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| Europe |
| Its Hot Over There! |
| 2003-08-21 |
| EFL French President Jacques Chirac has promised to remedy defects in his country’s health service in the wake of the heat wave that has killed thousands of mainly elderly people. We’ve proudly decided to become even more socialist! The French funeral directors association said 10,416 had died during the first three weeks of August because of the heat wave and projected the death toll for the month from the heat wave would be 13,632. 10,000 people! Jeez! 100 degrees isn’t that hot, people... its that hot everyday in Texaaaas... what gives? France, which normally has temperatures in upper 20s Celsius (80s Fahrenheit) was hit with temperatures in the upper 30s (90s to over 100 Fahrenheit). After the first week of the heat wave, French officials, many of whom had been on vacation, that’s what we call in here in the good ol’ U.S. of A "being asleep at the wheel" rushed back to work. The death toll soared by 3,000 in that week. In a bid to divert criticism, Chirac added: "Today, the time is for contemplation, solidarity and action. I think about each of these victims and hold out my hand and express the solidarity of the nation." what a schmuck... Chirac rarely speaks directly to the nation after a Cabinet meeting and tends to rise above day-to-day domestic politics. Thursday’s broadcast shows how defensive his administration feels about the crisis, which has been accused of inaction during the heat wave and the high number of deaths it caused. |
| Posted by:----------<<<<- |
| #20 The difference, TGA? Unlike the French, Germans don't have their heads up their asses and aren't waiting for somebody to come by and pull them out for them. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-8-21 11:41:16 PM |
| #19 TGA - that's the attitude! |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-8-21 10:58:31 PM |
| #18 I still don't get the whole thing. It was about as hot in Germany as it was in France (and we're a bit up North). Why didn't Germans die by the ten thousands? Sure television told us how to stay cool but I didn't read much about any government measures. It does get hot in a box apartment without air condition and fans sold out everywhere but cool wet towels, long trips to your shower and the local department store help. Actually I enjoyed the heat, it was dry and if you ask me, summers should be hot (and girls should wear skimpy clothes!) |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2003-8-21 10:56:00 PM |
| #17 Ummm... How often does the summer temp in Phoenix fall below 100? |
| Posted by: Fred 2003-8-21 10:16:21 PM |
| #16 From the one time I spent a few weeks in Texas isn't the local Wal Mart the air conditioned shelter? Seemed to be quite a few people wandering the aisles doing not much shopping? |
| Posted by: Aussie Mike 2003-8-21 8:05:16 PM |
| #15 Our solution in Tallahassee is to shower frequently and sit quietly and think Western thoughts. Showers! That's it! |
| Posted by: Shipman 2003-8-21 7:35:45 PM |
| #14 I guess this is one of differences between heartless capitalism and paternal socialism.Here in Florida,first time temp. climbs above 80,local news starts running stories on what to do,and repeats the advice during first summer heat wave.The first big heat wave in NYC makes national news especially if there are 3-4 deaths to go with story.The story also includes details of shelters available.If Old Patriot is right(I assume he is),and most deaths are in Paris area,once death toll climbed into the 100's-let alone thousands-why didn't local or national gov't start an urgent campaign to find/create/open shelters and inform populace of safety measures people could take? |
| Posted by: Stephen 2003-8-21 5:40:26 PM |
| #13 Last month, my mother had some major medical problems, and we booked out of here for Spring, Texas, down near Houston. We lost a transmission in Quanah, Texas, between Amarillo and Wichita Falls. Took us a week to get a replacement and have it installed. We lived in a single motel room while we waited. Outside, the temperature rose above 100 degrees every single day, reaching a high of 107 on one day. The heat index was usually one or two degrees higher than the actual temperature. I don't remember anybody dying in the town from the heat. I don't remember anyone even getting sick from the heat. The highs there were almost 15 degrees F. higher than they were in Colorado Springs during the same week. Nobody died in Colorado Springs from the heat, either. It was in the high 90's to low 100's in Spring, with a heat index from the low 100's into the 110 range, due to the heavy humidity. It gets hot in France. The temperature around Marseilles is about the same as it is in Texas. Not many people are dying around Marseilles. The people who died in France mostly died in and around Paris. They died because they weren't used to the heat, and didn't know how to cope. As Paul said, a lot of people died because they became dehydrated. Others died from being out too long in the sun. Those who were younger and still died from the heat did so because they continued to behave as if the temperatures were 'normal'. The government probably did little or nothing to educate people on what to do, and what not to do, during the exceptional heat. Really applicable bumper sticker I saw in Texas: "Stupidity is a terminal illness. Have you seen your doctor recently?" |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-8-21 3:30:55 PM |
| #12 I think about each of these victims and hold out my hand... ...and fully expect someone to put few francs in it. Jake, you are one bigass piece of shit. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-8-21 2:32:59 PM |
| #11 I'm right next store in Germany and yes, the last few weeks have been bad. There is, however, a simple solution..... DRINK MORE WATER!!! Simply put away the I've been downing at least 1 1/2 gallons of water a day (working out as well) and I haven't suffered any heat injuries. France, get a clue, before you're all dead. Hmmm...uh..er...please disregard this last transmission. Well, at least now when someone tells you to go to hell you know you can fly directly to it from most international airports. |
| Posted by: Paul 2003-8-21 2:28:31 PM |
| #10 Portugal had an estimated 1,316 deaths in the first 12 days of August that were caused by the heat wave that covered western Europe, Lusa news service said, citing the Health Ministry. The ministry said that a study by the National Health Institute reached that estimate by comparing the number of deaths in that period with the same period a year earlier, Lusa said. The deaths caused by heat will probably finish the year at a similar level to 1991, when about 1,300 heat-related deaths were registered, and less than in 1981, when there were 1,900, Lusa said. 1981 - 1991 - 2003, looks like you are getting heat waves roughly every ten years. Seems like they also have short term memory problems. |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-8-21 2:11:04 PM |
| #9 Why do the French expect the gov't to do everything for them. Why can't the populance do for themselves. And what is so hot about 100 degrees. |
| Posted by: Bill 2003-8-21 1:26:39 PM |
| #8 So what's Chirac's solution? Government-provided air conditioners for every household? |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2003-8-21 12:58:32 PM |
| #7 When the heat finally cools down the only ones left at this rate will be those acclimated to real hot weather, North Africa hot weather. Shirah law may come sooner then expected in France. |
| Posted by: Yank 2003-8-21 12:19:36 PM |
| #6 If I remember correctly,France has a large agricultural population.I could understand it if elderly were dying in rural areas-probably few farms have/need a/c.But if they are mostly dying in cities,then I say there is a major problem in Europe.MSNBC had a report a day or so ago of suspected 1,000+ heat-related deaths in Portugal. If the Us had anywhere near the death toll from heat like Europe's experiencing,there would be all kinds of air-conditioned shelters being made available.Why not in France,or are we not heariring of them? |
| Posted by: Stephen 2003-8-21 12:13:09 PM |
| #5 10,000 dead from 100 degrees - hmmm now I know why the Frogs were so opposed to going to Iraq! |
| Posted by: Yosemite Sam 2003-8-21 11:48:10 AM |
| #4 At least the Inuit have stopped putting their elderly out on an ice floe to die. The French, however, go on vacation. As I wrote on my blog: Où est grand-père? Chez nous, ma petite. Ce qui! Il fait très chaud. C'est bien. Il est vieux. Quand nous retournons des vacances, vous pouvez avoir sa chambre àcoucher. |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2003-8-21 10:07:22 AM |
| #3 Can you imagine what it must smell like over there? 100 degree temps , French people and no soap or deoderant being used! God help anyone silly enough to venture over. |
| Posted by: wills 2003-8-21 10:06:20 AM |
| #2 This is like having 63,000 people dying in the US. It is like the Firesign Theater: the poor people have no air conditioners, so they have to leave their furnaces on during the summer. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-8-21 9:31:55 AM |
| #1 sorry... that was posted by moi... ----------<<<<- |
| Posted by: ----------<<<<- 2003-8-21 9:25:34 AM |