One Drunk Redneck

When our business leaders, planners, and politicians look at ways to revitalize local towns and rural areas, the usual proposed solutions are to find ways to bring more money into the community. Typical approaches to bringing in money involve promoting tourism, agriculture, corporate relocations and other forms of inward investments. What is often overlooked is the important concept of money flow within the community. Think of your local economy as a bucket and bringing in money to your community is like pouring water in the bucket. The bucket is going to have some holes in it and some of the water will leak out. Some of the holes can’t be fixed so you will always have a leaky bucket. The state and federal government will collect taxes, for example. Those are holes that can’t be fixed. The idea of the leaky bucket illustrates the importance of money flow through a community. The more holes in the bucket, the more frequently the community needs to refill the bucket (bring in ...

Let's have a serious talk...even toot your own horn, if you like. I just spent the last two hours looking at shop local videos on YouTube trying to learn what works and doesn't work.  Of course, it's Saturday night and I have my Budweiser with me.  Budweiser is the only beer I drink and have drank since my college days.  I have sampled other beers as long as I can buy them one bottle at a time, but ... when I buy to stock my fridge, Budweiser is all you will find. Then I came across a video where a chef took to task the shop local message.  His point was that consumers are driving the shop local message, but are local shop owners practicing what the consumers are preaching?  Since he is a chef and owns a restaurant, he pointed out that in his restaurant he carries almost exclusively locally produced beers, wines, and spirits and he suggests them to his diners over the national brands, like Budweiser. His comment got me thinking on three fronts...

Ajit Pai, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman, carried through with his promise to end net neutrality.  Despite 83% of Americans being opposed to the move and three out of four Republicans being opposed (according to the Washington Post as reported by OregonLive.com ) he and two other Republicans sitting on the five-member board cast the majority vote to end net neutrality.  The two Democrats opposed the move. Mr. Pai didn't stop with the simple vote to make a definition change in the FCC regulations.  He added wording that would prevent any future FCC chairman from reversing his decision.  Unless Congress steps in with Net Neutrality legislation, Mr. Pai's word is final, at least for the foreseeable future. “We are helping consumers and promoting competition,” Mr. Pai said. “Broadband providers will have more incentive to build networks, especially to underserved areas.” History, however, disputes his claim.  Another great technological bre...

10. Your only threat of being trampled is by the store owner's hound dog who may be a bit over-exuberant in greeting you. 9. Mrs. Baldwin might share her family secret recipe for that fruit cake of hers you've loved since you were a kid. 8. Mr. Baldwin might share his family secret recipe for homemade rum that goes in that fruit cake. 7. Catch up on all the news going on around town. 6. Discover that you are actually living an exciting life that's more fun-filled than Bond, James Bond's life, at least according to your neighbors and friends. 5. Don't know what to get for that person who has everything? Bet that shop around the corner has something that hard-to-shop-for person doesn't have and the national chains have never heard of it. 4. Which would you rather hear when you stop to grab a bite to eat: "You want fries with that?" or "Hey, honey, how have you been? I've heard you've been leading an exciting life late...

My Dad was always a Ford man.   Me?   Until these last ten years, as long as the vehicle got me from point A to point B reliably, didn't need lots of maintenance, and when it did need maintenance it didn't cost an arm an a leg, I didn't care what name the vehicle carried. I won't bore you with the long story of my first vehicle being a used Ford Fiesta and how that little car thought it was built for four wheeling in the Arizona desert nor will I bore you with a list of other vehicles I have owned. It's not done counting yet! I will bore you with my latest gem, my 2007 Ford Freestar.   They say a picture is worth a thousand words so I'll let the picture of the odometer taken two morning ago speak volumes for me so I don't have to type so much. Yes, you read it correctly.   The Ford Freestar has just over half a million miles on it.   That's equivalent to twenty trips around the world or a trip to the moon and back.   It is a lot of miles...

In this modern day world of technology where we are inundated daily with everything that is wrong and bad in this country... In this modern day world of politics where presidential candidates vow to "make America great again" or "stronger together" as if we're not great, but are weak... In this modern day world of business where the almighty dollar is more important than principles and doing what's right... I come across this stand that defiantly boasts how honest we are and how great we are.  Prices for the produce are posted and plastic bags are provided so you don't walk off with the small baskets.  You bag your produce and leave the money in the money box.  The rusted old money box is testament to the many years this honor system of selling produce has worked for the farmer.  If only we all could focus on this business model and celebrate what it really says about us. Posted by Five Drunk Rednecks

I love the Easton Diner and Family Restaurant off of US 50 in Easton, MD.  Food is good, servings are huge, and the menu is reasonably and affordably priced.  If you're ever in Easton, MD, drop in at 8451 Ocean Gateway. You know you can't go wrong with a restaurant that fearlessly places their breakfast menu in a menu holder advertising beer.  My guess is the Bud Light would pair nicely with the two eggs any style, home fries, and bacon strips.  Michelob Ultra would pair nicely with the short stack (French toast or hot cakes) and sausage links. Dang.  Someone really needs to write a book, How to Pair Beer with any Food . Posted by Five Drunk Rednecks