On Fitness Centre Memberships!

david.yetman@century21.ca — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

I heard that they are now selling a 12 month membership at all Health\Fitness clubs in Canada, it is called the 4,3,2,1 membership plan and is only sold this time of the year.

You get to go 4 times the first week, 3 times the 2nd week, 2 times the 3rd week, and 1 time the 4th week, after that you get to feel guilty and pay for a further 11 months!

If you are looking in the Halifax Nova Scotia area, call me, for full time, committed service!

99% Repost from The Halifax Herald

david.yetman@century21.ca — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Who speaks for the 99 per cent? The answer, of course, is no one.

That’s why, at a basic level, the Occupy movement has a problem with its core message: Other than the mathematically indisputable fact that some people make more money than everyone else, those doing the protesting don’t necessarily have much in common with the rest of us.

It’s been nearly two months since these protests began in New York City. Yes, they’ve spread to some 2,000 cities worldwide. But nowhere that I’m aware of do these pockets of protesters number in more than the thousands, and nowhere do those numbers represent more than a tiny sliver of the overall population.

Yes, various polls have shown sizeable chunks of the populace, at times even a majority, are sympathetic to at least some of the movement’s grievances. And so am I, depending on the issue. When you’re mad about enough things, some of it is going to resonate with somebody.

But most people are occupied themselves, with jobs or school or raising children or whatever, and haven’t the time or desire to camp out in some public space waiting for the system to "change" or, by implication, they’re not leaving.

By the way, is there a threshold to tell when enough demands have been met to signal to protesters that they can fold up their tents and leave? Given the vast number of causes under the Occupy umbrella, that could take a while. Would 70 per cent do the trick? Eighty per cent? Ninety-nine per cent?

At some point, the public’s sympathy and patience is going to wear thin. That’s already happening in some cities. And the authorities are going to have plenty of support to reclaim what are supposed to be spaces for everyone to enjoy — not, as has happened in some places, for large, impenetrable tent cities that are both dangerous, in terms of becoming a victim of a crime, and health hazards.

Where, for instance, did some Occupy Vancouver protester get the idea that a recent order from the city’s fire department — to reset tents so there is a minimum clearance around each — could be ignored because the "laws of the land" don’t apply there?

Sorry, bud, they sure do apply there. And I think you’ll find the majority of the 99 per cent will back authorities when they enforce laws. If fire broke out and lives were lost, who’d be responsible? Not buddy, I bet.

It’s interesting how some of these tent cities have begun to evolve or, in some cases, devolve.

In New York, so much money has flowed in to support the Occupiers — more than $500,000 US — that a council of decision-makers, separate from the general assembly, has been set up to control those funds. Members of the so-called spokes-council are representatives of the various groups living within the tent city.

In other words, hierarchies are forming. This has already soured some who had wanted grassroots participatory democracy to direct any spending.

Call me cynical, but when the first cases of misuse of funds pop up somewhere, as they likely will, will anyone be surprised?

Meanwhile, in a disturbing number of Occupy camps, both women and men have reported being raped. In New York again, organizers just constructed a large tent, capable of sheltering 30 women, to be designated as a women’s safe space.

Some protest participants have complained there’s been internal pressure in some places (like Baltimore) not to report rapes, as they hurt the movement’s image.

Thefts and assaults have also been a serious problem in a number of tent cities.

As I’ve said before, the place to occupy is the voting booth, both as ballot caster and — if you have a vision for a fairer society you can inspire others to believe in — as a candidate.

For example, want proportional representation? Then elect enough people who do, too, and make it happen.

Protesting is an integral part of democracy, too, of course. I’m not against anyone speaking out or marching to advocate their point of view.

But endless occupations of public spaces? Sorry, that’s getting old fast.

Promising news from CMHC

david.yetman@century21.ca — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Promising news for 2012 to share with our clients. 4th Quarter CMHC Housing Outlook forecasts economic growth at or above 10 year average, as well as new housing starts and existing homes sales near 5 year highs. Average sale price to climb to $275,000.

http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/odpub/esub/64267/64267_2011_B02.pdf

Ships NOW Start Here!

david.yetman@century21.ca — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

I know things are difficult in the world for a great number of reasons, economics, housing, wars, and not to diminish in any way those issues, however, when a company in your home town wins a $25 Billion dollar contract, I think it is ok for just a little while to feel like it's gonna be Chrtistmas Day, every day for the next 30 years.