It was a cold and snowy morning, with massive flakes caking the roads and buildings and a stiff wind blasting the precipitation and obscuring the view ahead. A 7:30 a.m. appointment roused me from a toasty bed that Saturday morning, and I was already running late. Even squinting it was hard to see more than a few meters in any direction. The streets were practically devoid of moving vehicles and only a few brave souls ventured out to walk their shivering dogs. Quite the opposite of this winter (so far).