Note: The correct final score last week was Pleasant Surprises 15 and Obstacles 3.

Many Weblogs are about my running exploits for a couple of reasons. First, when you are running you have time to think about things you cannot think about when you are stuck in traffic. Second, every time I lace on the Hoka shoes is a challenge at least to me. And third, on a run, you can face many of the challenges you face every day, they are just easier to see.

After my greatly improved Falmouth Road Race, I entered the 'virtual' medical tent with knee and hip pain that prevented me from continuing my training for more than a month. The pain has subsided, and I've begun training again for the BAA Half-Marathon on November 12th. (Last year, 40 degrees and raining).

With only six weeks to train, instead of twelve, I am facing one of the challenges we face every day, and it is very easy to see. I need to increase my distance runs, without aggravating my knee and hip. That's not unlike navigating a delicate situation at work, or at home. It is not unlike being pressed for time, or an unanticipated new deadline.

Yes, I am up against it for sure. We'll see where it leads. I will follow Arthur Ashe's advice and start where I am, use what I have, and do what I can.

Occasionally, in the public interest, I like to provide educational information so that readers are more savvy and can impress their non-reader friends with their useless information. This is one of those Weblogs. 

By the time you finish this, you will be a real expert on the vandalism/art form (your choice) that you see around major cities and some smaller ones. Further, you will be able to tell those friends of yours who regularly deface walls and railroad bridges, what the consequences will be if caught. 

Finally, you might never again be able to look at a can of spray paint without a secret thrill.

Who among us has not seen graffiti? 

It appears to grow everywhere and is impervious to the heat, the cold, the rain and the snow. Near as I can figure, the only enemy of graffiti is white paint used by businesses and cities to cover it up. 

The title of this Weblog appeared when I googled the term, and ‘painting without permission’ seemed to perfectly sum up graffiti.

Let’s start with some information from Brittanica:

“graffiti, form of visual communication, usually illegal, involving the unauthorized marking of public space by an individual or group. Although the common image of graffiti is a stylistic symbol or phrase spray-painted on a wall by a member of a street gang, some graffiti is not gang-related. Graffiti can be understood as antisocial behavior performed in order to gain attention or as a form of thrill seeking, but it also can be understood as an expressive art form.”

Boy, those are three very different goals

1.      Antisocial Behavior-So someone doesn’t like the cement pillars of a road and, in an antisocial manner, puts ‘ADAM’ in twenty-foot letters in protest. Interesting.

2.      Thrill Seeking-What could be more exciting than sneaking into a rail yard, and writing ‘PEACE’ on the side of a train. Kind of takes MY breath away, how about you?

3.      Expressive Art Form-I know if you are like me, nothing is more expressive and brings out my creativity like a can of spray paint at midnight under a bridge. Am I right?

Your next question is obviously “where the does word ‘graffiti’ come from?” I thought you’d never ask. Again, thanks to Brittanica:

“Derived from the Italian word graffio (“scratch”), graffiti (“incised inscriptions,” plural but often used as singular) has a long history. For example, markings have been found in ancient Roman ruins, in the remains of the Mayan city of Tikal in Central America, on rocks in Spain dating to the 16th century, and in medieval English churches.” 

My question is were those marks on ancient Roman ruins put there by the ancient Romans or the modern defacers?

Graffiti transitioned for a while to be the exclusive art form used by gangs to challenge other gangs, to mark territory or to brag about a crime. This was more common in urban areas for some reason than rural areas. I guess there aren’t as many overpasses to work with, and almost no subways.

In the 1990s “tagging” emerged: the repeated use of a symbol or series of symbols to mark territory. 

Painting without permission can have consequences. In some places, like Singapore, you can be caned if caught. (We’ll explore ‘caning’ at another time).

Of course, you can always buy a graffiti wall print at Wayfair for $225, and not face any consequences.

According to Brittanica: “During the 1980s and ’90s many jurisdictions sought ways to eliminate and remove graffiti, fearing that it would otherwise lead to the debasement of the community. Significant resources were allocated for abatement and other clean-up efforts, and some cities even introduced mural programs or “free walls” to provide legal opportunities for urban youths to express their artistic creativity.”

Massachusetts General Law - Part IV, Title I, Chapter 266, Section 126A is quite specific, and I quote:

“Whoever intentionally, willfully and maliciously or wantonly, paints, marks, scratches, etches or otherwise marks, injures, mars, defaces or destroys the real or personal property of another including but not limited to a wall, fence, building, sign, rock, monument, gravestone or tablet, shall be punished by imprisonment in a state prison for a term of not more than three years or by imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than two years or by a fine of not more than fifteen hundred dollars or not more than three times the value of the property so marked, injured, marred, defaced or destroyed, whichever is greater, or both imprisonment and fine, and shall also be required to pay for the removal or obliteration of such painting, marking, scratching or etching, or to remove or obliterate such painting, marking, scratching or etching; provid... however, that if the property marked, injured, marred, defaced or destroyed is a war or veterans' memorial, monument or gravestone, the fine under this section shall be doubled and the person convicted shall be ordered to perform not less than 500 hours of court-approved community service." (FYI, that was one sentence).

"A police officer may arrest any person for commission of the offenses prohibited by this section without a warrant if said police officer has probable cause to believe that said person has committed the offenses prohibited by this section.”

You may now wonder what prompted me to explore graffiti in depth. Good question. It actually had to do with a couple of train rides.

In spite of the fact that the world claims most jobs are hybrid, work from home & work from the office, the traffic to Boston in the morning has never been worse on the Mass Pike. I started taking the train one day a week. Sometimes into South Station and sometimes into North Station.

I noticed that the quality and quantity of graffiti was much superior entering North Station. Of course, it could be that mitigation efforts on the South Station tracks were better, but I don’t think so. I think those ‘artists’ north of the city are more talented. Judge for yourself. All photos were taken from a moving train.

Optimism is a happiness magnet.

If you stay positive, good things and

good people will be drawn to you.

Mary Lou Retton

At the beginning of last summer, I shared a Weblog that highlighted the Worcester Bravehearts, a summer league for college players, who were expected by many to fold when the Pawtucket Red Sox moved to Worcester. How could they compete?

The Weblog was called "John and David Vs. Goliath" referring to the President, John and the General Manager, David and their persistence and determination to succeed. You can read that Weblog here.

This week I received the following email from the team. Nicely done, Bravehearts.