I love that series with Norm Abrahms, this guy is after my own heart. This guy know about woodworking. He takes his time and makes sure everything is right when he starts a project. I love woodworking and have made a few pretty pieces my self but I am no Norm Abrahms. He makes everything he does look so effortless and natural, I am always struggling and messing thing up. I have learned a lot from my mistakes and I am sure Norm has from his as well. Plus his shop is for woodworking only and mine is piled with everything and room for woodwork is a thing of the past. It’s my own fault and it will never be a workshop again unless I build another building or two for all the different tools and projects that I love to do.
I do get some great ideas on how to gather contractors for home renovation projects like finding a plumber to a french drains contractor you will want to make sure you have all your bases covered when taking on a home renovation that will change the landscape or total property structure. It always looks easier when you see it on TV and Norm never seems to get upset but I have been a part of some home building projects and there is usually some yelling and arguing because nothing ever goes as planned.

For many schools and universities keeping their students safe is their number one priority. One of the steps that they have taken is to have ID badges for all their students and staff. They have them wear neck lanyards so that the badges can be seen clearly and you are better able to tell who should be on campus and who are the visitors. They have even started to use them at sporting events so that organizers can use customize name badge holders and straps to know which authorized personnel can enter certain areas.  While having the identification of those in the event is made much simpler there is still the issue of being able to authenticate each badge.

These new name badges can also be keyed to access keyless doors or access to various parts of the campus so that on site security can better track the where about of students and identify earlier those that are not where they should be. They are printed locally on laserjet and inkjet printers depending on the application. Since most of the printers out there in the schools are HP using a HP laser cartridge the transition to this new form of ID has become rather simple. These new measures are easy and convenient to help school officials enhance safety and lessen the possibility of any possible events. Plus with onsite plastic card printers the schools can help reduce costs and replace lost badges much easier and control the inventory and access to the badges. As the devices become more common place and the ability to link the badges to student accounts in a safe non-intrusive manner this could help to become a means by which students pay for their books, check into their mid-terms, and attend their schools sports. Having a simple secure device that identifies the student, staff and visitor and even color coding the badge holders so that you can spot a person of authority right away can only help ease fears of new students and parents alike.

In our area of Eastern PA, the real estate market appears to be holding strong. Two ouf our neighbors, just sold their houses within a week of listing and got the asking price. This shows that the market is still somewhat positive in our area. In other parts of the country, such as Arizona, you can view Scottsdale real estate to see the what houses are going for and who you can contact in the Scottsdale area to help you find and sell your house.

I good story that at least lets us now how credit cards work and market themselves has to be American Express. Here is a card that spent years branding themselves as THE card for executives, the well to do and really a status symbol. Major executives were targeted as a major influence in bringing the elite status to AMEX. Presidents of large American companies like Samuel Foti, Alan Mulally, Donald Morel are the types of individuals that AMEX would love to have touting their corporate card in order to show that every type of business can benefit from the flexibility and wide acceptance AMEX has. When you presented this card you were something different. Then came the greed. All of sudden, Am Ex began to send out mass market mailers like all the other junk cards to get those whose credit was not so great, did not pay off the entire balance and really just played the game. What a branding marketing fiasco. Now we find this company giving away 300 gift cards to certain markets, to pay off their bill and go away….please.

How ironic, we know your ilk do not pay off their balance, so let us lend you money and when times get tough, well just pay you to pay off the balance. Are you kidding me? Now I will look at Am Ex a little different, having to second guess their motives. Now I hear small businesses are reeling as that market Am Ex got into is getting hammered and so now their credit has fallen. Talk about losing love from future clients. I do appreciate any company getting back into their core business, but this one is a little bitter to taste.