Roy T's Blog

BOB HOPE IN HEAVEN

Roy T Robinette (the Real Estate Firm) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:34:10 -0600

For those of you too young to remember Bob Hope, ask your Grandparents.
And thanks for the memories, WHAT A WONDERFUL E-MAIL.



I HOPE THIS WILL PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE AND IN YOUR HEART.
Tribute to a man who DID make a difference.


ON TURNING 70
'You still chase women, but only downhill'.

ON TURNING 80
'That's the time of your life when even your birthday suit needs pressing.'

ON TURNING 90
'You know you're getting old when the candles cost more than the cake..'

ON TURNING 100
'I don't feel old. In fact I don't feel anything until noon. Then it's time for my nap.'

ON GIVING UP HIS EARLY CAREER, BOXING
'I ruined my hands in the ring. The referee kept stepping on them.'

ON NEVER WINNING AN OSCAR
'Welcome to the Academy Awards or, as it's called at my home, 'Passover'.'

ON GOLF
'Golf is my profession. Show business is just to pay the green fees..'

ON PRESIDENTS
' I have performed for 12 presidents and entertained only six.'

ON WHY HE CHOSE SHOWBIZ FOR HIS CAREER
'When I was born, the doctor said to my mother, Congratulations, you have an eight pound ham.'"
ON RECEIVING THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL
'I feel very humble, but I think I have the strength of character to fight it.'

ON HIS FAMILY'S EARLY POVERTY
'Four of us slept in the one bed. When it got cold, mother threw on another brother.'

ON HIS SIX BROTHERS
'That's how I learned to dance. Waiting for the bathroom.'

ON HIS EARLY FAILURES
'I would not have had anything to eat if it wasn't for the stuff the audience threw at me.'

ON GOING TO HEAVEN
'I've done benefits for ALL religions. I'd hate to blow the hereafter on a technicality.'


Give me a sense of humor Lord. Give me the grace to see a joke, to get some humor out of life.

The Importance of Walking

Roy T Robinette (the Real Estate Firm) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:27:27 -0600

    Walking can add minutes to your life.
This enables you at 85 years old
to spend an additional 5 months in a nursing
home at $7000 per month.

My grandpa started walking
     five miles a day when he was 60.
Now he's 97 years old
and we don't know where the hell he is.

I like long walks,
especially when they are taken
     by people who annoy me.

The only reason I would take up walking
is so that I could hear heavy breathing again.

I have to walk early in the morning,
     before my brain figures out what I'm doing..

I joined a health club last year,
spent about 400 bucks.
Haven't lost a pound.
Apparently you have to go there.


Every time I hear the dirty word 'exercise',
I wash my mouth out with chocolate..

I do have flabby thighs,
but fortunately my stomach covers them.

The advantage of exercising every day
is so when you die, they'll say,
'Well, she looks good doesn't she.'


If you are going to try cross-country skiing,
    start with a small country.


I know I got a lot of exercise
the last few years,......
just getting over the hill.


We all get heavier as we get older,
because there's a lot more information in our heads.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.


AND

Every time I start thinking too much
about how I look,
I just find a Happy Hour
      and by the time I leave,
     I look just fine.

How's our economy doing ?

Roy T Robinette (the Real Estate Firm) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:41:28 -0600

By Jim Hightower

The Forbes Garbage Index indicates that restaurants are doing better again. PHOTO BY JILL TOYOSHIBA/MCT

Most economists, media outlets and politicos judge economic performance by such statistical indicators as the Dow Jones Average. Aren't there better indicators than stock prices?

Forbes.com has found several that it says could be more accurate - such as the size of restaurant garbage piles. The bigger the pile, the better, as more garbage indicates more customers, says Forbes' analysts. They report that things are picking up from last year's severe downturn, with garbage now amassing to the telltale point that "this summer it was stinky again."

I think Forbes is onto something by using sociological observations to determine economic well-being, but its love-the-rich bias causes it to overlook even more telling un-rich. For example, its "stinky index" would've been enhanced by a count of the number of people rummaging through those garbage bins to find something to eat.

Forbes also put a lot of stock in the autumn sale of wines at Christie's, the tony auction house. Wine bidders, reports a Christie's official, are often speculators looking to buy low and sell high. At this year's autumn wine auction, sales nearly doubled last year's low volume - a clear sign of an improving economy, Forbes tells us. Well, maybe for the swells who are into wine speculation, but what about ordinary folks who buy wine to, you know ... drink? A good measure of their status might be whether the buyers of "Two Buck Chuck" have moved up to some of the five-dollar wines.

But we don't need to read Forbes to see how the tippity-top of the wealthiest of the wealthy are doing. Forbes should look at another economic indicator, like the Neiman Marcus 2009 Christmas Book!

For example, what's better than a good meal and good conversation with friends to warm the cockles of your heart? Well, Neiman's has it all arranged for you and a guest of your choice at the famed Algonquin Hotel in New York City. Not only will you be served gourmet delights, but you'll be seated at the historic Algonquin Round Table with eight erudite and witty sparklies, including Nora Ephron, Henry Louis Gates Jr. and George Stephanopoulos. How wonderful is that? And the entire evening is yours for only $200,000. Thanks, Neiman Marcus!

If that seems a bit pricey for a one-night experience, flip the catalogue's pages to the "Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus." Yes, the luxury carmaker has created a special vehicle exclusively for you catalogue shoppers. Only 50 will be made, so you'd better call now. The price, if you must ask, is $105,000 - but this includes a five-piece set of matching Jaguar luggage. Isn't that fun?

But maybe you're one of those green shoppers. If so, here's an item that'll take your breath away: a five-foot long chandelier made of - get this - the bottoms of plastic soda bottles! A British artist scrounged 366 bottles from a landfill to make this masterpiece, which can be yours for $12,000. And think of the righteous glow you'll get every time you flip the switch, knowing that you rescued 366 bottles from a landfill. Priceless.

This holiday season, the Forbes indicators and the Neiman Marcus 2009 Christmas Book may be fun, but they're like the Dow Jones Average - they miss the economic realities experienced by the workaday American majority. That's why I think we need a Doug Jones Average.

As unemployment soars past 10 percent, and future employment opportunities continue to look bleak for many Americans, we need a measurement of how Doug and Darlene are doing. For Doug and Darlene, and the rest of us working stiffs, a good Christmas gift would be to see a real economic recovery.

In the meantime, maybe they'll be buying you a $5 bottle of wine instead of Two Buck Chuck ... if they can afford to buy you a gift at all.

Jim Hightower is a national radio commentator, columnist and author.

Why Illinois is the Most Important 2010 Race for Conservatives

Roy T Robinette (the Real Estate Firm) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:59:37 -0600

Hoffman, Rubio, and Andrzejewski:
At this point, I probably don't need to rehash my experience interviewing Illinois gubernatorial candidate Adam Andrzejewski. I think his words speak for themselves, and Anthony Dalke did a great job summing it up. The man is a walking encyclopedia of Illinois state government, his enthusiasm is infectious, and his policy is genius - especially the plan to cut billions from the budget using executive orders rather than submitting to a corrupt, Democratic legislature.

I have yet to hear anyone question whether Andrzejewski is the best man for the job, and his policy plans draw rave reviews. The only questions I ever hear are these: can he win and why should we care.

I'll answer the second question first - you should care because the current post-Blago climate offers us a once-in-a-generation opportunity to seize control and start dismantling the infamous Chicago political machine. A solid, honest, anti-corruption crusader like Adam Andrzejewski could easily take the governor's mansion from the Democrats right now - and his election would spell doom for the deepest cesspool of corruption in American politics. Not only does he have the drive to succeed, he actually has a foolproof plan to ensure that his policies are implemented regardless of what the machine politicians want (see: executive orders, forensic audit of state government). The only problem is that, while everyone who is exposed to Andrzejewski loves him, he now has a harder primary against former state Attorney General Jim Ryan - the only man on the planet who can boast that he lost general elections against both Rod Blagojevich and Roland Burris - and money-soaked state GOP chair Andy McKenna.

Essentially, he is playing the role of Marco Rubio to Ryan's Charlie Crist, except there is much more than a vote in the Senate on the line in this race. With so much at stake, and as much as I love Marco Rubio, I fail to see why conservative insurgent groups are investing so much into Florida and so little into Illinois.

As I see it, getting Adam Andrzejewski through Illinois GOP primary should be the single most important mission for the conservative movement in 2010.

This is the biggest potential opportunity that the GOP will have in years, and we cannot waste it by selecting a member of the Illinois establishment as our nominee. Jim Ryan may be a decent guy, but he stands for big government, high taxes, and business as usual. If we are willing to invest so much in to Marco Rubio and Doug Hoffman, races that determine only one vote in huge legislatures, we should be giving twice that effort pushing Adam Andrzejewski past Jim Ryan and into the governor's office. If there is one primary campaign in the nation that needs the help of the national movement, this is it, and we must get involved before it is too late.

The second question is whether Andrzejewski can win. And yes he can - easily. I'm not usually in favor of polls taken by campaigns - but this one was a brilliant sroke of strategy - Andrzejewski took a poll in mid-November, and found himself in second (11%), with Ryan ahead of the field (30%). He then had pollsters read a brief biography of himself and immediately poll the same people again. On the second round, the Andrzejewski vote quadrupled to 40% and left Ryan in the dust with 15%. This is a name-ID election and Andrzejewski merely needs recognition. Furthermore - in a seven-candidate circus of a primary - it is possible to win with 25-30% of the vote.

Returning to the Rubio analogy - Andrzejewski is much closer to Ryan than Rubio to Crist, and has the benefit of a crowded field. Get his name ID up and he wins - period. It's far easier than either the Rubio crusade or the Hoffman insurgency.

So, I will repeat myself. If this arguably the most important statewide race for conservatives this cycle - if not this generation - why are we not dumping everything we have into the Andrzejewski campaign?

Call him Illinois' Rubio, call him the Polish Palin, call him whatever you want, but Adam Andrzejewski should be the top priority for us as conservatives - and he should be getting as much, if not more, attention than we lavished on Doug Hoffman or are now lavishing on Marco Rubio. This is the fight for good government in America in the 21st Century, and not winning this for Adam Andrzejewski is not an option.
by Adam Brickley 2010, R4'08 Interviews, R4'12 Essential Reads

B. B. King to perform at the Springfield Sangamon Auditorium

Roy T Robinette (the Real Estate Firm) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:29:28 -0600

Friday, April 23, 2010, 8 p.m.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
_________________________________________

For more than half a century, Riley B. King, better known as B.B. King, has defined the blues for a worldwide audience. B.B.'s first big break came in 1948 when he performed on Sonny Boy Williamson's radio program on KWEM out of West Memphis. Soon B.B. needed a catchy radio name. What started out as Beale Street Blues Boy was shortened to Blues Boy King, and eventually B.B. King.

His reign as King of the Blues has been as long as that of any monarch on earth. Yet B.B. King continues to wear his crown well. At age 84, he is still light on his feet, singing and playing the blues with relentless passion.

Don't miss this extraordinary evening with Blues music legend, B.B. King!

Winter wonderland

Roy T Robinette (the Real Estate Firm) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:14:13 -0600

By Anita Stienstra

Even though winter hasn't officially arrived, bundle up and take a closer look at the garden on the cusp of the prairie's winter preparation. Join arborist Larry Miller for a December hike and learn to identify trees by their buds, see what birds flock the feeders and spy other late fall wonders. Hot chocolate served after the walk.

Welcome to Winter Walk
Saturday, December 13
2pm
Lincoln Memorial Garden
2301 E. Lake Shore Dr
824-9447
$4 nonmembers, free to members

Springfield schools waiting for federal recovery funds

Roy T Robinette (the Real Estate Firm) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:10:31 -0600

$8.6 million in stimulus money slow to arrive

By Patrick Yeagle School improvements are on hold for Springfield School District 186 as it waits for $8.6 million in economic recovery funds awarded months ago.

Sangamon County schools have locked in $25.4 million in federal dollars under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a $787 billion nationwide project meant to stimulate the economy.

But few schools have seen a cent of the money, says Larry McVey, managing principal of Title 1 programs for District 186. The money is routed from the federal government to state governments, then to state agencies, municipal governments, schools and private contractors - with a bureaucratic approval process at each step.

McVey says school districts must submit budgets to the Illinois State Board of Education, detailing how they will use their share of funds. Budgets must often be revised multiple times before approval, McVey says, a process which is taking several months because ISBE is understaffed to handle the flood of applications.

"When the stimulus money/ARRA money came out, they told the state agencies that they couldn't hire any more staff," McVey says. "So in theory, you have one person up there that is reading my $10 million application, and she's also reading another 150 applications on top of that. I mean, I'm only doing my own, and I wouldn't even know...I have no idea how they're doing it."

ARRA passed in February of this year, and despite submitting the district's budget to ISBE in September, McVey says the application is not even on first review yet, adding that he is unsure when the funds will finally become available.

"I don't have a crystal ball," McVey says. "I'm telling principals to be prepared for maybe March."

Other area schools are in the same boat. Athens Community School District 213 has yet to see its ARRA funds, says superintendent Scott Laird, though he says the district's budget was recently approved by ISBE. Athens stands to receive $156,779 in ARRA funds.

Administrators at Riverton and Ball-Chatham school districts confirmed their districts had not received their funds as well.

"The money just isn't flowing," said Riverton Elementary principal Stacey Binegar.

McVey says he has also spoken with administrators in Peoria and Rockford school districts, neither of which have approved budgets yet.

"It's not just Springfield," he says. "It's going on throughout the area."

District 186 is at a distinct disadvantage in the application process because of its size, McVey says.

"We always try to put our budgets in as early as possible," McVey says, adding that ISBE surprised school administrators by moving the application deadline forward to Nov. 1 this year, giving him less time to complete the necessary applications. As a result, District 186 fell near the end of the application list, behind smaller schools whose simpler budget requests require less review.

"We're now ‘Applicant 175,' you know?" he laughs.

Just extra money

Roy T Robinette (the Real Estate Firm) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:02:21 -0600

The folly of the mortgage interest tax deduction

By James Krohe Jr.

For a day or two in late November, it was just like the old days on Wall Street - well, like 2008, anyway. The National Association of Realtors had reported that house sales had risen 10.1 percent in October, several times higher than predicted, and that sent stock prices up. Only a few days before that, the Springfield Building and Zoning Department reported issuing 12 percent more permits for single-family house construction compared to last October. As for existing houses, the Capital Area Association of Realtors reported sales were up more than 8 percent for the three months before Halloween compared to last year.

What is sending so many hungry bears back to the honey pot that seemed empty just a few months ago? Most analysts pointed to the potential $8,000 federal tax credit, recently extended and expanded, that Congress granted to first-time home buyers as part of its stimulus package.

The credit was passed against the good advice of economists by a Congress who convinced itself that the best way to fix an economy crippled by the collapse of a housing bubble is to re-inflate it. One happy buyer of a Springfield duplex admitted to the State Journal-Register that she had planned to buy with or without a federal tax credit. "The tax credit," she said, "was just extra money."

It isn't like house buyers needed any more handouts from the federal till. The deduction of mortgage interest payments from taxable income cost the U.S. Treasury $67 billion in the 2008 fiscal year. That is an astonishing amount of money, enough to provide every uninsured citizen with health insurance, with enough left over to pay for a couple of days of saving Afghanistan from the Afghans.

Even more astonishing, the tab was run up by fewer than one in four of all taxpayers. Not only do the holders of big mortgages have more interest to deduct (which they can do on mortgages worth up to $1 million on first and second homes) but each dollar deducted costs the Treasury more, since such buyers are usually in the higher tax brackets.

In return for this largesse, the nation gets stable neighborhoods, solvent retirees and a more robust economy. Yes, and the Chinese can be made to see reason about the yuan. Home ownership does make for more stable neighborhoods, but the mortgage interest deduction or MID works against stable home ownership. The deduction makes it easier to buy than to maintain - one reason why our neighborhoods remain socially viable only for as long as the average house takes to fall apart.

A house is touted as the only personal investment many people have. That is not a good thing, but even if it were, a house turns out to not be the best investment to make. Over time, residential real estate has done less well than stocks. True, the owners still have a place to live even if there is an economic crash, which is not true of stocks. And while houses can lose value, that value seldom drops below the amount owed unless the owners overbought or overborrowed.

Which the MID encourages people to do. The MID doesn't make it possible for more people to buy houses. The homeownership rate in countries that don't allow such breaks, including Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, is the same or higher than it is in the U.S. Rather than stimulate more widespread home ownership, the deduction simply inflates house prices. Those win who are about to trade down or sell out, but first-time buyers and those hoping to trade up lose. The net economic effect is zero.

The MID in short is expensive and regressive, and for both those reasons is enormously popular. Few of our stalwart yeomen, reaching for this year's Schedule A, think of the MID as the equivalent of a Section 8 public housing voucher from HUD. The MID is an entitlement nonetheless, cousin to food stamps, unemployment insurance and Social Security.

And like those entitlements, the MID is untouchable politically. Every few years a think tank or government commission, overcome by a fit of common sense, proposes that the deduction be eliminated or replaced by a fairer and less fiscally loony version. Rather than limit it, candidate Obama wanted to extend it, via a refundable tax credit that would allow lower income households who do not itemize to claim the exemption. However, President Obama has proposed further limiting the MID claimable by the well-to-do. Americans, he realized, have better things to do with their money.

Contact James Krohe Jr. at peptobiz@mindspring.com.

Thanks to Brian Walsh of the Washington State Department of Transportation for pointing out that Washington state has some 150 true roundabouts, but the "roundabouts" in Seattle's neighborhood streets are in fact traffic calming devices.

Merry Christmas to all my AR friends.............

Roy T Robinette (the Real Estate Firm) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 23:01:04 -0600

I will be making a conscious effort to wish everyone A Merry Christmas this year ... My way of saying that I am celebrating The birth Of Jesus Christ. So I am asking my email buddies, To please do the same. And if you'll pass this on to Your email buddies, and so on... Maybe we can prevent one more American tradition from being lost in the sea of "Political Correctness".

Salvation Army's Tree of Lights Campaign Needs Your Help.

Roy T Robinette (the Real Estate Firm) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:50:45 -0600

The Salvation Army's Tree of Lights Campaign is only halfway to its goal and it will only be ringing bells until Christmas Eve. The Tree of Lights Campaign funds half of the Army's operation budget which helps those in need. This year the Army's seen 5,000 new people seeking assistance.

The Salvation Army's Tree of Lights Campaign is underway. The Tree of Lights campaign funds a large portion of the Army's budget. The Army provides food, shelter, clothing and more to those who find themselves out of work and out of a home. It also provides Christmas baskets and toys to many families.

You can help by donating at a red kettle, where you'll certainly hear the bell ringers this holiday season. Or you can donate online.

The children who are helped by the Salvation Army get a chance to get a toy and some clothes this holiday season, thanks to the generosity of many. You can pick up an Angel at the WTAX Studios from our Angel Tree, starting November 23rd. The Angel tag will have a child's age and a desired toy or gift on it. You buy that gift, leave it unwrapped and return it and the Angel back to the WTAX studios. Then all of those Angel gifts go to the Army's Christmas Castle to allow for those children to get a gift this holiday season.

NewsRadio WTAX and the Citizens Club of Springfield bring you......

Roy T Robinette (the Real Estate Firm) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:43:41 -0600

...................... a live forum with the Republican candidates for governor in Illinois this Monday night at seven.

NewsRadio WTAX and the Citizens Club of Springfield bring you a live forum with the Republican candidates for governor in Illinois this Monday night at seven. Six of the seven candidates will be participating at the forum at the Hoogland Center for the Arts at 420 South Sixth. WTAX will broadcast the 90-minute forum live starting at 7pm on 1240am and 107.5 FM. Candidates Adam Andrzejewski, Senator Bill Brady, Senator Kirk Dillard, Dan Proft, Jim Ryan, and Bob Schillerstrom will be in attendance. Candidate Andy McKenna will not due to a scheduling conflict. The event is open to the public and the doors open at 6:30 with the forum starting promptly at seven.

CAAR preliminary home sale statistics for Nov of ‘09

Roy T Robinette (the Real Estate Firm) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:00:07 -0600

...............reveal a 78.3% increase in residential transactions with 362 sold and closed as compared to 203 in ‘08. The average sale price of an existing single family home in Nov of ‘09 was $122,800 reflecting a 12.5% increase over the Nov ‘08 price of $109,200. The median sale price in Nov ‘09 of $107,000 reflects an increase of 13.8% over the $94,000 median sale price in Nov ‘08. Sale pendings in Nov ‘09 were 214, reflecting a 2.7 decrease from the 220 sale pendings in Nov ‘08. Listings were down 22.1% with 317 new listings in Nov ‘09 as compared to 329 in Nov ‘08.

YTD THROUGH NOVEMBER ‘09: There were 3,473 home sales YTD through Nov ‘09, reflecting a 0.8% increase over the 3,289 home sales through YTD Nov ‘08. For YTD through Nov ‘09 the average sale price was $125,200 reflecting a 0.4% decrease from the YTD through Nov ‘08 price of $125,700.

SeeHouses.com Visits Up.............

Roy T Robinette (the Real Estate Firm) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:06:20 -0600

.................................12.2 Percent in November

For the month of November visits to www.SeeHouses.com reached 20,491,

reflecting an increase of 12.2 percent over November of ‘08 which revealed 18,262

visits. Through November of 2009 the total number of visits to

www.SeeHouses.com was 280,669, reflecting an increase of 2.6 percent over the

273,415 visits through November of 2008. Unique visits in November of 2009

were 6,499 reflecting a 25.0 percent increase over November 2008. Through

November of 2009 the total number of unique visits to www.SeeHouses.com was

82,316, reflecting a 8.6 percent increase over the 75,814 unique visits through

November of 2008.

YOU KNOW YOU ARE A TRUE Illinoisian WHEN:

Roy T Robinette (the Real Estate Firm) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:35:59 -0600

1. Vacation means going north or south on I-55 or I-57 for the weekend.

2. You measure distance in hours.

3. You know several people who have hit a deer more than once.

4. You often switch from heat to AC in the same day and back again.

5. You can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard, without flinching.

6. You see people wearing camouflage at social events (including weddings).

7. You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.

8. You carry jumper cables in your car and know how to use them.

9. You design your kids Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.

10. Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow.

11. You know all 5 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, road construction, and It's Hot.

12. Your idea of creative landscaping is a statue of a deer next to your blue spruce.

13. Down south means Missouri to you.

14. A brat is something you eat..

15. Your neighbor throws a party to celebrate his new pole shed.

16. You go out to a tailgate party every Friday.

17. You have more miles on your snow blower than your car.

18. You find 0 degrees a "little chilly."

19. You actually understand these jokes, and you forward them to all your Illinois friends. (What's not to understand?)

Jeff Foxworthy on Illinois

Roy T Robinette (the Real Estate Firm) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:27:01 -0600

If your last governor is headed for prison and the governor before him is already there,

You might live in Illinois .

If your latest US Senator lied to get the job,

You might live in Illinois ..

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from November through March,

You might live in Illinois ..

If someone in a store offers you assistance & they don't work there,

You might live in Illinois .

If your dad's suntan stops at a line curving around the middle of his forehead,

You might live in Illinois ...

If you have ever worn shorts and a parka at the same time,

You might live in Illinois .

If your town has an equal number of bars and churches,

You might live in Illinois

If you have had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number,

You might live in Illinois .

Christmas Decorations

Roy T Robinette (the Real Estate Firm) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:16:38 -0600

Well, there is good news and bad news about my Christmas decorations. The good news is that I truly outdid myself this year. The bad news is that I had to take them down after only two days. I had more people come screaming up to my house than ever. Great stories. But two things made me take it down.

First, the cops advised me that it would cause traffic accidents as they almost wrecked when they drove by.

Second, a 55 year old lady grabbed the ladder and almost killed herself putting it against my house and didn't realize it was fake until she climbed to the top (she was not happy). She was one of many people who attempted to do that. My yard couldn't take it either. I have more than a few tire tracks where people literally drove up my yard.

I think I made him too real this time . But it was fun while it lasted. ;)

The Real Meaning of Words

Roy T Robinette (the Real Estate Firm) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:50:04 -0600

Love

Sorrow

Innocence

Departure

Pain

Respect

Compassion

Friendship

Patience

Rescued

Best friends

Divine

"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning how to dance in the rain."

An Irishman........

Roy T Robinette (the Real Estate Firm) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:10:09 -0600

...................... goes into the confessional box after years of being away from the Church.

There's a fully equipped bar with Guinness on tap. On the other wall is a dazzling array of the finest cigars and chocolates.

Then Father Collins comes in. "Father, forgive me, for it's been a very long time since I've been to confession, but I must first admit that the confessional box is much more inviting than it used to be."

Father Collins replies: "Get out. You're on my side."

Winter Statistic

Roy T Robinette (the Real Estate Firm) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:25:53 -0600

A winter statistic
98% OF PEOPLE SAY 'OH SHIT' BEFORE GOING IN THE DITCH ON A SLIPPERY ROAD.

THE OTHER 2% ARE FROM MICHIGAN AND THEY SAY, 'HOLD MY BEER AND WATCH THIS.'

Christmas trees banned for climate summit

Roy T Robinette (the Real Estate Firm) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:32:02 -0600

Participants in the COP15 climate summit should not be subject to Christmas symbols such as fir trees, says the foreign ministry

Although the COP15 climate conference is set to take place during the Christmas season, the Foreign Ministry believes the holiday and all its symbols should be kept well clear of the summit.

That point was bluntly illustrated when a sponsorship providing numerous Nordmann fir trees for the conference was rejected by the ministry, according to public broadcaster DR.

The trees - the most common species used as Christmas trees in Denmark - were intended to be placed as decorations for the entrance of Bella Center, where the conference is taking place.

But Christmas is a religious holiday that has no place at a United Nations function, according to the Foreign Ministry's Svend Olling, who is the head of practical planning for the climate summit.

‘We have to remember that this is a UN conference and, as the centre then becomes UN territory, there can be no Christmas trees in the decor, because the UN wishes to

Although the COP15 climate conference is set to take place during the Christmas season, the Foreign Ministry believes the holiday and all its symbols should be kept well clear of the summit.

That point was bluntly illustrated when a sponsorship providing numerous Nordmann fir trees for the conference was rejected by the ministry, according to public broadcaster DR.

The trees - the most common species used as Christmas trees in Denmark - were intended to be placed as decorations for the entrance of Bella Center, where the conference is taking place.

But Christmas is a religious holiday that has no place at a United Nations function, according to the Foreign Ministry's Svend Olling, who is the head of practical planning for the climate summit.

‘We have to remember that this is a UN conference and, as the centre then becomes UN territory, there can be no Christmas trees in the decor, because the UN wishes to maintain neutrality,' said Olling.

Nordmann firs otherwise fully live up to the climate-friendliness standards of the summit's organisers. The firs are among the best trees at binding carbon dioxide and

You May Have Too Much Debt But You Also Have Options

Roy T Robinette (the Real Estate Firm) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:33:06 -0600

If you feel like you''re in over your head with personal debt, you''re not alone. Millions of Americans have become overextended, many as a result of easy credit and the recessions. Credit cards, medical bills, personal loans and raising interest rates do not make a good financial mix.

The 5 strategies you may want to avoid:

The first advice of experts in the field is to be sure you don''t make your situation worse by making common mistakes. In particular:

Beware of just paying the minimum payments on your debts. This will results in your overall debt actually growing and your problems will only become worse.
Beware of relying on friends and family as it could damage relationships with the most important people in your life.
Beware of unscrupulous credit counselors that demand cash upfront or high fees for help they promise, but don''t deliver.
Avoid taking out a new high-interest loan to pay off lower interest rate loans. It may be easier to just have one payment but it will actually increase the amount you have to pay back.
Declaring bankruptcy when debt settlement may work for you...

Debt Settlement or Bankruptcy

Two common solutions people turn to are debt settlement and bankruptcy. Generally, if you are struggling with a financial hardship and are behind or falling behind on your minimum payments, then debt settlement may be right for you. If your situation is more dire, then you may consider bankruptcy.

However, bankruptcy is a serious step with long term implications for you and your financial future. Most experts would suggest it only as a last resort. The better course is to attempt to work through your debt issue with your creditors and this is where debt settlement companies can help.

Ideal Conditions Boost October Home Sales

Roy T Robinette (the Real Estate Firm) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:25:49 -0600

News Release

Capital Area Association of REALTORS®

The Voice for Real Estate^TM in the Capital Area

SPRINGFIELD (November 23, 2009). The median single-family home sale price and unit sales both increased in the Capital Area during October 2009, according to the Capital Area Association of REALTORS® (CAAR) Multiple Information Service.

Home sales in the Capital Area during the month of October amounted to 341 units, reflecting an increase of 17.6 percent over October of 2008. Year-to-date home sales through October of 2009 revealed 3,111 unit sales, up 0.8 percent from year-to-date through October of 2008.

For the month of October 2009, the median home sale price (for all single-family homes and condominiums) was $105,000, reflecting an increase of 1.9 percent from the $103,000 October 2008 median price. The median sale price for year-to-date through October 2009 was $109,000, reflecting an increase of 3.8 percent over the same period in 2008. The median is a typical market price where half the homes sold for more, half sold for less.

According to CAAR president, Linda Nelson, GRI, GREEN, e-PRO, "affordable home prices, low interest rates, an ample supply of homes, pent-up demand and the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit all worked together to create a perfect climate for home sales in October."

The inventory of homes for sale at the end of October was 1,568, reflecting a 22.8 percent decrease from the 2,031 homes for sale during the same time last year. Current inventory levels stand at 1,564 homes, which is at the lowest level since April of 2005. The current inventory level reflects a 5.3 month supply at the average monthly sales pace for the past twelve months. "For homeowners looking to trade-up or empty-nesters looking to trade-down the current market conditions and current inventory levels present an opportunity. Although we are headed into a typically slow period now would be a good time for these people to consult with a REALTOR about their options," said Nelson.

The number of sales pending at the end of October was 354, reflecting a 28.7 percent increase over the 275 sales pending at the same time in 2008. The average cumulative days on market in October of 2009 was 101 days reflecting a decrease of 10 days from the same month in 2008 and an increase of 19 days from September of 2009. The average cumulative days on market for year-to-date through October of 2009 was 109 days, reflecting an increase of 2 days from the same period in 2008.

"During the month of October the $60,000-90,000 and $120,000 to $160,000 range were the fastest moving price ranges. In terms of the sheer number of units sold there were more homes sold in the $100,000 to $140,00 price range than any other, said Nelson.

"Typically, we would be entering into the seasonally slow period for home sales. However, with the recent extension and expansion of the homebuyer tax credit we anticipate more activity than normal during the winter months as first-time, trade-up and trade-down buyers wanting to take advantage of these ideal conditions search for that perfect home." said Nelson.

The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. reported that the national average commitment rate for 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgages was 4.95 percent in October 2009, down from the 6.20 average rate during October of 2008.

The greatest rock cover evah?

Roy T Robinette (the Real Estate Firm) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:37:42 -0600

For your enjoyment as we transition to a holiday state o' mind, a palate cleanser that's destined to go mega-viral. Three possible explanations: (1) there's some heavy drug use going on these days at the Muppets Studio; (2) this is actually a clip of Queen's video and I'm seeing it as Muppets because my takeout order tonight was laced with something; (3) I can't think of a third. Bottom line, someone's tripping balls here. I hope it's not me!

As always, Animal is the star of the show. Just wait for it.

Is it time to grill the bird?

Roy T Robinette (the Real Estate Firm) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:54:16 -0600

By Jeff Schnaufer

Tired of the same old bird for the holidays? Give your turkey an extreme makeover by taking the cooking - and the party - outside.

"A turkey smoke-roasted on the grill tastes better, thanks to the smoke flavor," says Steve Raichlen, author of The Barbecue Bible and How to Grill and host of the PBS series "Primal Grill." "It frees up your oven for other dishes. It gives you an excuse to spend the afternoon outdoors, gathered around the grill drinking beer or wine with your buddies."

And get ready for the "oohs" and "aaahs" when you present a turkey smoked to perfection: "a gorgeous, plump, mahogany colored bird - the skin crackling crisp, the meat tender and juicy, the whole shebang perfumed with wood smoke," says Raichlen.

"Guests are totally amazed because they would never guess that a whole turkey can be cooked outdoors," says Dave DeWitt, editor of Fiery-Foods.com. It also nicely avoids the large amounts of oil used in frying turkeys.

Among the options for cooking a turkey outdoors are grilling, rotisserie and smoking in a ceramic smoker. DeWitt favors the rotisserie method "because it's so versatile, you don't need to worry about flipping the meat over, like you would with grilling, the heat is even and you don't have to tend to it very much."

DeWitt is not keen on cutting up the bird to cook on the grill, which he says takes away the beauty of a whole bird in the center of the table and may lead to burning the bird if you step away for too long to watch the game.

Raichlen favors cooking a whole turkey in a ceramic smoker or on the charcoal grill, which he says "is best for the reason that it's easy to smoke on a charcoal grill and very difficult to smoke on a gas grill." (See Raichlen's recipe, below).

Here are several of their tips to cooking your turkey outdoors:

Assemble Your Tools
Raichlen suggests a barbecue injector, which enables you to inject some of the marinade into the turkey. Consider food gloves for handling the turkey. Both Raichlen and DeWitt say a meat thermometer is essential.

Smoke ‘Em Out
Raichlen prefers natural lump charcoal, not briquettes, which can have a chemical taste if not properly lit. Soak wood chips before placing them on the charcoal once the ash is well formed. DeWitt prefers fruitwood, such as apple, which gives the turkey a mild smoky flavor.

"Most of the barbecue flavor comes from the fat that drips from the bird onto the hot coals or wood, which interacts with the smoke and rises to coat the bird."

There's the Rub
DeWitt likes using a low-sodium rub on his smoked turkey. Make your own rub from paprika, garlic and ground chili pepper. "Salt draws out the fluids from the turkey and you want your turkey as moist as possible," he says

Pause Before Serving
Be patient. "Let the bird rest for 20 minutes before carving to let the juices redistribute themselves," Raichlen says. "It will be much moister."

Bourbon-Injected Barbecued Turkey
Adapted from BBQ USA by Steven Raichlen

For the injector sauce:

2 tablespoons salted butter
1/3 cup chicken stock (preferably homemade), at room temperature
2 tablespoons bourbon
1 tablespoon of your favorite commercial barbecue rub (Note: Finely grind in a spice mill or coffee grinder if the rub has any coarse bits or spices in it so it doesn't clog the injector)

For the turkey:

1 turkey (8 to 10 pounds), thawed if frozen
4 tablespoons your favorite commercial barbecue rub
1 tablespoon melted butter

You'll also need:

A marinade injector
3 cups of wood chips, preferably apple, soaked for 1 hour in water to cover, then drained

1. To make the injector sauce, melt the butter in a small saucepan. Add the stock, bourbon and rub and whisk to mix. Let cool to room temperature.

2. Remove the packet of giblets from the neck or body cavity of the turkey and set aside for another use. Remove and discard the fat just inside the cavities of the turkey. Rinse the turkey, inside and out, under cold running water, then blot dry, inside and out, with paper towels. Season the inside of both cavities with 2 tablespoons of the rub.

3. Fill the injector with the injector sauce. To do this, push the plunger all the way down, place the tip of the needle in the sauce, and slowly draw the plunger up. The syringe will fill with sauce. Inject the sauce into the turkey breast, thighs, and drumsticks. Don't be surprised if a little sauce squirts out; this is okay.

4. Set up the grill for indirect grilling and preheat to medium. If using a gas grill, place all of the wood chips or chunks in the smoker box or in a smoker pouch and run the grill on high until you see smoke, then reduce the heat to medium. If using a charcoal grill, place a large drip pan in the center, preheat the grill to medium, then toss 1 cup of the wood chips or chunks on the coals.

5. When ready to cook, place the turkey, breast side up, in the center of the hot grate, over the drip pan and away from the heat. Put the lid down and cook the turkey until the skin is nicely browned and the meat is cooked through, 2-1/2 to 3 hours. To check for doneness, insert an instant-read thermometer in the thickest part of a thigh but not so that it touches the bone. The internal temperature should be about 165 degrees F. If the wing tips start to burn, cover them loosely with aluminum foil; if the skin starts to brown too much, cover the bird loosely with aluminum foil.

6. Transfer the grilled turkey to a platter, cover it loosely with aluminum foil and let it rest for 10 minutes. Serves 8 to 10.

Hackers steal electronic data

Roy T Robinette (the Real Estate Firm) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:39:49 -0600

...............from top climate research center
Scientists' e-mails deriding skeptics of warming become public

By Juliet Eilperin
Washington Post Staff Writer

Hackers broke into the electronic files of one of the world's foremost climate research centers this week and posted an array of e-mails in which prominent scientists engaged in a blunt discussion of global warming research and disparaged climate-change skeptics.

The skeptics have seized upon e-mails stolen from the Climatic Research Unit of the University of East Anglia in Britain as evidence that scientific data have been rigged to make it appear as if humans are causing global warming. The researchers, however, say the e-mails have been taken out of context and merely reflect an honest exchange of ideas.

University officials confirmed the data breach, which involves more than 1,000 e-mails and 3,000 documents, but said they could not say how many of the stolen items were authentic.

"We are aware that information from a server in one area of the university has been made available on public websites," the statement says. "We are extremely concerned that personal information about individuals may have been compromised. Because of the volume of this information we cannot currently confirm what proportion of this material is genuine."

Michael E. Mann, who directs the Earth System Science Center at Pennsylvania State University, said in a telephone interview from Paris that skeptics are "taking these words totally out of context to make something trivial appear nefarious."

In one e-mail from 1999, the center's director, Phil Jones, alludes to one of Mann's articles in the journal Nature and writes, "I've just completed Mike's Nature trick of adding in the real temps to each series for the last 20 years (i.e., from 1981 onwards) and from 1961 for Keith's to hide the decline."

Mann said the "trick" Jones referred to was placing a chart of proxy temperature records, which ended in 1980, next to a line showing the temperature record collected by instruments from that time onward. "It's hardly anything you would call a trick," Mann said, adding that both charts were differentiated and clearly marked.

But Myron Ebell, director of energy and global warming policy for the Competitive Enterprise Institute, said this and other exchanges show researchers have colluded to establish the scientific consensus that humans are causing climate change.

"It is clear that some of the 'world's leading climate scientists,' as they are always described, are more dedicated to promoting the alarmist political agenda than in scientific research," said Ebell, whose group is funded in part by energy companies. "Some of the e-mails that I have read are blatant displays of personal pettiness, unethical conniving, and twisting the science to support their political position."

In one e-mail, Ben Santer, a scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, offered to beat up skeptic Pat Michaels, a senior fellow at the libertarian Cato Institute, out of sympathy for Jones.

Neither Jones nor Santer could be reached for comment.