November And December 2013 The Paint Spot Newsletter

I know many of you are wondering why I didn't write a newsletter last month. It is the first time I have skipped a month since it began in June 2010..........sorry! Some of you know a little about what I was dealing with and have a ton of questions. For you, I said that I would explain when I could. For the rest of you what you're about to read might fall under the "T.M.I." category, but this is the only way to answer everyone's questions at the same time. I apologize for the secrecy, but I didn't want anyone to fret over my situation or method of treatment. My biggest concern was for my daughter, who was studying her heart out for mid term exams (straight 'A's by the way) and didn't need to be distracted by my situation. In August of 2012 I was mowing my lawn and while driving my lawn mower under one of my oak trees I pushed some low hanging branches out of my way, like I had done a hundred times before. This time a small branch hit me in the left upper cheek. No blood and no scratch, but as time went by I noticed a little "divot" about the size of a pencil eraser. Fast forward to late July 2013. I went to a dermatologist to get their take on what was up with my face, and I was told "it looks like basal cell carcinoma", and no way could the branch have anything to do with it (they were proved wrong on that later). They wanted to do a biopsy and that's where I said no. I decided to use a product that a friend of mine knew about (and had used several times) which is plant based and said to be self biopsying, the product is "bloodroot" based and has been used for at least 2500 years. I put the product over the area and within 2 hours the area in question reacted by changing colors. This indicated "morbid" tissue (cancer), and the surrounding area had zero effect......exactly how it was said to react. Shortly after applying the Bloodroot salve I was reminded that my trip to Costa Rica was coming up and it might not be a good idea to be down there with an open wound, so I stopped the process. When I got back to Texas I knew I needed to restart the procedure but put it off for a month and a half. I started the treatment and within a couple of hours I noticed that the area that reacted was twice what it was the first time, and I wasn't sure why. When I asked the guy who gave it to me, he really didn't know what to tell me other than he just used it the way he had instructed me, but had never started and stopped the process before. I got online and found a lot of scary remarks about usage of blood root that scared the shit out of me to be honest, but since I had already "pulled the trigger" I had to keep going. I then found a book by "Ingrid Naiman" who by all accounts, is the leading authority on botanical treatments for cancers, as well as the practitioners who pioneered the treatments. I ordered it and waited, while continuing the treatment. All the while the spot on my face was getting bigger and more painful. I read the book in record time and knew that I had made a big mistake in starting then stopping the treatment. Furthermore, because of the area and the aggressive nature of the blood root, "Goldenseal" would have been a much less painful alternative. The only problem with the Goldenseal would be that because it's milder, it's also slower acting, here's why that's a problem. The book clearly stated that anything invasive such as the traditional "biopsy" or starting the treatment then stopping was the equivalent of "waking a sleeping lion" and that as far as the pioneers of cancer research were concerned, would more than likely grow much faster and go "systemic". Well, now I knew that I didn't have a choice or a lot of time, I had to continue the blood root. The way this treatment works is pretty simple. The blood root attacks the morbid tissue, kills it and has no effect on surrounding healthy tissue. After a few days the effected area forms an "eschar" ( a tumor that on the surface, resembles a scab). The eschar eventually cracks around the edges where it meets the good tissue, and then it will "detach" (falls out). When it detaches, it should reveal good clean (pinkish) tissue. In my case the eschar separated and detached in eleven EXTREMELY PAINFUL days. When it did the tissue did not look like the pinkish healthy tissue it should have. I found no information on what I was seeing, and I have to tell you this, I never felt more alone in my life! I had no one to tell me what to do next, or whether or not I was screwed! My homeopathic doctor had no experience with this method and was trying desperately to contact a colleague that did, but he was out of the country. From everything I had read to this point (and believe me, that was a lot) at the point when the eschar detached you had to make an assessment of what you saw. If you suspected there was more cancer you had to restart the blood root treatment or risk cancer running wild through out your body, so I did. Finally a friend of mine found a naturopathic doctor in George Town that agreed to see me as soon as I could get there. I went to him and he advised me to stop the blood root treatment and use colloidal silver from the point I was at until the eschar detached, and nothing else. From the point of when I put the blood root on, and when I took it off was about six hours. From then on for 6 days, I used nothing but the colloidal silver, and then it started to separate. Eight days later it detached.

This time the pinkish new tissue was there, and believe me, it was a welcomed sight! I alternated colloidal silver and a healing salve and today (9 days later) it looks pretty good. Break down: Starting and stopping lead to a systemic situation and faster growth of the cancer. Eraser size area turned into a nickel size area. First tumor that came out was the size of a large black olive. Second go around now produced an eschar slightly larger than a quarter. Second tumor was the size of a standard salad mushroom. The hole in my face was 1/2" deep. That's pretty gross info for me to share, but what's worse is, I actually saved it in a jar of alcohol! Nine days later the area in question is half the size of a dime and at most 1/16" deep, and getting more normal daily! Questions I've had asked: Why didn't I just go to a regular doctor? A regular doctor deals with what they see. At best, they are dealing with 60 years of knowledge with "immeasurable" success rates (quoted from "Merck" medical journal........yes, I read that too!) Botanical medicine has been practiced for thousands of years with success rates from 71 to 99% depending on who's treatment you followed. The studies primarily tracked Breast cancer! Here's to you "Barry Williams" who had a cancerous spot removed from his head just recently. You said that you went through conventional channels, and that your physician used the "mohs" technique (Fredrick Mohs is dead, but his and "Harry Hoxsey's" methods were well known in the 20th century) which boasts a 99% success rate...........the Mohs technique that netted a 99% success rate utilized an "Escharotic paste" that he actually called a "fixative paste" it was by all accounts exactly the same blood root paste that Hoxsey used (that's what I used), so obviously the physician doesn't know what he's talking about........or maybe, he's like our president....."he misspoke"! At any rate, knowing the facts, why would anyone pay someone to temporarily make them look like they were healed only to contract (and probably die later) of what these real medical pioneers have documented as the same cancer? If I were guilty of not educating myself maybe I would opt for that too. I might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I can read and I do know how to find answers. I'm equally as frustrated with the general public who has access to all the same information, but instead of looking for it they just line up like sheep and do stupid stuff like donating to anything with a pink ribbon on it, or lining up for a flu shot..........WAKE UP! VERIFY...........Your life (or your children's lives) depend on it! Did the blood root actually work? Yes. Would I do it again? Absolutely.......but not on my face! Too many nerves, I'd use Goldenseal. Would I recommend it to someone else? It doesn't really matter, at best 1 out of 10 people would listen, and even then, if they talked to a "M.D." they'd be scared to death at which point "common sense" would leave the room and they would do exactly what the "M.D." told them to do. Did I ever say "why me"? No, I said "why not me"! How else was I really supposed to know for sure if all I read was true? Remember......I'm the guy who always says "verify"! Somebody had to be a living example of what others think is "quackery". Somebody has to tell you that health care and modern medicine is a money making scam and it is killing you all, and rather than research your situation like I did, most of you will line up and willingly hock your kids future chasing good after bad. Was I afraid to die? Yes and no. Just the thought of not walking my daughter down the isle some day really bummed me out, but spending and hocking all I had built up for my kids bummed me out worse! Did I consider suicide? (I told you this was personal) HELL YES I DID! But only when I couldn't get answers, and thank God that wasn't long. (thank you Chaux) Did I use any pharmaceutical drugs? Well, kind of but I didn't have a prescription (vikidin for eight days because of the pain). Other than that, nothing that wasn't from mother nature! What did it cost ? Total with gas, toll road charges, doctor visits, all medicine (including vikidin off the street) was $1332.00 and $360.00 of that was the dermatologist I saw first. What would I tell someone thinking about using this treatment? Before you even consider this, learn all you possibly can about it, and have a support system set up (homeopathic or naturopathic doctor to coach you) do not do this alone! Here' the best one of all.....How can I prevent cancer? Well, the easiest way to prevent it is by maintaining an alkaline PH. Ideally you should be in the 7.0 - 7.4 range. Now you'll ask "how do I do that"? I'm not going to tell you! To get the answer you'll have to get off your ass and READ! Summary: First of all I not only read about a botanical approach to cancer, I also researched what the "Traditional" approach would be. Without question, the botanical method is the only real choice. It's astonishing how much information is out there and how easily it can be obtained. It is equally as astonishing how few people will seek it. Medical doctors (since 1951) have not been educated on disease, furthermore they are driven by the pharmaceutical companies who actually write many of the protocols for treatment (is that the fox guarding the hen house, or what?) They are extremely limited in both their knowledge as well as tools at their disposal. Scalpel, radiation, chemotherapy, and synthetic chemicals (drugs) are all they have to work with. They don't know any better because they are not taught any better. Couple that with the fact that they're education does not come cheap, and the fact that anyone willing to go through the expense and dedication it takes to be a doctor now days, will be hard pressed to accept the fact that their curriculum revolved around an agenda that was set in motion by government and rich pharmaceutical companies. Furthermore, the origins and history of botanical (plant based) medicine was never mentioned.

A scalpel cuts! Radiation kills indiscriminately! Chemotherapy Poisons! And synthetic (pharmaceutical) drugs can't be absorbed properly by a living being! Conversely, we are a living part of nature and so is a plant! There is so many options available for so many of today's diseases and they all exist in nature, free for our use, but wait, that's exactly why modern medicine has gone the route they have.............MONEY!

Did you know: Anti biotics (pharmaceutical) have no effect on viral, fungal, or parasitic infections? They only treat "bacterial" infections! Did you know: There are botanical "antibiotics" that treat all of them! Did you know: The reason pharmaceutical antibiotics work on only bacterial infections is because scientists have yet to figure out how to "synthesize" them, and without that, a patent cannot be obtained! In a perfect world someone would bring this to their attention (God help me if they get there hands on me, but I'm trying), get M.D.'s educated on what has existed all along, use it along with modern technology and some of the good things they have achieved, and get some people "cured" instead of "managed","treated", or in "remission". Until then, maybe a "ginnie pig" like me will have to do. I'm purposely leaving names and certain instructions out of this for legal reasons. Our government doesn't like anyone surviving this kind of disease without having a chance to sucker you out of your hard earned money. They equally don't like real doctors who keep you away from "M.D.'s" (I'm serious about that, the doctors I go to can't even say the word "Cancer"). I have to get into real Paint Spot stuff, so in closing this segment.........for those of you who think I'm a fool know this: I am a "do'er" and as one person said "Rick, you've got cast iron nuts", but seriously, somebody had to take this on...........were you? Besides, I had an "ace in the hole", My mom was right by my side the whole time............you can't be in better hands than that.......thank you MOM! Paint Spot Stuff: Our new location in Buda is ready for business. My best bud in the whole world "Jessica Loredo (A.K.A. "The Golden Child") is at the helm to serve you. We decided since the new location was ...."new" it would only be right that we did something "New", so we put in an MPB-LV system (first one in Texas)!!!!!! Almost back to back we installed a MPB-LV system in San Antonio. Congratulations "Collision Center Of San Antonio", you are the first of many refinishers to come that will experience what it's like to paint vehicles with the most cost effective "alternative" to H2o in Texas. Unlike the H2o, MPB-LV sprays just like you're old solvent base with ZERO tool or shop modifications, not to mention training. The Buda location will also offer all the regular Matrix line as well as our "heavy hitter" North Star for all the fleet customers. Accommodation vs. Education: That's pretty "heavy" aint it?

Recently I visited another "jobbers" facility in Houston. The name of the business is "Marlen Auto Paint Supply Co." located at 415 Mount Houston in Houston, Texas 77037. The business is owned and operated by a "drop dead gorgeous smokin hot" lady by the name of "Marlen", and let me tell you.....this chick is in it to win it! I had initially met her over the phone where she was interested in my take on some product lines. Since she had already made the decision to distribute Matrix, I knew she was a serious player. Her question had to do with "Fleet" paint and I said hands down......."North Star"! It is to the fleet business what Matrix is to automotive and custom, and that if she chose to go with it, she would never regret the decision. Marlen informed me that she was having a grand opening and invited me to attend, which I did. When I walked into her facility, I was totally impressed (maybe jealous would be a better word). Her place is nothing less than a "class act". In touring her place it occurred to me that she had so many versions of the same products. I asked her why do you have this and why do you have that. Her answer was "because the customers are so diverse and they have to have choices". She asked what we did, and I told her that I didn't believe in "competing lines" and that redundancy is expensive. We did discuss that the two markets (Houston vs. the hill country........and beyond) were two vastly different things, and I thought to myself, "maybe she's right, after all this place does remind me a lot of Los Angeles"........the land of plenty. After I left I couldn't stop thinking about what I had observed and how different our take is on inventory. I won't claim to know exactly what the demands are in Houston, but I do know that I could have just as easily ended up with so much inventory. I want to explain how and why we operate The Paint Spot a little different. Marlen, if this helps in anyway I'm glad to be of help, and if it's just not workable please know it's just my opinion. In the beginning I explained inventory control as either "just in time" or "just in case". This revelation wasn't my idea, it actually came from when I was a member of the "corporate world". What it means is basically this: I don't need to spend a bunch of my money on inventory just in case someone pops in and wants item 'A'. Conversely, I need suppliers that can respond with record speed "just in time". We have accomplished that objective by establishing ties with "super star" suppliers, and have backed it up with sharing our expected products, approximate usage, and needs with them. We also take advantage of "terms" to maximize "our" working with "their" money. We also set out to "wage war" on the love affair with name brands, such as 3M products that net far too little profit and basically "rip the customer off". In a nut shell, here's my point: We don't need a vast amount of products, we only need the RIGHT products, and here's what the word "right" means to me: Quality, Cost Effective, and Versatile. Example: Matrix MSB- (early DBC, and DBU, Chroma base, etc.) MPB- (newer DBC, Chroma Premiere, etc.) RPB- (Omni plus, higher end Nason, etc.) RSB- (Omni, Nason,etc.) MIP- (SEM interior paint expensive) MIS- (SEM interior paint) MIS is even cheaper than MIP. Both can be mixed in as little as 1 oz. and by the way.....Matrix has an aerosol division that is the best of the best for those who want that ability! MPX, CC, UC, ( House of Kolor, Vibrance, Luminescence, pearl base coats, and the list goes on and on) MCU- (DCC single stage) MAU ( an earlier version of PPG's single stage) Can be flattened for different effects. You also have the ability to convert base coats to single stages even if there's not a MCU or MAU formula. When other paint companies come into The Paint Spot and try to sell me another line, this is where I tell them "I've already got at least seven paint lines with Matrix". "Why the hell would I ever want or need more"? This is kind of a soar spot with me, in that, I'm all but convinced that most Matrix jobbers do not fully know or utilize what they have. This problem also sheds light on why so many paint stores have competing lines, and you know how I feel about that! Clears: Matrix is "one stop shopping"! I will not sell a competing clear....PERIOD! There is absolutely NO NEED! Nobody can compete with price, quality, and service of Matrix and I can prove it. Besides, if you let other brands compete against each other you do two things: #1 you are playing with and bastardizing your own system. #2 You are openly admitting that you don't believe in your own products! North Star is very similar because it too offers versatility. Several different grades can be obtained with that system as well as several price levels. It can also be used on cars and trucks, at which point you get quality second to none for a very low price and with very little material usage. Body fillers: We have three. A cheap filler, a medium priced filler, and a Premium filler that when priced up next to our cheapest filler and our cheapest polyester glazing putty (which isn't necessary with this filler) is way cheaper (Roberlo is the name)! Abrasives: We have all but eliminated all abrasive brands except one...."SIA". The reason is simple; we can buy and sell the "Premium" grade for the price of what we used to sell the number two and three grades for. Furthermore, with the SIA brand we now sell abrasives to carpenters, cabinet shops, machine shops, mechanic shops, and sign shops, not to mention the refinishing industry...........try that with anyone else's abrasives! I think by now some of you are getting my point. Accommodation is something we are very interested in ( i.e.; "Whatever it Takes"), but not at the expense of raising our "cost of doing business". If we did that, we'd have to pass it on to you which starts the cycle of what is the opposite reason for our existence. Remember, it was me that wanted to change our body shop world by eliminating the opportunistic nonsense that existed with the status quo paint suppliers (June 2010 newsletter). Instead we opted for............. Education. Here's how: First of all I have a bit of an edge on some of the jobbers, in that, I've been a painter and body man for more than thirty years. Also, I don't carry anything here at The Paint Spot that I don't or have already used! Secondly, we spend a great deal of time educating our customers on materials, name brands, differences, grades, usage, packaging gimmicks, and mathematics (breaking things such as clears down into price per sprayable quart). By doing this they are now aware of what we learned from the mfg's that to my knowledge was never meant to get to the end user. I hope this information helps, as you can see I have no secrets and believe sharing what