Teleportation. Or a society that recognized it was rather a lot more important to not take unnecessary risks when really, that meeting could have been an e-mail.
@brainmist But the execs insist on in person meetings to encourage team building to justify the operating costs of the building that they only go into late and leave early about once or twice a week.
My car is perfect in the snow. AWD, electronically controlled traction for each wheel, and a decent weight with every tool I could ever need including a tire inflator in the cargo area. New tires, new alternator, new battery, new plugs and wires, new struts. Heated seats, and a super fast defrost, and a good amount of height to clear high-pack snow obstacles. Also have a garage spot. Northeast Unit ed States vehicle 100%!
Fewer drivers that don’t get how to reduce speed and start braking and doing other actions earlier. That’s all winter driving takes. I’ve stopped driving but even as a pedestrian I get hit by cars.
@cbatte@chienfou Heh. As a kid, I moved from snow-heavy small town Illinois to suburban Tennessee. From “yeah, there’s a 2 foot snowfall but the bus will plow through eventually, go stand outside for a few hours, you’ll be fine” to “there’s a heavy frost, it’s the apocalypse, school is closed for two days!”
From “don’t cry, your tears will just freeze” and waiting in line to run hands under cool water to warm them up… To no school because there was a slight chill.
@brainmist@chienfou The Houston area completely shuts down if there is threat of ice. Before WFH became common, that meant a “snow” day for me but sadly no longer.
@brainmist@Wollyhop You’ve never seen roadside traps in the movies? They didn’t invent the concept you know. It was a thing even before travel was mostly by wagon and horses. It doesn’t mean you have to suppress your helpful nature, but it’s always good to be alert and prepared just in case.
@kuoh@Wollyhop um, ok. Seems pretty stupid to deliberately sit in a freezing car hoping for a do-gooder so you can mug them before the hypothermia sets in, especially when you’re easily more likely to pull a cop, but I will duly note that stranded people might be a “roadside trap”.
Or a trigger-happy nutjob who’s watched too many b movies.
@kuoh@Wollyhop Anywho, you can probably dissuade any blizzard bandits by mounting a bumper sticker that says “I have a gun and I will shoot you”. Certainly I’d appreciate the notice, so I know to just drive on.
@brainmist@Wollyhop Not all of them would be deliberate, some could actually be stranded and desperate. Also not all people are bad, but not all are good either. Only you can decide what level of cynicism and preparedness is best for you. But consider that for some, having a firearm isn’t about coming across other people, especially in northern areas where large furry creatures might actually be more commonly encountered.
@kuoh@Wollyhop lol, ok. Since you’ve clearly thought this through, any suggestions on which stranded drivers I should shoot? And also what large, door opening carnivores I might need to ward against?
Seriously, and I say this as a horror buff, maybe watch fewer b movies.
@brainmist@Wollyhop I’m not saying I can easily identify a random stranger as good or bad any better than you, unless they happen to be wearing a bright orange jumpsuit with numbers on the front and back, but having an option to improve the odds should the initial assumption prove to be incorrect would be wise. Having available doesn’t necessarily equate to must always use.
As for the other types of dangers, bears could easily break the windows or even rip the door off some small cars, not to mention wolves and other animals should you end up being the one with the non functional vehicle and need to self extricate or risk becoming the frozen popsicle to be discovered the following week or season.
I’m willing to be helpful to others, but also try not to live my life helplessly and always expecting others to rescue me from my own poor decisions or lack of planning.
Wish I had some way to forcibly educate all the idiots on the road who are either
a) are completely mystified by what this sprinkling of white stuff in the air is and thus drive 20-30 mph below the speed limit with their hazard blinkers on while the road itself is just fine [these also seem to be the same people amazed by rain, sunshine, clouds, and any other atmospheric phenomena that they haven’t seen in the past two weeks and thus their little goldfish brains have forgotten exist] or
b) are @$$holes that think they’re invincible because they spent big money on a big vehicle and some extra big tires and then go speeding around in the accumulating snow with no regard for physics when they actually should be going slower.
It’s not so bad to drive here in winter; the fact that half the population forgets how to drive in rain is, unfortunately, one that I can’t remedy by modifying my personal outcome.
Less Northerners invading my state.
Fewer Southerners trying to navigate my state.
@yakkoTDI
You ain’t just a whistling Dixie.
A Stargate
I have a garage, a tire inflator, and I work from home. I don’t have an AWD.
@kittykat9180 primarily wfh, and 20+ years figuring how to get a fwd up my snowy, city-neglected alley.
And roadside assist for the rare occasion I get stuck.
I am glad that I had a 4wd the year the snowmelt flooded the alley and my driveway, and then a quick freeze froze my main car in.
@brainmist we get snow a few times a year but it melts in a few hours.
Teleportation. Or a society that recognized it was rather a lot more important to not take unnecessary risks when really, that meeting could have been an e-mail.
@brainmist But the execs insist on in person meetings to encourage team building to justify the operating costs of the building that they only go into late and leave early about once or twice a week.
KuoH
The ability to sleep all winter long.
@hchavers hibernation is underrated.
Enough bread, toilet paper, and milk to last until spring.
Speaking of which, isn’t this Sunday the winter solstice? No where to go but up, baby!
/showme all the woodland creatures celebrating winter solstice
…never moved to Colorado.
@Pony
I loved the years that I live in Colorado. Of course that was also 50 years ago when I was younger
My car is perfect in the snow. AWD, electronically controlled traction for each wheel, and a decent weight with every tool I could ever need including a tire inflator in the cargo area. New tires, new alternator, new battery, new plugs and wires, new struts. Heated seats, and a super fast defrost, and a good amount of height to clear high-pack snow obstacles. Also have a garage spot. Northeast Unit ed States vehicle 100%!
Fewer drivers that don’t get how to reduce speed and start braking and doing other actions earlier. That’s all winter driving takes. I’ve stopped driving but even as a pedestrian I get hit by cars.
@brennyn
Yikes… Care to elaborate?
Winter driving is generally the same here except that day or two every few years when it freezes. On those rare days, I don’t leave the house
@cbatte
/image This is the way
… at least in Central Alabama
@cbatte @chienfou Heh. As a kid, I moved from snow-heavy small town Illinois to suburban Tennessee. From “yeah, there’s a 2 foot snowfall but the bus will plow through eventually, go stand outside for a few hours, you’ll be fine” to “there’s a heavy frost, it’s the apocalypse, school is closed for two days!”
From “don’t cry, your tears will just freeze” and waiting in line to run hands under cool water to warm them up… To no school because there was a slight chill.
@brainmist @chienfou The Houston area completely shuts down if there is threat of ice. Before WFH became common, that meant a “snow” day for me but sadly no longer.
A gun.
Won’t help with snow, but good to have either way.
@Wollyhop yikes. I usually stop if I can for stranded people, but clearly that’s a mistake.
@brainmist @Wollyhop You’ve never seen roadside traps in the movies? They didn’t invent the concept you know. It was a thing even before travel was mostly by wagon and horses. It doesn’t mean you have to suppress your helpful nature, but it’s always good to be alert and prepared just in case.
KuoH
@kuoh @Wollyhop um, ok. Seems pretty stupid to deliberately sit in a freezing car hoping for a do-gooder so you can mug them before the hypothermia sets in, especially when you’re easily more likely to pull a cop, but I will duly note that stranded people might be a “roadside trap”.
Or a trigger-happy nutjob who’s watched too many b movies.
@kuoh @Wollyhop Anywho, you can probably dissuade any blizzard bandits by mounting a bumper sticker that says “I have a gun and I will shoot you”. Certainly I’d appreciate the notice, so I know to just drive on.
@brainmist @Wollyhop Not all of them would be deliberate, some could actually be stranded and desperate. Also not all people are bad, but not all are good either. Only you can decide what level of cynicism and preparedness is best for you. But consider that for some, having a firearm isn’t about coming across other people, especially in northern areas where large furry creatures might actually be more commonly encountered.
KuoH
@kuoh @Wollyhop lol, ok. Since you’ve clearly thought this through, any suggestions on which stranded drivers I should shoot? And also what large, door opening carnivores I might need to ward against?
Seriously, and I say this as a horror buff, maybe watch fewer b movies.
@brainmist @Wollyhop I’m not saying I can easily identify a random stranger as good or bad any better than you, unless they happen to be wearing a bright orange jumpsuit with numbers on the front and back, but having an option to improve the odds should the initial assumption prove to be incorrect would be wise. Having available doesn’t necessarily equate to must always use.
As for the other types of dangers, bears could easily break the windows or even rip the door off some small cars, not to mention wolves and other animals should you end up being the one with the non functional vehicle and need to self extricate or risk becoming the frozen popsicle to be discovered the following week or season.
I’m willing to be helpful to others, but also try not to live my life helplessly and always expecting others to rescue me from my own poor decisions or lack of planning.
KuoH
@brainmist @kuoh JESUS I MENT AS A JOKE OBLIVIOUSLY I AM GOING TO USE A GUN FOR THE SNOW AND ICE, NOT PEDESTRIANS.
SHEESH.
More sun
@pakopako be careful; some of my scariest ice was on bright sunny days in Wyoming. Sure, it was only 6°.
Wish I had some way to forcibly educate all the idiots on the road who are either
a) are completely mystified by what this sprinkling of white stuff in the air is and thus drive 20-30 mph below the speed limit with their hazard blinkers on while the road itself is just fine [these also seem to be the same people amazed by rain, sunshine, clouds, and any other atmospheric phenomena that they haven’t seen in the past two weeks and thus their little goldfish brains have forgotten exist] or
b) are @$$holes that think they’re invincible because they spent big money on a big vehicle and some extra big tires and then go speeding around in the accumulating snow with no regard for physics when they actually should be going slower.
It’s not so bad to drive here in winter; the fact that half the population forgets how to drive in rain is, unfortunately, one that I can’t remedy by modifying my personal outcome.
AWD is for amatures.
KuoH
What is this Winter that you speak of? (I was just informed that it is when the temperature gets below 60 in Florida)
A chauffeur
A horse drawn sleigh - no tires to worry about!
A car starter and a heated steering wheel.