Partly, I suppose, it's because real woodie cars are not available anymore, or maybe it is the special craftsmanship that went into building them and the beauty of the wood used. Today's woodies don't use real wood.

That may be part of the reason why Danville resident Jim Ashworth is into woodies. He offered another possible reason, "When my brother and I were growing up, we wanted a woodie station wagon, but our parents would never buy one."

Ashworth has become an expert on classic cars, including woodies, even teaching classes on investing in and restoring classic cars at UCLA and UC Berkeley. A collector since the 1970s, he has owned some great woodies, including a 1940 Buick wagon that was once owned by Bette Davis, a 1947 Chevrolet wagon, a 1953 Buick wagon and a 1947 Ford Sportsman, in addition to this beautiful baby blue 1947 Chevrolet Fleetmaster Country Club convertible.

Here's the surprise. Chevrolet didn't make a woodie convertible in 1947-48. Not good for Chevy. Ford and Chevrolet have always been like the Hatfields and McCoys, fighting for sales leadership and trying to outdo each other. Ford had the Sportsman, a popular model, but Chevrolet only had the ordinary metal convertible.

As Henry J. Kaiser said, "Find a need and fill it." So it was that Engineering Enterprises inc. in Detroit noted the need to produce wood panels to make the Chevrolet Fleetmaster convertible into the woodie they called the Country Club convertible. the kit was an aftermarket product to be installed by local Chevy dealers and sold for $149.50 plus an installation fee.

Ashworth bought his 1947 Chevrolet in 1989 from a homebuilder in Stockton who was having financial challenges. It was already restored and parked in a warehouse, but it did not have the wood paneling. Ashworth had some paneling from other restoration projects plus two original pieces that came from Engineering Enterprises. using those two pieces and a Chevrolet advertising picture postcard, Ashworth's father, a retired engineer, was able to calculate the exact specifications and build the Country Club woodie kit. the completed kit was then installed by Ashland Wood Products in San Leandro.

Ashworth believes his Chevy is the only stock 1947 Chevy convertible with the Country Club woodie package in the United States. two years ago, he was invited to bring his rare Chevy to the Woodie Show in Pebble Beach, a significant honor.

Back in 1947, the country was just recovering from World War II, and the population was starving for new cars. Chevrolets (and others) were basically carry-over models from 1942. Chevy offered two trim levels. the standard series was Stylemaster, and the deluxe series was called Fleetline.

There was no need for an engine option, as they sold everything they could build and couldn't keep up with demand. Chevy used the tried-and-true overhead valve, 216.5 cubic inch, straight six-cylinder engine rated at 90 horsepower.

A unique feature of the car was the manual three-speed vacuum booster transmission. according to Ashworth, "One could shift the transmission with (his) fingertips, and the vacuum shift would suck up the transmission from one gear to the next."

According to a Hemming Motor News publication, the 1947 Chevy convertible had a top speed of 90 mph and could go from 0 to 60 mph in 20 seconds. Gas mileage for the 3,340-pound car would probably average about 14 miles per gallon.

This 1947 Chevy is one of Ashworth's all-time favorites. He's down to two collector cars, the other being a 1988 Ford Mustang used as a trainer car for the California Highway Patrol. But, alas, Ashworth and his wife, Mary, are empty nesters and are thinking of downsizing. That could mean selling off his last two prizes, but at what price?

"I never reveal what I pay for a car or what I sell it for," he told me.

But I suspect the beautifully restored 1947 Chevrolet Country Club convertible's value is more than the original selling price of $1,628.

Have an interesting vehicle? Contact David Krumboltz at MOBopoly@yahoo.com.

The new film, "My Week with Marilyn," captureseverything we've come to know about Marilyn Monroe.

On camera, she is amazing, and the audience can't take their eyesoff of her.

But off-screen, she is a wreck. Marilyn is insecure, flubs herlines, arrives late to work, and consumes too many drugs. AndMichelle Williams, already a two-time Academy Award nominee, isflawless as Monroe.

Based on a true story, the movie is set in England in 1956, asMarilyn Monroe shoots the film "The Prince and the Showgirl" in1956. the press and the public flock to Monroe, who - for the mostpart - handles her adoring fans well.

However, she is wobbly and forgetful during filming.

Famed actor Laurence Olivier - who stars opposite Monroe in "ThePrince and the Showgirl" - also directs the movie, and he isincreasingly frustrating with the young actress.

The protagonist of the movie is Colin Clark (played by EddieRedmayne), an assistant director working on "Prince" film. Monroe,desperate for attention, flirts with Clark, who can't help himselfas he falls for the movie star.

So, there are two main storylines here - the flirtation andcourtship between in-over-his-head Colin Clark and Monroe, and thefilming of this movie. Both storylines work well, and this movie isentertaining throughout.

Williams, who began her career in sci-fi (she was a young teen in"Species") and TV (Jennifer Lindley on"Dawson's Creek"), has proven to be a great youngactress, picking up Oscar nominations in recent years for"Brokeback Mountain" and last year's "BlueValentine." I can't reiterate how wonderful Williamslooked here, doing every nuance, every flirtatious wink, that we'veseen from Monroe. Viewers will forget that they are watching anactress playing Monroe. I read a recent "Oscar blog" that predictsWilliams will be nominated for best actress, and I firmly believethat will occur.

Also in this film are Oscar-winner Judi Dench and "HarryPotter" actress Emma Watson in small, important roles, aspeople tied to the production of "The Prince and TheShowgirl."

I saw this movie in a theater in St. Louis Park, Minn., on Sunday.it is only playing on four screens in the Twin Cities, and ithasn't opened in the Chippewa Valley. I hope it expands wide, butit might not. Even if it gets nominated for best picture - a longshot - that's no guarantee it comes here. (After all, last yearboth "127 Hours" and "Winter's Bone" were nominated for bestpicture, and they never came to theaters in our market.)

Since its Nov. 23 release, "My Week with Marilyn" has only earned$8 million worldwide, as it is slowly being released to a wideraudience. Critics at Rottentomatoes.com gave it a stellar 83percent approval rating. about 84 percent of viewers gave it apositive approval rating on Rottentomatoes.com.

This is not a complete Marilyn Monroe biopic; it captures a briefmoment of time, and Michelle Williams captures the star perfectly.I give this movie my top recommendation.

Vetter's grade: A

MANILA - EcoWaste Coalition, an environmental consumer group, found 32 Christmas gift items that are testing positive for toxic chemicals.In a statement released Monday, EcoWaste Coalition said the gift items, which include painted toys, glasses and mugs, have “nasty chemicals” known to damage children’s brains and impair their growth, among other effects.the painted glasses and mugs the coalition tested – all made in China - are being sold for as low as P20. the coalition said these items are popular holiday gifts because of their attractive designs, with many featuring the extremely popular Angry Birds characters. These are likewise easy to wrap, very affordable and are sold not just in shopping centers but sidewalks all over the country.EcoWaste bought at least 50 cheap toys and gift items from street vendors on Carriedo Street in Quiapo, Rizal Avenue, Santa Cruz and Juan Luna Street in Divisoria, all in the city of Manila.Using an X-Ray Flourescence (XRF) chemical analyzer, the group found that the China-made painted drinking glasses and mugs they collected contained lead of 44,400 parts per million (ppm), which far exceeds the 90 ppm minimum threshold under the US Consumer Product improvement Act of 2008. “This is the outrageous truth we have discovered after subjecting 50 product samples to chemical analysis. 64 percent or 32 of the 50 samples we tested contain mindboogling amounts of toxic metals such as lead that are totally unacceptable for products meant to spread Christmas cheer,” the coalition’s Protect Protect coordinator Thiny Dizon said.Aside from lead, Dizon said that many of the painted glasses and mugs also contained high amounts of antimony, arsenic, cadmium and chromium.“This shocking eye-opener is truly worrisome as lead in painted glassware comes in direct contact with a child’s mouth and posing a serious health risk,” Dizon said.“Lead exposure can damage the brain, lower a child’s intelligence, decrease a child’s attention span and cause delays in a child’s speaking, reading and learning skills,” EcoWaste Coalition resource person and toxicologist Dr. Bessie Antonio said. The top 10 products, all painted glasses and mugs, that registered the highest levels of lead were:1. “Sloop Glass Collection” with giraffe (P100), 44,400 ppm2. “Especially for you Glass” with bear and blue glass cover (P60), 34,300 ppm3.  “Angry Birds Glass” (P80), 32,900 ppm4.   an unbranded glass with flower design  (P20), 32,800 ppm5.  “Angry Birds Glass” with sticker and spoon (P75), 30,600 ppm6. “Love Life Angry Birds Cup” with orange glass cover (P60.00), 26,400ppm7.  an unbranded coffee mug with Santa Claus design (P50), 25,300 ppm8. “Especially for you Glass” with Snoopy character and red glass cover (P60), 23,700 ppm9.  “Angry Birds Coffee Mug” (P80), 22,300 ppm10.  an unbranded coffee mug with sheep design (P80), 20,700 ppm“given the practical limitations of our consumers and governmental authorities, we appeal to manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers and vendors not to market and sell toys and other Christmas gift items unless they have undergone rigorous testing and have been certified safe for children to play or use,” the EcoWaste Coalition stated.“Paint used to decorate glasses, mugs and other containers for food and beverage must be lead-free and food-safe,” the group said.

New York (OPENPRESS) December 6, 2011 - Check out WWW.ALLAUTOGRAPH.COM For Gangs of New York Autographed Memorabilia! Visit them at WWW.ALLAUTOGRAPH.COM there is a great place to get Gangs of New York Autographed Memorabilia, you can check them out at www.allautograph.com, it a really cool site for Gangs of New York autographed memorabilia, completely authentic , just go on www.allautograph.com for great Gangs of New York Autographed Collectibles AllAutograph.com is a domestic and international provider of hand signed authentic memorabilia. Since it's inception the company has held a domestic and international presence in both retail and wholesale markets. the corporate office is located in New York City. Aside from our charity and retail presence, Edwards Autographs works with numerous corporations. AllAutograph.com, Founder and President, Peter Boyde, is a well-known, respected trusted member of an industry he has served for 12 years. we go to great lengths to AUTHENTICATE our autographs, especially in the age of Internet auctions that seem to have become a safe haven for career forgers and inexperienced sellers of secretarial and forgeries. It is estimated that as high as 90% of all autographs on the online auction sites are NOT authentic. we provide you 12+ years of experience and integrity. And, as always we offer a Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity. Whether its the finest quality consumer collectibles, corporate gifts, charity auction or personal player appearances for your events you are interested in. they take an enormous pride in creating our products, and hope that you'll find something in our catalog that you like. we also can create custom orders; call or email and let us know what you want AllAutograph.com, Founder and President, Peter Boyde, is a well-known, respected trusted member of an industry he has served for 12 years. we go to great lengths to AUTHENTICATE our autographs, especially in the age of Internet auctions that seem to have become a safe haven for career forgers and inexperienced sellers of secretarial and forgeries. It is estimated that as high as 90% of all autographs on the online auction sites are NOT authentic. we provide you 12+ years of experience and integrity. And, as always we offer a Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity.Original Source: Gangs of New York Autograph Autographed Poster

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Mouse pads are a little piece of computer technology that are often overlooked. When you really look at the important role that they play, its well worth investing in a good quality one. There are a number of quality manufacturers of them, but it really comes down to your individual needs. There are also a lot of different types of pads, meaning you have to be very selective about what you want. to start off with though, Belkin Mouse Pads are highly recommended by a lot of different people online. Just type them into Google and you will see that they are rated very high amongst a number of computer enthusiast sites

On the other hand, don't get hung up about purchasing a pad from one of the well known manufacturers. at the end of the day they are just a piece of material, which you could make yourself if you wanted to. Find something that looks good, that is comfortable and that is within your budget and give it a go. A lot of people end up making their own one as it is cheap, easy to do and you end up with something unique.

One place I would highly recommend is eBay and Amazon. these huge online stores sell pads for your mouse regularly, ranging from cheap pieces of plastic to full on customized pads. have a look around, and find something that looks good. the only disadvantage of doing this is that you can't see the physical product, but you have enough choice to find something that you want. at the end of the day though, the brand name is irrelevant; it just needs to function well and you are set

Promotional mugs are a top choice among advertisers. they are sizeable, durable, and look great with your brand or photo imprinted. there is a large selection of styles, colors, and materials for mugs, and certainly one just right for your company.

Among the popular types of mugs most selected, is the Sparta mug, which can be purchased for as little as 1.15 each in larger quantities. it is stylish, fitting into any business scene. these are manufactured in the English potteries, and are made from the finest top grade of Staffordshire clay. they are very durable and have a great finish for colour brilliance.

Another new selection is the Cubis mug. This mug features ultra modern styling, and very affordable pricing beginning at just 1.87 in larger quantities. it joins the extensive list of mugs available including ceramic earthenware, marrow, glass, colorful plastics, bone china, and recycled plastic mugs. Mugs are small, latte size, to extra large, and promotional packaging is also available for presentation or shipping needs.

Photo mugs offer an opportunity to outshine the competition with permanently dyed designs. Your photo can be printed all the way around the outside, with a small gap near the handle, and they are both dishwasher safe and microwavable.

For travel, there are large promotional mugs with spill proof covers that will fit into the vehicle console area. they come with an easy to manage handle and lid. there is a slight set up charge, and many colors are available. Travel mugs are made from plastic, or stainless steel..

Promotional mugs are great for business gifts and for retail selling. they are favorite gift choices at amusement and vacation shops, and are an affordable general gift item. View all types, and then choose the ideal mug for your next promotion.

Everything used to market a book, whether it's the cover, the website, marketing pieces, or the words out of the author's mouth, need to send a clear message about what the book is about. Too many authors forget that their purpose is to spread their message and sell books when it comes to presenting their book to the public. Following are a few examples of mixed messages authors send in different areas of their marketing and how an author can instead make his or her book's message clear.

The Front Cover

The front cover of your book is your biggest marketing tool. No one is going to read the back cover, or anything else you write about your book, unless the front cover grabs his or her attention. the front cover must, in one image, not only convey what the book is about, but show that the book's subject is interesting. Mixed messages from book covers can badly hurt book sales. For example, if your book is about overcoming fear, a photo of something fearful like a grizzly bear is not going to convey the message, even though it may convey the fear part. A picture of an eagle soaring, however, will provide a sense of freedom from fear, from obstacles. Similarly, generic images such as beaches or nature scenes may not convey your message of how to succeed in business, although they may suggest you are successful enough to retire. A better image might include a person in a business suit, a briefcase, or something else associated with business-commercials of businessmen conducting business on their cell phones on a beach have effectively displayed this concept.

The back Cover

Once the front cover grabs the reader's attention, the back cover has to convince the person to buy the book. the back cover must also convey the book's message. Author biographies and book endorsements can help, but the back cover should not be limited to these because they don't tell you what the book is about. an effective back cover will have at least one paragraph making it clear what is the book's subject, or in fiction, what is the book's plot.

Please don't try to stretch what the book is about if it's not about something. I can't tell you how many books I've been disappointed in because the back cover built up my expectations, only to have the book fail to deliver what the back cover promised. many of those books I would have enjoyed more had I simply not been given false expectations about them. by not having a truthful back cover, you send the reader down the wrong road while reading the book, trying to find or interpret what is not there, and he may not get back on the right road then to appreciate what is in the book, but instead stay focused on what is not present.

Author Photo

The author photo is extremely important in conveying a message about your book. unfortunately, too many authors do not have tasteful and professional photographs taken. the authors need to tell a professional photographer what his book is about and that he wants that message conveyed in his photo. That doesn't mean you need a gimmick in your photo. it may just be a straight headshot, but the pose should have dignity if you want your book taken seriously, or you should be smiling or even laughing if your book is humorous. Too many authors take photos with their pets, which conveys a mixed message. Why would a writer of murder mysteries want a cat in her photo? the book isn't about cats. I've seen history books with photos of the author in his biking gear. Save that photo for your book on mountain biking. if you're writing about business, you may want to look professional with a suit and tie, but if you're writing about great travel destinations, instead of the suit and tie, a (tasteful) Hawaiian shirt might be more in order.

Websites

People do not read websites. They skim them. if you have a website and look at your website statistics, you'll quickly see that the majority of traffic stays less than thirty seconds. You only have a few seconds to let people know what your site is about and why they should look at it in more detail. if your message isn't clear from the start, visitors won't stay. You should have your book cover and a clear message about that book on the home page. Avoid the images that take forever to load or the music that when it starts to play makes someone jump out of his seat. your book cover and a phrase or paragraph on what your book is about should quickly convey a clear message, and then have clear links to your other pages-About the Author, Buy the Book, a page for more information on the book, your blog-pages that will all convey your message and make it clear to the reader how to purchase that message in the form of your book.

Business Cards and Other Marketing Pieces

Anything you are going to give to potential readers needs to have a clear message about your book. if you're a dog groomer, but also an author, a business card with dog grooming information on it is not going to work. You need separate business cards to promote you as a romance author. whenever possible, put your book cover on your business card so you present a clear message that you are an author and here is your book.

All other marketing pieces-brochures, postcards, posters, etc.-also need to convey a straightforward message about your book. if you love Jesus, that's great, but don't assume people who want to read your historical novel do. I can't tell you how many times I have seen Bible quotes on marketing pieces. They isolate your readers and send mixed messages, making people think your Civil War novel is Christian fiction, and they may not want to read Christian fiction. if it is Christian fiction, however, then those Bible quotes will help to make your message clear.

Graphics are great if you can find graphics that convey your message. Don't use flowers, birds, butterflies, etc. unless they are relevant to your book. if your book is about gardening, the flowers are fine. if it's a how to book about engine repair, a car might be appropriate. Images stick in the mind so make sure they convey your message, and not a message you don't intend to convey. Somehow pretty butterflies and murder mysteries just don't mesh.

Promoting your Book in Public

When promoting your book in public, make sure you don't convey mixed messages. You can send mixed messages even by wearing inappropriate clothing-for example a beer shirt when you're marketing your fantasy novel at a Renaissance Festival. Find something fantasy-like to wear instead. A suit probably won't sell a cookbook, but a chef's outfit will help.

Make sure when giving interviews that you are presenting a clear message. You can't control what the interviewer may ask, but you can steer the interviewer in the right direction. most interviewers won't read your book before the interview, so you need to be prepared to do a little steering. if you get a question that isn't relevant, it's fine to say, well, I don't really cover that subject, but I do talk about.. And then move the conversation in the right direction. You don't have to take control, but if you plan beforehand what are the two or three points you want to make about your book's message, you'll have those in the forefront of your mind and work them into your answers so your message is clear to listeners.

Figure out early on what your book's message is (early on means before writing the book or at least when writing it), and then figure out ways to convey that message with images, and in a few words, in a sentence, and in a paragraph. make sure the message is clear each time you present it to people, whether online, on paper, or in person. What your book is about is going to determine whether people want to read it, so sending a clear message about your book is the best way to find your readers, and to make sure they are receptive to your message and not expecting something else. In the end, you want your message to hit home with your readers, and then have them convey that message to their friends-your future readers.

Gringotts-style security was needed at Harrods today when 300 limited edition Elder Wand box sets arrived at the department store.

Muggles are so desperate to get their hands on the sets, which include a copy of Dumbledore's wand and DVDs of all eight Harry Potter films, that they were placed in the Harrods Safe Deposit underneath the famous store. Dating from 1896, the Safe Deposit is almost as impenetrable as the goblin bank.

The