Still 50 and Still Kicking

Just recently, Michael Jackson passed away at age 50. Today, we hear about the famous TV pitchman, Billy Mays, passing on also at the age of 50.

I turned 50 just 25 days ago and I am still alive and still kicking.

In fact, don't miss our latest radio show today at 5:30 pm EST. There I will be remembering some other people who we lost last week, share some of my experiences at the BOMA convention in Philly that I had yesterday, and reveal what is on the boards (there are a lot of things cookin', don't miss out).

You can listen live at http:www.BlogTalkRadio.com/LaneArchitecture or just listen to the podcast that will be posted on the right column of this blog.

Talk to you soon!

Fun to Assemble Furniture

This is the funniest spoof that compares "Ready to Assemble" furniture (like IKEA’s systems that require a lot of loose parts, connectors, and patience to assemble) with Legare’s "Fun to Assemble" furniture that required no tools, glue, screws, or nails.

Please forward this to everyone that you know!
Everyone needs a little laughter during these economically challenging times.

I hope that this video put a smile on your face. Let me know at info@LaneArchitecture.net.

Oh, by the way, Legare’s furniture is not expensive. Check out www.LegareFurniture.com or call them at (817)737-8802 to learn more about it. When you do, tell them that Larry Lane sent you.

Here some “Gee-Wiz” scoop about this video:

• The “cool” guy (the Apple equivalent) that is on the right of the screen is Mr. Brock Brandenberg. He is the person who actually designed this furniture system. Go here to hear the story about him http://www.legarefurniture.com/story.php

• The “girl friend” of the Microsoft type of guy is a good friend of mine from grade school (many, many years ago).

• Another place to learn more about this furniture is by clicking on the podcasts to the right of the article on this blog that is titled, “What is RTA furniture?” and “Fun to Assemble Furniture.”

• Sorry in advance if this video offended you. Hope you find your funny bone soon. Go to the previous blog post for a more professional video of this furniture product. (Viewing while sitting on a whoopie cushion is optional).

Tell them that Larry Lane sent you

Fun To Assemble (FTA) Furniture

Tool Free Furniture That is Easy to Assemble!

It is hard to believe that one could put an attractive and strong desk together in less than 2 minutes, but this video prooves it. Check out this cool video of how a ready to assemble furniture can actually be easy and fun for anyone to put together.

Go to our podcast to hear the history of Legare' furniture. While there, just click on the iTunes icon to listen to it later while on your way to work or at play.

"Click Here to hear the history and background story about this fabulous product and about the company named Legare'"

"Click Here to learn more about Fun To Assemble Furniture"

It is hard to believe that this desk would be very strong. But it is! Check out this video to see what I mean...



"Click Here to visit www.LegareFurniture.com"

You can also call them at (817) 737-8802.

Tell them that Larry Lane sent you

Playing by the Rules to Win

The beauty pageant controversy that I wrote about in our last blog entry was ultimately resolved by Donald Trump when he reviewed and reinterpreted the rules of the pageant.

Rules affect everything that we do and design. In fact, we have rules to follow at work and play. While playing the game of monopoly, for example, we have a set of rules to follow.

Like monopoly, we have rules to follow while designing storefronts. They are in the form of building codes, zoning laws, and regulations set forth by landmark commissions. Since they are enforced by people, the interpretations of these rules can vary from one person that in charge from another.

Check out this short video clip to find out how a good design is much like playing a game of monopoly…



Our clients keep referring others to us because we have become experts who create the experiences that they desire while working successfully within the rules and with those who make the ultimate decisions within these municipalities. We play the game of life so you can win.

Subscribe to this blog by clicking on the button to the right of this article to receive the next posting about how photos affect the success of your designed surroundings.

Miss California Controversy Reveal Secrets to...

...Successful Storefront Designs

With all of the controversy about whether Miss Carrie Prejean should keep her Miss California crown, we are seeing first hand real life examples as to
• History can determine how we view today’s events.
• How rules are interpreted.
• Photos affect people’s acceptance of other people and places.
• How people’s perceptions affect their personal experiences.


Whether you are in a beauty pageant, playing monopoly, or designing storefronts, there are lessons that can make you more successful than you could imagine. In fact, these are the exact same lessons that I spoke about during my presentation to store owners, city planners, chamber of commerce leaders, mayors, city council members and others at the annual Main Street Forum. My talk was titled “Secrets of Successful Historical Storefronts.”

This is the first of a four part presentation where I will share some of the tricks of the trade. There is nothing more powerful for anyone’s business than to create a lasting experience for their clients, customers, and co-workers.

So, click on the orange square button at the right before you forget to subscribe to this blog. You will not want to miss any of the four parts of this series on successful storefront design tips.

Donald Trump announced recently that Miss Carrie Prejean will “not be fired” as the Miss California. Trump said, "I reviewed the pictures. We're living in the 21st century," he said. "The pictures were fine. It was not a big deal."

Hmm. So, with the history of beauty pageants filled with scandals that include Vanessa Williams and Miss Rhode Island’s Alysha Castonguay, Mr. Trump finds that times have changed.

History has affected the way that we design storefront too. You may not know it, but using history to design a storefront is much like playing a game of monopoly. Check out this short video clip to find out how…


Subscribe to this blog by clicking on the button to the right of this article to receive the next posting about how rules affect the success of your business.

Also, please leave your comments about this article at the envelope looking button below.

Larry Lane with Jerry Reese, General Manager of the NY Giants

During church today, I was fortunate to meet Mr. Jerry Reese, the general manager of the NY Giants professional football team.

He was a gueat speaker during the Sunday service. During his talk, he shared how he was raised in a small town in TN (population 2400), lived in a home with indoor plumbing until he was 12, learned his leadership skills as the quarterback in his small town foot team, worked quietly/humbly/hard up through the ranks as an asst. coach of his college team, and then helped the Giants win the Superbowl during his first year as GM with them.

You would never know that he was in deep mourning due to the loss of a close relative while in the throws of the NFL draft this year. The death was sudden and unexpected. He had to put a business and sometimes happy game face on during his ESPN interviews and while focusing only on the draft that will affect the success of the team for the entire season to come.

In fact, when we visited, I asked him if he has heard any inside scoop about my favorite professional football team, the Dallas Cowboys. As you may have read on the previous blog, their indoor training facility blew apart yesterday.

Jerry had only heard about it on the news and has been a bit out of touch of any inside scoop sources since he was just returning from the funeral of his close relative.

Here is the link to the previous blog
http://lanearchitecture.blogspot.com/2009/05/dallas-cowboys-indoor-practice-field.html

Keep Jerry and his family (wife, son, and daughter) in your prayers.

(Maybe keep the Cowboys in your prayers too).

In case you haven't been able to find the secret that Jerry shared with me, here it is.....

His secret was that he could not tell about the death of his wife's brother while in the thick of the NFL draft season. He kept that as a secret to everyone even while being interviewed by the press such as ESPN.

The lesson that he taught by keeping this secret was that he was able to have peace by the grace of God.

Let me know what you think of this article by clicking on the envelope below.

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Dallas Cowboy's indoor practice field collapses

This can happen to your home! Here is how to avoid a catastrophe.

Today, around 3:30 pm CST, my favorite professional football team's indoor practice field came apart at the seams. Although there were several people injured, some badly, there fortunately were no casualties.

How could this structural failure have happened?

I am not a professional structural engineer. And at the present time, no one probably knows specifically what caused the collapse. But, there are some things that I know might be the cause of today's calamity. The same things could happen to your home.

Go to this web site, scroll down to the video and what it at:
http://news.aol.com/article/roof-collapses-at-cowboys-practice/459897?icid=webmail|wbml-aol|dl1|link1|http%3A%2F%2Fnews.aol.com%2Farticle%2Froof-collapses-at-cowboys-practice%2F459897

Notice that there are a bunch of metal supports that look like metal match sticks that are placed into a series of rectangle frames along the outer sides of the structure. They are all leaning to one direction. This is called "racking." It can be prevented by putting more metal supports from one corner of the rectangle diagonally to the opposite corner. If your home is built with 2 x 4 studs, then there should be horizontal members between the studs to keep them from deforming.

Even though the winds were not at tornado force speed (75 to over 100 mph), there were gusts up to 60 mph around this structure today. There was nothing to block this wind from smashing up against this indoor facility. This inflatable fabric balloon building is in the middle of a flat field with no buildings or trees nearby. It was less protected from the strong winds than a whirling trailer home in a sand storm. At least plan to have planting around your home to shield it from the wind.

Perhaps the structure was structurally designed to withstand an uplifting force, but if a strong wind entered into a tear in the fabric skin or through an open access portal, it is possible that the wind pressure was much higher inside the fabric bubble than what was planned. It was probably like opening up an umbrella on a windy day and it just flops inside out. You probably already know not to open up your patio awnings on windy days though.

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http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4128173

If you like this article and would like to keep informed about other important news of the day, please subscribe to this blog by clicking on the buttons along the right column.

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