Dr. Brokenleg Breakfast

Dr. Martin Brokenleg spoke at a breakfast meeting (ugh) this morning, and I managed to get there in time. I'm writing this because

• He was a very good speaker
• He lived the tolerance he talked about - at least the way he talked
• He has an important message about race (and class) that I think is the best approach I've heard about (and is closely related to the Healing Racism in Anchorage approach)
• He was funny.

And because he is going to talk again tonight for free at UAA from 5:30-8:30pm. Even if you can't get there on time, I'd say come anyway. There will be some light refreshments first. It will be at Wendy Williamson Auditorium.

I'd note, he did mention that he told the deaf interpreter that he wouldn't watch her, because his brother is deaf and watching her is like hearing an echo and totally distracting.

A note on the quality of the photo above. My pocket sized Canon allows me to take the camera anywhere unobtrusively. I've found a number of hotels do a terrible job about lighting for speakers. Dr. Brokenleg spoke in a dark spot in the room. I like the more natural feel of not using a flash. And I also feel as a blogger, I want to get an audience eye view of things and I don't usually want to go up in front of everyone to take a picture.

Morels are Back

Our backyard seems to produce more morels each year. Or maybe we're better at finding them. I spotted a total of about ten this morning.
Alaska is a great place to find mushrooms, many delicious. When we first discovered the wide array of mushrooms in Anchorage (a particularly rainy summer) we also discovered mushroom field guides. So I would warn that there is something called a false morel that you shouldn't eat. I'm not sure they grow here but know your mushroom before eating. From the Missouri Department of Conservation:

Every mushroom hunter should be familiar with the three most dangerous groups of fungi. These are the amanitas, the false morels and a catch-all category known as little brown mushrooms (LBMS). Mushrooms in these groups cause virtually all the fatal mushroom poisonings in the United States, with amanitas alone accounting for 90 percent of mushroom-related deaths. The pictures and descriptions on the following pages will help you avoid them.

But we also learned that summer, that "poisonous" in mushroom books is often a euphemism for "halucinagenic". But even they can make you pretty sick if taken in too large a dose. For two different recommendations on Amanitas, check out a post from two summers ago. It's down in the middle of the page. You can't miss the bright red mushrooms.

It seems morel hunting is becoming a popular sport. Here's a northern Michigan site with lots of morel information.

And here's a morel recipe page. Some of these recipes would seem to totally hide the flavor of morel with batter. I agree with the "less is more" approach. Saute some onion and garlic in little olive oil, then add the morels.

Dogs, Therapist, and Autustic Kids

I think the last post was called "Catching Up." It's not going to happen. I'm back from Seward, J1 should be in LA by now, meaning she felt J was going to survive without her around. I know that various nearby friends of his, of ours, of his sister have volunteered to help out.

So I'll break these down into discrete posts. I called the therapist Thursday to see if I could get my exercises before the long weekend. She squeezed me in and it's a short walk from home. So I have a page of exercises and the splint is gone. Just this minimal way to keep the two finger buddy system working, and I can slip it off for washing, typing, etc.

Therapist has two dogs in the office. They checked to see if I was ok with them - after I was sniffed. I am ok with them. I asked something about dogs and therapy and sensing the injuries of the patients. What I got in response was stories about how the dogs work wonders with autistic kids in for physical therapy. The dogs know immediately that these kids are different and instead of playing with them as they do with other kids, they just lie down and get real calm, often with a head in the kid's lap.

And the kids who normally are off the wall suddenly calm down too. Seems there is some research to do here. The news had stuff about dogs demonstrating moral thinking last week, so when will this come out?

Of course I can't ask that question without going to google. Here's the first thing I found at Pet Palace: (Pet Palace is also paying for at least part of the study)

Program Uses Dogs to Help Autistic Kids

By: Susan Rubinowitz

Dr. Francois Martin sought parents who wanted to place their autistic children in a program of therapy sessions with a counselor and a dog. Martin is a doctor of ethology (someone who specializes in studying behavior) who also studied human psychology. He wanted to see if a close rapport with an animal and a therapist would help the children learn to express their feelings and interact spontaneously with another being – socialization traits that are lacking in children stricken by the devastating neurological disorder.

The article goes on to describe the research that is in progress with 12 kids. You can get to it at any of the the links above.

And North Star Foundation has service dogs for autistic children.

Creating a service dog placement for a child with autism differs from creating placements between service dogs and physically challenged adults. From puppy hood on, the philosophy of training the dog and the timetable for placement has to be tailored to the unique needs of the child and move in tandem with the dog's natural development. [more at the link]

Catching up again - Broken Ribs and Dislocated Finger Mending, Dr. Brokenleg Coming

I've been a little unfocused. I had another post to put up from the Energy Conference Monday, but the video wouldn't work right. But here's a picture of the Chester Creek Bike Trail, somewhere between New Seward and Lake Otis.Going places by bike has given me some much needed outdoor, exercise, and nature time.

J1 did get to San Francisco from Seattle to take J home from the hospital Monday and to look after him for a while. Local friends there have come by and offered help. As of this evening he can walk up and down the stairs, he walked a bit outside today, but he has a lot of abrasions all over and a few missing chunks that the doctor said would heal themselves eventually. The police report won't be available for ten days, but we can talk to the police officer who took the report on Saturday. I think J1 said she has a name and a commercial license plate. Apparently no word from the person who hit J, but then I suspect he may not be easy to track down. No, I'm being generous, you can get his blog easily through google.

I woke up too late Tuesday to go to the second day of the conference and so I took advantage of the continued good weather (it's clouded over somewhat tonight) and ran and did garden stuff. Then in the afternoon I went to my Thai class. These started at Wat Alaska (the Thai Buddhist Temple near C and Fireweed) on Tuesday afternoons soon after we got back. I'm hoping to not only keep where I am, but make some progress. It's been a lot of fun. And I'm learning a lot more about monks and Thai temples and words that go with that as well as other things. We're also going back and doing some basics I skipped when I started learning to read Thai.

My regular teacher said he would be in Juneau this week and I would have a substitute - a visiting monk from Thailand. Long story short, I'm taking him to Seward tomorrow and Friday we'll try to see whales. He can't eat after noon, just drink. But he doesn't have to get up at 4 am to chant when we're in Seward.

After Thai I went to the steering committee meeting of Healing Racism Anchorage. Dr. Martin Brokenleg will be in Anchorage on Tuesday - HRA is one of the sponsors. There will be a community discussion Tuesday night at Wendy Williamson Auditorium from 5:30 to 8:30 - yes there will be some snacks, and it's free. Here's UAA's announcement.

Tuesday, May 26, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Wendy Williamson Auditorium

The community is invited to participate in a meaningful and authentic dialogue about race and diversity. Participants will also gain an awareness of the ethnic and cultural experiences that are in Anchorage and explore how to interrupt racism. For 30 years Dr. Brokenleg was a professor of Native American studies at Augustana College of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He has consulted and led training programs throughout North America, New Zealand, and South Africa. Dr. Brokenleg will present and facilitate the participatory, community dialogue. How can Anchorage as a community comfortably explore, interrupt and address racism?

Light refreshments will be served. This event is free and open to the public.

Healing Racism's next six week seminar, "Building Alliances to End Racism" will begin May 28 and go through July 2 on Thursday evenings. You can
email me for more details.




This afternoon I had new x-rays and the physician assistant said they were good and now the buddy finger is free and the splint is just on the recovering finger. I'm even typing normal, or somewhat normal. You can't touch type if you can't feel and the splint is over the tip of that finger. I'm supposed to call a physical therapist tomorrow. I think that's overkill for the finger, but she's a two minute walk from the house, so I'll do it. but it is straight and normal looking.

Business of Clean Energy in Alaska Conference 2

1:30-3:00pm
Industry Perspectives: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Capital Investments
A look at the capital market for the EE/RE sectors. panel will include industry and investment experts. Panelists will discuss how policy incentives impact their business decisions.

• Moderator: Justin Klure Pacific Energy Ventures

• 
  Ed Feo Partner, Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy, LLP, Los Angeles CA
• Alan Kirn Director-Renewable Energy Solutions, Johnson Controls, Inc, St. Louis MO
• Dorthe Nielsen Manager of Government Relations, Vestas-American Wind Technology, Inc, Portland OR

Dorthe is reading her company's commercial. Very disappointing after two info rich presentation. But she will have succeeded in making people aware of wind company Vestas.

But my impression from the earlier panel was reinforced by the first two speakers. The first, an attorney, talked about the radically changing financial market and incentives that support energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, and cleaning the environment. The model, according to his talk, is definitely changing toward green, in fact has changed.

The second speaker, from Johnson controls, also emphasizes how fast things have changed in just the last year. "I've never seen as much change as in the last year." He went on to talk about things like how decision making on projects used to be 90% based on economics, and now often more than 50% of the decision making criteria relate to social and environmental impacts.



Alan Kirn had this slide showing Alaska to be the be the highest energy using state per capita in the US. But a questioner at the end pointed out that the oil production on the North Slope had a lot to do with that level of consumption yet that oil isn't for Alaska's consumption, but everyone else's. He also said that our high carbon production was associated with all the cargo jets that merely stop here to supply others in the world.

It would be interesting to separate that out and to see how much Alaskans consume in a more appropriate comparison to other states.

[Click on pictures to enlarge.]

And Kirn also offered this slide suggesting ways Alaska could improve its record.

If it wasn't clear before, it is now, that our Governor is so lacking in understanding of these issues. I don't know where she is today (for all I know she opened the meeting when I wasn't here). But it's a shame she hasn't been here listening.

Business of Clean Energy in Alaska Conference 1 -

I came into as the panel had just started:

10:45-12:15pm
Attracting Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Businesses: Effective Policy and the Impact On the State’s Economy
A discussion of the means by which Alaska can attract EE /RE businesses to the state through policy design.

• Moderator: Larry Flowers National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

• Lori Bird Senior Analyst, NREL, Golden CO
• Noah Long National Resource Defense Council (NRDC), San Francisco CA
• Thomas J. Tuffey Director, PennFuture Center for Energy Enterprise and Environment, West Chester PA

The pictures show the speakers in order. The moderator is on the right of the podium.


Here's what I got out of this session:

Three key terms we should know:
Feeding Tariffs
Net Metering
Decoupling

I'll try to put links up to these later.







The basic issue is mental. People are so used to the old way of doing things, plus large traditional energy companies have set up regulatory environments that favor themselves and the status quo. But these panelists convinced me that there are very feasible alternative futures if we can let go of the old models.





And that's happening everywhere. California was Noah's subject. He said his presentation was online, and I'll try to link to it later.





Tuffey impressed me the most. He talked about the nitty gritty work of getting organized, getting credibility through expertise, and working with the key players, including businesses to help them understand their opportunities. Go to all the utility rate setting meetings and be involved in all work on regulations and lawmaking. He spoke without slides and spoke with conviction and with connection to the audience the other two speakers didn't have.

As always, this is just a snapshot to give you a sense of what is going on here at the Denaina Center in Anchorage. Given my bandaged together fingers I decided to had write my notes (right hand is ok).

J's Bike Accident Update

J was hurt more than the first call indicated, which I didn't learn till his roommate called after 9pm here. He spent last night in the hospital for observation. Everything should heal fine, but he's got some adjusting to do. Broken clavicle, four broken ribs and lots of abrasions. But he had his helmet on and his head and neck are fine. It turned out a car swerved onto the highway shoulder and hit him from behind. He went onto the hood and ended up about 20 feet away. But there were lots of people around. And help apparently was there fast. Then I had to find my wife - J1 - in Seattle and then I worked on changing J1's ticket from Seattle to LA into Seattle-SFO-LAX.

I won't bother you with details, but I had to call AK airlines at 4am when they open, but their solution was about $250 more than I eventually could do myself online. And my body is numb with the possibilities of what could have happened. As it is he could go home today or tomorrow. He'll just have sling so his arm doesn't weigh down on his clavicle.

So, knowing J1 should be with J this afternoon, I'm here at the "Business of Clean Energy in Alaska Conference" now, later than I intended. And if you ever wanted to visit Alaska, today is the day. The weather is spectacular. And I was glad I could bike downtown away from traffic here in Anchorage.

Broken Bones and Abrasions

Just got a call for my wife (who's visiting our daughter in Seattle).

"I'm someone, mumble (radio's on can't hear it that well) emergency mumble."

Must be someone asking for money. Or someone J met.

"Wait, WHO ARE YOU?"

"From the Stanford Hospital Emergency room, her son's been in an accident, but he's ok."

"I'm his dad."

"He has abrasions and maybe some broken bones. Nothing too serious."

"On his bike?"

"Yes. You can come and visit him if you like now."

"I would, yes, but I'm in Anchorage. He's fully conscious right? He can tell you who can pick him up right?"

"Yes he'll call his roommate when he's done."

Having merely dislocated one finger - and some abrasions - on Wednesday I can really feel for the poor boy. I hope you get better quickly! Sorry I can't drive over and offer some comfort. If it helps any, my finger's feeling much better already. I'm tempted to take off the bandages, but I'll wait til I see the physician assistant Wednesday afternoon.

Get better, being banged up isn't fun. I'm really sorry it happened. I won't be mushy on the blog, but I'm thinking it.

I don't even know what happened. Accident with a car? Just the bike? Which bones? My gut short circuited my brain and I didn't think to ask or even get a phone number.

Finally Got Some Rain

But the sky is blue again now.

Alaskan Among Google Doodle Finalists

Google's put up a link to their doodle contest for school kids. Normally I wouldn't promote such a blatant attempt to brainwash kids and get cheap art work, but there's an Alaskan among the finalists.
Geordey Sherrick from Juneau Douglas High School was the Region 10 winner in the grades 10-12 category. From what I can tell from the contest rules, he has already won a trip to New York on May 20.

But now the voting is open to the public, so if you want to vote for him, or any other regional finalist, you can vote here. I happen to think Geordey's is the best of his grade level - simple, clean, and elegant.

There were two state finalists for each level.

The other Alaska 10-12th grade winner is Alexandra Crowder.

The Alaska 7-9th grade winners are:

Kyra Laulainen and

Katherine Seeman

Alaska's 4-6th grade winners are

Michael Parnaell and

Malia Transue

And the Alaska K-3rd grade winners are

Elijah Griffin and

May Geml

Contests with two winners per state are great opportunities for people living in states with small populations like Alaska.