By Sarah Fendrick —

As a result of two recent blizzards in Washington
DC, the city broke a record for annual snowfall on Wednesday that had stood for more than 120 years.  The old record of 54.4 inches, set in 1888-89, has now been surpassed by the 54.9
inches that has fallen this winter.  Last weekend's snowstorm alone dumped almost 18 inches of snow on DC, placing the storm fourth on DC's list of largest snowfalls.  The storm, which some have labeled "Snowmageddon" has resulted in a four-day shutdown of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.  As with the first three days of the shutdown, the USPTO will
consider February 11, 2010 to be a "Federal holiday within the District of
Columbia" under 35 U.S.C. § 21(b) and 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.6, 1.7, 1.9, 2.2(d),
2.195, and 2.196.