Monday, October 27, 2008

October is almost gone...

Hello folks!

One half year has slipped by since I last blogged. That hardly seems possible.

For now, I have given up on getting the new website running. It cost me $500 and uses DREAMWEAVER which is radically different from the utterly simpl FRONTPAGE that I now use.
Essentially, my own stupidity has down this new idea in.

So, I am back and chasing stories and bars and will just keep this old layout.

Maybe I will have the time over Christmas to take another stab at learning how to make the new site work.

Thanks for your patience

AMERICANTOM

Thursday, April 24, 2008

NEW WEBSITE - Almost

Time sure does fly.

The new website is almost done and should go live by 1May08.

To be honest, I am going to miss my old one just because it was something I created from knowing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about setting up a page.

The new site is far more professional and will make it easier on the readers. It has some functionality that is very different from what I have now.

Once its running please tell me what you think.

T

Friday, February 22, 2008

I'm A Cop - Not!


A few weeks ago I was in Reading and encountered some friction from a pub-ful of people who apparently had reached a consensus that I was an undercover cop.

This decision came to a head when one of the patrons actually followed me outside to ask me to show him that I was NOT wearing a concealed firearm. I guess he expected me to go around the corner and climb into my unmarked Crown Vic. Sorry buddy, no piece today and all I was driving away in was my 10 year old jalopy.

Well, advance forward and I am sitting in a bar in Lancaster - the guy next to me is eyeballing me. I hate being eyeballed.

Wanna guess what he was wondering? You guessed it - if i was an undercover cop. This line is growing old.

He left, I had another beer or two. Then I left in the snow to my 10 year old jalopy.

Maybe some feature of my face has changed and I suddenly have a look that makes everyone think I am law enforcement.

Who knows.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Logan's Roadhouse

One of the strongest themes about my website is that I am want small town taverns to survive.

There are several factors that challenge these taprooms but one of the biggest ones is the constant pressure and competition from chain bar/restraurants.

So, I have vowed to not patronize the never-ending stream of these cookie-cutter businesses.

This weekend I was taken to the Logan's Roadhouse in York, PA. The feel is the same as just about every other box - whether that be a Damon's or Friday's or Fuddruckers.

The food was fairly good but quite slow to arrive. I did not order beer (figured I had to spend money there to eat so I might as well not give them my beer money too).

Many people were eating, drinking and talking - seemingly happy in an artificial environment. That just isn't my style.



Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Lebanon, PA - Giant Boloney Drop




Happy New Year!


Last night I rang in 2008 by watching Lebanon's gigantico bologna drop from a ladder truck.


This 12ft long, 150 pound behemoth lumbered to the ground as 100s of people stood in a parking lot cheering it on.


Lowering something odd to celebrate the new year is an inherently happy event. I had a good time but Lebanon sure could have done more in the lead-up. A DJ played some good music but the only hot drinks were free coffee or hot chocolate from the Salvation Army but there was no food and no other activities beforehand. Not a single local mini-mart of coffee shop was open.


Other towns have kids events, displays, hey - maybe even free boloney samples.

Something to consider for the future?


There WERE bars open nearby. Looked like fun inside as i peered through their front windows. I want to get to Lebanon soon to check out some of the downtime places.


Happy New Year all!