Bermuda: An Alternative to Work
It’s true that a jaunt to Bermuda is not the most ‘alternative’ trip one can take. But for two folks who haven’t taken a trip that wasn’t work-related since the Carter administration, it can seem as wacky as camping with Bedouins. Such was the case earlier this summer for my […]
Give Peace a Chance
With Max still globe-trotting in Colombia, I wanted to take a moment to point out another cool blog with views from all over the world: One Million Peace Signs, a blog dedicated to collected a cool million signs of peace in all its forms. People from all over the world […]
Wine and Flowers in Shelburne Falls
I visited The Shelburne Falls Wine Merchant in Shelburne Falls, Mass. recently for an article I’m working on, looking at interesting entrepreneurial endeavors in the small business sector. Owned by Paul-Thierry de la Blotier, French and Welsh by decent, the Wine Merchant specializes in the ‘English service model’ — slower, […]
Gustav Threatens the Gulf Coast — We Wait and Watch
Hurricane Gustav is bringing strong winds and bad memories to the Gulf Coast, and the entire country seems to be keeping a close, earnest watch on the situation. In the French quarter of New Orleans, buildings are boarded up and residents are leaving in droves. Gustav has been downgraded to […]
Biomass Plant Rejected in Russell
The big news in alternative energy in Mass. this morning is the latest development in the controversial Russell Biomass project, a proposed 50-megawatt wood-burning power plant. The Boston Globe reports that the Dept. of Public Utilities ruled the facility would cause “significant, disrupting, and lasting” impacts on the town. Most […]
Max is in Colombia, so now you’re stuck with me
WriterJax here. I’m one of Max’s intrepid GoNomad.com travel writers, here to man the ship while Max is away in South America. Color me jealous. While it’s true that Max needed to whittle his luggage down to a lean 22 pounds for this trip, thus negating any thoughts of bringing […]
Off to El Cantil, in the Colombian Jungle by the Sea
Here is where we will be staying in Nuqui, the remote beach town that’s surrounded by jungles on Colombia’s Pacific coast. We will go whale watching and jungle hiking for the next seven days. It’s called El Cantil Eco hotel, and it’s powered by hydrology and a micro-turbine. They have […]
A Guest Blogger Steps in to Write Readuponit
Today is the last day I will be in the states until Sept 7. Tomorrow at the crack of dawn I meet Larry and we will fly to Miami, to Medellin, and then in a tiny plane to the seaside village of Nuqui, Colombia. I’ve already asked and no, there […]
The Recorder’s Editorial Board is ‘Sold on Tag Sales’
I don’t usually read the Recorder’s editorial page, but there it was, an irresistable headline: “Sold on the tag sales.” The great grey beast has decided to come out in favor of our idea of holding the Town Wide Tag Sale, and in the lead editorial encouraged the Deerfield Selectboard […]
Ted Kennedy, Beloved Senator, Addresses the Faithful
Ted Kennedy, half of his silver hair missing from intense chemotherapy, made it to the podium tonight in Denver. He delivered a rousing speech that reaffirmed my belief that he is indeed an admirable man who has spent nine terms as a Senator working for worthy and just causes. I […]
Republican Blogger Thinks Mitt Ain’t It
It’s early, early, early…but since I couldn’t get back to sleep I had time to read the Boston Herald. Now that Obama has chosen Joe Biden as his running mate, most of the nation’s political eyes are trained on McCain…who will he pick? Last week the pundits were talking up […]
Some Authors Can’t Smell Their Own B.O.
One of my favorite parts of a Sunday NY Times is that thin little Book Review, that I never read first but usually get around to poking through at the very end of the day. There are so many books out there and so many more being put out every […]
The Busiest Man at the Festival
Beer was the drink of choice at the Deerfield Farm Fest, and this guy was nice enough to hand me two free beers, maybe because he’s a cafe regular. The Golden Spike Ales went down smooth and the music was wonderful…all in all a great way to spend a summer […]
The Music, and Atmosphere Great, Sales Lousy
We brought the cafe show on the road and manned a booth at the Deerfield Farm Festival tonight, with mixed results. It was fun to create the booth and get the signage all set up and see our cafe employees making gobs of cupcakes, muffins, scones and brownies. We all […]
Faux Farmer’s Market for Mel’s Movie in Hamp
Sometimes in the cafe customers begin bellowing a story clear across the room. I”ll answer and we’ll begin a rollicking dialogue, from our posts 25′ apart. A few days ago, Whately Farmer Dave Jackson strolled in. He said that the producers of the Mel Gibson movie, Edge of Darkness, had […]
Town Wide Tag: Every Sale on the Google Map
Tonight I paced, waiting until 7:29 to leave the house to attend the Deerfield Selectboard meeting at town hall. I was on the agenda but first the distinguished state senator Stan and state rep Steve who were there to present an award to a 24-year volunteer, Richard Stellman. I chatted […]
From WRSI to MSNBC, Maddow Hits the Big Time
Rachel Maddow has hit the big time. I remember a few years ago when I used to appear on her morning show on WRSI FM. I’d pop down to the Northampton studio about 7 am, and we’d talk about travel tips. Eventually she had to refrain from bringing me on […]
College Loans or $34 an Hour…Your Choice
I read a story in the WSJ about how energy companies are working hard to convince high schoolers to forgo college for a trade education. I’m passing this along to my son, it’s good advice. “In many parts of the economy, there are too many workers, rather than too few. […]