ÿþ<HTML><BODY BGCOLOR="OOOOOO" TEXT="FFFFFF"><HEAD> <TITLE>My very own guide to Alaska</TITLE></HEAD><H2>My very own guide to Alaska</H2><HR> <P>Laura is from Anchorage, Alaska. In case you should get the chance to go to Alaska, or if you just have a keen interest in Alaska like i do, here are some things that you should know.</P> <P>First of all, if you go to Anchorage, like i did, you'll see that the city isn't too far behind the rest of the US when it comes to stores and amienities and such. However, being that this <U>is</U> Alaska, there have been some slight modifications. </P> <P>For example, Laura works at Taco Bell. Well, let me tell you, the only border you'll be running for from Alaska is the Canadian border, unless of course, you are running to the Russian border, but you couldn't technically, because you would need a boat. Of course, you could always aspire to run across the water, but i don't think you'd be very successful (but, come to think of it, there is always the ice). Anyway, Taco Bell... First of all, you can recognize it because it is one of the bigger igloos on the street. When you get there, you will notice that there are two drive-thru windows. The reason for this is that one is for snowmobiles coming through, and the other is for dogsleds. Also, working at Taco Bell, they have to be very careful not to light the grills too hot, because otherwise they might melt down the place.</P> <P>Alaskans are very friendly people, and they make good neighbors. Of course, everybody either carries around their own personal harpoon, or has one ready for use in their house. This way, if the neighbors are annoying you, you can just come over for a friendly visit with your harpoon. However, this doesn't happen very often, because people's homes (igloos) are usually spaced at least a couple miles from each other.</P> <P>Then there is the citizenship issue. Being as they are disjointed from the rest of the United States, Alaskans usually identify themselves as Alaskans. On being pushed, they will (hesitantly) admit that they are US citizens. However, they will also claim that they have dual citizenship with Canada. A few of them will even claim to have Russian citizenship as well. Many of them are just itching for the Alaskan independence movement to be successful. However, the way that the US deals with this is just by ignoring them. This is how they generally deal with Alaska. (If you don't believe me, just remember the renaming of Mt. McKinley and moving the state capital from Juneau to Anchorage.)</P> <P>Binky. Binky the Polar Bear is a state (national) hero. Well, at least Binky is the stuff folk legends are made of. Binky was so well known, i remember seeing him on the news all the way in Chicago a few years ago. Binky is notorious for his friendliness with tourists. The case in point was with a certain Australian tourist who came to visit him at the Alaska zoo. Well, something possessed her to throw her shoe over the fence of Binky's home. Of course, then she was shoeless, so i guess she jumped the first fence, and went up to the second fence to get her shoe back. Well, let's say, Binky didn't want to give the shoe back, and she was nearly polar bear lunch. I have to say even i had to side with Binky with that one. However, Binky was removed, and the people i asked weren't sure what happened to him. However, he will live in on in our hearts.</P> <P>Moose rides. Need i say more?</P> <HR> <A HREF="index.html">Home</A> <A HREF="friends.html">Friends</A> <A HREF="alaska.html">Alaska Photos</A> <A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/popebob/alaska.html">Alaska, the country</A> </BODY> </HTML>