ONE PERSON OPERATION

Nothing like a locally owned "Mom & Pop" business. This small restaurant in the video below has two employees, Mom & Pop. Customers walk up to the window to order from the extensive hand written menus hanging on dry erase boards. When your order is ready, Anna yells out or if she is not really busy she will bring your meal to you. No dishwasher required, all food is served on paper plates. Anna's Cuban coffee is a big hit, strong like espresso served in a small styrofoam cup. Within the next couple of days, there will be a second post about being a good salesperson of which I learned from Anna.

FAR FROM A DEPRESSION

We Are Not Headed for a Great Depression
By Elizabeth MacDonald

In a bear market, there is always a bull run on Chicken Little helmets.
We are not headed for a Great Depression. There are no souplines stretching for city blocks. Yes the market may drift lower, but here are the major differences between then and now.

The United States of Bailouts
Yes we are now living in the United States of Bailouts, as the government has created a $700 bn mega-dumpster to buy at auction rotting paper that was crafted by habitually self-deceiving, hubristic hustlers on Wall Street, who, unburdened by conscience, felt entitled to follow their own codes of conduct as they went berserk enriching themselves.
Not just Wall Street, but taxpayers, will be staring morosely at this mountain for some time. And now we have Bailout 2.0, with the government exercising its powers under the former bill to buy equity stakes in damaged financial institutions (the prior bill said it could buy any type of distressed asset).

Readers, who I so appreciate, know I’ve been saying since last fall that the free market has turned into a free-for-all, that Wall Streeters have sewaraged the once white-shoe reputation of finance with a kind of thinking that exists only on the margins of the Bell Curve.
It is their unfathomable stupidity, and the fact that these exotic derivatives that so enriched Wall Street but now have the same rights to the US Treasury as plain vanilla Treasurys, that is engendering a voter outrage hot enough to melt platinum. Perhaps the upside here is that we may get a voter turnout this coming presidential election bigger than the turnout in Mali or the Sudan.

And yes, as I’ve noted, we have come full circle, as with a great thundering thump, the Federal Reserve took the unthinkable step of converting the last two major investment banks standing, Morgan Stanley (MS: 12.45, -4.35, -25.89%) and Goldman Sachs (GS: 101.35, -11.65, -10.30%) into traditional bank holding companies.

The Differences Between Then and Now
However, the differences between today and the Great Depression are many and sundry:
The Dow Jones industrial average is down more than one-third from its high a year ago. The stock market lost 89% of its value from its peak during the Great Depression. During the most recent bear market, from March 2000 to October 2002, the market lost about 50%. Same for 1973-1974 and two other times since 1937.
With stocks down 36%, we are closer to a bottom than a top. Most, if not all, of the bear damage may have already been done.
*One big difference is that during the Great Depression, there was no deposit insurance, causing a huge run on banks (watch out for bank runs England-deposit insurance there is a paltry $4,000). As customers withdrew their money, you had banks failing right and left. About 7,000 and 8,000 failed between 1929 and 1932. Today, 13 have collapsed, with 117 on the government’s watch list. Yes today’s banks are much bigger than the banks of the ’30s–but so far, absent Washington Mutual and Wachovia, the big banks have not toppled. And these two banks are being taken over by bigger players.
*Industrial production dropped by 45% during the Great Depression. So far it is down 1.5% this year, led by the downturn in the automotive sector. US manufacturing remains in a recession, however.
*During the Great Depression, the whole economic policy stance then was bad, analysts note. The Federal Reserve was designed to come to the aid of banks that were in trouble. For some reason, it didn’t. Now it is.
*Gary Becker, a Nobel prize-winning professor of economics at the University of Chicago, notes in a Wall Street Journal editorial that although we are in the most severe financial crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s, this is a far smaller crisis, especially in terms of the effects on output and employment.
*Becker reiterates that the United States had about 25% unemployment during most of the decade from 1931 until 1941, and sharp falls in GDP.
*Becker says with efficient auctions, the government may well make money on its actions, just as the Resolution Trust Corporation that took over many savings-and-loan banks during the 1980s crisis did not lose much, if any, money.
*Becker adds too that the crisis that kills capitalism has been said to happen during every major recession and financial crisis ever since Karl Marx prophesized the collapse of capitalism in the middle of the 19th century. He says he is confident that sizable world economic growth will resume before very long under a mainly capitalist world economy.

THE SUN CALLS IT A NIGHT

BASKETBALL CABINET

This morning's Miami Herald gave me a little hope for Mr. Obama's future. The headline reads "Team Player". Mr. Obama is packing his Cabinet with people who've got game on the court, possibly signaling a more team-oriented approach to leadership.

Read the Miami Herald article here.

Mrs. Guanciale, sitting on the balcony suggested this post, she is a big (in mind only) basketball lady.

Why Ohio Makes the Best Coaches!

"Less than 4% of the country's population lives in Ohio, but 15% of college football's major-conference head coaches were born there -- the most for any state. And this volume is more than matched by quality: 14 of the last 18 teams that have made it to the national title game have had head coaches with Ohio connections."

Click her to read the entire The Wall Street Journal article.

This information was passed on to me by Robin Flaherty.

GEORGE BELLOWS

GEORGE BELLOWS

il Babbo Natale

GUANCIALE FAMILY CHRISTMAS

Christmas Eve Music

My sister Robin is a large fan of The Three Priest and passed this along to me. Thank you!

FDNY FOUNDATION

The FDNY Foundation issued on their web site HOLIDAY SAFETY TIPS.

Everyone should take a minute and check out the list and just not think about the Holidays, but for the year to come and what needs to be done to protect their home and family.

The Foundation has proved through their fire safety education that in New York City there has been a 81% drop in fatalities due to candle fires and a 50% drop in fatalities by children playing with matches.

Do not forget to turn off the oven when you leave your home, even just to run out quickly to pick up more ingredients. This can happen to everyone, especially if you are in a hurry.

Several years ago, a rainy & cold winter night, I arrived on the scene of a house fire on Riley Street in Newark. Capt. Greg Keefe asked of me to go to Newark Fire Station One and turn off the oven. The home with a kitchen fire was saved and the fire fighter's ham loaf was also.

Photo 12/15/08: Imagine fighting an interior fire and your nozzle looses water pressure because the fire you are fighting burned a hole in the hose. Now you know why at even the smallest of structure fires you will see two hose lines leading to the home, just in case.

Remember: I hope you do not have a fire, but if you do, I hope I am there.

ONE MORE GREAT CHRISTMAS SONG

I YUST GO NUTS AT CHRISTMAS check this out on Lisa Stewart's blog. Just one more great Christmas song!

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

Napoleon Bonaparte

"Nothing is more difficult, and therefore

more precious, than to be able to decide."

CHRISTMAS SONG & VIDEO OF THE DAY

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DECORATIVE CANDLES

Our household is like many households, we have decorative candles that will never see a match. Last night I was in Cornell's of Downtown Newark, Robin Pierce found at his mother's home three choir boy candles. The three candles brought back some memories while growing up, my mother had the same candles. Just like Mrs. Pierce, never burned, but looked "cute" sitting out during the Holidays. Below you will find a short story about Gurley Candles:

Franklin Gurley was a candle maker of specifically designed novelty candles which were first sold in the 1930s. Originally, the candles were commissioned by the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company (now ExxonMobile) simply so that they could make use of the excess paraffin that was produced during the oil refinery process. Made by confectioner Franklin Gurley at his company W&F Manufacturing, they were originally marketed under the name Tavern Novelty Candles. Over time, Gurley's business went from paraffin confections such as wax lips and teeth to almost exclusively candle production. Tavern was bought out and the name was changed to Gurley Novelty in 1949.

The Tavern and Gurley wax figures and candles were most commonly sold at discount stores such as Woolworths, but they could also be found at department stores like Macy's. Gurley made candles for all of the major holidays, but the ones most sought after today by collectors are generally the Christmas and Halloween candles. Individual candles sold for between 10 and 99 cents and sets sold for a bit more. Almost all vintage Gurley candles that you find on the market today have unlit wicks. While they were marketed as candles, the little figural candles were never really meant to be burned. People collected them for display. There are actually some wax figures under the Tavern brand that don't even have a wick, such as a Nativity set that was designed by Gurley. If you are a collector only interested in the original Gurley and Tavern candles, then one thing it will be important for you to keep in mind is that the Vermont Country Store has purchased many of the Gurley candle molds and is manufacturing candles today that look exactly like the original candles. If you want to ensure that you are buying the vintage collectibles and not reproductions, it will be important to search for candles that still have the original Gurley label so you know that you are getting a vintage item and not a brand new one. If you find some candles that have lost their labels, one way to tell the difference is that the newer candles will be very brightly color compared to their vintage counterparts.

Groundhog Christmas Party

Just around the corner is Groundhog Day of which will be celebrated in Licking County on January 30, this coming year.

The Groundhog Committee of the Licking County Chamber of Commerce met this evening to work on the final plans, have dinner and hold their annual Christmas ornament exchange at the Granville Inn, Granville, Ohio.

The food as always was tremendous. Several unique ornaments were exchanged with the most unique ornament received by Barbara Doan.

Thank you to the kind gentleman, who ever you are that was willing to take the photo.

SONG OF THE DAY

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VOTE THE BEST WHITE CHRISTMAS VOCALIST

White Christmas by far is one of the best Christmas movies ever filmed featuring "White Christmas" written by Irving Berlin and sung by Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney.

Compare several different vocalist: Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, The Drifters, Bing & Rosemary and Uncle Dean Martin.

I will look forward to your comments on which entertainer(s) is your favorite.

..

Moustache

MOUSTACHE WEARERS

Read the blog above, the song of the day is more important

SONG OF THE DAY

I MAY HAVE HELPED START A PROBLEM

Earlier today I was checking in on the Chat with the Chamber blog and about Cheri's problem of trying to pay cash while buying gifts.

This may make me sound old once again, about my sophomore year of high school I had a really neat job and probably my first job with real responsibility to produce results by selling to someone who did not come to me as during the past two years at Cornell's Clothing. I was working for the Newark Trust Company, at the time a large bank based in Newark, Ohio.

My self and one fellow named Tom Deweese and two girls were in charge of selling MasterCard to the merchants in the Newark and Heath, Ohio areas for the summer. We would leave the bank early in the morning (I was the only not old enough to drive yet) and visit the retail merchants, gas stations (before they sold beer and milk), restaurants, bars & physician offices and discuss with the merchants the reasoning for accepting MasterCard. They were amazed that when they would bring the receipt in with their deposits to the bank, their account would be credited within 24 hours the sum of money the person had charged.

Only the former Kline's, Sears & Carroll's Dept. Stores actually had a plastic charge card you carried with you. Most merchants could not turn down a couple of high school and college kids telling them about the future of how people will never carry cash money. Shortly after our summer of selling, the bank mailed out thousands of cards to there customers.

The best part of the job was after hours, we would revisit our new customers and place decals on the windows, doors and cash registers, hang a tin sign from the light pole in front of the gas stations and demonstrate how to handle the carbon copy paper work through the embosser which imprinted the card on their deposit slip.

This was one of my better summers, learned a lot, met a large number of business people and really started something that has become a hindrance to our national economy. Just think: if we would have not done this, the bankruptcy courts would have been far and few in between!


CLICK HERE FOR THE SONG OF THE DAY

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Central Ohio Remdel Report: Cost vs. Value

The 2007 Cost vs Value Report is now out for Central Ohio. Check it out to see if you are going to increase the value of your home with your 2008 remodeling projects.

Remember: just because this table of information says one thing or another, feel free to contact me to discuss what you are planning on doing and what it will mean to your home's value in Licking County.

CLICK HERE FOR TODAY'S SONG

Frank Sinatra

Jury Duty, Day Three

Today ended my third and final day of Jury Duty for the Common Pleas Court of Licking County. Now I can talk about the trial, be back to my several times a day reading of The Newark Advocate and most importantly to me: back to work.

I have had for forty years the highest respect for Judge Jon Spahr, today I do not know what is higher than highest, but this is what my respect for him is now. It has to be a very lonely job, sitting behind his bench listening, giving instructions to the attorneys, jury and witnesses. After the five hour deliberation, verdicts read and the jury taken back to the Jury Room. Jon Spahr who has a very bad cold came in and visited the jury and discussed the case, gave answers to questions and once again thanked everyone for helping. During the trial I felt sorry for him, no smile, no exciting expressions, but afterwards when he came into the Jury Room, I saw the smiling Jon I have known and liked for years.

Two days ago, I posted in this blog that you should never wear a tie, because you will be selected for the jury. Today after the closing remarks, we were lead to the Jury Room. The jury had to select a Foreperson, one of my fellow jurors pointed her finger at me and said "he is a business man, he should be Foreman". I sat there, trying to slip under the table, while others agreed. Foreman is not the real title, it is referee.

Jury Duty, Day One

This past weekend I started a search to find a way or suggestions to get out of Jury Duty.

The first page I viewed made me feel very comfortable with it's comments and I decided it had to be true, after all it was on the Internet. The comment I stopped at stated: "In December, there is a far greater chance that most trials will be delayed or moved, and you may never actually get called in, while at the same time you are still fulfilling your civic duty. "

Well I am fulfilling my duty, I was selected. Now I can not talk to anyone about the case and can not read the Newark Advocate. At least I am not the alternate juror, I would hate to sit in the court room for 2.5 days and think it does not matter.

My suggestions to not be selected:
Limp, say you are hard of hearing, don't wear a neck tie (I am sure this was my mistake), say you just got off of third shift or you have to pick the kids up from school, spill coffee on yourself while waiting, ask if a television will be available during breaks to watch your soap operas or trip walking into the court room.

The judge gave an explanation of why one should not serve, I could not find a good loophole reason, I am too honest. The neck tie did me in, I thought being asked to help the progress of democracy, one should be dressed appropriately. Where I really went wrong was the two opposing attorneys saw a guy smart enough to tie a neck tie and thought he would be a good juror.

I have changed appointments around, worked until 10:00pm and will come in at 5:00am to make sure my phone calls are lined up for our breaks during the second day hearing and may miss a wanted lunch. But, I am happy I am doing it and not everyone gets to complain two weeks before Christmas they are a juror because most December trials are delayed per the Internet!

CBKT CHRISTMAS PARTY-A REAL PARTY

Coldwell Banker King Thompson-Newark's Christmas party was hosted by Andrew and Jill Guanciale in their Newark home and was attended by agents and their guest. Various food, deserts and beverages were sampled during the evening. Entertainment was provided by the vocalists Mary Kay Booher, Carol Sherman and Melissa Johnston. Fellowship was had by all.

Quick work-Great outcome

This article came across my screen today of the great action of the Bethesda, Maryland Fire Department.

The rescue of three triplets is what the fire department is suppose to do, but wish they did not have to do. The fire was so hot, firefighters had to make two attempts to rescue the children.

In this case, the father tried to put the outdoor hot tub fire out first, the first thing he should have done was remove his family from the home, second, call 911 and then worry about fighting the fire on his own.

So many people, try their personal firefighting skills first and once they fail call 911. I do not know, but maybe if in this article 911 had been called first, there would have not been injuries or a home ready to be demolished.

The other day, a friend told me a fellow in a pick up truck followed her teenage daughter and a friend while walking the dog. Instead of calling 911 first, she called her mother who was miles away. Results: frantic mother and longer response time from the police.

CASH IS KING

This is not about Johnny Cash as a music legend.

As always, when things get nutty in the markets cash is king. A healthy cushion in bank CDs or money market funds will let you ride out the slump without having to sells assets at fire-sale prices. A cushion will also put you in position to invest when the downturn's bottom is in sight — and that could come sooner than you expect.

Click here to find out some of the things money can buy!

ONE STOP SHOPPING-GIFTS FOR EVERYONE

I like to shop where unique gifts are available and one of a kind items. Many of our local stores have a section of As Seen on TV items, they are all different and evidently invented by people wanting to find their Pot of Gold someday.


Last night, I viewed the large selection of on line As Seen on TV products and the following is what I thought would be outstanding gifts for the people on my Christmas gift list: Deni Gravy Warmer, Kettle Popcorn Maker, Over the Shoulder Organizer, Burp Pistol, Listen Up, Doggy Steps, Bug Vac, Ronald Reagan Tribute Coins.


If you are thinking no one really buys this stuff, then why is the Ronco In-side the Shell Egg Scrambler not available and it is only 24 days until Christmas?

Licking County Courthouse Lighting

SANTA VISITS LICKING COUNTY & TURNS ON THE COURTHOUSE LIGHTS

One of the best reason to have Thanksgiving Day in Licking County is because on the next day, Santa Clause arrives to the County Courthouse and kicks off the Christmas Season by helping all the children turn on the decoration lights of our historic courthouse.

For an hour prior to Santa's arrival on NFD Tower One, Christmas songs by local artist and children's choirs prepares everyone for Santa's arrival.

Our family has not missed a year, standing in front of Cornell Clothing with owners Robin and Judy Pierce to watch hundreds of people enter downtown Newark for the official start of Licking County's Christmas Season.

The expense of this lighting is due to the many generous contributions by citizens, the annual Downtown Car Show in September and the Downtown Merchants Association. Make sure to shop downtown Newark and take an evening to drive around the Courthouse Square to view the decorations. It will surely bring some Christmas Spirit to you and it's free!

JENNY LANNING MADE US TURN THE CORNER

Holidays with the Guanciale Family are very different. It has always been a good test for boyfriends and girlfriends for myself and my siblings to see if they fit the mark.

Thanksgiving Day dinner for the past 28 plus years was prepared by Skip Salome, all due to my mothers long extended illness and my father's stubbornness to make sure he provided the holiday feast.

Behind closed doors, it was really Jenny Lanning who prepared the meal. All of the details were met from the turkey to the plastic plates. Jenny was always there on Thanksgiving morning when we would pick up the food, it was a part of our Thanksgiving Day. Jenny died on October 31, 2008. Besides leaving this earth too early and many people who knew and loved her, she stranded our Thanksgiving Day meal.

Well Jenny made us turn the corner of which should have been turned many years ago. Chip and Tina did an excellent job with the turkey and 90% of the entire dinner with others bringing pies, salads and wine. Jill brought her Buffalo Wing dip, which please me. We kind of became like most American families on Thanksgiving, we had a lot of major dish washing to do, we did stay around to talk more and the gathering lasted for almost two hours instead of 1.25 hours. I lost my battle of eliminating the family gift exchange due to a slowing economy.

Thanks Jenny, from our family and the many people that have depended on you for wedding receptions, service organization fund raisers etc over the years, we will miss you as I am sure Skip will.

PNB'S MORTGAGE MARKET GUIDE

WHAT DIRECTION WE ARE MOVING

Click here for an excellent newsletter from Park National Bank . I receive every week concerning finance and the economy.

I always look forward to receiving the information and hope you pick up something from it today.

CHRISTMAS SOCKS

I am not worried about the long socks hanging from the mantle for Santa to fill, but worried that someone will buy me socks for Christmas.

The other day I did some shopping for socks and was amazed I could not find the socks that I have worn for 40 years, Gold Toe, to the knee, 90% wool. The socks available were so hideous, I can not believe there are men who would wear such things, but do believe there are mothers and grandmothers who would buy them as gifts.

I found my socks on line and have ordered a supply which should last me the remainder of my life. This was easier than I thought compared to my quest to find a hard knit, dark navy blue Shetland wool sweater. I have always had at least one and wear them often, but I have holes in the elbows and can not find a replacement. I figured a good hard knit Shetland sweater will last me for 12 years, so I will need to buy three so I will covered through age 95. After age 95, the odds are that I will not know the color of sweater I have on besides, nursing homes always have the heat on so high.

Click her for some fashion guidelins on men's socks.

ALTERNATIVE INCOME DURING A TOUGH ECONOMY

Not too many people have figured out, if you work hard and smart, the money will come. Most are like a slow safecracker, time is their number one enemy. Before they know it, there is no money for retirement.

I found this lengthy article on safecracking. I did not know criminals and especially safecrackers had to work so hard and smart to do their illegal job correctly.

If I ever have the chance to meet a real safecracker, I will pat him on the back. He has worked very hard and practiced to establish a real skill and make a some possibly big money.

The odds are he will spend all of his non-taxed income during his early years, fail to save and then become like many others, he will have his retirement subsidized, but in prison.

BEAT MICHIGAN BASH!

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF LICKING & PERRY COUNTY

Once again this organization held their BEAT MICHIGAN BASH at Hopewell Hall on the campus of OSU-Newark and it was a pleasure to be a part of the exciting crowd. Many great items were auctioned to raise funds for this 800 plus volunteer organization helping so many children's life's.

If you are interested in becoming more involved or want to learn more, click here.

TURF WARS

WAR AS THEY KNEW IT by Michael Rosenberg

My sister emailed me last night and suggested to place this book review on my blog.

Two great leaders to be remember this weekend of the "Big Game"

NON PROFITS VERSUS NON PROFITS

Last night I attended my third of the three Town Hall Meetings regarding the book Community Capitalism.

While driving home I started to think about not for profit organizations. Within Licking County they all have done a good job, they each have their area of fulfilling a need or attempting to fill the needs of our community. I try to give of my time as well as money to many organizations because they are a strong part of Newark and Licking County.

But......there are not for profits that do make a community exceptionally great such as Hospice, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Salvation Army, LMH, YMCA, The Works etc. Then there are the ones fulfilling their needs, but are they really helping the community?

Last night one person kept speaking out, several of her concerns were housing and the underprivileged. In fact, she talked too much. Yes, these folks need clean and safe places to live and I think a good job is being done organizing and providing shelter and home buying programs.

My big concern is several not for profit organizations strive to attract more needy people in order to stay in business. As discussions brought out the great things about our community as far as education, resources etc. and how we need to beef up our community in attracting responsible and well spending individuals to live in Licking County. My thoughts were: Do we need to strongly support not for profits that are strongly attracting more residence we do not need in a thriving community?

Nothing is wrong with helping the deprived, but we do not need the deprived we do not have thinking they should move to Licking County because they can get more bang for the buck that they do not have versus other areas of Central Ohio.

I know one person that will think this is mean.

THE WORLD HAS CHANGED

Several years ago a AM radio station was marked as Anti-American because they played this Beatles' song at the end of their broadcast day instead of the National Anthem. This was during a time when AM stations only operated from 5am through midnight.

To blog or not to blog...that is the question

Sean Carpenter, our company's training director is the one who started this whole blogging mess for me. Then I had encouragement from Cheri Hottinger of the Licking County Chamber of Commerce because of her Chamber Blog , then Kurt Harden's of Medben Cultural Offering has given me a different view about the world.

Sean's blog for November 7th really gives us over 25 good reasons why to blog, most of them are fun when you think about it. Thank you to Sean, Cheri & Kurt for pushing me a little further into this great world.

Check out Sean's list at: The Realtor's Toolbox: To blog or not to blog...that is the question#links

I BET FRANK WORE KNEE SOCKS

I found this article about Frank Sinatra and the fashion statement he made to the world. He carried a look about himself that not too many could do.

Being lucky to see Frank in concert twice several years ago, he always wore his black tuxedo (no break length) and always looked good.

Make sure to check out "Why he's a style icon"

Groundhog Committee

Everyone knows breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but it is a very special part of Licking County on Groundhog Day.

Making sure the members of the Licking County Chamber of Commerce are happy and are entertained on Groundhog Day is important to the Groundhog Committee. With several comments about the breakfast potatoes served last year, the committee was given a mission:

Find the correct potato to be serve for the 2009 breakfast!

This afternoon the committee met with chamber member and caterer Eric Mason to sample four different recipes of breakfast potatoes. A final selection was made, but will not be unveiled until the 2009 Groundhog Breakfast.

THE CHARGE HAS STARTED!

What a great way to start off the day!

Patrick Jeffries aka State Farm guy, local guy and all around nice guy moderated the charge today to help make Licking County a better place to live in the future.

If you can imagine 60+- people at CTEC discussing what their thoughts were after reading "the book" Community Capitalism and what can be done to make Licking County more successful. Pat as the moderator did a great job bringing comments out of people from all walks of life with ideas and comments concerning their personal feelings about the assets and downfalls of our community.

There are two more Town Hall Discussions to be led during the next ten days and I hope they are as meaningful as today's meeting was to me.

This is a great beginning to a new chapter of Licking County, brought to you by the Licking County Chamber of Commerce, Heath-Newark Licking County Port Authority and many other individuals who believe, we can always do better.

It is all about the music!

Two days ago I posted the link to a Central Ohio radio station 93.3 because they start playing Christmas music on November 1. This is the only thing of hurry up and get the Christmas Season here I like.

I was telling a friend that there is nothing better than working in my wood working shop listening to Christmas music. It makes me feel like one of Santa's elf's. This photo is of the 2007 project. Always wanted to make something with a contemporary touch. A great place to go and see some real examples of contemporary furniture is thosmoser.com . This fellow is so talented, my sister receives his catalogs and she always forwards them to me, I saw his shop in Boston during 2007.

I have not decided what to give a try at this year, but have to get on the ball. Big projects are not my game, after a 9 month dining room table and 8 month chest over chest of drawers, it just takes too long.

By the way, I use Craftsman's tools & equipment, just in case Bob Vila stops by during the Holidays. I doubt Norm will stop by since I have butchered so many of his designs and plans.

CHRISTMAS MUSIC

Click her for:

CHRISTMAS MUSIC

This may make you forget for a short time all the other problems.

FRIED CHICKEN TO GO

I just read a Fox News article about a lady causing problems while in flight and the flight attendants used duct tape to subdue her until the plane made an emergency landing. You can read the entire article here.

This article made me think about a terrible flight from Atlanta to Columbus, Ohio. I was flying by myself, which is kind of fun for me because it seldom happens. As we boarded the plane, the lady (more like an aging adult woman) in front of me had a plastic bag with the Church's Chicken logo. I did not think anything about it, but we ended up sitting next to each other.

Well the lady was in the middle with me having the aisle seat. As soon as we were "wheels up" the plastic bag came out. She had a four piece dinner with green beans and corn on the cob. I never in my life had been so miserable. Greasy fingers, chin, pull down tray, used paper napkins you could now see through. The lesson learned was that I found out one can suck on a chicken bone to make sure you are able to eat the last drop.

Why can I remember the green beans? While standing at the merry-go-round for luggage pick up, I looked down and I had part of a green bean on the toe of my shoe.

POLITICS

"The lion takes long strides, but the path is worn smooth by the pygmy armies"

M.A.M.R.M.

SHORT-SIGHTED THINKING ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY

My good friend Frank Frye turned 65 two years ago and signed up for his social security and Medicare benefits. This is how he explained his birthday"this is the first birthday since I was a little boy that I really felt like I received something that excited me".

Survey shows many on the verge of retirement are poorly informed about social security. Learn more here .

Choosing when to begin receiving your benefit is one of the most significant decisions you will have to make.

(I sought the help of a good friend, now I know how to hyperlink an article with one word within a post. Thank you!)

OIL COMPANY FACTS

My weekends are not usually fun and sometimes results in thrashing around the house looking for something to read to take up some time. Last night late I found the recent publication of AAA's Home & Away. I did learn a couple of things about our large oil companies in the United States:

1. Our largest provider of oil to the USA is Canada, followed by Mexico. Only 16% of our oil comes from the Persian Gulf countries.

2. Oil prices are set by demand, the continue growth of China and India has increased demand causing the USA cost increasing.

3. Oil companies have large profits: Microsoft makes 29.3 cents on the dollar, McDonald's is about 12.2 cents and Exxon Mobil is about 8.5 cents. The Dow Jones companies have an average of 11.6 cents on the dollar.

4. Exxon Mobil pays about $4,000 a second in taxes or about $27 Billion Dollars. To give you an idea of this amount of tax paid, it is equal to the bottom 50% of all tax payers in our country during 2004.

This information was provided by Tom Strongman of The Kansas City Star.

SHOE SHINING FOR MEN, WOMEN & POLITICIANS

Almost every morning, I shine a pair of shoes.

This post is for both men and women, men pay more attention to shoe shining than a lady. This is in part to a discrimination that Barak has not discussed: there are not many stores that have a variety of men's shoes compared to most women stores. DSW at Easton carries way more women shoes than men's, Nordstoms carries a great selection of men's shoes, but walk twenty feet and you will find four times as many ladies shoes and most of them at half the price of men's shoes. Thus women have more shoes!

Below you will find a short and easy direction on shoe polishing. I would like everyone to at least try the process below who has never shined a shoe.


The next time you see a politician who needs a good shoe shine, direct them to this blog. I do not think they ever polish their shoes. But, depending what happens next Tuesday, I may be asking you to forget the blog and send them to me so I may earn some extra pocket money.


Things You’ll Need:
Polish
A polish application brush
A soft shoe-shine brush
A lint-free shine cloth
Ten minutes

Step 1 Start by spreading a newspaper of paper towel on the floor where you plan to polish your shoes. This will keep your carpet or floors clean. I polish mine at the office, you will see some polish streaks on my desk once in a while.

Step 2 Next, you should brush your shoe with the soft shoe-shine brush. This will brush the dust and lint off your shoes. This also warms up the leather, so the polish softens a little.

Step3 Dip the polish application brush into the shoe polish. Once you get a small amount of polish on the brush, apply it evenly on the shoe. Use a circular motion to apply and don't forget to polish the heel. Don't forget to take a paper towell afterwards and clean off you applicator.

Step 4 Allow the shoe to sit for a few minutes while you polish the other.

Step 5 After a few minutes, the first shoe should be ready for shining. Use the shoe shine brush to gently brush the shoe. Soft long strokes should bring out the shine.

Step 6 Use the lint-free shine cloth to put the finishing touches on it. This helps the shoe shine even more. My lint-free cloth is actually a Haines t-shirt with the label printed, not sewn in. This was a great invention by Michael Jordan.

Step 7 Repeat Step 6 on the other shoe and you should be all set with a nicely polished pair of shoes.

Accountability-turn back the clocks

We change our clocks once again this coming weekend. I assume back an hour, fall back and spring forward is the only way I can remember and it is chilly out so.......

This also brings in mind how everyone is accountable and in most cases accountable for others, rather it be at work or home. Below is an article on the death of a young firefighter, evidently his chief officer at the fire did not have everyone accounted for at the fire scene.
http://firefighterclosecalls.com/fullstory.php?74280

Accountability responsibilities:
With the change of time this weekend, you should remember to change the batteries in your smoke detectors. While you are out buying batteries, buy another detector. There is surely room in your home for another.

One thing that is not talked about often, make sure your family has several planned escape routes and a meeting place where everyone can be accounted for.

We always had a large tree in the front yard that was our meeting place and I am happy to say we never had the occasion to meet there.

HOW TO BE NOMINATED FOR THE SUPREME COURT

This article was just published in the Newark Advocate, how embarrassing for our country.

I would think Judge Sargus may feel a little sick to his stomach when he really thinks about it. Maye the counties should consider making park benches into condominiums, they would be able to sell three seats to voters per bench.


COLUMBUS (AP) — A federal judge in Ohio has ruled that counties must allow homeless voters to list park benches and other locations that aren’t buildings as their addresses.

U.S. District Judge Edmund Sargus also ruled that provisional ballots can’t be invalidated because of poll worker errors.

Monday’s ruling resolved the final two pieces of a settlement between the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless and Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.

The coalition agreed to drop a constitutional challenge to Ohio’s voter identification law until after the Nov. 4 election. In return, Brunner and the coalition agreed on procedures to verify provisional ballots across all Ohio counties.

The coalition was concerned that unequal treatment of provisional ballots would disenfranchise some voters.

Frank Guanciale

Below you will find the obituary as published by the Newark Advocate for my Uncle Frank who passed away this past Friday.

It is funny how you remember things that happened so long ago, but they always pop up in your mind from time to time.

Frankie was 17 when I was born, the first wedding I can remember was his marriage to Bonnie, I was like 6-7 years old. Several things come to mind, watching him and my father Dan install a garage door spring, working on Pinewood Derby cars and several Soap Box Derby cars and working around my grandmother's home. Frank was in the Army for a period of time and I thought it was so neat to see him in his uniform.

The biggest beef I had between my uncle and father, that still hurts: For my 8th birthday I received from my parents a remote control gas airplane, the kind you fly on the end of a long cord. I will never forget riding with Frank and Dan to a ball diamond, I believe it was at Cherry Valley School with my new airplane. Frank and Dan had a hard time getting the plane to start, I had to sit in the outfield in case the fuel blew up. After the rough start, the two guys stood on the pitcher's mound spinning around flying the plane laughing and smiling with a promise of my turn being soon.

My life is still tarnished, they used all the fuel and I never had a turn, as if the airplane gift was really for me.

http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20081025/OBITUARIES/81025007/1023/NEWS17

ONCE IN A WHILE

This post started off to be a guessing game, but with my limited amount of viewers it may be 2013 before a large number of people would view this photo and respond.

Last night there was a small fire on Clinton Street near Downtown Newark, the fire started on the outside and worked it's way into the home.

As the firefighters were ripping off the aluminum siding of this 100 plus year old home, they discovered a large bee's nest. As you can see in the photo the nest was built between two wall studs. The best I could count indicated there was 11 layers to the hive.

I know this is nothing to get excited about, but last night one of the firefighters told me of another firefighter who owned an older home and he and his wife could hear the bees at night in their walls. To only make it worst, honey dripped from the electrical outlets into their home.

Lesson learned: If you are ripping siding off your 100 year old home, do it during late October. If it would have been mid summer, we could have had one hundred yard dash time trials for the Olympics as the firefighters escaped the scene.

OCTOBER 1-NOT A DAY TO CELEBRATE

October first is not a day to celebrate, but to morn. My personal sock rule: No socks between April 1 through October 1, unless I am wearing a suit & tie or if we find an unusual October day with a temperature of over 75 degrees.

This photo you will notice Dave Hardy and myself with ties on and no socks. The photo was taken during the wedding reception after Morgan Hardy's wedding.

Dave mentioned several times that he was not sure if he would wear socks for his daughter' wedding considering it would be a sunny August day and of course a Saturday. I dressed appropriately with the best suit I have, favorite tie, socks and my Alden tassels.

Not being an emotional person at weddings, once I saw Dave walking down the isle with his daughter so beautiful, I started to tear up. Tears were due not to Dave's excellent taste in a tan suit and Cole Hann Pinch Buckle Kilt or how beautiful and happy Morgan looked, but because Dave was not wearing socks and I had to, because of my rule.

At the reception I decided it was time to break my self imposed rule, I removed my socks so Dave's mother would be upset with someone else besides Dave. I believe Nancy Hardy gave up years ago of being upset over Dave's actions.

Lesson learned: some personal rules can be broken for special occasions

MORE ABOUT THE BEAR

Today's Newark Advocate has more info about the tree trunk carving (see photo on this blog from yesterday) and it can not be found on line. The owner of the 1200 block of Granville Road home is Paul Robertson. Mr. Robertson commissioned artist/carver Dan Zeadker of Bear Creek Carving of Wauseon, Ohio to carve the bear out of stump from a tree damaged by the recent windstorm. It took Mr. Zeadker about five hours to carve the sculpture from the 100 year old sugar maple stump.

Teddy's Bear

This homeowner knew what to do with a tree trunk. The photo does not do the bear justice, but the saw dust on the ground sure indicates the time and commitment the homeowner placed into his project. Some folks said they saw him from the bike path just sawing away. As far as I know, the name "Teddy Bear" was designed during the Teddy Roosevelt presidency. As an avid hunter, he had a full grizzly mounted in a standing defensive mode. His Secretary of State referred to the trophy as "Teddy's Bear".

YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT WORK, EVEN THROUGH TURMOIL

“No man knows what the future holds in any particular set of events, but every thoughtful person recognizes the probability that we shall live the remainder of our lives in turmoil…Instead of pining for easier days, the way of wisdom lies in learning to live realistically in times of strain.

“All experience the storm, but not all experience it in the same way. Though the storm may be beyond our powers, the response is not.”

- Elton Trueblood
“The Life We Prize”

NAR Proposed Stimulus Plan

NAR Urges Passage of 4-Point Housing Stimulus Plan and

Return of Congress for Lame-Duck Session
WASHINGTON, October 15, 2008

The National Association of Realtors® will offer a four-point legislative plan to reinvigorate the housing market, calling on Congress to act during a lame-duck session. NAR believes the plan will give a boost to the economy and help to calm jittery potential homebuyers.

The plan features such consumer-driven provisions as eliminating the repayment of the first-time homebuyer tax credit and expanding it to all homebuyers, making higher mortgage loan limits permanent, pushing banks to extend credit to Main Street, and prohibiting banks from entering into real estate.

“Housing has always lifted the economy out of downturns, and it is imperative to get the housing market moving forward as quickly as possible,” said NAR President Richard F. Gaylord. “It is vital to the economy that Congress take specific actions to boost the confidence of potential homebuyers in the housing market and make it easier for qualified buyers to get safe and affordable mortgage loans. We are asking Congress to act right away.”

Gaylord, a broker with RE/MAX Real Estate Specialists in Long Beach, Calif., said NAR, as the leading advocate for homeownership and private property rights, believes it is important for Congress to address the concerns and fears of America’s families, much in the way it has addressed Wall Street turbulence. “Housing is and has always been a good, long-term investment and a family’s primary step towards accumulating wealth,” Gaylord said.
NAR recommends Congress pass new housing stimulus legislation that includes the following priorities:

1. Remove the requirement in the current law that first-time homebuyers repay the $7,500 tax credit, and expand the tax credit to apply not only to first-time buyers but also to all buyers of a primary residence.

2. Revise the FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac 2008 stimulus loan limit increases to make them permanent. The Economic Stabilization Act, enacted in February, made loan limit increases temporary, and subsequent legislation reduced the loan limits and made them permanent. This has broad implication for homebuyers in high cost areas.

3. Urge the government to use a portion of the allotted $700 billion that was provided to purchase mortgage-backed securities from banks to provide price stabilization for housing. The Treasury department should be required to use the newly enacted Troubled Assets Relief Program to push banks to:

• Extend credit down to Main Street, making credit more available to consumers and small businesses;
• Expedite the process for short sales;
• Expedite the resolution of banks’ real estate owned (REOs) properties.

4. Make permanent the prohibition against banks entering real estate brokerage and management, further protecting consumers and the economy.
Gaylord said that NAR will strongly pursue those proposals and is calling on Congress to return to enact housing stimulus legislation in a lame-duck session after the national elections in November.

Groundhog Breakfast January 30, 2009

Licking County Chamber of Commerce Groundhog Committee

The October 14th committee meeting was held at one of Downtown Newark's soon not to be best kept secrets: Buckeye Winery on the west side of the Courthouse Square.

Members: Barbara Doan, Dave Hardy, Mike McDonald, Kim Lust, Tom Marcelain, Kurt Harden, Cheri Hottinger and the adorable Lois Ridgley enjoyed the inclusion of the 2009 sponsor representative Lisa Baker of Goodwill Industries.

Everyone should stop by for a tasting or a glass of one of the many types of wines. Very unique and cozy atmosphere and a large selection of wine making supplies. Email in your information and they will print your own special label. The Buckeye Winery should be on every one's shopping list for the Holidays.

Try it---the Groundhog Committee gives Buckeye Winery a "10"!

FINALLY IN FASHION, SHORT BREAK

Just received this web site from a friend who has been concerned for my short break fashion statement. If you find this interesting, make sure to read the entire article by clicking at the end.

Short break:
The short break is the top rung of men’s fashion. Although this look could be referred to as “high waters,” the short break is now considered high fashion. To be sure, this look is not for the faint of heart. Throwing caution to the wind, the short break gives little to no crease in the pant leg, making for a very precise, tailored look. Interestingly, when shopping for a suit, you’ll find that the more expensive designers -- especially those from Italy -- employ the short break as their design standard in pants. Though anyone can tackle this look, the guys who truly pull it off the best are those with a slender torso and a 32” waist.

But don’t let the ideal scare you away: The short break is the look for anyone who likes to kick ass and take names.

For more information on the proper break for you http://www.askmen.com/fashion/fashiontip_300/317_fashion_advice.html

A MESSAGE FROM A DISTANT COUSIN

...the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced,

the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled,

and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed,

lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work,

instead of living on public assistance.

Cicero , 55 BC

Newark, Ohio Consumer Brewing

From the new book, "Brewing Beer In The Buckeye State, Volume I"
by Dr. Robert A. Musson.

Consumers Brewing Company, Newark, Ohio
Consumers Brewing Co. was an unusual entity in Ohio: a brewery beginning operations in the 1890s. It began as one of the state's earliest stock company breweries, incorporated on April 8, 1897, with a capital stock of $20,000, which was later raised to $75,000. The company chose an old factory building at First and Locust Streets to establish its brewing operation (the official address was 75 E. Locust Street). This had previously been occupied by the Blandy Machine Works, and the structure dated back to the mid-1860s. It was purchased by the new company for $8,100, and was soon renovated into a brewery with modern equipment and cellars capable of storing 18,000 barrels. The first batch of "Newark Beer" was for sale on the local market by May, 1898. Charles Andre was the company's first president and plant manager. Born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, in 1846, Andre had already worked as a brewer's apprentice before emigrating to the United States in 1862. He served in the Union army during the Civil War, then worked in numerous breweries over the years, including eighteen years with the large Born & Company brewery in Columbus, Ohio. Herbert R. Gill was the new company's secretary. Other initial directors included Julius A. Kremer, E. Kremer, and A. W. Gill.

Herbert Gill left the company in 1901 and moved fifty miles east to form the short-lived Cambridge Brewing Co. His place as secretary was taken by Julius Kremer, a native of Dinslaken, Rheinpreussen, Germany, who also was born in 1846. His education and training were in architecture, which he undertook upon coming to America in 1869. He supervised the construction of the Born & Co. brewery in Columbus, where he worked with Andre, and it was here that they first planned the formation of their own brewing concern.

The company initially used city water for the brewing process, although deep wells were drilled in 1900 for a new and presumably purer water source. Upon opening, the brewery had an annual capacity of 30,000 barrels, entirely of lager beer. Their goal was to sell 10,000 barrels in their first year, a goal that was nearly realized, and business steadily grew from there. The company's sales increased significantly in 1903 due to a strike by brewery workers in Columbus, which temporarily shut down all of that city's brewing operations. By 1905, Consumers was selling 23,000 barrels annually.

Natural ice was fairly scarce in the region at this time, and most ice had to be shipped in from Zanesville. To eliminate this cost, Consumers built its own ice house on the premises in 1901. Sales of distilled "crystal ice", at $2.00 per ton, were very successful, and the company increased its capital stock to $150,000 in 1907. Soon after this, the company purchased two delivery trucks for home sales of both beer and ice. These were thought to be the first delivery trucks in use in the city.

Andre and Kremer continued to oversee the company throughout this era. Harry W. Rossel, who had joined the company at its beginning as a sales agent, had risen to the position of vice-president and general manager by 1914, when he died of blood poisoning following a leg injury. Henry J. Schneidt was hired as plant superintendent soon after this. Production of Consumers Special and Extra Pale Lagers, which had been introduced primarily as bottled beers for home sales, continued successfully over the next decade. A new addition to the focus on home sales by this time was an attempt to target women as potential customers. One advertisement from 1918 stated: " ‘Everywhere I go my friends serve Consumers Beer. If I look into their ice boxes I find a row of shining bottles; when I make an afternoon call, they welcome me with appetizing sandwiches and Consumers. If I am invited out to dinner I am quite apt to find this popular beer served with the meal. Many of my friends consider that their day is not happily completed until after a late supper, a steaming rarebit or a cheese and cracker luncheon, and a bottle of their favorite brew.’ The experience of this one woman simply shows the ever-growing popularity of Consumers Beer."

At the close of 1918, statewide Prohibition had forced beer production to cease, and the uncertainty of the times was reflected in the brewery's 1919 advertising calendar, which stated, "Accept this calendar as a token of our appreciation of your past good will and patronage. What the future will bring to us is uncertain. Our investment is too large to lie idle, so we bespeak, as far as is consistently possible, a continuation of this good will and patronage." When all alcohol sales stopped the following May, the company reorganized as the Consumers Products Co., as producers of Consumers New Special Cereal Beverage, as well as Lemon and Lime, Grape, Cherry, Strawberry, and Raspberry Sodas, Glee Club Ginger Ale, Whistle Orange Soda, and Dr. Swett's Root Beer. Andre and Kremer retired soon after this, and Schneidt became president of the new company, with Harry W. Rossel, Jr. as secretary. Production of non-alcoholic beverages continued until approximately 1930, after which the old brewery closed its doors and the remaining equipment was liquidated.

With the repeal of Prohibition three years later, a new company was organized to return the brewing of beer to Newark for another twenty years.

Copyright 2005 by Zepp Publications
» Read more about this and other Ohio breweries in Dr. Robert A. Musson's book, "Brewing Beer In The Buckeye State, Volume I: A History of the Brewing Industry in Eastern Ohio from 1808 to 2004."