How we roll. Images from the Auto Show.

Photos by Steve Erdelen

Thanks to the Social Media Club of St. Louis and Ford Motor Company, for inviting me to attend the online press conference and reception at the 2012 St. Louis Auto Show.  I'm not exactly sure why they invited me, since I don't know the first thing about automotive technology, but hey, I do own a camera, so I took several shots of automobiles that caught my eye.  Over 500 vehicles were on display from 25 different manufacturers and the general consensus from dealers regarding the state of the auto industry was very positive.  From what I saw, the most popular trends in the car business can easily be summed up with one phrase:  "Meaner and greener."  

That's how we Rolls... Royce!

Ford Fusion.  Mine just turned 6, last Sunday.

Zero to 60 in less than 4 seconds.  One quick Cadillac.

I was thinkin'... you cant show a Cadillac and not a Lincoln.  Sweet.

Maybe a little Porsche influence on this new Beetle?

My wife likes the color.  I like the whole Camaro.

Normally, you'll only see the back of a Ferrari.

The 289 Mustang always had a great hole shot.  You could bank on it.

Lotus.  Mere words unnecessary.

Sorry kids, no Kool-Aid in the Bentley.

Rolls on into this beauty.

Corvette.  The great American sports car.

I'm dreaming of an RRRRR.  (Rock Road Reporter Rolls Royce).

Thanks for the invite!   See ya next year.

www.fredsmuffler.com

RRR Publisher Speaks at UMSL College of Business

I was recently invited by Lecturer and Small Business Program Specialist, Alan Hauf, to speak to his "Management of Promotions," class on Monday, January 30th.  I was very honored by Alan's invitation and worked hard to prepare a professional presentation for the very bright students (mostly marketing majors) in his class.

I've made hundreds of business presentations since 1984, but for some reason, I was extremely nervous about this opportunity.  Luckily, PowerPoint kept me from rambling on and once I opened my big mouth... it was clear sailing from there.  I talked mostly about marketing issues that couldn't be found in college text books... like the fact that a marketing position is truly a sales support position and that virtually every position at a given company is a sales support position.  Without sales, companies cease to exist and so do their respective positions.

The students seemed to enjoy the visual walk-throughs of promotional campaigns and the step-by-step directions for organizing promotions.  (Their next class project is to break up in groups and work with four (real) area businesses to develop promotional campaigns).  With that said, it was only natural that some serious note taking was taking place during that phase of the presentation.

There was a lot of information thrown at them in 90 minutes and they were very receptive to the "real life" examples of promotional marketing.  As everyone knows, it can be difficult for students to focus on the inflexibility of text books, no matter what the subject.  I found the students to be very polite, very attentive and they asked good questions.  Today's college students are a pretty impressive group and I was privileged to share a little insight with them.  

Thanks for the invitation Mr. Hauf.  I'd be happy to do it again some day.

Steve Erdelen

Artist of the Month, January 2012

Phil Jarvis, January 2012 Artist of the Month

I started working with Phil Jarvis in the 1980's when he was a sign painter at B&N Signs and I worked in advertising for two major St. Louis area home builders.  Through  the years, Phil and his associates at B&N, collaborated with us on directional and monument entry signage for over 30 new home communities in St. Louis and St.  Charles Counties.  Places like The Vineyards, Twin Chimneys and WingHaven, in St. Charles County and Barrington Downs, Baxter Ridge and Lake Chesterfield, in St. Louis County.  If you live in any one of those communities, the chances are real good that B&N's directional signs helped you find your new home and their monument entry signs welcome you on your way home from work every night.  Steve

"Due to the falling economy and housing decline of 2008, I was sadly laid off from B&N Signs, where I was employed for over 30 years. It was a blessing in disguise. I immediately began accepting work for signs and murals around my neighborhood, Benton Park West, in South St. Louis City. From there my reputation as an artist has grown. The work I do now is more creative and more challenging than anything I was able to accomplish working at B&N. I can finally bring my skills learned as a sign painter and my love for making art together." Phil Jarvis

Picasso Blues

Music Major

Still Life with a Peach

One

Indigo Sign

To view more of Phil's work, please visit www.philjarvispaintings.com

Secret Fears of the Super-Rich - The Atlantic

"From 2000 to 2010, the number of poor people in the suburbs of the nations 95 largest largest metropolitan areas grew by 53%, while the number in the cities themselves grew by 23% according to an analysis of Census data by the Brookings Institution." 

Below The Line, by Barbara Kiviat, Time Magazine, November 28, 2011.

The suburban middle class is taking a big hit these days and are generally not very sympathetic with the plight of those who are extremely rich, but let's face it, most people are fascinated by people who are ridiculously rich and can't read enough about them.  That's why we were happy to see that an incredibly interesting Atlantic Monthly article about the woes of the super rich was available for a feed to our blog.  

There is a guilty pleasure for some of us, in knowing that vast wealth can create extensive personal problems for those holding truckloads of cash.  That uniquely American irony of worshiping the concept of great wealth and then despising the unfair privilege given to those who attain it.  It all makes for a remarkably entertaining read.  Enjoy!        

Secret Fears of the Super-Rich - The Atlantic

Battle of the Brews: Coors Outscores Bud in Consumer Reports' Taste Tests of Beer

Beers from Trader Joe's and Walgreens stand up to name-brand competition

YONKERS, N.Y., Dec. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Looking to enjoy the last weeks of football season with the perfect brew?  Coors regular topped Consumer Reports' recent taste test of beers, blowing away nine brews including Budweiser and Bud Light.  Name Tag and Big Flats — store brands from Trader Joe's and Walgreens respectively — beat out top-sellers Corona Extra and Budweiser.  The full report and Ratings of beer is featured in the February issue of Consumer Reports and online at www.ConsumerReports.org.

To determine the best brews, the experts at Consumer Reports conducted blind taste tests of ten lagers — eight top-selling regular and light beers plus two store brands.  Although none of the beers were scored a touchdown, Coors, which scored Very Good but not quite high enough to be rated excellent, came close, standing out for balanced flavors with citrus notes and no off-tastes.  In addition to earning the highest marks in Consumer Reports' tests, Coors, available for $6.45 for a six-pack, was deemed a CR Best Buy along with runners-up Name Tag (Trader Joe's), Big Flats (Walgreens), and Miller High Life. 

When it comes to choosing a beer, taste may be the most important factor to consider, but Consumer Reports tests found that consumers should also keep the following in mind:

Regular vs. light.  Light beer has 20 to 50 less calories per serving due to lower carbs and slightly less alcohol, but no tested light scored high enough to be very good.  Miller Lite, which had more flavor and is a little fruiter than most, was best of the bunch; Corona Light, a bitter brew with traces of tinny and sulfury off-notes was the worst.

Price vs. taste.  Corona Light costs far more than the higher-rated Miller Lite; and Corona Extra costs about twice as much as three better beers – Name Tag, Big Flats and Miller High Life.

Cans vs. bottles.  Consumer Reports tasted beer from cans which do a better job than bottles in keeping light, beer's nemesis, from getting inside.  Light can react with beer within weeks or even days to create compounds similar to those a skunk uses to defend itself.

The complete beer Ratings are available in the February issue of Consumer Reports and online at www.ConsumerReports.org starting January 3.