European Tribune

What is your favourite season?

Autumn   10 votes - 43 %
Winter   1 vote - 4 %
Spring   0 votes - 0 %
Summer (when it's over)   0 votes - 0 %
Southern Hemisphere Summer (when I'm on the Northern Hemisphere)   0 votes - 0 %
Summer (when a storm is raging)   2 votes - 8 %
Summer (I believe Ariel makes clothes perfectly white, cremes make wrinkles disappear, oil majors love the environment)   1 vote - 4 %
DoDo, is this a diary in the Grumpy Old Man series?   9 votes - 39 %
 
23 Total Votes
Display:
I want a poll so I can vote for Autumn!

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Jun 1st, 2008 at 07:23:06 AM EST
Done!

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.
by DoDo on Sun Jun 1st, 2008 at 07:34:18 AM EST
[ Parent ]
You grumpy old man, you!

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Jun 1st, 2008 at 07:36:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]
How about adding all 4 seasons to the poll - I like all, because each is different and each has it's beautiful and it's inconviened sides.
by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Jun 1st, 2008 at 08:16:20 AM EST
[ Parent ]
You can vote for the "you're just grumpy" option.

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Jun 1st, 2008 at 08:38:48 AM EST
[ Parent ]
How about adding all 4 seasons to the poll

No, no way I'm gonna allow someone to get away easily with choosing summer ;-)

each is different and each has it's beautiful and it's inconviened sides.

Which reminds me of: the number one complaint I get hear about winter is that they dread driving the snowed-in/icy roads.

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Sun Jun 1st, 2008 at 10:06:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]
The one good part of summer: storms!



*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Sun Jun 1st, 2008 at 07:26:30 AM EST
To a large extent, heat, smog and pollen allergies are artefacts of industrial misdevelopment. Summers are nicer with some foliage and less cars. You see that 40 degree picture? Typical urban heat island.

By the way, you forgot sunburn and ticks...

by nanne (zwaerdenmaecker@gmail.com) on Sun Jun 1st, 2008 at 07:46:14 AM EST
you forgot sunburn

Instant recall of memories of Dutch and Scandinavian tourists...

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Sun Jun 1st, 2008 at 07:51:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]
LOL. I do actually have some tolerance for the sun. Sunburn amongst tourists is mostly a measure of stupidity. That being not using sunscreen and going in the sun between 12:00 and 15:00 when you're still white. Of course there are a lot of Scandinavians and quite a few Dutch (and redhead Britons) who simply go red-white-red-white.
by nanne (zwaerdenmaecker@gmail.com) on Sun Jun 1st, 2008 at 07:58:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Sunburn amongst tourists is mostly a measure of stupidity.

That and carelessness. (None of the sunburn tourists I saw was complaining.)

That being not using sunscreen and going in the sun between 12:00 and 15:00 when you're still white.

No, the simplest rule is: get yourself a tan with short exposures; a few days later you can take any amount. Tourists red like a crab take the Sun upon arrival at a sunny place without any moderation. (BTW I myself have whiter than white skin.)

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Sun Jun 1st, 2008 at 09:55:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I like Madrid in the second half of August, when the nights start to be cool enough to be able to sleep, and yet the city is still empty from everyone being out on the beach so you can have streets, parks and cinemas all to yourself.

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Jun 1st, 2008 at 07:59:41 AM EST
I was wondering what the English term for canicula is...

Wikipedia: Dog days

The term "Dog Days" was used by the Greeks (see, e.g., Aristotle's Physics, 199a2), as well as the ancient Romans (who called these days caniculares dies (days of the dogs)) after Sirius (the "Dog Star"), the brightest star in the heavens besides the Sun.

Popularly believed to be an evil time "when the seas boiled, wine turned sour, dogs grew mad, and all creatures became languid, causing to man burning fevers, hysterics, and phrensies" - Brady's Clavis Calendarium, 1813.

The Dog Days originally were the days when Sirius, the Dog Star, rose just before or at the same time as sunrise (heliacal rising), which is no longer true owing to precession of the equinoxes. The ancients sacrificed a brown dog at the beginning of the Dog Days to appease the rage of Sirius, believing that that star was the cause of the hot, sultry weather.

The Old Farmer's Almanac lists the traditional timing of the Dog Days as the 40 days beginning July 3 and ending August 11, coinciding with the ancient heliacal (at sunrise) rising of the Dog Star, Sirius.
According to The Book of Common Prayer (1552), the "Dog Daies" begin on July 6 and end on August 17.



When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Jun 1st, 2008 at 08:09:02 AM EST
Someone, i mean somebody, could do a diary on the various health and mind affecting winds which turn societies on their collective ears.  They are strong around the world, and are the opposite of the refreshing winds.  I only have personal experience of the Santa Anna winds of SoCal, hot and dry, which take the life out of you.  Migs probably can relate.  They also exacerbate fire conditions, and bring the worst SoCal fires.

They are the windy equivalent of the Dog Days.

btw, why was the No. African tribe which venerated the Dog Star called, Dogon?

Skennah Kowa

by Crazy Horse on Sun Jun 1st, 2008 at 02:01:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]
The Santa Ana winds threw me off my bicycle once so, yes, I can relate.

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Jun 1st, 2008 at 05:39:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Stepping outside the house on a summer evening and smelling the countryside as the sun goes down is a big favourite of mine, (I spent half an hour sitting outside at dusk last night just absorbing the evening with all of my senses)

But wandering down country lanes kicking up showers of fallen leaves/watching the first flowers bloom/seeing the first snowflakes are just as good

If I had to pick one though it would be early autumn.

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.

by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Sun Jun 1st, 2008 at 08:24:04 AM EST
But you speak easy with your oceanic weather, don't you? What are the typical top day and night temperatures in early August?

Would I take a deep breath at sunset in the countryside, I would get significant amounts of dust in my mouth, that is above eating a number of mosquitoes...

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Sun Jun 1st, 2008 at 10:02:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]
...that said, having made acquaintance with blood-sucking "midges" in Western Scotland, I prefer mosquitoes.

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.
by DoDo on Sun Jun 1st, 2008 at 10:11:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]
oh god yes

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.
by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Sun Jun 1st, 2008 at 10:13:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]

this is my closest weather station, although it is on the coast so is probably flattened out by a couple of degrees from where I am

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.

by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Sun Jun 1st, 2008 at 10:13:02 AM EST
[ Parent ]
So you barely get even above 20°C??? I would have thought 25°C max or something... here is Budapest, courtesy of the NOAA:



*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Sun Jun 1st, 2008 at 10:21:02 AM EST
[ Parent ]
As you might understand, Summer is important for the Finns as it compensates our (ever-milder) Winter. Myself, I like all the seasons. Every time of year has something to enjoy, and something to bitch about. I am, though, very fond of precipitation of all kinds, even sleet. Probably because it makes me more aware of spatiality.

But simply pulling on the shorts and paddling out to the patio with a latte on a summer morning (bypassing the shower till later) is my idea of bliss.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Sun Jun 1st, 2008 at 09:40:43 AM EST
and the living is easy. Catfish jumping, and the hippies are high.

Must be our Viking heritage - I love storms and the clouds halfway up the cliffs of our Gorge at any time of the year.

paul spencer

by paul spencer (spencerinthegorge AT yahoo DOT com) on Sun Jun 1st, 2008 at 10:49:18 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Just read a news item about the Finnish Summer and doctors. They predict that, as usual, the most common accidents at the weekend cottage will be caused by wayward darts, barefoot lawn-mowing, lack of strimmer control, and misplaced axe-strokes while chopping logs for the sauna. Alcohol is sometimes involved.

Finnish darts is played with a bulls-eye board with 10 concentric rings (points 1 - 10), 5 darts and  longer throwing distance than the UK game - with the stand-line usually some natural feature. The longer throw often requires a different over-shoulder throw. Games are usually 'beat the last score or lose a life', either individually or in teams.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Sun Jun 1st, 2008 at 03:54:22 PM EST
Winter is cold, summer is warm. Simple. Spring and autumn may be nice (the best month in the year is May), except that the winter-like cold periods are too common.
Also summer is break time (well, was).
by Deni on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 06:11:57 AM EST
But you forget that not all summers are the same. In Britain in the last decade or so, temperatures have been getting too high and summer gets to be a bit unbearable.

But I remember the summers of the 80s which were lovely in terms of being warm and sunny without being opporsively hot. We don't have terrible problems with smog or insects here.

But if you live in s Europe, say spain or Italy then really you can write off the summer as just being unbearable. I don't know about Italy but S Spain is more accurately described as N Sahara.

So proper summers are fun, but that's england...not too hot, not too cold...just right.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 08:55:38 AM EST
Humidity is a major factor in the experience of heat. The air in Finland is usually very dry, thus temperatures up to 28 C are very bearable. Add in 80% humidity and such temperatures are exhausting.

You can't be me, I'm taken
by Sven Triloqvist on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 11:32:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I used to feel the same way.  Then one year I had surgery and my blood pressure fell very low and I became cold and stayed cold.  For months.  It wasn't until the summer came and I felt the sun on my skin that I began to warm up.  Now I really appreciate the heat.  

I still hate all the other parts of summer.  It remains my least favorite time of year.  I've written of some of the debilitating effects of summer in the OT. :)

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

by poemless on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 12:56:37 PM EST
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