DataNinja's Scintillating Digital Random Banter #231

[Peelee]

So a bit of context to understand the end: I got a conditional offer of employment from the super cool job in super cool city - still some hoops to jump through, but there's definite light at the end of the tunnel. So I started looking at housing there, mostly apartments to start with, and I was flabbergasted - flabbergasted - that one of the optional amenities I could choose from was air conditioning.

In Alabama, air conditioning is not an amenity. It is not an optional feature. It's just assumed, like how one assumes the building has a foundation, or electrical wiring.

The frozen wastelands of the north are a frightening place indeed.

[Rockphed]

So a bit of context to understand the end: I got a conditional offer of employment from the super cool job in super cool city - still some hoops to jump through, but there's definite light at the end of the tunnel. So I started looking at housing there, mostly apartments to start with, and I was flabbergasted - flabbergasted - that one of the optional amenities I could choose from was air conditioning.

In Alabama, air conditioning is not an amenity. It is not an optional feature. It's just assumed, like how one assumes the building has a foundation, or electrical wiring.

The frozen wastelands of the north are a frightening place indeed.

At least half the homes I have lived in have lacked air conditioning. My parents only got it a few years before I was born (and we still mostly used the basement as a cooling apparatus to save money). I suspect things wouldn't be so bad if you invested in a good de-humidifier, but at that point it is almost easier to have an air conditioner.

[Peelee]

At least half the homes I have lived in have lacked air conditioning. My parents only got it a few years before I was born (and we still mostly used the basement as a cooling apparatus to save money). I suspect things wouldn't be so bad if you invested in a good de-humidifier, but at that point it is almost easier to have an air conditioner.

Why on earth would I want a dehumidifier?! Last time I was in New Mexico, I felt like I was in an oven, the air was so dry. It was hellish, even worse than the frozen hellscapes of the lands north of Tennessee, I tells ya! No AC and a dehumidifier wouldn't make me cool, it would make me miserable.

Dehumidifier. What a crazy invention.

[enderlord99]

So a bit of context to understand the end: I got a conditional offer of employment from the super cool job in super cool city - still some hoops to jump through, but there's definite light at the end of the tunnel. So I started looking at housing there, mostly apartments to start with, and I was flabbergasted - flabbergasted - that one of the optional amenities I could choose from was air conditioning.

In Alabama, air conditioning is not an amenity. It is not an optional feature. It's just assumed, like how one assumes the building has a foundation, or electrical wiring.

The frozen wastelands of the north are a frightening place indeed.

I'm confused. Are you worried it will be too hot, and you'll need an air-conditioner, or are you worried it will be too cold (in which case a heater would suffice)

[Peelee]

I'm confused. Are you worried it will be too hot, and you'll need an air-conditioner, or are you worried it will be too cold (in which case a heater would suffice)

Even Canada gets heat waves. It may not be summer 9 months of the year, but I ain't investing in a place without AC come the mid-year months.

[DataNinja]

Even Canada gets heat waves. It may not be summer 9 months of the year, but I ain't investing in a place without AC come the mid-year months.

I know I've only lived in a house with AC the last... two years, I guess. It's definitely nice for those couple of weeks where it goes above 30 to help sleep at night, but, for the most part, did fine without it. After having done a cross-continental road trip in a car with no AC... uh, yeah, I can see why y'all need it down there.

[Fyraltari]

In Alabama, air conditioning is not an amenity. It is not an optional feature. It's just assumed, like how one assumes the building has a foundation, or electrical wiring.

Well yes, but you live in an oven.

[Anonymouswizard]

While I've lived in many houses with 'air conditioning, I don't understand how pretty 'air would keep you cool... oh wait,I'm thinking in the wrong accenrt.

I've never lived in a place with air conditioning. Mild climate and all that, if you get too hot you normally just set up a fan. Heck, while it's rare, I know of people with houses/flats which don't have central heating (and not all of them have an Aga to do the central heating).

[Peelee]

Well yes, but you live in an oven.

I live in a steamer. Big difference.

[Rater202]

Where I live can't decide if it's an oven or a freezer.

And we usually don't get snow until after Christmas nowadays.

Summers are unbearably hot, fall starts at the normal time but continues on through January, Winter starts in January or February and we get maybe a week of spring before it's summer again at the normal time.

[Peelee]

Where I live can't decide if it's an oven or a freezer.

And we usually don't get snow until after Christmas nowadays.

You get snow. It's a freezer that breaks sometimes.

[Fyraltari]

I live in a steamer. Big difference.

I'm not familiar with that word. What's the difference?

You get snow. It's a freezer that breaks sometimes.

Didn't you get snow recently?

[Rawhide]

I'm not familiar with that word. What's the difference?

Ovens are dry, steamers are humid.

Dry heat is much more bearable that humid heat. You can easily take 40+ degrees C in a dry heat, while just over half that could be completely unbearable with high humidity.

[Rater202]

Ovens are dry, steamers are humid.

Dry heat is much more bearable that humid heat. You can easily take 40+ degrees C in a dry heat, while just over half that could be completely unbearable with high humidity.

That's not universal. It depends on what you're used to.

I personally can't tell the difference between dry heat and wet heat. Honestly, the only time I notice humidity, in general, is when the air is dry enough for my lips to chap.

If someone is used to dry heat, then humid heat will kick their ass. If someone is used to high humidity, dry heat is unbearable.

To quote a crotchety old ventriloquist-puppet, "a bonfire's a dry heat. You don't see me sticking my ass in one of those."

[Peelee]

I'm not familiar with that word. What's the difference?

Didn't you get snow recently?

You're French, I thought cooking knowledge was a class skill for you!

Also, freak occurrences don't negate norms. We get snow on very rare occasion and completely shut down when that happens. Freezers/frozen wastelands get snow on regular occasion (eg. "we don't even get snow until after December).

Dry heat is much more bearable that humid heat.

Lies and falsehoods from the Dry Heat Lobby! It was significantly harder to breathe in the American Southwest than it is in my homeland.

I personally can't tell the difference between dry heat and wet heat.

Sweat evaporates much more readily in dry heat, which is great since it has a cooling effect (and why people tend to prefer it overall). It's much harder in humid heat. But like you said, I'm so used to breathing in equal parts oxygen and water that a dry heat is noticeably uncomfortable for me. But the sweat thing, that's the easiest way to tell.

[Rawhide]

That's not universal. It depends on what you're used to.

It's got nothing to do with what you're used to, it's to do with your body's natural cooling process, and the primary cooling process that fails in humidity is evaporation. You sweat to cool down, the act of the sweat evaporating is what cools you down. The higher the humidity, the less effective this process is.

[Rater202]

It's got nothing to do with what you're used to, it's to do with your body's natural cooling process, and the primary cooling process that fails in humidity is evaporation. You sweat to cool down, the act of the sweat evaporating is what cools you down. The higher the humidity, the less effective this process is.

Cooling down faster does not negate the initial heat.

80 degrees is 80 degrees no matter how much water is in the air. It will feel like 80 degrees no matter how much moisture is in the air.

What's differant is what kind of air you're used to breathing and if you're used to being caked is salt or drenched in oil.

In my experiences, there is no meaningful difference in perception of heat based on the moisture in the air. It's the stuff that comes with the heat that's different, and which of those you're used to affects how bearable you personally find the other to be.

[Peelee]

Cooling down faster does not negate the initial heat.

It's not cooling down faster. It's cooling down more.

[Rawhide]

It's not cooling down faster. It's cooling down more.

Or cooling down at all.

Your body will function a lot longer in a dry heat than a humid heat.

[Rater202]

Or cooling down at all.

Your body will function a lot longer in a dry heat than a humid heat.

Yes. But an hour in 80-degree weather is an hour in 80-degree weather.

That's the point I'm making. The humidity of lack thereof doesn't change the heat. If heat is unbearable then it's unbearable.

What changes is the rest of the environment, and whether you can handle heat in that enviornement depends on what kind of environment you're used to.

[Peelee]

Yes. But an hour in 80-degree weather is an hour in 80-degree weather.

That's the point I'm making. The humidity of lack thereof doesn't change the heat. If heat is unbearable then it's unbearable.

What changes is the rest of the environment, and whether you can handle heat in that enviornement depends on what kind of environment you're used to.

And 0 degree weather is 0 degree weather but youre gonna want a coat instead of being bare-chested. Body temperature is important and sweat is the body's way of regulating temperature when it gets too high.

[Fyraltari]

Ovens are dry, steamers are humid.

Okay, thanks.

You're French, I thought cooking knowledge was a class skill for you!

You assume that I have class. Also, do I ask you how good you are at the shooting range?

[Rawhide]

Yes. But an hour in 80-degree weather is an hour in 80-degree weather.

Your internal body temperature says otherwise.

[Tvtyrant]

Yes. But an hour in 80-degree weather is an hour in 80-degree weather.

That's the point I'm making. The humidity of lack thereof doesn't change the heat. If heat is unbearable then it's unbearable.

What changes is the rest of the environment, and whether you can handle heat in that enviornement depends on what kind of environment you're used to.

That's not how the force works!

[Peelee]

Also, do I ask you how good you are at the shooting range?

On the one hand, I legit laughed. On the other, good with rifles but crap with pistols.

[Fyraltari]

On the one hand, I legit laughed. On the other, good with rifles but crap with pistols.

Ha! Success!

[Rater202]

That's not how the force works!

*waves hand in front of Tvtyrant's face*

That is how The Force works.

---

I've had weird ideas of putting a high-quality reclining chair on tank treads and then that just being my legs from then on.

Not very practical, but...

[Fyraltari]

I've had weird ideas of putting a high-quality reclining chair on tank treads and then that just being my legs from then on.

Not very practical, but...

You mean a wheelchair?

[Rawhide]

You mean a wheelchair?

More like a caterpillar chair.

[Fyraltari]

Spoiler: You mean this?

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