Thanks. SJ. LOL. I was thinkin' the same things when I was rakin'. I went out early and came in quick cuz I forgot gloves and got a blister b4 any heat stroke could happen.

You're right about shading the lawn though. More leaves have fallen, and I'm leavin' 'em.
I couldn't "leave" this one alone

--leaves left on the grass will cause more damage to the grass because the blades can't photosynthesize; they will suffocate. (Of course, if your grass has already died from heat and dehydration, suffocation won't hurt it.) Leaves left in beds and under trees (in tree rings, for instance) will trap moisture, which is a good thing right now. Technically, the mulch will produce more heat on the roots, but the effect will be negligible.
Of course, given the choice of killing your grass with magnolia leaves and dying of heat stroke while raking leaves, I would stay inside.
Don't you people own air-conditioners? Really, what's the big deal, unless you are wearing a football uniform and practicing in the heat at 3:30pm?
Define "air conditioner." I live in 1960-something, and have no central heat or air. This weather would be a crisis for me professionally if I weren't otherwise occupied with this @#$% mono. Talk about great timing, I guess! (Not that I get paid to have mono, either. If you want to send donations, I can give you my address. ;-))
The IRONY here is that I went to play for some auditions tonight at a local college tonight, and as soon as I got home I turned OFF my window unit and put on a long-sleeved shirt. As in most large buildings, the A/C in that place was set at a temperature that made us all shiver.
I wonder if there would be a temperature change outside if all those giant units were off for a couple of days? (Not that I'm suggesting it--just wondering!)