Before I moved to Alaska, many years ago, I never thought much about duct tape. Duct tape is duct tape, right? No, it's not. That 3M company duct tape is crap! Never buy that stuff, it doesn't stick if it gets wet. The rolls of tape wrinkle all up, and the tape won't lay flat. It's thin. Wimpy.
Duct tape is on my shopping list right after dog biscuits.
If you live here, you are going to have opinions about salmon. Some people like King salmon the best, some people swear by Copper River Red. I've never had a King before but the Copper River Reds are to die for. I'll be happy for anyone to give me some wild Alaska salmon any time, don't get me wrong! But to go to the Alaska Salmon Bake, a very expensive place, and pay $36 for SILVERS, why, that's a way to piss me off!
Talk to us about snow tires and you'll get some seriously conflicting opinions. Some swear by studs, others by soft snow tires like Blizzaks. I'm in the latter group. I had studs, and the studs wear out really fast, plus you have to change them out right quick when winter is over. I have the Cooper version of Blizzaks. They are a little harder, but just as nice.
If you have ever been on the internet at all, you know that driving is one of the most contentious subjects out there. It's true for Alaskans, too. About 60% of the drivers use their turn signals. Which is pretty good. Some people, mostly new to the state, think that they have to have a giant 4WD extra-cab, extra-wheels, extra-glovebox, extra-noisy BLACK pickup truck to handle arctic conditions. These people end up in the ditch most of the time. Which is where they belong until they get some sense. :-)
I drove small, 2WD drive cars here for years. Front wheel drive does just fine, if you know how to drive. Get a good run at hills, and drive like you don't have brakes! My newish AWD Ford is pretty wonderful, though. Heated seats are super great, especially when it gets really cold.
Really cold. That's what I just said but "really cold" is -20F or colder. Not that I don't heat my seats up even when it is "warm," say, from 0 and on up to 25F or so. Feeling warm at what seem like icy temperatures to most of the world, isn't really an opinion. It's the marvel of the adaptable human body. After a week of -40, 0° is T shirt weather by comparison!
Strong opinions abound about which car is the best, (mostly Subarus, Toyotas and Fords, some Chevys, and the ever-annoying giant trucks driven by stupid people).
Halibut vs. cod. Once again, Alaskans will prefer Alaskan halibut over cod, and will be insulted to be served cod as a substitute. Some restaurants have started serving cod because it is cheaper. Well, not to me, they won't!
