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

I had a couple of assignments in Edmonton decades ago, requiring me to stay a month or so in the summer. Being from the Texas Gulf Coast, I learned a few things

When I picked up my rent car, I went back to the desk and said I'd need another one, the first one seemed to have a problem since there was an extension cord hanging out the front. They patiently explained to the subtropical guy that it was to plug in to a heater during the winter. Ah.

Then I had to scrounge up some aluminum foil to put on the windows in an attempt to block out the sunrise, which happens about midnight. I don't recall if they have daylight saving time in Edmonton, but I doubt it.

Overall, it was a nice experience. My company (petrochemical facilities design) had many, many worse places to send people, and not many better. I especially enjoyed walks on the pleasant summer afternoons - we wait until after sundown in Houston.

And BTW, I was born in Oklahoma, which was not a state until 1907, two years after Alberta was a province.

we do have daylight savings time.

and about the summer sunshine: we're about the same latitude as Edinburgh -- how come nobody ever talks about long summer and short winter days in Scotland?

I've never been to Scotland, so I can't comment.

I did talk to a Scottish man once, he helped me get a rail pass for a trip to London. He was in Miami, and when I asked if he was from the UK, he said yes, Scotland. So trying to sound knowledgeable, I said, "Oh, the other side of Hadrian's Wall." To which he responded, "Right, the side that was winning!" A good spontaneous comment, IMHO.

P.S. On Edmonton winters, another tip. I've never been there in the winter, but they did talk about 40 below being a certainty. Don't ask if that's Centigrade or Fahrenheit, it doesn't matter. From a couple of standpoints.

Actually, 40 below is pretty unusual lately (global warming?). It usually doesn't get much below 35. And in summer it rarely gets much above about +35.

(Celsius all the way.)

I found some data on Edmonton's weather:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/weather/longterm/historical/data/edmonton_alberta.htm

Looks like you're right, the 40 below is more of a record than a normal happening. Maybe the conversation I'm remembering was about Ft. MacMurray where some of the petrochemical projects are located - farther north, I think.

But +35 C in the summer? That's, lessee, 95 F? Sounds more like Houston than Edmonton. I was planning to offer to trade my electric bill for yours in the summer, but then I'd probably have to pay your heating bill.