Sunday, August 14, 2005

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New Weather Metric: Temperate Daylight Hours Here's a way I have found to rationalize tolerating the short Minnesota warm season. We moved from Indiana, where the summer is hot and humid, so that is our natural point of comparison. If you count the number of temparate daylight hours--rather than the number of temperate days--Minnesota compares much more favorably (I'm too lazy at the moment to do the math). Minneosta averages 15 degrees a year above 90. Most of those are only a little above 90. They can be moderately humid, but not generally as bad as Indiana, and there is always a breeze. So it is a rare day in Minneosta where it is so hot, even in the heat of the day, that you couldn't at least be comfortable sitting outside in the shade, sipping a cool drink. And there are essentially zero days where even the mornings and evenings are uncomfortable. So, during the time of long daylight, in places like Indiana (never mind points farther south), many of those hours are fit only for indoor, air-conditioned existence. Thus, measured on a basis of hours of temparate daylight, Minnesota looks better! 1:24:10 PM    comment []

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It is so stupid when e-commerce sites have a set of radio buttons with a credit card type defaulted. I just placed an order for some self-inking stamps, and only when I got the confirmation email did I notice that I had given a Visa number, but the site thought it was Amex. I understand the motivation--they want to "push" whatever card they get the best deal on. Fine, list that one first. But don't default it. 12:58:52 PM    comment []