THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

The phrase "the dog days of summer" usually refers to that long, hot stretch in late July and August when it seems as though cool breezes will never come. [It seems the phrase originated with the Romans -- dies canicularis -- who knew?] But here in the Upper South, we have been flirting with 100 degrees for a week, even though summer officially started only the day before yesterday. I actually like some hot weather, but it does seem that we are in for more than our share this year.

I have been mulling over the idea of launching a lengthy tutorial on Afro-American Studies, and I will probably do that some time. But with this sort of weather, I cannot believe anyone wants to read thirty or forty thosuand well-chosen words on a serious subject, spread over a month or more, so for the time being, I shall content myself with snarking at the Republicans, bemoning the wretched state of the world, and mooning over those good old times when it felt as though America was embarked on a progressive path to, at the very least, a vibrant Social Democracy.

Fat chance.