I took these pictures last year after our Exchange Student for Rotary arrived from France. We had such a good time there. It was also my first time to play with my new camera. I was amazed as to how good the pictureds turned out. It is nice that I can now share them with you. I am a scuba diver, so when you are looking through the glass, it does not really feel like you are part of the experience. For me, the glass is gone as I view the pictures. The only thing missing the the air tank and googles. You can get more information about the Aquarium at http://www.aquariumrestaurants.com/downtownaquariumdenver/flash_content/index.html
this is a test of my new video
Re-blogged by 0 agents
8 new Bank owned Properties (Foreclosures) this week (edit/delete)
8 new foreclosures this week. One in Livermore (and it looks really nice) a few in Fort Collins & Loveland and one mobile home (or lot) on Alice in Mountain Range Shadows for $29,900. There is also one in Eagle Ranch estates for $724,900. It will be interesting to pay attention to the new foreclosures. I don't think that Colorado is going to see too much difference in activity with postponing foreclosures. When I visited with the Attorney General at the Old Fashioned Political Rally, he was talking about all the AG's were asking the "banks" to make sure they were doing it right. Colorado's Procedures is much better than many states. Still, some people get caught incorrectly.
Loveland had 21 new listings this week with 1 already under contract. There are a couple of bank owned properties in this list. Prices range from $116,000 to $1,300,000. A lovely house with great views of the Mountains & Foothills. Let me know if you want to see any of these or others that you might have an interest in!
Before looking at today's post you should know that while yesterday's comments worked correctly, the video post was not the correct one.
Friday is finally here, so let's take a look at our Friday Forclosures. Today we have 6 showings. One in Livermore, 1 in Ft. Collins, 1 in Windsor, and 3 in Loveland. Continue to be patient with me (Daphne) as I continue to learn the ropes. Enjoy.
Over 34 new listing this week. And even more if I included Monday. Since I had updated the video so late in the day, I did not include last monday's updates. Some of depended upon what time of day that the listings got entered into the system. It is a really active market and looks like a great time to buy. Interest rates have been hoveriing just BELOW 5%. I remember obtaining one mortage at 11%. Investment financing is coming back too. Rents appears to be heading up and strong. Get ahold to me to visit about your particular situation!
New Listings for Windsor, Berthoud & Johnstown. In these 3 communities there were 20 new listings. If you have a community in Northern Colorado that you would like to know more about, please let me know. The information is pretty easy for me to pull up for you!
Monday is the new listings in Loveland. Over this past week, there were over 50 listings put on the market. Too many to do a decent job of sharing with you. So these listings are those OVER $300,000. I can take a bit longer and look at the photos with you. To learn more about any of these properties, please call or e-mail me. Nanci
970-622-1838 or
Nanci@SellsRealEstate.com
Foreclosure Friday. View the map of locations in Northern Colorado of the bank owned and HUD properties that have been put on the market since May 1st. There are propreties in Wellington, Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley and Evans. Then take a brief look at the properties! Call me to learn more about any one of these, or to lean more about how to purchase one! 970-622-1810 Nanci
All the economic news released during the week indicated that future inflation concerns should be minimal. In addition, the Fed purchased more mortgage-backed securities (MBS) than in any prior week. Despite these favorable events, however, mortgage rates rose slightly during the week. The reason is that concerns about the enormous supply of debt that the government will need to issue outweighed the other factors. The amount of money the US Treasury will need to borrow to fund government spending seems to rise every week. Two weeks ago, it was the $787 billion Economic Stimulus Plan. Last week, the government announced the $275 billion Financial Stability Plan. This week, the Obama administration proposed a $3.6 trillion budget plan, with an estimated deficit of $1.75 trillion, which is enormous by historical standards. The Treasury will need to issue debt to borrow money to fund all of this. As the government issues more debt, the interest rate offered generally must rise to attract additional investors. Interest rates on similar investments such as MBS then move higher as well to compete for funds from investors. Reflecting their concerns about an increase in supply, investors required higher interest rates at the large Treasury auctions during the week. The auction results showed that demand from foreign investors remained strong, which was very good news. If foreign investors should ever reduce their purchases of US bonds, then interest rates in the US would be likely to rise. The important Employment report will come out on Friday. As usual, this data on the number of jobs, the Unemployment Rate, and wage inflation will be the most highly anticipated economic data of the month. Early estimates are for a loss of over 600K jobs in February. Before the Employment Data, the ISM national manufacturing index and Personal Income will come out on Monday. Pending Home Sales, a leading indicator for the housing market, is scheduled for Tuesday. Productivity will be released on Thursday. Factory Orders, Construction Spending, and the ISM Service index will round out a busy week. Copyright @ 2009 MBSQuoteline Please let me know if there is anything else I can do for you. Sue Turner Sales Manager 3780 N Garfield Ave Loveland, CO 80538 970-203-3003 direct
The Nanci Garnand Team is here to assist you!
Your Northern Colorado Information Source
P.S. We really try to make sure that you have a great experience while working with The Nanci Garnand Team. When your friends, family and coworkers get ready to buy/sell, we want to make sure that they know that there is a better way to go through this process. Don't keep us a secret! - tell them about our services.
I have not been good about updating this page. However, this information was timely. With the election, and the press being so good in telling us that the sky is falling, It is nice to see something positive being said.
Nanci
Good News for Real Estate? Largest Monthly Home
Sale
Percentage Increase in 5 Years Reported
RISMEDIA, Oct. 27, 2008-Due to falling real estate prices and rising foreclosures on the West Coast, sales of existing homes rose to its highest level in 13 months and highest percentage increase in five years, according to a report issued today by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). The increase resulted from buyers responding to improved housing affordability conditions, the organization stated.
Existing-home sales-including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops-rose 5.5% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.18 million units in September from a level of 4.91 million in August, and are 1.4% higher than the 5.11 million-unit pace in September 2007.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said more markets are seeing year-over-year gains. “The sales turnaround which began in
California
several months ago is broadening now to
Colorado
,
Kansas
,
Minnesota
,
Missouri
and
Rhode
Island
,” he said. “The South was hampered by much lower home sales in
Houston
in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike.”
NAR President Richard F. Gaylord, a broker with RE/MAX Real Estate Specialists in
Long Beach
,
Calif.
, said low home prices and low interest rates have been attracting buyers. “This is the first time since November 2005 that home sales have been above year-ago levels,” he said. “Credit tightened at the end of September, but the improvement demonstrates that buyers who’ve been on the sidelines want to get into the market to make a long-term investment in their future.”
According to Freddie Mac, the national average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage fell to 6.04% in September from 6.48% in August; the rate was 6.38% in September 2007.
Yun said there may be market disruptions. “The credit markets are not settled yet, although the mortgage market stabilized with the government takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Inventory remains high, and price declines are pressuring owners,” he said. “Additional housing stimulus would stabilize prices more quickly, which in turn would bring faster stability to Wall Street. Removing the repayment feature on the first-time buyer tax credit and permanently raising loan limits would bring more buyers into the market and further reduce inventory.”
Total housing inventory at the end of September fell 1.6% to 4.27 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 9.9-month supply² at the current sales pace, down from a 10.6-month supply in August. This marks two consecutive monthly declines since inventories peaked in July.
The national median existing-home price for all housing types was $191,600 in September, down 9.0% from a year ago when the median was $210,500. “Compared to a fairly small share of foreclosures or short sales a year ago, distressed sales are currently 35 to 40% of transactions. These are pulling the median price down because many are being sold at discounted prices,” Yun explained. “The current market is not being dominated by speculative investors. Rather, 80% of current buyers are purchasing a primary residence, which is a bit higher than historic norms.”
Single-family home sales increased 6.2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.62 million in September from a pace of 4.35 million in August, and are 3.8% above the 4.45 million-unit level a year ago. The median existing single-family home price was $190,600 in September, which is 8.6% below September 2007.
Existing condominium and co-op sales were unchanged at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 560,000 units in September, but are 15.7% below the 664,000-unit pace in September 2007. The median existing condo price4 was $199,400 in September, down 10.2% from a year ago.
Regionally, existing-home sales in the West jumped 16.8% to an annual rate of 1.25 million in September, and are 34.4% higher than September 2007. The median price in the West was $253,600, down 18.5% from a year ago.
In the
Midwest
, existing-home sales increased 4.4% to an annual pace of 1.19 million in September, but are 2.5% below a year ago. The median price in the
Midwest
was $152,500, which is 7.9% lower than September 2007.
Existing-home sales in the South rose 2.2% in September to a pace of 1.90 million but remain 7.8% below September 2007. The median price in the South was $167,200, down 4.1% from a year ago.
In the Northeast, existing-home sales slipped 1.2% to an annual pace of 840,000 in September, and are 7.7% lower than a year ago. The median price in the Northeast was $246,800, down 5.4% from September 2007.
There is a wonderful opportunity to pick up art work at a live auction and enjoy the day out of doors.
The 13th Annual Richard Schmid Fine Art Auction is happening this weekend with all proceeds benefiting the Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department. There are an amazing amount of artists that help support this event. Come join me there. The Preview opens at 10:00 am with the auction starting at 1:00.
You may have not know that we had a Center for Business Development. It is now a joint venture. Below is more information. Nanci
Loveland Center for Business Development joins with Larimer SBDC FORT COLLINS - The Larimer Small Business Development Center, hosted by Front Range Community College, will assume the day-to-day responsibilities of the Loveland Center for Business Development.
Both centers provide assistance, information and support to small businesses. FRCC has hosted the Larimer SBDC since 1987.
Rod Wensing, president of the Loveland Center, said the combination of the two centers should result in a more efficient operation. "Both the SBDC and LCBD deliver essentially the same services to local small businesses, so a joint venture with the SBDC is meant to gain efficiencies and eliminate duplication of efforts," Wensing said. "We believe this merger will provide a greater expansion of business development services to new and existing businesses in Loveland."
A Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Loveland Center for Business Development and FRCC is for a three-year pilot program effective Sept. 1.
As part of the process of becoming a U.S. Citizen, immigrants have to pass a
U.S.
History and Civics test. Want to see if you could pass the test, go to www.uscis.gov, click on Education and Resources and then select the Naturalization Self Test on the left hand side of the screen. You will probably get most of the questions but I bet there are a few that stump you!
Donor Spotlight: Carol Ann Hixon Fund for Advancing Innovation and Imagination
Gary and Carol Ann Hixon are long-time supporters of nonprofit agencies in Fort Collins, and in 2005 they established a Donor Advised fund at the Community Foundation to organize their charitable giving. In December 2007, Gary Hixon began working with the Community Foundation staff to establish a second fund. His goal was to surprise his wife and honor her dedication to local education. TheCarol Ann Hixon Fund for Advancing Innovation and Imagination will impact local teachers and students for years to come. Click here to learn more about the fund, and click here to donate.
Sandy Boatman Retires; Donna Long Named CFO
Please join us in thanking retiring CFO Sandy Boatman for her years of service to the Community Foundation. "Sandy came to us five years ago as a CPA with extensive experience at both for-profit and nonprofit organizations," President Ray Caraway said. "Her experience and hard work have been a huge factor in the progress the Community Foundation has made in recent years." Sandy posted a farewell message ("Sandy's Swan Song") on our new blog. Please feel free to wish Sandy a happy retirement by posting a comment on the blog.
The Community Foundation is pleased to introduce Donna Long as its Chief Financial Officer. As a Northern Colorado resident for nearly 40 years --- and a proud graduate of Colorado State University --- Donna has a personal and permanent commitment to our community. She has extensive experience in public and private accounting and is a member of both the Colorado Society of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs. Donna was employed by Allard and Associates as a CPA and Executive Vice President for nearly five years, and she most recently served as Director of Finance at Specialty Products Company in Longmont. She resides in Loveland. As the Community Foundation's CFO, Donna will ensure the proper accounting of each fund and respond to questions regarding the financial status of the organization. She can be reached at 488-1988 or donna@CommunityFoundationNC.org.
Community Foundation Matches Gifts to Larimer Center for Mental Health
Larimer Center for Mental Health is a private nonprofit organization whose mission is to deliver high-quality mental health treatment, education and supportive services to residents of Larimer County. A matching grant from the Community Foundation is helping LCMH grow its endowment fund. Click hereto access a secure online donation form and help the organization have an even greater impact on Larimer County residents. For more information contact Emily Dawson Peterson at emily.petersen@larimercenter.org or at 494-4226. Read on...
Support Northside Aztlan Rec Center: Golf in Tom Van Horn Memorial Tournament
Help Send Vets to WWII Memorial in Washington D.C.
The Community Foundation Serving Greeley and Weld County is working with Honor Flight Northern Colorado to provide free flights for Larimer and Weld County World War II veterans to visit the memorial in Washington D.C. For more information, contact Lee Seward at 834-0216 or Stan Cass at 454-5660. Read on...
Beet Street Presents Program on Social Media
Beet Street will host "Social Media: Telling Stories, Changing Lives" from April 23-26 in downtown Fort Collins. Frank Warren, founder and curator of PostSecret, will deliver the keynote address on Saturday, April 26 at 7 p.m. at the Northside Aztlan Comunity Center. Other activities will include panel discussions on the impact of online media, interviews by StoryCorps, Fort Collins' first BlogJam, and appearances by The Buried Life. For more information, contact Jean Lamm at jlamm@beetstreet.org or at 419-4364. Read on...
Grace Fellowship's "Reconciliation Ministries"
Grace Fellowship's Reconciliation Ministries program is a Biblical counseling ministry that reaches out to individuals, couples and families. The organization focuses on individuals recently released from jail, those who are struggling with drugs and alcohol, and victims of domestic violence. The organization is seeking funding for counselors and training materials.For more information contact Joanie Ruggles at joanieruggles@msn.comor at 484-0074 ext 3 or 545-0744. Read on...
The Loveland Berthoud Interfaith Hospitality Network is a homeless and self-sufficiency nonprofit organization that offers safe, clean shelter within 24 hours of being accepted into the program. The organization also offers comprehensive case management to assist families with breaking the cycle of poverty. LBIHN is seeking an updated phone system as well as an older computer to bring its accounting system on site. For more information, contact AnnMarie Arbo at angelhouseihn@hotmail.com or 970-663-1716. Read on...
Contact Your Community Foundation
Thank you for your support of the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado. Please click on the "Forward Email" link below to pass this e-newsletter along to other interested parties.
There is a wonderful organization that Certify's Professional Secretarys. Put yourself in contact with an organization that can give you an edge. Visit their site at. There is a local club that you can visit or call to find out more.
Get the key to the career path of your future.Your education, experience, and knowledge can put you on the path to becoming a Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) and/or Certified Administrative Professional (CAP)
·Expand Career Opportunities
·Upgrade to a Higher Level Position
·Enhance Salary Opportunities
·Earn College Credit Towards a Degree
·Increase Self-Confidence and Pride
·Show Ambition and Initiative
To attain the CPS rating, a secretary/admin must meet certain educational and work experience requirements and pass a three-part one-day examination. CPS exams are given the first Saturday in May and November.
To attain the CAP rating, an administrative professional must meet certain educational and work experience requirements and pass a four-part, one and one-half day examination. The four-part exam is administered the first Friday afternoon and Saturday of May and November.
Office Systems and TechnologyCSP & CAP
Office AdministrationCSP & CAP
ManagementCSP & CAP
Advanced Organizational ManagementCAP
Application, fees, and supporting documents must be postmarked prior to:
March 1 for May Exam or
September 1 for November Exam
Fort more details about the Exams, call IAAP International Headquarters at (816) 891-6600.
Mountain
View
Chapter
Meeting Information:
Second Monday of Each Month
(August – May) at the
Hilton Hotel
425 West Prospect Road
Fort Collins
,
Colorado
5:30 p.m. – Networking
6:00 p.m. – Program/Meeting
Why IAAP®
IAAP® is the world’s leading association of office support professionals.
…Exposure to other professionals outside your company, to help expand your interpersonal skills and comfort levels. In addition, the IAAP® global network is very useful when executives are going to other cities and/or countries. You can contact an IAAP® member for information about a particular area.
…Leadership opportunities through participation in chapter activities.
…Discounts on educational products and resources that have been created, reviewed and/or selected especially for administrative assistants.
…Access to information on the latest trends and research for the profession, such as reviews of new computer software releases, previews of new responsibilities admins may be assuming, benchmarking details from other companies, best practices, and more.
…Supports the concept of excellence and continuous improvement -- more than just "talk."
…Awareness that it isn't "just a job" - it is a career and you're in control of it and responsible for it.
IAAP®
Mission
, Objectives, Purpose, Vision, and Core Values
The mission is to be the acknowledged, recognized leader of administrative professionals and to enhance their individual and collective value, image, competence, and influence.
The purpose is to provide information, education, and training and to set standards of excellence recognized by the business community on a global perspective.
The objectives are to elevate the standards of all administrative professionals and to promote their working relationships with management through continuing education, authorized programs, and publications.
The vision is to inspire and equip all administrative professionals to attain excellence.
The
Mountain View
Chapter
Chartered in 1947, the Mountain View Chapter serves the greater Fort Collins-Loveland area and is part of the Colorado-Wyoming-Montana Division. The Chapter provides development opportunities to improve leadership skills, communication skills, professionalism and management skills, and self-confidence. Members share with each other their experiences, skill, and talents to build excellence in each other.
Programs and Presentations
Ideas are constantly being developed and suggestions are always welcomed!
·Get To Know Your IAAP
September 2006
·Boost Your Career and Certification Presentation
October 2006
·Becoming a Virtual Assistant
February 2007
·Become an Indispensable Administrative Assistant
April 2007
·Financial Updates and Identity Theft Prevention
September 2007
·What A Manager is Looking for in Today’s Office and
OfficeMax/Office World is GREEN
October 2007
·Women and Investing - Make It Happen!
November 2007
·Curves/Health Presentation
January 2008
·10 Things Your English Teacher Probably Never Told You
On April 24, there is an opportunity to bring a "Boys & Girls Club member to Work" If you don't have your own kids to bring with you, this is a great opportunity!
Take a Boys & Girls Club Member to Work Day
Thursday, April 24, 2008
The 16th annual Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work® Day is approaching. For something new this year, the Boys and Girls Club of Loveland is organizing a special event for its female members ages 10-18. To show girls that they can be successful professionally and expose them to various vocations, we are pairing female Club members with female Boys & Girls Club board members for the day.
This is a consumer alart that is posted by the Disctict Attorney that serves our District. (in Denver) I thought it worthwhile to share. Please make others aware that they may be scammed and to be carefuly.
Nanci
From the Office of District Attorney Carol Chambers
March 17, 2008
JUST FILE YOUR TAX RETURN
We previously warned consumers that scam artists were trying to take advantage of the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008.This is the federal program established by Congress to provide tax rebates that will hopefully stimulate our economy.When we issued our previous alert, Congress had not finalized the program, so we could not give details.This Consumer Alert is for the purpose of explaining what you have to do to receive your rebate:
STEP ONE: File your 2007 federal tax return.
STEP TWO: Wait for your check to arrive in the mail.
THERE IS NO STEP THREE!
Your rebate will be determined by the information you provide on your 2007 tax return.NOTHING ELSE IS REQUIRED!If you are contacted by anyone claiming that you have to provide any information other than what was on your return or that you have to pay a fee or that you have to do anything except file your return – it is a scam!
For more information on the Economic Stimulus (tax rebate) payment, look for the mailing from the IRS that should be in your mailbox, or go to the IRS website, www.irs.gov, or call the District Attorney’s Consumer Protection Line.
RE/MAX climbs to second place among real estate Web sites
Hitwise: Century21, MSN Real Estate jump up in top-20 ranking
By Inman News, Monday, March 10, 2008.
RE/MAX Real Estate's remax.com Web site hopped into second place among the most popular real estate industry Web sites in February, up from its fourth-place ranking in January, Web metrics company Hitwise reported Friday, and real estate marketing company HomeGain bumped from second place in January to fifth place in February.
Century 21 Real Estate's century21.com and MSN Real Estate's realestate.msn.com Web sites had the largest jump in ranking among the top-20 real estate category sites, Hitwise reported, based on the total number of unique visitors. Century21.com moved from 16th on the list in January to 10th on the list in February, while realestate.msn.com climbed from 18th in January to 11th in February.
Realtor.com continued its reign at the top of the list, with 5.16 percent of the market share of all unique visitors to real estate sties. But that market share had fallen compared to its 9.08 percent market share in January. Second-place remax.com had 2.61 percent of the market share in February, followed by Yahoo Real Estate's realestate.yahoo.com at 2.35 percent, Zillow.com at 2.34 percent and HomeGain.com with 2.32 percent.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's hud.gov Web site sank from 10th on the list in January to 14th on the list in February, and Homes.com dropped from 14th in January to 17th in February.
About 24.1 percent of all visits to real estate Web sites went to the top-10 sites in that category in February, compared to 27.4 percent in January.
Hitwise reported that real estate site 21online.com joined the top-100 rankings in February, in 87th place, and Cincinnati.com also joined the list, rising from 110th in January to 95th in February. Rentals.realtor.com moved from 34th in January to 153rd place in the rankings in February, while RedWeek.com moved from 99th in January to 107th in February.
"Realtor.com" was the most popular search term for the four-week period ending Feb. 23, Hitwise reported, followed by "remax," "real estate," "zillow.com," "zillow," "apartments," "homes for sale," "realtor.com," "century21," and "realtor," in that order.
Have you recently moved? Do you have a new preferred email address? Please help us stay in touch with you! Submit your updates to info@CommunityFoundationNC.org, or call Office Manager Katherine Martinez at 488-1982.
Fort Collins Ranks High In Childhood Poverty Growth
Fort Collins ranks 31st in childhood poverty growth among the 499 cities for which the U.S. Census provides comparative data.Fort Collins was one of 37 U.S. cities experiencing double-digit growth in poverty rates, with a 10-point jump in the child poverty rate from 2000 to 2006.Click here to read an article by New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, in which he discusses the impact of childhood poverty. Click here to download an Excel file with poverty comparison data compiled by Bob Moore of the Coloradoan. Special thanks to United Way of Larimer County for convening the Pathways Past Poverty Taskforce, which is charged with exploring ways to reverse these trends.
Local Tutoring Program Benefits College and Grade School Students
The Triunfo/Triumph Tutoring Program matches local CSU undergraduate students with under-served students in the Poudre School District for free weekly tutoring sessions.The program increases student achievement and decreases dropout rates while providing CSU students the opportunity to participate in service learning. The program is unable to accept new students because of transportation costs. The program is seeking funding to continue free transportation for the student participants. For more information, contact Dr. Christine S. Jones at Christine.Jones@colostate.edu or at 971-491-2115. Read on...
Making Sweet Music: The Fort Collins Symphony Guild Holds Fundraiser
The Fort Collins Symphony Guild is a nonprofit organization that supports and promotes the growth of the Fort Collins Symphony. On May 31 the Guild will hold Sharps/Flats, a fundraising event featuring a tour of lofts in downtown Fort Collins. The Guild is seeking $20,000 in underwriting for the event, which has been a significant source of funding for the Symphony in the past. For more information, contact Lyn Leedy at lleedy1662@frii.com or at 493-0632. Read on..
Fort Collins Housing Authority- Family Self Sufficiency Program
The Fort Collins Housing Authority provides affordable housing, economic opportunities and safe living environments to low-income families and individuals. The organization is seeking donations to help build its client assistance fund, which helps individuals with dental and medical needs. For more information, contact Program Coordinator Rachel Perez-Steinbach at rperez@fcgov.com or 416-2922. Read on...
Elder Pet Care Provides Seniors with Companionship
Elder Pet Care provides quality, reduced-cost veterinary services to senior citizen pet owners in Northern Colorado. Access to affordable veterinary care enhances the quality of life for seniors by enabling them to enjoy healthy companion animals. Elder Pet Care is seeking funding to continue its Annual Pet Care Program, which subsidizes the annual costs of pet care and reduces the financial burden incurred by senior pet owners. To learn more, contact Fundraising Chair Sharon Bleicher at sableicher@aol.com or 407-0531. Read on...
Hit a Homerun by Helping Fort Collins Families
The Fort Collins Baseball Club is a nonprofit organization that has served Fort Collins since 1961. The organization has more than 250 teams, with participants ranging in age from 5 to 18. The club is seeking funding to support its reduced-fee program for children whose families are unable to cover the cost of participation. Need has far outstripped the club's available resources. To learn more, contact Patricia Wunsch at director@fcbcmail.org or 484-3368. Read on...
Treehouse Seeks Playground
The Treehouse Montessori is a program of the Institute for Conscious Culture that works with 3- to 6-year-old children. With a goal of inspiring independence and a love of learning and respect within children, the Treehouse Montessori recently purchased and renovated a house for its school. The organization is now seeking funding for playground equipment. To learn more, contact Rhonda Robertson at honeyroro@netzero.net or at 581-1355.
Contact Your Community Foundation
Thank you for your support of the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado. Please click on the "Forward Email" link below to pass this e-newsletter along to other interested parties.
Dave Liniger, RE/MAX Chairman and Co-founder, will appear on the 9News production, "Your Show", which is broadcast on KTVD, Denver's My 20, at 10:30 am this Sunday, March 9th.
"Your Show" will focus on Dave and RE/MAX for the entire half hour, and Dave will be talking about the current housing market, as well as the RE/MAX success story.
Viewers can go to the "Your Show" website, and e-mail in questions for the show's host.
A story to share was sent to me by Joyce Holt. As you have seen the story of my saving a kitten and so watched it with even more interest. Thanks Joyce for sharing it!!! Nanci
-- The Bush administration, trying to deal with a worsening housing slump, announced a new initiative Tuesday aimed at helping homeowners about to lose their homes. For qualified homeowners, it will put the foreclosure process on hold for 30 days. Dubbed "Project Lifeline," the new program will be available to people who have taken out all types of mortgages, not just the high-cost subprime loans that have been the focus on previous relief efforts.
The program was put together by six of the nation's largest financial institutions, which service almost 50 percent of the nation's mortgages. These lenders say they will contact homeowners who are 90 or more days overdue on their monthly mortgage payments. They will be given the opportunity to put the foreclosure process on pause for 30 days while the lenders try to work out a way to make the mortgage more affordable to the homeowner.
"Project Lifeline is a valuable response, literally a lifeline, for people on the brink of the final steps in foreclosure," Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson, said at a joint news conference with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson. He said the goal was to provide a temporary pause in the foreclosure process "long enough to find a way out" by allowing homeowners and lenders to negotiate a more affordable mortgage.
Paulson said that the new effort was just one of a number of approaches the administration was pursuing with the mortgage industry to deal with the country's worst housing slump in more than two decades. In December, President Bush announced a deal brokered with the mortgage industry that will freeze certain subprime loans, those offered to borrowers with weak credit histories, for five years if the borrowers are unable to afford the higher monthly payments as those mortgages reset after being at lower introductory rates.
"As our economy works through this difficult period, we will look for additional opportunities to try to avoid preventable foreclosures," Paulson said. "However, none of these efforts are a silver bullet that will undo the excesses of the past years, nor are they designed to bail out real estate speculators or those who committed fraud during the mortgage process."
Here we go again. This trend is growing to where those of us who do things right, get to pay for those who don't. I thought you might be interested in House Buill 1143
This bill, if passed, will cause a huge majority of Coloradoans that have good credit (like you) supplement all the bottom feeders with poor credit by forcing good credit holders to pay more in insurance rates. Here is the gist of the House Bill 1143:
If HB 1143 passes, people with good credit will pay more for their insurance while people with bad credit will pay less.
Coloradoans with good credit history would be forced to subsidize individuals with bad credit.
HB 1143 also would increase insurance costs for most businesses in Colorado and these costs would be passed on to their customers.
It would force well-run businesses to subsidize the insurance costs of their competitors that are not well-managed.
HB 1143 adversely impacts all lines of commercial insurance and will increase the relative cost of doing business in Colorado.
Sixty to seventy percent of Coloradoans pay lower rates now as a result of insurance companies using credit history to calculate rates.
HB 1143 will end up costing most Coloradoans more money for insurance. You may be forced to pay significantly more for your auto or homeowner insurance if the law changes and insurance companies could no longer consider your credit history as one of the factors they use to set your rates.
Colorado consumer protection laws are already among the most restrictive in the country on the use of credit information in setting insurance rates.
HB 1143 will raise rates for most Coloradoans without adding any better consumer protections.
oCredit information cannot be the sole factor used to deny, cancel or non-renew an auto or home policy.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), like others who have studied the issue, reaffirmed that credit-based insurance scores are effective predictors of risk for automobile policies.
I, for one, have worked hard to keep my good credit and I don’t want to pay more in insurance so someone who didn’t protect their credit’s insurance rates can go down. Please join me in letting our legislators know that this is bad for all of us.
If you need information on how to contact your legislator please go to www.vote-smart.org and you can search by your ZIP code. Please take the time to let them know your opinion as this is a horrible piece of legislation.
Thank you for your time, and feel free to let me know your thoughts or if you have any questions.
I was watching dance wars last night and looked over to the fireplace and saw my cat, Taupe relaxing in front of the nice warm fire. She looked so peaceful. So I wanted to share this photo with you. I really wish I had this cat's life!
This month I have started a new marketing campaign were I post pictures and information about my listings on www.CBS4Denver.com There is an MLS EXPERTS button on the "upper" right side where it is above the videos. This is pretty exciting. I am fine tuning what I can do and am learning the system. So Please go visit! Share the word! and let me know what you think! Nanci Nanci@SellsRealEstate.com (I just visited the cbs site and the mls experts button where I told you is NOT there today. So a good place to look on the left in the lighter gray that says "Seen On CBS4" and MLS Experts is the 3rd one down (today). Direct link to my listings
Do you know what Ani Music is? I did not until the other night, Carol and Don Miller invited me over for dinner and I was showing them my I phone and talking about www.YouTube.com Well, I learned something new that I want to share. Enjoy watching the video. If you search for Ani Music on www.YouTube.com one is amazed at all of the different musical instruments that have been used. Than I saw an ani cartoon on TV?
This year our Rotary Club decided to showcase our own members for our Christmas program. Another member, Alistair MacDonald, filmed and edited it for our sharing enjoyment! I also joined in and sang. We have outstanding voices in our group and it was a pleasure for me to participate!
I know the snow is still on the ground. However, It is NOT too early to think about what you will be doing in your garden this year. And.... it helps pass the time away if you are not a big winter snow fan (ie skier) The Gardens offer all kinds of classes, including weaving, water color, seads starts, paper making and more. See below for more details!
Winter/Spring 2008
What’s New at The Gardens
Extra Special Events!
High Plains Landscape Workshop
Saturday, March
Held at the
Fort Collins
Senior
Center
at 1200 Raintree Dr.
A day-long series of workshops to promote attractive, sustainable landscapes that
reflect a
Colorado
sense of style. Workshop proceeds benefit xeric gardens and programs at the Gardens on Spring Creek.Fee: $30 ($35 after Feb. 20). For more information and to register,
for a sneak preview of spring at The Gardens from to
Sweet and Savory Spring Plant
Sale
Saturday, April 26
Mark your calendar now for The Gardens’ annual spring plant sale!We’ll have herbs,
unique annuals, and ornamental grasses, plus both heirloom and traditional vegetable starts.
These beautiful and healthy plants have been grown by greenhouse volunteers.
Proceeds will be used for future development at The Gardens.
Cash, checks, MC, VISA and Discover accepted.
Get Down and Dirty Compost Festival!
Saturday, May
Join us for this not-to-be-missed Gardens’ event.
Demonstrations and hands-on fun for all ages.
‘Light and Lively’ Brown Bag Lunch Series
First Wed. of each month, to in the classroom.FREE!No registration required.
February 6: Bonsai Basics, a History and Demonstration presented by Barbara Rich, president of the Fort Collins Bonsai Society
March 5: Building an Award-Winning Landscape with Chris Nylander from Alpine Gardens
April 2:TBA
Classes at The Gardens
Sat., January 26Fleece Weaving
Fleece weaving is a technique of weaving with woolen fleece to make rugs and mats.Students will use a small weaving frame to learn how to weave and work with wool.Fee, including the take-home weaving frame:
$30 member, non-member $35.
Instructor: Liz Moncrief
Mon., January 28, February 4, 11, 25, March 3 and 10Watercoloring the Garden
Enjoy the experience of painting in a garden setting.This class will open your eyes to colors, shapes and values while teaching you how to apply the paint in a fresh and vibrant way.We will continue to build upon the fundamentals of painting, as students will work from photographs and from life.Students need to be familiar with drawing and working with watercolors.A list of class supplies is available at the Gardens on Spring Creek front desk.Fee per six-week session: $105 member, non-member $110.
Instructor: Karen Ramsay
Tues., January 29, February 5, 12, 26, March 4, and 11Beginning Watercoloring
This class will start your watercolor journey as you learn the fundamentals of the water medium.Sketching, techniques, colors, shapes and values will be taught along with how to apply the paint in a fresh and vibrant way.
What could be better than learning all of this in a beautiful garden setting?A list of class supplies is available at the Gardens on Spring Creek front desk.Fee per six-week session: $90 member, non-member $95.
Instructor: Karen Ramsay
Sat., February 2Seed Starting Made Simple
-
Learn how easy it is to start your own plants from seed.This class will cover all the “how-tos” of successful seed starting.Then roll up your sleeves for some hands-on transplanting.Class will include a tour of the greenhouse at the Gardens on Spring Creek.Fee, including materials for the seedlings you will take home:
$15 member; $20 non-member.
Instructor:Ted Schaaf
Sat., February 2Fun and Funky Papermaking
This beginning class will teach you the basic techniques of making paper using a variety of organic materials.You’ll be amazed at how simple the actual process is.Come prepared to have fun creating delightful pieces to use in greeting cards, collages and other inspired artistic forms.A fun class for youth over 12 and adults.
Fee, including materials: $20 member; $25 non-member.
Instructor:Laurie Fonken-Joseph
Fri., February 8Winter Nature Journals
noon-4:00 p.m.
Don’t let the snow, cold, and long grey days of winter get you down!Explore the artistic and ecological practice of keeping a nature journal through the winter season.Delight in the natural world as you observe and record the details of plants gone to seed, pine cones, and icicle patterns. Observe bird activity from a window and study the winter tracks of wildlife in the frozen earth.This workshop will acquaint you with basic tools and
techniques, with classroom instruction in attuned observation, writing in reverie, basic sketching, and color.Beginners welcome, as well as advanced naturalists.Fee: $30 member; $35 non-member.
Instructor:Maria Hodkins
Session 1: Wed., February 13, 20, 27, and March 12Meditation is for Everyone!
Session 2: Wed., April 9, 16, 23, and 30
This non-sectarian meditation class offers a practice that benefits mind, body and spirit. It can help reduce stress and enhance focus, creativity and healing. In this class, we’ll discuss the various practices of meditation and
then experience them in short, bite-sized pieces so that you can find the one that works best for you!Students should bring a notebook and/or tape recorder. Fee per session: $40 member; $45 non-member.
Instructor: Kathy Jones
Session 1: Wed., February 13, 20, 27, and March 12 Yoga to Reduce Stress
Session 2: Wed., April 9, 16, 23, and 30and Increase Energy!
-
Gentle yoga is a great way to stay in shape for the gardening season!Learn to strengthen your body and increase flexibility and relaxation with movement and breathing that feels good. You'll learn techniques to use at home to help you feel great, both physically and mentally.Students should bring a yoga mat and blanket.Fee per session: $40 member; $45 non-member.
Instructor: Kathy Jones
Sat., February 16 Enhancing Your Garden with Feng Shui
Learn ancient feng shui secrets to make your garden special, regardless of the style.Discover cross-cultural techniques of energy movement to capture beneficial chi while bringing balance and harmony to your home and life through your garden and landscape.Handouts and an illustrative Power Point presentation will assist students in their understanding of how to incorporate feng shui principles into their landscape. Please bring a to-scale copy of your site plan with the house and gardens located on the property.
Fee: $35 member; $40 non-member.
Instructor:Gary Hendrickson
Sat., February 23Twining
Learn this popular and historic rug making craft from the South.It is a 'wrap and weave' method using cloth strips for the warp and the weft and can be very plain or patterned in a number of ways. Students may bring additional lightweight, cotton fabrics to weave into their sample. Fee, including the take-home weaving frame: $30 member, non-member $35.
Instructor: Liz Moncrief
Sat., March 22Gourd Craft
Find out for yourself how easy it is to make a beautiful, decorative vessel or a winter bird house from gourds. For decorative pieces, you can integrate pine needle‑coiled weavings, incised lattice work, unusual natural objects or antler and wood handles.Wood burning also gives a nice effect.Once you’ve taken this class, you’ll want to plant seeds this summer so that you can grow, harvest and then craft your own gourds.Students may bring feathers, antlers, buttons or beads, wood burning or Dremmel tools to customize their gourds.
Fee, including gourds: $30 member, non-member $35.
Instructor: Liz Moncrief
Tues., April 8The Fine Art of Photographing Flowers
This one-night class is designed for both film and digital camera users, and will assist each participant with finding a vision and utilizing their camera to fulfill that vision. A camera with adjustable settings is preferred.
General topics may include depth of field, composition, creative use of shutter speeds, multiple exposure, and computer enhancements.Fee: $20 member, non-member $25.
Instructor: J.R. Schnelzer
Thurs., April 10, 24 and May 1Great Trees, Shrubs, and Vines
for
Front Range
Gardens
A couple of decades ago Siberian elms, silver maples, and junipers dominated our home landscapes, but not so anymore. Explore lovely options for shade trees, small ornamental trees, conifers, interesting shrubs of all sizes, and vines. Nationally renowned plantswoman, author, and designer Lauren Springer Ogden will introduce you to a host of wonderful woody plants. Seasonal interest, culture tips, and ideas for thoughtful and attractive placement will be discussed along with the plants, all accompanied by inspiring images.
Fee: $63 member; $68 non-member.
Instructor:Lauren Springer
Ogden
Sat., April 19Market and Garden Baskets
Learn a simple and quick method for creating a market basket or a basket for carrying small garden tools or vegetables harvested from the garden.These are multi-purpose baskets and make great gifts!Students may bring items to incorporate into their basket.Fee, including basic materials: $30 member, non-member $35.
Instructor: Liz Moncrief
Instructors
Laurie Fonken-Joseph has been making paper for six years and sells her collage greeting cards locally.She approaches her art in an unconventional way, experimenting freely with organic materials and pulps for her paper creations.Laurie enjoys sharing her passion for this ancient, textured art form with adults and children.
Gary Hendrickson is one of the few feng shui educators and practitioners to successfully synthesize the major schools of feng shui with noticable results.He is an architectural designer, author and founding council member of the International Feng Shui Guild.
Maria Hodkins teaches nature/field journaling programs and workshops for state parks, school, college environmental studies classes, botanic gardens, interpretive organizations, and art centers.She is a former naturalist for
Colorado
State Parks
, an interpretive writer and illustrator, a multi-media artist, and poet.Maria combines all of these arts with a love of nature in her passion of nature journaling.
Kathy Jones helps people from all walks of life find stress reduction and relaxation using the tools of yoga and meditation.She has given lectures and workshops around the country, for Hyatt Corporation and others. In her local yoga therapy practice, Kathy works with individuals to alleviate back pain and other structural and physiological conditions.
Liz Moncrief was an instructor in weaving, spinning and dyeing for
Utah
State
University
and worked with the Department of Natural History and the
State
Pioneer
Museum
in textile preservation and restoration.She
presents workshop-retreats in all fiber arts and enjoys gathering organic materials from the environment for both utilitarian and esthetic purposes.
Karen Ramsay is a graduate of the Colorado Institute of Art. With a long-standing love of drawing and painting, she now devotes her energy to developing her skill with watercolor.Karen’s work is featured
in many national and local exhibits throughout the year, and she is an avid member of the
Rocky
Mountain
Plein Air Painters.
Ted Schaaf is the horticulturist at the Gardens on Spring Creek and for the City of
Fort Collins
, having previously been employed as a greenhouse manager for the City of
Lakewood
.Ted’s true passion is with plant propagation.He has worked in the green industry for the past 20 years.
J.R. Schnelzer is an award-winning photographer with over 40 years in the photographic arts.He works in the areas of fine art collector prints, portraiture, nature, commercial and digital. J.R. owns and operates
WesternExposure and the Colorado School of Photography and has studied under such illustrious photographers as Minor White, Ansel Adams, Kim Weston and John Sexton.
Lauren Springer Ogden is a garden designer, photographer and plant fanatic.She has authored two highly acclaimed books for our region:The Undaunted Garden, which was named one of the 75 best American gardening books of the recent century by the American Horticulture Society and Passionate Gardening in collaboration with Rob Proctor.
Youth Programs
Read and Seed - Storytime and a fun, educational hands-on activity for ages 4-6
Each Tuesday, ongoing
$4.00 per session or $17.50 for 5 sessionsReservations required
Please arrive 10 minutes early to get signed in.
Parents are asked to accompany their children during this program.
Garden Journeys –Healthy snacks, art, music, science and lots of plant fun for ages 6-12
Second and fourth Wednesdays, ongoing
$6.50 per session or $30.00 for 5 sessionsReservations required
We spend time outside each session so please dress for the weather.
Call 416-2486 to register or find out additional information about
any of these educational opportunities.Please visit our website
for a listing of specific weekly youth activities.
Advance registration required for all classes.Walk-in or mail-in payment for classes should be returned to the Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 S. Centre Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80526.Checks should be made payable to “The Gardens on Spring Creek.”Cash, checks, MC, VISA, and Discover are accepted.Adult classes may be canceled if minimum enrollment is not met
I have successed in finding something new and exciting to help promote listings in our area. The team will now be posting our listings on www.CBS4denver.com as part of a promotion we are testing. Another fellow agent, Doug Lindstrom will be also posting his listings with us. We are pretty excited about this new marketing opportunity. Especially as our market continues to be ok and stronger, I think this will help put us where we want to be. Please let me know if you know something who might be interested in having their home marketed in this manner. Remember, this will be starting January 9th!
Internet ScamBusters was reviewed in this week's online issue of Forbes. Check out the article and find reviews of a number of excellent anti-fraud sites: http://www.forbes.com/forbes/99/0913/6406108a.htm
Update on the "809 Area Code Scam" and What to Do if Your e-Zine Gets Changed and Then Spammed
We recently discovered that an issue of Internet ScamBusters - written in 1996 - has resurfaced and is being sent around the Net as spam. This email is about the 809 area code scam, and the "revised" version contains some important mistakes. It is being sent around as if it comes from Internet ScamBusters.
In this issue, we'll correct the mistakes and give you an update on how this scam has changed - and not changed - in the past three years.
We thought this is important for you for two reasons. First, the 809 scam is still thriving, so it's still important to protect yourself. Second, this kind of problem - where an email or e-zine you write is changed and then sent around as spam with you as the supposed author - could happen to you as well, and we'll present some ideas about what to do if this does happen to you.
If you're wondering how we found out about this problem, we discovered it in two ways. First, we simply received a copy of one of the emails from a customer. Second, we visit Google's searchable Usenet discussion forums" (http://groups.google.com/) every couple of weeks to see what is being said about us and Internet ScamBusters in the newsgroups. We discovered that there has been a lively thread about this topic in the alt.folklore.urban newsgroup. It has also been discussed in the rec.arts.sf.fandom, alt.books.david-weber, rec.autos.makers.jeep+willys, and several other newsgroups.
Before we get to the mistakes and changes people made to our issue of Internet ScamBusters, here is a brief review of the 809 scam:
The "809" scam has many permutations but they all involve a message to you (either by email, phone or pager) that you immediately call or fax a number in the "809" area code or some other area code in the Caribbean. Examples of why you should call or fax the phone number include avoiding litigation, receiving information about someone who has been arrested or died, winning a wonderful prize, or getting a job.
The "809" area code is in the Caribbean, yet most people are not aware that they are making an international call when they dial the "809" area code, since you simply dial 1-809-xxx-xxxx to make the call. No international codes are required.
The problem comes from the fact that some phone numbers in the "809" area code are "pay-per-call" numbers (such as 900 numbers in the US) - but there are no legal requirements that callers be informed that they are being charged extra in the Caribbean. When you return one of these "pay-per-call" 809 calls, the scamsters try to keep you on the phone as long as possible, and you may be charged very high rates for the call, reportedly up to $25 per minute.
It is difficult to get credit for these charges if you do get scammed since you did make the call, and resolving the problem involves getting credit from international phone companies.
Since there are now many area codes in the Caribbean, this scam is no longer confined to just the 809 area code.
OK, enough introduction. Now let's look at the mistakes in the new emails and posts about this topic:
Mistake: The beginning of the email says: "DO NOT EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809."
Comment: This is not our recommendation and we never wrote this. Most phone numbers in the 809 area code are legitimate.
Mistake: "Please forward this entire issue of Internet ScamBusters! to all your friends, family and colleagues to help them become aware of this scam so they don't get ripped off."
Comment: We never asked people to send the issue to everyone they know. This type of request is typical of spam, which we are very against. Please *don't* forward the bogus email message to anyone if you receive it. Just hit the delete key.
Mistake: The 809 area code is new.
Comment: The 809 area code is not new, and we never stated it was. It has been around for many years.
Mistake: Some spam versions of this email say that charges can be as high as $10,000.
Comment: This, of course, is very unlikely. We suggest charges might be as high as $100. $10,000 would mean the scamsters succeeded in keeping people on the phone for many, many hours.
Mistake: The new emailed version also includes a mistake in our first issue, which we corrected the second issue. We had mistakenly written: "The 809 area code is located in the British Virgin Islands (the Bahamas)."
Comment: Obviously, the British Virgin Islands and the Bahamas are not the same country.
Update on the 809 Scam
There are a number of changes that have occurred involving the 809 scam since we wrote about this in Internet ScamBusters three years ago.
Area codes have changed in many of the countries. Now, 809 is just for the Dominican Republic. For example, 242 is the area code for the Bahamas, 284 is for the British Virgin Islands, and 787 is for Puerto Rico. You can find all the new area codes at: http://www.lincmad.com/caribbean.html Or you can go here to look up any area code in the world: http://www.usa.att.com/traveler/services/codes/index.jsp
You can also find area code maps of various regions in .pdf format at the North American Numbering Plan Administration site: http://www.nanpa.com/number_resource_info/area_code_maps.html
We have not been able to verify if charges are still as high as $25 per minute. It may be that the price today is significantly lower.
We spoke with Mr. Chavez at AT&T on September 12, 1999. He said that there have not been any changes lately regarding Caribbean area codes or scams that he is aware of. We have learned that AT&T did put out a bulletin that this scam continues to thrive, but we have not been able to locate this bulletin.
We'd also heard there are now new related scams using the prefixes 500 and 700. These prefixes can be used for adult entertainment and for pay per call numbers. Some of these numbers are in the country Vanuatu. Mr. Chavez confirmed this.
You can learn more about this scam at
Better Business Bureau: http://www.bbb.org/alerts/areacode.html
National Fraud Information Center: http://www.fraud.org/news/subject/900ind.htm
What to Do if Your e-Zine or Email Gets Changed and Then Spammed
It's a difficult situation to correct if this does happen to you. Here are a few things we are doing (or are about to do):
Place an announcement on our home page about the problem
Find all the newsgroups where the changed e-zine has been posted and reply with a simple, short, individual post explaining the problem and providing a link for more information
Respond to all individual copies of the email we receive by explaining the problem and providing a link for more information
Send a clear, short email to any reporters who emailed us about the new version
Write this issue of Internet ScamBusters ;-)
Finally, check out the issue on how to deal with Lies and Misinformationabout your company for additional tips.
I justs finished reading a book called the Engery Bus. In talking about it with Jane Richmond, an agent on my team, she had received a message via e-mail about The Garbage Truck. I will talk about the Engery Bus another time but do want to share the story about the Garbage Truck.
Beware of Garbage Trucks
How often do you let other people's nonsense change your mood? Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your day? Unless you're the Terminator, for an instant you're probably set back on your heels. However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly she can get back her focus on what's important.
Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of a
New York City
taxi cab. Here's what happened.
I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car's back end by just inches!
The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us.
My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly. So, I said, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!"
And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck." Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they'll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You'll be happy you did.
So this was it: The "Law of the GarbageTruck."
I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people: at work, at home, on the streets? It was that day I said, "I'm not going to do it anymore."
I began to see garbage trucks. Like in the movie "The Sixth Sense," the little boy said, "I see Dead People." Well, now "I see Garbage Trucks." I see the load they're carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And like my Taxi Driver, I don't make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and I move on.
One of my favorite football players of all time, Walter Payton, did this every day on the football field. He would jump up as quickly as he hit the ground after being tackled. He never dwelled on a hit. Payton was ready to make the next play his best.
Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses. Leaders and parents know that they have to be fully present, and at their best for the people they care about.
The bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their day. What about you? What would happen in your life, starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by?
Here's my bet. You'll be happier. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so...
Love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don't. Believe that everything happens for a reason.
If you get a chance , TAKE IT!
If it changes your life , LET IT! Nobody said it would be easy
If you are interested in learning more about developing wealth through real estate, you might want to check out this website. I ordered the book and have listened to interviews of Dean through podcasting! There goes a new word. I wanted to share this link with you.
Below is a sample of the first page of his web site.
Dean Graziosi's Be a Real Estate Millionaire Resource Center
Secret Strategies to Lifetime Wealth Today
Welcome to DeanGraziosi.com
Dean Graziosi is the real deal… His unique strategies and techniques for the average person to become rich from real estate come from over 20 years of experience and are changing people’s lives all across America. As a child Dean watched his single mom struggle to pay the bills, working two jobs to make about $90 a week and he longed for a way out!! He longed for something that could allow him and his family to stop just “wishing” or “wanting more” to actually start “having more.” Luckily before the age of 20 innovation combined with desperation led him to do his first real estate transaction using no money of his own.
That very first deal was the catalyst for Dean to change his destiny and the destiny of all future generations. Dean overcame the nay-sayers, overcame being broke and having no experience and went for it. And the result is a multi million dollar real estate empire.
Dean Graziosi was a millionaire in his twenties and a multi millionaire in his thirty’s from real estate. And the exact creative methods he has used in the last 20 years of real estate investing are what he shares in his Be A real Estate Millionaire book and his Think A Little Different real estate course.
We Designed This Site With You In Mind This site was specifically designed to increase your capabilities for profiting in real estate. You see, there is no doubt that your OPPORTUNITY to make a bunch of money in real estate is available to you. But without the proper CAPABILITIES those opportunities mean nothing.
The strategic teaching in Be a Real Estate Millionaire and/or the Think A Little Different real estate course are doing nothing more than raising your personal capabilities, confidence and knowledge so you can take advantage of the fortune that can be made over the next few years.
What You Will Will Get At This Site This site offers you links to valuable resources and tools. You’ll find a wide assortment of calculators in the member tools area that range from knowing future payments to analyzing personal expenses, future savings and so much more.
We have included a wide variety of sample documents and forms that can be easily adjusted to fit your specific needs. We provide cash flow analysis sheets, expense reports, the monthly buzz newsletter, monthly tele-seminars and much more. This site will also keep you updated with the latest tips and techniques Dean Graziosi is using to profit in the current market. We will also feature some of Dean’s tops students on their accomplishment and how they did it!
If you currently don’t own Dean Graziosis’s Be a Real Estate Millionaire book or his Think a Little Different real estate course you can click on the links to the left of this site and get one or the other or both right now.
Also check out Rachel’s Challenge link. It is a cause close to Dean’s heart and a great way to help today’s children have a better chance for tomorrow.
This is one of the prettiest things and amazing things that I have ever seen
This is a video of 21 members of the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe performing the Thousand-hand Bodhisattva dance; the members are all deaf.
Webmasters please link to the above address instead of video files, thanks
There is a phenomenon sweeping through Asia which is still relatively unknown in the West. We were privileged to see it in our trip to Taiwan. It is a stunning stage performance called Thousand-Hand Guan Yin.
About Guan Yin
Guan Yin is the bodhisattva of compassion, revered by Buddhists as the Goddess of Mercy. Her name is short for Guan Shi Yin. Guan means to observe, watch, or monitor; Shi means the world; Yin means sounds, specifically sounds of those who suffer. Thus, Guan Yin is a compassionate being who watches for, and responds to, the people in the world who cry out for help.
Bodhi means wisdom or enlightenment; sattva means being or essence. Put the two together and you get bodhisattva, a being who is enlightened and ready to transcend the cycles of birth and death, but chooses to return to the material world in order to help other people reach the same level of enlightenment. This is the ultimate demonstration of pure compassion.
The thousand hands of this bodhisattva represent Guan Yin's many abilities to render assistance. There are a thousand eyes on these hands which give Guan Yin great powers to observe the world. Guan Yin also has many faces so she can become who people need her to be, not necessarily herself, because her help is given in a way that is literally selfless.
Due to the widespread influence of Chinese culture, Guan Yin has become arguably the most popular and well-known bodhisattva in the world. This can sometimes lead to confusion as people erroneously equate Guan Yin with bodhisattva. For instance, quite a few people have already mistranslated the Chinese name of the performance to Thousand-Hand Bodhisattva.
Also, the deification of Guan Yin can lead to a misconception at a fundamental level. A bodhisattva is not a deity but a human being - a spiritually advanced human being. Although Guan Yin is depicted as a beautiful Asian woman, anyone can be a bodhisattva regardless of appearance, race and gender. Whenever you act in accordance with a natural impulse of total compassion, you have taken another step toward becoming a bodhisattva yourself.
About the Performance
Below is a video recording of the performance. It is in WMV format, so if you have a fast Internet connection, you can simply click on it to watch it stream into your PC, with no downloading necessary. Or, you can always right-click on it and save it to your PC for later playback. The video runs at 640 x 480 resolution and takes up about 36 megabytes of space, so it can be downloaded in minutes via DSL or cable modem. While downloading through a modem is also possible, do be aware that it will take hours.
Mac users can download the video above and then play it with a third-party player such as VLC or MPlayer. If you do not have such players, you can always download the QuickTime version. If you have any technical questions and / or feedback, you can post them at the Tea House.
The most incredible thing about the performance is that all the dancers are deaf. They are members of the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe. None of them can hear the music - this makes their choreography a truly amazing achievement. The difficulties and challenges they encountered in training are beyond imagining.
If you enjoy this extraordinary display of beauty and grace, please share it with your friends and loved ones. Send them a message about this web site so they can see for themselves. You can give them the www.truetao.org address, or www.truetao.org/guanyin if you want them to jump directly to this page. Also, please consider supporting the China Disabled People's Performance Art Troupe by purchasing their DVD when it becomes available. We can all use a little more compassion and kindness in the world, that's for sure!
Below is a high-resolution (1280 x 1024) wallpaper for your desktop. You'll want to click on it to see the full version, and then right-click on it to either save it or select "Set as Background."
The ultimate message of this performance can be summed up in the following words from Zhang Jigang, the choreographer who put it all together:
As long as you are kind and there is love in your heart A thousand hands will naturally come to your aid As long as you are kind and there is love in your heart You will reach out with a thousand hands to help others
Modest Recovery for Existing-Home Sales in 2008 as Credit Crunch Subsides
LAS VEGAS, November 13, 2007 -
A modest recovery for existing-home sales is expected in 2008 as the impact of the credit crunch subsides, while pending home sales indicate near-term stability, according to the latest forecast released here today at the National Association of Realtors® Conference & Expo.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said the housing market will improve from a steady unleashing of pent-up demand, and from a wide abundance of safer mortgage products. “The level of pent-up demand reaching the market next year is a bit uncertain, and it is possible for even higher home sales activity than we’re forecasting if buyers regain their confidence about the long-term benefits of homeownership. Over the near term, home sales are likely to be fairly flat as the lingering impact of the credit crunch filters through the system through the end of the year.”
The Pending Home Sales Index,* a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in September, rose 0.2 percent to a reading of 85.7 from an index of 85.5 in August. It was 20.4 percent lower than the September 2006 level of 107.6. “Even with relatively low fourth quarter sales, 2007 will be the fifth highest year on record for existing-home sales. The median existing-home price in 2007 will have fallen by less than 2 percent from an all-time high set in 2006,” Yun said.
The PHSI in the Midwest rose 5.4 percent in September to 82.3 but is 14.4 percent below a year ago. In the South, the index increased 1.5 percent to 99.3 but is 19.7 percent lower than September 2006. The index in the West slipped 0.1 percent in September to 80.5 and is 25.6 percent below a year ago. In the Northeast, the index dropped 10.1 percent in September to 69.5 and is 23.1 percent below September 2006.
Existing-home sales are projected at 5.67 million this year, edging up to 5.69 million in 2008, in comparison with 6.48 million in 2006 which was the third highest year on record. Existing-home prices are expected to decline 1.7 percent to a median of $218,200 for all of this year and hold essentially even in 2008 at $218,300.
“Some markets are still going strong, such as Austin and Raleigh, while others are showing early signs of recovery, like Denver and Boston. However, a vast portion of the nation’s mid section is underpriced in relation to income, and prices in some markets could rise notably with good local job gains,” Yun said. “At the same time, a significant rise in foreclosures in some areas could delay the recovery.”
New-home sales will probably total 796,000 in 2007 and 693,000 next year, below the 1.05 million last year; no real improvement is seen for new homes until 2009. Because builders have rightly made drastic cuts in production, housing starts, including multifamily units, are forecast at 1.35 million this year and 1.14 million in 2008, down from 1.80 million in 2006. The median new-home price is estimated to drop 1.6 percent to $242,500 in 2007 before rising 0.4 percent to $243,600 in 2008.
“Contrary to perceptions, conventional mortgages are widely available at favorable interest rates for the bulk of home buyers,” Yun said. “The pricing and availability of jumbo mortgages has improved, and FHA loans for home purchases – up 58 percent in the third quarter – are replacing subprime mortgages to serve the needs of low- and moderate-income buyers.”
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage should rise slowly to the 6.6 percent range by the end of next year, although cuts in the Fed funds rate will help short-term interest rates.
“Home buyers in it for the long haul nearly always come out ahead in building wealth. Given the leverage in purchasing a home, the average return on a 5 percent downpayment over 10 years is usually three to five times greater than stock market returns,” he said. “When people compare investment returns, they often overlook the power of leverage in the housing market.”
Yun said a $10,000 downpayment on a median-priced home, at a typical appreciation rate of 5 percent, would be worth $110,000 after 10 years. That same amount invested in the stock market for the same amount of time, assuming 10 percent annual appreciation, would be worth $23,600. “That’s why housing is the best long-term investment most families ever make – the longer you own, the better your investment,” he said.
Growth in the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) is seen at 2.1 percent in 2007, down from a 2.9 percent growth rate last year; GDP growth is projected to improve to 2.8 percent in 2008.
The unemployment rate will probably average 4.6 percent for 2007, unchanged from last year, but edge up to 4.9 percent in 2008. Inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, is likely to be 2.8 percent both this year and in 2008, compared with 3.2 percent in 2006. Inflation-adjusted disposable personal income is forecast to grow 3.5 percent in 2007, up from 3.1 percent last year, and then ease to 2.4 percent in 2008.
The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. # # #
*The Pending Home Sales Index is a leading indicator for the housing sector, based on pending sales of existing homes. A sale is listed as pending when the contract has been signed but the transaction has not closed, though the sale usually is finalized within one or two months of signing.
The index is based on a large national sample, typically representing about 20 percent of transactions for existing-home sales. In developing the model for the index, it was demonstrated that the level of monthly sales-contract activity from 2001 through 2004 parallels the level of closed existing-home sales in the following two months. There is a closer relationship between annual index changes (from the same month a year earlier) and year-ago changes in sales performance than with month-to-month comparisons.
An index of 100 is equal to the average level of contract activity during 2001, which was the first year to be examined as well as the first of five consecutive record years for existing-home sales.
Existing-home sales for October will be released November 28; the next Forecast / Pending Home Sales Index will be released December 10.
Information about NAR is available at www.realtor.org. This and other news releases are posted in the News Media section. Statistical data, tables and surveys also may be found by clicking on Research.
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