Snowpocalypse

The snowplowing trucks boomed along the thoroughfare at all times of day today.

I asked the snow king for 14 inches, not quite 40. He must have misheard me.
This time, Montgomery County was the epicenter of this storm, dubbed "Snowpocalypse". Power outages, downed trees, and stores running low on supplies are widespread throughout the area. It has been 2 weeks since I have been to MoCo on account of recent weather activities. Reports are coming to the newsroom from secondhand sources who say that it looks like doomsday- or winter wonderland. Choose your pick. Don't expect another storm in the area of this magnitude for 6-7 years.

As for me, I did make it to mass this morning ; the congregation was reduced to 10% its usual size. I cooped myself up at home in the afternoon with the final work on an essay and laboratory report as well as a mock SAT exam. Fun? Choose your pick. Most institutions in the area are closed tomorrow, including the Fed. However, the DC Gov't plans to open with 1 hour delay. When there is a will, there is a way.

Checklist

Sleep as late as desired
Practice violin and do homework
Stay in pajamas all day
Make a snow cone (but dont eat it)
Stay inside
Make a snow fort with lots of snowmen and snowladies
Make some hot chocolate with an eurobiscuit and marshmallows and cinnamon on top
Keep a snowball in the freezer as a reminder of this awesome winter (I got this from the show Arthur when I was about 8)

Snow Days- Political Material?

There are some things that should not become political. These include science, general safety. I said 'should', not 'are not'. Remember, this year is an election year. Anything goes. Weather-related school cancellations are not an embarassment. Plumbing issues that close a school are. The same goes for skidding minivans that could have been spared the trip. Or the snowplow trucks that are damaged by that skidding car. Running out of snow cleanup funds does not seem to be a political non pas. But, not plowing streets in the name of fiscal responsibility seems like a bad move, a la DC 1996. Maybe the neighboring jursidictions or the national guard will lend a plow. Sometimes, the decider is pressured into making a bad call- "these kids already lost 3 days of school" is no replacement for impartial judgement. Or what if the signs are not there- snow is expected to come at noon. Should you close school and risk ridicule, or brave it out and risk a rushed, teutonic effort at having to get kids on buses and home before the white stuff comes. That's an embarrasment. Alas, mistakes don't ruin you. It's the way you handle them. Don't make knee-jerk reactions too obvious- it makes you look incompetent. Try evolutionary change.

Scare tactics have been shown to work in favor of incumbents. Try this: "Vote for Mr. X, he's the only one who can protect your family from Jack Frost". Or, a general 'state of emergency' on election day.

For the record, Mont. Co. was teased for making a no delay call on Monday when roads were havily iced over. Asking about people's commutes, there was sliding and a near-hit incident with a salt truck down a hill. Snow came again last night. It was a little, about 3 inches, 1 on roads, but school was called off. Sources say that, by 9am today, the snow on the roads had melted. A 2-hour delayed opening could have been done. But, all in all, Mont. Co does a good job for the heavy responsibility of 300,000 coeds.

Temp

It chilled. It chilled fast. The snow was powdery, because it was cold. It was 36 degrees today, enought to melt some of it. The fluffiness will be gone. It will be just ice in the morning, because it's cold now.

Salt and Sand

Ha! WOuld I believe it! Our third Saturday snowstorm of the season! This one's a little different from earlier ones- it's the powdery stuff that you get when it's really cold. Not that 33 degree barely snow material. I wonder if it's any good for skiing: we sent a brigade and are awaiting news. For the matter, the DC area has surpassed the average seasonal snowfall with this storm. Bring the powder on!

Set oven to 450.

Put disliked book in. Hope for the best.

In the most objective sense,J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye" opened the floodgate to a new genre of unrefined literature. The work is monumental, if not provincial in the sense that many could have thought of the concept of being the first to cuss, swear and psychoanalyse a mentally troubled kid. There was Flowers for Algernon, which at times became unsuitable for children, and most recently Feed, which lays waste to the english language. No, that last book is over the edge. It's irresponsible. It's unrestrained criticism of the housing bubble and ever-shrinking technology before it popped. So basically, Salinger taught the writing world to break with modesty and devolve into a free for all. This could be for better, that there is pan-symbolism to be found in any psychotic rant, or worse, for the same reason.

You can take it with you

(anchor) So, Commissioner Brook, whad'ya think of the local population surge?
>Well, it's some good work on our part. The population's grown so much I think next Census we're getting a third senator on the Hill.
>(Laughter from crowd)
>(mummered by intern): you mean another congressman .
>No, I'm serious!
>(anchor) so that's why they call you babblin'.

It's close to Census time and it's been said that there has been a 'major tectonic shift' in the population base. Take, for example, the measure of the mean center of population. For the 1790 census, this was Chestertown, MD, on the eastern shore. It continued moving southwest at 8 oclock, just about the trajectory of I-70. The measure is near Louisville, KY now. The MCP continues to move south. This brings up the point of reassignment of congressmembers. I suppose this is done as little as possible, because someone loses their job. Except by a stroke of luck, it'd be hard to get that newly vacated position.

There are about 500,000 constituents per congressmember. Thus, it is pretty obvious that Michigan, with 15 reps and 9 million people, is bloated compared to DC with 0. Face reality, there is something called a declining state. Err, New York's bloated too, with 23/19mil. North Carolina has 13 for the same about 9 million, and Maryland 8 for its 7 million. Federal presence buys favors but not seats.

So who's getting those rust belt seats? Again, the southeast. Virginia (disclaimer- grown by feds), and the rural south like South Carolinaland. There is also Nevada, and Utah naturally. Depending on political climate, DC could be given one, constitutionally or not.