Doodling on Douglas has begun and submissions have been flooding in.

Uninitiated? It’s simple: find the Rapids Ford ad in the Grand Rapids Herald and get creative on my face :) Some of you have requested a digital copy so you have a Rapids Ford hat to sport somewhere beyond Itasca County. That’s rad!

Here you go:

Then, take a picture of it with your phone and email to doug.macrostie@gmail.com or txt to 218-760-5656. Or, drop it off – Rapids Ford is located under the BIG American Flag on Hwy 169 South in Grand Rapids. Or, take a picture of it and load it on Facebook, then tag me.

It doesn’t matter HOW you get your creation to me, just that you doodle and make sure I see it in one way or another. You have until Sunday, March 24th of 2013, by 11:59pm.

After that, all the submissions will be voted on for Best Picture. The submission with the most votes will win the Rapids Ford Prize Package.

Speaking of the prize package, it includes the following; free oil change, free car wash BY HAND, Rapids Ford baseball cap, 2-sided 2013 Mustang GT500 poster, and anything else I might think of before the end of the contest :)

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Questions? Contact Doug:
Call: 218-760-5656
Email: doug.macrostie@gmail.com
Or ask for Doug at Rapids Ford
1510 Pokegama Avenue South
Grand Rapids, MN

It’s a monocle, by Zax of Max

As you can see in the above/below examples by Zax of Max, my picture in Rapids Ford’s ad in the Herald-Review is the perfect palette for your creative expression :)

The High Top Fade, by Zax of Max

To even the playing field, I will have a NEW picture for the Rapids Ford ad, and all submissions must be on the new picture! I’ll collect entries for 2 weeks, and after that all the submission will be loaded for everyone to vote for their favorite doodle.

The winner will receive a Rapids Ford prize package including a free oil change, Rapids Ford hat and more (like a free 2013 Shelby GT 500…poster)!

There is no limit to what you can use to beautify the picture, as you can see in this punk rock example from Christina, the Title Manager at Rapids Ford:

Rock On!, by Christina

Submit your doodle, and and get your friends to vote for a winner! You can submit your entries by taking a picture of your doodle and tagging me on Facebook, you can email it to doug.macrostie@gmail.com, or bring it in to Rapids Ford and I’ll take a picture for the vote.

The contest will start when my new picture appears in the Saturday paper on March 2nd. Good luck!

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Questions? Contact Doug:
Call: 218-760-5656
Email: doug.macrostie@gmail.com
Or ask for Doug at Rapids Ford
1510 Pokegama Avenue South
Grand Rapids, MN

But, sometimes you need to be proud of your past AND actively defining your future, and I am excited to say Lincoln has spent years gearing up for a true revitalization of the brand, and the big debut of the new campaign will be during the Super Bowl tomorrow.

Why is it time to redefine Lincoln?

It’s no secret that the Lincoln cars of old (anything before the MK series launched) while classic, beautiful, and with a dedicated following, tended to appeal to a finely aged crowd. It was all in the name, with little concern for class-leading features or cutting edge technology.

The new Lincoln MKZ is going to change all of that. Right Now.

With multiple new-to-the-industry patents, the new MKZ has 8 class-exclusive features, 5 of which are standard! There are many aspects of these new cars that will draw people in to Lincoln for the first time.

My favorite? The fully retractable panoramic roof. At the push of a button this solid glass panel glides back for the largest opening of any modern sedan providing unconfined comfort. I’m talking about over 15 square feet of glass :D

Redefined as The Lincoln Motor Company, this revitalization launch includes #SteerTheScript, a promotion that asked regular people like you and me to Tweet ideas, through Jimmy Fallon, to use in the commercial debut during the Super Bowl.

Check it out at SteerTheScript.com, where you can see behind the scenes shots and interviews with winning tweeters.

It’s going to be a crazy commercial, watch for it! There has never been anything done like this: where people from all over share stories from their lives and it all gets mixed together into one story, professionally produced, and then debuted to the biggest TV audience of all time. This is going to be good!

From interrupting alien landings to motorcycles stopping for turtles crossing the road, or from sharing a love for alpacas to getting two marriage proposals in a single day, it’s going to be obvious this isn’t your Grandpa’s Lincoln.

We’ve already got two on order, I’ll let you know when they get here :)

Questions? Contact Doug:
Call: 218-760-5656
Email: doug.macrostie@gmail.com
Or ask for Doug at Rapids Ford
1510 Pokegama Avenue South
Grand Rapids, MN

This last week I had a contest running: score 50% or better on my Ford Mustang quiz for a chance to win a 2013 Shelby GT500 Mustang…

…Poster.

Here’s the correct answers:

1) What year did the Ford Mustang debut?
Extra Credit: What Month and Day?

1964, commonly referred to as 1964½ due to it’s unusual release date, April 17th

2) What three distinct body styles were available on the original Mustang?

Convertible, hardtop (‘notchback’ also acceptable), and fastback

3) What movie was the Mustang’s debut on the silver screen?
Extra Cretit: What color and body style was the Mustang in its silver screen debut?

Goldfinger in 1964, James Bond had to chase down a white convertible with red interior

4) What 1989 vehicle was almost the new-Mustang, until public outcry changed Ford’s plans?

The Japanese inspired Ford Probe

5) In 1994 the Mustang had a complete facelift. What was its production code name?

SN95

6) Would you rather have your Mustang as a Manual or Automatic?

The correct answer is manual, but I would have accepted automatic. Side note: no one answered automatic :D

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Every submission’s name that scored 50% or better was put in the hubcap for my General Manager to draw 3 winners from.

Winners will be notified directly.

If you haven’t heard from me, sorry! But I will be hooking you up with a special consolation prize!

Thanks again,
Doug

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Questions? Contact Doug:
Call: 218-760-5656
Email: doug.macrostie@gmail.com
Or ask for Doug at Rapids Ford
1510 Pokegama Avenue South
Grand Rapids, MN

This will be a quiz-contest, and as one of the most iconic American cars in automotive history, there are many potential questions. I tried to have some easy and some hard ones.

All you have to do for your chance to win is get at least 50% right. There are 6 questions, so you only need to get 3 right AND there are two Extra Credit questions that won’t count against you if you get them wrong.

While I can’t control your keyboard and mouse / touchscreen, I encourage you to try this without using Google!

This contest is open until 11:59pm Sunday, Jan. 27th. Just submit your answers to doug.macrostie@gmail.com and if you have at least 3 right you will be entered in a drawing for this rad 2-sided poster. Please include your name and a number to contact you if you win.

There will be three winners drawn from the hubcap :)

GO!

1)      What year did the Ford Mustang debut?
Extra Credit: What Month and Day?

2)      What three distinct body styles were available on the original Mustang?

3)      What movie was the Mustang’s debut on the silver screen?
Extra Cretit: What color and body style was the Mustang in its silver screen debut?

4)      What 1989 vehicle was almost the new-Mustang, until public outcry changed Ford’s plans?

5)      In 1994 the Mustang had a complete facelift. What was its production code name?

6)      Would you rather have your Mustang as a Manual or Automatic?

Good luck!

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Questions? Contact Doug:
Call: 218-760-5656
Email: doug.macrostie@gmail.com
Or ask for Doug at Rapids Ford
1510 Pokegama Avenue South
Grand Rapids, MN

I could also tell that I would have to earn his business; anyone from GR driving a two year old Suzuki is clearly willing to take his business out of town if he isn’t satisfied. As you can see in the letter he wrote to my boss Gary, I did well:

And I’ll do my best for you too. Please let me know!

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Questions? Contact Doug:
Call: 218-760-5656
Email: doug.macrostie@gmail.com
Or ask for Doug at Rapids Ford, 1510 Pokegama Avenue South in Grand Rapids, MN

His latest release, Born On the Day of the Dead (Oct, 2012), is instantly Ian Thomas but charges through new sonic territory with surprisingly lasting results. The music is grippingly inviting and eye-to-eye intimate. With every release Ian Thomas Alexy proves his storytelling talent is truly exceptional.

As usual, it was very difficult to choose just one song to highlight… All of them are very good, and while there is an outstanding flow from one song to the next, no single song could possibly represent the entire album. From acoustic driven story-folk to crunchy guitar anthems, it’s all a delight to experience.

Every time one song ended and the next one started I’d say to myself, “THIS is the one to use.”‘ Every. Time.

But this is the song that I basically put on repeat just to sing along with the chorus, check out “Stick Around”:

I have consistently enjoyed everything that Ian has a hand in, and each new release reminds me why: it’s artistically crafted to draw you in, thought provoking in a self-reflective way, and as memorable as your favorite stories with a longtime friend.

Thanks for another outstanding piece of work, Ian. And please keep them coming.

Related Info:
Buy Born On The Day of the Dead on iTunes
Ian Thomas Alexy on Facebook
Official Ian Thomas Alexy webpage

“What is this feeling?”

I don’t care if you’re the grumpiest Scrooge in the neighborhood, even Skeletor succumbed to the Christmas Spirit!

If you’ve never been in the position to worry about getting presents under the tree for your family, especially the kids, just close your eyes and imagine a wonderfully beautiful child, eagerly counting down the days to Christmas; wishing, hoping, losing sleep, and generally tickled pink with anticipation.

And now imagine that child excitedly waking up and realizing it IS Christmas morning and rushing out to find nothing under the tree. Beholding this soul-crushing sight the child instantly collapses… Never to wake again.

Obviously, I am being extreme here. Even in the most dire of circumstances a gift of one kind or another will be waiting for each and every child celebrating Christmas in Northern Minnesota. Right? Who knows, times are tough.

Please join me in embracing the Christmas Spirit and spreading a little extra joy and happiness this year and make a donation to the Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys For Tots. Again, we have a drop off box next to the Christmas tree on the showfloor at Rapids Ford (1510 Pokegama Ave. S, Grand Rapids).

Feel free to grab a cup of coffee, some popcorn, and visit with me for a while, it’d be great to see you :)

Gifts have to be new/unopened, unwrapped, smalls toys, books, stocking stuffers, coloring books, you get the idea. We have until Dec. 14th to get that box filed. Donate early. Donate often. Lets fill that thing!

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Questions? Contact Doug:
Call: 218-760-5656
Email: doug.macrostie@gmail.com
Or ask for Doug at Rapids Ford, 1510 Pokegama Avenue South in Grand Rapids, MN

First and foremost, for every test-drive of a 2013 Fusion, Rapids Ford will donate $10 to Second Harvest North Central Food Bank, and Ford Motor Company will match our total donation. It’s a win-win: you get to drive an awesome car and we support a local charity :)

Definitely come out and ring-up the $$$ we’ll be donating! If you pre-register for the event, you are automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for two to American Idol.

Now this is where it gets interesting: you can also audition to be a Judge for American Idol!!!

Yes, that means you’ll be on the show and passing judgement on the hopeful contestants. You can pre-register or sign-up the day of the event.

As you can see in the picture below, I have set up a station were you will demonstrate your judging skills:

Please stop in and take a test drive and help raise money for Second Harvest, you’ll definitely enjoy the new Fusion (see my review, “First Drive: Rad”), and try out to be a Judge on American Idol. Bring a friend and ask for Doug!

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Questions? Contact Doug:
Call: 218-760-5656
Email: doug.macrostie@gmail.com
Or ask for Doug at Rapids Ford, 1510 Pokegama Avenue South in Grand Rapids, MN

But this is more important. I ask you to vote no on the marriage amendment in Minnesota. I request this not out of partisan B.S. This is not a Democrat or Republican issue, but truly touches at the heart of what defines humanity as a thoughtful and evolved society.

And I know there are customers of mine who do not agree, and I hope each and everyone one of you understands that while you may not agree with me, there are countless men and women who have died to preserve this freedom of thought and dialogue.

I have friends who have been disowned by their parents when they come out about being gay. I have relatives who keep it secret from their family. I know this tears them up inside and hurts more than any physical pain ever could.

Shame on us.

The amendment up for vote in the great state of Minnesota doesn’t even legalize gay marriage (it’s already illegal), and voting No simply preserves the continuation of debate. The 20/20 vision of history shows the segregated and discriminated are treated  with cruelty, but the greater good of compassion eventually overcomes. Minority rights. Women’s rights. Gay rights.

I don’t want your church to recognize gay marriage, you’re free to keep the doctrine you want in your house of prayer – I don’t want to force it on you anymore than I want you to force your beliefs on me. But legal marriage, and the legal rights bestowed upon hetero-sexual couples, is an institution of the State that most clergy are granted permission to perform, not just a divine gift from the Lord and Savior. This is an important point! My wife and I were not married in the House of God, we were married in the middle of the woods in a union recognized by the government.

Please don’t feel like it’s an attack on your church – it’s about a loving family deserving the same protections as any other: healthcare from a spouse’s employer, inheritance from a life built together, freedom to live as God created you. Really, how many gay people does our Lord have to create before you believe he/she WANTS them here?

You know a gay person,. Statistically, you likely know multiple gay people. If you don’t think so – that’s sad, because it means they don’tt feel comfortable enough that you would listen and still love them for who they are.

Shame on us.

This issue sets my soul ablaze, and a verse of music that lights that fire every time I hear it is from Minneapolis Hip-Hop artist Brother Ali, in the song Tight Rope off the album Us:

Daddy was a preacher, Momma Sunday school teacher,
Big brother football squad leader
Now far be it for you to disappoint or displease ‘em,
You’re just being what you feel you see in that mirror every time you peer in
A boy terrified to let the world in
He has girl friends but doesn’t want a girlfriend
He retreats inside himself where he lives life itself in secret
Daddy says people go to hell for being what he is
And he certainly believe him
‘Cuz there ain’t no flame that can blaze enough
To trump being hated by the ones you love
And cry yourself to sleep and hate waking up
It’s a cruel world ya’ll, shame on us…

It’s the 3rd verse:

Vote no.