Have you ever stopped to think about how people who live in different parts of North America react differently to different temperatures.
For example, when I lived in South Florida, when the temperature dropped below the mid 70’s, I would be out in t-shirt, shorts and sandals, while native Floridians would be wrapped up in their thickest jackets, hoods up and shivering.
If you have ever been to the USA or Canada, especially if you have been up north or down south in the Winter, you will know first hand what I mean.
For those living outside of the Americas, these temperatures are all in Fahrenheit not Centigrade. +40F is only 4.4C, whereas 40C is 104F!
To convert from Fahrenheit to Centigrade, take away 32, then multiply by 5/9. Or if that’s too hard to do in your head, you can do this to within a degree or so by deducting 30 and dividing by 2. I bet you didn’t know that did you?
+60 Californians put on sweaters. +50 Miami residents turn on the heat. +45 Vermont residents go to outdoor concert. +40 You can see your breath. Californians shiver uncontrollably. Minnesotans go swimming. +35 Italian cars don't start. +32 Water freezes. +30 You plan your vacation in Australia. +25 Ohio water freezes. Californians weep pitiably. Minnesotans eat ice cream. Canadians go swimming. +20 Politicians begin to talk about the homeless. New York City water freezes. Miami residents plan vacation further south. +15 French cars don't start. Cat insists on sleeping with you. +10 You need jumper cables to get the car going. +5 American cars don't start. 0 Alaskans put on T-shirts. -10 German cars don't start. Eyes freeze shut when you blink. -15 You can cut your breath and use it to build an igloo. Arkansans stick tongues on metal objects. Miami residents cease to exist. -20 Cat insists on sleeping in pajamas with you. Politicians actually do something about the homeless. Minnesotans shovel snow off roof. Japanese cars don't start. -25 Too cold to think. You need jumper cables to get the driver going. -30 You plan a two week hot bath. Swedish cars don't start. -40 Californians disappear. Minnesotans button top button. Canadians put on sweater. Your car helps you plan your trip south. -50 Congressional hot air freezes. Alaskans close the bathroom window. -80 Hell freezes over. Polar bears move south. Green Bay Packer fans order hot cocoa at the game. -90 Lawyers put their hands in their own pockets. -100 Canadian buildings turn off air conditioning.
I am sure there are some equivalents in other countries where extremes of climate exist, like India maybe, or China or Russia.
The same joke almost certainly exists in other places, just the place names will have changed.
Image used under a Collective Commons License from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Man_swims_in_cold_water_(34807325734).jpg