Brisket, media well-done

Yesterday, before Rachel Gordon and Stuart Fischoff headed back to Hollywood, we sat down at Big Boys Q'n (home of "Brisket on a Biscuit" and wireless internet access) for lunch and an exit interview. The husband and wife media team are considering pulling up stakes in L.A. and moving here. Not to retire, but to reinvent themselves, away from the sunny hubbub of the west coast's entertainment hub.

Stuart was impressed that a place like Big Boy's with two big screen televisions and band platform would also have wireless internet access, but --voila-- I was able to download an image of the famous "HOLLYWOOD" sign on Hollywood Hills, CA Afterwards, I set the laptop on the empty fourth chair so the George Carlin screensaver could entertain us, which it did--so well that I had to close the screen so we could talk to each other before the food arrrived.

I think Rachel was disappointed by my laissez-faire attitude toward politics. She had the impression (from this blog) that I was big meeting-goer (which I'm not). There are three (count 'em 3!) newspapers in town with scores of paid reporters to do that job. I prefer my public involvement to be more one-on-one. The only reason I might attend a public meeting is to speak to people there, snap some photos, or address the City Council. But otherwise, since all Carbondale City Council meetings are televised live on Cable Channel 16, and rebroadcast at noon on Thurs. (as I type this), and at 1 p.m. on Sunday, if I wanted to view the events, I'd prefer to watch at home. Like the guy in Being There.

Anyway, as part of her investigation into the area, Rachel asked people around town "What is the worst thing about Carbondale?" I answered "not having a public outdoor swimming pool." What would you say?

Sticking to it

After saying goodbye to Rachel and Stuart, I met with Rory Jaros, the chair man of Jackson St., who makes handmade chairs from wood found in Shawnee National forest, and who had the good sense to hire Bobbie O. to make him a fine website. Now he wants to hire me to teach him how to maintain his site. When I told him my price, he asked if I would "stick" it. So I accepted his terms: One (1) stick in partial payment for a web tutorial at Big Boys. After the job is done, full payment must be tendered to the branch office.

Wouldn't you know it? Just today the Daily Egyptian posted a nice photo of Rory.