Real Talk!

An article in today’s Peterborough Examiner attempts to explain how average home prices in that area increased 3% last year while prices fell a reported 14% per cent on average across the country. Citing a recent Toronto Star article, John Bowes (a veteran Peterborough real estate broker) said, “Prices increased last year in half the cities across Canada.”

Bowes blames generalized media reports for the glum perspective we see in many current real estate market news reports and emphasizes that while prices may have fallen substantially in some overheated markets, such as Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary, prices did not fall in many other markets. It certainly appears to be a case of seeing the glass half full, rather than half empty.

An Angus Reid Strategies poll conducted last week, found 82% Canadians feel that the inauguration of Barack Obama will have a positive impact on consumer confidence in Canada. The tumultuous times that characterized the end of 2008 are not anticipated to define 2009, the survey says, noting nearly half of the respondents said they believe the public funds Ottawa is just about to pump into the economy will have a positive impact on the country's real estate market

& more locally… today’s front page of “The Bancroft Times” includes an in-depth article written by Barry Hendry about the town hall meeting held on January 22nd.
Dignitaries who attended included MP Daryl Kramp, Mayor Lloyd Churchill, our town councilors, Wayne Simpson (President of Evanco Development Corp.), John Weir (of OEB Enterprises), Greg Black (OEB Coordinator for the Bancroft project) and designer Steve Moorhead (of Forrec Limited).

Mr Simpson (of Evanco) provided an overview, with tribute given to the 1997 Design Dialogue and reports of Trevor Hesselink and also the 1999 York River Corridor Concepts plan. He was, he said, heartened to see what people in this community have been envisioning for years.

Steve Moorhead (Forrec) explained that he met the owner of Evanco at Expo ’67 and has enjoyed a cooperative relationship with that firm, ever since. He explained that his company, Forrec Ltd, had designed parts of Universal Studios in Orlando Florida, Legolands in Germany & California and Canada’s Wonderland. Projects in Muskoka, included the Muskoka Boat and Heritage Centre as well as the Grandview Resort in Muskoka.

The meeting unveiled proposed plans for Bancroft, these include parks, walkways and bridges with large green spaces, a three story civic building, a Heritage Centre/Museum, community centre, accommodation and more.

John Weir, now a resident of this area, let the attendees in on a little known secret: Bancroft has the highest traffic count in Eastern Ontario. Greg Black of OEB explained that this project will bring together the community and combine the efforts of the six community committees already hard at work in the area and give people even more reason to visit or relocate to this incredibly beautiful area.

This morning, Rev. Sharon E. Watkins, general minister and president of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) led the traditional, post-inaugural national prayer service that was attended by President Obama and the first lady.

During the service, Rev. Watkins included a traditional Cherokee story about the internal battle that all people face. It is the story of two wolves.

Grandfather from the Cherokee Nation was talking with his grandson.

"A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.

"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves."

"One wolf is evil and ugly: He is anger, envy, war, greed, self-pity, sorrow, regret, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, selfishness and arrogance."

"The other wolf is beautiful and good: He is friendly, joyful, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, justice, fairness, empathy, generosity, true, compassion, gratitude, and deep VISION."

"This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other human as well."

The grandson paused in deep reflection because of what his grandfather had just said. Then he finally cried out; "Grandfather, which wolf will win?"

The elder Cherokee replied, "The wolf that you feed."

Watkins urged Obama to "hold your ground. "We need you to feed the good wolf within you, to listen to the better angels of your nature, and by your example encourage us to do the same."

In many Native American cultures, it is believed that much can be learned
through the wisdom of the animals, whose spirits act as guides or totems. Known as "Animal Medicine", each animal is believed to bring us different gifts that are quite powerful highly revered.

Wolf is thought to teach us how to lead, when to follow, the importance of the family unit and loyalty, among other things. Wolf is a pathfinder, a forerunner of new ideas and the wolf returns to the pack to teach and share this medicine.

Taking one mate for life, Wolf is loyal like Dog. They have an enormous sense of family within the pack and also, a strong individualistic tendency. These qualities make Wolf very similar to humans who have individual dreams and ideas while living within a society.

This morning, Rev. Watkins invoked Wolf Medicine for Barack Obama… and Wolf does not come to you unless you are ready to meet a tribe’s greatest teacher.

The senses of Wolf are keen and the moon its ally. The moon, a symbol for that energy which holds the secrets of knowledge and wisdom, provides Wolf has the ability to aid the children of Earth in understanding the Great Mystery. & Life...

Wolf is the Grand teacher. Wolf is the sage,
who after many winters upon the sacred path
and seeking the ways of wisdom, returns to share
new knowledge with the tribe. Wolf is both the
radical and the traditional in the same breath.
When the Wolf walks by you - you will remember.

The old ones tell us stories about our beginnings
and of a time when human kind first came to live
upon this Earth. It was Wolf who taught Humans
the ways of living in harmony. It was Wolf who
taught us how to form community upon this Earth,
for Wolves have an intuitive knowledge of order
through chaos and they possess the ability to
survive change, intact.

Wolf medicine is very ancient and born of living
experience. Wolf will look deep into your heart
and share the greatest of knowledge, but will
demand full participation, and absolute sincerity.
When Wolf has walked by you, the very presence of
the wolf will rekindle old memories within your soul.
Through the friction of experience you rekindle
the emotional fires of the inner soul and question
the manifestations of your own consciousness.

You can own a thing only when you have come to
own the emotional experience of it, and realize
the responsibility for its creation. Then you are
free to continue. Wolf medicine can make you whole.
You will return to Wolf many times in your life as
you complete and begin your cycles of experience
and seek the inner truth.

Ghost Wolf
The Wolf Lodge

"

It was the 60s... I think I might have mentioned that I spent a great deal of the 60s with a transistor radio up against my ear...

I was listening to "Hey Jude", "Sugar Pie Honeybunch", "Wooly Bully", "People Gotta Be Free", "The Sunshine Of Your Love", "Young Girl", "Dance To The Music" , "Kind Of A Drag" and "96 Tears" and other popular delights.

Bob Laine, Brian Skinner and Jay Nelson, among others, were highly entertaining djs on my favourite radio station... in Toronto, in the 60s, you had to be a CHUM-bug.

Being a CHUM-bug included a mandatory visit to your local music store, every week, to pick up your CHUM-chart... which, in my time, was a list of the Top 30, 3 top albums and and handful of hot new hits they called "Chum Chargers".

In 1967, I heard that CHUM was being publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange and I approached my father about the matter. It was one of the few times that I can recall my father becoming engaged in a coversation with me.

Dad said that if I could save enough money to buy a share of CHUM that he would match it and purchase two for me. He explained that it was a good idea to buy stock in something that you believed would grow. In my nine-year-old-head, CHUM was going to do nothing but get bigger!

That year, two shares of CHUM stock did all sorts of interesting things... it seemed no time at all before the stocks were splitting, paying dividends, much to my father's amazement, it provided quite a learning experience... although Dad kept reminding me that it was a rather unusual, however delightful happening!

I still feel sorry for their bookkeeping department. I kept getting cheques for under a dollar and to this day, I occassionally stumble upon one, uncashed...

In 1967, CHUM acquired radio stations CFRA-AM (580 CFRA) and CFMO-FM in the Ottawa, Ontario market. While 1968 began the foray into television when CHUM became the majority owner of CKVR-TV, the largest privately owned CBC affiliate in Canada.

Then, in 1969 CHUM-FM Toronto relaunched as 'Progressive Rock' station and purchased The Associated Broadcasting Corporation (later CHUM Satellite Services), becoming Canadian franchise holder for Muzak.

In 1971 CHUM acquired CJCH-TV in Halifax, CJCB-TV in Sydney and CKCW-TV in Moncton and in 1972 acquired CFUN-AM (1410 C-FUN) in Vancouver, British Columbia. Then, in 1974, CFRW-AM (Oldies 1290) and CHIQ-FM (Q94 FM) in the Winnipeg, Manitoba market.

Come 1977, CHUM received the licences to launch new radio stations CKQM-FM (Country 105) in Peterborough, Ontario and C100-FM (C One Hundred FM) in Halifax, Nova Scotia and the CFL's Ottawa Football Club. (the team was sold in 1987)

In 1978 CHUM acquired the Toronto television station City TV and in 1984, launched Much Music- Canada's first 24-hour music station.

In 1985 CHUM acquired CKGM-AM (Team 990) and CHOM-FM in Montreal, Quebec, CKWW-AM (580 Memories CKWW) and CJOM-FM (later CIMX-FM 89X) in Windsor, Ontario.

CHUM had a 50% stake in 1988's Musique-Plus (a 24-hour French music station) launched that year, in Montreal. In 1990, CHUM acquired CHQM-FM (103.5 QM FM) in Vancouver, B.C.

CHUM acquired CKLW-AM (AM 800 CKLW) and CKLW-FM (later CIDR-FM and Lite Rock 93.9 FM,CKKW-AM (Oldies 1090)and CFCA-FM (105.3 KOOL-FM) in Kitchener, Ontario market- all in 1993.

By 1994, CHUM launched its Television Interactive and formed Bravo! channel in partnership with Cablevision. They also launched into international distribution and formed a development arm.

That same year, the Learning & Skills Television of Alberta (LTA, 60% held by CHUM) incorporated to purchase ACCESS Network, Alberta's privatized educational broadcaster.

In 1995 CHUM launched Bravo!, ACCESS - The Education Station (formerly ACCESS Network) and re-launched CKVR TV as the NEW VR.

1996 saw CFMO-FM become CKKL-FM (later 93.9 BOB-FM)and the acquisition of CKLC-AM (1380 CKLC All Time Favourites) and CFLY-FM (FLY-FM) in Kingston, Ontario, and CFJR-AM (104.9 JR FM Hometown Radio) and CHXL-FM (later CJPT-FM 103.7 BOB.FM) in Brockville, Ontario.

1997 was they year they launched Musi Max (50% held by CHUM) a French Canadian contemporary music station and SPACE: The Imagination Station. Also in 1997, CHUM acquired CTV's CFPL-TV (The New PL), CKNX-TV (The New NX), CHWI-TV (The New WI) and CHRO-TV (The New RO) in Ontario and Ottaw and sold CJCH-TV Halifax, CJCB-TV Sydney and CKCW-TV Moncton to CTV.

Cable Pulse24- a regional 24-hour English-language news and information channel and MUCHMORE MUSIC were launched by CHUM Television in 1998.

In 1999, CHUM Radio launched Canada's first commercial DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) digital radio stations in Toronto and Montreal, They acquired CFGO-AM (Team 1200) and CJMJ-FM (Majic 100) radio stations in the Ottawa, Ontario market and launched CLT (60% CHUM ownership), Canada's first national educational television service.

1999 also saw the launch of Star! The Entertainment Information Station.

Y2K, and CHUM launched the DAB stations in Vancouver and Windsor,a new radio station, CHST-FM (102.3 BOB-FM) in London, Ontario, sold a 50% stake in MuchMusic USA to Cablevision, obtained CRTC approval for a new tv station CIVI-TV (The New VI) in Victoria, British Columbia .

In 2001 CHUM acquired CKLY-FM (Y92) in Lindsay, Ontario, launched The Team Sports Radio Network, purhcased a 42% stake in The Learning Annex (a continuing education school), digital specialty channels FashionTelevisionChannel and BookTelevision: The Channel (60% ownership through LTA), CourtTV Canada (60% ownership through LTA), Drive-In Classics, SexTV: The Channel, MuchVibe and MuchLoud.

2001 also saw CHUM complete the purchase of Vancouver's CKVU-TV from CanWest Global Communications, obtain CRTC approval for acquisition of CFWM-FM (BOB-FM) in Winnipeg, Manitoba and licence the City TV format to Grupo Godó of Barcelona.

In 2002 CHUM relaunched CKVU-TV as CityTV Vancouver. In 2003 they obtained CRTC approval for the acquisition of CKST-AM (Team 1040) Vancouver, British Columbia, launched Canada's first digital over-the-air tv signal with Toronto station CityTV and MuchMore Retro and they also re-launched Brockville's CJPT-FM as 103.7 BOB-FM and moves CFJR-AM to the FM dial, re-launched as 104.9 JR FM

In 2004 CHUM Television & MuchMusic launch shop.muchmusic.com -"Canada's first third party wireless content store". CHUM and Milestone Media Broadcasting received CRTC approval for VIBE 91.7 FM in Edmonton and they purchased Craig Media Inc. (including three "A Channel" conventional television stations in Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg; CBC-affiliate station CKX in Brandon; newly launched Toronto1 station and the MTV, MTV2 and TV Land digital specialty television channels)

That same year, CHUM Television released Going The Distance, a wholly owned and produced theatrical feature. They sold Toronto1 television station to Quebecor subsidiaries TVA Group and Sun Media for C$46m, and purchased a 30% stake in Toronto news station CP24. The obtained CRTC approval for purchase of radio assets of Seacoast Communications Group Inc. in Victoria, B.C (inc radio stations C-FAX AM and CHBE FM and music production operation, Seacoast Sound)and lunched Much Phone a joint venture with Rogers Wireless.

In 2005 CHUM bought the outstanding 40% of Learning and Skills Television of Alberta and launched 91.7 THE BOUNCE in partnership with Milestone Media. That year, CHUM and Astral Media were awarded licencing by the CRTC for their digital subscription radio service, CSRC. They also launched Razer- a youth lifestyle channel and PunchMuch, Canada's first fully-automated, all-request, music video station (previously MTV Canada and MTV 2 respectively. Y92 in Lindsay was reformated as BOB FM

In 2006 CHUM Television International became CHUM International and entered a licensing agreement with Much Czech a.s. for new MuchMusic channel format in Czech Republic.

In 2006 Bell Globemedia (later CTVglobemedia Inc.) made a bid of $1.4 billion for CHUM.

Oddly enough, I got an email today that was meant to put ONE BILLION into perspective...

I'll include it here, as it seems relevant:

********************************************
This is too true to be funny...
The next time you hear a politician use the word 'billion' in a casual manner, think about whether you want the 'politicians'
Spending YOUR tax money.

A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in
one of it's releases.

A..A billion seconds ago it was 1959.

B.A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.

C.A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.

D.A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.

E.A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes,at the rate our government is spending it.

While this thought is still fresh in our brain... let's take a look at New Orleans .... It's amazing what you can learn with some simple division.

Louisiana Senator,Mary Landrieu (D)is presently asking Congress for
250 BILLION DOLLARS to rebuild New Orleans .. Interesting number... what does it mean?

A.Well... if you are one of the 484,674 residents of New Orleans
(every man, woman, and child)you each get $516,528.

B.Or... if you have one of the 188,251 homes in New Orleans , your home gets $1,329,787.

C..Or... if you are a family of four...your family gets $2,066,012.

Imagine, now $700 billion bailing out banks in the US. That's enough to fund complete medical care for every man, woman and child currently alive in the US for 11 years!!

50 billion to bail out the auto industry???

Washington , D.C.& Ottawa ON.

HELLO!!!

Are all your calculators broken??

Accounts Receivable Tax

Building Permit Tax

CDL License Tax

Cigarette Tax

Corporate Income Tax

Dog License Tax

Federal Income Tax , Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)

Fishing License Tax

Food License Tax

Fuel Permit Tax

Gasoline Tax

Hunting License Tax

Inheritance Tax

Inventory Tax

IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)

IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)

Liquor Tax

Luxury Tax

Marriage License Tax

Medicare Tax

Propert y Tax

Real Estate Tax

Service charge taxes

Social Security Tax

Road Usage Tax (Truckers)

Sales Taxes

Recreational Vehicle Tax

School Tax

State Income Tax

State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)

Telephone Federal Excise Tax

Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax upon Tax

Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax

Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax

Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax

Telephone State and Local Tax

Telephone Usage Charge Tax

Utility Tax

Vehicle License Registration Tax

Vehicle Sales Tax

Watercraft Registration Tax

Well Permit Tax

Workers Compensation Tax

Income Tax

Everything Tax

STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY???

Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago...and our nation was the most prosperous in the world.

We had absolutely no national debt...We had the largest middle class in the world..and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What happened? Can you spell 'politicians!'

************************************

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we
are here we might as well dance.

Martin Luther King Jr, leader of the American civil rights movement of the 1960s, fought toward making racial justice and equality a reality in America.

In 1963, Dr King made a powerful speech that has come to be known the “I Have A Dream Speech” at the Lincoln Memorial at the end of the memorable “March of Washington”. & As much as the words, it was the passionate delivery that etched each detail deeply into my then, five-year-old mind.

As a white schoolgirl, living in the suburbs of Ottawa, it was certainly not the first time that I had seen people of colour, but it was the first time that I had any profound thought about skin colour and that it was an issue.

Thus began my fascination with newscasts, documentary films and my “Alex P Keaton”-like existence.

I gobbled up the stories... like what had happened to Rosa Parks. I couldn’t believe it. Then, the September. 16th Street Baptist Church bombing… followed by the Kennedy assassination. There was lot to watch in those days and a lot for my small mind to think about.

Between television and radio news broadcasts, I would have my ear on the transistor radio… I just loved the Miracles, the Marvelettes and the Four Seasons… it never crossed my mind that they were flesh and bone… or to concern myself about their skin colour.

I remember when Cassius Clay changed his name to Mohammed Ali… and I remember wondering why he wouldn’t want to carry the name of a historic and prominent anti-slavery crusader. Most people were simply interested in his boxing prowess.

The Malcolm X assassination really threw me. It was difficult to find people who would talk about him, with me. & When Robert Kennedy was gunned down- I was just about to celebrate my 10th birthday…

and while I was secretly practicing to become a “Supreme” … to sing that feminine harmony and move in perfect synchronization- with big hair, long eyelashes, beautiful fingernails and diaphanous dresses….

I didn’t feel much like partying… the world, after all, was going crazy.

In retrospect, I realize that I had, in a sense, lost my innocence.

Martin Luther King Jr, with his moving delivery and powerful message had awakened something within me… and by 1968, I was convinced that the United States was a deeply troubled nation, in need of help and I felt compelled to do something.

Surely, Canadians didn’t have these sorts of problems! I kept wondering, why it was taking so long for race relations to resolve in the U.S., after all, it had been over 100 years since Lincoln had freed the slaves! & it was simply common sense that all men (and women) had been created as equals.

Henceforth, I became interested in history, politics, sociology and anthropology. I became a bit of a bookworm and more than a little precocious.

While self-studying the American Civil War, I realized that the Emancipation Proclamation had been a somewhat limited document, releasing only those slaves in Confederated States and I considered that it may have simply been a strategy… and I realized how easily history might be manipulated.

It was then, that I opened a new set of beliefs… that the details of history were of little consequence, that regardless of what had happened "before"... when you recognize something unacceptable it had to be changed.

Thus began my interest in activism. It timed beautifully with the rest of the world and although I was about a decade younger than most of the crowd, they accepted me.

After all, that’s what is was all about. Acceptance, unification, civil liberty.

A man named Barack Obama made a show- stopping speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2004. That speech included these words:

“…it's not enough for just some of us to prosper. For alongside our famous individualism, there's another ingredient in the American saga.

A belief that we are connected as one people. If there's a child on the south side of Chicago who can't read, that matters to me, even if it's not my child. If there's a senior citizen somewhere who can't pay for her prescription and has to choose between medicine and the rent, that makes my life poorer, even if it's not my grandmother. If there's an Arab American family being rounded up without benefit of an attorney or due process, that threatens my civil liberties. It's that fundamental belief -- I am my brother's keeper, I am my sisters' keeper -- that makes this country work. It's what allows us to pursue our individual dreams, yet still come together as a single American family. "E pluribus unum." Out of many, one.

Yet even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us, the spin masters and negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of anything goes. Well, I say to them tonight, there's not a liberal America and a conservative America -- there's the United States of America. There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America. The pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and Blue States; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats. But I've got news for them, too. We worship an awesome God in the Blue States, and we don't like federal agents poking around our libraries in the Red States. We coach Little League in the Blue States and have gay friends in the Red States. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and patriots who supported it. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.”

“….Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or a politics of hope?” “….I'm not talking about blind optimism here -- the almost willful ignorance that thinks unemployment will go away if we just don't talk about it, or the health care crisis will solve itself if we just ignore it. No, I'm talking about something more substantial. It's the hope of slaves sitting around a fire singing freedom songs; the hope of immigrants setting out for distant shores; the hope of a young naval lieutenant bravely patrolling the Mekong Delta; the hope of a mill worker's son who dares to defy the odds; the hope of a skinny kid with a funny name who believes that America has a place for him, too. The audacity of hope!

In the end, that is God's greatest gift to us, the bedrock of this nation; the belief in things not seen; the belief that there are better days ahead. I believe we can give our middle class relief and provide working families with a road to opportunity. I believe we can provide jobs to the jobless, homes to the homeless, and reclaim young people in cities across America from violence and despair. I believe that as we stand on the crossroads of history, we can make the right choices, and meet the challenges that face us. America!”

& Now, tomorrow, Barack Obama will stand at the Lincoln Memorial… that same place where Dr Martin Luther King Jr. spoke to the hearts of millions. & In a representative culmination of King’s dream, this man of colour, Barack Obama, will place his hand upon Abraham Lincoln’s historic inaugural bible as he is sworn in, as America’s 44th President.

Pretty heady stuff.

The inauguration is said to include 58 federal, state and local agencies working together to protect this brave soul. It will be the largest inaugural security operation in history. Thousands of extra police, law enforcement agents and troops will be on hand. The plan is that there will be one plain-clothed officer for every hundred people.

Washington will be shut down for some 24 hours. The streets will be closed and no aircraft will fly over the city, save and except for patrols of fighter jets. All of the buildings will be stationed by Secret Service snipers. D.C. insiders expect the festivities to cost fifty million dollars.

As President, Mr Obama and his family will face many more challenges. The country is in the midst of the greatest financial crisis since the Great Depression and involved in two contentious wars. Barack Obama was elected on his ability to inspire belief. He embodies the greatest of ideals and hope for a Nation that for about forty years has had a dream…

Text of the speech given by Martin Luther King, Jr.
August 28, 1963. Washington, D.C.

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of captivity.

But one hundred years later, we must face the tragic fact that the Negro is still not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize an appalling condition.

In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check -- a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God's children. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the determination of the Negro. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor's lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous peaks of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and every molehill of Mississippi.

From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

I guess I’m officially a fogey. Last night, I attended the high school Arts Night and essentially- well; my own mother told me that I was a fogey.

I can’t help it. Look, I know I’m not perfect… not by a long stretch… but everywhere I go, I find horrendous spelling errors and last evening, well… there was a plethora.

& Frankly, I was shocked.

Captured in calligraphy, on film and cartoons, the errors astounded me. I guess the arts department has other things to focus upon. However, one would think that the study of language and literature would be somehow connected to the arts. At least this one would.

I could rant volumes about things that are missing in our educational system… but let me clarify something first: I know many dedicated teachers who do a superb job and there are plenty of fine students who exemplify this.

All right, so they’re teenagers. And? … Hmmmm… you know, I’m pretty sure that my spelling was better when I was a teen than it is now. Especially on school projects!

Why aren’t we teaching basic life skills to our children?

We all know that in many cases “the family” has become a different creature than it once was. It used to be that family taught things like manners, simple hygiene, basic banking and account balancing, simple cooking and economical meal planning… and the use and care of common appliances (i.e./ washing machines)… or how to use a Laundromat… things of that nature….

Some people think that spelling is unimportant… that conveying the message is what matters… okay, I get that...obviously spelling means something to me- possible remnants from my youth.

It seems to me that there’s a glitch and some families are forgetting or too busy or too stressed or too new to the culture or unaware or too lazy to teach their children this stuff… and it really isn’t fair to those kids… so perhaps it’s time to bring it in to the classroom.

Less focus on intellect (state of mind) and more on consciousness...

& While I’m on the subject… how about we recognize the aging population and teach our children what to do in an emergency, CPR, bereavement skills, & the social, medical and ethical dimensions of elder care? Oh I could go on.

What about: how to wash dishes, basic automobile maintenance, budgeting, home cleaning skills, how to safely shovel snow or sew on a button and how about a little mending?

Maybe it’s all too practical?

It strikes me that nobody teaches the laws that we live beneath… and yet ignorance of the law is not a defense. Some would argue that laws are simply a matter of common sense… I don’t see a lot of that anymore, either.

People cross legal lines all the time without knowing- & I wonder if that is somehow connected to the ever-increasing signs that we are becoming a very litigious society-

Are we depending on the courts to teach ethics and morality? Or should I say, legislate ethics and morality? Sounds like a waste of the taxpayers’ money to some… and probably justice to others… while it seems to me that it’s more a matter of responsibility and priority.

Maybe I’m just in a grouchy mood? Maybe it’s the current level of technology? Just imagine where we are, considering the exponential growth of electronic assault and control technology that had its start in the 50s?

All of the cell phone calls, radio waves, television and other stuff, micro waving and rambling through our atmosphere unseen…. Get the tinfoil!

Perhaps it’s global warming… alien experimentation… let’s blame the Bilderbergs and Rosicrucians.

Look, I’m not trying to minimize any of these possibilities… I know that anything is possible… and some things are quite likely… however, the one thing of which I am certain is….

It’s time to take responsibility for making good choices and for being the change.

Admittedly, spelling isn’t everything- provided the message is conveyed and interpreted as intended. I look at the short-formed language of text messaging and c that u can b 2 busy 4 typing and still u can b understood. LOL.

I’ve watched people from all over the world effectively communicate with one another this way.

So, perhaps because of stress from a fast paced or for some other reason... whatever it is, the techno-world appears to be morphing our language into some kind of Nuevo-shorthand version of English that our children are already speaking.

I think that our children rank among our best resources.

Many believe that we now have a generation or two of what they call “indigo children” in our midst… and it’s not that these kids are some kind of elite being… it’s more like some dormant faculties and abilities appear to be re-emerging- as evidenced by the accelerated psycho-spiritual-biological orientation of recent generations.

Still, these children are- as we must remember- children… and they need gentle guidance and a light-touch of support in their development.

& really there's nothing new about it... there have been many, many, many re-alignments in social morality… and there will be more…

I believe that what is happening is that we have arrived (some without recognizing the travel) at the pinnacle of awareness… and ready to that we really are a global community…

And we have noticed the not-so-subtle manipulations of some media, politics, and religion…

We strive for social freedom, social ecology, integrated moral epistemological models and ethics…

AND

We are connected, more closely than ever and able to communicate more rapidly by the moment… or nano-moment…

Marshall McLuhan (in The Gutenberg Galaxy) said “Is it not obvious that there are always enough moral problems without also taking a moral stand on technological grounds? …Yet even witlessness is not a moral issue. It is a problem, but not a moral problem, and it would be nice to clear away some of the moral fogs that surround our technologies. It would be good for morality.”

In this same work, some thirty years prior to the advent of Internet, McLuhan practically invented the term “surfing”. He was referring to the way he imagined people would move through documents and knowledge in a wired world... a prophetic image,
“Heidegger surf-boards along the electronic wave as triumphantly as Descartes rode the mechanical wave.”

Heidegger, a German philosopher exerted controversial influence on the humanities, theology and the philosophies of hermeneutics, deconstruction and existentialism. Reminding us that all we understand (from our notions of common sense, to our interpretations on the very nature of being) are vulnerable to error.

To heal these misinterpretations, Heidegger believed there was a need to retrace the history of philosophy. He believed that historical misconceptions from the history of philosophy had been filtered into terms through which “being” is articulated, for example: logic, reality, consciousness, presence and God.

In his later works, Heidegger argued that these very glitches had immense affect on the way in which people relate to modern technology.

Personally, I don’t think we need to describe these as errors or re-write interpretations of the past… it’s all just a manifestation of the ever-changing ideologies of society and we just need move forward, making the best choices possible.

Then again, I’m a fogey and I realize that there’s nothing new… except maybe the packaging. It’s simple Superstring Theory… incidentally quantum theories date back to the early 1800’s.

Sometimes change is a long while coming.

We have to believe.

Terms like uncertain, declining, tightening, slowing and recession have become an ever- growing part of conversation these days. Suddenly, debt has become an obsession. Some people think it’s all Bernie Madoff’s fault. Maybe it is.

Steve Rosen of The Kansas City Star said this about Madoff, “Don't trust someone with your money just because they happen to wear a nice suit.”

Now let’s have a little straight talk here. Sure, banks are stiffening lending practices and CMHC is tightening its high ratio program but the news is full of stuff that is a little misleading, too.

Media tends to rely on statistics to inform the public about the real estate market. It doesn’t take much effort to realize that any statistical report can be easily manipulated. In the Canadian real estate market, MLS ® is regulated and controlled by the Canadian Real Estate Association and often commentary focuses on the reports that they release and often those reports are country-wide.

I'm sure I don't have to say that what is happening in Newfoundland has little or nothing to do with real estate trends in Bancroft or Barry’s Bay, Ontario.

Canadian statistics are being affected by the markets in places like Alberta, where the oil sands boom has caused a totally regional market in Calgary and Edmonton. Housing prices were astronomical a year ago… and reports now suggest they are plummeting. Bathurst, Belldune, Big River and Salmon Beach are reporting increases in activity and prices.

Buyers and Sellers have to understand that news reports suggesting an uncertain “global economy” has only a minimal affect on regional real estate markets. In the Renfrew, Haliburton and North Hastings areas we don’t expect any further correction- aside from the usual seasonal variations.

By the same token, a market correction is not something to be afraid of. In the crash of ’89, heck, even in the great depression, the average person did experience some struggle- while at the same time, a small number of brave souls went against the tide and made their fortune. Property can be viewed as any other product. Prices go up, prices go down and prices are negotiable.

It is possible to build a tremendous amount of wealth in troubled economic times if you keep to some basic fundamental strategies:

1/ under most circumstances you shouldn’t count on quick gains, be prepared to hold on for longer term increases
2/ it’s not a good time to speculate for fun- don’t get in too far over your head
3/ be aggressive with offers
4/ do your homework and value invest
5/ with so many options and so many places to look for property; find a well-informed Realtor to work on your behalf
6/ try to put 10% down
7/ shop for financing, carefully
8/ if you select a fixer-upper, be sure that you can handle the job, within the budget

Granted, not all property transactions are cold, calculated financial maneuvers and the aforementioned advice does not hold true in every instance. Being a property owner is something that most people aspire to. It’s so much more than a simple investment.

Wasting good money on rent when you could be building equity is never a great choice- be it your residence, seasonal, or vacation property. Once you’ve spent it, it is gone and that doesn’t feel good.

During dark days of media hysteria,casual conversational panic and fear mongering it’s easy to feel bad about your financial situation. Property ownership provides a sense of pride and accomplishment. Ownership remains a common dream and it’s realizable- particularly in low interest times. Finding a nice deal on a nice property is a feel-good opportunity.

& Coming back to this region, in particular…. there ARE a lot of good deals to be had, it’s time to start looking and be ready to make the jump. Remember- ownership provides the opportunity to build equity. You may not see a huge increase over night but equity is certain to build and, in the meantime, you will have a wonderful place to enjoy.

Yes, Virginia, there still is a real estate market…

While some of the GIANTS are forecasting a modest dip in the Canadian Real Estate market, economists remain optimistic. Real property remains one of the most stable and reliable investments.

The Financial Post recently reported on a survey of investment managers that was conducted by the Toronto-based firm Russell Investments. Almost 75% of those who participated said they expect residential market to climb in 2009- with gains that could reach ten percent or higher.

The Post remarked, “Granted, it's the not most unbiased of surveys, coming from a firm in the investment industry. But the popular outlook echoes the sentiments of other market forecasters in recent weeks.”

Back in 2002, Real Estate guru, Ozzie Jurock, said, “One thing is certain - whatever buyer types markets consist of - how confident these buyers are about their future will determine future values.” & today most consultants would agree.

I love to hear what people predict for the market. Here are a few of the recent comments I’ve heard:

* Real estate values are always local in nature- values grow where people go and people are leaving the city and coming to the country, in droves.

* People tend to buy when prices are going up, not when they’re going down but smart investors know the best deals are found in down markets.

* Right now, buyers can find some "screamin’ deals".

* The market will be more stable for the next year and, then, we’ll see it start to climb.

* It’s a market crest- not a slump. It’s all good.

* This market has legs!

* Some Canadian markets still need to correct. Ours corrected already.

* Watch for growth in the second quarter of ’09.

* Expect rising housing prices by the beginning of April ’09.

I recently came across an article in which U.S. Billionaires (most of whom got rich in real estate), were asked to make their predictions for ’09:

* “We will see less greed. People will start to care more about one another and not about what they can take from one another.”

* “…economic improvements will be faster than anticipated.”

* “The housing market will turn around in the fourth quarter”

No doubt about it, during good times, people get too greedy or too busy or whatever… and they stop doing proper due diligence… and that goes for everyone involved. I’ve seen it in action. My own prediction for the market in my area, for the coming year, reflects this. I believe:

Sellers have to take responsibility for what they are selling. Sellers need to totally understand disclosure. Sellers who want to get the highest value from their property must listen to the advice of their Realtor. The Realtor can tell the Seller what documentation is needed and what changes are required- but the Seller needs to gather the paperwork and make the changes- or reduce the asking price and expect the sale to take longer.

Buyers need to find a Realtor that connects with them… a Realtor that knows their “stuff”… a Realtor who will discuss their role and responsibility upfront and make the commitment to perform AND the Buyer should be prepared to commit to their Realtor. Buyers need to know what they qualify for, financially. Buyers need to be aware that they may need to do some homework before finalizing an Agreement for Purchase.

Realtors need to follow the law, the various codes of ethics and standards of business. Realtors need to have everything in writing and ask for identification, documentation and verification. Realtors need to be competent in all aspects of the real estate transaction and provide their customers and clients with quality representation. (For more details refer to articles on this website regarding “code of ethics” etc.)

In other words, Buyers aren’t going to pay a premium “just because”. Nobody wants to get hosed in a real estate transaction. Fair market value is determined by the Buyers and Sellers, Realtors give advice. & A Realtor’s best advice comes from experience and knowledge of the marketplace.

And it’s only common sense that, when you are selling something, it ought to be clean and tidy. It should be in good repair or priced to reflect the deficiency. Even though we know that we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, good “curb appeal” can make the difference in getting showings.

In residential (or cottage) properties, the smart Seller will remove all items that are personal in nature. It’s best to put away the family photos and to keep personal hygiene items in drawers. Laundry should be out of sight. Clothes need to be put away. No dirty dishes should be left about. Garbage should be removed. Tidy, Tidy, Tidy.

I use the “hotel room” theory. Even a strange room can feel homey, if there’s nobody else’s “stuff” in it.

Sellers need to take their personal things out of the equation and allow the Buyers to imagine themselves in the space. Furniture isn’t usually considered a personal thing. Using the “hotel room” theory, people expect to see furnishings. Certain items are rather generic. (Unless they are unconventional- but this would fall into the category of personal décor).

Specialized and personal décor, colours, patterns etc. can be a good thing… and can be a bad thing. There are plenty of television programs that demonstrate the benefits of home staging and a good Realtor knows how to utilize this technique and will provide their Sellers with direction.

To achieve optimum results we must be prepared for the possibility of having to make some changes. Serious Sellers need to set their personal feelings aside and not be insulted. Using the hotel room theory: innocuous, neutral, uncrowded rooms are comfortable for the majority and Sellers should strive to appeal to as many Buyers as possible.

There will always be Sellers and Buyers- and Realtors. In 2009, I predict a strong market- for those with an intelligent approach and appropriate sense of value.