70 degrees on Nov 6 in NYC at 10 PM!

"What's it gonna take?" The talking heads said that and marveled at the "unseasonably warm" New York City temperatures. November 6 at 10:00 PM --and it is 70 degrees in New York City.

Historically speaking, 56 degrees is an average high in NYC for November 6.

One of the Weather Channel experts smiled and wondered aloud "What if an 80 degree day came along in the middle of December in New York City. Would that shock people enough?"

Enough to do what-- get scared maybe...?

The weather guy smiled the whole time, but a nervous smile-- reminiscent of a gallows humor response. (Gallows humor--see Wikipedia below)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallows_humor
Gallows humor is humor about very unpleasant, serious, or painful circumstances. Any humor that treats serious matters, such as death, war and crime, in a light, silly or satirical fashion is considered gallows humor.Gallows humor has been described as a witticism in response to a hopeless situation. It arises from stressful, traumatic, or life-threatening situations, often in circumstances such that death is perceived as impending and unavoidable.

The increasing temperatures are too foreboding to consider. We use denial and rationalization. Push the problems out of mind. Crops? Warmer ocean waters? What will happen to us? We take the easy way out. We deny the facts, rationalize them, or better yet, ignore them completely.

More fun to think about Donald Trump hosting Saturday Night Live tomorrow night.

The young people of today never experienced the "old normal." My growing up years in New York had a rhythm to the seasons, a consistent pattern. September meant needing a sweater and a jacket. November and December arrived and a warm coat was needed for winter.

We have upset those rhythms of nature-- and nobody knows the price to be paid.

Instead we smile nervously about the fun of wearing short sleeves on a November night in New York City. We know better. And keep our fingers crossed.

It's Raining Down in Texas

Rain has arrived in Austin! I predicted to myself that the Weather Channel would become the most compelling TV station when global climate change was in full swing. Seems like it is in full swing. Talked to my parent in New York and temperature was scheduled to hit Austin, TX like levels of 95 degrees. But what's the purpose of discussing the weather. I looked at Maureen Dowd's column today and earlier saw David Brooks in the NY Times. Brooks feels capitalism has gone downhill since the arrival of the high achievers, the winners in the meritocracy contest. He says this new class is doing worse than the good old boy WASP bluebloods, the ruling class of yesteryear. Not sure what he's getting at. Seems like a spurious argument. Other things have changed. My belief, technology has changed everything. Everything now moves at the speed of light, the world has been revolutionized. Interestingly Maureen Dowd's column is about the tragic death of a boy from the infection of a cut by some super-bacteria. She said the bacteria grow best on gym floors and artificial turf. Always hated that artificial turf stuff. Isn't that with the Koch brothers are involved in-- the guys with a right wing agenda and huge bank accounts to support conservative candidates?! Now I am really convinced artificial turf is evil. So this blog is about media-- weather channels and New York Times columnists. Not very original... but hey it's a start! Barack Obama visited Austin today. Local radio talk show, Jeff Ward, got into manipulating Obama speech soundbites and asking listeners what they would like to tell Obama. I got home before I heard any of their comments/questions for the prez.. The one guy I did hear told Jeff Ward he preferred not to get whipped into a frenzy on the topic of politics. Smart listener... and yeah, I'm back commenting on other media.