Is Alaska a state?

[AngryAmish]

22. This is a running joke.

Back when there were 48 states there was a movement to add Hawaii as the 49th state.

However, 49 stars on the flag looked funny, too symetrical. And besides, 49 is an unnlucky number. They put 50 stars on the flag to even things out. It simply looks better to the eye. Years before there was a desert called the Baked Alaska, and the flagmakers and cartographers thought it funny to call this nonexistent state "Alaska".

Since then all sorts of incredible details about "Alaska" have become part of common lore. Like the place is stuffed with grizzly bears, it has grown to a Bunyan-esque size that is half of the continental US, that Sarah Palin was rhe governor there of all things, even that they produce oil like Texas or Saudi Arabia. Some people think it is west of Canada.

Now I like a laugh as much as the next guy, but someone has to explain to kids that like the tooth fairy or Santa, Alaska does not exist.