NO IPHONES IN KODIAK

Apple iphones go on sale in a few days, but, much to the dismay of many technophiles, the new phone will not work on Kodiak Island. The much heralded mobile devise will only work with the ATT network, formerly known as Cingular. The coverage map shows that there is partner coverage on the mainland. A development coverage map shows that ATT has no plans to build an Alaskan market.
The Wall Street Journal interviewed Steve Jobs of Apple who repeatedly answered the questions about other networks and future upgrades with his standard answer, "We don’t talk about future products."

HAMBURGER SLAMMER

Living close to the water offers many forms of entertainment: fishing, swimming, kayaking, boating, beach combing, surfing, wake boarding, jet skis, and now the folks at Hamburger Slammer offer us a new choice, the peddle boat. This alternative to the kayak appeals to those who enjoy bicycling who wish to explore the coastal waters. This 12 foot water craft features twin screws and a ballasted keel for tracking in the wind.

Priced somewhere between a kayak and a jet ski, this just may be the next fad for outdoor enthusiasts and fitness freaks. There is even room for a friend.

Is this too cool for school, or totally gay? Your comments may be a deciding voice on if this will be the new Perspective-mobile.

ISLAND OF RUMORS

Last Tuesday the Kodiak Perspective reported on rumors about a city councilperson. In attempting to verify the story, the Perspective asked the person in question, who denied the reports as being untrue.
Taking the councilperson’s word, the Perspective is happy to report that the couple is not estranged, and that councilperson has not moved outside of city limits.

The councilperson has received numerous calls inquiring if the rumor was true. Since it was a rumor, the Perspective was and continues to be vague about the identity, but apparently the callers were able to ferret out the identity (unless all councilpersons received similar calls), or, perhaps, the rumor was more widespread than this blog.

The Perspective should be more careful to verify rumors, even if it is a piece of juicy gossip about a public figure.

ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE

Some recent posts have taken shots at "so-called" Christians, for another perspective,
try this article from "City Girl in Alaska".

DEJA VU

Quick, get today’s edition of the Daily Mirror. Note the date on page 1, “June 20 2007". Now look at page 2, “June 11, 2007". No wonder these stories sounded familiar.

Mistakes like this could never happen in the days of hot lead, but in the modern era of computer typesetting, where files are stored electronically, it does happen, or then again, maybe it was a slow news day.

SAVE THE MATANUSKA MAID

The Matanuska Maid Dairy plans to cease operations on July 7, 2007, citing costs of Homeland Security upgrades, increased competition, and increased costs.

Recently the dairy denied the Governess access to the plant when she tried to visit, even though she has the highest security clearance in the state.

One way to keep the Matanuska Maid open comes from recent developments in Japan where Abashiri Beer brewery in Nakashibetsu, Hokkaido has started producing BILK, beer made from milk.

Beer has a much higher profit margin than milk, and could solve the financial difficulties, create more jobs in bottling, and add a unique product to the state of Alaska.

BILK has the added benefit in a higher calcium content to decrease the occurrence of osteoporosis in our beer drinking elders.

WHITE SAGE, WHITE HOLLY

The White Sage and the White Holly were two Coast Guard cutters that were decommissioned in the 1990s. Normally decommissioned ships are sold at auction, maybe included in foreign aid packages, or added to the mothball fleet.

These two cutters were earmarked for medical missions in the South Pacific and handed over to Canvasback Missions in Benicia California, a “faith” based organization in 1999.

Instead of going to Micronesia, the cutters were sold, the White Sage to a maritime equipment company who sold it to a pig farmer who provides ferry service in Nicaragua, and the White Holly to a California couple who rent the cutter for eco-tours and marine research. Proceeds from the sales were put in the Canvasback Missions general fund used for “evangelism” which is forbidden by federal law.

Canvasback Missions is being investigated by the IRS for misuse of the funds, but continues to receive government contracts of $2 million dollars from the Defense Department.

Just another example of putting your faith in a faith based operation. In God we trust, all others should pay cash. One can only hope for a better fate for the Storis, recently of Kodiak Alaska.

THAT DIDN’T TAKE LONG

Imprisoned hotel heiress Paris Hilton has said she believes God has given her a new chance and she plans to stop acting dumb and put her influence to good use.

It only took three days in jail to find god. One has to marvel at the conversion rate in prison. Is it because the person has already been found guilty and is hoping for forgiveness, or is it to impress the parole board? Whatever the reason, jail is one of the leading causes of Christianity.

There seems to be a great number of outward “Christians”, it is impossible to swing a dead cat without hitting one. The Perspective has been approached and preached at while trying to enjoy coffee at a local beanery, and at other public gatherings, as well as having people just knock on my door. People will offer that they are “Christian” in simple conversation.

The perspective was taught (by nuns) that outward displays are prideful and a sin. They taught that people would know by how you chose to live. In the Bible, Jesus had contempt for the pharisees who made public displays of their “faith”.

As always it is a good idea to “beware of false prophets”.

ON THE CITY COUNCIL

The City of Kodiak has run notices calling for interested parties to apply for the vacancy on the city council, the requirements are that applicants must be 21 years of age, be a resident of the City of Kodiak, and be a qualified voter.

Sources close to the Kodiak Perspective have revealed that one sitting council member is not currently residing within the City of Kodiak.

Sources say that this councilperson has split from a spouse and is currently living in Bells Flats. The Perspective does not know how long a person may reside outside the city limits before one is considered ineligible for city office.

At this point, the story in unconfirmed, so the Perspective is being vague until the situation has been determined.

WORLD NAKED BIKE RIDE

Protesters in several cities took to the streets to protest oil dependency, car culture, and the staggering cost of fuel, in the forth annual World Naked Bike Ride. The largest group was in London where 1000 naked cyclists were expected. 400 cyclists were seen in Paris. Other demonstrations took place in Madrid and Vancouver. Here in Kodiak Alaska, a constant drizzle and cooler temperatures kept local cyclists clothed, though some may have wished for clothes free weather. A similar ride in Cape Town South Africa for global warming awareness was snuffed by authorities.

Why is it that protesters like to get naked? The most famous example is Lady Godiva who rode naked through the streets of Coventry on May 31, 1678 in protest of taxes. A quick search on the internet finds many instances of protesters shedding their clothes, including anti-war demonstrations, and those opposed to cruelty to animals. The latest craze is to protest global warming by getting naked.

Does protesting naked help to get your message heard, or does it just insure that your picture will appear somewhere on the world wide web, and possibly on the local media? Being naked, just to get attention, may actually get a group dismissed as freaks rather than spreading their message.

If protesters do take to the streets of Kodiak sans-clothing it will probably be a good thing as it means we are having a sunny day.

TRAM TO PILLAR MOUNTAIN

With plans underway to develop Near Island, the city of Kodiak is looking for the next development area, Pillar Mountain! Soon there may be talk of a tram (cable car) from the city dock to the top of Pillar Mountain for tourists to capture that postcard picture. Development plans would include a restaurant and gift shop and perhaps a giant stature of a fisherman to make a focal point like Cristo Redentor on Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro. Perhaps the city could put in an animal enclosure so the tourists could be guaranteed of seeing our famous bear, similar to the Barbary Apes in Gibraltar.

This could be a nice money maker for the city and would give the tourist another option for their time while visiting beautiful Kodiak.

FIRE DEPARTMENT SMACKDOWN

Squabbles between Kodiak’s fire stations have turned ugly. Earlier in the year emergency preparedness planners discovered that rival departments were not cooperating and a fireman was removed from the city squad leading to discussions in the halls of government here in Kodiak.

This week the ongoing turf war between these rival fire departments has escalated to physical contact, as a member of the city squad allegedly shoved a Bayside squad member who was assisting an injured woman at the scene of an accident. A formal complaint has been filed with the Alaska State Troopers and an investigation has begun.

Members of these rival gangs wear there colors with pride and have been seen driving their custom rides and wielding axes in public. Fortunately the violence did not continue as the Bayside homies failed to represent, and the woman was safely taken from the scene to the hospital.

Super Trooper Cooper and Nick the horseman were at the scene when the KFD dissed the Baysider, though it is not known what they will report.

The public is warned to avoid situations where members of these rival gangs may meet just in case there is a rumble, at the very least one should learn to snap his fingers rhythmically like in West Side Story.

THE PERSPECTIVE IS BACK FROM BRASIL

Some of you may have seen the Perspective around town and been wondering why there have been no new posts. Traveling over three continents left the Perpective with much a lot of memories to get on paper. Most of the journals are written, though it still has to be put together with the photographs, but now there will be more time for the blog. Sorry for the long hiatus.

The journey started with two nights of flying from Alaska to Brasil with a stay in Rio de Janeiro before boarding a ship to go north across the equator, and to the west coast of Africa and eventually Europe. Along the way were many new experiences, including meeting some very beautiful Brasilian women who enjoyed my company. Sometime in the future the Kodiak Perspective may have to consider changing locations to Salvador de Baia Brasil, after learning to speak Portuguese.