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Items included in this column are things that I have heard, seen or have been reported to me. I cannot vouch for their veracity.

Spring is here. The Vernal Equinox (Latin for Spring Equal Night) arrives, in the northern hemisphere, on the day when we first enjoy 12 hours of daylight. We haven't had this much daylight since the end of the third week (on or about the 21st) of September.

Old Sol shines on us nearly four hours longer than it did just before Christmas. There's more good news. Before the Summer Solstice, which Scandinavians refer to as Midsummer, we will gain nearly another four hours of daylight.

The seasons, of course, are caused by a combination of 'revolution and inclination.' Revolution, not the 1776 kind, is the movement of the Earth, in an elliptical path, around the Sun. Inclination refers to the earth being "tilted" in space. That is, if the North and South Poles were really poles, the earth would resemble a spinning top, inclined (tilted) at 23.5 degrees from vertical.

Using the Socratic method, I used to ask my students, "Why is it so much warmer in the Summer than in the Winter?" Perhaps the most common response was, "We're closer to the Sun in the Summer!" A good, reasonable response. But it's not correct. In the northern hemisphere, the earth's orbit actually places us further from the Sun in June and closer in December.

"The days are longer in the Summer," was usually the second most common response. This answer is closer to the explanation and partially explains summer's heat. Because the Sun is above the horizon in summer for nearly twice as long as it is in December, it has a longer period of time to warm us up.

However, inclination has a huge effect on summer temps. In the Winter, because the northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun's rays, those rays have to travel through a lot more atmosphere than they do in summer.

In the summer, the Sun appears much higher in the sky. The warming rays enter the atmosphere at a much steeper, more direct angle. By the time they hit us, or the lake you're swimming in, they've travelled through much less atmosphere. The less atmosphere they travel through, the fewer molecules of air they've bounced off of and lost heat to.

"Well, if the Sun is out for the most hours and hits us at the most direct angle in June, why isn't June our warmest month? And, why isn't December our coldest month?" the kids usually asked.

Fair question! July is our warmest month and January is our coldest. The answer also explains why your freezer takes a while to cool off and why, especially if it's full of frozen food, why it would remain cold for quite a while, even if your electricity went missing. In the Fall, it takes a good period of time for the earth to cool off. In the Spring, it takes a while for the things to warm up.

Maybe the easiest way to understand the concept is to think of our lakes. Ice fishing isn't usually a possibility until at least two months after the Autumnal Equinox. In the Spring, lakes don't thaw until a month or so after we see the sun for 12 hours per day.

Speaking of Spring

We have a whole variety of "squirrel proof" feeders in our yard. I was just watching the squirrels feast on the "bird seed" my wife feeds to her pet rodents. I like to think that I have an average sized brain (for a father). Yet, I can't seem to outsmart our furry friends despite their olive-sized brains.

An adult gray squirrel eats about 40 lbs. of acorns per year. In very cold weather, the grays need to eat their weight per day in order to stay warm enough to survive. Flying squirrels like to live in vacated Wood Duck houses.

Other signs of Spring

Since it's Spring, thoughts turn to baseball. I'm no baseball expert, but I just can't imagine how the Twins are going to compete with the pitchers they have in camp. I hope I'm wrong.

More baseball stuff

Coors Field, the home of the Colorado Rockies, has been referred to as "The place where pitchers go to die" because the thin air, low humidity and, maybe, less gravity allowed hitters to hit the baseball further and faster than in other major league ballparks.

The Rockies have since installed a kind of humidor to store baseballs. The balls are stored in a 9x9x7 foot box with a constant 70 degree temperature and humidity at a steady 50 percent.

Until 2002, baseballs were stored in a room near the field with no special heat or humidity controls. Pitchers complained that the dry, slippery baseballs made it tough to throw off-speed pitches. One commented that it was, "Kind of like throwing a cueball."

In the Rockies' first seven years at Coors Field, 65 percent more runs were scored and 57 percent more homeruns were hit in Rocky home games than in their road games - a far greater differential than the difference between home and road games for any other MLB team.

Since the humidor was installed, 28 percent more runs have been scored at Coors and three other big league parks have yielded more homeruns. Generally speaking, hitters are not too enthused about the change. Most pitchers disagree. Some feel the conditions at the field are just "part of the game" and should have been left alone.

You are invited to send interesting, unusual and/or humorous items that could possibly be used in this space. If you choose to do so, please send it to [email protected].

If you prefer, you may send it to

Chisago County Press

Attn: Dave

12631 Lake Blvd.

Lindstrom, Mn 55045

or, you may bring it in to the office.

Sports stuff would be great, but, please do not limit yourselves. Politics, religion, culture (pop or otherwise) are welcomed. Please do not feel offended if your contribution is not included.

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