Another Cherished Myth (or Marketing Ploy?)
Found this one on Seth Godin's blog:

An open box of Baking Soda in your refrigerator doesn't do much about odors.
--from Ask a Scientist archive

Now for the Weather
First, the good news:

000
ABNT20 KNHC 141503
TWOAT
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
1130 AM EDT FRI JUL 14 2006

FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO...

THE TROPICS ARE QUIET AND CONDITIONS ARE NOT CONDUCIVE FOR TROPICAL
CYCLONE FORMATION.

TROPICAL STORM FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED THROUGH SATURDAY.

$$

FORECASTER AVILA/LANDSEA
--NOAA/NWS/NHC

And now the other news:

Scorching U.S.: First Half of 2006 Sets Heat Record
By LiveScience Staff posted: 14 July 2006 01:32 pm ET

The average temperature for the continental United States from January through June 2006 was the warmest first half of any year since records began in 1895, scientists announced today.

The average January-June temperature for the contiguous United States (based on preliminary data) was 51.8 degrees F (11.0 degrees C), or 3.4 degrees F (1.8 degrees C) above the 20th century (1901-2000) average.

Five states (Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri) experienced record warmth for the period. No state was near or cooler than average.
--LiveScience.com