Nationals' Stadium UPDATE!

4:00 pm March 2nd UPDATE: I'm uploading the second of two batches. Once that is done, I will work on the next entry which will contain the photos and updates!

5:45 pm UPDATE: The first batch has been uploaded... here is a test... you can click and enlarge if you choose:

Uploading photos to Photobucket as we speak... once they are all up there, I hope to put some pictures up here of the stadium. Keep it tuned here.

Switching the Label

So today was the day I announced the biggest change to my political ideas since 2005, when I made the switch to liberal from moderate. In the past few months, I've been rethinking a lot of things, and one of them is my political preference. It's gone full circle. Originally when I entered high school I was a Republican, and I supported President Bush in 2004. I supported the War in Iraq. But then high school continued and my political compass swung left. I got my feet wet in the libertarian ideas, which turned out to be not for me. However,As I met new people and discovered new ideas, I became more of a progressive, a liberal. I was a pro-life Democrat. That was the one thing holding me back from being a true Democrat. 

Then I reached college, just as my political compass began swinging back to the right. I became more moderate, and chose to identify myself with the Independent side of things. However, I wanted to pick a side. Would I return to my leftist roots or would I continue the swing? The answer came today as I was thinking about politics. Then it just came to me... take a few quizzes and determine where I stand. A few of them showed me as dead center. But as one pointed out, there were just a few issues that polarized me a bit to the right of center. It was official, I picked the conservative side of things, and I even made it Facebook official.

But why the changeover? It's really my opinions on morality in society. You see, I've learned things in college... certain aspects that are abnormal to how society works are just weird. A friend of mine the other week talked about what happened in his sociology class concerning gay marriage. He said it is just weird... you do not see it happening in the animal kingdom do you? Males go for females; females go for males. Also, my position on abortion continues to drive what I do every day. I am extremely pro-life, and that brings me farther to the right than any other issue. Just considering my moral stance on everything shows me as quite the conservative.

So what makes me stay towards the center and away from the very far right of the political spectrum? It's my views on capitalism, rights, and overseas conflicts. All of my positions concerning those areas of politics are moderate.

You might ask if there's anything else that has spurred on this change, and the answer is yes. While I was a Democrat, I supported Barack Obama. But, I continued to keep my mind open and researched other candidates. One of the biggest factors that started me switching to a conservative (again, read: conservative, NOT: Republican), was Mike Huckabee. Huckabee has many good positions, and he's one of the smartest choices for the Presidency. He may not have the best chance at winning, but he'd make a darn good President. Also, after listening to Obama's message of change, it is just that: a message. Just a symbol of change, and not real change. America needs someone who can clean up from the Bush era without being too radical about it. And that means Huckabee or John McCain. And that is what makes me say I am a conservative as of February 25, 2008. Not a Republican, but a conservative.

Nowcast - 9:00 am Fri

9:00 am update: Looks like some freezing rain falling outside. I heard the scrape of shovels but that is done. I'm assuming it was too tough to shovel the ice, because I haven't been outside and am guessing that the ice layer is fairly thick from hearing observations around the area. Looks like we're in for a bit more ice, as the radar shows. My guess is we do get close to the quarter inch of ice, and it also appears that the cold air is holding tough, except directly in the city of Washington. Closest observing station to me is reporting in the upper 20s. We'll see how long the cold air can hold on, but my guess is it isn't going anywhere soon. Next update will either be around 10:30 or noon (depending on when I wake back up again - UMD closed til 11!).

4:00 am update: Nothing falling in CP, but the radar echoes are continuing to fill in. Looks like we will get our precip after all... just less snow than expected. Will update in 4 and a half hours... be careful on roads in case of slick spots!!!

3:00 am update: Still no steady snow in College Park, but we have had off and on light snow/sleet for a bit. Radar seems to really be filling in a lot more, and apparently pressure values are falling off the Carolina coast... so if that means a coastal is forming, a bit more moisture could be thrown our way, giving us a shot at the significant snow and ice that we snowlovers so truly desire. Still watching that southwestern edge for the filling in of the dry slot. Next update will probably be at 8 am tomorrow.

1:15 am Update: The snow has started, very light, here in College Park, but it's already tapering off. Radar shows the first batch moving out, but it almost appears as though it's filling back in over in the Charlottesville area. Let's watch to see if this fills the entire DC area with snow. Next update (I hope) will be tomorrow morning, 8ish. If I'm still up, I'll update around 2:30 am.

Original Post (9:00 Thu): Everyone over on the boards at the Capital Weather Gang blog is getting discouraged. There's a big dry slot... and it's something that could bring down snow totals. But what if that snow hole closes up and we get some snow from now through tomorrow morning? It's a possibility, and as I write this, College Park just came in with a report saying that there is a light snow shower. So the snow is on the way in. But how much will fall is the question... and I'm holding with a dusting up to 2 inches... more to the north, less to the south.

Snow begins between now and 1 am across the area, and light snow will continue overnight. Expect a changeover to sleet and/or freezing rain sometime tomorrow, and I'll nail down that changeover in a later post. So, it may not be snowing where you are, but just keep the faith. Hopefully the snow hole can fully fill in and that dry slot can fill in with some snow too. Keep it tuned.

Next Storm... Tonight!

Next storm coming in. Brief comments. I think anywhere from a dusting to three inches of snow before a changeover to ice. Yes, the snow range is broad but there are concerns over the dry slot forming and whether or not that closes up. If not, only a dusting (if that) can be expected, but if it does, it could be closer to three inches. Then significant ice tomorrow, unless something changes. Still a lot of unknowns, but could be around quarter to half inch of ice. Winter Storm Warning in effect... batten down the hatches, folks.

I Don't Know What the...

Well, I've decided I just don't know what the hell is wrong with me. Couple weeks ago i hit my head on the wooden leg of a couch and didn't worry too much when I had a headache for a few days afterwards. Then this past Friday I fell out of a chair and think I hit my head on the ground. Now I've had a headache for a couple of days and have been kind of out of it. So I don't really know what's up with that... Now I do have a reputation for being a hypochondriac, which is why I think that I might be overreacting... maybe it's just a passing illness that happened to hit me at the right time. Coincidence... possibly. Tomorrow if I don't feel better, it's off to the health center for me.

11:45 pm Update

Conditions drastically improving out there... this doesn't count for the entire area though. It's going to be interesting tomorrow morning... the temperatures are going to be right around freezing through the night, but should start to rise shortly. I'll keep an eye on it.

Sirens are Wailing... 9:30 pm update

Sirens are wailing out there in College Park, and that means icy conditions. It's going to stay cold (27 right now) overnight... probably warming above freezing sometime tomorrow. Very tricky forecast, but the Ice Storm Warning remains until 7 am... numerous cancellations and/or delays tomorrow morning. Travel is going to be very difficult, and I will say that this storm surprised many people... it was supposed to be above freezing by now.

Stay tuned.

Another Case of Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda

Well it was a mistake not waiting in the mile-long line that was for the Obama speech here on campus today. Even though it was a mile long (and yes, I measured it, and it's all thanks to the folks at USA Track and Field that I was able to do it inside where it was warm -- 0.98 miles, which is close enough to call it a mile), I should have waited and I still could have gotten in. Oh well, we learn from mistakes every day. That's one of them. I was still able to catch the speech on News Channel 8, though, and that was good.

Huckabee is still my top choice, though, and it's really because of his stance on abortion. Obama is right behind him, and then there is a drop off before you get into the territory of McCain, Clinton, and... Ron Paul and Mike Gravel. The thing is, my political views are so odd and across the board that the extreme folks really cater to my whims... which is why many people are questioning my huge support for Huckabee. Btw, I got to meet Huckabee after his speech on Saturday... got a photo, autograph, and handshake, and he also answered my question about Roe v. Wade and how it would most certainly be gone if he were to take office in 2009!

It really does need to snow around here, as it's been a while. People are calling this winter over, but I'm not ready to wave the white flag yet. It seems as though there are some signs of La Nina, which has been roaring away for the past few months, finally giving out. Could this mean more snow? That's a good question, and it's something we really need to watch for. Tomorrow could be interesting with a spot of wintry weather, but I honestly do not see it as a major threat. However, things can always change, and as always I will provide updates if needed.

Goodnight, Maryland, and vote smart tomorrow!

Also, an explanation on my politics...you'll remember I've taken this test before:

You are a Social Moderate (43% permissive) and an... Economic Liberal (35% permissive) You are best described as a: Centrist (35e/43s) Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

Huckabee and Obama!

So Huckabee and Obama are coming to Maryland and I can't wait to see both! This comes on the heels of my political quiz results... Huckabee had a score of 25, Obama 22... followed closely by Hillary... I know that there is such a low chance of this, but I'd love Huckabee to get the nomination. More on these two candidates later...