 I don't know about you, but I always thought The Dog Days of Summer were those days when it's so hot, all the dogs are panting. Well, the heat does make them, and most of us, pant. But that's not where the name comes from. Unexpected Insights No, the term comes from ancient forecasters and astrologers who noticed the seasonal alignment of the Sun and Sirius (the Dog Star constellation). They believed the combination generated more heat and called the stretch between July 3 and August 11, The Dog Days of Summer. My curiosity about The Dog Days of Summer started with the August edition of my Riddle Me Mail project. I was searching for a theme and decided to go with what I thought I knew about The Dog Days of Summer.  Connecting the Dots So why do The Dog Days of Summer matter? They're a good example of how often we think we know something, but don't know the whole story. How one thought leads to another, and how unexpected connections can generate new interest in a familiar topic.  Share What You Know When it came time to design the stationery for Riddle Me Mail, I settled on postcards and decided to share what I'd learned, adding information about Canis Major, the constellation that features the Dog Star, Sirius. I also learned that Sirius is the brightest star in the sky, not the North Star. Did you know that?  What About Your Business? What information could you share or clarify? Is there a backstory about your business or products people would find interesting? Are there ways you might simplify your message? Could you present it in a new format or context that would generate new interest? If I can help, let me know. We design and edit websites, books, and presentations.  |