Alaska Ear

As we all know by now, Academy Award-nominated actress Julianne Moore has signed to play Sarah Palin. Turns out Moore has an Alaska connection. In fact, it's possible she has spent more time in Juneau than Sarah. Moore, an Army brat, lived in Juneau in the 1970s and attended Capitol Elementary School, located on the hill right behind the Legislature. She told a British reporter she had a crush on Duff Mitchell, currently vice president of Alaska Hydro Corp. BTW, Moore is 50, not 40 as reported last week.

SPEAKING OF ... Sarah, and aren't we always? So annoying. Anyhow, Public Policy Polling, whose employees obviously have too much time on their hands, tested her popularity against bad boy Charlie Sheen. No surprise, she beat him 49-29, although among "independent voters" she lost to Sheen 41-36. Interestingly, it turns out only three people have tested worse than Sheen, according to PPP: Former Gov. Blagojevich, Jesse Jackson Jr. and Levi Johnston.

SPACE WANTED ... As long as we're on the subject of movies, earwigs wearing sunglasses at night report an Outside movie, currently in pre-production here, is desperate to rent a big warehouse for a sound studio, with a bonus if office space is attached. They're also looking to cast twins, age 2 to 5. There's allegedly a non-monetary reward for a space tip that works out. Contact Karen@sprocketheads.com. Email only.

The working title of the movie is "Play Kids," and it's reportedly a detective story. Ear can't find it on Google but ...

ON THE MOVE ... Earwigs report KTVA anchor Matt Felling is changing sides. He has given notice and will leave news reporting for a communications job with Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

SOUND STAGE ... Word is right-wing radiomouth Dan Fagan has signed on the dotted line for a new morning talk show on a local AM-FM station. Earwigs say it won't happen until June, which doesn't make sense to Ear, but industry types say non-competition clauses that require a star to stay off the air for a set period of time after leaving one station for another are common. As usual lately, Fagan's saying nothing.

A QUESTION ... Did Mat-Su Valley Sen. Charlie Huggins really introduce a bill Friday to designate an official state firearm? Really, darlings, who would take time away from important issues and waste it on something that dumb? Everyone knows it's whatever handgun is bought most by gun enthusiasts, then stolen by burglars.

Turns out Huggins has proposed such a law, SB 105, which reads in full: "Section 44.09.150. State Firearm. The pre-1964 Winchester 70 .30-06 caliber rifle is the official state firearm."

OUT AND ABOUT ... Who was invited to an "agricultural research retreat" at Betsy Lawer's Napa winery? A group of women CEO types including Jo Michalski, Susan Lucas, Linda Leary, Mary Quin, Fran Ulmer, Gail Schubert and Mary Hughes.

WE'RE NUMBER, UH, NEVER MIND ... A website called 24/7 Wall St. has ranked the states for both virtue and vice and guess which list Alaska made? Ear was a little chagrined that we only came in as third-most vice-ridden. Nevada and Wisconsin (Wisconsin?) finished one and two.

Unfortunately the part where the survey says that "Alaska has only three major casinos," which is "low compared to most and improves its rating," kind of undercuts its credibility. Wonder what they mean. Bingo in Bethel? Rippies in Spenard?

Luckily we have the fifth-highest rate of drug use in the country, third-highest rate of alcohol consumption and the second-highest rate of subscriptions to pornography. Allegedly.

Among the virtuous: Utah is first, New Jersey (New Jersey?) second and Idaho third.

Find Ear online at www.adn.com/ear. Compiled by Sheila Toomey. Message Ear at 257-4341 or ear@adn.com.