Mt. Redoubt continues to rumble

Image: TNT Online

Dante's Peak may be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a volcano eruption, but it paints a really bad picture of what's going on up here in Anchorage right now.

Mount Redoubt erupted twice this morning, including a "huge" explosion around 9:30 a.m. that blew ash 65,000 feet high. The activity this morning brings the total number of eruptions for the week up to eight, since the volcano started erupting on Sunday night.

Flights out of Anchorage were canceled, but so far, everything is pretty much business as usual. Here's a little clip from the ADN:

No ash is expected to fall in Anchorage, but it may reach the upper atmosphere just south of city, Weather Service meteorologist Amy Bedal said. But those higher winds will probably be too strong and the ash particles that attain that height too light to reach the ground, she said.

Ash began falling in Homer shortly before 2 p.m. The city sent workers home early, said City Manager Walt Wrede, before a purplish plume blocked the view across Cook Inlet and the smell of sulfur wafted into town. Businesses closed up, he said. By 4:45, skies had cleared and a small sprinkling of ash covered the snow.

When the volcano last acted up in 1989, eruptions occurred over a span of four months. Nobody knows how long the current activity will last.

"We just don't know how much magma is down there that needs to get out," said AVO geophysicist Stephanie Prejead.

Leprechaun or crackhead stuck in a tree?

The people of Crichton, Alabama are still debating whether it was a real leprechaun up in that tree, or maybe it's a druggie high on crack. Doesn't matter to me who's right or wrong, I just think the fact that the debate even exists is hilarious. Watch the news report and you be the judge...



I can't believe they never caught the creature, even with such a detailed police sketch and a magic flute. Well, Happy St. Patrick's Day and I hope the leprechauns stay out of your trees.

Check out WhereDaGoldAt.com for more information on the legendary Mobile, Alabama leprechaun sighting.

This is why you're fat

This is why you're fat is my new favorite blog and here are just two (out of many) reasons why:

Corn Dog Pizza

Chicken Fried Bacon With Gravy

Yeah, a lot of it is pretty gross, including the 30,000 Calorie Sandwich, McNuggetini and Candy Pizza.

However, I wish I could sample a few of the dishes, specifically the Deep Fried Cupcake With Chocolate Syrup And Sprinkles and the French Fry-Encased Hot Dog On A Stick.

Just take a look and you'll agree that this is why we're fat, but a lot of it looks absolutely delicious. Yum.

Woah! Nobody messes with Alaska’s volcanoes

Photo: http://faithmouse.blogspot.com

Alaskan’s are fuming, fuming mad over Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s comments in his official Republican response, calling out “volcano monitoring” as unnecessary spending included in the stimulus package.

"Their legislation is larded with wasteful spending," Jindal said. "It includes ... $140 million for something called 'volcano monitoring.' Instead of monitoring volcanoes, what Congress should be monitoring is the eruption of spending in Washington, D.C."

Bad timing, dude. Volcanoes are big news up here right now. Located right outside of Anchorage, Mt. Redoubt is rumbling and ready to create a giant mess in town in the form of volcanic ash.

I’ve talked to people up here who work in offices where they have to cover their entire workspace with plastic before leaving for the day. Why? The last time the thing blew up, ash went everywhere and destroyed hundreds of computers when it made its way inside city buildings.

From the Anchorage Daily News:

Jindal's comments provoked an eruption of their own. Alaska politicians, liberal bloggers and some scientists began pointing out how useful it is to let people know when a volcano in their neighborhood is about to explode.

"Volcano monitoring is a matter of life and death in Alaska," Democratic Sen. Mark Begich said in an open letter to Jindal.

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski quickly agreed, noting in a press statement how "absolutely appropriate" it is to spend money on volcano monitoring. However, said Murkowski, Jindal raised "a legitimate question about funding volcano monitoring in legislation that's supposed to create jobs for unemployed Americans."

As it turns out, the $140 million Jindal said volcano observatories will be receiving actually breaks down to about $14 after all of the funds are distributed to other U.S. Geological Survey projects.

I’ve never been through a volcanic eruption up here before, so my opinion on the topic is pretty weak. The most I’ve heard is that the eruption makes a big mess, but it doesn’t seem like too many people are worried about it.

Whether it’s frivolous spending or not, I really don’t know. The next time I come across a professional geologist I’ll ask his or her opinion on the subject.

Until then, the only advice I have for Jindal is to have his interns do some better research. Don’t make harsh comments about volcano monitoring when it’s the top story on the nightly news up here.

Am I really writing about volcanoes? … Really? Only in Alaska. Really.

Just when you think your toilet paper is safe ...

Just when you think your toilet paper is safe, you find a crime scene like this ...

The main suspect? Simone. (Mug shot below.)

Ok, so she likes to tear up my toilet paper (she really loves to destroy the extra cushy and extra costly Charmin Ultra Soft), but who could yell at a face like that?

Well, truthfully I do yell. I yell and clap while chasing her out of the bathroom, like the cat will actually learn a lesson from it.

She's got the last laugh though, because I know she's going to do it again. When I catch her, I'll yell and clap and the neighbors will wonder why they live next to a crazy person. Then after all the yelling and clapping, Simone will smile and start plotting her next attack.

So, next time you come over our house and wonder why our bathroom doors are locked, please don't ask - we have a cat with a toilet paper fetish.

New GLR podcast and upcoming event info

The latest Good Life Reggae podcast is up at GoodLifeReggae.com, listen to it here.

For any Anchorvillans who may be reading ... You can catch Good Life Reggae tonight at SubZero. Come on by and listen to Andrew's latest set of favela beats.

Mark your calendars for the Bob Marley Celebration on Friday, February 20, kicking off at 8 p.m. at Humpy's. See you there!

Sorry Florida, no sympathy here

I’ve been trying really hard (actually, not very hard at all) to be sympathetic to the low temperatures South Florida is feeling these days. Tonight it’s supposed to dip into the mid 20s and everyone is wondering where they cand find a pair of gloves, maybe a scarf, too.

So, I’m sorry if I don’t sound very sympathetic when you call and say it’s “cold” in South Florida because I’d be happy for it to be in the mid 20s up here. Here's today's forecast for Anchorage:

I know I’ve only been up in Alaska for a year now, but here’s my advice:

• Cover your flowers
• Put on a sweater
• Turn on the heat
• Call the A/C guy when your heat won’t work because it hasn’t been used in two years
• Try the heat again
• And have a bowl of soup

Well, I think that’s enough bitterness for one day... Try to send some of that "warm" 20 degree weather up here and maybe my mood will lighten up a little.

P.S. I’m writing this as I wait for the Jeep to thaw out in the garage before I go to the store. Give me a call when you can’t roll down the window because it’s frozen shut, until then, just go put on a jacket.