It's August, which means that, technically, we are well into summer's decline. The days are getting shorter, and September is next up on the calendar. But that is not how it feels. September seems as far off as New Year's.
One of the qualities that define early August is the odd sense of hiatus that comes with it. As the holidays loom, cities empty out, streets grow quieter and even the usually hyper-energetic crows seem to want to go and lie down. News slows to a crawl, and editorial topics vanish into the haze.
Even when it's not particularly hot, the brassy light and lingering humidity turn the brain to a soft pudding, rendering action unthinkable.