h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

*actually, I'm looking for a smiley that would look like a combination of and *

I had no idea -40ºC is the same as -40ºF - and yes, it *is* cold! Very informative article!

*coming from me, a is meant as a compliment, especially if aimed at Whisky*

I'll take that compliment and raise you a

Just 1 slight factual inaccuracy in the article.
-18 is very cold.
-40 is incomprehensibly, mind-numbingly, finger-falling-off-ily, ridiculously, stay-inside-under-5-blankets-with-the-heater-on-max-ily cold.

Having experienced -18ºC as well as -40ºC more than once, I'd say that depends on

a) whether the air is humid or dry
b) if there is any wind
c) how you are dressed

The wind factor is very important to take into consideration if you're going outdoors - a strong wind will add to the coldness, but won't show on a thermometer (looks in mirror to see if she's still got two white spots on her cheeks from the time she got them frost-bitten)

Titania you are being SO serious. I have never experienced anything more than 1 or 2 below freezing on any scale.

Well Maz - if you had ever had any part of your body frost-bitten, you'd be serious about coldness too, making sure not to underestimate it again - it can do a lot of harm to you.

One of my colleagues almost died from cold on a very cold evening when she was a teenager (she lived in the north part of Sweden) - she had missed the last bus home and started walking (quite some distance) - and the coldness started making her tired, and after a while confused, and then sleepy.

Her parents arrived by car, looking for her, just in the nick of time - she had started taking off her clothes before going to sleep, because she was feeling so warm. Failing to get any contact with her, they rushed her off to the nearest hospital - and she survived.

Sorry. Didn't mean to belittle the dangers involved.

That's OK - I guess it's difficult to imagine unless you live somewhere really cold!