BUSINESS PULSE: Web site quick to snatch pope’s name
Few things can surpass the unrelenting joy of the Standard’s annual Kite Day. It’s a day when kids from across the county gather to watch their parents try to fly a kite with varying degrees of success.
For the most part, I’ve failed miserably at this task. One thing is for sure: They don’t make 99-cent kites the way they used to.
I remember in the good, ole days I could buy a cheap kite and fly it all day. Now one solid crash and you might as well throw your 99-cent kite in the garbage.
But flying kites at Hickory Creek Elementary is a rather small endeavor in the global scheme of things. A new pope has been selected and what a wonderful time it is for Catholics around the world. But before you get all warm and fuzzy, wouldn’t you know there would be somebody out there just looking to turn a profit from the appointment process.
That person is Florida resident Rogers Cadenhead, a man who locked up six Internet domain names earlier this month based on names he thought the new pope would pick. As luck would have it, Cadenhead chose wisely with one of his picks, BenedictXVI.com, which is the name Joseph Ratzinger selected on his election Tuesday (minus the .com part).
Cadenhead said he hasn’t figured out what to do with the site, which basically means he hasn’t been offered enough money yet. But he thankfully rejects the idea of making it a porn site because he said he’s pretty sure that would be a sin.
“I will be running any plans I have for this domain by my own Catholic doctrinal enforcer, my never-miss-a-Sunday grandmother Rita,” Cadenhead said in a message posted on BenedictXVI.com. “I’ve received an offer from a gambling site. I’m pretty sure that’s a bad idea, ecclesiastically speaking.”
What I can’t understand is why a gambling site, or porn site, would be interested in such a Web address. Anyone who may be searching for Catholic news, and who would type in BenedictXVI.com, would most likely be repulsed by one of those sites. I would think they’d cater to a different audience. And in case you’re wondering, I’ll refrain from making a snide comment about a possible alterboy Web site that Catholic priests could visit.
As for other odd news taking place around the country, I can only shake my head when hearing about the diabolical plan of a 19-year-old man from Lake City, Mich. The man was feuding with one of his neighbors so he concocted a way to get even with him once and for all.
According to police reports from Lake City, the 19-year-old staged an elaborate crime scene, stabbed himself “lightly” several times in the chest, and then called 911 to say his neighbor stabbed him in a fight. The plan hit a snag, however, when the 19-year-old bled to death before paramedics arrived.
And I know you’re anxious to get to this week’s Business Pulse, but here’s one more thing we can be thankful for here in Warren County – there’s not a Dork Street. Residents in Los Angeles can’t say the same thing and some people who live on Dork Street say they’re sick and tired of it.
“I had a r?sum? kicked back because someone thought I was kidding,” Mario Saucedo told the Associated Press.
Added Clyde Parra, who has lived on Dork Street for eight years, “When I go to cash a check at the store, people ask me if I’m a dork.”
Think of the embarrassment every time you gave out your street address. Whoever thought of that name should be forced to live on Dork Street.
First the bad news at A.O. Smith
I’ve reported on the layoffs taking place at A.O. Smith for about two years now and thus far those layoffs have been substantial.
I was told Friday that A.O. Smith’s local workforce currently stands at around 400 employees. That’s roughly 525 fewer people than four years ago when the A.O. Smith workforce stood at a mighty 925 people.
More bad news came last week when it was announced several local die casting operations would be moved to other A.O. Smith facilities in North America. The lines will be relocated by the end of the year.
A.O. Smith spokesman Mark Petrarca wasn’t at the company’s home office in Milwaukee when I called Friday, but he was nice enough to give me a quick call from the airport. “This will impact roughly 75 to 78 employees,” Petrarca said.
County’s unemployment rate begins to inch higher
Warren County’s latest unemployment figures for March show the rate is 7.2 percent. That’s higher than the state unemployment rate of 5.9 percent.
But it should also be noted those figures were calculated for March just before 310 people were laid off at Carrier at the beginning of April. And with the aforementioned A.O. Smith layoffs, I’m making the sad prediction that it won’t be long before Warren County rivals Wayne County (12.4 percent) for the highest unemployment rate in Tennessee.
Local businesses may be adding 10 jobs here, and 15 jobs there, but it’s not keeping pace with losing 100 jobs here, 200 jobs there.
Now for happy news ? Regions Bank is here
For Union Planters banks in Middle Tennessee, the merger with Regions Bank became official Friday. The new signs were unveiled, employees wore name tags that said Regions Bank, and a spirit of happiness was in the air.
But the treat of the day had to be bank representatives Debbie Kell and Jewell Walker risking their lives to go about 20 feet in the air in a bucket lift. In ceremonial fashion, the two ladies ripped the cover off the sign to reveal it said “Regions Bank.”
“It’s an exciting time for Regions customers and associates,” said Kell. “We are confident all of us will benefit long term from being part of one of the top 15 financial service providers in the United States.”
The merger will give bank customers all kinds of neat new options. There will be new products, expanded lending capabilities, and over 1,700 ATMs to withdraw money. Regions Bank has more than $84 billion in assets, which means the bank must have one giant vault somewhere.
In conjunction with the bank merger, Regions Bank is offering several special promotions that I believe are worth evaluating. As for the particulars, Regions Bank has more than 800 offices in 15 states and is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala.
Laundromat gets a great new look
When someone takes steps to improve the look of McMinnville, I get excited. And I just can’t hide it.
The upgrade I’m talking about is the side of Save-A-Day Laundromat, which is located on Chancery Street across from Middle Tennessee Natural Gas. Owner Randy Paris hired Bill Herron to paint a mural on the side of an entire wall. The result is a great-looking scene that sure beats the ordinary look of a block building.
“I’ve seen some of the murals he’s done in other places and I figured this would jazz it up a bit,” said Randy. “I told him to come up with his own mural, something to give the idea of washing and cleaning, and this is what he came up with.”
Randy has owned Save-A-Day for the past 24 years and said he was more than happy to make the improvements. He also said other area merchants have been talking to Bill about possible painting. Village Car Wash and La Cazona are two potential clients.
As for Bill, he currently lives in Putnam County but he used to work full time in McMinnville for Cookeville Tool and Die before it shut down. He says he’s anxious to do more painting here in town.
“That’s something I’d definitely be interested in doing,” said Bill. “I’ve painted several churches and painted some patriotic murals. It’s fun. I’ve been painting all my life, and painting professionally for about eight years.”
Bill can be reached by calling (931) 858-4153.
That’s all folks
As far as new businesses opening up all around Warren County, that just hasn’t been happening lately. At least I haven’t heard of very many and the phone sure hasn’t been ringing. That’s odd for this time of year when the business world tends to awaken from its winter slumber and things start happening.
If you have a business tip, give me a call at 473-2191. The e-mail address is [email protected]. Please no spam mail about ways to buy discount prescriptions or ways to refinance my mortgage.