During the summer of 2005, temperatures soared above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) in Denver, Colorado, for five days in a row, breaking records each day. Power companies struggled to meet the demand for electricity created by air conditioners and fans that were running constantly during the heat wave. Newspapers ran stories about the worst jobs to have to perform in the heat: roofing, laying asphalt, and lanscaping. One of the best jobs was said to be working in the National Ice Core Laboratory, about fifteen miles (twenty-four kilometers) from downtown Denver, where temperatues are a constant -30 degrees Fahrenheit (-34 degrees Celsius). On the streets, on front proches, and in air-conditioned restaurants, everybody was talking about the weather. One often heard the term "global warming" muttered, drawing weary nods each time.