From the Tropics in Minnesota
I noticed this item a couple weeks ago on LiveScience:

The average temperatures of the first half of 2006 were the highest ever recorded for the continental United States, scientists announced today.
--July 14, LiveScience.com

Well, it hasn't let up around here. Today is the 16th day this month where the temp on my front porch has been at 90C or above. Yesterday the dew points were in the 70s. We had an official Heat Index of nearly 110C.

Folks, this is Minnesota. It was cooler in Tampa, FL, than here. Soon the Snow Birds will be going south to escape the heat.

[What's more we are in an extreme drought in part of the state- which has happened in only 13 weeks. It is the worst drought period since 1988 when it took
over nine months to lead up to something this serious. The heavenly faucets
turned off just when we should be getting our heaviest rain.]

I know that no single event, no single heat wave or storm is caused by climate change (or politically incorrectly- global warming.) There will be cooler than normal days ahead as well. But it's the overall pattern. If we hadn't had a cool streak in spring, we would be well above last year at this point. Two years in a row.

Anyway, I think I might invest in a Palm Tree franchise for the Minneapolis area. No sense being left out in the cold heat.