I remember exactly where I was when I heard the news over the radio.  I was driving from the village of Apple Valley to the Apple Valley Inn, where the studios of radio station KAVR were located.  Elvis found dead in his home in Memphis.  For those of us who were teenagers in the era of Elvis Presley, it was a shock, a major shock.  How could Elvis be dead, and at only 42 years of age.  You must understand the difference of Elvis's gigantic popularity back then, and everyone since.  The music scene was no where near as fragmented as it is today.  There was Country, R&B,

Pop and that was about it.  Then came Rock & Roll, Elvis did not invent it, but he made it his own, and in terms of popularity and record sales there has never been anyone like him.  It all seems so long ago, why was it so important to get the latest Elvis record as soon as it came out, because he certainly was a big part of a teenagers life.  Another thing, records, 45's they were called ,(because they played at 45 RPM), that was the only way to hear Elvis, except for radio.  Can you imagine how much bigger he would of become with the digital technology that is available today. Those of us who were Elvis fans, we still miss him and would welcome a new record today.  He would be 76.

On Sunday July 17th, 2011 the production company who produces "Man vs Food Nation" paid a visit to the Idle Spurs Steakhouse in Barstow to video a segment for the show.  They were doing a series on the "home town" restaurants in places along Route 66.  Barstow is on Route 66. so it

qualifies.  The host for the program, as you probably know, is Adam Richman, who is known for eating large portions of food as a challange on "Man

vs Food".  "Man vs Food Nation" is a new series being produced by Sharp Entertainment for the The Travel Channel.  Due to the fact that my lovely wife has been the General Manager for many years, I spend quite a bit of time in the "Spurs" and Sunday was no exception.  The production crew, consisting of five men (lighting, camera, audio, director, producer) and two womn (make-up & an intern) plus a security person, arrived at the steakhouse atabout 1:30pm and left at 10:30pm.  Show business takes time.  Of course Adam left a bit sooner, his part being completed, but the crew had more cut in shots to shoot, food, drinks, atmosphere shots, etc.  I will have to say that all the folks of Sharp Entertainment were very friendly, professional and easy to work with including the star Adam Richman.  He seems to have a real skill for putting the people he interviews at ease, as most have never been in this kind of situation before, on national TV.  So I would suggest if you get a chance tune in "Man vs Food Nation" Wed. at 9pm e/p for a very intertaining show.  The Idle Spurs segment should be on sometime in August 2011, be watching for it. 

Through the years I have made many friends in the restaurant business, having spent a lot of time in them.  They all are hard working, customer

oriented people who deserve, especially the servers, behind the bar and in front of the tables, what they earn.  These good folks also happen to be the chosen ones, by the federal govenment, to report on their taxes a minimum of 8% of their total sales to the government, whether they made 8% or not.  Until a few years ago, until the fed's decided they were missing out on a lot of money they could be grabbing, tips were "free" money, a gift from the customer for good service.  That money has already been taxed once when the customer earned it.  Here is one shoe dropping, this is the ONLY industry where tips are earned, that is taxed!  It doesn't seem right!  Here is the other shoe dropping, twice.  Once those tips are reported they become the employees income and the BUSINESS OWNER must may employee tax on the tip money, even though NONE of that money ever touches the hands of the employer.  It doesn't seem right!  When you stop and think about it, there are very few, if any, areas of our life that some kind of

tax hasn't touched.  Even after we die, we'er still paying, estate taxes, inhertience tax (our money taxed the 2nd time).  Federal tax, state tax, county tax, city tax, being in business tax, sales tax, gasoline tax, school tax, tax on our phones, sur tax, and on and on.  It doesn't seem right!