School closings for cold, any truth to this? (Atlanta: low income, for sale)

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by marmac

most central Minnesota schools were closed yesterday and today due to cold (-30 )

Looks like it's been a cold January. Here's the weekly data for Brainerd, for example, and it's been below zero since Tuesday.

Weather Station History : Weather Underground

[RainyRainyDay]

When it's cold like this here, it's cold everywhere north of us. A relative in Montreal IMed this morning that it was -35 Celsius there (that's -31 Fahrenheit) this morning and she could see her breath inside the house.

I think kaday has a point that in the present day we're all much less Spartan in our approach to adverse conditions than people were a few decades back, and some of us are therefore disdainful of the sissyish stuff we hear about adverse weather today.

On the other hand, as several posters have pointed out, it's so true that it's all matter of what conditions you're equipped to deal with. Many of us have resided up north during cold winters. But when we lived up there, we had appropriate outdoor clothing for frigid weather. Many people here don't, not because they are sissies, but because it makes no sense to invest in heavy winter gear when you live in Atlanta.

[kayrob]

Originally Posted by Mattie

Sure did! Green Township, to be exact.

Well that does explain it. Somewhat.

[WilliamM]

Originally Posted by kayrob

Well that does explain it. Somewhat.

We had -6 this morning here in central Indiana. And yes, school was canceled

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by RainyRainyDay

Many people here don't, not because they are sissies, but because it makes no sense to invest in heavy winter gear when you live in Atlanta.

Invest...what are you talking about? It's not as if you have to call your stock broker or take out a loan. You should have a winter coat or jacket, a hat, and gloves. We're not talking about some exotic outerwear.

You need the same coat when it's 30 degrees that you need when it's 20 degrees or 15 degrees. You just put a sweatshirt or fleece underneath it. A wool or cotton hat and a pair of gloves don't cost much and can last for years. Again, you need them anyway in winter, since the lows can still be in the 20's or low 30's.

Now if you want to run around without a jacket or with a spring/fall jacket on and then moan that it's cold, then frankly you deserve to be cold.

[matt8325]

Originally Posted by neil0311

Invest...what are you talking about? It's not as if you have to call your stock broker or take out a loan. You should have a winter coat or jacket, a hat, and gloves. We're not talking about some exotic outerwear.

You need the same coat when it's 30 degrees that you need when it's 20 degrees or 15 degrees. You just put a sweatshirt or fleece underneath it. A wool or cotton hat and a pair of gloves don't cost much and can last for years. Again, you need them anyway in winter, since the lows can still be in the 20's or low 30's.

Now if you want to run around without a jacket or with a spring/fall jacket on and then moan that it's cold, then frankly you deserve to be cold.

A lot of people down south dont have coats, which is why I think some schools cancelled schools today.

[RainyRainyDay]

Originally Posted by neil0311

Invest...what are you talking about? It's not as if you have to call your stock broker or take out a loan. You should have a winter coat or jacket, a hat, and gloves. We're not talking about some exotic outerwear.

I have a winter coat because it's the one I last owned in Canada. And since I'm not poor, I could buy one anyway. However, a lot of less well-to-do people down here don't have adequate outdoor clothing for this weather because it's not essential, most of the time. This is particularly true of children, because they outgrow their clothes. Or as Matt put it with beautiful simplicity:

Originally Posted by matt8325

A lot of people down south dont have coats, which is why I think some schools cancelled schools today.

[neil0311]

I don't know...maybe I'm just too tainted. I don't see this as a cost issue. For adults, you can buy a cheap coat that will last you years. Kids may need them more often, but then that's true of kids' clothing. I would get my kid a coat at a second hand thrift store before I would let him/her stand shivering at a bus stop all winter.

Some things are called "necessities" for a reason...they are necessary.

[matt8325]

Originally Posted by neil0311

I don't know...maybe I'm just too tainted. I don't see this as a cost issue. For adults, you can buy a cheap coat that will last you years. Kids may need them more often, but then that's true of kids' clothing. I would get my kid a coat at a second hand thrift store before I would let him/her stand shivering at a bus stop all winter.

Some things are called "necessities" for a reason...they are necessary.

Coats are not really a necessity way down here in the south. It gets cold maybe 2 or 3 times a winter so it's really a waste of money.

[atlantagreg30127]

I agree with getting a cheap coat - even if you ARE poor, you can get one for FREE via a number of agencies that collect them this time of year if that's the case. But you can wrap a kid in plastic wrap and it'll last all day and keep heat in. Just remember to poke out some breathing holes and leave a crease so they can sit in their seat at school.

Regarding weather forecasts and food panics, though: I think one day some news reporter who's actually smart will do some digging and most likely find out that the weathermen at a couple of stations probably take kick-backs from the grocery stores to "hype up" the possibility of snow, just to get folks in a frenzy and jack up sales for food that day before. Think about it - one mention of it and poof - 25% higher sales for that night before the "storm". Weatherman gets a new plasma TV, stores make $$. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm