kentucky

by: Geoff Ficke 

This past New Years holiday weekend, I had planned on the ritual television viewing of endless college and professional football games with my son. He is home for Christmas break from university, and the last weekend of each year we have always devoted to eating, lazing and yelling at the screen as teams with which we have no real interest slug it out in endless gridiron skirmishes. However, this year, our viewing habits were turned upside down by a re-run of a car auction.

Each January, the Barrett-Jackson Classic Automobile Auction takes place in Scottsdale, Arizona. The auction takes the better part of a week and features the most stunning car stock in the world, selling for mind numbing prices to ultra-rich celebrities and collectors. If you like cars, and as a child of the 1960’s I do, this is addictive stuff. My son and I saw very little football this weekend, as the auction ran hour after hour, a repeat of the January, 2006 auction as shown on the Speed Channel, and we were consumed.

Watching the auction was revealing on several levels: not only was the auction exciting, the cars beautiful and unique, the bidding spirited, but collectors demand for American classics overwhelmed the markets desire for all other types of collectible vehicles. Ferrari’s, Porsches and Maserati’s were offered and sold, however, all of the record sale prices were achieved by American muscle cars from the 1960’s and 1970’s.

Were ANY American automobile executives in attendance, watching on television or even aware of the insatiable demand for their historic nameplates? At a time when Ford, General Motors and Chrysler, virtually all that is left of the once mighty American auto business, are losing market share, bleeding cash and shuttering factories, the demand for once-pedestrian priced rolling stock is immense. Plymouth Barracuda, Dodge Hemi, Chevelle, Camaro, Firebird, Mustang, and dozens of other American auto models, all once widely sold and, at prices virtually every man could afford, commanded prices as high as $2 million. That is right: $2,000,000!

The re-run of the Barrett-Jackson 2006 auction underlined clearly what ails the American automobile business and what the prescription for a return to the glory days must include. The engineers and designers of the mid-20th century American cars loved the industry: They were car guys first, last, always! Their designs and performance enhancements reflected passion. Cars were more than mere mass transportation; they were statements of creativity, art and American leadership and inventiveness. Can any of these traits be applied to today’s bland, look alike, pedestrian offerings coming to us from Detroit?

Harley Earl at GM, Raymond Loewy at Studebaker, Lee Iacoca at Ford, John DeLorean at Pontiac, and Virgil Exner at Chrysler were craftsman whose designs and styling cues influence the worldwide auto design industry to this day. Can you name the lead designer of any contemporary American auto model working today? They are as faceless, and colorless as their vehicles.

The classic “baby bird”, the Ford Thunderbirds of the 1950’s, were allowed to atrophy, became gluttonous and boxy before being put to a long deserved death in the 1990’s. A few years ago, Ford announced to great fanfare that the Thunderbird would be re-offered in the original two-seat sport roadster presentation. Expectations were high for the “new baby bird”, pre-production bookings encouraging and publicity generous in anticipation of the return of this American classic.

Sadly, the car proved a bust on every level. Performance was dull, lines and body silhouette a pale memory of the distinctive 1950’s design and the public walked quickly away from the car. After only three years of disappointing sales, the new Thunderbird was discontinued.

Ford at least tried. My question, re-issued while watching the 2006 Barrett-Jackson auction was this: Why didn’t the new “Bird” body look exactly like the old bird, gorgeous pastel colors, cutting edge styling cues, continental kits, but with modern mechanics under the hood? The “old Bird” is a recognized classic. Every collector wants a classic Thunderbird in the garage. No one cared for the lame attempt at a pseudo-Bird as offered by today’s Ford designers.

The contemporary American car business suffers for many reasons, including legacy costs, past management mistakes and bloated staffing. However, the biggest mistake by far, and I believe any casual viewer of the Barrett-Jackson auction would agree, is the stodgy, sameness of their contemporary offerings. When a Cadillac, a Buick, a Hyundai and a Toyota look the same, the car with the lowest price, best warranty and best service history will claim the lions share of the sales. Unfortunately these are not currently benefits associated with American cars.

The historic design pedigree that naturally could, and should be attached to American models has largely been forfeited. When a 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda (original sticker price, $4000) sells for over $2 million and Shelby Mustangs regularly sell for $1 million the market is making a clear statement. Is any body in Detroit paying attention?

Congratulations to those players seleted for the United States Men’s Olympic Basketball Team from Coach Jamaal of Boise’s Jamaal Al-Din’s Hoops 227- the everything basketball website!!! This year the Olympic Summer Games are being held in Beijing, China…the home of “chow Mein,” lo Mein, ans Coach J’s favorite- szchezwaun beef!!! The USA Basketball Executive Committee is responsible for the selection process and let’s just say it’s great to select from the NBA who plays host to the most extraordinary basketball talent in the world!!!

Mike Krzyzewski of the storied Duke University NCAA basketball program in Durham, North Carolina (ACC), is the Head Basketball Coach of the United States Olympic Basketball Senior Team. Nate McMillan, Mike D’Antoni and Jim Boeheim of the Portland Trailblazers, New York Knicks and Syracuse Univerity, respectively, are USA the Olympic Basketball Assistant Coaches for the 2008 Olympic Games held in Beijing, China.

Team members include these National Basketball Association stars!

Carmelo Anthony- Denver Nuggets; the explosive Carmelo Anthony is a versatile NBA talent from Baltimore, Maryland and Syracuse University. With an NCAA basketball championship he’s now paired up with Allen Iverson (“The Answer”) in Denver with hope of bringing a title to the Mile High City! 

Chris Bosh- Toronto Raptors; Chris Bosh is a phenomenal leaper with unparalleled basketball skills in the paint. Chris Bosh’s athleticism makes for exciting NBA dunks and “rim shakers!” NBA basketball at its finest and will be fireworks to see him paired up, on the basketball hardwood, with the likes of Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers) and LeBron (“King”) James (Cleveland Cavaliers)!

Michael Redd- Milwaukee Bucks; Michael Redd’s terrific long range game is TOPPS in the NBA and during Olympic play it will be enteresting to see him play bombs away against international basketball teams. Michael Redd played collegiately at Ohio State University.

Deron Williams- Utah Jazz; Deron Williams has both a strong basketball inside game and outside jumper. Slashes his way through opponents with penetration similar to a vibrant “Rookie” basketball version of Gary Payton (The Glove- from Oregon State University). Deron Williams played collegiately at the University of Illinois (Big 10/NCAA)

Chris Paul- New Orleans Hornets; Chris Paul had arguably the best season of all National Basketball Association (NBA) players and and some basketball fans, writers and critics, feel as though he should have won the NBA’s MVP award. Chris Paul is a versatile Point Guard with a knack for penetrating the lane and creating havok for defenders, as big men in the middle have to converge, leaving wide open jump shots for Chris Paul’s (CP’s) teammates in New Orleans. The New Orleans Hornets are having an exciting time with NBA basketball and Olympic basketball fans will be watching one of the best point guards in the modern NBA! Chris Paul played for the Wake Forrest Demon Deacons of the NCAA’s Atlantic Coast Conference (notable ACC basketball programs: Duke University, University of Maryland, North Carolina State University, Florida State University and University of North Carolina).

Tayshaun Prince- (Coach Jamaal’s)! Detroit Pistons; Tayshaun Prince is a wirey, smooth shooting guard with great touch. Coach Jamaal Al-Din of Jamaal Al-Din’s Hoops 227 grew up as a Detroit Pistons fan, watching Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Bill Laimbeer, John Salley, Mark Aguire and Dennis Rodman. It will be basketball heaven to watch Tayshaun Prince teamed up with guards like Chris Paul (Wake Forest Deamon Deacons/ New Orleans Hornets) and Deron Williams (University of Illinois “Fighting” Illini/ Utah Jazz). Tayshaun Prince played NCAA basketball at the University of Kentucky (“Wildcats”) for Coach Tubby Smith. 

Dwight Howard- Orlando Magic; an extraordinary physical basketball talent who is quickly making his mark on the entire National Basketball Association (NBA). Dwight Howard (see 227’s You Tube- Dwight Howard), is a physical inside player who rebounds and scores with the best basketball centers and forwards in the NBA. Look for Howard to control the paint like SHAQ (Phoenix Suns) and dominate Olympic play. Noted for his famous U Tube (YouTube, you tube, utube) “Superman” dunk, Dwight Howard came into the NBA right after high-school, like his NBA counter-part…Kobe Bryant (of the 81 point performance, which can be seen on YouTube)!

Dwayne Wade- Miami Heat; D-Wade of the marketing NBA creatives, is a slashy, creative, shooting guard witha championship ring to go with the exceptional performance he put on during the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks. Dwayne Wade’s game is versatile and should flourish during Olympic style basketball play. Dwayne Wade played collegiately at Marquette University (NCAA). 

Kobe Bryant- Los Angeles Lakers; Kobe Bryant… well, Kobe Bryant, need I say more. An 81 point scoring outburst and a phenominal 2007-08 season with the Los Angeles Lakers which culminated in a Western Conference Championship. Kobe will be a special basketball treat for all Olympic basketball fans. Kobe entered the NBA right out of high-school, similiar to the legendary Moses Malone (“4, 4, 4″) and Darryl Dawkins “Chocolate Thunder!”  Kobe is a product of Philly.

LeBron James- Cleveland Cavaliers; the most electrifying dunker of modern NBA basketball  and arguably all-time. LeBron’s strong game of dunk-you-very-much and power has took the National Basketball Association by storm! LeBron is only a blink away from establishing himself as the epitome of NBA shooting guards with strength and power to go along with his basketball intelligence which is unmatched! LeBron James came into the NBA, right after high-school and was regarded highly as everyone’s McDonald’s Basketball All-American, from Ohio.

Carlos Boozer- Utah Jazz; the former Duke University Blue Devil is a fierce inside presence and has a soft touch, he’ll be an asset teamming up with Deron Williams, as they’re teammates with the Western Conference Utah Jazz in the NBA.

 

Some of the basketball members of the United States Men’s Basketball (USA) Team have had experience with FIBA Basketball, and the World Championships. Stay tuned and watch the best of the best USA basketball talent during the Olympics in Beijing, China. Coach Jamaal Al-Din of Jamaal Al-Din’s Hoops 227 says “Good Luck, red, white and blue!” Jamaal Al-Din is a former player of Olympic scoring record setter, Ed Palubinskas, who played at BYU-Idaho (formerly Ricks College) and LSU. Coach Palubinskas is a member of the Australia Basketball Hall of Fame. Jamaal Al-Din’s Hoops 227- the everything basketball website!

An ancient human scourge has returned to cause panic among home and property owners, home buyers and realtors. Bed bugs have invaded every state in the U.S. and reports of infestations have increased exponentially nationwide over the past few years. In a national survey of pest control companies conducted by noted bed bug authority Michael Potter for Pest Management Professional, Potter found, “A whopping 91% of respondents reported their organizations had encountered bed bug infestations in the past two years. Only 37% said they encountered bed bugs more than 5 years ago.”

Until a few years ago, most pest control companies said it was unusual to receive even one or two calls a year about bed bugs. Since 2004, however, bed bug complaints have grown exponentially with pest control companies nationwide now averaging between 10 and 50 calls a week. In major metropolitan areas, some companies are fielding 100 or more bed bug complaints each week. Some experts are predicting that 2008 will be the Year of the Bed Bug. Cindy Mannes, spokesperson for the National Pest Management Association, said bed bugs have become a serious problem in every state, noting, “There are some who call it the pest of the 21st century.”

Bed bugs are an equal opportunity pest. Infestations have occurred across the country in the tony co-ops of the rich and famous, in fashionable condominiums, in luxury apartments and in upscale suburban homes. Contrary to popular belief, bed bugs are not caused by filth or dirt. Like lice and fleas, bed bugs are creatures of convenience. A nuisance insect, they are not known to carry disease, but they can cause considerable discomfort, both mental and physical.

All but eradicated in the U.S. following World War II, the banning of powerful DDT-based pesticides, coupled with increased international travel, has brought about a nationwide resurgence of the annoying insect. Potter, an urban entomologist at the University of Kentucky, calls bed bugs the pre-eminent household pest in the U.S., on a par with cockroaches and rats. “This is one serious issue,” he recently told the New York Times. “This will be the pest of the 21st century – no questions about it.”

If you’re buying a house or looking for a new condo or apartment, take to heart the old adage Buyer Beware. You may be moving into a home that has been invaded by bed bugs. Most states require home sellers to provide buyers with an accurate statement disclosing the property’s condition, including pest infestations. However, there are loopholes that should serve as a red flag to home buyers and their realtors.

Most real estate disclosure statements are fairly broad and do not specifically ask about bed bug infestations. If any pest disclosure is specified, it’s likely to be termites. Because bed bugs haven’t been a problem in the United States for so many decades, few current state or municipal codes address them specifically. In many states, sellers can choose not to fill out the disclosure statement and instead pay a penalty which is credited to the buyer. For sellers with a bed bug problem, a several hundred dollar penalty may seem an acceptable price for making the sale.

Buyers and realtors should be aware that real estate disclosure laws that apply to home sales often don’t apply to co-op and condo owners. Before you buy, check with the local building and health departments to find out what the regulations are in your area. Although some states are now considering adding specific bed bug regulations to their realty laws, at this point common law is generally on the side of the seller. As real estate attorney Edward Sumber of New York told the New York Times, “Under the doctrine of caveat emptor — let the buyer beware — the seller has no affirmative obligation to reveal circumstances about the apartment to the buyer.”

However, disclosure laws in most states require the seller to answer honestly if specifically asked whether his home or apartment has been infected by bed bugs or other pests.

Additionally, real estate brokers are usually obligated to reveal a bed bug problem to the buyer if they know about it. Unfortunately, in most states sellers are not required to tell their real estate brokers about bed bug problems. Essentially, that means buyers must rely on the integrity of sellers and landlords anxious to make a sale.

Many buyers shopping for a new home, apartment or condominium are now hiring a pest control company with an expertise in bed bug elimination to inspect the property before they buy. Some realtors are recommending that sellers have their homes inspected for bed bugs before putting them on the market as both a reassurance and inducement to buyers.

What are bed bugs?

Evolved from bird and bat nest parasites, Climex lectaularius, the common bed bug, is a tiny nocturnal insect that hides in dark crevices during the day and feeds on human blood during the night. Their oval bodies are flattened and wingless and a light to reddish-brown in color. Adult bed bugs are 1/4 to 3/8 inch long or about the size of an apple seed. Before feeding, the bed bugs are as flat as paper, becoming dark red and bloated with blood as they feed, much like a tick. As they puncture the skin to feed — usually for 3 to 10 minutes — they eject an anesthetic that can cause an allergic reaction and the symptomatic itchy, red welts that bedevil their hosts. However, welts may take a day or two to develop and not all bed bug sufferers react to their bites, which can delay detection.

A female bed bug can produce up to 500 eggs during its average one-year lifespan, laying about 5 eggs per day. Difficult to detect without magnification, the eggs are whitish, pear-shaped and about the size of a pinhead. The female lays her sticky eggs in bedding and carpets or cements them into cracks and crevices near the bed to ensure a food source when the nymphs hatch. Nymphs, which are lighter in color and look like slightly smaller adults, hatch in 4 to 12 days and begin to feed immediately. Bed bugs progress through five nymphal stages, molting after each stage. The whitish carapaces they shed are a telltale sign of bed bug infestation. It takes 5 to 8 weeks for nymphs to reach maturity. Since several generations of bed bugs can be produced in a year, all stages of growth can be found in an infested room.

Bed bugs feed every 3 to 5 days and must feed at least once to develop to the next stage and to reproduce. They often void while feeding, leaving telltale rusty or tarry spots on sheets and in hiding places. Bed bugs can survive for 1 to 7 months without a blood meal and have been known to live in an abandoned house for as long as a year. They give off a distinctive musty, sweet odor often likened to ripe red raspberries or coriander.

Bed bugs will readily travel 10 to 15 feet to feed but have been observed traveling more than 100 feet from their established harborage to feed on a host. Once established, infestations can spread rapidly to adjoining rooms or units through crawl spaces, wall voids and electrical and plumbing conduits. Adept hitchhikers, bed bugs can easily enter your home on clothing, bedding, luggage, used furniture, cardboard boxes, etc. They can be brought home from a hotel stay or by sitting in a car, cab, bus, train or plane recently inhabited by an infested person.

What to look for

Bed bugs may be tiny but they leave telltale traces. Look most closely near beds and in bedrooms where bed bugs feed. Look for these telltale signs of bed bug activity:

A heavily infested room may have a characteristic musty or sweet odor like the scent of fresh red raspberries or coriander; however, the odor may not be obvious.

Look for active, crawling bugs on bed linens, carpet and furniture near the bed.

Look for dark fecal and blood stains on bed linens; carpets and carpet welting; and in the seams, creases, tufts and folds of mattresses and box springs.
r/>You should also look for fecal smears or pea-sized pearly egg deposits behind headboards; along baseboards and door and window casings; around electrical plates; in plaster cracks; and under loose wallpaper, paintings and posters.

Look for whitish nymph molts and old exoskeletons under area rugs, at the edges of carpets, and in under-the-bed storage containers.

Beware of bats in the attic or eaves. Quite often bed bugs feeding on bats in the attic of a house will migrate to the living area in search of an easier food source, humans.

Buyer beware!

Bites, odor and voiding smears are indicators of a bed bug problem. However, these insects often go undetected when symptoms are not obvious. Bed bugs are also easily confused with other nuisance bugs like carpet beetles, bird and rodent mites, shiny spider beetles, parasitic wasps, even lint by the more paranoid, making definitive diagnosis a job for bed bug experts.

Before you buy a new home, ask the owner if there has ever been a bed bug problem. In co-ops, condos, apartments and any multi-unit residence, ask the property owner whether bed bugs have been reported in any unit. Before they buy, many home buyers are now requiring a pest inspection by a bed bug expert in addition to the traditional home inspection. When it’s buyer beware, it makes sense to protect yourself.