Pining for Convenience

Living as we do in the heart of Atlah, we often take for granted the notion of easy access to groceries. Whenever we find ourselves lacking a can of beans or coffee filters, no big whoop—that situation can be rectified in a manner of minutes, simply by strapping on our sneakers and walking down to the nearest bodega.

The situation in could scarcely be more different. Residents of the Alaskan village have to go out of their ways to stock up on victuals—bigtime:

Shopping trips to the...