This depressing photo was taken from my apartment balcony this afternoon. No retouching was required to make it a black and white shot.

Upstaters may be amused to know that this dusting of snow was enough to collapse the entire city. Schools sent children home early; city buses were called back to the depot. Some minister of something is on TV warning everyone to stay in their homes.

The Catalonian Snow Plan is in full effect. It is called NEUCAT. Neu (pronounced ‘NAY-oo’) is the Catalan word for snow. The fact that the national snow emergency plan has part of my name in it just adds insult to injury. It seems that even moving to a sun-drenched Mediterranean paradise, my fate is inextricably linked to the white beasties. Touché, winter. Touché.

Download your very own copy of the 38-page NEUCAT snow emergency plan

Here is a video that’s now been sent to me twice – it’s Stephen Fry discussing the tradition of placing a caganer in the nativity scene. Happy holidays everyone!

What is it with Americans and having the biggest [insert whatever noun you like here]? Enjoy these photos on CNN of some of the attractions that America has to offer, from the Weird Al – spoofed “biggest ball of twine” to the largest pirogi (you can visit it in Glendon, GA – bring as much sauerkraut as you can fit in the trunk of your car).

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