I think Obama and the Democrats need to get an idea of how the world works… Seeing as they’re getting pwned by Republicans as of late and have no concept of actual reality, or so it seems. On that note, I’m glad that Ted Kennedy was able to keep the seat warm for the past 46 years for a Republican boy model to simply waltz in and take it. I’m sure Kennedy is rolling in his grave right now.
Democrats, keep up the good work, you worthless suits. It’s times like these where I really want there to be a viable third party in this country, because both parties are abominations of the political system that need to be put down like rabid dogs.
Anyway, Democrats and Obama need to watch this. Please. Get the fucking message and get moving. This country is in such deep shit right now that I really do see America following the footsteps of the Roman Empire.
What’s that saying? “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it”?
Sort of broke my consistency with the blogging thing. Not all right by me, but here’s a summary of what has passed:
1. Pasta Dinner Benefit
Ticket to the benefit.
I attended a spaghetti dinner last Friday for Noah McClain, a two year old boy who was diagnosed with Guillian Barre Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy. The dinner was held by the American Legion post that my grandmother belongs to, and so I went to the dinner with my parents and grandmother. What makes Noah’s predicament even more harrowing is the fact that his father lost his job (and with it insurance benefits) just a few days after finding out about his son’s condition, and so the McClain family needs help paying for Noah’s medical expenses.
As a member of the Legion—for McClain’s father served in our military—the fine folks at the Legion organized this event. I’m not sure how much they managed to raise, but given the high turnout, I wouldn’t be surprised if they raised a good deal of money to help!
At the dinner, I was also pleased to interface with some members of the community. One of them was a one of my father’s present clients who praised me on the work I did on the virtual tour of their home, so that certainly made my night.
2. Spending Time with Friends
In the vein of spending time with friends, I’ve been participating in weekly trivia events at the local Hurricane’s Bar and Grill. That is until the owner there canceled it for affecting “season business.” Now, I’m not sure what kind of “seasonal business” two hours on a Monday night is affecting, because Monday is typically the lowest turn-out for sports bars. So… I’m not sure what we’re doing on Monday nights, other than hanging with my friends watching Chuck.
I also attended my friend Andrea’s birthday, from which I was called away from just as we were going to eat cake because my brother needed help prior to his trip up to Tallahassee. None-the-less, good times were had.
3. Staying Positive
I’ve been pretty positive and centered so far this month, which is great. I’m honestly getting to spend more time with myself again, which will be a good thing as once I start up school again in the next few months, I doubt I will.
Between that and a few reality checks, I believe that I’m on the right path.
Which reminds me… I have a poem attached to a wall in my room, right next to the door. Somehow, despite the fact that I walk past it on a daily basis, I haven’t gone back and read it until just recently. It’s just… been there.
I was given this poem by one of the adult aides at a community center where I volunteered my time at during my middle school years, and I had it laminated. It’s been with me for the past decade, and I want to share it with all of you, since I take it quite to whatever heart I have remaining.
The following Family Guy clip resonates with me. This scares me when I think about it.
Since this is Sunday and, like the Head Cheese upstairs, I should rest on the seventh day; I figure that this should be fun and less thought-provoking than my previous posts. Ergo, this clip in question.
(For those of you readin’ through Facebook, click here for the clip.)
And, no, I do not care who won at the Globes. I do not care for 24. And I do not care for green eggs—but I do care for ham.
As usual, if you are reading this on Facebook, please go to my blog directly as this blog entry has video embeds. Thank you.
I was scouring Youtube the other night and stumbled across a rare interview that Patrick McGoohan (the titular tour de force behind The Prisoner) did in 1977. It is in four parts that run about 40 minutes and the quality is what you’d expect from a VHS recording, but it is an interesting look not only behind-the-series itself but on McGoohan’s views of society in general.
A warning for those of you who haven’t seen The Prisoner: there are spoilers here regarding the series’ finale—actually, finale isn’t the right word to use regarding The Prisoner’s last episode, so let’s just get that out of the way right now.
Anyway, for your consideration…
I do happen to agree with McGoohan’s assertion that progress, or what passes for progress, is the most dangerous issue that humanity faces. There are many valid points here that are worthy of debate, such as his observation that there has not yet been a weapon created by man that hasn’t been used. We already know about the ciphering of the citizenry—with everyone assigned with a number (or, in today’s world, countless numbers)—and we know of the horror of nuclear and, to a lesser extent, biological weapons. Ergo, we should all be very fearful of what is to come, unless we take care and control of our actions as a species.
You may not agree, but at least watch the above videos, and feel free to discuss as I intend on writing more on these topics in the future.
I’m writing to tell a story that few people will probably ever read. It’s all right. I probably won’t really remember all the details in the few years myself, which is why I’m writing it down while the details are reasonably fresh in my memory. Here goes. More to Read…
Most viewers wanted to do this after watching all six hours... Nom nom grenade nom nom—boom!
I’ve wanted to react to the perversion that was AMC’s “remake” of The Prisoner, however I didn’t want to come across as a whinging fuckard who didn’t like it.
The above is a nod to my friend, Shannon/Taser/Doubletap, who kept on referring me by this name whenever she was up in Vancouver.
So, the website is finally back online. Getting all the logistics into place for moving the server took time out of Shane’s and my life, not to mention all the technical obstacles that popped up during our arduous server move. As you can imagine, this endeavor was the largest (and longest) move that we’ve ever made. It isn’t for the feint of heart, and Shane (who did most of the IT heavy lifting), is a trooper. If it weren’t for him, I would have swan-dived off the roof.
All the while we were down, people came forward and offered their assistance. (One of them, in particular, I would like to make a special mention of as they are responsible for our new home when MediaTemple didn’t pan out, but I’m leaving that for its own blog in a more official venue.) Some of them freaked out, which is something that concerns me a bit, but I took the time to assure them that it was a server move that took longer than expected.
I continue to be humbled by the appreciation that people have for the website, and the server move not only cuts costs, but also results in a more powerful server that can handle all the requests that people make on it.
Did you know that the Wiki has over 2,000 unique visitors an hour? That’s with the show no longer being on the air, by the way, which explains why my jaw sort of hits the ground a bit.
During our peak, we had well over 300,000-400,000 unique visitors a month, if not more. The site is tremendously popular and I am honored to have been the guy who began something that’s attracted talent from across the world. At the risk of gushing, it’s really something when a website gets you the opportunity to help create history, particularly with the Battlestar auctions that happened in 2009.
And, as you might be aware, the Wiki has always been the slowest every time an episode airs. Sometimes, the servers crashed. And that sucked, for everyone. Now that we have a powerful server at an economical price, I think we’ve achieved balance there where it won’t crash and burn everytime the Wiki addicts want to look up something.
It will be interesting for me to see what Caprica holds, particularly for the website. I hope the show is of great quality and is around for a while.
Exciting.
2. Mass Effect
On the gaming front, I’m working my way through the first Mass Effect, and I am really digging the game so far. For some reason, I find myself more attracted to Mass Effect than I am to something like Dragon Age: Origins. I seem to have a better handle on leveling my characters, modifying my equipment, affecting the story the way I think it should be played out, and I’m just having fun with it. Given some of what I’ve seen in the game so far, I suspect that there are some Mass Effect programmers and writers who are fans of BSG and Farscape.
With that, I’m really looking forward to Mass Effect 2 based on my experience in this game.
While I know that these RPGs are from the same company and everything has the same basic concept—bionic powers being indistinguishable to magic spells and the same basic general character classes, for instance—I’ve found that I respond better to the science fiction setting. Perhaps because I’ve always found science fiction far more interesting (and with more possibilities) than a realm run by wizards, ogres, dragons and the like. This isn’t a knock against fantasy, since fantasy and science fiction have always been intertwined, but science fiction has its advantages. Particularly if it is well executed. I would go as so far to say that science fiction brings fantasy into the realm of the galactic universe, as opposed to the mystical one. Or one is an extension of the other.
Needless to say, I’m of a few different minds on this…
3. Moving Blah-Log
Keeping up with my blogging has been a bit of a chore for me. However, persistence is key, and I’m chugging along. Some of the blah-logs are probably boring, but it’s a cross-section of what limited interests I do have in this pitiful little life of mine.
One of the things I’ll be doing is moving my blah-log to the MT server that my company (FrakMedia!) has, since I’m consolidating things. Right now, I have three different hosts for various sites, and I want to reduce that number. Same with domain names. I have some domains through 1&1, one through resell.biz (that’s JoeBeaudoin.net) and GoDaddy. Goal is to get all the domains over to GoDaddy within the next few weeks. JoeBeaudoin.net is being migrated now and should be transferred by the 12th, and once that is done, I can implement all the necessary DNS changes and move this blah-log over.
Today is Sunday, and today should be entertaining. In that frame of mind, I’ve dug up these videos from YouTube. They tickle my geek bone, particularly the whole computer thing, and mock those rather annoying “I’m a Mac, I’m a PC” ads that I have little love for. So if you mix those elements with South Park, this appears to be the end result.
It has come to my attention that some of you don’t know how to take pictures. I’ve seen the photos you’ve taken in the MLS database (if you bothered to take them at all), and you need to understand a few things about photography.
You know that saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words”? It is true. What that axiom fails to add, perhaps because the person who originated it assumed this additional caveat, is this: “Those words can either tell the story well, or not.”
As with anything else, there are the basics of photography that you’ll need to understand. Photography is just as important as being able to not only write and understand real estate contracts, but also establish rapport with your buyers or sellers. It’s one of the basics of marketing, along with writing ad copy or descriptions of said property for your MLS provider.
So here’s what you need to do in order to be successful at this skill. And it’s all about the basics.
Here are a few important questions that I’ll address:
Who is going to be taking the pictures?
What equipment are you going to be using?
When are you going to be taking these pictures?
Where are you going to be taking said pictures at?
How are you using these pictures?
Why did you do any of the above?
1. Who is going to be taking the pictures?
One of two important components to this endeavor is determining who will be tasked with photography. Will it be you? Do you have an assistant that does this?
What is their experience in taking the pictures? Many people have the ability to point a camera at something and take a shot of it, but there’s something to be said about talent. Knowing what to take a picture of, as well as how to make something presentable for pictures (the right lighting, for instance) makes all the difference.
2. What equipment are you going to be using?
You are only as good as your tools. Therefore, it is imperative that you invest in quality camera equipment. You don’t need equipment that professional photographers use, but you should invest in quality items.
Do not treat this lightly: This is going to be the most important decision you’ll ever make, because you’ll need to determine how you’re going to use the pictures. If you’re going to create virtual tours, create brochures, and syndicate your listings on the net, then something in the 6 or 10 MP range is probably a good idea.
For those of you who want to be smart about it, a mid-range digital camera is the most economical option. For seasoned agents in the business, you will probably want to go higher, because the expectation is simply higher, even if you aren’t aware of it.
For those of you wanting a camera that can take wide-angle shots, you are better off with a non-compact camera where you can attach add-ons to the lens. You can get away without going to an SLR, although SLRs have dropped considerably over the past couple of years. Typically, this entails buying an adapter ring and the appropriate lens. Since I’m only pointing you in the right direction, you’ll need to take it upon yourself to research what cameras out there suit your needs, and what attachments you need. Professional camera outlets, such as Adorama, are useful and I’ve dealt with them in the past for my father’s business needs.
Your camera choice will need to factor in how comfortable or experienced you are in fiddling with the more advanced stuff. If you are wanting to control how your pictures look, in particular manipulating settings (flash, exposure, f-stop, etc.), the better your pictures tend to be—assuming you know what you’re doing. Don’t let me scare you off, however, as most cameras have an “auto” feature that usually covers most of it.
You want something that can take good pictures in low-light or natural-light conditions. I know that many people like using the flash, but flashes—particularly ones that aren’t calibrated properly—tend to wash out colors, cause the “flare” against mirrors or other reflective objects, and place emphasis on objects that shouldn’t be emphasized. Do remember that most of the time, the closest item to the lens or flash will always be the brightest object, given how light works.
On another subject: when buying a camera, you will need the accessories to go with it. These include a camera bag that can carry all the camera accessories (battery charger, extra battery, flash media), at least two memory cards in case you lose one. If you think you’re going to drop the camera, then you may want to find a protection plan that covers accidental damage. When thinking about warrantying the camera with a service plan, you will want to read over the terms of the plan first. Otherwise, it’s just as easier to buy another camera in the long run without it. Caveat emptor.
3. When are you taking the pictures?
It is important to take the pictures at the right time.
Optimally, you want to photograph the home and property when the following conditions are met, or nearly met.
During a clear day, with very little clouds and great sunshine.
When the house is presentable; you don’t want to take a picture of a house when they have Halloween decorations out on the lawn, or during a garage sale. Also, if the inside of the house is less-than-presentable, you probably don’t want to take shots of the interior. After all, these pictures will be posted in public spots, and the point of advertising is to get people interested in a property.
When the least number of people are home. The more people around, the more difficult it is to take photos, and the more you inconvenience those who live there.
For instance, most folks have a least one car per person, so if there are four people home (two kids of driving age and two parents), there may be as many as four cars there. That means that there are cars in the driveway, or in the garage, and that they’ll have to be moved in order to take the proper photo.
4. Where are you going to be taking said pictures at?
When you’re listing a property, you’re not only selling the house, you’re selling the area. Therefore, it is important to take photos of the community or the areas nearby.
If a house is five minutes away from the river and beaches, then you should probably take a picture of the river and the beaches. Same goes for a property with a “gorgeous view of nature” from “its front door step” or “its balcony.” Thus, you should take pictures of the very sight that the homeowner would see, whether it would be of the mountains, the lake, or a natural sight. That’s what will likely sell a property.
5. How will you be using these pictures?
You need to keep in mind that different services have different needs and limitations. A magazine or newspaper ad will likely only allow you 1 photo. A MLS listing server may only allow you up to 8 or 10 photos. A virtual tour may allow you to have 20 to “unlimited” numbers of photos; “unlimited” is encased in quotations because it’s impossible to publish an infinite number of photos and be done with it, not to mention the fact that there is a limit, but most users never reach it, so it remains undisclosed to most. If you do it right, you may be able to stitch the photos together to create a panorama, particularly of exterior views such as waterfronts.
Let me touch on the virtual tour panorama topic here, since I’ve done it. It is not without some effort, but nothing worthwhile is rarely effortless. So let’s me begin by saying that services such as RealBiz360, allow their publishers to upload “high definition” photos. In these photos, users can zoom in and all that jazz. It’s nice, but I haven’t run into any real estate buyer (or seller) who cares about that kind of feature. Still, you need to keep in mind that “high definition” photography will be the future, so the clearer the picture… the better. And, at any rate, the resolution of your pictures will be downscaled when they are uploaded.
6. Why did you do any of the above?
I want to say that I needed a “why” question.
However, I need you to realize that you need to always analyze and question the decisions you make, because if you don’t, you’ll never improve. You’ll become stagnant and resistant to change. Yes, some change should be resisted, but that decision lies with you, and hopefully made with the help of your critical thinking skills and not on a mere whim. When doing anything, you need to answer the question of “why?”
Why did I buy that device? Why did I take the picture that way? Did I place myself in a home buyer’s shoes and see things through their eyes? Why should I do that? Why don’t I?
The best real estate professionals—or any sort of professional on any career path—tend to be able to put themselves in the other person’s shoes and figure out how their brain works. They find out what they want and then, switching over to the supplier mode, devise a means to deliver the consumer what they want and, at best, make money doing something they enjoy doing.
And a few other things…
I have a few other words of wisdom that I’ll impart:
Do not pose in pictures or have someone pose in pictures being a “Vanna White.” There is absolutely no reason why someone should be “Vanna Whiting” appliances, pools or anything of the sort. Let me repeat the point ad absurdum: There should not be anyone in your photos, at all. The point of a photo is to show off a room, a feature, or an attribute you want people to know about. Having folks in a photo detracts from the subject of the photos.
Do not take photos of stairways, hallways, or toilets. Unless the toilet is the Super-Deluxe Toilet with Automatic Bum Cleansing Features, it’s not worth a photo. Even if it were… still not worth the photo. Unless you have a toilet fetish. (Sadly, Google informs me that such a fetish exists. There’s no technical word for it yet, as far as I am presently aware.)
Take tons of photos. Digital memory has increased in size, so why don’t you take more photos? We’re not in the 1980s where you had only 24 exposures on a roll of 35mm film. So, you don’t have to use every single photo you take, and it is nice to have a smattering of choices to choose from. Take photos from different vantage points, in different lighting conditions. Take a photo with a flash, and one in natural light. Be creative, but be creative with purpose.
Make the property presentable, clean, and no clutter. Before you take photos of a property, you need to tell your sellers that it is important to have the home presentable. The less clutter on counter tops and in rooms, the better. The idea here is that the potential buyer should be able to visualize themselves in the home, since they are going to be the ones to live in it, should they choose to buy it. Should repairs need to be done, then the selling agent needs to inform their seller of the items that need repair.
That’s all I have for now. Feel free to send me any comments, questions, or concerns. I look forward to helping people—including myself—improve my skill sets!
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