You’ll Eat It…Even If I have to Tempt you With an iPod!
As I drove north in the GoNOMAD Café truck en route to pick up supplies, I listened to Michael McConnell on the AM dial. He isn’t a total right winger either. He was talking about a new program that the Feds have implemented to get kids to eat their free […]
The Challenge of Making a Travel TV Show
It’s a complicated day, full of fits and starts and stuff I am not sure how to fix or finish. First it’s getting tickets to Cancun, which sounds great…but then we saw that our Mexican agent’s price was way, way higher than what the airline offered. DÓH! It’s too late […]
A Story About My Iran Trip Makes it to Print
In life there are times you have to just hold your tongue and say thank you. Thank you, Recorder, for publishing a neat article about my trip to Iran. Chase Scheinbaum the young reporter got all the facts right, and the photo looked kinda cool. But… It’s NOT on their […]
Hard Rock Park Turns into Just Plain Hard Luck
Who knew that so few people in Myrtle Beach would be willing to shell out $40 or so to visit a rock and roll theme park? But apparently, nine months after raising over $400 million the owners of Hard Rock Park are giving up. They couldn’t have opened at a […]
The GoNOMAD Travel Show is Coming to Channel 12
I did a recap late this afternoon about what I got done today. At the top of the list was a meeting in the cafe with Marty McGuane, the new Director at Franklin County Access Television, which serves the towns of Deerfield, Sunderland, Conway and Whately. It was time for […]
Who’s Right About Soaring Railroad Rates?
I read a story by Alex Roth in today’s WSJ that made me think two ways about the same problem, from two ends of the railroad track. A large Florida utility that buys long trainloads of coal is trying to get the state to re-regulate the railroad that brings their […]
The Key To Feeling Great
I am proud to show my keyring now. Despite its janatorial heftiness, you can see that I’ve now got a Y card attached. And I am just back from my first workout as a regular member!It feels great to be a little beat up in a good way. I got […]
Slumlord Millionaire Is a Mumbai Sonic Explosion
Going to tonight’s movie was like driving through the FastLane on the Pike. We walked past a long line of people waiting to buy tickets, since we had bought ours ahead online. We just scanned a barcode and out popped the tickets–no waiting. The movie was a breathtaking sonic explosion […]
It Seemed Like Such a Good Idea….
It sounded like such a good idea: develop a print magazine using reader-contributed stories and photos. And let the readers vote on which articles would make it into print. Sort of like Digg, but wow, in print. But you need more than a good idea to stay in business in […]
In a Recession, It’s Nice To Be Good at Something
Today at the cafe, a Christmas song came on the sound system….I felt self conscious like I should stop playing those tunes from the expired holiday, and face the fact that we are now in January, a month I’ve dreaded since I first became an adult. There is something bleak […]
Fred Knittle, Singer, Father and Friend to Many
Last night we watched the Young @ Heart Chorus movie, and among the best parts was that of Fred Knittle, singing Coldplay’s ‘Fix you’ to the full house at the Academy. Very poignant. Bill Knittle’s dad, Fred Knittle, died today. Fred had a great role with lots of facetime in […]
A Story That Won’t Please Iran’s Mullah Leaders
I was pleased with the Advocate article I wrote about the lives of Young Iranians in this week’s issue, especially that they were able to include four photos.I was moved by the comment that came from a reader in Iran named Parin, who said… I want to see my relatives,that […]
Bummer News for Pen Salesmen
Here’s a few of the things I found out last night reading the New York Times. Bicycle sales have slumped from their huge increase over the summer. Even though the gas prices of over $4 a gallon made many people bring in old bikes to fix up, and buy new […]
In 2009, He Left the Wine Glow Behind
It’s a new year and I am coming into it with a totally different way of looking at life. That’s because just a few days back I was told that I couldn’t have any alcohol for six weeks. And that after that, it was likely I’d have to curtail my […]
Proud Grandpa and His Grandkids
Little Sofie is just six days old, and as you can see, just bigger than one hand. What a joy to have such a tiny bundle of life living at our house. Nathan has been an excited big brother, and everyone is so happy to have the new addition.
Rambling Van Dog Exposed at CRUSH Party!
While often I feel resistant to go out on New Year’s Eve, since everyone expects you to, we rallied for a great cause by joining about 100 other Holyokers at the Wisteriahurst Museum to celebrate the city of Holyoke. A grand shindig was planned, with music, great food, two bars […]
A Snowy Day to Say Goodbye to 2008
It’s the final day of 2008, and outside it is snowing hard. I love it when it’s like this, although as I business owner I realize it’s not very good for business. But it’s soooo cozy inside the cafe, with people reading the paper, hunched over their laptops, and outside […]
Here’s to a Great Great Year!
This week in between the holidays is a notoriously slow time for anyone who sells things for a living. I remember so well those many years, no, decades, anticipating January. Oh January. At the Valley Advocate when the office was in Amherst, we would have to take the first one […]