Erik Sine

With the Economic War between the US and China rages on, we're starting to hear about manufacturers in China already sending out notices to American Sign Suppliers/MFGs that rises in product costs are here....and coming. For the longest time China has had the Monopoly in manufacturing because of unfair trade practices, currency manipulation, very low almost slave-like wages for their people where a lot of employee safety at times is called into question. There isn't exactly a OSHA or Labor Board in China, nor do their factories abide by the same the same environmental regulation & safety standards that American companies have had to abide, pay, and follow by on the world stage, China was always given a free pass and has always been viewed as a under developed country that should receive a handicap.....and we have to ask why? Yes Erik we know this......So what does this have to do with LEDs? If Chinese components weren't already unreliable, and low quality as it is, just think of how their going to be now as this trade war rages on. If China is already having to raise their prices, what do you think will happen to the quality compared to now if their going to have to cut cost just to keep up in sales? Most American sign component manufacturers who have exported their jobs to China have always had nightmare issues with these plants doing almost anything to save a penny. Remember all those failure batch issues in the past???? Now it will get even worse. China is losing the trade war. It's been entertaining to see all these US Sign LED manufacturers who's products are being produced in China, and some who buy just components and then claim the.... "Assembled in America" to offer 7....8..... and now 10 year warranties for their products. Forget what's to come tomorrow with costs that will be driving quality downward, could those warranties even be trusted from products being sold today? Seriously, we're no dummies, and neither are the consumers. If Nearly 85% of the companies who's products were in our Sign Syndicate Light Test Comparisons could barely make 15,000 hours of operation without a large portion degrading in light output, how can they make 7 years, or even 10? Any logical person knows it's always just been a marketing PR stunt.......and I suppose maybe some .33 watt constant current LEDs could make that, but who uses low wattage LEDs for electric advertising? You can use those but you'll need a crap load just to get near equal light of the high powered stuff but that's VERY un-cost effective. Some shops won't care, they'll just throw their arms in the air and say "that's the sign industry...the consumer will eat it". That's fine if you want to live for today, and die tomorrow with a list of angry customers and Yelp reviews. But....if you sell quality and stake your reputation on what you produce and put put, you should care, and you should be worried. It won't get any better anytime soon with Chinese products. The more the playing field gets leveled between the our Grand Country and China, Chinese products will not be able to stay as low as they have been, or.....at least not the types of products you would want them to be at or expect them to be at. Chinese manufacturers will shave what they can, when they can, and cut the quality at will just to make that extra penny, their known for that! You can be sure of something that won't change when it comes to LED components for the American Sign Industry, and that is when it comes to any components NOT made in China. The world still spins on that access and it's been unaffected on that front Why buy/support products from a Dictatorship that suppresses it's people, manipulates free trade, and interferes/obstructs with the US, in government affairs or by hacking? China is NOT our friend, and their not exactly our enemy. I know sometimes we have no choice, but when you don't have to...don't! That is why if you're going to buy overseas components, buy from our friends and allies first. Countries who have our backs, and we have theirs, and who's people we have fought side by side, and scarified with. Especially from countries who have the highest in quality control standards. This is just one of the reasons why we have been proud, and excited to work with, partner with NC LED from Korea. The quality has not changed, the products are getting better, they have high work ethic standards as well as high product standards and their quality control is equal to that of Japan. They are the complete opposite in every facet of CHINA. Our NC LED products do NOT change year after year like just about every LED manufacturer, going from version 2 to version 10. When something works we stick with it and we're BIG on that! With uncertainty from China in the air when it comes to LED Lighting products and Power Supplies Our prices for high quality products have always been VERY competitive, and lower compared to most lower quality products in a lot of cases. The goal post will not change, the high standards bar will never be lowered. Give us a try on your next job, you'll have consistency, dependability and you'll be much happier that you did!

I thought I heard about changes. I guess no one knows of those changes? I suppose I'll have to do my own research, I figured maybe some knew on the top of their head.

No real equivalents here. ISA is built like a wheel. You have your outer layer which is filled with the same ol individuals that ARE in the sign industry that regurgitate from one association to another and back again. Sort of like musical chairs. They have the same old ideas, like to feel important, and have ego's bigger than most. Lot's or relationship building, relationships that come before the industry itself, lot's of fake awards to the undeserving. Then you have the inner part of the wheel located at the center, or hub....that's the part actually attached to the vehicle. They are the ones that actually pull a paycheck. They manipulate the outer wheel and pull the puppet strings more or less to get what they want. Whatever the outer wheel wants, or may want that actually understands the industry that the association is for, most likely won't get. The hub uses the outer layer to just like what the wheel is for, traction and get all the wear for the purposes of the hub to continue to spin. Most of the good outer layer leaves, and only the old will stay for whatever reason, I'll say it's ego. But their are some good ones, don't get me wrong and I give them all credit for staying. What we need here in the US is an American Sign Association, built by those in the industry, not by those who came from the plastics industry one day, the truck lift gate the next, then to the Sign Industry for a time, then cycle again to the Pool & Spa. I'm sure after all those industry associations they know how to run one, BUT, they don't know the industry they represent, they only know and bring a business model, the model does NOT serve those in the industry. You can't genuinely care about something if you aren't truly in it, your heat has to be in it. I was part of the USSC. I was reluctant to join when asked, but a few said I should, go for an "experience" he said. I can only say I tried, many of the same ol regurgitants didn't like my being there because I was real upfront (they already knew who I was and what I was for) so many were used to because I was expected to continue with the same ol program, just vote on what the ego wanted to get across. I was going in to turn the ship around and put the electric sign industry forward, something that was lacking here in the states. After a short time it didn't seem possible. We were all there to just put on a sign show, make money first rather than put an Association first and build a reason why people should join and continue to build content....which was my priority. Real change would not be possible without cleaning house and purging those who have been there for so long in aiding the associations failure. I was on my way out when a new president was about to be elected in, someone who was new and wanted to clean the association up. I thought, wow a real chance. He came in, he asked me to stay and and help him run it. But, I noticed he was still surrounding himself with the same old people that couldn't make it work all those years. In short, it failed to launch, or make any real change. I wasn't allowed to do what I was supposed to do, the old regurgitants tied my hands at a time when the motor was about to spark. So, seeing I would only waste my time being there as I had no desire to only build a convention show first, make others an income over a actual association, I walked away. I'm not built like they are. I can't look people straight in the eye and convince them to join my association that has no real benefit to them for joining, no real learning experience, useless wasted money on studies no one can use, and the only priority is to come see their annual party which is just a keg buried in the middle of no where with nothing to see or do, just grab a red cup and drink...no girls...no DJ....no show... What a shame with USSC, they had a real chance but they just lacked "courage" to do what's right for the electric sign industry, and I called them out on it....and was physically threatened for it, LoL ....Truly, what a laughable threat too As it's been said before I even joined, years ago here by another grand member who truly know what he was talking about, and what makes associations fail is just that......"Ego" I can never say never. Maybe one day....one day if all the conditions were right I would give one the thought of my valuable import time a second chance

Any requirements for using toggle switches for T-Boxes or sign bodies change in the last few years? Thought I heard something about them or how they are being used was going to change, or not. Thanks

Old as hell, those dog years kicked in! Thanks Gary. Patriots won on my Birthday, I can't complain

So.... I'm sure not many American Sign Companies and Vendors will benefit in anyway (and probably could care less), in fact the Brits will probably benefit more as far as user ship goes but.. Yeah..... Apparently ISA and the BSGA have created a partnership, ISA is good for creating something from nothing, that ends up as nothing, nothing as far as benefits for the end user but a return for the association itself. So, this is most likely another cycle, another idea conjured beacause their background is not of our industry but birthed from others. If ISA was filled with actual sign industry people and not Lori Andersons, this probably wouldn't have even been a thing. But here's the curious part that we, here at the SS have ourselves were kicking around. At least the BSGA, British Sign & Graphics Association takes "Pride" in their country to integrate such a name and their flag in their association logo, and I'm sure their more "Pro-UK" than ISA is Pro-American. Now, I don't know much about the BSGA, except for a few members here that are over there across the big pond, but just off appearance I'm sure they do great for their country men and women, well........ I know they do because I've read some of the "goings ons" over the years, nothing current but still, I'm sure it hasn't changed much. I've always wanted to visit their show, because I've always wanted to visit the UK So what have we always gotten with ISA? Well the theme is "International" We get the Association that cares more about overseas monies than building incentive for our own countries manufacturers, or taking up our homegrown manufacturer concerns. No integration of our country's great flag that has been sacrificed for, or good 'ol Red, White, and Blue in our supposed industry "Leadership Association" logo run by non-industry people of course. I mean, if someone had to ask what the colors of ISA is right now....as we stroll through a show, I would think it was Red with a gold star. So now let all the marketing programs commence to our manufacturers to sell them on overseas and partnership programs that DON'T really equal ours or make sense. Somehow there will be a equation chart for "Channel Letters" to "3D Built Up Letters" (<---------- Haha, I made a international funny....funny only if you follow things "international") Guess for now the closest way ISA can get to "Red, White, & Blue" integrated into their logo is by Union Jack, NOT by old Glory.....money must be calling... Maybe the USSC, United States Sign Council can benefit from this, their the only independent Association and their Pro American Themed. Oh....wait.... I forgot, they dropped the Red, White, and Blue too.... Oh and, I don't even think their called the USSC anymore. Yes I remember now....they decided to chase the coat tails and live in the shadow of ISA and their the...Sign World, or Sign Expo, something like that....maybe it's ISA "Jr", or step-child. Still.... .....ISA-UK will allow ISA and BSGA to work together on issues common across the sign, graphics and visual communications industry, including codes and regulations, research, workforce education and events......This is an exciting move for ISA and for BSGA," said Lori Anderson, ISA president and CEO. "The business world is no longer contained by borders and this partnership offers tremendous opportunities for the growth of our industry. Together, we are stronger." This Makes me shutter, not that ISA will ever have much bearing on ever bringing actual change (Thank God) to US regulation and policy, well they sort of, as it pertains to failures, and being on the wrong side of issues for the electric sign industry. I'm sure ISA-Euro is next but... I just hate to read all the upcoming bullshit articles about all their ideas, and supposed ongoing (Salesman face) success with their new venture in all the brochure rags to come. Look for Euro type regulations and ideas. Look for Euro like Environmentalism topics and issues. Regulation & Environmental Tyranny has all but killed our US manufacturing and jobs in the past. All these imported ideas to "Improve" and make American Sign Companies and Manufacturers "better" by making us more.....Euro like. Oh boy, just when I made a self commitment to never dig into ISA again because I was sooooo tired of it. I was actually going to try real hard to find something to cheer for about them, seriously I was.... Until I read about this.

Look for a Neon Pro or Franceformer, or Ventex model. Most likely a electronic, plug in, pull chain model that will auto load 1kv - 10kv (10kv model) Ebay or amazon

Hi Michelle and welcome The reasons for investing in a pylon sign are too easy, and it's all about visibility for your tenants and investing in your tenants so their noticed. Especially for centers that are not so easily seen from the public right of way. That can be for a ground or pole sign. I think a even better article that could help in educating property managers is having some knowledge in...is whether or not they should be investing and paying a large upfront cost in "retrofitting" their existing signage when marketed too by a lot of these so called "independent firms or consultants....who aren't actually interdependent at all, their actually salesmen or reps of light source manufactures. They will walk into your office as if they are the "wizards of smart" and can come in with a impressive power point presentation. They may even have a lot of articles from our sad trade magazines, whom aren't actually trade magazines at all, their actually just brochure magazines who are more set on selling one page ads than actually representing the truth for the electric sign industry. Property managers and developers are fed a lot of marketing claims such as "savings"...."efficient"....."Return on investment". I'm talking about Retrofitting from conventional light sources such as Fluorescent or Neon Lamps to LED There is a lot of mis-information by these reps and sign companies who are looking to make profit on parts and labor of LEDs for something that makes no sense in most cases. There is very little difference in power consumption between the three when it comes to equal light output, and very little difference in cost of operation. IN fact in most cases, the ROI on retrofitting is and can be 20 to 40 years, and in that time consumers will be re-retrofitting many times over and that savings never comes. So consumers who have no background or experience in light sources, or their cost of operation are being mislead into thinking Fluorescent and Neon Lamps are inefficient, dangerous and have poor light output, when actually the opposite is true. But, you won't find any of this out from a light source rep who was a lift-gate salesman one day and a LED rep the next who has never even held, tested or evaluated a Neon or Fluorescent lamp. We have done a lot of testing here on the Sign Syndicate in lumen maintenance, cost of operation, and I probably would only trust about 10% of LED products out there on life, and that doesn't even scratch the surface of apples to apples light output. When you hear or are being told statements such as "80% in savings and efficiency".....nothing is further from the truth because a rep is comparing a penlight to a mag-light and telling you the penlight is saving 80% in efficiency. The truth is.....you can only claim one product is more efficient than the other when both have equal light output BUT..... one is doing it at a lower cost of operation. ONLY then can you claim one is actually more "energy efficient" Sadly, there are a lot of sign producers who are lazy and or have very little knowledge of fabrication in integrating Fluorescent & Neon Lamps for illuminating signs OR, they prefer to have a lower cost/wage in employees that don't have the skill set in a wide variety of applications so they only produce with a "LED everything" attitude. Which is great for them in a business sense.... ....but terrible for the consumer who can be left with a end-product that has cheap imported Chinese LEDs or product that has the environment that is too harsh for LEDs There is something that consumers are NOT aware of. Every light source has their strengths and weaknesses, and not one light source is a fit for all applications

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Their just pretty well built, their beefy, and can be adjusted in many ways besides the height

Maybe I'm not with the times, but saw these Saw Horses in a shop from one of my customers and thought i t was pretty cool. A line of products that I know Lowes stocks. But thought how handy these must be. This shop loves them

That's awesome Paul! Glad to hear you had a lot of good success with our USHIO LED lamps, we love looking at our customers finished product pics especially when their used in the way you applied them, flashing and animated. And of course, those Red Neon Lamps......they'll last forever just being Glass and Gas, their light output is not affected by time or environmental temperatures. They'll outlast and outshine any "Fake" Neon Flex LED product because each individual diode in that product are always degrading with each day that passes, especially the Diodes that are trapped in a gel or silicone. I still don't understand the shops that use these fake Neon products, I get it for indoor....accessible to public applications, but for outdoor? Always failure to come with inconsistent light soon enough

You ain't seen nothing yet,wait until I break out my crayons!

I know my fabricator loves my high detailed project plans, wait until you see my method of of attachment plan Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I get calls and emails every so often about the frustration in the need to login to read some topics. So, I thought I would renew the reason why in an explanation. The Electric Sign Industry is still a trade, at least we are the few who still treat it that way and NOT as a commodity.....and the very reason why some topics we don't want out for public reading. All members are verified in a variety of ways to gain entry here. Some topics are public, most are private for the trade only. Unlike the print sticky aspect of our trade, for whom can just simply buy a printer or plotter on ebay, the electric sign industry still is a true trade and there is a learning process, safety aspect, as well as consumer protection part where in most states... electric sign companies need a contractors license and again, individuals who qualify must go through their state requirements and that is a Trade process. Anyhow, that is why you must login to read most trade subjects here

Anyone know what the deal is with the OSHA Crane Certification? I thought I heard the requirement is postponed or put off complacently? Or maybe I heard wrong altogether

it was Soooooooo bright!

It's a shame, the only entities/groups etc, in America that have anything remotely close to incorporating anything Americana is this site, and the United States Sign Council Sign Association. Oh wait, I don't think there is a USSC anymore, and before I left they removed the Red, White, & Blue out of their logo and tried to chase the coattails of ISA to capture a "international" audience and $$$$$. However, the USSC involves themselves in more Pro-American causes than ISA, with vets, tributes etc

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One of the reasons why is, because it's easier to mass email you and the 30 other shops around the intended targeted area and look at the replies with the lowest price rather than taking the time to call 30 shops who might have too many questions

So after doing some research on The Sign Syndicate I found a lost post I made and apparently it has NOT been 4 years since I've had to do some Fact Checking / Debunking FOR the Signs of the Times magazine. How come I don't get paid to correct their magazine? Is this what Pro bono is all about??? I knew it didn't feel right, and 4 year is just too long. I somehow had this tucked away in Joe Wartman's Forum Damn.... It's only been a year

I merged the two topics so no one gets lost

Thanks Brian! Thank you. And as you already know, some of the sign companies the consumers might get who are supposed to be "professionals" but more times than not their more in it form themselves than really helping the consumer by passing along correct advice. These newer shops/companies don't have the "know how" so it's all about "peel and stick" and make money off labor to pull out viable light sources and replace, when more times than not they don't have the knowledge or desire to what maybe just do what is REALLY needed by making a few corrections on loading, wiring correction, etc to make a sign run correctly, and at a much lower cost to the consumer. Instead some do not truly serve the consumer or this industry Not only do we have trade magazines printing incorrect information but we also have these so called "Marketing Associates", who are supposed to be independent, a knowledgeable consultant, etc etc. More times than not they're manufacturer reps, or tools, "posing" as "consultants". These businesses are made up of a few individuals and they're supposed to be our industry experts, at least that's how they advertise themselves to retailers and consumers and of course sign shops. But they're also "LED Everything" Some of these "Associates" even brag about project like the Citgo Sign sitting in Boston, which I've seen in person. Not impressed http://www.thesignsyndicate.com/forums/index.php?/forums/topic/4108-citgo-sign-in-kenmore-square-led-replaced/ Or the famous Genesee Beer Sign, another project where these independent marketing associates are involved as a sales buffer between sign shop and consumer. But it's more of the same.........failure. http://www.thesignsyndicate.com/forums/index.php?/forums/topic/5364-signs-of-the-times-february-2012-issue/ The list can go on. There's a time and place for all light sources, LED's are not the "everything", it's only the "everything" for those who have limited knowledge of this industry, or for those "specifiers" that have a manufacturer agenda, or have no knowledge themselves. Large retailers and consumers need to be warned. .....And they are in some ways, as some large retailers monitor and have joined this site, even one particular large national Cinemas chain, because they've had some large failures themselves and I'm sure they enjoy the articles here which actually display "numbers".

Signs Of The Times - April 2018 So.... It's been about four years since I've written an article about our trade magazines and their "fluff...puff pieces". I thought I was going to retire from ever having to do this again after Wade, whom I once coined....."The Community Organizer" turned the SOT boat around for the better, reporting more balanced articles on Neon & LEDs. I never really commented on Sign Builder, or Sign & Digital Graphics Brochure rags Errrrr....trade magazines because well....no one reads them for credible information and no Trade Journeyman who is worth their salt would ever open one up to find viable real information, so why bother? Only the new, the born yesterdays, the sign industry buy-ins (franchise) or the ISA Elite youth brigade program subscribers & graduates buy into the articles and hold them as value, and as truth. I have to admit right now, once I learned of Wade Swormstedt, the captain of the leading Sign Trade Magazine Signs Of The Times "The World Leader in Sign Information Since 1906" was retiring, and handing over the keyboard it made me shutter. I don't know why, I just did, just call it woman's intuition. It's that feeling you get as you board that ship or plane with adult beverage in hand for vacation, you cock that one eye brow and think to yourself....did I leave the kitchen sink on? Did I forget to shut the stove off? Not even a couple of months / issues later after Wade put his Hula shirt on, boarded the retirement plane with Pina Colada in hand off for the sunset... This occurred.... But I still boarded my plane too. Wade and I were at the same airport together, at the same terminal, but he was going his way and I was going mine. We waved to one another, smiled, raised our glasses in a cheer...a toast. I left even with the thought that maybe... I did leave the sink running. Maybe he left hastily thinking..."will my magazine be in good hands?" With a few good years under Wade before he left, I was relaxed. So I did peek at a couple of articles after his leave, and yes...the mag was starting to turn onto a rag again. But I was still enjoying my vacation. What's a few bad articles, how bad can it REALLY get? Damn.... *Sign* So.... The "Community Agitator" Robin Donovan is really undoing all of Wade's legacy. Just opening up this April's issue was like having that relaxed feeling until someone decided to scratch a chalkboard......are there still chalkboards? ENERGY MASTERS http://read.nxtbook.com/st_media/signs_of_the_times/april_2018/index.html#energy_masters What?!??!? Oh Bill, I can't believe you carry a title "Sign-Industry & Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Foundation for the Advancement of the Sign Industry or...(FASI)" That is a long, lengthy title....and reminds me of... "Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen, First of Her Name, the Unburnt, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains, and Mother of Dragons" Poor Bill knows very little about whats he's preaching or writing about. He's a person who has only heard, read, and is himself is a victim of light source manufacturer claims and believes in the mis-characterization of light sources, and then we read his regurgitation and we're supposed to assume and think he is a "wizard of smart"... sadly though, he himself, doesn't know any better. He's never been a "doer" or someone who has any real hands on experience about what he's supposed to be an expert in. Yes I know, he has experience in other areas, government etc. But, like most of the ISA Association guys who collect a paycheck (NOT the volunteer base) who came from one other industries like the plastics or "pool and spa", then landed a gig in the sign industry like Lori Anderson, one day he will leave our industry and became a instant expert in another, just watch. i.e. Rich Gottwald Let's talk about what he either doesn't know, omits, or fails to understand and relay to others in the Signs of The Times April Issue. What Bill fails at miserably is his "hands on" mechanics of comparing two light sources and understanding that two light sources have to have equal brightness, and when one can perform like it does for a lesser cost of operation then...and ONLY then, can you say one is more "efficient" than the other. ...and I'll say it again. Otherwise you're comparing a Mag-light to a Pen-light and saying the Pen-light is more efficient because it's operating at lesser power. End of story. This is a good comparison to show from their article. This illustrates the same spacing as a fluorescent tube configuration. Looks good, looks easy. The problem comes at night. The sign will be illuminated with 25% to 50% of the original brightness that it once was with Conventional light sources. Use less power sure, but NOT more efficient. Also, what's omitted is, magnetic ballasts, transformers or even LED Power supplies last significantly longer than any solid state or electronic power source. Their just coils with no electronics. With long-life fluorescent lamps such as Voltarcs Starlite Lamps rated for (50,00 hours), these are just as maintenance free than an LED system would be and far less expensive to the consumer. As a sign shop, how many LED power Supplies do we change out? Far more than magnetics! The LED population illustrated in this picture would have to be doubled to tripled just to have comparable light to that of conventional fluorescents, HO lamps, even more so if we compare LEDs to Tri-Phophor coated lamps....well, then we're looking at comparable Cost of Operation and words like "Efficient" truthfully go away..... This is what people like Bill, who are experts don't understand. They don't understand the basic principals, that you don't get something for nothing, and everything you chose has a price to be paid somewhere. LEDs are not an answer to all phases of the electric sign industry. He writes about the frustrations sign shops go through with local jurisdictions for permitting or approval, well "duh". They read it from the Sign Foundation "Experts" like him. They believe the mis-information because it's written by an individual who has self titled themselves...."Sign-Industry & Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Foundation for the Advancement of the Sign Industry or...(FASI)" or similar. Bill doesn't understand.....or he understands BUT, doesn't want to admit outright in the public because of the shoes he would be stepping on....I'll try and give him more cred and say it's the first rather than the latter. Here's a hidden trade secret about Associations, & Trade Magazine. This is info SOME sign associations can't say they don't know, but continue to pretend they don' t know because they're worried about who they will offend and who's membership money they might not get, oh....and don't forget the advertisers! Our Associations are always SO quick to claim their here to benefit, pioneer and Shepard our "trade" with their "studies", yet they can't even come out with REAL facts and figures that tell the truth about our trades biggest and most valued Traditions & Heritages that still make our trade, a trade. As for the rest of the sad April 2018 articles, you would think this is a return of 2005 because it's just more "Neon Bad.....LED Good" With no fun facts about pro's and con's of each light source based on environment or application, or that each light source whether it's Neon, Fluorescent, & LED Lamps, all have their strengths and weaknesses...and not one light source is a better fit in all phases of the electric sign industry HISTORY LESSON http://read.nxtbook.com/st_media/signs_of_the_times/april_2018/index.html#history_lesson MARQUEE DE MOD http://read.nxtbook.com/st_media/signs_of_the_times/april_2018/index.html#marquee_de_mod The signs in these articles have no soul. My feeling is, I bet this these types of articles bring tears to the eyes of more, greater experienced sign shops & journeymen & women who create and restore some real beauties When you have historical signs for restoration and revamps, you can restore with better Neon i.e. rare earth/tri phosphors & improved wiring configuration, better wiring, improved loading for longer life. You don't redo classics and historics with inferior Flex LED Neon which has a significant shorter life, is no where near the brightness as Neon and degrades unevenly with individual diodes breakdown in the silicone heat trap of death. Flex Neon...It's not art, it's laziness. Save those projects of where the public right of way can come in contact, interior applications, or your kids school science projects. But these souless projects occur when the consumer puts their trust in companies who have no business doing what they do in these types of projects, they only chose what comes easy (peel and stick) because they lack the "know how" of the electric sign industries greatest traditions and heritage of Neon, or don't employ any staff that has the real experience of either the fabrication/processing or proper installation of Neon..... or..... They're avid readers of the Community Agitators brochure magazine and quite possibly graduates of the ISA Elite yoot brigade. On a side note. Looking at an issue a decade ago, they had 110 pages of content before the directory, this year only 65 pages of content before the directory which is about half the content. It appears they have plenty of pages and room left, maybe they can fill with more "balanced" content to do "better". Does Marcus and Nisa still work there? If not, the Community Agitator needs find herself some more "experts" to carry the brochure mag

Federal Marshal’s Seize Neon Sign After Owner Invested Thousands of Dollars for Restoration http://www.ktva.com/clip/14278225/anchorage-woman-wants-her-neon-palm-tree-the-feds-want-it-back http://www.ktva.com/clip/14290467/spenard-inns-neon-palm-tree-turned-over-to-feds A neon palm tree that's been at the center of a dispute between a local businesswoman and the federal government changed hands on Friday. Bernadette Wilson obeyed a judge's order to give back the sign, which once adorned Spenard's storied Paradise Inn for decades. Wilson kept the location of the tree a secret until Friday morning when it turned up on the back of a trailer in South Anchorage. Workers hired by the U.S. Marshals Service office in Anchorage brought their own truck and hauled it away. Wilson has given up the giant neon sign for now, but she may not have given up the fight. She has until Tuesday to decide if she wants to appeal the judge's ruling. She'd also like to get back some of the tens of thousands of dollars she said she's spent, removing, storing and fighting for the sign. "If the federal government is going to tell you to do something and, in turn, tell you to keep it and you incur those costs, it's not right to force those costs on a small business owner and leave them with nothing to show for it," Wilson said. Wilson said she would love to see the iconic sign displayed in Anchorage, possibly at the Anchorage Museum or by the Koots windmill in Spenard. The federal government has indicated it plans to auction the sign and the Paradise Inn property, where the palm tree stood for more than 50 years. U.S. Attorney for Alaska Bryan Schroder's office and marshals haven't released any details so far of when the auction will be held.