FWC Show Teaser + Window Cleaning News

Just a quick teaser of the stuff to come from the Federation of Window Cleaners show from Friday. I'll be featuring products & suppliers all this week & a few laughs as well.

When people just stop looking for work: We've all heard the unemployment reports: Millions of people are slaving away on job applications. Or are there? The job market is so tough, some people have just given up. Seth Reams: After I got laid off, I thought, 'You know, no biggie, I'll find a job any day, a couple weeks.' And then the weeks turned into months, and I really just got dejected and depressed. It really eats at you in a million different ways. I'm a grown man, I'm 35 and I can't support myself. Reams started drinking heavily, stopped looking for work, and had to depend on his girlfriend to pay the bills. Then a light went off. He thought, why not organize unemployed people to do community work -- fixing roofs, planting trees? His group, We've Got Time to Help, now has a 100 volunteers. And Reams is reenergized. Reams: I'm applying for everything and anything. In fact, I even applied for a window washing position, and I am deathly afraid of heights. No-longer-quite-so-discouraged worker, Seth Reams.

ATLANTIC CITY - Several workers were washing windows at the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort Friday afternoon when high winds loosened their scaffolding and they escaped through a window, the fire chief said. The Fire Department was called to the Taj Mahal at about 4:30 p.m., but the workers had broken a window and managed to get inside, Chief Dennis Brooks said. The workers were uninjured. Firefighters secured the scaffolding to avoid any further damage, Brooks said.

The commander of British forces in Cyprus has unveiled a wide- ranging rationalisation programme that aims to saving money on the bases. In an open letter, Major General JH Gordon CBE, explained that a series of cuts will be implemented due to ‘economic difficulties being experienced in the UK and around the world’. He added that the Sovereign base areas had to live “within their financial means” after the Ministry of Defence has come under intense pressure to ensure that it can invest in resources for front line operations.
The main impact of the cuts will focus on reducing overtime, limiting local recruitment, slashing travel budgets and even cutting window cleaning services on the bases. The cuts, which have been the source of much discussion on the bases in recent weeks, are thought to be deeply unpopular with serviceman and their families. Major General Gordon noted that: “We will all feel the effects of these decisions and I recognise that these measures will impact directly how we live in Cyprus and the quality of the lifestyle we are used to.”

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe is to make a move into musical theatre in an upcoming Broadway production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. The young actor, who made his Broadway debut in 2008 in the New York run of Equus, is attached to lead a December reading of the production, with a new version of the musical to follow, Variety reports. Written by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert, with songs by Frank Loesser, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying tells of the rise of an ambitious window cleaner who lives by the rules of a self-help manual as he attempts to ascend through the ranks of the World Wide Wickets Co.

Five lessons in integrity from Treasure Valley businesses: The most fun we have is celebrating five businesses each year for being role models in acting with ethics and integrity. We call the program Integrity Counts. We turn to Terry MacDonald at Window Wizard, where an employee walked across an unfinished deck while cleaning windows at a customer's home. The employee had no idea what he had done, but it was an expensive mistake, causing significant damage. Terry insisted that his company pay for the deck repairs.

Flats evacuated in winds: Flats have been evacuated after high winds tore loose a window cleaning cradle in Gateshead. Police and the fire brigade were called after the cradle, which had no-one on board, began smashing into the side of flats at Callender Court, police said. Two flats were evacuated, but no one was injured. The cradle was secured and an engineer will assess the damage.

Stimulus jobs program helps teens, young adults: More than $1.2 billion in federal stimulus money was supposed to help teenagers and youths ages 16 to 24 nationwide find jobs this summer, but the effort barely made a dent in one of the bleakest job markets young workers have faced in more than 60 years. Experts and government watchdogs claim the program yielded few new opportunities nationwide for teens seeking work, as more and more adults are vying for the same low-wage positions at hamburger stands and community pools. September's unemployment numbers put teen unemployment at a record high of 25.9 percent. Christine Sikora, youth services coordinator for the Center for Business Excellence, said 350 youths in Volusia and Flagler counties got jobs this summer because of the program. Instead of the traditional teen employers, such as fast-food places and retailers, the agency worked with a dentist, a window-cleaning firm, nonprofit agencies and even local governments.

Burglary bid drug addict claimed to be window cleaner: A SWANSEA heroin addict claimed to be a window cleaner when a young woman caught him trying to burgle her city home. Stewart Rees was at the top of a ladder, preparing to climb in through a landing window, when she bravely confronted him. He fled the scene, but was charged with attempted burglary after she picked him out in a police identification procedure a short time later. The incident was described when 31-year-old Rees, of Long View Road, Clase, was jailed for two years after pleading guilty. Nicola Powell prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court that on the afternoon of July 25 the young woman was in a bedroom, getting dressed for work, when she heard a noise and realised that someone was moving her father's ladder in the garden. She then heard the ladder near a landing window and was terrified to see Rees preparing to climb into the house. When she yelled at him, Rees claimed to be a window cleaner, said Miss Powell. He then quickly climbed down and disappeared from the scene.

A window cleaner from Leeds defends 'liar' title: The hunt for Yorkshire's biggest liar is on. Organisers of a quirky storytelling competition are trawling for fibbers to take part in the Wetherby-based event next week. The last two years have seen Steve Watson, a window cleaner from Wetherby, take the crown as the biggest liar in Yorkshire. Now organisers are looking to find someone to steal the title from him. Anyone can enter but must take no more than 10 minutes to stand up and tell a tall tale, a fantastic fib or a wonderful whopper. The audience then decides who should walk away with the title. The storyteller who receives the loudest cheer at the end of the night wins.
Previously, liars have told outlandish tales of police dogs being replaced by budgies, pregnant men, giant rabbits destroying secret GM trials, and putting hamsters in tyres to increase fuel economy. Mr Watson said: "It's been great fun and I've been delighted to win the last two years but it's time to step aside and encourage someone else to win. "I'm not always sure that being known as the biggest liar in the county is a great way to advertise my business but it certainly leads to a bit of good banter with my customers and we've had a few laughs about it.'' The competition is part of the Wetherby Festival which runs from mid October to early November. As well as raising a few laughs, it also aims to boost funds for Martin House the children's hospice based in Boston Spa. Anyone interested in taking part, should contact Dave Richmond on dave.richmond@live.co.uk or by ringing 07952 618071.

Man taken to hospital after falling from a ladder in Stevenage: A man was taken to hospital after falling from a ladder earlier today. East of England Ambulance Service crews from Letchworth GC and Stevenage were called to Manor View, Stevenage, at 10.56am. The Hertfordshire Air Ambulance was also called and landed next to the tennis courts in Shephalbury Park. Ambulance service spokesman Gary Sanderson said: "The man, believed to be in his 60s, was cleaning a window at the time of the incident. He fell awkwardly and sustained a leg and facial injury. "Following stabilisation by paramedics and a doctor from the air ambulance, he was taken to the Lister Hospital by land ambulance.