All American Clothing is a company dedicated to providing the highest quality clothing for the discriminating worker and casual wearer, ME. Up until recently they carried my preferred brand of work pants the Carhartt work dungarees.  You can still purchase them of the discount rack for 50% off.  Which is where I found UnionLine carpenter jeans which I will be using to replace my Carhartt jeans as they will eventually wear out.  Carhartt has decided to discontinue their Made in USA line for their imported lines.  Though they are not closing the North American Plants they are taking away the ability from the distributors to only order Made in USA Carhartt.  In turn they will be alienating retailers like All American Clothing and in turn taking my business else wear.

If you ask me send a message to Carhartt by not buying from them until they bring back the Made in USA line.

ATTENTION Coupon Shoppers:

For all union Brothers and Sisters you a 10% discount during checkout by using coupon code UNIONPLUS.

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The post you are reading now is post # 101.  For the 100 published post there are another 100 that never did get published.  Since February of 2007 when I began tracking visitors I have had 12,400 different visitors.  737 of those visitors came to read about Free Starbucks Coffee on election day.

The top 10 Things or Keywords people came to my site looking for where:

1. Chris Estes
2. Free on Election Day
3. Free Starbucks on Election Day
4. GM Youtube
5. free Starbucks election day
6. fire tony franklin
7. tony franklin fired
8. estes.com
9. christopher estes
10. ken persel

My top 10 post where (by Traffic content):

1. Metrolink Bans Text Messages – with 2,587 page views
2. Free Starbucks Coffee on Election Day – with 1,548 page views
3. Friendships or Contacts? – Social Media – with 908 page views
4. Fire Tony Franklin – Auburn Offensive Coordinator – with 613 page views
5. Sarah Palin’s Email Cracked – with 613 page views

*Note:  I had some other mildly successful posting that did not get listed here.

The number one page that brought visitors directly to my blog was the Metrolink Bans Text Messages post being referred to by StumbledUpon.

The top three countries my blog post were referred from where:

1. USA
2. Canada
3. United Kingdom

The top 5 Cities my blog was viewed from was:

1. New York
2. Washington DC
3. Arlington
4. Chicago
5. Birmingham

Off all of my visitors:

81% use a Windows Based Computer and 2 visitors used the Nintendo Wii to view my site.  (who would have guessed any hits from the Wii?)  53% look at my site with Mozilla Firefox. 5,413 visitors used cable internet while only 225 used dial up.  People still have dial up?

It is always interesting to see the statistics about who comes to read my rantings.  I wonder if people really enjoy my post.  I have had 100 comments on all of my post combined.  Though I would like my post to be thought provoking they seldom spark back and forth banter.

Regardless of the reaction I love to write the  blog post.  Stay tuned I hope to have another hundred.

This post isn’t about history or so much about social awareness of my fellow American’s as it is an introduction to a series of post I am writing about American Made goods I have bought and used over the past few months.

I plan to do a post about each of the products.  I have no time-line for completion or number of post.  As a disclaimer I have not been paid or even requested to do reviews of these products. So far I plan to do a review of:

• Work Boots
• T-shirts
• Jeans
• Socks
• Tools

You know the basic guy stuff.  My inspiration comes from a fellow blogger Stephanie at On My Mind.  Stephanie runs a website,dedicated to goods “Still Made in the USA.”  Stephanie’s Why Care page states it well the reasons I care and what my intention of the post to come are about:

According to consumer polls, most Americans don’t know or care where products are made, and if asked will say only that they would buy American-made products if the cost were the same or nearly the same as the imported versions.

With our single-minded pursuit of low prices, we have attained unprecedented levels of material possessions, but what have we given up? The answers are all around us if we would but look. The more I read and listen, the more reasons I find to pay attention to where things are made.

The purpose of StillMadeinUSA.com [in my case the corresponding post] is not to stridently criticize, but to gently persuade. The decision to be an informed consumer must come from within. Below I suggest some reasons why consumers should care about looking for products that are made in the U.S.

Stay tuned for more info and post to come. Don’t forget you can sign up to recive post via e-mail.

Imaged adapted from TandTINC.com

For those of you that have been following me know the last year or so have been tough.  So I’m going to take a break and explain it all to you and give you the update on my status.

As many of you know I lost a job in Washington DC then moved to take a job in New York City.  For various reasons that job lasted until the mortgage crisis hits its high and the banks didn’t need contract labor.  So I once again packed my bags to move home to Birmingham because I decided to start my own Business stemming from my work with SEO by Chris and start a business of my own called Birmingham SEO. During the few months after my move back to Birmingham I need to get my health in check.  I had all kinds of physical and emotional problems that required some overnight stays for testing and observation.  Most of these so called “Problems”  were all related to stress and being overworked.  Some might just call it “exhaustion”.  So about the middle of June all is well and I’m ready to get back at it full time. Plus we all know money doesn’t grow on trees it comes from somewhere.

Image Adapted from library.thinkquest.org

During June I built my business plan and implemented the web portion.  In the process I picked up a couple sites of my own that I would use to supplement my consulting income.  The websites did show real potential. But all the while not producing money.  So into July I took a short term contract as a political consultant for the Humane Society Legislative Fund while trying bring in some revenue and potential clients down the road.  The revenue part worked well but the clients were hitting a slow.  I would make calls and look through the want ad’s for people needing services.  The state of the economy was starting to really hurt my target business and they did not or could not afford services.  So in turn business hit bottom.  I put a lot of time in building up my sites that have turned out to be only a supplement and produce about enough for a Mc Meal a day.  Since we all know money doesn’t grow on trees I have decided to get back into the regular employment market to make ends meet while I wait for my customer base to come back around.

I am currently in the process of talking to several employers but they are either almost too scared to hire or want someone with many qualifications and years of experience.  The current employment situation is a company’s dream.  They get a much better pool of applications to choose from.  I got turned down for a job that the only posted job requirement was “Pass a Drug Test” and “Graduate High School.”  The person they hired had a Masters Degree and Spoke 3 languages.  If I was the hiring manager that person would have been my choice too.

Logo from IBEW.org

Adapted from WoodFramers.com

So I am going back to my roots and what I know.  I’m a third generation union worker with an electrician brother.  Blue Collar work runs through my veins.  I have fought it and tried to change it – you just can’t change who you are.  So the most promising leads for employment is with craft unions in Birmingham.  Accepting  one of these jobs will still enable me to pursue and grow my business.  Weather it be with the Carpenters or the Electricians I hope to find the fix to my economic woes.

So really the state of the economy has effected me.  I’m not bad off like some places.  I am very fortunate and do see that if the economy doesn’t rebound and correct itself I could quickly be with the others.  My business plans are on hold for the moment.  Not really on hold – I’m waiting for the market to rebound and allow me to get back to work.

Wish me luck and wish America Luck.  Times are tough for many people. My contribution is buying American.  It may be more expensive but is a better product almost always.  Plus it helps out your neighbor.  If you neighbor is working then that means things are going to be ok.  If we get Americans back to work our Economic Crisis will be over.  Its really simple.  if people are spending money then that means there making money.  So help me do my part and make it yours.  Buy American.  Real Patriots buy American.

Image adopted from Wikinomics.com

Birmingham SEO an Alabama Based Search Engine Company

On Wednesday night Birmingham News Source CBS 42 the 10:00 broadcast announced that a boycott of Alabama had been started. The boycott is calling to boycott Alabama made goods and not patron Alabama’s tourism. The website was basing this off the fact that Senator Richard Shelby has made comments that aren’t pro bailout. While we are unsure at this time of these statements we do know that this is an attack on the good hard working people of Alabama.

In response to this atrocious action from a group in Michigan we have launched a response ourselves that is currently in development to help promote the business of Alabama. We started the site Buy Alabama. This site will be used to develop a place where Alabama Business can feature their products. We also plan to in the future open up a store showcasing some of the products to be bought and sold direct from the site. The store is just an idea and no plans are being made. Birmingham SEO will be providing the Search Engine Marketing and Optimization plan for the website for free as a duty to promoting our state.

We also believe as a duty that we help promote the whole of the US and buy American Made. You can find out more on American Made products from Made In The USA. We do not wish to boycott any state and only encourage buying American but Buying Alabama is Buying American.

I am not going to give a link to the group that is calling for the boycott but lets just say it is one crazy nut that doesn’t like Senator Shelby.  Though I know Joe Babisiaz is trying to earn support for bailing out the Big Three.  Which as you know I am fan of.

Message to Joe:

Calling for a ban on Alabama is down right un-American and wrong.  You state on your website “this is not an attack on the hard working people of Alabama”. Then what do you call it an attack on our Senator? The Senator is a hard working Alabamian and the same as attacking the car maker in Alabama. That’s right you may envy we are making good cars in Alabama that aren’t going through Financial Trouble.  But here in Alabama we buy American Made cars. We even buy Detroit made cars.  I can proudly say that most people I know in Alabama want to see the jobs of millions of American’s secure.  We all want secure jobs.  So don’t boycott Alabama buy American and build something Americans can be proud of.

I know you are just a front line worker that is afraid you may loose your job.  Senator Shelby doesn’t want you to loose your job.  He wants to ensure things are in order and bad business mistakes are not rewarded.  The cars you make are of top quality in your job.  But the problem is the decision makers – the management.  If it were up to you – you would build the best and only car on the road I get that.  But build something every kid wants, every grandmother is safe driving in and, something that gets good fuel economy and lowers emissions. Something where the bumper doesn’t fall off.  That is all Senator Shelby is saying.  He isn’t trying to punish you he is trying to right the company.

Senator Shelby is trying to protect Alabama.  He doesn’t want the citizens of Alabama to have to pay for the mistakes of a few greedy managment level automakers.  If true measures are in place that will benefit the overall life of Alabama voters Senator Shelby will support it.  But if measures in place are not there to safeguard us he will not.

There is no reason to call for a boycott of Alabama.  I kindly ask that you end the boycott and your fellow Americans for help in supporting your effort instead of dividing the country.  Because like you said we are all American’s and plenty of Alabamians support the Bailout with oversight.  Without oversight it is just like giving a college kid money  experiments or lab time or Beer and food?  So if there is some oversight we might be able to get something from it.  Like a stable auto market full of good paying jobs.

What I am telling you is your strategy is wrong.  You should be trying to unite everyone to get behind you instead of isolating and picking fights.  We are your brothers and sisters.  Embrace us and we can help.

[sniplet 1st-YouTube-Post-Nannell]

My first ever YouTube post features my grandmother talking about Sears & Roebuck in her lifetime.  I have been part of other video’s but never posted my own video.  My inspiration for the video came from an assignment my mom gives to her 6th graders.

Every year my mom assigns her class a project where they either have to audio only record or video tape an interview with a veteran.  By doing this her students memorialize and document stories from the elderly.  My grandmother has lived through the Great Depression, World War II, the Space Race, Cold War, and several presidents.  She has a story and experience for just about everything.  Over time I hope to make some videos for peronsal posterity.  I doubt I will post every video but hope to make many more.

Enjoy the video and tell me what you think about my fabulous video editing skills!  By the way the person in the background asking questions is me.  So for thoose of you who have never heard my voice please ignore the accented southern drawl.  I like to think my accent isn’t that thick.  Enjoy!

If you have made it this far then you probably already know your voting location.  But in case you do not Google helps provide you with your voting location on http://maps.google.com/vote.

But if you are looking for detailed information I recommend you check out Vote411.org. Vote411 is affiliated with the League of Women Voters “provides nonpartisan information to the public with both general and state-specific information.”

If you are still having trouble finding out information about voting on November 4th 2008 contact me and I will help you the best I know how.

On October 20th HSLF Announced their independent expenditure:

The Humane Society Legislative Fund launched its first television advertisements today opposing the reelection of U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg in Michigan’s 9th Congressional District. The ads will air over the next two weeks on Detroit broadcast television and Oakland County cable. The group has also sent mailings to thousands of animal welfare supporters and is canvassing door-to-door across the district.

Read More and watch the TV AD running in MI.

My piece of the pie involves the door-to-door canvass. Being outside in the cold Michigan weather sure makes this southern boy’s going home much more exciting.  I look forward to getting home and thawing out before AL’s weather turns colder.

If you know me it is no mystery I have been an Obama supporter for sometime now.  I like to call myself an informed open minded voter but the fact is America is ready for a change.  No coincidence that the Campaign for Change is the battle cry for the Barack Obama camp.

Start playing “Hail to the Chief”  President Barack Obama is about to enter the White House.

Auburn University Football’s Tony Franklin is on the Hot Seat.  Auburn made the conversion to the spread offense with an untested Offensive Coordinator.

Auburn’s loss to Vanderbuilt University after more than 60 years of domination by the Tigers will begin the count down until Franklin’s Termination.  I am not convinced of the spread ofense.  But I am sure about Franklin getting fired.  He want make it with the Auburn nation.

If I get into trouble and go to jail its called bail-out if my buddies come to get me its called a resuce.  In my humble opinion this $700 billion dollar plan is a rescue

When your buddy’s come rushing in to save you, it is a RESCUE.  I call it like I see it.  When I am in need not many would rush in, especially if I am deserving.

Maybe we should treat this more like a bail-out.  Require the ones in the virtual Jail of bankruptcy to pay everything back plus 10% just like a bail bondsman.  If they don’t pay us back we send Dog the Bounty Hunter.

The main point of this is to talk about the atrocity in progress.

I happen to live in Alabama one of those Gulf States that already has off-shore drilling wells.  In fact as a kid, growing up in Central, Alabama, I remember playing baseball next to natural gas pumps.  So drilling and natural resource exploitation is nothing new to me.  In fact the oil and gas industry indirectly put the roof over my head and food in my belly.  Many of my friends, family, and neighbors do not agree with me and think I should be burned at the stake.  They don’t agree with me for the same reason why America’s wealthiest still think the economy isn’t in a state of turmoil.  It isn’t in their best interest!

Tonight on ABC News Nightline. The headline story was talking about Drilling for oil in the Gulf of Maine.  In short, and what I got out of the story, drilling shouldn’t apply to Maine and the cost of heating oil is going through the roof.

Look I get it, people are hurting for money, me too. I worked on Wall Street and not many days past the mortgage fall out.  But, is drilling really the answer?  I can tell you, NO it isn’t.  It’s only temporarily fixes the problem for somebody else to fix.  Exactly what the people before US said.  As a youngster that will be paying for the mistakes of the Ronald Reagan and Cold War Era… Lets Fix the problem! Don’t put a Band-Aid on it.

But again this isn’t my purpose of this post.

My purpose is to address the drilling location issue.  Why should we drill in the Southern Coast?  Because people in Maine Fish?  Lobster?  Why should we drill of the coast of Georgia?  (I really dont have anything).

I try to be objective about the issue.  But, it is hard to be when someone is trying to put an oil rig in your back yard.  When I see pictures of Maine I “aww” at the beauty.  When I hear the name Georgia I think sweet tea, hospitality, and golf.  My images of the south are just as beautiful as anything Maine has to offer!  Have you ever seen the fall leaves in the Southern Appalachians?  The sunset from Key West, FL?  Have you ever had Shrimp?

When the logging industry finally gets to clear cut the last few acres of natural forest to build the houses to pay for the people moving from Maine to the South for work… “There goes the fall leaves”.  What will thousands of tourist come to enjoy a romantic sunset on their honeymoon on the piers of Key West think when they find out that the green poof is from the Oil Refinery in Louisiana. Or, how about finishing off the demise of the shrimping industry with toxic waste from oil rigs raising our dependency on Vietnamese seafood?

My interpretation may be a bit extreme…  My point isn’t.  In fact it is simple. Who wants an oil rig in their back yard?

The advertisements are going to be based on content relevant ads that bring in revenue per click and others one I select.  The ones I select will be target to things I think you are interested in.  In order for me to receive revenue it will require you to make a purchase so of course I am only going to put up advertisements you would be interested in.  The banner and content ads are the only type of advertising I plan to us.

There is the thought of sponsored post.  But that would discount the type of post I plan to make.  Speaking of post.  I plan to talk more about politics and a little less this and that.  So for the next few months my theme is going to be Chris Estes on Politics.  I might sneak in a random post or two about just random interesting things.  So get ready and prepare as I plan to bring you coverage of the the National and local races that affect everyone but more specifically the things in my area that matter.  I am going to try and bring fair and balanced information.

Bloggers postings and musings are becoming more and more powerful and I would like for my voice to be heard and addressed.  I have to yet decided on a candidate for president.  Even though I am trending towards one based on the conventions. Within the next few days you are going to witness a change in direction of my blogs change.  As the major changes are in place I will make announcements on how you can utilize the change for you.

My feed url will be changing from a Feedburner URL to a Google Feedburner URL that will need to be updated in your feed aggregator.

Stay Stuned for future updates.

I gave him a set of tools that we will use together. I feel very lucky to have a father that has alwasy been there for me. No matter what corner of the world I move too I know I can always count on him for support. He helps move and gives ideas “why don’t you do it these way”. Man that guy is smart. Wise beyond my years.

I love my father and I am not afraid to say it. No matter if it was hgih school soccer game, chaprone for international trips where he would be responsible for for other people’s kids my father has always been there. He is a great man and I hope to live to be half the man he is.

Father’s want their children to be better than them. I try my hardest to live up to the hopes and dream he has helped shape for me. My father is a great husband, great mentor, and a great human being. I love you Dad.