A Possible and Very Stupid Flint

[joym999 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 22848

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., meboriqua at a... wrote:
> Okay, Penny's question about classes after exams inspired me to 
post 
> something that I noticed a while back from PoA.  If this is a 
Flint, 
> it is not only pathetic that I noticed it, but might enable me to 
gain 
> membership to the L.O.O.N. society.
> 
> At the end of PoA when Harry and co. are taking their finals, they 
> return from their Herbology final "with sunburnt necks" after being 
> "in the greenhouses under a baking-hot sun" (ch. 16).  If I am not 
> mistaken, aren't greenhouses completely made of glass?  Unless some 
of 
> the panels are made of mesh or something to let a breeze in, there 
is 
> no way they can get sunburnt necks through glass.  Sweaty necks, 
yes, 
> but not sunburnt ones.
> 
> How's that for nitpickiness?
> 

As nitpickiness, I would say that it is excellent, and that Jenny is, 
by any definition of the word, a true LOON. (That is a compliment.  
Really it is.)

As science, however, I do not think it is accurate. [Joywitch takes 
off witches hat, puts on nerd glasses and enters professorial mode.]  
Sunlight consists of a wide spectrum of electromagnetic waves which 
range in frequency/wavelength from the infrared (which feel hot) to 
the ultraviolet, and all the visible frequencies in between.  Sunburn 
is caused mostly by the ultraviolet waves, IIRC.  Some glass, such as 
car windshields, eyeglasses, etc. is coated to keep out UV rays, but 
most glass is not.  Plants live by converting sunlight to usable 
energy (photosynthesis), and they require waves from the ultraviolet 
part of the spectrum to do their photosynthesis stuff well.  So, the 
glass used in greenhouses would not be likely to have UV coating, 
hence you should be able to get quite a nice sunburn by hanging out 
in it for a few hours.

But why would their necks be sunburnt?  Do they all have short hair?  
Even if they spent most of the time bending over their work, wouldnt 
their arms and legs also get sunburnt?  Or do they always have to 
wear those wizard robes, even in the hot greenhouse?  And if they 
have to wear their robes, why dont they have to wear their hats, 
which could keep them from getting sunburnt necks?  And is there no 
limit to how far we can take this nitpick?

--Joywitch, who should be working on the contest instead of being 
LOONy