Why Is It Hot In The Summer?—What Lessons Can We Draw From The Heat Of Summer?
Today is the first day of summer.
(Above–Summer. Photo by Kwanesum)
Why does it get hot in the summer and colder in the winter?
Here is why from the Library of Congress—
“It is all about the tilt of the Earth’s axis. Many people believe that the temperature changes because the Earth is closer to the sun in summer and farther from the sun in winter. In fact, the Earth is farthest from the sun in July and is closest to the sun in January! The Earth’s movement around the sun causes the seasons, but it does not affect the temperatures during the seasons. During the summer, the sun’s rays hit the Earth at a steep angle. The light does not spread out as much, thus increasing the amount of energy hitting any given spot. Also, the long daylight hours allow the Earth plenty of time to reach warm temperatures. During the winter, the sun’s rays hit the Earth at a shallow angle. These rays are more spread out, which minimizes the amount of energy that hits any given spot. Also, the long nights and short days prevent the Earth from warming up. Thus, we have winter!”
It is interesting to note that summer is hot not because the Earth moves towards the sun, but because the rays of the sun are more focused in summer and because longer days allow more time for heat to build up.
An analogy can be drawn here in favor of the importance of focus and hard work needed to accomplish important tasks in life.
Also shown by this example is that relationships can be maintained against the obstacle of distance if we apply effort and time to keeping them strong.
When it is hot, think of why it is hot and get to work on the things that matter most to you in life.
(Below–The seasons come and go. Drawing by Tau’olunga.)
1896 Painting Of Alley In San Francisco’s Chinatown
Above is a painting of an alley in San Francisco’s Chinatown. The painting is from 1896. The artist was a C.P. Nelson.
The painting is taken from an online exhibit called The Chinese in California 1850-1925. Please click here to see the exhibit.
The Chinese in California of that time were not treated so well.
The link is part of the excellent American Memory Project of the Library of Congress. It is well worth the time to explore the full site.
A good book to read about the history of the various ethnic groups that helped make our nation is A Different Mirror–A History of Multicultural America by Ronald Takaki.
Here is the link for visiting Chinatown in San Francisco in the present day.
Lady Fishing In D.C. Tidal Basin—1957
Above is a person fishing in the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C., in 1957.
Here is the current fishing forecast for the D.C .Tidal Basin.
Here are facts about the Tidal Basin.
The picture is from the American Memory series of the Library of Congress.
The picture was taken by Toni Frissell. She took many pictures and is worth your further review.
About Ms. Frissell—
“Toni Frissell (1907-1988) …a photojournalist and fashion photographer..She demonstrated ..versatility.. in her work as a staff photographer for Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Sports Illustrated and in her publication of several photographically illustrated books, ranging from A Child’s Garden of Verses (1944) to The King Ranch, 1939-1944 (1975).
Frissell is perhaps best known for her pioneering fashion photography and her informal portraits of the famous and powerful in the United States and Europe, including Winston Churchill, Eleanor Roosevelt, and John F. and Jacqueline Kennedy. She is noted for taking fashion photography out of the studio into the outdoors, thus placing an accent on the active woman. She is also known for the imaginative angles, both physical and metaphorical, from which she covered her subjects.”
Fish Vendor—Augusta, Georgia 1903
Above is a picture of a fish vendor in Augusta, Georgia in 1903.
The picture is taken from the American Memory project of the Library of Congress.
Christmas Tree Over Bar Entrance—Philadelphia 1938
Above is a photo of a Christmas tree over a bar entrance. The photo was taken on Market Street in Philadelphia in 1938 by Paul Vanderbilt.
I found the photo on the Library of Congress American memory web page.
Here are some photos of Market Street in the current day.
Here is a history of Market Street in olden days . Here is more information on Market Street.
Below the tree you see an advertisement for Guckenheimer Whiskey. Here is information on the Guckenheimer distillery and brand. It is an informative link.
Giant Fly Outwitted By Community Sanitation
The above poster is from an exhibition of New Deal era Works Progress Administration posters on the web page of the American Memory Project at the Library of Congress.
Photo Of Rainy Day In World War II Era Houston
The above photo is of a rainy day in Downtown Houston.
The picture was taken by John Vachon in 1943.
The picture is part of American Memory collection from the Library of Congress.
This specific photo is from a collection of documentary pictures taken by government photographers in the Roosevelt years.
The days come and go. People have their lives. People come and go.
Poem–Library Of Congress
Here is a short poem I wrote after visiting the Library of Congress a few years back—
In the main reading room
Of the Library of Congress
Tourists gawk
At the magnificent architecture
And at the odd sight
Of people reading books.