Goodbye 2009

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The probability of a white Christmas

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration created a map of the Lower 48 States showing the probability of a white Christmas. Remarkably, the southern area where snowfall by the 25th of December historically is least likely, is almost perfectly demarcated by the so-called Missouri Compromise Line, the parallel running at 36°30′ north (and forming the border between North Carolina and Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky, Missouri and Arkansas, also running close by the border between Oklahoma and Kansas, New Mexico and Colorado, and Arizona and Utah). South of that line, chances of a white Christmas are mostly below 5%, with a few 5-10% patches thrown in. Only the Rocky Mountain range in New Mexico significantly break this pattern. Those Rockies further north are practically the only areas outside of northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine with over 90% likelihood of Christmas snow.

A white Christmas

It was the first white Christmas in Dallas since 1928 according to the news. I surely don't remember that. All I know that temperatures dropped from 75 degrees (25 C) on Wednesday to 25 (-4 C) on Thursday as a massive winterstorm from Canada was coming down the Great Plains with nothing to stop it. And that's an extreme drop in temperature - even for Texas.

The snowboard dude

Greg getting ready for his first snowboard lessons. Sammy preferred skiing.

Aspen, CO

We're spending the Thanksgiving holiday in the Rocky Mountains this year. We have a nice condo in Aspen. It's a good base to explore the outdoors and to go shopping. Not many western towns have Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Zegna and Dior stores in one street.

Thanksgiving is also the traditional opening of the ski season. Greg and Sammy took their first lessons in Snowmass, and we're waiting to hear whether they want to return to the slopes tomorrow.

Northpark

Northpark Mall in Dallas is filled with art. It has Frank Stella and Miro paintings, and sculptures by Calder. They are decorated with innovative plant arrangements, mostly cacti and succulents. Like in this Joel Shapiro sculpture.

Canadian Iceholes

When Stephen Colbert decided to sponsor the US Speedskating team, I expected lots of speedskating news and jokes about the Dutch. Truth be told, the Canadians go throught the wringer first. Watch Olympic champion Joey Cheek put Canada on notice for denying U.S. speedskaters access to the Olympic speedskating oval in Vancouver.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
On Notice/Dead to Me - Canadian Iceholes
www.colbertnation.com
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