tjsnowman's Blog

Uggggggh! That's the best way to put this! I live in Doylestown, Bucks County. Yesterday we received about 1 inch of snow, of which only an hour of it had the chance to stick on the roads because of the sunlight.

It stopped snowing here around 6:30 last night. I have an early morning newspaper route covering Buckingham and Doylestown.

Why at 7 o'clock in the morning are the housing developments COVERED with snow and ice (compacted snow from vehicles driving on the snow) Why aren't those roads salted at least once????  Aren't these developments where most children live?? Again, children are walking to bustops on the icy sidewalks, cars are hurrying to work, the sun glare make visibility impossible at times, oh and then there is the ice to contend with.

It seems that unless there is plowable snowfall there are no Township trucks out!

Last year around 4:00 in the morning the same thing happened, we got a snow squall that put about an inch down on the roads. As soon as cars hit the roads, the snow turned to ice. The result: 6 multi car accidents between routes 313 and 413, a 6 mile stretch.

Why does Penndot always seem unprepared for events like this?

Just like in the fog, I guess it will take a tragedy for something to be done!

Well, I guess I will start out by saying ouch! Fox's ratings will sure hurt after January, no matter who takes over as the chief MET. I guess there are other factors to consider in keeping the BEST meteorologist on your station, but, come on already! A coating, a few snow showers or flurries???? That's what I heard as of Wednesday morning by other outlets, whatever!!

I do know that Rob Guarino is pretty damn good at his job and that would really hurt me if I were in his place. I guess it is easy for me to say this because I don't know all of the details of his being let go.

Did anybody else stay up past 3:00 a.m. on Wednesday to look at all of the information to pinpoint his forecast with accuracy, I don't know but I know Rob G did and it paid off! Sure it is easy to say it was "only an Alberta Clipper" but that is what Rob brings to the table, from a weak weather disturbance to a big Nor'easter, Rob Guarino never lets us down in how he works, forecasts and in between, takes the time to sit down and chat with his fans and supporters. It is just way beyond his job. I am proud to say that I enjoy having Rob Guarino here in Philadelphia as my "Weather Man"

Oh, this is just one of many that will not be tuning into the 10:00 weather forecast on FOX except to laugh. (No offense David A and Jim Nichols)

Well, today the fog was absolutely horrible! Rob Guarino called for the fog to get worse by the morning and it sure did!

WHY?? would schools not be delayed?? I am out throwing a newspaper route and it was dangerous at best with no cars or pedestrians on the roads.

At 7:00 when everyone is rushing to go to work etc.. with a handful of idiots who don't use thier headlights. There they are walking to the bustop meanwhile, I can't see 20 feet in front of me! Schools will close or delay for an inch of snow but when the conditions are just downright dangerous, they put the kids in harms way, long with the drivers!

Unfortunately I think it wil take the unthinkable to happen.. somebody's child to get hit by a car for the schools to do something about this!

I don't have children but I would not let them walk to the bustop in these conditions, that's for sure!

To all of the bloggers out there, this includes the ones hiding in the shadows! This blog used to be a fun place. A place where strangers came to first talk about the weather. Most of us have become friends, going to parties, etc... all because of this blog. It's a place to learn about the weather which I have learned alot from our best 3 meteorologists and from bloggers like Rob ben, Frank Vito, Kevin, Doug M, Weather Boy, Galveston, etc...

But recently some people have crossed the line 1: By complaining about the non-weather conversations (Hmmmm when there is no weather to chat about, what else is there?????) Also by complaining about all the posting of the weather alerts.

Ummm does anybody know how to ignore the above 2 topics???

That's what this blog should be used for, the weather and conversations!!!

Especially when Rob G who started this blog and used to be on here chatting with all of us about the weather, Phillies... while doing the weather forecasts on tv!

About 2 months ago around 11:00 pm there was a threeway (literally) conversation involving a Met and 2 female bloggers about 3somes, hmmm, come on if you are going to complain aboutother bloggers, but, not that Met then you are nothing but a hypocrit!

We all should respect each other and our opinions on here. To get respect, we should all start to give it first.

For you to come on here and tell us that that Met is a good person, fine, that's your opinionI like all the Met's on fox, but, because I see them on tv for 15 minutes, I cannot say that they are good people.

Would you say that someone you have been chatting with and emailing is a good person, not knowing who and what they are? They could be child predators, is that a good person??

I like and used to enjoy it when Rob would stop in and chat with us, but that has stopped. I think that people need to hear from Rob G that he is busy, or, couldn't send mugs out, not from a blogger.

I learned alot from the mets and bloggers this year, but, I'm learning more and more about the bloggers.

Just respect each other and don't pat somebody on the a s s at the same time you are telling others they are wrong.

I don't remember anyone complaining about all the conversations and weather alerts when we had 2,000 + comments on every blog. I remember getting praised on the Air!

The "Memorial" in Memorial Day has been ignored by too many of us who are beneficiaries of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. Often we do not observe the day as it should be, a day where we actively remember our ancestors, our family members, our loved ones, our neighbors, and our friends who have given the ultimate sacrifice:
by visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes.

 

by visiting memorials.

 

by flying the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon.

 

by flying the 'POW/MIA Flag' as well (Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act).

 

by participating in a "National Moment of Remembrance": at 3 p.m. to pause and think upon the true meaning of the day, and for Taps to be played.

 

by renewing a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our falled dead, and to aid the disabled veterans. Also, please consider adding your voice in support of the efforts to restore the traditional day of observance of Memorial Day back to May 30th (instead of "the last Monday in May"). This would help greatly to return the solemn meaning back to the day, and to help return minds and hearts to think upon the ultimate sacrifices made by those in service to our country. Just one day out of the year to honor our loved ones, our ancestors, our friends who died in conflicts and wars -- not to honor war, but those that died in those conflicts and wars.

I receive many emails from people expressing their thanks for those who have served and gave the ultimate sacrifice for this country. The following, received in 1999 and used with the author's permission, sums up all the emails I have received very elegantly, and is true to the original spirit and meaning of Memorial Day.

 

"This weekend I am going to do something different. I am going to buy some carnations each day and go to one of the nearby cemetaries and walk through the sections for soldiers. When I find a grave that has no flowers, I'll leave one and say a prayer for the family of that person, who for some reason could not bring their soldier flowers. I will pray for our country and all who serve or have served. For their families, who also serve by losing precious days, weeks and months spent with their loved ones who are off serving, preserving peace and the freedom we have in this country. I'll pray for the families who paid the ultimate price, who's loved ones died, or were taken captive and never returned. I'll pray for anyone who may still be held in captivity and thinks perhaps they are forgotten. I do NOT forget.

I'll say a prayer for every person on the Internet who takes a moment from their time to come to sites like yours and be reminded of what this holiday really means. And I'll say a prayer of thanks and ask God's richest blessings on you.

Thank you again.... and God bless!
Sylvia Mohr"

No, Thank you and God Bless you, Sylvia. May more follow your example.

In fact, wonderful people in other nations sometimes show more of the true spirit and mission of the U.S. Memorial Day than we do here. For example, a 2001 US Memorial Day Guestbook entry from a citizen of the Netherlands states:

"Hi,

In 1999 I laid flowers at the grave of a young U.S. fighter pilot who was KIA in my village in 1945. In the Netherlands I know of schools 'adopting' graves of Allied servicemen, keeping those graves in excellent condition ! Does anybody know of adopting graves in the U.S. by schools ?

Sincerely,
Paul Patist <patist@wanadoo.nl>
Castricum, The Netherlands - Tue May 15 04:50:29 2001"

More schools in the U.S. could follow the lead of the Netherland schools. Let us take a few moments this Memorial Day to reflect on the meaning of the day, to observe the day and be mindful of the sacrifices of others before we go and enjoy the freedoms they bought for us.