34\u00a0 74%\u00a0 37%\u00a0 7mph\u00a0 windroseNNE\u00a0 bar steep rise\u00a0 dewpoint27\u00a0 First Quarter of the Snow Moon\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Holiseason<\/p>\n
At 9AM this morning we had snow.\u00a0 A bit\u00a0accumulated on the outdoor furniture on our deck, then it was gone.\u00a0 The season teases us, reminds us how it could be while withholding what we want, a daylong nightlong daylong snow complete with howling winds and drifts as big as cars.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In years past, back when I was, say, 40, Minnesota would reliably produce such weather, but now it falls in that strange realm of behavioral psychology, intermittent reinforcement.\u00a0 Any Skinnerian can tell you that that intermittent is the most powerful reinforcer.\u00a0 It explains gambling’s\u00a0dark charm and the peculiar frustrations of Viking’s and Cub’s fans.\u00a0 It also explains why we Minnesotan’s now look so eagerly at each new flake in the sky hoping that this will be the one when the land returns to normal, at least for a day.<\/p>\n
Snow seems faraway right now.\u00a0 Oh, well, I have plenty to do today.\u00a0 Construct a magic of\u00a0myth tour, grocery shopping, cooking supper, a workout.\u00a0 And, if I have time, finish my filing.\u00a0 Got a lot done yesterday, but not all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
34\u00a0 74%\u00a0 37%\u00a0 7mph\u00a0 windroseNNE\u00a0 bar steep rise\u00a0 dewpoint27\u00a0 First Quarter of the Snow Moon\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Holiseason At 9AM this morning we had snow.\u00a0 A bit\u00a0accumulated on the outdoor furniture on our deck, then it was gone.\u00a0 The season teases us, reminds us how it could be while withholding what we want, a daylong nightlong daylong … Continue reading Skinner and Snow<\/span>