Scott's Blog

LOL FRIDAYS - Political Humor

Scott Owens - REALTOR® (Prudential Property Specialists) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:08:42 -0500

I know you have been waiting for a joke blog from me for some time Mirela... here's a little something that's sure to offend someone...

John McCain, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama all die and go to heaven. God looks down from his throne and asks McCain, "Do you think you deserve to be in heaven?"

McCain takes a breath and then replies, "Well, I think so because I was a great leader and tried to follow the words in your great book." God looks down and then says, "You can sit to my left side."

So, McCain takes his seat and then God asks the same question to Hillary, "Do you think you deserve to be in heaven?" Hillary thinks for a second and then replies, "I think so because I have been fighting for the rights of so many people for so long." God again looks down and this time says, "You can sit to my right side."

Finally God turns to Barack Obama and asks, "Do you think you deserve to be in heaven?"

Obama smiled and replied, "I think you're in my seat."

Funny Terminology That Should Exist (LOL Fridays):

Scott Owens - REALTOR® (Prudential Property Specialists) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:39:57 -0500

Here are 10 useful words/terms which don't currently exist in the English language...maybe they should:

AQUADEXTROUS (ak wa deks'trus): Possessing the ability to turn the bathtub tap on and off with your toes.

LACTOMANGULATION (lak' to man gyu lay' shun): Manhandling the "open here" spout on a milk container so badly that one has to resort to opening the other side.

DISCONFECT (dis kon fekt'): To sterilize the piece of candy you dropped on the floor by blowing on it, assuming that this will somehow "remove" all of the germs.

ELBONICS (el bon'iks): The actions of two people maneouvering for one armrest in a movie, on a plane, etc.

UMFRIEND (um frend): A personal relation of dubious standing or a concealed intimate relationship, as in "This is Kelly, my ... um ... friend."

XEROX SUBSIDY (zee rox sub sid ee): Euphemism for swiping free photocopies from one's workplace.

PHONESIA (fo nee' zhuh): The affliction of dialling a phone number and forgetting whom you were calling just as they answer.

TREEWARE (tree ware): Computer tech slang for documentation or other printed material that can't be read online or on a computer screen.

FOUR-O-FOUR (404): Someone who's clueless. From the World Wide Web error message "404 Not Found," meaning that the requested document could not be located. "Don't bother asking him; He's 404, man."

TELECRASTINATION (tel e kras tin ay' shun): The act of always letting the phone ring at least twice before you pick it up, even if you are only 6 inches away from it.

OHNOSECOND (ono sek ond): The fraction of a second it takes to realize you just made a big mistake on the computer. For example, clicking "No" when prompted to save the document you spent all day composing or, clicking "Send" before deleting the profanity you were venting with in the message to your boss.

LOL Fridays: Boys and Girls Are Born Equal But Not the Same

Scott Owens - REALTOR® (Prudential Property Specialists) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:00:13 -0500

"Equal" is not always synonymous with "the same." Men and women are created equal. But, boys and girls are not born the same.

1. You throw a little girl a ball, and it will hit her in the nose. You throw a little boy a ball, and he will try to catch it. Then it will hit him in the nose.

2. You dress your little girl in her Easter Sunday best, and she'll look just as pretty when you finally make it to church an hour later. You dress a boy in his Easter Sunday best, and he'll somehow find every mud puddle from your home to the church, even if you're driving there.

3. Boys' rooms are usually messy. Girls' rooms are usually messy, except it's a good smelling mess.

4. A baby girl will pick up a stick and look in wonderment at what nature has made. A baby boy will pick up a stick and turn it into a gun.

5. When girls play with Barbie and Ken dolls, they like to dress them up and play house with them. When boys play with Barbie and Ken dolls, they like to tear off their appendages.

6. Boys couldn't care less if their hair is unruly. If their bangs got cut a quarter-inch too short, girls would rather lock themselves in their room for two weeks than be seen in public.

7. Baby girls find mommy's makeup and almost instinctively start painting their face. Baby boys find mommy's makeup and almost instinctively start painting the walls.

8. If a girl accidentally burps, she will be embarrassed. If a boy accidentally burps, he will follow it with a dozen fake belches.

9. Boys grow their fingernails long because because they're too lazy to cut them. Girls grow their fingernails long - not because they look nice - but because they can dig them into a boys arm.

10. Girls are attracted to boys, even at an early age. At an early age, boys are attracted to dirt.

11. By the age of 6, boys will stop giving their dad kisses. By the age of 6, girls will stop giving their dad kisses unless he bribes them with candy.

12. Most baby girls talk before boys do. Before boys talk, they learn how to make machine-gun noises.

13. Girls will cry if someone dies in a movie. Boys will cry if you turn off the TV after they've watched "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" movie three times in a row.

And maybe most importantly:

14. Girls turn into women. Boys turn into bigger boys.

LOL Friday: Simple Humour

Scott Owens - REALTOR® (Prudential Property Specialists) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:01:52 -0500

I saw this one and couldn't help laughing (sometimes the simple ones are the best):

A duck walks into a bar and asks: "Got any Bread?"

Barman says: "No."

Duck says: "Got any bread?"

Barman says: "No."

Duck says: "Got any bread?"

Barman says: "No, we have no bread."

Duck says: "Got any bread?"

Barman says: "No, we haven't got any bread!"

Duck says: "Got any bread?"

Barman says: "No, are you deaf?! We haven't got any bread, and if you ask me again and I'll nail your dang beak to the bar !"

Duck says: "Got any nails?"

Barman says: "No"

Duck says: "Got any bread?

Determining Your Price Limit When Buying

Scott Owens - REALTOR® (Prudential Property Specialists) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:03:07 -0500

When acting as a Buyers agent, I try to impress upon my clients the importance of being pre-qualified for a mortgage. Imagine falling in love with your perfect home after searching for weeks, or even months, only to find out that you do not financially qualify to purchase it.

First, determine the costs associated with buying a home, including (but not limited to) legal fees, home inspections, deed transfer tax, fuel adjustments, etc. These costs are generally about 3-5% of the purchase price of the home (for a more detailed list of closing costs, please see my blog "Closing Cost Guidelines for Buyers"). On top of these costs, you will need a down payment of at least 5% of the purchase price; it can be higher, depending on your lender.

Mortgages are given based on one of two methods: Gross Debt Service ratio (GDS) or Total Debt Service ratio (TDS). GDS is generally 30 to 35% of your gross monthly income. For example, if your household income is $90,000 annually, your gross monthly income is $7,500; this would qualify you to carry a mortgage of @ $2,250, including taxes. Based on the same income, and accounting for other debt payments of $550 (eg. car/credit card payments), your TDS would be assessed at approximately $ 1,700. Whichever method your lender uses, they will determine a dollar figure that they are confident you can repay comfortably.

Doing the math ahead of your home search will enable your real estate professional to target as many properties as possible that suit your needs, and will help avoid disappointment when looking for a home. The sooner you assess your limits, the closer you will be to finding the home of your dreams

Have You Ever Wondered...

Scott Owens - REALTOR® (Prudential Property Specialists) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:53:12 -0600

You know, I have always looked at the world just a little bit differently than most; because of that, I usually question a lot of things that I see and hear. The following are questions that have intrigued me at one time or another during my life:

Have you ever wondered...

if all the world is a stage, where is the heck is the audience sitting?
how can a "slim chance" and a "fat chance" be the same, while a "wise man" and a "wise guy" are opposites?
if Wal-Mart is lowering prices every day, how come nothing is free yet?
if 4 out of 5 people SUFFER from diarrhea, does that mean one person enjoys it?
why they call it "common sense" when it's so rare?
why is it that when you transport something by car, it's called a shipment, but when you transport something by ship, it's called cargo?
why two spaceships always face the right way up when they meet in Sci-Fi movies?
what does "it" mean in the sentence "What time is it?"?
that if the #2 pencil is the most popular, why is it still #2?
why are there flotation devices under plane seats instead of parachutes?
if nothing sticks to Teflon, how do they make Teflon stick to the pan?
if maybe there should there be a shorter word for "monosyllabic"?
why is "verb" a noun?
why there are there interstate highways in Hawaii?
if quitters never win, and winners never quit, how can you quit while your ahead?
if Lipton employees take coffee breaks?
what hair color do they put on the driver's licenses of bald men?
why they put pictures of criminals up in the Post Office? What are we supposed to do, write to these people? Why don't they just put their pictures on the postage stamps so the mailmen could look for them while they delivered the mail?
how much deeper would oceans be if sponges didn't live there?
if it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the OTHERS here for?
what the speed of lightning would be if it didn't zigzag?
if a person with multiple personalities threatens suicide, is that considered a hostage situation?
how come you don't ever hear about "gruntled" employees?
whose cruel idea was it for the word "lisp" to have an "s" in it?
why don't they just make mouse-flavored cat food?
if you're sending someone some Styrofoam, what do you pack it in?
why "abbreviated" is such a long word?
if it's zero degrees outside today and it's supposed to be twice as cold tomorrow, how cold is it going to be?
what happens if you get scared half to death twice?
why do psychics have to ask for your name?
why lingerie is so popular if love is blind?

Other things to consider:

Doesn't "expecting the unexpected" make the unexpected expected?

If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

If a man says something in the woods and there are no women there, is he still wrong?

Since light travels faster than sound, isn't that why some people appear bright until you hear them speak?

I'm Baaaack!

Scott Owens - REALTOR® (Prudential Property Specialists) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:44:31 -0600

Some of you may have noticed that I have been particularly quiet over the last two months, due to circumstances beyond my control. My apologies to those of you whom have been loyal readers of my blogs, and also to those of you whom I have promised my support in the way of regular comments.

After a two-month absence from the Rain, I am happy to report that I have returned to active duty as a Blogger and Commenter. My circumstances have not changed, but I refuse to allow something that cannot be changed affect how I live my life. If I think about it, AR may actually help me through this time in my life by being the positive and encouraging atmosphere that I know it is.

What changed my attitude? Every year I set 100 goals for the improvement/enhancement of my life; this year was no exception. I was reading over my list of goals tonight, and I came across the following two: 1) Write 50 AR blogs and 2) Submit 500 comments on other AR members blogs. I had not remembered writing these goals, but when I saw them on the list, I realized how much this site has contributed to my mental well-being and my outlook on life. I wish I had remembered this earlier...

Thanks again to all of my AR friends...looking forward to a great 2009! The promised blog updates are on the way!

Halifax Housing Market Outlook

Scott Owens - REALTOR® (Prudential Property Specialists) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 08:07:34 -0600

In light of all of the talk I am hearing about the market being "down" n Halifax, I thought I would look at what the CMHC reports are telling us. Here's what I found:

NEW CONSTRUCTION: The overall pace of residential construction activity across Halifax is eased slightly this year, and is expected to finish with a total decline of 1.6% from last year. It is expected that new construction sales will climb 4% in 2009, reaching its highest level since 2004, supported by multi-residential construction . While the demand for single-detached homes is slowing, a trend which is expected to continue, the demand for multi-unit construction will continue to be strong for the next 1-1/2 to 2 years.

The decline in demand for new single-detached homes can be attributed to [mainly] three things:

Changing demographics: smaller families and rising occurrence of more DINKS (double income no kids) and single-person homes.
Rising costs: The cost of housing construction rose 14% when compared with 2006, while existing home sales rose only about 7% during the same period.
Competition from the existing homes market: Existing home sales are only expected to increase by about 3% in 2009, creating competition for the new homes market.

RESALE MARKET: Keeping in mind that 2007 was a record year for MLS(tm) sales, we saw a decline in overall sales in 2008; inventory was weakened by the record sales of 2007, driving prices up prices in the first quarter of this year. 2009 sales look to be lower than the record year of 2007, but still relatively high when compared to previous years; prices are expected to increase approximately 3% in 2009, keeping the average price of an existing home about 30% lower than the average price for a new home. Increased inventory levels have helped keep growth below the 7-8% we have seen in previous years.

Overall, I think that while we are noticing that it is definitely slower, maybe we were just a bit "spoiled" by the successes of 2007. We are still on target with previous years sales, prices are still increasing, and there is a good inventory available. We traditionally see a slow-down at this time of year; this year shouldn't be, and isn't, any different. We have one of the most stable markets in Canada; we should be thankful for that.

Is it a Good Time To Invest? No Really, Is It?

Scott Owens - REALTOR® (Prudential Property Specialists) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 18:24:36 -0500

I admit that I don't know much about the stock market, but it seems to me that the time to invest is when it is down (as in "now"), in order to make a large return when the market recovers. However, whenever I see a blog or news article about the current financial situation, the consensus seems to be that we get out of the market while the getting is good. One would think that we had never seen bad times before; we all know that this is NOT the case, and that the economy has been in bad shape on previous occasions.

History has also proven that the economy usually recovers in better shape than it started out in. Consider that on:

October 19, 1987 (Black Monday), the DOW averge closing price was 1738.74 (Down 23%). One year later it was up 23%; and it was up 54% the year following that.

August 7, 1990 (Five days after Iraq invaded Kuwait), the DOW averge closing price was 2710.64 (Down 10%). One year later it was up 12%; and it was up 23% the year following that.

April 19, 1994 (Rising Interest rates in the USA), the DOW averge closing price was 3619.82 (Down 23%). One year later it was up 16%; and it was up 53% the year following that.

August 31, 1998 (Five days following the collapse of the Russian Ruble), the DOW averge closing price was 7539.07 (Down 19%). One year later it was up 44%; and it was up 49% the year following that.

March 11, 2003 (US Invasion of Iraq imminent), the DOW averge closing price was 7524.06 (Down 36%). One year later it was up 35%; and it was up 43% the year following that.

Armed with this knowledge, I feel positive that it is a good time to invest...but then again, I have already admitted that I am not a financial guru. There are many people out there who are wondering the same thing. So, my question is:

Should we be bailing out of todays market, or is there an opportunity here that we should be seizing?

Practice Safe Hex

Scott Owens - REALTOR® (Prudential Property Specialists) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:23:08 -0500

With witches, ghosts, goblins, and super-heroes descending on neighborhoods across North America, I would like to offer some safety tips to help prepare for a safe and enjoyable Hallowe'en:

Costumes

Make sure your child can be seen in the dark. Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Consider adding reflective tape/striping and/or chemical light-sticks to costumes and for greater visibility.
Remember to put reflective tape on trick-or-treat bags, bikes, skateboards and brooms, too!
Make sure that costumes are loose enough to be worn over warm clothing but not so baggy or long that trick or treaters can trip over their costumes or make contact with flame.
Changing the colour of your eyes with cosmetic contact lenses: these cosmetic lenses should be used only under the supervision of an eye-care professional. In addition, wear time should be limited to the shortest duration possible. If you should choose to wear these lenses, be certain that they are cleaned properly.
Think twice before using simulated knives, guns or swords. If such props must be used, be certain they do not appear too authentic and are soft and flexible to prevent injury.
Secure emergency identification (name, phone #) discreetly within Halloween attire or on a bracelet.
Equip yourself and/or your children with a flashlight, to see better and to be better seen. Don't forget to buy and install fresh batteries!

Trick-or-Treating

Openly discuss appropriate and inappropriate behavior at Halloween time with your children.
Ideally, young children of any age should be accompanied by an adult. If your children go on their own, be sure they wear a watch, preferably one that can be read in the dark.
Review with your children the principle of "Stop-Drop-Roll", should their clothes catch on fire.
Explain to children that visits should be made along one side of the street first, then the other and that it's best to cross the street at intersections or crosswalks. Remind children to walk, not run; they should also obey traffic signals. If there is no sidewalk, children should walk on the left side of the road facing traffic
Remind children to look both ways before crossing the street to check for cars, trucks and low-flying brooms.
To help prevent children avoid the temptation of snacking while they're out trick-or-treating, give them a snack or light meal before they go out - don't send them out on an empty stomach. Although tampering is rare, parents should take the time to inspect the goodies.
Children should stay in familiar neighbourhoods, and only in well-lit areas; they should only visit homes that have their outside porch lights on. Trick-or-treaters should NEVER go inside homes or cars of strangers, and should avoid houses that are not lit.
Children should avoid cutting across yards or driveways.
Remember to stay away from animals you don't know.
Children should carry quarters so they can call home. Teach children how call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost. Remind them that 9-1-1 can be dialed free from any phone.
Older children should know where to reach you and when to be home.
You should know where they're going. Discuss where they will be going, and their intended route.

Help Make your Neighbourhood Safe for Trick-or-Treaters

Use extra care if you're driving on Hallowe'en. Children are excited and may forget safety rules. Pay extra attention to the road and enter and exit driveways slowly.
Make your home safe for trick-or-treaters. Remove all objects around the outside of your home that could cause children to trip or fall, such as ladders, dog leashes, hoses and flower pots. Turn your outside light on so children will know they can visit your home.
Small inexpensive flashlights can be used to light pumpkins safely.
If you are using candles, keep them out of children's reach and away from curtains and other objects that could catch fire.
Do not allow small children to carve pumpkins. Instead, let your child draw a face on the pumpkin.
Some Halloween treats may trigger allergic reactions in susceptible individuals. Be aware of this when considering what you will be handing out. Consider non-food treats such as pencils, stickers, erasers or coins. Stickers, multicoloured pencils or beads can be a nice surprise in place or in addition to traditional treats. Ask your children what they think a good treat would be.
Decorating your home signals to other trick-or-treaters that your household is taking part in Halloween.
If you use candles to light your pumpkin, place the pumpkin well away from where trick-or-treaters will be walking or standing.
Make sure paper or cloth yard decorations won't be blown into a flaming candle.
Keep pets inside and away from trick-or-treaters and lit candles, especially if they are easily frightened or become over-excited in the presence of strangers.
If using decorative lights indoors or outdoors, use lights certified by a recognized organization such as the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). Check lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires or loose connections. Discard damaged sets. Do not overload extension cords.

WISHING EVERYONE A HAPPY AND SAFE HALLOWE'EN

I Used to Skinny Dip; Now I Chunky Dunk

Scott Owens - REALTOR® (Prudential Property Specialists) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:35:49 -0500

As I sit here contemplatng life on my 39^th birthday, I have come to a few conclusions: 1) Grey hair is inevitable, 2) wrinkles are earned, 3) maybe, just maybe, the kids ARE smarter than me and 4) for the first time in my life, I have a protruding belly ('Stomach fat' is an ugly set of words). I blame my metabolism. Yeah, that's it...metabolism.

Who am I kidding? I used to work out every day, watched what I ate and rode my bicycle whenever I went somewhere within a 5 km radius of my home. In the last 2 years, I have reduced my exercise routine to the point where walking to the garage so that I can drive the 300 feet to the corner store for soda and potoato chips seems like a chore, so I have only myself to blame for my exponential growth. I mean, a person can only treat their body like an amusement park for so long before their feet start shrinking.

So what happened? I used the excuse that working long hours limited my ability to do a "regular" exercise routine; I told myself that the odd hours that I work limited my ability to eat properly. Then I bought a new wardrobe after the washing machine gradually shrunk my pants.

At my peak of 210 Lbs, I was still lying to myself that I did not have time to work out, and that my schedule was responsible for my eating portions big enough for Goliath. However, I DID realize that it was time to start looking for calorie-burning "activities" which could be easily fit into the lifestyle of a REALTOR. I found that banging my head against the wall for one hour will burn 150 calories, a half hour of lawn mowing will burn 100 calories, thirty minutes of raking (grass or leaves) will also burn 100 calories, and a half hour hike will also burn 100 calories.

But my other problem with losing weight is food: I like to eat...especially pizza. One slice of pizza is approximately 300 calories...but I find it hard to stop at just one or two slices. I usually have three, which means that, in order to burn those pizza calories off before they have a chance to make themselves at home, I would have to mow and rake the lawn twice, go for a two hour hike, and bang my head against the wall for 40 minutes. The truth is that stopping at 3 slices is hard for me; I could eat so much pizza that, in order to burn the calories, I would have to mow the entire province of Nova Scotia, rake all of the leaves from Sherwood Forest, hike from Halifax to Toronto, and bang my head against the wall until I couldn't remember my own name! But I DO stop at 3, mainly because I figure that limiting my food intake might be easier than putting myself through the abuse of exercising. Well, I might have said that about a month ago...

The fact of the matter is that I started exercising sporadically about a month ago, cut many fatty foods out of my diet, stopped eating food after 8 pm and drink water like it is a new religion. While I admit that my exercising has been not been as regular as I would like, some exercise is better than no exercise. However, the results of the combination of my efforts have been amazing: I am down two inches in my waistline and have dropped 12 pounds of weight. I have not drastically changed my routine, and yet I have seen positive results; I can't help but wonder: if I did this well with minimal effort, what would happen if I really tried? I have decided to find out, and will be putting more effort into my health, regardless of my schedule

I hope that this blog does not come across as a platform to brag about my "accomplishments". I mean it to be more of a public declaration that I will work harder towards my goal of a healthier lifestyle, so that I will not give up on myself and my goals. I also hope that my article will motivate at least one reader to make a lifestyle change that they have been contemplating; I know there are some out there who do feel the same way that I do. Studies have shown that up to 80% of men are not satisfied with their body, and the stats are even higher for women. We have the power to change; all we need is the will to try.

Thank you for reading!

The History of Hallowe'en

Scott Owens - REALTOR® (Prudential Property Specialists) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:54:36 -0500

Hallowe'en is a much-anticipated, and largely celebrated holiday in our home. After having just completed decorating our yard, I thought I would "decorate" my blog in honour of the holiday as well. Hallowe'en is North Americas' 2nd most popular holiday for decorating; it is estimated that 80 percent of American adults plan to give out candy, and that 93 percent of children plan to go trick-or-treating. But how many of those numbers actually know the history of this holiday?

Hallowe'en has its origins in the ancient Celtic Festival known as "Samhain", a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture, which is sometimes regarded as the "Celtic New Year". The term "Hallowe'en" is shortened from "All Hallows' Even" (both "even" and "eve" are abbreviations of "evening ") as it is the eve of "All Hallows' Day", which is now also known as "All Saints Day". It was a day of religious festivities in various northern European Pagan traditions, until Popes Gregory III and Gregory IV moved the old Christian feast of All Saints' Day from May 13 (which had itself been the date of a pagan holiday, the Feast of the Lemures) to November 1, in 835 A.D. Traditionally, the festival was a time used by the ancient pagans to take stock of supplies and slaughter livestock for winter stores. The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31, now known as Hallowe'en, the boundary between the alive and the deceased dissolved, so spirits of the dead and inhabitants from the underworld were able to walk free on the earth, causing problems such as sickness and/or damaged crops. Costumes and masks were worn at the festivals in an attempt to mimic the evil spirits or placate them; it was believed necessary to dress as a spirit or otherworldly creature when venturing outdoors to blend in, and this is where dressing in such a manner for Hallowe'en comes from.

Houses were protected against bad spirits with candle lanterns; if the spirits got past the protection of the lanterns, the custom was to offer the spirits parcels of food to leave and spare the house another year. If children approached the door of a house, they were also given offerings of food - Hallowe'en being a harvest festival - which served to ward off the potential spirits that may lurk among them. This gradually evolved into trick-or-treating because children would knock on their neighbours' doors, in order to gather fruit, nuts, and sweets for the Hallowe'en festival.

The carved pumpkin, lit by a candle inside, is one of Halloween's most prominent symbols in America, and is commonly called a Jack o' Lantern. Originating in Europe, these lanterns were first carved from a turnip or rutabaga. The name Jack-o'-lantern can be traced back to the Irish legend of Stingy Jack, a greedy, gambling, hard-drinking old farmer. He tricked the devil into climbing a tree and trapped him by carving a cross into the tree trunk. In revenge, the devil placed a curse on Jack, condemning him to forever wander the earth at night with the only light he had: a candle inside of a hollowed turnip. The carving of pumpkins is associated with Halloween in North America, where pumpkins were readily available and much larger, making them easier to carve than turnips. In America the tradition of carving pumpkins is known to have preceded the Great Famine period of Irish immigration; it was originally associated with harvest time in general in America and did not become specifically associated with Hallowe'en until the mid-to-late 19th century.

It is important (I think) to note that Hallowe'en did not become a holiday in the United States and Canada until the 19th century, where Puritan tradition restricted the observance of many holidays. American almanacs of the late 18th and early 19th centuries do not include Halloween in their lists of holidays. The transatlantic migration of nearly two million Irish following the Irish Potato Famine (1845-1849) brought the holiday to the United States. Scottish emigration, primarily to Canada before 1870 and to the United States thereafter, brought the Scottish version of the holiday to each country. Original celebrations of Scottish-American and Irish-American societies were dinners and balls that celebrated their heritages, much as Columbus Day celebrations were more about Italian-American heritage than Columbus. Home parties centred on children's activities, such as bobbing for apples, and various divination games often concerning future romance. Not surprisingly, pranks and mischief were common as well.

While I hope that you found this blog to be informative, please note that it is written from my Irish-Catholic perspective and is, in no respect, a complete history of the holiday. This blog does not take into account the many cultural variations of the holiday practised in the world today, nor the religious views of the holiday. For more information on the holiday, I recommend you visit Wikipedia for their very detailed description.

Thanks for reading! I welcome you to comment about the things that you and your family do to celebrate Hallowe'en...don't be afraid to include pictures!

Boss! Da plane! Da plane!

Scott Owens - REALTOR® (Prudential Property Specialists) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 18:51:51 -0500

In case you haven't guessed already, this blog is about tattoos.

Tattoos have been a part of human culture since long before recorded history, and this art form is practiced worldwide. Tattoos have played various roles in numerous cultures from rites of passage and signs of religious devotion to sheer desire to ornament oneself. Tattooing has reached unprecedented levels of popularity, but one must still think of the pros and cons of a tattoo before taking the plunge. Like it or not, stereotypes exist, and getting a tattoo may impact your personal or professional life.

As a REALTOR®, I know that "image" is important, which is why I purposely put all my artwork above the short-sleeve line. People with body art are generally perceived as rebellious, irresponsible, unintelligent and sometimes even criminal. This kind of prejudice is no more acceptable than judging a person based on the color of their skin, their religion, or their gender; unfortunately, it still exists. I certainly do not fit the "tattoo" stereotype: I use proper English, am a good public speaker, believe in being a gentleman, am super-polite, help whenever and wherever I can, am a community volunteer who loves working with children AND I have never been in jail. With that said, it is amazing to see some peoples reaction when they see my tattoos for the first time. Comments such as "I never knew" (I never told you), "I didn't think you were that type" (what "type"?) and "How could you do that to yourself?" [insert disgusted look here] usually follow the discovery. It's funny, and a little sad, how negatively people regard tattoos... but that IS changing .

Regardless of your feelings on tattoos, they are here to stay (pun intended). I am a tattoo fan, but I have strong feelings on placement and "tastefulness" of the design. But this blog is not about my preferences, nor is it intended to influence people in their decision for, or against, them. It is designed to give advice to people who may be considering one.

Tattoos are a personal choice that should be given a lot of thought before you take the step, as they are for life. If you are thinking about this permanent marking, here are some things to consider:

Possible health risks: If the needle has been used by others infected with certain blood-borne diseases, you may become exposed to the same bacteria and develop conditions like hepatitis or HIV. Another possible concern is blood poisoning or a skin infection if the needle happens to become contaminated by airborne or localized germs. Be certain that the tattoo artist's hands and equipment are sterile, and that the proper technique is used for implanting the tattoo on your body. With that said, you MUST consider:
The Artist & Shop: Choose these wisely and get references. First, check out shops. Go in and see if you feel comfortable. A good artist will work at a clean, well lit and meticulously maintained studio. The artist should be professional and friendly, have a portfolio depicting a variety of tattoos he/she has done, be attentive to the customer and have a keen desire to assist the client, possess excellent communication skills and be prepared to answer any and all questions relating to sterilization procedures and prevention of cross-contamination methods. His/her portfolio will give you a good idea of what kind of work they like to do, and how good they are at doing it. You might try talking to customers who have visited the tattoo shop previously to find out if they are satisfied with their tattoos, and whether they recommend this artist.
Design and Placement: I know many a 45+ year old who regrets putting a Winnie-the-Pooh (or Mickey Mouse, etc.) on their thigh because they thought it was cute when they were 18. Think about what you want and make sure that's what you get, not what the artist wants - they don't have to wear it - you do. Take the artist's advice, but don't be bullied into something you don't want or aren't sure about. Picture yourself in 20 years: will you feel stupid with this design on your body? A tattoo is designed to last, and can be placed on just about any part of the body; if you change your mind after getting a tattoo and wish to have it removed, you will need to visit a specialist and have the dye removed from your skin, which can be a difficult, costly and painful process.
Cost: Focus on the art and not the price: never put the price of a tattoo as your primary motivation for getting tattooed. Never get a tattoo based on how much money you have in your pocket - save up if necessary; you usually get what you pay for. I have heard more than one artist say, "the bitterness of a bad tattoo will linger long after the sweetness of a cheap price is forgotten". Get a firm price on your design before starting the work, and find out in advance what the guarantees policy is if the image fades before it should. If you are worried about the cost, maybe you should avoid getting the work done.

I truly hope that any of my readers who may be considering a tattoo found this information helpful and interesting. For those opposed to tattoos, please know this: the only difference between people with tattoos and people without is that tattooed people don't care if you're tattooed or not.

For the record, the name "Scott" means "tattooed", so I don't know why everyone is so surprised when I reveal mine. Here's a picture of my latest tattoo, a copy of my family crest. I waited 10 years to get this, and only did so after interviewing 23 artists and making changes to no fewer than 5 drawings in order to get exactly what I wanted. I couldn't be happier with it.

I welcome your opinion on tattoos, piercings and other body art. I only ask that you be respectful of the fact that we all have our own opinions and feelings, and that your comments should reflect this knowledge. Thanks to everyone who took the time to read this blog.

The Ken to her Barbie

Scott Owens - REALTOR® (Prudential Property Specialists) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 10:50:09 -0500

WARNING: Contains small parts and extreme sarcasm. Not recommended for children under 18, or people who don't understand satire...

Divorce Barbie blog author Mirela Monte suggested, after numerous comment exchanges on her blog, that we collaborate on a "Barbie Blog" in honour of Barbies upcoming 50th birthday. My initial response: "there's just something a bit creepy about a 38-year-old man writing about Barbies in his blog. Maybe I will do a "Ken" blog and link it to yours..." Well, she called me on it, and here I sit, writing about a toy that I will never admit to having used...ever...no really...NEVER!

In researching for this blog (yes, I said "researching"), I found out that there are 12 billion different kinds of Barbies, accessories, items, appliances, products, and stuff with Special Editions for every damn facet, job title and minute corner of life you can think of. Not to mention Barbies for every popular cultural icon, movie, hobby or even piece of clothing. However, there are precious few "Ken" dolls (at least not funny ones)... so I took some liberties with my versions:

"Biker" Ken® - Harley-Davidson® Ken® doll will once again ride in style in his fun, edgy and authentic Harley-Davidson® outfits. Intricate details like working silvery zippers, silvery buttons and chains, and Harley-Davidson® Motorcycle logos accent their ultra-hip biker ensembles. Ken® doll looks hot in his denim shirt, white knit tank top, and black leatherette chaps worn over his blue jeans. Silvery stud accents and a silver and black Harley-Davidson® shield buckle complete his outfit. He's got that true cool biker edge with his chest "hair" and "beard," and the "born to ride" tattoo on his forearm! Doll is pose able so he can "ride" the Harley-Davidson® Fat Boy® replica (sold separately).

(Editorial note: This one is actually a real doll - and what I wrote was a portion of their ad-copy. Who at Barbie HQ found Hell's Angel's so cuddly and adorable? This doll is for little girls?! "Ultra-hip"? "He looks hot"? Chest hair?! Somehow I can't imagine a Hell's Angel going up to another saying, "Dude...does this shirt make my chest look buff? "Do these chaps make my ass look fat?" I'm assuming Harley-Davidson® had to OK this since their logo® and name are all over it, in which case someone ought to take the "workable chains" found on the Biker Ken® and go throttle some CEO.)

"Metro" Ken®

Comes with a man-bag ("Murse") containing skin moisturizers, hand cream, hair gel, and back-wax. "Limited Edition" version has a certificate for a pedicure and spa treatment.

Sometimes confused with:

"Alternative Lifestyle" Ken

Aw, heck: call it what it is. This Ken is gay (as in "homosexual", not "excessively happy and bright"). The doll wears a satin vest and mesh shirt so his ripped stomach is exposed, a chain necklace with a rainbow color metal ring on it, a bracelet, rings, and one earring. Optional purple mesh shirt, purple vest and blue pants.

"Homeboy" Ken® - Truly a "fly" Ken in sweatshirt and baggy jeans. Comes with gold jewelry, hip-hop accessories and plenty of attitude. Pull the cord and he says things like "Yo' Homey," "Dang, get outta my face," and "Bro's Before Ho's." Look for the "Puff, Puff, Pass" accessory kit.

"Transgender" Ken®, er, Barbie®, er, Ken® (Who knows?) - Formerly known as G.I. Joe. Comes with three, count 'em, three, of Barbie's dresses, and a chiffon scarf to cover his Adams apple. This versatile doll can be easily converted from Ken to Barbie by simply adding or subtracting the multiple snap-on parts.

"Gangsta" Ken® - This recently paroled Ken comes with a 9mm handgun, a switchblade knife, a Chevy with dark tinted windows, and a Meth Lab Kit. Raiders jacket and Rap CD included. This model has been hard to find since the addition of the stroller and infant doll to the Barbie line.

"Pimpin'" Ken® - This doll is dressed in the finest leather his girls money can buy, complete with red beret, jewel-studded cane and assorted "bling". A true "action-figure", push the button on his back and witness his "pimpslap" backhand; even curses and mumbles derogatory terms when string is pulled. This model is only available after dark and must be paid for in cash (preferably small, untraceable bills)...unless you are a cop, then we don't know what you are talking about. Optional 1979 Caddy sold separately.

"White Trash" Ken®: He's larger and meaner than them other prissy, citified, think-thur-better'n-you Kens! This pale, mullet-haired model comes dressed in Wrangler jeans two sizes too small, a NASCAR t-shirt and sports a fashionable jailhouse tattoo on his forearm. When you push the button on his back, he will spit over 5 feet! Comes with Barbie's Dream Double Wide Trailer. The "Special Edition" gift set comes with two packs of Marlboro Lights, a six-pack of Bud Light and a Hank Williams Jr. CD set. Purchase his pickup truck separately and get a confederate flag bumper sticker absolutely free.

"Married Life" Ken® - With Beer-bustin' expanding waist*. Molded to recliner. Clothed in a dirty white muscle shirt and his tighty-whities, his hand is conveniently shaped to fit the included miniature TV remote control (not attached so that it can get lost every once in a while to replicate life). The doll says, "Where's the remote?" "Shut up woman!" and "Git me a beer." Coupons included for real beer and chips. (*Please note that waist cannot be reduced once expanded).

"Crash-Test" Ken® - Comes with car, helmet, snappy-looking crash test suit and brick wall. Some RE-assembly required.

"Ripped-Off-In-The-Divorce-Settlement" Ken®: - Pull the string on his back and he unloads a torrent of insults and death threats for his ex's new man-toy. Comes with a hatred for all women, and a Malibu tan (except for a white band on the ring finger of his left hand).

"Twelve-Step" Ken®: Pull the string on his back and he says, "Hi, I'm Ken and I'm an alcoholic." Comes with a "One Day at a Time" bumper sticker, a 30-day chip and a pack of smokes.

"Hacker" Ken® (Formerly "Web Site Designer" Ken®) - The aim of these dolls is to revert the stereotype that "pretty" men are numerophobic, computer-illiterate, and academically challenged. Comes equipped with Kens very own xterminal and UNIX documentation as well as ORA's "In a Nutshell" series. The doll is robed in a dirty button-up shirt and a pair of worn-out jeans with Casio all-purpose watches and thick glasses that can set ants on fire. Pocket protectors and HP calculators optional. The doll has the incredible ability to stare at the screen without blinking his eyes and to go without eating or drinking for 12 hours straight. His vocabulary mainly consists of technical terms such as "IP address," "TCP/IP," "kernel," "NP-complete," and "Alpha AXP's."

Future Hacker Ken dolls will include several variations to deal with the complex aspects of hacking. "Hacker Ken Goes to Jail" will teach computer ethics to youngsters, while "K3N R1TES L1KE BIFF!!!" will serve as an introduction to expository writing.

"Mid-Life Crisis" Ken® - Barbie and Ken had a falling out. She got the dream house, he got the mid-life crisis. Ken's is pierced and tattooed in an effort to relive his 20's and he's shacked up with the Swedish au pair in the penthouse suite. Comes with your choice of BMW convertible or Hummer H1. This doll likes to "experiment," but will never commit. Comes with a coupon for a sample bottle of Viagra.

"Internet Porn Addiction" Ken® - This doll is complete with a pale complexion, bloodshot eyes, and coffee-stained, wrinkled clothes. Comes with a 3-month subscription to "Barbies-Gone-Wild.com" and a box of Kleenex. Pull his string and...on second thought, we recommend that you do NOT pull the string.

"Blue Collar" Ken®: Comes with overalls, protective goggles, hard hat, lunch pail, CAW membership, pamphlet on union-organizing and is missing three fingers on his left hand. Also included is a replica 1984 Toyota 4-runner with expired temporary tags and empty beer cans in the truck bed.

"Steroid" Ken® - This model has a highly exaggerated physique, has no neck and is anatomically correct (according to doctor's reports of the effects of steroids). Every detail was thought of when they included pus-oozing back-acne and overactive sweat glands. Pull the string and listen to his "Roid Rage". Major League Baseball uniform included {specify desired team}.

Special edition 'Arnold' Ken is equally big and buff, but when you pull the string he says, "Cahl-ee-FOR-nee-ah".

"Lion Tamer" Ken® - Ken has run off and joined the circus...as a lion tamer! Unfortunately, training was not considered prior to making this decision. Lion is included; Kens head is not.

"Mafia" Ken® - Dark Italian suits, Cuban cigars and an SUV are the order of the day with this model. Comes with a violin case (you got a problem with that?). Mafia Barbie® (Feet set in cement--she really sinks!) is no longer available, as she has not been seen since the release of the Mafia Ken doll.

Please drop in to read the "sister" blog to mine - Mirelas Barbie Blog

Thanks Mirela for asking me to do this blog. I really learned a lot about myself...now I think it's time to go call my shrink.

Give More Than You Get.

Scott Owens - REALTOR® (Prudential Property Specialists) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 08:09:38 -0500

I thought I would share this inspirational story with the AR community in honour of "Hump Day". I did not write it and do not know who did; it has been floating around cyber space for a few years. Whether or not you have seen it before, I hope that you enjoy...

I was at the local corner store, buying some early potatoes; I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprizing a basket of freshly picked green peas.

I paid for my potatoes, but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.

'Hello Barry, how are you today?'

'H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good.'

'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?'

'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.'

'Good. Anything I can help you with?'

'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.'

'Would you like take some home?' asked Mr. Miller.

'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay foem with.'

'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?'

'All I got's my prize marble here.'

'Is that right? Let me see it' said Miller.

'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.'

'I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?' the store owner asked.

'Not zackley but almost.'

'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble', Mr. Miller told the boy.

'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.'

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever.

When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or a orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.'

I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man.

A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles, even though several years went by.

Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died; they were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them.

Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer what words of comfort we could.

Ahead of us in line were three young men.

One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket.

Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket.

Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles.

With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket. 'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size...they came to pay their debt.'

'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho '.

With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

The Moral : We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.

To Achieve Your Dreams...Remember Your ABC's

Scott Owens - REALTOR® (Prudential Property Specialists) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:37:59 -0500

I saw the following on an inspirational poster at my first "real" job in 1989, and it really struck a chord with me. After leaving that job, I found that I remembered most of the "rules" outlined below, and tried to live by them. Oddly enough, when I started with Prudential Property Specialists this year, I noticed this same poster is on display in their (our) office. I thought I would share it with the AR community:

To Achieve Your Dreams...Remember Your ABC's

Avoid negative sources, people, places, things and habits.
Believe in yourself.
Consider things from every angle.
Don't give up and don't give in.
Enjoy life today, yesterday is gone, and tomorrow may never come.
Family and friends are hidden treasures, seek them and enjoy their riches.
Give more than you plan to.
Hang on to your dreams.
Ignore those who try to discourage you.
Just do it.
Keep trying no matter how hard it seems, it will get easier.
Love yourself first and most.
Make it happen.
Never lie, cheat or steal, always strike a fair deal.
Open your eyes and see things as they really are.
Practice makes perfect.
Quitters never win and winners never quit.
Read, study and learn about everything important in your life.
Stop procrastinating.
Take control of your own destiny.
Understand yourself in order to better understand others.
Visualize it.
Want it more than anything.
Xcellerate your efforts.
You are unique of all God's creations, nothing can replace you.
Zero in on your target and go for it.

Sorry to seem a little bit uptight - My grammar rant

Scott Owens - REALTOR® (Prudential Property Specialists) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 05:33:22 -0500

As all of my friends know, I share this writers angst for poor grammar; this is why I have chosen to re-blog his article. I couldn't have said it better...

Via Jason Crouch, Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate:

I was thinking about some phrases that I hear regularly from friends, acquaintances, and family members of mine, and I wanted to share a few observations. These are sort of pet peeves of mine, if you will. After you read this, you may think of me as a sort of grammar disciplinarian. I guess I'm okay with that. I was a raised by a former English teacher, and I was spelling bee champion in sixth grade. Sue me. If there is a chance that I can help someone who reads this to do a better job of communicating via the written (or spoken) word, I am happy.

"Anyways" - This is not a word in the English language. "Anyway" IS a word, however. I cannot count the number of times I hear this misused each day or week. I finally had to tell my title rep to stop saying it, and that I thought it made her seem less educated. If you are using it, too, don't feel bad. You are definitely in good company. It has become widely accepted, unfortunately.

"Irregardless" - Again, not a word at all. "Regardless" is the term. These are sometimes used interchangeably in emails that I receive.

"I could care less" - This implies that you care at least a little bit. In other words, there is actually less caring that you could possess. The correct phrase is "I couldn't care less". I hear both of these all the time, sometimes from the same person.

When writing, "to" does NOT mean "also". "Too" means also. If you write "two" in this case, however, that is a whole different problem.

When I speak to other agents, or friends, and they say, "Where is your office at?", I want to correct them, but I bite my tongue. The "at" is superfluous and improper here.

"I" vs. "me" usage - "I" is a word used as a subject, "me" is an object. To say, "Me and you are going to save the world" may sound like a noble cause, but it's grammatically wrong. When I hear this, I cringe inwardly. To me, it sounds like someone saying "Me is going to save the world". Conversely, sometimes people try to be overly proper with their language skills, erring too far on the side of caution, perhaps because of an overzealous parent or teacher in their past. These are the ones who say, "I got reservations at Melmo's for you and I." In this case, "me" was actually the right word, because it is the object of the phrase.

One that I will admit I have never understood is the fact that "flammable" and "inflammable" mean the same thing. Why use them both? No wonder English is one of the most difficult languages in the world to learn as a second language.

One thing I see in emails and the blogosphere constantly is a lack of understanding with regard to the difference between "their" and "they're", not to mention "there". Look this one up, as the explanation might be longer than I really want to provide in this post. The same goes for "you're" and "your".

For some reason, we have entered an era wherein the word "literally" is used FAR too often. I heard it used yesterday thusly, "Her speech caused a firestorm...literally" Really?!? That is amazing. That woman was able to speak fire into existence with her words? It sounds a lot like "Firestarter" by Stephen King. Be careful not to say "literally" unless you really mean it. To say that we "literally had dozens of phone calls" sounds believable. To say that "the phone was literally blowing up with calls" sounds silly. Thanks to Dinah Griffey for bringing up this one in the comments so that I could edit the post.

Lastly, I was watching a show yesterday, and a lady mentioned that the girl standing next to her was her "oldest" daughter. She has only two children. "Older" implies that you are comparing two things, "oldest" pretty much requires three or more. I have one son, and he is the oldest of our three children. My older daughter is our middle child, and our youngest is now two years old. See how that works?

Sorry for the slight rant that this ended up being. I thought it would be more humorous, but I guess I get easily irritated sometimes.

It’s Hard to Soar with Eagles When You're Surrounded by Turkeys

Scott Owens - REALTOR® (Prudential Property Specialists) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:05:24 -0500

My dog thinks he is a cat. It's really not his fault - he was brought into our household when he was less than 6 weeks old and had only cats to learn from.

After watching my 80-Lb dog playing with a ball of yarn with the cats one day, I took him out to the dog park. Almost immediately, he began acting like his new friends: barking, chasing a ball, and slobbering all over himself. At this point I realized: "What a great example of a lesson I have been trying to teach my kids":

"We tend to behave like the people with whom we associate, so if we want to be taken seriously in life and business, we better choose our friends and colleagues carefully".

Surrounding yourself with the success models will automatically steer your life and your efforts toward success. A success model is someone who either has achieved a goal you are working towards or can guide you in the path towards achieving it. On the other hand surrounding yourself with the wrong crowd will make it much harder for you to succeed. Whenever you spend a lot of time around a person, you naturally become more like them - whether they are a good or a bad influence.

Your initial impression might be there are no undesirable relationships in your life, but the fact of the matter is, for some people the only thing standing between them and success is the people with whom they associate. Examine the people around you-your family, friends, acquaintances and the people with whom you work, determine the effect are they having on you, and then decide whether or not these relationships are supporting and expanding your ability to create the desired results in your life. For some people in our lives, the answer is clearly "yes". But if you're not sure, then it's time to take a closer look at these relationships. If you find that these are "toxic" relationships, the sooner you eliminate them, the better. If it is not possible, or too awkward, to discontinue the relationship, then at least minimize it, but don't be mean, and don't reject them as people. When you DO spend time with these people, do your best to direct the conversation - have them talk about things that they love, so that you can experience the positive side of them - you may even become their success model.

We should all strive to create an environment where we can flourish. When we surround ourselves with positive, intelligent, and energetic people, we feel that positive energy; we find that we are able to achieve those goals that we set out to and we are able to rely on our friends to support us and guide us through decisions. When we surround ourselves with people who have the same goals and attitudes, we are creating a positive, growth-creating environment. When we go the next step and surround ourselves with people who have what we want, we are able to draw from their knowledge and wisdom, and are able to see, first hand, those things that are important to us in action, including relationships, fitness, and finances.

If we create an environment that encourages us, then we are able to achieve our dreams.

Contest Entry - Blogs Happen

Scott Owens - REALTOR® (Prudential Property Specialists) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:38:48 -0500

Contest Entry Blogs Happen

Contest Entry - Blogs Happen

Scott Owens - REALTOR® (Prudential Property Specialists) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:23:42 -0500

What if Shakespear blogged?

13 Tips for Writing Great "SPAM" E-mails

Scott Owens - REALTOR® (Prudential Property Specialists) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 01:01:47 -0500

(Warning: today's entry contains material that may be offensive to some readers. Particularly if you don't understand satire).

1. Pay particular attention to your mailing's subject: Always use exclamation points (!), CAPITALIZATION, the words "free" & "guaranteed", and/or gappy text (t h i s i s g a p p y t e x t). This will help me identify the mail as being legitimate.

2. Use generic salutation formulas such as "Dear User", so that I know that you are someone I know and can trust.

3. If you use a title, make sure the title is confusing. That way I have to open the mail to see what it is.

4. Include a disclaimer stating that your email isn't SPAM, and ALWAYS claim compliance with some legal criteria, especially one that is not actually law in my country.

5. Include gratuitous references to SPAM subjects. Talk about Rolex watches, sexually oriented activities, Rx drugs, or debt treatment. An email which mentions all of the above in one email will very surely get a response from me; chances are I will need at least one of your products at some point in my life.

6. Always offer me a free gift if I forward your message to all of my friends or follow your link. Make it an expensive gift so that I will know that you are serious; be careful to make no reference to the terms and conditions of your gift.

7. Make sure that the product you are selling is one I would never need, or even use. Kudos to the SPAMmer who wrote me to tell me that my account at WaMu was suspended until I followed their link and signed into my account...I am Canadian, and therefore do not have an account at that bank.

8. Use poor grammar (eg. "their" for "they're"). Nothing lends credibility to your cause like a big dose of stupidity.

9. Use poor spelling, so that I know that you care enough about your cause to forget to use spell-check, or even a dictionary ("Looses" is not the same as "loses," and when used as a verb means "to let loose," or "to free from restraint." Granted, "loses" does rhyme with "chooses," which does have two "o"s, but such inconsistency is the price we pay for not speaking Esperanto).

10. Punctuation is overrated. Although you used 15 exclamation points (!) in your title, don't bother with any in the body of your letter. I like a challenge, so the more confusing you can make your mail, the more accomplished I feel when I decipher it.

11. I like it even better when you eliminate all capital letters. Reading a letter without capital letters AND missing punctuation makes it really interesting, as I have to figure out when you have started a new sentence.

12. Put at least one confusing quote at the bottom of the e-mail, such as the one I received the other day: "Dolls always whizgiggled at me and even fellows did in the open water closet!Well, now I whizgiggle at them, because I took Me_ga. d_ik. for 3 months and now my pecker is terribly greater than world." If you are going to SPAM me, you may as well give me a good laugh while you're at it.

13. Sign your mail with a fake name. If you are selling Viagra, I suggest "Harry B. Humongous", if selling noise-canceling headphones, you could be "Balthazar P. Quietude", etc. It's your mail, so you can be whomever you want; I just ask that you be imaginative.

Secrets to a Great Blog

Scott Owens - REALTOR® (Prudential Property Specialists) — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 22:01:39 -0500

I do a lot of online blog-reading, and some of my favorites have very similar properties; they are:

Authors who treat their blogs as a community resource, and write their blogs as such. Writers who think their blog is an advertisement go, for the most part, unread.
Humour!
Those who take the time to personalize the theme of their blog really attract my attention.
Simple steps like adding your photo, editing the header graphic and changing around the colors can make a huge difference in the enjoyment of the article.
Articles that lack a lot of self-promotion are the best (for me). I stop reading blogs that include a paragraph about the author's exceptional services at the bottom of every post (especially if this paragraph is filled with links!).
I don't like blogs that ask a question, as if it will get more responses. If you want a response out of your readers, you really have to make it interesting. Before asking a question, make sure you're providing some content that is going to provoke us to respond!

While this post has none of the above, at least I have learned something for writing it...that I need to practice my blog-writing skills.

Fraudulent Cheques!

Scott Owens - REALTOR® (Prudential Property Specialists) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:18:51 -0500

A Real Estate office in Halifax had a case of attempted fraud this week and and our office was notified by our Association; I thought I would blog it as a warning.

An individual attempted to purchase a property and wanted to complete the deal as quickly as possible. He would not contact a lawyer or get any representation, nor did he want a home inspection or other conditions. The individual wired money to a "mortgage broker" to complete the transaction. This "mortgage broker", which identified itself as a company out of Ottawa called FinanciaLinx, then sent the real estate office a "certified" deposit cheque. The deposit amount was significantly greater than that for which the agreement called. The office took the cheque to the bank to verify that it was valid and found out that it is in fact a fraudulent cheque.

Please note that FinanciaLinx Corporation is a legitimate vehicle leasing company operating out of Toronto that is also being taken advantage of, as these cheques appear to be coming from this company but in fact are not associated with FinanciaLinx Corporation in any way. FinanciaLinx Corporation does not provide any mortgage services or financing. Their name has been used several times in relation to fraudulent cheques. While cheques in their name should be treated with caution, please do not discredit the legitimate company.

Brokers and REALTORS® are asked to exercise caution in dealing with any suspicious transaction to avoid becoming a victim of fraud. In addition to this, brokers and REALTORS® are asked to contact FinanciaLinx Corporation's Risk and Compliance Department at (416) 753-4061 to report any cheques using FinanciaLinx Corporation's name.

Preparing Your Home For Sale - Painting

Scott Owens - REALTOR® (Prudential Property Specialists) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:40:06 -0500

As a listing agent, I find that one of the most common ways to "spruce up" a home to prepare it for sale is to paint. While many people take on this task themselves, painting can be more difficult than you may think. For those of us with limited time, patience, or skill, hiring a painting contractor may be the answer; before you hire a painting contractor, there are some things you should take into consideration:

How long has the contractor been in business? Be sure to hire someone who has been operating for at least 2-3 three years.
Are employees experienced painters? Make sure the company hires skilled workers. Ask what training or qualifications they have.
Does the contractor have the necessary insurance? A reputable, licensed painting contractor will have coverage that protects him, his workers, and you.
What kind of preparation work does the painting contractor do? A cheaper job will normally skip much of the prep work to cut corners; a good contractor will take the time to do everything the way it should be done. The workmanship will show in the end, good or bad.
Can they provide a list of references? CALL THEM!
Can the painting contractor make recommendations on what materials will work best for your project? A professional keeps up-to-date on the latest products and techniques, makes suggestions for colors and finishes, and is knowledgeable about the latest trends.
GET A WRITTEN CONTRACT! A professional provides customers with written contracts and specifications, including price, time frame, etc.

Regardless of the project for which you hire a contractor, painting or otherwise, make sure to hire someone with skill, experience, insurance, awareness of safety issues and good workers; that will not likely be the guy with the lowest bid. It doesn't need to be the highest bid either. Just be sure not to hire on price alone. If the price seems too good to be true, however, it probably is.

Five Truths About Real Estate

Scott Owens - REALTOR® (Prudential Property Specialists) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 06:48:24 -0500

I came acrross this post, liked it a lot, and thought the message deserved repeating.

Via Chris Pollinger:

There have been times when I wanted to tattoo these truths on people's foreheads, but that probably wasn't my best idea ever.

What is a good strategy is to share these with you now, and beg you to learn them, not because I made them up (because I didn't), but because they are true and you need to know them to succeed in business.

1. People do business with people they know, like and trust. It is not hard to develop a relationship with your prospects, but it is essential. The good news is that you can do it passively, and the bad news is that so can your competitors.

2. People buy solutions or experiences not features. This means that people buy what they want, not particularly what they need. For example, we all need to eat, and most of us need more fiber and greens in our diets, but still the majority of us choose burgers or pizza for lunch rather than steamed broccoli and a side salad.

3. People want specialists to handle their problems because they feel more confident that someone with experience and specific expertise will understand their situations more completely, and will handle it better than a generalist. Who do you want handling your brain surgery: Your general MD or a neurosurgeon?

4. Your real estate service is not the right solution for everyone, but that is no reflection on its (or your) value. You may not know all the reasons people choose not to buy from you, but you should know all the reasons they do buy so that you can find more of those people.

5. When you invite a prospect to work with you, you're not begging for money, you are offering a valuable solution to a problem. But if all you care about is the sale, then you are a beggar.

Carpe diem,

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