That was almost my first thought when I awoke to this news.
Drivers inching their way through the Monday evening commute cursed the snow that returned to the Puget Sound region and shut down at least two highways while essentially turning others into parking lots for several hours.
Police couldn't keep up with cars careening across freeways, chain-reaction fender benders and motorists abandoning their vehicles on suburban roads. Jackknifed and stuck semi trucks blocked some highways, turning typical 20- to 30-minute commutes into several-hour affairs. For the first time in at least a decade, Highway 9, a major thoroughfare in Snohomish County, was shut down much of the evening because it became "a complete sheet of ice," Trooper Keith Leary said. Highway 522 also was closed off and on throughout the night north of Woodinville.
(Those not familiar with the Seattle may need to know that significant snowfalls are rare here.)
I am, of course, joking, but Al Gore has demonstrated an uncanny ability to bring this kind of weather to the places he visits.
Cross posted at Jim Miller on Politics.
(As always, when I touch on global warming, I urge you to read my disclaimer, especially if you are absolutely certain in your views, regardless of which side you are on.
For a knowledgeable critique of Al Gore's movie, see this Iain Murray piece.
This interview suggests that Al Gore is in Toronto, and it appears to be unseasonably warm there today. But cold weather is expected to hit Toronto soon.)
Posted by Jim Miller at November 28, 2006 07:20 AM | Email ThisThen again, we've hills out the butt, no plows, no sand trucks, and hardly anyone that knows how to drive in snow.
There are two dozen cars parked along the drive that leads into my development, and NONE of them are SUVs. Suck it, Libtards.
Posted by: H Moul on November 28, 2006 07:36 AM"Significant snowfalls" are NOT rare here, as anyone who has lived in this area more than 20 years can attest to. Cold snaps, with accompanying snowfall, were yearly events until the latest weather cycle took hold. And in no way am I agreeing with the "global warming" trendies, who institute new theories every decade or so to scare the gullible and fill University research tanks with public money for "studies".
As far as the idiots who abandon their vehicles in traffic, their cars should be impounded and auctioned off. There is no excuse for being unprepared/incompetent to the degree you can't negotiate your vehicle into a parking lot or wide shoulder so as to let prepared and capable drivers pass.
And to the tractor trailer operators who stopped traffic on State Hwy 20 (near Discovery Bay) on Sunday and Hwy 104 (west of the Hood Canal Bridge) yesterday to chain up: Thank God no one was killed. You should have your respective CDLs revoked as both of you had ample reason and opportunity to chain up prior to choosing spots on hills, and in the Hwy 20 incident, near a bend in the road.
Posted by: Saltherring on November 28, 2006 07:57 AMBut then he would take his Private Jet and Limos, and they may not do so well in all theis cold freeze.
Posted by: GS on November 28, 2006 07:58 AMYou can find some historical data in this table. I think it supports my generalization.
Posted by: Jim Miller on November 28, 2006 08:19 AMMy policy is to avoid getting involved in the fun if I don't have to, because even though I like to think I have the proper skills, I don't trust the rest of you. And for good reason.
Interesting table! Thanks.
I grew up in Poulsbo during the 50's and have lived in Chimacum, 12 miles south of Port Townsend, for 20+ years. Snowfall levels on the hills around Poulsbo or in East Jefferson County is significantly different than Seattle or other sea level metropolitan areas of Puget Sound. In the 50's, 60's and 70's we'd generally have several one or two week cold snaps every winter, with accompanying snowfalls of six inches to two feet.
Many of our transplants seem to come from warmer climates (California) and (to agree with Raul in #8) don't have a clue how to drive. They either blast by you at 60 on an icy road or crawl along on packed snow at 10. Those types are dangerous and don't belong on the road. Mid-westerners and those from the northeast do well and understand this isn't dry, blowing snow; but wet, extremely slick stuff that's difficult to drive in with an improperly equipped vehicle. We'd all be safer if a good lot of the real fools stayed home.
Posted by: Saltherring on November 28, 2006 09:30 AMSeattle easily ranks as the worst driving city I've ever seen. And this is from somebody with extensive experience around St. Louis and Chicago.
Posted by: Steve (was steve_dog) on November 28, 2006 10:34 AMSo here's Gore, forecasting doom and gloom for the next 50 to 100 years. If in fact over the next 10 years or so, there's no start to a trend towards doom and gloom, Gore will be remembered as one of the biggest laughing stocks of all time. And there's plenty of evidence to show that no impending doom is a very likely scenario.
Note how everything that even remotely looked like a hurricane in the Gulf this past season was immediately trumped up by the Gore loving liberal mainstream media, only to dissipate along with their hopes of Global Warming caused weather. It turned out to be a very mild hurricane season. Not that any one year ever matters, but they sure hoped it would.
Gore took a huge and very foolish bet with his propaganda and publicity road show, and continual Chicken Little assertions. Odds are squarely against Gore's predictions. And coupled with his famous line about inventing the Internet, Gore has most likely secured his place in history as a big joke. And that should surprise no one.
Posted by: Jeff B. on November 28, 2006 10:52 AMAs someone who has lived here for over 40 years, I can promise you that it used to snow on a regular basis in Seattle. We could always count on 3-5 snow days during the school year.
Look at the historical weather records. The decrease in snow is irrefutable.
Posted by: David in Wedgwood on November 28, 2006 07:54 PMI'm from Minnesota, so I know snow and cold, but I've been here in Seattle 51 years. I've seen snow up to near 2 feet in the city more than once and it's sometimes lasted up to 2 weeks. I've seen temps down to 7 above. So maybe this is relative warming - a few cold days don't make a new ice age.
Suggest doubters see Gore's movie. Me, I'm staying in until it melts.
RHR
Posted by: RHR on November 28, 2006 08:20 PMNice caveat. Two years and mountains of new evidence haven't shaken your beliefs.
For example, if global warming is to be feared, then we should begin switching power from fossil to nuclear fuels.
Nothing is that simple. Silver bullet thinking causes as many problems as it solves.
Speaking of nuclear, which design would you advocate: pebble bed or liquid sodium cooled? Pebble bed is fail-safe and can be mass produced but leaves most of the potential energy unused and creates lots of waste. Liquid sodium cooled consumes most of the potential energy, creates weapons grade material as a intermediate by-product, and results in less waste (at the end).
Tough choice, huh?
Cheers, Jason
PS- Just in case you were curious, the correct answer is "conservation". Even without anthropocentric climate change, it'd still be the right answer.
Posted by: zappini on November 29, 2006 11:57 AMAlGore was here a few years ago. Rainier was closed for the enjoyment of him & his family ONLY. (security issue--ok--understandable) but looked a bit elitist to close a whole park for 1 or 2 big cheeses.
now, park again closed due to winter wash-outs and winter damage. no word from the once-exclusive guest of an entire national park.
nor one/any (?) penney of HIS dollars to contribute to the park's restoration he used as a personal playground? hmmm. walk the talk.
Posted by: jimmie-howya-doin on November 30, 2006 10:30 PM