Columns 2016

Stop wasting our time

Maybe I’ve missed this, but in the weeping and gnashing of teeth that is the Republican response to anything Obama does, where and when did they reveal their plan for health care in America? They keep attempting to repeal Obamacare but I missed the announcement of their plan to replace it. Or do they just expect people with pre-existing conditions to go back to no coverage? That’s one way to sock it to that kid born with diabetes. Shouldn’t people who want to repeal Obamacare have to have an alternative? Perhaps most important, knowing they have no chance of overriding

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Scribblings

But seriously

If it were African-Americans or Native Americans occupying that bird sanctuary in Oregon would we still be watching a peaceful standoff or would we be in the midst of recriminations over the violent end of the stand off with the feds blasting their way in?

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pictures, Scribblings

Butt warmer

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Snowy jumps up on the bed every night as I’m in the bathroom preparing for bed. By the time I get to “my spot” on the bed, his butt has warmed it up. It’s zero out but I get to curl into a pre-warmed butt spot and feel all cozy right away. It’s just one of the reasons to always have a dog with a butt bigger than yours.

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Scribblings

Maybe I missed this

Maybe I’ve missed this but in the weeping and gnashing of teeth that is apparently the Republican go to mode for anything Obama does, where and when did they reveal their plan for health care in America? They keep attempting to repeal Obamacare but I guess I missed the announcement of their plan to replace Obamacare. Or do they just expect people with pre-existing conditions to go back to no coverage? Or kids under 26 still trying to finish school… will they just be kicked off their parents’ insurance with no affordable substitute available? Shouldn’t people who want to repeal

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Columns 2016

Hawker’s health care

From the December 31, 2015 ADN, here’s part of what State Representative Mike Hawker said about his retirement. “I’m 60 years old. I am beating terminal cancer. And I am fully vested in my retirement health benefits.” Wow. That came out of the mouth of a Republican. At the top of his list of reasons that he can now retire despite health problems is that he is fully vested in his retirement health benefits. I guess health care coverage is important when you’re sick and fighting for your life. If only there was some way to ensure that all people

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pictures, Scribblings

Murres, murres, murres

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Bird TLC is inundated with starving murres. Has been for months. Volunteers working more hours than they do at their day jobs to care for them. The reason for the die off can be attributed to many factors but pointing fingers is not saving these birds. The utterly limitless dedication of the volunteers at Bird TLC is at least giving some of them a second chance. And for those too starved to be rehabilitated, Bird TLC provides a gentle way to cross that Rainbow Bridge.

I know it’s after Christmas and you are busy paying off all those gifts you

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Columns 2016

Winter in Anchorage

For the second year in a row, it sucks! All ice, no snow. What the hell is this all about? I mean, the Republicans have assured us that there is no global warming so it must be something else, right?

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Columns 2015

A look back

As I get older, I find the changing of the year less and less exciting because I become increasingly aware that I have fewer and fewer new years in my future. On the other hand, anyone who can look back on 2015 and not express some sense of relief that it’s over has clearly not been tuned in this year. Let me catch you up. Donald Trump, a man on his third wife who refers to African-Americans as “the blacks”, is actually a viable candidate for the Republican presidential nomination. And he recently tied with Pope Francis as the second

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