As we conetemplate the 12 to 21 inches of the stuff under which we are buried, there's only one thing on the minds of Washingtonians this morning: snow. But what exactly is snow?
According to unimpeachable sources, snow is just water. That's right, it's made up of "crystals of frozen water, i.e., ice."
It seems a little incredible at first. Sure, water can take on surprisingly different forms -- it can be a gas, a liquid, or a solid. But snow? Snow sure doesn't look like water.
Still, so many sources agree on this point, that I guess I believe it. Probably you do too. But all the same, join me for this little thought experiment:
If I gave you a cup of water and said, "turn this into steam," you'd know what to do.
If I gave you a cup of water and said, "turn this into ice," you'd know what to do.
Now suppose I gave you a cup of water and said, "turn this into snow." Would you even know how to start?
I don't know about you, but asking me to turn water into snow would be like asking me to turn straw into gold. I could fool around with water all day and you'd never see a single snowflake.
A couple feet of the stuff is pretty. But it sure doesn't look like water to me.
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