What do you want to see happen?

[Pumpkin_Man]

Well, I've been thinking a lot lately. There are many wonderful things this day and age has to offer. Some people love their cell phone. That's okay, since I am a 'live & let live" kind of a guy. Some people, myself included love CD players, motorcycles, computers, DVDs, and High Deffinition Television. I, too, would love to see the day, though I doube it will ever happen, that we go to another planet in another solar system. The 21st Century and it's innovations here now and to come, can be very exciting. Unfortunately there's also a major down side to all this "modernization" and innovation. You see, as much as I love my stereo, my digital camera and my computer, I also love a lot of the 'old school' pleasures that I've enjoyed since I was a pup. One of my personal favorite pass times, and still is my favorite pass time, is going out to movies. I particularly love an outing at a drive in movie, and there is something about a 35mm potion picture, projected on a silver screen with a carbon arc light source, that can't be duplicated by digital projection systems or by the cineplexes. I recently rekindled my love of 35mm film and the Drive In movie going experience at the Harvest Moon drive-in down in Gibson City. So at this moment, in the here and now, what I would like to see happen, is that the Harvest Moon will be saved from oblivion and be able to stay opened. Yes, they will have to switch over to digital projection, but and it won't be exactly the same as a 35mm projection, but the experience will still be th ere for people like me and for future generations to come.

Come to think of it, I would like to see all 'mom & pop' type businesses, be they restaurants, movie theatres, car dealorships or what have you, be able to stay in business, and not be forced into bankruptcy by corporate greed on the part of huge, multimillion dollar month corporations who are looking for any angle to increas their proffits, no matter the cost to working stiffs like us.

Mike

[Murfreesboro]

Yeah, those "mom & pop" places are what give towns their character. It's somewhat depressing to travel and see all the same businesses that you see at home.

[Pumpkin_Man]

Murf, a huge part of Americana are the 'mom & pop businesses. The family owned Greek restaurants, the family owned Italian Pizzerias, the family owned gas stations, the one and two screen movie theatres in various small towns. It's places like that that really are representative of the American people and culture. The major corporations, like Applebee, McDonalds, B P or Cinaplex Odion, may hire employees in minimum wage menial jobs, but they really aren't representative of the 'working stiff' American. I'll never forget one of my favorite restaurants, and it too was located in New Lenox (okay, there were two things about New Lenox, the Hill Top and that restaurant.) It was owned by a first generation Greek imigrant and his wife. The waitress were his two very lovely daughters, and the food was absolutely to die for. Before gastric bypass, I would go there for the tastiest Gyros place I ever had. He was forced out of business when an Applebees opened across the street. The owner of the Applebees franchise did something that IMHO was very VERY sleezy. He put a sign in his window that read "Help Wanted all shifts, and we don't practice NEOPTISM like that unnamed guy across the street" I actualy went in and asked to speak to the manager, and I told him that the restaurant across the street is a FAMILY BUSINESS. Family business are what made this country what it is. DUH, family business THRIVE on nepotism. That's not to say that the public sector should practice nepotism, but if it's a family business.....COME ON. Anyway, I never went to that Applebees.

Long rant short, it seems that 'corporate America' just doesn't want us "pesky little working stiffs' pestering them with our small family business and dipping in to their proffits. How DARE people like the owners of the Harvest Moon cut into the proffits of Cinemark, Cineplex Odion and Karmike Cinema, and deprive their CEO s of larger bonuses!

Mike

[Murfreesboro]

I'm surprised anybody went to that Applebees, if they put a sign like that out front.

My daughter has a number of Asian friends, and two of them are girls whose families own local restaurants. Of course both daughters work in their parents' businesses. For that matter, my grandfather employed his four kids (and other people, too) in the advertising business he founded. Why shouldn't people do that? That's one of the reasons they start businesses, so their own families can have employment.

[Pumpkin_Man]

I know I said "long rant short," but on a side note, I am still trying to start up Studio O'Brien Photography, and the government isn't makeing it easy for me. First off, I have to caugh up 450 dollars to the local government for a hearing before I can obtain a license. The licence is free, though. Then when I go into business, I have to pay both the employer and employee share of the Social Security Tax, in ADDITION TO a self employment tax. And t hen, obviously there will be my regular state and federal income taxes in addition to that. I don't know if Studio O'Brien Photography is going to survive.

Mike

[Murfreesboro]

I wish you luck, Mike. I have never been an entrepreneur myself, but from what I hear, the government regulations are making it increasingly difficult for people to start their own businesses. And that is how America was built.

[Pumpkin_Man]

None of the locals did to to that Applebees, Murf, but all the I 80 traffic that stopped in New Lenox for lunch or dinner did, and that Applebees is actualy thriving to this very day. Besides that, Applebees has huge corporate financial backing, television, radio and print media advertising as well as a web site, and the 'mom & pop' restaurants just don't stand a chance when faced with that type of competition. A lot of people who travel will stop at a place like Applebees, McDonalds or what have you because they know the food is at least mediocre. They won't risk the independent family business because the food might be bad, and unfortunately I have been to some really terible 'mom & pop"' resturants, bor for every bad one I was in, I was in at least 15 good ones, so I allways risk the 'mom & pop" restaurant. Independently owned truck stops tend to be the best, despite all the "greesey spoon" stereotypes, too, because (no offence meanto to any truck drivers here) truck drivers LOVE to eat.

Well, I can go on and on, but this is off topic.

Mike

[NeverMore]

I used to like when I entered a new town I could see what they had that we don't. I'm just worried the world is gonna go the way of that movie 'Demolition Man'. Everything is owned by Taco Bell.

Five Guys Burgers are starting to open stores here, same with Sonic (I still like In-n-Out better). Thing is, now I don't have to travel to the east to try them out. People come to SoCal, first thing they want to do is go to In-n-Out, find out if what they heard is true. Actually, first thing they want to do is see the Hollywood sign, or shake fins with Shamu, but eventually they end up at our most famous burger joint.

On the other hand, it is convenient to be working in another town and know there's a Home Depot there. Somewhere where you know the layout and what kind of stock is on hand. There's got to be some kind of sensible middle ground between big corp and mom-and-pop?

[Murfreesboro]

Well, one reason people stop at chain restaurants when they are driving through the country is not only that they know the menu, but also that they have a good idea of the prices. That matters a lot when you are trying to feed a family. And little kids will eat Chick McNuggets, as disgusting as I may find them, so you stop where you think your kid will eat.

[NeverMore]

Murf, that reminds me of an e-card my roommate read to me the other day. "The reason kids in America are so fat is because a burger costs 99¢ while a salad costs $4.99."

[Murfreesboro]

LOL, true enough. It seems the second it gets publicized that anything is supposed to be good for you, the price shoots up.

[Pumpkin_Man]

Murf, that's a good point, and I ahve to admit, that I've eaten at all of those big chain restaurants and attend movies at the Cinemark and the Karmike. I am NOT condemning, I am merely stating that I think that the Mom & Pop places tend to be better quality, but they can't compete with all the media hype that the major chains are putting out there.

But yes, when you have children, and they love their Chicken McNuggetts or the major fast food chain is giving out "toys" with the "happy meals" or what have you, and you know that the prices are going to be within your road trip budget, it does make good sense some times to opt for the McDonalds or Burger King. NeverMore does make a good point. The large chanes didn't become major corporations by not knowing what people like. There have been times, that I opted for convenience over quality, too. I'm as guilty as anyone else. BUT, I would still hate to see family business disappear, which is why I tend to favor them over the major chains in the long run. But again, I agree with NeverMore that there needs to be a ballance between major corp and 'mom & pop.'