David Jensen hired me to play at his book signing Friday, 5 - 7 pm. Blue Hollomon Art Gallery. 355 Arctic blvd

And ... I've been asked to open for--and play with Forget-Me-Not band January 11th, starts 7 pm, for the Old Russian News Years celebration at the Anchorage Activity Center. See you all there. Update: Leo Grinberg (in the white shirt, right-hand column), also a Russian from Magagdan, will be coming, too. I played back-up during his concert a while back and put that piece "I Will Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" on my CD

I'll be playing at the Anchorage Museum Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013, 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Busy season for these two athletes

    

Back at Kaladi's (on the Muldoon curve) tomorrow at 6:00

In addition, I'll be playing at the annual craft's weekend at the Anchorage museum, December 1st, 1:30 - 3:30. I hope to see you there.

Playing this week-end

I'LL BE AT KALADI'S ON THE MULDOON CURVE 6-8 PM TOMORROW.  AND SUNDAY AT THE BIG MATT HAMMER JAM AT THE TAP ROOT STARTING 6 PM. SEE YOU THERE!

Happy belated birthday little Chucky Darwin .. But you're still full of shit

 When I first started this blog, it was to inform friends of what I was up to, scheduled gigs and training I was conducting. By the way, I will by playing on the JBER military base here on September 11th for their Survivor Outreach event. Anyway, I thought I'd insert an essay from time to time because I don't know what else to do with them. So, here is one which is an off-shoot of the one I sent to Ben Stein's site which you can find at the very bottom of this blog. This is a further clarification of Darwin's one-time buddy who later denied the possibility of Darwinism, or Natural Selection. Here it is:

The motive behind this piece isn't a defense of Genesis, it's a "back atcha" to the arrogance of the likes of Richard Dawkins or professional smart-ass bill Maher. Let THEM cough and sputter and be defensive for a change. I understand how natural selection works and that its principle was demonstrated by the introduction of the English sparrow to the US in the early 1800's. They flourished and really spread. Now you can see that those that headed north and their decedents are portly for insulation against the chill while those that went south are now spindly like the African bushman. However, the ones that migrated north did not start growing fur and earmuffs. Anyway, like I wrote in the foreword of my book "Lazarus", C. S. Lewis noticed an arrogant tone of authority in the scientific and technological community that is undeserved and grating.

“Natural Selection” is the process that caused man to evolve from lower life forms according to anthropologists/naturalists from Charles Darwin to present day.  Most of the accounts I’ve read suggested that an old colleague of Darwin’s, Alfred Russell Wallace, coined the term “natural selection” to explain their (Darwin and Wallace) hypothesis on how this evolution took place—the mechanism forcing the change.  That is key to the most glaring flaw in the theory of evolution, that change  (biological transmutation) is forced by the surrounding environment… adapt or die.  

Almost like a fad, the naturalists of the mid-19^th century all seemed to latch on to this idea of evolution and frantically wanted to get credit for its “discovery”. The race to the publishers was on. Darwin intended to be the one made famous by his observation. He was in such a hurry that he became openly annoyed by the older, more patient Wallace who tried to warn Darwin that upon more detailed pondering, “Natural Selection” was a fatally flawed theory.  

Before becoming specific about evidence to the contrary, specific about the size of the human head and human brain, he explained to Darwin that Natural Selection could not account for the fact that the human being (contemporary and paleolithic) were endowed with mental capacities far in excess of what was needed to survive. Why? What would force that to occur? Why would a cave man have the same intellectual capacity as the man that would later split the atom? He didn’t know what an atom was. What forced this creature’s brain to be able formulate abstract thought? And even if natural selection isn’t a force that requires change, but is a result of nature experimenting with itself and it stumbled upon these attributes it really doesn’t matter because Wallace finally played the What are the odds (?)  game, when he presented the following.  Loren Eiseley explained:

 “As it is, the head of the infant is one of the factors making human birth comparatively difficult. When we are born, however, our brain size, about 330 cubic centimeters, is only slightly larger than that of a gorilla baby.  This is why human and anthropoid young look so appealingly similar in their earliest infancy.

“A little later, an amazing development takes place in the human offspring. In the first year of life its brain trebles in size. It is this peculiar leap, unlike anything else we know in the animal world, which gives to man his unique human qualities. “

Proponents of Darwinism should be amazed and humbled “that man was achieved at all. For four things had to happen, and they had to happen simultaneously:

1.       His brain had to almost treble in size

2.       This had to be effected, not in the womb, but rapidly, after birth

3.       Childhood had to be lengthened to allow this brain, divested of most of its precise instinctive responses, to receive, store and learn to utilize what it received from others

4.       The family bonds had to survive seasonal mating and become permanent, if this odd creature was to be prepared for his adult role.”

The odds against those 4 factors occurring simultaneously in an upstart species is so astronomical, it’s safe to say “it’s impossible”. But it occurred nevertheless. The final statement should be from French biologist and philosopher, Jean Rostand, and a bold statement it was: "Already at the origin of the species man was already equal to what he was to become"


If man is descended from the apes, I can just see Papa Ape walking by junior, stopping and yelling to Mama Ape, "Ethel, come and look at this kid. Look at his head! It's enormous!" Mama Ape adds, "All the other one-year-olds are scampering through the trees and ours just lays on his back and shits himself!"
"Yeah, the world won't be kind to this one" says Papa Ape.
"How will we ever explain this one?" she asks.
"We must invent a new word" said Papa Ape.
"Man?" asked Mama
"No... 'Adopted '" said Papa Ape

And happy birthday Little Chucky Darwin!

Just like last month, I'm donating a gig to the activity center this coming Friday, June 14th at 7:00 pm. Also, like last month, I'm splitting the stage time with the Hector Ortiz band (7-piece group) and will be jamming with them as well. It's a worthy cause and a good dining/dancing atmosphere. Hope to see you there at 1300 East 19th Avenue in Anchorage. That's Hector with the hat.

THE MEDIVAC HELICOPTER PILOT

This story struck me, and I didn't know what else to do with it, so I'm putting it here.

Lorena Knapp is a young, blond, medevac  helicopter pilot in Alaska. It’s a risky business anywhere, but especially in Alaska with its rugged terrain and nasty weather.  I heard her tell a story back in March (2013) and even though I probably won’t get it exactly right, it’s worth a shot.  When she was a little girl she would accompany her father on his daily flights to/from work (about a 30-minute flight in his small plane).  She got sucked into piloting because he would give her the controls and let her get used to operating the plane.  After graduating and flight school, she became a medevac  helicopter pilot where she would fly around the rural parts of the state and transport sick and injured persons to Anchorage medical facilities. However, when she was in the lower 48 getting some medical training she got word that her father was seriously ill, and was being  transported to a hospital in a medevac chopper. He was not expected to survive. She headed home but never made it in time.  Later, she was speaking with a veteran medevac pilot who flew choppers just like the one that had transported her father and asked him how he was able to emotionally deal with that time after time. He told her his secret was “I never make eye contact with the patient that I’m transporting. “ Lorena said that from that moment on, when transporting a patient, she always makes it a point to pause for a moment and look the patient directly in the eyes, especially if they were dying.

Donating a gig monthly

The last Friday of each month I'm donating a gig at this activity center. It's a great dinner atmosphere, open to the public and a very worthy cause. I'll be starting around 7 pm on the 29th. They took some of my other posters and combined them to make up this one. You can click on the poster to read the address and such.

Rescuer's Grandson

It's been so long now, many of you may not remember Captain Stan Shafer who ran my EMS division for years. He died in the mid '80's. Below, is a photo of him shortly before his death. He was suited up for a search and rescue operation, hence the bear protection he was carrying. Behind him is the Chisum Air chopper (which later went down in a blizzard killing John Stimson, my book Fire and Ice). Anyway, a couple of weeks ago I saw and took a really lousey photo of Stan's grandson, which he never saw.  Thor was suited up for a hockey game which followed my grandson's game. Stan would have been really proud of this little guy.

Local Native drummers

Yesterday--Sunday--I shot these short clips at the Anchorage Native Medical Center. The first clip is of the drummers .  This clip is of a couple of dancers .

My CD on KSKA FM 91.1

For my Anchorage-area buddies, Connie Huff from KSKA FM 91.1 said she will open her show at 8pm Tomorrow with "12 Barts for K-2" and end the show with "Cool Joe" from my CD "Cruisin' Anchorage".  She picked up my CD at the Anchorage Museum where I did a 3-hour set last Sunday. By the way, lots of former Cordovans came by including John Gomes, The Montgomery's, Craig Weise, and the Webbers.

Volunteering again....

Last Monday I agreed to be a member of the Board of Directors for “Dollars for Dogs” which provides dogs and equipment for the Anchorage Police Department’s K-9 unit.

The Public is largely unaware that the purchase of the dogs and the equipment does not come from City tax dollars. The money is donated by individuals and organizations through fund-raising events like the event I played at last month. The volunteer members of “Dollars for Dogs” provide and manage this service. In 1975 the Anchorage Police Department had no canine unit. That was the year Officer John Flora was
shot and killed while investigating a burglary. His widow established a memorial fund in his name, with the expressed purpose of raising money to start a canine unit for APD.

Ten years later, Officer H.B. Hanson, a K-9 handler, was fatally wounded while helping another K-9 team apprehend an armed suspect. A memorial fund in his name was also established to benefit APD’s K-9 Unit. Both memorial funds were combined, and Dollars for Dogs, Inc., a volunteer organization, was entrusted with the management of the funds.

Since 1985 Dollars for Dogs, Inc. has worked tirelessly in support of the Anchorage Police Department and citizens of Anchorage. This kind of support, and having high-caliber officers, has helped to make the Anchorage Police Department K-9 Unit known throughout the United States and Canada.

Our goal has been to ensure that each officer has available the finest dog, equipment and training to protect and serve the public. With the donations received from private citizens, businesses, veterans organizations, and service organizations like the Pythian Sisters, Rotary Club, Lion’s Club, and others, our goals have largely been met. The Anchorage Police Department does not have to rely on the usual government bid process to buy their K-9s or equipment, consequently, they are able to afford the best available. My son, Jason, is a K-9 officer and member of the SWAT team.

NEXT APPEARANCE

The "Book Fair for Alaska Publishers" has their annual event on Thanksgiving weekend, Fraiday, Saturday, and Sunday (Nov. 23, 24, 25) at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art, 7th and A Street. I will be there with my publisher on Friday 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. and on Saturday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.. But on Sunday, around noon, I will be playing music for about an hour on the ground floor.  There will be tons of things to buy for Christmas presents, good food and drink, and (I hope) great music. I hope to see you there.

"Flapper" Melanie Shafer



Most of my fire service friends in Alaska remember Captain Stan Shafer who was in charge of my EMS division for about 10 years before he died in the mid '80's. Well, last Saturday I was playing the fundraising gig when a blond girl walked up and started chatting. I didn't recognized her until she introduced herself. It was Stan Shafer's daughter, Melany, who left Cordova about 25 years ago. She is a teacher now.

Because of the serious medical issues in the family needing my attention, I haven't posted much lately. I cancelled my gig at the Organic Oasis after 3 weeks but continued to work at home. Now, October 6 I'll be providing the music at a benefit for the police department K-9 program. It's a $100 a ticket event attended usually by about 250-300 people. Keep watch for the advertising of the specifics. It's a dress-up affair. Here is the poster for my new genre...

Dinner gig at Organic Oasis

I didn't want to announce my gig at the Organic Oasis until after my last Tuesday's trial run with my 'digital band'. I did the dinner slot 6:30 - 8:30 with smooth and bluesy, lay-back pieces. It went well so I'll be there again next Tuesday, June 19th. Stop by for dinner and drinks at 2610 Spenard Road in Anchorage. Incidentally, There's another jam session scheduled for the afternoon of July 15th at the Eagle River Elks.

Tim Whetsell back up from Portland

Tim and his wife April came up from Oregon and brought her parents for a tour of Alaska. They headed up to the interior to see Mt McKinley and Fairbanks. They'll be back tomorrow for a 5-day visit.

The Whetsell clan at the hockey rink

Blues Central jam

Still fighting a head cold, I missed last Sunday night's jam. But the previous one was such a blast, I'll be there this next Sunday. Hope to see you there

Jakes 8th birthday (red jersey) was Feb 16th. He and his 10 year old brother, Brendan, work with their new hockey equipment. Jason and Samantha have spawned a couple of future athletes.

photo - ADEC W. Ghormley

Q2 (Repsol's) drill site on the North Slope sits silently embarrassed and forlorn following it's fart and dribble heard across the nation. Following the rig shut-down, the mud underneath has frozen like concrete. Always erring on the side of safety, we members of the command center team have to monitor every phase of the well control and the clean-up operation. So far ... 7 days.

Update -- in the end, one month plus

YouTube Links

On YouTube, I posted two readings (with slides) from Lazarus on a Spur Line:
"In Memory" and "Upon Hearing Sarah Vaughan Sing 'Dreamsville'".

THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING! THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING! (again)

Since, Nome, Alaska didn’t get its pre-winter fuel supplybecause of a pounding storm, the Russian ice-breaker, fuel- tanker Renda has been clawing its way through the Bering Sea ice flow to deliver the fuel to Nome. Everybody knows that.

Alaska has had a good-neighbor relationship with the Russians for many years, going back to before the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Our State officials were having congenial conversations with their folks, as well as between our Eskimos and their Eskimos, much to the confusion of the national, hard-line politicians on both sides.

In July 1988 seven Eskimo walrus hunters were trapped on a drifting ice floe for three weeks and not only did the Soviets perform their own search, they allowed our National Guard and Coast Guard to search Soviet waters, along their coast line. Between their forces and ours, they covered over 93,000 square mile repeatedly before the hunters were located.

In October that year, when 3 whales were trapped behind a large ice floe, the Soviets sent an ice breaker to assist the local Eskimos who were using chain saws to open a series of breathing holes for the whales heading toward open water.

In December 1988, a devastation earthquake struck Soviet Armenia killing tens of thousands of residents. At 7:00 a.m. I called the Governor's office and suggeste he send an Alaskan Search and Rescue K-9 team to help earch the rubble. Governor Cowper called me back at noon and said the U.S. State Department nixed the idea, assuming there were enough searchers over there already. So, the governor explained, he contacted Soviet Foreign Minister Edward Shevardnadza who wanted the K-9 team. So, Soviet Ambassador Yuri Dubinin made the request official and it was done. (page 320, of my book, Fire and Ice).

The spring of 1989, during the grueling clean-up operation following the Exxon-Valdez oil spill, the Soviet Russians sent their super-skimmer, Vaydaghubsky. In mid-summer, the 425 foot vessel cruised into Orca Inlet to say “hello” to us residents of Cordova. 41 crew members were shuttled in to town by local fishermen for a day-long visit. (page 202, of my book Fire and Ice).

The next year, before the collapse of the Soviet Union, a couple of ships on their way to Washington state pulled in for fresh water and supplies, bringing a theater troupe. They went to the high school gym and put on a couple of plays. We hosted, and fed them well. I and the other members of the fire department bought cases of champagne and met them at the dock (see right-side photo 0f one of our fire engines crammed with drink and ice. The photo was on the cover page of the last edition of the "Soviet Times" magazine.

HOW DID YOU SPEND YOUR WEEK-END?

I spent mine in the Emergency Operations Center with the Coast Guard and the O'Brien's Response Management. The ship "Golden Seas" lost power in the Bering Sea. Click on the picture to enlarge it.


I missed the "Guns v Hoses" hocky game and the Sunday jam session in Spendard. Well, at least I wasn't sloshing around out in the Bering Sea.

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John Voight in Anchorage

Actor John Voight (right) and another actor Dermot Mulroney (left) are hanging out at the Anchorage PD office today during filming of their latest movie. My son, Jason (in the center) is hobnobbing. Huh, I never get to hobnob. Crap. Jason and his K9, Alexander, will make a brief appearance in the movie.

Blues night, Saturday, The Blue Fox, 3461 E. Tudor. I'm on tenor with Rod Master, Pat Ryan and others. See you there

Sunday afternoon softball for senior citizens

I refer to Sunday afternoon jam sessions as "Senior citizen's softball game for guys who aren't very athletic". This is the VFW at 33rd and Spenard. Steve on harmonica, Jim on tenor, and Ted (in his '70's) on tenor. I sat my tenor down so I could play with my new iphone camera, then mail the photo to myself. Then of course I didn't know what to do with the pic, so I put it here. When we have an entire horn section standing together, we look good. Who cares what we sound like.

BEAUFORT SEA BROKE IT

I didn't break it, but with others from O'Brien's Response Management, I got to work on the operation to get it Oliktok Point near Barrow, Ak.

The Usual Suspects

Had a great time in Seward, Alaska. Seward area firefighters put on a great conference.