It is my opinion that what happens on November 6th with
the Presidential election will be a life changing event. Others are watching it too as last week one
of the monthly projection reports specifically focused on it as a reason for
their results. The Dodge Momentum Index
slipped in August and has been struggling recently and the analysts basically
blamed it on the election and uncertainty stemming from it. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that
the results that day, no matter what they are, will have a major effect on our
industry and how we go forward. Will the
closure that comes from the election (or should come) make a difference? I am hearing both. From some sides, it’s a resounding yet, but
others believe that the gridlock and malaise will continue no matter what.
Elsewhere…
-- Last week Jenni Chase on the Glassblog on Glass Magazine had
one of the best posts of ALL TIME… her piece on being a glass geek was
excellent and if you missed it, please check it here. My geek story is from when the new Pittsburgh
Airport opened 1992, it featured TONS of glass.
It was the first airport to feature a mall in it and since it was pre
9-11, you could meet people at the gates, so you could shop while you wait. Anyway, my brother and I went out there right
after it opened, just to look at the glass- and see all the logos. We were on our knees looking at logos on the
glass by the automated walkways, and craning our necks to see logos up high on
an all glass storefront. Needless to say
we looked like we were either idiots or casing the joint. Obviously that could NEVER happen in our
current world… Anyway, Jenni’s piece
and the great comments that came from it were excellent reading!
-- Yet another reason I struggle with the Department of
Energy. Last week the Pittsburgh Tribune
Review ran a story about athletes getting special breaks from the government
and the good ole DOE was at it again.
From the story:
Agassi's Las Vegas nonprofit
took $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to help erect the
"Alternative Energy School of the Future." According to the agency,
the money was earmarked by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada
Democrat, solely for the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education -- no other
schools need apply.
Wow. Now politics
aside… WHY is the DOE giving 1.5 million to anyone for something like
this? And not to mention a tennis
player’s charity is the right place for that amount of money? Really?
The rest of the story can be found here and it’s infuriating.
-- For those of you who have been in the industry a while, the
name Jim Bradford will be familiar. He
is the former President of both AFG (before they were known as AGC) and the old
United Glass Corp. Bradford left the
industry way back at the start of last decade and has been successful in his
ventures. This past week however he made
news when he was embroiled in a mini controversy at Cracker Barrel where he is
a board member. Here’s the Cracker
Barrel side and the very intense response from their largest shareholder who is
not happy.
-- Last this week… the poor Washington Nationals… man who would
think me picking them for the World Series would jinx them in the 9th
inning of game 5. Now it is obvious
there is no more fortunate/clutch team in the world than St Louis. Wow. And
as for the Yankees, losing Derek Jeter surely isn’t a good thing. Ouch.
LINKS of the WEEK
-- For the branding geeks like me…. Wendy’s is getting a newlook and logo.
-- And yet another frightening virus like program for you to be
aware of. This one is wild.
-- And only in Detroit is where you can have a squatter living
legally with the real homeowner.
VIDEO of the WEEK
The Ohio University Marching 110 is the “best band in the
land” but this effort from another college in Ohio… is pretty good…
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