That snow at  31 F is heavy and slippery, as compared to snow at 25F.

But it does make great snowballs.

Why is robbing a bank a Federal offense, but robbing a liquor store not?

I mean, the Bank is a private entity, same as the liquor store.

Not like robbing, say, a Post Office.

can anyone explain?

‘Cause a few inches of snow can shut down everything….

SO we got, in total, depending where you were, somewhere between 6 and 15 inches.

Lots and lots and LOTS of blowing snow.

Some drifting, but not that much. (‘Twas too heavy, for the most part, to drift)

And the Sheriff called a “State of Emergency”. Roads are closed for non emergency vehicles.(except snowplows)

For a foot of snow.  Big deal that a semi jacknifed on a State road. Some cars were trapped behind it. For (gasp) 2 hours!. Hadda be rescued bu the Fire Personnel. (2 years ago, over a hundred were trapped. We spent 16 hours ’til they cleared the wreck (s).  No “rescue”.  (Of course, we were only one group of many that year). This year, cars  trapped for an hour or two are news.

Last year, conditions were worse 10 or more times. No state of ‘mergency. We called it “Winter”

‘Twas slick and windy and poor visibility. Was winter. Happens every year.

The sad part is that our OFFICIALS panicked.   Shut everything down. For a foot of snow over 12 hours.


Over a (relatively) small and short lived winter storm.

Not much, really.

about 7″ of snow, a little blowing, visibility about a half mile or more.

Winds 15-20 MPH gusting to maybe 30. Roads are slick, but not that bad. So far.

And here, according to the Weatherman (men? persons?) , it was supposed to get bad……Blizzard conditions and all that. Hasn’t gotten like that yet, at least not here

This was what I call “winter”. A mild storm at that.  It ain’t sunny and 60, but it is February.

So far, at least.

I’ve walked in worse. For a fair distance at that…..Coat but no hat.

I guess the Media just had to have something to talk about.

Now if the power will stay steady, things would be fine.

ETA: 18:00 Central: The roads that were slush are now frozen with ruts. Just got interesting.

Still not what I (or the National Weather Service) defines as Blizzard Conditions.

The County has, however, declared a State of Emergency. It ain’t that bad though.

See, the Feds didn’t just want ONE phone unlocked.

They want the ability to unlock any Apple phone they feel needs to be unlocked.

Feds want Apple to unlock NINE other phones too..

Where does the line between Security and  your Consitutional right to privacy run?

(Besides, why not just ask the NSA (or the phone carrier) for the metadata to see who Farouk called/texted/emailed.

Besides the fact that “this was not terrorism related” …..

So we have a new kitten. (Named “FIVE”….don’t ask) .

He likes to hide in the dryer. Which we have done our best to discourage, to no avail. (We are worried he will not be noticed and actually get accidentally shut in and killed in the dryer).

Yesterday, I was putting clothes in the dryer, and he, of course, tried to sneak in. Again.

I finished filling the dryer, set it for “AIR” (no heat) and closed the door.

Pressed ” START”

Let him go around 2 times. (only two, mind you, lots of clothes to cushion him, so I knew he’d be fine). Thre wasn’t even a “thump” as he went around.

I Opened The Door…..

He came OUT! at Warp 9 (and accelerating) with every hair on his body standing STRAIGHT UP and left the vicinity in full overdrive.

He hasn’t hidden in the dryer since. (and yes, he is fine, I checked).

Seems that we are going to get that 10-12″ of snow with high(ish) winds.

This will be the first real winter weather this season, and people are PANICKING. Closures of businesses in a pre-emptive manner are happening as we speak.

Yes, as I post  there is approximately 0.05 inches on the ground after a smattering of sleet. The temp is right at 32 degrees and there is little or no wind.

It is expected that later today there might be winds up to 25 MPH. Which COULD led to “Blizzard Conditions”. (Not what I was raised to think of a “Blizzard”)

Jesus, I had to walk to school in worse weather when I was a kid.*.

There is being safe, and smart, and there is overreacting. I think this is the latter. I could, of course, be wrong.

Jesus, people, this is Northwest Indiana, not Washington DC. Get a grip, fer chrissakes.

Now, if you will excuse me, I should go join the herd and stand in line to buy French Toast Supplies**

*(I actually only had to walk about a thousand feet to the place where the bus picked me up…..but the school bus ran until the roads were impassable .
** I actually already have milk, eggs and bread. Plus butter and bacon. ….I plan ahead so I don’t have to fight the rest of the herd. I also have emergency frozen bacon just in case. Plus canned bacon for serious apocalyptic moments. 

I meant to post this this morning:

Today is the day, 71 years ago, that the flag was raised on Iwo Jima by 5 Marines and one Navy Corpsman.

The first flag raising wasn’t photographed. The second one was.

3 of the 6 men photographed were killed later. the other three survived.

Kanye West gets more in a week on his GoFundMe than this guy does in months.

Page here.

And Kanye has done exactly what for our country or society? (I wouldn’t unzip to put him out if his teeth were on fire, BTW, I think he is trash)

Got a few bucks that you can spare? (For SGT Hamlett, not the West POS).   Here is a Good Place to put ’em. (SGT Hamlett, not the West POS).