Sunday, July 29, 2007

IS IT REALLY THAT BAD?

Even though Microsoft dominates the market, not one responder will admit to using a microsoft product.
The Kodiak Perspective is produced on a Dell with Microsoft XP, though there has been some dabbling with Linux Fedora. Some friends use Mac, and are encouraging a switch.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

STARBUCKS TO RAISE PRICES


"The widely anticipated move marks Starbucks' second price increase in less than a year and comes a month after the coffee shop chain's chief financial officer warned it would be "very challenging" for Starbucks to meet the high end of its 2007 earnings forecast, in part because of rising dairy prices.

U.S. milk prices have soared recently amid strong global demand for dairy products and higher production costs."

This is good news for the Matanuska Maid, who has been struggling of late and had to have the Governess step in to avoid a shut down. Why is the Maid in trouble when the dairy industry is soaring? The news has been quiet lately out of the valley.

Maybe it is time to make a deal with Alaska Starbucks. Lucky for us here in Kodiak that we have so many choices. When it comes to java, The Perspective favors local beaneries over the Seattle mega-caffinatorium.

Monday, July 23, 2007

PRIME REAL ESTATE


The former home of "Safe Harbor", a halfway house for persons who had trouble with substance abuse, goes on the auction block next week in Anchorage.

Wouldn’t this be an idea for a minimum security jail for those 3-day sentences for drunk drivers? The facility has rooms for holding group counciling sessions and could reduce the needs of the proposed new jail here in Kodiak.

The Auction is Tuesday, July 31, @ 10:am

GOODBYE TAMMY FAYE

Tammy Faye Messner, nee Bakker passed away this weekend, she was 65. Cofounder of the PTL (Praise the Lord) network with her husband Jim, Tammy Faye was best known for consulting with Ringling Brothers for makeup advise.

PTL was very popular in the 80's, and the Bakkers built a religious theme park called Heritage USA. The ministry came crashing down as the result of scandals involving fraud and sex. Mr Bakker was sentenced to a 45 year prison term, and Tammy Faye vowed to stand by her man (for three years). After the divorce she remarried Roe Messner, a wealthy contractor and business associate, who was also convicted of bankruptcy fraud.

Tammy Faye was very popular in the gay community and spawned many look alike contests. Embracing her new followers she attended gay pride events.

"I want my funeral to be a real happy time, I want everyone laughing and remembering how crazy I was." Crazy, all the way to the bank.

Sunday, July 22, 2007

EUROPEAN STYLE ALL AMERICAN???

While shopping at Safeway this weekend The Kodiak Perspective became confused over the labeling of a new line of bagged salads from Ready Pac.

"Fresh EUROPEAN Style"
"Salades FraƮcheur de Style EuropƩen"
"ALL AMERICAN"

The bag features red and white stripes across the top.
"All American" is in a blue field near the bottom.

Any guesses as to what this means?

HARRY POTTER AND THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT

When Harry Potter first caught the imagination of young readers, there were much ado from Christian groups who decried the effects he might have on his audience. Protests against the use of sorcery and magic with fanciful creatures were lobbied by Christian groups. Never mind that the real effect was that children were reading books instead of watching television or playing video games.

As the series continued, and Harry became even more public with movies, these protests became less vocal. The character was given the dispensation of celebrity.

Now as the final chapter of his saga has been written, the battle between Harry and the right has been won, as Christians have started emulating him with fanciful tales in their own books. No, not with wizardry, but as humans who has help from messiah like kings returned from the dead in their battle against fallen satanic characters.

The "Door Within" series is just one example of the new breed of Christian fantasy. More than a dozen titles are due out this summer as the Christians vie for a slice of the multi-billion dollar book pie.

Wizards and sorcery are bad., but ghosts and devils are good, as long as the Christians get their share.

Well done Harry, you’ve won this battle, and shown your opponents for who they really are.

Saturday, July 21, 2007

READERS EVENLY DIVIDED

It appears that there is no clear idea for what to do with the land on Near Island. Given many options, readers were unable to choose just one, as there are many viable options.
The City of Kodiak has recently put plans for development on hold with citizens getting a petition on the next ballot to stop the Police/Jail from being built on Near Island.

With this public outcry, the next election could be pivotal, with two council seats and the mayor position open, to shaping the future of the City of Kodiak.

August is the month for candidates to gather signatures to place names on the ballot. With Mayor Floyd’s retirement will the city be taken over by Sandinista forces?

This election promises to be fun.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

KILLER BADGERS OF BASRA


The British army has been forced to deny claims that it has released giant badgers to terrorise the population of the Iraqi city of Basra.

The creatures are said to eat human flesh and run faster than a deer.
"We have not released giant badgers in Basra, and nor have we been collecting eggs and releasing serpents into the Shatt al-Arab river," said British army spokesman Major David Gell.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

HEALTHY PETS ACT

California lawmakers are considering a bill to require that pets be spayed or neutered. Proponents point to the large number of animals that are euthanized each year, nearly half a million. While opponents attack the bill on two fronts, freedom of choice, and that the bill is racist, as some minorities can not afford to comply or pay the fine and will have to surrender their pets for destruction.

Breeders would need permits to keep their animals whole, and many have threatened to leave the state. The American Kennel Club opposes the bill and may move its national competition from the city of Long Beach. Service dogs (guide dogs) would be exempted.

This "Healthy Pets Act" has generated more response from voters than an assisted suicide bill tagged "Death With Dignity".

Here in Kodiak, we have a different approach to animal control, just consider the number of "dog on a stick" booths at Crab Festival. Ummmm.

Monday, July 9, 2007

BRISTOL BAY KIDS TO GET BIKES

As part of a $150k grant, bicycles are now on their way to indigenous children in Bristol Bay. This program is supposed to help control diabetes in villages by reducing one of the factors thought to lead to the disease, obesity. The idea is to get kids riding bikes instead of four wheeled off road motorized vehicles.
Any child, up to seniors in high school, are eligible for this bike giveaway. Some will get Trek 21-speed bicycles, while younger ones will receive single speed bikes. 735 bikes are on their way.

The Perspective is a big fan of bicycling, with several thousand miles of road gone past, and applauds the good intentions of this program.

The Perspective does have a few questions though. Is this just a one time, feel good, project, or are there provisions for maintenance and repairs? Will there be any data collected to see if this effort has any effect on diabetes rates in the villages? Will the program continue for kids who reach bike riding age over time?

The biggest question: Isn’t this the responsibility of the parents, who have means enough to have ORVs, but don’t provide bikes for their kids?

PRINCESS DI


10 years after the death of the "people’s princess" Princess Diana is again all over the media; concerts, auctions, and a special magazine edition. The Perspective did not understand all the fuss when she was alive, and doesn’t understand the continued media play.

True, Diana was very good at what she did, attracting rich men. She was a pretty hot chick, by British standards, who married an ugly dude, and true to her duties squeezed out a royal heir, and one for insurance, before deciding that she could find some other rich dudes who weren’t nearly as ugly as Chuck.

So why is she held in such high esteem, is this the behavior you would want your daughters to emulate, being a gold-digger?

Sunday, July 1, 2007

SWEET NEW RIDE

One disadvantage to living in a small community on an island is that sometimes, even though you try to support local business, you have to shop off island. Our local bike man, Tim, was unable to get this sweet ride in his shop. Tim did give his blessing to purchase the Bianchi Milano off island, and even helped arrange the shipping with the other bicycle dealer. Thanks Tim.
This bicycle is not only eye-catching, but great fun to ride, and is well suited to the gentle hills of Kodiak with it’s 8 speed internal shifting hub. No clanky derailleur, just smooth shifting and smooth pedaling as there is no compensation for chain length on different sprockets.
Topping off this beauty is a classic Brooks B17 leather saddle with hand hammered copper rivets in a limited edition British Racing Green, that complements the trademark Celeste color of the Bianchi Bicycle Company.
Ah, the joys of summer.