Monday, January 10, 2011

What Is This?

Does anybody know what this weird blue stuff is that's covering my entire street? It wasn't here when I left for work at 8 am. (And please don't ask what kind of an idiot goes to work at 8 am on a day when she doesn't have to teach).
But the surreal blue stuff: is it anything I need to worry about?

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2 comments:

NancyP said...

This is a de-icing compound spread before and during snow storms: calcium chloride, with a little dye added. It is non-toxic to humans, but I wouldn't let pets eat large amounts of it, since it might overload their kidneys. Very large amounts of salt kills the grass. The salt rusts your car, so after each snow storm, it is a good idea to take cars to an automated carwash and get the "undercarriage" wash.

In climates where the temperature is consistently below freezing and the snow and ice lasts, sand is the preferred approach for making footing and roads safer. Tire chains work well too. I am sure you know all this already, having lived in Montreal.

Clarissa said...

Thank you, NancyP! I have never seen this in my life before. Does the appearance of this de-icing mean that a snowstorm is to be expected?

It will be really funny if the classes are cancelled tomorrow.