Category: cold weather

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Man Creates Wintertime Shelters for Stray Cats out of Discarded Coolers

This is a great story.

Philip Rogich is a man we should all take a lesson from. The resident of Ogden, Utah, has taken it upon himself to look out for some of his town’s feral and stray critters this winter, which looks like it’s going to be a long and cold one.

Rogich takes discarded coolers that would have ended up in the trash and makes them into shelters for stray and feral kitties so they have a place to avoid the cold, harsh winter.

Posted by Batman of Ogden on Saturday, November 16, 2019

Rogich said, “Normally the cooler keeps things cold. We’re going to use it to keep animals warm. I actually have a 6-inch drill bit and then once you drill the hole you just use some pipe insulation to pad it. Everybody’s got a cooler in their garage that they’re not using.”

Rogich added that he uses straw inside the coolers because it dries relatively easily and that a regular cooler can hold up to three cats if they’re in the mood to snuggle.

Posted by Batman of Ogden on Saturday, November 16, 2019

Rogich said that he’s placed a few of the cat coolers around his town because “[Feral cats] just disappear, get overlooked. They get cold in the wintertime too. They’re living creatures…to me, living creatures, they deserve to have their basic needs met.”

Amen to that.

Productive Cat cooler day. Built 13 shelters all will be out by the end of the day. Took in 10 old coolers with 10…

Posted by Batman of Ogden on Thursday, November 14, 2019

Since the story of Rogich’s work gained popularity in the media, people have been donating old coolers and straw to him. If you want to get in touch with Rogich or donate supplies to him, you can reach out to him through his Facebook page.

Keep up the great work! Let’s do our best to help out all the cold and lonely animals that will be out on the streets this winter.

The post Man Creates Wintertime Shelters for Stray Cats out of Discarded Coolers appeared first on UberFacts.

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Cows in Russia Are Wearing Virtual Reality Headsets Showing ‘Summer Fields’ to Combat Their Winter Depression

In Russia, cows are getting a new tool to help fight the winter blues that a lot of us deal with. A dairy farm in that country is outfitting its cows with virtual reality headsets to help the animals tone down their anxiety and to fight their winter depression. The moooooove (see what I did there?) is also intended to boost milk production from the farm animals.

The headsets display green fields and pastures to the cows in order to make them feel more relaxed. The project is taking place at RusMoloko farm, outside of Moscow.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Moscow Region said that the virtual reality headsets have achieved “a decrease in anxiety and an increase in the overall emotional mood of the herd.”

The plan is to monitor the cows wearing the headsets to see if their milk production increases throughout the winter. The ministry said that “technology improvements should impact the industry as a whole.”

In addition to the look of green fields and pastures, the developers of the virtual reality headsets gave the design a predominantly red color scheme because studies have shown that cows see red better than other colors of the spectrum.

Is this the wave of the future in farming? Will the results show that the impact of these VR headsets is positive among the cattle and this technology become commonplace for animals?

Time will tell…

But I think I might need to get my hands on one of these for myself this winter.

The post Cows in Russia Are Wearing Virtual Reality Headsets Showing ‘Summer Fields’ to Combat Their Winter Depression appeared first on UberFacts.

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These Crocheted Hats for Your Pet Are Just What You Need This Winter

It’s shaping up to be a long, cold winter, and, in addition to keeping yourself warm, you gotta keep those pooches and kitties nice and toasty, too!

So consider picking up a crocheted hat for your pet this year.

Here are some of the best selections from Etsy. The links to the hats are in the photo credit if you want to purchase any of these beauties.

1. Reindeer games.

Photo Credit: Etsy

2. A notorious Viking.

Photo Credit: Etsy

3. This pug is a little confused.

Photo Credit: Etsy

4. This little piggy.

Photo Credit: Etsy

5. Very classy and elegant.

Photo Credit: Etsy

6. I love this one.

Photo Credit: Etsy

7. Long locks.

Photo Credit: Etsy

8. The turkey look.

Photo Credit: Etsy

9. Googly eyes.

Photo Credit: Etsy

10. The queen of outer space.

Photo Credit: Etsy

Check out more hats for your pets HERE. Stay warm this winter!

The post These Crocheted Hats for Your Pet Are Just What You Need This Winter appeared first on UberFacts.

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Cuffing Season Is Here…Let’s Check out Some Tweets About It

Are you aware of “cuffing season“? It’s when people who are usually single or unattached get into a relationship during those long, cold, gray months of fall and winter.

Who doesn’t want someone to snuggle with someone by a fire when it’s freezing outside, right?

Enjoy these cuffing season tweets and keep warm out there!

1. It’s gonna be cold!

2. Getting into a bad relationship?

3. It’s worth it, right?

4. There you go!

5. “I need a place to crash…”

6. I thought the same thing.

7. The more you know.

8. Here comes the storm.

9. A sad reminder.

10. You know you’re gonna do it…

11. He’s not having it.

12. Here come the fireworks.

13. Who can resist?

14. We have a winner!

15. She knows what she wants.

Are you one of these folks? Are you a cuffer?

Share you stories in the comments!

The post Cuffing Season Is Here…Let’s Check out Some Tweets About It appeared first on UberFacts.

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Record Cold Temperatures Don’t Mean Climate Change Isn’t Taking Place

It’s cold outside! Really cold!

We aren’t even into December yet, but much of the country has already seen frigid temperatures and huge snowstorms this fall.

So, predictably, some climate change deniers and skeptics have rushed out (as they are wont to do) and cried from the rooftops that global warming and climate change don’t really exist. Just look at this cold, snowy weather we’re having…right?

WRONG. These short-term bouts of unusually cold weather don’t really have any effect on long-term temperature averages. Let’s look at the reasons why.

 

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If you’ll recall, a polar vortex developed in early 2019 and then split apart, sending a swath of cold air to the Great Lakes region. Amy Butler, an atmospheric scientist at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, explained it this way, “Like a rock in a stream—in this case, the jet stream—[the polar vortex lobe] helped keep the jet stream pushed southward, which encourages cold air to be transported from Canada and the Arctic into mid-latitudes.”

The split polar vortex and other factors combined to create these cold conditions in early 2019, and some experts believed that the cold temperatures wouldn’t last long. And although the frigid conditions were uncomfortable and seemed to last a long time, the average monthly temperatures last December and January were actually above average for that time of year.

 

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In other words, random cold spells will always take place and weather is chaotic, but that does not mean that climate change isn’t occurring right now as we speak. Zachary Labe, a climate scientist at the University of California, Irvine, said, “The weather frequently changes from day-to-day or even hour-to-hour, while changes in our climate occur in the long-term, such as over 30 year periods. Therefore, we cannot say that one cold outbreak or weather event is evidence for or against climate change.”

And people tend to remember exceptional (read: cold) weather events rather than the normal, average days. But the fact is that winters have been warming. Over the past year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recorded 11,404 daily record lows across the globe. But the organization also recorded 21,907 new record HIGH temperatures.

 

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Bob Henson, meteorologist with Weather Underground, said, “That ratio [of record highs to lows] has been getting bigger over the past few decades. Cold doesn’t go away, it’s just less frequent.”

The post Record Cold Temperatures Don’t Mean Climate Change Isn’t Taking Place appeared first on UberFacts.

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15 Tweets for People Who Are over Summer and Ready for Fall

Early October and we’re still in the 90s? Psssshhhhtttt. I don’t have time for that! I need changing leaves, pumpkins, sweatshirts, and hot chocolate ASAP.

Well, it looks like we’ve finally crossed the hump and fall weather has settled in. Thank goodness, right? RIGHT!

Here are 15 tweets for all of you who are ready for a chilly fall.

1. Now Fido will be happy.

2. I’ve been working on mine as well.

3. You better believe it!

4. That’s what I was thinking.

5. I’m coming alive.

6. Fill it up.

7. I think you’re right.

8. I can’t wait to meet her!

9. I’m waiting, fellas.

10. I’ll take it!

11. Doesn’t look real for some reason.

12. You eat ’em, too?

13. It has now.

14. It’s finally arrived!

15. That’s really all you need.

Brrrrrrrrrr. Isn’t that better?

I’ll see you in line for a Pumpkin Spice Latte soon!

The post 15 Tweets for People Who Are over Summer and Ready for Fall appeared first on UberFacts.

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The Farmer’s Almanac Has Released Its 2020 Winter Predictions, and It’s Looking Pretty Brutal

Ready for a “polar coaster” this winter? Yeah, I don’t think I am, either. But we all better get prepared because that’s what the Farmer’s Almanac is predicting for the winter of 2020, along with a lot of snow and “frigid” and “freezing” temperatures. Great…

The editor of the Farmer’s Almanac, Peter Geiger, said, “Our extended forecast is calling for yet another freezing, frigid, and frosty winter for two-thirds of the country.” Last year’s prediction from the Almanac called for a long winter with a lot of snow and that turned out to be right on the money.

This year, the forecast says that people who live east of the Rocky Mountains all the way to the Appalachians will endure a particularly brutal winter with below-average temperatures and above-normal precipitation. The East Coast is also likely to see a mix of rain, sleet, and snow.

Folks who live in the western-third of the United States can expect a normal, mild winter with average temperatures and precipitation. The coldest temperatures of the year are predicted to occur in late January, affecting millions of Americans across the Northern Plains all the way to the Great Lakes. In other words, it’s going to be a long, cold winter.

Of course, we all know that weather predictions are never 100% accurate and there might be some wiggle room here, but it seems like this will be a pretty good indication of what the winter of 2020 will look like.

It might be time to move to California…

The post The Farmer’s Almanac Has Released Its 2020 Winter Predictions, and It’s Looking Pretty Brutal appeared first on UberFacts.

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This IKEA Store Is Opening Its Doors to Give Stray Dogs a Warm Place to Sleep

As Old Man Winter tightens his icy grip around the world, one IKEA store in Italy has decided to go above and beyond in considering the plight of our furry friends during this time.

The store, located in Catania, Italy, has been letting stray dogs relax and sleep in the warm comfort of the store, giving them a crucial chance to survive winter by avoiding frigid overnight temperatures.

Photo Credit: Instagram,gscalone82

An IKEA customer who happened upon a group of dogs snoozing near a living room display said, “My reaction was pure amazement. It’s not a common thing.”

The dogs are also fed at the store, and some have even been adopted by IKEA customers who just couldn’t resist those adorable puppy dog eyes.

Photo Credit: Instagram,dakot.photo

Another customer said, “I felt a feeling of deep tenderness and great happiness in seeing dogs crouched in the exhibition space at the entrance of the IKEA. If all the stores that had the space would make a place of refuge for strays, I would be really happy.”

Here’s a couple more photos because you know you need this.

Photo Credit: Instagram,noahromley

Does that make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, or what?

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This Vending Machine in Indiana Gives Out Clothes and Blankets to the Homeless

Homelessness is a serious problem in this country. It’s the kind of thing that could easily happen to anyone. Having spent some time volunteering with this population, I can tell you that their stories have impressed a simple truth onto me: anyone, and I mean anyone is only a few really bad days away from being homeless.

That’s why this vending machine in Muncie, Indiana dispenses clothes, socks, and blankets for free to help homeless people stay warm during the frigid winter months is such an incredible idea!

Photo Credit: Unsplash, Matt Collamer

The machine was set up outside a fire station to serve the estimated 200 homeless people who live in Delaware County, Indiana. People must first register with Bridges Community Services in Muncie before they can use the service. They are then given tokens to put into the machines to receive the goods.

Photo Credit: Facebook, Country 106.7

All of the items were donated by the community, and Bridges Community Services is still accepting donations. So if you’d like to help out, get in touch with them HERE.

A similar vending machine opened earlier this year in Nottingham, England, stocked with food, clothes, and toiletries, to assist the homeless population in that city.

Photo Credit: Facebook, Action Hunger

Help out if you can, and hopefully other cities will follow Muncie’s example.

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