We have the most modern devices to follow weather trends, and can track any type of rain, lightning, fog or other conditions. But weather is also a business for the media, and TV stations want to hype the weather to either scare us or force us to make decisions that turn out to be wrong. Many a family barbecue has been canceled due to a frightening forecast.

We make our vacation decisions based on gas prices or airline charges. It’s predictable that gas prices will go up in summer, but how high is high? The Middle East is always on fire, but it seems that the cost of fuel goes through the roof when we need it the most. As for airline travel, conditions couldn’t be worse. Besides packing us in like cattle, there’s an extra charge for just about everything except the restrooms, and that isn’t far away.

Is there such a thing as a leisurely road trip? In my childhood days, we tried to travel in the evening to avoid traffic jams. These days, you’re guaranteed to hit road closures due to repairs. There’s nothing more annoying than being forced into one lane and, at the end of the road block, seeing no workers because they’re all on a break.

If you’re a sports fan, thank goodness for the World Cup and Wimbledon. As for our baseball teams, watching the high-priced Yankees and the underfunded Mets is truly depressing. New York is the sports capital of the country, but the struggles of our major leaguers are a drag on our enjoyment. Why pay big dollars for tickets and ball park food only to see your team lose?

Summer just isn’t what it used to be, and there’s no way to change it back.

Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? JKremer@liherald.com.