This past week the latest Architectural Billings Index (ABI)
came out and it showed the best performance of that indicator since 2007. So is it time to party? Can we take this seriously? Sadly my answer is… no. I just have a nagging feeling that this report
was a fluke and next month we’ll be off the trend again. Plus even if this is good, we’re seeing that
the positive ABI from last year, that should have a direct effect on our
industry right now, really did and has not. (Especially in specific geographies) End of the day, I enjoy following these
reports, I like commenting on them, but I guess I am reluctant to believe them.
Elsewhere…
-- Want to read a depressing story that will make you angry
about government waste, corporate greed, lawyerly deception and overall ineptitude? Check out this piece on the Home Affordable
Modification Program and see how efforts like this can go very badly.
-- Last week I hammered the Cruise world after the Carnival
debacle and I heard about it from several angles. The biggest one was from former Texas Glass
Association Professional of the Year David Ozment of Binswanger Glass. He was not pleased with my comments given the
effect a cruise slowdown could have on his Galveston territory. And he’s right. No doubt that if the cruise industry suffers
the effect it will have on its ports will be dramatic. Still I do wonder how many people did see that
coverage and decide, no way, not going on one.
-- Amazing news, last week I had a brief interaction with the
folks at the Department of Energy and I must say, the new blood is very very
good. We have hope folks. Good people at that organization could have
an incredibly positive effect on our industry.
-- If you read this blog you know I like lists… this one though
was tough. I picked it up thanks to the
fantastic Twitter feed of Earnest Thompson and it was Forbes Magazine’s “top
miserable cities” for 2013. The link is
here, but as a preview it has a lot of Michigan and California cities on the
list.
-- Kudos to the team at MyGlassTruck.com for their latest
fundraising success. You may remember
these guys as the folks with the memorable exhibits at GlassBuild America. They also though are pretty amazing when it
comes to raising money for breast cancer and last week they announced they
passed the $10,000 mark in secured donations.
Great work gang!! Plus I can’t wait to see what they have up their
sleeves in Atlanta this fall!
-- Last this week… I read that Lance Armstrong was paid 31
million by the US Postal Service as a part of their sponsorship of him and his
cycling team. I guess this is yet
another reason why that organization is so deep in debt. I would’ve loved to be in that marketing and
strategy session to hear what the justification was on why they sponsored him
and more importantly how it would drive more people to use an archaic mail and
delivery service. And I get brand
awareness, live for it, but that argument doesn’t play here for a ton of
reasons. (Majority of races overseas, lack
of TV exposure, tainted sport, etc.)
LINKS of the WEEK
-- A helium shortage could actually be very serious. Wow.
-- OK fellow Road Warriors… check out the possible airline seatof the future… what do you think? Pretty
cool in my estimation but since I usually only fly Delta and their fleet is 30
years old, I’ll probably never see it.
The untold story of one of the more memorable openings of
the Oscars.
VIDEO of the WEEK
Last week it was the basketball coach hitting the half court
shot. This week it’s the cheerleader and
she does it one better. Amazing stuff!
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