Company tries to build a better cat
|
These new genetically altered cats ? with a $5,000 pricetag ? are already drawing considerable interest as the company, Allerca Inc., is accepting advance orders.
If this works, it could change the pet world forever. For starters it will make this special cat worth more than the Blazer I drive. But I wonder if you could change the genes in other animals, like dogs, to prevent them from doing annoying things like panting in your face.
More than that, I wonder if genetic alterations could be done to people. For example, could there be a hypo-complain-agenic woman? In other words a genetically mutated woman who didn?t nag all the time.
Naturally I would have no use for such a woman since my Cupcake is perfect. I?m just talking hypothetically in abstract terms.
Hey, I wonder if we could genetically alter the Warren County Commission to make it appear more intelligent. Just a thought.
As for other business related news, if you?re tired of ordering a burger off the extra value menu, a Florida restaurant has just the thing for you. It?s a burger that costs $100.
This 20-ounce burger, which has been dubbed ?heaven on a bun? by restaurant owner Marc Sherry is now available at the upscale Old Homestead Steakhouse in Boca Raton, Fla.
If you ask me, it sounds more like ?heaven to Marc Sherry?s wallet.?
The bill for one burger, with garnishes like organic greens, exotic mushrooms and tomatoes, comes out to $124.50, including tax and an 18 percent tip.
Ummm, I think I?ll order a burger and onion rings for $4.29 at Sonic instead. In case you?re wondering who could afford such a burger, as I was, the restaurant is located in the Boca Raton Resort and Club, where a membership costs $40,000 with an additional $3,600 annual fee. In simple terms, only people who are filthy rich will ever eat this $100 hamburger.
And last but not least is the real-life story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, only it was just one bear and the roles were reversed. According to police reports, a Vancouver woman returned home to find a bear eating oatmeal in her kitchen. Police, however, have not confirmed whether the oatmeal was ?just right.?
The bear entered the home through an open sliding glass door and broke a ceramic food container to gain access to the oatmeal. Three officers went to the home, but the bear didn?t budge until it finished its food. Said Sgt. Paul Skelton, ?This sounds like a nursery rhyme doesn?t it.?
Police say there is nothing to substantiate rumors that the bear sat on the lady?s chairs or fell asleep in her bed.
Blockbuster calling it quits in McMinnville
I heard rumors about a year ago that our local Blockbuster was going out of business. It turns out those rumors didn?t turn out to be entirely false, just a little premature.
Blockbuster announced last week it is closing its local store in the Bi-Lo shopping center at the end of June. But the store is already closed for all intents and purposes. Customers can no longer rent movies and videos. The store is simply staying open in hopes of getting as many rentals returned as possible.
?From what we?ve been told, this was a privately owned franchise and they didn?t want to renew the lease,? said shift manager Brooke Anderson, who also added she didn?t think the store was hurting for business. ?We stayed busy.?
My personal Blockbuster highlight came in 2004 when I made fun of the store for its ?No Late Fee? marketing campaign. My Business Pulse comments made it all the way to Blockbuster vice president of Southern stores Thomas M. Barzizza and I thought that was pretty cool. Mr. Barzizza fired off a ?Clark stinks? letter that I was more than happy to publish in this section. I just love controversy, even when I?m the bad guy.
As for other Blockbuster-related news, Steve Warner at The Movie Gallery in Wal-Mart wanted me to mention that his store is pleased to honor all Blockbuster coupons. Some of you may remember Steve for his years at the Standard, most notably as Circulation Man.
Steve is always ready to capitalize on someone else?s misery. A bad day for Blockbuster is a good day for him, so stop by The Movie Gallery for all your video rental needs. And be sure to tell Steve you read about it in this column for a free membership and movie rental. You can also ask him to put on his old Circulation Man costume.
Another unique store opens on Main Street
The more I see of Main Street these days, the more I like it. Kathy Witt is officially taking over as owner of The Flower Basket on July 1 and she is opening a great new candy shop beside her store.
Kathy?s sweet shop has upscale chocolate such as chocolate and peanut butter truffles, large chocolate-covered pretzels, pecan clusters, gourmet popcorn, fudge, gumballs and a whole bunch more.
?I thought this would be a nice change to add something new to Main Street,? said Kathy. ?Plus it gives people an alternative to just sending flowers. I can make them up a basket with some chocolate and some gourmet jams and sauces, and I can put some flowers in there too if they want.?
Kathy also wants to stress she will continue to sell flowers. The Flower Basket has been in business for 59 years and Kathy will continue that rich tradition.
?I had a call a couple weeks ago from a guy who said he heard I was not selling flowers anymore and that?s not the case,? said Kathy. ?We will continue to offer flowers for weddings and any event.?
Kathy?s new sweet shop is easy to find for two reasons. First, it?s located directly across from the Park Theater and we all know where that is. Second, she has a classic train set up in the window that?s neat to see.
When folks talk about giving Main Street its own identity with one-of-a-kind stores, The Flower Basket?s sweet shop fits that bill. I encourage you to stop by during or after the official opening this coming Saturday, July 1. The phone number is 473-4453.
Karate champion opens his own studio
Over the past 2-1/2 years, Michael Grubbs has earned a few karate trophies. Actually he has won around 55 of them. Now he is taking his karate expertise and making it available at his new Mullican Street business called McMinnville School of Karate.
?This has been a longtime dream of mine,? said Michael, who has been involved with karate, off and on, for around 20 years. ?If you can?t turn your back and walk away from a bad situation, this is a way to handle what comes at you. Plus it?s a big self-confidence builder, a character builder for kids. For some kids, the discipline they learn here helps their grades go up.?
Michael currently works at the Nissan plant in Smyrna and he plans to keep his day job for the time being. He says if he can build his karate business to around 60 or 70 students, that should be enough to allow him to leave Nissan and devote himself full time to his karate dream.
Josh Davenport is the head instructor and he is anxious to convey his martial arts skills to his students.
?This is not an aerobics class,? said Josh. ?I?ve been to some places that treat karate like aerobics and this is not one of those places. You?ll get a good workout but you?ll also need to run because this is not a cardiovascular workout.?
Michael says 5 or 6 is the perfect age to start kids in karate and has classes for all ages. He recommends coming twice a week.
?That seems to keep students excited about coming to class,? said Michael.
The business is located behind Ace Hardware and the phone number is 474-2777.
Wilcher?s Sawmill expands to new retail location
Wilcher?s Sawmill has operated for decades at its Starlight Road location and the mill will continue to stay at that spot. But the business has added a new retail-oriented location at the old D&H Equipment building on Sparta Highway that has already jump started sales.
?It?s been wonderful,? said employee Holly McBride. ?Some people said they didn?t even know we were in Warren County until we moved. Lumber sales have picked up and so have metal roofing sales.?
The popularity of the metal roofing is one of the main reasons Wilcher?s decided to expand. Shingles have to be replaced every 15 years or so, but a quality metal roof can last the lifetime of your home.
And here?s the big news. If you?re thinking of buying a metal roof, this weekend is the time to do it. Wilcher?s is offering 10 percent off all its metal roofing this Friday and Saturday only.
If you?re hungry, make plans to stop by Wilcher?s during the grand opening bash this Friday. There will be plenty of burgers and hotdogs and you can register for two Kenny Chesney tickets.
Wilcher?s is located at 5770 Sparta Highway and the phone number is 668-2947.
Bonnaroo most lucrative music festival in world
By now, most of us have heard of the Bonnaroo music festival, held just 20 minutes down the road in Manchester. But did you know Bonnaroo is the most profitable music festival in the world, according to Billboard magazine.
Last week Billboard released financial information that indicated Bonnaroo grossed some $15 million in four days. That?s nearly $4 million a day that?s earned in one big field ? pretty impressive numbers if you ask me.
The festival grossed $13.4 million last year, and $14.5 million in 2004.
Warren County restaurant owner Gary Prater has been at Bonnaroo all five years of its existence and has always reported pretty good sales. It?s great to see a local guy reeling in some of those Bonnaroo bucks.
I only wish there was a way for more local businesses to grab a piece of Bonnaroo?s $15 million pie. The great thing about Bonnaroo people is they come to town, spend a bunch of money, then they go home. And when they leave, their money stays.
That?s all folks
If you have more business tips, be sure to let me know. Or if you have any sources that can get me a hypoallergenic cat for less than $5,000, let me know that too. The phone number is 473-2191.