I have no problem with helping others in need as with the public assistance program {also known as welfare, they are steering away from that term} but,… when I am at the store and I see someone come up with a cart full, like ten, twelve pack sodas,  ice cream bars and other goodies. Yet no milk, bread or even a fruit. Then to pay for it with a quest card {now given instead of food stamps} to pay for just that and nothing else, then saying that they forgot to get topping for the ice cream.
HELLO…..  What is this? I am a tax payer like yourself, and let me tell you this is plain wrong.
Yes I was on public assistance at one time, like 20 years ago, but this has gone to far. We need to step back and regulate what is needed and what is junk. To many time I see folks buying plain out junk food.
From buying candy bars, soda, cakes, gummy bears,….. Gummy Bears? Now when has gummy bears become a food source?
Let me tell you I never set there and bought just ice cream, candy bars, soda, or gummy bears.

This has gotten out of hand and it is time for the state and government to start regulating just what these recipient’s should get for there household and have a way to set up the card to not allow to buy over a certain amount of these types of food.
Not to say they should not have any but let’s get real, when a single parent of one child buys ten cases of twelve pack sodas and is with her boyfriend then saying she has to get more goodies. I don’t think so.
There are many folks out there who can’t get public assistance and are unable to afford ice cream, candy bars or even gummy bears.
This is just not the way public assistance is suppose to work, and if it is, I don’t want my tax dollars paying for some junk food when there are plenty of other folks out there that could put it to better use.

Chow for Now

I know we have all herd it more times then we can count, but this is a serious situation when it comes to “Global Warming” also known as “Climate Changes” such as glaciers melting at a rapid pace.
This is why it is my turn to say something. Will it help?, probably not. At least it shows I care.
When I was younger we use to go down to the edge of the water at Portage Glacier and collect a bunch of glacier ice to put in our coolers. It was something we did yearly. Then we noticed that the ice was not close enough to get. We would go back every few years and kept seeing it move further out. After that our trips weren’t as fun and it was such a let down to go and see a glacier that is disappearing. This is what it use to look like in the early years. Then this one in Jun 2006.
We were there on June 27th 2008 and this is what it looks like now  
Click here for more info on global warming in Alaska and the real impact on this issue.
Now can we stop it? Sorry no. What is done is done, however we can learn from it and try and balance out the chaos we helped create.

Chow for now

 

 

Well if you all have not herd or may not know about, the Supreme court has made there decision on the final bout over the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Going from a 2.5 billion to only a little over $500 million.
Click here for more on this.
Now not being one of the plaintiffs I still fell this is a low blow to Alaska’s fisherman. These people lost out on millions and millions of dollars in profits from fishing to tours.
It’s really hard to understand why Exxon would not just pay. Was not like it would have hurt there pocket books any. Not with these profits they just got $40.61 billion last year .
If this is how they view a way to say sorry and kick a few pennies of what is really owed, then this only shows the younger generations how “Big Companies” really work.

Chow for Now

Things have really been changing here in the “Last Frontier“.
What once was a land of trees and wildlife is now in a transformation to some of the lower 48’s big cities problems and issues . We have not only seen a change in youth gangs but also homicide, robberies also in the structure of the state and the cities in it.
From new land construction (taking up 90% of the land in Anchorage it seems) to major road reconfigurations, such as installed a few years back “round-a-bouts“. Now those are a pain. Alaska is still the biggest state but the land it self is almost gone.
Not only has the structure of Alaska changed but the attitudes of Alaskans also have had to change.
20 years ago you would see someone hitching a ride and would stop and offer. Now you have to really hesitate and think about it. More times then once we have had to say no to our self and keep moving on.

Chow for Now

It has been awhile since we had a real good concert with a sell out crowd. With Sir. John playing here, it is a real treat. Sure we get SOME others that come up, form time to time but this one is going to be hot.
Tickets sold out in 45 mins for the first one and then only a little more then an hour for the second one folks were out for 2 days waiting.
They really do need a bigger arena here, tickets sold out fast, now there are a number of folks who feel real bummed.

Chow for Now

 

I have noticed these days a lot of changes in the way this generation expresses themselves.
You may remember a time when folks would write there deepest secrets and days events in a small book sometimes with a little lock, and if it was opened and read, it was seen as a violation of privacy.
WOW… how times have changed.
Now you read peoples deep secrets and days events and are even encouraged to make a comment in hopes that they to will come and read your thoughts on life.
The differents in a diary and a blog is only the generation your from. How and why are still mystery.
You have to wonder when the big change from secret diaries to open blogging came about.
this makes me wonder what other open changes have come about, and what possible other change are to fallow.
I see many changes every year or so, from community changes, corporate changes to home life changes. With this in account and the fact of some global changes it makes me wonder what else will change in time and if as a society we can benefit from it or end up creating more chaos in the world.

Chow for Now

What a real bummer…
after all the snow was about gone we get a dump of snow of about 24 inches in some areas. This was a record for us. I fell bad for the ones who took there snow tires off.
You may think “what’s the big deal, your in Alaska.” Well the big deal is we are suppose to be in spring weather.
Now this has folks talking about global warming even more. After watching the news on glaciers receding, then looking at the weather patterns I see a lot of changes happening to mother earth. Let’s hope it’s not to late and we don’t end up really screwing things up by trying to help and end up making it worse.
If we start burning alternative fuels, then won’t this introduce a different type of element into the air? Wonder what will happen after about 30 or 40 years of this. Have to wait and see.
I really have to wonder what my kids are going to have to deal with when there my age. Will it be a easier answer for them to solve? Sure hope so.

Chow for Now

Gearing up for fishing, hunting and all the other outdoor activities.
Here in Alaska, when the temp hits 45 to 50 degrees it’s Pre-Spring and that means a lot of cleaning and getting ready for the short summer.
We get an average of nine to ten months of winter and if we are lucky then we get about five days of 70’s -80’s out of the summer.

There are many places to see here and lots to do. From camping to even surfing. I myself would prefer Hawaii to surf but to each his own.
Depending on what type of things you like, will take you to many different parts of Alaska.
South Alaska is great for fishing and heading North there are places for camping and Alaska history and both can fill any memory card of a camera.

Chow for Now

A lot of people happen to look at a persons past and judge them on today’s standards.
What this means is that if you done a crime 5, 10 or more years ago and try and get a job today, you will see it to be much harder.
Even if you were a first offender and just got out, if you have a DV or any type of assault it is assumed you are that way.
With this it makes me wonder, if we send these folks to jail for what they did wrong, then when they get out and try to get a job and the employer sees what they were in for and says no they get frustrated and make another bad chose, then we blame them and yet maybe if they had gotten the job they would not go out and do more crime.
Now there are some that could care less if they go back in. They like doing crime and don’t mind the time. This is just what they know as there way of life. So be it.
Yet there are many others who know they made a bad chose and want to fit in today’s society. It’s hard though when they go and apply for a job let’s say for a janitor and the employer says no, this tends to really make someone fell like dirt.
We should keep in mind that as a society we sent them to jail for a crime, when the time is finished then as a society we need to be giving them a chance to make things right.

Chow for Now

You wouldn’t think that turtles would be in Alaska yet there are a number of folks who own them.
At just $20.00 and about $200.00 with environment and tank they make great pets. We have a Red Eared Slider {now 2 thanks to my daughter} her name is Lucy Luv. We got her from a pet store about six months ago. She is cool to watch, the first day we had about nine small goldfish we got the same day, well needless to say right when we put them in she showed them who was boss, I never knew they were meat eaters. Then about two days later we seen there were only six left and that confirmed it. Now the three that are left stay away and are much bigger now.
I guess the most time concuming thing to do is keeping up on the water. Other then that the cost has not at all been bad.

As I stated before my daughter brought home another young Red Eared Slider today, this one was abandoned in a house. Her friend has had it for about 2 months and was never in water. So we set up a tank and put her in it. She did not know what to do she just floated there for about 5 minutes then started to kick her legs. She still unsure, we hope she’ll be ok. Update: We have named this one Lucky. So far so Good. Update: 4/23 - Lucky is doing great. We have put her in our daughters room and even munched up about 6 goldfish. Wild.

Chow for Now

The Sullivan Arena hosted another WILD crowd for the Arena Football event. The Alaska Wild dominated the opposing team The Roughnecks 54 - 14.  The arena filled with fans hoping to get a chance to catch a game ball  they toss out  during the games.
Were just getting to see what the football fans are going to be like. There still getting the feel of arena football. The crowd is a lot like a hockey crowd. They all seem to know each other {even if they have never seen that person}with high fives and hugs when the home team scores.
It amazes me; from doctors, judges even the Governor, they all come to the arena to enjoy a event and be someone else for a few hours.
I have stood there and watched as 6,000 screaming fans rattled my chest as the Alaska Aces won the Kelly Cup. Looking around and seeing the fans all become one solid voice. Awesome!

Fans here really enjoy the events at the arena yet still they know it could be more. This arena has held thousands of events since 1983 with Willy Nelson to trade shows and sports. It can hold around 6,400 during hockey and  9,000 for concerts. We really don’t get many concerts at the arena most are at the convention center, for easier crowd control or other events are booked at the time.
Each game that has a sell out you see many people get turned away cause there’s not enough room. This has been going on for awhile now. It would be nice to have a arena that holds 10,000 for hockey and maybe 15,000 for concerts.
Until then the fans will keep coming to the Sullivan Arena to be someone different for a few.

Chow for Now

This sounds like a good idea to pay each resident of Alaska $500 to help with the high energy costs yet not every resident had to pay.
There are a number of people who should not get this.
lets say Billy is staying with Joe and rides a bike or walks, now Joe drives to work and is the one who pays the fuel bill, how is it that Billy should get this check?
What about the homeless folks why give them a check for something that they did not have to pay for or even try and have?
If you want to help with fuel cost then send the checks to the gas stations to help lower the cost at the pumps. Or even set up some deal to work with the oil companies to help off set the cost.
Again, not all residents have had to pay the cost for fuel and I sure as hell don’t want to see somebody getting a check to go out and get drunk or do drugs.

I’m not sure where this will end up. I’ll let ya know.

Chow for Now

I was just informed at work today that we are “Going Green” by not using Styrofoam cups anymore, plus we are changing our cleaning and paper products. We want to show that we care about our environment and good old mother earth. This is great and am all for it.

Now lets look at the other side of this. We want to recycle glass, plastic and such. Well if we do all this, why then should the cost go up?
If something is recycled then it has already been produced and therefore should not have to cost more then when it was first produced. For example; when you buy something and it says “Made from X % amount of recycled product” and it cost more then something that wasn’t, how is that good for the environment when it cost more to re-produced recycled products?
One thing I noticed is the labeling and advertising on products have gotten more graphic, and then you have to pay the people to create it. In the end we as consumers have to pay for it while trying to help the environment. How do you save the environment and still save money? You don’t. As consumers we will pay the price and complain as we are using the products that is suppose to help the environment yet cost more. Go figure.

Chow for Now

I know this is off the path of a Alaska Blog, but I wanted it to be a thought.

You’ve just received the keys to your new home, and feel this is the place you can retire in. Years go by that you put money and memories in, all to find out your going to loose it.

It’s hard for a family to go through a foreclosure. This is also hard for pets.
People are able to pack up and relocate. Not so for many pets, some are left abandoned, given to shelters and strangers, or even worse.
When we get pets we often think of a life time companion or family member. Then a situation like this comes up and now are forced into a tough and confusing conflict.
What to do, how to tell the kids, what the pet might think after this?It is hard to have to give up a pet no matter if it is a dog or goldfish.
Often there maybe a solution if you are able to explore them like calling a friend or family member and offering to pay them if they can help. This shows them and to yourself that this is an important issue and are willing to take what ever measures possible to handle it. Also calling a kennel and explaining to them the situation can possibly help with reduced pricing for hardship.
How ever the out come, always show the pet that you care and want the best for them.

Chow for Now

Welcome to Time for Alaska on WordPress.com.
Here I will try and keep up to date things of Alaska, from wildlife to just wild and crazy people. Do we ever have our fair share of crazy people here. Then again you have to be crazy to stay in a state with -50 degree winters and moose walking around town like stray dogs. 
Alaska is not just snow and ice, we have two new football teams one from Anchorage called Alaska Wild and the other from Fairbanks called Fairbanks Grizzles. Plus one heck of a Pro hockey team called Alaska Aces.