# Termination dust, falling leaves and free money **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 21, 2004, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termination-dust-falling-leaves-and-free-money/265382 "2004-09-21T22:14:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2004, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termination-dust-falling-leaves-and-free-money/265382/1 "2004-09-21T22:14:54Z")
Does it get any better than Fall in Alaska? ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termination-dust-falling-leaves-and-free-money/265382/2 "2004-09-22T00:24:19Z")
Perhaps you should explain…or has the dust gotten to you already? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termination-dust-falling-leaves-and-free-money/265382/3 "2004-09-22T00:46:59Z")
[Termination Dust](http://www.alaskaphotos.biz/01-006399.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termination-dust-falling-leaves-and-free-money/265382/4 "2004-09-22T01:46:55Z")
The photograph is beautiful, but I _still_ don’t understand the OP. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termination-dust-falling-leaves-and-free-money/265382/5 "2004-09-22T01:52:05Z")
Fall in Alaska, when the leaves turn, the mountains get their first dusting of new snow, and the State mails out Permanent Fund checks. “Termination Dust” because it means that the summer jobs are just about over…it is the termination of Summer. Damn I miss Anchorage sometimes! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termination-dust-falling-leaves-and-free-money/265382/6 "2004-09-22T02:09:42Z")
OK, so we’ve got that cleared up. I believe the part about the free money relates to some sort of rebate that the state grants residents. Yes? If so, how much is it? I presume it’s not a lot and instead of going into IRAs it’s probably going into…a new space heater? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termination-dust-falling-leaves-and-free-money/265382/7 "2004-09-22T02:56:22Z")
The 2004 dividend amount is $919.84. ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termination-dust-falling-leaves-and-free-money/265382/8 "2004-09-22T03:03:00Z")
That’s not bad. What exactly is it a dividend for? Is it applied as a tax rebate, or do you get a check from the state? Is it per resident, or per homeowner? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termination-dust-falling-leaves-and-free-money/265382/9 "2004-09-22T03:06:25Z")
Check from the state for every resident, man woman or child. It’s your share of the State oil revenues. It is computed on an average of revenues for the last 5 years, which prevents political manipulations. It goes out in October…just in time for Christmas shopping. Sometimes it can be a real ass-tickler. I think one year it was almost $2000 per. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termination-dust-falling-leaves-and-free-money/265382/10 "2004-09-22T13:58:38Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Check from the state for every resident, man woman or child. It’s your share of the State oil revenues. It is computed on an average of revenues for the last 5 years, which prevents political manipulations. It goes out in October…just in time for Christmas shopping. Sometimes it can be a real ass-tickler. I think one year it was almost $2000 per. Thanks for taking over; I got sidetracked and couldn’t get back. Yes, it’s that joyous time of year when we all get our welfare check. Most people invest it in their childrens’ futures by buying new snowmachines or big-screen TVs. Families of 12 or more become Fortune 500 companies. Since the check is relatively small this year, there will be the the squalling of the Entitlists, who believe that they should get a $25,000 one-time payout because…well…they’re entitled to it, and that the fund is obviously mismanaged or they could have afforded five trips to Hawaii this winter. Termination dust is the first snow on the mountains. The origin of the term is believed to have originated in the gold rush of 1898. The first serious snow and freezing temperatures meant termination of mining activities for the winter. A Fall Poem, by Cheffie We’ve had a glorious summer, So the end is sorely grieved. New snow is a bummer; The trees are all de-leaved. The check is in the mail, So life is purty good, But I wonder where my parky is, With the fur around the hood. Time to oil up the ol’ Skidoo, Put skis on the Piper Cub Go see Cal about a new H2, And check my airmiles, Bub. 'Cause it’s time for Termination, When snowbirds all head south. Summer hires and some are fired, And all are down in the mouth. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termination-dust-falling-leaves-and-free-money/265382/11 "2004-09-22T15:43:50Z")
Hadn’t heard about these “entitlists” before. Do they have much momentum? As someone who’d like to return to the state one day their attitude kinda pisses me off. I always looked on the disbursements as your reward for actually living all the way through the winter. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termination-dust-falling-leaves-and-free-money/265382/12 "2004-09-22T17:51:11Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Hadn’t heard about these “entitlists” before. Do they have much momentum? As someone who’d like to return to the state one day their attitude kinda pisses me off. I always looked on the disbursements as your reward for actually living all the way through the winter. Depends on who you talk to, of course. You know there are a lot of opportunists living here, whose greed knows no bounds. They all have their hands out while cursing the government for interfering in their lives. Those who would like a one-time payout are those who express fear of the legislature getting their hands on the Permanent Fund corpus. There is some small validity to that fear, but it takes a majority vote of the people to make it happen, so it’s doubtful. The figure of $25,000 has been bandied about quite a bit, but nothing has made it to the ballot yet. That kind of cash has the end-of-the-road set salivating like mad. Personally, I’d like to see the dividend ended and the money applied to providing decent education services and tuition-free college for AK residents. Or any number of other worthwhile endeavors. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termination-dust-falling-leaves-and-free-money/265382/13 "2004-10-18T05:58:02Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Does it get any better than Fall in Alaska? Termination dust on the Chugach mountains is only more beautiful when the pink hue of alpenglow is balanced by a rising full moon. Anchorage is a beautiful, beautiful place, and I fell in love with her. What a broad. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termination-dust-falling-leaves-and-free-money/265382/14 "2004-10-18T16:06:13Z")
**Chefguy** , have you seen any Northern Lights yet? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termination-dust-falling-leaves-and-free-money/265382/15 "2004-10-18T17:17:11Z")
> [@The Scrivener](#): > > **Chefguy** , have you seen any Northern Lights yet? I was startled to see this thread revive itself. The disadvantage to living in Anchorage nowadays is that seeing the aurora is a rare event. The city lights have all but obscured the night sky. When I was a kid we saw them all the time. Outside of Anchorage, it’s common to see them in winter. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termination-dust-falling-leaves-and-free-money/265382/16 "2004-10-18T19:47:27Z")
Heh. I saw “termination dust” and “free money” and I thought this was going to be a story about applying for unemployment. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2004, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termination-dust-falling-leaves-and-free-money/265382/17 "2004-10-24T05:47:11Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I was startled to see this thread revive itself. The disadvantage to living in Anchorage nowadays is that seeing the aurora is a rare event. The city lights have all but obscured the night sky. When I was a kid we saw them all the time. Outside of Anchorage, it’s common to see them in winter. That really stinks. I hate light pollution. Do the t.v. stations still run aurora alerts at the bottom of the screen? I remember one station doing that, maybe it was KTUU. I never saw red or pink auroras, and just once saw the “dancing” northern lights. “Dancing,” my butt! I thought it was the end of the world. Supremely freaky; entirely unforgettable. Damn, I miss that place. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2004, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termination-dust-falling-leaves-and-free-money/265382/18 "2004-10-24T13:56:02Z")
> [@Savannah](#): > > That really stinks. I hate light pollution. Do the t.v. stations still run aurora alerts at the bottom of the screen? I remember one station doing that, maybe it was KTUU. > > I never saw red or pink auroras, and just once saw the “dancing” northern lights. “Dancing,” my butt! I thought it was the end of the world. Supremely freaky; entirely unforgettable. > > Damn, I miss that place. They generally report it as part of the weather, since aurora activity is somewhat predictable. I saw an unbelievable display in Fairbanks way back in about 1965, when I was in college there. Shifting and dancing, brilliant colors in reds and greens. Truly amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termination-dust-falling-leaves-and-free-money/265382/19 "2004-10-29T04:39:43Z")
Have you ever _heard_ it? I’ve read bits and pieces about how up past the Circle, on a quiet night, you can _hear_ the aurora… ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termination-dust-falling-leaves-and-free-money/265382/20 "2004-10-29T07:39:33Z")
You can hear it? I thought it is just the energy from the sun messing with the magnetic bands somewhere outside the atmosphere (I may be wrong on some of that). Hm, brings up an odd question, could you see the northern lights from space? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termination-dust-falling-leaves-and-free-money/265382.md?page=2)