rant
It seems that the weather has become a phenomenon almost as big (and just as inexplicably so) as NASCAR. The weather just is...always has been...prolly always will, at least for human definitions of 'always'. And the weather will always be a handy topic of conversation. But what I don't understand is why everyday weather (i.e., not tsunamis or earthquakes or the like) become a topic of focus and concentration.
So we're supposed to get 4"-6" of snow by end of day today. Big deal. Okay, it's good to know so you can adjust your plans as necessary. For me, it just means I'll take Kevin's truck to work instead of my car. People with kids prolly want to know there might be a delayed opening or snow day (and it's amazing how little snow can trigger a snow day, but that's a whole 'nuther post).
It seems that the weather has become The Weather, akin to a mythic giant who challenges and battles people in tests of strength and will. Such an alarm is set off and such preparations are undertaken when snow - of almost any amount - is on the horizon. The worst part is the news and weather stations. Now, weather itself -- how it works, how this thing over here affects that thing over there, and all that -- can be very interesting. There's such hype in the media about normal weather, such as today's snow. I'm not sure why it bothers me so much, this weirdification of the weather, but I think it's something along the lines of making so much out of the weather makes people into weather victims. And I don't like that. People have been dealing with weather for millions of years and, for the vast majority of that time, with much less means than we have at our disposal these days. I understand that making a big deal out of the weather can mean better ratings, higher site hits, etc. for tv, radio, news, websites, etc., but I don't like this side effect.
/rant
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