July 15, 2008 AsktheBuilder News
What's in This Issue
DRIVE TO THE EAST COAST
TREX DECKING
CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS AGAIN
NEAL'S REMODELING IN CINCINNATI
GUTTER-GUARD VIDEO NEWS
GREAT TRAVEL AND COOKING VIDEOS
ROMANTIC BIRTHDAY CARD
LATEST COLUMNS AND VIDEOS
Drive to the East Coast
It's Monday night July 14, 2008. Ninety minutes ago, I pulled into the hotel parking lot after a 7.5-hour drive from Cincinnati. It was a gorgeous day with blue sky and puffy white clouds. I was by myself, and as such I got to do lots of thinking. I often have random thoughts while driving.
But before I get into those, if you've never driven east across Interstate 68, you should. It's a great highway, and a few miles before it dead ends into Interstate 70 there is a magnificent road cut. My degree is in geology, and if this man-made gorge through a superb syncline doesn't get you interested in structural geology and what had to happen to make the rocks bend the way they did, nothing will. The photo there does not do it justice. I took one and will load it next week.
I also passed a tanker truck early in the drive that was loaded to the brim with carbon dioxide. It could have been headed anywhere, but there was a chance it was going to a soda bottling plant. If you are one who is a believer in the global-warming argument that we are causing the problem, then you better think twice about opening a two-liter bottle of pop or one of the cans of soda. That releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Strange what you think of as you drive!
Late in the afternoon, I also thought about a merit badge I received in Boy Scouts about 43 years ago. Holy Moly, that makes me old! It was my Citizenship of the Nation badge. My scoutmaster would really be proud of me if he knew what I was going to do tomorrow. More on that in a minute.
Trex Decking
I read Forbes magazine cover to cover. It has some good articles. In the most-recent issue, there was a story about Trex decking. If the reporting by Forbes is correct, Trex has been having some issues with quality. It says that Trex has replaced 37,000 decks. Wow!
If you have a Trex deck that was made between say 1999 and 2004, you may want to look closely at the decking. If you suspect issues, contact Trex to see if they will stand behind the warranty. Forbes Trex claims the decking should last 25 years.
Read my past column about composite decks of all types. It is required reading if you are really thinking of using any artificial decking.
Congressional Hearings Again - No Kidding!
Why did I drive 7.5 hours today? As this newsletter is being sent to you, I will be seated testifying in front of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee that deals with antitrust issues. In the afternoon, I have to do the same thing at the House Antitrust Task Force Subcommittee meeting.
The hearings concern the advertising deal between Google and Yahoo. Yahoo is going to start displaying Google ads on their pages just like I do at my website.
The other witnesses testifying with me are the head counsels of Google, Yahoo and Microsoft. The chief marketing officer of YellowPages.com will also be testifying. Can you believe that a guy that used to eat lunch sitting on overturned drywall buckets not too long ago can sit at the same table as these powerful businessmen? God Bless America is all I can say. We indeed live in the Land of Opportunity.
Next week, I will post the videos of this double-shock performance. You will want to watch this cage fight. I predict the questions asked will be high and tight fastballs. You also need to see the tie I will be wearing. If only the video quality was a little better so you could see the details in the tie. I'll take a high-resolution photo for you of the tie and post that.
Neal's Remodeling in Cincinnati
Last year, Kathy and I remodeled our kitchen. It was tired after 20 years of use, three kids and me playing shot-on-goal with the kids in the main pathway next to the island. Shot-on-goal is the Carter version of indoor soccer with a 6-inch diameter foam ball that has a knitted-yarn covering. I still have one of the balls in the Carter Archives that we used when the kids were small. Ah, the good old days of the ball landing in the skillet - Not! Kathy would get so mad at me!
Anyway, there was no way I was going to try to do this massive job myself as it would take too long. I hired Neal's Remodeling here in Cincinnati. Bob Schmidt, the lead carpenter, did an amazing job with his helpers Dennis and Manfred. Here is a message from Neal's to all who live in or around Cincinnati. If you contact them, please mention you heard it here.
Neal's Design-Remodel has been solving home-improvement needs such as renovating Kitchens, Baths, Lower Levels and Room Additions for 36 years. Over the years, many design, innovation and quality awards have been earned locally and nationally. Most recently Neal's Design Remodel won the 2008 National and Cincinnati Contractor of the Year Award, 2008 Tri-State Family Business of the Year. Please visit Neal's website for more information. Visit our new state-of-the-art design center with over 30 room displays at 7770 East Kemper Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45249 (513) 489-7700.
If you mention my name, you will get a $750 reduction on the preliminary design fee. That is a great deal, believe me.
Gutter-Guard Video News
I am taping the follow-up gutter-guard video on or before July 17th. Wait until you see it. Do not sign a contract for a gutter guard product until you have watched the video.
Great Travel and Cooking Videos
Two dear friends of mine have been really busy taping videos the past ten months. I would really appreciate it if you would take the time to go watch many of them and rate them while you are there.
This husband-wife team lives in California. Veronica is doing all of these travel videos about the hundreds of cool places to visit in California. Her husband Jason is a real chef, and he has some excellent cooking-tips videos. I have discovered some sweet skills watching his videos.
If you have a YouTube account, it is free and you do not have to upload a video ever, I urge you to subscribe to both of their channels.
Romantic Birthday Card
I have been exchanging emails with Graham Green who is a subscriber to this newsletter. He lives in a remote part of New Zealand. The wonder of the Internet!
Well, all I can tell you is that Graham is one heck of a craftsman and knows how to woo his sweetheart. He makes me look pathetic in the romance department. You have to read this story and see the photos.
Graham, I sure hope our paths cross one day. You really know where your priorities are.
Latest Columns and Videos
I have to get in bed before the congressional cage fight. You do want me to be in top form, right? Well, I will have lots of column and video links for you next week!
Index of past newsletters.