Yes, Mitt Romney might have won Florida yesterday and he may appear unbeatable at this point. On thing worth noting is that, so far, he has far less than 10% of the delegates necessary to win the nomination. On the other hand, 90% of the delegates are still to be chosen. Did you know that Florida has only about 50 delegates

Where does that leave us? I'll tell you that it is my wish that the Ron Paul message would be heard more clearly and that the MSM and most of Fox wouldn't marginalize him. He is the only candidate who has been consistent for his entire 30+ years in Congress. He is a physician who has taken the oath to 'Do No Harm', which is no longer even administered to medical school grads these days. (It's optional, but it's watered down even if you choose to attend the separate ceremony to take the Hippocratic Oath.)

His message is clear and it is that the United States Constitution is what has helped make our nation great. Due to our Founding Fathers, we were among the most competitive, wealthy countries on the planet within 50 years of proclaiming our independence from the UK. On the other hand, world superpowers have all failed when they have embraced other forms of government, especially those forms where the government chooses what will be produced and how much will be produced (see Solyndra vs. Keystone Pipeline). Governments have never picked winners in any country and at any time in history. Why? The public officials always have their judgment clouded by - yes -- money. Who has received all the money from Obama over the past 3+ years? His donors.

Who would receive all the future government contracts if Obama is re-elected, or Romney or Gingrich win? I would guess only the names would change, but the results would be the same.

If Ron Paul wins, who would be gaining from his presidency? Well, we all would, because we would be splitting the trillions in savings from a fiscally prudent president. I don't think he'd change his stripes at this age, and he'd owe his presidency to people willing to work for him for free, not billionaires cutting him checks. Further, individuals in the military and family members of those in the military donate to him at a rate of 3 to 4 X that of any other candidate. What does that tell you? No, Paul would not cut our national defense. He'd make our country safer, by stopping our armed forced from being the world police and guaranteed protector of many nations. What are we really getting in return.

Oil used to be a major concern, and I would say that a lot of national policy was correct in the past. However, now we know for sure that we have enough natural gas, coal and oil underground in the US and Canada to last the next hundred years. It's time we dealt with other countries in a way that benefited our citizens more than theirs.

It's just my opinion, but when all media say he's crazy, but honest, brilliant people know he's right, they are obviously scared of his ideology and what it would mean for their personal income. In reality, this election isn't over taxes or spending, as all three of the highest rated candidates will surely raise both. It's between their ideals, which are running our country into the ground, and our Founder's ideals, which are being espoused by only one man.

Finally, if you haven't read Atlas Shrugged, you really should. It would help you to understand what will happen as the rewards for hard work disappear, and people who have worked hard to gain wealth are hated. Could you ever imagine a world where one Republican candidate woul be bashing another for making lots of money in his career? Isn't that the reason our ancestors risked their lives to make it to this country? Didn't we want economic and religious freedom to abound?

Ask someone from the former Soviet Union or Communist China what they think of communism or socialism. Then vote for Ron Paul.

This post was originally written by Rebekah Radice on her Blog called All Things Real Estate Roundup: Success in the New Year ...

While everything Rebekah writes seems to hit the nail on the head and to be great advice, this one is especially thorough and a good way to start 2012.

I am confused and looking for some help.

Having this Blog show up on Active Rain will automatically get some hits from the AR community.  However, I've noticed two things.  First, when I post a Blog to AR, it will get about two dozen views - on average.  Second, when I click the button to have it also feed to "My Outside Blog", which is on a website I bought just to have this blog feed into it, I see that I get 500 or more hits, on a pretty regular basis.

Our office has many properties for sale.  They are all listed on our local Multiple Listing Service, and I assume this is the case for most readers who are brokers or agents.  However, "My Outside Blog" doesn't seem to have a linkback to Active Rain, nor does it link directly to my office website(s).

Our main office website -- www.livillageproperties.com is now under the final stages of reconstruction.

Our old/backup website - -  www.longislandvillageproperties.com

One of our agent's site is - - -  www.joshevanshomes.com

And, I'd like to link back to my 'home page' on active rain, which is - - I believe --  www.activerain.com/dvfco

As you can see, I am using this blog not only to ask the question, but also to see if it helps answer the question itself as I will click the Post to My Outside Blog button.  But, there should be a better way to get it done and make it look a lot better.

I also seem to have problems adding almost anything to the website other than what comes through this feed.  Does anyone have any advice on how to improve or expand my website?  It is www.mineolavillageproperties.com

Further, I am about to add these RSS-type feeds to the Active Rain Accounts for my other agents.  This way, they will  all have a neighborhood name with villageproperties.com following their hometown, or the town in which they do the most business.  I just don't want to get started without a little more knowledge in the field.  

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, even just a kick in the right direction. 

Thanks,

David

NOW IS THE TIME – OWN A SPECTACULAR CONDOMINIUM IN MINEOLA – A PENTHOUSE THAT YOU CAN OWN FOR THE SAME PRICE AS IT WOULD COST TO RENT! - $339,000

Active Bidding in the Condominium Sector makes it a great reason to buy a Condo over a Coop.  Wouldn't you prefer to own in a place you could rent if you decided to move (and make a monthly profit - including the mortgage), have a pet, not have to deal with a creepy co-op board, etc,?  Yes, that's why condominiums sell at tremendous premium to co-ops

CALL DAVID V. FARRELL FOR APPOINTMENT

OR COME TO NEXT OPEN HOUSE THIS WEEKEND

This is perhaps the most beautiful apartment I have seen in Central-Nassau County in the past decade. The owner has the ability to control their own heat. They have a private basement garage space which is just steps from the elevator. It is the perfect apartment for almost any age group. It makes a great starter apartment and is quite affordable. In addition, even as a retirement unit, or pied-a-tierre, it offers so many desirable amenities. It has complete handicap access as elevator access to all levels.

OPEN HOUSE - SUNDAY - 12-11-11 FROM NOON TO 2 P.M.

NOW IS THE TIME – OWN A SPECTACULAR CONDOMINIUM IN MINEOLA – A PENTHOUSE THAT YOU CAN OWN FOR THE SAME PRICE AS IT WOULD COST TO RENT! - $339,000

Active Bidding in the Condominium Sector makes it a great reason to buy a Condo over a Coop.  Wouldn't you prefer to own in a place you could rent if you decided to move (and make a monthly profit - including the mortgage), have a pet, not have to deal with a creepy co-op board, etc,?  Yes, that's why condominiums sell at tremendous premium to co-ops

CALL DAVID V. FARRELL FOR APPOINTMENT

OR COME TO NEXT OPEN HOUSE THIS WEEKEND

This is perhaps the most beautiful apartment I have seen in Central-Nassau County in the past decade. The owner has the ability to control their own heat. They have a private basement garage space which is just steps from the elevator. It is the perfect apartment for almost any age group. It makes a great starter apartment and is quite affordable. In addition, even as a retirement unit, or pied-a-tierre, it offers so many desirable amenities. It has complete handicap access as elevator access to all levels.

I just shot a $20 donation to Wikipedia and was writing  to say why.  I am not bragging (at all - I'd brag if I was able to give them $100 or $1,000 - that would be much different).  While using the site to learn what "Archimedes Paradox" is, (a useless fact on which they had about a 1,000 word explanation) I realized I use the site several times every single day to research everything from very important facts for work, to useless facts about which I am curious. 

Is Wikipedia perfect?  No, not at all.  However, it is an amazing, free, ad-free, un-biased asset shared by the entire digital world.  It has a great method of self governance.  It appears to have 1,000 times the information that Microsoft's old Encyclopedia.  In fact, Wikipedia is so great a source, I can't remember Microsoft's encyclopedia program that they sold. 

Wikipedia had a fundraiser and put an appeal from the founder at the top of the page.  However, it didn't get 'in your face', it didn't obfuscate any results, and it didn't require anyone to become a 'member' or to sign-in to an account.  Where else can you get that?  Unlike PBS stations, where I'd rather they simply play commercials than to break up their few very high quality show with 15 minute fund-raising breaks.  This fundraiser has zero negative impact on anyone using the site who doesn't want to donate, and made donating a one-minute issue.

Think about it.  If you use Wikipedia, it might be a good idea to throw them a few bucks.  Why?  Well, without donations, they may eventually have to close or, more likely, be sold to a 'for-profit' company.  While that doesn't sound too bad, (who cares if they make a profit from it?) it would really destroy the site.  Once a 'for-profit' company took over, it would become impossible to trust the veracity of the pages.  It would, necessarily, become biased.  Finally, contributions from authors would stip, once they felt they were working to make money for someone else.  Who would write to make a profit for a company they don't own?  Now, people write for a not-for-profit where they can explain something that is their passion and about which they might be one of the most knowledgeably people in the world.  So, maybe my donation was actually selfish, as I just want to see Wikipedia succeed in the very long term (i.e. in perpetuity).

So, I'd suggest it in the same way they do on their site: 

NOW IS THE TIME – OWN A SPECTACULAR CONDOMINIUM IN MINEOLA – A PENTHOUSE THAT YOU CAN OWN FOR THE SAME PRICE AS IT WOULD COST TO RENT! - $339,000

CALL DAVID V. FARRELL FOR APPOINTMENT

OR COME TO NEXT OPEN HOUSE THIS WEEKEND

This is perhaps the most beautiful apartment I have seen in Central-Nassau County in the past decade. The owner has the ability to control their own heat. They have a private basement garage space which is just steps from the elevator. It is the perfect apartment for almost any age group. It makes a great starter apartment and is quite affordable. In addition, even as a retirement unit, or pied-a-tierre, it offers so many desirable amenities. It has complete handicap access as elevator access to all levels.

I am re-blogging this post because I think it is excellent.  I entered a contest and was confused the whole time while it was going on.  In the end, I received 3,000 points and had written 3 Blogs that received the most views and clicks of any blogs I've ever written.  So, I got to 'win-win' and was very appreciative.  I just think the ideas expressed below would make it easier for both the particpants and the sponsors.  Once again, thanks to those who think up and sponsor the contests.

Why have our MLS groups declined by 1/3rd recently?  Here's one example.  Good luck Maria.  Enjoy some time off.  Find something you love - or maybe come back when the industry starts again thriving.

Open Houses, to me, are like playing roulette. You place your advertisements on MLS and all over the web, add it to the office list, begin preparing printing, etc. That's like placing bets. Then, the wheel starts spinning and a little more work gets done - usually finishing on Thursday. Then - "No More Bets". Whatever work has been done, bets have been placed, etc. all fall into the hands of Lady Luck or Mother Nature. When the weekend day comes for the Open House, it can be hot, cold, raining, snowing, etc. In fact, in New York, we probably have the 36 options like on the Roulette wheel. There could be a nor'easter, a clipper system snow storm, a 70 degree day sunny day (like today) in mid-November, etc.

OK – You’ve Picked Your Day – You’ve Advertised Your Listing

You’ve Prepared All you Open House Photos and Documents

You are Ready to Go – and what will you get?

I’d love to hear people’s opinions on this one.  And, if someone writes to me from Santa Clara, CA or Los Angeles, CA, I’ll be very annoyed.  Yes, we all know that its 78 degrees and always sunny with low humidity there 98% of the year.  (No, I don’t understand why everyone in the US hasn’t tried to move there.)  I’d like to hear from people in the parts of the country that brutally hot, cold, wet, etc.  What weather do you seek?  If you say a prayer, for what type of weather what are you praying?  For example, I know people in Rhode Island are famous for saying, “If you don’t like the weather, just wait 15 minutes.”  It’s seems true there as well.  Either way – what brings people out?  We had a sunny, beautiful weekend and poor turnout this weekend.

I think fair to poor weather is best.  When it is gray, looks like rain, is about 55 degrees and it won’t get any nicer, then I think people say – “Why not look at houses today?”  However, we’ve had good and bad on those days as well. 

I’m flummoxed!  Any thoughts?