Because I fly away for the bulk of the holiday season, I have never spent Christmas in Fairbanks. When the chill is especially nasty, I equate it with the land of Narnia from the book, “The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe,” where the cute forest critters complain that the witch has outlawed winter-time festivities. “It’s always winter and never Christmas,” they say sadly.

There’s something sexy about climate change.

The theories have been around for decades but it has only been in the last few years that the popularity has really caught on. The recent freak weather around the world has inspired trepidations of millions. If the meltdown continues, the world as we know it will eventually (we are not sure when) erupt in wild state of pandemonium.

Dumpster diving is a lot more fun than shopping in Fairbanks. Generally, there is better variety. It is a lot cheaper, and there is the added excitement relevant to yard sales and treasure hunts where you never know what you are going to find. It is a system that works for a lot of people.