This morning at 6am CNN reported that a winter storm had delivered a leveling blow to Buffalo. The reporter was stationed on what looked to be Delaware Avenue in the city, where there appeared to be no sign of battering. The reporter then stated that more snow was on the way. Then, the same reporter ended up in Amherst at 8am, showing the debilitating effects that the storm had caused. When he reached down to the grown, there might have been three inches of light fluffy snow. “There are also reports of patches of slick black ice,” stated the reporter, “and heavy snow on the power lines.” The camera then panned upwards to reveal intact power lines covered with a dusting of snow.

Finally the report finished up in the CNN news room where a couple more reporters continued to talk about the blizzard that has brought Buffalo to its knees – the whole episode was very dramatic.

*Hat tip to my mother-in-law who told me to turn the television on to see the whole sham. It’s funny that she’s usually the first person to get worried if a significant amount of snow falls in Buffalo. This morning she was part enraged and part in fits of laughter as she watched CNN attempt to make a mountain out of a molehill. I suppose that since they took the time and money to fly a reporter in to Buffalo, the news organization was obligated to give viewers what they want – sensational weather-related travel horror stories that are timed perfectly with the Thanksgiving holiday.

For those people have never seen snow on the ground before (as many of Buffalo’s newest refugees assuredly have not), then this might be news in Somali or Burmese communities, but for national news? Way to go CNN. You’ve proved that you can make anything look bad to the public if you really want to.

As I wrap up this morning’s news coverage of the power storm that ripped through Buffalo, one of my neighbor’s kids had something to say about Buffalo’s wild wintery weather that pretty much sums up what was going through our collective minds as we headed off for work this morning (see photo below).

Oh, and by the way, for all of you ski and snowboard fans, Holiday Valley ski resort opens this Friday!!!!!