GUV’S LUV: New York State Governor David A. Paterson has expensive taste and he showed it recently when he bought carpet for the governor’s mansion. Amid a state budget crisis and his ordering state agencies to cut spending and warnings of even tougher times ahead, his Office of General Services (OGS) bought a $21,000 custom-stitched 10 x 15-foot antique carpet. There were many critics of the governor’s expensive choice of floor covering but the state’s chief executive had no regrets. The rug was ordered from Stark Carpet on Third Avenue in Manhattan and shipped to Albany, the state capital. A spokesman for the OGS explained the building, also known as the Executive Mansion, is a kind of museum as well as the residence for Paterson and his family when they are not in New York City, ergo the expensive rug.

SAFE HAVENS: Despite foreclosures skyrocketing and home prices plummeting, there are pockets across the country where the damage to real estate has been minimal, if nonexistent. Kiplinger has found six cities with slow, steady growth, local economies that kept unemployment and foreclosure rates below average, and their affordability index—a measure of home prices versus family income— is low. The six safe cities are Lancaster, Pa.; Clarksville, Tenn.; Albuquerque; Burlington, Vt.; Pittsburgh, and Johnson City, Tenn. The report noted the average market was Washington, D. C., and the worst real estate market is California Central Valley, which includes Merced, Stockton, Salinas, Modesto, Riverside and Vallejo. But don’t despair, the dynamic changes constantly.

CRUNCH TIME: In a recent survey, executives were asked in what direction they expected their company’s training/development budget to go in 2009 considering business is trending down. In descending order: 37.12% said, “down but we still will be spending,” which means training and education are expendable just when you need them most; 23.48% said, “our training/development budget won’t change next year,” which means they either never had one or they put a high priority on education; 17.43% said, “up, but only for select people/ departments for which it’s essential,” that means more educational travels for the boss and his cronies; 13.64% said, “up, if people want training, they’ll get it,” these precious few companies know the value of education and will always be at the head of the class, and 8.33% said, “we will eliminate it completely,” which puts them last in the class.

STENTORIAN CALL: The CFI is offering great incentives to its members in a year-end effort to increase 2009 membership renewal. Here are the options: Renew prior to Dec. 20, receive a $10 coupon for CFI materials or programs; If renewal is received by Dec. 15, get a coupon for 10% off any CFI program or certification to be used prior to June 30, 2009, and current WFCA/CFI members will receive an additional $250 in WFCA Trade Scholarship funds. And here’s added motivation: Current WFCA/CFI members are eligible for the additional $250—to be used between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2009—if the WFCA receives their 2009 dues prior to Dec. 20. A conscientious in-staller could increase his Trade Scholarship 50% to $750 in the coming year. Now you know why installers smile so much.

SUPER INSTALLER: On the subject, Barry Costa of Peterborough, N.H., is a CFI Master Installer and a focused father. His young daughter succumbed to cancer and since he suffered that terrible loss, he runs/walks marathons all over the country to raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in pursuit of a cure for the dreaded disease. On Dec. 14, he is scheduled to run with the Society’s team in Honolulu. He has personally raised $130,000 for the cause. You can help Barry by writing a check to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and send it to Barry Costa, 420 Sand Hill Rd., Peterborough, N.H. 03458. On the bottom of the check write, “Barry Costa— Honolulu Marathon.”