The second day of the Fair(s) was more crowded than the first, but there was still plenty of elbow room. I started out at the area around Fifth and Liberty and made my way east and south to campus, taking a few photos as I went along and getting rapidly done in by the humidity. By the time I reached Hatcher Library I was done for; the cool building was a blessing. (The Ann Arbor News said that two people were treated for “heat-related illnesses” during yesterday’s festivities.) Of course, this is nothing compared to the South, or so I’m told, so I consider myself lucky.

I hope to take a closer look at the booths tomorrow. Today was mostly trying to get some decent atmosphere shots; I didn’t have much time to do anything else. I didn’t buy anything—just gawked and took photos. The constant “JOBS NOT WAR” signs everywhere (along with other similar insignia) were reminders that for the Midwest, Ann Arbor’s a pretty liberal place to be. (I read in the Free Press today that the mayor and the Common Council of Madison nixed the idea of Madison doing a “sister city” arrangement with a Palestinian town in the Gaza Strip because the act was too political or radical or controversial or something. I don’t know the full story, but that seems kind of odd coming from Madison, which already has sister cities in Cuba and Vietnam.)