Oklahoma Window Washers Stranded 30 Floors Up

An electrical malfunction kept window washers stuck for about an hour.

Window Washers Get Stuck 30+ Floors Up On Williams Tower (TULSA, Oklahoma) Two window washers were stuck on a platform at least 30 floors up on the side of downtown Tulsa's Williams Tower. One of the men was Danny Ridge, who says he works for Budget Glass. Ridge told News On 6 the machine on top of the building that raises and lowers the window washing platform lost power in its lifting mechanism. He said he wasn't sure which floor the platform was on when it got stuck, but he estimated it to be the 34th."I tried to count," Ridge said. "I think we were like 33 or 34 floors or so."

Ridge calmly explained the situation from 34 floors up - on live TV - and again, when his feet were on solid ground. "We had a little electrical problem with a scaffold system on the Williams tower today. It shut down while we were on the side of the building, oh I guess about two hours." After more than an hour in the 90 degree weather, the men were able to raise the platform to the roof. Ridge said that despite the heat, he can keep a cool head because even up there, there's always an escape.

Ridge said it was not the first time he's been stuck up there and doesn't expect it to be the last.

"You know, a lot of times they have to let you down manually from the roof, and you kind of don't have anything to do with it, and that can be a little irritating. Yeah, I like to be in control," he said. Turns out a single wire was unplugged inside the rig, but even after the engineers figured that out - how to fix it proved to be a foreign concept. "It's a German rig, so a lot of the stuff is in German, so we had to find the English version," he said.

Ridge said what is crystal clear, after 33 years with the same gig - no matter who makes the rig, window washers will never get used to hanging out that high. "I've broken a window before and climbed in, in the past, but I didn't want to do that," he said. "It just kind of comes along with the job." The company Danny works for, Budget Glass, didn't want to issue a statement. They did give him the rest of the day off - but tomorrow they will return to Williams to finish washing the windows.

Freezing Temperatures Bring Ice & Christmas Lights

Sapphire Window Cleaning does have a plan to keep their water from turning into a block of ice.

Tulsa window cleaners not looking forward to freezing temperatures (TULSA, Oklahoma) — Folks that work outside aren't looking forward to the frigid temperatures. David Vieira owns Sapphire Window Cleaning. He tells his crews to bundle up, but that only goes so far. Vieira says, "There's no real good way to keep your hands dry when you're working with water like that." The guys at Sapphire have a work-around. Vieira says, "You just use a lot of gloves and throw them up on the dash to dry between jobs." Sapphire Window Cleaning does have a plan to keep their water from turning into a block of ice. Crews use an alcohol-based cleaner which keeps it from freezing.

John Riley in Toronto work up this morning to find a frozen pail with his window cleaning tools.

John Riley of Rileys' Window Cleaning was quite surprised to find his bucket with wand & squeegee frozen up this morning when he left his pail out over night. Rileys' continue to serve all the neighbourhoods of Toronto, including Leaside, Forest Hill, Rosedale, North York, the Beach and others, are expanding in to Markham, Unionville and the surrounding areas.

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Christmas lights on the Bankers & Traders Insurance Brokers Inc. building in Glenora.

Hire a pro to string seasonal lights - Lots of time to get ready for guests: Of course you should have started in August. But back then you didn't know that your newly single sister-inlaw and her children would be coming for a multi-day visit this Christmas, or that your mother would break her hip and be unable to stand, let alone host a house full of guests. So you're up. But your house needs some quick adjustments to make it welcoming.

It's easy to produce an appealing aura around your home at this time of year: install dazzling outdoor Christmas lights to define your roof's lines and peaks. They'll warm the bleak winter sky with glowing colours that cheer you and your neighbours.

But the combination of bitter cold of Canada's winters, slippery ladders and today's taller homes can make setting up seasonal lights fraught with risk. That's why many people are turning to professionals. "Most of the people who hire us are either seniors that no longer can hang their own Christmas lights, or it's people who, for the most part, are scared to be on the roof, and aren't willing to invest in a safety harness and a thousand dollars worth of ladders," says Chris Jorgenson of family-owned Canada Yard Pro.

While it started out in lawn maintenance and snow removal, Canada Yard Pro has found business climb steadily for its Christmas-light installation services in Edmonton, Calgary and beyond. A typical installation will have light strings that follow the architectural lines of your house. The charge to put lights in place is determined by the linear foot. Removal of lights at the end of the season is an additional charge. You can rent the lights, saving you maintenance costs and storage space, or you can purchase them.

The full package for a two-storey home is typically about $500. But some installations can cost thousands of dollars, especially when you have lights wrapped around your outdoor "Christmas tree." "There are two ways of doing a Christmas tree," says Kris Schindel of Heights Residential, founded as a window-cleaning business by a group of Edmonton musicians and actors about 20 years ago, and in the past five years expanded to install Christmas lights, too.

One way to do a tree, says Schindel, "is when you're able to reach it from the ground with poles." That normally applies to trees less than 20 feet (six metres) tall, and will cost $200 to $300, including the light rental. The other way is to use a man-lift, and that's when the price starts to spiral upwards: expect to spend about $1,000 for the installation, and another $1,000 to buy the lights.

Some homeowners don't stop at simple light installations, but go all out, synchronizing their light displays to music broadcast by a localized FM frequency. You'll have to shop around for the special equipment to drive it all. CLG Displays specializes in complex installations, mainly for corporate and government clients. It also provides animated video simulations of its proposed installations so the customer knows exactly what to expect.

Regardless of scale , you should ensure the company you choose to install it has liability insurance and covers employees with workers' compensation insurance. Without it, Jorgenson says, "people are really heading for a possible issue if anything happens on their property."

Installing Christmas Lights as a Window Cleaning Add-On
Christmas Lights - Is It Time For A Window Cleaning Add-On?
Christmas Lights - Window Cleaning Add-On

Tulsa Window Cleaning Heroes

Today at the Children's Hospital at Saint Francis, Tulsa. Click to enlarge.

Superheroes do windows at Children's Hospital at Saint Francis: In the hospital for nearly three weeks with a ruptured appendix, 9-year-old Ryan Rusco is supposed to be getting up and walking around a little now. "But he's sore and tired," his mother explains, "and he just hasn't wanted to." In the parking lot Monday morning, Stephanie Rusco glanced up at the glassy facade of the Children's Hospital at Saint Francis. Then she rushed back to Ryan's room. "Guess who's climbing down the side of the building?" Ryan threw on some clothes and walked all the way down the hall to the elevators, then across the lobby to the main entrance.

A crowd was gathering on the sidewalk, where Ryan looked up to see Batman, the Hulk and Spider-man dangling on ropes several stories in the air. Not tired a bit, Ryan even went to an upper-floor solarium to get a closer look, face-to-face with the Hulk through the glass. "It's the most excited that I've seen him since being here" in the hospital, his mother said. "A lot of kids are being perked up today."

Ryan even went to an upper-floor solarium to get a closer look, face-to-face with the Hulk through the glass. Click to enlarge.

The windows need to be washed twice a year. But this time, when officials called Jeremy Brazil's wife to schedule the work, they asked for something a little extra. "She thought it was a great idea," said Brazil, owner of Above All window washing. "And she told us that we were going to do it." Not that Brazil minded. "We don't usually get this much reaction," he said. "Kids were putting their faces up against the windows, giving us fist bumps through the glass. It's just great."

"I'm Bruce Wayne," he introduced himself. "But don't tell anybody." Click to enlarge.

Not breaking character when he reached the ground, Brazil posed for pictures with the kids who had been watching him rappel down. "I'm Bruce Wayne," he introduced himself. But don't tell anybody. That's supposed to be a secret. It will take a week to finish the windows. "If anybody wants to come see us," Brazil said, "we'll be around."

Superheroes took time off from fighting crime, to cheer up Tulsa children at St. Francis Hospital: Spectators got quite a sight Monday as Batman, Spiderman and The Incredible Hulk scaled a Tulsa hospital with squeegees in hand. The trio, employed by Above All Window Cleaning company by day, donned the costumes for the first time to wash the windows of the St. Francis Children's Hospital in south Tulsa. Many gathered as the team posed and brightened the kids' day, but the three heroes say the best part of showing up was seeing the smiles on all the childrens' faces. "It feels good that they get to have some fun. I think that's the main thing about it. It's good to lift the spirits of the kids up a little bit." The two members of the Avengers and The Dark Knight plan on returning every year.

Window Cleaners In The News

Tulsa World: Had some time between assignments today so I hit the road with my camera. The weather is so nice, it is hard to decide what to shoot. There is so much going on outside. People everywhere. And finally, I almost can't resist sooting window washers. I can try to walk on by but something always catches my eye. This time it was the guy standing above.

SEATTLE -- A Seattle window washer fighting prostate cancer says he feels like his insurance company is killing him. Bob Haller wants the latest non-invasive alternative to surgery called the Cyberknife treatment, but he says his insurance company won't cover it. At Swedish Medical Center, Haller admits he's playing a game of chance. An annual checkup found prostate cancer last November. "We are concerned the longer we wait, the higher this malignancy could spread," said Swedish Radiosurgery Medical Director Dr. Robert Meier. Haller is putting off treatment in hopes of forcing his health insurance to pay for the cutting-edge procedure. It's medical Russian roulette. "If it's not treated, unfortunately, it will lead to your demise, I'm afraid," Meier told Haller. For nearly a year, Haller has begged Regence Blueshield, the administrator of his universal medical plan, to pay for Cyberknife treatment. It's an alternative to surgery that beams high doses of radiation to cancer tumors with near-exacting precision. "One way or another, I've got to get it," said Haller.

Meier says surgery has more risks, including urinary and bowel problems, even impotence. Haller says five painless Cyberknife treatments would cure his cancer, and insists as a window washer who often dangles from buildings, he can't risk bladder issues. "Not only for me, but Regence denying a lot of us guys this particular option is just incredible," Haller said. In a statement, Regence Blueshield says it considers the Cyberknife "investigational" treatment, and as a matter of policy denies investigational procedures. Regence adds Haller has lost all appeals including an independent review. "It was investigational, but I would argue in the last six months, significant medical literature has been published to move it into the standard of care realm," said Meier. "It means my life," Haller said. Haller says he hopes media attention will lead to changes. In the meantime, he's been told he's exhausted all his appeals, and he can take the issue to court.

Andy Shankland once shared the same footballing dreams as England internationals Steve Bould and Paul Bracewell ... but his current ambition is simply to be able to walk again. Being told as a promising 22-year-old striker that his football career was over was bad enough. But being advised later that it would be better to have the lower part of his left leg amputated is the stuff of nightmares. With remarkable understatement Shankland tells his story marooned on a sofa in his modest semi-detached house a million miles away from the lifestyle of today’s highly-paid stars. Life has never been easy for Andy. He was nine when his father died, two years later he lost his mother and he was brought up by his auntie. His brother was later killed in a car crash. “I’ve had a few knocks in my life,” he says without a hint of bitterness, just grateful that football has at last recognised the 47-year-old’s plight and is rallying around to raise money for a prosthetic limb which would transform his life.

“Things were going well until I damaged ligaments in my right ankle in a collision with a keeper. “There was injury after injury once I got back into the team and a couple of consultants believed I was finished. But another operated on me and I didn’t play for about 16 months. Coming back in a pre-season game I got injured again. That was it, I was finished at the age of 22. “You don’t always appreciate what you’ve got as a footballer because you live in a bubble. I’d just bought the house and my wife Angela was pregnant. I couldn’t even play football part-time because my ankle was no good. “I had to get a job, any job, just to bring in some money. I had a few jobs before I went into window cleaning with a lad I knew.”

Eight years ago disaster struck. “I was cleaning some top windows, the ladder slipped and I landed on my left ankle – my good one, not the one that had finished my football career,” recalls Andy. “It was broken and I had it pinned. When I later went back to see the consultant there was no life in it.” Intensive physiotherapy and other treatment failed to do the trick. Shankland spent three years on crutches desperately hoping for a breakthrough before his life changed forever. “I’ll never forget the date, March 13, 2006,” he said. “A consultant recommended that I should have my left leg amputated just below the knee. I agreed. I just said ‘get it off’.”

MILWAUKEE -- Window washing at the Milwaukee Veterans Affairs Medical Center Wednesday morning caused a big scare and an evacuation. Workers were power washing the east side of the building when fumes from their machine seeped into the exhaust system. The chemical levels tripped an alarm, calling the Milwaukee Fire Department's hazmat team. About 10 employees were evacuated from the sterilization department. No patients had to leave. A spokesman from the VA said after about an hour it was safe for everyone to go back in. "Obviously, we have to take every safety measure possible, and we took it very seriously, and as soon as that alarm sensor was tripped, we contacted the fire department, and they were great coming out immediately," said Gary Kunich of the Milwaukee VA Medical Center. Hospital staff said the window washers were private contractors.

Distraction burglars chased off by window cleaner while trying to steal from pensioner: A window cleaner chased three men who tried to burgle an elderly householder. Three men knocked on the door of a property in Frontfield Crescent at 11.55am on Saturday. While one spoke to the householder, two others went upstairs and rifled through the property. The offenders were disturbed by another visitor to the address, made off, and were pursued by a window cleaner who was working in the area. The three men are described as: A suntanned male 18-23 years, unshaven with jet black hair. A white male 18-23 years wearing a sky blue coloured jumper. A white male 30 years, 5'8" tall, medium build, short cut dark coloured hair, wearing a checked shirt & black trousers. Although this is believed to be a one off incident, residents in the area are asked to be extra vigilant when dealing with cold callers. If anyone has any information in relation to this incident they are asked to phone the police on the non emergency number 101 and quote crime number EL/11/4546.

Residents ‘fed up’ with car vandals: Residents are furious someone is sneaking out in the dead of night and daubing paint stripper on their cars. Mount Pleasant resident John Riglar said as soon as cars were fixed, they were vandalised again in the same spot. The 38-year-old says the problem has now been going on for 18 months, with more than a dozen vehicles targeted. The latest were vandalised in the early hours of Sunday and again on Tuesday, with hundreds of pounds worth of damage caused.

Mr Riglar, a window cleaner who has an Alpha Romeo and a work’s vehicle, said: “It’s the same every time. They use a paintbrush to put paint stripper on the car. You don’t have to be a detective to work out that they live nearby. One woman had to pay out £1,400 to get the car fixed and then it was done again in exactly the same place. “I came in about 3am on Sunday and the car was fine but when I went out again later, it had been vandalised again. Luckily, because it was raining, it didn’t cause too much damage as it was washed off. We’re basically all fed up with it. “They must live on the street because they are walking around with a tin and a paintbrush.”

More than 17,500 wrong parking tickets issued in Brighton and Hove: Disabled motorists, window cleaners and 999 workers are among thousands of people to have been wrongly issued parking tickets. Brighton and Hove City Council has confirmed nearly 17,500 fines were dished out but later cancelled in the last financial year. The amount, which works out at 48 a day, accounts for about 16% of the 109,000 tickets issued by the council’s 74 civil enforcement officers Council bosses said it showed they were acting fairly when dealing with appeals.

Of the 17,448 cancelled penalty notices issued, more than 4,000 had a valid pay and display tickets. A further 1,000 had a visitor permit and 665 a disabled badge. More than 1,000 were issued to vehicles that drove away and 665 to cars with valid disabled badges. A further 1,765 were issued to vehicles that were unloading, 465 to broken down cars while about 80 were dropping off people. Window cleaners (40), emergency vehicles (33) and stolen vehicles (99) were among those exempt groups to have also been slapped with notices.

Clerical errors were also to blame with more than 400 issued wrongly by wardens, 90 not having enough evidence and 100 not processed properly due to “back office” mistakes. A council spokeswoman said: “The appeals process exists so that the council can take all information into account when deciding whether a penalty charge notice is payable. “We are always looking for ways to reduce cancellations.”

How to get ahead in estates management: Debbie Andalo describes the routes into housing management, whether through an apprenticeship or leadership and management training. René, who began her housing career 15 years ago as a temporary administrative assistant for a homeless men's hostel, says: "I want people to feel that they can walk out of their front door and feel unthreatened, that they can let their children play safely outside and where anti-social behaviour doesn't make them feel uncomfortable. My staff are responsible for making sure that the streets are clean and safe for residents and I make sure that happens."

René, who earns £43,000 a year, is responsible for a team of 44, mostly blue-collar staff, including 32 caretakers whom she describes as the "eyes and the ears" of the estate. Between them the team looks after 4,300 homes in Tower Hamlets and Essex. René manages all the services behind the estates' appearances such as the mobile deep-cleaning teams, window cleaning contractors, bulk refuse collections as well as seasonal services such as leaf cleaning and gritting. She is one of few women working in social housing in estate services management and admits it can sometimes be difficult in a male-dominated environment.

Latest Window Cleaning News & Photo's

A worker cleans the exterior windows of an office building in Munich, southern Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011.

Window cleaners retrieve ropes on top of a skyscraper in Beijing, China, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011.

Plea after vehicle arson in Billingborough: A Business owner has appealed for witnesses after one of his vehicles was stolen and set fire to. A car owned by Billingborough-based window cleaners Sparkles was taken from the road in front of the firm’s office in Vine Street between 8pm and 9pm on Monday, August 22. The vehicle, which contained about £500 worth of cleaning equipment, was found on fire at Thorns Wood, off Mareham Lane, at about 9.15pm. Owner David Manning, 40, was at a loss to explain why the car was stolen. He said: “I was gutted when I found out. The people who did this are very vindictive, I don’t understand why they have done it. “You don’t expect things like that to happen living in a small village. “We are a very small family-run business and it meant my staff couldn’t work for a few days, which is bad enough on the financial side.”

The company owns another vehicle but was unable to complete scheduled jobs in the days following the theft and Mr Manning had to pay his four part-time staff out of his own pocket at a further cost of £500. Mr Manning is urging anyone who saw the silver Vauxhall Zafira, registration DV52 0AL, to come forward. He added: “Because the vehicle is well known and is very distinctive with two ladders on top, we are hoping that someone will have seen it and will come forward.” Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue confirmed that two crews from Sleaford had attended the blaze, and were on the scene for two hours. The fire also damaged about 160 sq ft of scrub around the car. Police spokesman James Newall said no arrests had been made so far, and investigations are ongoing.

A Scarborough woman rescued from a burning flat has admitted deliberately setting fire to the property. Elaine White, 42, pleaded guilty to being reckless after the fire in Northstead Flats, in Long Walk, Northstead, earlier this month. White, who was dramatically rescued by two eye-witnesses, was originally charged with arson but admitted the lesser offence when she appeared at York Crown Court. The court heard White set fire to her home after locking herself in. She was dragged to safety by window cleaner Ryan Burns, 27, and Jim Murphy, 58, who used a set of ladders to get into the property through an open window. They then help fire crews carry the woman to safety. Prosecuting, Alan Mitcheson, told the court White had been sent by Scarborough magistrates on the original indictment, but, after reviewing the case, he felt that the only life which she had intending harming was her own. White was remanded in custody with the case adjourned until October. Speaking after the incident, Paul Burnett, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue crew manager, praised the actions of Mr Burns and Mr Murphy. He said: “It is very commendable that they have gone and acted the way that they have.

As they dangled four stories in the air, the new Tulsa Fire Department recruits didn't have to worry about whether the apparatus would hold. Forty-nine recruits are less than a month away from completing their training, which began in May. Once they graduate, some will start work the very next day, Smallwood said. When they do, they need to know how to meet the challenges firefighters face on emergency calls of all types. "You've got to prepare for every eventuality, which is extremely difficult," said Capt. Lee Horst, one of the training captains teaching the recruits. Tuesday's training focused on rescues where the victim was in a precarious situation and needed to be hoisted to safety, Horst said. The recruits all learned how to set up the hoisting apparatus and use it to lift someone. The procedure could be used if someone has fallen into a ravine or if a window washer gets stuck on a high-rise building and needs to be brought back up, Horst said.

Toxins Lurk in Cleaning Supplies: Inhaling even small amounts of bleach can damage your nervous system, and children are particularly at risk. Did you know that bleach often hides in products such as Drano, Tilex and Cascade, which don't say "bleach" on the label?  Bleach isn't the only chemical that is hazardous to our health. The kitchen harbors several toxic substances. Ammonia (in window and all-purpose cleaners) is an eye irritant that can also cause headaches and lung irritation. Petroleum distillates (metal cleaners and polishes) can damage the nervous system, skin, kidneys and eyes, and there is bleach in dishwasher detergent. In the laundry room there are petroleum distillates in spot removers, the ingredients in mothballs (naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene) are suspected carcinogens, and residues from fabric softeners can cause allergic reactions. Toilet bowl cleaners contain hydrochloric acid, which can burn the skin or cause blindness if splashed in the eyes. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services website has more scary information.

Transguard takes bigger slice of $8 billion UAE FM market: The Transguard Group, an Emirates Group company, is targeting new potential business within the retail sector through its rapidly expanding facilities management (FM) division, after a raft of new contract wins awarded to its Cleaning and Hospitality teams. According to the MasterCard 2011 Worldwide Index of Global Destination Cities, both Abu Dhabi and Dubai report impressive growth rates for inbound tourism this year against 2010 figures, at 15.5% and 17.3% respectively. “Tourism and retail go hand-in-hand, and the UAE’s commitment to driving inbound visitor numbers is key to creating major business potential as we move forward,” added Hall. The company has also been awarded a contract for exterior window-cleaning services at the Marina Quays residential development in Dubai and the Park Hyatt hotel in Abu Dhabi.

New and not improved: Remember the Assembly bill that would require companies that provide building security, maintenance, window cleaning or food services to retain the employees of the previous service contractor for 90 days? Well, AB 350 has been amended. Which is to say it has been made worse. The new version exempts a new contractor from being forced to hire an employee of the previous contractor if said employee has been convicted of specific violent crimes. That makes perfect sense until one considers that, by listing specific crimes that free the new company of such hiring obligations, AB 350 implies that the contactor must hire felons convicted of other offenses -- say, embezzlement, grand theft or arson. At least that's the reading of the California Chamber of Commerce's legal staff. Is that a justifiable take-away? Hard to say, but our original objections stands: Newly hired contractors shouldn't have to take on the problems of their predecessors.

Landscaper falls victim to own success - Too many customers sign up for online deals. Merchants shouldn’t make online group-buying offers unless they can deliver, says the owner of an Eastern Shore landscaping company that’s having trouble doing so. Rob Monk, who owns Roscoe’s Landscaping, said Tuesday he’s been overwhelmed by the number of customers who signed up for the three daily deals he offered on Dealfind and Kijiji in the spring. "It seemed like a good idea at the time but I’d never do it again," he said in an interview from Lake Charlotte. Monk said 38 people signed up for a lawn-care package he offered on Kijiji in April for $140. The following month, 169 people paid $69 for interior and exterior window washing and gutter cleaning on Dealfind.  Another 120 people bought a $60 voucher on Kijiji for power washing. The Roscoe’s owner said he can only work on three or four houses a day and has been hampered by the wet weather. "We’re trying to do the work and it just takes time to get to everybody; we’re working our butts off to get to it," said Monk, who started the business this year.

Roscoe’s had employees earlier this summer but Monk said he couldn’t afford to keep them. He and his son are now trying to catch up on the workload. The vouchers are good for a year and Monk is aiming to have most of them honoured by Oct. 31. Dealfind’s co-founder says there’s not much the company can do if a merchant overextends themselves. "Respectfully, I think it’s a mistake to run too many deals," Gary Lipovetsky said from Toronto. About 50 Roscoe’s buyers have received full refunds from Dealfind so far, which Lipovetsky called "a higher than average amount." As of Tuesday afternoon, the website says it has issued more than 1.2 million vouchers and saved consumers $260 million since it started last year.

"It is really a minority of the cases that it does happen," Lipovetsky said, referring to problems redeeming vouchers. He said the company has policies to protect consumers, including screening merchants and having customer service agents available. Dealfind says it issues full refunds if buyers can’t redeem the voucher or aren’t happy with the service. Ken MacKenzie of Dartmouth said he’s been trying to get Roscoe’s to clean his windows and gutters for four months. "The goal was to get our gutters done this summer and, of course, the summer is gone," he said Tuesday.

MacKenzie, who bought the voucher May 3, said he’s made four appointments with Roscoe’s since then but the company has failed to show each time. He said Dealfinders has been trying to help him. After Roscoe’s failed to show last Thursday, MacKenzie began asking Dealfinder for his money back. He’s also launched a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. A spokesman for the bureau couldn’t be reached Tuesday for comment. According to its website, the bureau has given Roscoe’s an F rating, on a scale of A-plus to F. The bureau says Roscoe’s failed to respond to two complaints filed against it in the last year.

Twit-tw-ouch! The lasting impression left by an owl after hitting window. Splat! An unfortunate owl has fallen fowl of a living room window after flying straight into it - and leaving this incredible outline. The poor beast left a near-perfect silhouette complete with wings, feathers and beak on glass in Glasgow earlier this year. It is one of a series of ghostly impact images collected online that show the last moment of life of these birds of a feather. Most of the birds are believed to have died - but miraculously a pigeon that hit a moving car and left a print on the side still managed to fly away. Exeter University post doctorate student Richard Heeks, 38, runs a group on picture sharing website Flickr where contributors from across the world submit their amazing bird-splat pictures. 'I first became aware of this phenomenon when I was having a weekend in Yorkshire,' explained Richard. To prevent birds striking windows the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds recommends fixing plastic stickers to windows. It says stickers shaped like hawks and other birds of prey are particularly effective at scaring away most other types of birds. It is estimated that thousands of birds die each year by flying into windows.

Belfast brothers Robert and Ian Stewart are the key witnesses in Northern Ireland's largest paramilitary trial for 25 years. In the summer of 2008, they packed one bag between them, drank a bottle of vodka, fled their homes in north Belfast and caught a ferry to Scotland. Between them, the two loyalist paramilitaries had £2,000 in cash, stolen from their disabled parents.  Much of it was later spent on alcohol. Robert Stewart, 37, has been an alcoholic most of his life and was a habitual drug user. He took ecstasy tablets, cocaine, cannabis, acid and glue. He also used to take 60mg a day of prescription valium. Robert Stewart joined the UVF in his early 20s. As a teenager, he was a keen Liverpool fan and worked in a butcher's shop. But he soon gave it up. Although he claimed unemployment benefit, he admitted to the court he "did the double" by working as a part-time window-cleaner. He usually worked three days each week, for just 3-4 hours and normally with a hangover.

Dear Answer Man, did you know that the window glass for 1WTC is being made by Viracon of Minnesota? — Art Reckinger, Rochester. I do now. Viracon, based in Owatonna, has been involved in a lot of high-profile projects, including the Comcast Cower in Philadelphia, another glass-skinned skyscraper that bears some resemblance to the New York project. According to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the components of the 1 World Trade Center building, the major building under construction on the former site of the twin towers, are being assembled by Benson Industries, a curtain wall contractor based in Portland, Ore., with Viracon as contractor for the glass. The building will have 82 floors, but with its spire will be 1,776 feet tall, making it the tallest in the United States and reputedly the tallest all-office building in the world when it opens in 2013.

Putting Their Guard Up: In what City Council Speaker Chirstne Quinncalled an efort to make better use of city resoures, the council approved Intro 531-A, which would step up enforcement of city rules requiring that all apartments occuped by young children have guards on the window. Currently, only health inspectors have the authority to check for window guards. The bill would also allow housing inspectors to check for the window guards and to order owners to install them where needed. Owners who do not coply within 21 days face fines. Emphasizing the measure does not take any authority away from the health department, Quin said it "also gives that power to housing inspectors who are out there every day." In the city, Quin said, "The number of children who fall out of windows is not as high as it was at one time," but national figures indicate the need to make sure that window guards are in place.

18yo writes book about his $50k debt: While most 20-year-olds are busying themselves with plans for the weekend, Piers Elliot has completed his first book. Titled Poor Me! How I Stuffed Up By Getting Into Debt So You Don’t Have To, the book details the young author’s quick decline into fiscal fiasco. On his 18th birthday, Elliot was debt-free. A week later he signed a $15,000 lease on a shiny new Ford Falcon XR6. Now he faces a seven-year struggle to pay off an accumulated $50,000 debt. “I thought I knew best,” he said. “If I’d heard from other kids what it really means to owe a lot of money I’m sure I’d have thought twice.” The Breakfast Point resident, who works as a high-rise window cleaner and delivers pizzas at night to repay the debt, made his literary debut with the help of mum Domini Stuart, a freelance journalist. The book also includes accounts from other youngsters who have found themselves in financial strife.

Nick Petrovic, a psychologist and contributor to the book, said the instance of young people getting into debt may have a strong neurological underpinning. “Young people tend to be more impulsive as their brains are still developing,” he said.  An older and wiser Elliot hopes his book will help others steer clear of making bad financial decisions. “The trouble is that, when debt is a problem, you feel so ashamed and embarrassed you keep quiet about it,” he said. “Nobody gets to hear the bad news, so that’s why I’ve decided to speak out.”

Seven Peaks buys troubled CityDeals: The abrupt shutdown of CityDeals.com last week left merchants wondering if they would get paid and consumers questioning whether the certificates and gift cards they bought were worthless. The website sold coupons for goods or services from businesses that hoped deep discounts would attract new customers who would then return again and again. CityDeals owes Pleasant Grove chiropractor Geoff Moultrie about $1,700, said his wife, Mandy Moultrie. "We would just like to get our money back and we would be happy. We just don't know who is liable," she said. Seven Peaks has worked around the clock making arrangements to take care of merchants that have been waiting for payments from CityDeals, Law said. It also is working with businesses to ensure coupons sold on on the website to date are honored. "Most everyone is willing to deal and is anxious to move forward," he said.

But Seven Peaks is not paying cash. How it will compensate vendors is unique to each situation, he said. One approach is to offer credits to its water parks and fun centers. "I don't know what I'm going to do with $20,000 worth of credits to Seven Peaks over my lifetime," said Todd Elkins, owner of Sharper View Window Cleaning. CityDeals didn't pay him in June and July. "There's nothing besides them paying what's rightfully mine for me to have any interest in them."

UK based JV Price has ordered a new 38 metre Bronto Skylift S38XDT mounted on a highly specified Volvo chassis. The new unit, which the family owned company considers will be “the ultimate window cleaning machine” will join the company’s existing Bronto S37XDT. The company says it is also looking closely at the new Bronto S50XDTJ for a number of larger – higher contracts that it hopes to win.

Life in a Tudor home: One of Exeter's most famous Tudor buildings, this tiny house was moved in the 60s to make way for the inner-city bypass, but neither time or upheaval have diluted its charm. It's not necessarily the most viable space for a business because it gets bigger as it goes up – the ground floor is tiny. The beams are original but all the plaster was renewed when they moved it. The good thing with these old timber frames is that they are rock solid – English oak from that era is now so hard. The tiny leaded window panes have also been replaced, but kept in style. Maintaining them requires a window cleaner with a bit of nerve. None of the windows are the same size.

George with his wife Olivia who believes he had several affairs: It’s all rather extraordinary as, until now, it has always been thought that George Harrison’s love story with Olivia Arias was one of complete spiritual and emotional union. George quickly asked her to move into Friar Park with him, so she relocated to England. At first, she found it lonely. She added: ‘I organise everything in my house. I know each glass that is chipped, which window needs washing; I have the ironing board in my bedroom. I find housework therapeutic.’

Councillors clash over saving plans: A series of council savings proposals that caused controversy less than 12 months ago are back on the agenda. Councillors are currently being presented with lists of potential ways to save or make money for the local authority. The savings proposals which were before the committee to be noted by members also included staffing reductions, efficiency measures for items such as printing, window cleaning and travel, property rationalisation, increasing fees and charges and reducing libraries budget by 25 per cent.

Disturbance: On Sept. 2, a business owner in the 1800 block of Glenview Road reported a male began washing the business' windows without permission and demanded payment.

Carson City: A 24-year-old window cleaner from Carson City was arrested at 1:23 a.m. Sunday in the 1000 block of North Carson Street on suspicion of misdemeanor drunken driving, failure to obey a traffic signal and driving without a license. Bail was set at $1,401.

Window Cleaning News

The twice-yearly cleaning will take three weeks, weather permitting.

Williams Tower Window Washers View Tulsa from Above, Oklahoma - It's a very big job to wash the over 5,500 windows on the Williams tower. The tallest building in Oklahoma contracts Budget Glass to do the job. 'It takes an experienced crew like the one we have here today right around three weeks to clean it,' said Williams Company's Jeff Pounds. The two-man team descends in a gondola 32 different times to cover the building, each 'drop' taking over an hour to complete. Although busy, window washer Stephen Hulsey admits to taking an occasional break the appreciate the view. 'The best view is at 5:30 in the morning,' he said, 'right before daybreak and the lights are on downtown, it's just gorgeous.'

Congratulations to Chris Lambrinides & Kate of Window Cleaning Resource who decided to tie the knot after a brief meeting among the squeegee channels in the WCR store room. The happy couple will take their honeymoon in Jamaica whilst Alex Lambrinides runs the show from New Jersey.

Gecko-inspired water-powered robot scales glass, washes windows (sort of): We've seen some pretty impressive Spidey-like robots in our time, but honestly, crawling walls isn't always enough to pique or interest. A robot that can scale buildings and wash windows -- now that's something to get excited about. Like this little wall climber, the gecko-inspired machine enlists the Bernoulli principle, using the flow of water through fluidic vacuum generators that allow the reptilian robot to get a grip on smooth surfaces. Next, the water is directed through a solenoid valve to a piston in the robot's spine, and finally, the excess liquid is expelled and used to get glass gleaming. Currently, the little machine is capable of carrying twice its weight, and uses a small battery to power a "wireless communication system" and the servos used to control its direction. We're definitely intrigued, but judging from the video (after the break), we're pretty sure it's no match for flesh and blood window washers.

PVCWizard will clean-up: Specialist conservatory cleaning company PVCWizard will launch a UK-wide roll-out of its franchise network at the exhibition. Headed by founder John Feeney, it will be the first specialist conservatory and PVC cleaners to exhibit there. John said: “There is a gap in the market  and our eye-catching brand offers a unique window of opportunity for budding entrepreneurs to join us. Based on the excellent trading figures of our existing franchise operations, we’ve developed a very attractive package with strong support.” John, who previously designed and built conservatories, set up his business eight years ago in Bartle, near Preston. It now has two franchises. He said: “I was seeing conservatories installed every day, but there was no thought given to how they might be cleaned. “I realised the potential of setting up a professional conservatory cleaning company in a field that traditionally has attracted ‘here-today gone-tomorrow’ operators. It’s a service rarely offered by window cleaners and can be a dangerous and messy job for home owners.” Initially run under the name of Specialised Conservatory Cleaning, the company has re-branded as PVC Wizard as part of its franchise roll out.

Window washer says he is once again touched by an angel: When I wrote recently about Sean Welby’s encounter with “an angel,” I hardly expected a Chapter Two. Welby is the Clairemont window washer who was at a check cashing agency paying his overdue water bill when a woman simply handed him two $100 bills, and said: “I’m your angel today,” and “Pay it forward.” That act of kindness transformed his life. He brought his truck payments up to date and handed out money to strangers. Well, he recently received a touching letter from his anonymous benefactor, to whom he’d given his business card. Having read about him in my column, she wrote, in part: “Angel acts don’t need to be recognized, and it’s not expected, but it sure felt good.” Her only signature was an angel figure. His spirits buoyed, on a whim he bought three $5 lottery scratch tickets and won $500. Two days later, he bought five scratch tickets and won $10,000. “I thought he was going to have a heart attack right there,” said Tom Romaya, owner of Del Mesa Foods & Liquor off Friars Road. “I’ve never seen him in here before.” “I’m guessing she sent me some more luck,” concluded Welby, who will invest his windfall in his business and his church and help a few more strangers. “I’d sure like to know who she is.”

Images of dead bees are being used in a campaign encouraging Londoners to help save urban bees by behaving in a "bee-friendly" way. Seven million Londoners are being urged to buy and grow bee friendly food and do bee-friendly gardening. Pledges of support for London's bees can be made on the Capital Growth website. The visuals and video clips will be used on billboards across the Tube, from Friday. They are based on work by cult artist Magnus Muhr's "dead fly" images. A 'bee-movies' show depicts bees taking part in everyday London-based adventures such as cleaning a window or travelling on the Tube.

Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia: You've seen them still happily going about their daily labours in bone-chilling Goulburn winter winds, rain and sleet and seemingly impervious to the elements. Men and women who make you shiver just to see them at work, and positively shudder when you realise they look dressed for summer even when the June wind chill says it feels like -6 c outside. So how do they do it? Rum fortification, perhaps? Some form of masochism, or example of where there’s no sense there’s no feeling? None of these, apparently. They just don’t feel the cold like most other people. What about cleaning windows outside Auburn Street shops that have their interior central heating set on high? Husband and wife, Christian and Julie Leupin, have been Goulburn’s champion winter tag team at this game for nearly 20 years and laugh off suggestions they might ever cry “foul” in a wintry blast. They, too, say they don’t notice how cold it is out on the street side of shop windows - although Christian does admit to using warm water. Boiling, even. The Leupins have four kids, with the oldest now living in Christian’s native Basel. They bought a couple of Goulburn window cleaning runs after Christian gave up working in Australia as a mainframe computer technician for one of the Swiss pharmaceutical giants. He says the secret to staying warm is always to wear thick warm socks below a flouro jacket and warm shirt. And also coming from a warm house to start work at 7.30am. Coming from Switzerland has nothing do with it.

A watch recovered from the Lockerbie plane bombing is at the center of a legal battle set to play out in Lucas County Common Pleas Court this summer. Cherry Peirce, the widow of Perrysburg architect Peter Peirce, is suing two employees of Estate Jewelry Buyers in Sylvania, alleging that they bought and sold more than $150,000 worth of jewelry that was stolen in 2008 from her Catawba Island home in Ottawa County. One of the pieces was a wristwatch worn by Mr. Peirce, who was one of 270 killed when Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, in December, 1988. Mr. Kerger said two window washers who had entry to Mrs. Peirce's home stole several pieces of jewelry that were hidden in the back of a dresser drawer. The items included her wedding rings, a 3.5-karat diamond ring, an emerald ring given to her by her late husband, and a watch that was retrieved from the plane wreckage after Mr. Peirce died in the Lockerbie crash.

The New Employment Relationship: Workers Bear All the Risks while Employers Keep the Profits: Luis (pseudonym) worked for a suburban window and gutter washing company for 8 years. Though the company had forced him to sign a contract stating that he was a contractor, and had forced him to incorporate, he was indeed an employee of the company: he reported to the same manager and same office day-in and day-out, he could not set his own hours or take on his own clients, and he could not bid out his own jobs. One day, he fell off of a roof two stories high. Luis was injured badly, but thankfully survived the fall. Though the company had forced him to sign contracts saying he was not an employee, the company knew that these contracts may not hold up throughout the workers compensation process. Thus, the company settled out of court. The settlement was not large, but at least covered the cost of his medical bills. Another worker had a very similar experience at this company, falling off a roof and then winning a settlement out of court.

Upon Luis’ return to work after an extended recuperation period, rather than providing workers fall prevention training and safety equipment, instead the company forced workers to sign even tighter contracts, and to purchase their own workers’ compensation insurance (conveniently deducted from their paychecks). Workers get to keep 50% of the cut, but must also provide their own transportation, pay for their own gas, cover any damages to homes, pay twice as much in tax as employees, and pay out their assistants (the company insists that all workers hire assistants, again violating the autonomy of a truly independent contractor). At the end of the day, sometimes workers barely make enough money to cover their expenses. Luis reports that oftentimes he shows up to a job, only to find out that the company has improperly bid out the job. For example, clients have more windows than reported, or different types of windows that take many hours to clean. However, Luis is forbidden from charging clients more for this extra work. Additionally, the company provides clients with coupon promotions–promotions that come out of workers’ paychecks, even though they have no say in how and when these promotions are given. Finally, since Luis is classified as an independent contractor, he is not entitled to breaks or overtime wages even though he regularly works 12 hour days.

But perhaps most disturbingly, workers are not provided with fall protection gear and safety training by the company. In fact, Luis reports that when a worker on Luis’ team fell off a ladder and grabbed onto a gutter to hang on for dear life, the company’s response was to charge Luis for the damage done to the gutter. And, while workers have received settlements in the past for their injuries, now that they are forced to buy their own workers’ compensation insurance, it’s unclear that the company would pay for the cost of these injuries. More importantly, these injuries are preventable, but workers are not trained properly, nor can they necessarily afford the cost of the protective gear, given their meager wages.

Classical economic theory presumes that if these contracts were really such raw deals, workers would seek work elsewhere. However, classical economic theory does not take into account the power differential between workers and employers. Workers are told that they will not be given any more jobs if they do not sign these contracts, incorporate, and purchase their own workers compensation insurance. They are also forbidden from taking independent clients. In today’s economy, workers who are often recently-arrived immigrants, often lacking knowledge of English and US labor law, feel that they have no other choice but to continue in an abusive employment relationship, especially as more and more employers catch on to this new trend of passing market and health safety risks on to the worker, while they collect all the profits.

Recently the company has fired Luis, ostensibly due to client complaints, though the company refused to give him the names of said clients. Luis believes that the company is actually retaliating against him for pursuing his workers compensation claim. To whom can Luis turn? As an “independent contractor”, he does not even have a right to unemployment insurance–yet another way that his employer has passed precarity on to those most vulnerable, the workers. The Illinois Department of Labor has recognized the severity of the problem of misclassifcation, however, the Employee Classification Act only covers workers employed on construction sites. Here at Arise Chicago, we are attempting to pursue other strategies; but without stronger laws regarding the misclassification of all types of workers, workers are left unprotected and even more vulnerable.

READING, Pa. -- It could take more than a year to find all of the problems plaguing the Berks County Services Center, county officials said Tuesday. With the addition of the new facilities director, Ryan Hunter, last year, the county started a comprehensive survey of the services building. But it could take another year before they get a complete to-do list. "There definitely is going to be a big bill," said Leinbach. "How big? We don't know." The county is currently bidding out contracts for much-needed repairs to the parking garage under the services building. "Water has gotten behind the concrete, in some places has popped concrete off," Leinbach said of the garage. Leinbach pointed to the building's window washing system as another example of lagging maintenance. "The anchor system that was used for window washing has not been maintained and hasn't been used, I think, for maybe 10 years or more," Leinbach said. "We weren't even aware of that."

Mexia stage 2 water rationing: The city of Mexia is under a stage 2 water rationing plan effective immediately. City officials insist that no nonessential water usage be done.  Examples being street washing, water hydrant flushing, filling pools, and athletic field watering should be done at this time. The rationing plan limits residential car washing, window washing, and pavement washing unless a bucket is used.

When a company is struggling, the last thing it wants to do is admit it to its suppliers. Everyone from your stock supplier to the window cleaner will want his money upfront. Who’s going to give you nice credit terms if there’s any chance they might not get paid? Large scale suppliers normally insure themselves against a big customer going bust. But in January this year, many of HMV’s suppliers were told that they wouldn’t be insured against HMV not settling its bills. “Right, say the suppliers. “It’s cash upfront for this job.” And if you’re already struggling, that’s the last thing you need. The second reason bad news is held off is to do with sales. When you buy your groceries, you probably aren’t too bothered about the financial position of the store. But large corporations certainly do mind. Usually there’s a dedicated purchasing department, staffed with hard-nosed dealers that extract the best terms with suppliers. If you’re the buyer and you want to renegotiate terms with your supplier, you’ll be in a much stronger position if he’s on the ropes.

The first profit warning probably won’t even look like one. In fact, to the uninitiated, the phrasing of the news release will probably look like a jolly good little story. But there’ll be a sneaky little sentence tucked away somewhere – a phrase laying the foundation for the second profit warning further down the road. I’m talking about a small suggestion that a cost is going up, or a particular market is ‘tough’ or ‘challenging’. It may be a technical issue that’s causing some difficulties and delays. ‘Not to worry’ is the message – ‘we’re on top of things. Look at all this other good news!’ The point is that, in the release, there’ll often be more good news than bad. It’s the same strategy that got two of Downing Street’s spin-doctors sacked; ‘a good day to bury bad news’ and all that. That’s why you need to read company announcements at source and not via newspapers – you may miss the ‘real’ story.

Another new business promotion involves the city's service industries, including those without a store front. "We want to help them establish a connection to the community," Morris said, explaining that the idea stemmed from a request for Chamber window decals by Sunshine Cleaning Service. Through the new program, special window decals will be provided to service-related Chamber members to show they are part of the community. Morris said the chamber is happy to provide information to residents about companies doing business in Plainview regarding chamber membership status. "We're not intended to be the Better Business Bureau, but we can let residents know there is a connection to the community," she said, adding that the chamber gained three new members as a result of an initial contact letter explaining the program.

Judgement Day: As the curtain opens on today’s drama, three men are standing at the pearly gates seeking admission to heaven. The first to plea his case is dressed in a three-piece suit and he tells St. Peter that he lived a good life and treated his wife like a queen. “We lived in a penthouse flat, I took her out almost every night and bought her whatever she wanted, so when I realised she had been with another man I kind of went crazy.  You see I forgot my wallet one morning and had to come home for it at about 10 o’clock but when I got there my wife was naked in bed and there were two burning cigarettes in the ashtray.

“I saw two hands on the windowsill so I smashed the window down and the bastard fell to the ground. When I looked out, though, I saw he had landed in a dumpster and was still alive so I picked up the refrigerator, carried it to the window and pushed it out.  Unfortunately, it was a lot heavier than I expected and the effort gave me a heart attack, so here I am.” “In you go,” says St. Peter.

The next man is dressed in overalls and he tells the gatekeeper he was washing windows on the 20th floor of an apartment building when his scaffolding broke. “I just managed to grab onto a windowsill and I was starting to pull myself up when some bugger slammed the window on my fingers and I figured that was it; but no, I made a soft landing in a load of rubbish and I was okay, but then this fridge comes out of the sky… and here I am.” “Right, you’re in.  Next,” says the saint.

“Yeah, Pete, those were pretty good stories,” says the third man, “but compared with what happened to me they’re nothing. “There I was sitting in a refrigerator, minding my own business…”

Apple's proposed new "spaceship" building in Cupertino features curved glass and an engineering challenge that makes solving the antennagate and white iPhone problems look cinchy. Apple's proposed new "spaceship" building in Cupertino may be made largely of huge sheets of curved glass. It's an aesthetic choice, and a very expensive one. But not too tricky for one of the world's experts in huge glass architecture. But Jobs is insistent on the curved glass model--despite the expense--and it's probably for two reasons. A large curved sheet of glass doesn't flex as much as a flat one, and has added structural strength compared to a flat one--meaning you could clad more frontage with a curved glass sheet than a flat one. And it's an aesthetic choice, since a flat, segmented window facade would need more joins and supporting substructure, each element of which would interrupt the otherwise sleek look. With a curved glass "face," Apple's new building would thus ascribe to the smooth, sleek design aesthetic of Apple's products.

Steve Wilson, President of The Service Companies (TSC), was promoted to Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. The Service Companies' portfolio consists of JRS International (JRS), Southern Service Corporation (SSC) and Full Service Systems (FSS), three of the most well-known outsourcing providers exclusively dedicated to the hospitality, casino and vacation ownership industries. The Service Companies operate in 38 states, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. The Company provides services ranging from turn-key housekeeping and stewarding services to public areas, kitchen, window and chandelier cleaning services. Led by an executive team with more than 200 years of combined experience at AAA Four Diamond hotels and casinos, The Service Companies have an impressive track record, serving a variety of exclusive clients such as Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Caesar's, MGM, Loews Hotels, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, and Wyndham Resorts.

The former chairman of a residents’ association this week warned that lives may be put at risk if sliding windows on his estate are not switched for a hinged model. Residents of Bayswater’s Wessex Gardens estate are to be balloted on what type of window they want to see installed in their homes when refurbishment works take place later this year. CityWest Homes, the arm’s-length management organisation responsible for maintaining the borough’s housing stock, said it wanted to give residents a choice of window. But former Wessex Gardens Residents’ Association chairman John Brett branded the current windows “unsafe” and said they had been responsible for a death 16 years ago on the neighbouring Brunel estate. Mr Brett, a pensioner who formerly worked in the housing sector, said he was unable to clean the outside of his windows and that a health and safety expert had concluded they were a risk as residents needed to lean out of them or balance on a ledge when washing them. He said: “Two weeks ago I learnt that in 1995 a resident cleaning the same window in Keyham House on the 11th floor fell to her death. “I told CityWest Homes about the incident and requested that the said windows be removed. Our residents’ association also got in touch with an independent health and safety officer who deals with industrial window cleaning, whose view was these windows above ground level are a risk. “Leaning out, one could drop whatever is being used to clean, thereby injuring someone passing underneath, and there is always the risk of a person falling out of the window.”

Pushed Her Husband out a Window: Amber Hilberling, a young 19-year old wife, is charged with the murder of her 23-year old husband, Joshua Hilberling. It seems this girl has one helluva temper and it isn't safe to be around her and an open window. Some might blame it on pregnancy hormones, but it's obvious that isn't the case with what investigators have found. Amber Hilberling shoved her young husband out the closed window of their 25th floor apartment. The glass shattered as the Joshua Hilberling plunged several feet to his death. Joshua Hilberling was apparently visiting the pregnant Mrs. Hilberling during a leave from his Military airman gig. He was happy to be soon welcoming his new child into the world. It's unclear what happened, but an argument ensued before Amber Hilberling shoved him with her hands out the 25th story window. Witnesses claimed to have heard a loud banging noise, which was Joshua landing on top of a parking garage belonging to the apartment complex.

Shaker Heights Police Blotter: BURGLARY, CLAREMONT ROAD: On May 27 a woman claimed window washers at her home stole jewelry. She reported $2,400 in jewelry wasstolen, including two gold necklaces and a 3-inch pendent.

DIY homeowners look for a fix: Dear Reena: We have a huge mirror in one of the washrooms in our new home, and I've tried cleaning it with Windex and other window cleaners but after it dries, there is a white haze on the mirror. I was thinking maybe the previous owners had sprayed something on it but I can't seem to get it clean. Any suggestions or ideas as to what it is? -Thank you, Maria A:  -

This may be the result of cigarette smoke or furniture polish or some other chemical settling on the glass. Begin by scrubbing the mirror with rubbing alcohol. Or try non-gel shaving cream or vinegar and wipe with crumpledup newspaper. If this is not effective, look for a product in your dollar store called Amaze. It does wonders on mirrors. But if the back of the mirror is damaged, nothing can be done to fix the haze.

Three Chelsea Pensioners visited a Hyde Heath pub to celebrate the 90th birthday of a former Chesham window cleaner, George Bayliss. One of the Pensioners, chose The Plough pub as the location for marking the milestone. The former Chesham resident, who now resides at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea, was joined by two other Pensioners, Fred Walker and Arthur Barrow, and more than 40 friends and family on Saturday for the big occasion. Pub landlord Chris Herring said: “We at the Plough were amazed to see George and two of his colleagues from the Royal Hospital turn up in full dress with all their medals on.” Pictured: Chelsea pensioners (from left) Fred Walker, George Bayliss and Arthur Barrow at The Plough in Hyde Heath with landlord Chris Herring.

A man who shot his pal in a booze-fuelled row at a north Dublin apartment is unlikely to face a murder charge, sources have revealed. The 51-year-old suspect, who lived in the apartment at Larch Hill in Santry, has admitted shooting Ned Flanagan (50) on Wednesday night and was still being questioned at Ballymun Garda Station today. The Herald understands that he has told detectives that the shooting was a tragic accident and that he panicked and fled the scene shortly after shooting his friend twice in the head with a handgun. Despite having a heavy drinking problem, Mr Flanagan had never been in trouble with gardai and has been described as a doting father to his son Conor -- who he had planned to go on a camping trip with him. "They were very close -- Ned lived for Conor and absolutely loved every second he spent with him," said Grace, who added that Mr Flanagan worked odd jobs, such as window cleaning. At one stage, he lived in a caravan behind Belcamp College. The suspect handed himself into Coolock Garda Station before midday yesterday after consulting with a local priest.

A bit of window cleaning: Or is it, er, a spot of therapy?

The education of Bobby Prier, Jr. As an Ottawa high school student in the '90s, he didn't care much for the classroom. Now, he's Princeton's hockey coach. His mother, Debbie, remembers her only son struggling with his schooling in Grade 11 and, being the caring mom she is, threatening to take away what was most important to him at the time: hockey. He holds a master's degree in education obtained in 2004 at St. Lawrence University, where he starred as an undergraduate hockey player for four years, from 1995 to 1999, before signing with the Ottawa Senators.

It's a remarkable career path that also included a short stint as a window washer and co-owner and operator - with now Ottawa 67's coach Chris Byrne - of Squeegee Clean Windows. (To hear both tell it, the other just held the ladder while they did all the work.) "It's cool to be intelligent now," says Prier. "But I've got to be honest, I wasn't a great student. We were moving around and I went to three different high schools. "But I certainly understand the value of education now. And Princeton is the most difficult school to be admitted into. It's rated No. 1 ... with Harvard and Yale right there."

Egyptians aren’t early risers, A curfew empties the streets for five hours each night. London brings quite a bit more early bustle to its day. In a downhill mile to the river, still padding in my Egyptian slipper-sandals, I passed four window cleaners. Goza and his helper had barely a moment to chat as they prepared to shuttle from an upscale restaurant to their last client near Piccadilly. His job each day is to be done before others have begun.