# "Shitload of snow" in a newspaper - how do I find the source? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 5, 2003, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shitload-of-snow-in-a-newspaper-how-do-i-find-the-source/193206 "2003-08-05T21:31:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shitload-of-snow-in-a-newspaper-how-do-i-find-the-source/193206/21 "2011-02-04T03:44:20Z")
First thing I thought of was [this article](http://members.shaw.ca/rlongpre01/moon.html)but I guess the masthead gives it away. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shitload-of-snow-in-a-newspaper-how-do-i-find-the-source/193206/22 "2011-02-04T03:50:00Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Dopers are the most skeptical, “Show Me” folks on the Internet, which is why a mere assertion automatically gets doubted. But the answer appears to be exactly right and we thank you, Lee Ann, for clearing up this old dangling mystery. I am not convinced merely by your references to “old reminiscences.” Is this what constitutes solid proof for dopers? I am not dismissing the explanation, but there is an awful lot of urban legend ambience in this story. So far, no one has brought forth an actual page or article _on or near the date in question,_ just people who said, “Yeah, I remember that.” ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shitload-of-snow-in-a-newspaper-how-do-i-find-the-source/193206/23 "2011-02-04T03:52:30Z")
Similarly, in 1984 or 1985, a classified ad ran in a local newspaper with the header “Fuck your way to the top!” Again, some pranksters in copy editing, who (so the story went) forgot what they had done, and it actually made it into print. By the evening, all newspaper boxes were empty, whether because the newspaper had had the carriers recall them, or people had gone out to get souvenirs. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shitload-of-snow-in-a-newspaper-how-do-i-find-the-source/193206/24 "2011-02-04T04:03:46Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > I am not convinced merely by your references to “old reminiscences.” Is this what constitutes solid proof for dopers? > > I am not dismissing the explanation, but there is an awful lot of urban legend ambience in this story. So far, no one has brought forth an actual page or article _on or near the date in question,_ just people who said, “Yeah, I remember that.” I have taken a couple pictures of my Xerox copy of the article in question and posted them here: [https://picasaweb.google.com/heresthepictures/ShitloadOfSnow#](https://picasaweb.google.com/heresthepictures/ShitloadOfSnow#) Of course, that doesn’t necessarily constitute proof of authenticity, but it does mean that the picture does exist, because I have a copy. I don’t know if you can see it clearly enough, but maybe this will eliminate some doubts. xo, C. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shitload-of-snow-in-a-newspaper-how-do-i-find-the-source/193206/25 "2011-02-04T04:08:22Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > just people who said, “Yeah, I remember that.” The quoted article, from Friday, January 28, 2011, says specifically that she saw the article on Thursday, the day before. Not exactly a mere long-ago memory. We have the name of the newspaper, the year, and the surrounding stories. We have the exact caption and the name of the photographer and a description of the picture itself. That’s a - oh, c’mon, you know I have to say it - shitload of evidence. ETA: And the picture itself. Musicat, even without the picture the evidence was better than the doubt of someone who couldn’t bother to read the whole quote in a post. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shitload-of-snow-in-a-newspaper-how-do-i-find-the-source/193206/26 "2011-02-04T04:16:55Z")
> [@CC](#): > > I have taken a couple pictures of my Xerox copy of the article in question and posted them here: [https://picasaweb.google.com/heresthepictures/ShitloadOfSnow#](https://picasaweb.google.com/heresthepictures/ShitloadOfSnow#) > Of course, that doesn’t necessarily constitute proof of authenticity, but it does mean that the picture does exist, because I have a copy. I don’t know if you can see it clearly enough, but maybe this will eliminate some doubts. xo, C. The only real proof would be an image from a microfilm of the newspaper page in question. Would the Chicago Public Library have films of this particular paper? Of course, the act of copying of the page from the film would have to be witnessed by a Notary Public. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shitload-of-snow-in-a-newspaper-how-do-i-find-the-source/193206/27 "2011-02-04T04:23:02Z")
Now we’re getting somewhere! I’d say the proof is piling up, the evidence is improving, and it looks good. A microfilm or actual paper would help, but is probably more than necessary. It looks like the claim is valid. I have no apologies for requesting more evidence than post #18’s mere “I heard that somewhere.”. That’s what we are here for, right? ---
**Author:** ![wedgehed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8edcca/32.png) [@wedgehed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wedgehed)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shitload-of-snow-in-a-newspaper-how-do-i-find-the-source/193206/28 "2011-02-04T09:07:05Z")
About 30 years ago, our local small town newspaper ran an unfortunate bride’s photo. What made it unfortunate was that the girl’s embittered ex-boyfriend worked at the newspaper & doctored the photo to such a degree that it became a challenge to find all of the hidden penises. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shitload-of-snow-in-a-newspaper-how-do-i-find-the-source/193206/29 "2011-02-04T09:36:15Z")
Hugh Rawson in [Wicked Words](http://books.google.com/books?id=4aMYAAAAIAAJ&q=%22shitload+of+snow%22&dq=%22shitload+of+snow%22&hl=en&ei=TsdLTYyKBpG6ugPg26zbDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CEwQ6AEwCA) attributes it to the Crystal Lake, Illinois, _Morning Herald_ of April 1984. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shitload-of-snow-in-a-newspaper-how-do-i-find-the-source/193206/30 "2011-02-04T15:16:21Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > The only real proof would be an image from a microfilm of the newspaper page in question. Would the Chicago Public Library have films of this particular paper? Of course, the act of copying of the page from the film would have to be witnessed by a Notary Public. Oh, come on. A xerox of the paper isn’t sufficient? Or maybe you doubt that I exist. Sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shitload-of-snow-in-a-newspaper-how-do-i-find-the-source/193206/31 "2011-02-04T15:49:11Z")
> [@CC](#): > > Or maybe you doubt that I exist. Sheesh. Until your Turing results are in, the question is still open. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shitload-of-snow-in-a-newspaper-how-do-i-find-the-source/193206/32 "2011-02-04T15:56:54Z")
> [@CC](#): > > Oh, come on. A xerox of the paper isn’t sufficient? Or maybe you doubt that I exist. Sheesh. I thought I was being dryly witty. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shitload-of-snow-in-a-newspaper-how-do-i-find-the-source/193206/33 "2011-02-04T16:39:30Z")
> [@ooga\_booga](#): > > There is the [Sydney Morning Herald](http://www.smh.com.au), but I don’t think they’ve ever gotten a “shitload of snow” in Sydney. I have seen snow within the Sydney metropolitan area, in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney – enough to stop all traffic, so some might describe it as a “shitload”. There also used to be a _Newcastle Morning Herald_, published about 160 km north of Sydney, now called the [Newcastle Herald](http://www.theherald.com.au/), but any snowfall would be further from Newcastle than from Sydney. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shitload-of-snow-in-a-newspaper-how-do-i-find-the-source/193206/34 "2011-02-04T16:57:12Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > I thought I was being dryly witty. I thought so, too. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shitload-of-snow-in-a-newspaper-how-do-i-find-the-source/193206/35 "2011-02-04T19:32:53Z")
I wasn’t sure. Around here, the line between dry wit and irrational persistence is sometimes mighty fine. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shitload-of-snow-in-a-newspaper-how-do-i-find-the-source/193206/36 "2011-02-04T20:16:49Z")
> [@CC](#): > > I wasn’t sure. Around here, the line between dry wit and irrational persistence is sometimes mighty fine. Let us all work together to erase that line. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shitload-of-snow-in-a-newspaper-how-do-i-find-the-source/193206/37 "2011-02-04T20:20:30Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Let us all work together to erase that line. Ah, now I get it - more dry wit, right? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shitload-of-snow-in-a-newspaper-how-do-i-find-the-source/193206/38 "2011-02-04T23:37:59Z")
> [@CC](#): > > I wasn’t sure. Around here, the line between dry wit and irrational persistence is sometimes mighty fine. it didn’t used to be! It gets so confusing these days. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shitload-of-snow-in-a-newspaper-how-do-i-find-the-source/193206/39 "2011-02-04T23:44:00Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > Hugh Rawson in [Wicked Words](http://books.google.com/books?id=4aMYAAAAIAAJ&q=%22shitload+of+snow%22&dq=%22shitload+of+snow%22&hl=en&ei=TsdLTYyKBpG6ugPg26zbDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CEwQ6AEwCA) attributes it to the Crystal Lake, Illinois, _Morning Herald_ of April 1984. As noted in post #18. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2011, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shitload-of-snow-in-a-newspaper-how-do-i-find-the-source/193206/40 "2011-02-05T04:46:49Z")
> [@CC](#): > > I wasn’t sure. Around here, the line between dry wit and irrational persistence is sometimes mighty fine. I think the “Notary Public” line was the tip off…That’s OK, I miss tone on the internet all the time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shitload-of-snow-in-a-newspaper-how-do-i-find-the-source/193206.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shitload-of-snow-in-a-newspaper-how-do-i-find-the-source/193206.md?page=3)