Antigovernment ideologues and privatization dogmatists, however, hate the very word “public,” and they’ve long sought to demonize the U.S. Postal Service, undercut its popular support and, finally, dismantle it.

For those of us who were there and of a mindset, Boston was an undelible part of growing up in the 1970s. Their debut album sold 17 million. They were bigger than Nirvana. And then they weren’t. The coattail effect never lasts, and so it was with Boston, which has put out six albums now, each one less successful than the one before.

One who worked long hours on the float entered in the State Fair parade by the Coalition of Rainbow Alliances said she was “heartbroken” when rain canceled the parade and the group’s chance to win for the 10th year in a row. But wait.

Contemporary art gallery DEMO Project will host an opening reception Friday, Aug. 15, for the exhibit Communal Paradox.