“Government declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws.”

- Ayn Rand

As the ole' saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers.” So what is up with all the rain we've been getting this summer? What's that bringing me besides mud puddles? I mean, like you, I bought into the whole global climate change theory, and for all I know this is just nature's way of turning central New York into a tropical rain forest But, with that in mind, wouldn't we also have warmer weather? I went out of the office on Wednesday to drive around the city and at 9 a.m. I was wearing my fleece hoodie; and not to promote some odd fashion statement either but because I was chilly, and this is July! Granted, by the late afternoon I was down to a T-shirt and sweating but it wasn't how it started out and that's where the real frustration lies - the constant temperature flux.

It used to be real simple, when the fall winds begin to blow you pulled out the light sweaters, in winter you grabbed a parka, spring you took off the parka and put the light sweater back on. And in summer, you were always one step away from becoming a nudist sitting in front of the air conditioner. But lately, the seasons have sort of mashed together and instead of being spread out over the course of the year it all happens in the same day. Just a personal observation, but still, an annoying one seeing as though making plans for the weekend means that I have to pack not only a picnic basket but, an umbrella and lately a snow shovel, because let's face it, with everything else that's been coming our way it's only a matter of time until I'm shoveling out the driveway in August.

And speaking of umbrellas ...

Bonca's in Sennett is making news again. This time it's because the umbrellas on their outdoor tables have a Perry's Ice Cream slogan written on them, which, in some arcane law is akin to having a billboard. Now I might be taking a broad stance here, but we have drugs flowing through this city like a river, roads that are more marked than a Mafia turncoat, and the only residents who don't care about the high cost of housing are living in the prison.

But, hey, these aren't really things local government needs to fret over. No, the real problem to the greater good is whether or not an umbrella has a logo on it. Well, with this logic, does that mean I am a “walking billboard” for Nike because I have a “swoosh” on my sneakers. Am I advertising the southern tier tourism business because the T-shirt I'm wearing has “Ithaca is Gorges” written on it?

I just find it amusing that in times of financial strife that instead of building businesses up whatever way we can, the powers that be are throwing up so many road blocks that it's no wonder that our economy is left sitting in a bottleneck.

Auburn native Bradley Molly's column appears here, each

Sunday. He can be reached at lovonian@hotmail.com