Tax Day 2010

April 15th, the due date for taxes, brought two statues of liberty onto the streets of Westfield to the rescue of late filers.

The real action however was in Boston, where the former Governor of Alaska was speaking.

You would think that Ms. Palin would have worn a different color outfit. Didn't the original tea party have something to do with being against the redcoats? Here a sign holder makes an election prediction.

This is Joe Ligotti, the fastest rising star of Boston media.

Another Tea Party protest was held in Worcester. Here Pat Gouin captures former Valley newsman Jim Polito being interviewed.

 



Dr. Jay Fleitman, who is running against Rep. Richard Neal, was also in Worcester, shown here posing with a sign waver.

There was also a Tea Party rally in Springfield, as seen in this photo by Sheila Pecor. That's Tom Wesley kneeling, who is also running for congress against Richie Neal.

 



Yesterday I went to Raos Coffee Shop in downtown Amherst. School had just gotten out, and kids were playing hacky-sack outside.

There are paintings on the outside wall of Raos, such as this portrait of the heroic Paul Revere.

 



There is also a coffee drinking Miss Emily.

Now they have added a new portrait, this one is of Amherst's other poetic superstar, Professor Robert Frost of Amherst College.

 



Cool bumper stickers on a car outside the Amherst Survival Center.

 



The Donut Kings in downtown Northampton.

 

Three Libraries

Another Rainy Day

Today I went to three libraries. The first was the Robert Frost Library at Amherst College.

Inside is this bust of the poet Robert Frost, a teacher at Amherst College after whom the library is named.

The rain to the wind said,
'You push and I'll pelt.'
They so smote the garden bed
That the flowers actually knelt,
And lay lodged--though not dead.
I know how the flowers felt.

— Robert Frost

I was also at the UMass Library. I never use its official name because I disapprove of it.

Someone knocked over the cigarette disposal thing in front.

What a mess for the staff to clean up! 

I also went to the library at Hampshire College, which is also located in Amherst.

Love is in the air at Hampshire - or at least on the ground by the picnic table. 

At the Hampshire College bus stop, at first I didn't notice this smeared graffiti. Then I realized it said, DON'T TAKE MY PANTS OFF, DAD.

 



Is that some kind of sick joke or a genuine cry for help?

UMass Alumni

I walked into the UMass library over the weekend and stumbled upon the final ceremony of the UMass Class of 1957 50th Anniversary Reunion which was being held indoors because of rain. The aging graduates were being addressed by UMass Chancellor John Lombardi. 

Lombardi is currently at the center of a controversy over how allegedly he is being edged aside in favor of a more Boston-centralized campus leadership model. Fears are running high in Western Mass that this will mean more attention paid to the Boston UMass campuses at the expense of Amherst, whose economy is almost totally dependant on the university.

Anyway, Lombardi was telling the 1957 graduates that theirs was one of the most special classes in UMass history. I said to myself, "I'll bet you say that to all the classes." But then I scolded myself for being so cynical. While I'm sure all the reunions are told that, it doesn't mean it isn't true. Every class consists of unique individuals, and therefore is by definition unique from every other class, and thereby special in its own way.

Of course, some of the reason for this flattery is because the Class of 1957, now in their early seventies, are at that age where they are putting the last touches on their last will and testaments. Naturally the university wouldn't mind them slipping in a line expressing gratitude to the school where their class was so special. For example, the Class of 1957 at Amherst College recently donated the money for this magnificent statue of their former English professor Robert Frost. 

Here is the plaque they placed in front of the statue.

Finally, I'll leave you with this joke.

A couple was celebrating their golden wedding anniversary in the Massachusetts Berkshires.

Their domestic tranquility had long been the talk of the town. People
would say, "What a peaceful & loving couple."

The local newspaper reporter was inquiring as to the secret of their
long and happy marriage.

"Well, it dates back to our honeymoon," explained the husband. "We visited the Grand Canyon in Arizona, and took a trip down to the bottom of the canyon by horse. We hadn't gone too far when my wife's horse stumbled and she almost fell off. My wife looked down at the horse and quietly said, "That's once."

"We proceeded a little further and horse stumbled again. Once more my
wife quietly said, "That's twice."

We hadn't gone a half-mile when the horse stumbled for the third time.
My wife quietly removed a revolver from her purse and shot the horse
dead.

I screamed at her, "What's wrong with you, foolish woman! Why did you shoot the
poor animal like that? Are you crazy?"

She looked at ME, and quietly said, "That's once."