In general, I tend to prefer serious patina. My old aircooled Porsche still has bug guts on the windshield that it earned in the aftermath of an Iowa rainstorm. Rather than cleaning my cars, I prefer to spend my time driving them, and given a spare three hours on a Sunday afternoon, I'd rather head for the hills than pick up my clay bar. As Porsche fanatics go, I realize I may be in the minority with that opinion. I've seen my fair share of PCA Concours fields to know that a lot of Porsche folks enjoy spending their time cleaning the buttons on their dash with toothpicks and cotton swabs. That's not really my bag, but maybe this bag is yours?

A couple of years ago, Porsche Classic introduced this cool houndstooth carry bag that comes with a full suite of Porsche-endorsed cleaning products for your vintage P-car. It includes tire cleaner, window cleaner, plastics cleaner, wheel cleaner (different than tire cleaner) with some extra brushes, a cleaning clay, car shampoo, a polish, and a hard wax. Applicators for each are included as necessary, as well. The set is said to be a thorough, yet gentle all-around clean and protection kit, and everything was tested by engineers in Weissach.

None of that really matters, because we just wanted an excuse to post this really cool video that Porsche released to promote the set. Watch as this early production 911 is cleaned back to original, turning back the years right in front of your eyes.

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Can Cleaning Your Old Porsche Bring Back The Memories Of The Good Old Days? - The Drive

A fraudster has been jailed for two years after he posed as a window cleaner to try and get money out of vulnerable Huddersfield pensioners.

Leeds Crown Court heard on the evening of May 23, John Foggo went to the home of an elderly woman in Netherton and claimed to be collecting money for cleaning her windows.

The woman, who had Alzheimers was confused by him. He said he had been there on an earlier occasion when he had carried out the work.

John Bull prosecuting said the woman was helped daily by family and decided to ring her daughter but as she did so, her son arrived at the property.

He was surprised to hear voices inside and when he went in found Foggo who persisted with his ruse that he was the window cleaner. Asked how long he had been doing that he said two years and her son knew that could not be right.

There was a physical confrontation when he tried to stop Foggo leaving and they grappled briefly before the conman ran off. Her son tried to chase him but lost him.

However he was arrested the next day from his description and was also found to have been the person who called at two neighbouring bungalows in Netherton on May 19 telling pensioners who lived there he had come to collect money for cleaning windows, although in both cases the occupants did not hand over any money.

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Mr Bull said Foggo was sentenced in 2013 for fraud offences when he visited homes in Mirfield claiming to repair and service boilers.

Daniel Smith representing Foggo said his previous convictions resulted from his drug misuse but he had become clean from heroin during his last custodial sentence.

The current offences occurred when his benefits had been stopped but he was now working as a scaffolder and had secure accommodation.

Foggo, 36, of New North Road, Huddersfield admitted one charge of fraud and asked for two to be taken into consideration.

Jailing him Judge Robin Mairs said his history showed he specifically targeted the vulnerable and weak.

Those you choose are easy prey and you prey on that vulnerability and confusion to try and get money from them.

This was planned offending, going to areas where they live and seeking them out. It is not hard to imagine the confusion and shock it causes on this in our society who deserve the protection of the courts from people like you.

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Bogus window cleaner jailed for targeting "vulnerable and confused" pensioners - Huddersfield Examiner

A handyman, also known as a handyperson[1][2][3] or handyworker,[4][5] is a person skilled at a wide range of repairs, typically around the home. These tasks include trade skills, repair work, maintenance work, are both interior and exterior, and are sometimes described as "side work", "odd jobs" or "fix-up tasks". Specifically, these jobs could be light plumbing jobs such as fixing a leaky toilet or light electric jobs such as changing a light fixture.

The term handyman increasingly describes a paid worker, but it also includes non-paid homeowners or do-it-yourselfers. Tasks range from minor to major, from unskilled to highly skilled, and include painting, drywall repair, remodeling, minor plumbing work, minor electrical work, household carpentry, sheetrock, crown moulding, and furniture assembly (see more complete list below.) The term handyman is occasionally applied as an adjective to describe politicians or business leaders who make substantial organizational changes, such as overhauling a business structure or administrative division.[6][7]

Many people can do common household repairs. There are resources on the Internet, as well as do-it-yourself guide books,[8] with instructions about how to complete a wide range of projects. Sometimes the fix-it skill is seen as genetic, and people lacking such skills are said to "lack the handy-man gene."[9] One trend is that fewer homeowners are inclined to do fix-up jobs, perhaps because of time constraints, perhaps because of lack of interest; one reporter commented "my family's fix-it gene petered out before it reached my generation."[10] A primary rule for all do-it-yourself repair work is focus entirely on one thing at a time.[11] For example, focus on getting a nail; then focus on hammering the nail; but don't try to do both tasks simultaneously. In this manner, injuries and mistakes are avoided.

Generally the job of paid handyman is low status, a semi-skilled labor job. It's a less prestigious occupation than a specialist such as a plumber, electrician, or carpenter. With the emergence of large national chains, an effort is being made to change that perception, by emphasizing professionalism and the fact that a handyman is actually a technician with multiple skills and a wide range of knowledge. At the same time, unpaid homeowners skilled at repairs are valued for saving money. And handyman tools sometimes become useful in different places: for example, when a proper neurological drill was not available, an Australian doctor used a handyman's drill in 2009 to open a hole in the head of a 13-year-old boy to relieve pressure after a brain injury; the boy's life was saved.[12]

An estimate was that in 2003, the market for home-maintenance and repair spending was up 14% from 2001 to 2003.[13] Another estimate was that the market in the United States was $126 billion and was increasing by about 4% annually.[10] American homes are aging; one estimate was that in 2007, more than half of all homes are older than 25 years.[13] And, as populations worldwide tend to become older, on average, and since increasingly elderly people will be less inclined and able to maintain their homes, it is likely that demand for handyman services will grow.

Many towns have handymen who work part-time, for friends or family or neighbors, who are skilled in a variety of tasks. Sometimes they advertise in newspapers or online. They vary in quality, professionalism, skill level, and price. Contractors often criticize the work of previous contractors, and this practice is not limited to handymen, but to all trades.[14] Handymen have advertised their services through flyers and mailings; in addition, free websites such as Craigslist and SkillSlate help customers and handymen find each other.[15]

In 2009, there were national handyman service firms which handle such nationwide tasks as public relations, marketing, advertising, and signage, but sell specific territories to franchise owners. A franchise contract typically gives a franchise owner the exclusive right to take service calls within a given geographical area. The websites of these firms put possible customers in touch with local owners, which have handymen and trucks. Customers call the local numbers. Typically these firms charge around $100/hour, although fees vary by locality and time of year. In many parts of the world, there are professional handyman firms that do small home or commercial projects which claim possible advantages such as having workers who are insured and licensed. Their branch offices schedule service appointments for full-time and part-time handymen to visit and make repairs, and sometimes coordinate with sub-contractors.

One Lehman Brothers executive, after being let go from the Wall Street firm, bought a Union, New Jersey franchise from a national handyman firm.[16] A franchise was approximately $110,000 with a franchise fee of $14,900, according to a spokesperson for a national handyman franchise.[16]

Some see a benefit of franchising as "entrepreneurship under the safety net of a tried-and-true business umbrella"[16] but forecast a 1.2 percent decrease in franchise businesses during the 2008-2009 recession.[16] In 2005, according to a survey released by the Washington-based International Franchise Association showed 909,000 franchised establishments in the United States employing some 11 million people.[16] Franchises offer training, advertising and information technology support, lower procurement costs and access to a network of established operators.[16]

Franchise handyman firms sometimes pitch clients by asking prospective customers about their unresolved "to-do lists."[17] The firm does odd jobs, carpentry, and repairs.[17] Trends such as a "poverty of time" and a "glut of unhandy husbands" has spurred the business.[17] Technicians do a range of services including tile work, painting, and wallpapering.[17] One firm charges $88 per hour.[17] The firm targets a work category which full-fledged remodelers and contractors find unprofitable.[17] A consumer was quoted by a reporter explaining the decision to hire one firm: "'I couldn't find anyone to come in and help me because the jobs were too small', said Meg Beck of Huntington, who needed some painting and carpentry done. She turned to one franchise firm and said she liked the fact that the service has well-marked trucks and uniformed technicians and that a dispatcher called with the names of the crew before they showed up."[17] There are indications that these businesses are growing.[17] There are different firms operating.[13][18]

Other competitors include online referral services.[10] In addition, some large home centers offer installation services for products such as cabinets and carpet installation.[17] Sometimes homeowners contact a professional service after trying, but failing, to do repair work themselves; in one instance, a Minneapolis homeowner attempted a project but called a technician to finish the project, and the overall cost was substantial.[19]

How well do the franchise chains perform? One Wall Street Journal reporting team did an informal assessment by hiring "handymen all over the country and asked them to fix a wide range of problems, from a relatively routine leaky faucet to a sticky door."[13] The reporter concluded that "with few licensing requirements and standards for the industry, prices are all over the board."[13] One quote was ten times as large as another.[13] Further, the reporter concluded "A big corporate name is no guarantee of quality or speedy service."[13] One corporate firm took three weeks to fix a stuck door.[13] Service varied from spotty to good, with complaints about unreturned phone calls, service people standing on dining room chairs, leaving holes between wood planking, but liked getting multiple jobs done instead of just one.[13] Customers liked handymen wearing hospital booties (to avoid tracking dirt in houses).[13] The reporter chronicled one experience with repairing a water-damaged ceiling. A franchise firm fixed it for $1,530; a second (non-franchise local handyman) fixed a similar ceiling for $125.[13] The reporter preferred the second worker, despite the fact that he "doesn't have a fancy van -- or carry proof of insurance."[13] Tips for selecting a good handyman include: ask questions, get written estimates on company stationery, make sure handymen guarantee their work, pay with credit cards or checks because this provides an additional record of each transaction, check references and licenses,[20] review feedback about the contractors from Internet sites. To find a competent worker, one can seek referrals from local sources such as a school or church or office park, to see if a staff handyman does projects on the side, as well as ask friends for referrals; a general contractor might have workers who do projects on the side as well.[20] Further, one can try out a new handyman with easy projects such as cleaning gutters to see how well they perform.[20]

Generally, in the United States, there are few legal issues if an unpaid homeowner works on a project within their own home, with some exceptions. Some jurisdictions require paid handymen to be licensed and/or insured. New Jersey, for example, requires all handymen who work in for-profit businesses serving residential and commercial customers, to be registered and insured.[21] Often handymen are barred from major plumbing, electrical wiring, or gas-fitting projects for safety reasons, and authorities sometimes require workers to be licensed in particular trades. However, minor plumbing work such as fixing water taps, connecting sinks, fixing leaks, or installing new washing machines, are usually permitted to be done without licensing. Many handymen are insured under a property damage liability policy, so that accidental property damage from negligence or accidents are covered.

The handyman image recurs in popular culture. There have been songs about handymen recorded by Elvis Presley in 1964, Del Shannon in 1964, James Taylor in 1977.[22] There are femme-fatale TV characters who fall for handymen.[23] Handymen have been portrayed in books and films, generally positively, as do-gooder helpful types, but not particularly smart or ambitious. In a book by author Carolyn See called The Handyman, a handyman is really an aspiring but discouraged artist who transforms the lives of people he works for, as well as having sexual encounters with some of his clients, and his experiences improve his artistic output.[24] The book suggests handymen discover "the appalling loneliness of the women who call him for help" whose needs are sometimes "comic," sometimes "heartbreaking," and deep down "sexual."[25] A 1980 movie called The Handyman was about a carpenter-plumber who was "good at what he does" but is "too honest and trusting," and gets taken advantage of by "women who find him handsome and understanding;" the movie earned negative reviews from critic Vincent Canby.[26] Other movies have used a rather tired formula of sexy-handyman meets bored-housewives, such as The Ups and Downs of a Handyman, a 1975 movie in which "Handsome Bob also finds he's a fast favorite with the local housewives, who seem to have more than small repairs on their minds."[27] In Canada, there's a television show called Canada's Worst Handyman which is a reality show in which handyman contestants try their best on jobs in order to not be labeled worst handyman. Home Improvement is an American television sitcom starring Tim Allen, which aired 1991 to 1999. On the children's television show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Handyman Negri was one of the characters residing in The Neighborhood of Make-Believe, as well as the neighborhood Mister Rogers resides in. Handy Manny is an American/Hispanic preschool television show that airs on Disney Junior and stars a handy man cartoon character named Manny. The Belgian comics and media franchise The Smurfs depicts Handy Smurf with traditional handyman's accoutrements, such as overalls, carpenter's pencil and work hat. Happy Tree Friends also has an orange beaver named Handy who is a handyman.

The list of projects which handymen can do is extensive, and varies from easy-to-learn tasks which take little time such as changing a light bulb, to extensive projects which require multiple steps, such as kitchen remodeling. Here is a partial list:

Note: this is a partial list

Read more:
Handyman - Wikipedia

Filed May 2, 2006

The filing of an assumed name does not provide a user with exclusive rights to that name. The filing is required for consumer protection in order to enable consumers to be able to identify the true owner of a business.

1. State the exact assumed name under which the business is or will be conducted: Unique Handyman Services.

2. State the address of the principal place of business. A complete street address or rural route and rural route box number is required: 8466

Isleton Court South, Cottage Grove, MN 55016.

3. List the name and complete street address of all persons conducting business under the above Assumed Name or if the business is a corporation, provide the legal corporate name and registered office address of the corporation: Andrea L. Schroetke, 8466 Isleton Court South, Cottage Grove, MN 55016.

4. I certify that I am authorized to sign this certificate and I further certify that I understand that by signing this certificate, I am subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in Minnesota Statutes section 609.48 as if I had signed this certificate under oath.

Dated this 2nd day of May, 2006.

s/ Andrea L. Schroetke, Owner

Contact Person: Andrea L. Schroetke

(651) 324-7073

(Published in the South Washington County

Bulletin Wednesday, May 10, 2006 and Wednesday, May 17, 2006.)

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Certificate of assumed name: Unique Handyman Services - South Washington County Bulletin

Grubhub co-founder Mike Evans launches new on-demand handyman service

On Monday, Grubhub co-founder Mike Evans revealed his next big thing: on-demand handyman service Fixer.com. Evans, speaking to Crains, said the idea for Fixer came after he had difficulty getting someone to install a rain barrel at his home. Like other on-demand handymen services, the platform charges a flat rate of $80/hour for jobs. However, it differs from competitors like Thumbtack in that its professionals are all full-time employees which allows them to respond to work requests in an hours time. Fixer is currently available by invite-only to those in the Chicago area. [Crains]

Two Chicago tech companies crack the top 10 of Crain's 2017 Fast 50

Crains Fast 50 list, which ranks Chicago-area companies with the fastest-growing revenues over a five-year period, was revealed this week and two tech companies made it into the top 10. Signal came in at number four and Outcome Health landed at number seven. Both have posted outstanding revenue growth numbers over the past five years, with Signals revenue growing 11,638.7% and Outcome Healths growth checking in at 2,963.2%.

2016 was a big year for Signal, which posted $29.1 million in revenue while also closing a $30 million Series E funding round. Meanwhile Outcome Health leveraged its strong 2016 to raise an incredible $500 million from investors during its first ever funding round. A total of 16 tech companies made Crains Fast 50 for 2017. [Crain's]

Sittercity's founder launches new app to get people to the polls

Sittercity founder and serial entrepreneur Genevieve Thiers introduced her newest venture Monday, a politically focused app called EveryElection. The iOS app an Android app and web version are in development alerts users to upcoming elections. The app also provides information on candidates and measures on the ballot. Thiers told Built In Chicago that the idea behind the app is to make remembering to vote, and being an informed voter, easier. Well make it easy for you, but you have to take the step of downloading that app and looking at the alerts, she said. [Built In Chicago]

Mark Zuckerberg visits Chicago for the first Facebook Communities Summit

Last week, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was in Chicago to kick off the companys first ever Communities Summit. The free event spanned two days and was only open to administrators of groups on the social networking site who had registered in advance. It included workshops and feedback sessions with company employees. Both Zuckerberg and Facebook chief product officer Chris Cox spoke at the event, with announcements including new features for admins to better manage groups and tools to weed out bad actors.

CloudRanger launches visual server management platform for AWS users

Photos via featured companies

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Tech roundup: Grubhub co-founder reveals his next big thing, Zuckerberg visits Chicago and more - Built In Chicago

Evanston Now

Recap: Administration and Public Works Committee | Evanston Now Evanston Now Here's a recap of our live coverage of this evening's Evanston City Council Administration and Public Works Committee meeting. The meeting is scheduled to ... and more »

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Recap: Administration and Public Works Committee | Evanston Now - Evanston Now

Just over ten years ago, Mike Evans and Matt Maloney were trying to get their idea for a new startup off the ground to enable you to order food from your computer. That idea was GrubHub which took off with the launch of mobile apps, grew to merge with its largest competitor, and eventually had a $192M IPO.

Here we are a decade later, after some time off to bike across the countryand write science fiction, GrubHub cofounderMike Evans is at it again. This time its the launch ofFixer, a startup looking to make it easier to find and order, not food, but a handyman. As explained on their website:

Fixer is a right nowhandyman service. We are at your door within an hour and charge a flat hourly rate for all services.

Weve all been there, looking for a reliable handyman is not an easy endeavor. You might look to Yelp or ask your friends who they use, or you might even try Taskrabbit all with variable levels of success.Fixer is looking to help change that by creating an army of full-time fixers. Their goal is to hire apprentice level fixers, increase their skills through training and apprenticeship, and then retain them with a fair wage and benefits. This means Fixer will have employees rather than contractors thus helping to create a career path for gig-economy workers.

According to a report by the Chicago Tribune, fixers have completed about 200 jobs so far, including some for repeat customers. Fixer is currently open in Chicago by invite only you can sign up for a beta accountafter a beta launch yesterday.

Read more about startups emerging in Chicago at Tech.Co

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Grubhub Cofounder Mike Evans Launches Fixer To Find You A Handyman - Tech.Co

It may sound weird, but the most part of success in replacing new windows in your house is their correct installation. We are going to tell you about some significant aspects you should pay attention to if you made up your mind to replace your old PVC windows with new ones.

You might ask yourself what an energy efficient window is and what the advantages are. We will try to answer all your questions.

Replacing windows

First of all, you should calculate the cost of windows with several airbags, ultraglass and other additions.

It is important rely on professionals

At the initial request, a quantity surveyor is obliged to inspect your window opening and advise you which profile options can be used (usually a few, from an economy option to a more expensive one), and also tell how to prepare a window for installation.

Preparing for installation

Do not forget that the installation of windows is a rather dirty matter (dirty mainly because you have to drill walls and break old frames). It is better to maximize the space to protect your things. If there are some things that cannot be taken out, you should cover them with a protective film.

Before dismantling the old windows, the installer always measures the finished windows according to the size of the window openings and checks against the previous calculations.

After dismantling the window opening should be clean. All chips and potholes in the wall must be sealed, otherwise air can get into these joints. Before installing the vinyl windows, the opening is wetted with water for better adhesion or processed with a special primer.

Correct installation of the frame in the opening

The frames of new windows are set either on bolts or anchor plates. It depends on the technical characteristics of the opening. The installation should be monitored in three planes. These ones should not go beyond 1.5 mm per 1 meter of length.

Filling the assembly seam

It may seem simple at first glance. However, the work should be done very carefully. The window frame is fixed with wedges. You should drill holes for fixing very carefully, so as not to damage the profile.

Adjusting the fittings

Proper adjustment of the fittings ensures you that in a half of a year months your windows will not start to sag at the opening and I will still be snug. Adjustment is subject to a swivel-tilt mechanism and loops, the worker with the hexagon will reliably adjust all the parts and show how to transfer the windows into winter and summer mode

Cleaning after installation

Everything is ready, the windows are installed, but there is garbage and old frames left. The installers will take out heavy garbage and old windows from the apartment.

Before signing the acceptance certificate, make sure that the windows and window sills (if you installed them) are clean, the protective film that they originally covered is removed, the glasses must be clean.

We are sure that our windows replacing tips will help you.

Link:
Things to Know About Window Replacement - SRJ News

The Bellingham Herald

Sandy Point burn ban planned after Independence Day | The ... The Bellingham Herald Despite two days of record heat last weekend, temperatures remain near normal and no areas of Whatcom County are under burn bans. and more »

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Sandy Point burn ban planned after Independence Day | The ... - The Bellingham Herald

REDLANDS >> Fred and Barbara Ford recently donated a granite hitching post to the Museum of Redlands.

Fred Fords career in Redlands and the Inland Valley in the past 40 years has been in land clearing.

In the 1970s, when the former Jennie Davis-Joe Prendergast house was being moved from Brookside Avenue in Redlands to Sierra Way in Fontana, Ford helped the contractors clear the property, and he retrieved the granite hitching posts from the site.

An apartment complex was then built on that property, which is about 10 lots west of the former Redlands Daily Facts building on Brookside Avenue. The former Facts building will be renovated to house the Museum of Redlands.

The donation of the hitching post has other historic relevance in addition to the post having come from a site near the future museum building.

Fred Ford is the grandson of Isaac Ford, who was city engineer for Redlands, one of the founders of First Baptist Church and the University of Redlands and for whom Redlands Ford Park and Ford Street are named.

Connected to the house that was moved from Brookside Avenue is Jennie Davis daughter Gwen Davis, who married Joe Prendergast. Prendergasts sister was Lucretia Prendergast Moore, who was the wife of wife of Paul Moore, longtime owner of the Redlands Daily Facts.

Lucretia Moore was also the mother of William G. Moore, 40-year publisher and co-owner of the Facts with his brother Frank, and grandmother of Lucretia Moore Irving, who still lives in Redlands.

Bill and Frank Moore owned the Redlands Daily Facts when they had the former Facts building, future home of the Museum of Redlands, built in 1956.

A number of hitching posts still remain in Redlands, but seeing one out of the ground with its hewn-granite base is unusual.

Fred Ford, one of five generations of Fords in Redlands and of four generations who graduated from Redlands High School, noted that hitching posts were hewn from solid granite and often have hairline cracks, making them fragile to move.

The one the Fords donated to the Museum of Redlands has a decorative ball on the top of the post.

Horses were tethered to an iron ring inserted in the hole drilled through the top of each post.

To donate historic items related to Redlands and the Redlands area, contact Maria Carrillo or Nathan Gonzales at the A.K. Smiley Library Heritage Room, 909-798-7632.

Source: Museum of Redlands

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Hitching post donated to Museum of Redlands - Redlands Daily Facts