RiderX

So the election is over. Good riddance.

For the first time in my 35 years (17 as a voter) I feel like my vote counted for something. This may or may not be true, but it sure felt that way. By many accounts, Pennsylvania was going to be a critical state. I’m a registered minority party voter, so the Obama campaign worked extra hard to win my vote. In the 24 hours before the election we received approximately 4 Obama campaign visitors and perhaps 20 phone calls. This experience was not ubiquitous, but we’re not unique either. In the weeks before the campaign both major parties ramped up their outreach. McCain didn’t bother wasting human effort. They called our house frequently offering poorly recorded audio messages. The Obama campaign never offered a recorded message. All of their phone calls were from people. I believe it all about money.

On election day, I voted early (though the polls were not thrilled when I tried to vote often…). I’d hoped that the campaigns would stop calling. No such luck. I started answering the phone with a hearty “We voted already, don’t waste your breath”. I joked with one Obama campaign volunteer “Yes, I voted for Obama, in spite of their relentless nagging”. We had a laugh. She assured me that they would get me off the call list. Words I’d heard before. There were three hours left before the polls closed. A precious light at the end of the tunnel.

One Obama campaign volunteer that knocked on our door admitted she was from New York. Apparently she was not supposed to. I inquired as to why she was down in my area (Southeastern Pennsylvania). She said that the district where I live is among the hottest election areas around, and our neck of the woods the calling ground. She asserted that CNN was going to call Pennsylvania as soon as the votes from our district are in. This made me feel like my vote really matters, and that is an awfully good feeling. I’m not sure it was worth the incessant plague of campaigning we had to endure.

As with most forms of optimism information tends to break it down. I’d head a rumor that campaign activity in Pennsylvania was a tactical distraction aimed at the McCain campaign.

I follow a blog by Colin Rule. In a recent post he expressed sadness a the booing crowd when McCain was giving his very eloquent and admirable concession speech. I admire Colin’s goal with the post. He’s attempting to bring those with varying political views together. At hesitant risk of damaging that goal, I’d like to offer an insight. It seems to me that the booing crowd is only feeding on the negative campaigning employed by McCain and Palin. This insight is unfortunate in that it does offers no solution. It only illustrates the significance of this challenge, one clearly important to undertake.

I’m pleased that Obama is going to be our next president. I’m hopeful that he’ll produce results that we can all appreciate. I’m prepared for him to make decisions which make the lives of americans more difficult in favor of a better America

A pretty interesting article by David Brooks make some interesting points about our current financial situation. I have only one objection to his article: He suggests that perceptions formed in the decision making process are not affected by information gathered in the decision making process. He didn’t explicitly say this, but he did not explicitly state that the decision making process is a loop of perception, influenced by information gathering until a decision is made. Late in his article he references government policy makers resistance to a ‘feedback mechanism.’ I think this is spot on.

Mr Brooks make some really insightful points about human nature and it’s impact here. A very good read

Incidently, there is reference to Alan Greenspan’s congressional testimony last week. I must say that I’m pretty disappointed in Greenspan. To suggest that his fundamental understanding of markets was not correct is unfortunate. By conceding this, he removed any corrective mechanism the market has, the cost of failure. His concession and the entire bailout removes the fundamental incentive to self-regulate: consequences.

About a year ago a bar tender atThe Epicurean and I were in a converstion about great beer bars.  I waxed nostalgically about a place I used to go to in Etters PA called KClingers Public House. KClingers rocked.  Two very large bars, sixty six taps, great wait staff, etc.  A gem for central Pennsylvania.  The chap behind the bar at the ep told me about a new place called Theresa’s Next Door in Wayne PA.  A year later I finally paid them a visit.

The first challenge was finding the place.  If you’re taking the train into Wayne it’s right around the corner from the train station on Wayne Ave.  The Great American Pub is also right around the corner.  So if you see either of these, you’re in the right neighborhood.  The signage makes them difficult to recognize from the street. 

So here’s my standard list of for evaluating:

• Service: Our server was a professional, informal, no-nonsense gal.  She took good care of us though didn’t have all the cheer that I typically look for.  Still our glasses were never empty, and we didn’t wait long for anything.
• Napkins: Paper.  I prefer cloth.  Cloth napkins are one of those touches that distinguishes a place.
• Beer: Selection was very good.  Not KClingers, but still a very good selection.  I had Sly Fox Pale on the beer engine.  Yummy.
• Tables and Chairs: Small and somewhat uncomfortable.
• Aesthetics: Very good
• Acoustics: Deplorable.  This place is an echo chamber.  If you’ve ever been to Sly Fox in Phoenixville or Victory in Downingtown, you know what I mean.  Theresa’s was about 1/4 filled and quite loud.
• Price: Mediocre.  Apps were $7 - $12, Entrees $9 - $27.  I had the fillet which was quite good.  Cooked to a perfect medium, and very tasty.
• Food presentation: Decent but not brilliant.  IMO, the food quality and presentation fall slightly behind The Black Lab in Phoenixville, and the Drafting Room in Exton. 
• Overall?  I’d give it a 7/10. I’ll clearly go back.

In general I quite enjoyed myself.  There are a few things they could do better though.  First I’d get more comfortable chairs, potentially slightly larger tables.  I get that in this business you need to maximize use of space.  But tiny tables make me feel like I’m eating at an urban Wendy’s.  Cloth napkins.  It’s just a thing of mine.  Acoustics.  For the love of your customers, do something about the way sound carries.  Far too many restaurateurs don’t seem to place any consideration on acoustics.   Dining is an experience, and noise detracts from that experience. Sure a compromise between aesthetics and acoustics needs striking but Theresa’s clearly falls more on the aesthetic end ignoring the acoustics altogether.

As I mentioned earlier, I’ll absolutely go back. If you’re into a decent dining experience with good beer give it a try.