Blog Entries

Welcome to the Dog Days, the time of year synonymous with the “lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.” The name conjures images of dappled dogs dozing in the sun but have you ever wondered where the term originated and what it actually means?  The “Dog Days,” which officially begin on July 3 and end on August 11, coincide with Sirius, the Dog Star, rising and setting with the sun. Known as the Dog Star because it is part of the constellation Canis Major, Latin for “Greater Dog,” Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky.

Did you know that the seventh month of the year is notable for celebrations of freedom and independence? July 1 is Canada Day, which celebrates the creation of the Dominion of Canada; July 4 is American Independence Day,  commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress and announcing the colonies' separation from Great Britain; and July 14 is Bastille Day, the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille and the start of the French Revolution.

June is Audiobook Month, a celebration created by the Audio Publishers Association (APA) to acknowledge the significant role of audiobooks not only in the lives of busy people needing to multitask but also as an indispensable tool for the vision impaired and to advance literacy.

The Fourth of July, aka Independence Day, is surely the most iconic of all the American holidays.  The official birthday of the United States has long been celebrated with fireworks and family gatherings but the day did not officially become a federal holiday until 1941. A bit of background: on July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence and two days later delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, which was drafted by Thomas Jefferson.

“The older I get, the smarter my father seems to get.” Tim Russert