Comment

JOHN HAVELOCK

Airlines going 'green' make for miserable passengers

Of all the environmental humbug, the airline claim that flying full planes and packing in extra rows is done to reduce carbon emissions has to rank near the top. The airline industry, freed of federal regulation (how wonderful), has become a cutthroat, competitive industry. Guess whose throat is usually feeling the knife?

MICHAEL CAREY

Palin exposed state to celebrity culture

Sarah Palin, a onetime beauty queen, a mother of five, the Republican candidate for vice president in 2008, and the former governor of Alaska, has a new incarnation: author.

ELISE PATKOTAK

State finally put a smile on child's face

A judge recently ruled that the state had to provide braces for children in state custody if, in fact, a dentist determined they were needed. A small victory but one of great importance to children being raised by the state because their parents can't quite find the time to do it.

COMMENT

Pundits take a look at 'Going Rogue'

Columnists, bloggers and others examine Sarah Palin's new book

JUDITH KLEINFELD

Why did Hasan open fire at Fort Hood?

If we think of terrorists like Hassan as having a disorder of the mind similar to anorexics we can perhaps understand the mindset we are up against.

PAUL JENKINS

Palin e-mails still a secret; what are they trying to hide?

Alaska state government is bruising, if not breaking, the law by failing to release in a timely fashion Palin administration e-mails and other information sought under the state public records law.

ALAN BORAAS

In retaliation game, we've lost sight of our enemy

In the 1960s, when Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Tim Horton laid a molar-rattling check on the Montreal Canadiens' smooth-skating Jean Beliveau and sent him crumpling to the ice, everyone in the rink knew one thing. Within a period, the Canadiens' bad guy John Ferguson was going to retaliate with equal measure against a Maple Leafs hotshot like Davy Keon. You can see the same thing at an Aces game. It's the code of the ice.

STEVE HAYCOX

Political contradictions alive and well

It's been a great tradition in the economic development of the American West, including Alaska, to depend on the federal government for substantial financial support, but to reject any constraints or advice that come with the money. A cartoon reflecting that tradition might have a figure representing the West, or Alaska, with one hand holding out a tin cup while the other displays a raised palm, the universal sign for "stop!"

ELISE PATKOTAK

Our selfishness weakens our society

One of the questions that must be asked as the health care debate rages on is just what type of society we are or want to be.

DAN FAGAN

Success is great, but I can always do better

In 2010 I will begin my eighth year as host of a radio talk show. I spent most of my adult life as a reporter and I always thought it was the best job in the world. That was until I got my own talk show. Hosting a show with a big audience has been very rewarding. Of course I've made a lot of mistakes along the way. I still struggle each day to handle my show responsibly. It's not always easy, but I do try.

JOHN HAVELOCK

Capable students should go to college free

We educate people because it is in the best interest of state and country; the benefit to the educated individual is incidental. Public education protects our society from economic decline and social degeneration. Our social structure slides into imbalance if there are not avenues for upward mobility.

ELISE PATKOTAK

Help save children from abuse, death

Once again the headlines tell a sad, sad story. American children are still killed by their parents or caregivers with disgusting regularity.

MICHAEL CAREY

'Old welder' ran roughshod over Alaska

Bill Allen said what you expect from a man standing before a judge at sentencing. I made mistakes, I'm sorry, I know I will be punished. Remember the good I did.

CARL HIASSEN

Editors pose questions in Palin book manuscript

(Confidential response of Sarah Palin's book editor to the first draft of her coming memoir, "Going Rogue"):

PAUL JENKINS

Bill Allen disappointed former employee

People ask me: What do you think about Bill Allen and what he did?

STEVE HAYCOX

History omits the joy in tough times

History is tricky business. We'd like it to give us the true story of the past. But along with the other liberal arts -- literature and philosophy -- whose domain it shares, history doesn't produce certitude about much of anything. Even when one has the salient facts right, there's the challenge offered by the theory that there are an infinite number of explanations for any one event.

ELISE PATKOTAK

Industry will meet need for electric car charging

Given the cost of gas per gallon, I think electric cars would be an amazing boon in the Bush. People wouldn't have to choose between groceries and gassing their car so they can take that needed mental health break to the lake.

WALLY HICKEL

Commons care can yield resource revolution

I commend the committees in Norway and Sweden who chose President Barack Obama and Dr. Elinor Ostrom as winners of Nobel prizes this month.

DAN FAGAN

On his way out, Begich left us with a big mess

By now, only the obsessively partisan have yet to understand former Mayor Mark Begich deceived the public so he could push through labor union contracts he knew we couldn't afford.

MICHAEL CAREY

Trip to book store recalls who helped through life

I just returned to Anchorage after three weeks seeing America, mostly by rail. The trip began in Portland and continued through Spokane, Minneapolis, New York and Boston.

ELISE PATKOTAK

Bush booze: controversy, contradiction

Do you feel that trying to follow the booze wars in Bush Alaska is like trying to watch Australian rules football -- it looks like something you should be able to understand; yet you can't quite figure out what the heck is happening.