MySocialSpace

Social media is the electronic web that forms the new backbone of society. It so happens that one's web of beliefs corresponds to this new web of 1s and 0s. I frequently use social media, and for a number of different purposes. I use it frequently and often for long periods of time. I use both Facebook and Twitter, but I prefer Facebook over Twitter.

Each person now has a social media persona which may be used for sinister purposes, but for the most part social media is a gift to mankind. I started with MySpace in 2006, but switched completely to Facebook in 2010, once MySpace was phased out. I miss the MySpace era. I used to make friends on there from all over the world and learned a lot of useful shit on the MySpace groups. Once I even found a girl to date on that platform.

We met at Wired Cafe in Bethlehem in May 2008, meeting for the first time in person. I was 24 at the time and she was a 23 year-old grad student who had just finished her semester in North Carolina. She was home for the summer and wanted to meet new people in her hometown. We had a great chat at Wired (it was the first time I was ever there), followed by a drinking session at Bethlehem Brew Works. Long story short, the next day she informed me over MySpace messaging that she had a boyfriend that she was trying to make jealous and never wanted to speak to me again. I was more careful after that!

Since 2010, however, I have since fallen in love with Facebook and use it to the max: I utilize numerous pages and groups on the platform. I have made real-life friendships on there, including with a former high school classmate of mine, Marybeth Large, who is now a close and dear friend of mine. It has also been a tool that I have used to expand my knowledge base and explored new interests on the many pages and groups of Facebook. I also link my Facebook with other platforms.

In addition to this, I have an unusual way of making new friends on Facebook. I look up strangers in the "People You May Know" section, who happen to be friends of Facebook friends. It is a great way of meeting a lot of interesting people from both the Lehigh Valley and throughout the rest of the U.S. and the world. I don't mean to creep anyone out, just to cast a very wide social net and connect to people with similar interests and personalities.

I have recently discovered Twitter, where I have made a few influential connections, including with a Weather Channel meteorologist, as well as with an NBC News producer from New York. It is the way in which celebrities, politicians and journalists interact with the public in 2017. In addition, its run-of-the-mill members are fewer and more professional than that of Facebook, joining together people with similar interests, endeavors and life goals. I also personally like to link my Twitter to this burgeoning blog of mine.

Twitter, however, has a few drawbacks, and that is part of the reason why I don't use it very much. For example, I think it is often too political; I don't like that the Alt-right has a platform there. Once in a while, however, it is good to discuss vital interests and beliefs with other likeminded individuals. You just have to watch out for Internet trolls who are inspired Alt-right leaders such as Milo Yiannopoulos and Richard B. Spencer.

With social media, everyone is a star, everyone is a writer and everyone is a consumer. Through extensive use of social media, I hope to be all three at once. I want it to be a springboard for me into the world of making money and important connections online. I also desire to connect with new friends I make via social media. Social media platforms will continue to dominate our lives as we go well into this century.

Lehigh Valley and Rising

The Lehigh Valley is home to me, and to many of my friends and family. It is a bustling urban/suburban region of 800,000 residents. It consists of a series of interconnected Rust Belt communities with a history of industrial grandeur. It is a pleasant area to live now, but suffers from a flawed and limited transportation system. In the recent past, as long-time residents can attest to, it has suffered from a long period of urban blight, but, fortunately, is starting to recover in that regard.

Geographically, it is a valley centered on the Lehigh River, which flows through eastern Pennsylvania, into the Delaware River. The river flows through the three main cities of Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, which are located on the valley floor. There are numerous hilly areas both north and south of the river. For example, there are steep hills in much of Bethlehem, Bethlehem Township, Palmer Township and Easton. South Mountain cuts through the southern portion of the region, while the Blue Mountains serve as the northern border of the Lehigh Valley.

There are woods and streams throughout the region, along with the hills and mountains, that provide great opportunities for outdoor recreation, including hiking, biking and fishing. There are also parks in many of the cities and municipalities that are worth visiting on one's days off. I frequently like to ride my bike along the Lehigh Canal toepath, which is part of the Delaware & Lehigh Canal system. I also like to visit Sand Island in Bethlehem, which becomes quite scenic when the weather gets warmer.

The climate of my region is fairly distinct as well. We get our four seasons, along with the great variability of our weather! We can see 60 degrees one day and 25 degrees the next, while also experiencing every form of precipitation, often within the same 24-hour period! The Lehigh Valley also is subject to extreme weather events which include blizzards, ice storms, windstorms, severe thunderstorms, large hail, bitter cold, flooding rains, tropical systems and intense heat and humidity in the summertime. If you don't like the weather, just wait 15 minutes!

For Lehigh Valley residents, there are a number of good destinations for nearby daytrips. These include the Pocono Mountains, the Jersey Shore, New York City and Philadelphia. Weekend getaways can include the Appalachians, southern New England, Washington, D.C., Baltimore and other areas. Based on both geography and transportation, the Lehigh Valley is located in the central part of the Mid-Atlantic. The people of Lehigh and Northampton Counties are exposed to the cultures of surrounding areas within the region, which chase away any feelings of isolation.

In the Lehigh Valley we have some interesting local events, mainly in the urban centers of Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton. We have fairs and festivals, craft fairs, music performances and an increasing number of arts events. The fairs and festivals include Musikfest, Celtic Classic and Easton's Heritage Day. The arts events include art showings, gallery openings and plays. These are great for making new friends and for people-watching.

Nationally-renowned celebrities and musicians also frequently visit the State Theatre in Easton. These events are always well-advertised and tickets are fairly easy to obtain.

To serve the listening needs of local residents, there are a number of cool radio stations and newspapers in the region. My favorite Lehigh Valley stations are 95.1 WZZO (the rock station) and 99.9 The Hawk (the classic rock station). The two pop stations consist of B-104 and 100.7 WLEV (which focuses on hit from the 70s to 90s, focusing on older listeners). The two major daily newspapers in the area are the Morning Call and the Express Times. The Morning Call focuses on Allentown, while the Express Times focuses on Easton.

Besides the major daily newspapers, there are a number of other periodicals that I enjoy, including arts magazines and college newspapers. My favorite arts magazines are Fig, EastonPOP and the Elucidator, while The Commuter, from NCC, is my favorite college newspaper. Lafayette's college newspaper is also very good. These more alternative periodicals help keep Lehigh Valley residents connected to each other and to the cultural events of the local area.

These periodicals also help to support the emerging local arts scene, which is flourishing due to the proximity of Philadelphia and New York City, as well as to cheap rents in the area. These things are great for up-and-coming artists and musicians. These artists travel to the bigger cities to learn their crafts, then return, create their masterpieces and sell their wares online and via business cards posted in local coffee shops. Due to this upsurge in artistic talent, numerous events are held which are dedicated to the arts. These include art showings, open-mic nights, live music and stand-up comedy in local bars and clubs, along with large outdoor art sales.

The Lehigh Valley is clearly an up-and-coming area, rising up from the ashes of the Industrial Age. The arts scene is coming into its own, independent music is gaining a greater foothold and people are realizing the liveability of the region. The three cities of Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton are attracting young people and immigrants from a large variety of different regions and cities. I can foresee that in the future these cities and boroughs of the Lehigh Valley will become an artistic mecca, fostering creativity in local events, art, crafts, music, writing, journalism, as well as in the social ways in which we organize our lives, all fed by greater diversity and youthful enthusiasm.

Bar Chemistrology

Now, at this point in my life, coffee shops are my main venue for entertainment, socialization and relaxation. In my 20s, however, I spent quite a bit of time drinking and partying. I visited numerous bars in the Bethlehem area, meeting a lot of fun and interesting people and enjoying good times that were particularly memorable.

I had my best partying experiences between the ages of 24 and 29. I didn't get in a lot of drinking and partying before then because, when I was in my late teens and early twenties, I attended Northampton Community College while living at home. When I turned 24, however, I broke out of my shell when I made social connections at the Bethlehem Brew Works. Soon, I was traveling to other nearby bars where I made a lot of new friends.

I partied mostly in Bethlehem and Bethlehem Township. It was closest to the places where I lived at that time, so the Bethlehem area was where I went. I most often spent my drinking nights at the bars in Center City Bethlehem, but once every week or two I would conduct my own "Southside Pub Crawl." 

  

Each bar in Bethlehem had its own type of atmosphere (as many of you have experienced). This atmosphere had an impact on its clientele and the unique energy and ambience that it created. There were the dive bars, the upscale watering holes and the sports bars. My favorite dive bars included Ripper's Pub, Ye Olde Brewery Tavern (OBT), Tally Ho Tavern, The Funhouse, The You're Welcome Inn, MacGrady's Pub and The Keystone Pub. The best upscale establishments consisted of Bethlehem Brew Works, Molly's and Starter's Riverport. My two favorite sports bars included Lou's 50 Yard-Line at Pizza Como and Sotto Santi.

When I visited local bars, I usually stuck to beer, but also enjoyed, from time to time, some shots and wine-cooler type beverages. My beers of choice were Miller High Life, Yeungling Lager and Coors Light. My favorite shots were Jagermeister, Vodka and Tequila. When I wanted something else, I would get Mike's Hard Lemonade, Twisted Iced Tea or Smirnoff Ice. I mostly stuck to the creed of "liquor before beer," but I sometimes deviated from it a little, especially if some really generous bar patron was buying shots for me, or even for the entire bar (You know, the generous drunk!).

During my nights on the town, I got to experience my share of drama and interpersonal fireworks. I've witnessed bar fights, seen bosses out committing adultery with their secretaries, been personally attacked by "angry drunks," flirted with my share of women and even had things stolen from me! Most of the more interesting stories can be derived from the dive bars, from the social decadence that makes them so very fun and exciting.

In my years of going out, I did get to meet a number of wonderful and interesting people, including many bartenders. When I occasionally ventured to the Tally Ho in my early 20s, I hung out with my friend Paul. By my mid-twenties, however, I had a variety of new friends that included bartenders, regulars and odd - but interesting - local characters. Many of these bartenders and regulars are friends of mine to this day, even if I may not see them quite as often.

Since I've turned 30, I haven't had many opportunities to go out anymore. Financial and family considerations have put the lid on my drinking experiences of late. However, I still fondly remember the good times I had at local watering holes while I was in my twenties. These experiences enhanced my social knowledge and abilities and connected me with some lifelong friends who have gone out of their way to help me. We all need to reflect on our young adulthood from time to time, to understand and appreciate the people we have become.

Miller Life

I currently live in Bethlehem Township, which is located in Northampton County, part of the Lehigh Valley of eastern Pennsylvania. It is a suburban area of 24,000 people, with a moderate population density. Bethlehem Township is the quintessential suburb and bedroom community. It has housing developments interspersed with some wooded areas and open space. The township's main shopping center is at Southmont, which includes Lowe's, Barnes & Noble, Panera Bread and other establishments. Southmont is my old stomping grounds. Bethlehem Township's main roadways include Route 33, Freemansburg Avenue, Easton Avenue and Hecktown Road.

I am currently living with my parents in order to save money. I have lived on my own in the past, and will again in the future, once I start earning more money again. I lived in South Bethlehem for a while, in a fun, walkable neighborhood. Contrastingly, Bethlehem Township can seem boring and dull, while it does suit other purposes.

My specific neighborhood is known as Miller Heights and is comprised of the hilly residential section near Nancy Run Fire Company. It is a blue collar, lower-middle class neighborhood right near Bethlehem Township's border with the City of Bethlehem. It is surrounded by more affluent developments, but contains ordinary Americans steeped in traditional working-class culture. There is a hillbilly flair to the neighborhood, as many drive large "souped-up" pickup trucks, listen to country music and enjoy hunting. They are also warm and affable.

I spend most of my time at home in my parents' basement, where I have my recliner, TV and computer. It is often from here that I write my blog posts and search Wikipedia. I don't stick around during the day, however, because I am not a homebody. I feel bored and depressed when I stay at home too long, so I make frequent forays into the cities nearby, even on my days off.

Despite my desire to leave the township, I do appreciate some things about it. For example, there are some landmarks here, in Bethlehem Township, that include the Keystone Pub, Bruno Scipioni's, Notre Dame High School and Northampton Community College. I like the proximity of the NCC Mack Library, where I spend a full day once a week "nerding out" on the Internet. I am allowed that privilege by virtue of being an NCC alumni, even though I graduated in 2007!

Other places here that I've visited over the past 7 years include Keystone Pub and Bruno Scipioni's. I used to hang out regulary at the Keystone Pub when I was in my late twenties and have many fond memories of the place, where the beer keeps flowing and the company is a lot of fun!

Bethlehem Township also has a rustic scenery. The woods and rolling hills appeal to my eyes, displaying Mother Nature in all seasons. It is great for walking and riding my bike. I love walking through the township's various residential developments and observing the people who reside in them. You get to learn a lot about humanity. All in all, it is a decent area to live; it suits my purposes. Eventually, though, I hope to move to either Bethlehem or Easton!