Another Year Almost Gone

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The old saying, “Time Flies”, seems to apply in our world today. One would think with the advent of technology, it would be easier to manage our time more efficiently but the opposite seems to be the norm.
It’s been an eventful year with travel, weddings and other celebrations. As the leaves turn into a multitude of colors, it reminds me of how quickly the seasons change.
Business continues on at a leisurely pace which seems to match my mood. I am reminded today as a veteran of our armed forces of the great sacrifice of so many men and women who have served this country since the beginnings of our existence. I am proud to be associated as one of them.
I hope you continue to support our businesses, our manufacturers and innovators as we grow strong again economically. #MadeInAmerica

Summer’s Coming to an End…Quickly!

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Time seems to slip by at an amazing clip these days. Graduations, holidays, vacations, long weekends are just some of the ways we enjoy summer. Some people look to fall for schools back in session, football, outdoor walks, leaves beginning to change to brilliant reds, yellows, orange and a palette of colors that are almost indescribable. We see the days begin to get shorter, the breeze cooler and t-shirts and shorts give way to sweaters and long pants.
Fall for me begins a time of reflection, gazing back over months that have passed, trips taken and accomplishments of projects done. I can now look at the pictures to recall the memories of the moment, the joy and the fulfilled anticipation of a goal met.
We strive to gain wisdom and knowledge along the way, books read, places visited, new experiences valued. These things give us meaning and allow us to continue to grow.
It won’t be long before the pumpkins are out with their craved smiles, candles lighting their presence in the neighborhood. Just another reminder of time passing.
I hope your summer has been an adventure and you’ve been able to experience the joy of life.2013-06-30 13.16.47

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How Green Are You?

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How Green Are You?

Being “Green” is not a bad thing, especially as we try to become more cost conscious in our homes, workplaces and in everyday living. Costs for energy seem to be rising faster than we can keep up, cost of living is rising faster than our wages. How we handle these situations will go a long way in helping all of us manage our budgets. Here are a few ideas to consider.

What does it matter if I don’t convert to LED lights?

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Like most of us, I find myself skeptical of trying new things until I have a reason. Over the years I have been fortunate to travel around the world and a few years ago I was at a Trade Show in China and spotted a new type of light, LED’s. I was intrigued but not to the point of spending the money on these “high-priced” bulbs for my own home.

A few months ago, we were approached by a local company who features LED lights. We were given the opportunity to try them and to our surprise, they really do save substantial dollars on electric. Our building is now being outfitted with T8 style bulbs to replace the old florescent bulbs. An additional benefit with the new bulbs, carbon fiber tubes, so no breakage or shattering of the bulb, no ballast replacement since the new bulbs are taking current directly.

I am amazed with the longevity of the bulbs. The ones we are installing have an estimated 50,000 hour life and could be longer depending on use. That means in 20-30 years someone else will have to install new ones. Who knows what technology will be like then.

I am attaching this comparison sheet of LED vs Florescent vs Incandescent bulbs. It is an eye-opener.

A few key points to remember:

1 – Check the manufacturer of the bulbs. There are some world-class ones and some knock-offs.

2 – Don’t let price be the final decision point. Most bulbs are within $3-5 dollars but quality of the bulb, life expectancy and projected hours are key calculations.

As a disclaimer – we do offer LED lights & bulbs through a corporate partner, CKS Energy Solutions. 

The “Faux” Jeff Gordon Pepsi Max Ad

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Been reading lots of comments about the “staged” web ad that features Jeff Gordon disguised as someone else going for a test drive of a used Camaro in a Pepsi Max commercial.

Well, here’s my 2 Cents! I don’t care if it was staged or not…it was funny! Wasn’t the purpose of the ad to create a buzz surrounding the product while delivering a memorable experience for the viewer/consumer? I think they met their goal. Over 7 million views in about a 48 hour window is pretty amazing.

When was the last time you went to an action movie and the actors performed all their own stunts? Now critics are blasting Jeff for not being the driver who performed all the skills in the ad.

It’s hard to please everyone I suppose. What happened to just enjoying something for what it is and not having to be judgmental and nitpick it to death?

Enjoy the spot!

New Products to Consider

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Sometimes you come across products by accident that intrigue the mind. Not long ago I found such a company with a unique product mix. As I have grown older, traveled the world, experienced new concepts and seen old ideas in action, I have learned to appreciate my childhood & our lifestyle in a better light.

I grew up on a farm in Kentucky, living close to my grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and friends in a small community. Everyone knew each other, helped as needed, provided food, clothes and supplies without hesitation. We always raised too big a garden, canned extra, filled the smokehouse with meat and kept too many chickens. In the summer when the garden started to produce and the eggs were overflowing, grandpa would load his pickup with the “excess” and head to town to distribute to the elderly and shut-ins, the “preacher’s family” and anyone who was in need. I can remember many a trip, helping to lift the bushel basket loaded with vegetables, eggs, milk, jellies and preserves and the joy of seeing the face of my grandpa & grandma as they shared the bounty of the land. They never asked for anything in return, just the joy of giving to whomever needed it.

The reason I tell the story is to give you a sense of what can happen when we reflect on our roots, draw from our experience and apply it to our lives today.

As I mentioned at the top, I ran across a company whose products intrigue me. Everyone knows we need to be responsible for leaving this world a better place for the next generation. To those ends, I find that bringing to market new technology for saving energy is a key driver in helping conserve the planet. I am not a “tree-hugger” but I do feel that it’s important to utilize resources wisely.

LED lighting brings a whole new dimension to our lives. The savings on electric costs, the environmental impact vs bulb technology is staggering as well as the overall savings to the natural resources in oil, gas, coal and hydro. LED technology can save 40-80% in normal costs vs today’s bulb lights which in turn creates substantial savings in the long run. Cost of the LED bulbs are higher initially but they last 3-5x times longer and could be longer depending on usage. http://ckssolution.com/led.html

A new innovation to cost savings is the introduction of the ESS-Force unit. The unit attaches to the electric leads in the power box and creates a “smoothing” effect for the electric output. This creates savings in a number of ways but primarily helping in making electric more efficient. It is explained more thoroughly on the CKS Solution website. The unique patented concept has been in use outside the USA market for a few years and has documented research to substantiate the savings.

If you’re interested in learning more about these products, contact me.

Being in the forefront of new ideas is an exciting concept and keeps one young!