Hello there, and welcome to Brian's Blog.

I just wanted to put this out there for you, since it's so cool.  Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield has chalked up another space first by making a music video from the international space station--and his song choice:  David Bowie's Space Oddity!  Check it out:

Well, it's a first if you don't count Gene Cernan and Jack Schmitt singing their lunar surface version of "I Was Strolling Through The Park One Day" during Apollo 17.  
BOOM!!Oh yeah!  Brian busting out the music and the NASA trivia!!

And when I'm not being a space geek, I'm a bike geek.  Here are some shots of me out checking the Coastal Trail.  It's looking pretty clean--but there was still a lot of ice in the tunnels that should melt off in the next couple of weeks.  You may want to walk your bikes through them or just go up the sides and across the road--carefully, of course.  CLICK PICTURE TO SEE PHOTO ALBUM.

And here's something else that's handy for bikers.  I'm using an app on my phone that my little sister Lisa told me about.  It's called STRAVA.  The app is free and can track your bike mileage, speed, elevation, and gives you a map of your route via GPS.  Plus, you can post the link to Facebook, and follow/be followed by your friends and family who are using Strava, too!  Below is a map of the 17.9 mile route I took when checking out the ice tunnels.  

BTW--that is NOT a paid endorsement for Strava.  It's just an app I personally like and I'm telling you about it because it's my personal blog.  

Hope to see you on the trails soon.  Thanks for loggin' where I'm bloggin'.  ~Brian

Over the weekend I took photos for two galleries; One to make you go "OOOOO!" and the the other to make you go "AAAAWWWW!"  Check 'em out.  One of the USS Anchorage and the other from the Alaska Zoo Kids' Fun Run.

CLICK HERE FOR GALLERY

CLICK HERE FOR GALLERY

Over the weekend, I was honored to help out at the Special Olympics Alaska Winter Games.  Athletes from around the state came out to compete in Alpine skiiing and snowboarding, floor hockey, skating and snow shoeing events.

 

It was a fun weekend, and I was honored to be an announcer for the opening ceremonies and at Alpine Skiing/Snow Boarding.  Click the gold medal above to see the PHOTO ALBUM of the pictures I took. 

And for more pictures, BE A FAN OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS ALASKA.  Click the picture below to see their photo album on Facebook, and go to their website at www.SpecialOlympicsAlaska.org

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE ATHLETES!!  And thanks to all of the volunteers and staff that made it all possible.

And thanks to YOU for loggin' where I'm bloggin'.
~Brian
 

THE ALASKA SKI FOR WOMEN was a great, fun success.  Hundreds and hundreds of women showed up for North America's largest all-women cross country ski event, supporting organizations that help stop abuse against women and children such as STAR, AWAIC, Covenant House, and the YWCA.

I was honored to volunteer as one of the emcees and costume contest judges of this fun, colorful event.  I took as many pictures as I could, and I'm sure you'll find more info and pictures at www.alaskaskiforwomen.org as soon as they get uploaded.

(Click here to see Brian's Ski For Women Gallery)

Helping out this year with costume judging was Olympic skier Nina Kemppel and KTUU's Jackie Purcel.  Lieutenant Governor Mead Treadwell was onhand to thank participants and to give the awards to the winners of the timed events and costume contest.

Here's the news story at KTUU Channel 2's website.

Great job for a great cause, ladies!  See you next year!

~Brian

ONCE AGAIN, WOMEN TAKE TO THE TRAILS!!

The 17th Annual Alaska Ski For Women is coming up on the day of the big game--Sunday, February 3rd at Kincaid Park!  It's going to be fun, festive, and it will help improve the lives of women and children.

Not only is this the largest all-women cross country ski event in North America, but it features some of the most creative and colorful costumes I've seen, on or off skis.  Check out these videos.

And procedes from the event help out agencies that aid women and children and help to end the cycle of abuse, such as AWAIC, STAR, and Covenant House. 

Once again, I'll be helping to emcee this event--proudly announcing winners as they cross the finish line and judging the costume contests.



The Alaska Ski for Women is open to women of all ages and skill levels.  If you want to join, as a solo skiier or as a team, get more info and register at this link.

And check out some of the fantastic costumes at this page.   Monarch butterflies, giraffes, Rubik's Cubes, domino's and more!

See you there!  Thanks for loggin' where I'm bloggin'.

~Brian

FREEZIN' FOR A REASON, EPISODE IV

Once again, I'll be emceeing the Polar Plunge For Special Olympics Alaska, along with Greg Porter...AND TAKING MY FOURTH POLAR PLUNGE!! 

Here's a pic of my first one in 2009 (photographer, Tami Bell).

No, the water is not getting any warmer, but people's hearts just keep getting bigger.  We had so many plungers last year at Goose Lake and raised a lot of money.  Let's do it again, and help Special O-AK fund year-round sports training and events for athletes with intellectual disablities.


In 2010, my fellow traffic reporters from Alaska's Total Traffic went for a swim with me.

TO DONATE and sponsor me, CLICK HERE. 

TO JOIN and become a Plunger, CLICK HERE for more info. 

Then, come cheer on all of us as we jump into the icy waters of Goose Lake on Saturday, December 15th.


PLEASE NOTE CORRECTED EVENT TIMES:
 between 10am and 3PM 4pm.  Since I'm also emceeing, I'll jump near the end--probably around 2:15-2:30 3:15-3:30pm.

Here's a video of last year's Polar Plunge.  My splash is not in it, but you will see me in it a few times--even doing a HULA DANCE at about 51 seconds!  THANKS FOR SUPPORTING SPECIAL OLYMPICS!!

~Brrr-ian

Yes, you have indeed found the page of good ol' Radio Gnome, Brian Ross (that's me).  But I wanted to give some extra space to Mark & April because this is a very worthwhile thing they are doing.

After the Covenant House Candlelight Vigil on November 13th, Mark & April will be Sleeping Out to support homeless youth in Anchorage.  Kids living on the streets in Anchorage need our help.

Please click the link and make A DONATION to Covenant House Alaska.  Sponsor M&A in the Sleep Out.

And if you would like to find out about the event and how you can participate, here is the link to the main page of the Covenant House-Sleep Out To Support Homeless Youth.

Remember, the Candlelight Vigil will be on Tuesday, November 13th from 6-7pm, downtown at 6th and F Streets, followed by the Sleep Out.

Thank you!
~Brian

WHAT I AM THINKING COULD PUT YOU ON THE
   ALYESKA HALLOWEEN TRAIN!!

Qualify to WIN the Friday drawing for a Halloween Weekend from Alaska Railroad and Alyeska Resort--for you and a guest, a $498 value! 

2012 Alyeska Halloween Train- Saturday, October 27, 2012
Tickets: $249 per person based on double occupancy. Must be 21.

• two drink
  tickets
• appetizers
• disco dance party
• zombie costume contest and plenty of ghoulish fun
• dinner buffet
• hotel room
• train ride south Anchorage-Girdwood Saturday, with motorcoach return on Sunday
  

MUST BE 21 TO PLAY THIS MAGIC 98.9 CONTEST.
HERE'S HOW YOU GET ENTERED TO WIN:

'Like' Magic 98.9's Facebook page.  Then, listen to me and watch for my FB posts during my show (M-F, 2-7pm).  I could ask you ANYTHING, such as what song I just played.  Then, CALL IN with your answer.

DO NOT REPLY ON FACEBOOK!!  Qualifiers are only taken on the phone (and you'll just be giving someone else the answer).  There will be 5 qualifiers this week for the random drawing.  The winner will be notified on Monday 10/22.  Ghoul Luck!!

For more info about the Alyeska Halloween Train weekend AND TO BUY TICKETS, click the image below...IF YOU DARE!!!

~Boo-Brian

Hi there blog, follower.  I couldn't believe it--on the last weekend of September, we got SNOW, and then beautiful sunny skies that melted it away THAT SAME DAY!  We went from snowball fights and snow angels to biking and jogging outside.  Aaaahh...Alaska!

I spent part of my day helping out Making Strides Against Breast Cancer at Kendall Toyota of Anchorage.  Papa Murphy's was there, too.  Baked goodies, free pizza...yeah, Magic 98.9 reeeally had to twist my arm to get me out there on Saturday. ;-) There's still time to sign up for the Oct 6th charity walk.  Click that link above.

(Click above for photos from the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer remote broadcast)

AND FINALLY, there has been a big photo gallery put together (by Huffington Post) on what I like to call "Misfortune cookies."  Just click the pic below.  Some are funny on purpose, others because of misspelling, but I'd like to think that the fortune cookies were all tasty.  Not as tasty as the pumpkin spice coookies I bought at the Making Strides bake sale, but still--who doesn't like fortune cookies.




Thanks again for loggin' where I'm bloggin'.  And before you go, make sure you click above on VIP CLUB/CONTESTS.  We have several Magic 98.9 contests always going, and we just started a new one where you can win 30,000 ALASKA AIRLINES MILES FROM GCI!  Don't miss a chance to get free stuff with Magic 98.9!

~Brian