Posts
Shock me. With 3.9% GDP the Federal Reserve lowered rates another 25 basis points today. This can only point to a desire to try and hold off housing issues from taking the economy down. You can read the full article at :
http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/federal-reserve-text-on-interest-rates/20071031154109990001
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Like Father, Like Son
Look at my boy walking in my foot steps. ARIZONA CARDINALS FAN! Yes! Hopefully his experience as a fan will be better than the last 18 years I have experienced. But that is just it, why you are a fan. It doesn't matter if you win or lose, you are a fan. B.S. I want them to win, I am sick of losing. However, even with losses, I am still a fan.
Vacant Homes across the Valley
After reading the Arizona Republic's article on vacant homes across the valley, I decided to do a little research and came up with some interesting numbers.
All properties Year To Date
Active 57,700
Pending 4,400
Sold 47,300
Vacant properties Year To Date
Active 23,500 40.7%
Pending 2,100 47.8%
Sold 21,700 45.9%
Many of you may be looking at these numbers and wondering why they are higher than what I ususally report. This is a list of all homes: single family, condo, townhome, mobile etc. When I do my monthly reporting I only use Single Family Homes, SFH. That is how I started my study 3 years ago and thus continue to report that way.
When we look at these numbers an interesting figure jumps out at me. Although, 40.7% of the homes listed are vacant; 47.8% of the Pending homes are vacant and 45.9% of the sold homes are vacant. Buyers are choosing vacant homes at a great rate the occupied homes. The stress on the owner of the vacant homes makes that seller more agressive on their price. Price sells in this market. All the experts agree! But, shush! This is a secret.
All properties Year To Date
Active 57,700
Pending 4,400
Sold 47,300
Vacant properties Year To Date
Active 23,500 40.7%
Pending 2,100 47.8%
Sold 21,700 45.9%
Many of you may be looking at these numbers and wondering why they are higher than what I ususally report. This is a list of all homes: single family, condo, townhome, mobile etc. When I do my monthly reporting I only use Single Family Homes, SFH. That is how I started my study 3 years ago and thus continue to report that way.
When we look at these numbers an interesting figure jumps out at me. Although, 40.7% of the homes listed are vacant; 47.8% of the Pending homes are vacant and 45.9% of the sold homes are vacant. Buyers are choosing vacant homes at a great rate the occupied homes. The stress on the owner of the vacant homes makes that seller more agressive on their price. Price sells in this market. All the experts agree! But, shush! This is a secret.
Economy headed UP or DOWN? 3rd Quarter GDP comes in at 3.9%
WOW! So much for a recession. The economy is on fire. ADP reported an expectation of 106,000 new jobs for last month and preliminary 3rd Quarter GDP comes in raging at 3.9%. Both are great numbers. How can this be with this housing "crisis?" Real Estate investment is down in the 3rd quarter by 20%, but the consumer was strong and exports are soaring! The weak dollar is putting oil at records highs, but also helping make American products cheap across the world. Exports are up 16% for the 3rd quarter. Incredible! By becoming a more Global Economy we are less exposed to local issues, because the rest of the world keeps growing. It will be very interesting to see what the FED does today. I don't see how they can lower rates, but I am not an economist. With the economy sizzling and job growth, it's time to pull out of this real estate correction. I don't think that can happen until Spring. But we are seeing great buys out there for the real estate investor. BUY LOW, SELL HIGH! Isn't that what makes people rich. Now is the time to buy real estate low. That is if you get it at the right price. There are many sellers still priced for yesterdays value. Their value is not falling, it has fallen and they are over priced.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
SCOTTSDALE LONG TERM WATER SOURCES
Many people ask me questions about our water here in the valley. I received the following email from the Mayor of Scottsdale, Mary Manross. It gives a few basic answers to the question of where we get our water and what is our long term issues with water. Remember, as this article states, we are in balance today. Yet, our area is in a long term drought and we have had only about 50% of the average rain this year. So, in a year of drought and dismal rain, we still are in balance.
I hope this helps answer questions:
Scottsdale achieves a major milestone to ensure long-term sustainability of water resources
Water is the lifeblood of a community and always a top concern of mine. I would like to share Scottsdale's recent achievement which demonstrates our steadfast commitment to long-term sustainability of our water resources.
A major milestone has been achieved by Scottsdale. This past year we recharged as much water into the groundwater aquifers as was pumped out from wells. This balance is called "safe yield" and it ensures the long-term sustainability of the city's groundwater resources. Several factors contributed to this achievement, including strategic planning and the construction of the Water Campus. Scottsdale recently received the prestigious Crescordia Award for our Aquifer Sustainability Program during Valley Forward's annual Environmental Awards banquet.
"In 1980 Arizona passed the Groundwater Management Act that set the achievement of "safe yield," a balance between groundwater withdrawal and artificial/natural recharge, as a goal for Phoenix-area water providers. To achieve "safe yield" Scottsdale had to overcome several challenges - primarily its historic 100 percent dependency on groundwater to supply its drinking water, and secondly, the city's wells are located on the upper-end of the aquifer, making the community more vulnerable to water-level decline.
Scottsdale implemented an innovative set of water resource management strategies, which culminated in the city's Aquifer Sustainability Program. Its surface water acquisition program was funded by the first impact fees in the state, developed by Scottsdale, dedicated exclusively toward water supply acquisition. The city now receives approximately 75 percent of its drinking water from two surface water supplies, the Colorado River through the Central Arizona Project, and the Salt and Verde rivers through SRP.
The city then maximized its reclaimed water supply through its Scottsdale Water Campus, which delivers reclaimed water directly to 23.5 golf courses in north Scottsdale for turf irrigation. To better manage groundwater conditions, the city initiated a complex groundwater modeling effort, and helped to establish a strong water conservation ethic as one of the founding partners of the Valleywide "Water - Use It Wisely" campaign." Scottsdale achieved "safe yield" in 2006, a milestone that will help sustain groundwater resources."
Even though safe yield has been achieved, residents are still asked to conserve water and to take advantage of the tips and tools available to them from the city's Water Conservation Office. To learn more about how you can conserve water, please call the office at 480 312-5650.
Scottsdale is a leader in the Valley and the nation in conservation and in using artificial groundwater recharge to enhance the sustainability of the city's water supply. This is an important part of Scottsdale's overall water supply management strategy. Maintaining the city's safe yield balance is the city's next goal. Congratulations to Dave Mansfield and the entire Water Resources team.
I hope this helps answer questions:
Scottsdale achieves a major milestone to ensure long-term sustainability of water resources
Water is the lifeblood of a community and always a top concern of mine. I would like to share Scottsdale's recent achievement which demonstrates our steadfast commitment to long-term sustainability of our water resources.
A major milestone has been achieved by Scottsdale. This past year we recharged as much water into the groundwater aquifers as was pumped out from wells. This balance is called "safe yield" and it ensures the long-term sustainability of the city's groundwater resources. Several factors contributed to this achievement, including strategic planning and the construction of the Water Campus. Scottsdale recently received the prestigious Crescordia Award for our Aquifer Sustainability Program during Valley Forward's annual Environmental Awards banquet.
"In 1980 Arizona passed the Groundwater Management Act that set the achievement of "safe yield," a balance between groundwater withdrawal and artificial/natural recharge, as a goal for Phoenix-area water providers. To achieve "safe yield" Scottsdale had to overcome several challenges - primarily its historic 100 percent dependency on groundwater to supply its drinking water, and secondly, the city's wells are located on the upper-end of the aquifer, making the community more vulnerable to water-level decline.
Scottsdale implemented an innovative set of water resource management strategies, which culminated in the city's Aquifer Sustainability Program. Its surface water acquisition program was funded by the first impact fees in the state, developed by Scottsdale, dedicated exclusively toward water supply acquisition. The city now receives approximately 75 percent of its drinking water from two surface water supplies, the Colorado River through the Central Arizona Project, and the Salt and Verde rivers through SRP.
The city then maximized its reclaimed water supply through its Scottsdale Water Campus, which delivers reclaimed water directly to 23.5 golf courses in north Scottsdale for turf irrigation. To better manage groundwater conditions, the city initiated a complex groundwater modeling effort, and helped to establish a strong water conservation ethic as one of the founding partners of the Valleywide "Water - Use It Wisely" campaign." Scottsdale achieved "safe yield" in 2006, a milestone that will help sustain groundwater resources."
Even though safe yield has been achieved, residents are still asked to conserve water and to take advantage of the tips and tools available to them from the city's Water Conservation Office. To learn more about how you can conserve water, please call the office at 480 312-5650.
Scottsdale is a leader in the Valley and the nation in conservation and in using artificial groundwater recharge to enhance the sustainability of the city's water supply. This is an important part of Scottsdale's overall water supply management strategy. Maintaining the city's safe yield balance is the city's next goal. Congratulations to Dave Mansfield and the entire Water Resources team.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Buyer's Difficulty in Today's Market
I have written several offers for homes the last couple of weeks and the sellers have been countering very strong. The offers have been fair based on the recent sales. Expecting full price on a home 6 months on the market? What are they thinking? It is difficult on buyers. They already face the pressure of so many homes to choose from, market timing (not wanting to buy now and have it be worth less in the future) and all the mortgage issues. So, we write a fair offer on a home and we get a counter that is $5,000 from full price. Come on do you want to sell or what? I have several sellers that would love the offers we are writing. I don't know what they are thinking, but it hurts the overall market. I would have 3 other sales, no the market would have 3 more sales. Plus the other sales from other buyers like mine. They don't want to over pay. The more sales that occur, the quicker the market will improve. So sellers, be realistic on your price and realistic on your counters. Let's get some homes sold!
Meghan is in the ASU Womens Choir
Lisa and I were entertained last night by the ASU Women's Choir. It was a pleasure and especially so because our daughter Meghan is a member of the Choir. What a show it was. I was the happy proud dad. As Lisa said, "this is so much better than High School." And it was. The performance was funny, entertaining and performed AWESOMELY! The reward of parenting is to see your child grow and use the God given talents positively. Thank you Meghan! You performed wonderfully!
Friday, October 26, 2007
The Last Week before Weigh in and Muddy Buddy Race
Here I go. I have one week to go. I still need to loose 8 pounds to hit my goal of 20 lost. What a procrastinator! I know I can still make it in this last week. I am off for a huge Mountain Biking Ride tomorrow. We are headed from McDowell Mountain Ranch up the Taliesin Trail to Lost Dog and then over to the SUNRISE Trail. That trail, Sunrise, alone is a killer ride. So, at some point tomorrow I should be down another 5 pounds. The trick is keeping it off.
Thank you to all the sponsors. If you have not signed up yet, please do. I am raising money for "Living Without Limits," Ben Comen's foundation. It is a great charity and you can read about it in my blog. My goal is $400 in sponsors per pound I loose. I now have 60 people committed to a total of $354.50 per pound I loose. My weigh in is next Saturday, November the 3rd. So, if you have not signed up, call or email me today.
Thank you for your support!
Jeff Cameron
Thank you to all the sponsors. If you have not signed up yet, please do. I am raising money for "Living Without Limits," Ben Comen's foundation. It is a great charity and you can read about it in my blog. My goal is $400 in sponsors per pound I loose. I now have 60 people committed to a total of $354.50 per pound I loose. My weigh in is next Saturday, November the 3rd. So, if you have not signed up, call or email me today.
Thank you for your support!
Jeff Cameron
Monday, October 22, 2007
We Remember...
Shari Joan Bochantin, 40, died at 7:00 am on October 18, 2007 after a
courageous battle with ovarian cancer. She was surrounded by love and
family at Sherman Hospice House. Shari is survived by her loving husband,
David, 2 fantastic daughters-Rachel, 14 and Rebecca, 12; her parents Paula
and Sam Klein of Scottsdale; sister Ellen of Scottsdale; brother Jeffrey
of Phoenix; and aunts uncles, in-laws, nieces, nephews and numerous friends.
She was an active participant in community life-Girl Scouts, Desert Canyon
Elementary School, the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) and other
organizations. She will be missed by all.
Contributions are suggested to the NOCC, Valley of the Sun Chapter, c/o Michele Avery, 124 W. Villa Theresa Dr., Phoenix, AZ 85023.
WARNING SYMPTOMS OF OVARIAN CANCER
Contact your MD if you develop one or more of these symptoms and they persist for 2-3 weeks:
-Abdominal Swelling/Bloating/Clothes Too Tight
-Abdominal/Pelvic Pain or Pressure or Feeling "Full"
-Gastrointestinal Symptoms (such as gas, indigestion, nausea, or changes in bowel movements)
-Vaginal Bleeding or Discharge
-Urinary Problems - Urgency, Burning, or Spasms
-Fatigue and/or Fever
-Pain During Intercourse
-Back Pain
-Difficulty Breathing
Remember, the vast majority of the time, these will not be due to cancer, but you owe it to yourself to get them checked out.
courageous battle with ovarian cancer. She was surrounded by love and
family at Sherman Hospice House. Shari is survived by her loving husband,
David, 2 fantastic daughters-Rachel, 14 and Rebecca, 12; her parents Paula
and Sam Klein of Scottsdale; sister Ellen of Scottsdale; brother Jeffrey
of Phoenix; and aunts uncles, in-laws, nieces, nephews and numerous friends.
She was an active participant in community life-Girl Scouts, Desert Canyon
Elementary School, the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) and other
organizations. She will be missed by all.
Contributions are suggested to the NOCC, Valley of the Sun Chapter, c/o Michele Avery, 124 W. Villa Theresa Dr., Phoenix, AZ 85023.
WARNING SYMPTOMS OF OVARIAN CANCER
Contact your MD if you develop one or more of these symptoms and they persist for 2-3 weeks:
-Abdominal Swelling/Bloating/Clothes Too Tight
-Abdominal/Pelvic Pain or Pressure or Feeling "Full"
-Gastrointestinal Symptoms (such as gas, indigestion, nausea, or changes in bowel movements)
-Vaginal Bleeding or Discharge
-Urinary Problems - Urgency, Burning, or Spasms
-Fatigue and/or Fever
-Pain During Intercourse
-Back Pain
-Difficulty Breathing
Remember, the vast majority of the time, these will not be due to cancer, but you owe it to yourself to get them checked out.
What's in your cosmetic bag?
My friend, Melinda Bailey, tried to email this website to me and for some reason it didn't work, but now that I have found it, I'm really grateful she turned me on to it. I was just on CosmeticsDatabase.com, checking out all the products that I use on my family and on myself, and was shocked at some of the ingredients in them. I always make sure to buy products that don't test on animals, but I didn't realize the amount of harmful ingredients some things have. Please check to see that most of the products you use are in the safe range, and that they don't have any irritants or allergans, or worse.
Friday, October 19, 2007
FINAL 2 WEEKS FOR JEFF'S FUND RAISER/WEIGHT LOSS
Down to the wire and luckily I am recovering. Recovering? For those who don't know, I had a big scare with my knee last week. It swelled up and I was in pain. For me it was rather scary. I have a hard enough time loosing weight when I am doing 4 to 5 hours of cardio per week. Take that away and all I have is dieting. Yuck. Last Wednesday I went on a run with Lisa down 105th St in McDowell Mountain Ranch and Thursday I woke with a pain in the knee. I rested it over the weekend and when it was not much better I went to the doctor. He told me I was a baby and to ice it down. No, he told me there was no real damage and to ice it down. I iced and iced, probably too much. But the swelling went down. I went for a 5 mile mountain biking ride today and feel great.
I only have two weeks until my weigh in for the "Living without Limits" to raise money for Ben Comen's foundation and I am back on track. I gained 5 pounds sitting on the couch last weekend. But that is gone. My weigh in this morning was 235 and my goal is 225, a loss of 20 pounds. It is time to get serious. I am glad exercise is back in the program. Ben I won't let you down! We have $353 per pound pledged, so I can raise over $7,000 when I hit my goal. If any of you want to be a sponsor please send me an email with the amount per pound. Some are just pledging a dollar amount. Send me email support!!!!
I only have two weeks until my weigh in for the "Living without Limits" to raise money for Ben Comen's foundation and I am back on track. I gained 5 pounds sitting on the couch last weekend. But that is gone. My weigh in this morning was 235 and my goal is 225, a loss of 20 pounds. It is time to get serious. I am glad exercise is back in the program. Ben I won't let you down! We have $353 per pound pledged, so I can raise over $7,000 when I hit my goal. If any of you want to be a sponsor please send me an email with the amount per pound. Some are just pledging a dollar amount. Send me email support!!!!
Real Estate Correction?? 28,500 Jobs Created in AZ for September
Can you even imagine how RED HOT our economy in Arizona would be if their was not this correction in the real estate market right now. We created 28,500 jobs in September! A great part of that is seasonal employment. But what is more important is the unemployment rate is at 2.8% in the metro Phoenix area vs 3.2% last month and 3.4% last year. Come on people move here! We have JOBS, we have HOUSES and they are much CHEAPER today than LAST YEAR!Construction, of course, gave up 2,000 jobs. Then most every other sector added jobs. The largest was in government for all the teachers going back to work. You can read the full report at:
http://www.workforce.az.gov/admin/uploadedPublications/2601_PrOct2007.pdf
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Pulte Homes Silver Sky at White Tank Lowers Base Price $100,000
Builders are finally responding to the market and changing their pricing. Pulte homes just lowered the base price of all their homes $100,000 for Silver Sky at Whet Tank Foothills Discovery Series. Previously they were offerring incentives upto $80,000 and now they have decided to just lower the base price. Out in the Surprise area just about all the big gains of 2004 and 2005 have been given back as the market has swung from a seller's market to a buyer's market. For the resale seller, new builds are a problem. Buyers in general will pay 10 to 20% more for the base price of a new build than for a resale home. It is crazy, but I have seen it happen for years. There is a certain excitement about being the first owner and choosing all the colors and upgrades.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Inventory Level of Single Family Homes in Metro Phoenix DROPS by 700
Yes, that is right! The inventory of single family homes for sale here in the valley dropped by over 700 homes from September 30th to October 1st. I track the market here on a weekly basis and that is the largest drop I have registered this year. I started a weekly tracking of the Active, Pending and Sold homes back in 2005. It is a great tool in measuring what is happening in our market.
Our inventory level of Single Family Homes (SFH) listed in the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service was at 47,476 homes on Sunday September 30th and on Monday October 1st that number dropped to 46,752. This represents a drop of over 700 homes. This is due to many home Listings expiring at the end of September. But that happens at the end of every month. This is just the largest drop I have recorded so far this year.
You will hear other numbers much higher than the 46,752 SFH that I report. Most news agencies like to make it sound as high as possible. They include all the condo, town homes and mobile homes in their number. The funny thing is they put them all together when reporting the inventory level, but most of the time, they only report the sales for SFH.
My number is actually an over statement of what is for sale here in the valley. The exaggeration is caused because of the following reasons:
1. Realtors list the same home twice.
2. Vacation homes in Flagstaff and other areas get listed in our MLS. Some 6,649 of the listings are not in Maricopa County.
3. Builder SPEC homes get listed. Even though we have a separate system for builder SPEC homes, they list their homes in the MLS too.
These listings overstate the amount of homes for sale here in the valley by nearly 10,000 SFH. If I were in charge non of them would be in our MLS system.
Jeff Cameron
Our inventory level of Single Family Homes (SFH) listed in the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service was at 47,476 homes on Sunday September 30th and on Monday October 1st that number dropped to 46,752. This represents a drop of over 700 homes. This is due to many home Listings expiring at the end of September. But that happens at the end of every month. This is just the largest drop I have recorded so far this year.
You will hear other numbers much higher than the 46,752 SFH that I report. Most news agencies like to make it sound as high as possible. They include all the condo, town homes and mobile homes in their number. The funny thing is they put them all together when reporting the inventory level, but most of the time, they only report the sales for SFH.
My number is actually an over statement of what is for sale here in the valley. The exaggeration is caused because of the following reasons:
1. Realtors list the same home twice.
2. Vacation homes in Flagstaff and other areas get listed in our MLS. Some 6,649 of the listings are not in Maricopa County.
3. Builder SPEC homes get listed. Even though we have a separate system for builder SPEC homes, they list their homes in the MLS too.
These listings overstate the amount of homes for sale here in the valley by nearly 10,000 SFH. If I were in charge non of them would be in our MLS system.
Jeff Cameron
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Arizona Cardinals 34 St Louis Rams 31
Well it was not a pretty game. We lost Matt Leinart with a broken collar bone and he may be out the rest of the season. BUT, we won and for now are leading the NFC West. I am bummed about the loss of Matt, but am feeling great with a winning record at 3 Wins and 2 Losses. Next week is the Carolina Pathers. They are not playing as expected prior to the season opening. It would be great to continue unbeaten this year in Glendale on the home turf. PROTECT THE NEST. As they say at Cardinal games.
I thought it was funny the way the annoucers were bagging on Rod Hood. I think the quote was, "he can't cover anyone." Then he comes up with not one but two interceptions to seal the fate of this game. Congratulations to Rod Hood! Let's now pick up the coverage!
I didn't write about last weeks game. I have to tell you, the home crowd is loud! We had a blast at the game. Well, when you win it is always fun. Even the ugly win over the Rams was fun.
Let's see what Kurt Warner can do as a starter.
Last week was crazy with all the Steeler fans. The chanting and high fiving before the game. The Cardinal fans were quietly going their way to watch. We have been burned for so many years, the swagger is not there yet. I hope to get a few more wins and see the swagger begin to shape!
I thought it was funny the way the annoucers were bagging on Rod Hood. I think the quote was, "he can't cover anyone." Then he comes up with not one but two interceptions to seal the fate of this game. Congratulations to Rod Hood! Let's now pick up the coverage!
I didn't write about last weeks game. I have to tell you, the home crowd is loud! We had a blast at the game. Well, when you win it is always fun. Even the ugly win over the Rams was fun.
Let's see what Kurt Warner can do as a starter.
Last week was crazy with all the Steeler fans. The chanting and high fiving before the game. The Cardinal fans were quietly going their way to watch. We have been burned for so many years, the swagger is not there yet. I hope to get a few more wins and see the swagger begin to shape!
Newspaper is going bye bye!
Entrepreneur Magazine ranked the top 10 businesses facing Extinction over the next 10 years.
The wrote:
"Newspapers: The numbers have been falling precipitously since the 1990s when the Internet came on the scene. In the past year, the Audit Bureau of Circulations twice has posted drops averaging 2.1 and 2.8 percent over six-month periods. Newsrooms across the country have been hemorrhaging staff. Odds of Survival in 10 Years: They won't disappear; they'll be on the Internet."
The Newspaper is giving way to the Internet. That is why we no longer advertise in print advertising. All studies show, although people read the paper, most buyers do not look in the paper for a home. It is too easy to get all the information on-line. What studies do show is that sellers look at the newspaper to see what homes in their neighborhood are selling for. They are then impressed by the Realtors advertisements and hire those Realtors to list their home. Not fully understanding that they only reason the Realtor runs an add in the paper is to get more listings. Don't get me wrong, they pray the ad will bring a buyer. But they know from studies and experience newspaper ads do not bring buyers. What do they care, they get listings! The ad works as designed.
Just think of all the trees we could save. Recently, we got our new set of Yellow Pages. I immediately put them in the recycling bin. Who uses the Yellow Pages anymore? I mean the paper one, of course the on-line version is used. Why do they continue to print the Yellow Pages?
The wrote:
"Newspapers: The numbers have been falling precipitously since the 1990s when the Internet came on the scene. In the past year, the Audit Bureau of Circulations twice has posted drops averaging 2.1 and 2.8 percent over six-month periods. Newsrooms across the country have been hemorrhaging staff. Odds of Survival in 10 Years: They won't disappear; they'll be on the Internet."
The Newspaper is giving way to the Internet. That is why we no longer advertise in print advertising. All studies show, although people read the paper, most buyers do not look in the paper for a home. It is too easy to get all the information on-line. What studies do show is that sellers look at the newspaper to see what homes in their neighborhood are selling for. They are then impressed by the Realtors advertisements and hire those Realtors to list their home. Not fully understanding that they only reason the Realtor runs an add in the paper is to get more listings. Don't get me wrong, they pray the ad will bring a buyer. But they know from studies and experience newspaper ads do not bring buyers. What do they care, they get listings! The ad works as designed.
Just think of all the trees we could save. Recently, we got our new set of Yellow Pages. I immediately put them in the recycling bin. Who uses the Yellow Pages anymore? I mean the paper one, of course the on-line version is used. Why do they continue to print the Yellow Pages?
Friday, October 5, 2007
Weight Loss Update - Muddy Buddy
10/3/2007 - Weigh InOK folks, we are down to the last 4 weeks and I have been stuck around this 235 weight. It is time for me to get serious. Yesterday I was in Las Vegas meeting with 100's of the top agents from around the country. I got several of them to sponsor me, adding another $59.25 per pound. Now we are at a total of $353.50 per pound. So, when I loose a total of 20 pounds we will raise $7,070 for "Living without Limits", Ben Comen's foundation. It is time to get serious. As Tom Ferry once said, "if there is something you want to do, why wait, just do it now. Go home and start today." So, I am saying today is the day. I am moving on to the next the level. It is time to hit it and hit it hard! You go baby! Oh, wait. I am writing to myself. Is this a sign of a problem?
Strong Jobs Report and Upward Revision to August
I don't know about you, but I still have the foggiest crystal ball that I have ever had. With all this "mortgage meltdown" and "housing slump", we are still creating JOBS. The Labor Department just released their report showing employers boosted payrolls by 110,000 and adjusted August from a loss of 4,000 to a gain of 89,000. In reality, they are saying 203,000 more jobs have been added. So much for a recession.
This is good and OK news. It is good because the more people working and the higher the wages makes home ownership more affordable. Also, the better our economy is doing the quicker we will rebound from this real estate market. The OK part is that the better the economy is doing, the less likely rates will go down. Another way of increasing affordability. Right now I would love to see lower rates and less mortgage issues. That would be the quick fix. But in the long run, a better economy and more jobs is more sustainable.
I look forward to our Arizona Job report due out September 20Th.
http://money.aol.com/marketnews/bonds/article
By the way, HOW ABOUT THOSE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS!
This is good and OK news. It is good because the more people working and the higher the wages makes home ownership more affordable. Also, the better our economy is doing the quicker we will rebound from this real estate market. The OK part is that the better the economy is doing, the less likely rates will go down. Another way of increasing affordability. Right now I would love to see lower rates and less mortgage issues. That would be the quick fix. But in the long run, a better economy and more jobs is more sustainable.
I look forward to our Arizona Job report due out September 20Th.
http://money.aol.com/marketnews/bonds/article
By the way, HOW ABOUT THOSE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS!
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Desert Canyon Elementary School Auction
The school auction is approaching shortly! Plan on attending or donating. Last year the funds raised went to specials programs, teacher assistants, computer lab, a new kinder playground, so many things! We are very fortunate to have such generous families. Vist the DCES PTO website for more info on what's going on visit their website at http://www.dcespto.org/ or visit the school website at http://desertcanyones.susd.org/.
Also, we don't want to lose 5 of our teachers, or the music and art programs. Please vote Yes for our children! Click here to request an early ballot, or visit The Bashas' in McDowell Mountain Ranch on Saturday, October 6, to fill one out!
For more info on the district override, please visit The Scottsdale Parent Council.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Let them eat cupcakes!!!!
The following is a recent arcticle in the New York Times:
Don’t Even Think of Touching That Cupcake
By SARAH KERSHAW
Published: September 23, 2007
THE cupcake is at something of a crossroads. Edible icon of Americana, frosted symbol of comfort and innocence, it may not have faced such an identity crisis since first appearing in cookbooks sometime in the 18th century.
As we know, cupcakes have had a whopping resurgence: they are retro-food chic, the thing to eat for people in the know.
But cupcakes have also recently been marched to the front lines of the fat wars, banned from a growing number of classroom birthday parties because of their sugar, fat and “empty calories,” a poster food of the child obesity crisis. This was clear when children returned to school this month to a tightening of regulations, federal and state, on what can be served up between the bells.
And it has led some to wonder whether emotional value, on occasion, might legitimately outweigh nutritional value.
Schools trying to bring parents to the table in efforts to root out fat and sugar have faced what Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition at New York University who strongly supports limiting sweets in schools, calls “the cupcake problem.”
When included on lists of treats that parents are discouraged or forbidden to send to school — and when those policies are, say, put to a vote at the P.T.A. — “cupcakes are deal breakers,” Professor Nestle said. “It sounds like a joke, but it’s a very serious problem on a number of levels. You have to control it.”
While the merits of banning goodie bags filled with Reese’s and Skittles seem obvious — especially at a time when the risk of childhood diabetes is high for American children — many parents draw the line at cupcakes.
This could have something to do with the fact that in the modern age, the cupcake may be more American than apple pie — “because nobody is baking apple pies,” Professor Nestle explained.
The confection is so powerfully embedded in the national consciousness — and palate — that its future is quite possibly the only cause to unite Texas Republicans and at least some left-wing foodies behind a singular mission: keep the cupcake safe from harm.
“I think the wholesale banning of parents’ bringing cupcakes as a legal issue is over the top,” said Rachel Kramer Bussel, a former sex columnist for The Village Voice who founded the Web site “Cupcakes Take the Cake” three years ago.
The Texas Legislature agreed, in spirit, when it passed the “Safe Cupcake Amendment,” in 2005, in response to new federal child nutrition guidelines and lobbying from parents outraged by the schoolroom siege on cupcakes.
After the amendment passed, a blogger on Homesick Texan wrote: “i don’t think it necessarily warrants all the hubbub, or the intervention of legislature to intervene on behalf of the cupcake. ... but then, another part of me is screaming ‘CUPCAKES!!!’ because they just make people happy.”
Hillary Clinton perhaps was aware of this when on David Letterman’s show recently she listed as No. 9 of her Top 10 campaign promises, “Each year on my birthday everyone gets a cupcake.”
As Ms. Kramer Bussel, who organizes monthly cupcake meet-ups in New York City, said, “If you bring cupcakes to a party, you are so popular.”
Until the late 1990s, the cupcake often shared the mental dessert pantry with canned peaches and ambrosia; it was nostalgia food, mom-in-an-apron food, happy food.
But then cupcakes took a very chic turn. Trend-setting bakeries like Magnolia, the Greenwich Village cupcake empire, arrived on the scene; by 2005, a parody music video on “Saturday Night Live,” which was later viewed more than five million times on YouTube, included the lyrics, “Let’s hit up Magnolia and mack on some cupcakes.”
And now the new cupcake, having drifted so far from Betty Crocker, is facing fierce competition from the retro cupcake, which is the new, new cupcake that is really the old cupcake.
Americans still find time to whip up some batter and slide a tray in the oven. It’s easy, and the appeal is multifaceted. Cupcakes are portable, cute and relatively inexpensive. They are also “feminine and girlie,” Ms. Kramer Bussel said, so the majority of cupcake bakers and fans are women.
Cupcake is a term of endearment, but it can also be a rather mean-spirited word. “Cupcake teams” in sports are said to be soft and easily crushed. As food, though, cupcakes are democratic; everyone gets one. And they are libertarian; individual and independent compared with communal cakes, which may not have enough slices for everyone.
Across the Atlantic, where cupcakes have become increasingly popular in the last few years, some bakers said they were perplexed by word of an American cupcake crackdown.
“Over here people think it’s a bit like this innocent cake,” said Jemma Wilson, owner of Crumbs and Doilies, a new cupcake bakery in London. “And it seems more dignified and civilized to eat one portion, unless you kind of eat 10, which obviously happens a lot.”
A sub-debate within the cupcake debate has revolved around whether the meaning of cupcakes has been lost — and it’s not pretty.
Can the cupcake loyalist support the sale of a chocolate Guinness cupcake with green-tea cream-cheese frosting? Has the cupcake been stolen from the people by the baking aristocracy?
For a sense of how charged the subject is, consider what happened in July, when Magnolia Bakery, having vaulted to fad status by an appearance on “Sex and the City,” was briefly shut down by the city health department for not having enough sinks at its Greenwich Village establishment.
“At last!” said a blogger posting on Eater.com. “We neighbors get relief from cupcakistas who don’t realize Duncan Hines makes better-tasting cupcakes.”
After a long debate thread, another blogger wrote, “You people need to go back to the suburbs ... Seriously, bunch of grown up New York City residents obsessing over a cupcake shop. I miss the gunfire and crackheads.”
Don’t Even Think of Touching That Cupcake
By SARAH KERSHAW
Published: September 23, 2007
THE cupcake is at something of a crossroads. Edible icon of Americana, frosted symbol of comfort and innocence, it may not have faced such an identity crisis since first appearing in cookbooks sometime in the 18th century.
As we know, cupcakes have had a whopping resurgence: they are retro-food chic, the thing to eat for people in the know.
But cupcakes have also recently been marched to the front lines of the fat wars, banned from a growing number of classroom birthday parties because of their sugar, fat and “empty calories,” a poster food of the child obesity crisis. This was clear when children returned to school this month to a tightening of regulations, federal and state, on what can be served up between the bells.
And it has led some to wonder whether emotional value, on occasion, might legitimately outweigh nutritional value.
Schools trying to bring parents to the table in efforts to root out fat and sugar have faced what Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition at New York University who strongly supports limiting sweets in schools, calls “the cupcake problem.”
When included on lists of treats that parents are discouraged or forbidden to send to school — and when those policies are, say, put to a vote at the P.T.A. — “cupcakes are deal breakers,” Professor Nestle said. “It sounds like a joke, but it’s a very serious problem on a number of levels. You have to control it.”
While the merits of banning goodie bags filled with Reese’s and Skittles seem obvious — especially at a time when the risk of childhood diabetes is high for American children — many parents draw the line at cupcakes.
This could have something to do with the fact that in the modern age, the cupcake may be more American than apple pie — “because nobody is baking apple pies,” Professor Nestle explained.
The confection is so powerfully embedded in the national consciousness — and palate — that its future is quite possibly the only cause to unite Texas Republicans and at least some left-wing foodies behind a singular mission: keep the cupcake safe from harm.
“I think the wholesale banning of parents’ bringing cupcakes as a legal issue is over the top,” said Rachel Kramer Bussel, a former sex columnist for The Village Voice who founded the Web site “Cupcakes Take the Cake” three years ago.
The Texas Legislature agreed, in spirit, when it passed the “Safe Cupcake Amendment,” in 2005, in response to new federal child nutrition guidelines and lobbying from parents outraged by the schoolroom siege on cupcakes.
After the amendment passed, a blogger on Homesick Texan wrote: “i don’t think it necessarily warrants all the hubbub, or the intervention of legislature to intervene on behalf of the cupcake. ... but then, another part of me is screaming ‘CUPCAKES!!!’ because they just make people happy.”
Hillary Clinton perhaps was aware of this when on David Letterman’s show recently she listed as No. 9 of her Top 10 campaign promises, “Each year on my birthday everyone gets a cupcake.”
As Ms. Kramer Bussel, who organizes monthly cupcake meet-ups in New York City, said, “If you bring cupcakes to a party, you are so popular.”
Until the late 1990s, the cupcake often shared the mental dessert pantry with canned peaches and ambrosia; it was nostalgia food, mom-in-an-apron food, happy food.
But then cupcakes took a very chic turn. Trend-setting bakeries like Magnolia, the Greenwich Village cupcake empire, arrived on the scene; by 2005, a parody music video on “Saturday Night Live,” which was later viewed more than five million times on YouTube, included the lyrics, “Let’s hit up Magnolia and mack on some cupcakes.”
And now the new cupcake, having drifted so far from Betty Crocker, is facing fierce competition from the retro cupcake, which is the new, new cupcake that is really the old cupcake.
Americans still find time to whip up some batter and slide a tray in the oven. It’s easy, and the appeal is multifaceted. Cupcakes are portable, cute and relatively inexpensive. They are also “feminine and girlie,” Ms. Kramer Bussel said, so the majority of cupcake bakers and fans are women.
Cupcake is a term of endearment, but it can also be a rather mean-spirited word. “Cupcake teams” in sports are said to be soft and easily crushed. As food, though, cupcakes are democratic; everyone gets one. And they are libertarian; individual and independent compared with communal cakes, which may not have enough slices for everyone.
Across the Atlantic, where cupcakes have become increasingly popular in the last few years, some bakers said they were perplexed by word of an American cupcake crackdown.
“Over here people think it’s a bit like this innocent cake,” said Jemma Wilson, owner of Crumbs and Doilies, a new cupcake bakery in London. “And it seems more dignified and civilized to eat one portion, unless you kind of eat 10, which obviously happens a lot.”
A sub-debate within the cupcake debate has revolved around whether the meaning of cupcakes has been lost — and it’s not pretty.
Can the cupcake loyalist support the sale of a chocolate Guinness cupcake with green-tea cream-cheese frosting? Has the cupcake been stolen from the people by the baking aristocracy?
For a sense of how charged the subject is, consider what happened in July, when Magnolia Bakery, having vaulted to fad status by an appearance on “Sex and the City,” was briefly shut down by the city health department for not having enough sinks at its Greenwich Village establishment.
“At last!” said a blogger posting on Eater.com. “We neighbors get relief from cupcakistas who don’t realize Duncan Hines makes better-tasting cupcakes.”
After a long debate thread, another blogger wrote, “You people need to go back to the suburbs ... Seriously, bunch of grown up New York City residents obsessing over a cupcake shop. I miss the gunfire and crackheads.”
Dying professor's last lecture
I usually don't share youtube videos but this one was very touching.He gives his last lecture with wit, wisdom and grace.
Click to watch professor Randy Pausch from Carnegie-Mellon give his last lecture.
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