Here's a great sympathy quote from Zarlino [1556] for anyone writing a dissertation:

"...everyone, inasmuch as he is human, may be mistaken in his opinion.  And let us remember what Horace writes in the Epistle of Ars poetica:

Verum opere in longo obrepere somnum.
[Truly in a long work it is natural for sleep to creep up.]

This could be an excellent excuse for this most serious author, and also for everyone else who writes at great length."

Massachusetts, or at least our area, seems to have some weird garbage-related traditions. For example, garbage and recycling collection in Amherst isn't run by the city--each citizen must contract with a private company. That's just one example.

Here are two more. First, apparently people here have realized that dogs are much less wonderful to have around than cats, and are disposing of their unwanted pets, at least judging from a sign in Look Park:

And second, I knew this was a cultured community, but I had no idea there would be enough instrument turnaround to warrant this: