Temperatures surging to near 60 degrees on the northern Cumberland Plateau today made it feel more like spring than winter. And tomorrow will be even warmer than today, as The Winter That Isn’t A Winter continues.

But as one of the continental U.S.’s warmest winters in years begins to wane, will it go out with a bang . . . or will it go out the way it came in?

That’s the question that is being asked in the weather community this week, as yet another week of above-average temperatures shapes up across much of the Lower 48.

Believe it or not, there are some signs that a change could occur in about 7-10 days — a change that would bring cold and maybe even wintry precipitation as far south as Tennessee.

But I don’t think I’d count on it just yet.

Here’s what’s happening: As incredibly cold temperatures continue over interior Alaska, computer models are attempting to pop a major ridge in the eastern Pacific. If that were to transpire, it could send cold air spilling southward and into the continental U.S. There are also some modeling signs of blocking setting up over Greenland, which would help to sorta “trap” that cold air into place, which would suggest that a cold pattern could be locked into place. The last piece of the puzzle is the potential development of a split flow in the jet stream, which could lead to storminess (as if it hasn’t already been a stormy winter, right?) in the South.

If those things all come to fruition, it could lead to a quick flip to winter in Tennessee and surrounding states.

But the big question is IF. For what its worth, some runs of the domestic GFS, as well as the European ECMWF, are showing some pretty cold temperatures and the development of a Gulf region low pressure system that could spell wintry trouble towards the end of next week.

And, also for what it’s worth, the Arctic Oscillation has been in negative territory for about a week now and looks to stay there for the time being, while the Pacific North American ridge index is being modeled by most guidance models to stay positive.

Throw in the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), which looks like it might finally break out of the stubborn stage six region, where it’s been stuck most of the winter, and progress towards regions that are more favorable for cold weather in the continental U.S., and things become interesting indeed.

Problem is, we’ve been here before in this Winter That Isn’t A Winter. More than once, in fact. The MJO has been modeled to break out of its stagnation more than once, and it hasn’t happened. Ridging in the PNA region has been projected to drop a motherlode of arctic cold into the continental U.S. more than once, and it hasn’t happened. Greenland blocking has been modeled more than once, and it hasn’t happened.

And as long as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) stays positive — as is currently being projected by most models — I wouldn’t bet on any cold air that does surge south to be anything more than a transient shot of cold that is in and out in a hurry, with warmer-than-average temperatures making a quick comeback, much like what we’ve seen so far this winter.

But, for now, it’s an interesting period that could be just around the corner. And even though it’s tempting to want days like today and tomorrow to hang around all the way ’til March, I’m afraid that if  that proves to be the case, we’re going to pay for it with a spring that is cooler than normal.

The ejection of state Sen. Stacey Campfield, who is pushing the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill that would prohibit Tennessee public schools from teaching about homosexuality, from a Knoxville restaurant Sunday is causing quite a stir on Al Gore’s Internet today.

I’ve always felt Campfield does far more harm than good for the Republicans’ cause in Tennessee, but as I read the online commentary directed at him today, I’m reminded of the hypocrisy of some of those who advocate tolerance for all people. Aren’t you either tolerant or intolerant? I don’t think it works both ways.

As for the restaurant, that seems kinda silly to me. If I own a business that caters to a mixed customer base, the last thing I’m wanting to do is make a political statement. My guess is that this move creates more Campfield sympathizers than anything else. With that said, privately-owned businesses should be able to serve who they want, or not.

I wonder, though, where it will wind up if it becomes commonplace for businesses to start refusing service to folks based on their known political views. This is just another example of the poisonous political atmosphere that is dragging this nation down, and we aren’t doing ourselves any favors by engaging in it. We should be able to have rational debate on political issues — even the hot-button ones — based on their individual merits or lack thereof, and then make decisions civilly.

Are there any rational minds left out there?

This news was published last week:

A new study has found that there is no direct correlation between the amount of fried food people eat and their risk of heart disease. Instead, the research found that long-term heart risk depended more on what kind of oil was used in the cooking process — olive oil and sunflower oil are considered the healthiest.

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The study, published in the British Medical Journal, studied the eating and cooking habits of 40,000 people in Spain for nearly 15 years. The Mediterranean diet favored by most individuals in the study leans heavily on fried foods, particularly fried fish, but also the healthier olive and sunflower oils for the frying.

I don’t think this is too surprising. In fact, I think we’re going to find that in the next 10-15 years, much of what we currently assume about our diets is going to be turned on its head.

Most who hail from Scott County, Tenn., have probably figured out that while we’re decidedly Southern Appalachian at its finest, we sometimes buck Southern tendencies.

Not only were we one of the only southern counties to buck the idea of secession during the Civil War (while much of East Tennessee was opposed to secession, Scott Countians reacted to Tennessee’s secession by voting overwhelmingly to withdraw from the state and form the Independent State of Scott).

We also are at odds with the rest of the South when it comes to what we call our soft drinks. Ask just about anyone from Scott County, and they’ll say it’s a “pop.” But everyone knows that pop is a “Yankee word” (actually, it’s a Midwestern word; in the Northeast, it’s almost exclusively called “soda”). And when you go just about anywhere else in the South, they’ll look at you like your nuts if you call your coke (doesn’t matter if it’s actually a Coke, or if it’s a Pepsi or even a Diet Mtn.

Dew; it’s still a coke) a pop.

Well, here’s a map that proves it. With the exception of Johnson County, Scott is the only Tennessee county where the overwhelming majority of folks call their soft drinks “pops” instead of sodas, colas, cokes or soft drinks. (Taken from Facebook.)

From former Alaska governor and veep candidate Sarah Palin:

You gotta rage against the machine, at this point in order to defend our republic and save what is good and secure and prosperous about our nation, we need somebody who is engaged in sudden and relentless reform and isn’t afraid to shake it up. Shake up that establishment.

So, if for no other reason to rage against the machine vote for Newt, annoy a liberal. Vote Newt. Keep this vetting process going, keep the debate going.

Uh, sorry, Gov.

Palin, but the liberals love what is happening with the GOP primary process right now. Sure, they may hate Gingrich with a special passion that surpasses any dislike they may have for Mitt Romney (or Ron Paul or even Rick Santorum), but they’re loving the fact that Gingrich’s campaign has returned from the dead.

The latest Gallup poll should tell you why.

From the press release:

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission has announced its intention to provide an extra tag for youth only at the 2012 elk hunt at North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, said if implemented, the youth tag would be in addition to the four tags that would be drawn and the tag that has been donated to a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).   There would now be a total of six tags available for the special season. The youth tag would be for Tennessee resident youth only between the ages of 13-16.

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The one tag would be for a hunt to be held at North Cumberland WMA on the weekend of Oct. 20-21 which would follow the Fourth Annual Elk Hunt set for Oct. 15-19. All five elk hunting zones would be available for the youth hunter giving the juvenile access to approximately 40,000 acres for the elk hunt.

The general elk hunt has been and will continue to be open to all applicants regardless of age or residency.

Due to a big game gun season being held, all deer archery hunters on the WMA would be required to follow the blaze orange requirements. This would apply only to the WMA elk hunting zones while a gun season is underway and not the entire WMA.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is seeking comments concerning the proposed hunt to be presented to the TWRC. Comments may be sent to TWRA Big Program Coordinator Chuck Yoest at chuck.yoest@tn.gov or by mail to Chuck Yoest, Wildlife Division, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, P.O. 40747, Nashville, TN 37204.

Comments must be received prior to Feb. 8 so they can be presented at the next TWRC meeting.

That’s a start. Now they need to take one of the four permits and stipulate that it be awarded to a resident of Scott, Anderson, Campbell, Claiborne or Morgan counties.

President Barack Obama declared during his State of the Union address Tuesday that “America is back.” Which leads to the question: Where did America go?

Sure, we’ve been mired in deep economic recession, but the president’s statement wasn’t really about the economy. Here’s the complete statement, for context:

From the coalitions we’ve built to secure nuclear materials, to the missions we’ve led against hunger and disease; from the blows we’ve dealt to our enemies; to the enduring power of our moral example, America is back.

I’m not sure how any of that has changed over the past three years, but the part that struck me the most was the last part — the part about America’s moral example. To suggest that we’re any more or less of a moral example to the rest of the world today than we were four years ago seems a little nonsensical to me.

During the same speech, Obama ratcheted up the issue that was a rallying cry of sorts during the ’08 campaign: A need for Republicans and Democrats to work together; a need for a spirit of bipartisanship.

And the president is exactly right on that point.

But how can you reach out to Republicans and ask them to work with you in one breath, while insinuating that they weren’t putting America’s best moral foot forward in the other breath?

Wouldn’t that kinda be like a politician saying that Bill Clinton isn’t fit to be president because of his extra-marital affair, then turning around and running for president himself despite his own marital transgressions?

Oh, wait . . . Sorry, Newt.

Launched yesterday by Scott County Mayor Jeff Tibbals at the Scott County Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting…

ShopScott.net

I’ve always preferred Microsoft’s Xbox video game platform over Sony’s Playstation III, mainly because of the whole American vs. non-American concept. But this is enough to give me pause:

Have you ever bought a used car? Do you frequent those loveliest of places, second-hand bookstores? Will you be wearing, at some point soon, a cherished article of clothing purchased from a sweet lady at a thrift store?

If you have engaged in any of these practices, welcome friend, to the bustling reality of trade, an element of society that goes back to the Stone Age.

But hark, the thundering hooves of evil approach. Microsoft and its busy little pals in games publishing want to put an end to the trade in used games, or at the very least, make it so difficult that it’s not worth the effort.

If recent reports are to be believed, they want to kill the trade in used games by adding technology to new consoles, like the Xbox 720, that lock-out games that were originally bought by someone else.

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As Kotaku points out, the details of Microsoft’s plan – if it even exists – are sketchy. But there is no doubt that games companies are hell-bent on destroying used games.

Of course: a.) Specifics on when the next generation of game consoles will be pushed out to the market is speculation at best; until we have an Xbox 720, it’s kinda dangerous to assume what technology the new platform will ship with, and b.) If Microsoft takes this step, Sony will fall over itself to follow suit.

Still, it’s a practice that is dangerous enough in theory to make it worth discussing now — before concept becomes reality.

This is merely a reflection of what is happening in the publishing industry as a whole. It isn’t altogether different from the heavy-handed tactics of the RIAA. To be fair, the RIAA’s bad rep came primarily from its assault on music pirates, but something had to be done. Subpoenaing dozens of individuals into court and dumping hefty lawsuits on their heads might have been a little too strong-armed, but the industry heavyweights couldn’t exactly stand by and watch as Internet users downloaded hundreds — in some cases, thousands — of MP3 files and videos over P2P networks. But the RIAA has since taken its heavy-handedness to the next level, and is one of the primary players in the congressional Internet-takeover bills that have created an international firestorm.

What next? Is Levi Strauss and Tommy Hilfiger going to patrol yard sales and thrift stores to be sure a mother-of-three isn’t trying to pick up some used jeans for her kids?

From newspaper design consultant Ed Henninger:

According to a recent survey, “70 percent of Americans, including 69 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds, say they prefer to read print and paper communications than reading off a screen.”

The survey was commissioned by Two Sides, the fast-growing non-profit organization created to promote the responsible production, use and sustainability of print and paper.

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So, it may be a bit self-serving (hmmm…wonder if that’s ever happened before!). Still, there are some findings that may be of interest to those of us who know newspapers are not dying.