Global warming is enough to make one hot under the collar on a humid day - Bluefield Daily Telegraph

â€" â€" Global warming? If there is such a thing, it certainly seems to be showing itself now. Writer Doyle Rice researched some interesting numbers earlier this week, noting that almost two-thirds of America is sweltering under the hottest year since record-keeping began shortly after the Civil War ended in 1865.

One day last week, for instance, there were 28 states with temperatures of at least 100 degrees and 11 reported high temps of 105-plus. Overall, depending upon which source is quoted, the overall U.S. temperatures are at either the 7th-or-11th highest level ever.

The National Climatic Data Center, however, does not list West Virginia in the ‘warmest ever’ group. But don’t tell that to the lemonade legions now distributing the sweet stuff to Bluefield residents for the seventh time already with most of July and all of August remaining!

The Weather Channel keeps posting record or near-record bulletins for our area and from California to New York. Can you believe that 22,356 daily records have been set so far in 2012? People might ask if it ever gets cold anywhere anymore and the report is that 2,448 daily lows have also been reported somewhere in the U.S. since January 1.

The jet stream is supposedly to blame, having maintained a mysterious far northerly route for the past eight months, which has been keeping almost 70 percent of America drier than normal. With the exception of Maine, the other 49 states have reported at least a period of drought this year.

Cattle farmers are suffering with almost half of U.S. pastureland now classified as “poor” or “very poor” in terms of grazing grass quality. Yes, there is no doubt that will translate into higher prices at the grocery store whether the ranchers receive more for their cattle or not.

If all of that makes you hot under the collar, join the crowd of about 250 million other Americans having trouble trying to sweat the (not so) small stuff this year.

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I have never understood the frenzied attempt to ban tobacco products while alcohol is still sold widely under the auspices of most states who have no trouble swallowing the money which rolls in from the sale of spirits. After all, who has ever heard of a smoking driver killing anyone? Nevertheless, a recent story notes concern about drive-through liquor, beer and wine sales in states like Texas, Georgia, Florida, Maryland, and Louisiana, among others.

There are about 23 states which allow such commercial traffic and now the possible link between such sales and rising accident rates is being reviewed. As my daughter would say, Duh…

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In this steaming summer, when I should have been keeping myself in air-conditioned comfort, it has been an endless series of weedeating, grass trimming, fence fixing, brush cutting and outdoor exercises. There are always a few readers who think I am off the beam when I say I don’t tweet, Twitter, or Facebook, and almost never use a cell phone. During this series of weeks between school semesters, though, the joy of reading books, watching almost nothing on television, and getting most of my news from the great pages of the Daily Telegraph has been delightful.

My exercise level is way up and (hopefully) the cholesterol numbers are staying down. Many years ago, one of the best principals I ever knew, Mr. Bill Stone, said that good teachers seldom sit down unless they are injured. I took that advice to heart and usually stay on my feet during most classes (almost every teacher does â€" not just me) and now a new study makes that practice seem wise for more reasons than one. “Sitting is a dangerous risk factor for early death, on par with smoking and being obese” recently proclaimed Peter Katzmarzyk of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

A piece penned by Nanci Hellmich also includes the note that sitting less than three hours per day can add at least two years to the average person’s life span. (Of course you are not “average” but at least you get the idea, don’t you?) 

Some folks sit about six hours per day. That would include secretaries and office workers, among others, and to be honest, it would probably just about be impossible to get the boss to allow desk work to be done while standing or walking around. One researcher says if you have been sitting for more than an hour you have been sitting too long.

All I can add is that it is perfectly acceptable to remain motionless for as long as it takes to read this column. Thanks!

Larry Hypes, a teacher at Tazewell High School, is a Daily Telegraph columnist.