Jersey Mike

I just got in from witnessing an awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping, ass-kicking performance from AC/DC at the Wachovia Center in Wilkes-Barre.

The show was surprisingly…astounding.

And even if you only remotely know me, you should have picked up on the fact that I’m not easily impressed anymore- especially when it comes to concerts and live shows.

Every angle of production is represented on this tour- pyro, video, special effects, props- and a giant locomotive engine are all focal points of this massive stage show.

And the only thing that really grinded my gears about this one was not the six-fifty twelve-ounce Yuengling Lagers. And no, it wasn’t the army of geriatric-aged security people. And I was even fine with the seeming chaos of the check in lines for this invite-only show.

It was all of the people with their stupid cell-phone video cameras.

You could see them- dotted throughout the arena. Dopey concertgoers standing there holding up the tiny screens of their Motorola’s and iPhones. Shaky, far-away-distanced and low-res recordings of songs that- once posted on YouTube (and there will be hundreds of them) will be completely indecipherable from one another.

Seriously- if you really think that your stupid little cellphone video camera is going to shoot something that’s even remotely worth viewing or sharing at a freaking concert- then you should seek medical help as soon as possible.

I love YouTube.

YouTube is absolutely one of my favorite parts of the internets. But I’d probably estimate that eighty percent of the, um, crap on YouTube is, um…crap.

Pure rubbish.

And of that eighty percent of rubbish on YouTube that is crap, proably eighty percent of that is shitty cellphone recordings at concerts.

And it’s not just the big shows- even most indie or smaller bands who’s videos wind up on the YouTube are shitty.

We’re wasting precious server space with shit that shouldn’t be viewed by anyone.

So please, for the good of us all- unless you’re a professional video maker with professional gear, put your stupid cellphone away and leave the concert cinematography to the professionals.

I just got home from participating in the Friends of Midtown Fall Cleanup- a seasonal event which is comprised of a team of neighborhood volunteers who traverse the streets of Midtown and parts of Uptown cleaning up other peoples litter.

The route that my team was assigned was both sides of Second street between Harris and Maclay; my team members were a nice older couple named Ralph and Barbara. (I actually have a friend from Long Island named Ralph Barba. Odd.)

ANYWAY- as we were, literally, on our hands and knees picking up chip bags, beer cans, cigarette butts, random household trash that must have trickled out of curbside trash cans because what other reason would there be to find chicken bones and empty shredded cheese bags while picking up trash on Second street, I had a few thoughts and observations cross my mind.

And like it or not, I’m going to share the aforementioned thoughts with you now:

• It’s great that so many people participated in the cleanup and was a fun way to interact with the neighborhood while “doing our part”, but sad, at the same time, that it was even necessary.

I say “sad” because, ultimately, I’d think that people- regardless of income bracket or living situation- would want to live in a clean, cared-for enviornment. Perhaps it’s just the way that I was raised, but I do believe that we can manifest our own idea of utopia- but I don’t know anyone who would want crack baggies and Newport boxes lining the streets of their utopia. But this is our utopia and, darn it- we’ll pick up those crack baggies and Newport boxes for ya. No, really…go ahead. We’ll get it.

• Perhaps these clean ups would be a great way to both punish AND teach juvenile offenders.

A fifteen year old kid from the city gets caught breaking into a car. Or starting a fight in school. Or maybe even littering. He or she appears in front of a judge who decides their punishment for their crime. And maybe instead of financially punishing a juvinile offender who probably doesn’t have a job or any money, we make him go out and pick up trash for a couple of days. And maybe next time he goes to break into a car, instead of throwing that empty chip bag on the street, he’ll deposit it into a trash can so he doesn’t have to pick it up again the next time he gets caught. Maybe the courts already do this kind of thing- but judging by the amount of trash the group picked up, they’re probably not doing it in Midtown.

• Where were our local politicians this go-round?

I know that various council members and administration employees have participated in these clean ups in the past- and perhaps I just didn’t recognize some of the people in the group who MAY be city employees- but what ever happened to “leading by example”? This took two hours. And the last half hour was time spent BS-ing with my fellow litter removers. But not a single city council member was able to make it today? I’m not singling anyone out on this- just observing.

I had a surpisingly enjoyable time participating in this neighborhood clean up. I had to literally force myself out of bed at 8:30 on a Saturday morning-but once we got into it, it was very fulfilling.

Sure, one neighborhood cleanup isn’t going to make our part of the city all sparkley and shiny- and as one the participants, Ben, remarked- it’s almost more symbolic than anything. Symbolic of the fact that the citizens of Midtown are taking matters into their own hands. Symbolic that people of varied backgrounds can work together for the good of the neighborhood. And symbolic that there is power in numbers. And working together, we will make this City a better place.

Great work, Friends of Midtown. I’ll certainly be participating in more of these in the future.

Here’s the original -

And here’s Dave

I love rock and roll.

About three weeks ago, I wrote a post about the horrible shape of the Dunkin Donuts on Second Street in Harrisburg.

Empty racks which should be chock full of bagels, donuts, muffins and croissants at nine thirty in the morning sitting barren and empty. Counter service which resembled a prison lunch line. Employees blasting profanity laden gangsta-rap from their iPods during business hours.

I emailed Dunkin Donuts Corporate a link to the post and promptly recieved a phone call from someone in their home office assuring me that the issue would be investigated.

I never did hear back from them, but yesterday, I ventured back to the Dunkin Donuts on Second Street after a three week hiatus/boycott. After I ordered a sausage, egg and cheese on a sesame bagel and a medium hazelnut, cream and sugar, I noticed something … different.

I couldn’t quite put my finger on it at first. But then it struck me- the staff.

All completely new people.

And when I got my coffee and sandwich within about three minutes (a record at that DD), I asked the woman behind the counter “You’re new here, right?”

“Yes, I’m the new manager.”

“Oh, cool. And that guy there…he’s new too, right?”

“Yes sir. We’ve…um…hired a new staff” she borderline-whispered.

“Well that’s pretty cool.” I told her…as I happily strolled back out to my car.

Could it be? Is it possible that my post from three weeks ago had something to do with the overhaul of the staff at the Dunkin Donuts on Second Street?

Or was it a long time coming and just coincidental?

Whatever it was, it made me happy. Happy to see not only a fresh new staff at the Dunkin Donuts on Second Street; but happy, also, that the higher-ups at Dunkin Donuts Corporate actually do listen to customer concerns.

Way to go, Dunkin Donuts. You’ve just re-confirmed me as a happy customer.

Look, we’ve all had this discussion before. For years, really. And I still say the same thing.

Smoking cigarettes is bad for you.

And the toxic second hand smoke which exits a smokers lips and fills the air of wherever he or she is smoking is nearly just as bad for the people whom are subjected to breathing in that toxic smoke.

Not only is it toxic smoke, but whatever germs and heebey geebies are inside that persons lungs and bloodstream are fogged out into the room for all to enjoy.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a smoke or two a day. The rest of them, however, are merely out of habit. And I just KNOW that I have to quit. (My Grandmother tells me all the time. Thank Jeebus she doesn’t know what the internet is otherwise, she’d absolutely FREAK after reading these past three paragrapsh.)

When the news of the Pennsylvania Smoking Ban first came about, I have to say that I was mighty optimistic. Having been in other states when the law went into effect, I knew that as soon as we caught on here in Pennsylvania, that it would certainly be a step in the right direction.

But we’re now three full weeks into the new smoking ban, and here in Harrisburg, not much at all has changed.

There are a handful of restaurants and bars who have been in compliance with the new law. (ABC being one of the few that have fully embraced the new smoking rules) But walking down Second Street, one would hardly know that there was a new law recently passed prohibiting smoking inside places of employment. (The majority of culprits being bars and restaraunts- where the majority of public indoor smoking takes place)

Don’t let the title of this post mislead you- I’m in full support of the smoking ban. But the way that the incarnation of this legislation reads is an absolute joke.

How many millions of tax dollars and hundreds of hours of labor were spent inside the Capitol drafting and tweaking this law?

Many, I’d guess. And the way that it reads right now is an absolute joke. Were they just trying to appease some people while keeping others happy at the same time?

Why, yes..yes they were.

And unfortunately in government and the passing of legislation, the old adage “you can please some people some of the time, but you can’t please all the people all the time” comes to mind.

If the lawmakers of this commonwealth had any balls at all, they would have made the smoking law crystal fucking clear by making it plain and simple- if you are in a place of public enjoyment- a place where anyone may enter and patronize, then there is simply no smoking allowed.

But by exempting places like private clubs, a percentage of the casino floors, businesses which only serve beer and liquor or a place whose annual gross reciepts contain less than twenty percent in food sales- it leaves FAR too many loopholes for FAR too many businesses to skirt the law.

New Jersey passed their smoking law about two or three years ago. Any business may not allow smoking.

Doesn’t matter if they sell strictly Budweiser beer and peanuts- it’s the law. No smoking allowed.

Meanwhile, back here in good ole Pennsylvania- we’ve drafted some amazingly bullshit legislation that has more holes in it than a State of The City speech by Mayor Reed.

Look, call me kooky- but there are a few businesses in Harrisburg that are embracing the new rules. But seriously, for the good of all of us- I really wish we’d see full compliance on this.