Step 1. Start the car so the engine can start to warm up.

I have found that a collapsible shovel (something like an entrenching tool) is great for keeping in the trunk. A lot easier to dig out a car with.

I honestly don't know what compels people who are absolutely terrified of snow driving to just go and do it anyway.

I don't disagree that lots of people should just stay home if they're that afraid of driving in the snow. But, A) as you noted, many people just don't have the option of not going to work, and B) many of the others on the Beltway might have been going home, where they really do have to go, because it's where they…

One way to get people to start using snow tires, is to stop calling them snow tires. They are actually winter tires, something something about the rubber compound not hardening in temperatures under 40*F like typical summr/all-seasons.

Please tell me where you go for $500 for 4 snow tires. I've never had a quote for less than $1000 for 4 (granted, that includes 4 rims - but just stock crappy rims like you'd put old hubcaps on).

Yeah, if you live in Buffalo. In the DC area it doesn't snow enough to justify the resources to put into a set of snow tires. On the five days in the winter that it snows and on a weekday, I can either take the extra time to drive carefully, or just not go in.

Stop with the damn snow tires! if my 04 Pontiac grand am can handle a combined 10 winters in places like Oswego New York, Denver Colorado and Burlington Vermont. With decent all seasons then any body can, slow down give people distance and relax it will all be ok.

Not everyone lives in the shithole north where you should have snow tires on at all times. In DC/Baltimore/nearby it snows maybe twice all winter. I'll buy snow tires when I find my sorry ass living in a hellhole north of the Mason D line.

This is Adequate Man, not I Spent $500 On Snow Tires And Probably Also Didn't Use Underwear As A Washcloth This Morning Man.

Window seat = awesome view + more comfortable sleeping via extra leaning surfaces.

I usually opt for a window but both sides have their merit. I think we can agree that they're both better than a middle seat.