We Love It When Our SEO Pays Off
My funky ringtone woke me up way too early this morning. Out of a sound slumber with Mama cat by my side, I sprang out of bed to hear that Sara isn’t coming in. Ugh! So here I am having my first cuppa after opening the cafe. I must admit […]
When Reader’s Digest Calls, I’m Ready for Our Close-up
It doesn’t take a whole lot to make me very happy. I think that’s one of the secrets to a great life…letting tiny joys fill up your life and content you. Today I got an email that led to a call from a writer named Cathie Gandel from Bridgehampton NY. […]
Late Night Pitchmen’s Claims Debunked
Today began with me watching a little slice of Good Morning America. There the lovely Diane Sawyer had a frenetic blond woman on the show who was debunking the claims made by loud-mouthed TV pitch artists for dubious products. First they tried that glue that supposed to glue back your […]
For Every Buck Casinos Make, They Owe Seven
One thing I’ve learned from a year or so of reading the WSJ…it’s debt that makes it hard in business, not just sales. One of the worst-hit sectors of our buckling economy is the casino business. In Vegas and Atlantic City, debt is taking down Donald Trump and now, Kirk […]
Our New Home Makes Us Yearn for the Old One
There is a commercial for Target Stores that’s running on TV lately which captures the zeitgeist of today’s tough times with an appealing zeal. The catchy tune with the words “this is a brand new day,” contrasts the old and the new in our time. “The new bakery” turns out […]
Ten Penny Opera: Is It Me, Or Is This Really Bad?
Last night my friends and I gathered at Mama Iguana’s, a Mexican joint in downtown Noho. Cindy was meeting us there. When she showed up, I felt a great burst of pride when I introduced her to Jim Neal a friend who had never met her. I had told her […]
Sending the Little Mermaid Statue to Shanghai…Really
This just in…wow sending a city’s symbol all the way to China! Shoul and I got a chance to view her a few years ago while we toured the harbor in a boat. She was surrounded by Asian tourists, and soon she will be seen by up to 70 million […]
Arts in Franklin County? Or How To Promote Your Book?
I took some time out from my day to go up to Greenfield, where a meeting was starting at 10:30 am to promote Franklin County as an arts destination. The room was full of artists, the chamber rep, and other people who run museums and care about the topic…I was […]
Obama "Gets It" on High-speed Rail & Other Necessities
As the snow swirled around me this morning, I got a lot done here in my office alone. It’s funny because I used to think of how sad I was that Cindy before she had her assistant, would have to be by herself in the office. Today Í love it, […]
Chip Tracks Down the Dog Owner and the Realtor
I love my routine on the ‘Net, the same as my regular route in newspapers. Saturday I usually look at the Recorder to see if Chip Ainsworth has a column…he did yesterday and it was a beaut. He starts off at a Red Sox spring training game, and mentions all […]
Facebook Crushes Myspace, Which Once Ruled
Uh oh. The trade press is buzzing over the possible demise of once-powerful Myspace. Below is a snip from Jason Lee Miller, staff writer for Web Pro News, and his thoughts echo my own. I used to update a Myspace page, now I hardly ever bother to go there. Facebook […]
The Johnny Cash Show: He Deserved the Accolades
I got invited at the last minute by Marc for some steaks and salad at a big house in Florence. Then we repaired to the basement where on a giant flat screen, we popped on a DVD. It was “The Johnny Cash show”, a musical variety show that ran from […]
From Kentucky Come Photos of Redneck Things
My friend and ex-wife Kathryn once lived and worked in Kentucky. That’s why she is now a source for incredible and hilarious redneck photos. She sent these today. We have here a Redneck cat carrier and a redneck bbq grill. Yeehaw!
The Churn Continues…Help Wanted at the Cafe
I talked on the phone the other day to a nice woman who asked me for a job reference for one of our employees. I told her that I’d miss her terribly, and that she should hire her. Bam! Now we’re back to needing more people! Turnover is an integral […]
An Ancient Lady In a Mink Beefs About Her Travel Writing Career
I got an email from a traveler named Diane Letulle, who attended the NY Times Travel Show. She recalled a funny incident at the travel writing seminar we gave there. It’s from Eight Million Stories, a New York city website. My day at the Travel Show ended in a writing […]
Trying to Give the Mom a Little Time to Sleep In
I met fierce resistance early this morning as I tried to be a helpful grandpa and give my daughter Kate a little more time to sleep. As often is the case, I heard my grandson Nathan thrashing around in her bed in the room next door and heard that familiar […]
Going to Mobile, Alabama to See What I Can See
Another snowstorm has come and gone, today we are left with the glimmer, shine and colder temps that make it all even more beautiful. I had a busy day yesterday in the office, making plans to travel to Atlanta to the Travelcom show and finalizing my trip the week before […]
Eastern Flicker Chows Down on Suet in Holyoke
This is an Eastern Flicker, a great big bird with a spotted chest who surprised us today on the snowy feeder. He liked the suet and came back repeatedly, we found him in our bird book.