insurgent49
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December 16, 2005
Editor’s Desk
by Aaron Selbig, insurgent49

     It’s been an inquisitive week here at Insurgent Headquarters.

     My favorite part of most websites is the FAQ page. FAQ stands for ‘frequently asked questions’, and it’s almost always a fun time scrolling through one. Sometimes, FAQ pages are quite informative, a chance for the site proprietors to outline their purpose, explain their products, or get newcomers excited about their cause. Other times they are simply stupid answers to stupid questions.

     Unfortunately, insurgent49 doesn’t have an FAQ page. What a bummer.

     That’s why I’ve decided to dedicate this week’s column to the task of answering some FAQs. How it helps ... and who knows? Maybe we’ll make it a permanent addition if it works out.

     Here goes.

How did insurgent49 get started?
     It all started with a cute little radio show on the local college station called ‘Selective Hearing’. One day, we decided to create a website for our listeners. Once insurgent49.com was up and running, a newspaper seemed like the next logical step; a good way to get our ideas out to the masses. The newspaper debuted in Anchorage in September of this year.

Are you guys a bunch of communists?
     Some of us. Not me, personally, but some of my best friends proudly call themselves commies. Come on ... the Red Scare is over.

Are you hippies?
     Again ... some of us.

Are you tree-huggers?
     All right, stop it.

When are you going to update your ‘archive’ section?
     Oh, brother, do I hate that question. We’ve been planning something big for the archive section for a while, but have yet to put it into action. It’s kind of like doing the dishes. You know that, if you’d just do the dishes as you use them, the job would be a lot easier. But you don’t, and they just keep piling up in the sink. We’ll get to it (as soon as we’re done with the dishes).

Is insurgent49 just in it for the money?
     HAHAHAHAHA!!! Oh, STOP it!! You’re killing me! Seriously, though ... what money? Look, insurgent49 does sell ads in the newspaper, and we also have published some of those ads on the website (for free, as an incentive to long-term advertisers). The money we make from ad sales, combined with the money we’ve collected at our fundraisers, barely (and I mean BARELY) covers the cost of printing. We’re all volunteers here, doing this because we enjoy it and we care deeply about the advancement of progressive ideas in Alaska.

Why in the hell would you name a newspaper Insurgent49?
     This is probably the number one question we get. Basically, we’re trying to reclaim the word. ‘Insurgent’ doesn’t mean RPG-toting terrorist (see the definition at the bottom of this page). And it’s working, too. Donald Rumsfeld himself recently opined that ‘insurgents’ in Iraq weren’t worthy of the title. Thomas Jefferson? Tom Paine? Now those were some insurgents.

Would you consider changing the name?
     No.

What is the capital of Denmark?
     Copenhagen.

What is the one thing insurgent49 needs most?
     An ad rep. Wanna do it?

What are your plans for the future?
     We’d really like to expand our distribution to all corners of Alaska. Also, we’d love to be able to pay our writers, artists and other contributors. But there’s that money thing again. Some day (and this is pure fantasyland), we might be able to have Insurgent Media outlets in other states. You know ... Arizona could be insurgent48, Hawaii insurgent50 and Delaware gets the honor of being insurgent1. But for now, we’re focused on our home state of Alaska.

What has been insurgent49’s proudest moment so far?
     Watching Lisa Murkowski read through our November issue (really happened). I wish I’d had a camera.

Is it hard promoting a project like this in Alaska?
     Yes, but it’s worth it.

Who won the 1948 World Series?
     The Cleveland Indians.

Do sharks have stomachs?
     Hmmm ... probably.

Are you guys a bunch of communists?
     OK. This concludes the inaugural FAQ page for insurgent49. We hope it was as informative for you as it was for us.




Regards,
Aaron Selbig
Editor, Insurgent Media AK

- Columnists -

Editor's Desk
by Aaron Selbig

Red Alert
by Soren Wuerth

Alaskan In Exile
by Neil Zawicki

The

Bramble Bush
by Kevin Morford







- also by this writer -

Stop Requested

Drunk Until Proven Sober

Copyright 2005 Insurgent Media. All rights reserved.
in-sur-gent (in sur'jent), n. 1. a member of a group which  revolts against the policies of its leadership.