Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

They fucked up the fucking up of the fuckup!

Michigan is a great lesson for Dems everywhere: when you have power…use it!

My years-long effort to drive family and friends away has really paid off this year.

A democracy can’t function when people can’t distinguish facts from lies.

American history and black history cannot be separated.

Let me file that under fuck it.

And now I have baud making fun of me. this day can’t get worse.

We cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.

At some point, the ability to learn is a factor of character, not IQ.

The lights are all blinking red.

Giving up is unforgivable.

Republicans firmly believe having an abortion is a very personal, very private decision between a woman and J.D. Vance.

JFC, are there no editors left at that goddamn rag?

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It is irresponsible not to.

Their boy Ron is an empty plastic cup that will never know pudding.

I like political parties that aren’t owned by foreign adversaries.

Radicalized white males who support Trump are pitching a tent in the abyss.

The desire to stay informed is directly at odds with the need to not be constantly enraged.

Beware of advice from anyone for whom Democrats are “they” and not “we.”

In after Baud. Damn.

So it was an October Surprise A Day, like an Advent calendar but for crime.

75% of people clapping liked the show!

The willow is too close to the house.

Do not shrug your shoulders and accept the normalization of untruths.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / ZOMG SNOW!

ZOMG SNOW!

by | 165 Comments

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It finally started snowing here, and it is coming down really, really hard after several hours of freezing rain, and now it is sticking, so I’m imagining the roads are going to be a DISASTER in no time. Which means I can sit in the living room and look out and count the idiots who decided this was the perfect time to attempt to drive their car up the hill.

The best part of this activity is watching the knuckleheads who, despite seeing four other cars in a ditch at the base of the hill, decide that somehow they are different and they will be able to defy gravity, ice, and snow. And then they start up the hill, eventually start sliding, and determine their only option is to back up slowly down the hill, at which point they lose control and slowly slide into the other cars at the bottom of the hill.

If everyone was required to live near the bottom of a hill for a year during winter and could see what I have seen the past few years, there would be a lot fewer accidents in inclement weather
.

Reader Interactions

165Comments

  1. 1.

    General Winfield Stuck

    Yea, it passed through here several days ago, and I knew folks east were going to get walloped in it’s path. We actually have a sunny pleasant day here for a change. Would be perfect, but a water main broke and there is no water. At least. last checked an hour ago.

  2. 2.

    Strandedvandal

    Used to do the very same thing in Seattle with the buffoons driving in the freezing rain. 4-way stops are especially entertaining.

  3. 3.

    beltane

    The way to avoid this is with a good set of snow tires. Nokian studded tires will get you through just about anything. If you’re stuck with all-weathers, it’s best to just stay home and wait for the plow to show up.

  4. 4.

    gnomedad

    If we don’t drive wherever we want to whenever we feel like it, the terrorists win. Freedom, bitches!

  5. 5.

    The Republic of Stupidity

    And you DO have the Tunchcam set up to capture the ensuing hilarity and hijinks, right?

  10. 10.

    beltane

    @stevie314159: Please. In November 2008 the Democratic party was given a nice new 4×4 with top of the line snow tires and a plow attachment. They refuse to take it out of the garage for fear of getting mud on it.

  11. 11.

    General Winfield Stuck

    Dispatch from The BJ Superficial Department – Really Weird Shit files. Though if you were this girl, it wouldn’t be so superficial at all. But quite serious.

    When 15-year-old Louisa Ball takes a nap, she doesn’t mess around. She sleeps for days on end, and no amount of shaking or prodding can fully wake her up.

    The British girl has a rare condition called Sleeping Beauty Sickness, but there’s no Prince Charming on the way to rescue her. Doctors don’t know what causes it or how to cure it — only that it strikes teenagers and goes away by itself after eight to 12 years.

    I saw her on teevee this morning and she was a really nice kid, and surprisingly well adjusted to her condition. But how would you like to sleep for TWO weeks straight. Apparently, and obviously, it is a chore for her parents to keep her hydrated and nourished during down time. So it can be a life threatening disease.

    Luckily, in most cases, it goes away as stated above. But sometimes doesn’t . What a hell that must be to live with.

  12. 12.

    mellowjohn

    i’m a flatlander – born in iowa, raised and still live in illinois – but i’ve driven thru both the applechain and rocky mountains with white knuckles in dry weather. wouldn’t want to attempt either in snow.
    otoh, when i lived in winston-salem in the mid-80s i thought “southerners driving on ice” would make a terrific game show.

  13. 13.

    YellowJournalism

    @General Winfield Stuck:

    But how would you like to sleep for TWO weeks straight.

    Even with the fear of dehydration and poopy pants, that sounds WONDERFUL right now. I’d just like to sleep for two hours straight at this point.

  15. 15.

    jimBOB

    My favorite is the people who don’t understand the idea of pumping the brakes (driving on snow/ice for the first time, maybe?), so they jam their foot on the pedal and can’t fathom why their locked wheels have no steering control.

  16. 16.

    Martin

    Rain here in the land of perpetual sunshine.

    But I’ve lived at the bottom of that hill. Might take my AWD with new all-terrains up in the mountains tomorrow to play in the snow. Not everyone ends up in the ditch – some of us are well prepared.

  19. 19.

    General Winfield Stuck

    @Martin:

    When it rains where you are, it usually means it will rain here in a few days. One storm after another this winter. But we will take the moisture that is precious in these desert parts for a number of good reasons.

  20. 20.

    eemom

    here in NoVA, we’re getting BURIED. Just hope we don’t lose power, as I kind of fergot about flashlight batteries and candles when I was shopping for Provisions.

  21. 21.

    r€nato

    It got all the way up to 60 degrees here today. Went for a bike ride for about 75 minutes (20 miles more or less). Had to put on a long sleeved workout shirt to keep from getting a chill! Brrrr!

    :-p~

  22. 22.

    daverave

    “If everyone was required to live near the bottom of a hill for a year during winter and could see what I have seen the past few years, there would be a lot fewer accidents in inclement weather”

    Yeah, well you gotta figure that 1/3 of those folks self-identify as Republicans; ergo, stubborn and IOKIYAR, so gravity does not apply to them.
    A,T.

  23. 23.

    Mudge

    I live in the middle of a West Virginia hill..and get to see a longer slide. My favorite was the time a snowplow/salter slid down the hill, clobbered two cars (one already in the ditch, the blade just picked the other one up) which required another plow/salter to clear the road before two tow trucks (in series) came to pull him out.

    Great entertainment.

  24. 24.

    ThatLeftTurnInABQ

    The best part of this activity is watching the knuckleheads who, despite seeing four other cars in a ditch at the base of the hill, decide that somehow they are different and they will be able to defy gravity, ice, and snow. And then they start up the hill, eventually start sliding, and determine their only option is to back up slowly down the hill, at which point they lose control and slowly slide into the other cars at the bottom of the hill.

    I thought we’d agreed to talk about something other than Health Care Reform for a change?

  25. 25.

    burnspbesq

    @Martin:

    If the snow level gets low enough, you could x-c ski up to the top of Sddleback from the end of Silverado Canyon Rd.

  27. 27.

    demo woman

    John, When you take Lily out remember to be careful, yadda, yadda, yadda.
    Ot. CBS News had a segment on Shelby, who I like to call The Dom, that was not complimentary. I had NBC on and they highlighted what their coverage would be and no Shelby so I changed the channel.

  28. 28.

    suzanne

    It’s 70° here right now, bright and sunny.

    But when we have the mofo rainstorms/flash floods (like we did last month), inevitably some jackass will attempt to drive through the wash. And then gets stranded and needs to be airlifted out. Even with the stupid motorist laws, the stupid survives.

  29. 29.

    khead

    This place went nuts today.

    I body-checked two elderly ladies and a family of five into the glass doors of the frozen food section earlier – all because I thought they were going to beat me down the aisle to the last bag of sandwich rolls in Laurel MD. Sounds harsh, I know, but Friday is the regularly scheduled shopping day in our house and I wasn’t about to let the panickers ruin it with their hoarding.

    khead +3

  30. 30.

    Gozer

    @mellowjohn:

    Waiting for the impending Snowmageddon here in Southeast PA.

    But man oh man…when I moved to DC a few years back I took I-70 East almost the whole way. I reached Eastern Ohio/WV Panhandle right at dusk and had to drive through the mountains in the dark. I’m dusky-hued, but I’m sure my knuckles were white as sheets. And until that time I’d only lived in New Orleans and the Kansas City area…driving through the Appalachians was the most frightening thing I’d ever done.

  31. 31.

    demkat620

    John can you do us a favor? Please stay safe in the house. I think you have done enough damage to yourself.

    Snowpocalypse has just started here. Prolly about a foot by tomorrow night.

    Winter sux.

  32. 32.

    Martin

    @General Winfield Stuck: Yeah, we’re getting dumped on pretty good this year. We’ve been in drought conditions for years and while I doubt this is enough to break us out of that, it’ll certainly improve matters a bit. Happy to share the wealth with ya!

    Personally, I miss the rain, so I’m enjoying all of this.

  33. 33.

    Karen

    What took you so long, DC has had it for hours now.

    At least in Mass you know what to do with snow.

    Here, one to two inches causes panic.

  35. 35.

    PurpleGirl

    One winter, after my friends in Peekskill bought a 4-wheel drive truck, there was a huge snow storm and we turned on the police scanner to hear what was happening on the roads. We heard a call for people with 4-wheel drive vehicles to contact the local hospital or the police to help drive medical personnel to and from hospital from their homes. So my friend went out to help and picked up a couple of people to take the hospital and take a few home.

  36. 36.

    jayackroyd

    A lot of it is knowing how to drive in snow/ice conditions. Not at all if you can. But if you have to, slowly. There was a time, living in northern NJ I absolutely had to be in Cape Cod during a huge snowstorm. My fellow passenger worried a lot, but if you are willing to go 35 for as long as necessary, you get there.

  39. 39.

    Martin

    @burnspbesq: Yeah, pretty rare when that happens. It’s just not cold enough this time. Got a little up there last storm, but I think it was 2006 when that really cold sucker blew through and dropped snow down below 2000′. We headed up to Idyllwild for that one and hit snow out on I-10 in Banning. It was a blast – my little Honda never slid once the whole day, even on the climb up out of Banning into the ice and snow.

    But you remind me that I haven’t been to Trabuco Oaks in a while…

  40. 40.

    Woodbuster

    Kinda OT, but I really like the upgrade in advertising around here! CarFax and Allstate Insurance beat the hell out of Pamela Anderson with a leg growing out of her head!

  41. 41.

    Zach

    My apartment looks over a winding highway that goes into downtown Baltimore. Every weekend without fail (especially when it rains) there is at least one serious accident with someone going around the corner or someone taking an exit at a poorly marked intersection.

    Luckily the main problem with the curve is that people just go too fast, so the snow will actually mitigate disaster.

    We’re up to a few inches of snow now… only had a couple hours of sleet/non-sticking-snow. Looking at 24-30″ apparently. Fun!

  42. 42.

    Martin

    @debit: Well, ABS doesn’t interfere with normal emergency braking. IOW, if they kick in, you’re doin’ it wrong. And there’s always the handbrake is fun is your goal.

  44. 44.

    GReynoldsCT00

    John, who’s walking Lily? You’re not venturing out onto the ICE and SNOW are you? Hopefully you have a long lead and you can stand inside the house?

  45. 45.

    freelancer

    @debit:

    I’ve lived in MInnesota all my life, I know how to use my brakes and don’t need or like ABS.

    Purist.

    My issue with ABS is when people coast through a right turn they want to make and and almost kill me sitting in the left lane. If they would only slow to the necessary speed, take their foot off the brake, steer and apply the gas, they would stop overshooting the intersections.

    Nope, everyone of them, to a man, just listens to their brakes rachet down: ClickClickClickClickClick [stopped] Okay, Now, I’ll turn.

  46. 46.

    eemom

    Maybe the weight of snow on the Capitol will cause the whole damn thing to collapse.

    Who’d even notice? It’s not like they were using it for anything.

  48. 48.

    Annie

    @eemom:

    We are getting buried. Stopped late last night at Haris Teeter and a few other places to buy wood for the fireplace, and everything was gone — also, bread, milk, veggies, etc. Really creepy. Fortunately, wine as still in abundance, so I am set for the weekend, plus my stash of novels…I do love this snow when I don’t have to go anywhere…

  49. 49.

    TR

    i thought “southerners driving on ice” would make a terrific game show.

    What’s a southerner’s last words? “Hey, y’all! Watch this!”

  53. 53.

    burnspbesq

    @Martin:

    But you remind me that I haven’t been to Trabuco Oaks in a while…

    Love that place. We went there for Christmas Eve. Fleming’s is OK when you have to impress a business contact, but TO is the real deal.

  56. 56.

    debit

    @Martin: It’s not even for me, really. There are too many people here who just have no idea how to properly brake and think ABS is some sort of magical thing that’s gonna stop the car no matter what. They usually figure out otherwise when they slide through the icy intersection while standing on the brakes. But the lesson never sticks.

  57. 57.

    Martin

    @jimBOB: I’ve seen that video before. Unfortunately, what isn’t obvious from the video is how steep those particular streets are. It still begs the question why anyone tried it, but they are VERY steep which is why the cars actually accelerate even with the brakes fully applied.

  58. 58.

    Martin

    @debit: Oh, well that’s true. The best are the 4WD folks that think they’re invincible and don’t realize that not only does the 4WD do nothing for braking, their added weight makes them even worse at braking than a small 2wd compact. Instead they go barreling into situations thinking they can stop as fast as they can accelerate.

  59. 59.

    General Winfield Stuck

    @Annie: I was in DC once, and it was a balmy summer night. The place seemed creepy to me without any snow. But that was a few weeks before Nixon resigned, and I remember looking thru that cast iron fence at the WH and wondering what that crazy motherfucker was thinking.

  60. 60.

    debit

    @GReynoldsCT00: Heh. I have two awesome…well, okay, I have one all right senator in Amy Klobuchar and one awesome one in Franken. However, Coleman is still a source of major embarrassment and I can’t even bring myself to speak of Smilin’ Tim Pawlenty.

  61. 61.

    Martin

    @burnspbesq: It’s fun taking the kids camping at O’Neil and then walking over for dinner, and staggering back afterward.

    Makes OC feel a little more normal.

  63. 63.

    geg6

    It’s been snowing like hell here since about 1pm. Probably about 2 to 3 inches so far. They are talking anywhere from 8 to 12″. But it seems to be the big flakes that pack so you can drive. Meh. I’m an intrepid native W.PA driver and this isn’t a big enough deal yet. My John and I are going out to the local watering hole for some beer and wings. We have 4WD and the pub is less than a mile away. And for those who find our Alleghenies and Appalachians skeery, my ex and I drove the Al-Can to Anchorage once. You don’t know skeery places to drive. With not a soul or headlight for hundreds of miles. Literally. Fucking primieval.

  67. 67.

    Kryptik

    @Gozer:

    Driving through the Cumberland Gap is quite possibly the most tense moment of the drives home for holidays. When weather is bad, it’s ALWAYS the worst there, and even when it’s good, there’s the chance of fog.

    Oh, and John, I’m ever so grateful that my family lived on a reasonably flat road, especially when we had the valley where Chapmanville is niched into on one side and a small hill road not that far the other way. Made life a whole lot easier for us.

  68. 68.

    RedKitten

    Even up here, there are a lot of people who have no freaking clue how to drive on ice and snow. They seem to think that because they have a big SUV, that they’ll be able to stop on a dime. I got rear-ended by one of those once when getting a lift home with a coworker. The road was coated in icy slush. We had stopped about 10 feet back from the car in front of us, but the dumb bitch in the SUV behind us put on her brakes way too late and slid right into the back of our car, shoving us forward into the other car. Thank goodness my coworker had been smart enough to stop well behind the car in front of us, or we could have been badly hurt.

    Best of luck with the storm, you folks. Up here in Canuckistan, they’re calling for…flurries.

  69. 69.

    valdivia

    Here in DC it’s been snowing since 1 or so and it seems to be really accumulating on the ground. I keep checking accuweather and their estimates of how much snow we will have overnight keep going up. Earlier today it was 1 foot overnight. now it says 1 to 2. Plus more tomorrow. For a city that freaks with 1-2 inches 2 feet+ will surely make people’s heads explode.

  72. 72.

    Big City Mary

    Oh, have I got stories of morons and snow ( personally, I grew up in mid-state NC and absolutely will not drive in the white stuff) but I relocated to the NE 22 years ago and now have a weekend place in the Poconos-100 miles from NYC for the less geographically interested.

    Our house in the Poconos is on a slope, and the man who owned and built the house (he was a builder by trade) escavated out toward the slope to flatten the lot. So we have a road that heads, coming down a hill, directly into our yard, but the real road continues with a left turn. So the original owner/builder decided he would build a barricade of very large boulders to protect the drop off in to the yard from the road.

    Unfortunately, this is a sort of (and I mean sort of) resort, rental, ski community close to NYC & Philly and people come and rent and they some how end up sliding over the boulders into our yard, only sometimes their vehicle does not make it over the boulders, and becomes suspended but with out fail, by the light of day, the car is there and the owners are not, in the yard or on the boulders. It is all together pretty wierd. We call the police and they come and tow the car.

    Next time I will relate the problems of incoming cars coming up the hill to make a right.

  73. 73.

    MikeJ

    Best of luck with the storm, you folks. Up here in Canuckistan, they’re calling for…flurries.

    I’m a bit concerned here in the wonderful Pacific NW. Partly cloudy, almost 60°F, and it seems like much less rain than normal. But in the summer we never get rain. We have nine months a year where it drizzles non stop and three where it does not rain at all. I hope that the water reserves are ok, particularly for the farmers. Low water means usage conflict, and that sucks.

  75. 75.

    General Winfield Stuck

    @Cat Lady: Dana will get over it. All Mccain has to do is let him sit close for another plane ride, and a BBQ rib or two wouldn’t hurt to make Dana’s flag pole get Mavericky again.

  77. 77.

    Dreggas

    @Martin:

    I love it myself, although I hate having to drive the 405 in it. I’m from NY originally, there we get snow and have to drive in it, here we get a little rain and suddenly people become morons.

    We really need to plan a get together for the so-cal balloon-juice denizens, there are enough of us here.

  80. 80.

    TJ

    @MikeJ

    That’s odd–the El Nino of 96/97 (I think?) brought a metric bum-load of rain. Our little river (the Rogue) was ridiculously flooded.

  81. 81.

    LuciaMia

    And then they start up the hill, eventually start sliding, and determine their only option is to back up slowly down the hill, at which point they lose control and slowly slide into the other cars at the bottom of the hill

    As long as nobody’s hurt, sounds like fine winter-evening viewing. Crank up the fireplace and make some popcorn.

    Here In northern NJ, we might get about 4 inches. Our local weather guys seem almost weepy that they can’t predict more.
    My sister’s down in Maryland. For the second time they’re expected to get almost 2 feet. Jesus. Why couldn’t this storm take a detour and dump itlself on the Teabaggers down in Nashville?

  82. 82.

    General Winfield Stuck

    @valdivia: I blame it on Cat Lady :) And I shall pre-Obot that and declare Obama had nothing to do with it/but I know you knew that already.

  83. 83.

    South of I-10

    What are these hills of which you speak? As for snow, you must be talking about the 4 inches of rain we got yesterday.

  84. 84.

    burnspbesq

    @Dreggas:

    We really need to plan a get together for the so-cal balloon-juice denizens, there are enough of us here.

    An outstanding idea. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, there was a meetup of OC Firepups at Wahoo’s in Costa Mesa (the original one on Placentia, not the one on Bristol by SCP).

  85. 85.

    RedKitten

    OT, but my dad just won the internets.

    Dad’s Facebook status update: Just cleaned bathroom, plus three loads of wash, made supper, vacuumed, dusted…better be careful or I’ll be snapped up by some little old lady ;)

    My husband’s response: A hot, rich lady!

    My dad’s response: You pimping?

  87. 87.

    Dreggas

    @burnspbesq:

    We should set it up, not sure exactly where and when, I used to live in Santa Ana, just moved to Lakewood but am willing to travel LOL. Still work down here in Newport Beach.

  88. 88.

    Comrade Mary

    @RedKitten: I’m little, hot, not THAT old, and umm, solvent. So here’s my question for your Dad: what was he wearing when he cleaned the bathroom?

  89. 89.

    General Winfield Stuck

    @burnspbesq:

    there was a meetup of OC Firepups at Wahoo’s in Costa Mesa (the original one on Placentia, not the one on Bristol by SCP).

    I love it when you folks speak SoCalese. Don’t speak it myself, but it sounds sort of exotic and exciting. Though the OC does ring a wingnut bell.

  90. 90.

    Anne Laurie

    @Martin: My Spousal Unit says that every third SUV driver’s last words must be “But I have four wheel driiiAAAAIIIEE! ! !”

  91. 91.

    RedKitten

    @Comrade Mary:

    @RedKitten: I’m little, hot, not THAT old, and umm, solvent. So here’s my question for your Dad: what was he wearing when he cleaned the bathroom?

    More than John usually wears…I assume.

    I hope.

  92. 92.

    Incertus

    Every time I see stories like this I wonder why more people don’t live in south Florida. But I’m glad they don’t, because it’s already pretty crowded.

  94. 94.

    Anne Laurie

    @General Winfield Stuck:

    I blame it on Cat Lady :) And I shall pre-Obot that and declare Obama had nothing to do with it/but I know you knew that already.

    No, no, try and keep up here, GWS — it’s Scotty Brown’s fault. The local weatherpersons are pointing out that the Boston area has a lower snowfall total this year than Baltimore, and that’s just wrong.

  97. 97.

    Maude

    @LuciaMia: In western NJ, hard to tell. Nothing so far. As far as saying sorry for politians, here in Nj, we gave that up years ago.
    They were crasy in the supermarket this morning. The streets get plowed. It has to be a leftover from Bush and his terrah wahr. All those lies and they repeated them over and over. Hell is too good a place for him.

  100. 100.

    DBrown

    The generator is ready, have food for a week, and the snow blower has been repaired – two feet plus here it comes.

  101. 101.

    Anonsters

    @khead:

    LOL. I literally had to wait in an express line for 40 minutes yesterday in order to buy what I wanted to make for dinner.

    Suddenly all the residents of D.C. become survivalists when snow is on the horizon. Canned goods? Check. Bottled water? Check. MREs? Check. Shotgun shells? Check. Zombie repellant? Check.

    This city is insane.

  102. 102.

    Anne Laurie

    @Incertus:

    Every time I see stories like this I wonder why more people don’t live in south Florida.

    Eight months a year of mosquitos and dog ticks are about my limit. Also, I can sunburn right through a plate-glass window… in April. Not to mention those “palmetto bugs”, ugh!

    And while you guys get a longer tomato season, I’d really miss lilacs and daffodils.

  103. 103.

    MikeJ

    @TJ:

    That’s odd—the El Nino of 96/97 (I think?) brought a metric bum-load of rain. Our little river (the Rogue) was ridiculously flooded.

    In early December we got RAIN. Not our typical drizzle but full on, non-stop rain. And ever since? Meh. A bit of the usual, but not as much.

    Although now that I’ve checked the historical weather records on wunderground, this Jan. we got an inch more rain than average. So what do I know?

  104. 104.

    Anonsters

    @geg6:

    Dude, so true. My dad and I drove the Al-Can in like 1998 (he was military, was transferred, and we decided to drive it while my mom and sisters flew). I have never been so terrified in my life as driving on the side of a mountain, with loose gravel by the road, and no barriers separating you from a many-thousand foot drop. That thing is insane.

  105. 105.

    General Winfield Stuck

    @Anne Laurie:

    —it’s Scotty Brown’s fault.

    The local weatherpersons are pointing out that the Boston area has a lower snowfall total this year than Baltimore,

    Yes, but Mass has had a higher wingnutfall total this year.

  106. 106.

    srv

    Austin icestorm of 84 or 85. Sat next to the Riverside overpass on I-35H and watched 6 lanes of rush hour demolition derby… Imbeciles, Immaculate.

  107. 107.

    Bruce (formerly Steve S.)

    Here in the great Pacific Northwest we’ve been 5-15 degrees above normal for weeks and just had the warmest January ever recorded. The Vancouver Olympic Committee is trucking snow, at considerable expense, to one of the event venues because there isn’t enough real snow.

  108. 108.

    LuciaMia

    And speaking of teabaggers, read this snippet over at Daily Kos about the weekend convention.

    “For those wondering, the convention web site says there are still tickets available for Sarah Palin’s speech tomorrow night. The Queen Tea Bagger was not able to sell out the hall. If anyone thinks that 600 Baggers is an impressive showing, please note that two weeks from now the National Wild Turkey Federation is gathering at the same venue. They are expecting 40,000 attendees. And this isn’t a blowout of bourbon drinkers (Aside: Did I note that the Tea Bagger affair is “dry”?). It’s a national organization representing wild turkey conservationists and hunters.”

    600? That’s a low turnout for your average Star Trek convention.

  109. 109.

    PurpleGirl

    NYC is expecting 3 to 6 inches, starting after 9 p.m. I did just a normal shopping trip today instead of tomorrow, no extra food needed. It did look like some people were buying more. Our problem, if there is one, would be trucks getting to the supermarket. I should be cozy tonight and tomorrow no matter how much does fall.

  110. 110.

    PurpleGirl

    @LuciaMia: Hell in 1976, the last year that Tellurian Enterprises held a Star Trek con in NYC, we sold out several thousand tickets weeks before the convention and had to close in-person registrations at the con. We described it as holding a party for 5,000 of your closest friends. A local SF con, like Lunacon, will draw close to a thousand.

  114. 114.

    Annie

    @General Winfield Stuck:

    Just went outside and made a snowman with the neighbors. When we finished, one guy said that the snowman looked retarded…We all stood still, and then slowly moved away from him. We decided that when he receives a call from Lady Sarah later, the rest of us don’t want to be in the area…It’s a shame. We did like him — he is a Navy guy after all — but after this, I think he will have to be shunned in our courtyard…

  115. 115.

    Bad Horse's Filly

    @Anne Laurie: They are the bane of our existence here. Big snow storm and all up and down I-25, SUV after SUV off the road and in the ditch. Then you see people in their little Suburus and Camrys, topped with skis, driving without a care up to the ski resorts.

  118. 118.

    General Winfield Stuck

    @Annie: I was going to offer a snarky quip to your comment, but feared it would be construed as Hippie Punching, prolly cause it would have been.

    See, progs, It ain’t so bad. Peace, love and general good will to most. :–)

  119. 119.

    Alan

    I finally got around to watching the pilot and second episode of Caprica (I’m currently watching the third episode on syfy). I have to say, it’s pretty cool science fiction–I’m hooked.

  123. 123.

    kommrade reproductive vigor

    And then they start up the hill, eventually start sliding, and determine their only option is to back up slowly down the hill, at which point they lose control and slowly slide into the other cars at the bottom of the hill.

    And then Tunch eats them.

    The snOMG started around 11 am, but didn’t start sticking until 5-ish. I’m surprised WV got sleet first. Right now I’m watching it pile up on the wires and trees despite the wind. We could lose power any

  128. 128.

    Trinity

    Jim Cantore on TWC just called our radar reading a “snow shield” moving through the DC area.

    Thus, I thought it only appropriate that I make a pitcher of vodka, cranberry juice, and club soda.

    Let the Snowacalypse continue!

    Trinity +4

  129. 129.

    Thoughcrime

    @LuciaMia:

    “For those wondering, the convention web site says there are still tickets available for Sarah Palin’s speech tomorrow night. The Queen Tea Bagger was not able to sell out the hall. If anyone thinks that 600 Baggers is an impressive showing, please note that two weeks from now the National Wild Turkey Federation is gathering at the same venue. They are expecting 40,000 attendees. And this isn’t a blowout of bourbon drinkers (Aside: Did I note that the Tea Bagger affair is “dry”?). It’s a national organization representing wild turkey conservationists and hunters.”

    They should have combined the events. Sarah always gives her best performances in front of turkeys:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbiVoYGPHaA

  130. 130.

    valdivia

    @Trinity:

    hey I am seeing that outside my window! snow shield.

    someone invited me to a massive snow fight at 2 pm tomorrow in dupont circle. I am too tropical and too chicken to join.

    (unfortunately) valdivia +0

  131. 131.

    Gravenstone

    Nearly 30 years ago, I was one of 6 people crammed into an old VW Beetle that was the only vehicle which managed to creep its way up a rather steep hill in the midst of a lovely rain following a midwestern ice storm. Long story how we all came to be there, but that little beast plodded up the hill with barely a complaint.

  133. 133.

    Spork

    @MikeJ: You are not in the Pacific NW. You are in central or eastern WA. You’re right about the water issues, but I grew up on the Straights, midway across the Peninsula (not even out west, by Forks or Neah Bay), and it sure as hell will rain in the summer. I love out climate, moderate, comfortable, with a chance of drizzle.

  134. 134.

    Trinity

    @valdivia: I live out in Frederick MD. I work two blocks from Dupont.

    We’re supposed to get something called “thundersnow” very soon. (basically a snow thunderstorm)

    You should go to the snowball fight tomorrow! I mean, the odds that you’ll experience another storm like this are few. If you don’t participate at least go out and take some pics.

    …and I recommend making a pitcher of “happy juice” (as my husband just called it). I could take on the entire neighborhood in a snowball fight right now!

    Snowmaggedon 2010!

  135. 135.

    bystander

    Cole, when you take Lily out, do not… I repeat, do not, under any circumstances pick her up. You look into her liquid brown eyes and say, “Honey, if you want your feet warm, you follow me right into the house. Now!”

  136. 136.

    Skepticat

    Invited my friends who live outside DC to come to Massachusetts to avoid winter, but they’re hunkered down by the fire with the cat and a large wine supply. I just made a run to the store (partly for my own wine supply), and I’ve been so aware of the snowmageddon story that it seemed strange not to be frantically stocking up and to see clear roads and skies. The Farmer’s Almanac says that New England will have a foot or two of snow 12-15 February–but they also predicted warm rain now for the area getting slammed by the snow.
    Shared my tuna with chemo kitty, but neither of them wants to fight me for the wine. Good thing.

    John, I hope that you’ll stick to walking and not do any carrying.

  137. 137.

    valdivia

    @Trinity:

    I guess the thudersnow may be coming our way still. I will try to screw up my courage and join the snowball fight. Worse comes to worse I will be shielded by loyal friends. But no happy juice for me–snow on the ground+alcohol+6Feet tall uncoordinated person not a good combo :)

  138. 138.

    Southern Beale

    I live at the bottom of a hill, too. And like you my big snowpocalypse entertainment is watching people try to drive up the hill when they can see the wreckage of all who have come before them and failed. Hilarious.

    Even worse, I’m in Nashville and we don’t get that much snow so we totally don’t know how to drive in it.

    Here, from our big snowpocalypse last week, is a photo of the bottom of my hill. It is the classic Nashville snow day image. Enjoy.

  141. 141.

    valdivia

    @Anonsters:

    LOL. So true. If you guys don’t hear from me tomorrow it’s either that I was a casualty of the snowball fight or my cats, bored by the snow, finally decided to eat me.

  143. 143.

    Svensker

    I am so bummed we’re only going to get a few inches here in northern NJ (or so they’re saying now). Got all psyched up for a snowpocalypse. Even stocked up on BACON!

    Oh well, at least we can eat the bacon.

    When I lived in Seattle there was a good snow one year. My crazy hippie boyfriend and I were on one of the steep streets in Capitol Hill and we set up a “snow-aid” station with a bunch of neighbors. The women had a hot chocolate and coffee station for people who had abandoned their cars at the bottom of the hill and walked up the hill to get home and were frozen icicles by that time. And the guys went out and helped push cars that were stuck either up the hill, if possible, or out of the way, if necessary. It was very strange, but fun.

  146. 146.

    asiangrrlMN

    @jeffreyw: Awwwww, so sweet!

    And, to whom do I lodge a complaint about the paltry inch or two of snow we here in MN have gotten? Seriously. I have snow envy right now of all you East Coasters.

  149. 149.

    asiangrrlMN

    @jeffreyw: Man, I hate you with a white hot–oh, for me? Why, thank you!

    And, Cole, how’s the shoulder? I read that you enjoyed your shower very much.

    @SIA: Agreed. That asshat will be in the lowest ring, for sure.

    And, for all the progressive awesomeness we have in MN, we still have, inexplicably, Michele Bachmann.

  150. 150.

    PurpleGirl

    Svensker I am so bummed we’re only going to get a few inches here in northern NJ (or so they’re saying now). Got all psyched up for a snowpocalypse.

    Yes. I’m waiting for the snow to start in NYC. I want some snow… NOW.

  151. 151.

    MikeJ

    @Spork:

    You are not in the Pacific NW. You are in central or eastern WA.

    Holy shit! When did Seattle move across the mountains? I always thought being able to hear the fog horns of ships on Puget sound put me in the PNW. Again, what do I know?

  153. 153.

    Brick Oven Bill

    Over the past decade, global temperatures have remained constant. Al was extrapolating the data from 1993 to 2000, when he set up his partnership with David Blood, of Goldman Sachs. The name of Al’s company is Generations Investment, Limited Liability Corporation.

    Al is still fat and eats meats and cheeses. He lives in a house that you can see from space.

    But the data no longer fits.

  156. 156.

    jeffreyw

    Ack! My sat modem quit on me, I thought, spent half an hour on the phone w tech support. Can’t help ya, man. We’ll send a guy to yer house mmkay? Yes! sooner rather than later!

    Now it’s workin again. I think it may be due to the NOC bein in Va and all snowed in.

  157. 157.

    Spork

    @MikeJ: Just being more PNW than you ;) I’m in Shoreline now, soon to be in Kenmore, just north of Seattle proper. But I defend my “rains all the time” bona fides, lol. The further west you get, it really can rain at any time, regardless of visible clouds or not. The peninsula has its own climate, but Seattle’s rain is overhyped.

  158. 158.

    mcd410x

    If you’re going to a snowball fight tomorrow, beware the pissy police with weapons. They don’t like fun.

  160. 160.

    Annie

    @SIA:

    I like mysteries. Now, Steve Berry, The Charlemagne Pursuit. I like his stuff. He is just not writing fast enough to please me…And, I am drinking a nice pinot noir.

  161. 161.

    Yukoner

    @geg6: Primieval? Okay, I’ll accept that. But we like it that way, eh? And you wussies from Outside (defined as all those who live south of 60) can stay home if you can’t take it eh?

    Yukoner (happily living at Mile 884)

  163. 163.

    Sentient Puddle

    @mcd410x: I was expecting my throat to be on fire after drinking a fair bit. But surprisingly, I found it to be quite a bit smoother than I thought it would be. Yeah, probably low expectations, but I found it pleasant enough to down the whole bottle, which was something I wasn’t expecting.

    On the other hand, I’m shit ass drunk now, and having issues typing properly. This coming from someone whose typing is the last thing to go when drunk. So…I’m going to say that this isn’t a session beer.

  164. 164.

    Jill

    Here in northern NJ, we’re used to being “higher amounts north and west of the city”. I woke up this morning to NO SNOW. None. Zero. Nada. Reality is being completely inverted before our very eyes.

  165. 165.

    droog

    You should plant a sign at the bottom of the hill reading “YOU WILL NOT MAKE IT”. Then on the other side of the sign a second message reading “TOLD YOU SO”

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