The thing about pubs is that they’re very hard to find in countries where there isn’t really a pub culture. There are definitely dive bars in the U.S., and sometimes that’s about the closest thing that one can find to it. These are the places where the drinks are always just a bit more than they might cost if you bought them in the can at the store down the block, and the idea of décor is little more than an umbrella in the sweet drinks. If one is looking for a good discussion on sports, that’s very likely to be found, and likely to be the foundations for a brawl in the parking lot. The same could be said for any discussion of cars, where comparing raceline wheels to the tires without treads in the parking lot can also spark interesting and lively discussion.
The other possibility for pubs in the states are the more upscale places that offer pints at European prices. Here, the discussion might tend toward how Claire Danes is adjusting to her new marriage, and will unlikely be the stuff that fights are made on. There may occasionally be someone who is familiar with real pub culture in these places, but their comments can be more disparaging than encouraging. At some of the finer establishments, the idea of the hot rod stays only as a kind of abstract, but people need places where the real vehicles of contemporary culture have a place in the conversation.
It could very well be a class thing, then, and might come down to a working definition of a pub that serves the population. Hot rod culture just might be the thing that breaks down the dividing lines. Any place where one can enjoy a moment away from the rest of the world, talking about the benefits of et wheels on their ongoing project, is the stuff that real pubs are made on. There may be an occasional skirmish or two, but they would be the exception and not the rule. The places where pubs do indeed thrive are those very places where there are few spaces where people can gather without pretense, relaxing and enjoying their leisure time with each other. It is a kind of culture that can appreciate finer things, and still have a vigorous fondness for the way a car feels when it pulls into a particularly sharp turn. This is the stuff that can cross cultural barriers, and make for times when being here or across the pond stops seeming to matter, even if just for a moment.
Just as the Internet and associated technology is changing the way many business practices are structured and is crashing certain career genres it is also opening new doors for many people. One profession for which this relates is playwriting. While the majority of playwrights enter their field due to passion for theatre and creative ambitions, there are also some incredible opportunities involved if the talent and commitment is there. Very few people are presented with playwriting as a viable path during career day at middle school, however, those who discover this option along the way and decide to follow their heart are rewarded in a variety of ways.
If you have the talent, and what some people consider to be the necessary it factor (which can relate to creativity, great ideas, or perhaps even the right kind of luck) you can forge a great career that earns respect and admiration from your peers and associates. It’s even possible to achieve a element of fame. Arthur Miller, Sam Shepherd, Neil Simon , are just three playwrights who have had Broadway hits and are something of household names.
But how did they, and others, get there? And how do the rest of the professionally minded playwrights earn a living? That is, how do they earn a living before winning the Tony Award for best play or a coveted Pulitzer? And if you’re planning on entering the field to gain fame, earn these awards or other externally oriented goals, you better stick with your original plan of becoming a lawyer. And while it just might be as difficult to become a star litigator and the field is highly demanding and competitive, there are definitely more jobs, of a more stable variety, and the path is a bit clearer. It’s also less likely you’ll need a cash advance on a regular basis just to pay your rent.
Meanwhile, your heart is in theatre, and your soul belongs to the stage. Too esoteric and melodramatic sounding? Hit the law books. If you plan to be a working playwright, you must except some life compromises and ongoing challenges. This is on top of writing that great play and getting it produced. There are some short term loans
that can help you in times of trouble, though you’ll need a certain amount of endurance and stamina, and a strong tolerance of rejection. Then you can take your script, send it to some local and regional companies and wait for their response. The Dramatist Sourcebook is an excellent resource for finding theatres that might be the right fit for your play. It also includes great information on competitions, grants and other possibilities. You might try and get your name out there by finding success with short ten minute scripts. However you go about it, getting your work produced is a challenge separate from, but equally important to writing that great script. And it’s estimated that most playwrights see about ten premiers in their lifetime, make yours count.
We all know that fast food is not good for us, but who knew that it could be good for the environment? That’s right! Some fast food chains are going green!
We have all heard about McDonald’s trying to use their leftover grease for fuel, but there are more fast food chains that are taking the green movement one step further. Some fast food chains are even beginning to install solar panels on their restaurants in hopes to improve the environment.
Chipotle Mexican Grill is the leader in this new trend. They are planning to install solar panels in 75 of their stores. Solar panels have already been added to 13 stores, and when finished, it has been estimated that Chipotle will reduce the amount of CO2 emissions by 41 million pounds a year!
A Burger King in Waghäusel, Germany, has also gone green. By switching to solar lighting, heating, and cooling systems, this one Burger King has also cut down on CO2 emissions by 120 metric tons, and now covers 1/3 of their electric bills by solar power.
Word has gotten around, and it is becoming a popular trend. Solar panels for homeowners are no longer the only type in demand. Restaurant owners are becoming more willing to give up the $15,000-$20,000 on installing solar panels and having their normal maintenance workers receive solar panel installer training. It is expensive to get the panels installed, but in the long run the amount of money that is being saved in energy costs is well worth the money. Not only are they saving money, but with the green movement in full force, restaurant owners who have switched to solar energy realize that it’s better for business. People feel better about eating out at a place that not only serves good food, but is working towards saving the planet. It’s a good sales pitch.
More and more restaurants are realizing the benefits, and the trend is on the rise. This gives people the opportunity to take away a little bit of the guilt of eating at fast food restaurants. It may not be too healthy for you, but by choosing the restaurants that are using solar panels, you are contributing to saving the planet instead. Be on the lookout, it might not be too long before you will be seeing fast food chains near you utilizing solar panels.