Snow Travel Woes, Plus Booker Delivers Diapers

How about spending 11 hours on the plane, waiting for a gate to open at New York's Kennedy airport? The New York Times reports because of the backlog of flights stranded during the blizzard, a Cathay Pacific flight was trapped on the tarmac; pilots didn't check ahead for an open gate.

Many thought this wasn't supposed to happen anymore, since the FAA imposed a time limit of three hours for planes that need a gate to discharge passengers. Otherwise, they'll be fined. But the penalty only applies to domestic flights, so Cathay Pacific's predicament wouldn't count. Cathay has apologized for schedule disruptions.

YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK (BONUS TWEET OF THE DAY)

Newark, N.J. mayor Cory Booker joined his public works team to clear streets and run errands for snowbound citizens. From Booker's Twitter feed:

I'm delivering the diapers now. We will get her street soon RT @tmhester: @CoryBooker Highland Ave b/w My sis can't get out to get diapers. 2:09 PM Dec 27th

Booker helped Tim Hester's snowbound family, according to the New York Daily News and has been living on diet Coke and Advil while shoveling all over Newark.

Mass transit is tough all over, according to the Christian Science Monitor, which is tracking air, train and bus travel.

IT NEVER RAINS IN CALIFORNIA

Gale warnings are posted all down the state's coast. The LA Times warns an arctic storm has plowed in to the coast, pushing wind gusts up to 75 miles per hour. California already suffered millions of dollars in damage last week from record rain, flooding and mudslides. Highway 330 is off limits and may stay that way until spring.

LAURENT GBAGBO: IMMOVABLE IN IVORY COAST

He may have a quality in common with a character created by author Judith Viorst's "Alexander, Who's Not (Do you hear me? I mean It!) Going To Move". Gbagbo received three west African presidents yesterday who reminded him he lost Ivory Coast's presidential election and must hand over power to the victor. NPR's Ofeibea Quist-Arcton tells Morning Edition Gbagbo is undeterred and says he'll cut ties with any country that recognizes his rival as Ivory Coast's new president.