http://www.katablog.com/ Life, Liberty and the pursuit of mice en-us Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:48:14 GMT Tue, 08 Jul 2008 01:19:25 GMT Katablog.com http://www.katablog.com/rss.cfm kat@katablog.com kat@katablog.com http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=00406799-F3A3-F878-83A007F23DD3880F Sitka is a cute little town with a lot of Russian influence. The inlet to Sitka is surrounded with many little islands barely small enough for one or two houses. We choose to simple walk around Sitka and peer into the many artistic and tourist shops. Probably the prettiest buildings in town are the little Russian Orthodox Church and the retirement building for native Alaskans. There are also several shops with breath taking artists' work. Travel Tue, 08 Jul 2008 01:19:25 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=00406799-F3A3-F878-83A007F23DD3880F http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=FB484A41-0F8B-F5D6-A651984E42651073 We biked to the Mendenhall Glacier today and were fortunate enough to only have a bit of rain. Beautiful views, impossible to describe without seeing it in person. No picture seems to do it justice. Travel Mon, 07 Jul 2008 02:09:56 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=FB484A41-0F8B-F5D6-A651984E42651073 http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=F0CC46ED-F282-0D26-0050D796C522B2A4 Our luck on weather changed as we arrived in Seward. At first we were greeted with intermittent drizzle which turned to a steady cold downpour. We enjoyed walk around the town not inundated with cruise ship jewelry shops yet, just soaking in the local flavor. Seward planned a street fest but unfortunately due to the constant downpour it was not successful.The following day we arrived at Kodiak Island, greeted with the same cold downpour which eventually incorporated a few icy flakes. Entering Kodiak is beautiful with jutting rocks and one or two tiny islands, but we quickly found there is little reason to go into the town unless you are looking for supplies. We also visited the small Kodiak Museum. Payless Foods seems to be high point of a very cold and damp trip. Kodiak is a large fishing port (3rd best in USA) and is also known for being a US Navel base in WWII.Unfortunately our itinerary does not include 4th of July Fireworks but the crew did put up decorations for both Canada Day (July 1) and Independence Day. We haven't talked much about Princess Cruise lines on this cruise, mainly because after the first night we stayed out of the main dinning room and have eaten in the two specialty restaurants, one is a steak house, the other Italian. Each is opened two nights in a row and then we switch to the other. Princess has also taken to charging for the bus rides into town, $6 each person. Ice cream is only available during "tea time" and I understand they also charge for that. It is offered (free of charge) at dinner occasionally. Needless to say, it's not one of my favor cruise lines. Travel Sat, 05 Jul 2008 01:18:16 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=F0CC46ED-F282-0D26-0050D796C522B2A4 http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=E68E158F-B541-83D1-35646AEA85B82514 Today we arrived to a bright sunny day in Valdez. We've been blessed with great weather and calm seas. Valdez is famous of course for being the point where the Alaska pipeline brings in oil from Purdue Bay and the horrible oil tanker accident of the 1980's. The town of Valdez was literally destroyed in a 1964 earthquake which brought in a 30 foot tsunami, wiping out the town. It was rebuilt but still is very small with many RVs coming during the summer up the Richardson highway to view the beautiful mountains surrounding the town.We went white water rafting on the Lowe River in the afternoon. It was sunny and warm and a perfect day for a ride down the river. While they warned us to dress warm, there was absolutely no need for that today. The tour company, Alaska River Rafting dressed us from head to toe in water proof suits and boots so we were actually rather warm and also managed to stay fairly dry. We couldn't take pictures on the raft so we provide one from Skagway White Pass, part of Bridal Vail Falls. Travel Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:34:08 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=E68E158F-B541-83D1-35646AEA85B82514 http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=DC70A82C-9C81-7056-99CAB76A306DE7C3 Today we arrived in Skagway, Alaska where approximately 800 people live. Most residents probably reside here to support tourism since the 20 block downtown area seems abundantly full of tourists' jewelry shops. With 3 ships in port the town felt packed but we are told other days of the week five to six ships are in port during the summer. Skagway was settled in 1887 and soon after became the route through which goldrushers passed to the Klondike. Gold was discovered in 1896 in the Klondike river and Skagway soon bulged with over 20,000 people looking to get rich. By Spring of 1898 The White Pass and Yukon Railroad began laying tracks from Skagway to Whitehorse to enable goldrushers an easier method of getting to the Yukon. By the time the rails were laid all the way in 1900, the gold rush was over. The railway finally closed in 1982 but was again reopened as a tourist attraction just 7 years later. One of the original engines, after being rebuilt, is still used today. Travel Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:25:48 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=DC70A82C-9C81-7056-99CAB76A306DE7C3 http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=DA787FA5-B938-68AE-D7120442CDB9B1ED Two images from yesterday: Travel Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:15:07 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=DA787FA5-B938-68AE-D7120442CDB9B1ED http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=D5B81AFC-FFB2-3BD3-4C8B27E4C9F599F9 Unfortunately the Tahitian Princess has just installed a new wireless Internet system that doesn't work. Only one or two laptops on the ship have been able to connect so far. At first they thought it was an incompatibility with Windows Vista but now believe something is wrong with the router which won't release the IPs for use. But for now it means many of us are out of touch with the "real world".We spent Saturday in Ketchikan, Alaska. We choose to rent a Hummer with another couple and therefore had the opportunity to see many different sites including Slide Mountain for a breath taking view of Ketchikan. We also visited Totem Pole Park, saw a small black bear and a small deer. Our guide provided a small picnic lunch of smoked Salmon, several Salmon pates and cheese and crackers. Leaving Ketchikan we saw several whale pods and a pod of dolphins. We were fortunate enough to visit Ketchikan on one of its few sunny days. Ketchikan receives about 162 inches of rain over 240 days each year. The fish hatcheries in Ketchikan catch Salmon as they return to spawn, fertilize the female's eggs and raise the Salmon until they are about 1 year old. Approximately 240 million Salmon are caught in Alaska each year.Today we are cruising Glacier Bay National Park. The Park Rangers have boarded our ship and will be narrating through out the afternoon. The passengers have been delighted with our entrance to Glacier Bay, treated with numerous pods of whales, porpoise and one lone sea otter so far. Of course the snow topped mountains are also astounding. Travel Sun, 29 Jun 2008 19:06:30 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=D5B81AFC-FFB2-3BD3-4C8B27E4C9F599F9 http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=B8A611DE-A58D-0126-8CFB7D16704C5F18 Today we bring you the Capilano Suspension Bridge located in North Vancouver BC and certainly a must visit while in the area. Travel Tue, 24 Jun 2008 03:37:48 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=B8A611DE-A58D-0126-8CFB7D16704C5F18 http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=AD597835-F716-E928-1DE5208E6947E6B9 Many fewer posts, hopefully none about politics, for the next few weeks. We've headed out for Vancouver BC and Alaska. We are hoping we are busy enough that we hear little about USA Politics and politicians.Plan on seeing a few great pictures. Travel Sat, 21 Jun 2008 22:58:19 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=AD597835-F716-E928-1DE5208E6947E6B9 http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=AD1F49B5-A91A-A3AA-BDC2F69581A56819 Barack Hussein Obama is just arrogant enough, now that it's predicted by reversing his pledge to take public financing for his campaign he can outspend John McCain by over 5 to 1 and buy the election, to actually use a likeness of the seal of the President of the United States for his new campaign seal. See The Weekly Standard for a side-by-side comparison of The Great Seal of the USA, The USA Presidential Seal, The USA Vice Presidential Seal and Obama's new Seal of Arrogance.The Weekly Standard wonders if it's illegal based on 18 USC Sec. 713 which forbids the replication of these seals in connection with advertisement, promotion, etc. I would think at the very least it's some type of copyright infringement, but then Obama didn't have a problem plagiarizing other politicians speeches, so....... Politics Sat, 21 Jun 2008 21:54:46 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=AD1F49B5-A91A-A3AA-BDC2F69581A56819 http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=ABFAFE73-E5DA-73A8-DDAFFFFB757136B4 Obama has thrown down the race gauntlet. Barack Obama warns a crowd of supporters that the GOP will use Obama's race to scare voters.Sorry Barack but there are a hell of a lot more things to be scared about when it comes to you than you being 1/2 white and 1/2 black. With which race to you believe the GOP will use to scare people?It defies imagination how anyone who sat in the church of a racist pastor who spewed forth the most vile things about America and Caucasians for 20 years could have the audacity to turn things around and accuse innocent parties of something they haven't even done. Politics Sat, 21 Jun 2008 16:35:30 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=ABFAFE73-E5DA-73A8-DDAFFFFB757136B4 http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=A6D9DFFC-97EF-BD76-FF73A65C2AC6C9C3 Barack Obama tells us he's all about change. And change we are going to see. For the first time since public financing was introduced for campaigns in 1976, a candidate, Barack Obama, is opting out of this public financing, estimated to be a "paltry" $84 million for the general election.The Chicago Tribune reveals just why the man of change is opting out: "Raising a half-billion dollars is a very realistic figure for him," said Tad Devine, a Democratic strategist and senior adviser to the last two Democratic presidential candidates.While Americans are pleading for relief from $4.00 a gallon at the pump, the man who proposes to change Washington politics is thinking of spending $1/2 billion to get elected? Oh my, he really does care about the economy, the poor, the downtrodden, the under privileged, etc. Yeah, right.That's something mightily wrong in this nation that it takes even $84 million to run for president - that after hundreds of millions spent during the long primaries. This is just plain sick. The hypocrisy of it all is beyond imagination.Even the in the tank for Obama New York Times runs an op-ed piece by David Brooks, calling Obama "Fast Eddie": But as recent weeks have made clear, Barack Obama is the most split-personality politician in the country today. On the one hand, there is Dr. Barack, the high-minded, Niebuhr-quoting speechifier who spent this past winter thrilling the Scarlett Johansson set and feeling the fierce urgency of now. But then on the other side, there's Fast Eddie Obama, the promise-breaking, tough-minded Chicago pol who'd throw you under the truck for votes. Politics Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:41:13 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=A6D9DFFC-97EF-BD76-FF73A65C2AC6C9C3 http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=A5F7A997-ECBC-78D0-93ED0537DA5ADCDA Politico discusses Obama's switch from his promise to seek public campaign financing. Again it's a reminder that what Reverend Jeremiah Wright said about Obama saying what he needed to say as a politician is indeed true. Here's a tiny snippet but read the whole article and then go back in time with Politico with Obama's previous positions:"Their campaign is brutally pragmatic," said one Democratic operative. "They have the most exciting candidate since JFK and like that operation, they have their share of talented, ambitious and at times ruthless people. Barack gets to stay above the fray, while his campaign does whatever it takes to win."Indeed it's all about winning and nothing about truth, right, moral and the good of America.It's also all about change, but not the change that Obama preaches. It's about changing one's position on the issues to fit what is politically expedient. With these "changes" offered by Obama just how can anyone believe that he's truly not supportive of the racist speech spewed by Reverend Wright? What's different about changing your position on limited campaign spending and NAFTA over changing your position on racist statements made by your pastor of 20 years? Politics Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:34:08 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=A5F7A997-ECBC-78D0-93ED0537DA5ADCDA http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=A27FED40-D0C3-E4C4-84BA55FF56547C74 Senator Barack Obama has based his entire campaign on "Change you can believe in". He constantly tells voters that he is not a Washington DC insider and is going to change Washington DC if elected president. So much for tickling the ears of those that want to believe.Now here's some change you can believe in from Barack Obama.Surely anyone paying attention remember the battles between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton about NAFTA. Both contended that they were against NAFTA and that their opponent was for NAFTA. Then came the report, which Obama and has campaign vehemently denied, that while Obama was dissing NAFTA to US Labor Unions, one of his top campaign people was in Canada, telling them to pay no attention to Obama's pandering to labor unions.Now we have reports from Fortune Magazine that even Obama admits he was pandering."Sometimes during campaigns the rhetoric gets overheated and amplified," he conceded, after I reminded him that he had called NAFTA "devastating" and "a big mistake," despite nonpartisan studies concluding that the trade zone has had a mild, positive effect on the U.S. economy.Does that mean his rhetoric was overheated and amplified? "Politicians are always guilty of that, and I don't exempt myself," he answered. Gee, I seem to remember Reverend Jeremiah Wright explaining Barack Obama to us and telling us that Obama says what he has to say as a politician. Of course Obama was very offended by that and immediately threw Wright under the bus. Sounds like Wright was right and telling us the absolute truth.The change you can count on from Barack Obama is change in what he says versus what he believes and what he does. He's as much a Washington DC insider as all the rest. He can not be trusted. Wake up and smell the coffee. Politics Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:24:30 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=A27FED40-D0C3-E4C4-84BA55FF56547C74 http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=A1AB8810-9629-6A83-F99B63C28C908F2A FoxNews announced on their Television news that the FBI expects to arrest up to 300 people involved in fraud in the sub-prime mortgages. As of now, Fox reports:Two former Bear Stearns managers have surrendered to face criminal charges in the wake of the collapse of the subprime mortgage market, federal authorities said Thursday.Authorities in Brooklyn are expected to give details later Thursday on the case against Ralph Cioffi and Matthew Tanin, who are ex-managers of Bear Stearns Cos.Wonder if the Feds will go after Jim Johnson, former head of Fannie Mae, who received favors from CountryWide. What about Senator Chris Dodds?Of course the contention is that they didn't "do" anything "illegal", but since it's not legal as a government employee to accept and not report "gifts" --- some of us might disagree. Politics Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:32:30 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=A1AB8810-9629-6A83-F99B63C28C908F2A