Window Cleaning News

Free Window Cleaning Business Owner Magazine Issue #1: WCBO (Window Cleaning Business Owner) issue #1 can now be download free of charge as a pdf. Just click the picture to take you to the download site. In this issue:

• Pro Window Cleaner Spot Light - Salvatore Marino
• Manufacturer Spotlight - Cody Thomas GlassRenu
• Regular Features: Marketing, How I roll, Leadership, In the Field, Manage, Sales, Money, New Product Alert, Tech, Web, Web Again, Thinking Outside the Bucket, On the Road, Safety, The Hard Numbers & Fun.

Thanks to Randy Mills of Pioneer Services in California for tipping me off on this video. Amelia Rudolph, founder of Project Bandaloop, shows off her group's unique, skyscraper-scaling style of dance.

RE: Lost: The Desire To Work - a letter from Jeffrey Miller, Noah, Chris and Tyler, Window Washers.

We would like to respond to Mr. Callahan’s recent letter regarding the youth of today and the fact that he feels this group has lost their desire to work. He says he doesn’t see young people mowing lawns or washing cars, etc. A friend and I started a window washing business while at CHS. This business continues today and is the source of our college money. We have some amazing clients and we learn something from each of them. We give back to the community along with another entrepreneurial graduate from CHS, Luis Madrid, in the form of an annual scholarship to a senior at CHS who has best demonstrated an entrepreneurial spirit while in high school. There is a pool of candidates each year.
We were not alone in starting a business while in high school. There were and still are students who walk dogs, do tutoring, do small errands, etc. We often get requests for additional small jobs, which we do ourselves or we send a qualified young person out to assist. Over the years this work group has refurbished a yacht deck, moved boxes in, boxes out, and moved furniture around, picked up packages, gardened, removed trash, put up light bulbs, delivered items, put up Christmas lights, dug holes, and/or assisted with just about any small job that was requested. Many continue to do these jobs assisting residents even as they moved on to local colleges. We have a running list of those who are always looking for work they can do after school or on weekends.
The young people in Coronado are working or would like to work, but it is sometimes difficult to connect the two. We have tried to assist with this, however, if you look at this from a different point of view, you will see that times are much different than those you described. Finding after-school work is difficult, if not impossible. No one wants to hire a ‘kid’ to mow their grass, when they can get a gardener with his own equipment. To work in a post office as a teenager these days would never happen … too many adults want that job. Parents are afraid to let their kids go out to look for work and residents are afraid to have someone new in their homes and everyone is worried about liability and lawsuits.
So Mr. C., we challenge you. Call us to do your windows. Call other young people for your odd jobs. Use your voice to help young people who want to work by encouraging a spot in the Eagle where they can post their ads at a reduced rate. We know from experience that advertising and other expenses can be costly. Encourage other residents to support their local labor pool before looking at other companies/individuals. No, not every young person is motivated, but there are many who are. We grew up working on weekends and after school and many of our friends did the same. Of course, we have many years of experiences ahead of us, but that saying, “It takes a village …” Well, it does, but fortunately … we have a Village. Encourage others to look for these young locals when they have work to be done.

Harry Hunderman wasn’t amazed when his colleagues recently rappelled near the top of the Washington Monument, because he’s done it himself, on the dome of the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison. The WJE “Difficult Access Teams” have worked the heights in Chicago, The Willis Tower, John Hancock Center and BP Amoco Building, along with Soldier Field. They’ve gotten down and dirty in the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. And yet few structures could have provoked a reaction like the Washington Monument. The WJE people feel they just have clients to serve, even if it means being latched to ropes or working from the relative safety of window-washers platforms. Somehow the WJE staff has married the outwardly dull, office-bound callings of engineering and architecture with the thrill of alpine-style adventure.

GRAND RAPIDS – The inconvenience of getting kicked out of his office for a day didn't faze Haris Alibasic, who knew the temporary imposition during a $1.2 million window replacement project would result in years of benefit for Grand Rapids. The feeling has been experienced by workers throughout the building's eight above-ground floors as two months of work are expected to wrap up in the next week, leaving the structure with energy efficient double-paned glass that will knock off about $40,000 annually from the city's utility bills. “A project of this magnitude is an important step to meeting our energy conservation goals and reduce our consumption,” said Alibasic, the city's director of energy and sustainability. “It will help us save money and become more sustainable.”

Single-paned windows installed in the mid-1960s left workers baking in the summer and freezing in the winter. Screens placed over the windows in 1977 were known for collecting dirt, bugs and spiders that gave the appearance of being constantly dirty. Once completed, contractors will have removed and replaced 640 panes on city hall's second through ninth floors, 54 more lining Calder Plaza and 11 along Monroe Avenue NW. The entire project, which also includes swapping out lights and installing motion sensors, was paid for with a federal grant directed at finding energy loss solutions.

Oakland aims to add more businesses to its “green certified” list: What do the Chabot Space and Science Center, PGAdesign, Red Oak Realty, The Tip Top Bike Shop, Mr. Sparkle Window Washers, and Baja Taqueria have in common? They are all “green” businesses in Oakland. Oakland is currently home to 138 green certified businesses—restaurants, stores and offices that meet county standards of energy efficiency, water conservation, recycling, and waste reduction, among other things. City officials aim to certify 100 more by next fall thanks to a recent push by Oakland’s recycling program to spread the word about green certification and help business owners complete the process. “I personally notice when a business has a green certification logo in their window,” said Becky Dowdakin, supervisor of the city’s recycling program. “Every business is supposed to be in compliance with general regulations, but it impresses me personally when a business goes beyond that. Read the full story by Brittany Schell at OaklandNorth.net.

A designer drug that simulates cocaine that is marketed as "glass cleaner" has replaced "bath salts" in many smoke shops across the Tempe area, rendering all but useless an emergency federal ban enacted last month to stem the sale and use of the potentially lethal bath salts, officials say. The legal sale of the white powder that is altered slightly from "bath salts" for less than $20 in smoke shops, on websites and in some liquor and convenience stores is sending a rapidly rising number of patients to emergency rooms, treatment facilities and poison centers, officials say. State Rep. Matt Heinz of Tucson, a physician, said he will push for bills in the upcoming legislative session to ban the dangerous chemicals found in synthetic cocaine and marijuana, and more importantly, to penalize the businesses that sell a substance causing psychosis, extreme agitation and unnatural strength in users.

Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman wants Arizona to join the 28 states that prohibit the manufacture, use and sale of the drug. "Every smoke shop on every corner is now selling this," Hallman said. "They are pretending it is not for human consumption." Just this past weekend, Hallman said, he was on Mill Avenue and aided a young woman who was suffering side-effects from the glass cleaner. No one in Arizona has died yet as a result of using the "glass cleaner" that is molecularly similar to the banned "bath salts," drug counselors and city officials say. But the hallucinations, paranoia and agitation often triggered by snorting, injecting, eating and smoking the drug have led to arrests on crimes caused by the side-effects, police say. One patient had walked through a plate-glass window oblivious to pain, Heinz said. Others have stabbed and cut themselves, have been so agitated police stunned them with Tasers, or have spent days experiencing paranoid hallucinations.

More Than 3,500 Children Work to Support Families in Bolivia: The Bolivian families of low income force many children to work as a shoeshine, peddlers, window washers, carters. According to the recent survey “Infancia Sin Derechos”, carried out by the Observatorio Infanto Juvenil, by the University Gabriel Rene Moreno and by the founding of Projects and Study Services and Analysis (SEPA), approximately 3,500 children and adolescents work on the streets of Santa Cruz Montero, Camiri, San Ignacio de Velasco and El Torno. Among these children, 40% do not attend school and only 35% live with their parents. In addition to not having any health insurance at work, they are excluded from medical care, and 4 out of 10 are mistreated at work, school and family.

Algae Problem in Your Fishtank? Find Out Which Species Really Eat Algae: Various South American suckermouth catfish are effective algae-eaters. The most popular are the various species sold as "plecos." The namesake for the group, the common pleco (Hypostomus plecostomus), is an excellent algae-eater but is not the best choice for most hobbyists. Dealers sell small, inexpensive youngsters without warning that they can grow to 2-foot adults. However, if you want an algae-eater to keep with large fish, the common pleco is a good, hardy choice. Plecos can readily handle gold or green slime. Their tough, rough lips will reduce green dot algae to a certain extent, as well. Plecos may have a face only a mother pleco could love, but they make the best window cleaners.

Seth Glick, 27, is a Movember participant who joined the movement to raise money and awareness for prostate cancer research. Glick decided to grow this iconic moustache specifically to stand apart from other participants, in an effort to have more conversations about prostate cancer than he did last year. It's a smart move in a month when more men are deciding to grow facial hair for the cause.

EDMONTON — A charitable month of moustaches is at the end of its growth. Movember, a play on combining the word “moustache” with the month of November, is a movement to raise awareness and donations for prostate cancer research through the novelty of growing groomed facial hair. The end of the month is here and men who have grown moustaches are eager to shave, but also count the funds they’ve raised, which might be less than they’re used to. Seth Glick, 27, a Wolf Willow resident and west-end business owner of ClearSkies Window and Gutter Cleaning, is the man of the mo’ment. He’s grown a classic handlebar moustache with twisted curls on the end, reminiscent of ‘80s baseball pitcher Rollie Fingers, all in the name of helping the cause. “I heard about Movember and I thought, ‘That’s kind of cool,’ ” said Glick. “Instead of running a race, you grow a moustache all month, that’s kind of funny.”

We find 10,417 outdoors jobs up for grabs right now: As part of our Get Britain Working campaign, we’ve unearthed an impressive 10,417 jobs across the UK. For many of us, staring at a computer screen day in day out or working in a shop or factory fills us with dread. The good news is that, if you’re prepared to face whatever the weather has to throw at you, there are jobs to be found across the whole country. You could decide to work on the land, you might want to improve the environment, perhaps you prefer plenty of contact with people, or maybe the construction industry is for you. There are opportunities across the UK, in towns and cities, as well as in the countryside. Careers are available at every level and you can join after leaving school, college or university, or after gaining experience in other roles. If you want you can even set up on your own offering services such as gardening, dog walking, or window cleaning.

Why are women dumping their husbands in their sixties? Shirley Sandford, 75, who divorced her husband of 35 years when she was in her early 60s. ‘It took a lot of courage to leave my marriage,’ she says. ‘I grew up in an era when you stood by your husband through thick and thin. Years ago, women stayed in unhappy marriages largely because they couldn’t afford to leave, but I have always had my own career. ‘I took the final decision to leave on the morning of my youngest son’s wedding. I looked in the mirror and thought: “I can’t do this any more.” My ex-husband ran his own window cleaning business, but he only used to work in the mornings. And while he sat in front of the television every afternoon, I came home from work to a schedule of domestic drudgery. ‘I took care of the children and did all the cooking, cleaning and washing. Previous generations of women would have put up with it, but I just snapped. I wanted the rest of my life back before I got too old to enjoy it. I am so much happier now I am on my own, and I don’t have any contact with my ex at all.’

The dirt on window cleaner: A reader bought a voucher from Yazoom and is having terrible trouble trying to redeem it: Denise writes: "It was for a $69 house-lot of window cleaning. I phoned the company the next day but there was no answerphone and no one picked up. I emailed Yazoom and they assured me the answerphone would be enabled and sure enough it was. I left a message, and texted. No reply. I called again and got a live person who said to text details and he would get back to me. Nothing was sent back. I called and texted him four or five more times all to no avail. Yazoom does not even bother to reply now ... The voucher has now expired."

Paul J. Molz Jr. of Bensalem passed away Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011, at home surrounded by his loving family. He was 75. Born in Philadelphia, he was a resident of Bensalem for 45 years. He was a graduate of Lincoln High School, Class of 1953. Paul was the owner of Paul's Window Cleaning and retired after 45 years. He was also a mechanic and, along with his son, was very involved in sprint cars, modified's and eventually antique cars. He was a Jeff Gordon fan and just loved racing. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his viewing from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Tomlinson Funeral Home, 2207 Bristol Pike, Bensalem, and again from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Park, Feasterville.

The 100 Biggest Stories of 2011: The Colonel Takes Lunch to New Heights - KFC launched an extreme menu makeover by dispatching the Colonel to personally deliver its new $5 Everyday Meals to window washers working nearly 40 stories up at Chicago’s River Bend building in May. Facebook fans were asked to name people in need of a “So Good” extreme lunch delivery, and after the votes were tallied, KFC decided to bring lunch to one of America’s most extreme occupations, high-rise window washers. Also on the blog here & here.

A former window cleaner from Hull died from inhaling toxic gases after an intruder attacked him and set fire to his holiday apartment in Spain. Charles Stabler, 64, was staying at his flat in Benalmadena, Costa del Sol, when a man broke in, robbed him and set fire to the property in April 2009. His attacker was caught by police and later convicted and jailed for 25 years for Mr Stabler’s murder, an inquest at Hull Coroner’s Court heard. Recording a verdict of unlawful killing, coroner Geoffrey Saul said: “(Mr Stabler died from) multi-organ failure caused by the intoxication by the inhalation of toxic gases as a result of the domestic fire.” The brief inquest heard that an intruder broke into Mr Stabler’s third-floor apartment on April 9, 2009 and attacked and robbed him. Mr Stabler received a number of injuries as a result of this assault but they did not contribute to his death, Mr Saul said. The intruder then set light to the premises and Mr Stabler was found unconscious and rescued by firemen. He remained in a coma for three weeks until he died on May 1, 2009.

Charred body found from UBL building: Islamabad: A charred body of a man working in the United Bank (UBL) was found on Friday from the eighth floor of the building where a massive fire erupted on Thursday, police said. The recovery was made when a cleaning contractor of the building approached the police with the complaint that one of his workers working at the building as a cleaner was missing since Thursday morning. The contractor further stated that the worker “Ghulam Farid, 35, a native of Attock“ went to 14th floor of the building where UBL offices are located to perform his duty and the fire incident took place.

In response of the complaint, the Kohsar police came to the building which was sealed on Thursday evening after the incident and conducted search of the cleaner along with the colleagues of the missing person and building management. After hours long search a body was found buried under debris at eighth-floor of the building which was under the use of Hashwani Group. Ghulam Farid was identified by the contractor through his shoes. Later the body was shifted to hospital for autopsy and other necessary legal process. The presence of the victim at the floor raised several questions, which, the local administration said, would thoroughly be investigated.

A funeral service was held at All Saints’ Church, Driffield for Charlie May of Wansford Road, Driffield, who died in the Alfred Bean Hospital on 2nd November. He was 97. Charlie was born in Bradford and attended school there. After leaving school he joined the army and served in France and North Africa.  After leaving the army he became a bus driver in Bradford.  After moving to Driffield he worked as a bus driver for EYMS until retirement. He also worked at The Trout Inn and had a window cleaning round.

Man conned pensioners in window cleaning scam: A Fraudster who scammed Harborough pensioners in a window cleaning con has been ordered to complete 40 hours of unpaid work in the community. Kevin David Gibson, of no fixed abode, turned up at the elderly residents’ homes in Highfield Street and Burnmill Road claiming to be a window cleaner collecting money for work he had done. They gave him the cash and the scam was only revealed days later when the genuine window cleaner turned up. Gibson (27) was arrested on Monday and appeared before Hinckley Magistrates the following day, where he was convicted of two counts of fraud. He was sentenced to a 12 month drugs rehabilitation order and 40 hours of community service. The offences happened earlier this month, the court heard. Now officers investigating the two incidents are appealing for other victims to come forward.  Sgt Mark Williams, of Harborough Police, said: “This was an excellent result with some swift action from us and the rest of the criminal justice system. “There is potential for Gibson to have approached other people in their homes and carried out the same crime. If you have recently been approached by a man requesting money for window cleaning, who you feel suspicious of, please call us so we can investigate the crime.” Anyone with any information is asked to contact Sgt Williams by dialing 101, following the instructions to leave a message for a police officer, and when prompted keying in the officer’s identification number 2241. Alternatively, phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

MoD staff fear for families’ security: Striking public sector workers took to the picket lines on Wednesday morning outside MoD Corsham to show their anger at the government’s pension reforms. Around 20 representatives from two unions, Prospect and PCS, were protesting outside the base, in Westwells Road, about the reform plans which they feel will force them to pay more for their pensions and work for longer before they can retire. Union members, who started their picketing at 7am, lobbied workers on their way into the base. John Streeter, 57, Civil Service President of Prospect, said: “I was involved in the strikes in 1979 and this has a much different feel, back then, it was about pay but now this is about something much bigger, the robbery of pensions for many generations of people.” He added: “The protests today are absolutely vital as this dispute is something which will affect around 4 million people and the government will have to take note.”

Civil Servant Nicola Williams, 41, who works at MoD Corsham took to the picket lines because she felt the pension reforms would significantly hamper her family’s financial security. She said: “I think today is starting to gather real momentum in what we want to highlight locally and across the country. As a mother of two young children I am very concerned for the future. Myself and my husband are both out on strike as we feel these reforms will have a huge affect on our family. “We’ve already had to start recalculating our finances, we’ve cancelled our window cleaner, thinking of getting rid of our milkman and changed supermarket as we are nervous about what the future holds. Today, for example we are both losing a day’s wage, so close to Christmas which isn’t ideal but it is a fight we had to support.”

Tips for Christmas lights: It may be a cold forecast for the weekend, but many people will be heading out to put on Christmas lights. But climbing up on the roof in slick conditions can lead to some nasty falls. Experts have some tips to stay safe: be careful with ladders, look for cracked or broken sockets before installing strands, and wear the right shoes. "They want to make sure they have the right pair of shoes on if they’re going to be on the roof, a good pair of hiking shoes,” said David Peterson, president of Clear Choice Window Cleaning. “If they’re going to be on shake shingle, you need cleats on."The Consumer Products Safety Commission reports that 12,000 people nationwide end up in emergency rooms because of holiday decorating accidents.

Have you recently checked your home's gutters? If not, you could be in for some major problems. Angie Hicks, of consumer group Angie's List, says  "Your gutters should last about 20 years so it's important to properly maintain them, but more importantly your gutters are your first defense against water coming into your house. So if you are not cleaning your gutters once or twice a year, you can have serious water problems." Angie's List explains the benefits of clean gutters:

• Clogged gutters can cause problems with water damage, by allowing water through the foundation level, window wells, or roof line. This can then lead to mold. 
• Clean gutters can help prevent landscaping erosion and cracks in your home's foundation. 
• Gutters filled with debris fill faster with water and ice and weighted down can collapse. Gutters can also overflow with ice and snow, leading to ice damming. This can lead to water being trapped on the roof, forced under shingles and up the roof line.

Angie's List reveals tips on proper maintenance and ways to extend the life of your gutters:

Twice a year: Gutters and downspouts should be inspected and cleaned at least twice a year - once in the spring and again in the fall after the leaves have stopped falling. Homes in heavily wooded areas may need a cleaning three or four times a year. Expect to pay about $100 or more per cleaning, depending on the size of your home.

• What you should look for: Regularly walk around your home and look for leaking or sagging gutters, loose or damaged fasteners, and streaking in front or back of the gutter. 
• Check gutter screens/guards: Gutter protection systems can help keep debris from settling in the gutter - allowing water that does collect to flow freely through the downspouts. But that doesn't mean these products are maintenance-free. Check regularly that these are not damaged or clogged with leaves.
• Time to replace? If you notice your gutters pulling away from the fascia board (the board that holds the gutter) or your gutters to continue to overflow after having already been cleaned, it could be time to replace them. The cost to replace aluminum gutters is between $4 and $7 per foot. 
• Don't forget gutter miter seams: Be sure gutter miter seams, the corner seam where gutters bend, are caulked properly. Miter seams not caulked can eventually lead to the gutter board or soffits rotting out. Pay special attention to drips from seams occurring over walkways, or leaks that may be causing harm to the adjoining wood fascia. These should be repaired.

Angie's List hiring tips:

• Licensed & insured: Working on gutters requires the use of a ladder, which can be dangerous. When hiring a professional, check that the company is licensed and insured - ask to see their policy - do they have worker's compensation protection for employees? Check that YOU have enough homeowners insurance. 
• Be informed: If you have to replace your gutters, there are many types available today (aluminum, vinyl, copper, stainless steel) so be sure you learn about the pros and cons of each. 
• Read the fine print: When purchasing new gutters, be sure to read all the details before signing a contract. Check the warranty - look for a warranty that runs at least 20 years.

Scientists working at Simon Frasor University have created a robot "gecko" that is capable of climbing walls the same way as its reptilian counterparts, according to a report by the Vancouver Sun. Though it borrows its technology from nature, the robot runs on tracks and actually looks more like a small tank than it does a lizard. The device could soon be used to perform all kinds of jobs that are perilous for people, such as inspecting nuclear power plants, cleaning skyscraper windows or performing search-and-rescue missions in collapsed buildings. The robot performs its gravity-defying task by utilizing a clingy silicone compound that has been formed into tiny bumps shaped like mushroom caps. It works thanks to a little known chemical force called the Van der Waals force, the weak force that attracts molecules or the components of molecules. The force accounts for molecular attraction not caused by a covalent bond or the electrostatic interaction of ions.

In nature, geckos also take advantage of this force when they climb walls. "The adhesive pads on geckos follow this same principle by utilizing a large number of fibers, each with a very small tip. The more fibers a gecko has in contact, the greater attachment force it has on a surface," said Jeff Krahn, one of the researchers working on the gecko-like bot. Another advantage of the technology is that it doesn't leave behind any kind of sticky residue, which is a necessary byproduct of other forms of adhesive like glue or tape. It is therefore ideal for tasks such as window-cleaning. So far the 240-gram robot prototype isn't as versatile as a living gecko, as it is only capable of sticking to glass or whiteboard-like surfaces (geckos, on the other hand, can climb on almost any surface, even rough ones like concrete or tree trunks).

Estimating Expenses Before Buying Your First Home: If you are like most people embarking on their search for a first home, you will do a certain amount of math. You will look at your current budget, size up your down payment and figure out what sort of monthly mortgage payment you may be able to afford.  But the list of new expenses, previously handled by the landlord, only starts with line items like property taxes. There are monthly condo or co-op charges or homeowners association fees. Insurance, electricity and heat will probably cost more than they used to, and there may be a new water bill, too. The expenses will differ a fair bit depending on the size of the home, but there are others — a double-digit number of others, alas — that are fairly predictable. Not all will hit you each month, but you should save for them as if they will, so you are not turning to credit cards when they do.

This list will get you started, though a good home inspector can provide you with one as well. Our list includes estimates (in today’s dollars) from service providers in the Chicago and Los Angeles areas that are highly rated on Angie’s List, which ranks local merchants. Costs may vary depending on your region, and some of you may well mow your own lawn or clean your gutters or not have a swimming pool to worry about. But much of this is unavoidable, and if you shoulder it all, you’re looking at roughly $900 each month on average. Ignore it in your home-shopping budget at your peril. WINDOW WASHING L. A. McMahon Window Washing in Schaumburg, Ill., charges an average of $150 for an annual interior and exterior spring cleaning, or about $13 a month. GUTTER CLEANING About $100 annually, according to L. A. McMahon, which performs this service, too, or about $8 a month.

The scandal of rogue factors: The Property Factors (Scotland) Act will force property managers to be registered for the first time and introduce a body to resolve disputes. And for householders who have run into difficulty with their factors, it is a welcome step forward. Three years ago when Andy Kennedy queried a bill for gutter maintenance – opting not to pay until he received an explanation for the charge – he was taken to the small claims court by his factor. By the time the case was heard, Kennedy said his initial bill of £120 had escalated to nearly £2000 with penalty charges and interest. The factor agreed to drop the extra charges after the sheriff expressed concern about the penalties levied. It is a problem which affects people across Scotland. Edinburgh City councillor Gordon Buchan, who has intervened in cases involving factors, said: “In Edinburgh you need to have a licence to become a window cleaner, but you can just call yourself a factor and do the job.”

Window Cleaning News - 10 Storey Fatal Fall

This photograph, taken years ago, demonstrates a three-step technique that helps me capture interesting photographs. I saw the cardboard cutout in a window and I was aware of a window cleaner at a different window. I positioned myself to frame on the window and then waited, anticipating the man to clean this window. I timed my shutter to catch the hand in a position that appears to cause the musician to lean out of the way.

Man dies after 10-story fall: SARANAC LAKE - A resident of the Dechantel Apartments on Church Street died Monday after falling from a 10th-story window. The man appears to have been cleaning windows when he fell around 2:11 p.m., said village police Chief Bruce Nason. He landed on the ground between the building and Helen Street. "Preliminary, it appears to be an accident, but we're continuing the investigation," Nason said. Police aren't releasing the man's name yet, pending notification of family members who don't live in the area. 

Chorley former truant cleans up his act: A Chorley charity’s ‘soft soap’ approach to schooling has helped a timid truant turn into an award-winning would-be welder and part-time window cleaner. Alex Benyon, 16, terrified his mother by missing six months of his education by bunking off. Unsure about speaking up in class, Alex, of Pall Mall, became so reserved he pretended to go to school, doubled back and spent days on end in his bedroom. But the threat of legal action against his mum, Yvonne, plus being referred to George Street charity Rathbone, has put Alex, who subsidises his education by completing a window cleaning round, on the ladder to a successful career.

Alex is one of 19 students, who swapped possible exc-lusion from high school for a place on the LEAP (Lanc-ashire Education Alternative Provision) programme, being honoured at a special ceremony today. He said: “I’ve always been a quiet person and the classes were really big and it put me off. “The school started send-ing letters home and it made my mum really upset and stressed. When I found out she could get punished for me being off, I got really worried.” Teachers at Parklands High School sent him to the LEAP scheme at Rathbone.

Although he didn’t know anybody else on the course, Alex soon became confident enough to speak up. “The groups are much smaller and the tutors really care,” he said. Alex now wants to stay with the charity and begin an apprenticeship in welding and body work, and also squeezes in cleaning windows in the Chorley area between his studies. He will be honoured today as one of Rathbone Chorley’s ‘achievers of the year’ at an end-of-term celebration.

Window washers see gold at Virtua: Natural light is "restorative, healing, healthy," says Virtua CEO Richard Miller, about walls of glass in the new Voorhees hospital that frame a scenic, 125-acre campus. To Marty Tuzman -- the region's most in-demand window washer -- glass walls are the gift that keeps on giving. Looking up at eight stories, or 3,000 panes of glass at the new hospital, Tuzman sees years of opportunity. Two of his employees are suspended from skyhooks built into the roof specifically to anchor window washers. Like Spider-Man, the men make graceful arcs around a crescent-shaped exterior, sudsing and scraping and swiping clean one pane at a time. When the outside of the Route 73 building is done, they will drag their buckets into the lobby, hop an elevator and begin the same routine inside.

Initially, newly installed windows are smeared with putty, construction grit and labels from the manufacturer. The first cleaning, which is still in progress, will take about 2,000 man hours stretched over five weeks. The cost? $50,000. "More and more hospitals are going with a lot of glass these days," said Tuzman, CEO of Jenkintown Building Services, Pennsylvania company with 100 employees that has washed windows for Cooper University Hospital in Camden, Children's Hospital and the Cira Center in Philadelphia, Atlantic Care Medical Center in Vineland and the Revel casino in Atlantic City.

Payment for the first, heavy-duty cleaning is a bonus compared with the steady income that will come from the annual maintenance contract with Virtua, which has yet to be awarded. How much that's worth depends on the scope and frequency of the work, which has not yet been determined at Virtua. "Architects and health care people are finding light-filled rooms to be very therapeutic," Tuzman explained. "Seeing the outside makes patients feel less insolated. Glass is also anti-microbial, therefore more sanitary than wood or sheetrock." Improvements in glass fabrication have eliminated some of the old objections to it as a building material.

Factory-ordered glass at Virtua is all double-paned and treated to reduce noise, glare, energy loss and harmful ultra-violet light. Berkowitz Glass Co. of Pedricktown manufactured, labeled, crated and delivered all 3,000 panes. Fabricators hire glazers to install. The general contractor -- in this case the global company Turner Construction -- hires the window washers. Safety is a major concern for Tuzman. So is finding responsible people willing to scale tall buildings with a bucket and brush. "We do a lot of consulting with architects," he said. "If a client wants a curtain of glass, the design must support safe cleaning that can be done at a reasonable cost. "Nothing worse than a whole lot of dirty glass and no plan."

Cintas growth tied to its success beyond uniforms: Years after Cintas ditched its tag line “The Uniform People,” it’s still best known as a supplier of rented uniforms. But more and more of its business is coming from other services. Its latest major push is carpet and tile cleaning services, which it launched nationally last year and is now in 76 markets. Also last year, the company acquired New York-based Cleanway, which provides disaster-response cleaning services, window washing, and other services for business facilities.

How white and Asian residents have moved on ten years after riots destroyed their community - People living on Roundthorn Road in Glodwick where the riot began a decade ago today explain how they feel about their neighbourhood. "It was hard not to get involved, which is why the groups got so large. "This was the big bang. It needed to happen to bring everything which was boiling underneath to the surface. "Now things are lot more harmonious. You will always have racism, but it doesn’t have the impact any more. We all have too many other things to worry about. "The minority spoilt it for the majority. It was down to immaturity and ignorance." Window cleaner Charlie Briggs, 31, said: "I get a real sense of community here. There’s no aggro or problems, but I accept that there are some underlying issues. "What you need to do is bring children together from an early age."

Six hour ordeal of Clitheroe woman locked in house: A 19 year old Clitheroe man kept his estranged partner locked in her house for nearly six hours as he repeatedly quizzed her about a new relationship. His victim’s ordeal came to an end when he threw a cold cup of coffee over her and her baby and then left the house – locking the door.  And she had to call to a passing window cleaner for help because O’Neill had taken her mobile phone. Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said as soon as he threw the coffee and the baby started to cry O’Neill realised what he was doing and that he was wrong. “Miss Townsend didn’t call the police when she borrowed the window cleaner’s phone, she called her grandmother It was my client who got the police involved.”

Scientists have released photographs of what they believe are volcanic glass particles from Iceland which fell on Scotland this week. The samples were taken from a car windscreen in Aberdeen and analysed at the city's James Hutton Institute. The images of the tiny particles were taken using a scanning electron microscope. Scientists said it was ‘highly likely’ the glass particles, which are part of the ash constituents, came from the Grimsvotn volcano which started erupting on Saturday. Commercial glass is created by heating silica, or sand, to an extremely high temperature. Sand scorched by lava could do the same. The largest of the particles found is 0.03mm across, with the smallest measuring just 0.002mm wide. The ash cloud left hundreds of passengers facing travel misery earlier this week when flights were cancelled as it drifted into Scottish airspace. Now however, the eruption has subsided and the volcano is producing mostly steam rather than ash and should calm down within a few days, experts say.

All-Bermudian Cleaning Co takes on bigger rivals: The recession has taken its toll on businesses across Bermuda in recent months, but for one new cleaning company it has provided the perfect opportunity to find a niche in the market. The Cleaning Company Ltd, which was started by chief operations officer Pandora Moore and is 100 percent Bermudian, has been going from strength to strength since its was launched three months ago. As the company expands it plans to bid for larger contracts and go head-to-head with the bigger and more established competitors. The company covers every job from residential, commercial/industrial and office cleaning and facilities management and pre-sale property presentation and staging and special event presentation and clean-up to tenant turnover cleaning, floor re-finishing, steam cleaning and property management/maintenance/concierge services. The ten-strong cleaning crew will also provide appliance, window, carpet and steam cleaning, tile and grout scrubbing and hard floor cleaning/waxing services.

When Antonio Ribeiro found himself with two restless children in a Portuguese beach town, he did what any desperate parent would do: He went for the leaflet rack in the hotel lobby. There he found a brochure advertising something called KidZania - a sprawling indoor theme park, attached to a Lisbon mall, where children could pretend to be nurses, dentists, runway models, photographers, radio announcers, window cleaners and countless other professions. And so Ribeiro ventured to KidZania with his 4-year-old twin girls. They burped fake babies in a pretend maternity ward. At a miniature dentist's office, they examined a dummy's teeth. They had a rollicking good time. "The whole concept - to play being an adult - seemed so attractive," Ribeiro says. This role-playing Xanadu is the brainchild of a childless 47-year-old former private equity guru. An unlikely pioneer of the "edutainment" business, Xavier López Ancona launched KidZania after managing bottling companies and airport suppliers for GE Capital. When a friend asked him to invest in a small chain of day care centers - where kids would play in make-believe supermarkets, banks, and hospitals - he had an epiphany. "That's where the spark started," López recalls. "Nobody owns role-playing." At least until now. In 1999, López opened the first KidZania in the Santa Fe neighborhood of his native Mexico City.

Cheryl Stulpin figured that if her grandfather, Julius Vitale, could spend more than 40 years as a Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America, the least she could do was give 10 minutes to support Scouting by playing Spiderman on Friday. OK, it wasn't really some superhero gig. But rappelling some 300 feet down the side of the First Federal Plaza had that look. Not to mention a feeling of terror. "Going over the edge was very, very scary," she admitted. Stulpin, 49, and nearly four dozen other thrill-seekers took part in 21 Stories for Scouts, the second annual rappelling fundraiser in downtown Rochester. Except the adventure really wasn't all that dangerous. "As crazy as it sounds, it's tame," said Chris Hill, co-owner of the building and a two-time participant in the event. "It's kind of freaky, it's kind of crazy, but it's beyond safe. The eyehooks (that hold the rappelling apparatus) are weighted for 5,000 pounds. They're the same eyehooks we use for our window-washers."

Warning after two distraction burglaries in Cardiff: Police in Cardiff are investigating burglars, who tricked two elderly people in distraction thefts only minutes apart. It is thought the same offenders are responsible for the incidents in the Whitchurch and Birchgrove areas. The first was at Pantbach Road at about 1900 BST Saturday at the home of a 93-year-old woman, the second shortly after in Clas Illtyd. The men posed firstly as water workers, then as window cleaners.

In the first incident, a slim, clean-shaven man wearing a white shirt called at the home of the 93 year old woman claiming to be working at a nearby house and asked to check her water supply. She was asked to flush her toilet several times, but the man left with jewellery, cutlery and her purse. He is described as being in his mid 20s, about 5ft 6ins tall, and had an accent described as not Welsh. In the second incident, two men claimed to be collecting money for window cleaning and followed the 83-year-old male occupier into his house, stealing his wallet. They left in a dark car described as "expensive-looking and low". Both men were white, in their 20s and wearing dark clothing. One was around 6ft tall, the other about 5ft 6-8ins. Also here.

Window Cleaner Banned From Glasgow: A judge has proved that the law can be an ass after he was forced to ban a criminal from Glasgow knowing it was 'not a real punishment'. Sitting at Gloucester crown court - 500 miles away from the Scottish city - Judge Jamie Tabor QC (pictured) sentenced Ricky Priday insisting 'I have nothing against Glasgow. It is a fine town'. Even though Judge Tabor accepted that Priday genuinely forgot a drug treatment appointment, a bizarre quirk of the law means as he breached a court order the criminal had to be banned from somewhere in the UK. It is not the first British town or city that the defendant has been banned from, as at a previous sentencing he was barred from Blackburn, Lancashire, which was also picked at random. At the time Priday asked the judge to be tougher on him by banning him from somewhere he was more likely to go to, but the plea was refused. Priday told the judge he had forgotten about the supervision appointment and had been working as a window cleaner in Cardiff on the day of the IDAP session. Judge Tabor said he did not want to set Priday up to fail again as he was making good progress so he would prohibit him from going somewhere he did not intend to visit anyway - hence the Glasgow prohibition order. He ordered him to pay £50 in costs.

Roland Grimard, suspected of trying to murder his wife in their Candia home on March 1st, was denied bail by a Rockingham County Judge after it was revealed Grimard "coached" his wife on what to say during a phone call. After the phone call two weeks ago Sherry Grimard submitted a letter to Judge John Lewis implicating herself as the aggressor in the attack saying her husband never tried to drown her in their kitchen sink on March 1st, and instead claimed she sprayed Roland with window cleaner and he defended himself. The Judge chastised Grimard in his ruling last week and issued the no bail ruling as part of a preventative detention measure in Rockingham Superior Court. Judge Lewis went on to say he believes Grimard poses a serious threat to his wife Sherry, and may attack her again if freed on bail.

Now those in the Hendricks County, Indiana and surrounding area have another option to doing it themselves. Window Genie®, a national franchisor of window cleaning and other home services, has granted a new franchise territory to Karen and Mike Angle, who run their franchise from their Guilford, Indiana home. Karen and Mike’s franchise services Avon, Brownsburg, Danville, Plainfield, Mooresville, Camby, and all of Hendricks County, Indiana.

Mike Angle left the stress of his position as a facilities manager for an aviation repair company to start their Window Genie franchise in February. Karen and Mike felt a Window Genie franchise was something they could do together. “The best thing about Window Genie has been their professionalism, integrity, commitment to service and commitment to the community,” explained Karen Angle. For Mike, said Karen, “being his own boss and being able to really service the clients has been great. He’s his old self again.”

“The Angles are a great addition to the Window Genie franchise,” said Richard Nonelle, President of Window Genie®. “Their dedication to providing the best service possible and learning the Window Genie system, as well as their positive attitude, has given them a solid start in their business.” Residents should keep their eyes out for the big, purple GENIEMOBILE™ the Angles and their crew drive around the area. Wrapped in purple with lighting, featuring the giant “Window Genie,” they are definitely an attention-grabbing way to advertise their business.

CEO Tony Valle, who was a student painter himself and became College Pro franchise owner, understands how important it is to be safe while on the job. While trying to find ways to address the company's concern for its franchise managers, he came up with the idea of texting safety tips every Monday morning all through summer. The program is a continuation of the extensive College Pro Painters Safety training which the students are taught before they go on a job site.

In a release, Tony Valle said, "To me, it's a natural evolution in the company's constant push to communicate the importance of safety on the job. Given the demographics of the young people we work with, texting seems the most effective way to get our message across and stress the importance of adhering to job-site safety measures. Along with our student managers and painters doing a great job for our customers, safety is the company's number one concern."

Texting provides an instant form of communication which is popular among young people. Valle further stated, "And since we are a company centered around youth, we feel that promoting our message through texting is a good way to stay in touch and keep these young people safe."

College Pro is a North American student painting and window cleaning company which has been in business for 40 years.

The Water-Powered Window-Climbing robot: Scientists at Zhejiang University in China have developed a similar Bernoulli-effect system, this one using pressurized water to drive the more conventional sucker feet on a gecko-inspired climbing robot. Because of its design, it's slightly more suited to climbing up glass, but that's good enough for implementations like a spy bot, firefighter, or a window-washer bot. Plus this machine is entirely powered by water, with clever hydraulics diverting the high-pressure flow into hydraulic rams that help it "walk".

This robot does windows, and runs on water: There’s nothing I like more than reporting on robots on this blog, and this one has is certainly has something unusual on two fronts. First, it is can climb up walls, provided they are made of glass. It has suction cups, and they could take away all window washing jobs permanently. No more of those guys hanging off the sides of tall buildings. Unfortunately, the suction cups won’t keep the robot affixed to the side of a glass building, not by themselves anyway. Here’s where it gets interesting. This robot has a vacuum suction that is generated by water. Yes, this robot can run on water. Not only that, the excess water is squirted out, which will help wash the windows.

Talk about killing two birds with one stone! Another thing that makes this robot nifty is that it is modeled after a gecko. Too bad it does require a flexible pipe in order to work, but the water tank is only so large, really. Well, this water-powered robo gecko is under development from researchers at Zhejiang University in China, and there is no word if this will ever go past the experimental stage. So if you work on the top of a tall building, and you see a robotic gecko washing your window, do not be alarmed. Video here.

Bartering & Other Window Cleaning News

Bartering Keeps Small Oklahoma Businesses Alive In Tough Times - OWASSO, Oklahoma -- The economic recovery appears to be stalling, and new figures out Wednesday show the past three months of new home sales are the worst on record. Unemployment remains near double digits, and job growth in the private sector is slowing. And let's not even talk about Wall Street.
But some area small business owners are showing some Oklahoma ingenuity to get by during the tough times. It's called "business bartering," and the practice is going strong. At Andolini's Pizzeria in Owasso, they make 22 different kinds of specialty pizza. "I just try to make my favorite pizza and hope that it will be someone else's favorite pizza, and I think we kind of hit the mark," said restaurant owner Mike Bausch.
When the economy started its downward spiral, like many small business owners, Mike Bausch looked for ways to save money. He couldn't skimp on ingredients, but could sacrifice on extras: like window washing. That's when John Wyatt stepped in. Wyatt owns a window washing business. "Having your own business, you can't really beat it," said window washer John Wyatt.
His idea helps the pizza restaurant and his window washing business which has slowed down because of the poor economy. "I love to eat," Wyatt said.
So Wyatt and Bausch reached a deal that helps both: bartering pizza, for monthly window washing. "It is the ideal definition of a win-win," said Mike Bausch, owner of Andolini's Pizzeria. "Of course I can't do exchanges with everybody, because I can't barter my mortgage payment or my electric bill, but it does help out," Wyatt said. Wyatt says with small business budgets tight, bartering helps businesses keep up a nice appearance and earns him things his family would ordinarily spend money on. "I've done exchanges for golf clubs, furniture, eye exams," said John Wyatt, "Everybody has something that you may want or need."
Restaurant owner Mike Bausch says bartering makes sense in good economic times or bad. "I haven't paid for an oil change in years at this point," he said. And Wyatt predicts with the economy still struggling, more small business owners may turn to bartering until things get better. "Instead of going under or closing your business down, you might think of this first," said Wyatt. Wyatt says trading window washing for eye exams and contact lenses is probably the most unique barter he's made. But, he's also traded window washing for free family vacations in Branson as well.

Working together helps Brevard businesses cut expenses: Local businesses are getting creative in the ways they cut costs. They say their innovative ideas trim expenses without hurting their products and services, keeping their customers happy. Almost four years ago, Albert Sanders and his wife Ellen, the owner of Palm Bay-based Ichiban Cleaning, sought out fellow cleaning competitors to work together on several of its contracts. Ichiban — Japanese for No. 1 —teams with Fish Window Cleaning, Fox Janitorial, which specializes in floors, and Clean Sweep Carpet Care. It helps, Albert Sanders said, that while all the companies are in the cleaning industry, they don’t have the same specialty. They also don’t share proprietary information. But the move allowed Ichiban Cleaning to offer those services to its customers without having to invest in the equipment it would need to do the work in-house, said Albert Sanders, the company’s chief executive officer and executive vice president. The idea was out of the norm for the competitive commercial cleaning industry, where companies typically don’t like sharing business information, Albert Sanders said. “It was the philosophy of work with your competition instead of fighting against them,” he said. “Why fight when you can all get along and make money?” Said Ellen Sanders: “We took a chance and we built a relationship.”

Modernism’s moment: Inigo Manglano-Ovalle’s gorgeous and unnerving film installation Le Baiser/The Kiss best illustrates modernism’s cold heart. Set in Mies van der Rohe’s famous glass cube Farnsworth House, an architectural commission that ended badly for both client (Dr. Edith Farnsworth) and architect, The Kiss plays with the power dynamics between artist and patron. Running on two back-to-back screens enclosed in a metal and glass box, Manglano-Ovalle’s film follows a uniformed window washer as he carefully squeegees the exterior walls of the house. A sullen-looking young woman stands inside, behind the thick glass, listening to music on headphones. The two protagonists are wholly unavailable to each other, and their class difference is obvious – while he works, she plays.

A fast-growing regional industrial cleaning business has expanded. UK Commercial Cleaning Services, based in Washington, Wearside, has opened a depot in Swindon, Wiltshire, creating 20 jobs. The depot will give the company access to a number of major cities including London, Norwich, Bristol and Cardiff, as well as achieving managing director Tony Earnshaw’s aspirations of opening an operation in the South. He said: “Choosing Swindon as a hub for our operations in the South was an obvious choice because it gives UK Commercial Cleaning easy access to a number of key cities along the M4 corridor, unlocking huge business potential.”
It is the latest success for the company, which rose to national prominence when Duncan Bannatyne made a £100,000 investment on television’s Dragons’ Den. Mr Earnshaw, 26, started the business by buying a window cleaning round for £300 when he was 19, turning it into a company with a turnover of more than £1.5m. Earlier this month, the firm announced it had been been awarded a three-year deal to provide services to 304 Bupa care homes across England, Wales and Scotland. Also here.

Emmy Awards Nominations: Outstanding Cinematography For A Miniseries: Dirty Jobs • High Rise Window Washer • Discovery Channel • Produced by Pilgrim Films and Television, Inc. for Discovery Channel, Douglas Glover, Director of Photography, Troy Paff, Camera Operator, Carston Bell, Camera Operator.

Why Vote Bill Lussenheide For United States Congress ? Bill is a longtime self-employed businessman and has been a talk show host on several large California conservative radio stations. He is a Constitutional candidate from California in the 45th district for 2010, running under the AIP banner. Bill Lussenheide used to also own & run Sunshine Window Cleaning in Menifee, California.

There's the famous story of the man who fell out the window of a skyscraper. A workman cleaning a window on a high floor shouted to the man "How are you?" The unfortunate fellow replied, "So far, so good."

£5,000 worth of jewellery stolen: Bedfordshire Police are appealing for witnesses following a burglary in Renhold this week. Between 7am and 5pm on Tuesday (August 24) the thieves smashed a window of a property in Renhold before entering the house and stealing jewellery with an estimated value of £5,000. The jewellery consists of a number of necklaces, bracelets, rings and a watch and is of significant sentimental value. Pc Kevin Howes, investigating the burglary, said: "The burglar or burglars have clearly targeted the jewellery and these items are of considerable sentimental value to the victim. "A man who said he was a window cleaner was seen acting suspiciously in the area and we would urge anyone who has seen anything suspicious or is offered any gold jewellery at a low price to contact us immediately." Anyone with any information is asked to call Bedfordshire Police on 01234 275142, or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Summit window cleaner wins award: Tim Satterly, owner of the Fish Window Cleaning franchise in Silverthorne, was recognized as the Micro Market Star Performer at the Fish Window Cleaning convention in St. Louis, Mo., July 29-31. Satterly's franchise led all other like-size franchises in sales performance during 2009.

Final ride for charity cyclist Donald, 75 . . . after 2,000 miles: He's already cycled nearly 2,000 miles for charity and had pledged to give up this year. But 75-year-old Donald Thompson will be completing a final 100-mile cycle ride in one day this weekend. The fundraiser from Colerne will be among dozens of people taking part in an annual ride for the charity Action Medical Research.
Mr Thompson took part in the challenge, which sees riders going from Bath to Kempton Park in Middlesex, for the first time in 1987. Since then he has completed the route annually, raising thousands of pounds for the organisation which funds medical research in the UK. Mr Thompson, who has been a keen cyclist since the 1950s, still uses the same bike he did when he began taking part in the event – and has only needed one change of saddle since. He said he had planned to stand down from the challenge this year but after his window cleaner decided to sign up for Sunday's ride, decided to keep going to provide moral support.

For whatever reason, people in my house like to download the latest Sims add ons or leave their computer downloading titanic files with the internet open whilst they stand outside for half an hour chatting to the bloody window cleaner. This always happens when I am either a) in the middle of a blog post, which then freezes before saving b) just pressing the 'Publish Post' button c) trying to reference an online source for my assignment's bibliography or d) all bloody three.

Cambridge Who's Who: Nardine Bellew, President, Chief Executive Officer of General Safety Services Corporation, has been recognized by Cambridge Who's Who for demonstrating dedication, leadership and excellence in business management. With 20 years of professional experience, Ms. Bellew serves as the president and chief executive officer of General Safety Services Corporation. Specializing in leadership development and business management, she supervises 20 employees, plans and develops strategies, manages administrative functions including finance, marketing and public relations, interacts and follows up with clients, and writes proposals. She is a member of the Associated Subcontractors of Massachusetts, Inc., The Associated General Contractors of America, Master Window Cleaners of America and the International Window Cleaning Association.
In 1991, Ms. Bellew completed coursework in Business Management and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts. In 2004, she established General Safety Services Corporation, a woman-owned window washing company that provides interior and exterior, and high-rise and low-rise window washing services. The company has achieved the State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise certifications. They use the newest and safest tools, equipment and techniques in the industry to provide the best service in New England. Ms. Bellew is proud to state that she has successfully increased the company's revenue from $500 to $1.2 million over the years. She attributes her success to her customer service skills, good reputation and work efficiency.

Secrets of the gecko: A Stanford mechanical engineer is using the biology of a gecko's sticky foot to create a robot that climbs. In the same way the small reptile can scale a wall of slick glass, the Stickybot can climb smooth surfaces with feet modeled on the intricate design of gecko toes. Mark Cutkosky, the lead designer of the Stickybot, a professor of mechanical engineering and co-director of the Center for Design Research, has been collaborating with scientists around the nation for the last five years to build climbing robots.
After designing a robot that could conquer rough vertical surfaces such as brick walls and concrete, Cutkosky moved on to smooth surfaces such as glass and metal. He turned to the gecko for ideas. "Unless you use suction cups, which are kind of slow and inefficient, the other solution out there is to use dry adhesion, which is the technique the gecko uses," Cutkosky said.
The toe of a gecko's foot contains hundreds of flap-like ridges called lamellae. On each ridge are millions of hairs called setae, which are 10 times thinner than a human's. Under a microscope, you can see that each hair divides into smaller strands called spatulae, making it look like a bundle of split ends. These split ends are so tiny (a few hundred nanometers) that they interact with the molecules of the climbing surface.
The interaction between the molecules of gecko toe hair and the wall is a molecular attraction called van der Waals force. A gecko can hang and support its whole weight on one toe by placing it on the glass and then pulling it back. It only sticks when you pull in one direction – their toes are a kind of one-way adhesive, Cutkosky said.
"It's very different from Scotch tape or duct tape, where, if you press it on, you then have to peel it off. You can lightly brush a directional adhesive against the surface and then pull in a certain direction, and it sticks itself. But if you pull in a different direction, it comes right off without any effort," he said.
The team's new project involves scaling up the material for humans. A technology called Z-Man, which would allow humans to climb with gecko adhesive, is in the works. Cutkosky and his team are also working on a Stickybot successor: one that turns in the middle of a climb. Because the adhesive only sticks in one direction, turning requires rotating the foot. "The new Stickybot that we're working on right now has rotating ankles, which is also what geckos have," he said. "Next time you see a gecko upside down or walking down a wall head first, look carefully at the back feet, they'll be turned around backward. They have to be; otherwise they'll fall."

The second episode of Shatner's new series investigates a small Texas town where witnesses claim they saw U.S. air-force planes in hot pursuit of UFOs. It's just one the of many fantastical and unbelievable real events or phenomena the show explores in its first season. Others include a highrise window washer in New York who survived a 50-storey fall, boulders seemingly moving of their own accord in Death Valley and two San Francisco sea lions that may have predicted an earthquake.

The original Curious George stories are also kind of meandering. For example, in Curious George Takes a Job, George makes a mess in an Italian kitchen, then gets a job as a window washer, then falls off the building and gets sent to the hospital, where he accidentally inhales some ether and gets stoned, at which point he gets picked up by the man in the yellow hat and makes a movie about his life in Hollywood.