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THE BLOG--HISTORY

"Blue Oasis" began in 2005 in its Blogger format (now an archive) and became possibly the first Alaska Blog on Progressive Politics. At the 2008 Democratic National Convention, Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis was honored to represent Alaska as the state blog.

Transition--Community Blog

In September 2008, Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis moved to a Soapblox Community Blog format. Readers can become full participants by registering on the blog to comment and write "diaries." Diary titles appear on the right sidebar for folks to read and provide comments. Blog editors may choose to move some of these diaries to the front page.

While this Community was formed specifically with Alaska in mind, all "friends of Alaska" are welcome as members!

**Note about registering** Scroll down the right side until you find the link to register. Then, just follow the instructions!

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YOUR BLOGMISTRESS

My name is Linda Kellen Biegel and I am a former 15-year Federal employee. Thirteen of those years were spent working for the US Army Corps of Engineers. I am also semi-retired from the Alaska music scene (singer, sound tech, stage manager, logistics).

When the blog was chosen to represent Alaska in the DNCC State Blogger Pool at the Denver Convention, I attended with the help of Alaska Real blogmistress, Writing Raven and my daughter Morrigan. On August 29th, one day after Barack Obama's inspiring speech at Invesco Field , my life took another turn as it did for all Alaska bloggers when Gov. Sarah Palin was chosen to be John McCain's VP running mate. Since then, I've either assisted or have been interviewed by media from the UK, Italy, Australia and Germany as well as national media outlets such as Wall Street Journal, NY Times, ABC Good Morning America's Kate Snow, National Journal, Dallas Morning News, LA Times, and NPR.

Presently, I work as a freelance writer, PR, event coordinator, community organizer, wife to computer programmer Josh and mother to 11-year-old Morrigan. Our family especially enjoys our summers in Alaska where we get to subsistence set-net fish Sockeye salmon as well as halibut fish/whalewatch in the family's homemade aluminum boat, "The Neverdone" (when it's working). We reside in Anchorage, Alaska.

Origin of "Celtic Diva"

I've used "Celtic Diva" as a screen name since the early 1990's on Web TV.

"Celtic"

"Folks have asked about my Celtic heritage, especially in light of my name. What they don't realize is that I'm adopted. I was born Valerie Morehead of the Clan Muirhead. I was adopted at three-months-old by the Kellens. I always "knew" I was Celt even before really knew. I was drawn to all things Scottish, especially music. That's why my parents eventually told me at age 16."

"Diva"

"Linda is well-known in Alaska & beyond as the prominent progressive political blogger Celtic Diva of Celtic Diva?s Blue Oasis. But back in the day, the early 1990s, I knew her as Linda Kellen, a member of the local folk/rock band Sky is Blu, which amongst other things performed in at least a couple or so of the annual women?s show Celebration of Change, in which I also performed. And if you don?t already know, let me tell you: Linda is one fine damn singer."

I went on after the break-up of "Sky is Blu" to perform with various Alaska musicians and work with national folks like Bo Diddly, Coco Montoya, Debbie Davies, Taj Mahal, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Bad Company, Creedence Clearwater, Carny Wilson, etc...

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Ethicist Robert Wechsler weighs in on complaint dismissal

by: Celtic Diva

Fri Jun 05, 2009 at 04:36:12 AM AKDT


I decided to go to http://CityEthics.org to see what resident ethicist Robert Wechsler thought of the Arctic Cat ethics complaint dismissal, in case he read about it.

Sure enough, he had.

I originally found the CityEthics blog when I filed the complaint and Mr. Wechsler wrote about it in a piece titled Unethical Harassment and Wearing Logos:

When I saw the headline from the Anchorage Daily News, "Palin Calls Blogger's Ethics Complaint Bogus," and saw that it had to do with clothing the governor wore, I thought I might write a piece about using ethics complaints for the purpose of political harassment. But when I read the article, I realized that the complaint was not frivolous, and that the governor's criticism of it was worthy of taking note.

In a June 4th post about the dismissal, titled Misrepresenting Ethics Law in Highly Visible Case, Mr. Wechsler doesn't mince words in reference to the Administration's reaction and the report from Personnel Board Investigator, Thomas Daniel:

The relevant ethics act provision does not require proof of a bribe, which is essentially what the report states. Proving that there was a direct exchange of something in return for an act is not only very difficult, it is also unnecessary under the ethics act.

In fact, the provision only requires that an official "attempt to use" her position for personal gain. No gain has to actually occur. But in this case there was clearly gain to the family in the company's sponsorship of the Governor's husband. Whether or not the Governor was required as part of a deal with the company to wear the jacket at the particular occasion is irrelevant.

He even has a message for the Palin-bots:

I have no doubt that I will be falsely attacked in the blogosphere as a Democrat who never criticizes Democrats, as I was when I wrote about this complaint when it was filed (nor will my post on abusing the ethics process, with respect to Gov. Palin, be mentioned).

And that's why I'm writing this -- because such a highly visible, contentious complaint must be dealt with responsibly. It's not the outcome that matters, it's the honest presentation and interpretation of the law. This was not done here. I don't know if the people who misrepresented the law and the appropriate burden of proof were Democrats, Republicans, or independents. And I don't care

I have not agreed with all of Mr. Wechsler's posts on the subject, but I believe he's got this one pegged.

Celtic Diva :: Ethicist Robert Wechsler weighs in on complaint dismissal
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Hoping (0.00 / 0)
I think he hit it right on the head.  There has to be another avenue when the law is so grossly disregarded.  There has to be some more check and balances that can be applied.  I would think it would be enough when it was stated they didn't do an investigation..

Do ask for more input! (0.00 / 0)
Diva, excellent idea to check with other ethic experts! Please continue to seek more opinions on this ruling!

Why isn't he being quoted? (0.00 / 0)
All we hear is that the complaints were dismissed, as if they were groundless. This is such a blatant miscarriage of justice and perversion of the system, there should be an avenue of complaint against the board.

This is going to earn you another topic on the C4P site!!! (0.00 / 0)
Mr. I AM Creepy who is obsessed with you is going to fall all over himself writing another topic dedicated solely to you yet again.  They do seem a tad obsessed with you don't they?

On topic here, I agree with Mr. Wechsler, but that is no surprise since we all know that Palin wearing that Logo Jacket was completely unethical and just outright wrong.


Which one is (0.00 / 0)
MR Creepy? Everyone @ peeland is creepy!

[ Parent ]
Thank you, Linda, (0.00 / 0)
for standing up and saying out loud that the Empress is wearing no clothes, even though she appears to be clad in ads from head to toe.

No matter the outcome of this ethics complaint, you have shined a light on yet another example of how GINO fails utterly... fails epically... to see how she has responsibilities as Governor, to see that she is not just little miss Sarah Heath waving pompoms or skittering across a stage in a bathing suit.

She simply doesn't get it, and neither do her ignorant, adoring Sarasites.  Most of them never will, until and unless Sarah admits that she's been ever so wrong, misguided, and doofus-headed.  

I'm not holding my breath.

Thanks again, Linda, for doing your civic duty.  






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