A Strange Synchronized Saudi Kissing Geometry
Qanta Ahmed is a doctor who spent a few years practicing medicine in Saudi Arabia. When I heard about her book, entitled “In the Land of Invisible Women,” I knew I wanted to read it. In fact I liked the title and the story so much we just published an […]
It’s Like Having Two Saturday Nights in a Row
Memorial Day, like many of the “Big Six” holidays, feels like Ground Hog Day. That’s because when you wake up on Saturday morning, it’s like Friday, and then on lazy Sunday, well, it feels like Saturday. It’s fun for me to look back at what I was doing over the […]
Nollywood’s Chances Are Hurt by Rampant Piracy
Have you ever heard of Nollywood? Apparently, Nigeria’s film business is 2nd only to its better known cousin from India. A story by Will Connors datelined Lagos told the story of a booming business that’s threatened only by something insidiuous–piracy. In 2006 nearly 900 movies came straight outta Lagos. Not […]
Now the Writing Part, the Hardest Thing About a Press Trip
I’m thinking about Beaumont, Texas on this glorious pre-holiday Friday. The cafe was booming so I finally now have time to do what I spend many hours avoiding every day. That is writing the stories that result from my travels. Travel writers will tell you that getting back to a […]
Mary Louise Parker Wishes Her Nipples Weren’t on YouTube
The other day I found a story about the top ten high tech busts of the past decade. A few surprised me. On the list was YouTube.com, Microsoft’s Zune music player, Microsoft’s Vista operating system, Sirius/XM satellite radio, Gateway Computer, and the Segway device. Oh, and the Iridium satellite telephone […]
May Grayness Bums Out New Englanders
I sat on the treadmill at the Y yesterday and watched a silent TV. Silent because the jack that I was supposed to plug into didn’t work. On one of the TVs a man bowled and I watched him throw 12 strikes! The show was called “America’s Best Bowler” and […]
A Story that Makes You Glad You’re In a Small House
I awoke with great relief the other morning. The big lump in my abdomen was only a dream. I compared this wash of relief to how I felt today as I read a long, sad winding story about Edmund Andrews, a New York Times business reporter, who experienced first hand […]
A Man From Iran Stood Waiting for His Daughter
It’s gonna be a hot day today, all of that pent up heat finally pouring forth from the May sun. At the cafe we’ve got some new people working in, getting a feel for what we do. I was stunned yesterday when I called five applicants back and asked them […]
Advice for Travelers in Reader’s Digest from GoNOMAD
Here is some advice that I gave the writer from Reader’s Digest who just published a guide to travel bargains around the US. I was in good company, including Pauline Frommer, Peter Greenberg, Matt Gross (NYT’s Frugal Traveler), and AP travel editor Beth Harpaz. Massachusetts and Vermont: “Ecotourism doesn’t have […]
Hiring During the Recession
It’s a new day and time to meet a bunch of new potential hires. I will put four prospects to the test, I asked them all to stop by and meet us. Half the test is seeing if they actually show up, or call as a result of our reaching […]
The Pain Is Worse When You Get Older
I was walking down the cellar stairs, carrying an enormous basket of laundry, when I hit something and my feet came out from under me. I landed with a thud, but not a lot of pain, on my mid-back. I made it through my day so far without a lot […]
A Declining Bounce Rate Is Good for GoNOMAD
We woke up to unseasonably cold temps in Holyoke, and were glad the heat came on to warm the chill. A lot is happening in my busy world, it’s spinning like a top. But what’s the alternative? A slowed down world wouldn’t be any fun, so I forge ahead and […]
Paper Says "We’re Sorry" But Do Readers Care?
In London, newspaper marketing has reached a new low. In today’s WSJ, a story reveals a new strategy to promote a revamped Evening Standard, the lone paid daily paper, that competes with two free dailies and is losing the battle. Their pitch? We’re sorry. The afternoon daily began a billboard […]
You Can Share Your Own Little Wi-Fi Bubble
David Pogue writes with clarity and eloquence about complicated topics that other writers make too dense. He, like me, is inspired some times by new products and inventions and a recent Personal Tech column in the NY Times stood out. The device he was raving about is called the Novatel […]
Two Cities, Two Scenes, All Good
Some evenings shine brighter because it seems you’re just in the right place at the right time. Last night I hit two cities that both drew energy from the enthusiasm of the people who were there. I began with a Compari and soda on Shoul’s back deck, a bright red […]
Radio Faces a Battle Over Music
Radio stations have a new problem to add to their woes. They’re being challenged by a proposal by record labels and artists to require them to pay up to $500 million more in royalties for the priviledge of playing their songs. Radio stations already pay out hefty fees to songwriters […]
Connecting Rail Trails Will Double Their Usage!
Excellent news for anyone who rides a bike or thinks they should ride their bike a little more often. Northampton officials have announced that citizens will soon vote about extending their trail to meet the Manhan Rail Trail in Easthampton, making the connection between towns that will turn the trail […]
Watching the Next Generation Write Brings Joy
I’m slightly morbid about some things. My dad is the same way, he talks about dying and what to do when he dies….he’s even written a complete obituary to be printed after he passes away. I too regularly read obits and contemplate the bitter end. But today I posted a […]