Alaska Ear

They died.

No one seems to know why, but John Shively, head of the Pebble mine project, got a laugh when he swore he didn't do it.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING ... Have you seen that TV ad some right wing group is airing to say "thanks" to Sarah for reinvigorating the base, or whatever that stuff she did is called? It's all very touchy feel-good with a Thanksgiving theme. One shot of a roasted turkey after another.

All right, make up your own joke. Add it to all the earwigs who wondered if that's where the turkey from the background of her unfortunate interview at the turkey farm ended up -- the one flailing its legs around as that guy stuffed it into the funnel of death.

Or was it perhaps the one she "pardoned?"

TAKE TWO ... Rep. Les Gara is unhappy with Ear for knocking him last week over his assertion/statement/belief/suggestion that we have to rip Ted Stevens' name off the Anchorage airport just because he's been convicted by some Outside jury of a felony or seven.

To quote Les in a TV interview: "I think the public knows, the community knows you can't have a major facility like this named after somebody who's been convicted. ... I think at some point the name has to change."

Les protests that Ear should have mentioned he did not advocate doing it right away, so as not to kick Ted while he's down. Sure Les, let's wait until he's 86 or 87 and under house arrest.

Sorry d'Ears, the Luscious Lobe is adamant, though almost certainly in the minority. Ear has no problem leaving Uncle Ted's name on everything that now carries it.

Ear and Les have agreed to amicably disagree. But to be fair to Les, you should check out the whole KTVA-TV interview online at adn.com/ear.

THE ALASKA CARD ... Ray and Patricia Ashcraft, an Alaska Air National Guard couple, had seats for an Eagles game while they were on vacation in Philadelphia early this month. Apparently that's an amazing feat, so much so the Philadelphia Inquirer was moved to write about it. Patricia failed when she tried to buy tickets online during the summer. So she wrote a letter to Eagles GM Tom Heckert. Let's see: Ray's six-month tour in the Middle East with the Guard's 176th Wing, and exotic Alaska. Guess what the answer was.

The Eagles say Ray was on the field for the pre-game coin toss.

Ear's favorite part of the story: "My 12-year-old son was floored," Patricia told the Inquirer. "When he asked why the Eagles were calling us, I told him Andy (Reid, the coach) wanted my input on a couple of new plays. That was the first and only time he'll ever get away with telling me, "Shut up, Mom.' "

STILL TOPS IN DROPS ... A zoo in Illinois has discovered the joy of animal poop jewelry. But they're using deer nuggets instead of moose. Turns out deer poo is really puny. Yes!

Another category where we're still No. 1.

FLYING FACTOIDS ... An FOI filed by Andree McLeod asking for public records on gifts received by Gov. Sarah Palin and reported between July 1 and Nov. 6 yielded mostly groups paying her airfare so she could attend some function, like the Whaling Festival and dinner in Barrow in June. The only one that aroused Ear's envy was a $1,000 pair of custom Rocky Carroll cowboy boots. Plus $55 shipping costs.

Rocky Carroll boots are hot stuff. President Bush 41 has 25 pairs, Bill Clinton 13. They start at $600 and Elizabeth Taylor's pair, the ones with the diamonds, cost $40,000.

Apparently the Houston-based company gave a pair to every governor at a Republican Governors' Association meeting in Texas.

NOTE ... From an earwig: Former legislator Katie Hurley, an enduring Democrat, celebrated Thanksgiving with her children and grandchildren in Anchorage this year. "A turkey from the now very famous Triple D Farm was brought into town. Upon unwrapping, it was discovered that one entire wing of the all natural bird was missing. Grumbling followed, "until everyone realized it was the right wing."

Compiled by Sheila Toomey. E-mail ear@adn.com. Find Ear online at adn.com/ear.