Alaska is a State!

To bring the news that Alaska is a state to the 12 percent of America that doesn't know. As per the following, heavily edited (for space) AP article. OK people, Alaska is a state, we aren't covered by ice and snow all year long, and there is a 4 hour time difference between us and the east coast. We don't all fish or hunt, there is a fine performing arts center, universities, and generally, indoor plumbing. Look us up! And all you Alaskans trapped Outside, post pictures of yourself!

"Alaska can't shake wasteland image" by MATT VOLZ. The Associated Press Published: October 17, 2006.

Alaska's governor wanted to find out what the rest of the nation thinks about their neighbor to the north, so he commissioned a pop quiz. If it had been a relationship test found in the pages of a glossy magazine, the "Lower 48" would have found itself taking its hurt partner out for a nice dinner to make up for the low score. The results of the poll show Americans love Alaska, but they don't know a whole lot about it. More than half the nation thinks most of Alaska is covered in ice and snow year round. One out of every eight Americans believes the Last Frontier is a separate country or else doesn't know that it's a state. Just 14 percent of those polled had ever been to Alaska, but nine out of every 10 said they had a positive impression of the state. Most cited its natural beauty and vast space. The nation holds a romantic notion of Alaskans. Most described the people who live here as adventurous, rugged pioneers who like their freedom and the wilderness. The first words that come to mind when asked about Alaska tend to be "cold, "snow" and "ice," according to the poll results. Five percent of Alaska is covered by glaciers, ice and snow, but 60 percent of those polled guessed that half to nearly all of the state is a frozen wasteland all year.