It's also worth chucking into the mix that the global average temperature variation between even the strongest El Nino event and the next ordinary year is a fraction of a degree Celsius - certainly less than the rise of about 0.6C that we've seen since the beginning of the study period, in 1950.

BBC: Warm, wet - and warring?

BizEE Software, a South Wales, U.K., company that develops software to help building managers assess their energy-fuel needs, publishes a measure called degree days for places around the world that highlights this variation in temperature.

WSJ: In the Forecast: New Ways to Measure the Temperature

An ideal one would keep the same rate regardless of variation in power supply, temperature, air pressure, magnetic fields, or any other disturbing influences.

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Those who can handle abrupt temperature changes can try the four room Nun Path, a variation of hot to cold with variations of humidity, a revival of a Roman regeneration treatment. (although only the most stalwart should attempt the Frigidarium.) And treatments span the globe, from hammam rituals to Thai and Ayurvedic.

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