Hot, hot, HOT!

And speaking of Wales (we so were—the romance-of-war, Arthurian legend industry began there), the temperature reached 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 Celsius) yesterday (usual summer high? 69º). In London it was 100º (average summer temp? In the low 70s.). Spain and Portugal hit 115º. It’s 100º in Paris right now.

Meanwhile here in the U.S., today it’ll hit 111º in Phoenix, 100º in Houston, 96º in Omaha, Nebraska and in Kansas City Missouri temps’ll top 99º.

Can you say Human Caused Climate Change—sure ya can.

I only mention it but...

…fewer than five percent of all European households have air-conditioning, compared with 90 percent in the United States. (source)

Fucking BRUTAL!

For the remainder of this week, here in Valhalla, the highs will be in the low 90s. We have AC. We live on the water where there’s almost always a beautiful breeze. I will not complain…much.

Now that most of my COVID fatigue has passed, I’ve begun taking daily walks between 6 and 7AM. At that time the temperature is still in the low 70s and there are fewer potential plague carriers walking/running/biking along the seawall. I can do the rest of my rehab exercises later in the day—inside the ACed house.

Good thing I’m a morning person.

Tidbits:

Currently, the highest officially registered temperature is 56.7C (134F), recorded in California’s Death Valley back in 1913. The hottest known temperature in Africa is 55C (131F), recorded in Kebili, Tunisia in 1931. Iran holds the record for Asia’s hottest official temperature of 54C (129F) which it recorded in 2017.

The highest temperature ever recorded in Europe was 48.8C (119.8F) on the Italian island of Sicily on August 11, 2021. (source)

According to The Spruce Eats, the proper temperature to cook a medium-rare steak is 130º F to 135º F. We’re cooking ourselves.

On a less down note, the water AND Cake (of course!) were awesome this morning