Heat wave!

So I'm slowly getting into the habit of posting here more regularly. It's a work in progress.

I laughed today when I saw this article:

http://www.alternet.org/story/147495/air-conditioning_is_terrible_for_the_earth_--_here%27s_how_to_live_without_it?page=1

It's about how AC uses a lot of electricity in wealthy countries, but especially the US. I laughed because my roommate and I had already taken their advice and, out of a mix of bullheaded stoicism and stinginess, endured the daytime heat here until a few days ago.

Now, let's clear up once and for all the idea that the whole Middle East is intolerably hot for six months a year. Of course, there are parts that are like that, but they are well to the south and inland from here. Damascus can see the occasional frost in the winter, and sees summer-time highs in the 90's. Of course, this is a dry heat, meaning that daytime high of 95 lasts for about 2 hours, so at 9 pm it might be all the way down to 75. Some summer nights it's downright chilly!

So thus my roommate and I were just sweating out the hot afternoons each day, waiting for the evening to come, when two days ago it became intolerable. Temperatures had gotten higher, there was no breeze during the day or at night, and so the brick oven (almost literal) of this city had gotten unbearable. We used the AC for two days and then I went back and checked what the weather had been. It turns out that both days it had been above 110! I would like to take this opportunity to assure my readership that I do not feel the slightest pangs of guilt about it. Happy July in the Northern Hemisphere! Hope it's not 111 where y'all are!