35,000 cancelled flights

[malaise]

Is this a first?

Cars being banned on the streets in one state - this is some fugged up cold weather.

Stay safe and warm DUers

[LeftofObama]

1. We're all coming to stay with you until spring.

[malaise]

3. Ha

Hope you get a flight

[dipsydoodle]

2. Cars banned on streets

is stock in Dayton OH when there's too much snow an ice and doubtless other places too.

[malaise]

4. I think I heard someone saying this was the first time in Indianapolis in 40 years

http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?id=n323109
Indianapolis. Greg Ballard, mayor of Indiana’s capital city Indianapolis, has banned the movement of vehicles on the account of heavy snowfall, ITAR-TASS reported.
Mr Ballard stated driving vehicles in a winter storm and extremely low temperatures was dangerous.
The temperature in Indianapolis is about - 28°C.
Snowplows, ambulances, police cars, fire trucks and other rescue vehicles are the only vehicles the movement of which has not been banned.
Those who violate the ban will be arrested.

[Gormy Cuss]

47. It's a common response to massive snowstorms in New England.

Keep the cars off the road so that the plows can get through, also sometimes used ahead of a storm to avoid the problem of cars stuck in drifts everywhere (the latter being the reason the Boston Blizzard of '78 kept roads closed for days.)

[Shandris]

50. When I lived a ways north of Indy for a while...

...several long years ago, we had a similar situation declared in the county.

And work refused to close still, telling us we'd be fired if we didn't show up. Your choice, get arrested or get fired. One of the managers had the -audacity- to point out that there was no law against -snowmobiles-, so I should just go find one (!).

Never liked that job anyways.

[malaise]

52. Heartless scumbags

Damn

[madinmaryland]

22. Are you in Dayton??

I'm in Kettering. School closed again tomorrow.

[dipsydoodle]

48. Nope

I'm in the UK but I do have friends in Dayton. I knew about traffic clearance from the roads for safety reasons because one my friends completely ignored the instruction when she needed to get her daughter to the hospital urgently. The police soon stopped her and given the explanation they escorted her there.

Stay safe.

[FarPoint]

51. I have to drive up into New Paris, Ohio today...from Englewood.

Client visit.....not sure how things will go since he lives off a gravel road.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. They could come visit California

but on the down side, we will have a problem with water. Nope, stay where they are.

[malaise]

6. Only if they take water

How can California get some of this snow to assist with the water problem?

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Back in the dark ages, when we still thought infrastructure

they talked of a water system to bring it from the Great Lakes to the South West

http://www.wbur.org/npr/17354828

Nothing like this has been talked off in a few years, and I doubt it will come to anything.

Now this bears repeating, we are seeing more extreme weather, due to climactic change. Areas of Mexico where it never rains in the winter are facing floods, for example. That is weather, but it is part of the pattern of what is quickly becoming the new normal.

[longship]

8. You leave our Great Lakes alone!

It's bad enough what the Chicago River had been doing to Lake Michigan. If you guys in the southwest want water, get it from the ocean. I understand that it's a bit closer than our lakes.

[Earth_First]

9. +1000 nt

[malaise]

10. Our???

What happened to the United States of America

[longship]

17. Near life long Michigan resident.

Currently residing in the midst of the Manistee National Forest... That's in western rural Michigan, about 50 miles from beautiful Lake Michigan.

So, yes. Our lakes. Not property of the southwest USA. Oh, and BTW, four of the five Great Lakes form an international border, so our very good neighbors to the north might have a say on the matter.

Sorry, my friend. Us Michiganders take these things pretty damned seriously.

I hope everything's well with you.

As always,
Best regards.

[hedgehog]

33. It sounds like neoregionalism, but I consider it grass roots ecological awareness.

Water is a finite resource, and removing large amounts from the Great Lakes basin would have some nasty effects.

Ask the people who live on the Aral Sea what they think of the issue:

[malaise]

37. I hear you both

and water wars are everywhere.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. Some forward looking pols are talking desalinization plants

indeed.

But then you have the more "cost conscious" pols tied to the downtown multiple mafias.

It is an issue that will come to a head in ten years I suspect.

As to the great lakes, they have their issues, and they are serious, but I thought we were a country. My mistake, will not confuse that again.

[longship]

18. See my response, above (#17)

But you're wrong about the Great Lakes belonging to people in the USA.

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. Water wars always come to mind, really

and my mistake. Will not make it again.

(For the record, it is not the only source of water that is shared across borders).

And yes, these neo regionalisms are starting to show up increasingly all over the country, and they are NOT a good sign.

[longship]

23. I lived in LA area for ten years (Ontario).

So I know what you're talking about.

But the Great Lakes are not going to be negotiable, ever. Canada would never allow it. Nor would Michigan.

Sorry! If the SW wants water, they'll have to find it someplace else. They can fight the water war with somebody else.

.......

My favorite place to visit it SoCal was San Diego, certainly one of the most beautiful cities on the planet.

Please send some warmth up here for us.

[nadinbrzezinski]

24. I am just notiing that this neo regionalism is becoming more comon

trust me, we have it here as well, and I note that it is dangerous. I would not mind sending some heat, in exchange for that water.

As I said, it will come to a head... ten years at most.

[longship]

26. Well, Canada will have a big fat say with regards to the Great Lakes.

We're not talking mere regionalism when the Great Lakes are concerned. Without an international treaty, any plan is a non-starter.

[nadinbrzezinski]

28. When NPR had that story

there was talk of a treaty. No matter, we lack imagination and the cost of it will be down right down prohibitive. I could not see Issa voting for it, and damn it, he'd benefit. We need to keep the deficit down, doncha know?

But seriously, I have noticed that rise of neo regionalisms, and not just in your neck of the woods. And that is dangerous in it's own way.

[MADem]

29. Aren't the Great Lakes having problems too with lowered water levels....?

I do think desalinization is the way to go--they are building a plant in San Diego county for just this purpose. Perhaps they need to build a few more...?

[Brickbat]

45. It won't come to anything because of the Great Lakes Compact.

That's one bit of "infrastructure" this country doesn't need.

[Texasgal]

11. No snow here but damn cold!

Supposed to get into the 20's tonight! The pipes are wrapped and a fire is in the fireplace! Veggie soup on the stove, hot tea in the kuerig! we are ready!

I hope everyone stays warm too!

[malaise]

14. You sound ready

Stay warm

[longship]

21. Hot soup, always good in the cold.

I am going to rustle up some slow cooker beef barley (from scratch, with whole barley, not instant). Will eat a bunch and freeze the rest.

Yummy to the tummy.

Stay warm. It's -5F here in west Michigan. Not too bad for January as things typically go. I've known -20F a few times.

I've got my long johns on.

[Texasgal]

31. Gah! I feel bad for whining!

minus anything sounds dreadful!

Keep warm! Barley soup sounds so good!

[longship]

43. Well, minus temps are the norm here.

Your temps are not.

Whine away, my friend. You're allowed. And have another bowl of hot soup. Homemade is best.

Or try my recipe for hot chocolate:

Cocoa powder (unsweetened)
Sugar
Milk
Condensed (evaporated) milk
Vanilla extract
Brandy (or bourbon)
Or, Big marshmallows.

For each cup to be served: Mix one heaping teaspoon cocoa and one heaping teaspoon of sugar together dry in the bottom of a sauce pan.

Add enough hot water and a dash of vanilla to mix into a syrup (hot tap is okay).

Put on stove on low heat and, stirring constantly, bring to a gentle boil.

Immediately add milk and evaporated milk in equal proportions. Bring to near boiling point, but try not to scald (not essential, and probably impossible).

Pour over marshmallows and serve immediately. Substitute brandy or bourbon for the marshmallows, as per preference.

Optional: use bourbon or brandy and top with whipped cream.

The secret is the condensed milk. It makes it rich. This is not kids' sweet cocoa.

My grandmother made it. (She emigrated from Finland in 190x.) She taught my mother. My mother taught me.

[Texasgal]

44. That sounds good!!!

I must try!

Thanks for the recipe! I like that bourbon is part of it!

[etherealtruth]

13. I checked before replying (it is -9 Fahrenheit) in Metro Detroit right now

I can only imagine what the wind chill factor is. We have a foot (or more) of snow on the ground.

The only thing I am thinking right now is how grateful I am I have a warm house and lots of good food. I am fortunate.

(I would like to be where you are for a few days, though)

[malaise]

15. Yep in parts of some states the snow has broken tree limbs and

they have no power. That must be frightening in this cold.

[etherealtruth]

16. Frightening and dangerous ... ugh

[CTyankee]

19. I NEVER take flights in December, January or February if I can help it...

it's a real roll of the dice, IMO...

I'll stay home, thanks....

[malaise]

25. Just buy travel insurance

It's less than $30 and they pay for the hotel etc. Still the dislocation can be unsettling.

[CTyankee]

27. I always buy travel insurance when I go to Europe . I've had one bad experience...

passport was stolen...luckiy, I had insurance and all went well, altho it meant a detour off my trip...

[malaise]

30. We don't travel without it

I avoid coming north in winter.

[CTyankee]

32. My next trip is to Tuscany in mid March. Wish me luck getting out of JFK!

It should be OK but there may be a slushy snow while I'm gone...hopefully, gone when I get back (a couple of weeks later!)...

[malaise]

34. JFK was really lucky yesterday when that aircraft skid after landing

http://www.mercurynews.com/nation-world/ci_24853340/plane-skids-off-runway-at-jfk-airport-new

Who knows - we may have summer temperatures in March.

[CTyankee]

36. That was a small aircraft. I'll be on a jumbo, probably airItalia, on my way to Rome...then to

Florence...ahhh, I wake up in Italia...la vita e bella...

[malaise]

38. Enjoying the marvelous art and food

Wonderful.

[CTyankee]

39. thanks. I'll be on the Piero della Francesca Trail, tracing the steps and art of this fabulous

15th century Italian artist in his eastern Tuscany location....the churches and museum repositories of his art, little medieval towns such as Anghiari, Monterchi, San Sepolcro...and Arezzo...me and a little group of art nut jobs like me who buy stout shoes and gear up for such a strange adventure that nobody else understands...LOL...

[malaise]

40. And then you'll return with a Friday night quiz which

I will flunk
Have a ball.

[CTyankee]

42. Oh no I won't. Too easy on you!

Thanks for the good wishes! Love ya!

[liberal N proud]

35. How cold is it?

It's colder than a proverbial sorceress mammary glands in the deepest darkest depths of purgatory.

[malaise]

41. And that's cold

[Brickbat]

46. 9/11? Or maybe 9/12.

[malaise]

49. True but that wasn't weather related

May have been both days and I suspect way more flights were cancelled.