My friend Christopher Benson compared Alaska in the winter to the planet Pluto. He was right – it is somewhat, no it is dreary and desolate in the winter. Not enough snow, too much snow, not enough wind, too much wind, fluctuating temperatures. See? Can’t even fully draw a parallel here.

Pluto is no longer considered to be a planet. I forgot what the criteria was, or why the planet didn’t measure up. Alaska may at some time no longer be considered to be a state. It could again become a territory. Anything can happen.

Yes, anything can happen. The improbable may become probable. So there has been talk about the U.S. taking over Greenland. There was an letter in the Alaska Daily News in which someone speculated that the U.S. acquire Greenland and trade Alaska to Denmark. The author of this article said that we’d be getting a better deal.

Today someone remarked ,“In Greenland the people are cool. Here they are not.”

I’m convinced that the U.S. is on the verge of societal collapse. It happens. Countries come and countries go. Nothing lasts forever. We thought that having a democracy was the answer. It was a good answer, but all involved did not live up to expectations. In order to have a democracy you have to have intelligent people in political office.

I think we should send the stupid people and the stupid leaders to Pluto. They would be given one way tickets, a few containers of Red Bull and Pringle Potato chips, and as much ammo as they can carry, so, if need be, they can shoot one another. Also, give them cigarettes and frozen waffles, all enough for a few years.

Right now I’m attempting to read George Orwell’s 1984 for the simple reason that I want to be able to make comparisons between what is happening now and what was happening then. I did read this book a long time ago, but I cannot now cite specifics.

I am not sure if I am going to finish it. If say, a good animal memoir comes along, I am going to abandon this book. It seems to me contrived. The characters seem like they are also made out of plastic.

Orwell was, in writing this book, ahead of his time. The book was published in 1948, well after the fact, WWII was over. He was reflecting upon what had happened and was projecting into the future. I think I would do well, doing a reread of Animal Farm. However, I could not again bear to read about what the pigs did to Boxer the Horse.

As time as gone by, I have become more sensitive in general in reading about violence and in particular violence to animals.

Hey, this is a pretty good ramble.

Next: 23. 1/23/26: Tra La La