October 29, 2005

State Street, pre-Halloween.

It was a beautiful day here in Madison, Wisconsin, with temperatures in the 60s and bright sun (made fall-like by long shadows in mid-afternoon). Lots of young people circulated along the blocks that would turn into a Halloween party mood before long.

Get ready! Buy some costumes!

State Street

State Street

Soak up the atmosphere:

State Street

State Street

Notice any politics? Look closer:

State Street

Oh, but who's doing politics today? It's a beautiful Saturday. Let's just hang out and have some latte:

State Street

Gotta run now. What? What's this?

State Street

While you were hanging out and latte-sipping, politics set up shop on pre-Halloween State Street. Oh, I see they've got a petition they're hoping all the kids will stop and sign. They want a referendum on the ballot here in Wisconsin that would demand that the troops be brought home from Iraq:

State Street

The signature-seekers are all middle-aged and older. The pre-Halloween young folks don't go anywhere near them. One man with a clipboard-and-petition goes over to a woman with a clipboard-and-petition and says: "Are you getting many?" She says: "No."

Oh well. Take a break. Enjoy the sun:

State Street

The "left wing gear" purveyor isn't doing a brisk business either:

State Street

I walk back toward my car. Near the campus end of the street, the city has put up some portable toilets to help out the Halloween crowd. Nearby, an old guy is banging on drums and half singing:
Money, money, money, money
They say the best things in life are free
But try giving that stuff to Mr. B

2 comments:

chuck b. said...

The aging boomers evoke less melancholy than the long fall shadows.

Steven A. Stehling said...

Here's a question.

Would the owner/leaser of the building with the “Feingold President” paint job be required to report that as an in-kind political contribution under the rules set forth by the McCain-Feingold Act. If so, would that be considered a one time contribution or would each day the sign remains count as an additional contribution?