Deal or No Deal?

Car dealers don't always get the best rep. I'd be willing to bet that when many people think of dealers, they think of, well...

And while "No Credit, No Problem!" may be blissful music to your ears, I'm pleased to report that there is more out there. Earlier this month, I had the chance to tour the new LaFontaine dealership in Highland Township, MI (Buick, Cadillac, Pontiac, GMC). The LaFontaine Automotive Group is a family company with dealerships throughout Michigan.

So, what's the big deal about this new addition? For starters, over $2 million in green initiatives were invested into the facility - including progressive approaches to lighting, heating and water usage. Furthermore, to be frank, the facility is pretty pimped out. Well, if you consider a gift shop boutique, cafe and full-service salon to fall into that category. Maybe "nontraditional" is the better word here.

I spoke to the General Manager, Ryan LaFontaine, for a recent podcast. Check it out to hear the specifics of how this new breed of dealership operates. It is by no means a commercial, so don't expect to hear about their $9.95 oil changes... which do in fact exist. Also, I'd wager to say I'm a bit less awkward than my first go around and that has to count for something!

Here you have it folks: http://tinyurl.com/5gp6f7

I'd love to hear your comments about whether or not a dealership's environmental practices would play a role in your decision to buy from them.

I'd also like to know if you find my voice to be as soothing as Delilah (who has also recorded in the OnStar studio, in addition to John Tesh, Dennis Miller, Dr. Laura and Sean Hannity - woah)... but that's neither here nor there.

I know my calculus. It says 2010 Camaro = woah.

After checking out the "Transformers" movie last summer, I was struck with a few distinct thoughts.

A) Megan Fox is a stone cold fox and doesn't care who knows it.


B) The family minivan may indeed be an intergalactic robot.


... and C) The movie's cars were (to quote Derek Zoolander) really, really, ridiculously good looking.

The car that stood out most to me, both aestetically and for its role as a lovable crime fighter, was Bumblebee - the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro featured above. When I finally encountered the vehicle face to face, it was not fighting off the advances of evil Decepticons, but rather an onslaught of eager journalists, bloggers and car fanatics. Don't judge my rhetoric.

Yes friends, I was given the chance to attend the unveiling of the 2010 Camaro earlier this week. I'm typically a fan of retro anything and thus the new Camaro hits the spot - bringing the original car's combo of sporty and sleek into 2008. Well, actually, 2010. Wow... I'll be a college graduate by then. Which means I will absolutely not be able to afford it, unless I fulfill my longtime goal of winning big on reality TV (if only I were joking).

Regardless... something to aspire to, right?



Ed Welburn, Vice President of Global Product Development, at the unveiling.


http://www.chevrolet.com/camaro/

Smells Like Teen Spirit

Remember that time I got pseudo-freaked out by the increasing tween presence on social networks? If you don't, check out my first entry from June. Well, turns out it's a moot point.

I believe it was the late great R&B singer Aaliyah who said it best: Age ain't nothing but a number. To illustrate this point, I invite you to meet Daniel Brusilovsky. At the ripe age of 15, he has founded a company called Teens in Tech and serves as a youth evangelist across the social media spectrum. Woah.

** Conversely, when I was 15 I spent my time dreaming of the day when I could drive the majestic family minivan, Big Blue, and wondering what that cranky Brit Simon Cowell would say next. He says the darndest things.

<-- He's kind of a big deal.

I've spent a summer living amongst the Ivy League set and I'm very familiar with the "startup speak" a young entrepreneur should exhibit. So very, very familiar. This guy has got it down pat. But, as we know, talk is cheap without action. Something tells me young innovators like Daniel may just have a movement on their hands.

Rothbury Recap

I love concerts. I know that is a generic statement, but I make it a priority to attend a few quality shows per year. This past semester, I drowned out the desperate pleas of my bank account and traveled to three of them. There was Kanye West's "Glow in the Dark" tour, Jimmy Buffett (which coincided seamlessly with my 21st birthday), and the country stylings of Keith Urban and my girlfriend. While all of the shows definitely hit the spot, they were pretty much what one would expect. After learning I had the opportunity to attend the Rothbury Music Festival over the holiday weekend, I had a sense that it would be different from any concert I had ever experienced. I was right.

The first annual festival was founded on ideals of the green movement, encouraging sustainability alongside musical expression. The festival's location tied in well with the message - over 200 acres on Rothbury, Michigan's Double JJ Ranch are a far cry from the cola-sponsored stadiums I've become accustomed to. After driving through a field to check in, me and my friend Greg, a graphic design intern at GM, were able to park and gaze out at the sea of camp sites surrounding us.

Whenever I watch retrospective looks at the music of the sixties, I wonder if I would have been a hippie or a total square had I grown up in that era. While I can't say that for sure, the counterculture movement seemed alive and well in Michigan this weekend. Nearly everyone I encountered seemed unique in their own way, yet they were all united for a common reason. Which, of course, leads me to the music.

I caught three different acts over the weekend. The first was Snoop Dog, which was undoubtedly a highlight. Anyone who follows music/pop culture knows that Snoop is a larger than life figure. You might think his persona is just for TV and that he can't really be that outrageous. But indeed my friends, he is. And a heck of a performer. 311 took the stage next and put on a very energetic set. Having only been casually familiar with their music, it was a pleasure to see what all the fuss was about - although I did keep getting distracted flashing back to a Travel Channel special I saw about singer Nick Hexum's private island in the Florida Keys. Jealous, jealous, jealous.

We also caught the Dave Matthews Band on Saturday night. DMB concerts were a staple in high school, yet I had always been exiled to the far corner of a lawn with what seemed to be miles of fanatics between me and the man himself. At Rothbury, this was quite the opposite - I was right up in the center of the action. The band's sprawling three hour set thrilled the crowd and inspired me to call more than a few of my concert buddies of yesteryear during their favorite songs.

Earlier in the day on Saturday, Greg and I had the chance to join the GMnext crew behind the scenes. It was there that we got to meet Kyle Gass from Tenacious D, aka the self-proclaimed greatest band in history. Kyle is traveling with GMnext on their Plug In tour, making stops at the biggest global rock festivals of the summer. Kyle was friendly enough to chat with us lowly interns for quite a bit. He touched on topics ranging from his music, to meeting The Who's Roger Daltrey, to his role in the summer movie "Kung Fu Panda." After talking with Kyle, we were invited on board the GMnext tour bus. As evidenced by the pictures below... not too shabby!

Overall, Rothbury was an excellent way for some 40,000 attendees to ring in the Fourth of July. After some aggressive napping/showering, I feel fully recovered from a long weekend outdoors! So, will they do it again? Much like a sequel to a Hollywood blockbuster, it appears Rothbury 2009 has already been given the green light. Calling all Midwestern music junkies to mark your calendars...

FYI

Recorded my first podcast last week, on the topic of "Everyday Green Tips." Ch-ch-check it out:

http://fyi.gmblogs.com/podcasts/