AN AUTUMN SATURDAY AFTERNOON in the suburbs isn’t complete unless you can hear the sound of a marching band playing at a high school football game in the distance. It can be a classic fall day, bright, sunny, just a few puffy clouds in the blue sky, crisp temperatures, yellow and red leaves tumbling to the ground. But unless you come within a half mile or so of a local stadium during halftime, it isn’t 100% autumn. Not in my book, anyway. I grew up about a half-mile away from a football field (actually in the next town over, but so what), and I always remember the sounds of brass and percussion coming up from the south, fading in and out as the breezes shifted. There’s something unique about the distinctive, off-tune notes from those gridiron trumpets, as their sound waves bounce along the streets and off the buildings and get out of phase with themselves. Not being much of a sportsman and not having any kids, I hardly ever go to a high school football game. But those blustery, discordant tones from the marching band still make me smile.

Unfortunately, my present residence is not within earshot of any football fields. I’ll have to take a walk down by the “Montclair Mounties” field one Saturday before the season is up (guess I need to do that soon!), to hear just a bit of that brassy tribute to budding youth during a melancholy season. It won’t be autumn without it!

A WARNING ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING FROM THE BRITS: I recently discussed the global warming situation on this blog. And with excellent timing, the British Government just released a comprehensive report on what the economic consequences of global warming will likely be, and what should be done to avoid the worst. Senior government economist Sir Nicholas Stern presented the report, which happens to agree with my contention that we need to take big-time action RIGHT NOW or face some really bad consequences in another 50 years. The report strongly concludes that waiting it out (as President Bush is doing), or doing just a little until we’re 1000% sure just how bad the situation will get, is very dumb. Anyway, I commend this report to your attention, if you haven’t already read it or heard about it.