XO Rocks at Power Savings!

Today I realized I had a spare USB keyboard laying around. This now makes the XO Laptop an effective blogging tool for me. And I’m glad I figured this out. Wish I had a month ago. Why? Because Juneau is still in the grip of its power cost crisis. We’re currently paying 0.52/Kwh, although this [...]

Remembering Lew Williams in a new light

Most people outside of Alaska have probably not heard of Lew Williams, retired publisher of the Ketchikan Daily News. He died May 3, 2008. Mr. Williams was well known inside Alaska and I *thought* I knew his public persona pretty well. But I was wrong.
In my nearly 10 years in Alaska, I knew Mr. Williams [...]

Office Raven

Office Raven
Originally uploaded by AlaskanLibrarian

I actually took my camera to work today and was rewarded with this picture of a raven perching right outside my office!

A Feminine Touch for Early Alaska

As part of my review of the geography collection at my library, I recently came across the book, Report on the Operations of the US Revenue Steamer Nunivak, 1899-1901 by Lt. John Cantwell. On page 175 of our edition, there are well intentioned but likely sexist compliments towards the non-Native women of Alaska:
In all of [...]

Japanese, Russian, Spanish in Alaska

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I’m reviewing my library’s geography collection and finding some good gems along the way. Here are a few more:
A Japanese glimpse at the outside world, 1839-1843 : the travels of Jirokichi in Hawaii, Siberia, and Alaska : adapted from a translation of Bandan
by Katherine Plummer; Richard A [...]

Snapshots of Alaska Tourism

Tourism has always been a hot issue up here in Alaska and recently I came across a few studies that show we’ve been thinking about our visitors for decades:
Traveler profiles : a study of summer travel to Alaska during 1963 and 1964
by Charles E Hinkson;  Alaska. Dept. of Economic Development and Planning.
http://worldcat.org/oclc/12609029
Gawking at the midnight [...]

Captain Cook and More

Recently I have been reviewing our library’s geography collection. I came across some titles that I thought folks interested in adventure, exploration and cross-culture conflict might find interesting (All links are to WorldCat):
The last voyage of Captain James Cook
by Richard Alexander Hough
Publisher:    New York : Morrow, 1979.
Edition:    1st U.S. ed ISBN:    0688034136 : 9780688034139
Captain Cook’s [...]

Preserving Language - Dena’ina Qenaga Archive

I recently subscribed to the tag “Alaska” on del.icio.us. Most of the time, I just see tourist sites, but every once in awhile I get good stuff. Like this site dedicated to preserving and promoting one of Alaska’s Native languages:
Dena’ina Qenaga Archive  (http://qenaga.org/archive/index.cfm)
From the website: “The Dena’ina Qenaga Archive provides digital access to more than [...]

Explore Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian Culture and History

Sometimes it takes the Internet to become aware of what is in your own town. Such is the case with the new blog from the Sealaska Heritage Institute. I knew about the institute, which is coming to be known as an excellent resource for Alaska Native history and culture. But I didn’t know that the [...]

Grateful - December 18, 2007

Although I’m tired today, I have much to be grateful for!
1) Ravens at Dawn - While I was walking to work from the bus stop, I saw about two dozen ravens perching in a tree in the direction of sunrise. A great sillouette. Too dim for the camera I don’t carry so no regrets there.
2) [...]