Happy first day of summer! It’s the longest day of the year, and it also FEELS like summer across much of the U.S. Here are a few summer plotlines we’re tracking . . .
1. Most of the country is under a brutal “heat dome” right now. That’s when the atmosphere traps hot air within a specific region, often with little cloud cover or wind. It’s expected to extend into much of next week in a lot of places.
2. A writer for TheCut.com did a big article on pit stains, and how she’s just a very sweaty person in general. She’s always been embarrassed by it, but says she’s EMBRACING her pit stains this summer. She says “No more preventive measures. No more embarrassment. Bring on the sweat, baby.”
(I feel like she was shamed by one too many of those “sure / unsure” deodorant ads from the ’90s.)
3. Kroger is celebrating the start of summer by giving away 92,000 free pints of ice cream. 92,000 because there are 92 days of summer. You can download a coupon while supplies last at FreeKrogerIceCream.com.
(It goes live at noon Eastern today. Five states can’t get in on it: California, Colorado, Louisiana, Tennessee, and, of course Nevada.)
4. “The New York Post” wants you to know summer is open season for U.T.I.’s. A doctor explained urinary tract infections are more common in summer because the “combination of heat, humidity, and dehydration weakens your immune system.” They’re about 30 TIMES more common in women than men.
5. What’s the best thermostat setting for summer? An article on MarthaStewart.com says the “ideal” temp indoors is 70 degrees. But if you want to save money, and not crash the grid, the ideal setting is 78 degrees. Each degree above 75 saves about 3% on your energy bill.
6. And finally: A recent poll found summer is our favorite season. You might not agree when the temperature hits triple digits, but it ranked first with 32% of the vote. Spring is a close second, with 28%, then fall, 25%, winter, 11%, and 4% don’t have a favorite season.
