Global Warming? Maybe Not, But .....

For any Global Warming enthusiasts out there in the US Northeast this winter must seem like almost the ultimate in opportunities to say "I Told You So" to all the Climate Change Deniers! Just look at the temperatures! In the Philadelphia area it almost reached 70F last weekend - a temperature that, in the 1960s, would have had pin-striped Londoners looking seriously at the time-tables for the next train down to Brighton and the beach!

In mid-December???

That's the weird piece that's got the Global Warming crowd crowing, but it isn't. Really. What we have, instead, is a phenomenon called the Polar Vortex - a circulating pattern of cold air centered over the Arctic - being very strong this year, so all the cold air is held over far northern Canada.

At the same time, El Nino is happening strongly, so the west coasts of north and south Americas are getting lots of moisture. Storm Echo is a good example - look here at all the snow it's dropping!

This means that the north-east of the US just isn't getting any cold air! Yet! Although the coming week may well be very different as Echo finally arrives!

Tech
As you may have read, I've been popping up at SQL Saturdays all over, and even managed one in Montreal on the weekend before Thanksgiving!

This is one of the roads near Montreal.

This SQL Saturday was special, because it was the very first that the user group in Montreal has put on, and, while very small, was definitely well worth the long drive up - which was itself a lot of fun. Montreal is just a great place, and I'm really looking forward to doing it again next year.

No food this time - wait for a really easy and tasty Onion Soup next time.

TTFN