21 July 2006Peter LeoPittsburgh Post-GazetteIt's even hotter in BritainEngland is enduring its hottest July since 1911. The Times (London) reminisced: "During those long, languorous prewar days skimpy bathing costumes, with sleeves ending at the elbow rather than the wrist, made an appearance at seaside resorts as the country struggled to cope with a five-month heat wave. The Editor of the Pall Mall Gazette joined Lord Curzon for a game of tennis in the nude. As the heat wave continued, however, people began to suffer. Fields were scorched, fires broke out along railways and The Times introduced a column entitled 'Deaths from Heat.' "
A heat-health expert warned that Britain could experience a tragedy similar to 1911 and the far worse one in France in 2003 that left 14,000 people dead. Forecasters said the baking weather would last well into next week.Heat happensThe Daily Telegraph (London):"As the thermometer nudged 100F in the summer of 1911, an MP 'in rather a hesitating manner removed his coat.' Before long, we reported, 20 members were in their shirtsleeves. Such measures were a last resort. Among readers' suggestions for coping with the unrivaled heat that summer was for gentlemen to wear cummerbunds lest apoplexy descend from the head to the stomach."This week, as most parts enjoy a few days of sun, all we hear is nagging. It is 'advisable' to carry bottles of water (a tiresome, untidy habit). Children must frequently be topped up, but not too much in case they suffer 'water intoxication.' The old must keep indoors. And no swimming, for fear of hidden dangers. Phew! It's enough to bring on an apoplexy in itself. Winter's cold and summer's hot -- let's embrace both."
Hot spots
In America, it seems, anything goes with workplace attire ("flip-flop, flip-flop") when it's extremely cold or extremely hot. Britain's railway workers aren't so lucky. They can't wear shorts. A Bristol business leader said: "It is ridiculous to do anything but relax dress codes in hot weather. The age of stuffy British attitudes to uniforms is hopefully going."
Billy White, 13, of Sheffield was unhappy with the stuffy attitude that required him to wear long pants to school. So he showed up in a skirt. "The rules discriminate against boys in this kind of weather and this seemed a good way to make my point," he told The Guardian. Unfortunately for Billy, Silverdale School's head teacher agreed: "If he wants to wear a skirt, he is welcome"
Pigs at a farm in Worcestershire were decked out in sunglasses to protect their eyes from the heat. No bathing suits were issued, however.
The heat has taken its toll on Britain's beer drinkers. Quality inspectors doing the rounds at pubs were served one pint at 86F, a temperature closer to bath water. One in two pints were served too warm, they found.
The bookmakers were feeling the heat, too. William Hill stopped taking bets on temperatures breaching 100F and faces the largest weather-related payout since 2003.
Buckingham Palace is exempt from London's hose-pipe ban. But the Queen has chosen to adhere to the same restrictions as her subjects.
She prefers that women stay covered
Vicki Woods of The Daily Telegraph (London):
"So it is a warm old week and Britain's gone potty. Why can't we dress for the heat? Shouldn't we be getting used to it by now? These are still only the little low foothills of global warming, after all, and we are going to have to live with these hot patches. Do people really think that nylon running shorts and sports vests [sleeveless athletic shirts] are a) acceptable civil dress and b) going to make them feel any cooler? No, no, people, please. Put that flesh away. It is not only deeply unattractive to gaze upon but also the spreading patches at groin and underarm smell like high old mutton.
"Look, I can do heat. I can dress for it really well. Scorching Dubai, sweaty Mississippi, sweltering New York City -- they are all perfectly cope-able. Taxis aren't air-conditioned in New York, but since everything else is (planet-wreckingly) iced beyond all reason, you know exactly what to wear for dressy appointments. As for women in this country, I wish they would adapt their dress for heat waves. People do feel gloomy when boiling to death and gloom is not lifted by all this panty-presentation under thin pale frocks. Acres of cleavage, when it is so hot that steam rises off the mounds, looks disgustingly like boiled duck. Midriffs ... God, I can't even think about the midriff horrors that pop up in the heat."
Hot tips
British tabloids, recognizing the people's right to know, feature naked women. The Daily Star's babe of the day had wisdom to impart:
"Sexy Sammi is not used to the sort of weather we've been getting in baking Britain this week. As you can see, she's even had to leave her vest off to keep cool. The 21-year-old Essex beauty has another tip for coping with the heat, too -- leave your knickers in the fridge overnight. Just be careful you don't dash off to work the next day wearing a lettuce leaf!" (Picture unavailable.)
The Sun: "You can take sensible health ministry advice and stay indoors, avoid tea and alcohol and keep wet towels at hand. Or you can put on the shades, flop on a sun lounger and crack open something long, chilled and thirst-quenching. You decide."
Mad Dogs and Englishmen
By Noel Coward (1932)
In tropical climes there are certain times of day
When all the citizens retire to tear their clothes off and perspire.
It's one of the rules that the greatest fools obey,
Because the sun is much too sultry
And one must avoid its ultry-violet ray.
The natives grieve when the white men leave their huts,
Because they're obviously, definitely nuts!
Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun,
The Japanese don't care to, the Chinese wouldn't dare to,
Hindus and Argentines sleep firmly from twelve to one
But Englishmen detest-a siesta.
In the Philippines they have lovely screens to protect you from the glare.
In the Malay States, there are hats like plates which the Britishers won't wear.
At twelve noon the natives swoon and no further work is done,
But mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.
Random acts of kindness
Rose Mangold Pierce
Winchester, Va.
I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, and many of my family still live there. My cousin Carole Mangold (born and raised in Wilkinsburg) moved back to Pittsburgh two weeks ago after 30 years, retiring as a professor at the University of the District of Columbia.
Carole got a moving company to move her. But because the van was so big, the police pulled it over and told the driver it would not be able to negotiate many of the streets to reach Stanton Heights. So the driver had to subcontract with the local U-Haul for a smaller truck. This meant transferring all Carole's possessions from the van to the much smaller U-Haul. When the U-Haul truck arrived, however, we were surprised to find out that the driver didn't have help beyond his wife.
Here is where Pittsburghers showed their heart and soul. I went door to door asking people who didn't know me, if they'd be willing to help unload this truck. Sure as true, they were -- no hesitation. They just came and helped after checking with the truck driver to make sure there would be no problems.
Not only did they unload the truck, but they went back with the driver again and again and again -- three times --unloading the big truck into the smaller U-Haul and then moving the contents into Carole's new home, working until 12:30 a.m. These guys had to get up the next morning and go to work. But two of the guys came the next day and helped Carole and I move boxes, so my cousin could unpack them.
I remember only that one of these wonderful guys' name was Steve and that another just got back from Iraq. God, I love my Pittsburghers and even Big Ben, and I want the entire world to know how wonderful they are.
Florence Williams
Shadyside
I am an older black woman who on this day was driving from Shadyside to the Holiday Inn, just off the Parkway East in Wilkinsburg, for a retirement luncheon. Next to the entry road to the inn is a road leading to Pittsburgh. I mistakenly got on this road, and once on it couldn't turn around. Finally, I was able to stop at a repair shop and ask for directions.
I drove off, but after a while, I pulled over to the side of the road. A young white man appeared near the car. He noticed that I seemed to be having trouble. I told him where I wanted to go. He said, "Just follow me." I offered him money but he refused. He led me to the inn and continued on. I was on time for the luncheon. I had no way to thank him. I mentioned his color so that if he or someone who knows him reads this he will know I thank him!
