairly close and it was a great time meeting the diverse range of candidates: a lawyer, a student, a retired falconer, a contractor, a soldier, a weatherman, and local commercial actor just to name a few. Our after audition dinner at the </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.moosestooth.net/">Moose's Tooth</a><span style="font-family: times new roman;"> (best pizza and beer in Anchorage) was a lively cross section of age and experience worth the trip alone.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20013846-6671511303062715302?l=alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com'/></div>4noSeveral months ago, an email circulated in our district email offering up an invitation to audition for an Alaskan television show. They were looking for an Alaskan man between 25-50 with life experience in the Bush. Enter Brett. I have never had much of R. Brett StirlingSeveral months ago, an email circulated in our district email offering up an invitation to audition for an Alaskan television show. They were looking for an Alaskan man between 25-50 with life experience in the Bush. Enter Brett. I have never had much of a desire to be a national television host, but this seemed like the perfect opportunity, so I conned one of the other teachers into holding the camera and we spent a couple hours filming a few silly scenes around town. It was a good weekend distraction from the lesson plans and normal work of a Sunday afternoon. A few weeks later on another Sunday I get a phone call asking me to come to Anchorage to audition in person. In the end there were about 25 other guys who made that first cut. I didn't get the job, obviously, but I guess I can say I came fairly close and it was a great time meeting the diverse range of candidates: a lawyer, a student, a retired falconer, a contractor, a soldier, a weatherman, and local commercial actor just to name a few. Our after audition dinner at the Moose's Tooth (best pizza and beer in Anchorage) was a lively cross section of age and experience worth the trip alone. Alaska,,AlaskBlog,,Writing,,Dogs,,Rural,life,,Mushing,,Dogsleddinghttp://alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com/2007/01/wildlife-anchorage-style.htmlAnchorageAlaskaWinterstirling25@yahoo.com (R. Brett Stirling)Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:49:07 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20013846.post-7750015906867197470<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ia311537.us.archive.org/1/items/R.BrettStirlingMooseHopping/Moose.mov"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3FaHphKxF2w/Rbvuwaw9rcI/AAAAAAAAACE/c8T5wZrUMh8/s200/MooseScreen.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5024872324847742402" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;">For Christmas this year, my family came to Anchorage. We hadn't seen any wildlife, specifically moose, for the first several days. Then my brother came to town and Christmas morning he and I went for a drive. Less than a half mile from the hotel we came across the large moose plucking dried bunches of berries from the trees outside the Anchorage Library. The moose was also inadvertently tearing down the Christmas lights. We went back to the hotel, collected the rest of my family and spent a good half hour gawking at the massive ungulate, who surprised even me with the two footed leaps.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20013846-7750015906867197470?l=alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com'/></div>1noFor Christmas this year, my family came to Anchorage. We hadn't seen any wildlife, specifically moose, for the first several days. Then my brother came to town and Christmas morning he and I went for a drive. Less than a half mile from the hotel we came aR. Brett StirlingFor Christmas this year, my family came to Anchorage. We hadn't seen any wildlife, specifically moose, for the first several days. Then my brother came to town and Christmas morning he and I went for a drive. Less than a half mile from the hotel we came across the large moose plucking dried bunches of berries from the trees outside the Anchorage Library. The moose was also inadvertently tearing down the Christmas lights. We went back to the hotel, collected the rest of my family and spent a good half hour gawking at the massive ungulate, who surprised even me with the two footed leaps. Alaska,,AlaskBlog,,Writing,,Dogs,,Rural,life,,Mushing,,DogsleddingR. Brett Stirlingnonadult