[JustaDumbBlonde]

"If not, we'll head up to the Lake."

Well, don't get in unless you know how to swim and don't let the kids who can't swim go in either. That is common sense.

"Now, imagine being poor and living in Shreveport with no air-conditioning and the lure of a cool lake to take a refreshing dip into."

I missed the parts of the article that described the homes of these 3 families as being poor or without air conditioning.

[TNdandelion]

They don't necessarily have to be poor, but I'm not that far up the road here in Memphis and I can't cool my house down to much below 80 without spending $450-$500/mo just on utilities.

The bill was $400 last month with the thermo at 80 and ceiling fans and box fans supplementing. Temp is currently 104 with a heat index of 128. I can't even take a cold shower because the water coming out the tap is lukewarm. lol