Keep it Simple

I was setting up for our church's Christmas pageant on Saturday, and I noted to one of my fellow camels that the ladder we were using was made in America. It was a Werner brand, though there are others made in the USA...Little Giant, for example. Good products.

The camel's comment back to me was that the ladder must be really old...because *nothing* is made in America any more.

And I get his sentiment, but it was nice to have an opportunity to tell him otherwise.

There's a LOT of good stuff made here...from shoes and boots to kitchen appliances to toothbrushes to lawn implements (Toro).

So I think I'll give you an over-generalization: We can still buy things we *need* made in the USA. But the things we *want* are made somewhere else. What do we need?

Towels, linens, clothing, shoes, real tools (hammers, screw drivers, wrenches, tape measures, leatherman, mag-lites), kitchen utensils, appliances, food, carpet, paint, 2x4's, books and cars...all made in America and all (with the possible exception of the cars) made with really good quality.

Things we want? iphones, xboxes, Wii consoles, iPods (do you see a pattern here?), flat-screen TV's and American Girl Dolls (believe it or not) are all made somewhere else.

So why don't we keep it simple and just get the stuff we need? Why complicate things with the things we don't need?

The mantra "keep it simple" helps you keep it local.

Food and Music

So, 7 years in the Navy, traveling to 34 different countries, I noted something.

The two things I used to seek out in every country...food and music.

There are a number of things that are a good measure of a nation's culture: clothing, religion, architecture. But the two immediate things that always stood out for me were food and music.

I always tried to sample the local food and music.

A couple of things you can find locally on a pretty regular basis are food and music. We do a pretty good job at that.

But be careful. If other people measure our culture by food and music, we should make sure they're not judging us by McDonald's and Hanna Montana.

But then who would it be? What is more quintissentially American than cheeseburgers and Rock and Roll?

How about some good local grass-fed steak, and a night of listening to some great local live music?

What's better than a summer picnic with sweet corn, watermelon and John Phillips Sousa!

Sleep well, Lucky dog.

Went shopping at PETCO the other day, for an algae eater for my wife's preschool's aquarium.

Don't know where the fish was made. My guess is here in the USA.

But here's the cool thing. 40 kinds of dog beds in the store. I found, and purchased, 1 of 4 in the store made in the USA. It's a PETCO brand, so I can't tell you who made it, but it looks to be pretty sturdy. Lucky dog hasn't chewed it up yet.

Oliver Hardy and Mr. Laurel

That would be Stanley, as in Stanley tools.

I recently bought a set of screwdrivers made by Stanley, and made in the USA.

Now...I *think* the electric tools are made in China, but the good ol' gotta-have-a-strong-grip tools are still made here.

4 Sticks

Cleaning up a little the other day, I found my Vic Firth drum sticks. Made in America.

Pound 'em, Bonzo.

In a world of Bikes gone bad...

Most bikes you find out there are made in China. Even American companies (Trek, Giant, Diamondback) are making bikes overseas.

There are some high end bicycles made in the US, though I can't swear as to the origin of their components.

I'm encouraged to find a number of biking accessories, such as the Lone Peak Pannier series that are made in the USA.

See www.lonepeakpacks.com

I'll continue to look for more, but I can tell you that Campmor (www.campmor.com) sells a children's reflective vest that's good for biking, running or hiking...made in the USA

Happy Riding!

For Preserving...

How's this for Made in America? I'm sitting in my office with 4 cases (48 total) of Ball Mason Jars.

All made in the USA.

And all usually filled with things made in the USA, often things made in our own back yard.

At home I have more cases of these things, filled with honey, maple syrup, apple sauce, apple jelly, strawberry jelly, pasta sauce, salsa, pickled peppers.

The label on the case says, "Mason Jars for Preserving."

I think that speaks volumes. For preserving home-grown foods. For preserving a way of life. For preserving a little bit of Americana.

Thanks, Ball, for making these jars in the USA!

They come in Threes

This is the third post today, and it's also a good one.

www.polartec.com

Polartec is another company that makes performance apparel, right here in their mill in neighboring Mass.

Heard of Polar Fleece? This is the company that coined the product.

Hats, jackets, technical clothing, mittens, etc. Stay warm.

Turtle Fur

This is a good one for this kind of weather.

www.turtlefur.com offers neck gaiters, hats, balaclavas, frost masks and head bands, many of which are made in America. And the designs are pretty cool, too.

Check 'em out.

Princeton

The Princeton Tec Solo Headlamp is made in the USA, and is REALLY handy.

I don't think it's designed for a speedy and well lighted travel, as in trail running or mountain biking at night, but it's really good for lighting a two-handed project in the dark.

See www.Princetontec.com

And it's made in America.

Hey, nice pants...

Today it was -11 degrees F when I rode my bike to work. Granted, I have less than a 1-mile commute, but it looked like a challenge, so I bit.

My four-season parka, a sweater, long-sleeved T were on top. Khaki's lined with today's favorite Made-in-America product...my SportHill running pants. They're made in "careful with that Axe" Eugene, Oregon. (who can pinpoint that reference?)

SportHill carries a good line of athletic apparel. It ain't cheap, but it's good quality...and it'slocal. REALLY local if you live in Oregon.

You can find them online www.sporthill.com (why isn't this link working?), or at any number of nationwide online retailer such as REI, Sierra Trading Post, LL Bean, zappos.com, Scheels, Backcountry.com, Reno Sports and others.

Stay warm!

Playing Catch Up

This from the Financial Times today:

Goldman Sachs forecasts that the Chinese economy will overtake that of the US by about 2040. The Economist Intelligence Unit forecasts in terms of purchasing power parity – which adjusts for price differences between countries to reflect actual buying power of local incomes – China will outstrip the US by 2017.

Okay, here's the thing. China's growing economy has lifted millions of Chinese out of poverty, and that's a good thing. But is it such a good thing that it eclipses putting Americans out of work?

Buy local, kids!

made in USA Forever

Hey, while searching for snow tubes, I found a site that has a large selection of American made products. It's

www.madeinusaforever.com

And, while there are LOTS of products not listed, this is a good place to start!

Going Downhill Fast

Between Saturday night and Sunday morning, we were blessed with about 4 inches of light fluffy snow...easy to plow and shovel and sweep.

And that gave me a little extra time late in the morning to take the girls out sledding.

The eldest Placid one was so excited about being out sledding, that I had no sooner laced my boots, then she was out on the gentle slope behind our back yard.

She was soon joined by younger Placid one, MODA and me. We had spent about 30 minutes on the gentle slope (with the big hill looming large behind us) when MODA announced she was going in to make lunch.

It was our chance to make our move. We trekked up the big hill (we call it Ski Hill, because there used to be a ski slope with a tow rope up one side), and passed the first slope, which is great sledding. We past the 2nd slope, which is also good sledding, but has a nasty patch of briars at the bottom, and made it all the way to the 3rd slope. Daredevil Hill, we dubbed it.

Eldest went first, after some instructions from Dad on how to bail when the trees got too close at the end. Youngest and I went together next. It all happened so fast, it's hard to tell how it happened, but I can tell you that a boogie board goes REALLY fast down that slope.

We caught an edge and were quickly airborne. My arms and legs flailing, knowing that youngest was out there somewhere, and I wanted to make sure she was safe. Was that a tree? Ouch, that's going to hurt tomorr...why am I still falling? Whump!

It was a great ride, but youngest was headfirst in a pile of snow, with her legs sticking out. The snow didn't muffle her screams very well.

Took her home, and we warmed up. I went out later with the snow tube and a video camera. It was another great run, but I popped the tube on something about halfway down...and came to a sudden and snowy stop. I was laughing pretty hard. My face was encrusted with snow, but the camera was safe.

Now I had to buy another snow tube, and was able to find a big selection of snow tubes online. We settled for a 3-person tube for $30, but there are commercial tubes out there for $60-90...and many of them are made in the USA!

We searched "Snow Tube made in USA" and found a large selection. Have fun going downhill!

East Asheville Hardware part II

Okay, this is really fascinating...

I recently posted a section of the lyrics to East Asheville Hardware, by David Wilcox.

David's manager, Tom Simonson, wrote back and gave permission for me to post the entire song. I enjoyed his response (see comments from East Asheville Hardware) and his, and David's, committment to supporting local community.

I knew I felt connected to David Wilcox for a reason. Thanks David, and Tom.

An angel appeared
in a holy vision
Stood by my bedside
in shivering light
Spoke my name
Told me my mission
I could not believe I was hearing him right

Because he said,
'Go, my son, go...Always go to East Asheville Hardware
Before you go to Lowe's
He said, "Go to East Asheville HardwareBefore you go to Lowe's
You'll help to keep them open
I'm worried they might close

From the stiff competition
From the national conglomerate
With the full page ad
in the color section of the Sunday paper supplement
and stacks of plastic swimming pools
and seven brands of power tools
and rows and rows of registers
all having nice days

But no, you go, he said to me with light around his face
He said, You go first to that age-old place
To that old wooden door
that you have to close behind you
To the wide-board wooden floorworn down soft
To the real thing
Good advice, quality at a fair price
And know that they know how deep the frost goes here.

Sure there's stuff you'll have to find at Paty's, Lowe's or Sears
But go to East Asheville Hardware
Go to East Asheville Hardware
Before it disappears.

East Asheville Hardware

Why do I push so hard to buy American? Part of it's because I've seen jobs lost. I'm worried about cold-war implications of the mighty power of the US dollar going overseas.

Part of it's because my Dad raised me that way. Our family business couldn't have survived the arrival of Home Depot or Lowes.

And a small part is because of David Wilcox, who penned the song "East Ashville Hardware."

And I'm not sure how much text I can quote without infringing on some copyright issue, so here's a link to the lyrics:

http://www.stlyrics.com/songs/d/davidwilcox1052/eastashevillehardware48057.html

"Sure, there's things you'll have to buy at Penny's, Lowes and Sears, but shop at East Ashville Hardware before it disappears." - David Wilcox, 1995

Outer Limits

Fall of 1989, I drove past Pungo Virginia with a friend, took the Currituck Ferry from Knotts Island, drove a bit on 158, crossed a bridge and found Carolina's Outer Banks near Kitty Hawk.

It was night. I had my trusty Fender acoustic. My buddy was driving and we had a great time regaling the locals on the ferry, and on the beach, while we were out there.

The trip back seemed to take forever, but I remember being in bed before 2:00 a.m...because I had to work the next morning.

1989 was the last time I had been to the Outer Banks.

Until now.

I'm not a good enough writer to describe the joy I felt, spending the week with the Minister of Domestic Affairs (MODA), the young Placid ones, and my brother's family. The company, the food, the sunshine, the sand between the toes (and in belly buttons, and shoes, and pants pockets, and hair, and), the surf, the warm breeze (and the stiff cold wind), the love, the friendship and the laughter are beyond my abiltiy to share adequately.

The young Placid ones earned their (American Made) Junior Ranger badges at 3 national historic areas (Roanoke Island, Kitty Hawk, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse).

I'll admit buying a couple of my staff members some cheap (but kinda cool) Chinese-made souvenirs. But most of our small selection of souvenirs were American made. The best ones are the photos we took. But the lasting memories (this is the first time in a long time I can report feeling the stress completely leave me...however momentariy) are wonderful.

Thanks to NUTUBA and his family, and to MODA and the young Placid ones for a great week at the beach.

THAT was a bit of money that's going to stay in the local economy!

Brand New Strings

Brand New Strings is the name of a Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder disc...and it's pretty incredible. The title track features a (then) 22 year-old kid who blows me away with his flat pickin'. If I hadn't seen him play this (twice), I'd hardly believe what I was hearing on the CD. There's a moment in the song where the guy is playing a bazillion notes per second, and Ricky Skaggs calmly calls on him, "Wear it out, Johnny."

So, one of my non-Christmas presents this year was a well-used Epiphone (made in Korea) guitar. Looks to be a Les Paul Junior model, but with 2 humbucking pickups instead of 1...or a Les Paul, without "the top" on the guitar. Needed some bridge adjusting (still does), some contact cleaner on the pickup selector switch, some neck adjustments, some knob work, and a set of brand new strings.

I got the axe from a friend, who happens to be my boss. I mentioned to him several years ago, when doing some work in his storage shed, that I'd be willing to buy the thing off him if he ever decided to get rid of it. Turned out to be a gift.

I strung her up with some Ernie Ball Extra Slinky (.09) strings. Checking out the package, I noted that the strings were made in the USA. So I checked my other strings...D'Adarrio's, I use the phosphor bronze on my acoustics, are also made in the USA.

Wear it out, Johnny!

Sock it to me!

This one is a brand called TEKO, and they're running / cycling socks. Listen to how cool these are. Not only are they made in the USA, but they're 56% Ingeo...a corn-based fiber, 22% recycled polyester (so THAT's where my old wide-lapel suit went!) and 22% virgin fiber. I just like saying that word...

The little bit of packaging these things come in is made from 100% recycled paper, printed with soy-based inks.

And 100% of the energy used in the production and packaging of TEKO socks is offset by the purchase of clean wind energy.

The products don't get much better than that.

And, as I am wont to do, I have to present this comment: Although I'm generally not in favor of producing non-food products (ethanol, soy-based bio diesel) from what could otherwise be food products, I do like this Ingeo technology. It's certainly renewable, if not sustainable.

visit them at www.tekosocks.com

Smile Pretty for Atlanta

This year, the things I received as gifts were largely made in America. I'll share those as I have time. But I'll start with this one.

http://www.recycline.com/toothbrush.html

It's a toothbrush. Made in the USA. Out of recycled yogurt containers. The other cool thing is that this company provides postage-paid mailing labels to return the toothbrush back to the manufacturer so they can make plastic timber out of them.

They have an odd angle to them, opposite of a REACH brand toothbrush. It's comfortable to use, and is pretty well thought out.