Blogs from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, United States, North America

The Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts are by no means the highest peaks in the United States, but, foot for foot, they might have inspired more writers than any other range. In particular, Mount Greylock, the highest peak in the state at 3,500 feet, has attracted and inspired scores of famous writers: Melville, Thoreau, Hawthorne, and Holmes, among others. From his study at his Arrowhead farmhouse twenty miles away, Melville was inspired to describe the white whale from Moby-Dick based on his view of the snow-covered Mount Greylock. In the 19thcentury, Mount Greylock was an isolated place that had a special allure to creative types. Henry David Thoreau spent a night on the summit, surrounded by an “undulating country of clouds.” Nathaniel Hawthorne set his haunting story “Ethan Brand” ... read more

Sparing no expense for this journey began with booking a flight on Spirit Airlines. If you're looking for comfort, try something more luxurious like the back of a flatbed pickup truck; otherwise, Spirit is a great place to wantonly spend money. Like most American businesses who, in the face of a wintry economic climate, try to grow profits by charging more money for the same old shit (forget the logical solution of charging less to entice you to buy more), Spirit is among the many commercial air carriers who have taken to extorting a premium for checked luggage as well as on-flight amenities like snacks and beverages ($3 cup of ginger ale, anyone?). But Spirit boldly takes it one step further: they continue to gouge for each carry-on item you have, effectively encouraging you to bring ... read more