I know,I know..it's July and to expect anything less than heat would be unrealistic...even though the most ardent fans of summer weather might admit its been a little extreme in these parts lately.
Yet no one glorifies and sensationalizes the heat of summer like the media. That's a little unfair as they also sensationalize the weather in winter and any other season that dares to deviate from a seasonal norm.
You see,weather is the one thing that affects each living,breathing person. And if you're a living,breathing person, the local stations want you to tune into their newscast. So when they lead with the weather-when they make heat and storms and rain and snow and cold a big deal, they think maybe you'll be more likely to watch.
There are few more annoying on air events than the news anchor (who generally confines comment to proclaiming after hearing the forecast "We'll take it!"--how insipid is that?) complains to the weather forecaster about current conditions.
ABC7's Kathy Brock has made this an art form. She spent April and May grousing and giving playful dirty looks to the weather forecaster about the chill . Thinking she is speaking for us all -as anchors tend to believe- she would say that she was "praying for warm weather" and forever badgering Jerry Taft,Mike Caplan or whomever was forecasting,about when it would ever warm up. Now in the throes of record heat,Brock is whining about how uncomfortable this is and asking for a cool off.
The media warns us about the basics-staying hydrated,cutting down on outdoor activity,using sunscreen...on and on. As if we are space aliens who have never experienced a red hot July or snowy January. We must be told in terms like "dangerous", even "life threatening."
I have lived in Chicago all my life. I've known plenty of hot summers,heatwaves,snowstorms and freezing cold. I don't need the local station or the newspaper trying to lure me with over the top weather tales. I bet you're not that naive either.
It's summer.It's hot. Stay cool. Do what is necessary to deal with the heat. Treat us all like we have a brain.
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