Granted, such things do suggest above-average Alaska temperatures. Trust the B, though: this is not hot. Hot is when small children sink up to their tennis shoes on liquid streets. Hot is when people fight over the one shady spot at the video store parking lot. Hot is when you haul around a suitcase trolley for your daily supply of liquid refreshment. Hot is when instead of leaving your car running so the engine doesn't freeze up, you leave your car running so the air conditioner can keep going. Really, some cars and trucks come standard with air conditioning. Did you know that? Hot is what we don't have here in Homer. What we have is mildly pleasant, a rare gift of nature that sure as a January snowdrift won't last. In the meantime, you might try out some of these Best Bets.

BEST REVOLUTIONARY WOMAN BET: The Betster doesn't understand why Dar Williams is named after a group of women claiming ancestry back to 1776. Whatever. The critically acclaimed songwriter and singer plays 8 tonight at Alice's Champagne Palace. A fund-raiser for Cook Inlet Keeper and sponsored by KBBI and Downward Dog Productions, the show costs $26 for KBBI members, $26 for nonmembers.

BEST YOU'LL MEET A STRANGER BET: So did you hear about the woman named Janet who liked to fillet her salmon all exactly the same length? Yeah, that's why they called her Salmon Janet, evening. If you like fish more than really elaborate and clever puns, while at the Street Fair on Saturday, fill up on salmon at the Friends of the Homer Public Library Salmon Bake. Can't stand fish like the Betster's dad? There's reindeer sausage, too, your choice at $5 a healthy serving. All proceeds benefit the New Library Fund.

BEST STREET CRED BET: OK, the Homer Council on the Arts Street Fair isn't exactly on the street anymore it's in the upper parking lot of the high school but then again, you don't have to crawl up and down Heath Street like in the good ol' days. Check out arts, crafts and food booths from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday.

BEST DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE BET: After flailing flies all day, relax and pick up a few pointers about plants when naturalist Elizabeth Wasserman leads a "Weeds, Willows and Wildflowers" walk and talk from 6-7 p.m. Saturday at the Slidehole Campground Day Use Area, Anchor Point. It's part of the "Riverside Chats" series sponsored by Alaska State Parks and Community Rivers Planning Coalition.

BEST ALIVE, ALIVE, ALIVE BET: Sometimes it's hard to make the time to curl up with a good book and read the night away. So why not head out to Pier One Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Monday or Tuesday and have some of Homer's writers read for you? It's "Invisible Ink," Homer's annual showcase of our best literary artists. Admission is $9 with discounts. Call 235-7333.

BEST UP IN THE AIR JUNIOR RANGER BET: Looking for something to keep your kids occupied the next few weeks? The second session of the Junior Ranger Program runs 2-4 p.m. Tuesday at the Slidehole Day Use Area, Anchor Point State Recreation Area and continues through Aug. 12. Call 235-1034 or 235-1543.

BEST LOCK AND LOAD BET: Some of these new car seats look like they were designed by the same people who translate Japanese computer manuals into English. If you want to be sure you've installed your car seat correctly in the ol' minivan, bring your car with seat installed to the Kenai Peninsula Safe Kids Coalition and Glacier Pontiac Buick GMC free car-seat safety check 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday at the Homer Fire Hall onPioneer Avenue.