You'd think that in the event of a castastrophic deteroration of the earth's orbit, NOAA would have other matters to tend to instead of posting an 'excessive heat warning'. But then again, everybody has a job to do. Hazardous Weather Outlook 150 WWUS73 KEAX 171659 NPWEAX URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY-PLEASANT HILL MO 1055 AM CST WED DEC 17 2003 ...TEST...TEST...TEST... .UNUSUALLY HOT WEATHER HAS ENTERED THE REGION FOR DECEMBER...AS THE EARTH HAS LEFT ITS ORBIT AND IS HURLING TOWARD THE SUN. MOZ012-021-172251- ANDREW MO-CLINTON MO- 1055 AM CST WED DEC 17 2003 ...EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THIS AFTERNOON TO LATE TONIGHT... UNUSUALLY HOT WEATHER WILL OCCUR FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS AS THE EARTH DRAWS EVER NEARER TO THE SUN. THEREFORE...AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH HAS BEEN POSTED. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES. $$ HEINLEIN In case you're wondering, that warning was cancelled later in the day. [The ever changing link...we will not let this gem be subject to link-rot]