SOUNDING OFF:

Fact: A blizzard just hit the Seattle area. Four inches of snow fell in a rare, early season storm.

Fact: Much of New England is still dark following a major ice storm, which turned the lights out in Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Fact: Hundreds of flights have been canceled in Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana due to a major snow event.

Fact: New York was just blanketed with 6 inches of snow, which disrupted all transportation systems.

Fact: Eight inches of snow fell on New Orleans and parts of Louisiana on Dec. 11.

Fact: Las Vegas’ McCarran Airport was recently shut down when 3 inches of snow fell, the largest accumulation on record.

Fact: It just snowed in Malibu, of all places.

Fact: Many of the skiers and snowboarders who ventured recently to Big Bear were stuck there for days due to an unseasonal blizzard.

Fact: Snowfall in Spokane and parts of North Dakota so far this winter has already exceeded the totals for all of 2007.

Fact: Beijing just experienced its coldest winter day in 57 years.

Fact: Much of Europe is preparing for a major winter blast, expected to be the worst in more than two decades.

Fact: 2008 will be the coldest year for the U.S. since 1997 according to the National Climatic Data Center.

Fact: The Arctic sea ice sheet expanded 13.2% this year according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, representing an increase of more than 270,000 square miles.

Fact: According to a multitude of recognized climatologists, the Earth’s temperature decreased more than one degree over the last decade. It appears global cooling is upon us, as has been predicted by lots of nice folks, including, you’ll recall, ahem, me.

It’s not February. It’s not even January. It’s Winter Solstice December, and the Farmers’ Almanac’s prediction for one of the worst winters on record is coming true.

You hear that, Al Gore? You hear that, Joe Bell?

OK now, to that cacophonous caterwauling coterie who get exercised every time I elect to opine in the pages of the Daily Pilot, break out your keyboards and conjure up your scathing retorts. But please try to use facts. I know that facts are inconvenient things, especially to those who prefer dealing in thoughts, opinions, beliefs and squishy feelings, but please try.

It’s not too hard if you focus really intently. Otherwise, you’ll once again be bringing a knife to a gunfight.

CHUCK CASSITY lives in Costa Mesa.