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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Open Thread: But It’s A Dry Snow…

Open Thread: But It’s A Dry Snow…

by Anne Laurie|  January 2, 20147:37 pm| 44 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

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RT @janinegibson: 11 year old: "My class has decided de Blasio has one chance to impress us and it'd better be snow day tomorrow." #nextgen.

— Spencer Ackerman (@attackerman) January 2, 2014


.

True fact for you warm-climate disbelievers: Dry snow — the light powdery fluffy kind that happens when the atmospheric humidity is low — is much easier to deal with than the high-humidity kind.

So far, praise goddess, we’re getting the fluffy stuff. And the towns twenty miles further north and east (seaward) have gotten fifteen inches to our six, so far… but we’re probably looking at another full twenty-four hours before we have the final totals to establish bragging rights.

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Reader Interactions

44Comments

  1. 1.

    TaMara (BHF)

    January 2, 2014 at 7:42 pm

    Champagne powder. Easiest stuff in the world to shovel. Anything less than 6 inches can be swept away with a good, stiff broom. That’s 90% of our snow here. What’s left usually melts by end of the second day.

    I lived in New England for many years, winters and dark, wet springs chased me away.

  2. 2.

    p.a.

    January 2, 2014 at 7:43 pm

    For us shovelers this is true, but snow blowers can be almost useless with light powder and a strong wind.

  3. 3.

    Violet

    January 2, 2014 at 7:43 pm

    It’s supposed to freeze here tonight. That’s a big deal. We missed the rain that was supposed to come with the front. We got some mist but that’s about it.

  4. 4.

    Mnemosyne

    January 2, 2014 at 7:43 pm

    Since I’ve been whining about the weather I grew up with Chicago, I should probably say that I was only there for the 4th largest snowfall in history.

    (Okay, I was also living there for the 9th biggest, but I have no memory of it since I was less than a year old at the time.)

    ETA: We also managed to arrive in Chicago a couple of days after the Snowpocalypse of 2011. This is another reason I’m no longer permitted to visit Chicago in the winter.

  5. 5.

    p.a.

    January 2, 2014 at 7:44 pm

    @TaMara (BHF): seasons in Maine: summer fall winter mud.

  6. 6.

    Baud

    January 2, 2014 at 7:45 pm

    There are only two types of storms. Those in which you lose power and those in which you don’t.

  7. 7.

    cathyx

    January 2, 2014 at 7:46 pm

    Thank god I moved west. I don’t miss that at all.

  8. 8.

    ranchandsyrup

    January 2, 2014 at 7:50 pm

    “This is pure snow. It’s everywhere. Have you any idea what the street value of this mountain is?

    Back when John Cusack was cool.

  9. 9.

    Raven

    January 2, 2014 at 7:52 pm

    Across the evening sky
    all the birds are leaving

  10. 10.

    Eric U.

    January 2, 2014 at 7:53 pm

    the snow in Utah has as little water in it per volume as any snow in the world. Doesn’t really help that much when you have to shovel a foot and a half of it before you go to work. If there is much less than that, there is a real temptation just to drive over it and deal with it later. The part about winters in Utah that I don’t miss is that the humidity is so low it’s converted into static electricity through some magic of quantum mechanics. Only place I’ve ever lived where it is expected to see 3″ sparks when touching something metal — or light switches.

  11. 11.

    greennotGreen

    January 2, 2014 at 7:57 pm

    This being an open thread, is it okay to bleg?

    In December 2012, two of my dear friends lost their only daughter at Sandy Hook Elementary. In her memory, they established The Avielle Foundation to support research in brain health with the goal of someday being able to predict when someone is going seriously off the rails and to be able to intervene before a tragedy occurs. The NRA and its mindless minions make gun control difficult, if not impossible, at present, but surely no one can be opposed to good mental health. Please visit their website, and if you have some extra change, shake some loose their way. We do it for our pets – can’t we do it for children, too?

  12. 12.

    Violet

    January 2, 2014 at 8:01 pm

    @ranchandsyrup: I love some of John Cusacks’ movies. Grosse Pointe Blank, Being John Malkovich, High Fidelity, Pushing Tin and of course Say Anything for a classic 80’s movie. What’s he been in recently? Seems like he’s kind of dropped off the map.

  13. 13.

    Pogonip

    January 2, 2014 at 8:02 pm

    @Eric U.: Every time I shop at Target, and only Target, in winter I get zapped. Meijer’s has lower static electricity for some reason.

    Here in the Midwest we’re expecting a deep freeze early next week. It has stopped snowing for the moment. I don’t really care, I only live a few miles from my work. (The bad part of that is, if I try to tell them I can’t get to work they just laugh at me.)

  14. 14.

    ranchandsyrup

    January 2, 2014 at 8:04 pm

    @Violet: he was in that dreadful 2012 movie, for one.
    I’m biased after some twitter arguing with him about glenzilla. Now blocked by both of them (amongst others).

  15. 15.

    lamh36

    January 2, 2014 at 8:04 pm

    Alright, who here watched Fringe on FOX? I’m re-watching it now on thanks to my Amazon Prime account and It’s really cool to watch it knowing how the show ultimately ends

    It’s interesting to go back and see all these signs and clues and it’s really makes you wonder, if showrunners really do have plan the shows ahead of time. It’ll be interesting looking back and seeing if the “transitions” of the show actually hold up to re-watch.

    I’m loving seeing how much I actually forgot though…lol

  16. 16.

    Violet

    January 2, 2014 at 8:06 pm

    @ranchandsyrup: Is he a wingnut or libertarian or something?

  17. 17.

    Raven

    January 2, 2014 at 8:06 pm

    Stoops has been running his mouth a good bit about how the SEC is over-rated. We’ll see.

  18. 18.

    greennotGreen

    January 2, 2014 at 8:08 pm

    @lamh36: I have seasons 1-4 on DVD, but I’ve been afraid to finish season 5 because it starts off so dark. I was having a rough time with chemo the day I watched (spoiler alert) Etta die, and I’ve just had a hard time watching the rest. Last episode I saw was when Peter implanted himself with Observer tech. I need to buck up and finish it.

  19. 19.

    ranchandsyrup

    January 2, 2014 at 8:10 pm

    @Violet: board member for Freedom of the Press Foundation. Very involved with Greenwald/Poitras (also board members). Libertarian leaning.
    Jake Tapper blocked me again today. VICTORY!

  20. 20.

    lamh36

    January 2, 2014 at 8:11 pm

    @greennotGreen: I loved season 5, maybe because it was the last season, but also because I think the writers realized that the fans fought hard for a 5th season and even though it was short, they finished up the series nicely and for the most part fans were satisfied with the final season, unlike some other JJ Abams show

  21. 21.

    maximiliano furtive, formerly known as dr. bloor

    January 2, 2014 at 8:11 pm

    The burgermeisters of Providence didn’t do any plowing today, allowing drivers to pack a couple of inches of otherwise easy-to-deal with powder into a solid base that will soon turn to ice and likely stay until spring.

    Pretty sure it’s their solution to repaving several hundred miles of substandard roads within city limits.

  22. 22.

    TaMara (BHF)

    January 2, 2014 at 8:16 pm

    @greennotGreen: The strength of some people just does me in and really, it makes up for the other 27% who are nothing but pondscum.

    The father of the young woman killed in Colorado in the Dec school shooting made an impassioned plea to help understand the darkness that overtook the young man who killed his daughter.

    Cried every time I watched it.

  23. 23.

    Roger Moore

    January 2, 2014 at 8:20 pm

    A key advantage of dry snow is that it’s much less likely to break tree branches, knock down power lines, and collapse flat roofs. The big disadvantage is that it’s shit for traditional snow activities like snowmen, snowballs, and igloos.

  24. 24.

    Bill E Pilgrim

    January 2, 2014 at 8:21 pm

    @ranchandsyrup: Yes, he’s on the board with people like Daniel Ellsberg. So, clearly practically a Republican.

    Here’s someone who sees Greenwald/Snowden the way you do, by the way, maybe you could see what boards he’s on and see if you can join.

  25. 25.

    ranchandsyrup

    January 2, 2014 at 8:23 pm

    @Bill E Pilgrim: sorry I wasn’t clear. Was referring to cusack’s leanings not the org.

  26. 26.

    ranchandsyrup

    January 2, 2014 at 8:26 pm

    @Bill E Pilgrim: I don’t view gg or snowden as terrorists. My squabbles with cusack came from his use of the controversy to go after the Kenyan usurper.

  27. 27.

    Violet

    January 2, 2014 at 8:26 pm

    @ranchandsyrup: I didn’t know that bout John Cusack. I wonder if he’s become more libertarian as his movies have begun to suck more, or going in that direction has tanked his career? Hmmm…. I say the first and he’ll claim the second.

    Jake Tapper. If you haven’t read the threads where he shows up here in comments to defend his appearance on the Laura Ingraham, they’re worth a look:

    https://balloon-juice.com/2010/03/25/careerist-sociopaths/
    https://balloon-juice.com/2010/03/26/jake-tapper-audio/

    There might be a third thread but I’m at the limit for links. If I find it I’ll post it. Tapper is such a whiner in the comments.

  28. 28.

    indycat32

    January 2, 2014 at 8:27 pm

    The dry snow is great except for the drifting and although the “official” snow total is six inches I have 24 inches in my driveway. If we really do get another 10 inches on Sunday and if the wind continues to blow I may be trapped in my house until the spring thaw. I picked a bad time to stop drinking.

  29. 29.

    ranchandsyrup

    January 2, 2014 at 8:27 pm

    @Violet: thx for links. I recall him around here way back when.

  30. 30.

    Violet

    January 2, 2014 at 8:29 pm

    @ranchandsyrup: These days all that action would be on Twitter, I think.

  31. 31.

    WaterGirl

    January 2, 2014 at 8:30 pm

    @Baud: Slight correction.

    There are only two types of storms. Those in which you lose power a tree falls on your house and those in which you don’t it doesn’t.

  32. 32.

    lamh36

    January 2, 2014 at 8:48 pm

    @greennotGreen: you should def go ahead and finish season 5. it really does bring all the things that have happened over the course of the 4 seasons to a great close

  33. 33.

    p.a.

    January 2, 2014 at 8:56 pm

    @efgoldman: wise guys or goom-bahs. T least in the recent past. No plows because we probably blew the snow budget on the last 3″ snowfall.

  34. 34.

    Monala

    January 2, 2014 at 8:59 pm

    @Violet: He played Nixon the The Butler.

  35. 35.

    Violet

    January 2, 2014 at 9:03 pm

    @Monala: Was he good in that part? I saw that on IMDB. Haven’t seen the film yet.

  36. 36.

    WereBear

    January 2, 2014 at 9:04 pm

    I can walk to work.

    The bad news is, I can’t call in and say I can’t get out of the driveway. Don’t matter.

  37. 37.

    Pogonip

    January 2, 2014 at 9:32 pm

    @indycat32: No, you picked the best time to stop drinking; once you run out of booze, it will be impossible to restock.

  38. 38.

    GHayduke (formerly lojasmo)

    January 2, 2014 at 10:21 pm

    @lamh36:

    Yeah…Fringe is fucking amazing. We just finished up The 4400 which is also good, and are going to watch Fringe a third time when the wife returns from her two week phone bank in Duluth (MN).

    Lost is very good too. ETA: School cancelled on Monday because it’s going to be -30/-50 in southern MN

  39. 39.

    FlyingToaster

    January 2, 2014 at 11:10 pm

    Well, the inner ‘burb schools that insisted on opening today (Cambridge, Brookline, Newton) ended up cancelling afternoon activities and then school for tomorrow. Morans.

    My daughter’s school doesn’t come back until Monday; her violin group is supposedly on for Saturday, but since they use a Newton elementary school’s parking lot, that won’t be happening. We’re going sledding instead.

    I shoveled out the end of the driveway (FUCK SNOWPLOWS) just in time for HerrDoktor to get in (3:45); I was chilled to the bone after 30 minutes. Tomorrow I’m adding my snow pants and fleece gloves inside of the waterproof mittens.

    Local weather station (I’m between UMass Waltham and Mount Auburn) is at 1 degree. The low was supposed to be 7 tonight and 5 below tomorrow night; I’m thinking -3 tonight and -10 tomorrow night and the Monday Warmup will fail because of the ground being too fricking cold.

  40. 40.

    Geeno

    January 2, 2014 at 11:14 pm

    Sadly, the snow has stopped falling in western NY. It looks like I’ll be expected to show up tomorrow rather than “working” from home.
    C’mon, freezing rain (don’t think it’s actually warm enough for that *sob*). That’s the only thing that will save me now.

  41. 41.

    Geeno

    January 2, 2014 at 11:19 pm

    @FlyingToaster: Our high tomorrow is supposed to be 5ºF (-15ºC). God knows what the wind chill will be – ugh.

  42. 42.

    FlyingToaster

    January 2, 2014 at 11:55 pm

    @Geeno: Ya know, I grew up with this shit — well, the cold temperatures, not the snow. And I moved 1500 miles to escape the God-botherers and their weather.

    I just ordered a parka. I’d donated my college parka back in ’89 because it NEVER got that cold in Boston.

    The wind chill around here was already bad at 7:30 when I went out to grab the lobster pot of snow for snow ice cream. Wunderground shows it at -20° (out at Logan). Inland stations seem to be running -10 to -15 right now, with temperatures 0-2 above. The shore is getting some serious wind already; the rest of us inside-128 will be getting it in the next couple hours.

    Stay safe; this cold is the problem, not the snow.

  43. 43.

    Gindy51

    January 3, 2014 at 8:04 am

    @TaMara (BHF): Easy to shovel but when the wind is howling you don’t bother. It all blows back on the driveway or walk way. We had it all here in SE IN, Wet snow, icy rain and then the powder. It was lighter than the stuff I shoveled when we live on the Bench in UT. Weirdest stuff I’ve ever seen and a pain in the ass since it was 15 mph winds with 25 gusts. Plus you can’t have snow ball fights or build snow people.

  44. 44.

    Arclite

    January 3, 2014 at 4:11 pm

    Dry snow? What’s that? Where I live my windows don’t even have glass b/c it never drops below 65.

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