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By MIKE DUNHAM
The Sisters Futrelle: Ivory Bodnar, Reagan James and Karina Becker.
When a play is described as a whacky Christmas spoof, the modern public may suspect something irreverent. But “Christmas Belles,” running at UAA’s Mainstage Theatre, has fun with holiday traditions without excoriating them in the name of social commentary or mere snark.

It also has a real play set within the seasonal backdrop, with a real message of reconciliation and giving people a second chance.
But mostly it’s a triple romantic comedy with a lot of laughs.

The recent discussion of civility on these cyberpages disappointed me. Neither blogger defined civility but appeared to claim the guys who agree with them are civil while those who disagree are uncivil. Neither opposes civil discourse. So, if civility itself is not controversial, then what are we arguing about?

To me, civility begins with acting in a rational and consistent way. When I make my points, I use several devices to back up my arguments: I give examples of what I mean, I sometimes clarify my points with metaphors, I cite people with expertise on the matter at hand, I sometimes cite pertinent facts, I sometimes draw what I considerable logical conclusions from those facts, and I sometimes ask questions.

Although the Continental Congress had issued a Thanksgiving Day Proclomation in 1777, George Washington was the first President (surprise) to issue such a Proclomation. This Proclomation in 1789 called for America's first National Thanksgiving. According to the Congressional Record for September 25 of that year, the first act after the Framers completed the framing of the Bill of Rights was that:

"Mr. [Elias] Boudinot said he could not think of letting the session pass without offering an opportunity to all the citizens of the United States of joining with one voice in returning to Almighty God their sincere thanks for the many blessings He had poured down upon them. With this view, therefore, he would move the following resolution:

In medical school I was taught that a screening test should have 3 characteristics. It should have a high sensitivity and specificity. It should be inexpensive. It should be low risk.

It gets considerably more complicated in the real world. The standard that has been most often applied has been cost per year of life saved. That theoretically takes all of the desired characteristics into account.

When the thought leaders in a field sit down to make recommendations they have to weed through immense amounts of data. It can come from studies of varying validity and biases.

If you notice comments to any blog post are missing, please don't think we take down comments because we don't agree. Usually, when a blog post shows a certain number of comments, but there are none available to view when you look, it means that a commercial spammer or poster of a vulgar comment has had their comments blocked. If this type of poster has been blocked previously and attempts to post another comment, they will be automatically be blocked. Sorry, but it's the name of the game. It's out of my control. We appreciate your readership, and comments. Thank you! Chris Thompson

Montreal Canadiens center Scott Gomez of Anchorage, enduring a poor start to the season, now is out with a "lower-body injury'' and is listed as day-to-day.

Gomez is on pace for his worst statistical season in the NHL, and that is jeopardizing his chances of making the U.S. Olympic Team for the second time. In 22 games, he owns just 2-9--11 totals and is struggling in the face-off circle (48.4 percent). On the other hand, he is +2, and, remember, the Canadiens aren't very good.

From Erika Bolstad in Washington, Pennsylvania --

Sarah Palin says in her new memoir, "Going Rogue," that there are no coincidences. But how about this one?

I drove up to Washington, Pa., last night from Washington D.C. to do a story on Palin's book tour. (See tomorrow's paper.) The event was at a Sam's Club in one of those shopping centers dominated by big box retailers – a massive place that looks like hundreds of similar developments across America. After I'd interviewed a number of people outside the Sam's Club, I walked over to the Starbucks next door to write. (The sign above the drive-thru window: "Sarah, we have moose mugs!")

And right out in front of the coffee shop? Palin's mom, Sally Heath, Palin's aunt, Kate Johnson, and Palin's son, Trig. They didn’t attract as much attention as, say, Palin would have. But plenty of people whipped out camera phones to snag a picture of Trig tucked into his stroller, wearing a knit Pittsburgh Steeler's cap. (Washington, Pa., is just outside of Pittsburgh.)

Heath said that she and her sister are taking care of Trig while Palin is at book signings. The family has been trading off traveling with Palin, Heath said. She just swapped out with Todd and her granddaughters. "It's our week to be here," she said.

The Thanksgiving feast at the Clarkson house has become a wonderful Alaskan experience. Being so geographically separated from family in the lower 48, we always have lots of friends over for the meal and most of all the fellowship. For the last 4 or 5 years the Leman clan have been regulars at our house for Thanksgiving. Then we try to find folks in our church who for whatever reason don't have other family or friends here with whom to share the holiday, or who just need a place to celebrate.

I am the chef (self-taught amatuer that I am) and I have a fabulous time cooking for everyone. Eating the meal is great, but I find cooking it to be even better. I wanted to share some of the recipes that I have developed and that friends have raved about over the years. These have now become a tradition in our home.

By MIKE DUNHAM
Bearfoot: present incarnation, 2009

Cavernous Wendy Williamson Auditorium filled to capacity on Friday night for a band that originally formed in Alaska and has since made a name in the wider musical world.

The handful of youngsters who came together at music camp and formed Bearfoot Bluegrass in 1999, won the national Telluride Band Competition in Colorado in 2001. This year, with their fourth album, they reached No. 1 on Billboard Magazine’s Bluegrass chart.

Now known simply as Bearfoot, the band has played innumerable times in Anchorage. But this show was different. For one thing, it marked the only time this year the band will play here, part of a home-state tour that winds up in Fairbanks today. They’ll have a break until January, when they start a series of concerts that will take them from Missoula, Montana to Glasgow, Scotland. Success is taking them, inevitably, away from Alaska.

Whoa, that was some gruesome Friday night for Anchorage's two hockey teams.

First, the Alaska Aces absorbed a 6-2 beatdown on the road against the Bakersfield Condors, who riddled them for four power-play goals and a shortie. Yikes!

Then, UAA, on its home ice at Sullivan Arena no less, took an 8-2 kidney punch from Minnesota State-Mankato. Not to put too fine a point on it, but Mankato senior Jerad Stewart, who seemed like a good kid when I talked to him, dropped four goals and a helper on UAA. Kid had 16 career goals in 115 games before punking the Seawolves, so go ahead and pencil him in for the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week. Ouch!

U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 3rd Class Charly Hengen.

Here's the Coast Guard report:

KODIAK - A logger suffering from a possible back injury and a broken leg was medevaced by the crew of an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from the village of Ouzinkie on Spruce Island north of Kodiak Island to the Coast Guard base today.

Scott Zimmerman, 25, sustained injuries during a logging operation when the tree he was cutting down reportedly fell on him near the Ouzinkie airport.

A spicy papaya salad: Photo by Spencer Shroyer / Anchorage Daily NewsJulia O’Malley put me on to the quick and tasty flavors of the International Kitchen (read her review here) and it wasn’t long before I started making regular stops for their lunch combos.

But, just when my addiction to their papaya salads (a spicy side dish made with grated papaya and tomato slices) was reaching one-a-week status, they were taken off the menu.

On my recent visit to Arches National Park, I hiked a mile and a half uphill, about 500 feet over slick rock, to see Delicate Arch. Silly me, I was surprised I wasn't the only one (or at least one of a few) to think about photographing the arch at sunset. Not.

As you can see there were many, many of us. It sounded like chicken coop chatter, but was still impressive.

(To see more on my Utah trip, scroll through my blogs in the right-hand column.)

Further evidence that the hockey world is a tiny place comes out of the Central Hockey League, where the Corpus Christi IceRays have jettisoned one former Alaska Aces goaltender and replaced him with another.

The IceRays have released former Alaska tender Kris Tebbs, 28, who played for them all last season and this season went 2-2-2 this season, with a 3.69 goals-against average and .882 save percentage.

Into his spot went former Aces tender Kevin Nastiuk -- the Aces released Nastiuk in training camp in October. Nastiuk, 24, debuted for Corpus Christi earlier this week with a victory, so

Man, we can barely keep up with the Matt Robinson news this week, and today brought an update on the former Alaska Aces winger, who earlier this week was released by ECHL Johnstown and then picked up on waivers by ECHL Cincinnati.

Well, now Robbie's headed back to Johnstown, at least on paper. He was returned to the Chiefs "pursuant to Playing Rule 71(a),'' according to the league.

Pretty sure that means Robinson didn't pass his physical with Cincinnati. (That was the rule cited when Idaho defenseman Riley Weselowski was returned from Victoria to Idaho this season -- Weselowski failed his physical with Victoria). Not sure what's up with Robinson, but about a year ago he underwent major knee surgery.

As Thanksgiving approaches and we conteplate giving thanks for our blessings, I believe that Abraham Lincoln's National Thanksgiving Day Proclamation is worthy of special recognition -- especially in Alaska. Lincoln has always been one of my favorite Presidents. I find his National Thanksgiving Day Proclamation on October 3, 1863 to be truly remarkable for its timing. That particular year was grim. The Nation was in the depths of the Civil War, and the year had brought some of the war's darkest days. The Union had lost battle after battle throughout the first three years of the conflict and along with those defeats the lives of some 60,000 young men. In July 1863 alone, only 3 months before Lincoln issued his Proclamation, some 48,000 young men had died (Confederate and Union) in a mere 3 days of fighting on the Gettysburg battlefield.

MUSIC/THEATER/DANCE

Rehearsals: The Anchorage Community Concert Band will practice 7 p.m. Tuesdays. The band has a varied group of ages and talents and plays a variety of music from classical to marches. (258-7263, akband.org)

Ukulele Lessons: Beginners can learn to play ukulele for free. Bring your own uke or purchase one for $29.95. Fridays, 5-6 p.m., The Horn Doctor Music Store, 1000 Ingra St. (272-4676)

Scared Scriptless Monthly Improv Workshop: Work on skills that will help you in everything you do in life. After all, what is life but improvisation? Third Thursday of every month, 7-9 p.m., Turnagain Community Arts Alliance building. Class size limited and registration is required. (310-1973, jason@scaredscriptless.com)

Former Alaska Aces winger Brett Hemingway, released by the ECHL club last week, landed with the Arizona Sundogs of the Central Hockey League and made his CHL debut on the road tonight.

Hemingway contributed a power-play assist in Arizona's 4-2 loss at Allen, and had one shot on goal, but also went -3.

One of Hemingway's new teammates is former UAA defenseman Matt Hanson.

Anyhow, best of luck to Brett.

Former UAF defenseman Tyler Eckford, a second-year pro, made his NHL debut tonight for the New Jersey Devils in a 3-2 shootout loss at Nashville.

Eckford logged 9:01 of ice time, including 1:32 on the power play, earned an even rating and blocked three shots.

He also took a hooking penalty late in the second period that led to a go-ahead goal by former Devils center Jason Arnott early in the third period. That marked Eckford's late shift of the game -- he didn't see the ice in the third period or overtime.

The Devils promoted Eckford from Lowell of the American Hockey League earlier this week.