Randy and wife Judy will be leaving for Indianapolis just a few days after they attend the invitation-only Alaska screening of "Big Miracle," aka The Whale Movie. Randy, who is a vice president of Marsh Creek (energy systems) and not an actor, got handed a nice little role in the film as a Texas oil man, which works out nicely since he's an oil man from Texas.
OK, maybe it's only one line with Ted Danson, but still.
Judy says the Super Bowl trip includes airfare, hotel and all expenses, dinner with an NFL player and a role of some sort in the coin toss. Visa allegedly values the prize at $15,000 -- and says they'll pay the taxes on it.
Astute earwigs have already figured out the problem here. What football team do you figure an ex-Texan roots for? Right.
"Do you know how hard it's going to be for me to root for the Giants?" Randy said. But they did beat the Cowboys, so ...
LIFE OF THE PARTY ... Frank Reed, an Alaska pioneer and a fixture forever in all things Anchorage, died last week. He was 99. Ear was taken by surprise having long ago assumed he'd discovered the secret of eternal life, but even in death Frank didn't disappoint.
Turns out he planned in advance -- and paid for -- a big party at the Railroad Depot for next December to celebrate his 100th birthday. Always the pragmatist, Frank specified it could end up being a wake, but so it goes. It should happen no matter what.
His daughter, Pauline, who is planning a more conventional memorial service next month, said the Railroad Depot is reserved and, party on!
GOOD DEED ... People sometimes say mean things about lobbyists. All right, Ear sometimes says bad things about sleazy lobbyists, which is why the following anomaly is being shared.
Former Sen. Al Adams, now a big lobbyist, is currently pretty sick, and word is some unsavory colleagues were circling his clients hoping to pick them off. Well, earwigs report fellow lobbyists Jerry Reinwand, Kim Hutchinson and Adams staffer Marla Berg will service his clients for free until Al is back in the saddle.
WRITE YOUR OWN JOKE ... Joe Miller is taking credit for delivering a "partial victory for (the) Constitution" in U.S. v. Jones, that electronic monitoring decision delivered by the U.S. Supreme Court last week. Apparently his current organization filed an amicus brief. According to the press release, he was joined in his fight for liberty by the executive director of the U.S. Justice Foundation, the unfortunately named Gary Kreep.
ON THE MOVE ... Sarah Erkmann, Mayor Dan Sullivan's communications director, is leaving after nearly three years as the point person for the mayor with the media. She'll become the new external affairs manager for AOGA -- the Alaska Oil and Gas Association. Her new duties include media relations, member communications and some lobbying.
MOVING TWO ... Greg Kimura, executive director of the Humanities Forum for the past five years, is the new CEO of the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles. The museum says they found him after a big national search. There's a nice writeup at www.janm.org.
And yes, that means he and wife Joy will be leaving Alaska. She's director of external affairs for the museum and a major fundraiser. Both will be missed.
The Alaska State Museum ...in Juneau will unveil a portrait of Ted Stevens, commissioned by the Legislature, at a ceremony this Friday. It's a great likeness of Uncle Ted, painted by Dean Larson, son of the late Rep. Ron Larson. It will eventually hang on the second floor of the Capitol.
THE MOVIE ... Just about everyone showed up Wednesday for the D.C. premiere of "Big Miracle." Alaska Airlines flew in Alaskan Amber and fish for the pre-party, hosted by Lite Gov. Mead Treadwell. Among those spotted were the whole congressional delegation, Catherine Stevens, Curtis Thayer, Robbie Graham, Robert Forgit, Steve Rychetnik, David Ramseur, McKie Campbell, Kevin Sweeney (father of "Miracle" star Ahmaogak Sweeney) and, if you can believe it, Eddie McNally, our former Fun Guy, long gone from the Anchorage D.A.'s office but still attracted to a spotlight. Plus a zillion others.
The dress code was "Alaska casual" but no Carhartts were seen.
The first Alaska screening, by invitation only lah di dah, is Sunday.
MORE MOVIES ... Movie-crazed earwigs might be interested in the Eighth Annual Indigenous World Film Festival Friday and Saturday at the Native Heritage Center. Pamyua will reportedly perform Saturday night. Check the schedule at www.alaskanative.net.
US ... There's an amusing video on YouTube titled "Stuff Alaskans (never) Say." Among the things we never say are:
"Another dividend check? Why don't they just give it to the homeless?"
"There's at least 3 inches of snow out there. Of course school is canceled."
"That motor home, it needs to slow down."
Compiled by Sheila Toomey Message Sheila at 257-4341 or ear@adn.com Find Ear online at www.adn.com/ear.
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