It's weird. Americans can be sorrowful and sentimental about Japanese coffee houses but if you get all melancholy about ANYTHING from America's past, you're considered a creepy fool and practically burned at the stake! It's a fact- U.S. culture changes, transforms and is influenced by other cultures just as much as any other culture. People are basically the same EVERYWHERE and always resist change of any kind. ____ No no I feel the same way about American old diners, independent bookstores, independent record shops, etc. I basically hate chain shops! So I am consistent about my feelings about Japanese coffee shops as well as American diners. I also like the U.K.'s Whimpy's Hamburger stand and the British Cafe's (pronounced Cafs). I pretty much loathe all international corporate food places as well as shopping areas. -- Tosh Berman TamTam Books http://www.tamtambooks.com