The AIA Show

A big week from the supply side as the AIA show starts up Thursday in San Antonio. I will be there and will post anything that is newsworthy or interesting. Going in, it should be interesting to see how the Architects are feeling about the economy-with the big question- Are you busy? Outside of that, it will probably be a very "Green" show as everyone tries to "outgreen" their competition. I'm half tempted to even tell people my blog can get you LEED points... heck it wouldn't be a major stretch considering the way that people are trying to promote and position themselves as "green" with absolutely no clue of what it means.

- Elsewhere

- Is another Aluminum supplier for sale? Hot off of US Aluminum finally being sold, was a USGNN headline about Alcoa looking to sell off certain divisions. Could Kawneer be one of them? The article did not say... but Kellogg's or K Mart could snap up Kawneer and not have to change the logo- at least it would be instant synergy! Seriously though, the aluminum side continues to have instability when it comes to ownership as it seems mostly everyone has either been sold or been for sale in the last 2 years- so it could be possible.

- Great article on the fad of flipping houses and how that fad is now pretty much history. To read it- click here. If your too busy to read it, the article basically says that people in cities like Vegas and Miami jumped on the housing boom for the sheer profit side and now they are getting beat down... bad. To the tune of a 47% rise in foreclosures last month. Given that info, its another indicator of why the residential side of the industry is struggling.

- Speaking of AIA, we'll see if our pals from the NFRC will be there filling the architects heads with sweet nothings about how great their programs are. After all supposedly the NFRC is "seeking" out the AIA for input on their efforts. Which brings up the article by Les Shaver in the current issue of USGlass. An interesting note in there was the whole “cost” angle and the fact the NFRC is going to try and address that glaring issue. To date, while we are battling on so many fronts, the cost of the program has never been presented by the NFRC, so if that comes in high it could just add another cantankerous log on the fire. My expectation is the costs to be high because there’s a feeling out there that our side of the industry is flush with cash- just ready to support programs like this. Seriously. I was told by 2 people on the other side of this issue that exact statement. Its amazing, so every time a public company on our side of the ledger announces their results, people from the test labs and consulting firms, take that as an indication of “they can afford it- after all its for the good of the public”

- One China note- and non glass at that... did you see that the Chinese are hoping to manipulate the weather at the 2008 Olympics to be held there? Yes the scientists there feel they can "force" the rain ahead of the events, so the Sky's will be clear for the games. I mean everyday they amaze me just a little bit more.

Sorry no video this post- I will have one later in the week- but just as an update the little boy that was hurt during the Colorado State football game is OK- he got stitches. I am still amazed he is OK- that kid to a brutal hit! (See below post for video if you missed it)