You know the kind of places I'm talking about.  Places with their own coat of arm and patrons so old they remember riding to school, uphill both ways, in either a flurry of sleet and snow and/or erupting volcanoes and earthquakes (my grandad was Hawaiian).  The kind of place where you could find the cast of Cheers to my left and a bunch of fellows saying, "Good show!" and, "God Save the Queen!" to my right.

So where are the pubs of the world?  Are you a member of a social club, or do you have a special place where you go to gather with friends and drinks?  DOES IT HAVE A FLAT SCREEN?  WHY ARE THERE SO MANY FLAT SCREENS!!!??

I remember what it was like to learn that the American Revolution (among others) was started in a bar.  Can you imagine that same discourse today going on at a TGIF?

"Hey, Tommy J., have you seen my property taxes this month?  What the hell, man?  I feel like I'm getting fleeced!  How are you doing?"

"Wha..what's that, Georgie?  I'm sorry there was a talking lizard trying to sell me something...I think it was insurance?  Ha!  Lizards can't talk!"


....Anyways, maybe it is just me, but does anyone else ever feel like drinking and social gatherings has been a little too commercialized?