The Nam on Twitter: Some Things Never Change...Like Geibel Football

I don't know what it's like to come from a high school with a winning football team. Apparently, bad football is like a Geibel tradition, kind of like Mr. O's Christmas workshop, Pi day, and awkward announcements from Mr. Mascia.

Mzz_Bee Geibel is losing 81-0. At half time. Oh my. 8/30/13 9:02 PM

The Case for Crowdfunding to Save the Drive-Ins

So, as has been well-established, there's a bit of a contest going on to help save local drive-ins. Some familiar faces are on there, including Connellsville's Comet, but the one getting the most attention is Brownsville's. I'm guessing this is because the owners keep saying this contest is their only real shot at staying open, but because this is the internet, a commenter on my last post had a different point worth exploring: the merits of using something like Kickstarter or Indiegogo to save the drive-in themselves.

For those of you who don't know, Kickstarter and Indiegogo both basically allow people--usually artists trying to make an album or a movie or something--to raise money to fund their project. Backers choose what level they want to fund, and each level has different perks. Sometimes a few bucks gets you a thank you or some sort of public credit, but generally, throwing in 20 bucks or so will get you some cool stuff. I've backed two Kickstarter campaigns (technically four--one Indiegogo that didn't reach its goal and another that was pretty much just to help someone out, no perks other than good karma). One of them got me a very beautiful CD package (other options included vinyl, art books, the singer coming to my house to perform...). The other is still in progress. Sure, there's a small risk--you are putting your faith in the person running things to deliver a good product when they say they will, but mostly, things work out.

This is something that I think could work really well for a drive-in, especially if one gets creative. My fundraising abilities are lacking--otherwise this blog would be my job--so I'm sure some of you guys could come up with some really neat perks. But even just thinking small-scale, potential perks could start off with things like coupon books, free admission, discounts, vowing to pretend there aren't people hiding in the trunk (no, Comet, I have not done this...), free/discounted snacks. Hell, you could even go so far as having the granddaddy of all perks where if you pledge so much to the campaign, the drive-in is yours for the night. Does that logistically pan out, at least without some strict guidelines? That's debatable. Would it be fun as hell to basically rent a drive-in for the night and have a party?  Hell yes.

Also, drive-in owners, I don't know what the logistics of this would be or how much of a market there is, but anyone ever think about all-night marathons? Anything from a genre theme like horror or rom-coms to Harry Potter until all movies are over or viewers run out of stamina and go home, whichever comes first.

The Nam in my Inbox: Fairchance

Many thanks to reader Marybeth for sending this in!

What you see here is what's left of the Colonial Tavern in Fairchance. The top floor burned a few months ago, and in July, two "bo hunk" hillbillies started to tear it down. Word is the owner plans to save the first floor and build a bar, but this thing looks like it should just come down completely. Sure, it could make a great dive, but I don't think it could withstand its first bar fight. Apparently, zoning says it's okay, though, and following code. Hypothetical, they would know more about this than residents and bloggers, but I think we all know how well politics and authority go down in this county.

Ah, Fairchance. I believe Fairchance is the place my grandfather used to complain about, allegedly in the form of saying to people who lived in Fairchance, "Get the hell out of Fairchance." My boyfriend says it has a name out of a fantasy novel. If only...

The Nam of Facebook: Robots

I haven't seen The World's End yet so I may be totally wrong about this, but Uniontown being taken over by robots might actually be a good thing.

The Nam on Instagram: Special People

Complete with the caption, "'special people' is right." Oh, Dunbar.

Random

• Sweet Frog is running an ad in the paper that includes a coupon. Please clip and mail to me. You can also take in your church bulletin and show it at the register for 10% off. Too bad I'm a godless heathen, at least according to some.
• Go to Bud Murphy's and get one of their huge, goblet-sized specialty drinks if you need a good cocktail. A picture of one came across my Facebook feed, and now I'm thirsty and the alcohol in my fridge doesn't have a cool name like Hurricane or River Water.
• The Nam and Pittsburgh Dad collided over the weekend when some for Geibel kids ran into the man himself at a wedding. I'm jealous.
• Sammy Brooks Band will be playing the Italian Festival at the fairgrounds on August 23 at 3 p.m. You should go if you like Sinatra and a good time.
• You can now download all issues of Cross Worlds Nexus.
• Fayette Friends of Animals will be holding a spaghetti dinner at the Sons of Italy in Perryopolis on September 12 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Adult tickets are $7.00 and children $4.00. Dinner also includes salad, drink and dessert. Take-out available if you bring your own container. Tickets are available during the week from 1-5 p.m. except on Thursdays and Sat 12-4. Help the animals!
• Always weird to hear people say, "Good to be back home" in the Nam when so many of us keep trying to leave...ah, the perils of such bizarre roots.

Save Brownsville Drive-In!

If you're a fan of the Facebook page, you've seen this a lot, so you can probably ignore it. Unless you want to keep voting.

The film industry is upgrading from film to digital, which poses a problem for little drive-ins around America--the cost of upgrading their equipment is $80,000, and I'm sure you can guess that little Brownsville drive-in doesn't have $80,000. So Hona has launched Project Drive-In, which will donate projectors to five drive-ins and you can vote for which drive-in gets one. You can vote for Brownsville here, and you can do so once per day. My Facebok page normally reposts the link once daily when it rolls across my news feed, but today I reposted it three times. #SorryNotSorry.

The project also takes donations via an Indiegogo campaign. All proceeds go to continue saving drive-ins across the country.

Need some incentive? Only a few hundred drive-ins remain around the country, and Fayette County boasts two with Brownsville and Connellsville's Comet Drive-In. We don't want to see one disappear, especially when this is something good that sets us apart. People talk all the time about wanting to do something good for the county, so here's your chance!

The Nam on Vine: Demo Derby

I don't really get the purpose of Vine. I also said that about Twitter and Instagram, and it's pretty easy to figure out how long that sentiment lasted. But generally, Vine seems pointless. Sure, it could have some really good use, but it just seems full of silliness. And I like silliness, but I'm just not seeing much on Vine convincing me that this is something I need in my life.

Or at least I wasn't until the fair happened and I couldn't make it to a demo derby until the end.

These do not do the noise justice, though.

The Nam on Twitter: Hangin' with the Mayor

Just digging some holes with the mayor of Connellsville. No big deal.
— Sarah Guynn (@Sarah_Beth_Guy) August 1, 2013

All to build volleyball courts behind Rite Aid, so check that out! But hanging out with the mayor is never that simple.

The mayor of Connellsville also stole my eye drops. #neverforget
— Sarah Guynn (@Sarah_Beth_Guy) August 1, 2013

But even so...

P.S. The mayor of Connellsville is fucking awesome.
— Sarah Guynn (@Sarah_Beth_Guy) August 2, 2013

Tweets from the Nam: Fair Rides

I can't believe I'm letting @jen_trump drag me on these rides at the fair #sketchy 🎪🎡🎠
— Kate (@ktd71589) July 31, 2013

Anyone going on fair rides is a far braver person than I. I'm pretty sure most of my fear of fair rides comes from my mother and the fact that my brother and I were never allowed to ride them growing up (we also were very rarely allowed to play games, so basically I spent childhood fairs eating and going to demolition derby, until high school and college, when friends won goldfish who were promptly named after Geibel teachers and knives). Then again, I do have a slight fear of roller coasters and rode the Wild Mouse at Idlewild twice and said the second time, "Why did I want to do this again!?"

My mom's paranoia stems from a Uniontown Mall carnival, though--she walked past boxes full of gears and figured they probably belonged on the rides and not in boxes.

Sometimes, News Is Personal

Much as this blog thrives on Fayette County's crime (among other negative things), I actually don't like reporting bad news. I like it even less when I know the person involved, like anyone else would when reading a newspaper or watching the news.

Jenae Marquez was killed last night in a car accident.

I haven't seen or spoken to anyone in the Marquez family in years, but I was friends with Jenae's sister, Carine, while my brother was friends with Jenae herself. In fact, he's the one who told me of her passing. It's always upsetting to learn that someone has died young.

My prayers and love go out to the entire Marquez family tonight.

The Nam on the Web: Fourth of July

It may be August, but that doesn't mean we can't share some Fourth of July memories, right?

Over at Mongo Angry! Mongo Smash! there's a nice post--albeit over a year old--about buying fireworks from some random dude in Connellsville. It's a fun little tale, and it offers a neat different perspective of Connellsville long ago. Check it out.