JOE CONTRAIRE
If there's one thing that fries my bacon, it's these infernal greenie no-growthers that are trying to strangle every strand of progress here in Alaska. The oil money is pouring in and we finally have the chance to build the state of our dreams. But every time ya turn around, those Californicated communists are saying, no, no, no.
WALLY HICKEL
Vote no on TransCanada gas pipeline
We ran an ad last Friday urging Alaska's legislators to vote against the plan to give a license to TransCanada to build a gas pipeline from Alaska's North Slope across Canada.
GARRISON KEILLOR
In sweetness of July, little matters
Summer nights! The fragrant dark descends, the night creatures chitter and chirrup, and we linger on the porch, a little wine in the glass, children coming and going, and we inhale the sweetness of life. In Pasadena, people are lined up outside a bank, hoping to get their money out before it goes belly-up, and Mr. McCain's friend Mr. Gramm says we are a nation of whiners complaining about a recession that is only mental, but we are engulfed in summer and don't notice. We're sitting on the porch, inhaling the breeze from the trees, and we are American optimists.
JUDITH KLEINFELD
Family dining useful but hard to arrange
Our family dinners centered on the game "Debating Daddy."
ELISE PATKOTAK
Oil windfall could enrich quality of life
It seems to me that the more money comes pouring into state coffers, the more services residents should be seeing. After all, if we are the owner state, it is our money. While I understand the need to put some of it away for tomorrow, I don't see why that precludes our enjoying a better quality of life today.
JOHN STROHMEYER
No one did more for Alaska statehood than Bob Atwood
In the spirit of the celebration of Alaska's 50th anniversary of statehood, many deserving people are hailed for their roles in making it happen. However in those generally good recollections, I have yet to read about the one person who deserves to stand out among the rest.
GREGG ERICKSON
Palin rebate proposal makes sense
Are Alaskans redneck, red-state socialists? I don't think so, but it is easy to see how outsiders could get that impression. Americans across the country oppose government-mandated redistribution of wealth and yet are ready to embrace wealth transfer programs that would make Robin Hood blush.
ANDREW HALCRO
Skip the rah, rah rhetoric on gas line
As fifth-grader at Lake Otis Elementary School in 1975, I elected to do my class report on the construction of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline. I remember riding my bike from my home on Needle Circle to the offices of Alyeska Pipeline on Bragaw Street. I remember the security guard handing me a stack of brochures. I remember thinking to myself, how am I going to ride home with all of this information.
DAN FAGAN
Palin's statements belie promise of truthful leadership
The Palinista movement will boldly tell you over and over how truthful, transparent, open and honest they are. They shout from the rooftops how different they are and how they are unlike any other political movement. New energy for Alaska, putting Alaska first -- they are taking a stand for all things decent. No spin, half-truths or deception coming from Palinbots or their leader.
ALAN BORAAS
Beware of Chuitna River coal proposal
Some Alaska energy projects make a lot of sense: in-state natural gas, geothermal, tidal, wind and small-scale hydro come to mind. But some energy projects make no sense, and topping the list is the Chuitna River development proposed by PacRim Coal.
STEVE HAYCOX
Alternative energy key to Alaska's future
It would be remarkable if Warren Buffett were to solve America's energy problem, and Alaska's. It would be remarkable because Buffett pulled out of Alaska's gas line sweepstakes even before the real contest began. Yet Buffett is a person who thinks "big" and clearly; he wants to free America from dependence on foreign oil, not by more drilling but by getting serious about alternative energy.
COMMUNITY VOICES
Stevens endorses book's prejudiced view of Muslims
A few years ago, I was applying for jobs in the Lower 48 when I came upon a particularly promising one. It was a live-in assistant to a wealthy retired couple. When it looked like the job might be a "go," I sent them a picture that was taken of me holding my 18-month-old daughter.
ELISE PATKOTAK
Immigrants are a welcome infusion to America's lifeblood
It's amazing to me that a country like ours, built on the backs of successive waves of immigrants who came here willing to do the lowliest job for the least wage in order to get a chance at something better for their children, should find itself so divided over the issue of immigration today.
DAN FAGAN
Looking for God? Find him in the hearts of those who love
Who is God? Where can we find him? Seeing as I'm not a theologian, I will not try to answer the first question, but I believe I'll take a shot at the second one.
JOHN HAVELOCK
Film women should wake up and smell the coffee
While enjoying coffee at the City Cafe, I was recently inveigled into seeing a film about -- this being a family newspaper -- the coffee-drinking habits of four big-city women. The lives and conversations of these women, Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte, revolve around their consumption of coffee: the bean, the roast, the drip and perks, locations and drinking companions.
CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER
Obama edges closer to McCain stance
You'll notice Barack Obama is now wearing a flag pin. Again. During the primary campaign, he refused to, explaining that he'd worn one after 9/11 but then stopped because it "became a substitute for, I think, true patriotism."
JUDITH KLEINFELD
True wealth comes to us through experience, not money
My happiest time is Saturday, when my husband and I do mindless errands. We go to the grocery, pick up the dry cleaning, and stop at the pet store to buy dog food for our collies and litter for our persnickety cat.
COMMUNITY VOICES
Carlin was right about workers' plight
Three things happened last week that all juxtaposed in my mind. George Carlin died, I took right-wing radio mouth Dan Fagan to task on the Employee Free Choice Act because he had it all wrong, and the Exxon Valdez verdict came down from the Supreme Court.
ELISE PATKOTAK
Phone-book excess highlights society's wastefulness
I came home one day last week and found yet another plastic bag on my porch filled with the latest overload of telephone books. I took the package, put it in my car and off-loaded it at the phone book recycling bins the first chance I got. As I did so, I wondered once again how companies could be so environmentally insensitive as to continue this practice despite the cries from consumers to stop it.
ELSTUN LAUESEN
School paper teaches real-life lessons
My friend has a peculiar genius for dredging the tailings of the past and finding the good stuff. In this case, he recovered a memory particularly rich to me.
DAN FAGAN
Statehood book touts Palin while snubbing Ted Stevens
Love him or hate him, it is undeniable Ted Stevens has done more than anyone in history to contribute to the development of Alaska.
OPINION: VIDEO
Joe Contraire, frustrated by the greenie stranglehold on Alaska, proposes we take matters into our own hands.
OPINION: READER-SUBMITTED
Send photos of what's appealing - and not so appealing - in your neighborhood and in the city.
OPINION
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OPINION: ANIMATION
Watch in horror as we bring you video of the Exxon wrist-slapping, carried out by Chief Justice Roberts.
OPINION: SLIDE SHOW
A Ruby Investments representative and a project manager describe the vision for the new Midtown tower.
OPINION: VIDEO
Where did the millions of dollars spent on the Knik Arm crossing thus far go? Head to the depths of the Cook Inlet to find out.
We must forgo partisanship, 'pay back'
Lincoln, Jefferson may have been scuttled by sound bites
Let's pay our respects to Native hospital site with a park
Left-behind photos cry out for owner to come claim them
Sensible solution is for Alaska to build the gas pipeline
Openness in gas line negotiations is a critical mistake
Point Thomson's key to any gas pipeline
McCain should press to open ANWR
'Bystander Effect' creeps into Alaska
Ignoring war easier than self-reflection
Poor reading, writing skills undermine our students
Energy plan should have wide benefits
We'll conserve when price is just right
An Obama presidency would help improve race relations
Personalities do change for the better
Clinton not every woman's candidate
An all-Alaska gas pipeline makes sense
That 'free' money for all will come out of your own pocket
Earthquake reveals an evolving China
West Virginia vote strikes a sad note
Candidate McCain raises age agenda
Internet can be a dangerous weapon
Palin energy plan could be even sweeter
1909 expo made business case for Alaska
Anchorage passed this character test
After oil catastrophe, lives rose on eagle’s wings
Alaska is the richest state, yet still plagued by fiscal woes
Clinton solved puzzle too late in game
Phone revolution keeps us close to mom
After 30 years of marriage, say 'I love you' with a clam gun
Military winks at religious intolerance
Real change will take time, patience
On race, Fagan woefully off the mark
Bush's feelings don't help immigrants
Messages aimed at followers work best
Someone explain the humor in brutalizing Native women
Frontier spirit inspires us as we grow less independent