THE WASHINGTON region has yet to recover from the weekend storm that dumped near-record amounts of snow on the area. It seems downright unfair that another round of snow and ice -- perhaps as much as 20 more inches -- is headed our way Tuesday. So, yes, we're all entitled to whine and kvetch -- when we're not out enjoying the magnificent beauty of it all.

UKRAINE'S ORANGE Revolution erupted in 2004 because of an attempt by Russian leader Vladimir Putin and his proxies to impose on Ukraine a version of Russia's corrupt authoritarianism -- beginning with a fraudulent presidential election. The revolt's success produced a messy but functioning democracy in which elections are hard-fought and unpredictable, the press is free and civil society flourishes. Just more than five years later, the central question is whether that democratic system -- which is what prevents Ukraine from being dominated by Russia -- will survive another presidential election.

A few years back, Washington and Baltimore bid to host the Olympics, and struck out bigtime. Now we know what the problem was: They were bidding for the Summer Games. With Vancouver struggling to truck in enough snow for the Winter Games, set to begin on Friday, there's an obvious solution. Move the games here.

MARYLAND EDUCATION officials maintain that Montgomery County didn't give its schools enough money this year. Its solution -- believe it or not -- is to slap a $23.4 million fine on the very schools that they say are underfunded. That's the equivalent of 360 teachers, or adding 1 1/2 children to each classroom. It is time that the Maryland General Assembly step in with some much-needed common sense and end this absurd fight over funding.