Lack of Proper Oversight

They're doing it wrong:

University of Alaska Fairbanks officials are reviewing procedures after students in a medical assistant program were told to inject each other with a solution not approved for human use.
  
The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports a clinical procedures instructor in the university's Community and Technical College had students repeatedly inject others with a solution intended to only be used on training pads.
  
About 30 students in two classes were involved. It's not known how many injections students received, but logs show the average student got about 10 injections each. Officials say those logs may be incomplete.
  
Students have complained of a burning sensation after the injection. Some also had skin irritation.
  
The instructor has been placed on paid investigatory leave. UAF also is investigating why complaints weren't escalated to administrators.

Stupid, stupid, stupid! And "placed on paid investigatory leave"? Only in a university (or government, but I repeat myself) setting. In the real world, you're fired. And sued.

Also, "Ouch!"

Coldest Winter on Record Followed by Latest Global Warming Warnings

They Made It, But That's Not Enough

The State of Alaska recently changed the formula for calculating taxes on oil production. Some Alaskans believe that it shouldn't have changed, and circulated a petition to change it back.

Oil Tax Repeal Officially on the Ballot 

Alaskans will officially be able to decide whether the state Legislature got it right on oil tax reform in the 2014 primary election.

The Division of Elections confirmed Monday morning 31,673 signatures to repeal S.B. 21 passed during the legislative session earlier this year to lower the tax rate on oil and gas industry.

But here's the money quote:

The Alaska Democratic Party argues the number of valid signatures was even higher.

Srsly, what's wrong with people? Simply qualifying isn't enough ... they want to be more qualified-er than that?

It Makes You Wonder, Doesn't It?

First, this news snippet:

Investigation revealed that Cole Sprinkle, 23, of Wasilla, was pursuing [Ezekiel] Johnston [of Kenai] in a white Chevy pickup. Johnston, according to KPD, was in a "Honda passenger car." The pursuit ended in the Home Depot parking lot, where Sprinkle attempted to enter the driver's side of the Honda. Sprinkle then "smashed the driver-side window with his fist." It was at that time that Johnston shot Sprinkle with a handgun three times.

The "wondering" part?

The story doesn't mention whether alcohol and/or drugs were involved. If I were going to try punching out a car window, my fist wouldn't be the first tool-of-choice. But if it were, I wouldn't try it without benefit of pre-anesthesia!

Fairbanks Man Arrested for Punching Himself in the Face

and then lying to police about it, in an attempt to get his neighbor arrested.

Tony Gesin, 50, called 911 and reported being assaulted by a neighbor at around 10:30 p.m. on Sunday night, troopers said.

When troopers showed up to interview him he allegedly blamed the injuries on his neighbor but ultimately admitted to punching himself because he wanted his neighbor to be arrested.

Gesin is being charged with making a false report to police.

Some days, the stoopid is painful ... in this case, to him and us. Maybe he should move to Dutch Harbor?

The Luckiest Boy in Alaska

Boy, 6, rides 3 miles atop family van before falling off on Parks Highway

A six-year-old rode on the roof of his parents' minivan for three miles down the Parks Highway without the parents noticing before he tumbled off and onlookers plucked him off the highway and called 911, the Alaska State Troopers said Sunday.

The boy escaped with only minor cuts and bruises.

The child told troopers he was riding on his parents' car as it left their home near Mile 52 of the Parks Highway, according to an online trooper dispatch.

"We think the kid was riding on the roof where there are bars," said AST spokeswoman Beth Ipsen. "He has apparently done it before."

The stupid is strong with parents who allowed it to happen in the first place.  The story goes on to state that no one was charged "with a crime or traffic violation."

Makes me wonder exactly who these people are.

What Was He Thinking?

With all the publicity surrounding "school shootings" right now, you'd almost think this was deliberate.

ANCHORAGE — Police say a 16-year-old Dimond High School student pointed a BB gun resembling a handgun at another student Tuesday morning, prompting police to swarm the school. The South Anchorage campus was temporarily placed on lockdown. 

The student is in custody and faces criminal charges, police said.

Fifteen officers arrived at the school just after 9:35 a.m. and evacuated a classroom where the BB gun -- made to look like a Glock .40-caliber handgun -- was found in a backpack, according to an Anchorage Police Department spokeswoman.

School resumed as usual just after 10 a.m., said Anchorage School District spokeswoman Heidi Embley.

from the story at www.adn.com

 We're grateful that no one was hurt, and that the police responded quickly.

But will someone please check this boy's mental state & motivation? Is he ill, or just another punk looking for notoriety?

So, You Don't Know ...

... if Captain Underpants, the panty-bomber, was a criminal or a terrorist?

... if the Fort Hood shooter was a criminal or a terrorist?

... if the system worked, or the system failed?