A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....08-11-04...The Dog Days of Summer

Mama_Bear

[Mama_Bear]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

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The Dog Days of Summer are almost behind us. For some it will be a reason to celebrate, for others (like me) it is a time to lament the passing of the summer season.

"While the dog days have made many us feel like we're swaddled in fur, the period is actually named after Sirius, the Dog Star. Sirius rises with the sun when summer is at its hottest. The dog days traditionally run from July 3 to August 11.

The ancients believed extra heat generated by Sirius in conjunction with the sun caused this sizzling spell of weather. Sirius is the brightest star at night, after all.

But Sirius, which is found in the Canis Major (big dog) constellation, is some 50 trillion miles (80 trillion kilometers) from Earth—too far away to influence temperatures here.

In Roman times the dog days—or dies caniculares in Latin—were associated with intolerable heat, lethargy, disease, and, appropriately enough, mad dogs." James Owen for National Geographic News July 16, 2004

What was the highest summer temperature ever recorded in the United States?

A - 114 degrees Fahrenheit
B - 124 degrees F.
C - 134 degrees F.
D - 144 degrees F.

Answer >>> C - The highest temperature ever recorded in the U.S. was in California's Death Valley. The temperature reached 134 degrees. The hottest record on Earth took place in El Aisisa, Libya. That temp was 136F.

When does summer officially start in the Northern Hemisphere?

A - June 19th
B - June 21st
C - June 22nd
D - It varies

Answer >>> D - It varies. The summer solstice doesn't always occur on June 21. In 1896, summer began on June 20. It won't begin on that same date again until 2012.

It's not just the heat. It really is the humidity! When the thermometer reads 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and the humidity stands at 60%, how hot do you really feel, according to the National Weather Service's heat index?

A - 116 degrees F.
B - 126 degrees F.
C - 136 degrees F.
D - 146 degress F.

Answer >>> C - According the heat index, 100 degrees F at 60% relative humidity will warm the human body as much as heat at 136 degrees F at 0% humidity. When the Heat Index gets above 90 then it's time to take some precautions. About 175 people die in this country every year due to excessive heat.

What is the official definition of a heat wave?

A - Two or more days of 90+ degree weather.
B - Three or more days of 90+ degree weather.
C - Any period of unusually hot weather.
D - A period of 48 consecutive hours when the air temperature is 15% or more above normal.
E - There is no "official" definition.

Answer >>> E - There is no universal "official" definition. The National Weather service has set no temperature or duration to define a heat wave. The American Heritage dictionary defines a heat wave as, "a period of unusually hot weather."

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 08-09-04 Military Monday 08-10-04 God Bless the USA ~ Lift Every Voice (Rerun)

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[Mama_Bear]

[Mama_Bear]

If you would like to be added to or removed from the Finest Ping List, FReepMail me.

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

Okay, what are the answers?

[Mama_Bear]

You need to highlight the text next to where it says "Answer". :-)

[Mama_Bear]

Mail coming in a sec.

[cyborg]

Good morning? I haven't been to bed yet. I'm doing a little housecleaning whilst freeping.

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

Thank you, that was "cool".

I guessed correctly on several of them including the hottest temp. I knew that 124 was wrong because I was in Palm Springs in July 1995 when it was 125.

[Mama_Bear]

Thank you, that was "cool".

Glad you played along. Just a little fun thing to do on a day when I didn't have anything else to post.

You have mail.

[Mama_Bear]

Good morning? I haven't been to bed yet.

Good morning, cyborg. I am off to bed very soon, but it is still fairly early here in pacific time. What time zone are you in?

[Diver Dave]

All this talk of the heat must mean you're serving Margaritas. :-)

[cyborg]

I live in New York, not that being up this late ever stopped me from checking out FR :D

[Mama_Bear]

I was in Palm Springs in July 1995 when it was 125.

Wow! That is definitely not healthy. Humans aren't equipped to handle that kind of heat.

[Mama_Bear]

Well, hopefully you don't need to get up early and go to work, otherwise it's going to be a short night. LOL

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

You have return mail.

P.S. I don't know if you heard me say Darn the other night as I was being picked up. My hubby was asking me the whereabouts of the chair I had brought. OOOPPPSSS seems like I kinda forgot about it. I had to track someone down and I will be getting it back later "today".

[Mama_Bear]

All this talk of the heat must mean you're serving Margaritas. :-)

Yes! And after I get back home from having my root canal tomorrow, I am going to need at least one. I don't want to go!

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

Humans aren't equipped to handle that kind of heat.

Tell that to the people that live down in Palm Spring, Palm Desert and Indio. It was like walking into a blast furnance everytime you walked outside.

[Mama_Bear]

Good night everyone. I need to get to bed. Have a dentist appointment tomorrow morning.

[cyborg]

good night!

[Mama_Bear]

My hubby was asking me the whereabouts of the chair I had brought. OOOPPPSSS seems like I kinda forgot about it.

Where did you leave it? At the restaurant? I didn't see you bring a chair.

[Mama_Bear]

I'll get your answer in the morning. I am off to bed.