Sunday, March 30, 2008

Working Class Smoker

I read this interesting article in Newsweek by Jerry Adler, this week concerning some studies done about smoking...here is part of it... click on the link for the rest of it...

Increases in life expectancy in recent decades have left behind those who didn't go to college.

Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire mayor of New York City, is a fanatical opponent of smoking, and if you had his life, you'd want to live as long as possible, too. Things might look different to, say, a waitress at a roadside chain restaurant, like the ones Barbara Ehrenreich described in "Nickel and Dimed" (2001), who smoke out of "defiant self-nurturance," because "work is what you do for others; smoking is what you do for yourself." Don't they know that cigarettes are bad for them? Yes. That message has reached "well over 90 percent" of the population, according to Harvard economist David Cutler. Although smoking has declined steeply in the United States from its peak in the early 1950s, when nearly half of all adults smoked (compared with about 21 percent today), it is proving remarkably intransigent at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder. As of 2006, 35 percent of Americans with a ninth- to 11th-grade education—like the ones Ehrenreich wrote about—smoked. The figure for Americans with a graduate degree—like Bloomberg, a Harvard M.B.A.—was 7 percent!

http://www.newsweek.com/id/128568

Lancaster Dispensing Company Now smoke free


The Lancaster Dispensing Company known to locals as THE DIPCO is now smoke free and this is NO April Fools joke!



The Lancaster Dispensing Company is located in the heart of downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania and beloved by many. YEAHOO that the DIPCO has taken the bold step to go SMOKE FREE.

When will the State Legislatures take action on the NO SMOKING BAN? Instead of sucking up to the big business and the Tobacco lobby. Second hand smoking kills.

When will Quips Pub in Lancaster, PA go smoke free? Are they losing customers to the LBC because LBC went smoke free months ago? At Quips Pub smokers could go out on the lovely porch and smoke a cig with their pints glass in hand. Instead of smoking in the restaurant and creating a stench of smell and fog, as I am trying to enjoy my delicious meal and pints. Just a suggestion....

Victory Brewing in D-town now closed for construction


The restaurant will be closed March 31 through April 2008 to complete the renovations. They will reopen by mid-May. (date to be announced.)

http://www.victorybeer.com/home.html

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Hillary Clinton at Lancaster Brewing Pub on Plum & Walnut Streets

I found out some more information fromt he local news TV Channel...wgal's web site...Before speaking at Millersville University Tuesday night, Sen. Hillary Clinton is taping a special for MTV in Lancaster.

Clinton arrived at the Lancaster Brewing Company about 4 p.m. Her campaign said she was recording a roundtable discussion with war veterans, which is expected to air on Thursday on MTV.

All Tuesday afternoon, TV crews got the building ready. There was also a heavy police and secret service presence in the area.

Most who witnessed the commotion had no idea Clinton would be stopping by.

"We drove by about an hour ago and we saw everything set up so we figured that something was going on. So we came back, and it sure is Hillary," said Lancaster resident Donna Wennerholt.

According to MTV's Web site, Sen. Barack Obama will also take part in the special. He taped his segment elsewhere.

Hillary in my 'hood




Coming home from work I noticed that a main street in my neighborhood was blocked off so I joked maybe Hillary Clinton was at the local pub since she was due in town to give a speech at 7pm @ Millersville University. Well, YES I soon found out Hillary Clinton was at the local PUB, she is @ Lancaster Brewing Company (LBC). I hope she tries a Milk Stout! She is meeting Veterans and the Bar/pub is currently closed. I didn't want to stand in the rain just to see her drive off in her SUV. I did take a few shots at the security detail. The person, who was suppose to be watching as people were approaching on the sidewalk wasn't paying attention and as we walked up she starts yelling at us to cross the street. The people walking in front of me had no idea what was going on....and this parking authority person or LCPD is yelling and being rude. All I thought was wow your a great ambassador for the City, as the possible NEXT President of the USA is less than 100 yards away in that building behind you.

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Missing SXSW 2008

It has been a few years now since I have been to SXSW but every year around this time I miss it and wish I was there...planning on going next year!! If you feel the same way here are a list of the film winners....coming soon to screen near you or at least netflix...SXSW 2008 Film Festival Winners

SXSW is pleased to announce the winners of the 2008 edition of the SXSW Film Festival.
Jury Awards
REEL SHORTS
Special Jury Award - “The Second Line,” Director: John Magary.Winner - (Tie) “Warlord,” Director: David Garrett & “Small Apartment,”Director: Andrew T. Betzer
ANIMATED SHORTS
Special Jury Award - “I hate you don’t touch me or Bat and Hat,” Director:Becky JamesWinner - “Madame Tulti-Putli,” Director: Chris Lavis & Maciek Szczerbowski
EXPERIMENTAL SHORTS
Special Jury Award - “Upwards March,” Director: Kaveh NabatianWinner - “Safari,” Director: Catherine Chalmers
SXSW WHOLPHIN AWARD
Winner - “Glory at Sea,” Director: Benjamin Zeitlin
MUSIC VIDEOS
Special Jury Award - (TIE) Group Sounds, ‘Temporarily in Love,’ Director:Randy Scott Slavin & Cornelius, ‘Fit Song,’ Directors: Keigo Oyamada & Koichiro TsujikawaWinner - TV on the Radio,” ‘Me-I,’ Directors: Mixtape Club & Daniel Garcia
TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL COMPETITION
Special Jury Award - “Inflections,” Director: Matthew CampbellWinner - “Picnic,” Director: Wesley Bronez
ON NETWORKS GREENLIGHT AWARD
Best Original Production - “The Guild,” Director: Jane Selle MorganBest Original Series Idea - “Knock Off,” Written: Brandi-Ann Milbradt
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Special Jury Award - “Full Battle Rattle,” Directors: Tony Gerber & Jesse MossGrand Jury Award - “They Killed Sister Dorothy,” Director: Daniel Junge
NARRATIVE FEATURE
Special Jury Award for Cinematography - “Explicit Ills,” Cinematographer: Patrice Cochet Director: MarkWebberSpecial Jury Award for Best Ensemble Cast - “Up With Me,” Director: Greg Takoudes Cast: Francisco Vicioso, Erika Rivera, Brandon Thorpe, Justin Coltrain, Destiny Waters, Bernice Velos, Matt Timms, Anthony Portillo, Reya Sehgal, Kabeer ParwaniGrand Jury Award - “Wellness,” Director: Jake Mahaffy
Audience Award
EMERGING VISIONS
Winner - “In a Dream,” Director: Jeremiah Zagar
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Winner - “They Killed Sister Dorothy,” Director: Daniel Junge
NARRATIVE FEATURE
Winner - “Explicit Ills,” Director: Mark Webber
24 BEATS PER SECOND & LONE STAR STATES Winners will be announced on Monday, March 17th.

Cho Show


VH1 announced its Fall lineup last week and.....Margaret CHO will be back on TV with"The Cho Show" (seven episodes) chronicles comedian Cho's "anything goes" lifestyle as well as her interactions with her friends and parents.

Cyndi Lauper has announced another TRUE COLORS TOUR this year and the B-52s will anchor this year's True Colors gay/lesbian awareness tour, which begins May 31 in Boston.

Carson Kressley will host the concerts that will feature alternating appearances by Rosie O'Donnell, Indigo Girls, Joan Jett, Regina Spektor, Joan Armatrading, Tegan & Sara, Wanda Sykes, Nona Hendryx, Deborah Cox and the Cliks.
Sponsored by Logo, the lesbian and gay cable channel, check it out.


Last year Margaret Cho did the True Colors Tour, where she MC'd and was so so so funny.


Friday, March 14, 2008

Expanding list of Seven Gates Pale Ale being served

An ever-expanding list of Seven Gates Pale Ale accounts...
Lancaster:
  • STUBBY'S BAR & GRILL : 254 E. FREDERICK S, LANCASTER
  • CHECKERS : 300 W JAMES ST, LANCASTER
  • THE PRESSROOM : 24-28 WEST KING ST, LANCASTER
  • AMERICAN BAR & GRILL : 1081 N. PLUM ST., LANCASTER
  • LANCASTER DISPENSING COMPANY : 35 MARKET ST., LANCASTER
  • FULTON GRILLE & TAVERN : 637 N. PLUM ST., LANCASTER
  • FIORENTINO'S : 1411 COLUMBIA AVE, LANCASTER
  • LUCKY DOG CAFE : 1942 COLUMBIA AVE, LANCASTER
  • 915 CAFE : 915 NORTH PLUM STR, LANCASTER

  • YORK:FIRST CAPITAL DISPENSING CO : 57 N PERSHING AVE, YORK
  • THIRSTY'S : 2914 E MARKET ST, YORK
  • QUICK SIX BEER : 1510 W. MARKET ST., YORK
  • QUICK SIX: 1200 MT ROSE AVE, YORK
  • VIKING ATHLETIC CLUB : 318 N. ADAMS ST., YORK (Private club)
  • EMERSON'S PUB : 1500 S GEORGE ST, YORK
  • THIRTEENTH WARD CLUB : 730 N. SMITH ST., YORK (Private club)
  • COBBLESTONES : 205 S. GEORGE STRE, YORK
  • Other areas:TILTED KILT : 112 E. MAIN STREET, MOUNT JOY
  • ROOT BEER DIST : 537 W MAIN ST, MOUNT JOY
  • DEAN Y LITTLE DIST : 1224 LANCASTER AVE, COLUMBIA
  • TRIO BAR & GRILL : 3707 MARIETTA PIKE, COLUMBIA
  • IN-N-OUT BEVERAGE : 1106 SHELLER AVE, CHAMBERSBUR
  • GROCK HILL TAVERN : 1684 LONG LANE, MILLERSVILLEIt's
  • best to call in advance, as some taps rotate.
  • Cheers!

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

New Study STD's and teens


Today while driving to work and listening to NPR....DAY to Day....I had already read an AP article about the report in the local paper........A new study finds that one out of every four teen girls has a sexually transmitted disease. Madeleine Brand talks to John Douglas, director of the Center for Disease Control's division of STD prevention, about the findings and why African-American girls are the hardest hit.
Then a panel of teens from Youth Radio discuss why they think STDs are so widespread among girls their age.http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88140117&ft=1&f=1003

More information: On the Net:
CDC: http://www.cdc.gov
American Academy of Pediatrics: http://www.aap.org/

It makes me so sad and I giving a large donation to Planned Parenthood!

Season 6 will end the L word in 2009


The end is near. As you’ve probably already read, discussed and psycho-analyzed, “The L Word” has been renewed for its sixth and final season. The show will bow out with an abridged eight-episode season in early 2009. The renewal makes the series the longest-running scripted gay show in television history. For all our collective bitching and moaning and groaning about TLW (We love it! We hate it! We have no idea what Mama Chaiken was thinking!), that is pretty fucking amazing. Were there problems? Indubitably. But it was also a show that finally gave gay women and all their talking, laughing, loving, breathing, fighting, fucking, crying, drinking, riding, winning, losing, cheating, kissing, thinking and dreaming the spotlight.....from the GREAT blog:http://dorothysurrenders.blogspot.com/

by Dorothy Snarker

Sunday, March 9, 2008

25th year Hgh School Reunion BHS

I just started a new Blog to help organize and get the word out that next year (2009) will mark the 25th year High School Reunion for the Bloomsburg Area High School CLASS of 1984. That's Bloomsburg, PA, zip =17815 for all my overseas readers. (?)

http://bhsclassof1984.blogspot.com/

Thursday, March 6, 2008

The Power of the Letter and John Adams


HBO and the U.S. Postal Service Celebrate the Power of the Letter... February 12, 2008

A written note can be enduring, poignant, personal and timeless. Too often today, it's easy to forget the value of a heartfelt, handwritten note or card. HBO and the U.S. Postal Service have joined forces for a retail and online campaign that encourages consumers to send a handwritten card to someone they care about.

The "Power of the Letter" campaign promotes HBO's epic miniseries John Adams, which explores American history through one of its greatest founding fathers, a fiercely independent spirit whose unwavering vision steered America through a tumultuous period. Starring Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney, and executive produced by Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, John Adams premieres on March 16.

Adams was a prolific letter-writer: He and his wife Abigail exchanged over 1,100 letters over the course of their courtship and marriage. The Adams Family Papers, held by the Massachusetts Historical Society, were a crucial resource for historian David McCullough, whose Pulitzer Prize-winning biography John Adams is the basis for HBO's miniseries.

Now HBO and the Postal Service invite consumers to send their own cards – for free. Visitors to http://www.poweroftheletter.com/ can create and customize greeting cards with quotes from John Adams and his wife Abigail. Consumers will be able to choose from six different designs featuring poignant quotes from John and Abigail. The cards, created by the Postal Service's online retail partner Cardstore, are available immediately through March 30, while supplies last. Consumers customize the card, which is then mailed to them to write a personal note and send it off in the accompanying pre-paid envelope.

The "Power of the Letter" campaign also uses two very modern tools to spread Adams' historic words. For the first time in Postal Service history, post office receipts will carry a promotional message. A quote – "Let us dare to read, think, speak and write" – will be printed on about 3.75 million receipts per day, directing postal customers to http://www.poweroftheletter.com/. The quote also will appear as a national cancellation on 3 billion pieces of mail during February and March.
The Postal Service will promote "Power of the Letter" nationally in 12,765 post offices, serving 6.9 million customers per day. Dramatic 4 ft.-by-6 ft. standees and 2 ft.-by-3ft. window clings promote the campaign and the miniseries. "Power of the Letter" takes over the homepage at USPS.com... March 10-17, the week leading up to the March 16 premiere of the miniseries. Banners will also appear on the site for the full run of campaign.

"We've been delivering the power of the written word ─ including those letters written by Adams ─ for more than 230 years," said Joanne Giordano, vice president of Public Affairs and Communications for the Postal Service. "We cherish the letters of great Americans because they help us understand our common history and today letters still play a role in connecting us."
HBO will also promote "Power of the Letter" on HBO.com and in John Adams education materials reaching over 1 million high school students.

Tulsi Lancaster PA


Sweet t and I tried the new Indian restaurant in Lancaster, Pa last night. Loved it! Great food, Great service, Good wine/beer and good prices. Check out some of their reviews here: http://www.yelp.com/biz/tulsi-lancaster


Tulsi is located in the travelodge motel...on Columbia Ave...2101 Columbia Ave, Lancaster, PA 17603...717.509.7771

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

The Wire's last days


As HBO's The Wire ends this Sunday, 03/09/08, new Major of Philly, Michael Nutter, who is such a huge fan of the show, is opening City Hall and showing the last episode as part of a community gathering. Last weeks episode called Late Editions had a scene in which Gus Haynes from the Baltimore Sun is doing some check finding on the fake writing of Templeton whom he questions briefly, and then tries to get admission into Walter Reed Army Medical Center so he can investigate Templeton's writing regarding Terry Hanning, the homeless Iraq War veteran. At the hospital, Gus watches in amazement as Hanning's military buddy shows off his state-of-the-art prosthetic limbs. The vet verifies Hanning's story. He reiterates that while many bad things happened in Iraq, nothing in the way of a firefight happened on that particular day.

While Haynes is at Walter Reed, I believe I notice Sgt. Bryan Anderson in the Background scene! Sgt. Bryan Anderson, who has received treatment in Walter Reed (in real life) as he was injured during his second tour of duty in Iraq, losing two legs and a hand. Bryan was a member of a MP Company, which was my occupational speciality. He has been profiled on more than one occasion and made the cover of Esquire Magazine along with being profiled by the HBO film: Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq. I have yet to find Anderson credited or listed as uncredited for this background scene but I do believe it was really him.

This Sunday will be the last episode of the Greatest Show on TV, EVER. I remember watching the last MASH Show and even the last Seinfeld show and to me THE WIRE does not compare to these great TV shows in the history of popular cultere as THE WIRE is so far deeper and more complex. It will be a sad goodbye and I cannot wait till the box set comes out.

Sunday, March 2, 2008

This One's for Ann

Ann Richards is one of my hero's and one of the reason's I fell in love Austin, Texas.... besides the fact that good friends live there, good beer (SHINER BOCK), good music and art.

Stop EPA Administrator Johnson Alert from Senator Boxer


This is from an email I received that I thought I should pass on...if any of the links are not working PLEASE check on Senator Boxer's Page:http://www.barbaraboxer.com/home

*******************************

Slowly but surely, we're getting to the truth behind Bush EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson's terrible decision to block an effort by California and 18 other states to fight global warming.
While carefully peeling back white tape on redacted documents -- and with EPA personnel peering over their shoulders -- staffers from the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee have been closely reviewing additional documents dribbled out from the EPA over the past few weeks.
And what have we learned? Administrator Stephen Johnson clearly overruled the unanimous recommendations of his legal and technical staff who advised him to grant California's waiver request to regulate greenhouse gas emissions -- putting partisan politics ahead of science, the law, and the health & safety of the American people.


Ultimately, I'm convinced that Administrator Johnson's decision will be overturned -- either by the next President or the courts. But we can't afford to wait that long.
That's why I recently introduced legislation in the U.S. Senate to reverse Administrator Johnson's decision and give California and 18 other states -- representing more than half of our country's population -- the right to fight global warming. Will you help me get this critical bill passed?
Please forward an email to your Senators now, encouraging them to co-sponsor my bill to grant California's greenhouse gas emissions waiver and overturn Administrator Johnson's terrible decision!
On Wednesday, EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson came back to testify before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Once again, I confronted him with the facts and challenged him to explain how he could make a decision that ignored the science and the law, discarding the recommendations of his own experienced staff.


Here's what we learned in the latest documents that the EPA shared with us:
A senior aide to Administrator Johnson wrote that "it is obvious to me that there is no legal or technical justification for denying" California's request -- and that he "will face a pretty big personal decision about whether [he is] able to stay in the job" if he rejects California's waiver.
Another senior aide described the "compelling and extraordinary" conditions that make California particularly "vulnerable to climate change" -- including water resources, wildfires, long coastline, large population, and many others.


Administrator Johnson didn't just overrule his own staff: He also disregarded the advice of former EPA Administrator William Reilly -- appointed by President Bush's father -- who urged Johnson to approve California's waiver. !!!!!!


Unfortunately, Administrator Johnson still refuses to change his mind, even when confronted directly with the cold, hard facts at Wednesday's hearing -- and he still hasn't even turned over all of the documents we asked for, including information about contact he had with the White House, missing the original deadline he agreed to. I guess I'm not surprised, but I am disappointed.


Well if Administrator Johnson won't do his job, then it's time for Congress to step up and do his job for him.
Please forward an email to your Senators now, encouraging them to co-sponsor my bill to grant California's greenhouse gas emissions waiver and overturn Administrator Johnson's terrible decision!
Thanks to the help of more than 70,000 friends and supporters who emailed Administrator Johnson to protest his decision and call on him to release all of the documents about his flawed decision-making process, we're getting to the truth -- and it's ugly.
Administrator Stephen Johnson's decision to overrule his staff and tarnish the reputation of the Environmental Protection Agency by standing in the way of the fight against global warming is unconscionable. It's politics at its worst.
Now it's up to Congress to fix his mess. Will you help me do it?
Please forward an email to your Senators now!
In Friendship,
Barbara Boxer U.S. Senator
P.S. We're going to need 60 votes to pass this bill and overcome a likely Republican filibuster, so every vote in the Senate will make a huge difference. Please forward an email to your Senators now, encouraging them to co-sponsor my bill to grant California's greenhouse gas emissions waiver and overturn Administrator Johnson's terrible decision!

Chester PA Lands Soccer Franchise ??


Governor Ed Rendell was in Chester, Pa. on Thursday afternoon, taking the wraps off a public-private development deal that could lead to a Major League Soccer franchise in the shadow of the Commodore Barry Bridge. ***$47 million will come from the state ($25 million of which is contingent on the MSL franchise being awarded), leveraged with $30 million more from Delaware County and another $10 million likely from the DRPA. All that will be matched 4-to-1 all told by private investment.

Bottom line: a $414-million project to include not just an 18,000-seat soccer stadium -- assuming the league expands here -- but retail and office space, housing, even a supermarket down the line.

The planned stadium and hoped-for franchise would be the latest boost for the struggling city of Chester. A slots casino opened in the city in January as part of a harness racing track. The governor says that along with the year-old Harrah’s casino just up the road...
"...this development will, I absolutely believe, guarantee that Chester will become one of the first class cities in Pennsylvania -- a great place to live, to work, and to play." And even if pro soccer doesn’t come here, developers say, the rest of the project is a "go." In the past, the league has expressed interest in the Philadelphia area. But the St. Louis suburb of Collinsville is also in the running for the expansion team. This article was written by by KYW's 1060: David Madden .
It has now been reported that Chester will now have a MLS new franchise! This is for a City that does not EVEN HAVE A SUPERMARKET.

Here is a little history on Chester: Chester began losing its mainstay shipyard and automobile manufacturing jobs as early as the 1960s, causing the population to be halved in fifty years from 65,000 in 1950 to under 37,000 in 2000. Poverty and crime rose as the city declined. In 1995, the state designated Chester as a financially distressed municipality. Soon thereafter, the city's schools ranked last among the state's 501 districts, leading Pennsylvania education officials in 2001 to hire the for-profit Edison Schools to run the local school district for three years.[1][citation needed] Even the site Penn's Landing, which marks William Penn's first landing in the Province, sold its naming rights to the waterfront maintenance corporation in Philadelphia, whose memorial now marks William Penn's first landing in that city.

I only spend time in Chester during the daylight hours and I have taken a few wrong turns taking me to some scary areas that should not exist in this country but they do. So it will be an interesting future watching the redevelopment of Chester, PA with it's racing casino and a soccer stadium but no supermarket.