I digress on weather

Today's topic: What does hot mean?

Well, everyone has a different opinion on this. There is the famous "dry" heat vs. "wet" heat argument (it's not so bad if the humidity is under 50% and it's congenial at up to 100 if it's at 10% ala Phoenix). Here's how the conversation started last night when the announcer at the concert I attended in the Sacramento Zoo was trying to entice a weary public to return on Saturday to a food event at the zoo (outdoors of course). "Don't believe that weather forecast, it's going to be fine!"

Now, if it was in the Midwest or South that might translate into one thing (ignore those predictions of thunderstorms?). In L.A. (my hometown), it would mean the Santa Anas are going to hold off until next week. In the Bay Area, it would mean the July fog bank will lift by the weekend. Here in Sacramento it means that the temperature is forecast to be above 100. In fact, as of today it's forecast at 108. The humidity here runs in the 25-45% range so it's not completely dry, but it ain't that wet either. I can promise it'll be miserable at midday with only mad dogs and morons out of the comfort of a/c.

Americans seem to have a funny relationship with heat. A/C is often treated as a "luxury" or sign of weakness, while heating is a minimal habitability requirement for rental housing in most jurisdictions. I was trying to find an interview on NPR from a few years back where a historian did a book on the history of A/C and heat, and how heat has historically been a greater killer in the U.S. than cold. I spent a loathsome third trimester pregnant during an unseasonably warm Bay Area summer. It was just in the 90s, but with no A/C it brought on a case of heat stroke/ketosis that really sucked. It's cooler in the Bay Area, but there is no A/C because folks figure you just need to open a window. On hot days, in old houses there is no place of refuge. I can remember sitting on the cool concrete steps at night in my maternity dress, trying to keep cool. What misery, because A/C was a luxury! Here in Sacramento, even section eight housing has A/C, so it's hotter, but at least there is some relief indoors.