Alaska Man Monday - Snow Machines, Russians, Booze, and Guns

We’ve been suffering some unseasonably warm temperatures here in the Great Land for the last few days. Granted we’re not alone in that; much of the lower 48 is sweltering under something called a “heat done,” resulting in hot, muggy weather from the Rockies to the Great Lakes, from Montana to the Mexican border.

And, yes, even here. Temps have broken the 70-degree mark for several days now. Seventy degrees! That’s hot! This is the third day in a row I’ve left all my favorite flannel shirts hanging in the closet.

But, enough about the weather.

Now, as dumb crooks go, these guys are pretty dumb; although I have to admit, smuggling snow machines to Russia (a snow machine, by the way, is what folk in the lower 48 call a snowmobile) is pretty Alaska:

2 men tried to illegally smuggle snowmachines from the U.S. to Russia, feds say

Two Russian-born American citizens are accused of attempting to send almost $500,000 worth of snowmachines from the U.S. to Russia via China, evading U.S. export controls during Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
A federal indictment against Anchorage resident Sergey Nefedov, 40, and Mark Shumovich, 35, of Bellevue, Wash. was announced Wednesday by U.S. Attorney for Alaska S. Lane Tucker’s office. All 17 snowmachines involved in the scheme were seized by U.S. authorities.
Word of the case came just hours after the U.S. State Department unveiled sanctions against more than 300 people and entities accused of helping Russia’s war effort, some by sending “dual-use” items like engines and electronics found in civilian goods that can be repurposed to make military weapons. Western components continue to be found in weapons Russia has used to attack Ukraine, including attack helicopters, air-defense systems and cruise missiles.

It’s hard to see how snow machines could pose a national security threat, and it’s easy to see how good-quality American snow machines could find a market in Siberia; I’d put an American Polaris up against anything the Russians could make. But illegal it is, and these guys' nefarious snow-machine smuggling ring has now been shut down.

Alaska Man score: 2.25 of 5 moose nuggets. Points for chutzpah, as well as for recognizing a market opportunity; demerits for dealing with Russia.

Next: Booze!

Anchorage eateries can turn on the booze taps two hours earlier!

Now I don’t spend much time in Anchorage; in fact, we avoid the place if at all possible. But it seems that, until recently, it was illegal to sell alcoholic beverages in Anchorage until 10:00 AM. No longer!

The Anchorage Assembly is now allowing restaurants to serve alcohol two hours earlier.
The ordinance approved by the body Tuesday night says restaurants can start serving alcohol at 8 a.m. — effective immediately.
Tiffany Hall testified against the measure. Hall is director of Recover Alaska, a nonprofit aimed at reducing alcohol abuse, and she said the ordinance would increase drinking.

So you can get a Bloody Mary or a mojito with your early breakfast, now that the Anchorage Assembly has legalized that old hair of the dog. As for the “increasing drinking” part, color me skeptical. People will be drinking regardless; why not have them do it in a bar or restaurant, where hopefully someone will cut them off if they get too plastered?

Alaska Man score: 4.5 of 5 moose nuggets. Points for liberty and early-morning booze, because ‘Merica! A minor demerit for giving a voice to a scold.

Now, boy, can our cops shoot or what?

Alaska State Troopers outshoot Mounties!

Alaska State Troopers defended the prized trophy, winning the 60th annual Troopers vs. Royal Canadian Mounted Police shooting competition and retaining the trophy in Alaska.
The event is known as “The Shoot” and was held this year in Fairbanks with Alaska State Troopers competing in target competition with RCMP from across the Yukon Territory in Canada.

This is not only cool because whatever one thinks of Canada these days, the Mounties have always been pretty bad-a**, but because it’s a continuation of a long history of shooting matches:

The annual event is focused on camaraderie between the Troopers and Mounties. Its history goes back to 1959 when, right after Alaska became a state, Joe Vachon, then-commanding officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, came up with the competition as a way for Mounties and Troopers to get to know each other better on a personal basis as well as strengthen their working partnership.
It remains the longest standing international shooting competition in the world.

There’s a lesson here for bad guys, too: Our Alaska state cops can shoot!

Alaska Man score: 5 moose nuggets. Great shooting, guys!

Now, some commentary on taxation.