Why women are smarter than men: Part 6,721

Temperatures are expected to reach 90° F in Chicago today (thankfully, this is one of the first times all summer -- don't tell Al Gore, but it has been far cooler than usual in Chicago lately).

Today's hot weather provides an opportune moment to reflect on one of the many reasons why women are smarter than men.

You will see many women out on the street today -- office workers all -- wearing summer dresses. When a woman gets to her office she takes off her sneakers and puts them in the same drawer from which she removes her heels. She takes the sweater from the back of her chair and puts it on. Because it's cooler in the office than outside.

Compare this with what a man does: Men wear their jackets and ties on the street, perspiring profusely. When a man gets to his office, he takes off his jacket, loosens his tie and sits down to work. When he has to go somewhere again, he will tighten the tie, put on the jacket and step out into the heat.

The man will catch cold.

Now this pattern is no longer as universal as it once was. A female lawyer would not wear a sun dress to court, for example. And many men -- even male lawyers who don't have court today -- will take advantage of the move to 'summer casual' that has become popular in many offices. I work for one such enlightened employer (myself) and, because I have nothing up in court today, I wore neither a tie nor a jacket to the office. And I keep a sweater here because it truly is much cooler here at the Undisclosed Location than it is outside. Proving, I hope, that, though women are still smarter than men, we can catch up. Someday.

But I do still have a cold.