Abbe and I treated ourselves last night, our reward dinner for a nice 14 mile run. AWESOME spicy crab cakes, shrimp, and cocktail sauce from the newly opened Medford Seafood Market.

You gotta love it when Jan stops by…

Hey remember that awesome wedding Abbe and I attended in Jim Thorpe, PA – well the groom, Brian Sabin was recently on WNBC to discuss winter running gear. Yes, Brian works at Runner’s World Magazine – and his posts on dailymile put mine to shame.

Small Business/Tech Links…

• 6 Best Practices For Small Business YouTube Marketing

Funny/Interesting Links…

• Siri vs. Furby: When Two Worlds Collide [VIRAL VIDEO]
• KEYBOARD DRUMSET FUCKING WEREWOLF
• Seth Rogen Shows Filthy Pics Inspired By His Naked Body
• Chemical Party

Well, at some point yesterday, my Verizon FIOS Internet and TV service went down, so I’m rocking a 3G connection from my iPhone until Verizon gets this working again. I believe it is due to the winter storm that hit several days ago (although we did not get much in my area).

A blog reader this morning pointed out a bit of hypocrisy on my part in yesterday’s post, the ads. Here I am spouting off to buy local and I’m showing ads on my blog from Office Depot and Amazon. Well, if you noticed – they’re gone now. Truth is, those ads have amounted to probably $20 over the past year. Wasted space in the grand scheme of things for sure.

Now, don’t get me wrong – I fault absolutely no one for shopping at Wal-Mart or Office Depot because their prices are low. We are all faced with tough times and saving money for my family is absolutely my top purchasing decision point. If there is a local merchant that is at least competitive with their prices, great. There is nothing wrong with shopping at a national/international chain store at all when there is no local option. Or heck, what if the guy at the local shop is a dick -  by all means, shop at the non-dick run store.

The point of my post yesterday was squarely aimed at the folks that are distraught at the cheese shoppe’s closing that never shopped there and to a larger extent, the folks that complain about the sad state of Main Street and do nothing to help.

In addition to taking those ads down, I will offer ad space on my blog to any local merchant for $10 a year (for either a 468×60 banner – between the posts or a 160×600 skyscraper – sidebar). Only caveats are no porn, violence, or gambling links. My blog averages around 1,300 uniques per month, this is a very fair deal – but if any business owner has another offer, I’m all ears.

On the lighter side… Titan is doing well after a visit with Dr. Frame on Tuesday. He either pulled a muscle in his back leg or bruised something while hopping up into the back of the car. He was whimpering whenever he put weight on his back leg going up stairs, but was walking without a limp. He is going up stairs with no pain and hopping back onto the couch (when he has permission) just fine already… see?

And this is really sweet… all Viv asked for when we were searching for a dog was a big doggy she could put her head on and cuddle with when she watched TV at night. Mission accomplished. Good boy, Titan!

Movie Review…

Source Code - I think this was the strongest of the recently released alternate reality films (Limitless, Adjustment Bureau). The story, acting, and action were all much better.

The Greatest Movie Ever Sold – what a great concept and although the material was sorta weak, Spurlock’s personality and directing really carry the film. Abbe and I really enjoyed this one.

Small Business/Tech Links…

• Are You a Victim of the 5 Biggest SEO Content Myths?
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• Apple Confirms iOS 5 Battery Issues, Software Fix Coming
• A Free Task Management Tool From Asana
• Generate HTML Forms From SQL On the Fly
• 7 Ways to Create a Memorable Customer Experience With Social Media

Funny/Interesting Links…

• BAYHEM
• Katana + Butterfly Knife + Corgi + Grandma
• We’re Going To Be Friends
• Mike Tyson Quotes: The Song

For those of you that had not yet heard, The Carriage Trade Cheese Shoppe is closing. Abbe, Caroline, and Laurel are crushed. These are more tough times for Main Street. And for those folks in the Medford, NJ area that think, “oh what a shame, I loved that place!” – well, where were you? For all of the friends I have told the bad news that had that same reaction, I can count on one hand the number of them that had visited that shop more than once in the past 12 months.

There are now three restaurants left on Main Street and honestly, I would not be surprised if that number dwindles down to one before the end of the year. And yes, that is an honest and well-informed statement.

Shop locally folks, don’t just promise to do it and nod your head in agreement when I say it. Here’s an example… Pride Paws, a pet store on Main Street has better prices and is 5 miles closer than that Petsmart in Marlton. In addition, Pride Paws provides training and employment for people with such developmental disabilities as autism and Down Syndrome. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful.

That said, it is not just the consumers at fault. Medford Township, stop pushing away retailers. Stop trying to stop restaurants from putting sidewalk signs out to attract customers. Stop complaining that the Jamaican restaurant’s sign is too bright. Heaven forbid if these establishments actually make money and attract foot traffic for all of the other shops in the area.

My fiancee lost an incredible job that she loved. She honestly enjoyed every single day she went to work. She didn’t have health insurance, she didn’t make much money. But she happily went to her job every single day. And her customers loved her.

These local businesses aren’t looking for handouts. They want your business. And I know firsthand, that if you would just give them a chance, the customer service and knowledge of a business person investing in your local community will knock your socks off.

So stop it folks. Stop acting the part of a parrot and repeating what you think you should say, i.e. – “Shop locally, braaaaak. Now give me a bloomin’ onion.” Do it. These local business owners are the ground swell that can change this economy and provide jobs for all of us struggling.

Movie Review…

Captain America: The First Avenger – whew-weee!.. what a stinker. Well, I guess if you thought the Iron Man movies were frickin’ awesome, you might also like this one. The movie does stay fairly close to the original story of Captain America (one of my favorite super heroes as a kid), but the acting could have been done by cardboard cut-outs. Tommy Lee Jones, what the hell are you doing?

Small Business/Tech Links…

• What Facebook Changes Mean for Your Brand
• Two new Mac malware concerns: Tsunami and DevilRobber
• 9 Tips for Raising Startup Funds on AngelList

Funny/Interesting Links…

• November
• Lego porn

A new tradition has started (well, new to us at least) here in the Lakes, getting boozed. In the Halloween spirit, you sneak up on your neighbor’s house and leave them an anonymous bottle of booze with instructions to keep it going. Kind of like an alcohol chain letter. And last night, when Dana stopped by to see the kids, she walked in with this little bottle left on our doorstep…

Believe it or not, there is still plenty of time to get your costumes and decorations for Halloween. And to help you do that, I opened a new online store – Little Shop of Costumes.

There are lots of cool costumes this year for kids and big kids. Be an Angry Bird, Captain America, Thor, or something Disney?

Baby Piglet Plush BodysuitOur Price: 38.99	Spider-Man Comic Muscle Figure Child CostumeOur Price: 34.99	Harry Potter Hedwig Deluxe Child CostumeOur Price: 36.99	The Lord Of The Rings Arwen Child CostumeOur Price: 28.99
Sesame Street Elmo Plush Deluxe Toddler CostumeOur Price: 44.99	Minnie Mouse Toddler/Child CostumeOur Price: 24.99	Ghost Rider Child CostumeOur Price: 24.99	The Incredibles – Dash Muscle Child CostumeOur Price: 29.99

And I really want to get this for the kids’ bathroom… Zombie Hand Toilet Topper Sticker

Also, save a few bucks with these coupon codes at check out…

Haunted15-> 15% Off Your Entire Order

Free Shipping on any order over $65, no code required!

Movie Review…

Hesher – on the surface, this movie is crude, explicit and has a cast of characters so flawed it’s nearly stomach churning. But the truth is, this movie is incredibly sweet filled with life lessons taught by a glue huffing metalhead. Although it was kind of choppy and inconsistent, I really dug this film.

Small Business/Tech Links…

• 11 Proven Ways to Turn Your Website Visitors Into Buyers
• 9 Sites That Measure Companies’ Social Responsibility
• 5 Tech Breakthroughs Bringing Clean Water to the Developing World

Funny/Interesting Links…

• Bad As Me: Tom Waits’s first all-new studio album in 7 years - yes!
• Protestors sketched
• Ceiling covered in preserved dandelion clocks
• Chernobyl’s Radioactive Wolves
• from above
• “Big Bad Wolf” – Duck Sauce
• F*%$ Wells Fargo – (thanks Marty) TD did this EXACT same thing to me two weeks ago causing an overdraft. Oh, and they charged me for using another banks ATM as well (after that bank charged me at the point of transaction). Remember big banks, we are all going to survive this economy, and we are taking notes. The question is, will you (big banks) survive this treatment of your customers too?

OK, now that I know everybody is OK. I can post about last night’s show. I’ll start with the bad. Tom is very big man and like most big men, he has a lot of issues with his knees, back, and a wonky hip too. Well, in his fervor of an awesome night, he lost his balance and took a big tumble after the show. He couldn’t get up. Our server Simon (who was incredibly kind and sprung right into action) had a wheelchair ready in no time. We got him to the car and headed home.

When we got to my mother’s house, getting the big fella indoors was no easy task. He was on all fours and had to take breaks because of the weight on his very sore knees. It took us well over an hour to move him about 10 yards. The handtruck sitting by the fence was looking like a good option at certain points. Mom took Tom to the ER today after he couldn’t walk this morning and I am happy to report nothing is broken, just either a bad sprain or a tear of some sort. Well I think a broken bone is worse… in any event, Tom will be staying a little longer to heal a bit more.

Now to the show. WOW! The opening act, Patrick Sweany was a one man show with a guitar, stompbox, and a voice that reminded us of John Fogerty meets Ottis Redding. Incredible guitarist, sensation writer. If you see this guy is playing anywhere you – GO!

The Gourds delivered an amazing show. I hadn’t seen them live before and I was blown away. Soulful, funny, and even dark songs that had everyone moving. Parts bluegrass, jam band, roots rock, and even zydeco. Loved this band and I will see them again. And here’s the pics…

Small Business/Tech Links…

• That First Impression: Title Consideration
• iOS 5 To Head Out October 12
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Funny/Interesting Links…

• After the Final Curtain
• An entire band on a motorcycle
• The Many Loves of Judy Jetson
• Men Photographed in Stereotypical Pin-Up Poses