Don’t let spam mail guide your life
Ready or not, it’s time to sit down, have a long talk with yourself, and hammer out some New Year’s Resolutions. Then we can prepare for the toughest three weeks of our lives before finally declaring our resolutions were pretty silly anyway.
In honor of the wonders of the Internet, and its evil twin – spam mail – I’m going to base my New Year’s Resolutions on e-mails I’ve received in the last 24 hours.
Yes, I want to be taken off the list! But that never seems to work and the volume of spam mail only seems to multiply with every passing day.
If I were to shape my life around these spam mailings, and their never-ending claims, here’s how my New Year’s Resolutions would sound:
• I resolve to find a job where I can earn $1,000 a week stuffing envelopes from my home.
• I resolve to lose 20 pounds in three days based on a new scientific pill that miraculously dissolves fat.
• I resolve to look younger and be more energetic by taking HGH 1000.
• I resolve to start saving 30 to 50 percent for prescription medication.
• I resolve to pay 0% interest on my credit cards.
• I resolve to graduate with a master’s degree in the field of my choice by taking 12 simple courses over the Internet.
• I resolve to have whiter teeth in seven days.
• I resolve to get the lowest home mortgage rate possible.
And this is just the spam mail I can talk about. I say it’s time the federal government pounced in the ring and laid down some heavy guidelines and a few mega fines for these bulk spammers.
That’s my philosophy on spam mail, but what I really like is comedian Mitch Hedberg’s philosophy on fishing. Hedberg was hilarious in his Tuesday night routine on the Conan O’Brien Show for anyone who stayed up to 11:35 p.m. to watch it. Hedberg said, in a miraculous revelation, he would be much more inclined to fish if he could actually catch fish sticks.
And I want to end this week’s introduction with good news for everyone here in Warren County. With this nasty cold and flu bug that’s going around, the city of Vicksburg, Miss., decided to alleviate a problem of employees calling in sick. Henceforth, city workers in Vicksburg are expected to give 48 hours notice before calling in sick. So please plan the next time you’re going to be laid up in bed.
Familiar face, new bowling alley owner
McMinnville Lanes has returned to familiar hands. Professional bowler Mike Sealy II, who owned the local facility from 1997 to 2000, has purchased the bowling alley again.
When it comes to bowling, Mike is no stranger to the game. As a pro bowler, he has won three tournaments – including one in South Carolina where he finished with a 251 average.
Mike said bowling on the pro tour is a whole lot different than grabbing a ball and bowling a few games at your local bowling alley. He said pro golf tournaments are held on tricky courses and pro-sanctioned bowling events are no different.
“It’s a whole lot more intense than people imagine,” said Mike. “They can apply oil in different places on the lanes to make your ball spin differently.
“If we had a pro tournament right here, right now,” he said pointing to the pins at McMinnville Lanes, “the scores would be in the 250s. But on regular tour events, if you can average 220, you can make a good living.”
Mike has owned the bowling alley in Lebanon since 1994 and has big plans for the facility here. He has announced new daily specials at McMinnville Lanes, including $1.39 games Monday through Friday from noon until 5 p.m. and on Tuesday nights from 5 p.m. until close.
Other specials include glow Cyber-Bowl for only $3.25 a game on Friday nights from 9:30 p.m. to close and on Saturday nights 7 p.m. to close. For more serious bowlers, Sealy has created a new No-Tap Doubles Tournament format on Monday nights that is not only for current league bowlers, but also allows former league bowlers to participate.
Since bowling and shooting pool often go hand in hand, Mike is also organizing a pool league which will begin play in January. Games will be played on Tuesday nights and sign-ups are currently under way.
If you have a team of five or six players, you can sign up as a team, or you can call in individually and be placed on a team. The number at the bowling alley is 473-6679. Mike will also be offering bowling lessons for anyone who is interested.
Randy’s Raceway Market gives out big check
You have to love the friendly folks at Randy’s Raceway Market on Sparta Street. Randy and Karen Marsh sure know how to make their customers happy – by giving away money.
James Sanders was the recipient of a $2,375 check from Raceway Market and that’s a lot of money. The $2,375 was funds left over from the store’s weekly giveaways of $50, $25 and $10. Some weeks no one would step forward to claim their prize. So all that unclaimed money was swept into one big pot and a drawing was held to award it.
When she handed over the check, Karen told Mr. Sanders, “Don’t spend it all in one place.” She then quickly corrected herself and said, “Unless that place is here.”
Sanders was sure plenty happy. He gave out a few big hugs then walked to the door with a smile on his face.
Grant money to benefit Morrison Tool & Fab
When I hear about Morrison Tool & Fab signing a 10-year lease on the 44,000-square-foot spec building, I couldn’t be happier for Ron Wilson and his crew. I think it’s great the company is expanding – and bringing all-important jobs into this county.
Along with the 10-year-lease, the Industrial Development Board recently announced the approval of a $221,200 Tennessee Industrial Infrastructure Program (TIIP) grant from the state to provide portable water service and sanitary sewer service to the new Morrison Tool & Fab site.
It helped matters that state Sen. Jerry Cooper endorsed this project from the start. If you have folks like Cooper on your side, things tend to get done. “This project is of vital importance to the community and we are looking forward to the increased opportunity for new jobs in Warren County,” Cooper said.
I think any time the county can get free money, we deserve to stand up and applaud. Don’t forget $221,200 is a pretty nice chunk of change.
Final thoughts for the year
Business Pulse strives to be YOUR source of information when it comes to business news. And if that means keeping you up to date on the latest job interview trends, I’m more than happy to do it.
I provide this information for anyone who may be walking into the new year searching for a job. And I have access to this information because I ate at Subway for lunch.
According to a survey conducted by Office Team, an independent research firm, the latest hip thing for a job interviewer to do is ask you an off-the-wall question to begin the conversation.
Research has shown such questions to be so-called icebreakers. I’m not so sure I agree with that, but here are some of the actual questions job interviewers say they have asked:
• If you could be an animal, what would you be?
• Why are manhole covers round?
• What would I find in your refrigerator?
• If you were having a dinner party and could invite three famous people, who would they be? (Note: Ozzy is not a good answer to this one.)
• What did you want to be when you were 10 years old?
• Do you see yourself in my position in the future?
Always remember, don’t crack under pressure. These job interview executives are looking for an unexpected question to elicit a candid, unrehearsed response. That will give the hiring manager a better sense of a person’s sense of humor and ability to think on their feet.
That’s all folks
Best of wishes to everyone for a Happy New Year. I know I especially am excited about this coming year because I have so many goals I’m going to accomplish.
If you have business news to report, give me a call at 473-2191.