What made you go WTF today?

[Hazir]

What he said. I can also add that on average winters in Amsterdam are milder than in Istanbul.

It's caused by a movement of relatively warm air from the Gulf of Mexico over the Atlantic being a dominant factor in our climate. Only when we have strong winds from the north or east during winter things get harsh, sometimes very harsh. And we're not really used to it.

[Flixy]

Haha, a neighbour just came to borrow a lighter because the lock of the gate to the alley was frozen shut.

Yeah, the weather is warmed quite a bit by the nearby sea (and warm air over it, I suppose). My ex was from Poland, at a place roughly the same latitude, but the winter there was a lot harsher than here. Even here, where I live is more inland and we always have colder weather and more snow in winter (and, conversely, hotter in summer) than at the seaside. Only 100km or so, but already noticeable.

Still (slowly) falling here all day, more than 20cm in my garden now.

[wiggin]

Huh, I had no idea. Boston and Chicago are both 10 degrees SOUTH of Amsterdam but 20 cm of snow is fully expected several times a winter (much more in Chicago than Boston). Back in 2015 we had about 3 m total for the season (though that was indeed unusual). I guess that jet streams really do matter. Hell, I used to live in Baltimore and they had much milder winters but still got snow more frequently with occasional large dumps (that, admittedly, they were wholly incapable of handling appropriately).

[Hazir]

Huh, I had no idea. Boston and Chicago are both 10 degrees SOUTH of Amsterdam but 20 cm of snow is fully expected several times a winter (much more in Chicago than Boston). Back in 2015 we had about 3 m total for the season (though that was indeed unusual). I guess that jet streams really do matter. Hell, I used to live in Baltimore and they had much milder winters but still got snow more frequently with occasional large dumps (that, admittedly, they were wholly incapable of handling appropriately).

Maybe you got that idea from all those Golden Age paintings of people skating. But they were painted at a time that was unusually cold for this region. The Gulfstream keeps our climate nice and moderate. Very wet too though.

Funnily enough I was aware of the difference in climates because of adventure books I read as a boy.

[wiggin]

Maybe you got that idea from all those Golden Age paintings of people skating. But they were painted at a time that was unusually cold for this region. The Gulfstream keeps our climate nice and moderate. Very wet too though.

Funnily enough I was aware of the difference in climates because of adventure books I read as a boy.

Could be? I've only spent a couple of days in Amsterdam and all I remember was that it was grey and dreary but I didn't have enough context to know typical seasonal weather. Always nice to learn new things.

[Hazir]

Could be? I've only spent a couple of days in Amsterdam and all I remember was that it was grey and dreary but I didn't have enough context to know typical seasonal weather. Always nice to learn new things.

Walking in this snow is a bitch though. My legs are actually hurting today.

[RandBlade]

Huh, I had no idea. Boston and Chicago are both 10 degrees SOUTH of Amsterdam but 20 cm of snow is fully expected several times a winter (much more in Chicago than Boston). Back in 2015 we had about 3 m total for the season (though that was indeed unusual). I guess that jet streams really do matter. Hell, I used to live in Baltimore and they had much milder winters but still got snow more frequently with occasional large dumps (that, admittedly, they were wholly incapable of handling appropriately).

Longitude and Latitude both affect the weather dramatically. The weather this side of the Atlantic is far, far milder in winter than your side or Russia etc get at a similar latitude.

Global warming screwing with weather systems could end up causing much harsher winters in Europe ironically.

[Timbuk2]

Yeh the Gulf Stream plays a big part in the crappy rainy weather northern-western parts of Europe and the UK gets.

Whilst these areas are on a latitude with Canada and central Russia, which are freezing and covered in snow at this time of year, the Gulf Stream brings warm tropical sea temperatures way up north, which turns what would otherwise be lovely snowy weather into miserable rainy grey drizzly crapness.

[wiggin]

'Lovely snowy weather'

[RandBlade]

'Lovely snowy weather'

'miserable warmer tropical weather'

[Timbuk2]

[Timbuk2]

Man caught driving with 'practically zero-visibility' in Dundee

A man has been charged with dangerous driving after being stopped in Dundee with snow covering almost his entire front and rear windscreens.

Police said it was "about the most extreme example of lack of preparation" that they had ever seen.

[Flixy]

Wtf indeed. By the way, even if the window is clear, you should also clear the snow from the rest of your car, if you're driving and ice/snow slides from your car onto the next..

Also, related to winter weather: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/l...249176120.html

[Timbuk2]

Wtf indeed. By the way, even if the window is clear, you should also clear the snow from the rest of your car, if you're driving and ice/snow slides from your car onto the next..

I was reading earlier today that Swiss police will issue you with a fine if you have snow just on your roof and all windows are clear. Idea being that snow will blow off your roof and onto vehicles behind impeding their vision, or if you brake it may slide onto your windscreen impeding your own vision.

Also, related to winter weather: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/l...249176120.html

Ouch. Yet another example of people not driving to the conditions. 6 dead and 65 injured is crazy.

[Aimless]

Give that man a cabinet post

[Aimless]

Our regional authority—which manages our healthcare system—made a very controversial decision, about five years ago, to start charging for coffee at all regional workplaces under their management. Because of public procurement rules, people ended up having to pay for garbage coffee from coffee machines. I just learned that this attempt to eliminate moral coffee hazard cost the region roughly 2.2 million EUR in administrative costs and lost time. Coffee is now free again for all employees. Still garbage, but at least it's cheaper garbage.

[rille]

Go for the eyes, Boo. GO FOR THE EYES! RrraaaAAGHGHH!

[Hazir]

Tomorrow will be sunny with a temperature of 16C.

[Timbuk2]

West Ham flying these days.

[Flixy]

My local team is sinking lately, unfortunately. It appears they forgot that in football, defending is also a thing..

[Timbuk2]

Meanwhile, in Denver.

[Aimless]

Whatever you do, don't watch the video.

[Flixy]

Twice in one day.

https://ukaviation.news/injuries-as-...er-dutch-town/

[Hazir]

The following is of a depravity that I don't understand how people can actually do it.

Last night I was on my last round with Bella, when I noticed that there was a cluster of police car and people on the parking lot of a building alongside my route. That's not very common, but I just continued my route, went home and went to bed. This morning after waking up I remembered and checked the local news to find out that the police had been there to rescue a baby from an underground trash container. I have literally no words for this kind of behavior. The utter lack of humanity. The child is alive and well, but whoever put it there obviously did not care at all whether or not it lived.

[Flixy]

Crazy story indeed.

Just read on the news that the parents are found and arrested, both 17 years old.

This awful story reminded me of the "baby hatches" where babies can be abandoned safely, so at least they don't die from exposure. Can't find if there are any in Amsterdam though. Glad the baby was found on time in this case.

[Aimless]

Twitter Link

[Aimless]

Twitter Link

[Loki]

The remark about protests leaves no doubt about this guy's political ideology (and intelligence).

[wiggin]

I just got an email from the coach/parent of my daughter's T-ball team this summer. I thought his name was vaguely familiar so I looked him up. Turns out he's an MD/PhD professor at Harvard who was just appointed to a mid-level public health position by Biden. His CV said nothing about his experience coaching T-ball, though.

My neighborhood is super weird.

[littlelolligagged]

My neighborhood is super weird.

Definitely. T-Ball coach should have been included.