winter_in_asia

As anyone who has lived in less-warm climes will tell you, driving in snow can be quite the adventure. If you get it right, it can be quite enjoyable, actually. There's nothing quite like (intentionally) making cookies in an empty parking lot. If you're careful and responsible, there are a good many ways to make driving in snow a completely normal experience for you and your loved ones.

Traction devices are chief among a motorist's tools for cold weather. When used properly, they provide much needed traction on an otherwise near-frictionless surface. While they can potentially damage a road, they are sometimes the only option and are even required by law at times.

When used improperly, or at the incorrect time, traction devices like studded tires and tire chains do more damage than good. Installing chains when you're going to be driving on a road with little or no ice (see also: wet pavement) can actually make driving more difficult. Studded tires similarly reduce friction on wet pavement. Using studded tires or chains on wet pavement actually damage both the road and the traction device and makes them less effective when you *have* to drive on snow or ice.

Right now, even on the west side of the river, most major roads are free of ice enough to drive without the aid of chains or studded tires. If you have a side street or other area you absolutely have to traverse with chains or snow tires, put your chains on while you cross that area and then take them off. A good rule of thumb is that if your wheels have *no* contact with pavement over half the time, put the chains on. If you're driving on wet highway where you're in contact with the road most of the time, leave 'em off.

An open letter to the man at the St. John's Starbucks, driving a white Ford Focucs.


Did I miss a memo? At what point did it become socially acceptable to leave one's progeny in the car while heading into Starbucks to get a hot mocha and a flavorful pastry? I don't care if you say "someone was watching him." He sure looked alone to me. If he has to ride in a car seat, he's too young to be in a car alone.

Next time I'm going with my gut and dialing 911. The police can sort it out with you. Given your flippant attitude when I came into Starbucks looking for the owner of the car, I'm sure CSD/CPS would have a field day with you.

Yours,

w_i_a

Thanks to T-Mobile's decision to raise SMS (text message) rates, I was able to cancel the contract on both of our lines of service, effective immediately. This puts us in an excellent position to purchase 3G iPhones when they arrive in stores 7/11. Everyone has told me that the coverage with AT&T anyway. I'm not sure why everyone jumps up and down about the Customer Service at TMO. It's not that great.

Who cares what JD Power and Associates say. They also give good ratings to American cars. I wish I'd realized that before I signed on again with T-Moblie. At least the (fairly tame) nightmare is over now.

Stop flinging your poo stupid at me. Our stupid quota (zero, by the way) has already been filled. And then some.

DO NOT WANT MORE OF THE STUPID. PLEASE TO BE TAKING THE STUPID ELSEWHERE.

Thank you.

I just found this article (from KSL.com, via Dooce.com). I'm so glad I don't live in Provo anymore.

Some students say health club showing pornography
January 16th, 2008 @ 10:00pm
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I've got an interesting story for all of you. I'll take the time to cut and paste the text later, but here it is for now, in link form:

http://www.laweekly.com/news/news/the-life-and-death-of-jesse-james/17427/?page=1