In a nutshell

The shocking murders of those beautiful little children and their teachers in Connecticut have caused some serious discussions about our society. Liberals blame the atrocity on guns and strive for stricter gun control laws. More conservative citizens blame societal changes. Both are right. I've carried a weapon since I joined the Marines in 1944 at the age of seventeen. Seven years in the Marine Corps, fourteen years with an armored car company and a lifetime license to carry firearms have never caused me to violate the law.

The problem is too many nut cases have access to military style weapons and ammunition. If you don't think there is a general dumbing down of our population, watch You Tube or America's Funniest Videos for an hour. The worse the accident, the louder the audience laughs. A growing number of people are strange to say the least. Between gruesome video games, horrible movies and rotten television programs, our very young are being systematically corrupted. Until this changes there will be more of those horrible incidents.

One of the most appropriate e-mails I've received about this tragedy sums it up in a nutshell:

Dear God,
How could you allow this kind of violence to happen in our schools?
     A concerned citizen

Dear concerned citizen,
Don't you remember? I'm not allowed in your schools.
     God

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Political e-mails still coming

Bill:
The election of Mitt Romney as President of the United States was not lost on November 6, it was lost last spring when the other GOP candidates ignored Ronald Reagan's 11th commandment and literally tore Romney limb from limb in their efforts to be nominated. All the Democrats had to do was take notes for their campaign. Romney was so denigrated it took him until the last couple of weeks of his campaign to right the ship.

All of this talk about changing the party, enlarging the platform and making a bigger tent so more people can get in is hogwash. Republicans will never win again until they learn from Ronald Reagan not to demean one another and to stick by their basic principles instead of trying to become another democratic party.
Ted Shipley.

Good analogy Ted! I couldn't have said it any better than that. This is just one of many e-mails I have from folks who are very disappointed with the election results and the commiserating by so-called leaders of the Republican party. As a conservative I usually vote with the party because it's closest to the principles I believe in. Hang in there Ted. I think it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better. Let's pray I'm wrong.

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E-mail from a long-time customer

My name is Doug Massena, and my carpet cleaning business has been a customer of yours since we bought a new System 5 back in 1979. I was just 19 years old and was helping my dad, who has since passed away, on jobs while attending college.

On October 25th we reached our 40th anniversary and I still turn out a decent living in spite of our particularly depressed economy here in Las Vegas. I’m proud of the fact that we haven’t had to advertise since the summer of 1986. Nearly all of my business is repeat or word of mouth. In the last 15 years I have been picking up more and more business from some very wealthy people, including one multi billionaire, and have even been cleaning private jets and one home with wall to wall silk carpet!

When I hear Zerorez® commercials on the radio saying that ALL other carpet cleaners are leaving dirt attracting residue in the carpets they clean, and that only Zerorez can thoroughly clean these carpets, and that everybody else is incompetent, I understandably get upset. While it’s true that I am leaving a trace amount of diluted PCA 5 in my customers’ carpets, you and I know that this amount has been proven to not attract any more soil than a carpet cleaned with plain water! If you go to their web site, they say that ALL other carpet cleaners saturate the carpet backing and pad with excessive amounts of water. Bane Clene® operators never do this!

I have a very strong and loyal customer base, but these misleading ads could possibly cut down on potential new business. I would think that other Bane Clene operators would be of a like mind on this issue. I guess I wouldn’t mind if they were accusing an unspecified number of carpet cleaners as being no good, but they chose to accuse everybody! Am I right on this, or should I just ignore the whole thing?

Thanks for writing Doug and may you and your family have a happy and prosperous New Year. While 1979 seems like just the other day when you get to be my age, that is a long time in business. Congratulations on your 40th anniversary, and I'm very sorry to hear about your dad.

Bogus competitor claims annoy me, too. But it's a fact of life and over the years we've learned to ignore them. If you keep on doing what you're doing and concentrate on every customer as if they were your only one, you'll find the blowhard advertisers either blow away or grow up.

Most important, don't waste good advertising dollars defending against their bogus claims. I know folks from CRI read this blog and hope they will eventually learn that it is this kind of advertising that is killing carpet sales. It's not cleaners, chemicals or the quality of the carpet.

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Blessed day tomorrow

What do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and a partridge in a pear tree have to do with Christmas? From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. This carol was written as a catechism lesson with two levels of meaning. There is the surface meaning which in musical form is easy to memorize. And there is a hidden meaning known only to members of the church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality that's easy for children to remember.

"The Twelve Days of Christmas"

The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

Two turtledoves were the Old and New Testaments .

Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

Four calling birds were the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

Five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

Six geese a laying stood for the six days of creation.

Seven swans a swimming represented the seven fold gifts of the Holy Spirit Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

Eight maids a milking were the eight beatitudes.

Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

Ten lords a leaping were the Ten Commandments.

Eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

Twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in The Apostles' Creed.

On this day before one of the most sacred holidays in the Christian world, may I make this wish for everyone on behalf of all of us at Bane-Clene.
May you have a happy and blessed Christmas.

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Unusual month

Thousands of years ago the Mayan calendar predicted that our world will come to an end on December 21, 2012. That's today! They didn't say what time, but given the fact that they were pretty close on the lunar cycle, it’s just possible they might have this end of the world thing right. Remember the Y2K fiasco? It didn't happen. Let's hope this won't either.

This unusual December has five Saturdays, five Sundays and five Mondays. I wasn't around the last time to verify this, but supposedly it only happens once every 824 years. And then there is the fiscal cliff fiasco facing us. We've been bombarded by the media that we're about to plunge into a bottomless ibis of financial ruin that will happen at the end of December.

I'm writing this on December 8th and putting it into my blog rotation to publish on the 21st, just in case. If you're reading this today, the stuff obviously didn't hit the fan.

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Year-end tips

Time is running out to take advantage of tax deductions. For example there may be as much as a $9,600.00 deduction if you hire a veteran before the end of the year. There could be a lot more, too. As with all accounting and tax matters, be sure to discuss them with your CPA.

In getting ready for next year, maybe you should consider offering fringe benefits instead of pay raises to help reduce your tax burden. Also be sure to ask employees to review their exemptions and complete new W4 Forms which will be required Feb. 18, 2013.

Of course this all depends on us still being here for next year. Read the blog I'll post on Friday the 21st of December for more information.

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This is a scam

If you get an e-mail like this, delete it. Do not open an attachment, print a copy or click on a link to answer it or see what the alleged problem might be. I have verified this information with the CIBBB. Similar e-mails are being sent in the name of local BBBs, the IRS, Angie's List® and various Chambers of Commerce. Delete and disregard this type of message!

FW:Case #25005746
From: Better Business Bureau <help@dallas.bbb.org>
     The Better Business Bureau has received the above referenced complaint from one of your customers regarding their dealings with you. The details of the consumer's concern are included on the reverse. Please review this matter and advise us of your position. As a neutral third party, the Better Business Bureau can help to resolve the matter. Often complaints are a result of misunderstandings a company wants to know about and correct.
     In the interest of time and good customer relations, please provide the BBB with written verification of your position in this matter by December 20, 2012. Your prompt response will allow BBB to be of service to you and your customer in reaching a mutually agreeable resolution. Please inform us if you have contacted your customer directly and already resolved this matter.
     The Better Business Bureau develops and maintains Reliability Reports on companies across the United States and Canada . This information is available to the public and is frequently used by potential customers. Your cooperation in responding to this complaint becomes a permanent part of your file with the Better Business Bureau. Failure to promptly give attention to this matter may be reflected in the report we give to consumers about your company. We encourage you to print this complaint (attached file), answer the questions and respond to us. We look forward to your prompt attention to this matter.

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More on bananas

A banana is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. Bananas might be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time!

The expression "going bananas" is from the effects of bananas on the brain. Bananas contain three natural sugars: sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy and can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent illnesses and conditions such as Stress.

Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance.. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be re-balanced with the help of a high potassium banana snack.

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Tips for Increasing Your Business

• Practice selling techniques. Look at yourself in the mirror as you make your presentation.
• If you won’t buy what you’re saying, neither will your prospect.
• Ask questions of prospects and then keep quiet and let them answer.
• Learn something from every single presentation you make.
• Be sure your rolling billboard (truck) is clean, neat and well marked!

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Worth repeating

Remember that giant sucking sound?

Ross Perot made it famous in 1992. Since then, millions of jobs have fled the country and twelve million illegal immigrants have taken their place. Announced inflation is under 3%, but nearly everything I buy seems to cost a whole lot more than it did the last time. Property taxes on my home went up more than 40% last year. Truck prices increased more than 1,000% in the last four decades and gasoline....well! But "they" say we don't have serious inflation.

In 1988, I read The Shadows of Power* by James Perloff. It was a book about war, banking, politics, greed, influence and especially the CFR (Council of Foreign Relations), a devoted proponent of one-world government. Perloff took a hard look at the history of CFR and supplied references for every allegation he made. He did a detailed expose' on the financiers of the wars of the 20th century. Viet Nam vets may be surprised, maybe even shocked, by the source of some of the financing for the North Vietnamese army.

Today there is the fading economy, financial turmoil, the housing debacle, antics of the Federal Reserve Board, illegal immigration, high fuel prices and tax rebates for people who don't pay taxes. Add corporate welfare, China, India and the general situation in the Middle East and they all seem to say Mr. Perloff was right in his assessment of the "Establishment" (CFR). He says they don't care which party is in power. If you look at the credentials on both sides they likely include being a member of CFR.

This book was never very popular because most people don't like the truth. It's not an easy read and can even be a little depressing. But, if you really want to understand why politics, the economy and our society are all heading in the direction they are, then this is a must read.

*Published by Western Islands, Appleton, Wisconsin ISBN 0-88279-134-6. The book is available, new and used, on Amazon.com and through most book stores.

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Remember Pearl Harbor

That was the battle cry of WWII. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt said, "Sunday, December 7, 1941, a day that will live in infamy..." Not many are alive who remember that fateful Sunday morning when the dastardly attack took place on our Pacific Fleet as it lay at anchor. Those who were, will never forget it or where they were when they heard the news.

I believe there are only four Pearl Harbor survivors still living in the Islands and not many in the rest of the United States. "Remember the Alamo" and "Remember the Maine" are slogans that would never be forgotten, but now are relegated to tattered history books that are routinely ignored by many teachers.

Pacific Historic Parks has been organized to maintain and promote the Arizona Memorial at Pearl and at locations at Kalaupapa, Guam and Saipan in the Marina Islands where I served. This non profit group is taking the place of all those veterans who acted as historians to help preserve the memory. As a visitor, I know I enjoyed their first-hand reports.

Thank God for the brave troops who protect our freedom today and for the first responders who protect us in this land of plenty. With all of our problems, people still want to come to the United States legally or illegally. But, remember, "Freedom is not free!"

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Be Positive

Starting a conversation with a negative statement will probably offend a customer. An example: promise to be there as soon as possible, instead of saying "There is no way I can take care of your job for at least a week." Scheduling a service trip without having to call back removes doubt from the customer's mind about your interest in working for them. Try to get it done then.

Slang or technical terms that the customer may not appreciate or understand could cause the customer to feel uncomfortable not knowing exactly what was being promised. Hearing a cheerful voice and definite information regarding their wishes sets the tone for a good business relationship and resultant repeat and referral business.

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Payola

Does anyone remember the old "payola" scandal of the '50s? Disk jockeys were paid to play certain tunes to make them seem more popular than they really were. Several people went to prison over those scams. Today, the golf industry has taken payola to new heights with spiffs from manufacturers to professionals and obviously to some media folks.

Here's how it works in private business. A new manager took over a shipping department and found the previous manager had been receiving payola from several truck lines whose sales reps had taken his predecessor to lunch regularly. In return he favored all of them with business instead of concentrating on a few to gain maximum discounts for his company.

Check out a doctor's office about lunch time and watch pharmaceutical reps haul food in to feed the office staff. Somebody has to pay for all of that expensive advertising the pill pushers do. The rising cost of gasoline, taxes and food are not the only factors contributing to the current outburst of inflation. Old fashioned payola is taking its toll, too.

Receptionists and purchasing agents are treated to spiffs in spite of rules most companies have to prevent such hanky panky. Payola is a big problem for small business because the cost is passed along in the form of higher prices. I forgot! The Fed says there is only 2% inflation. If Mr. Bernanke said it, it must be true.

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My liberal friend

Playing golf with my liberal friend before the election naturally brought on some discussion of politics. At one point in the conversation he said, "Well, at least you're not one of those (blank) Tea Party radicals ." I ask him what was wrong with them. His reply was, "They're ruthless and want to control the whole political process. They're against everything progressive especially when it comes to women's rights. They want the world to return to the days of June Cleaver."

I told him I'd never heard any of that and they just seem to be interested in following the founding fathers and the constitution. Unlike the "Occupy Wall Street" radicals, when Tea Party members gather for a demonstration they always leave the place clean and litter free. At that point he went into a tirade on green energy. Arguing with a liberal is like trying to pick up a dog's dropping by the clean end.

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New health care laws

A local law firm is holding seminars on what employers can expect and what will help them understand and prepare for the employer responsibility requirements under the Federal Health Care Reform that becomes effective January 1, 2014.

In 2014, employers with more than fifty employees can be required to pay a penalty if they do not offer health coverage to some or all full time employees and dependents. A company that offers health coverage to full time employees and their dependents but the coverage is either not adequate or is unaffordable may also be fined.

The Internal Revenue Service has now issued guidance on the employer responsibility requirements as well as on the State Exchanges. Most employers will need to act now in order to be in a position to comply with these new rules in 2014.

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Nice way of saying "Caveat Emptor"

Nick Ostergaard, Central Indiana BBB advertising review manager, wrote, “The average person is exposed to between 3,000 to 5,000 advertising messages daily. Undoubtedly, a certain percentage of these messages will have some sort of spin or bias that is not entirely truthful or not truthful in a practical setting or sense. The BBB monitors local advertising, but the ultimate responsibility rests with the consumer to verify that claims are factual and understand the context in how the claims were made prior to making a purchase based solely on an advertised claim."

The BBB is cautioning consumers to be on the lookout for exaggerated claims and they say that ad messages can sometimes be less than truthful. No kidding? Some examples I've seen right here on Indy television are ads for new carpet at 70% off. The question is off of what? There was an ad in the Indianapolis Star by "Deal Chicken" for carpet cleaning at 58% off. Why doesn't the BBB or the Indiana Attorney General challenge these ads for authenticity? Does anyone remember the stink the BBB made about "Steam" carpet cleaning?

At one time there were rules that said in order to have a sale on something it had to be offered for a higher price for a certain period of time. With no enforcement of FTC guidelines by anyone and with increasing numbers of mendacious merchants, discounts have become meaningless. And on top of these so called legitimate ad offers, there is also the "Bait and Switch" element of just plain crooks in the business. "Buyer beware!"

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Be wary of "pay per click" programs

When "pay per click" came on the advertising scene it was a big hit. Promoters made a lot of money and some of the early users did as well. Then competitors multiplied and rates almost doubled with some providers. Many participants found they were spending more for keywords and pay per click than there was commensurate business.

There were also reported cases of computers programmed to automatically click the right buttons to make money for the promoters of the schemes. Other slick operators found ways to circumvent the process and the rest is history. Maybe the problems some of the high tech companies are having on the stock market are related.

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What does a carpet cleaner do on his day off?

The answer is watch a half-hour television infomercial by Rug Doctor®. It was interesting how they make all of their competition look bad in the demonstration. The woman in the infomercial cringed at the dust mites and germs the host said were in that carpet. She said, "They give me the creeps." I wonder how many were discouraged from buying new carpet by that statement.

To encourage buying their machine, they said carpet should be cleaned every ninety days. In the real world the consumer cleans their carpets once or twice a year. In some cases, it is cleaned every eight years whether it needs it or not. But the thing that got my attention more than the rigged demonstration was that I didn't hear the famous Seal of Approval mentioned nor did I see the logo. And Rug Doctor is CRI's "Star."

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Invista™ boosts Antron® production

Invista™, the owner of the Stainmaster® brand, announced that it is investing $20 million in its North American manufacturing facilities. The company serves the residential and commercial carpet markets, and says it will significantly increase production at its Camden, South Carolina, plant. The company plans to double the volume of Antron® solution dyed nylon made there.

The best news I can take away from this release is that they are going to make more nylon fibers. I'm glad to see nylon getting some of the attention it so well deserves. Invista's recent commitment to polyester has a troubling element about it from this old cleaner's perspective. I hope they're careful fooling around with that poly stuff.

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History

What's going on with the "History" channel on television lately? I used to enjoy the programs that actually explored history from ancient to modern times. Wars from our own Revolutionary war to Desert Storm were exhibited in interesting formats.

Now since NBC took over programs are dominated by people killing alligators in swamps, Alaskan truckers, pawn shops in Louisiana and Las Vegas and "pickers" who buy old junk for cash. I wonder how much of that cash is reported on tax forms, and is the sales tax paid?

Back in the great depression there were people known as "Rag Pickers." They walked the back alleys of neighborhoods singing out, "Rags and old iron." They would buy cloth, metal and junk of all kinds for pennies from people who were suffering from the hard times.

I remember my dear grandmother chiding me to pay attention in school or, "You'll grow up to be a rag picker." Maybe NBC is just preparing us for the future.

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There are some limits

Not long ago I heard a long dissertation on how extraction cleaning works and the speaker insisted there must be at least 30 Hg (Inches of mercury) for vacuum, 800 PSI (Pounds per square inch) of water pressure and at least 250° (Fahrenheit) of heat in order to clean carpet. It's a good thing we're in the cleaning business or I'd have serious doubts about our ability.

I'm not too technical, but it's air velocity that moves water not vacuum. There is only so much room inside the hose to allow air movement. Add water and that space is reduced. As an example, 1 GPM (gallon per minute) requires about 12,000 LFPM (lineal feet per minute) of air movement through a 2" hose to remove at least 95% of the cleaning solution.

That amount of recovery ensures quick drying and prevents problems such as overwetting, browning and mildew. A machine that puts down 3 GPM of solution requires more than 21 Hg for recovery. Many truck-mounts pump up to 7 GPM and operate at 15 to 18 Hg of recovery. We've been at this business for more than 50 years and never came close to those numbers.

I'm glad our customers don't judge us on the numbers thing. According to the BBB, Angie's List®, a newspaper and three television stations that we have worked for on bait and switch consumer complaints over the years, there is no better record of customer satisfaction than that of our service company in Indianapolis. So who's right?

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Thanks Mohawk

Operation "Finally Home" gives custom made, mortgage free homes to wounded and disabled veterans and to spouses of our fallen heroes. Mohawk Industries has helped build a home for Marine Staff Sergeant Vincent Gizzarelli in Jacksonville, NC. He is a wounded vet with two deployments and more than 10 years of service in the Middle East. Mohawk donated 3,000 square feet of carpet, hardwood, laminate and ceramic flooring and Watkins Floor Covering of Jacksonville volunteered a crew to do the installation.

The story brought back some memories for me. Jacksonville is located just outside the main gate of Camp LeJeune and has been the primary liberty port for Marines stationed there. It was a city of about 500 people the first of three times I was stationed there during WWII and the Korean War. You can imagine how a town of 500 looked when 20,000 Marines were let loose. I remember being treated with friendly southern hospitality at the USO by the residents of that great little town. Today 70,801 people call it home.

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Happy Birthday

Today is the birthday of the Continental Marine Force of the American Colonies. It was founded during the Revolutionary War and was authorized by the Continental Congress on November 10, 1775. This small group, with 131 officers and about 2,000 enlisted men, was the genesis of the modern day United States Marine Corps.

The Corps was founded in Tun Tavern at the corner of Water Street and Tun Alley in the city of Philadelphia which is now located under Interstate 95. This seems appropriate since Marines have always had the dirtiest assignments and when a war is over they get run over by budget cuts and threats of disbandment.

Marines, Marine Corps Veterans and especially "old" Jarheads celebrate this historic day.

Semper Fi Marines!

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Bustin' our buttons 11/9/12

Here's a recent Angie's List customer comment:

We called to schedule a carpet cleaning and I spoke to Jan. She was very nice and knowledgeable. I gave her room dimensions and she gave me an estimate and explained that they would determine the final cost once they had seen our rooms.

Their price is so reasonable! I had used this company before I was an Angie's List member and I remembered how much I had liked them and their work. I was delighted to see that they were on Angie's List, and even more delighted that it was the same two gentlemen from the past job.

They were a pleasure to work with and except for a much cleaner carpet, it's like they were never here. Very clean in their work and efficient with time. Very accommodating with our questions. Great with explanations. Our carpeting looks so nice!! We will always use them for our carpet cleaning and we can highly recommend them to anyone for their needs!

Cathy Freyn    Indianapolis, IN

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Nice article on Soil-a-way

http://www.soilaway.com/oct2012-soil-away-visits-indy-and-bane-clene.php

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Think about this tomorrow

For nearly four years, we've heard "It's all Bush's fault!" But on January 3, 2007, and for the last two years of the Bush administration, Democrats controlled the House and the Senate. Unemployment was 4.6% on that date with an economic record of 52 months of job growth.

That day, Barney Frank, a Democrat from Massachusetts, took control of the House Financial Services Committee and Chris Dodd, a Democrat from Connecticut, took over the Senate Banking Committee. The economic meltdown occurred 15 months later when more than 5 trillion dollars in bad housing loans were dumped on the economy by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Bush had asked Congress to stop Fannie & Freddie seventeen times beginning in 2001 because of the financial risk to the banking industry and the general economy.

Congress sets the budget and Democrats have controlled the Senate since January 3, 2007. They controlled the budget for '08, '09, '10 and '11. For fiscal '09, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid bypassed President Bush entirely, passing continuing resolutions to keep the government running until Obama could take office. They passed a massive omnibus bill for the '09 budget and Barack Obama, as a member of Congress, voted for it. Then, as President, he signed the budget-breaking omnibus bill to complete 2009. After that the Democrats in Congress went on a spending binge. If Obama inherited anything, it was the mess he and Congress made. In a nutshell, what Obama is saying is, "I inherited a deficit that I voted for and then I expanded that deficit four fold, but it's all Bush's fault."

Thanks to Fritz Rench, Chairman of Racine Industries, for sending me these facts about the mess in Washington.

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Inflation

Here's the second e-mail on the same subject which is very timely:

Mr. Bernanke says inflation is under control and is running at only 2 % to 3 % a year. Washington DC is like a huge rock and he must have his head squarely under that rock or in someplace where the sun never shines. Everything we buy costs considerably more than the last time we bought it. Some things have doubled or tripled in price.

If you don't think we're on the doorstep of real inflation, think again. All the sign posts are out and indicate it is already upon us. A 600 million lottery prize, athletes paid 20 million to play baseball or football, a million dollars for winning a four day golf tournament and government executives paid millions of dollars to leave their jobs spell disaster and hyper-inflation.

Mr. Bernanke recently refinanced his mortgage. He showed a net worth of somewhere between one and three million dollars. That's a big somewhere! No wonder the Fed can't keep track of their banks and all the loose money floating around.

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More on "Big government isn't better"

Here's the second e-mail on the same subject which is very timely:

Professor Joseph Olson of Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota, points out some interesting statistics concerning the last Presidential election:

• Number of States won by: Obama: 19, McCain: 29
• Square miles of land won by: Obama: 580,000, McCain: 2,427,000
• Population of counties won by: Obama: 127 million, McCain: 143 million
• Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by: Obama: 13.2, McCain: 2.1

Professor Olson adds: "In aggregate, the map of the territory McCain won was mostly the land owned by the taxpaying citizens of the country. Obama territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in low income tenements and living off various forms of government welfare."

Olson believes the United States is now somewhere between the "complacency and apathy" phase of Professor Tyler's definition of democracy, (published Monday) with some forty percent of the nation's population already having reached the "governmental dependency" phase. If Congress grants amnesty and citizenship to twenty million criminal invaders called illegals, and they vote, then we can say goodbye to the USA as we know it.

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Big government isn't better

Following today and Wednesday are two entries from e-mails I received recently:

In 1887 Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years prior: "A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence:

• From bondage to spiritual faith;
• From spiritual faith to great courage;
• From courage to liberty;
• From liberty to abundance;
• From abundance to complacency;
• From complacency to apathy;
• From apathy to dependence;
• From dependence back into bondage."

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A birthday wish to someone very special

Thank God for you and Happy Birthday to my little Irish Colleen in our 65th year together.

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Plentiful money

According to the talking heads, our economy sucks, everyone is complaining about high gas prices and there are no jobs or money to do anything. But our streets and highways are so crowded that traffic is grid-locked in most urban areas. It's going to stay like this at least until the election is over.

If the economy ever does recover and full employment does return, the roads will be so crowded we won't be able to get to work. The stimulus bills, cash for clunkers program, bail-outs and extended unemployment compensation packages along with the fact that about half the populace pay no taxes has kept the spending splurge alive and traffic heavy.

Meanwhile government officials are jetting around the country and the world in luxurious aircraft accompanied by an entourage of friends and media. They're enjoying the living standards that were once reserved for royalty. There's no money shortage in Washington. They just print more whenever they need it.

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Another political e-mail

A customer sent this recently. It's a little longer than I like to publish but it says a lot:

Bob and I have been business owners for many years, employing as many as 100 people at one time. Our employees helped to build those businesses, for which they were compensated with competitive wages, benefits, and profit sharing plans; and without our customers there would have been no business.

However, when it comes to actually building the business, we and our fellow business owners are the ones who invested our own money, put in 80 plus hours a week, went without salaries when necessary so that employees could be paid and expenses met, traveled the country seeking customers, took the hits when customers went out of business without paying, and signed personal guarantees for any loans that the businesses required for inventory, expansion, marketing, etc. Everyone who has owned a business or been self employed shares this story.

Anyone who owns a small business has helped create 75 to 80% of all the jobs in this country and has invested "blood, sweat, and tears" into making the business viable and keeping it successful. I believe Mr. Obama does not understand, or does not want to admit, this because he truly believes that our country's strength is not because of our American ingenuity, individualism, work ethic, and sense of personal responsibility. In my opinion, he believes that government is the answer regardless of the question.

He and other like minded leaders have led America to an untenable position of entitlement that has nearly 50% of this great country dependent on government programs. (Have you heard the ads soliciting new enrollees for SNAP, Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, formerly known as "food stamps?" And I won't even get started on the EBT card program that is rampant with abuse.) I believe that this goes beyond helping the poor and those with temporary needs and comes down to vote garnering.

There are many of Mr. Obama's policies and remarks with which I strongly disagree, but hearing his statement about us not doing it by ourselves lit a spark in me that I felt compelled to share. I believe that we who are like minded must do whatever we can to ensure that Barack Obama does not gain another term in office. And if you know someone who is leaning toward Obama because of social issues, try to encourage them to look beyond that to the real threat his administration poses to American freedoms, for the sake of our children and grandchildren.

Thanks and blessings.

Nancy

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A simple song

The song you will hear is from a Las Vegas Diamond Rio concert. They received a standing ovation, and do every time they perform it.

Click below:

PresidentsDay9.wmv

Here are the lyrics to the song:

In God We Still Trust

You place your hand on His bible, when you swear to tell the truth.
His name is on our greatest monuments an' all our money too.
An' when we pledge allegiance, there's no doubt where we stand:
There's no separation, we're one nation under Him.

In God, we still trust here in America,
He's the one we turn to every time the going gets tough.
He is the source of all our strength, the one who watches over us.
Here in America, in God, we still trust.

Now there are those among us,
Who want to push Him out.
And erase his name from everything,
This country's all about.
From the schoolhouse to the courthouse,
They're silencing His word,
And now it's time for all believers,
To make our voices heard.

In God, we still trust here in America,
He's the one we turn to every time the going gets tough.
He is the source of all our strength, the one who watches over us.
Here in America, in God, we still trust.
Here in America, in God, we still trust.
Here in America,
Here in America, in God, we still trust.
Here in America, in God, we still trust.
Here in America

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Is it just me?

Everyone is so busy talking, texting or e-mailing that nothing is getting done right these days. Purchases are problematic, shipments are late or not right and traffic is a nightmare with people texting or talking. You would think with all these phones you could talk to someone but just try talking to a real person at a government office, bank, cable or utility company.

If you want to hear a political dissertation on the beauty of being far left, tune in to MSNBC. On the other hand, if you want to hear about the joys of being a Republican visit Fox News. The rest of the networks all lean left. And speaking of TV, the most common expressions heard today are "Stay tuned" and "Coming up" followed by at least ten commercials.

The new iPhone® introduction has been heralded as something akin to the second coming. Lots of people are buying them so Apple will do quite well financially and stock brokers will make out like bandits. I just haven't figured out yet how talking, texting, tweeting, twittering or playing games on them is going to make a living for most of the folks who buy them.

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An e-mail from a reader

Dear Bill,

I sell carpet for a living, but I read your blog and check out your web site to keep up with the maintenance end of the business. I often find helpful tidbits that assist me in my own business even though it's not cleaning related. My compliments to the people who designed and maintain your site for its ease of navigation. And thank you for providing this excellent source of common sense information about the cleaning business and other things.

On another note, you get a bit political at times and I thank you for doing a public service for the small business community. I'm sending this in the hope you will put it in your blog since you have such a large following. If our country continues down the path to globalism (which you have written about) and socialism, we can expect drastic changes in taxation.

Current European Tax Rates:

United Kingdom Income Tax: 50% VAT: 17.5% = 67.5%
France                 Income Tax: 40% VAT: 19.6% = 59.6%
Greece                 Income Tax: 40% VAT: 25% = 65%
Spain                   Income Tax: 45% VAT: 16% = 61%
Portugal              Income Tax: 42% VAT: 20% = 62%
Sweden              Income Tax: 55% VAT: 25% = 80%
Norway               Income Tax: 54.3% VAT: 25% = 79.3%
Netherlands        Income Tax: 52% VAT: 19% = 71%
Denmark              Income Tax: 58% VAT: 25% = 83%
Finland                Income Tax: 53% VAT: 22% = 75%

Keep in mind that in spite of these astronomical tax rates, these countries can't finance their social welfare programs exclusively with tax revenues. They are all mired in gargantuan debt that threatens to collapse the European Union.

Greece has had a socialistic system for decades. Even with a 65% tax rate, they are drowning in public debt. Greece would have defaulted without billions in bailout money from the EU and the IMF which gets our tax money. 20% of the Greek population lives in poverty.

The VAT is the national sales tax that Europeans pay. Most started out at 1% or 2% and grew. A US VAT is what you can expect the current administration to propose after the election.

Bob Mathews

P.S. I just heard France is raising taxes on the rich to 70%. Does that sound familiar?

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Job "creation"

It must be "new" math they use in Washington. All of the talking heads were excited about the 114,000 new jobs "created" in September. But here are some ominous numbers from September. Those filing for unemployment compensation for the first time the week ending September 8 - 375,000; September 15 - 385,000; September 22 - 363,000; September 29 - 367,000. The total was 1,490,000. That's a long line for the people applying for those 114,000 jobs.

The official unemployment number was announced at "only" 7.8%. The Indianapolis Star used the adjective "soared" to describe the increase in new jobs. I wonder what adjective they'd use if it moved a whole percentage point? When the number was going the other way they said it was "inching." To the liberal press, it depends on the political expediency of the moment.

Do you know what precise scientific procedure the Labor Department uses to arrive at that 7.8% unemployment number? They make 50,000 random telephone calls and ask whomever answers the phone how many in the household are unemployed. Let that soak in awhile. The real number of people not working in this country must be more than 25%.

The crowd in Washington throws the word "created" around as if they were omnipotent. There is only one "Creator" and I seriously doubt that He would dwell in Washington, the headquarters of that cesspool we call politics.

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Third time around

QE 3 is not the name of an ocean liner. It means "quantitative easing" and this is the third time the Federal Reserve Bank has done it. Simply put that means the Fed is printing money to buy government bonds which have been downgraded by rating companies. This time the Fed is pumping 40 billion dollars a month into Treasury's bank account.

A simple analogy would be a family that gets into serious debt by overspending on a credit card and can't make the minimum payment. They use another credit card that hasn't yet found out they're deadbeats and they pay the minimum payment on the original card. If they get away with it, they do it a third time to make the minimum payment on the second card.

The stock market and big investment banks love the QE maneuvers and "Operation Twist" which pumped funny money into the banking and brokerage systems to keep them lucrative. The current scandal on insider trading is just the tip of the iceberg. I predict a day of reckoning is coming after the election in November. Better hunker down.

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J & J celebrates

More than 900 associates and their families gathered on the 15th of September at the North Georgia Agricultural Fairgrounds to celebrate J&J Industries' 55th anniversary. Besides prizes and entertainment, many long time employees were honored for their service.

David Jolly, President and CEO said, “J&J is so much more than just a carpet manufacturer. It’s a family of people dedicated to an idea and to each other. This commitment is what makes us strong, and it’s only right that we recognize our Associates and take every opportunity to thank them. Our Family Day is one small part of helping people spend time with their families and re energizing a spirit of community with their fellow employees.”

In 1983, Jim Keener, who is now retired, came to our annual convention and pleased the crowd with a surprise announcement that J & J Industries would be the first carpet manufacturer to publicly endorse the Bane-Clene® System. On several occasions over the years we had tours of their manufacturing facilities in Dalton by Bane-Clene operators from around the world. The friendliness of J&J's staff and management always impressed me.

Congratulations to J&J on their 55th and may you have many, many more years of success.

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Proud of them

Congratulations to Sam & Gaye Levine, owners of G. Fried Carpet & Design of Paramus, N.J., a Bane-Clene® customer for fourteen years. G. Fried is collaborating with CFA (Center for Food Action of Englewood, NJ) to sponsor a food drive.

G. Fried has been in business for 35 years and is sponsoring the event as a way of giving back to a community that had been so good to them. Donated food is given to help feed those hurt by the bad economy, needy children and seniors struggling on fixed incomes.

Their cleaning division is offering a 20% discount for on-location carpet cleaning and 10% on area rugs and their carpet store will give a 5% discount on purchases for those who drop off food. If you're in that area Call 201 967 1250 for store hours and a list of food they need.

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Invista announcement

“Our customers continue to tell us that nylon 6,6 fibers still have the best long term performance in soft flooring. Nylon 6,6 fibers are the optimum ‘go to’ fibers for the broadest variety of color schemes and offer a luxurious soft ‘hand’, excellent resiliency, durability, abrasion resistance and texture retention.

“But, now some consumers are looking for good performing value products that will live up to their expectations in terms of durability, stain resistance and ease of cleaning. Because of this, we tested more than 100 products of different constructions and weights that are representative of the market and selected the handful that meet our Stainmaster product specifications and satisfy those consumer needs.”

Call me an old stick-in-the-mud, but I hate to see change in something that has been so good. A source close to the industry tells me that the new Stainmaster line will have polyester and nylon products. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that the song that was sung in the '70s, '80s and early '90s when the carpet industry was on top of the heap?

Literally tons of cheap blends were dumped on the market and guess what? Yep! The market dissipated. As cleaners, we don't have any say in what the mills produce, but we are obligated to watch the performance of new products, especially blends, and report to our customers on their performance and cleanability. Keep your eyes open and let me know what you see.

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E-mail asks if we're better off

Bill,

Remember all that "Hope and Change" talk from 2008? Well here is the change!

In January 2009 the average price of a gallon of gas was $1.83. Now it's $3.44 - an 84% increase. The number of unemployed was 11,616,000, now it's 14,485,000 - up 24.7%.
Long term unemployed were 2,600,000 then, now there are 6,400,000 - up 146.2%.

Median household income was $50,112 now it's $49,777 - down 0.7%.
Number of food stamp recipients were 31,983,716, now there are 43,200,878 - up 35.1%.
The poverty rate in 2009 was 13.2%, now it's 14.3% - up 8.3%.

Unemployment benefit recipients were 7,526,598, now 9,193,838 - up 22.2%.
Bank failures in 2009 were 140, last year 164 banks failed - an increase of 17.1%.
National debt in 2009, $10.627 (T)rillion, Flash...it just passed 16 (T)rillion

Francene "Frankie" Sandlin

Thanks for the cheery e-mail Frankie. Even though I doubt the accuracy of some of the figures, they're probably a lot closer to being right than they're wrong. While the numbers are shocking, here's a web site that will really make you shake in your boots:

http://www.usdebtclock.org/

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Bank loans

Small companies looking for loans in August found some. The overall volume of applications and approval rates were up at small banks where loan approvals increased slightly to 47%. But big banks, those that got most of the big bail out funds and have $10 Billion or more in assets, granted only 10% of their loan requests from small businesses.

Alternative lenders such as accounts receivable financiers, cash advance lenders and Community Development Financial Institutions approved 64% of loan requests for small business. Naturally there is no record of business the loan shark community did or of the number of loans that were given to small business people by friends and relatives.

The latest "QE" is doling out 40 Billion a month and big banks are hoarding the cash. One of the really big ones just announced they're cutting 30,000 jobs over the next two years. Meanwhile top execs will get their bonuses while taxpayers pick up the unemployment compensation tab. The message is simple. A small business should not do business with a big bank.

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Public relations "success" formula

    The most important 6 words:"I admit I made a mistake."
    The most important 5 words: "I am proud of you."
    The most important 4 words: "What is your opinion?"
    The most important 3 words: "If you please."
    The most important 2 words: "Thank you."
    The most important 1 word: "We."
    The least important word: "I."

Daughters of St. Paul, Boston

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Smarty pants

I've almost stopped reading industry bulletin boards. They used to be informative but lately most of the conversations are by people with something to sell. Others apparently try to impress folks with their intelligence. An example is the following post on a cleaner's bulletin board which is of no help to anyone in the cleaning business:

    String Definition: String is textile space and time, plus the smallest essence of all forms of matter and all forms of energy with ten dominant dimensions. There were five competing theories, all with different suggestions on how many dimensions there are. It turned out they were all saying the same thing.
    Edward Witten resolves those issues with the M Theory. The M theory showed an eleventh dimension leading outside our universe. This explains why gravity appears to be weak. Therefore there has to be 10 dimensions for there to be a relation between gravity and light. Since gravity and electromagnetic energies or equal in strength, there has to be an eleventh dimension for gravitons to escape.
    The actual comparison between gravity and electromagnetic energy is approximately 10 to the minus 39 power. Knowing how gravity and electromagnetic energy are related is one of the essential quests of the string theory. It was the one thing that Einstein died trying to understand.

I haven't figured out what he was talking about and don't think it had anything to do with the real world and daily trials and tribulations associated with the cleaning industry. But since he said that Albert Einstein didn't understand it, I don't feel so bad.

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Health care insurance

Everyone in business is waiting to find out how the new federal health care laws will affect them. An interesting e-mail came from a man I know in the health care insurance industry with whom I had discussed the ramifications of Obamacare. In our latest exchange I asked him how people in the insurance business felt about it and this was his reply:

    There are two ways to consider the health insurance question. One thing is good for consumers and bad for the industry. It is the removal of preconditions for coverage. Since the business makes money by taking in more than it pays out, the firms are profitable. But now having to cover the sickest with no preconditions may be very expensive, which could shoot profits. About 90 % of healthcare is spent on the sickest 5 %.
    On the other hand, since everyone will be forced to have insurance through the individual mandate, many more people will be paying money to insurers which will cause a big growth in revenue. The question is if it will offset the issue above.
    My personal guess is that insurers will make out very well. If the profits decrease, premiums will go up for everyone to make up for it. Our last two years have been consecutively the best in the company's history, and this year is tracking even better.
    The bulk of new rules don't hit until 2014 though, so there is still a year or two to go before that is known.

That's not the answer other businesses need, but it does say one thing for sure. Insurance companies will make out because they can and will raise their rates. For most businesses and the working public, the 2012 election will make a vast difference in their finances and especially in the direction our country will take in the future.

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IRS audit

The IRS has thousands of new agents and audits are said to be up 54%. A news report says many audits of small businesses aren't turning up much in the way of violations. That's little comfort if you're notified on the Friday before a holiday that they're going to audit you.

IRS will give you an idea of what the audit is about to avoid surprises and wasting time with issues in which they have no interest. A disorganized pile of paper will not make the IRS throw up its hands and walk away.

The report said that if you're notified of an audit, gather all pertinent documents and notify your CPA of the date and time. Treat IRS employees with courtesy and they'll be more likely to listen and understand your explanation of matters.

Even if auditors find no violations of the tax laws, the experience can be traumatic. It takes you out of the mainstream of creating customer satisfaction and is a very negative experience. It also can be very costly in accounting and legal time if yours is a large company.

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A note to Kevin

This note was sent to Kevin Stark recently and it really brought back memories to me:

Kevin,
Enclosed is my check for the best and up-to-date equipment. I very much appreciate my association with Bane-Clene and the success it has assisted me in since 1979. This note paper is from my first Mini-Clinic in Lawrence back in '79, a bit out of date. I have great memories with Bane-Clene. Thank you so very much.
Paul Jones, New Life Carpet Cleaning

I remember that meeting in Lawrence, Kansas and the note books we gave to those who attended. I met so many nice people in Lawrence and I have fond memories of Paul. Another name I often see mentioned in trade related articles is "Chavez." I don't know if it is the same person, but a man named Chavez from Kansas impressed me with his knowledge of the business. We had a nice conversation after that meeting.

Besides passing along things that I knew about the business, Mini-Clinics were also a learning experience for me. I got to meet real cleaners with no hidden agenda. (Well, maybe a few salesmen snuck in.) Many of them shared their feelings openly and honestly and for more than 20 years I felt I had my finger on the pulse of our industry.

Thanks Paul for the nice note, your latest equipment purchase and especially for stirring up some great memories of days gone by. We framed your note on the old Mini-Clinic pad and hung it in our break room for everyone to see.

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I believe in change, too!

This interesting e-mail about our equipment, with my answer, is from someone whom I hope becomes a customer in the future:

Dear Mr. Bill Bane,
I read your blog and you talk a lot about change. I heard about you ever since I got in this business 6 years ago but never bought anything from your company. I live down south and have had a (brand name) and never worried about it freezing. But the price of gas has got to me. I was not convinced I should check out your machine until I had mine serviced the other day. When I said I was thinking about your TM, you would have thought I was nuts from the way that guy blew up. He tore you up one side and down the other and said you're old fashioned and have not changed anything since back in the sixties. But if you lasted in business 50 years, there must be something to what you sell and I want to hear what you say to that.
J. B. Crawford

Mr. Crawford:

Today I looked at some web sites that offer used truck-mounts for sale and it's easy to see that folks are trying to get rid of equipment that uses gasoline and diesel fuel. That may explain why our friendly colleague in the supply business wasn't so friendly toward us.

It's true I don't believe in change just for the sake of change. But in business, change is inevitable and I speak to our classes at Bane-Clene Institute extensively about it. We've made 60 significant changes in our equipment since we built our first two truck-mounted units in 1969.

The outside may have looked the same for the past few years, but under the hood there have been many changes. If you will call 800 428 9512 and talk with one of our customer service reps he will explain all of the changes and answer any other questions you may have.

One of the reasons our system has been successful is that it uses electricity, is very dependable and lasts a long time with little maintenance. Nearly every unit we sold in the '70s is still operational and making money. No other company can make that claim.

Thanks for the e-mail and I look forward to meeting you some day.

Bill

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Thoughts on testimonials

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has "Truth in Advertising Guidelines." The BBB warns that there is a section on how to comply with the FTC Act. "Endorsements used in testimonials must be truthful, not misleading and must reflect the typical experience of consumers who use the service, not the experience of just a few satisfied customers. You must also disclose any connection you or your business has with the consumer who is endorsing your service."

Never use a customer's address or telephone number on a testimonial that's shown to a prospect. We send a report card to our service company customers with five questions, one of which is, "Would you recommend our service to others?" Most cards come back with notes saying that they already have recommended us. That's the best way, when they do it voluntarily. We do not use a service company customer's testimonial to gain new customers.

Nearly all of our new customers come to us from the recommendation of someone for whom we have worked. Another way testimonials work for our service company is being recommended by Angie's List or the Better Business Bureau. New customers often check with these two consumer organizations about our history. We've had a good record with the BBB since 1973 and "Angie's List" since she bought out Unified Neighbors in Carmel, Indiana.

As for all the hoopla over points and awards for customers, just remember that people are tiring of all the work they have to do to qualify for a "spiff" or to gain points for different products and services. Everything we do today seems to have a hoop we must jump through or a club we have to join in order to quality for special treatment.

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Putting the national debt in perspective

Thanks to Jim Bowman for this e-mail. The prospects give me a headache but this helps in understanding the cold, hard reality as to why the problem must be addressed, and soon.

Bill,
Everyone seems to be struggling to understand the national debt and lack of a federal budget. These figures are associated with our government mishandling the economy.

• U.S. Tax revenue : $2,170,000,000,000
• Federal budget : $3,820,000,000,000 *
• New debt : $ 1,650,000,000,000
• National debt: $14,271,000,000,000
• Recent budget cuts : $ 38,500,000,000 **

This may help us understand why the deficit is so destructive. Pretend it's a household budget by removing 8 zeros.

• Annual family income : $21,700
• Money the family spends : $38,200
• New debt on credit cards : $16,500
• Outstanding balance on credit cards : $142,710
• Budget cuts to try to fix the problem : $385

How long do you think that family would survive economically?

Jim

* They don't have a budget. They just keep raising the debt ceiling allowed by law.
** Their idea of a budget cut is not increasing spending.

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Still good advice

We published the following seven tips in the Cleaning Digest in 2002 when an economic downturn followed the 9/11 disaster and things looked pretty bleak. This election season is so negative that even the most optimistic people can be affected. Remember that no matter who wins on November 6, life and business goes on.

• Stop blaming the economy for business being down. Work a little harder!
• Customers are the best unpaid advocates you will ever have. Work harder for them.
• Build trust in every single job that you do and the customer will tell their friends.
• There is no better advertising than a customer referring you to their friends. And it's free.
• No one likes cold calls, but there is commercial business out there. Just ask for it!
• Spend 80% of your time on current customers - only 20% prospecting for new ones.
• Work on developing a thick skin. Be prepared to hear "NO!" Move on!
• Set daily, weekly, monthly and annual goals and then try to beat them.

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SOA update

The CRI recently released new products that have been added to the Carpet and Rug Institute's Seal of Approval testing and certification program for carpet cleaning products and equipment. There were nineteen new vacuum cleaners, seven cleaning solutions, one extractor and three new systems. The SOA total now stands at 914 products with a little rental machine listed as one of the best in the industry.

Meanwhile the number of professional cleaning firms signing up for the SOA program has stalled at about 1,000. That number was reached with much fanfare two years ago. But that's only 1,000 out of the more than 40,000 cleaning firms nationwide. Before long CRI will have more products certified than there are Certified Service Providers to use them. And I always thought cleaning was simple!

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Honoring a customer

The Hilbert's have been Bane-Clene customers since 1976. If there was a mold that could be made for the perfect service company, All American Carpet Cleaning, Inc., of Akron, Ohio would be the model. I met Ken Hilbert at an Ohio Carpet Cleaner's convention in Cleveland in 1974 and we've been friends ever since.

These people are so special. They are among a more successful group of Bane-Clene system owners who follow the formula for success. They've won numerous awards and there have been a myriad of accolades from their customers, many of which have reached my office. A classic example are the remarks on a recent customer report card from a lady in Ohio.

On August 8, 2012, Ann Sedlak of Copley, Ohio checked all the boxes affirmatively on the customer report card that was mailed to her. The questions were: Was out telephone representative courteous and helpful? Was our service operator courteous and efficient? Was our service operator neat and clean? Would you recommend our service to others?

Then she added the following comment:
"I am impressed! My carpet looks brand new. I was going to put a hardwood floor in one room, (he did not clean it). After seeing the rest of the carpet I'm going to have All American Carpet back to clean that room! Thank you!"

Thanks to the Hilbert family and all the rest of you who work so hard to establish and maintain a high and fine reputation in the carpet cleaning industry. If there were more like the Hilberts there might be more carpet and less hardwood.

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New computer virus

The FBI warns that a new virus attacks when you visit an infected website. Unlike traditional viruses, "Reveton" does not need the user to open a specific file or email attachment. When infected, the computer freezes. A message appears indicating it is from the FBI and that the computer has been identified as being used to commit cyber crimes and/or illegally downloading music or other programs. The message levies a “fine” against the user that must be paid in order for the freeze to be lifted.

“This is a new twist on the online scams we see every day,” said Bill Thomas, president/CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Central Indiana. “Most online scams try to trick the user into either divulging personal information or paying money for a non existing product or service. In this respect, the Reveton virus is no different. The Reveton virus differentiates itself because it can infect a computer without the user taking any action aside from simply surfing the Internet,” Thomas said. “Nothing needs to be opened, clicked on or downloaded, which makes all of us susceptible to this virus and scam.”

The BBB suggests the following if you are a victim of the Reveton virus: Do not pay any money or provide any personal information. Contact a reputable computer professional to remove Reveton and any related software from your computer. Be aware that even if you are able to unfreeze your computer on your own, the malware may still operate in the background. Certain types of malware have been known to capture personal information such as user names, passwords and credit card numbers through embedded keystroke logging programs.

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Clichés and buzz word

All business schools must have classes on these. MBAs, CEOs, CFOs, COOs, and all the other alphabet soup honchos sound alike when they're interviewed on TV. They can explain why their company is dumping shares, buying back stock, suffering deep losses, enjoying new found profits or any other phenomenon and it all sounds like the same gobbledygook.

They use hundreds of standard clichés and a myriad of buzz words and phrases in their oily, rehearsed presentations. It seems as if everything we listen to today has been spun or is being spun again by spin doctors. The only word that the folks talking about the stock market never mention is "Ponzi."

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Business loans

Small business owners have been virtually shut out of borrowing from banks. The big ones (too big to fail) used those billions they got in bail-out funds to buy up other banks and pad their own balance sheets. Virtually none of those billions were allocated to small business loans.

Besides refinancing personal assets, many small business owners borrow with their personal credit cards rather than use the business credit cards issued by banks. Consumer cards have more protection on fees, rate increases and notification of changes than business cards.

If a credit card is lost or stolen, consumers are only liable for $50 and some not even that. Many banks have "make your customer whole" policies, meaning customers don't pay anything on a lost or stolen card. That's not always the case with business credit cards.

According to one report I read recently, more small business owners use personal credit cards in their operations than ever before. It said that 49% of small business owners are using personal cards for business, compared to 42% in 2009. Entrepreneurs find a way.

As with all credit, be sure to understand the terms and be careful not to get into the habit of making a minimum payment. Above all don't use several different cards. Credit cards can be a blessing or a curse. Use them wisely!

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Calls and e-mails about Ron Baker

Thanks to all of you who have written and called about the passing of Ron Baker. I doubt he ever dreamed that so many people cared so deeply about him. The following e-mail is an example that pretty well sums up most of the notes and calls we received:

Bill,

   I just heard of the passing of Ron, and I wanted to let you know how sorry I was to hear about this. It's so hard to believe as I had just spoken with him a few days earlier. Ron was always so nice and very helpful. He would even listen to you when you were having a bad day and always give you a word of encouragement. He will really be missed. I'm glad I had the opportunity to meet Ron back in the 80's and gotten to know him over the years in doing business with your company.

   Hearing of the news has made me realize the short time we are here and that we should let people know what they mean to us. So I'd like to let everyone at Bane-Clene know how much they mean to me and Debbie and how truly blessed we are for having met them and having become part of the Bane-Clene Family. So again thanks to everyone for being there and for all that you do. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and the Bane-Clene family.

   Ron - You will be sorely missed but not forgotten.
Dennis Webb
Warrantee Carpet Cleaning Co.

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Slanting the news

The headline on the business page said, "Unemployment applications drop 6,000 last week."

The article indicated things are getting better. For headline readers (which are many) the news sounded good. But, as the old saying goes, the devil is in the details.

The fact is applications for new unemployment compensation claims did drop that week, all the way down to 361,000 from 368,250 the previous week. The article also reported that the economy "created" 163,000 jobs in July. I was taught there was only one "Creator."

I've never been good at math, but I had trouble seeing good news in that article. If we're adding 163,000 jobs a month and more than 360,000 people are filing for unemployment pay every week....let's see, there are four weeks in a month....four times 360,000...you do the math.

Actually the unemployed, underemployed or those working for cash and not reporting the income are more than 25,000,000. This number is said to be very conservative. Yep! Things sure are getting better with this new math the media uses.

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