Hot Child in the City

> July 2007. Competitive blindness, Shanghai.

Employee: The morning paper predicts that tomorrow will be the hottest day of the year in Shanghai. I think we may need to close the gallery.

Employer: Pity you only say one day before you want to take day off. Now too late.

related facts
> According to federal law, if temperatures reach 40 degrees Celsius, employers must close their doors for business. Presumably, the law exists to protect workers from heat exhaustion.

> Chinese newspapers do not publish forecasts of temperatures over 40 degrees. However, once the workday is finished, evening news will report actual temperatures. Last week temperatures reached 45 C, though forecasts stated 37 C. Some believe a policy of withholding information protects business owners.

> This employer believes the weather is controlled by his staff.

temperature conversion
> 40 C = 104 F
> 45 C = 113 F