tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14827150094958661672024-03-19T00:00:31.752-04:00 www.AndyPalumbo.comUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5720125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482715009495866167.post-29954264143274701302024-03-19T00:00:00.007-04:002024-03-19T00:00:00.314-04:00Action News<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9sCCrOZBFH_F5bInrlSb6pAYqI3mQVzqDxrUdrHAYb1reXRK9KKDFW20Zrbqwr5QAJp18XEl9wV4jrfFWfa2GwXp_KrANT1gQt-72MoPF1nKUB6P8KTsGkLy8Q4x7irSmhfrug17b5J1Cfwjo1wR3otGlCSmWLNTabnyyVU6abb8qL1SODoWgJY3iHE/s1024/bill-jorgensen-pat-harper-steve-78477672_793a60.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9sCCrOZBFH_F5bInrlSb6pAYqI3mQVzqDxrUdrHAYb1reXRK9KKDFW20Zrbqwr5QAJp18XEl9wV4jrfFWfa2GwXp_KrANT1gQt-72MoPF1nKUB6P8KTsGkLy8Q4x7irSmhfrug17b5J1Cfwjo1wR3otGlCSmWLNTabnyyVU6abb8qL1SODoWgJY3iHE/w640-h426/bill-jorgensen-pat-harper-steve-78477672_793a60.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">courtesy: New York Post<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Bill Jorgensen is the man you see here on the left, in a photo from his days at WPIX in New York City. Jorgensen died last week at the age of 96.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">He came over to WPIX after helping establish the news operation at cross town WNEW, now WNYW.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Let me back up a bit, and do what I usually do here-- inflict myself in to the story.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">WPIX revamped its news in the mid 70's. New title: "Action News." Great theme. Fantastic set. Solid anchors-- Pat Harper in the center and Steve Bosh on the right. It was a perfect mix of reporters-- Kamen, Bloom, Casey, Witker, Ferer, Malloy, Scott... Some were great at features. The others were intrepid investigators. You can't forget about Jerry Girard on sports. Jeffrey Lyons did movie and Broadway reviews. I had occasional access to WNEW, but I couldn't see the major network affiliates on my cable system, so this is likely an unfair judgement, but I loved Action News and thought it was the best newscast in the city. It was informative, visual, fun, interesting... My joy was only amplified when they added a 7:30 pm version to the 10 pm edition.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There are a handful of major influences on my television "career, " and many minor ones. The two biggest are WNEP and WPIX of the 1970's.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Okay, foundation established.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Harper and Bosh handled most of the anchoring chores, until 1979, when Bill Jorgensen joined the crew. Jorgensen was just about the perfect anchor-- great voice and delivery, tight writer. The man dripped gravitas. If Bill Jorgensen said something, you believed it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Unfortunately... there was no chemistry with Bosh and Harper. The three anchor arrangement just didn't work and the newscast lost its luster. It just seemed awkward and uncomfortable. You can sense something was amiss.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Let me branch off for a moment, and how much I hate talking about "chemistry." It's television. If the chemistry is a little off, no one dies. On the other hand, a newscast is much more watchable and easier to handle if the people on the screen like and respect each other. You can't teach that. You can't fake that, and I have been so fortunate over the last several years. One day, I will tell "the rest of the story."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Harper eventually defected for WNBC. Bosh made a couple of other stops, including Dallas and San Diego. You might find this story semi humorous. I had a friend working at Bosh's San Diego TV station. We were messaging one day, and I said "Tell Steve Bosh I said he is a God." My friend replied "He's standing right here." I nearly dropped my phone.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Jorgensen stayed at WPIX for eight years, until his retirement.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm searching for a clever way to wrap this up, and looking for the moral of the story. Bill Jorgensen was a great anchor, but I never thought WPIX was a good fit. He informed millions for decades, and I hope his contributions to journalism are never forgotten.</div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482715009495866167.post-73624085003091375152024-03-18T00:00:00.001-04:002024-03-18T00:00:00.136-04:00Hurry Up and Wait<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMAnDeLXTGwm-M6GKPbxOM0-Xf3c2biNVxLaIQJT__VM53I7KlhvSK4HLFRjaqemuRUAnhqdVr69367NcdHjqSujkKuE6WPN4MEJXMVnKsYqG8JAMOHzBfD6WHPQK0DizrFIi0JCvLnNKPP_TPtUx2rw91kJvKdse56z5vYOKGrMlw-LOuXA5lHxagZw/s408/clock_wood_frame.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="408" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMAnDeLXTGwm-M6GKPbxOM0-Xf3c2biNVxLaIQJT__VM53I7KlhvSK4HLFRjaqemuRUAnhqdVr69367NcdHjqSujkKuE6WPN4MEJXMVnKsYqG8JAMOHzBfD6WHPQK0DizrFIi0JCvLnNKPP_TPtUx2rw91kJvKdse56z5vYOKGrMlw-LOuXA5lHxagZw/s320/clock_wood_frame.png" width="320" /></a></div>Once upon a time, ABC hired a young reporter out of Canada. It was the mid 60's. The kid showed great promise and he was handed the evening news anchor job.<p></p><p>He bombed.</p><p>Bigly.</p><p>It didn't help that ABC had a station line-up that was far inferior to CBS and NBC, but the kid wasn't ready for the evening news anchor gig. Awkward. Chilly. The audience didn't warm up to him and he was soon replaced.</p><p>The new former anchor became a correspondent for ABC, traveling the country, and then the globe. There were assignments in Europe and the Middle East. He did great.</p><p>The correspondent was installed as the news reader on a new ABC network morning show.</p><p>It flopped.</p><p>It lasted less than one year.</p><p>It was back to Europe and the Middle East.</p><p>When ABC needed an anchor in the mid 70's, This man was given another shot. He was ready this time. It was the best newscast on network television.</p><p>You might remember the correspondent/anchor: Peter Jennings.</p><p>For some bizarre reason, Peter Jennings came to mind when the Pittsburgh Steelers traded Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles Friday.</p><p>Pickett was handed Pittsburgh's starting quarterback job.</p><p>He bombed.</p><p>Bigly.</p><p>The Steelers decided to go with the now journeyed Russell Wilson, who will be 36 when the season starts. Pickett pouted. Rather than sit on the bench for a while and learn from a player who will be in the Hall of Fame one day, Pickett wanted a move.</p><p>Now, he'll sit on the bench in Philadelphia.</p><p>This should have turned out differently.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482715009495866167.post-5707329335885228852024-03-17T00:00:00.001-04:002024-03-17T00:00:00.145-04:00Andy's Angles: Ft. Jenkins<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KVDkFlQOj3Zc1fkQGy7JjWdARbA2FXRquqzxtiFz-k9waKeppcFHvCCxSKwUTBI7lVDbW1wBHQ5Zy1sA6KTqXZnwAbUJ4hCGg8Okig66wClhd70GQhA3g5wtM2jqxqhevS60RdHGGz_ysXfX8-VPermh7TtY_tTo7NhTYNcFtCLJKQQ-HVyZvhq3BGE/s6000/0Z5A0220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KVDkFlQOj3Zc1fkQGy7JjWdARbA2FXRquqzxtiFz-k9waKeppcFHvCCxSKwUTBI7lVDbW1wBHQ5Zy1sA6KTqXZnwAbUJ4hCGg8Okig66wClhd70GQhA3g5wtM2jqxqhevS60RdHGGz_ysXfX8-VPermh7TtY_tTo7NhTYNcFtCLJKQQ-HVyZvhq3BGE/w640-h426/0Z5A0220.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>You can't put a picture of the Water Street Bridge on the blog without a photo of its companion span. This is the Fort Jenkins Bridge over the Susquehanna River. Pittston is on the left. West Pittston is on the right.<p></p><p>Unlike Water Street, this bridge is still open.</p><p>This photo begged to be cropped, at least a little. I didn't. I wouldn't. I couldn't. I like the blue sky and the reflection on the water in the left part of the shot.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482715009495866167.post-30368684950809105412024-03-16T00:00:00.002-04:002024-03-16T00:00:00.352-04:00Andy's Angles: Again?!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIGUp7xkJceQ6yNCZZStaqHxnMJFDMojrH5QiQbIURyCZbpmSir5I5lf0in_q8-SjgBA5uu4YMLTjMNTav9LMMlS73X7JjkBLgDViy6sadRjEQ_Msk5m1oafcz1gPpdNbx7B4t8Cxizr1ddfzt3CxuRnP7VIPe1Rb3eueDwHHMkid3ph9gMfAfJh2THI/s6000/0Z5A0216.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIGUp7xkJceQ6yNCZZStaqHxnMJFDMojrH5QiQbIURyCZbpmSir5I5lf0in_q8-SjgBA5uu4YMLTjMNTav9LMMlS73X7JjkBLgDViy6sadRjEQ_Msk5m1oafcz1gPpdNbx7B4t8Cxizr1ddfzt3CxuRnP7VIPe1Rb3eueDwHHMkid3ph9gMfAfJh2THI/w640-h426/0Z5A0216.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Outside of the trains at Steamtown, this has to be one of the most photographed things in my catalog. This is the Water Street Bridge over the Susquehanna River. Pittston is on the right. West Pittston is on the left.<p></p><p>In a blog post about one of my favorite songs, "Baker Street," I mentioned that I notice something different each time I hear the song. The same is true when I have this bridge in my viewfinder.</p><p>The bridge is old and it closed a few years ago. There is a plan to replace it. We'll see if the politicians follow through after the election.</p><p>A look at its companion bridge tomorrow.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482715009495866167.post-69993608223827746522024-03-15T00:00:00.002-04:002024-03-15T05:27:20.614-04:00Business Friday<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifu4UIxJUU86qZw7rnFM-5wvOULPmDgAdBtWb_l8bg0HX9MJ30sgDgE7_DkaAzHTqz1n8TR8EPCcKaSf29p1y1C956pxnL4Z4YVNz2QUffsrLc7OIpQudFHrnjx-lgfdBQLNHuamC5Mo2lp5Lkd61GbEzlxle6xmqYoXrfSfJzNiwxDluC3XwL20SA_RQ/s4202/business%20pricedown.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1801" data-original-width="4202" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifu4UIxJUU86qZw7rnFM-5wvOULPmDgAdBtWb_l8bg0HX9MJ30sgDgE7_DkaAzHTqz1n8TR8EPCcKaSf29p1y1C956pxnL4Z4YVNz2QUffsrLc7OIpQudFHrnjx-lgfdBQLNHuamC5Mo2lp5Lkd61GbEzlxle6xmqYoXrfSfJzNiwxDluC3XwL20SA_RQ/w640-h274/business%20pricedown.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>Dollar Tree bought Family Dollar. Big mistake. Too much debt, too fast. The company announced 1,000 stores will be closed.<p></p><p>I have no problem admitting that I visit both, on occasion-- Dollar Tree more than Family Dollar. The latter have manageably sized stores. You can usually get in and out without an issue. On the other hand, they are nothing special and the prices aren't that great.</p><p>Wendy's, which recently was caught with its hands in the "dynamic pricing" cookie jar, is introducing an Orange Cream Frosty. It's a temporary menu item. As much as I've been avoiding Wendy's recently, I am intrigued.</p><p>How would you like to be the public relations person for Boeing right now? Someone has a lot of explaining to do.</p><p>Gasoline prices are at a four month high. The peak demand summer travel season is hitting early.</p><p>Chocolate prices are on the way up. That one is going to hurt.</p><p>Tik Tok might be on the way out. Come on? You can do without it.</p><p>Gap reported a good holiday season, and its sister chain, Old Navy is also doing well. Old Navy doesn't surprise me. Gap does. It's become extremely pricey.</p><p>Price Chopper in Taylor closes next month. It's clear the store isn't making money, and that's unfortunate. I always enjoyed my visits. Value minded shoppers hit WalMart across the street. Shop Rite, just a few miles in Moosic, does a lot of things better. This could have worked.</p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482715009495866167.post-50114507961542689242024-03-14T00:00:00.001-04:002024-03-14T00:00:00.157-04:00First Person: The Morning Relay<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMtiEOsAj3ajHFuOg_9f_5c268Wqic_Hoo-HcB6GZiH-shLLCH9u5gCHsGnSphowcKlZWtHTdCJE0K0gLqVJabAUA_hRZ81uS_25SSS961TgZXSvCaOhMPLyJK4XsPF834bJVUdnWCi57d7ToBkK7QYOlx6AdcdH7YOO0YOQVJFLREkyKLzB9zotw3rk/s2101/first%20person%20630.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="2101" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMtiEOsAj3ajHFuOg_9f_5c268Wqic_Hoo-HcB6GZiH-shLLCH9u5gCHsGnSphowcKlZWtHTdCJE0K0gLqVJabAUA_hRZ81uS_25SSS961TgZXSvCaOhMPLyJK4XsPF834bJVUdnWCi57d7ToBkK7QYOlx6AdcdH7YOO0YOQVJFLREkyKLzB9zotw3rk/w400-h171/first%20person%20630.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>It is a shocking crime-- three people charged with shooting a man in Bradford County, cutting up the body and burning the pieces. Getting it on the air Tuesday morning was a major challenge, and here is that tale.<p></p><p>The arraignments were around 2 am in Troy, just about the far western edge of our coverage area. Photographer Jason was dispatched to get the video. The district justice provided copies of the affidavits filed by police. The work in Troy was finally finished around 4 am.</p><p>Here comes issue number one. We transmit video and information via cell phone, and coverage in the western part of Bradford county isn't the greatest. Jason had to high tail it to Towanda, where the service is better. He sent the video back to editor Tim back at home base in Moosic.</p><p>Jason also sent back, electronically, the police paperwork, and that leads us to issue number two. Three defendants. Multiple charges. A complicated case. Lengthy paperwork. If that wasn't enough the crime was grisly, gruesome, and downright horrific. We had to find the words to convey exactly what happened, while still conforming to broadcast standards. Morning TV is a different animal. It family time. Parents are getting the kids ready for school. Some aspects of the crime were sexual in nature, and the rest were, literally, bloody awful.</p><p>Executive producer Brigid poured over the pages and pages of affidavits, conveying to me what police allege happened. After 43 years of broadcasting (plus knowing the back roads and side streets), I can bang out a script pretty fast. The 4:30 am edition was completed with seconds to spare. I jumped in my newsroom camera chair to deliver the first news of the arrests at the top of the broadcast.</p><p>As the morning broadcast progressed, we had a few more minutes to digest what police believe happened, and every report, every half hour, had new facts. This story is an artichoke-- one unsightly layer after another.</p><p>I should add, while all of this was happening out in the newsroom, producer Leo was in the control room to make sure the broadcast ran smoothly. Jon and Mindi delivered the introduction to my stories, rolling with the latest changes, and I know the first time they saw some of the copy was when it zipped past on the teleprompter. </p><p>It's a cliché, but television, especially morning television, is a team effort. Yes, my face is on the marquee, but it takes a lot of people to get me there. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482715009495866167.post-15868580684822398222024-03-13T00:00:00.020-04:002024-03-13T00:00:00.145-04:00Wednesday Scrapple<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2ZlA3sL9ZrJiLb2KU0hsD3TqvxLk_A1cEXY4NtIRETKkLQlVa8m08JApZyTVi0VfTC3xTJAHNqFo5-hCAehsOI4DXzvXcVmqoU7YATA4bG_Pdnz84aj43FnW2lWMOx_vJhBLsXtZvLz_UvewVX-oZ76andKk4AaqCWHbxCbAu8uWGrAXnU0mGd8m8E0/s640/scrapple%20magnet.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2ZlA3sL9ZrJiLb2KU0hsD3TqvxLk_A1cEXY4NtIRETKkLQlVa8m08JApZyTVi0VfTC3xTJAHNqFo5-hCAehsOI4DXzvXcVmqoU7YATA4bG_Pdnz84aj43FnW2lWMOx_vJhBLsXtZvLz_UvewVX-oZ76andKk4AaqCWHbxCbAu8uWGrAXnU0mGd8m8E0/s320/scrapple%20magnet.webp" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The political party makes no difference. If you can't behave at the State of the Union address, where can you behave?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Speaking of politics, gang violence seems to be the new "in" issue. I'm having a hard time seeing how any politician can fix this. Throwing money at the problem won't help. This is a "home" issue.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some Taco Bell restaurants in and around Oakland, California are closing their dining rooms because of an increase in crime. It's now drive-through only.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jimmy Kimmel stopped being funny a long time ago.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">RIP, Eric Carmen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Sunday morning network talk shows used to be more light than heat. Now, it seems like they're trying to out-do each other and make headlines for their arguments.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today's entry in the "you know all the words, even though you haven't heard the sing in years" is Arlo Guthrie's "City of New Orleans."</div><div><br /></div><div>FOX will air some college football games on Friday night this year. More cannibalism. Fridays used to belong to high school football. Christmas was NBA territory. Black Friday was college football time. Now, the NFL is moving things about. There are no rules.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm sorry Paul Giamatti didn't win an Academy Award Sunday night. His time will come.</div><div><br /></div><div>By the way, the Academy Awards hit a four year high Sunday night. It's easy to see why. Popular movies were up for awards, and the broadcast didn't last until 1 in the morning.</div><div><br /></div><div>Media collapse: Deadspin.com sold. Entire staff fired.</div><div><br /></div><div>Fun fact: There are 32 Dollar General stores in Erie County, PA</div><div><br /></div><div>What's with all the wind the last several months?</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not sure Russell Johnson is the answer to the Steelers' problems, but he has to be better than Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph.</div><div><br /></div><div>A reputable Yahoo! Sports writer predicts the Atlantic Coast Conference is the next to implode.</div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482715009495866167.post-48839824646721429472024-03-12T00:00:00.005-04:002024-03-12T00:00:00.141-04:0040 Years Ago<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQr8xlSUK2nTsIjGo9WuwZlFuG6lY_9FfW1E8_D-SgVFxCRAl7osN8wvCQSbBjRY2hjbzFiSpK-lKI_5uggEIDKi17LOcGJE9Jx49UICZ0DAdJHuyuZKkoWcCgQUo8ZjGm-KCbzEQCZ4WnNDN5iwyfMyoguRysQ98XdBHgSONr0R3ZhWtHI_AOKA6bRPU/s240/GUN.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="169" data-original-width="240" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQr8xlSUK2nTsIjGo9WuwZlFuG6lY_9FfW1E8_D-SgVFxCRAl7osN8wvCQSbBjRY2hjbzFiSpK-lKI_5uggEIDKi17LOcGJE9Jx49UICZ0DAdJHuyuZKkoWcCgQUo8ZjGm-KCbzEQCZ4WnNDN5iwyfMyoguRysQ98XdBHgSONr0R3ZhWtHI_AOKA6bRPU/w320-h226/GUN.png" width="320" /></a></div>I spent the 80's on the radio, and I valued the experience. It was also great fun.<p></p><p>There was a period of violence here in our area way back when, and the homicide trials that followed. I was throwing the bull with one of our engineers one afternoon. He is one of the smartest people I ever worked with. He had spent some time working in Detroit, a city known for its violence. The engineer remarked that northeastern Pennsylvania was different. People here, said the engineer, kill people they know. He added it wasn't like Detroit, where random mini mart clerks were killed during robberies.</p><p>That conversation flashed in to my memory last week, after a man walked into a mini mart in Scranton. He shot the clerk and a customer. One died. The other survived. It wasn't far from the scene where a Scranton Police officer was shot in the head and nearly killed in January.</p><p>Friends, welcome to Detroit.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482715009495866167.post-68528538467575602702024-03-12T00:00:00.001-04:002024-03-12T00:00:00.142-04:00Sunrise Silence<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNazVz-Y1mIlUBEdPbFg-JJhn8ZUYUmPRMDDLKE_SAxlXmsl8S0PPW7TP4IZ3hbzJJZxP3p5caonnYlodATnnjcYNyg2oJUJf2CXV-RabM5LzNFOgyjMkrT-ZLgAuiVYvKRHwlPvADWmKFNKn-Oge94-ovmsdLE9ni1g11GfrL0d73KHsncYaV1UyehbY/s4803/time%20passages.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1801" data-original-width="4803" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNazVz-Y1mIlUBEdPbFg-JJhn8ZUYUmPRMDDLKE_SAxlXmsl8S0PPW7TP4IZ3hbzJJZxP3p5caonnYlodATnnjcYNyg2oJUJf2CXV-RabM5LzNFOgyjMkrT-ZLgAuiVYvKRHwlPvADWmKFNKn-Oge94-ovmsdLE9ni1g11GfrL0d73KHsncYaV1UyehbY/w400-h150/time%20passages.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>We flipped to Daylight Saving Time Sunday morning, and I can't say DST are my favorite months of the year. As a third shift worker, I like my sunshine in the morning rather than at night.<p></p><p>This year's switch was a little different. </p><p>No one in Harrisburg or Washington was yammering about picking Standard Time or Daylight Saving time and sticking with it, year 'round. As Newswatch 16's Ally Gallo reported Friday morning, efforts to pick one and keep it are just about dead.</p><p>I suspect you'll see some chatter in the fall, because those early sunsets aren't very popular, at all, except with me. Some politician will be looking for a quick headline and a little face time. Bills will be introduced, again, that will go nowhere.</p><p>There are advantages to two standards, and advantages to sticking with one. No one is thrilled with an 8:30 am sunrise, especially parents who have to send their kids to school in the dark. I experienced that during the energy crisis of the 70's, when we switched to DST early. Believe me, it was no big deal. I still found my way to the bus stop in the dark. I can see how the people in agriculture wouldn't like it.</p><p>If we did change, it would be a couple years of adjustment and the routine would become normal. Maybe we should give it a try.</p><p>As I say here, twice a year, I'm just tired of talking about something that will never happen.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482715009495866167.post-4661988526511389292024-03-11T00:00:00.001-04:002024-03-11T00:00:00.137-04:00Drink Up!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3hZ3oK8pXcYzK6_ZiLSIQR2TLSFTg_pqFsqYYBxJINlLvEyTaFoeMnPUjyqam6med8OSsiCxuSXmZRreyHvxedXxQ10eWFkrK_-Ysbz47sJQWriiiDc9mf0cFl-4DrKqmKNS1lvGBtqqDYh5vZg1aGLhuo7w0piZ_IierClcXXdguHzeQr-niMGfino/s600/leisure-guy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3hZ3oK8pXcYzK6_ZiLSIQR2TLSFTg_pqFsqYYBxJINlLvEyTaFoeMnPUjyqam6med8OSsiCxuSXmZRreyHvxedXxQ10eWFkrK_-Ysbz47sJQWriiiDc9mf0cFl-4DrKqmKNS1lvGBtqqDYh5vZg1aGLhuo7w0piZ_IierClcXXdguHzeQr-niMGfino/w266-h400/leisure-guy.png" width="266" /></a></div>The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board came out with its annual report last week. The bottom line: Boy, do we like to drink!!!<p></p><p>Sales are very strong, spiking around the November, December, and January holidays. There is major growth in the canned cocktail sector.</p><p>So, what are we drinking?</p><p>It terms of bottles sold, Fireball cinnamon whiskey is at the top, even thought it is down 11 per cent from the prior year.</p><p>Second place goes to New Amsterdam vodka, by 46 per cent from 2022. I have to admit I've never tried it, but now the bug is planted in my year.</p><p>Third place goes to perennial favorite, Tito's vodka. But, look at this. The PLCB report has a different entry for each bottle size.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4nKWmOglsnQW_NQKxyJztwM8YvhWoUVwH41iXP2Bj7i3ZYP7yG_JtsFSI_VY8JmNfHxFpX7Zu9XJ12H7JZ28_T-zaqR8jhyphenhypheneRaa-gdiisl8WzNFYkZD5NVlFHQbC3Z_WdbT0B54_Vi7jyaRWGlD33mCx1WIaUBF1rC6YEDXdu5WJ80rCpoVx6XZauiQ/s739/PLCB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="739" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4nKWmOglsnQW_NQKxyJztwM8YvhWoUVwH41iXP2Bj7i3ZYP7yG_JtsFSI_VY8JmNfHxFpX7Zu9XJ12H7JZ28_T-zaqR8jhyphenhypheneRaa-gdiisl8WzNFYkZD5NVlFHQbC3Z_WdbT0B54_Vi7jyaRWGlD33mCx1WIaUBF1rC6YEDXdu5WJ80rCpoVx6XZauiQ/w640-h242/PLCB.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you add them up, Tito's blows everyone else out of the water.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The entries in the top ten amaze me. No Crown Royal, Jack Daniels, Captain Morgan...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tito's is king.</div><br /><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482715009495866167.post-78261687672793901272024-03-10T00:00:00.001-05:002024-03-10T00:00:00.141-05:00Andy's Angles: All Aboard!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimDjIRCUo_mMjAyrofZ8Jr0qVsuTLu6UpD31vMlxTjJMCFcrNqXfZpXyJzJOK9hrXttr-QdoDvs3aksJo_6FtntlLIo2VopFumb3Pzgai6b-QxQF_2ToiYEjfo2e9R7ZCGTjwjuvP55T1oyGGMYhfhOqykXeN8wRpxHdc4GpAXOXgiI1XU4Fat7J-6wwA/s6000/0Z5A0206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimDjIRCUo_mMjAyrofZ8Jr0qVsuTLu6UpD31vMlxTjJMCFcrNqXfZpXyJzJOK9hrXttr-QdoDvs3aksJo_6FtntlLIo2VopFumb3Pzgai6b-QxQF_2ToiYEjfo2e9R7ZCGTjwjuvP55T1oyGGMYhfhOqykXeN8wRpxHdc4GpAXOXgiI1XU4Fat7J-6wwA/w640-h426/0Z5A0206.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Yesterday, I mentioned my recent wandering around the Reading and Northern yard in Pittston. Weekend train trips to and from Jim Thorpe start and end here.<p></p><p>This a flawed photo of an engine and passenger cars. The sun was not my friend and the scene is horribly back-lit. You might ask, why I didn't simply go to the other side. Well, that other side is right up against a guide rail and the road. I love taking photographs, but it's always safety first with me-- especially when it involves traffic.</p><p>I did try to fix it, a little, in post production. As as friend says, "You can't sell fish off an empty truck." A bad photo is still a bad photo.</p><p>I would like to try it again some afternoon, especially now that there is more light later in the day. There are some things to like with the composition-- mainly the curving track in the foreground.</p><br /><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482715009495866167.post-8382065715441917032024-03-09T00:00:00.001-05:002024-03-09T00:00:00.143-05:00Andy's Angles: About the Cover<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNX02RPFEYfLbf3rJz0qZ7BPAEabIF_qfM2Yslxovv-sTML_0YO2vx8HCeBw2_yBrvNuhdDq43eTIFSCbRqH5H47umo4lKBqt-NHRoU5_5TPbSLVfLCsGOKxdCXH9M-MTiofiG9zaGGvFKcxZSM5trio2QA8eQYJGuSMwZ3_r_Buy_74_CPjKIqbHfwNY/s6000/0Z5A0202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNX02RPFEYfLbf3rJz0qZ7BPAEabIF_qfM2Yslxovv-sTML_0YO2vx8HCeBw2_yBrvNuhdDq43eTIFSCbRqH5H47umo4lKBqt-NHRoU5_5TPbSLVfLCsGOKxdCXH9M-MTiofiG9zaGGvFKcxZSM5trio2QA8eQYJGuSMwZ3_r_Buy_74_CPjKIqbHfwNY/w640-h426/0Z5A0202.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>I really haven't done any railroad pictures on the blog since the first of the year, so I thought it was high time.<p></p><p>This photo is the result of a little wandering around the Reading and Northern yard in Pittston last month. This area was one of my white whales. There were always great opportunities here, but no safe place to park. On top of that, to get a good photo, you would have to trespass, and I do respect boundaries.</p><p>That all changed last year when this became a passenger terminal for trips to and from Jim Thorpe.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibo-_zcYUXhuEakVviBytI1wc0mLtm8f0xHeTYl1Ip7u5Y1-j8-scfA-KeoifAAXFk-a9vHkrZCqUIQnh-gD73OEWD2IIXkc5dh53emHfXXl3TlpK9JAUFl9mIZcfxtlPeEYFHv2cm8TV18xFX3XERWu2gu-1PtJkn_kYpBjdda_8P9kLZr8KX12I4SNk/s6000/0Z5A0196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibo-_zcYUXhuEakVviBytI1wc0mLtm8f0xHeTYl1Ip7u5Y1-j8-scfA-KeoifAAXFk-a9vHkrZCqUIQnh-gD73OEWD2IIXkc5dh53emHfXXl3TlpK9JAUFl9mIZcfxtlPeEYFHv2cm8TV18xFX3XERWu2gu-1PtJkn_kYpBjdda_8P9kLZr8KX12I4SNk/w640-h426/0Z5A0196.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Suddenly, you had a station, and parking, and safe and easy access. It is a train lover's delight. By the way, the Jim Thorpe trips resume next month. The electronic message board says more than 300,000 people took the trips last year, and that's amazing!</p><p>Plus, the engine on the header photo is green and it is St. Patrick's month. That fact was lost on me when I took the photos and prepared the header.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482715009495866167.post-11256153794413917272024-03-08T00:00:00.020-05:002024-03-08T00:00:00.241-05:00Follow Up Friday<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9T2mo_Yq9mSlufpAQ6BF8r8Ao9hu7B8YaB0-XEe45Pk0UcUr2UHh-CysB0H_rlRFSVsT3yF2lsOvwhI66wbVqkQ7-PDoMkC_58JaB9XmX_IMdz0J3JAx2Zd2S3SdBFQWfp0JqebTcLLx2EpbobVdEvGN1Kr5t0VjLyfDaA8br1YBRhKQgLLyIaa6Owew/s2401/Follow%20up%20Harris.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1801" data-original-width="2401" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9T2mo_Yq9mSlufpAQ6BF8r8Ao9hu7B8YaB0-XEe45Pk0UcUr2UHh-CysB0H_rlRFSVsT3yF2lsOvwhI66wbVqkQ7-PDoMkC_58JaB9XmX_IMdz0J3JAx2Zd2S3SdBFQWfp0JqebTcLLx2EpbobVdEvGN1Kr5t0VjLyfDaA8br1YBRhKQgLLyIaa6Owew/w640-h480/Follow%20up%20Harris.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>Last week's entry on a family bakery in Dickson City touched off one of those wonderful newsroom discussions. Every small town back in the day had at least one bakery and they were all great. Supermarkets have really stepped up their games in recent years, but you can't beat the charm of a mom and pop bakery.<p></p><p>I don't know if it's happening more, or if its being reported more, but it still fascinates me that some people have the onions to load up a cart and simply wheel it out of a store. Why? Because they know they can get away with it. That has to change if American brick and mortar retail is to survive.</p><p>I really enjoyed the whipping Wendy's took over that half baked surge pricing idea. This could have been one of the biggest disasters in American business history.</p><p>I've mentioned here in the past that I enjoy getting hair cuts because I like having my hair on the shorter side, and my barber is an absolutely delightful woman. However, the thing that drives me nuts is the window when your hair isn't too short and isn't too long is just a few days.</p><p>The death of someone I grew up watching on TV always saddens me. Former CBS News correspondent David Culhane died last week. 93. Quiet dignity. A reporter's reporter.</p><p>The woes of the radio industry have been chronicled here in the past. I love radio. WFME AM 1560 in New York recently went off the air, and it might never come back. For decades, this was WQXR, a classical music station owned by the New York Times. The current owner, Family Radio, had to move transmitter sites a few times and there were a host of technical issues, leading to the station going silent. I get it, but I'm troubled. This place was legendary.</p><p>I have yet to hear anyone talk about the new CBS 12:30 am show.</p><p>The Academy Awards is coming up Sunday night. I haven't been a theater since 2012, and I don't stream anything. However, it was nice to see movies people actually watched nominated this year. I know it won't happen, but I'm expecting the ceremony to be a political affair. Just stop it! People want entertainment Sunday night.</p><p>Discover card has a new batch of radio commercials featuring actress Jennifer Coolidge. They are simply unlistenable, and they make me want to cancel my account. I can't believe some ad agency and the Discover people thought those spots would attract business.</p><p>I'm the first to yap about poorly done radio, but WTOP in Washington was simply outstanding Super Tuesday night and into the next morning.</p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482715009495866167.post-61667268219087254592024-03-07T00:00:00.000-05:002024-03-07T00:00:00.140-05:00Tax Time<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RzYC4c_fQYTgCj0RkBPBM1sqwC3msWb85QXsvXNFNJX0bIqI527Bw2C7IC9or281N86rtkR3ebEtkAX1ZcPF_jaB9VaV-ZNYFaMCSlGf7GyD0EcVS_IbdXJuI3Vr0oMsd4MvcGyiJvYlR9xSUEzpLBW7NbAZbZoOINyAGxoQiZ0v4OiyIm0Cjcbq7CQ/s600/calculator_wide.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="600" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RzYC4c_fQYTgCj0RkBPBM1sqwC3msWb85QXsvXNFNJX0bIqI527Bw2C7IC9or281N86rtkR3ebEtkAX1ZcPF_jaB9VaV-ZNYFaMCSlGf7GyD0EcVS_IbdXJuI3Vr0oMsd4MvcGyiJvYlR9xSUEzpLBW7NbAZbZoOINyAGxoQiZ0v4OiyIm0Cjcbq7CQ/s320/calculator_wide.png" width="320" /></a></div>I was a little late this year because one organization was late sending me its paperwork, but I finally bundled up all my records and sent them off to my tax prep person.<div><br /></div><div>This task is usually completed by Valentine's Day.<br /><p></p><p>As always, and I stole this from Tony Kornheiser, there is one rule: "Keep me out of jail."</p><p>No worries this year, like most years. I'm sure I'll end owing something. I have no issues in paying my fair share. There are times it does seem excessive, like how we penalize saving and investing in this country, and in this state. </p><p> I'm no Rockefeller. </p><p>While I apologize to Harrisburg and Washington for my tardiness this year, I promise that you will get your money on time. I haven't let you down yet.</p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482715009495866167.post-77331343670625744292024-03-06T00:00:00.001-05:002024-03-06T00:00:00.130-05:00Why?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIhkFe0ftYEIKm9xyk1QbbtW3-bV1pNhuNhcb-FKZME6N61wZQsLJtCHhik8Dey5F-aRRdte5ULw3UmJRah35TmrqoM86wiuyUXioos5d2_ua5Lh8VrItMizoaPnuam2MLu3-aRXE38f8dIvDSbR2SI52MtuYToQZjCo1ETwdTE5_NJEhx6mo2WJtq5E/s600/gun.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="600" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIhkFe0ftYEIKm9xyk1QbbtW3-bV1pNhuNhcb-FKZME6N61wZQsLJtCHhik8Dey5F-aRRdte5ULw3UmJRah35TmrqoM86wiuyUXioos5d2_ua5Lh8VrItMizoaPnuam2MLu3-aRXE38f8dIvDSbR2SI52MtuYToQZjCo1ETwdTE5_NJEhx6mo2WJtq5E/s320/gun.png" width="320" /></a></div>After doing this for more than forty years, I'm glad I can still feel. The hope is still there, the smiles, the tears, the disgust, and the wonder.<p></p><p>Today, it's the latter three.</p><p>A 15 year old was gunned down in a Loyalsock Township parking lot Saturday night. Someone fired shots at a home in that same area Sunday night.</p><p>This follows violence involving young people in several parts of our area. And, we can't forget that two young people are charged with playing a role in the shooting of a Scranton Police detective.</p><p>We look for easy answers-- the availability of guns, the prevalence of gangs, the disintegration of family life, and a disregard for human life. </p><p>The solutions are complicated.</p><p>The politicians are crawling out of the woodwork on this one, pledging more anti gang education in schools and more efforts to curb gang violence.</p><p>There is no easy way out of this one.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482715009495866167.post-2407387303425299312024-03-05T00:00:00.007-05:002024-03-05T00:00:00.238-05:00Super Tuesday<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cZSpKp8Y9cI1l_OaxXBmq4cpdcjwGTvcSN5cPzs6aoyLB-coNCvZG1PdykD7W3x0LsyJF6xBw1Bv6aCzaoQx9vsnvXwoVZ73XLiSN68SoASERxlhGpFCf7Ypk8L9dJxU93LlH_k0Sonkp927_4_z6tsJONnmMf6ORIEzoIiSkdo_OCCXnE_Qs41j6hE/s13208/SuperTuesday.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="13208" data-original-width="9011" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cZSpKp8Y9cI1l_OaxXBmq4cpdcjwGTvcSN5cPzs6aoyLB-coNCvZG1PdykD7W3x0LsyJF6xBw1Bv6aCzaoQx9vsnvXwoVZ73XLiSN68SoASERxlhGpFCf7Ypk8L9dJxU93LlH_k0Sonkp927_4_z6tsJONnmMf6ORIEzoIiSkdo_OCCXnE_Qs41j6hE/w436-h640/SuperTuesday.jpeg" width="436" /></a></div>I'm glad I saved this logo from four years ago!<p></p><p>Today is Super Tuesday, the biggest primary day of the presidential election calendar. Voters in 16 states go to the polls today.</p><p>In an ordinary year, this would be great fun, suspense, intrigue and more. For a news junkie like me, it is better than Super Bowl Sunday. The networks would trot out their top line talent and technology. It was must see TV.</p><p>Super Tuesday this year isn't so super.</p><p>Trump and Biden have their respective party nominations locked up. The only question is the sizes of the victories. While the networks will cover the results, the wall-to-wall stuff is shunted off to the streaming services.</p><p>Many of the states voting today have open primaries, meaning independents can vote. There can be some party lines crossed as well, so there might be a surprise or two. It's still worth watching.</p><p>This is as close as America comes to a national primary-- and, that national primary isn't a bad idea. There were plenty of states that shifted their primary dates this year. It will be interesting to see how many modifications there will be in 2028.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482715009495866167.post-76135263824039840552024-03-04T00:00:00.001-05:002024-03-04T00:00:00.239-05:00Ghost of a Chance<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fBCnawpYom9MO8P05IHFOdtLsnitcP1xm-AUoybkayCFFcMViURtrNywlt9uURoX7vknUDAqCI_VLBp-tdJsMRmodhm1ZJy6WHPpbf-zPv4cpvycP9DJEpbfjQQNLV9c_9liZe30k1jmBigOW_WIuARHkEGfj9Pe7zIZEAZGskL9x4mrj9E84C2R4Z8/s518/ghost%20pepper.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fBCnawpYom9MO8P05IHFOdtLsnitcP1xm-AUoybkayCFFcMViURtrNywlt9uURoX7vknUDAqCI_VLBp-tdJsMRmodhm1ZJy6WHPpbf-zPv4cpvycP9DJEpbfjQQNLV9c_9liZe30k1jmBigOW_WIuARHkEGfj9Pe7zIZEAZGskL9x4mrj9E84C2R4Z8/s320/ghost%20pepper.JPG" width="196" /></a></div>I like spicy. I don't like excessively hot.<p></p><p>As I was wandering the aisles of a big box store the other day, this jumped out at me. Campbell's Ghost Pepper Chunky Chicken Noodle Soup. A couple of cans found their way into my cart and I couldn't wait to try it.</p><p>As the cold wind howled outside, I warmed up a can in a pot on the stove. It looked and smelled great. It was your typical Campbell's product-- decent noodles, vegetables, and broth. Light on the meat. Very light on the meat.</p><p>Of course, the big question is the heat level. So many products bill themselves as "spicy" or "hot" and they fail to deliver. Regular readers will remember when I whined about lackluster jalapeno cheese a few weeks ago. This stuff delivers, and then some. In fact, it's too hot for me.</p><p>I will occasionally add a pinch of cayenne to canned soups for a little kick. This product goes above and beyond. I'm glad it lived up to the billing.</p><p>I'm not sorry I bought it, but I don't think I'll purchase it again. I never thought I'd say this, but it's too hot for me.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482715009495866167.post-17068864063516944562024-03-03T00:00:00.001-05:002024-03-03T00:00:00.133-05:00Andy's Angles: Theodore Street<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TJ68ITSwG8PP60yTW7tpruyYN2Ws3vD9sB6SxiN-XiaEiN_6kRPlJsD8YOESmo7q7ZXp-fe22aWlmCPdwb-pBRwzwxO2b8n_qXIfbIQudMYuMkr-8rsMTDPhXov_qAvAXzwcTdKrV8D6dBeYCxsUc0KwYDGjKmm1-tZ0zfMjX4Gv9bkAt_LJl8QYFjY/s1920/Theodore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TJ68ITSwG8PP60yTW7tpruyYN2Ws3vD9sB6SxiN-XiaEiN_6kRPlJsD8YOESmo7q7ZXp-fe22aWlmCPdwb-pBRwzwxO2b8n_qXIfbIQudMYuMkr-8rsMTDPhXov_qAvAXzwcTdKrV8D6dBeYCxsUc0KwYDGjKmm1-tZ0zfMjX4Gv9bkAt_LJl8QYFjY/w640-h480/Theodore.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I've said it here before. I'll say it again. We have this horrible habit in this area of neglecting things until there is a problem. The solution, most of the time, is to tear it down. Friends, here is something that cannot be replaced.<p></p><p>This is the railroad bridge going over Theodore Street in Scranton. Rust. Decay. Falling concrete. The city had the street cut to one lane while the owner, Norfolk Southern, shores up the bridge. The bridge has to remain open. You can detour cars and trucks. You can't detour a freight train.</p><p>There are stop signs at both ends of the one lane section. Drivers have to use the honor system. This is an accident waiting to happen.</p><p>Norfolk Southern is working on repairs, and has put up boards to keep concrete from falling on to the cars below.</p><p>I have to add, a neighborhood resident started sending pictures of the deteriorating bridge out to the news media. Questions were asked. Cages rattled, and the city finally stepped in to tell the railroad to do something.</p><p>You have to wonder what disaster could have happened here.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482715009495866167.post-6719113765414364012024-03-02T00:00:00.001-05:002024-03-02T00:00:00.137-05:00Andy's Angles: Chovtzkin's<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mVO41xORcr657zkabkBJA5lVxIPoO1hIe4VYM0FLWM0SJAsDFZMlmabsOdW-jlhM8jSU_1Ji3r6zwX-ejVnhnLfYCt14mRBHXCWave0ChlKXhTB_G-krFnopvg-lzRvbRTyKrNFRnsEpKitrklSocXyJtQS2PsJDOCdxjpbo59KpvDugKPqiW5Q5Tu0/s1920/Chovtzkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mVO41xORcr657zkabkBJA5lVxIPoO1hIe4VYM0FLWM0SJAsDFZMlmabsOdW-jlhM8jSU_1Ji3r6zwX-ejVnhnLfYCt14mRBHXCWave0ChlKXhTB_G-krFnopvg-lzRvbRTyKrNFRnsEpKitrklSocXyJtQS2PsJDOCdxjpbo59KpvDugKPqiW5Q5Tu0/w640-h480/Chovtzkins.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>One of the neat things about my job is I get to jump in someone else's car and travel off to see interesting things. A viewer emailed to say the legendary Chovtzkin's Bakery in Dickson City was being torn down. The actual retail part still stands, as apartments. The portion of the business where they made outstanding bread, rolls and pastries was being bulldozed.<p></p><p>Regular readers know I went to junior high school a few blocks away, so there was an occasional lunch time visit to Chovtzkin's. It was run by a sweet, older couple and every product was great. I was partial to the turnovers.</p><p>Photographer Tim and I stopped by Dickson City borough hall to do a little fact checking and to make sure my memory was correct. It was a great time reminiscing about the way things used to be in small town America. Mom and pop markets. Bakeries. Ice cream shops. Pizza.</p><p>The bakery closed and the Chovtzkins passed long ago. There were some great memories here.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482715009495866167.post-66615045242348978712024-03-01T00:00:00.016-05:002024-03-01T00:00:00.142-05:00Friday Scrapple<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewrLZNJ9lIk4EPe3fbKUBWpqNjo0TLyBuqEyV2FEhYtWDSUctiSc3OyOq4wu99RMefiB9u0-5A5YCA8x5wspxd-RPOZ-gaeJaWRh0EWccLY7pi5IPk2xKZteaStVKcL1_AM_1e6e1vr-dmEGzg9clLtmVDe_GfS3-bXo5lqFZKiWqEaIW8RM4IvNeT18/s635/scrapple-16oz.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="635" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewrLZNJ9lIk4EPe3fbKUBWpqNjo0TLyBuqEyV2FEhYtWDSUctiSc3OyOq4wu99RMefiB9u0-5A5YCA8x5wspxd-RPOZ-gaeJaWRh0EWccLY7pi5IPk2xKZteaStVKcL1_AM_1e6e1vr-dmEGzg9clLtmVDe_GfS3-bXo5lqFZKiWqEaIW8RM4IvNeT18/w400-h246/scrapple-16oz.png" width="400" /></a></div>It still troubles me that on Mondays, you cannot find a physical copy of a local newspaper.<p></p><p>We've had a mild winter. Here we are. It's March 1, and I still think we will have one more whopper snowstorm before spring arrives for good.</p><p>AT&T is giving customers a $5 credit because of the recent outage. Are you kidding me? The company should pony up more than that.</p><p>There is a renewed discussion over college kids storming basketball courts. One, it shouldn't happen. Two, I don't know how to prevent it. Arrest the kids? I don't think so. You shouldn't have a criminal record over a youthful indiscretion. However, someone is really going to get hurt, severely, one of these days.</p><p>Investigators determined the 2022 bridge collapse in Pittsburgh was caused by poor maintenance and it is the city's fault. Is anyone surprised? If you saw what was beneath most bridges here in the state, you would never cross them.</p><p>Former Dallas Cowboys star Golden Richards died last week. 73. He had one of the greatest names in sports.</p><p>Richard Lewis died the other day. Comedian. 76. Comedy is extremely subjective. I'm sorry. I wasn't a fan. I do respect his body of work and his popularity.</p><p>Tom Emanski died this week. He worked at several radio stations over the years. After that, Tom was a private event DJ. Our paths crossed at WARM in the late 80's. Great guy. You couldn't help but like him. Tom had a few bouts with cancer over the years. His fight is over. His pain is over. My sympathy to Tom's family, friends, and fans. We lost a good one.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482715009495866167.post-39287716674464761322024-02-29T00:00:00.008-05:002024-02-29T01:28:21.681-05:00Business Thursday<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgFwsjZvYdedZ3ejAiD2wX-j18OBn9_AZOijRd7AMwUE2JrOGLGi2g-NSoMqnO5PFUaHcRU1qMelmxBa6Iq6MimWTKb1pzmAj0oLmib4XfArfKZYUFulNCbFNE-iKq-P9rz33ivPk81e4DMEka0t50Qapd611Q-7whH3NJtnw-j_UsgvX3BMq_NVKhQA/s4202/business%20pricedown.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1801" data-original-width="4202" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgFwsjZvYdedZ3ejAiD2wX-j18OBn9_AZOijRd7AMwUE2JrOGLGi2g-NSoMqnO5PFUaHcRU1qMelmxBa6Iq6MimWTKb1pzmAj0oLmib4XfArfKZYUFulNCbFNE-iKq-P9rz33ivPk81e4DMEka0t50Qapd611Q-7whH3NJtnw-j_UsgvX3BMq_NVKhQA/w640-h274/business%20pricedown.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>The bomb dropped Tuesday. Macy's is closing 150 stores. Some soon. Some later. It is a magic name in American retailing and this makes me sad.<p></p><p>Call me guilty of oversimplification, but, as I've said here before, Macy’s stores are just a sea of beige. It's no fun to shop there. Macy's management needs to invest in its properties and think of the customer experience. Look at the stores that are doing well. This isn't difficult to figure out.</p><p>And, can you cut your way to profitability? Ask Sears/Kmart management.</p><p>It seems like Penney's is one step away from a major problem. While Macy's has the market on beige cornered, Penney's is a sea of off-white.</p><p>Moving on...</p><p>I needed a few things from a big box store at 6 am Wednesday-- the one notorious for funneling you into a self service check out, and then examining your receipt like you were a criminal on the way out. I did my thing, and breezed out the door. Either I looked honest, or they were short handed. I'm leaning toward the latter. I despise the self service, but if it gets me out the door faster, bring it on. The key is if the self service machines working properly. I'm constantly fighting with the hardware at a couple of supermarket chains.</p><p>Wendy's is catching some heat for its plan to charge more for food at peak demand times, and deservedly so. This is food, people! It's not a car ride on New Year's Eve. Let's hope common sense prevails. I'm not holding my breath. And now, Wednesday afternoon, the company walked back the surge pricing idea. Even though it looks like it won’t happen, the person who came up with the idea should be sent packing. This is a public relations nightmare.</p><p>Happy Leap Day!!!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482715009495866167.post-35507042747602525162024-02-28T00:00:00.004-05:002024-02-28T00:00:00.136-05:00Farewell!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wUQGopMmTga_JGO86H-2zbxNenMf4RXgHe3p9Zzl9wfE23E4_w9U-J3RFAxm9MkR8-HhdgV6s1JaWROAoRgzaBF7OSYGX_j4-XQpGAEKSnZ6t1XpnEJpqfjKEJJJX5s6SLIw6LTZjoY-WFI6eB6A45cXTaltCOVKAnjW__BDyplQ23D95xR6kMZnkBM/s700/monster_burger.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="700" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wUQGopMmTga_JGO86H-2zbxNenMf4RXgHe3p9Zzl9wfE23E4_w9U-J3RFAxm9MkR8-HhdgV6s1JaWROAoRgzaBF7OSYGX_j4-XQpGAEKSnZ6t1XpnEJpqfjKEJJJX5s6SLIw6LTZjoY-WFI6eB6A45cXTaltCOVKAnjW__BDyplQ23D95xR6kMZnkBM/s320/monster_burger.png" width="320" /></a></div>I might have made my last trip to Wendy's.<p></p><p>The head of the company says it's testing a system where customers will be charged more during peak hours. The price comes down when demand lessens. The system will be introduced next year.</p><p>Wendy's, take a hike!</p><p>Major League Baseball teams charge more for tickets when the good teams come to town, but at least there is a value with that. You are seeing quality teams. With Wendy's, you are paying more for the same thing.</p><p>This, dear readers, is obscene.</p><p>The sad part about all of this is, if Wendy's gets away with it, all the other fast food restaurants will follow suit.</p><p>It's like when millions paid to see an NFL playoff game streamed on Peacock. All that showed is people are willing to pay. Team owners, the NFL, and the TV networks started to drool. You'll have to pay more to see other playoff games next year, and you cut your own throat. How did that work out for you?</p><p>My only hope is some other fast food chain will say to its customers that it appreciates your business and it will give you a fair deal. I know I'll be there. If not, I'll go to the supermarket and buy the things needed to make my own sandwich, and no doubt it will be better. On top of that, I'll eat the sandwich in Wendy's parking lot and wave to them though the window.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482715009495866167.post-24342255674990359972024-02-27T00:00:00.001-05:002024-02-27T00:00:00.135-05:00Office Space and The Big Bang Theory<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhNAHrqsKubU3JXt3z3ujIgh7GlHx2N9igV5KR4JxzWVb7QqI01VRvOg6h2zmglT3GAJi_a0RkEWaAzz06cePad94ufaHLpD9b8Q15u2KGMnyGJMk5KEi_PKWfw4UYRoOyGB_tZA7RtPppJUuBPyV60GJ-2dYJmh4ibGSMqtxVIDODwVFCg8L0phjyyI/s1377/office%20space%20poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1377" data-original-width="930" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhNAHrqsKubU3JXt3z3ujIgh7GlHx2N9igV5KR4JxzWVb7QqI01VRvOg6h2zmglT3GAJi_a0RkEWaAzz06cePad94ufaHLpD9b8Q15u2KGMnyGJMk5KEi_PKWfw4UYRoOyGB_tZA7RtPppJUuBPyV60GJ-2dYJmh4ibGSMqtxVIDODwVFCg8L0phjyyI/w270-h400/office%20space%20poster.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>This one slipped by me last week... February 19 was the 25th anniversary of the release of "Office Space." I remember seeing it in a theater, and I wasn't impressed. However, each time I viewed it on television, I enjoyed it more. No matter where you work or what you do, you can relate to something in this film.<p></p><p>I heard an interview with the star, Ron Livingston, a while back. The movie did not do well at the box office. Livingston thought part of that was bad advertising and a bad movie poster. I get that.</p><p>In spite of it all, the movie really is a classic.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1L69jjElVeOzAhwcOmB5sPJ1_D9QWtnmxxjD3N6AOMULpiAOU_MH-zG4K5jza0C8zrIrKLAOFfGUHrWietS5sKOJWXVrG9VSD_AyHKm3DWKfS5qCOjZKYZyoq6ANPK4Dai4iROnh70l7KBHZp_i1h3DlDoo2TjJ-abUOR5c061DMHl4GbPfn8lkfkZ-Y/s1920/tbbt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1L69jjElVeOzAhwcOmB5sPJ1_D9QWtnmxxjD3N6AOMULpiAOU_MH-zG4K5jza0C8zrIrKLAOFfGUHrWietS5sKOJWXVrG9VSD_AyHKm3DWKfS5qCOjZKYZyoq6ANPK4Dai4iROnh70l7KBHZp_i1h3DlDoo2TjJ-abUOR5c061DMHl4GbPfn8lkfkZ-Y/w400-h225/tbbt.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>And, enough already!</p><p>Facebook lights up every time someone hears a big bang.</p><p>Most of the time, it's nothing to be concerned about. Fireworks are legal now. People shoot them off all the time-- no reason required. </p><p>Please, calm down.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482715009495866167.post-68293384817249888182024-02-26T00:00:00.007-05:002024-02-26T00:00:00.137-05:00Follow Up Monday<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLHejK2DHaKWM8YkQSgONiPk0dQAo0blWDHltmjxnDtLdT5qdSMhFu92ol5kKDqyqmKh195TaV-k19MSHw2qhYRlaF21bdCHWMAluYtS7BJNnGen5fzx3WyALG86_KJy55VXp61TYqMDw8aNXt-XRhC0vfptP4ywlw9qb3hiwNykIOwsMo9WJykZsaRlI/s4202/FOLLOW%20UP%20WADDAMS.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2101" data-original-width="4202" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLHejK2DHaKWM8YkQSgONiPk0dQAo0blWDHltmjxnDtLdT5qdSMhFu92ol5kKDqyqmKh195TaV-k19MSHw2qhYRlaF21bdCHWMAluYtS7BJNnGen5fzx3WyALG86_KJy55VXp61TYqMDw8aNXt-XRhC0vfptP4ywlw9qb3hiwNykIOwsMo9WJykZsaRlI/w640-h320/FOLLOW%20UP%20WADDAMS.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>While I'm still waiting for a response from the Scranton parking people as to why meters are enforced on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, but not Juneteenth, I see they did hit my credit card.<p></p><p>The NFL still dominates sports talk radio. NHL, NBA, and MLB, be very worried.</p><p>Speaking of MLB, the commissioner, Robert Manfred, is retiring in a few years. The man has poisoned everything he's touched.</p><p>The Oakland Athletics could play the 2025 season in Sacramento, before the stadium in Las Vegas is ready. This situation was botched from the beginning.</p><p>I am not an AT&T customer, but how could they screw up a software update that took down the system? Hackers in foreign countries are probably drooling right now. Computer and internet security in this country is a mess.</p><p>I didn't know what to think when the Russian invasion of Ukraine started, but I didn't think the war would last two years and two days.</p><p>Odie is on the moon!</p><p>I nearly have all my tax time paperwork together. And, yes, I'm a little late this year. I'm usually good to go by Valentine's Day.</p><p>Thursday morning's stumbling across some old "Frasier" episodes prompted me to watch a few more. First, John Mahoney added so much to that show. Second, even after all these years, I'm still impressed by the sharp writing and the timing of the actors.</p><p>Sam Waterston left "Law & Order" last week. I never watched, but I thought Waterston was amazing in HBO's "The Newsroom."</p><p>Vice media laid off hundreds last week. Only the strong survive, and they are dumping payroll, too.</p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482715009495866167.post-59187203143644705212024-02-25T00:00:00.001-05:002024-02-25T00:00:00.125-05:00Andy's Angles: #Sad<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9IJ939gJOwFcfhgQMy4OM-hJl6bJHg3xo358zNYJorKX-NUpIZgz1LkggTVWBH6Ea1pr1_fuCWb-H-J0x6NK2-mCVnsIg9VRT2fe-xfTS5VFfbpKJy5NdfzLiCafCnjmMCXQo0GlaSisrx3MsV-Jq5bnalOr4wHimed9gDJcGnPWUCY1xT252ChmJvDI/s4032/Rite%20Aid%20Scranton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9IJ939gJOwFcfhgQMy4OM-hJl6bJHg3xo358zNYJorKX-NUpIZgz1LkggTVWBH6Ea1pr1_fuCWb-H-J0x6NK2-mCVnsIg9VRT2fe-xfTS5VFfbpKJy5NdfzLiCafCnjmMCXQo0GlaSisrx3MsV-Jq5bnalOr4wHimed9gDJcGnPWUCY1xT252ChmJvDI/w640-h480/Rite%20Aid%20Scranton.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The signs are down. The Rite Aid in downtown Scranton, at the corner of North Washington and Biden, is closed.<p></p><p>The chain is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. It's closed dozens of stores, and show me a chain that's survived by cutting. I'm sure there are instances, but few and far between.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyY6S-r080vICvj-s4AbashnSPGnjmfNQcwCmxHwVyoY89uHrSVbRFdosFqfcLdESa9KnGpGxNrFg60xBnckMXWzIYoJlxSIkzdNa__imo0W74gTQnzCl_xlDPOzW3d6e42gJ0YdHEjs3h3TFR3w6m1wcwcWj3ACntyxxmcRVobxNkc8Pi3hn0sb875Sg/s3602/hash%20sad.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="3602" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyY6S-r080vICvj-s4AbashnSPGnjmfNQcwCmxHwVyoY89uHrSVbRFdosFqfcLdESa9KnGpGxNrFg60xBnckMXWzIYoJlxSIkzdNa__imo0W74gTQnzCl_xlDPOzW3d6e42gJ0YdHEjs3h3TFR3w6m1wcwcWj3ACntyxxmcRVobxNkc8Pi3hn0sb875Sg/s320/hash%20sad.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Rite Aid started in Scranton and while there are stores in west side and south side, it's sad the downtown presence is gone. Thankfully, for the increasing number of people living downtown, there is still a drug store in the area.</p><p>I used to work downtown, many, many years ago-- and I was always in here for something. It had just about everything. I'm sure the downtown workers and residents will miss it.</p><p>I always thought it was a cool looking building-- modern, and yet a little retro. A restaurant would fit in here nicely. Offices, too.</p><p>Seeing vacant prime space on a busy corner is troubling, and it does send the wrong message to visitors. With any luck, that changes soon.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com