Today's temperature

Most of us in the working world today grew up with either the news or an app telling us today’s temperature. If “they” said it was 45 degrees, then that was that: It was 45 degrees.

The thing is, when you walk around outside, the temperature is not 45 degrees. It’s 43 degrees in the shade, 39 degrees with the wind chill, 46 degrees downtown, 45 degrees uptown, 47 degrees in that spot by the driveway that gets sun all day long.

Throw on a coat, and 45 degrees feels temperate. Go for a jog in shorts and a t-shirt, and it’s a bit brisk … until you get a good sweat going. For my mom, 45 degrees is winter. For me, I’m loving life in a nice fall jacket, jeans, and for once, I’m not overheating as I walk around the city.

The news likes to tell us that it’s 45 degrees, but that’s just so far from the truth. They tell us it’s all one way, one thing, one exact understanding, when of course, reality is far messier, ever-changing, and nuanced.

Kinda makes you wonder: If that’s true for the temperature, where else might it be true?

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