tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63097912001949514132024-03-06T15:01:00.285-05:00TechShop BlogTechShop is the best resource for technicians and shop owners who want the latest information on shop equipment and tools. TS editorial explores the major expenditure items that are most important to shop owners and technicians. Published 7 X each year, as a supplement to each of the 3 Tech Group magazines, TechShop reaches more than 440,000* technicians. (*Includes pass-along readership.) Our main website is www.techshopmag.com. This blog represents the random musings of the Publisher.Jeff Stankard, Group Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13089005498215384374noreply@blogger.comBlogger192125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309791200194951413.post-18789717894200257172009-12-16T13:48:00.004-05:002009-12-16T14:21:25.858-05:00the Automotive World's All A-Twitter<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN7Ln2Un95jYBjFdzWAOdT0xDg2tlvlDmGW0ORKRjU31wNRI9zBA_gYUdB5s8_q2LnfZGTHYQvjsDEpwqSAZ5FDAMF4Gff8wntzc89d0DGkx2z1nrsP72lyVCcghjfOYN3Jcdxdvpp2CQ/s1600-h/atwitter5.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415915360411443762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN7Ln2Un95jYBjFdzWAOdT0xDg2tlvlDmGW0ORKRjU31wNRI9zBA_gYUdB5s8_q2LnfZGTHYQvjsDEpwqSAZ5FDAMF4Gff8wntzc89d0DGkx2z1nrsP72lyVCcghjfOYN3Jcdxdvpp2CQ/s320/atwitter5.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwgOsnhGlappQBnMiEr1fFZlcV4WOFb9MHF3BvKSl0P4AaWr7Xv1TpUdyoFK6uTdRDcO9IQGu9p-qDl9nmyKMwe6FJeCMLgiq-qzUfW_RYasVEkp68fZ_lrNofhuR1L8vlXmunaTn1GI/s1600-h/aaa.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 146px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 87px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415915251710255234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwgOsnhGlappQBnMiEr1fFZlcV4WOFb9MHF3BvKSl0P4AaWr7Xv1TpUdyoFK6uTdRDcO9IQGu9p-qDl9nmyKMwe6FJeCMLgiq-qzUfW_RYasVEkp68fZ_lrNofhuR1L8vlXmunaTn1GI/s400/aaa.jpg" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>While checking in on my "tweets" today, I couldn't help but notice a flurry of of activity from our friends at AAA. You know AAA. They're the people you call when your car breaks down and you need a tow from a "trusted supplier". They're the people who invented the "TripTik" - that personalized map that got my family from Ohio to Florida for so many years. (Though I still don't know why we got a new TripTik each year. It's not like the U.S. Government destroyed I-75 anytim<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNa4joW6fj8XrJRPiQeHNAUzArIzmktNpoQ0mEpzQztHHeNTufrWPZbHYGfQTYEJnNbWkyJPihRToKXsJ7GGHRcCQqhYlqTzFLoJuqWCKDNjVGas8r0XNIPgMfe6Y9AvqReROFzbwilg/s1600-h/aTwitte3.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 148px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415908124348684114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNa4joW6fj8XrJRPiQeHNAUzArIzmktNpoQ0mEpzQztHHeNTufrWPZbHYGfQTYEJnNbWkyJPihRToKXsJ7GGHRcCQqhYlqTzFLoJuqWCKDNjVGas8r0XNIPgMfe6Y9AvqReROFzbwilg/s400/aTwitte3.jpg" /></a>e during the 1970's. I guess it gave us peace of mind though.)</div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>But I digress.</div><div>Today the folks at AAA posted all kinds of holiday season travel stats. In case you don't follow AAA on Twitter, here's the news:</div><div><br /></div><ul><li>AAA expects 280,000 dead batteries during the Christmas/New Year's holidays. (Good for the aftermarket sales of batteries, good for tow truck operators!)</li><li>Of the 1.3 million stranded motorists AAA will help during Christmas/New Years, AAA will fix 3 out of 5 issues on the roadside. Of the 1.3 million stranded, a half million will end up taking tow truck rides instead of sleigh rides.</li><li>77.7 million are expected to travel by auto during the Christmas/New Year's holidays, up 4.4% (Yep, my family of 4 will be part of that 77.7 million throng.)</li><li>4.2 million are expected to travel by air, an increase over last year of 2.9%.</li><li>Holiday travelers will travel an average 791 miles roundtrip with 40% traveling 700+ miles. My family will be in the 800 miles traveled range. Ugh. Are we there yet?</li><li>Airfare and car rental prices are up 2% this year, but (GOOD NEWS) hotel prices are expected to be down about 10% during the holidays. Hotel rates this year will be at their lowest average since 2004.</li><li>More Americans traveling during winter holidays is another sign consumers are continuing to grow more confident.</li><li>AAA will change 170,000 tires during the holiday period and retrieve another 170,000 sets of keys locked inside cars. Does that imply a correlation of some sort?</li></ul><div> </div>Jeff Stankard, Group Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13089005498215384374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309791200194951413.post-33415453701544084892009-12-14T08:38:00.011-05:002009-12-14T08:44:04.288-05:00Fun on a FridayOld school sidecar - who doesn't love a Vespa?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvym3-2M2hy_YW4txmbr9WFf28W_2PggcsyCSlVBIw4P5Z_JkVkZtFFPE-0r9fRJYg_m41S-2F7zYqNgCKcL-MdYVnCeqYKlJ-9b6BShgx9zY7Cpc9Yet_4wkmPcbWM0TF1TYcGEd1mLo/s1600-h/1g.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415086412955438082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvym3-2M2hy_YW4txmbr9WFf28W_2PggcsyCSlVBIw4P5Z_JkVkZtFFPE-0r9fRJYg_m41S-2F7zYqNgCKcL-MdYVnCeqYKlJ-9b6BShgx9zY7Cpc9Yet_4wkmPcbWM0TF1TYcGEd1mLo/s320/1g.jpg" /></a> Does this remind anyone else of 1930's Germany?<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnilZ7J9jaJlZ5e21xUQxFppaD_eLbBTAJaUkbw81waOcQZjmA2n5WHayBR-qj7AAgNPfLLHqBt_bsiWXlmfiM6HIkUyaUtg_JaQtSBToCh110FibM0mmFc9DIA5S0bgXM9w_k5aty98/s1600-h/1h.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 169px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415086355028564370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnilZ7J9jaJlZ5e21xUQxFppaD_eLbBTAJaUkbw81waOcQZjmA2n5WHayBR-qj7AAgNPfLLHqBt_bsiWXlmfiM6HIkUyaUtg_JaQtSBToCh110FibM0mmFc9DIA5S0bgXM9w_k5aty98/s320/1h.jpg" /></a>See the USA in a Vay-double-vay<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcaMiajgmZ22N9StsI0XpH6RG5w753hE6RGtPNhl7fPn8KuA6ZhFiTy7_WWEVCO-nKOMZioIRAgbk22RJ5FLcfF7TLZvvIeJc-Ow-IpmlMQVW78HjAdTxPsayFJp5xKeqeMAkCO_5CUY/s1600-h/1j.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415086298823691554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcaMiajgmZ22N9StsI0XpH6RG5w753hE6RGtPNhl7fPn8KuA6ZhFiTy7_WWEVCO-nKOMZioIRAgbk22RJ5FLcfF7TLZvvIeJc-Ow-IpmlMQVW78HjAdTxPsayFJp5xKeqeMAkCO_5CUY/s320/1j.jpg" /></a><br />Sexy sidecar<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvjpA2vLocuWhUe_Vy8yRfW4Rveo5yzzdKm22mLLj6sboJZis4pE5PdscDdj5251DSEpK46ubGI2nZCGTS2DpBMIgZFUbSP5Iq0dQfj-yNUDpurT8Suxeuy9fXWtQsilIjZ2cznC1_H0/s1600-h/1f.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 223px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415086229973068018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvjpA2vLocuWhUe_Vy8yRfW4Rveo5yzzdKm22mLLj6sboJZis4pE5PdscDdj5251DSEpK46ubGI2nZCGTS2DpBMIgZFUbSP5Iq0dQfj-yNUDpurT8Suxeuy9fXWtQsilIjZ2cznC1_H0/s320/1f.jpg" /></a><br />Inspired by DeLorean?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmD9wnYyPcLcMX2ME-dSeJTsMe6pJV1Bp0CbEAGYpIcKqCX6XM57dEm9cXluWcVCZUYWl455fA0BrKGOku6i4xJ16c5v2kaAWU1WvKyt1umLoz7LAPTf-Sx542lCBi3DZHkStxPVvyT_g/s1600-h/1d.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415086180488960818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmD9wnYyPcLcMX2ME-dSeJTsMe6pJV1Bp0CbEAGYpIcKqCX6XM57dEm9cXluWcVCZUYWl455fA0BrKGOku6i4xJ16c5v2kaAWU1WvKyt1umLoz7LAPTf-Sx542lCBi3DZHkStxPVvyT_g/s320/1d.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0A1Iy_ljphppD_vrXqnG5Y27LcQSNyx0KdDpB_RU91SAXQE030xQ7phQaAG8glA7EE1G4Cf-EvC-mGQrje6nWm1JEQJQHrhO0_jCGE9GXg5A451S0J8yqvrwXNMb-xBxN1ky4yERx8nc/s1600-h/1c.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 205px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415086121509177650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0A1Iy_ljphppD_vrXqnG5Y27LcQSNyx0KdDpB_RU91SAXQE030xQ7phQaAG8glA7EE1G4Cf-EvC-mGQrje6nWm1JEQJQHrhO0_jCGE9GXg5A451S0J8yqvrwXNMb-xBxN1ky4yERx8nc/s320/1c.jpg" /></a> On the road with a Red Bull?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4B3otABh39GKBxExeDV_nwb4M9GDCAhTnfGZFb0HaThpqmxfOQvhhXUo8KcqHzLiQczBXFaUVR0yNFpjS0A_08cMxmhjnAtt9L3MP1opZIFntc6jP7zK2KPx-MpPHl5Xwbwi16v0zy4/s1600-h/1b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 202px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415086066966609906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4B3otABh39GKBxExeDV_nwb4M9GDCAhTnfGZFb0HaThpqmxfOQvhhXUo8KcqHzLiQczBXFaUVR0yNFpjS0A_08cMxmhjnAtt9L3MP1opZIFntc6jP7zK2KPx-MpPHl5Xwbwi16v0zy4/s320/1b.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFMhyphenhyphenADqy-0IPM3Rs6uyVg368AreTw3LlPkPtWBj_iKbXmawhylzSWYjp5PLcNDGsuL5bJTxXLcsXMBjCGRmKFzpzj7QtFMrwg_tTicD02zpC-mMf2tmfjwzF5qlN3Jd0P_i0JSaCpG0/s1600-h/1a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 186px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415086014906517506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFMhyphenhyphenADqy-0IPM3Rs6uyVg368AreTw3LlPkPtWBj_iKbXmawhylzSWYjp5PLcNDGsuL5bJTxXLcsXMBjCGRmKFzpzj7QtFMrwg_tTicD02zpC-mMf2tmfjwzF5qlN3Jd0P_i0JSaCpG0/s320/1a.jpg" /></a> Home is where the heart is<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyIn1Hm5QVluPxvkBFjLd-vgViBKVLQukn-SA6QraXrM1k0kaQmRFdf2Xr_ya7K-YwW3N6PWZZTuqz_o-6Uxg5aJnxpAAH4T5mXYrT4pnl4O3WAGt0VsPaz0WoBleOhrtrIpfobpYHiQ/s1600-h/1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 198px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415085953306519442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyIn1Hm5QVluPxvkBFjLd-vgViBKVLQukn-SA6QraXrM1k0kaQmRFdf2Xr_ya7K-YwW3N6PWZZTuqz_o-6Uxg5aJnxpAAH4T5mXYrT4pnl4O3WAGt0VsPaz0WoBleOhrtrIpfobpYHiQ/s320/1.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jeff Stankard, Group Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13089005498215384374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309791200194951413.post-25704693579780277642009-12-10T14:12:00.003-05:002009-12-10T14:29:48.028-05:00The Future of the Internet<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYohiqrVXx0A3rVm6F4lARErt2QkUxtfgyugPSKGwHiwdoYUkjJYiba7APMGpcMDKYjX5rkJy_BY_GBeK9fiGlRgSjVm1g9yDCzw6T5uvrpbCRVJZI630LGX4qeJLTl8Xc1IDVse9THmQ/s1600-h/1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 116px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 131px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413689099423973394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYohiqrVXx0A3rVm6F4lARErt2QkUxtfgyugPSKGwHiwdoYUkjJYiba7APMGpcMDKYjX5rkJy_BY_GBeK9fiGlRgSjVm1g9yDCzw6T5uvrpbCRVJZI630LGX4qeJLTl8Xc1IDVse9THmQ/s320/1.jpg" /></a> I liberated this from today's <a href="http://aftermarketnews.com/">AMN.com</a>. I've never been one to "live in the moment" very well, and as the year draws to a close, I tend to think about the future more and more - waiting for this year to end, and anticipating the beginning of a new year with new opportunities.<br /><br />This article discusses changes that are brewing in the way we connect as a society. One conclusion I drew from it is that it is expected we will have significantly more sophisticated connectivity in the future, but this will not necessarily lead us to be more connected to each other. In other words, we'll have all kinds of ways to reach out and touch someone electronically, but this may not automatically lead to an actual physical connection that could encourage brand loyalty, friendship, integrity or any other aspects usually attributed to a solid friendship or business relationship. I would conclude that these changes in technology may make it more difficult than ever before to get the right message to the right market. Interesting times ahead!<br /><br /><strong>Herman Trend Alert: The Future of the Internet</strong><br /><br /><br />December 10, 2009, By Herman Trend Alert<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Expect the changing Internet to have new and unexpected effects on many aspects of our lives,</strong> as its user interface evolves itself into more elaborate systems.<br /><br /><br />Our phones will continue their evolution being our primary devices for online access. Improvements in voice-recognition will be significant -- especially for those whose hands are less able to operate keyboards. Artificial and "augmented" reality will become more embedded in everyday life, and the very architecture of the Internet itself will improve. These findings reflected the beliefs of select Internet leaders, activists and analysts as reported by the Pew Internet & American Life Project. The Pew Project asked respondents to assess predictions about technology and its roles in the year 2020. The panel of experts disagreed about whether this advancement will lead to more social tolerance, more forgiving human relations, or better home lives. In previous Herman Trend Alerts we have discussed the important role of mobile devices. These experts believe by the year 2020, mobile devices will be the primary connection tool to the Internet for most people in the world. For the last few years we have been reporting the rise of the mobile platform. In many countries where the infrastructure for landlines is less well developed, cell phones are the major medium for communication. The widespread established base of cell phone users will support this trend.<br /><br /><br />President Obama has long touted the importance of transparency. Technology will support the possibility of that transparency. The Pew Project forecasts that "transparency of people and organizations will increase." Unfortunately, that transparency "will not necessarily yield more personal integrity, social tolerance or forgiveness. Other key findings include that by 2020, "Voice recognition and touch user-interfaces with the Internet will be more prevalent and accepted" and globally, intellectual property law and copyright protection will continue to be a challenge to enforce, while others continue to find ways to copy and share content -- without payment. Divisions between personal time and work time and between physical and virtual reality will further evaporate with mixed effects in their impacts on basic social relations. Expect the changing Internet to have new and unexpected effects on many aspects of our lives, as its user interface evolves itself into more elaborate systems.<br /><br /><strong>About the Author<br /></strong>Herman Trend AlertHerman Trend Alerts are written by <em>Joyce Gioia</em>, a strategic business futurist, Certified Management Consultant, author, and professional speaker. Archived editions are posted at http://www.hermangroup.com/archive.htmlJeff Stankard, Group Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13089005498215384374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309791200194951413.post-26261665240564948532009-12-07T10:49:00.000-05:002009-12-07T10:50:23.293-05:00Print is not Dead - The Star Says So!Cute Video from the Star (UK) on why Print isn’t Dead<br /><br />The UK’s Best Handheld:<br /><a title="http://blog.junta42.com/content_marketing_blog/2009/12/why-print-isnt-going-anywhere-for-a-long-long-time.html" href="http://blog.junta42.com/content_marketing_blog/2009/12/why-print-isnt-going-anywhere-for-a-long-long-time.html">http://blog.junta42.com/content_marketing_blog/2009/12/why-print-isnt-going-anywhere-for-a-long-long-time.html</a>Jeff Stankard, Group Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13089005498215384374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309791200194951413.post-13262805714566072362009-11-23T14:53:00.003-05:002009-11-23T15:51:03.326-05:00Thanksgiving Travel - What are Your Plans?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRyLMKx7UY5Zb-Lc7lSXAoAoIkiYFh70w67-BDAczq85eTG4f30FXgIrYH9wJd4sWV13J4mcVgD_HZ97UM9Upwlj7z3JF91hWBXUiHrQqoq7aoGBudqo-J2N9kBN_JmoaClaUCHd2UOY/s1600/Turkey.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 125px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 94px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407389918381589586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRyLMKx7UY5Zb-Lc7lSXAoAoIkiYFh70w67-BDAczq85eTG4f30FXgIrYH9wJd4sWV13J4mcVgD_HZ97UM9Upwlj7z3JF91hWBXUiHrQqoq7aoGBudqo-J2N9kBN_JmoaClaUCHd2UOY/s320/Turkey.jpg" /></a><br /><div><br />THANKSGIVING WEEKEND AUTO TRAVEL TO INCREASE 2.3 PERCENT</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>AAA expects 38.4 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more away from home over the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday weekend. That’s a 1.4-percent increase over last year when 37.8 million traveled. The number of travelers by automobile is expected<br />to increase 2.1 percent to 33.2 million. That’s 86 percent of all holiday travelers. Last year, Thanksgiving travel dropped a precipitous 25.2 percent in the wake of the housing and financial crisis.</div><div> </div><div>I find it amazing that Thanksgiving travel will still be so low this year. The price of gas has leveled off in the $2.60 - $2.70 range here in NE Ohio and no one (meaning the local media) seems to take much notice of it. There are fewer flights scheduled and they are definitely more expensive this year than last. But the difference in the number of people traveling this year versus two years ago is still 12 million people! </div>Jeff Stankard, Group Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13089005498215384374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309791200194951413.post-78553519737263189782009-11-20T16:27:00.002-05:002009-11-20T16:52:13.774-05:00Tomorrow's Technician School of the Year UpdateI just finished writing more than 100 individual e-mails to various students, automotive instructors, administrators and automotive industry members who have taken the time to nominate a school for the Tomorrow's Technician School of the Year.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBYynm5uCMrzqUmJvVJEisJepzf-PDOXE8UfcXrKORdcqvmjRJQUr2lPUtBV9k-hBfw6LTToEkBkLrecs8b8a5d3teP547_ZDC2hKtJE9cfNplO1726vLx9IuMoYmcobZkbTtj1f7t-o/s1600/22.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 86px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406300922349390850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBYynm5uCMrzqUmJvVJEisJepzf-PDOXE8UfcXrKORdcqvmjRJQUr2lPUtBV9k-hBfw6LTToEkBkLrecs8b8a5d3teP547_ZDC2hKtJE9cfNplO1726vLx9IuMoYmcobZkbTtj1f7t-o/s320/22.jpg" /></a> It took most of the afternoon. You might be thinking "that's a lot of time to spend communicating with students and instructors", and it is, believe me. But think about it - almost 200 individuals took the time to nominate their school, and we still have about 5 weeks to go before the contest closes and the judging begins. A few hours of my time isn't so much.<br /><br />I've done this before, and I'll do it again. I'm going to let the entrants tell you how important it is to recognize this portion of the automotive market. No matter what segment you represent, it's probably fair to assume that you haven't spent much of your career thinking about the next generation of automotive technicians.<br /><br />Tony Southern, Instructor at Alleghany HS, NC says, "One of the smallest schools in NC with an automotive program. NATEF-certified program. Students compete in NC Auto Dealers competition. Very valuable program in small community under stressful economy conditions that allows students to graduate with ability to provide for their families."Jeff Stankard, Group Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13089005498215384374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309791200194951413.post-32787553886327041912009-11-19T10:40:00.000-05:002009-11-19T10:40:45.960-05:00Clunkers become junkers<a href="http://www.wndu.com/localnews/headlines/69702237.html">Clunkers become junkers</a>Jeff Stankard, Group Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13089005498215384374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309791200194951413.post-40989649491445345742009-11-18T11:36:00.000-05:002009-11-18T11:36:13.314-05:00Another Acquisition by Danaher<a href="http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/27410/Another+Acquisition+by+Danaher+-+Analyst+Blog">Another Acquisition by Danaher</a>Jeff Stankard, Group Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13089005498215384374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309791200194951413.post-22467481032212211042009-10-16T13:30:00.003-05:002009-10-16T13:34:24.738-05:00How to Make the Most out of a Lifetime Warranty<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQWdjrYWPjinTezugdZq7IXgKehKflPVnPoh9sfV169oI2otq-dnP3SqSYB45US6kAqlHV2smGVmhcsHzvK_LzmUD5Zhn3PudXvEOu9msRP-9E_OIuzFYEAcqitLFbplgcHsLJmRSu8Q/s1600-h/112.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 194px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393267711435681026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQWdjrYWPjinTezugdZq7IXgKehKflPVnPoh9sfV169oI2otq-dnP3SqSYB45US6kAqlHV2smGVmhcsHzvK_LzmUD5Zhn3PudXvEOu9msRP-9E_OIuzFYEAcqitLFbplgcHsLJmRSu8Q/s320/112.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Or, How to Get 7 Mufflers, 3 Sets of Shocks and 16 Batteries For Free<br /></div><br /><div>Andrew Markel, Editor of Brake & Front End Magazine originally blogged about this in August, but a friend just e-mailed this video to me today, so I had to share it for a Friday Fun-time. </div><div> </div><div>Shops often sell "Lifetime Warranties" knowing the chances of the customer actually taking advantage of it are slim to none. Well, meet "slim to none", her name is Rachel. How did she do it? She took excellent care of her Caliente car for 45 years and kept the receipts. I love the fact that JCPenney's has guaranteeed her battery, but Firestone installs it for her.</div><div> </div><div>Thanks to iATN for the find. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a title="http://growingbolder.com/media/technology/vehicles/romancing-the-road-259598.html" href="http://growingbolder.com/media/technology/vehicles/romancing-the-road-259598.html" target="_blank">http://growingbolder.com/media/technology/vehicles/romancing-the-road-259598.html</a><br /></div>Jeff Stankard, Group Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13089005498215384374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309791200194951413.post-1247996740636504762009-10-13T09:29:00.004-05:002009-10-13T10:51:24.422-05:00AASA launches "Know Your Parts" CampaignPress release from The Automovie Aftermarket Suppliers Association, dated 10/13/09:<br />The <a href="http://aftermarketsuppliers.org/">Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association </a>(AASA) recently launched an aftermarket industry education campaign: "Know your Parts". The initiative's goal is to educate all partners in the aftermarket supply chain from supplier to consumer about the importance of using quality, brand name products - and the hazards to the industry and to public safety posed by low cost, low quality parts.<br /><br />Professional automotive technicians have already played a vital role in galvanizing this education campaign, and will continue to be integral to getting the message to consumers, according to <strong>Steve Handschuh, President and COO of AASA.</strong> "Technicians are the "front line" in the "Know Your Parts" campaign. We are reaching out to technicians as the main point of contact with consumers - we want to help them communicate effectively with their customers the importance of quality, brand name parts."<br /><br />The ambitious "Know Your Parts" campaign was initiated by the AASA Marketing Executives Council (MEC). Since its formation in 2006, AASA MEC members have studied a growing trend among various aftermarket channel partners offering lower-cost, often lower-quality parts in an attempt to offer more competitive pricing and improve profit margins.<br /><br />"The AASA Marketing Executives Council was organized three years ago to address common concerns as marketing professionals working for aftermarket suppliers," explained <strong>Jack Cameron, AASA Vice President and Staff Executive for the MEC</strong>. "Very early on, we identified a major concern: the proliferation of low-cost, poor quality parts in every level in the aftermarket distribution channel," he said.<br /><br />Technicians were an important cource of information in the AASA MEC's research into the issue. The Council held focus groups with more than 60 professional technicians and owners of independent repair shops. The focus groups represented a cross-section of automotive service - from Los Angeles on the west coast to the heart of the midwest in Chicago to the growing southeast in Raleigh, NC.<br /><br />The results of these focus groups, outlined in the AASA MEC Special Report, "Independent Repair Industry: Focus Group Findings on Buying Influences of Repair Professionals," were enlightening. The focus groups revealed that technicians depend on their supplier partners to provide the services they need such as cataloging, sales representation, warranty, and more - BUT they are largely unaware that the full service aftermarket supplier is the channel partner providing these services.<br /><br />"Technicians do not buy directly from manufacturers, so it is understandable that they do not view the essential services offered by manufacturers to distributors as a motivation for loyalty toward a specific brand," Cameron noted. "But one point made clear from all the focus groups is that product quality is the Number One priority of technicians. <strong>Most repair professionals put quality above price and refuse to put their reputation at risk by installing inferior quality parts</strong>."<br /><br />"Our entire association was mobilized by the coment heard from professional technicians across the country: 'when it comes to quality, it comes down to who will stand behind their parts," Handschuh emphasized.<br /><br />Unlike generic versions of consumer products, auto parts are not required to list ingredients and may or may not meet original specifications - so technicians may be unaware of the risks involved with some low cost products.<br /><br />"There is the potential for these low quality, low cost products to break during installation, becoming projectiles and endangering the technician working on the vehicle and everyone in the shop." Handschuh said. "These parts also pose safety risks to the consumers driving the vehicles on which they are installed and to everyone traveling the highways and roads of our country."<br /><br />And low quality parts also pose a serious risk to the entire aftermarket's reputation.<br /><br />"As customers ourselves, we all know that one bad experience can turn us against a particular business," said Cameron. "Independent repair shops stand to gain business now with the closing of car dealerships and their service departmetns across the country," he explained. "But all it will take is a bad experience at an independent repair shop due to a faulty part to shake a consumer's confidence in independent shops as a reliable place for automotive service - and drive them back to the OE dealer for service."<br /><br />The entire aftermarket supply chain will be the conduit for spreading the "Know Your Parts" campaign. The chain begins with "Full Service Supplier", the manufacturers which provide the essential services including product specifications, quality control, product liability, research and development, and more..... <br /><br />This complete article can be found at <a href="http://www.aftermarketsuppliers.org/">www.aftermarketsuppliers.org</a> or you can e-mail <a href="mailto:media@mema.org">media@mema.org</a>. They will also make the full reports available to you . I've read both reports by MEC, and I can tell you there is a lot of good information in them.Jeff Stankard, Group Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13089005498215384374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309791200194951413.post-20198789330305165202009-10-05T15:07:00.006-05:002009-10-05T15:45:59.421-05:00"As you go through life, make this your goal, watch the donut, not the hole" - Burl Ives<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_Uvi4W59sTIntb3bW4phAnr2GQWZm2uqvb_BsspxwdTrgklOa2Va90sKwjvS7u6t2JFfQVl5KNcXINUExnzI2k2jh9SaYZqdzniNCsbo99iOM4Az7mY2BBcfVaQFpwJOHV9oJVp6iEI/s1600-h/donut.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 119px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389214222929386354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_Uvi4W59sTIntb3bW4phAnr2GQWZm2uqvb_BsspxwdTrgklOa2Va90sKwjvS7u6t2JFfQVl5KNcXINUExnzI2k2jh9SaYZqdzniNCsbo99iOM4Az7mY2BBcfVaQFpwJOHV9oJVp6iEI/s320/donut.jpg" /></a> I was recently reminded of this phrase by an article I read about sales and the importance of the personal sales touch, and it brought a smile to my face for a couple of reasons. One - my mom had eclectic musical tastes as I was growing up, so I was quite familiar with the rest of the song and the melody quickly returned and I started to hum it before I began to write. And two - to some degree, it personified the way my father lived his life. He was a "traveling salesman" in the 60's and 70's. He didn't sell stuff that sold itself (like automotive parts and tools). He sold things like DAP caulk and encyclopedias and GOOP waterless hand cleaner. I think on it today and wonder how the heck could someone support a family selling this type of stuff? Yet he did, and he did it for a lot of years. And he was always saying things like, "watch the donut, not the hole" to cheer one of us and keep us going. Another favorite of his was the Ant song (no relation to Dave Matthew's "Ants Marching".) You know, it goes "just what makes that little old ant think he'll move a rubber tree plant? Everyone knows an ant can't move a rubber tree plant, but he's got high hopes, he's got high hopes, he's got high apple pie, in the sky hopes." I think those phrases helped him through down times too.<br /><br />I'm not suggesting that simple songs from the 50' and 60's are going to turn anyone's day around and inspire you to get back to basics, but consider your efforts lately. How many of us are calling clients and getting voicemail, or depending on e-mails to get the sale made then wondering why business falls flat? We have lots of excuses: we're busy, the client's busy, no one has time for a meeting, the expense of a personal sales call in a down year, no one returns phone calls or e-mails. These are all antiseptic practices and can be very impersonal.... As a result of these types of "sales activities" it's not hard to imagine that we're looking at a lot of holes is it? <br /><br />Nothing beats face-to-face selling. Nothing. Not tweets, not e-mails, not text-messages, nor voicemail or video conferences. A meeting with the decision maker and a personal handshake go a long way.<br /><br />Now is the time to get back to basics, call your customer, meet with your customer and remember why we're in a "relationship-selling" business and why it can work. I think mostly it's because this business is filled with a lot of nice people who like to do business with a bunch of other nice people. And by the way, we happen to have something that fulfills a need, or makes life easier, or improves productivity. We just need to find the time to tell the story. So remember,<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmwamCtQlSNB6Z8cc-FVdd13-sUJEhVQFzKO0XwUxFBiuvzuyCXHLtQPALb-U4sRRKYhiqq1Hs_rBCyiLdhlSBTtO7qXMzcQ_EkvkBPClWuuD8eomMiJ2qMqoVQcLHtDrVy0h5IobdckA/s1600-h/donut.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 122px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 117px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389210728570173218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmwamCtQlSNB6Z8cc-FVdd13-sUJEhVQFzKO0XwUxFBiuvzuyCXHLtQPALb-U4sRRKYhiqq1Hs_rBCyiLdhlSBTtO7qXMzcQ_EkvkBPClWuuD8eomMiJ2qMqoVQcLHtDrVy0h5IobdckA/s320/donut.jpg" /></a> As you go through life make this your goal, watch the donut, not the hole. - Burl Ives<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Jeff Stankard, Group Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13089005498215384374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309791200194951413.post-17452716840367199612009-09-11T10:41:00.008-05:002009-09-11T10:50:54.326-05:00AAIA Tools & Equipment MeetingIt was good to see the AAIA Tool & Equipment Committee members this past week. We met in Boston and had some lively discussion at our Thursday meeting.<br />The night before our business meeting, we had our networking dinner in Boston's North End. We enjoyed delicious Italian fare at <a href="http://losteria.com/">L'Osteria,</a> a delightful Italian restaurant that Stu Amols recommended.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nbRXqpZcNQ-2Nm-5PblAuOczkwmT7e2PbvwLhTnqK1ygaWluCoryXZSagQhQmLs2EJwQBoKktqaeZrV8ZKiqU9fSqkVUxiD9ZMOa-S8Lvb2b8UdeRGS8qZUIP5s1erD3yvdtlyWXt9w/s1600-h/BostonLOsteria.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380236448500943858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nbRXqpZcNQ-2Nm-5PblAuOczkwmT7e2PbvwLhTnqK1ygaWluCoryXZSagQhQmLs2EJwQBoKktqaeZrV8ZKiqU9fSqkVUxiD9ZMOa-S8Lvb2b8UdeRGS8qZUIP5s1erD3yvdtlyWXt9w/s320/BostonLOsteria.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjw9_RDyMp-jcbWUDNoJvZbY08hQVP-5mjMiOpGM_1sZ6b3Bjd5UjLdgBXKpegjsfqCkJfLR7DEnhKpJQA80KpClTe26VkFWygJYXKwphExRr3Dm4er207l7lPAVc_swAw_B0sXQSdqyQ/s1600-h/BostonLOsteria.jpg"></a><br />Ida's was just down the road from L'Osteria. Typical North End restaurant.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooex1j9rEFC1qnhTalJ3DlHY6O56Qc0_59uZmtIt1cuXNRriNNmDvc6TqO9Rws4aKglSgeQAagxC2sY2Drf3S7H33Ld3v6H9XACUTimv0yZy3tdDNgbOg_ke8LQSsfa7b8L7tInaiaE0/s1600-h/BostonIdas.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 242px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380236150881694466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooex1j9rEFC1qnhTalJ3DlHY6O56Qc0_59uZmtIt1cuXNRriNNmDvc6TqO9Rws4aKglSgeQAagxC2sY2Drf3S7H33Ld3v6H9XACUTimv0yZy3tdDNgbOg_ke8LQSsfa7b8L7tInaiaE0/s320/BostonIdas.jpg" /></a><br />Bill Robinson, Danaher; and Bob Hall, Schumacher Electric; appear to be enjoying their pre-dinner beverages.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9G2PvrtzqafAOHt-ZCZ5W16IpaH6CevRQMQg6Ij5olbx6_tta-OllR4LS5uIOMp374y1rBOSLCQQlm1t9P4U8bFZdiigCWt7BbLeDE7LxTWJvABx8U_yeRNPoJseD3ycuU-AkI5OJGoU/s1600-h/BostonDinner.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 209px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380236067701177602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9G2PvrtzqafAOHt-ZCZ5W16IpaH6CevRQMQg6Ij5olbx6_tta-OllR4LS5uIOMp374y1rBOSLCQQlm1t9P4U8bFZdiigCWt7BbLeDE7LxTWJvABx8U_yeRNPoJseD3ycuU-AkI5OJGoU/s320/BostonDinner.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Chicken L'Osteria - <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkrMt2I5wnXSIjnuPJM8pAUOHIvyW1x8n5Y6qIhltwU0G5aFK58OEdsPbfEWd1nIloPW4M9yHZJsPIXaz8mUj4e4jzVlJzPA07MFm8ZainFNb86TfqZfD6KVkxEmYYoagabqM0Ds7RJs/s1600-h/BostonDinner2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380235964744061490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkrMt2I5wnXSIjnuPJM8pAUOHIvyW1x8n5Y6qIhltwU0G5aFK58OEdsPbfEWd1nIloPW4M9yHZJsPIXaz8mUj4e4jzVlJzPA07MFm8ZainFNb86TfqZfD6KVkxEmYYoagabqM0Ds7RJs/s320/BostonDinner2.jpg" /></a> Chicken breasts cooked with mushrooms, spinach, mozzarella and prosciutto, served with a light lemon sauce.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>A great time was had by all! Thanks for the suggestion Stu!<br /></div></div></div></div>Jeff Stankard, Group Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13089005498215384374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309791200194951413.post-85895898047718256472009-08-27T13:35:00.011-05:002009-08-27T15:16:02.072-05:00Cash for Clunkers Roundup<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mPAVaqetRheKXGx4wihRsXdgE3kvYsfCw8GcknZ5mvShZJ-4s3bMItzWL3-MxpdMWbu92LO0CzYBFRly-5uCJSjrUH4OYmOjKFeD9KOkcI6jAxrGVTw-ED3D_ZjXm083sm2MQduEshA/s1600-h/cash.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374715770722632194" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 93px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mPAVaqetRheKXGx4wihRsXdgE3kvYsfCw8GcknZ5mvShZJ-4s3bMItzWL3-MxpdMWbu92LO0CzYBFRly-5uCJSjrUH4OYmOjKFeD9KOkcI6jAxrGVTw-ED3D_ZjXm083sm2MQduEshA/s400/cash.jpg" border="0" /></a> This just in: It's been reported that approximately 660,000 old vehicles were traded in for new vehicles inthe CARS program. According to the U.S. Transportation Department, these vehicles were the top movers during the Cash For Clunkers Hoe-Down: <div><div><div><div><br /><br /><div></div><div>TOP 10 vehicles sold in "clunkers" program</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0SdXxWvR0BOHJaYOSqSDOSA5izAmameJBh6hd4OB6DV_a_3ot8aDTrThZm7iY6M4_OX9R45w26tAZ74oJ5leZi69iOPjAH-wEPlbKqlKeT81Zcj5TpuOPbXnz3wLzFwS7j4fmLHl9ZY/s1600-h/Toyota.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374714902871126050" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 190px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 115px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0SdXxWvR0BOHJaYOSqSDOSA5izAmameJBh6hd4OB6DV_a_3ot8aDTrThZm7iY6M4_OX9R45w26tAZ74oJ5leZi69iOPjAH-wEPlbKqlKeT81Zcj5TpuOPbXnz3wLzFwS7j4fmLHl9ZY/s400/Toyota.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>1. Toyota Corolla</div><div>2. Honda Civic</div><div>3. Toyota Camry</div><div>4. Ford Focus FWD</div><div>5. Hyundai Elantra</div><div>6. Nissan Versa </div><div>7. Toyota Prius</div><div>8. Honda Accord</div><div>9. Honda Fit</div><div>10. Ford Escape FWD </div><br /><div>(Notice there are no vehicles represented by the new GM government-managed car manufacturer?)</div><br /><div><br />Top 10 "Clunkers" trade-ins</div><br /><div><br />1. Ford Explorer 4WD</div><div>2. Ford F150 pickup 2WD</div><div>3. Jeep Grand Cherokee 4WD</div><div>4. Ford Explorer 2WD<br /></div><div>5. Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan 2WD<br /></div><div>6. Jeep Cherokee 4WD</div><div>7. Chevrolet Blazer 4WD</div><div>8. Chevrolet C1500 pickup 2WD</div><div>9. Ford F150 pickup 4WD</div><div>10. Ford Windstar FWD van</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>(Notice there are no foreign nameplates being clunked.)</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>What next? How about Cash for Cons? or maybe, Assets for Appliances (get those old Maytags off your kitchen floor and into a city dump), or Funds for Furs (the fur industry has really taken a hit lately)</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNndo4XDjkGxxaDJrcz6i4lfSkK1Vv9CJCG85-Gr6aEjwwaEMwvdk1hiROKlPQYWXFxWIf6yGasP87vOQKo7x_bEwydCPNulT78JPR-DvfOJwV5ZgikS5_WwXLYleikWxOxCbC22mDpuE/s1600-h/Ford.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374735426374765042" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 269px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 152px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNndo4XDjkGxxaDJrcz6i4lfSkK1Vv9CJCG85-Gr6aEjwwaEMwvdk1hiROKlPQYWXFxWIf6yGasP87vOQKo7x_bEwydCPNulT78JPR-DvfOJwV5ZgikS5_WwXLYleikWxOxCbC22mDpuE/s320/Ford.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Source: U.S. Transportation Department</div></div></div></div></div></div>Jeff Stankard, Group Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13089005498215384374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309791200194951413.post-15547584769140676012009-08-21T10:11:00.019-05:002009-08-21T10:30:19.994-05:00Last photos from Kenosha....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2OjhTjkl-lZ3MuprLHyOjcUskWEokqkyQn3L3QVBcJtMbwtDjksM1fJm-C_VnX6WPhQD0vcVdbzRG6r5yL7RVQgSC-prhuzUj22QKdc3aed2TuqbOatVDHH7jSxO42XEAqHlu1Cner94/s1600-h/Kenosha+034.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372438895600225874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 203px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2OjhTjkl-lZ3MuprLHyOjcUskWEokqkyQn3L3QVBcJtMbwtDjksM1fJm-C_VnX6WPhQD0vcVdbzRG6r5yL7RVQgSC-prhuzUj22QKdc3aed2TuqbOatVDHH7jSxO42XEAqHlu1Cner94/s400/Kenosha+034.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJlPNCRudo5_0W-rOXPLISzns-m4uwclSEzCWjwZwE9FTSvSAfeQ7EMKoPSOgAVvu2KUBdE_Mtn7fb4gsU4jijsq-hKh-zCQDpvD2n3Anti0CNcr8Mwix-Qk3B47MIj3JNnmdiQMXg0Q/s1600-h/Kenosha+023.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372438656602386306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJlPNCRudo5_0W-rOXPLISzns-m4uwclSEzCWjwZwE9FTSvSAfeQ7EMKoPSOgAVvu2KUBdE_Mtn7fb4gsU4jijsq-hKh-zCQDpvD2n3Anti0CNcr8Mwix-Qk3B47MIj3JNnmdiQMXg0Q/s400/Kenosha+023.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicq-0Zm8uVjSvR-CjN1y25D_9hxU5cMb9Ysqq2UvmyxeVbBGbeyIUZD-CPgSOUtA0jyJ8EeS2A4AH677WkIhiA5MxGyaOjwd2Opm2liPkNeIWC_XxUGguULoRiwGopCsODTcVFcJoKBGg/s1600-h/Kenosha+022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372438497591145186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicq-0Zm8uVjSvR-CjN1y25D_9hxU5cMb9Ysqq2UvmyxeVbBGbeyIUZD-CPgSOUtA0jyJ8EeS2A4AH677WkIhiA5MxGyaOjwd2Opm2liPkNeIWC_XxUGguULoRiwGopCsODTcVFcJoKBGg/s400/Kenosha+022.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Inside the Innovation Works building, a couple of visitors take a look around.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3A1bpKFaAh0IYav0I1b11RSkrLaq75ZACtq3ldaBB0Iul-yJ41mfOkfJh3E_Rjz1XisRBsAiU2PvXJnZxhqHdWfrDHRvHHk9WGWitv3fHZv1bFdhKzCFQhPwhi2Wk8OAF3e0oJeelbE/s1600-h/Kenosha+043.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372436709448024562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3A1bpKFaAh0IYav0I1b11RSkrLaq75ZACtq3ldaBB0Iul-yJ41mfOkfJh3E_Rjz1XisRBsAiU2PvXJnZxhqHdWfrDHRvHHk9WGWitv3fHZv1bFdhKzCFQhPwhi2Wk8OAF3e0oJeelbE/s400/Kenosha+043.jpg" border="0" /></a> <strong>Andy Ginger, Vice President</strong> and <strong>Chief Marketing Officer</strong>, explains Snap-on's renewed commitment to problem solving through innovative solutions.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpeJOU8V6JZbbtb677CQpBEJoH0L7ih5cZkN_dI9ERmpz9xAL4jZo5QXX0iqV-jQI6UG48D2OGt1Jd2PhlFYnuAgGnp_VVIA54htCXOk7VlBUpsdHpjyKYgjm3l1yEtPtJGsNTnX59eAo/s1600-h/Kenosha+047.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372436585513764530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpeJOU8V6JZbbtb677CQpBEJoH0L7ih5cZkN_dI9ERmpz9xAL4jZo5QXX0iqV-jQI6UG48D2OGt1Jd2PhlFYnuAgGnp_VVIA54htCXOk7VlBUpsdHpjyKYgjm3l1yEtPtJGsNTnX59eAo/s400/Kenosha+047.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Another one of their new toolbox graphics.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpMNyWm1KGq9fbIGCvd8kZA5Nnmjc9mgmO7erKUwrinEexkA_sbzCgEwzAiHabpjaFkbPIWhuOWIB6cuGdipOuvjYp_tSTCzlb4opinb_jYjf9uZ8kB-I7prHllwX4TjkFoeZnbprPBM/s1600-h/Kenosha+052.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372436426485848930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpMNyWm1KGq9fbIGCvd8kZA5Nnmjc9mgmO7erKUwrinEexkA_sbzCgEwzAiHabpjaFkbPIWhuOWIB6cuGdipOuvjYp_tSTCzlb4opinb_jYjf9uZ8kB-I7prHllwX4TjkFoeZnbprPBM/s400/Kenosha+052.jpg" border="0" /></a> The rear of the futuristic Carbon Motors police vehicle, scheduled to hit the roads in 2012.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfz-jiD0bj89AeUhaVfy5Jbh7KYwWhuUWbl-8GDnd0E4mBl2WFK0hmpQBd1melAbb-p2rum5m1l1WWOD3dYhnfYryccJlnGdzrZNcxXnMCyw7buRNI1eWGcxo_rLUWUA9HM-EKF8AR4VY/s1600-h/KenoshaPoliceRear.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372436317036336274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 241px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfz-jiD0bj89AeUhaVfy5Jbh7KYwWhuUWbl-8GDnd0E4mBl2WFK0hmpQBd1melAbb-p2rum5m1l1WWOD3dYhnfYryccJlnGdzrZNcxXnMCyw7buRNI1eWGcxo_rLUWUA9HM-EKF8AR4VY/s400/KenoshaPoliceRear.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3Eu9DkFXwmkcnH5LuLlTOFJGx5DatZgnnyZHIjRS_HvLI9NVSeD2HlWuBnEDh66Yl11vQEL1D91NRwJ_NOzr8R3bSTFPE9YSr67biIgVUKyUfh49RuOzGO6u4Dr9TXoO-m5FC9x09e8/s1600-h/Kenosha+055.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372436160415130818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3Eu9DkFXwmkcnH5LuLlTOFJGx5DatZgnnyZHIjRS_HvLI9NVSeD2HlWuBnEDh66Yl11vQEL1D91NRwJ_NOzr8R3bSTFPE9YSr67biIgVUKyUfh49RuOzGO6u4Dr9TXoO-m5FC9x09e8/s400/Kenosha+055.jpg" border="0" /></a> Rear seat is one-piece, molded to allow for handcuffed arms.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoquK3KbUr6qCenwDMzMJsCD9SUiOK2-FSCXbIVW-tO9zL05b-WSIKyhROGAQX1sfOiQCM6uFwj3IlGEp8DhWaydRAJr5m73D9lZo7k12YmSrtfVhZ6bcvhwty204HQHLOTCDhemrPHg/s1600-h/Kenosha+048.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372436016909384770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoquK3KbUr6qCenwDMzMJsCD9SUiOK2-FSCXbIVW-tO9zL05b-WSIKyhROGAQX1sfOiQCM6uFwj3IlGEp8DhWaydRAJr5m73D9lZo7k12YmSrtfVhZ6bcvhwty204HQHLOTCDhemrPHg/s400/Kenosha+048.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The Snap-on Chevy. Again, just look for the cool Snap-on details.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJGTwoxN3eYHSkMP_F1MUQwr1pBYDssGwDu2ErXwSYATOzhdUegiwIj3ZSeotJbu9JMlVt_x-RBolLMNzBUvROTyJ44B8ONpqv8hdNz902rdMimIo2TYsdE6y4ElrUccnDy5j4o_qM04/s1600-h/SnapCar2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372435821314235298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 227px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJGTwoxN3eYHSkMP_F1MUQwr1pBYDssGwDu2ErXwSYATOzhdUegiwIj3ZSeotJbu9JMlVt_x-RBolLMNzBUvROTyJ44B8ONpqv8hdNz902rdMimIo2TYsdE6y4ElrUccnDy5j4o_qM04/s400/SnapCar2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbg8Cc_qkXyf_0ai8BXFHeuL3boUcue1FjcikeKKm5z_PPh-Jd2XycfcNIro9i5-3b5VvG0sNi82xFhOevvZmBIGcor1Ldm_p2pseY1jpGp1WawczN9oDdh0vyWJT5WwjBhMY3qMGrQnU/s1600-h/SnapChevy2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372435717770923906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbg8Cc_qkXyf_0ai8BXFHeuL3boUcue1FjcikeKKm5z_PPh-Jd2XycfcNIro9i5-3b5VvG0sNi82xFhOevvZmBIGcor1Ldm_p2pseY1jpGp1WawczN9oDdh0vyWJT5WwjBhMY3qMGrQnU/s400/SnapChevy2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3ayPOKnZ1bHzfGs5UouEiXRSdv3QdRwFQT_GeuS_d-ZGxzWesdCKdaiKakSncnQ5GVDi-bdKziljYHEbW5EM6uKeYYEeYXkugSv0NNvKP2Wi65BZ7DHEZomdwMm2nwHGUQYv3z1MZws/s1600-h/SnapChevy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372435603606831682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3ayPOKnZ1bHzfGs5UouEiXRSdv3QdRwFQT_GeuS_d-ZGxzWesdCKdaiKakSncnQ5GVDi-bdKziljYHEbW5EM6uKeYYEeYXkugSv0NNvKP2Wi65BZ7DHEZomdwMm2nwHGUQYv3z1MZws/s400/SnapChevy.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6uLzx5avgBUczKfr7pGn5itCPqQzY57qEuYl9mETVsuQm6TDP1qBDSXi9d_GjTvsa9cHWjJTRCEGmzg953srGamTkIr36IwrNhk_BQ8NF9WtBJPd2vFHW14D8rL5GZi4ldBo_IJ5NWwA/s1600-h/SnapChevy3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372435494359860802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6uLzx5avgBUczKfr7pGn5itCPqQzY57qEuYl9mETVsuQm6TDP1qBDSXi9d_GjTvsa9cHWjJTRCEGmzg953srGamTkIr36IwrNhk_BQ8NF9WtBJPd2vFHW14D8rL5GZi4ldBo_IJ5NWwA/s400/SnapChevy3.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNznuzAGKY6FP5n7VKYJzQE2aUaINvKzx-HkiaHDZv4xtZOkMyZiBFpQ15NSaYJVej4Z3gZLBm74JV4yzZ1dNNNT0SC1yYP7R9YAWgFWyMhu6G6JaAoF0Ym2cj1O5rC8oGM8FqUaJ0NoE/s1600-h/SnapChevy4.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372435374218315058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNznuzAGKY6FP5n7VKYJzQE2aUaINvKzx-HkiaHDZv4xtZOkMyZiBFpQ15NSaYJVej4Z3gZLBm74JV4yzZ1dNNNT0SC1yYP7R9YAWgFWyMhu6G6JaAoF0Ym2cj1O5rC8oGM8FqUaJ0NoE/s400/SnapChevy4.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jeff Stankard, Group Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13089005498215384374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309791200194951413.post-81589160270874802702009-08-20T15:06:00.019-05:002009-08-21T07:09:37.399-05:00More No Compromise Tour PhotosThe Snap-on 57 Chevy. Over 1,000 hours in customization time. The lug nuts are actually Snap-on sockets. Note the trim - Snap-on wrenches.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHfDBlaJMfAu2w-54_z8Zo9g3z_Sz5F8Ei6z44Ij5bB4kIULrsCNsEW3_rlh3IgEtkLx_AclZZ0oSGcATcl7Zlum4XYhRrfSPXWdS7h-vR2PEFuVJHCBG1ShApRSxPkuUdwa0zHShWiQ/s1600-h/SnapCar2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372146721855018098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 227px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHfDBlaJMfAu2w-54_z8Zo9g3z_Sz5F8Ei6z44Ij5bB4kIULrsCNsEW3_rlh3IgEtkLx_AclZZ0oSGcATcl7Zlum4XYhRrfSPXWdS7h-vR2PEFuVJHCBG1ShApRSxPkuUdwa0zHShWiQ/s400/SnapCar2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFV6cTToVckIm7Zrdzndu4F-x1rOGOaTKCLycyTs7Me7uCMc7_PThpQZmilTr3D49k63T4pc7J312ckIHMSuiETAeEv3SC-2HpuqX141UX7QpkRHd6fMpPVzyDSShoJSIzLK17nklEXXU/s1600-h/Kenosha+036.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372146563931613618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 273px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFV6cTToVckIm7Zrdzndu4F-x1rOGOaTKCLycyTs7Me7uCMc7_PThpQZmilTr3D49k63T4pc7J312ckIHMSuiETAeEv3SC-2HpuqX141UX7QpkRHd6fMpPVzyDSShoJSIzLK17nklEXXU/s400/Kenosha+036.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />A 1958 Rambler<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6S2ghpG_xWmpa5EwE-dxbpsJYALg6Htq86iFs2QV2TuUDMoZ5gsV6WNzTzgdFjaVG1RzjOj3ZSchiOZ2362ddgUnFIqP2VTfrnyrt3g9WlY0BOZDAPRBtpB25CyXg4WbSPyMiqACHUfg/s1600-h/Kenosha+024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372146443526586194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6S2ghpG_xWmpa5EwE-dxbpsJYALg6Htq86iFs2QV2TuUDMoZ5gsV6WNzTzgdFjaVG1RzjOj3ZSchiOZ2362ddgUnFIqP2VTfrnyrt3g9WlY0BOZDAPRBtpB25CyXg4WbSPyMiqACHUfg/s400/Kenosha+024.jpg" border="0" /></a>I didn't realize I had taken so many photos the other day in Kenosha, but my file of photos is saying - yes... you did.<br /><div>Here's a nice shot of a Ranchero, age and manufacturer unknown. (I know I'll hear from a car buff or two on that one.)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA4Y8OuegCclVcwpu3xNywcPpMuD0XFZwZuq92q0kmWZnRMg518Qcv5_H_9T_dH2OTAO7iweMfzOO6L6ambDyj8Fzgrh4bvCoMUcdUYbA4CiVGgHFxiUxBD4HVxSarVbpJIbvWnpBN6d4/s1600-h/KenoshaRanchero.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372142406389270178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 292px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA4Y8OuegCclVcwpu3xNywcPpMuD0XFZwZuq92q0kmWZnRMg518Qcv5_H_9T_dH2OTAO7iweMfzOO6L6ambDyj8Fzgrh4bvCoMUcdUYbA4CiVGgHFxiUxBD4HVxSarVbpJIbvWnpBN6d4/s400/KenoshaRanchero.jpg" border="0" /></a> a Ford!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5EKoKGcylX8V_oazVzOJELxC_KkNRNs14socqeB52-YszcxyGfC_jm2W1QIJqJv7ZMfJLDIg_dazoXBLSZzYukwe6NqnF1i8TcH2nCTCy2F_cit6jvr7oZ6gJy5Rn37gF2kGDMaJatc/s1600-h/KenoshaFord.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372142221601787874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 190px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5EKoKGcylX8V_oazVzOJELxC_KkNRNs14socqeB52-YszcxyGfC_jm2W1QIJqJv7ZMfJLDIg_dazoXBLSZzYukwe6NqnF1i8TcH2nCTCy2F_cit6jvr7oZ6gJy5Rn37gF2kGDMaJatc/s400/KenoshaFord.jpg" border="0" /></a> Unconventional toolbox design, unconventional welding helmets. Target market: Younger techs<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyNYNtfB-f0zY2xYFBpppRknatvVxitPQA-frD43jilE4ncIsTf9PWcJdxfKrYPW57np2r_v2c3SVbqnuGGCFnv6hdkT5hviUSZXldmqDXRvOQeswlrnyR0tJIXSOOjJt-DtBQ8mg1DI/s1600-h/KenoshaBoxSkulls.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372142011038529618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 371px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyNYNtfB-f0zY2xYFBpppRknatvVxitPQA-frD43jilE4ncIsTf9PWcJdxfKrYPW57np2r_v2c3SVbqnuGGCFnv6hdkT5hviUSZXldmqDXRvOQeswlrnyR0tJIXSOOjJt-DtBQ8mg1DI/s400/KenoshaBoxSkulls.jpg" border="0" /></a> Traditional tool storage, definitely designed for the mature professional technician, or perhaps for a start-up shop or dealership.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-QRcrvhPtqbt69_Ze9x-TXe_B3x247utThbziohLhWOE5tDo_UmW_mJKR9I-5pUDy_UL0FV9xQWyh84M2eqkHhyphenhyphenmwJqV4MzpMEw0MuRp-Wx9hT611pCeN7SgzvFdNvh2T51t_UZRNwU/s1600-h/Kenosha+046.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372141885288391426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-QRcrvhPtqbt69_Ze9x-TXe_B3x247utThbziohLhWOE5tDo_UmW_mJKR9I-5pUDy_UL0FV9xQWyh84M2eqkHhyphenhyphenmwJqV4MzpMEw0MuRp-Wx9hT611pCeN7SgzvFdNvh2T51t_UZRNwU/s400/Kenosha+046.jpg" border="0" /></a> This is not a Beetle, though it resembles one. It is a <strong>Citroen</strong>, notably the "Deux Cheveaux", for 2 hp. It was built before WWII and was designed to be able to go long distances on little fuel, be comfortable, and allow two farmers to carry a crate of eggs to market without breaking any, all the time traveling over rough roads or ploughed fields. Because it was so revolutionary, the French buried the prototype during WWII to keep it from the Nazis. The original was made from aluminum, but after WWII a new material was chosen for the body.</div><div></div><div><strong>Snap-on</strong> uses it in their <strong>Innovation Center</strong> as a prime example of a solution to a problem that was faced by many people in Europe during the late 20's, early 30's. Roads were horrible, gas was expensive and so were cars. This had many solutions to keeping costs low - a 2-cylinder engine, a direct-drive shift stick, seats that came out for easy cleaning. And they only quit production on this in the 1980's.... The Citroen inspires the Snap-on Innovation team to think creatively about solutions to problems that techs face. This Citroen was technologically advanced and innovative, yet extremely utilitarian and deceptively simple in the bodywork. If you look closely at the car below, you'll see little red signs all over it. These point out specific solutions the Citroen provided to specific problems the car driver faced.<br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5xsVuvnfuSS4MtTuJKWIVYn0Jz3Hlh7Ashh2WuMxv7eKUwRM-9DNz2DpMXJa-5EaS5zmC_JDqX-T42mMEqOoIlWMhxONtVRKXRI4QWw2pqris67rSSVE4-_md4AFRxHCnR-wk_MgrPs/s1600-h/Kenosha+042.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372141609077549234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5xsVuvnfuSS4MtTuJKWIVYn0Jz3Hlh7Ashh2WuMxv7eKUwRM-9DNz2DpMXJa-5EaS5zmC_JDqX-T42mMEqOoIlWMhxONtVRKXRI4QWw2pqris67rSSVE4-_md4AFRxHCnR-wk_MgrPs/s400/Kenosha+042.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Another Ford, this time for the Air Ford-ce...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsnlCiejav6LMzGSyC9SN0Pmr0_o3hYx51MBna2ylc37q0M4Pdf4oqAS_a-9SRYN6a1fAOCEfPf5Punq6DjDzgC7Iv90Lb0x8IDj1dSPBW0vO6sF0No2F7OW_CAGoxOvU5DzLZgEq9vQ/s1600-h/Kenosha+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372141265853357106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsnlCiejav6LMzGSyC9SN0Pmr0_o3hYx51MBna2ylc37q0M4Pdf4oqAS_a-9SRYN6a1fAOCEfPf5Punq6DjDzgC7Iv90Lb0x8IDj1dSPBW0vO6sF0No2F7OW_CAGoxOvU5DzLZgEq9vQ/s400/Kenosha+017.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_qYWhzvIvmpMtxr3SqqgaSkiYRqewjkXOCMYS3OO7-Jwy1EsOqDyNDoT5Mx3xusnJv64mVkmx5d28Kwlqk3J-rVI4EQiFC2lM2XdxrfNvtHnBXnCwWQoVn3yoIN-YrR2gJD4ocQKAWM/s1600-h/Kenosha+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372141029861624578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_qYWhzvIvmpMtxr3SqqgaSkiYRqewjkXOCMYS3OO7-Jwy1EsOqDyNDoT5Mx3xusnJv64mVkmx5d28Kwlqk3J-rVI4EQiFC2lM2XdxrfNvtHnBXnCwWQoVn3yoIN-YrR2gJD4ocQKAWM/s400/Kenosha+019.jpg" border="0" /></a> Lots of older vehicles brought out the Snap-on retirees. (seme, literally.)<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhuQwUiE5pTSFc62xdw-LgOq1ky8bXl2-HP38xXXSK_kj489ThhLZLsI0J2jpF_Avb2B4BR6SK6ooQtrRr4uwIGrd3bEe0o9UZV7TTgg2PF4cdNYE4_s_XODAOjqjXqE0ee1XW_ymR5M/s1600-h/Kenosha+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372140840912081554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 247px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhuQwUiE5pTSFc62xdw-LgOq1ky8bXl2-HP38xXXSK_kj489ThhLZLsI0J2jpF_Avb2B4BR6SK6ooQtrRr4uwIGrd3bEe0o9UZV7TTgg2PF4cdNYE4_s_XODAOjqjXqE0ee1XW_ymR5M/s400/Kenosha+015.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9B_HCLmXdcT9KmUO1YHTcHqX1eD4ai-D1IpSklmButp8Vfw9OGdcE3f9p6SFGNG609u-NSjhBZv3kOzo67hnrML3R6kir8QIgtfxErZ7QnFk52xmd0gk_Y06z1Hnfy3G3nMMCV2CHLIM/s1600-h/Kenosha+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372140714877188514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 287px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9B_HCLmXdcT9KmUO1YHTcHqX1eD4ai-D1IpSklmButp8Vfw9OGdcE3f9p6SFGNG609u-NSjhBZv3kOzo67hnrML3R6kir8QIgtfxErZ7QnFk52xmd0gk_Y06z1Hnfy3G3nMMCV2CHLIM/s400/Kenosha+014.jpg" border="0" /></a> The associates were treated to games of chance, where they could win Snap-on branded merchandise.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbM5KYarFXgeKtxMew_sWxrTj6n1KOiHSi3hjJT0ugCzOGBNk2V5Hd0KuQYVZMXYDXnWG2dP62TQfRaV3ETVrq5JH1OccCMfPQVi7NiZMchD4hPyG2fNZ0q29iJN7uGvsHgUvdhg2k2Y/s1600-h/Kenosha+037.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372140526265963714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbM5KYarFXgeKtxMew_sWxrTj6n1KOiHSi3hjJT0ugCzOGBNk2V5Hd0KuQYVZMXYDXnWG2dP62TQfRaV3ETVrq5JH1OccCMfPQVi7NiZMchD4hPyG2fNZ0q29iJN7uGvsHgUvdhg2k2Y/s400/Kenosha+037.jpg" border="0" /></a> Or they could buy it, like the rest of us folks.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpOfT4F-hw3OsYSfuCl1meGez_QXtuKSHxDQtyFAPrjhTHy03jhEo8G1Ee79k-O63OmAchJTT5AEOXThf0qtro2C1m3_m_hTl1ndfIVdaK4CrlArn2H1LLlMiRMkyLBH3O9uc9tV28lU/s1600-h/Kenosha+040.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372140356828857250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpOfT4F-hw3OsYSfuCl1meGez_QXtuKSHxDQtyFAPrjhTHy03jhEo8G1Ee79k-O63OmAchJTT5AEOXThf0qtro2C1m3_m_hTl1ndfIVdaK4CrlArn2H1LLlMiRMkyLBH3O9uc9tV28lU/s400/Kenosha+040.jpg" border="0" /></a> Inside a Rambler<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopgQw2GLOHp0il_CSXWVhk-W23_Xm8mfLO8_cz8iaF3GybZndrIhDH3d1bLCfUFSzQ1N28jedcU1WXGnP6ekCK5rFW9TsOkDs5Z4lw9X3lA-k2ERYpWQu9gbdvfEeV_A_hI-q5lLoY2c/s1600-h/Kenosha+026.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372140175078371314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopgQw2GLOHp0il_CSXWVhk-W23_Xm8mfLO8_cz8iaF3GybZndrIhDH3d1bLCfUFSzQ1N28jedcU1WXGnP6ekCK5rFW9TsOkDs5Z4lw9X3lA-k2ERYpWQu9gbdvfEeV_A_hI-q5lLoY2c/s400/Kenosha+026.jpg" border="0" /></a> Outside a Rambler<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIFzT2g_Gnkp-XiDdLH80eDeEdSwMfowK6RS3HQ9fDVDklR5CaR4anh1lU-VcDst-1uH6_kDUBxEm0r-0o6J8BtFiyso6MMn3vC86w8Quc-Eh-mZyNX5JYtucDvLwhKaNQRw0Oqu5HfM/s1600-h/Kenosha+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372140009661566690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIFzT2g_Gnkp-XiDdLH80eDeEdSwMfowK6RS3HQ9fDVDklR5CaR4anh1lU-VcDst-1uH6_kDUBxEm0r-0o6J8BtFiyso6MMn3vC86w8Quc-Eh-mZyNX5JYtucDvLwhKaNQRw0Oqu5HfM/s400/Kenosha+025.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jeff Stankard, Group Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13089005498215384374noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309791200194951413.post-19816368496487657832009-08-19T15:59:00.012-05:002009-08-20T07:29:55.379-05:00Snap-on No Compromise Tour stops off in Kenosha, WIThis was a very nice event, hosted by Snap-on World Headquarters in Kenosha, WI. I think it may have been partly sponsored by several local Snap-on Distributors.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsje12AsgjRIuq0q_L_QMNbLUvg5r8OFVjtrADsmD27bcgMta7QeZwGAI7Ctlqbt6vrntJrBE5-Z6QdEm9tGemtD0wDW6xl8WOhfGfDakYOBna0pyx7jXBS54V2Qu2YKDc3JYVEv1eeNY/s1600-h/KenoshaDistTrucks.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371783359493393682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 236px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsje12AsgjRIuq0q_L_QMNbLUvg5r8OFVjtrADsmD27bcgMta7QeZwGAI7Ctlqbt6vrntJrBE5-Z6QdEm9tGemtD0wDW6xl8WOhfGfDakYOBna0pyx7jXBS54V2Qu2YKDc3JYVEv1eeNY/s400/KenoshaDistTrucks.jpg" border="0" /></a> It was a beautiful day yesterday. The heavy rains from the day before had passed through, leaving a perfect afternoon to spend outside, looking at cool cars, cool tools and other Snap-on products.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimWFnH00Z5d-T0LK4r9_PoRbZ8pW2ck7y54YpBRGfBXiCp37uBsWgcfSyyJLYZ_FQxQY_4qC6lPCqazwztAM4dgHWYONfw0ioH_fkL-Ksa7ImzFqCjriGTmn6xKtXjYn8s-tb2jPWq6n0/s1600-h/SnapTrailer.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371783269532175698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimWFnH00Z5d-T0LK4r9_PoRbZ8pW2ck7y54YpBRGfBXiCp37uBsWgcfSyyJLYZ_FQxQY_4qC6lPCqazwztAM4dgHWYONfw0ioH_fkL-Ksa7ImzFqCjriGTmn6xKtXjYn8s-tb2jPWq6n0/s400/SnapTrailer.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is a car from Carbon Motors, currently in development for U.S. police departments across the country. Very cutting edge, they spoke with thousands of police officials and developed this car for them from the ground up, coming up with a total of 11,000 solutions to problems the police officers faced in their current vehicles. Snap-on is working with Carbon Motors on additional solutions.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6oLEL9hB800ewyg86l_OOOOkV1IvpGf6tflJl3Ht-oZGw6KWeW5q21a8DIxnvEZOH_jIPHd0DyYP1dwZnzyn0TRfHXmqzwDvSQ39rLLxsBpx54Y7DI6jY0j1-g5q-U2ZuYGwPjlSWqHA/s1600-h/KenoshaPoliceRear.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371783180939168482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 241px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6oLEL9hB800ewyg86l_OOOOkV1IvpGf6tflJl3Ht-oZGw6KWeW5q21a8DIxnvEZOH_jIPHd0DyYP1dwZnzyn0TRfHXmqzwDvSQ39rLLxsBpx54Y7DI6jY0j1-g5q-U2ZuYGwPjlSWqHA/s400/KenoshaPoliceRear.jpg" border="0" /></a>AMC Javelin (thanks Jack!)<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqBv0rjAs_3-oepix9E018V02PW32TX20mto6MsUJ8oWORqAQ5iGRaLT80U4Wuwfbg6OrfUjgxl3S_ar-frTGSSXJB4Q6ytB8rnjWyWkhdCgXxO9Pl9nTjswmWHdBGC80jGuvoL-ENH4/s1600-h/Kenosha+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371783059330707026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqBv0rjAs_3-oepix9E018V02PW32TX20mto6MsUJ8oWORqAQ5iGRaLT80U4Wuwfbg6OrfUjgxl3S_ar-frTGSSXJB4Q6ytB8rnjWyWkhdCgXxO9Pl9nTjswmWHdBGC80jGuvoL-ENH4/s400/Kenosha+028.jpg" border="0" /></a> Inside Snap-on's Innovation Center, you'll find continually changing exhibits, similar to this.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilquApv6U3QqQ8YLUIdonK8XF51EttK5tXBMAV0V-QKTJLSwSIct8Mn2VQvT1lvw2Oo0D3XpP_oSVW2XoIQDhBKlPLCuaIb7ng6AcJLMpZvcNcTWL2XZfm8f1nh-lPFVxCUzHX4PADU2Y/s1600-h/Kenosha+041.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371782942554421378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilquApv6U3QqQ8YLUIdonK8XF51EttK5tXBMAV0V-QKTJLSwSIct8Mn2VQvT1lvw2Oo0D3XpP_oSVW2XoIQDhBKlPLCuaIb7ng6AcJLMpZvcNcTWL2XZfm8f1nh-lPFVxCUzHX4PADU2Y/s400/Kenosha+041.jpg" border="0" /></a> Meanwhile, while I was getting a tour of the inside facilities, the Snap-on associates were enjoying hot dogs and hamburgers with their co-workers.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsly702jDqoB9JYnkUWHpRiaWXZ2Yky9505E1Cwk3-u4CslaljkMHqB8WffmIe0qmYVFcRGfZRygiPylhJ7rqU-5KO_eqIq_Ir6oeuXRM15jbkfnxpJgMcMIHn3_8fpagh9NVM4V_Wek/s1600-h/Kenosha+038.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371782817904191554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsly702jDqoB9JYnkUWHpRiaWXZ2Yky9505E1Cwk3-u4CslaljkMHqB8WffmIe0qmYVFcRGfZRygiPylhJ7rqU-5KO_eqIq_Ir6oeuXRM15jbkfnxpJgMcMIHn3_8fpagh9NVM4V_Wek/s400/Kenosha+038.jpg" border="0" /></a> This is the back end of a 1957 Chevy. Note the Snap-on wrenches. More photos of this amazing car to come in tomorrow's post. The use of Snap-on tools was quite clever.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTh4BuoVkz9hyphenhyphen1bD4kLwzRX89gmmVHNoXQmB7-j7ozncEKsa0ta1Ezkjin6Civ8CVPwbDPRjDSjkCZMMkQN1H_ZBENB2hi41zbwfcEp7wbHak1b7rQfe1Rh2hPO4LPoCU8IunhUL3SSQ8/s1600-h/SnapChevy4.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371782701518125890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTh4BuoVkz9hyphenhyphen1bD4kLwzRX89gmmVHNoXQmB7-j7ozncEKsa0ta1Ezkjin6Civ8CVPwbDPRjDSjkCZMMkQN1H_ZBENB2hi41zbwfcEp7wbHak1b7rQfe1Rh2hPO4LPoCU8IunhUL3SSQ8/s400/SnapChevy4.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5L0nDjN89Q6I5QUgPAQah3-ZSQE_tpahYVOu4AbZGwSnzpqMg6xZvcpb7s_IKziEV9NO77JWp_X1Mf8caBRXquJfzpgHmctpuriR7tQgOcCyB09leHe57_4euNC_z0AKmBfFua5OdOf8/s1600-h/Kenosha+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371782607289806898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 190px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5L0nDjN89Q6I5QUgPAQah3-ZSQE_tpahYVOu4AbZGwSnzpqMg6xZvcpb7s_IKziEV9NO77JWp_X1Mf8caBRXquJfzpgHmctpuriR7tQgOcCyB09leHe57_4euNC_z0AKmBfFua5OdOf8/s400/Kenosha+012.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jeff Stankard, Group Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13089005498215384374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309791200194951413.post-84213077181610696042009-08-12T15:39:00.003-05:002009-08-12T15:55:02.010-05:00Snap-on NO COMPROMISE Tour<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIy8qAJ0fWBmxdtPPDc6Z5kgx6XyEMQkx8Pr-PvtUzDjU1E8iZG23xe4WPn1P6AWF8idxd1vV2vB0ZLtpK1ZRtPObYxVcSIw4uEVxfKR1eOGwWekg3IzZsibrp8uO_E_EKfXVkxbPlF3c/s1600-h/Snap-onlogo.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369181023143144114" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 198px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 53px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIy8qAJ0fWBmxdtPPDc6Z5kgx6XyEMQkx8Pr-PvtUzDjU1E8iZG23xe4WPn1P6AWF8idxd1vV2vB0ZLtpK1ZRtPObYxVcSIw4uEVxfKR1eOGwWekg3IzZsibrp8uO_E_EKfXVkxbPlF3c/s400/Snap-onlogo.gif" border="0" /></a> The Snap-on NO COMPROMISE Tour is headed to Kenosha next week and so am I. Assuming there are no issues between CLE and ORD airports, I'll have a nice early start on the day. Should be a beautiful day for a drive from the Chicago airport up to Kenosha...<br /><br /><br />What is the NO COMPROMISE Tour you ask? It's venue that Snap-on developed to bring tools to the public. And, after a year of traveling the country, The Snap-on Tour is headed home to Kenosha, WI with a tour stop scheduled for August 18 at Snap-on World HQ.<br /><br /><br />It will be open to the public from 4 to 8 p.m. As a special added bonus, the renowned Ring Brothers will have their 2008 Hot Rod of the Year Camaro on display and NHRA Nitro Funny Car drivers Cruz and Tony Pedregon will be on hand from 4 to 5 to sign autographs.<br /><br /><br />The Tour was developed to provide visitors with the opportunity to speak with Snap-on officials about how Snap-on Toos can help them get the job done faster and easier. Alicia Smales, VP of marketing for SO says, "the NO COMPROMISE TOUR is designed to give "Snap-on Nation" an interactive opportunity to see the newest and most exciting products Snap-on has to offer. We wanted to create an informative, but fun, traveling tour that would appeal to everyone and I know we have accomplished that with the NO COMPROMISE TOUR." (sorry, I'm not yelling that at the top of my lungs, that is just how all their PR prints it out with a TM next to it.)<br /><br /><br />So - any questions you want me to ask the Snap-on officials that will be on hand? I already have a few of my own ready, but will be happy to add yours to the list and report back next week!Jeff Stankard, Group Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13089005498215384374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309791200194951413.post-19501454017714761542009-08-05T14:49:00.003-05:002009-08-05T14:53:22.313-05:00Cash For Clunkers<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7u1jdGtvG-YWWFIkDhT8vY_Md7KhD5MEtEDvRdi5LolWhTLbE8_ShRvMSvTFAFOsjNm6oRZs9LNw3zWlonv8HbLpb4ml-5_kk9Hr9q3NLOM1CQglfr4GUjsky_IsTJq5BCj3NjOQ3lE/s1600-h/car.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366570118206373410" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 101px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7u1jdGtvG-YWWFIkDhT8vY_Md7KhD5MEtEDvRdi5LolWhTLbE8_ShRvMSvTFAFOsjNm6oRZs9LNw3zWlonv8HbLpb4ml-5_kk9Hr9q3NLOM1CQglfr4GUjsky_IsTJq5BCj3NjOQ3lE/s400/car.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOn9TkimvNsQY3BAJaV417ZCij8xAj1ZAgIxs4dgjuVz4z5FCpFA0-URVD5u0-pjFvgEyREvjgOnzcjSR7IjWkRozjiZWDCMbNJrwubrm9otsdORj3febkUE8BM2T8CMK1ivsx49Oxqxc/s1600-h/cash.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366570051163159570" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 93px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOn9TkimvNsQY3BAJaV417ZCij8xAj1ZAgIxs4dgjuVz4z5FCpFA0-URVD5u0-pjFvgEyREvjgOnzcjSR7IjWkRozjiZWDCMbNJrwubrm9otsdORj3febkUE8BM2T8CMK1ivsx49Oxqxc/s400/cash.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>This just in.... A discussion from the Linked-in network posted a poll, asking: "<strong>Do you Think the Federal Cash for Clunkers program should be continued?"</strong> With 352 responses posted so far today, the majority of voters say <strong>YES</strong> (53%). That is all.</div></div>Jeff Stankard, Group Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13089005498215384374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309791200194951413.post-73554843351766580352009-08-04T10:15:00.005-05:002009-08-04T10:21:51.648-05:00Danaher posts negative results, but is on track w/Expectations<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDkwKYY8pR2FqTJQxdXcvYSLEqHAO8w2DOAcJ8k_i4HqtPg7qzXd9e3Rq8ip9bTlNVtwvnYU0qpEhzlXq2a-YdaaJdsl-A4Cr7Jyi3NDHiGgB0a_c5A1EPsjUWjG6KTkCJNkcCQRYWwE/s1600-h/Logo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366128147945066818" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 135px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 101px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDkwKYY8pR2FqTJQxdXcvYSLEqHAO8w2DOAcJ8k_i4HqtPg7qzXd9e3Rq8ip9bTlNVtwvnYU0qpEhzlXq2a-YdaaJdsl-A4Cr7Jyi3NDHiGgB0a_c5A1EPsjUWjG6KTkCJNkcCQRYWwE/s400/Logo.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiK59RAGPbDK922HQ0iN-juLls6dn90luzhCLHY3Ra0UBZfN7JmrTkw2ibguMCzELJc3G41YEvnDsIJPlSPGzrWb5fiL-FBk9iIq0LRvvctAb2Qfv_e1ZSPS36uAnlpQ7kIrV7wzilsnI/s1600-h/coats-tirechangers.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366128056825803714" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 224px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiK59RAGPbDK922HQ0iN-juLls6dn90luzhCLHY3Ra0UBZfN7JmrTkw2ibguMCzELJc3G41YEvnDsIJPlSPGzrWb5fiL-FBk9iIq0LRvvctAb2Qfv_e1ZSPS36uAnlpQ7kIrV7wzilsnI/s400/coats-tirechangers.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Recently, Danaher Corp. (Parent of Matco Tools and Coats Hennessy) (<a title="DHR Stock Quote" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold" onclick="quotepop('DHR');" href="javascript:void(0)" alt="DHR Stock Quote">DHR</a> - <a title="DHR Snapshot Report" href="http://register.zacks.com/ucd/step1.php?ALERT=zrmodule&t=DHR&ADID=ZACKS_COMM_TICKER_ZER" target="_blank" alt="DHR Snapshot Report">Snapshot Report</a>) reported negative second-quarter results. However, they were in line with expectations considering the weak global economy. </div><div><br /><strong>Net earnings</strong> for the quarter were $296 million, or $0.89 per share -- an 18.5% drop from a year-ago profit of $363 million, or $1.09 per share. However, it surpassed the Zacks Consensus estimate of $0.85 per share.<br />Despite the challenging economic environment, <strong>EPS </strong>was above expectations primarily on savings generated from the restructuring actions initiated in 2008 and taken in the first half of 2009 as well as reduction of material costs and operating expenses across the company.<br /><strong>Quarterly sales</strong> were $2.67 billion, <strong>18.5% lower than the $3.28 billion reported a year ago</strong>. <strong>Core revenues fell 15%</strong> in the quarter, compared to the second quarter of 2008.<br />Revenue from the professional instrumentation segment decreased 17% for the quarter with core revenues down 15.5% primarily on lower sales volumes and incremental impact of year-over-year restructuring costs incurred during the quarter. </div><div><br />Environmental platform revenue fell 3.5% in the quarter with core revenue down 1%. ChemTreat revenue was essentially flat year over year as unseasonably cool weather in April and May briefly delayed sales to boiler cooler applications. Test and Measurement revenue declined 30.5% in the quarter with core revenue down 30% reflecting a very challenging market environment. </div><div><br /><strong>Tools and Components revenue were down 23% with a core revenue decline of 22.5%.<br /></strong></div><div>Danaher’s free cash flow performance is encouraging. It was $438 million at the end of second quarter 2009. Moreover, free cash flow to net income conversion ratio was 148%. Like many in our industry, they appear to be "saving" their way through the recession, not improving their top line.<br /><br /></div></div>Jeff Stankard, Group Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13089005498215384374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309791200194951413.post-49736999882101345152009-07-31T13:51:00.005-05:002009-07-31T14:03:42.460-05:00Snap-on Announces 2nd Qtr 2009 Results<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mAwrQWwdhpuZujsshxxJRtwD_NSrKbsb5rY6gc-0_fXkUToL4GCYg7UT44UnAkq20FyNvyzZq_H5YaZms4BckR0Ooqzpg_XpqaKIndWt3E7i76DJaPlo_Ga9st1j1CHD6aFAylfwpJA/s1600-h/snaps.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364699673324127682" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 151px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 118px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mAwrQWwdhpuZujsshxxJRtwD_NSrKbsb5rY6gc-0_fXkUToL4GCYg7UT44UnAkq20FyNvyzZq_H5YaZms4BckR0Ooqzpg_XpqaKIndWt3E7i76DJaPlo_Ga9st1j1CHD6aFAylfwpJA/s400/snaps.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div> <strong>Snap-on</strong> Announces Second Quarter 2009 Results, July 31, 2009, as reported by aftermarketNews staff.<br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br />Company says investment in strategic growth opportunities continues.<br /><a href="javascript:SubmitEmailAFriend("></a><br />KENOSHA, Wis. -- <strong>Snap-on</strong> has announced operating results for the second quarter of 2009. <strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong> </div><ul><li><strong>Sales of $590 million were up 3 percent</strong> <strong>sequentially from first quarter levels, but down 23 percent compared to last year. </strong>Without the effects of currency, <strong>sales</strong> were up 0.8 percent sequentially, but down 16.4 percent year over year. <strong></strong></li><li><strong>Operating earnings</strong> of $70.3 million increased $6 million, or 9.3 percent, over first quarter 2009 on essentially flat sales levels as improved operating performance and higher financial services income were partially offset by $6.6 million of higher restructuring costs. As a percentage of revenues, operating earnings improved to 11.4 percent from 10.9 percent in the first quarter. Restructuring costs in the second quarter of $8.6 million reduced the operating margin by approximately 140 basis points. <strong>Operating earnings</strong> in the second quarter of 2008 were $111.7 million on significantly higher sales volumes. </li><li><strong>Cash flow</strong> from operations of $155.6 million increased significantly from $14.7 million in the first quarter of 2009 and $80.5 million in the second quarter of 2008 primarily due to working capital improvements principally as a result of increased emphasis on inventory reduction. </li><li><strong>Net earnings</strong> attributable to Snap-on of $37.4 million, or 65 cents per diluted share, increased $2.6 million, or 5 cents per diluted share, over first quarter 2009 levels. Net earnings attributable to Snap-on in the second quarter of 2008 were $66.9 million, or $1.15 per diluted share. </li></ul><div> </div><div>“There were a number of encouraging signs in the second quarter, particularly the sequential improvements for our Snap-on Tools and Diagnostics & Information businesses,” said Nick Pinchuk, Snap-on chairman, president and CEO. “The deepening of the recession across most European economies and the spreading of economic weakness to other industries had a more severe impact on us in the second quarter, particularly for the Commercial & Industrial Group. Nevertheless, sales and operating income for the overall corporation did improve sequentially from the first quarter. “As we said previously, we continue to drive cost-reduction initiatives, and in the second quarter took a number of actions resulting in $8.6 million of restructuring costs, with $6.7 million related to the Commercial & Industrial Group. In addition, we continue our investment in the selected strategic growth areas that we believe will be decisive in our future. As a result, we believe Snap-on is making significant quarter-by-quarter strategic progress and will emerge from this downturn in a stronger position. <strong>Going forward, we will continue to aggressively manage the balance between investing in growth opportunities and acting on rapid continuous improvement and our other value creation initiatives</strong>. In the near term, Snap-on anticipates no significant change in the economic climate. Snap-on is continuously responding to the global macroeconomic challenges by furthering its RCI and cost reduction initiatives. </div><div> </div><div>In the first six months of 2009, Snap-on incurred $10.6 million of restructuring costs, including $8.6 million in the second quarter, and presently anticipates that full-year 2009 restructuring costs will be in a range of $20 million to $24 million, up from the previously communicated range of $14 million to $18 million. </div><div> </div><div>Snap-on is also proceeding with several of its planned growth investments, including further expansion of its manufacturing capacity in China and in Eastern Europe, both of which are proceeding on schedule. Snap-on continues to expect that full-year capital expenditures will be in a range of $60 million to $70 million. On July 16, Snap-on terminated the financial services operating agreement that it had with The CIT Group, relating to the parties’ Snap-on Credit LLC (SOC) joint venture. Previously, the company recorded gains on contracts sold to CIT as financial services revenue. The company presently expects that operating income from financial services, which is before interest expense and which totaled $16.6 million in the second quarter of 2009, will be a loss in a range of $8 million to $10 million in each of the third and fourth quarters of 2009. Snap-on estimates that its incremental financing needs for SOC will approximate $450 million over the next 12 months. Snap-on believes that it has sufficient available cash on hand, cash flow from operating activities and available credit facilities, including access to public debt markets, to fund the financing needs of SOC. </div><div> </div><div>Snap-on continues to expect approximately $3 million per quarter of higher year-over-year pension expense in 2009 due to declines in pension asset values. For the first six months of 2009, foreign currency effects reduced year-over-year operating earnings by $21.3 million, of which $10.3 million occurred in the second quarter. As a result of the above, <strong>Snap-on continues to expect that third quarter sales and earnings will be down year over year</strong>. </div><div> </div><div>Snap-on is aggressively managing the balance between investing and capturing strategic growth opportunities with the need for cost-reduction actions beyond those already implemented; the current economic uncertainty makes it extremely difficult to presently predict this balance as the company continually adjusts to the challenging business environment. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364699605463070722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 171px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 212px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pr7emfZ1Wb6427Bba0MaJ_I9RuRqBwdvndtVEYCeDvFPU-PqeIOdSGID8jKTm3_fCkkHnkNqBHfBKwbBF8RT5w9Fo_evzeZTAiYDUntw3Te7tYyQ-Cm1eGHyfYXmNr8vdXZJ8WpKYCY/s400/snap.jpg" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364699098861165810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 105px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 69px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQh7Bz-yicKpgsf_KxHJpQ6tewd2h0_lg9CeNNZAc67fS01pYWtV3h_nljEcfYXjKR8RN_WKlnMSsGuj0l_voj7wZSX6BYvkI6mv286Xhirkir0nAAWNt8wQ7AawtPSQzta4vLZw7jRic/s400/Snapon.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>These are just the highlights. You can read the entire article at <a href="http://www.aftermarketnews.com/">www.aftermarketnews.com</a></div></div></div>Jeff Stankard, Group Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13089005498215384374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309791200194951413.post-36057137799560057502009-07-29T07:37:00.016-05:002009-07-31T09:17:27.546-05:00NACAT Conference - 2009Last week, <em>Tomorrow's Technician</em> editor, Ed Sunkin, and I drove down to Charlotte, NC for the 2009 NACAT Conference. This year it was held at the <strong>Central Piedmont Community College</strong>. The North American Council of Automotive Teachers meets annually in a different city each year. It is a week-long conference filled with day-long seminars and training. Despite the economy, this year's conference had a record attendance level. We went for the trade show portion.<br /><br />The purple truck below belongs to Dan Perrin's wife. Dan is the NACAT Executive Manager. He tells us his wife Lynda lets him drive it for her because she "likes the attention it gets and would rather wave back than have to watch the road."<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364627163084816610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSkW4FKDTrVHLBeJxR0S2qnFe8nmdzbwKz3joPwhsiRur8KF4a3DRnNP07Wnf0MYwSyGm_2Ni-xwAImb-tyU_yxq3swKRpE7xCe_OFzmFnEM49PSwTo6mt_-pZ84srbDH1kBIerFdxME/s400/NACATTruck.jpg" border="0" />Northwood University had a booth.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzXAn0iUZi609w52sVeZN28SQUV53GQZv6mtmmCENt22X1poMfsazeycATHIrFWYAmKZZ-9OsHc2SMlIwn56ovliz16RPlvmHQc7t3ZnBUhM20BUxvknLsVQOMF1Q4HZsFSXK7nclXTp4/s1600-h/NACATNw.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363862663463661890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzXAn0iUZi609w52sVeZN28SQUV53GQZv6mtmmCENt22X1poMfsazeycATHIrFWYAmKZZ-9OsHc2SMlIwn56ovliz16RPlvmHQc7t3ZnBUhM20BUxvknLsVQOMF1Q4HZsFSXK7nclXTp4/s400/NACATNw.jpg" border="0" /></a> Matco Tools had a booth. They have a program to reach automotive students while at school.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17A9rGIgI8SPCiczqx0prKLcjkdmXWeIQClZABq2byGOR0tU3uiqpA89AcUoryTxSSjm5tr8MKK3Pbt1s4h4aaaUPkp4WfhHS2iVmvZufG8_SSqs_3Ni1Vqk4Qm2nO-eo4H2fsF-Ox0Q/s1600-h/NACATMatco.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363862546395481714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17A9rGIgI8SPCiczqx0prKLcjkdmXWeIQClZABq2byGOR0tU3uiqpA89AcUoryTxSSjm5tr8MKK3Pbt1s4h4aaaUPkp4WfhHS2iVmvZufG8_SSqs_3Ni1Vqk4Qm2nO-eo4H2fsF-Ox0Q/s400/NACATMatco.jpg" border="0" /></a> Hunter was there.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDk453YxV51ugGahQmaSi9TgxRjZytj6hvIlO3xQ4QDOk1eGNbSqNpoqlcbR9FcrovSCS3yB5D0xsGk4BefVJJzCe233ixKkCgN3gs2UPX8hl7_3g3QjTqNMXO0Smv_K_h5zsY53PWuCM/s1600-h/NACATHunter.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363862391211411218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDk453YxV51ugGahQmaSi9TgxRjZytj6hvIlO3xQ4QDOk1eGNbSqNpoqlcbR9FcrovSCS3yB5D0xsGk4BefVJJzCe233ixKkCgN3gs2UPX8hl7_3g3QjTqNMXO0Smv_K_h5zsY53PWuCM/s400/NACATHunter.jpg" border="0" /></a>Chicago Pneumatic brought this beauty.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0dA6hlZvsLQ5BsHPEntcYLm1vglUXvmIqbiUbBSJT2qxSgLLJ1bH0hqahz_3S4kgbnA742aDWX5DEhpmhkCT0yn_JJvbOPolzFdWkwClufhYpKX1o3ECtaO9Q25_uE464z9d45yhS6_U/s1600-h/NACATCPCar.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363862170139687234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0dA6hlZvsLQ5BsHPEntcYLm1vglUXvmIqbiUbBSJT2qxSgLLJ1bH0hqahz_3S4kgbnA742aDWX5DEhpmhkCT0yn_JJvbOPolzFdWkwClufhYpKX1o3ECtaO9Q25_uE464z9d45yhS6_U/s400/NACATCPCar.jpg" border="0" /></a> Chicago Pneumatic also brought out their beautiful people and beautiful tools.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmoHlMDeKbUzERVsAisSSaPdeknIlUBsuM1VAxZcnP1yK-eqefGxc400jToCLjavCh2zkEBTolioZNmGLAshAFq-_WjcLHz-G-XCyRXgfo0PLhzlWKRId7iBxHxL_xWw8WXFpblPxSEQ/s1600-h/NACATCP.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363862084388721106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmoHlMDeKbUzERVsAisSSaPdeknIlUBsuM1VAxZcnP1yK-eqefGxc400jToCLjavCh2zkEBTolioZNmGLAshAFq-_WjcLHz-G-XCyRXgfo0PLhzlWKRId7iBxHxL_xWw8WXFpblPxSEQ/s400/NACATCP.jpg" border="0" /></a> Delmar was there.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJAOR82Pr4B6ZRkNcTpPeJ5bJZkcm9GmtM3NNo9eKmlF5EciDT7Q5e1RSv1nCmXipj9jxQ3iYzsMCOSTXeESK1hCAX1MsSsA-Tt7p7vVCteRaZsl-ZXEI4BVp5kwyYCOFujeuS6lxB30/s1600-h/NACATDelmar.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363861763584627250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJAOR82Pr4B6ZRkNcTpPeJ5bJZkcm9GmtM3NNo9eKmlF5EciDT7Q5e1RSv1nCmXipj9jxQ3iYzsMCOSTXeESK1hCAX1MsSsA-Tt7p7vVCteRaZsl-ZXEI4BVp5kwyYCOFujeuS6lxB30/s400/NACATDelmar.jpg" border="0" /></a> Snap-on had a fun time with their booth. Play darts and win a cap! The instructors liked it.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNMoQ64NezDnH8RKqhRuSNSaRu4IBOXpium7u97bUmmlDHIu3Og6MWQXDSKxeQe5xt5pgH34RRPjeMLILDgXefsiLOuxqITnPtXQC9dcEuOqxHPpg68TObxvSICCQEPXF8xYNqNyHzAGg/s1600-h/NACATSnap.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363861387641259794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNMoQ64NezDnH8RKqhRuSNSaRu4IBOXpium7u97bUmmlDHIu3Og6MWQXDSKxeQe5xt5pgH34RRPjeMLILDgXefsiLOuxqITnPtXQC9dcEuOqxHPpg68TObxvSICCQEPXF8xYNqNyHzAGg/s400/NACATSnap.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjUulqAPkB_4ZjcGND6WhUILICSkND3_AUs7QoZiFMQrHRcIi3T1NcrjV4YKHHROo6PxWv70lflCZ5UCm-hIZn6SxD67N30MXdBwlwm3edWp-q39_PJScSOU-JbD5VcX7RHFdK3pIvaA/s1600-h/NACATTruck.jpg"></a> We highlighted the School of the Year program at our booth, showcasing this year's winning entry.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3C-nUenHqqUc-yB94U-jjjqc8PjdlNamguwgT7w0fqHQg0xTNUQ_okyj4v37T2AjV6Ai6LSoyXJSoGhR-KLeUYyb4m7gO1Ii_R1695znb2VYI2JG9ttICBHyND1FUg5bMI9QIXJbzGAU/s1600-h/NACATTT.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363861074354925090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3C-nUenHqqUc-yB94U-jjjqc8PjdlNamguwgT7w0fqHQg0xTNUQ_okyj4v37T2AjV6Ai6LSoyXJSoGhR-KLeUYyb4m7gO1Ii_R1695znb2VYI2JG9ttICBHyND1FUg5bMI9QIXJbzGAU/s400/NACATTT.jpg" border="0" /></a> Gates Rubber.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOPGlm880sXukAEyC8QyX1zhcJ5JD2q_ak1qXVshJIzZKs6JWEUifHSVw5TimhAMfNIEVBiylQqgF84W5hCCqW2Wfr1x0VqtBwGeLtW1ND9wprWZNciOkMU-1BOd13nWPuL4LxGpDDoY/s1600-h/NACATGates.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363860911918058786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOPGlm880sXukAEyC8QyX1zhcJ5JD2q_ak1qXVshJIzZKs6JWEUifHSVw5TimhAMfNIEVBiylQqgF84W5hCCqW2Wfr1x0VqtBwGeLtW1ND9wprWZNciOkMU-1BOd13nWPuL4LxGpDDoY/s400/NACATGates.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jeff Stankard, Group Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13089005498215384374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309791200194951413.post-86721921541834529312009-07-02T08:27:00.017-05:002009-07-02T08:51:33.999-05:00ISN Show - The Grand Finale<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFbZe_tbVutm6tYiv7K8MLIh-qwHEqo8N6iM0wD_IIn75v2djvSK1Olp2oxx3hTcw69Sh7lcbpbgfgetTq-6lIespkidvEMVih9UMp58DxBrUxipk2PjeWAF18fSD6WvFyRAzEmHRm_g/s1600-h/Tool_Dealer_ExpoCM.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353857509028963074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 222px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFbZe_tbVutm6tYiv7K8MLIh-qwHEqo8N6iM0wD_IIn75v2djvSK1Olp2oxx3hTcw69Sh7lcbpbgfgetTq-6lIespkidvEMVih9UMp58DxBrUxipk2PjeWAF18fSD6WvFyRAzEmHRm_g/s400/Tool_Dealer_ExpoCM.jpg" border="0" /></a>Mechanics Time Savers had a colorful booth.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPmDk_tfzWRxT7ufV6bYXXj2pWE00FjD8zVhi4dFRz75kJdEzmRhT39YiH5N-JVo0suD1cD5ZqFniltPHUF_3u8CVOGjrSfxj_B1n3k07U3DUEFq3X1WUL5WSt53cbNjp-j3HiN_G2ic/s1600-h/Tool_Dealer_MechanixTimeSavers.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353857411258896402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPmDk_tfzWRxT7ufV6bYXXj2pWE00FjD8zVhi4dFRz75kJdEzmRhT39YiH5N-JVo0suD1cD5ZqFniltPHUF_3u8CVOGjrSfxj_B1n3k07U3DUEFq3X1WUL5WSt53cbNjp-j3HiN_G2ic/s400/Tool_Dealer_MechanixTimeSavers.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Some people think <a href="http://huntingtonbeachbodyworks.com/"><strong>Rich Evans</strong> </a>is a little stiff and one-dimensional.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dCRuKR4m1_9ztpac4MPv-XIm8qRw6MXNzQ5iCLJcSIKg4KamnVheOWe7Mnu8yx4wiulQFT7L-wMsTv62W9B44cHa7ZLr82Hu4wnSB-rRuepCjxJrXOP641ZkgQpoVrNnm7AAS54JSr0/s1600-h/Tool_Dealer_CP+RichEvans.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353857323678957250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 86px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 128px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dCRuKR4m1_9ztpac4MPv-XIm8qRw6MXNzQ5iCLJcSIKg4KamnVheOWe7Mnu8yx4wiulQFT7L-wMsTv62W9B44cHa7ZLr82Hu4wnSB-rRuepCjxJrXOP641ZkgQpoVrNnm7AAS54JSr0/s400/Tool_Dealer_CP+RichEvans.jpg" border="0" /></a> But he was everywhere. Here he is at the <a href="http://cp.com/"><strong>Chicago Pneumatic</strong> </a>booth. The theme was tropical and Rich was hot!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Xb07vU0HS7HvLS3-k3kY4oOfPrvif3gD-WWy1DxveH66Yr3INonC2ybrE1UEv8u6zLECWAvouRu6y-DWdW1EmHS9Cnu7EQKidPGi1MtuSyX43OHoMd3Ra3DWkkmZNJzReO1on2WIOU0/s1600-h/Tool_Dealer_CP3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353857231370559954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Xb07vU0HS7HvLS3-k3kY4oOfPrvif3gD-WWy1DxveH66Yr3INonC2ybrE1UEv8u6zLECWAvouRu6y-DWdW1EmHS9Cnu7EQKidPGi1MtuSyX43OHoMd3Ra3DWkkmZNJzReO1on2WIOU0/s400/Tool_Dealer_CP3.jpg" border="0" /></a> <strong>Chicago Pneumatic</strong> got in on the giveaway action. One lucky distributor would be leaving Orlando with a 2009 Dodge Challenger.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyUYttL2oihKdasfauNn-JoYGg6AKyzgnd6nOiWQMVoA4lectHKGVF-iBQlUM3nw2Lh5a8pFY7cZkyj9iESosiX1itiHV6s6Lga5CtiF2BHHlCU9dnaKhpfr-i1eHo88U2OQGvRVOlpU/s1600-h/Tool_Dealer_CP+Challenger.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353857107375226050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyUYttL2oihKdasfauNn-JoYGg6AKyzgnd6nOiWQMVoA4lectHKGVF-iBQlUM3nw2Lh5a8pFY7cZkyj9iESosiX1itiHV6s6Lga5CtiF2BHHlCU9dnaKhpfr-i1eHo88U2OQGvRVOlpU/s400/Tool_Dealer_CP+Challenger.jpg" border="0" /></a> There's Rich again. This time he's on tv.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEE_oDw6PsycyYO7_alQTJdS7XEH-UugmmMbjxUEIGlwWYid2vZG1NkI02uxF5jyEnbk5Tk9r6JV1y6XB043gk-EmRq_jIxwowjvPxYPulkLuTrM1nV5j9hDWmRv8rErx5xyDnwrS_U8/s1600-h/Tool_Dealer_CP2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353856980631771346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 353px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEE_oDw6PsycyYO7_alQTJdS7XEH-UugmmMbjxUEIGlwWYid2vZG1NkI02uxF5jyEnbk5Tk9r6JV1y6XB043gk-EmRq_jIxwowjvPxYPulkLuTrM1nV5j9hDWmRv8rErx5xyDnwrS_U8/s400/Tool_Dealer_CP2.jpg" border="0" /></a> Rich insisted on taking his picture with me. I autographed his t-shirt as well.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjomhaw3tMye0HXTm86DQUFECaWHWIThvLgB_EiWdWyTeZ6pKhLAgRRrCqgK6XExdl3PuuTF426IoPCopd8mhXVOtqp8A_Bla20VEYtkypDakPEfsS0yxtnmcmR0MVMg5lqEjvwR-AUqQ0/s1600-h/RichEvansBWS.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353854886828163730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjomhaw3tMye0HXTm86DQUFECaWHWIThvLgB_EiWdWyTeZ6pKhLAgRRrCqgK6XExdl3PuuTF426IoPCopd8mhXVOtqp8A_Bla20VEYtkypDakPEfsS0yxtnmcmR0MVMg5lqEjvwR-AUqQ0/s400/RichEvansBWS.jpg" border="0" /></a>Several of the Chicago Pneumatic employees dressed for the tropical theme of their booth. Did this guy go too far? You be the judge. (Hey, if it sells more tools.......)<br /><br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZoHsguCCT85WCsZxHehAAU8tjE_I-rSzxyByiCkDZv8XMOt3Y4jkx_QqeGods-I5sULzuQNeiVpfijncS4kGaKTy1v3qBbn5brSqbBiPl9IlGSEWieIWnl8eYfOWtIC85jHHOqWOGPU/s1600-h/JaysFeet.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353854700343488226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 230px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZoHsguCCT85WCsZxHehAAU8tjE_I-rSzxyByiCkDZv8XMOt3Y4jkx_QqeGods-I5sULzuQNeiVpfijncS4kGaKTy1v3qBbn5brSqbBiPl9IlGSEWieIWnl8eYfOWtIC85jHHOqWOGPU/s400/JaysFeet.jpg" border="0" /></a> Just one of the many new products coming from <a href="http://cp.com/">Chicago Pneumatic</a>.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjio7yO8nRoqJPo62J8GhK6INxJdz5B9MW7FJc6L04XXXGEO2T1K5jbZ0V32N0jARb_9_9rbuq_w2FnIOGXjpVZVJKX1-me_KqybvyFC04hGk1lsPmMZ7YgEKyzc313fYhyn2gKq1o4DBA/s1600-h/CP7749.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353854575871634994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjio7yO8nRoqJPo62J8GhK6INxJdz5B9MW7FJc6L04XXXGEO2T1K5jbZ0V32N0jARb_9_9rbuq_w2FnIOGXjpVZVJKX1-me_KqybvyFC04hGk1lsPmMZ7YgEKyzc313fYhyn2gKq1o4DBA/s400/CP7749.jpg" border="0" /></a>One young and happy fan of <a href="http://irwin.com/">Irwin Tools</a>. She like it so much, she kept trying to eat the display.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBF-PKhPH0BSUxd1mSqBLsxUR9t0RhyphenhyphenQl3qvKRU6p2yLDJPLLoJKCkSWW1ZxgVz2jHFRXQv1V2mmrmJxzuk3ajeMTvVbGWuZBq5b0ataHmdNWX2s9nv01ORyCfaluzPCgFY25hL4pO7o/s1600-h/IrwinBaby.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353854504492250482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBF-PKhPH0BSUxd1mSqBLsxUR9t0RhyphenhyphenQl3qvKRU6p2yLDJPLLoJKCkSWW1ZxgVz2jHFRXQv1V2mmrmJxzuk3ajeMTvVbGWuZBq5b0ataHmdNWX2s9nv01ORyCfaluzPCgFY25hL4pO7o/s400/IrwinBaby.jpg" border="0" /></a> It was always very busy in the Irwin booth.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8rsjTD6c0TfqEdBDbl_vpiD8gqaD3OS1RD06WWkDVjs7yjKG0ozI-WJQK3C84odLXNKW3QI7WfDVgZ6_xFvkQaZl9qtHCJROvWFTpzV9QyjNmqcJ_YxRgSmd2gih51gOpN1VAsdW6KU/s1600-h/Irwin.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353854326467853314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8rsjTD6c0TfqEdBDbl_vpiD8gqaD3OS1RD06WWkDVjs7yjKG0ozI-WJQK3C84odLXNKW3QI7WfDVgZ6_xFvkQaZl9qtHCJROvWFTpzV9QyjNmqcJ_YxRgSmd2gih51gOpN1VAsdW6KU/s400/Irwin.jpg" border="0" /></a> <strong>Extreme Tools</strong> featured their toolboxes.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4-95-8Cd6XWW74tavanlQ-aQJbsFmjeEOYsQVdiHv4Rdn_AZpHNOQEzmCMvZtjbbecN2bv56-KBeQ-gTD9Xs-35iggTzUZ635tDFJsqmQ182YNRyGIjKgzrA7ULG_DaG9IIdurk_fbw/s1600-h/ExtremeBox.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353854174065050562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4-95-8Cd6XWW74tavanlQ-aQJbsFmjeEOYsQVdiHv4Rdn_AZpHNOQEzmCMvZtjbbecN2bv56-KBeQ-gTD9Xs-35iggTzUZ635tDFJsqmQ182YNRyGIjKgzrA7ULG_DaG9IIdurk_fbw/s400/ExtremeBox.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />And that concludes the coverage (in photos) of the ISN show. Look for commentary next week! (just kidding.)</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jeff Stankard, Group Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13089005498215384374noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309791200194951413.post-65834254217275938142009-07-01T15:38:00.015-05:002009-07-02T07:55:18.961-05:00At ISN, the Show must go onPart IV - and seriously, after this I can only do one more blog on the show. I mean - the show took place over two days and this blog is now running into day 4.... Plus, with the holiday coming up, I need to wrap this up and move on. (the holiday being Independence Day, not Canada Day - no offense to my Canadian readers, but we don't get Canada Day off in Ohio.)<br /><br />This is the "official" photo of the 2010 Camaro. See below for the ISN Show Camaro that <strong>Ingersoll</strong> Rand gave away to one lucky winner.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353597470120851010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsI_occoiB7oao0qs2sli8O7z3EeDvD-Ao4QAyYBZjgT4ne3Ezbq9HYxjp746QH8yrwHW3IV8T9-v6QOkKYv57pKjWnyK_PUA_qPBNBfei-Q59twLtYXe4d3OurjWa2mvHKF_1mDcfQnE/s400/2010camaro1.jpg" border="0" /><br />So here is a new lift from <strong>Challenger/Quality Lifts</strong>, though for the show it was private-branded "Mountain". This is a nice little 4-post vehicle storage/lift. It's big enough to hold a pick-up truck on the top and still have room for a car or truck below. Price point was nice for the shadetree mechanic.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZU3PJnI6smin4974_5wye9ZCcw_0UpEFBGVJ3ngQWF14cDOFh7m_3Un36RElzTKbARVLUVw2BvsF6L_eRjKi8RdsULY8iLfOZv_XOykVbneNWHc0WAh686fAHkWmmgLUhaTonmQwitY/s1600-h/ISNMountainLift.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353594984466394322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZU3PJnI6smin4974_5wye9ZCcw_0UpEFBGVJ3ngQWF14cDOFh7m_3Un36RElzTKbARVLUVw2BvsF6L_eRjKi8RdsULY8iLfOZv_XOykVbneNWHc0WAh686fAHkWmmgLUhaTonmQwitY/s400/ISNMountainLift.jpg" border="0" /></a> Ingersoll Rand had a very nice display of new products.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpbemfUGCibbaVxKW8dNh7Pz_-kxN_wc1KB428AYcNtJzy4Q6QceaHkh04CRdBcIWQVUIhv5_Ll8UyW88QB5mFjUHSD5UCvUbcLAJ98b0McQWM4ZwyAjaYOYNh-ae7ltIsaUHQ6HBGss/s1600-h/ISN+IR+Gun.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353594891979223202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpbemfUGCibbaVxKW8dNh7Pz_-kxN_wc1KB428AYcNtJzy4Q6QceaHkh04CRdBcIWQVUIhv5_Ll8UyW88QB5mFjUHSD5UCvUbcLAJ98b0McQWM4ZwyAjaYOYNh-ae7ltIsaUHQ6HBGss/s400/ISN+IR+Gun.jpg" border="0" /></a> The Camaro they were giving away was awesome! Looked great in black! Not even available at most dealerships yet.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FPUwWJwVDO2JMx25x-aJ6P4kEsfuHvdr19cGQExtqjMofjCwbuVXjlzynKWeS3Y-wQdBYPdse0w9ipe1CIWPxZ4dDg8_RWvEv1UqGiVUJezqehVH1n5M28U5h-EY90TbkCxjKBIcjCo/s1600-h/ISN+IR+Camaro.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353594818106051442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FPUwWJwVDO2JMx25x-aJ6P4kEsfuHvdr19cGQExtqjMofjCwbuVXjlzynKWeS3Y-wQdBYPdse0w9ipe1CIWPxZ4dDg8_RWvEv1UqGiVUJezqehVH1n5M28U5h-EY90TbkCxjKBIcjCo/s400/ISN+IR+Camaro.jpg" border="0" /></a> Grey Pneumatic had a very large booth, filled with specialty sockets of all sizes.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7h0ZfPnAAY-chlLi2AzUq6cKHMrehk2LQ6LqQ5eBSeuJ-jYG8j36TifMU9Nw0eMNEjBFa0g4Ih1RK4hlK53Y6vrlAC8QTRnIsZLq9cVfXxG_PFtXaMJ511pricIMcbn-4ZqAZrnCEm74/s1600-h/ISN+Grey.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353594710429494866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7h0ZfPnAAY-chlLi2AzUq6cKHMrehk2LQ6LqQ5eBSeuJ-jYG8j36TifMU9Nw0eMNEjBFa0g4Ih1RK4hlK53Y6vrlAC8QTRnIsZLq9cVfXxG_PFtXaMJ511pricIMcbn-4ZqAZrnCEm74/s400/ISN+Grey.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />GearWrench was busy and full of order-writing customers both days. They had a large booth and it was filled end-to-end with cool GearWrench tools.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibuSSJVG5NI7n4WmP02q0GMyKOK2x7hsf_DJweC9GfU0AJTtwtmsBSrkASSalDpC2xeSBNeipJZMhhHC6AqcnyN8ie7fdJX9fURX6-EKnL_0ENj3UFvaRZwk0rIUcACQ3B9q5oJuy-meI/s1600-h/ISN+GearWRench.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353594634415589250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 276px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibuSSJVG5NI7n4WmP02q0GMyKOK2x7hsf_DJweC9GfU0AJTtwtmsBSrkASSalDpC2xeSBNeipJZMhhHC6AqcnyN8ie7fdJX9fURX6-EKnL_0ENj3UFvaRZwk0rIUcACQ3B9q5oJuy-meI/s400/ISN+GearWRench.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg44fKDamrrUGUDd8LB8ZjB8pD341aO9mEGA6sID0gdXbVBy5A3tRV4nIw0ucs-AACmvCX3PLARYF7lARdfAyLCvavahMz9OnwBRjlq5UXU7Jd3qAF8dWhmhEW0dO6grAd0NaWVnhIWSjg/s1600-h/ISN+GearWrench2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353594469377357378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg44fKDamrrUGUDd8LB8ZjB8pD341aO9mEGA6sID0gdXbVBy5A3tRV4nIw0ucs-AACmvCX3PLARYF7lARdfAyLCvavahMz9OnwBRjlq5UXU7Jd3qAF8dWhmhEW0dO6grAd0NaWVnhIWSjg/s400/ISN+GearWrench2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />DeWalt was a first-time exhibitor. They had great deals on some products and were pretty busy everytime I walked by their booth. This shot was taken prior to the show opening.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhpDvfdMAJQPwObhn-dmonGPNL_HBfSuXl12EYtCkIBnxMJbxaQJEMaSeC5jgwTyMEmmWWusv9tTYMqpGTPN0-h0oJLU6pMsENzWZIksmvvtC-E_zciChLwe7Sv55YAsXeo_nu107T6w/s1600-h/ISN+DeWalt.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353594365449841874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhpDvfdMAJQPwObhn-dmonGPNL_HBfSuXl12EYtCkIBnxMJbxaQJEMaSeC5jgwTyMEmmWWusv9tTYMqpGTPN0-h0oJLU6pMsENzWZIksmvvtC-E_zciChLwe7Sv55YAsXeo_nu107T6w/s400/ISN+DeWalt.jpg" border="0" /></a> SPX had a Porsche Boxster in their booth, but honestly, that was not the draw for the customers. Their nuclear show specials and great products brought people in.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh206aql_udYIUbpO0oynkGh3loMXgiSyd12fstjy9gHSt_a0BTFgJIOwYTCwGPxVxeQKovN6a2GYf1CNYCEhdII0SHFCJBG4CDjsoOAUKYVVV6tFH8KWM_1GLb_hnan_Mc1hs2uDkzwps/s1600-h/FerrariSPXCM.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353594255086353682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh206aql_udYIUbpO0oynkGh3loMXgiSyd12fstjy9gHSt_a0BTFgJIOwYTCwGPxVxeQKovN6a2GYf1CNYCEhdII0SHFCJBG4CDjsoOAUKYVVV6tFH8KWM_1GLb_hnan_Mc1hs2uDkzwps/s400/FerrariSPXCM.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Special thank you to Chad Myers for the use of your photos.<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jeff Stankard, Group Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13089005498215384374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309791200194951413.post-73870620652744211112009-07-01T13:06:00.003-05:002009-07-01T13:16:14.227-05:00A Break from the ISN Show Updates...This morning I checked the recent traffic on my blog. It tends to go up when I write more. Not too difficult to understand. And readers numbers have been steadily climbing since Sunday. I like to see where my readers are from, and the number one and number two supporters are the <strong>U.S.</strong> and then <strong>Canada</strong>. But for the first time ever, Canada has been booted from the number two spot of providing most of my readers. <br /><br />I narrowed my timeframe to the past three days and asked Google Analytics where my readers originated. Number one was the United States. Number two was 14 visits (over 3 days) from a town in <strong>Brazil </strong>called <strong>Pelotas</strong>. Now, I don't know anyone in Pelotas (that I know of). I don't know anyone in Brazil. And I don't speak Spanish or Portugese. But I am darn glad to have my Brazilian readers! Thanks!<br /><br />In the U.S., most of my readers come from California, Ohio, and Florida. But there is one mystery to me. I have had a regular reader from <strong>Miamisburg, OH</strong>. Again, don't know anyone there (or maybe I do?). Luckily though I do speak the language, so Mr. or Ms. Miamisburg, drop me a comment and let me know what you think about the blog!Jeff Stankard, Group Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13089005498215384374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309791200194951413.post-362807618258637002009-06-30T14:55:00.012-05:002009-06-30T15:17:44.271-05:00ISN Show - Part IIIAnother cool design from <strong>Waterloo Toolboxes</strong>. Sometimes a sale starts with the outward appearance.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatKPG4SXrxlhU71k9p9McTytYJtt6jLABcOMvOnDRvxJdLBj8ysObmoLuxio5vRXKbTcAbFvzvrAo47ve8ScruKHEbRIXuYoHf4E4337ZUJ9Jox7pqtbabOfHtRYa-d83GZE_lpS86P0/s1600-h/WaterlooWbox.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353214289897232450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 247px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatKPG4SXrxlhU71k9p9McTytYJtt6jLABcOMvOnDRvxJdLBj8ysObmoLuxio5vRXKbTcAbFvzvrAo47ve8ScruKHEbRIXuYoHf4E4337ZUJ9Jox7pqtbabOfHtRYa-d83GZE_lpS86P0/s400/WaterlooWbox.jpg" border="0" /></a> <strong>Northcoast Tool (Filmtec)</strong> had a large booth and stayed busy throughout the two days of the show. <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFy0Jy4xoSYW_QBnQNOxrk5-HQ8JAXe_BXpFaTCf3Cmr_e1QdmJw83fCTu9MKG9qhai6bIyt0wFNvqifAsR9XahpsmJhTFmrScsA_EKkWH8g8rfM1N02p6NEi3QcrIIWF8n4UGPr1j3U4/s1600-h/BlogTemp+031.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353213794561998226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFy0Jy4xoSYW_QBnQNOxrk5-HQ8JAXe_BXpFaTCf3Cmr_e1QdmJw83fCTu9MKG9qhai6bIyt0wFNvqifAsR9XahpsmJhTFmrScsA_EKkWH8g8rfM1N02p6NEi3QcrIIWF8n4UGPr1j3U4/s400/BlogTemp+031.jpg" border="0" /></a> <strong>George Stockin, of Lock Technology</strong>, insisted he had the coolest booth on the show floor. Tests performed by <strong>Steve White </strong>of <strong>Electronic Specialties</strong> indeed proved that George had the coolest booth temperature, by 10 degrees. An advertising specialist was called in for an unbiased confirmation. This is not how Steve typically demonstrates the effectiveness of his tools.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7nX0BwNP1yHolHWe6g0S0x-9zJI4EqV_ACCuVkzZsM-5hKBQpHwWA4_2frh6vkQ2oijz_Y5e0DvXoQXNHq8p2960uQpBan6vQi0cMotTS5gj03vZnPmlW_iERG4MzjamJlNF275HuJE/s1600-h/BlogTemp+024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353213670857675298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7nX0BwNP1yHolHWe6g0S0x-9zJI4EqV_ACCuVkzZsM-5hKBQpHwWA4_2frh6vkQ2oijz_Y5e0DvXoQXNHq8p2960uQpBan6vQi0cMotTS5gj03vZnPmlW_iERG4MzjamJlNF275HuJE/s400/BlogTemp+024.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong>Rich Hulden, Sunex,</strong> just forked over a ton of cash to this mobile distributor, in exchange for a very nice order. Before he could pocket the cash, another person arrived at the scene, looking for a handout. I don't think he met Rich's criteria for a "cash-back" exchange.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRvtl8jIVv1bOYC2MjEPvcYBxLEC7RWCbvTeZUndHdfirF1TZ_2ATXH5HShdqogI8DNfgxNfEdyMw3g7UVHTJR-8nF4qx7aQypqRlO1YdNhVNERrixgAk0nH7UR65zgGTgat7aDzJK28/s1600-h/SunexMoney.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353213567432606930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRvtl8jIVv1bOYC2MjEPvcYBxLEC7RWCbvTeZUndHdfirF1TZ_2ATXH5HShdqogI8DNfgxNfEdyMw3g7UVHTJR-8nF4qx7aQypqRlO1YdNhVNERrixgAk0nH7UR65zgGTgat7aDzJK28/s400/SunexMoney.jpg" border="0" /></a> More orders were written than at any previous ISN show. These gentlemen wrote them wherever they could find a flat surface. This happened to be a tool cart in the Mountain booth.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59IgQfdOVL2zJH1nSpOneb6SNo8IXA7EQrreFZlPPBXsQSItbBOuW_xSJZUaR3kXGGbG6n8TPCxHm-hgh19EUJ5dBPZ-5a9lDwIgXhe7tSLVY2yqHt1sqzW4L39LolKzJk7G2kgUrbIM/s1600-h/BlogTemp+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353213398459929650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59IgQfdOVL2zJH1nSpOneb6SNo8IXA7EQrreFZlPPBXsQSItbBOuW_xSJZUaR3kXGGbG6n8TPCxHm-hgh19EUJ5dBPZ-5a9lDwIgXhe7tSLVY2yqHt1sqzW4L39LolKzJk7G2kgUrbIM/s400/BlogTemp+018.jpg" border="0" /></a> What was everyone from <strong>Lisle</strong> doing? Writing orders as fast as possible of course. They had <strong>ISN Select Extreme Deals</strong>.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4v2mjhaoZyrbIgNvoUdngOJPj8hGsxOUJEerZf2cIHysLree1tIDhR0nCCvvr7tSykjJWpO7lHr-Q6UtKz9djt-1v0MzjQs3C0CvhZ9au51vV8rJIfDzqM1rgoaBnjIvp8wMOMIsBvc/s1600-h/Lisle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353212413682533474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4v2mjhaoZyrbIgNvoUdngOJPj8hGsxOUJEerZf2cIHysLree1tIDhR0nCCvvr7tSykjJWpO7lHr-Q6UtKz9djt-1v0MzjQs3C0CvhZ9au51vV8rJIfDzqM1rgoaBnjIvp8wMOMIsBvc/s400/Lisle.jpg" border="0" /></a> Another shot of the expansive <strong>Sunex</strong> booth.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJrkhHh3pgAPb3Ojshb3Xk3oy48P7SGaK8b2oSzPY81UuqNVod6jLB7IiUGcKVCY6X3PXeOL8IBOxTGEwkxhy6leFVuvQYGNzNMa-dRAeFWLxC5at9MDWiwuSRQRV75G2_xA5zkIN2mU/s1600-h/BlogTemp+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353212216867254002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJrkhHh3pgAPb3Ojshb3Xk3oy48P7SGaK8b2oSzPY81UuqNVod6jLB7IiUGcKVCY6X3PXeOL8IBOxTGEwkxhy6leFVuvQYGNzNMa-dRAeFWLxC5at9MDWiwuSRQRV75G2_xA5zkIN2mU/s400/BlogTemp+013.jpg" border="0" /></a> This show had everything. Even live alligators!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6enlmSCoKBmrFp8QJ5-KDiE0BZngu4UxWwqRpalHLn5KT7D-cbTHsNPbXZyXnE28Un8Mk-EA0SDC4OeBSf1dyKRmCw1FRzTuYbk2mx645Fr3dj15Bm8tz70SiWzagnvEmcDAilZcRX4/s1600-h/Alligator.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353212083708024690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 364px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6enlmSCoKBmrFp8QJ5-KDiE0BZngu4UxWwqRpalHLn5KT7D-cbTHsNPbXZyXnE28Un8Mk-EA0SDC4OeBSf1dyKRmCw1FRzTuYbk2mx645Fr3dj15Bm8tz70SiWzagnvEmcDAilZcRX4/s400/Alligator.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jeff Stankard, Group Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13089005498215384374noreply@blogger.com0