Scarlet Pimpernel

Yeah, totally agree. It's sad in so many ways that politically and otherwise, it's become a contentious issue when it shouldn't be. Yet it has become that despite a mountain of evidence. At this point, it would be akin to arguing that gravity isn't a thing, or that the sun actually does goes around the earth (sorry, Galileo!), etc. You get the idea.

Whatever. I only mentioned it because probably nearly everyone finds it amusing on some level regardless of one's views, and it's as crazy as some of these model solutions!

It is a very tough call for sure!

Watching the drama of the House Speaker vote is far more entertaining than this!

I say! Well hit sir! Ahhh, the games in the old Panic Room! Casinos, slot machines, bars...! And the occasional game of Twister (best played during severe season)!

Yeah the way the light can give such texture and color to the clouds at that time of day is kind of surreal! And it constantly changes. I did use Lightroom to boost the contrast and clarity some, but that is really what the sky looked like.

That's pretty cool! I didn't have a chance to go see it. But when I was in Atlanta years ago they had a special display for a short time of a few of his best known ones, including Starry Night.

Amazing sky last night around sunset! Like a van Gogh painting...

We're apparently in a Ninano this year!

Hey there Bob! Those are AWESOME shots!

All you need now is to add Jobu (but don't drink his rum!)!

That's quite uncanny!!!

You can't win...you can't break even...you can't even quit the game!! (A Murphy's type law, don't remember who originated it, but it's quite appropriate!!)

I was just going to say... Surely everyone would recognize Bogey and Casablanca! Now... Get off my lawn you youngsters while I go watch some silent movies! ETA... Bit of trivia. Bogey's character Rick never actually says the phrase, "Play it again, Sam!" He does say, "Play it Sam, play it again! If you can play it for her, you can play it for me!"

Probably not Weather gambling, man! It's the next big thing after all the sports betting stuff!

Omelettes!

C'mon, you surely know I was joking and ribbing you a bit for fun! Sometimes a bit of humor helps. But it has seemed like this year you've been a lot more pessimistic. I certainly don't think you're trying to be alarmist and in no way suggesting that you put lipstick on a pig and say how great things look. In fact I agree with a lot of your concerns about trends the past couple of decades. I've always respected your input and analysis in here, one of the posters who contributes a lot of good information. And in an impartial, fact-based manner. I won't go requesting "alternative facts!"

"We're dressed in our best and prepared to get torched like gentlemen! But we would like a brandy!"

Well, with all the doom and gloom here, how about some brilliant color of a cardinal!! I didn't have the best telephoto lens to take this at the time earlier today (left the heavy 100-500mm at home when I went out!) and had to crop it a lot, but you gotta take the shot when you have it! I wasn't originally planning on photographing birds, but I couldn't pass up a cardinal. They bring amazing color to the drab background of winter for sure.

I suspect PSU was secretly tapped by @WxWatcher007 to be the next Reaper after he retired! Only instead of the fine establishment that was the Panic Room, he brings statistics and dissertations on why we are doomed directly into the medium range thread!

So, that's unconventional. Usually people in here jump out windows (or off cliffs) when things look bleak!!

That's "PerLeR VerTeX", sir!!

Agree. I do this with my photography which has become quite a hobby over the years. Sure, I'd love to have a chance to get pictures of a nice snow event again, sometime. But even without that, there's a surprising amount in nature I find interesting to take photos of at this time of year.