5 THINGS: It’s Too ******* Hot Out

Here are the (more than) Five Things for Wednesday, June 20, 2012:

It is very, very hot and very, very muggy today. As a result, the Department of Environmental Management has issued an ozone alert. Although it’s in the 60s as I type this around 5 a.m., temperatures are expecting to hit the low 90s today, with heat index values around 102. DEM has nine tips for staying healthy, which are readable here, and RIPTA lines are free today.

Don’t leave animals unattended in cars! That’s the warning message from Art Smith, an animal control officer with Narragansett police. He said vehicles can average 30 to 40 degrees hotter than the outside temperature, and they are a grave concern for animals. He was about to enact ordinances against leaving animals unattended, so don’t do it!

Blood! Yikes! There are two blood drives in the area today. is at Cathleen Naughton Associates in Wakefield from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by a at the University of Rhode Island Memorial Union from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Venture to Charlestown, birthplace of NIMBY and the Nordic Lodge! Charlestown is also hosting a business after hours sessions for the Southern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more info, click .

Dear real-life, thanks for inventing a great comic foil. On this day in 1963, the “red phone” between Russia and the United States goes into service, following the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Bring back the awesome afro! Happy 28^th birthday to NBA player Josh Childress, who has a really sweet afro.

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