Tag: weather
To Run the AC, or Not to Run the AC?
Q: My friend turns his air-conditioning off when he goes to work, goes on vacation or plans on being out of the house for more than a few hours. It gets up to 100 degrees in his house. Is he really saving money on his electric bill? A: Coincidentally, as this is written, the air-conditioning is ...Eat Spicy Foods to Cool Off?
Q: My husband insists that eating hot, spicy food during hot weather actually helps you cool off. He is wrong about so many things. Please tell him he is wrong about this. I think he’s going to give himself a stroke.Why Do People Put Cups on Cacti?
Q: My husband and I recently drove to Cave Creek and along the way we noticed many people had put plastic-foam cups on their cactuses. I said this is for protection from the frost, but my husband said it was some sort of Christmas decoration. Who wins?Odd Ways to Hydrate Your Christmas Tree
I got a letter from a woman whose husband wants to soak their Christmas tree in the pool for a couple of days before putting it up. She sounded quite worried about this. I have never thrown a Christmas tree into a swimming pool, so I don’t know what effect, if any, the needles would have ...What is Valley Fever?
Q: I have lived in the Valley for two years now and love it. A couple of weeks ago I heard about Valley fever for the first time. What exactly is it? A: It would be nice to report that Valley fever is a disease named for our very own Valley, something we could all be ...Tips for Growing a Winter Lawn in the Valley
Q: I just survived my first Arizona summer, and the worst part was mowing my lawn in the triple-digit heat. Now, my neighbor asked me if I am going to put in a winter lawn. Am I? A: First of all, congratulations on your getting through your first summer. You are now officially qualified to lord ...Religious Oddities Damaged by the Elements
Two Arizona sites listed as oddities have fallen victim to wind, rain and fire. The little church that Loren Pratt built to honor his late wife - the Mini Taj - was severely damaged by an Arizona thunderstorm. It stood in the open fields at Dome and welcomed visitors and curious passersby since 1996, but succumbed ...The Facts on Aridity, Humidity
Q: The other day when it was raining, it made me wonder about this: Is it possible to have more than 100 percent humidity or less than zero percent? My husband thinks I am odd. A: He may be right. I don’t know. If he is just basing that on your question, you probably aren’t ...Free Eats on Sunless Days in Yuma
YUMA -- This city is so proud of its sunshine that it has always been willing to be on it. According to the Guinness World Record book, Yuma is the sunniest place on earth, with bright skies prevailing an average of 4,055 hours out of a possible 4,456 hours every year. That's 91 percent ...Why Does the Valley Have a Canal System, and How Does it Work?
Q: What are the canals for, and how do they work? A: Bibbity, bobbity boo. Next question, please. Oh, all right, we’ll tell you: Farms and gravity. Really. The miles and miles of canals maintained by the Salt River Project were put there to bring water to thirsty acres of alfalfa, cotton, citrus and dates. Although there are a ...
