I cannot tell a lie – he doesn’t bite
I don’t remember much from history class, but I do remember a story about George Washington. As the story goes, George supposedly chopped down a cherry tree with a hatchet. When asked by his parents if he chopped down the tree, George said, “I cannot tell a lie. I did it.”
Nowadays, folks aren’t so straightforward. As hard as it may be to believe, I too have a tendency to stretch the truth. And I don’t say that just because I hit a hole-in-one yesterday.
I bring this up because I was reading a report discussing the growing tendency to lie ? let’s say stretch the truth ? in every day conversation. And how about some of the big ones told by major U.S. figures.
Did President Clinton lie? “I did not have sex with that woman!”
Did Martha Stewart lie? She didn’t have insider information.
How about Pete Rose? He didn’t gamble. Then he didn’t bet on baseball. Then he didn’t bet on the Reds. Then he didn’t bet on the Reds to lose. It keeps getting worse.
Here are what I figure to be the most common lies:
• The check is in the mail.
• You get this one, I’ll pay next time.
• It’s not the money, it’s the principle of the thing.
• But we can still be good friends.
• Don’t worry, we can go another 20 miles before we run out of gas.
• He’s never bitten anyone.
• I’ve never done anything like this before.
• I’m from the IRS, and I am here to help you.
There’s even a professor of psychology at Texas Christian University named Charles F. Bond who specializes in lying. Bond did a survey and concluded Americans believe they get lied to about eight times a week.
Said Bond, “I find that everyone seems to be fascinated by lying. People have a preoccupation and a fascination with the possibility that other people are lying.”
According to Bond, some people are just good liars and have an ability to whole-heartedly convince others they are telling the truth. As you might expect, some of these people are con men and they have luck getting large sums of money. Bond also said the way people look has a direct relation to whether people think they are believable.
When in doubt, just remember I have a face you can trust. If I ever try to sell you a car, believe me when I say it runs like a charm.
If I tell you I just performed emergency surgery on a stranger in an elevator, it’s probably not because I just stayed in a Holiday Inn Express last night. It’s because I’m stretching the truth
But there is validity to the statement that I’m about to bring you this week’s Business Pulse.
Lifeline Christian Books turns page to new ownership
Regon and Teresa Paris decided to do something really unique as new owners of Lifeline Christian Books in the Plaza Shopping Center. They had their two children dress up in ant suits for grand opening festivities yesterday. The kids took it well and the grand opening was a hit with live music, balloons and even cotton candy.
Regon and Teresa have actually owned the store since July 1. They were longtime customers who decided to buy the business when they heard it was for sale.
Widespread changes aren’t expected since the bookstore has been providing quality Christian books, music, greeting cards and other gifts for 10 years. However, Regon and Teresa have improved the children’s section with a table for coloring, a large pillow to sit on and listen to music, and play toys.
As for upcoming events, a back to school bash is planned for Aug. 28 from 4 to 7 p.m. The group Everlife is scheduled to sing and sign copies of its latest CD.
Hot dog man to reopen Monday
The sign that says the hot dog man is closed for remodeling has brought a few laughs, but it has also brought a couple questions.
Has Brian Curran, otherwise known as the hot dog man, really remodeled his hot dog cart? And will he offer new items other than just hot dogs when he reopens Monday?
You don’t have to wait until tomorrow to find out the answers because I called Brian and got the scoop. The short answers are that Brian has improved his hot dog cart, but there won’t be a larger menu.
“The cart was getting rusted and to the point where I really didn’t like the look of it,” said Brian. “So I had it painted and I have it back now. All I have to do is put it back together and I’ll be ready to go.”
Brian says he has often thought about offering other items but is restricted in what he can do because he doesn’t have electricity. “I can’t do any other meat because that’s not considered safe,” said Brian, who also indicated he has toyed with the idea of moving his business from the street and into a storefront.
He says that idea has its good points, such as access to a bathroom and protection from the heat and snow. But folks have become accustomed to his familiar face at the corner of Court Square.
“People love the hot dog cart,” said Brian’s wife, Wendy. “They think they are in a big city. It’s the novelty they like. If we go into a store front, we’ll lose that novelty.”
Still, Brian says the idea of going into a store and expanding his menu to include items like ice cream and gourmet coffee is tempting. But for now, he has his hot dog cart fixed up and he’ll be open for business again Monday.
Jim Glenn retires after 32 years
Jim Glenn has worked his last day for the Social Security Administration and that day was Friday. So it was fitting there was a retirement reception in his honor Friday afternoon complete with delicious chocolate chip cookies.
Jim was given a variety of retirement gifts but the best had to be a basketball autographed by Kentucky coach Tubby Smith. Jim is an avid basketball player, and at age 66 he’s still a deadly shot. But he says he doesn’t plan to dribble his autographed ball because bouncing it may wear off Tubby Smith’s signature.
As for his retirement plans, Jim says it’s all contingent on whether he gets Social Security benefits. OK, so it’s probably safe to say Jim will get benefits which means he can buy some more of those chocolate chip cookies.
He says his plans are to take some small trips, but nothing major just yet. He has a son, Ryan, who is entering his senior year at Warren County High School and if Jim is gone for too long, Ryan will throw one heckuva party.
Asked what he remembers most from his years of service, Jim didn’t point to anything in particular other than doing his job to the best of his ability.
“People from out of our service area come to our office because they don’t have to wait and because we’re known for treating people nice,” said Jim. “We get people from as far away as Chattanooga.”
Our local Social Security office serves Warren, DeKalb, Van Buren and Grundy counties. There’s no word yet on Jim’s successor.
Wal-Mart McDonald’s among best in country
For anyone who has shopped at Wal-Mart and decided to take a stroll back to McDonald’s for a Big Mac, you may not have known it, but you were tasting one of the best Big Macs in all America.
The McDonald’s inside Wal-Mart was recently honored as one of the top 100 stores in the United States from a pool of over 13,000 restaurants.
“When we don’t have customers, we’re cleaning all the time,” said swing shift manager Jennifer Fults.
Each store was graded on such categories as food quality, friendly service and cleanliness. But they were also graded by secret customers who visit the store unannounced.
These customers are like undercover spies in that they look and dress just like regular McDonald’s customers. They order their food and never let the McDonald’s employee know their every move is being monitored. And should the McDonald’s worker snap and yell at the customer, well then you can kiss goodbye any hopes of landing in the top 100 stores.
“It shows you have to be prepared at all times,” said Jennifer.
Montgomery Kennel now grooms dogs
For years and years, Jenny Montgomery has raised Yorkies and Maltese dogs at Montgomery Kennel. Now she’s expanding her services to our four-legged friends by offering grooming and boarding.
Jenny has hired Bridget Anderkin as her part-time dog groomer for work on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The hope is that the grooming will go over so well it can be offered Monday through Friday.
Bridget has been grooming dogs – and cats too – since 1995. Over the years, she has learned a few tricks of the trade.
“You have to be patient. That’s the main thing,” said Bridget. When asked how in the world she can get a cat to sit still long enough to groom, she admitted, “Some cats can be evil.”
On a side note, Bridget just happens to be single. At the risk of sounding like a personal ad, she likes long walks on the beach, music, and spending time with friends.
How that relates to Montgomery Kennel, I’m not really sure. What I am sure of is that Jenny has cages full of Yorkies and Maltese for sale at all different prices.
“Dogs are just like a car,” said Jenny. “The nicer they are, the more expensive they are.”
That’s all folks
For business news, call me at 473-2191.