Snow: A type of precipitation consisting of agglomerates of snow crystals. Most snowflakes are less than one-half inch across with an open, soft structure although certain conditions can result in unusual formations. It reflects sunlight and even changes the way sound travels. It's fun to eat, pack, throw, shovel, and watch. We humans are so fascinated with snow, we've even come up with little paper weights that imitate the falling phenomenon so we can take it with us. We tend to do funny things like that. After the Correlations meet up in LA, my sentiments on the white stuff were to change dramatically...
An explanation of why now up over at Correlations...
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As a fellow Northerner transplanted to the South, I agree with your observations on the odd panic that a couple of flakes incite down here. However, I think that the heat is making my blood thin, as I am starting to think that 40 is chilly and 20 is downright frigid. Back in central New York we had long stretches (usually in January) where the temperature dipped below 0 (Fahrenheit!) at least once a day and/or we got snow (at least a trace) every day for weeks on end - and sometimes feet upon feet of snow within just a few days or hours. Even though I know that it will wreak havoc with DC, I do sometimes long for one of those big snowfalls down here - I do love to build snowpeople :)
Here in Oklahoma it seems like they don't have snow, but they do have ice storms that shut down the schools for a week at a time (it happened twice in 2007). Then we head to Michigan for Christmas, and on the day we leave for home we end up in a snowstorm that has us travelling at 35 mph down Illinois. And when it's that flat and treeless, blowing snow means mile after mile of hell.
But yeah, by the time we hit southern Illinois and the snow disappeared, I was missing it again. I grew up in the tropics, and I can live quite happily without snow for years on end. But once it gets cold, I need snow.
when you put it like that, snow globes are pretty weird. thanks for the laugh on a monday. good post at wired.
I remember snow! Unfortunately, I doubt we Alabamians shall ever catch more than a fleeting glimpse of the white stuff again for a long, long time. It snowed here quite a bit when I was a kid. I honestly can't remember the last time it really snowed here, though. Must have been at least ten years ago.
I lived in MN until I was 18 and always felt there was some kinda snow/cold vortex thing going on. It always seemed colder than the surrounding states, but I like it cold so it didn't bother me. (I told people they were able to complain about the cold around me if they could see their breath, if not - hush up and put on a hat). They pretty much stopped closing school for snow, only for temperature; it had to be pretty cold. So moving to the Seattle area and living there for 5 years was quite odd for me. It snowed about three times (never more than an inch or so), I heard thunder twice, and saw lighting once. I was in the navy so I did miss about half of each year, so my data is a bit skewed. The odd thing was; while it was rarely below freezing, it always felt colder than it should. My crazy theory was that I am so used to seeing snow when it is cold, I automatically adjust for it when snow is present. With no visual representation of cold, I would venture out without thinking it could be very cold. In reality it was probably the constant dampness of the eternal winter mizzle. Plus, cold without snow is just mean!