World’s Scariest Bridges: Swinging in the Breeze
I love the things I find on my RSS feed. Here is a collection of the world’s most dangerous bridges. The winner, says Web Urbanist, is the Hussaini Bridge in Pakistan. It crosses the Borak Lake, which rages beneath its flimsy wooden slats. “Moms, dads, grandparents kids all use this […]
He Invented a Better Iron, Now He Makes Them in the USA
Farouk Shami decided he’d do even better business if he made his products in the US. So two years ago he decided to bring the manufacturing for his ceramic curling irons back from China to Houston, the city where he lives. Now he’s hiring 1200 workers to make the high-end […]
Craig Doesn’t Care About Money, Or Your Ideas
Everyone I know uses Craig’s List. And almost everyone I know who used to rely on newspaper classified ads has made the switch, much to the chagrin of my friends at the paper. Today as the sultry heat waited to pour down buckets, just before I snoozed, I read a […]
In 1949, A Network Withered and a New One Emerged
Terry Teachout always has something interesting to write about. His column “Sightings,” in Saturday’s WSJ this week was about a media giant’s demise…but this one happened in 1949.Back then, everyone listened to network radio, but suddenly, everyone was talking about this new thing called television. Teachout points out that in […]
Video in Print? They Can Do That Now
The rains accompanying hurricane Bill have swept away the sultry humid air, today’s a Saturday morning with glorious temps…and a good time to read last night’s WSJ, where I found out about a video that’s being printed into a magazine. CBS is promoting its fall TV shows by inserting a […]
They Sell Locomotives on the Web
We had a backyard barbeque in the steamy August evening. Old friends of mine came and some new friends of my daughters, but one of them was a man whose name I recognized. David Goff. He and his wife live in Deerfield and in their home office run a fascinating […]
Harder than Ever to Get
Oh joy, oh wonderful joy. This sticker was hard-earned. Like so many residents of Massachusetts, inspection time has become a difficult one, with many of my friends failing due to mysterious dashboard engine lights that they are unable to extinguish in time for the unfair inspection station probe. I […]
Townwide Tag Sale Shouts the Recorder Headline!
I love getting good publicity, getting news printed in the paper. The Recorder’s Chase Scheinbaum called my yesterday, asking about our plan to hold a second Town Wide Tag Sale in Deerfield. Of course we are, it’s going to be on October 3, just the same as last year. The […]
A Tale of How To Cut Airline Costs at American
Last night on CNBC, viewers got a chance to get up close to what it’s like for a week in the life of American Airlines. Host Peter Greenberg interviewed Ed Crandall, former CEO of the airline, who told a story about cost cutting. He said they were reviewing the budget […]
Police Use Ugly Truck to Solve Nuisance Problems
In Peoria Illinois, police officials have discovered the power of public shame. They park an especially ugly truck with 360 degree cameras in front of the houses of suspected drug dealers and other neighborhood trouble makers. People call the cops, and once they park the truck, people leave. Today’s WSJ […]
Visiting the Stone Castle that Gillette Built
William Gillette left a famous home on top of a mountain in Hadlyme, Connecticut. He was an actor, producer, playwright and yachtsman, and the big house he built was full of 15 cats. We joined many motorcyclists on a warm Sunday to tour the big house that he called Seven […]
Johnny A at Mountain Park
Johnny A, guitar wizard, rocks the stage with his three-piece power trio at Mountain Park, Holyoke.
Mountain Park: New England’s Finest Amphitheatre
Eric Suher’s claim is true….this new venue with seating on the hill, a gorgeous sweep of lawn, and all that you need for a great day of ourdoor music is the finest in New England. I spoke with him as he jumped down off a golf cart, welcoming friends and […]
Escobar Meets MacGyver and Other Drug Tales
A man called GoNOMAD last night looking for information on renting a villa in Costa Rica. We don’t rent villas, but I promised him I’d see what I can do, and this led me to a website called Costa Rica Travel News. The lead story on about the top ten […]
Erik Gauger on Travel Writing from the Road
Erik Gauger was interviewed for a GoNOMAD story. His lush, huge photos make his site, Notes from the Road, a fascinating read. Here is an excerpt of the story. What are some of the biggest challenges to travel writing? For me, the process of travel writing is dependent on a […]
Publishing’s Tough, But There’s Money To Be Made
Our advertising partnerships are doing well, we’ve become very good at matching up page content and revenue. I read with interest about a young man named Hunter Walker who decides to enroll at Columbia Journalism School, and was committing the biggest sin–talking about the cost. It’s gonna be $47K and […]