Anchorage Daily News

WHAT'S IN A NAME ... Don Young, Congressman for Everyone Who Voted for Him, had his annual pig roast fundraiser Wednesday at former Gov. Bill Sheffield's Turnagain home.

Oops. Pardonnez Ear. Don had his "Taste of Alaska" fund-raiser.

Some of his more politically astute supporters tried last year to get the congressman to change the name of the event, but Don just didn't get it. Wonder why he saw the light this year? Hmmm.

And, wonder if the famous traveling Veco grill made an appearance.

Speaking of fundraisers, there's one for Ted Stevens on Tuesday at Ed Rasmuson's home.

A FEW QUESTIONS ... Is it true that Procrastinators Anonymous is sponsoring a legal defense fund for Ashley Reed?

Ear wonders two things about the criminal charges lodged against Ashley for chronic late filing of his lobbying reports. First, couldn't a lobbyist who bills almost half a million dollars a year afford to hire a part-time secretary to take care of his reports?

And second, isn't the Department of Law just a little embarrassed to file such Mickey Mouse charges against a lobbyist who's been a major political player for 25 years?

IN AWE ... It's kind of media navel-gazing, but you might be interested in an e-mail from Sarah's new communications director, Bill McAllister, who was until recently the chief political reporter for Channel 2 News. The e-mail is to Channel 2 news director Steve McDonald, complaining about a couple of McAllister's former colleagues -- Mike Ross and Jason Moore -- and the station's coverage of the governor.

Ear can only admire how quickly and completely Bill has accomplished the switch from one side of the street to the other.

Here's Ear's favorite part:

"(T)his press office will continue to strive to be accommodating to Channel 2. But it will be a great improvement if some respect can be shown for the civil servants who work here, even if it's too much to ask that information we provide to you gets some reasonable treatment in the newscasts."

But this is out of context, darlings. Do click on the link above and to the right and read the whole thing.

SO PROUD ... This note arrived from former ADN reporter Gail Randall, now of Texas and recently back from Europe:

"I was rolling out of the Carpathians across western Romania a few weeks ago and stumbled upon a restaurant called The Alaska. Only menu I've ever seen that offered (according to the helpful English translated version) 'chigarette lighter' and 'professional chewing gum' on the entree list."

VERBATIM ... From Traffic World, a trade publication Ear never misses: "Young Love. The conservative political action committee Club for Growth generally is full-force behind Republicans in its bid to get small-government backers into Congress, but not everyone gets in the club. The group recently started running ads in Alaska blasting Rep. Don Young, R-Bridge To Nowhere. The TV ad is a clip of Young at a hearing talking about the gas tax: 'I'd suggest we raise the taxes to a dollar a gallon. That makes you put your money where your mouth is.' It's a bit unfair, really -- if you start going after every far-out proposal Don Young throws out there, you'd never do anything else."

TIES THAT BIND? ... Pete Rouse, former Alaskan, aide to Sen, Tom Daschle, chief of staff to Sen. Barack Obama and now deputy manager of the Obama campaign, is not all that former when it comes to Alaska. State records indicate he's still registered to vote in Juneau. He lives in D.C. and votes absentee -- in general elections only. And no, he does not collect a PFD.

But maybe that old connection is why the Obama campaign is actually competing for Alaska's puny three electoral votes.

FLYING FACTOID ... Former Gov. Tony Knowles brings a reusable canvas bag when he goes shopping, thus sparing the life of a plastic bag. An earwig reports seeing Tony at the Farmer's Market last weekend, looking relaxed and tan, searching unsuccessfully for arugula.

BACK TO REAL LIFE ... Now that the special session is over and all eyes are on the executive branch, Rep. Mike Doogan, D-Spenard, can get down to serious business. Mike's newest Nik Kane mystery is out, and he's doing a reading/signing Thursday at Title Wave, 7 p.m. The new book is called "Skeleton Lake."

ON THE MOVE ... Ernie Piper has been named vice president of operations for the Alaska Railroad. Ernie was a reporter for both the Daily News and the defunct Anchorage Times. He worked for the state during the Exxon Valdez cleanup and for the railroad from 1998 to 2007.

GOOD ADVICE ...From a loyal earwig: "Always read the police blotter in small-town papers."

From the July 31, 2008, police blotter in the Dutch Harbor Fisherman: "Tuesday, July 15, 9:50 p.m. A cyclist was attacked by an eagle as he pedaled past the Dutch Harbor Post Office. The cyclist sustained several deep lacerations to his head and subsequently visited the clinic for medical care. The eagle remains at large."

DO SEND A FONDU ... to Rob Allen, CEO of Allen Marine, and Robin Sherman of New York, who got married yesterday on one of his boats in Sitka Sound. Allen Marine makes those speedy ferries that run around Southeast, and between Manhattan and Staten Island.

Compiled by Sheila Toomey. Find Ear online at adn.com/ear. Contact Ear at stoomey@adn.com.

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