[PLUG-TALK] snow fun

[Russell Senior]

I spent the day today outside in the snow.  It accumulated about 4
inches here, though there was some melting and settling so there is
less on the ground now.  When I got outside, I noticed the neighbors
(a dad and a 5yo) were building a fort in anticipation of a snowball
fight.  They'd used a small (8 gallon) waste paper bucket as a form
for blocks to build a wall.  I asked if I could borrow the bucket and
commenced to build an opposing wall.  But I soon discovered that they
had already cached a large quantity of snowballs, I decided tactically
that delay was advisable and began stretching out construction as long
as possible in the hopes that they'd get cold and go inside.

Part of stretching out construction took the form of building a 360
degree enclosure with a roof: in short, an igloo.  The slightly oval
(6 x 5 feet) took about 4 hours (which was way longer than necessary
to wait out the neighbors) to get the roof completely enclosed, but
after cutting a doorway and climbing inside, it is large enough to sit
up in.  You could probably sleep inside, though not comfortably.

A couple of defects, one wall was a bit more vertical at the base than
desirable.  Holding up an arch roof involves some lateral thrust.  As
I was getting the last of the roof on, I could see it was bulging and
cracking a bit, but tossing a yard of snow against that wall seemed to
hold it.  A flying buttress would have worked also.  The other defect
was the danger it would collapse on some small child.  The blocks were
pretty-well-packed snow, which towards the end was getting a little
soggy and somewhat heavy.  I didn't want to be responsible for it
collapsing on anyone.  So before I went in the house, I sealed up the
entrance.  I figure if anyone tries to get inside they are likely to
knock it down, but safely from the outside rather than unsafely from
the inside.

I got lots of comments from neighbors and passers-by, of which there
were many.  I discussed the flying buttress with some of my architect
friends.

Shortly after going in the house, I saw a roaming band of teenagers,
and having been a teenager once, I foresaw doom for the igloo.  The
band of about a dozen kids circled the structure and one _lay on top
of it_ (!) but it held (!!) and they left.  I guess the forecast is
for things to warm up a little tomorrow and then get cold again for a
few days, so if it can survive tomorrow, it'll be around for a while.

Woo hoo!  What a ball!

-- 
Russell Senior         ``I have nine fingers; you have ten.''
seniorr at aracnet.com