By Mike Causey
and Pogo Possum

When it comes to handling ice and snow, residents of the national capital region generally get low marks, especially from their fellow citizens above the 40th parallel.

Each and every time there is a weather-linked government shutdown, feds and nonfeds from Bismarck to Boston unite in a Bronx cheer/toast to our wimpery. But are we really that bad? Is a government shutdown — because of foul weather — really that terrible? Check out the number of feds, our traffic circles and the terrain itself.

About 14 of every 100 federal workers are packed into the Washington metro area. The Pentagon building has a bigger population than many American towns. Lots of people who live in Maryland work in Virginia. Or vice versa. That means going over one of our few bridges or under the Potomac. Hundreds of thousands of people pour into D.C. every day, just as many District residents work in Bethesda or Arlington. Thousands also commute to D.C. area jobs from Baltimore, Harpers Ferry and Maryland’s Eastern Shore.”

Around here, the DMV doesn’t stand for the place where you register your car.

D.C. is also a river city, meaning it’s very hilly. You don’t notice the terrain unless you are biking or running — or in a car when it is icy. Then it becomes dangerous. Monday’s column was about the revenge, sort of, of D.C.’s winter weather weenies during last week’s nationwide early winter blast:

• “Thank you. I have seen the light. After 30 plus years here (originally from Northern Indiana) I realize that things really are different here. I couldn’t then or now drive any better in local D.C. weather conditions than most locals. Sign me:” Gone Native!
• ” We all worked here. Wasn’t really all that cold. The coldest morning was 7 below, but the wind chill did drop it down to -32. Went to work, kids went to school (other than Veterans Day). The world continued to turn here in Montana. I do know the Midwest did get hit a lot worse. We got barely any snow here, other places got a lot more. And it is a lot easier to drive in dry snow than wet snow. I do concede that. Our snow is usually dry, except the first snow storm of the season. It’s like people forget how to drive in it after 4-5 months of no snow.” Linda in Montana
• “Great column Mike. Keep it light while you can. BTW, did I miss autumn? Seems like we’re jumping the gun on not just seasons but a premature Christmas shopping season. Who has money to shop?” Contrarian
• “Being a ‘Winter Weather Wimp’ is all relative. Since moving to central Florida’s Atlantic Coast, my idea of freezing has changed dramatically. If it goes below 64, I am bundled up like a bear, fuzzy slippers and all. Tomorrow’s high is expected to only hit 58. I may have to wear closed-toed shoes.” :(

NEARLY USELESS FACTOID:

By Michael O’Connell

Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious is credited with creating the Pogo dance, in which the dancer jumps up and down while staying in the same spot.

Source: Wikipedia

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