Alex

Added some updates today.... 1. Dowloads section updated 2. Topic Member Avatars added to forums 3. Blog section updated 4. Chat section updated 5. New login box added, top of site.

Very well stated and not often enough paid attention to. You would be surprised at all the hack attempts we thwart off from countries like China and India. Worpdress is the #1 free blogging script available which is why there are hacker developed automated scripts to inject malicious code or simple links through faults in outdated code. It is very important to keep your website scripts up to date because they often include fixes for security issues that are found and reported. There are also other tools available to keep your sites secure, but like mentioned above...definately talk to your web designer and make sure your sites are secure. Server level security is very important and I always suggest using a reputable hosting company, there are many out there. Good thread, very good points.

Small milestone for AutoShopOwner...we have a total of 500 members now in this community. Now help us get to 1000 members by spreading the word about AutoShopOwner to your colleagues and friends in the industry. If you would like to show your support of this community on your personal or business websites by linking to this community (which helps us branch out and grow), you can do so in a few easy ways, by embedding one of the links below: Text Link: We Support AutoShopOwner! <a href="http://www.autoshopowner.com/">We Support AutoShopOwner!</a> Small Image Link: <a href="http://www.autoshopowner.com"><img alt="AutoShopOwner" src="http://www.autoshopowner.com/images/SmallASOLogo.png"></a> Large Image Link: <a href="http://www.autoshopowner.com"><img alt="AutoShopOwner" src="http://www.autoshopowner.com/images/LargeASOLogo.png"></a> AutoShopOwner Banners are available here: http://www.autoshopowner.com/getinvolved.html

This is a great video. Really explains how it's done. We didn't even have a welcome page set up and the default landing page was the WALL. (for our fan page). Based on the recomendation in this video, we just added a welcome page today: www.facebook.com/autoshopowner This topic has been moved to: Marketing, Advertising, & Promoting

Congratulations on the awards! Fantastic sites!

Happy New Year Everyone!

On behalf of AutoShopOwner, we'd like to wish everyone in the community a happy and safe holiday season!

That's great, send it to : alex[at]autoshopowner.com, and I'll get it up asap!

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. Unfortunately, my father lost his battle and died this past Wednesday, December 1st. It was exactly one month since he went into the hospital for his operation that ended up causing unrecoverable complications. He was a Vietnam Veteran who just turned 66 on November 21st, while in the hospital. He was a very kind and thoughtful father, brother, husband, uncle, and friend to many. A hard worker who wasn't able to properly retire and a man who's one mission was always to work hard and provide for his family, which is the saddest part for me. I will miss him dearly. We had services for him this weekend which included a military honor guard. He is being laid to rest in a military cemetery this Wednesday. Once again, I thank you for all the kind words and prayers during this difficult time.

That's a good article that basically explains the importance of SEM. the days of throwing a page up and hoping to be found are over, especially when year over year, more and more people use the internet and search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing, to find the info they are looking for. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is not a clear science and can change when one of the big 3 like Google, changes it's search algorithms. But, basic optimization can be done to ensure you are not displaying irrelevent, bland information. Check out some of my blog entries: http://www.autoshopowner.com/blog/3-alexs-blog/ on SEM and SEO. I plan on adding some more entries into 2011.

Thank you very much. Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Thank you. Thank you also.

Well, I haven't really posted about my dad since this...but since then, he was diagnosed with esophogeal cancer. On Monday Nov. 1st, he went in for a serious surgery that lasted @ 12 hours. He started to recover through the week in ICU. This past wednesday afternoon, he had a stroke, followed by a second one on Thursday. Plus loss of blood flow to one leg, infections..etc...I have been in the hospital with my family every day. We have been praying and praying. Yesterday, it seemed he had some good responses, but every day now is a wait to see what happens. That infection he had in June, returned and caused blood clotting or something after the surgery. The good news is that they think the infection is subsiding. My father is a Vietnam Vet and we got to spend Veteran's day with him in the hospital, holding his hand and talking to him. He's 65 years old and too young to go. Any extra prayers you have are appreciated.

Now they say it as an ear trumpet for hearing: http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2010/11/debunking-the-charlie-chaplin-time-travel-video/65486/

[brand Choice] Autobody Tapes What is your preferred brand of autobody tapes, and why? Who supplies you with that brand of tapes? How long have you been using that brand?

Automotive Frame Machines Do you own an automotive frame machine? What brand is it? What is the capicity, ability of it? How much did it cost you? When did you purchase it and from who?

[brand Choice] Automotive Body Parts Where do you mostly purchase replacement body parts? Do your purchase more aftermarket or OE parts, as replacements? How is the quality of those parts?

[brand Choice] Automotive Paint What brand of paint do you use in your shop? Who supplies you that brand of paint? Are you in contract with that supplier/brand of paint? Are you using water based paint yet? Do you use a spray booth?

What are the Different Types of Auto Paint? Auto paint has changed dramatically since the late 1800s, and today’s market offers no less than four different types to choose from. Let’s take a quick look at the different kinds of auto paint and the advantages and disadvantages of each. The four basic types of paint available today are: acrylic lacquer, acrylic enamel, acrylic urethane and water-based. We’ll drop “acrylic” and simply refer to them as lacquers, enamels, urethanes and water-based. Lacquer-based auto paint was popular between the mid 1920s and 1960s, and is still available today, though it has become illegal in certain areas. Lacquer paint is cheap and goes on easy for the inexperienced painter, plus it provides a nice high gloss. However, it also chips easily being a relatively “soft” paint, and it doesn’t stand up well to UV and chemicals, making it a short-lived paint job. Lacquer auto paint is available in aerosol spray cans and for use with spray guns, but is not generally recommended. Enamel paints dry to a hard shell making them tougher than lacquer paints. Professional shops bake on enamel paint in heated bays or "ovens," but enamels are also available in aerosol cans and for use with spray guns. Enamels, while tougher than lacquer, do not lay down as easily as lacquer paint, making them trickier for the Do-It-Yourselfer (DIYer) to apply. This translates to more finishing work. Some enamel colors require a clear topcoat, known as a two-stage system, while others can be used alone, referred to as a single-stage system. Urethane paints are newer than enamels, are more expensive and more trouble, but they lay down easily like lacquer while having the toughness of enamels. This auto paint requires three products: the color, a reducer to thin the color to the right viscosity for the spray gun, and a catalyst used to accelerate drying time. Once the paint is mixed, it must be used quickly and unused paint must be discarded. Urethane auto paint is highly toxic, and though a facemask is standard for all paint jobs, gloves, coveralls, and a respirator are mandatory for working with urethane auto paint. Like enamels, urethanes can be used alone or in multi-stage paint systems that utilize a final protective clearcoat. A two-stage urethane paint system is the most recommended system as it provides easy-on paint, minimum finish work, and optimum results: a paint job that, with a little care, can look brand new year after year. Urethane clearcoat is also purchased as three products: clear, reducer and catalyst to be used with a spray gun, though there is form of urethane clearcoat available in an aerosol can. The newest auto paint technology has brought us non-toxic water-based paints. These paints are the most versatile of all, able to be applied to metal, primer, or to an existing paint job. Water-based auto paint is especially popular for use in adding graphics to a vehicle or motorcycle, but can also be used to paint the entire vehicle. Being non-toxic this choice is perfect for the DIYer to use in the home garage, however it does require a topcoat of clear urethane to protect the paint. Water-based paint is no doubt the future of the auto paint industry, however the line of colors is still expanding. If looking to add graphics or change your vehicle’s color, water-based auto paint is an option. If looking to re-paint a panel with a need to match factory paint, you might have to wait for the introduction of pre-mixed factory colors, or let a professional shop do the job for you. Source: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-auto-paint.htm

Has anyone seen this yet? it's a time traveler caught in a video, shot during a premier of one of Charlie Chaplin's movies, talking on a cell phone in the 1928!!