A lot of people have been asking about how the pubs for PubNight are selected. This week's choice provides an interesting glimpse into the mechanics of the PubNight machine. Here's how it worked:

It's Nona's birthday this week. This means that she got to vote for the PubNight pub.
She voted for the Broadarrow Tavern.
We did an automatic recount of her vote, just to be sure it was correct.
The recount came up with the same result.
Then there was a legal question as to whether we should manually recount Nona's vote as there was only one pub listed, as there's another Broadarrow Tavern in London and it wasn't entirely clear what her intentions were at the time she cast her vote.
Before we were able to make a formal decision, Nona set up a lead team to prepare the pub of our arrival. The pub's manager is now expecting us at 6:30 tonight, and arrangements have been made (in lieu of reservations which aren't accepted - and may indeed violate Freeport's constitution).

As we began to manually recount her vote, we were told that it wasn't in the best interests of PubNight to do so. Late this morning, that decision was reversed and we were told to go ahead and recount her vote, but that before doing so I need to send out the PubNight email.

This puts me in the awkward position of having to declare a pub and a meeting place for tonight, before we have time to go over Nona's vote conclusively.

So - in the best interests of preserving PubNight, let's all rally around the selection that appears to be the clear winner:

• The Broadarrow Tavern at the Haraseeket Inn in Freeport.
• (It's the inn where Main Street meets the road from Exit 20 - or just North of LL Bean on Route 1)
• Parking is available in back, behind the inn.
• We're due to meet at 6:30 PM tonight (Wednesday, Dec. 13)

So, as the duly appointed Secretary of PubNight (there were no elections for this post), I apologize for the delay in getting this week's message to you, the patient constituents, but I want you all to know that we carefully consider each choice and your vote does count (but only if it's your birthday that week).

Also - in order to prevent confusion during PubNight itself, Lora W. has provided us with a convenient troubleshooting chart which apparently originated somewhere within the Coast Guard. The chart is provided below for your convenience. Feel free to bring a copy along in case you should need to refer to it tonight.

See you tonight.

- Dan

TROUBLESHOOTING CHART
• SYMPTOM: Beer unusually pale and tasteless.
  FAULT: Glass empty.
  ACTION: Get someone to buy you another beer.
  
  
• SYMPTOM: Beer tasteless, front of your shirt is wet.
  FAULT: Mouth not open, or glass applied to wrong part of face.
  ACTION: Retire to gent's room, practice in mirror.
  
  
• SYMPTOM: Feet cold and wet.
  FAULT: Glass being held at incorrect angle.
  ACTION: Rotate glass so that open end points toward ceiling.
  
  
• SYMPTOM: Feet warm and wet.
  FAULT: Improper bladder control.
  ACTION: Stand next to nearest dog, complain about its house training. Demand beer.
  
  
• SYMPTOM: Floor blurred.
  FAULT: You are looking through bottom of empty glass.
  ACTION: Get someone to buy you another beer.
  
  
• SYMPTOM: Floor moving.
  FAULT: You are being carried out.
  ACTION: Find out if you are being taken to another bar.
  
  
• SYMPTOM: Opposite wall covered with fluorescent lights.
  FAULT: You have fallen over backward.
  ACTION: Have yourself leashed to bar.
  
  
• SYMPTOM: Mouth contains cigarette butts.
  FAULT: You have fallen forward.
  ACTION: See above.
  
  
• SYMPTOM: Room seems unusually dark.
  FAULT: Bar has closed.
  ACTION: Confirm home address with bartender.