Icewind's Ramblings

Every once in a while I get asked about Alaska and some of the terms I use to describe things in my blog. This post will be the first part of several on Alaskan terms, events, or places. Alaska is unique in every way . . . it even has its own vocabulary. As Alaskans, we offer you a guide to some of the words and phrases, ancient and recent, known only to those who inhabit Alaska . Study these terms and you just might convince the locals that you are a true sourdough. Outside : Anywhere outside Alaska but generally means the continental 48 states. When a local goes on vacation, they are headed "Outside". Eskimo Ice Cream : The fat of a Seal or Caribou is whipped to a creamy texture and mixed with chopped meat or berries. Yummy. Muktuk : An Eskimo delicacy consisting of the skin and attached layer of whale blubber. It can be eaten dried or cooked, but usually prepared raw. Muskeg : Swamp or bog composed of layers of decomposing plant life. Often found in tundra...

Or inside the Man’s brain. We’ve had a little fun with the elections lately and I’m sure there will be a little more in the next couple of weeks. We can move on to something a little different and give you maybe a laugh or two. I wanted to give the ladies a little insight into the makeup of the male being. Today, we’ll talk about how you can train your new hubby and possibly make him more obedient. Over the years I’ve observed or had some of these techniques used to make me into the man I am today. That may be good or bad depending on your perspective I guess. The key to your success in training your boyfriend or spouse is trying to understand how . . . and if . . . his mind works, and then incorporating that information with proven training techniques. Remember this . . . although your spouse likes treats, loves it when you rub his belly, and often chases the mailman down the street . . . he is not a dog and therefore does not think or react as a dog woul...

Continuing last night’s blog about Joe the Plumber . . . before we move onto other things since this cycle is quickly winding down. With more of Senator Socialist’s tax plan. The government raises taxes on behavior it wants to discourage, and lowers taxes on behavior it wants to encourage. It becomes clear from Obama’s statement that he wants to discourage Joe’s success and wants to encourage socialism by giving a handout to the “bottom.” The idea that “when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody” is naive at best and nefarious at worst. It isn’t good for anybody! Joe the Plumber is punished for his success; the “bottom” is punished by being locked into the lie that somehow they deserve a portion of Joe’s money and should not apply themselves through hard work to rise from the bottom. The thread worn class warfare rhetoric of taxing the rich and giving to the poor is a thinly veiled fabrication that there are “have’s” and there are “have not’s” in our co...

He certainly got plenty of airtime. Funny thing is . . . I’m a “Joe the Plumber” now for over 35 years. I’m thinking the hottest costume this Halloween: Joe the Plumber This debate came totally out of left field for me. Like, who knew to put Joe the Plumber down as the “drinking game” name in the debate tonight? If you for some reason had decided to take a drink every time Obama or McCain referenced their imaginary friend, you'd be dead. Dead of alcohol poisoning. For those of you who don’t know what that exchange was all about, McCain and Obama were referring to an impromptu encounter between Obama and Toledo , Ohio , plumber Joe Wurzelbacher. Jake Tapper, at ABC News, has the full video . Now I’m not an economist. Nor am I a medical doctor, but I don’t have to be one to know that smoking is not good for my health. Likewise, I don’t have to be an economist to know that capitalism is good for a country’s economic health and socialism is not. This ...

America . . . we are going into a big recession. Buy yourself something nice . . . Before it catches up to you. Ice

This blog is about my journey as a writer, not necessarily making my way as a professional writer despite many people saying I should finish the book or two projects I have worked off and on for several years now. Others have also said . . . no one makes it as a writer. I know that the internet is a permanent record of everything I write. I know that I could probably readers sometimes because of things I’ve written here. The funny thing is . . . I write for me . . . whether I have readers or not. And I want to be funny. I believe people want to read funny things. To be given something in return for those few minutes they have invested in dropping by to give it a look. I also know that a writer can’t hit the same note every single day. You cannot write a plumbing blog about plumbing every single day but over the years I have many funny stories. Can a humor blog be funny every single day or a tech blog that’s about tech thingies every single day hold your inter...

If it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for? Ice