We kick off Bill’s new segment, “Thoughts on Things.” Or is it “Thoughts ‘N Things?” Either way, expect a full line of greeting cards, mugs, and stuffed animals coming to a gift store near you. We also hop aboard the Fussytown Trolley for another trip to Florida. Why does it always take us to Florida?

ACLU attorney Bill Newman stops by and tries his best to keep us out of trouble.

Northampton’s override has passed. We check in with Mayor Higgins (stuck in traffic on her way to Boston) to get her reaction and talk about next steps. Then “Coyote Boy” Luke Bittel endures some slings and arrows to chat about his new documentary Some Assembly Required.

Northampton voters get to go to the polls and exercise their democracy today. If you’re not a Northampton resident and are feeling a little left out of all this voting stuff, here’s a little something for you. We also chat with Daily Hampshire Gazette reporter Bob Flaherty, who ducks in for a few moments between visits to polling stations. Also, Bill and Jaz have some great new merch ideas.

…to get out to the polls and vote tomorrow (if you’re a Northampton resident, that is). And in the interest of helping you make an informed decision, he offers these helpful links:

Helpful links for folks trying to get a sense of the impact on their finances (or their neighbor’s) from the override if it passes.

Here’s a link to the assessor’s current estimation of your home’s value.
Here’s a link to a tax calculator that figures out your taxes based on your property valuation (with and without the override).
Here’s a link to the Gazette’s search engine that gives you the valuation on any address in Northampton, Florence and Leeds for 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

June 15 - Bill tells us how, and why, he’s planning on voting on the override question. Plus, a trip to an alternate universe, filled with guns, dead animals, and camoflage. Then our Amherst emissary Mary Carey pays us a visit and gives us a heads up about a Bill Dwight imposter!

June 12 - Uh oh, Bill’s talking medical procedures again. It’s okay - no need to dump your breakfast. It’s not that gruesome. We talk to Jim Dostal and Andrew Shelffo about why they support an override for Northampton.

Hadley celebrates its 350th birthday this weekend with a parade. Bill salutes the young whippersnappers. Jaz demands ponies. And candy. Bill’s trainer takes pity on him and decides to forego his weekly weigh-in this week in order to focus on some of the other benefits to be had by working out. Finally, we talk to override opponents Gene Tacy and Kathy Silva.

Happy National Ball Point Pen Day! It’s a shame how commercialized it’s become. Chris Collins gives us the post-mortem on the Greenfield election, and he and Bill talk local politics.

Jaz and Bill have to attend a company-wide sexual harrassment seminar (actually, it turns out Bill didn’t have to go because he’s just a part-timer. Poor guy missed out on a really fun video and quiz). Steve Kallaugher of Young Heroes talks about an upcoming fundraiser for AIDS orphans. And we talk to comedian Kate Clinton about her upcoming show.

Bill was apparently feeling a little shy and vulnerable being left all alone…

We have a little late celebration for New Hampshire. And we hope that David Carradine actually went out celebrating, too, even if it’s a little embarrassing for his family…

We talk to Matt Wolfe of Madera Energy about the proposed biomass plant in Franklin County that’s causing a bit of a kerfuffle. And Sam Rush and Cate Damon of New Century Theatre come in to talk about the upcoming season.

And please - come out and cheer us on Sunday morning as we take part in the Walk/Run to Remember (Bill’s walking, Jaz is running). Or, better yet - join us on the course!

*DING DING!* All aboard the Fussytown Trolley - which, due to budget cuts, is doubling as a street sweeper these days. Jaz has an idea for a new business downtown - which is good, because Bill apparently wants to outsource her sidekick position. Plus, Bill ate something really scary last night, which he’s really going to regret when we participate in Sunday’s Walk/Run to Remember. Join us, won’t you?

(Oh, and the Primus CD I was thinking of is actually called Pork Soda. Not “Pork Tornado.”)

Meanwhile, Matt Meers, Miles Kohrman, and Josh Collins are putting on a production of Snoopy at the Academy of Music. Bring the kids! We also talk to Meg Taylor of Pioneer Valley Backyard Chickens about an upcoming film screening they’re co-sponsoring at Forbes Library. We’re also joined by the legendary “Chickenfingers” Lattanzi, who shares his stories of chicken chicanery.

Also, Bill and I can’t stop singing “Spin around, ninja…” Join us, won’t you?