June 23, 2025
Today’s paper has a snazzy graphic on the weather page. Between Monday and Friday, three days have the word “HOT” with word art that makes the word “Hot” look like it’s sizzling. Those are the days that will be 98.
The other two days apparently don’t rate the heat warning: Their high temps are only 97.
January 11, 2025
When the temperature gets to about zero, people hate it, but they say, “Well, at least it will cut down on the mosquitoes next summer. It’s not just the biting, it’s that high-pitched whine that gets me!” I believe that the hypothesis that cold weather kills mosquito larvae has been proved to be false.
What zero degrees does do is cut down on the number of people whining when the temperatures are in the 30s.
January 5, 2025
We’re in the middle of a snowstorm (of apparently Biblical proportions, if you listen to the news) complete with snow, sleet and ice—a wintry mix, as they call it; and the TV stations spend quite a bit of time warning people to stay off the roads.
In the same broadcast, they show pictures of people at the local skiing spot, and of people sledding down Art Hill in St. Louis. “Doesn’t that look fun?” they ask. “Look at all these people enjoying themselves!”
If I were the highway patrol, I might send a strongly-worded message to the stations: “Quit encouraging people to be out and about!” Obviously, some people didn’t need any encouragement to act foolishly; but showing them in a positive light encourages others to get out and drive for recreational purposes.
The patrol might add this message: “To those who drive for recreation: Enjoy yourselves. If you get in a wreck, or get stuck on the highway, we’ll be by to help you out after the roads clear.”
