Kocet's Corner

So we're in the period known as the Dog Days. We associate that with a lot ofheat and humidity, but what do dogs have to do with this? Very little, believeme.Anyway, here's the story as I understand it: In ancient times, people like theromans believed that a very bright star called Sirius added heat to theatmosphere during the middle of summer. Sirius is the brightest star in theconstellation Canus Major and is referred to as the "dog star." The period inwhich this star rose with the sun (approximately July 3 to Aug. 11) becameknown as the "dog days of summer" which also just happens to be the hottestpart of the year.

You don't have to remind people of the southern Plains that the dog days arehere. In Oklahoma City, for instance, the temperature has reached or exceeded100 degrees every day this month.