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I recently visited a customer of ours who was curious about the pronunciation and origin of my last name, "Dismukes" (I get that a lot). I responded by saying that it sounds like it's spelled and that the true roots of the name were up for debate. If you ask my father, it's German. My mother claims she found proof the name is of French descent. It can make for a heated dinnertime discussion and I've just learned to keep quiet on the subject.

Okay all you sports fans out there, I'm opening up the discussion of where major sports are headed in the future. I watch games, listen to talk radio in the car, and love to heckle Cubs fans. It's entertaining to me. I watch ESPN, and can watch Sportscenter over and over. It's my soap drama! But has anyone else noticed how media driven sports has become? And how much money team owners and TV networks are making?

It's important to be conscious of winter weather, especially if you're in an area like Chicago. Here are some helpful tips to minimize risks while driving through nasty weather:

- Check tire treads & ensure proper tire pressure
- Make sure the battery is fully charged
- Inspect wipers and fill wiper fluid
- Always have gloves, hat, and heavy coat with you
- Have cell phone with you in case of emergency

If you encounter snow...

- Drive more slowly
- Brake BEFORE you turn a corner.

We want to make sure that you're getting the most out of your Elcometer equipment. I visit customers on a regular basis that are improperly calibrating their gauges. An improperly calibrated gauge can give false readings and equates to an expensive paper weight. Check out our 'Videos' section for helpful step-by-step procedures on setting up your gauge properly.

I recently visited a facility that is manufacturing fuel tank trucks designed for military engagements. A very thick (> 1") specialized coating is applied to the fuel tanks, which must conform to strict thickness requirements at the various stages of application. An Elcometer 456 Coating Thickness Gage with an N6 probe is utilized as a measurement tool, which helps ensure the finished product will be ready for battle. The instrument operators are able to measure over 50 different locations on the tank in under a minute, and all statistics are compiled instantly by the gage.