Happy New Year! I am pleased to announce that I will be your new blog writer for PTE. If we haven’t been introduced, my name is Norm Parker and I have been a fairly regular contributor to PTE over the past year and I am looking forward to adding this new role for 2015.

My background is in roller bearings where I have spent time in all types of bearings—ranging from heavy industrial to automotive. I am currently the technical specialist for driveline bearings at General Motors, located at the company's main Proving Grounds in Milford, MI. While my job is exciting, it probably goes without saying, I can’t talk about it—for the most part.

Though my career is focused around automotive bearings, I have interests in a wide variety of engineering subjects. Along with enjoying all types of transportation, I have been immersed in sealing, elastomers, plastics, powdered metal, gears, castings, housings. I enjoy it all.

I enjoy as well the economics, politics, people and drama that go along with these industries. When I’m visiting suppliers, at least half of our time is spent telling old stories, future outlook and keeping up with the substantial gossip pool around town.

As far as the blog is concerned, we’ll try to keep it on the technical side. This is by no means a forum for me to listen to myself talk.

So, I need your help!

We can talk about why the TI-92 is still the best calculator ever made; why computers have been getting slower since Windows 98 (I assume it’s not just me getting faster); the fact that Dale Jr. is NEVER going to win a championship; 400 ton mining trucks; why my Dad thinks people never landed on the moon. Whatever—I’m game.

I am definitely open to discussing business, politics, global events and economies that affect our businesses—such as oil prices repeating the 2008 crash pattern—which really makes me nervous.

I’m halfway decent on the computer, so we can talk tip/tricks/how-to. We can also talk about serious work stuff too, questions, problems, solutions. But it is a blog, and so if it gets too deep, we’ll throw it into a regular article.

We’ll share some fun tips too. Like, if a co-worker steps away from their computer, hit their Ctrl+Alt+down arrow. (I’ll include the fix with my next post.)

Ok—there you go. While I’m busy doing the only things there are to do in a Michigan winter—work and not freeze to death—send me some topics you would like to discuss or a question you'd like answered.

I look forward to hearing from you!