The craziness in the markets will have an impact on our industry, but what does it mean? I do not know, but experience tells me that we will not only get through it, we will come out on the other side as something different.

I just returned from Atlanta where a gas shortage is creating havoc. At one point I became mired in a line of cars when I simply attempted to turn into my hotel parking lot.

I was on hand for METALCON 2008, which was held Oct. 1-3 at the Baltimore Convention Center, and on the first day of the show the latest products and services in the metal building industry took a back seat to stirring presentation.

One thing should remain constant in your roof contracting business - in good economic times, in challenging economic times, and even in times when you are left to wonder if there is an economy. You must maintain a constant focus on profits.

Bailout or keep bailing?

A new on-line poll that came out in September is telling us something we already know: roofing is one of the top 10 most dangerous jobs in the United States.

In May and June of this year Roofing Contractor conducted a survey of contractor subscribers on the metal roofing market, and we published the results in the September issue of the magazine.

It is a pleasant Sunday afternoon in Atlanta, a cloudy but cool day. It seems that autumn just cannot wait. While I can certainly enjoy the weather, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to enjoy the state of affairs in this country.

Don't be wild-eyed from this week's wild ride on Wall Street.

In spite of the fact that business is down and travel costs are up, there has never been a better time to travel. And not just for the fun of it.