Friday, July 16, 2010

Russian Heat

No, no, not the silly spy swap.

"Russians wilting in unusual heat wave; Across Europe people seek relief" by David Nowak, Associated Press | July 16, 2010

MOSCOW — From Russia’s Urals mountains to western Germany, a week of temperatures hovering stubbornly in the mid 90s has baked northern parts of Europe, which are usually spared the heat of the Mediterranean — and forecasters are warning of more to come over the next week....

I'm actually surprised the article does not cite global warming as the cause.

Will wonders never cease?

Russia’s worst droughts in a century have destroyed almost 25 million acres of crops in central and European areas, authorities said.

That is the FIRST I HAVE READ OF IT in my NEWSPAPER!

A state of emergency has been declared in 18 Russian provinces, where fire has engulfed more than 64,000 acres of forest....

Meanwhile, drowning deaths were up in Eastern Europe as people flocked to seas, lakes, and rivers in search of a break from the blistering heat. More than 230 people died in the last week alone across Russia, with 21 perishing over two weeks in Latvia, according to officials, who lamented the tendency of heavy drinking while sunbathing.

Related: Time For a Tan

They drive you to drink, readers.

Last year, about 3,000 people drowned in Russia.

Blood reserves were dropping in Germany, with fewer donors able to travel to blood banks....

Related: Hot-Blooded

Now it's boiling.

--more--"

Also see: The Boston Globe Says the Soviet Union Still Exists

At least they got that right this time.