Don’t try this in most of my state (Alaska). Permafrost is right beneath the layer of tundra vegetation and nothing decomposes when frozen solid. Instead, just peel back the flap of tundra and recover after you’re done. Or, better still, in many places, pack it out. Yes, that’s right. Take a look at the Leave No Trace…

Yes, I use the roll system and put my shoes right above the wheels to ensure a low center of gravity while rolling through the airport. The problem with a well organized suitcase is that it immediately becomes a mess of wrinkled clothes and (sometimes) spilled liquids after the TSA selects it for random inspection.

And that is the problem with all even slightly complex coffee brewing methods, because I’m not awake until I’ve had at least one cup . . .

Boiling water (212 F) is waaay too hot for the Aeropress method (175 F is recommended for medium to dark roasts) and it takes many minutes for it to cool. Unless you live at a high altitude where water boils at lower temps?

Missing 4% of the states as usual. Sigh . . .

Take it from someone who lives in Alaska: never, ever, eat farmed salmon. There is a HUGE difference in nutritional value, flavor, and texture. Plus salmon farming techniques are terrible for marine habitats. We ban fish farming here.

1) The federal government requires employees to be citizens. So it’s perfectly legal for this to be asked at an interview for a federal job.

To UUs (like me), social justice and living ethically IS religious. Keep in mind that the root of the word “religion” is the concept of living in relationship — to others and the world.

Alaska. Some parts of the state are located within boroughs but vast portions are unincorporated, and we have no counties whatsoever. Neither does Louisiana (parishes). Only two of our boroughs are depicted on the map —there are 19 total.

We don't have counties in my state and, as usual, most of the state is MIA on the RealtyTrac website. I'm getting really tired of websites (and associated Lifehacker links) that purport to compare "national" statistics on just about anything, but that manage to omit 2-4% of the states in the USA (usually AK and HI…

They're only DDs because I wear a 32 band — they'd be Cs in a 36 . . .

Seriously, I keep hearing this urban legend but have never seen any scientific evidence to back it up. Hearsay from some unidentified "seamstresses" (know any? I don't, mainly because I don't live in Asia) doesn't hack it in my book. Does elastic really care if it's been allowed to rest for 10 hours v. 30? If so,…

I see a problem when wearing the shoes or boots on hiking trails. The laces end in a loop that can easily get snagged — a trip hazard. I've had this happen with my double-tied laces but this loop looks even more vulnerable. Also, I'd expect the elastic laces to wear out faster, especially if always pinched off at…

I'm a small woman who nonetheless expects to have her boundaries respected, and to have access to the space in front of my seat that I paid for. I don't want a strange guy's legs pressed against mine for 7-8 hours. But it does seem that some men have a harder time keeping their body parts to themselves on planes…

I live in Alaska. No one is going to drive to NYC instead of flying if they have to pay for their kid's seats. So, lame argument — one the NTSB is actually researching right now because they think this argument (FAA's) has zero science behind it.

This. (Was about to make this comment myself.)

National Weather Service. I live in Alaska. Weather is important here.

Which is why you don't even start CPR in the backcountry if help can't possibly arrive within an hour or less. You won't save the victim and you might exhaust yourself.

"Perfection is the enemy of the good." Voltaire.

There's a reason Amazon calls the web browsers on its devices "experimental"! They don't function very well. The page layout isn't good and you can't open multiple windows. I can slooowly read my Gmail in a pinch but after trying to do without a dedicated smartphone or PC in Mexico a couple of years ago, I'll never…