Low Tech Weather and News

These notes from the handy Farmer's Almanac - and other random, low tech sources.
• January 22-29 will be sunny and mild.... ( I would give them a direct miss on this one).
• Racoons mate at this time of year - in this cold they will need more than furry masks.
• It is Chinese new year today. 2009 is the Year of the Ox (2008 was the year of the rat) ....rats-away!
• In 1938 an ice jam caused the collapse of the "Honeymoon Bridge" over Niagra Falls.
Minneotans still buy ice:

From the History of Ice Skates:
•The first artificial ice rink (mechanically-refrigerated) was built in 1876, at Chelsea, London, England and was named the Glaciarium. It was built near the King's Road in London by John Gamgee.
•In 1914, John E. Strauss, a blade maker from St. Paul, Minnesota, invented the first closed toe blade made from one piece of steel, making skates lighter and stronger.