On Sat, 22 Dec 2007 13:13:58 -0800, Mark Thorson >
wrote:

>Julia Altshuler wrote:
>>
>> Mark Thorson wrote:
>> >
>> > Why is it always said winter _begins_ on the solstice.
>> > Shouldn't the solstice be exactly dead center in the
>> > middle of winter? Shouldn't the first day of winter
>> > be exactly halfway between the fall equinox and the
>> > winter solstice?
>>
>> Funny, I've always thought the same thing. Whoever made the rules
>> hundreds of years ago didn't consult me. What's funnier, I grew up in
>> Miami and went to college in New Orleans. I didn't feel the changing
>> of the seasons in the same way those farther from the equator do.
>> I had no reason to be aware of the solstices except as a blip
>> on the calendar. I was actually well into college before
>> I realized that the way you said WASN'T the way it worked.
>
>And somebody should inform Mexico that they
>are on the continent of North America.
>They _are_ "norte americanos", so they should
>stop using that term to refer to us.

Not to mention people using "irregardless" when they mean
"regardless." And don't get me started on "could care less" and
"couldn't care less."

The solstice and seasonal change thing, however, is due to what is
called seasonal lag.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_lag

OBFood: looks like it's to be braised short ribs tonight.
--

modom

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