What is the forecast?

One of the things I find challenging as a U.S. citizen is, of course, the temperature conversion. The United States is apparently the only country that uses Fahrenheit for temperature, the rest of the world prefers Celsius, which is a system that really makes more sense. But growing up in the U.S. I don't think in Celsius. So I have to think hard to figure out what the temperature is, or what the weather report says it will be on a given day.

You decide. Which formula is easier for you - I have my favorite but each person is different. Both work. Either way, if I want to know without asking, I have to use one of these. Remember, I have no Internet when I am in the forest, or even at the research station, so I can't just run to my computer and look it up. Try them both - then try them without pencil and paper.

1st Method: To convert Celsius to Fahrenheit, you must multiply the current temperature by 9, divide that number by 5, and add 32. Ex. We have a current temperature of 35 degrees Celsius. Multiplied by 9 it equals 315, divided b y 5 equals 63, and add 32, which equals 95 degrees Fahrenheit

2nd Method: Another alternative to the above temperature conversion is to follow this sequence:
1) Double the number 2) Deduct 10% and 3) Add 32 to get the Fahrenheit figure. Ex. We have a current temperature of 35 degrees Celsius. Double it which equals 70, deduct 10% (7) equaling 63, and add 32, which equals 95 degrees Fahrenheit

Post your replies here and later I will post one that tells you which method my mind can do with NO pencil and paper.

Folk Art - Made by Hand

My first full day in Vietnam was in the city of Hanoi - and although I liked seeing all the city sights, I enjoyed most visiting a local embroidery school. The school teaches students to paint with string, by sewing the threads onto the fabric. Students take a photograph or painting, sketch it, then begin stitching. The photos shows the skeins of thread and a girl sewing her lovely work.

Losing a day

The one thing I didn't calculate in planning my trip was crossing the International Date line. I don't know why I didn't think of it, I had crossed it before when I went to New Zealand, but somehow that little fact escaped me this time.

The International Date line is the imaginary line on the globe that separates two consecutive calendar days. On one side of the line it is one day, and when you cross it, the day immediately becomes the next.

So, I got in the plane in Los Angeles on Monday, October 23, and 17 hours later I arrived in Hanoi, on Wednesday, October 25! Tuesday just sort of fell off the calendar for me. I won't ever get that particular day back again. Bizarre!!