How to buy best stocks daily. 10% - 13% by going short in THIS market
Have you been keeping up with the new Market Mastery training videos that reveal the 4 low-risk, high-probability "profit pockets" that can occur on almost ANY stock chart?
Well, I just got ANOTHER quick video update from the developer, Bill Poulos, that shows a handful of GREAT trades you could've gotten in on as a Market Mastery student over the past week or two.
Watch as Bill shows you a great short trade using the "Profit Pipeline" method that potentially pulled in 10% on the first half & 13% on the second half in a matter of days...and then how his "Velocity Method" got right back in for another great short trade which already hit the 10% target.
Trades like this can set up all the time, and when you know how to grab them, it gives you a definite edge over most traders.
See the trades here...
Pay careful attention to his comments about what most other traders probably would have done in these markets, and see how, using the Market Mastery methods, you have a leg up on them.
Good Trading
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Thursday, June 10, 2010
How To Invest In Best Stocks Video
Monday, March 15, 2010
Best 2010 Forex Profit Accelerator Pip Potential
Last week, one of the best "A to Z" Forex training programs totally took the Forex education community by storm...
-It's called the "Forex Profit Accelerator Group Coaching Program".
Well, if you've checked the website lately, then you know that only 51 more students can get in before the enrollment page shuts down for good on Tuesday, March 16th, at 11:59pm Eastern (New York time).
See the latest inventory count You can check this fantastic profit forex software it here
WHY IT MAKES COMPLETE SENSE
If you're still struggling with the Forex markets, or are just sick and tired of staring at your computer like a zombie for 2, 3, 4 hours a day or more...
...then I really encourage you to take 35+ year market veteran Bill Poulos up on his "test drive" where he lets you get your hands on his course & get a feel for his program before you commit and say YES...
I was thinking about what specifically it is that I like the best about this course & program & what sets it above most of the other methods and courses I've seen. Here's what I came up
with:
** COMPLETE -- This is one of the most complete Forex trading programs I've ever seen. Period. There's material to get beginners going quickly, and it's structured in such a way that more experienced traders can jump right into the "meat" of the methods.
Further, it's a multimedia & training powerhouse -- from the screen capture CD-ROM videos to the full color reference manual to the detailed "trading blueprints" to the 8 group coaching sessions. It's designed to make sure you really understand all the concepts quickly and effectively.
** CLEAR -- Bill's teaching style is among the best I've ever seen. He speaks in a clear, nurturing way that steps you through all the material. It's very apparent why so many traders keep coming back to Bill's courses.
** CONSTANT -- I think of this as the "surprise" of the course.
Bill constantly follows-up with his students after they get his course. He mentions this on his open letter, but I really believe this is the true value of his course. His students receive regular new bonus video lessons, and Bill is fanatical about offering concise, thoughtful answers to his students'
questions.
So that's what stands out for me about the Forex Profit Accelerator Group Coaching Program. And frankly, I'll even go out on a limb and say that if you can't succeed in the Forex markets with Bill's program, then you probably never will. That's how powerful his methods are.
FAIR WARNING
I cannot promise that the Forex Profit Accelerator Group Coaching Program enrollment page will be open when you go there
- it may already be completely sold out.
If that's the case, please put your name on the waiting list.
Bill has no immediate plans to open up the program in the near future, but after he gets through mentoring his first class, he might do another one (but it could be months before that happens
- I can't say when).
If it's still open, You can check this fantastic profit forex software it here
Good Trading
p.s. I just checked Bill's real-time inventory counter before sending this email to you and it now reads 39 copies available. Time is running out. You can check this fantastic profit forex software it here
Ready to find a home at a great price in the Phoenix Metro Area. Speak To A Professional RE/MAX Phoenix Realtor NOW....Call : 623-979-8888. We can show you foreclosures, Short Sales, REO, as well as any and all homes for sale in the Maricopa area. Search the complete Phoenix AZ MLS for free at http://www.buyphoenixazhomes.com/
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
The Healthiest Housing Markets for 2009
The Healthiest Housing Markets for 2009
Builder, in conjunction with Hanley Wood Market Intelligence, debuts its metric for determining markets with the best and least potential.
By: Boyce Thompson
With most economists and builders expecting a national market decline this year, this may not seem like the best time to be selecting the "healthiest" markets in the country. Virtually every market was down last year. But a close look at the numbers reveals that some markets have way outperformed others during the last four years and are likely to continue to do so this year.
When the housing market stages its official recovery, the markets listed on the following pages are likely to lead the parade. It may take a year or more for the weakest markets--where burgeoning foreclosure sales are still pounding new home values, making building and selling new homes an exercise in futility-- to finally stage a turnaround. We’ll present that list next week.
The healthiest markets have many things in common. Most of them are great places to live, either close to the ocean, mountains, or major universities. Most of them didn’t have a huge run-up in prices during the boom and aren’t experiencing rampant deflation during the bust.
To compile these lists, we analyzed the top 75 housing markets in the country. We ranked them based on population trends and job growth, perennial drivers of housing demand. We also examined what’s happened with home prices; many of the healthiest markets have managed to hold the line on home values. And finally, we considered the rate building permits, which may be the single best ongoing indicator of builder confidence in a market. We combined all these metrics to produce a score for each market. Here are the top 15, in reverse order.
15. Myrtle Beach, S.C.
2008 total building permits: 3,211
Though permit activity dropped sharply last year, Myrtle Beach remains one of the hottest markets in the country, especially when you analyze the number of permits pulled per resident. Only 263,287 people live in the Myrtle Beach metro area, which until recently had been growing its population by nearly 5 percent a year. That means builders pulled one permit for every 82 residents. A steady influx of people, many of them retirees, are drawn by close proximity to the ocean and 117 golf courses at last count. That has helped keep home prices steady; they fell only 10 percent last year to a very affordable $174,800. Most of the home building is split between Brunswick and New Hanover counties. Jobs are dependent on the tourist industry, though, and the metro area was rocked last year when a $400 million rock-and-roll themed amusement part, Hard Rock Park, opened and then filed for bankruptcy. Myrtle Beach added jobs last year, but as of December employment was decreasing at a 4.2 percent rate compared to a year earlier.
14. Wilmington, N.C.
2008 total building permits: 3,551
Wilmington has the second highest ratio of permits pulled per resident, behind only Myrtle Beach. The population here, 352,919 by Census estimates, has been growing at a 4 percent annual rate for the last five years, well above the national average. Primary residents are drawn by a four-season climate, close proximity to Atlantic beaches, and affordable housing. Median home prices, at $198,700, are just about the national average. The area gave back 1,000 jobs last year, after gaining 19,000 the previous three years. Wilmington has had a 60 percent decline in permit activity since 2005, around the national average, but its track record for population growth helps it make this list.
13. Charlotte, N.C.
2008 total building permits: 12,231
People and businesses must love Charlotte, because they are moving there at a high rate. The metro area of 1.74 million has grown its residents by 4 percent annually over the last five years, one of the highest rates in the country. They are drawn by relatively affordable housing for the east coast—median home prices are only $210,900, and they’ve only "corrected" downward by only 4.2 percent in the last year. A strong fourth quarter helped Charlotte record 12,231 permits last year, only a 44 percent decline since 2005. Charlotte’s strength relative to other markets led the investment banking firm UBS to predict last year that it would be one of the first markets to recover from the housing downturn. Charlotte is still a single-family market, with 62 percent of the residential activity in stand-alone homes. The job market in this banking hub contracted last year, after growing 3 to 5 percent annually the previous three years.
12. Denver, Col. 2008 total building permits: 8,800
Denver has been all over the home building news of late, with Beazer and Centex leaving town, then Village Homes of Colorado declaring bankruptcy. But the market hasn’t been hit as hard by the home building recession as other Western markets, in part because it didn’t experience rampant price appreciation during the boom. That’s partly because there’s lots of land available to develop in Denver. The median price of an existing home here was still an affordable $225,100 in the third quarter of last year, down only 11.4 percent in the last year (through 3Q 08). Denver enjoys one of the highest population growth rates in the country--2 percent annually for each of the last five years. Builders pulled 8,800 permits in Denver last year, down from 20,864 in 2005, a percentage decline that’s close to the national average. Denver is buoyed by a strong commercial real estate market.
11. Nashville, Tenn. 2008 total building permits: 8,142
Nashville, the 20th largest home building market, operated under the radar of the national housing boom. It didn’t ramp up wildly during the boom years, and it’s not contracting viciously during the bust. Median home prices remain an affordable $152,100, propped up by a growing job base. Eighty percent of the residential construction is single-family. Some of the market’s resilience stems from above-average population growth of about 2.3 percent a year. Back in the day, 2005, Nashville accounted for 16,654 permits; it now runs at about half that level. But that’s a better performance than most major markets.
10. Washington DC 2008 total building permits: 11,693
Washington D.C. showed signs last summer that it might be emerging from the downturn, then it turned south again. Even so, the area produces a ton of jobs—an estimated 35,000 in the last year—that fuel a vibrant housing market, the 11th largest in the country. Many of the jobs stem from contracts with the federal government. Washington D.C. remains a relatively unaffordable place to live, with a median home price of $332,700 in the third quarter of last year. But values have fallen only 24 percent in the last year in part because the population continues to grow—an average of 1 percent annually over the last five years. Home building patterns have changed dramatically in the nation’s capital with builders mothballing subdivisions well beyond the beltway and focusing on infill opportunities. The region remains one of the worst in the nation for commuters.
9. Fayetteville, Ark. 2008 total building permits: 2,989
Fayetteville has made some important lists in recent years. Located in the foothills of the Ozarks and within an easy drive of Wal-Mart’s corporate headquarters, it has recently been named one of the best places to live (by Kiplinger) and to do business (by Inc.). Employment, which had been strongly positive since 2005, dropped somewhat in the fourth quarter of last year. Recent layoffs at Wal-Mart’s corporate office sent tremors through the market. But several Fortune 500 companies that sell products to Wal-Mart have established offices here, and they have helped Fayetteville achieve one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, 4.1 percent in the fourth quarter. The University of Arkansas is also located in Fayetteville, and it has helped attract start-up businesses. Residents are drawn by an affordable housing stock; median prices average only $139,400, below the national average, and they’ve lost only 2.4 percent of their value in the last year. Builders pulled only 2,989 residential permits last year, down from 7, 449 in 2005.
8. Indianapolis, Ind. 2008 total building permits: 7,004
Builders are still pulling permits at a relatively healthy rate in Indianapolis, despite a virtually flat job market. Unlike other major markets that have become multifamily-oriented, single family still accounts for two-thirds of home building activity. Ultra-affordable housing accounts for some of the activity—the median price of a home here is only $117,900, making it one of the most affordable markets in the country. As a result, home prices have declined only 4.5 percent in the last year. At the top of the market in 2005, builders in Indianapolis took down 15,619 permits, so activity is down 55 percent, slightly better than the national average. Unfortunately, the relative health of the market wasn’t enough to keep Davis Homes, one of the area’s largest private builders, from going out of business last year.
7. Seattle, Wash. 2008 total building permits: 13,021
Seattle, a city of 3.4 million people, last year weighed in as the eighth largest home building market. Residential construction activity here, as measured by permits, is off only 50 percent since 2005, much better than most markets. Seattle has steadily transitioned during the last 10 years from an affordable to an upscale housing market, with the median price of an existing home reaching above $350,000. Even so, existing home prices fell only 11 percent in the last year. One of the secrets to Seattle’s success is that it has added lots of jobs in recent years; and held on to them last year. Some builders there have even stepped up their land buying in anticipation of a market recovery. As the city has become more urban, the share of single family to multifamily permits has reversed; multifamily now accounts for 58 percent of activity.
6. Raleigh, N.C. 2008 total building permits: 11,386
Another state capital with multiple universities, Raleigh was still adding jobs at a 1.9 percent annual rate though the third quarter of last year. With a population of more than 1 million, it also has one of the highest rates of population growth of any top metro market in the country over the last five years: nearly 5 percent annually. Though the price of a median home here, $221,900, is above the national average, it is well below other cities in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast. The metro area has added roughly 68,000 jobs since 2005, and employment held steady last year. With a glut of national builders in the market, locals such as Dixon Kirby have experimented with different looks and styles to keep sales alive.
5. Dallas, Texas 2008 total building permits: 26,145
In a year when permits declined 35 percent nationally, Dallas only experienced a 9 percent fall-off. With a population of 4.2 million, Dallas was the third largest home building market last year, as measured in permits pulled. Employers in Dallas, a popular place for corporate relocation and expansion, added 42,000 jobs last year, a growth rate of 2 percent. Existing home prices have held steady, falling a paltry 2.3 percent in the last year, Interestingly, the face of residential construction has changed dramatically in Dallas in recent years; 58 percent of the activity last year was in multifamily, compared to a five-year average of 23 percent. The relative stability of the market, though, wasn’t enough to prevent Wall Homes from filing for bankruptcy earlier this year. On the other hand, former Meritage co-CEO John Landon recently started a new Dallas-based home building company.
4. San Antonio, Texas 2008 total building permits: 10,261
San Antonio is another Texas market that is still adding jobs, about 15,000 last year. A city of more than 2 million people now, its population is also growing, at a 2.8 percent annual clip through the third quarter of last year. Existing home prices are barely declining in San Antonio, down only 1.8 percent in the last year, leaving the median price of an existing single-family home at an affordable $154,400, 25 percent below the national average of $200,500, according to the National Association of Realtors. The upper end of the housing market was hurt recently when AT&T announced it would be moving its corporate headquarters to Dallas.
3. Fort Worth, Texas 2008 Total Building Permits: 10,388
Fort Worth, always operating in the shadow of higher profile Dallas, nevertheless can currently claim to have a slightly healthier housing market, based on its employment growth, relatively strong permit activity, and inexpensive housing. Now the 14th largest home building market in the country, Ft. Worth’s builders pulled 10,388 permits last year, roughly two-thirds of them single-family. That may be half as many as 2005, but many other major markets showed much sharper drop-offs. The relative strength of the Fort Worth market in recent years stems from its ties to the oil and gas industries, which has fueled above-average job growth. The metro area added 17,300 jobs last year.
2. Austin, Texas 2008 Total Building Permits: 14,250
Nine years ago, during the tech bust, some builders felt that Austin was too crowded and left. The bloom is back on Austin’s yellow rose now; it moved up the leader board to become the sixth largest home building market last year. Job creation explains the move. While other markets lost employment, Austin added 17,400 jobs last year, 2.31 percent growth rate. It helps that Austin is home to both a major university, The University of Texas, and the state capital. Existing homes cost a little bit more in Austin than other Texas markets, roughly $190,900, but that’s still below the national average. Also, Austin is one of the few metro areas in the country where median prices actually rose in 2008--1.4 percent through the first three quarters of the year. Amazingly, Austin now generates more home building activity than Chicago, which has six times more people.
1. Houston, Texas 2008 Total Building Permits: 42,697
They like to do things big in Houston. Now the metro area, home to nearly 5.8 million people, can lay claim to being the largest home building market in the country, with 42,697 building permits. The market is still benefiting from an influx of population and jobs and rebuilding in the wake of Hurricane Ike. Employment rose 2.2 percent last year, representing the addition of an incredible 57,000 jobs. Home building activity in Houston has only fallen 31 percent since 2005. Also, existing home prices actually rose in Houston last year, 2.8 percent, to $160,200, still a very affordable level. Roughly one third of the home building action is in Harris County, followed by Houston proper and Fort Bend County. One of Houston’s largest builders, Royce Homes, shut down last year, and Kimball Hill, one of the biggest builders in Texas, closed its doors this year after it failed to find a buyer.
Ready to find a home at a great price in the Phoenix Metro Area. Speak To A Professional RE/MAX Phoenix Realtor NOW....Call : 623-979-8888. We can show you foreclosures, Short Sales, REO, as well as any and all homes for sale in the Maricopa area. Search the complete Phoenix AZ MLS for free at http://www.buyphoenixazhomes.com/
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Obama throws $75 billion lifeline to homeowners
Obama throws $75 billion lifeline to homeowners
President Barack Obama threw a $75 billion lifeline to millions of Americans on the brink of foreclosure Wednesday, declaring an urgent need for drastic action — not only to save their homes but to keep the housing crisis "from wreaking even greater havoc" on the broader national economy.
The lending plan, a full $25 billion bigger than the administration had been suggesting, aims to prevent as many as 9 million homeowners from being evicted and to stabilize housing markets that are at the center of the ever-worsening U.S. recession.
Government support pledged to mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is being doubled as well, to $400 billion, as part of an effort to encourage them to refinance loans that are "under water" — those in which homes' market values have sunk below the amount the owners still owe.
"All of us are paying a price for this home mortgage crisis, and all of us will pay an even steeper price if we allow this crisis to continue to deepen," Obama said.
The new president, focusing closely on the economy, in his first month in office, rolled out the housing program one day after he was in Denver to sign his $787 billion emergency stimulus plan to revive the rest of the economy. And his administration is just now going over fresh requests for multiple billions in bailout cash from ailing automakers.
Wall Street has shown little confidence in the new steps, declining sharply on Tuesday before leveling off after Wednesday's announcement. The Dow Jones industrials rose 3 points for the day.
Success of the foreclosure rescue is far from certain.
The administration is loosening refinancing restrictions for many borrowers and providing incentives for lenders in hopes that the two sides will work together to modify loans. But no one is required to participate. The biggest players in the mortgage industry temporarily had halted foreclosures in advance of Obama's plan.
Complicating matters, investors in complex mortgage-linked securities, who make money based on interest payments, could still balk, especially those who hold second mortgages or home equity loans. Their approval would be needed to prevent many foreclosures.
"The obstacles have not gone away," said Bert Ely, a banking industry consultant in Alexandria, Va.
Another cautionary note came from John Courson, chief executive of the Mortgage Bankers Association.
"It seems to offer little help to borrowers whose loan exceeds their property value by more than 5 percent," he said, noting that that requirement would limit the plan's success in some of the hardest-hit areas in California, Florida, Nevada and Arizona and parts of the East Coast.
Indeed, Obama himself said, "This plan will not save every home."
The goal is to lower many endangered homeowners' payments to no more than 31 percent of their income. But that depends on a high degree of cooperation by lenders who have been increasingly wary of new lending as the crisis has deepened.
Still, the Obama administration, after talking with mortgage investors, appears confident that it is providing the right mix of incentives and penalties to make sure mortgage companies take part. Obama said he backs legislation in Congress to allow bankruptcy judges to modify the terms of primary home loans — an idea ardently opposed by the lending industry.
"Taken together, the provisions of this plan will help us end this crisis and preserve, for millions of families, their stake in the American Dream," Obama said. Yet, he also added: "We must also acknowledge the limits of this plan."
He called on lenders, borrowers and the government "to step back and take responsibility" and said: "All of us must learn to live within our means again."
There's broad economic anxiety across the nation, an Associated Press-Gfk poll indicated.
Nearly three in four people say they know someone who has lost a job in the past six months as a result of the tough economic conditions, according to the poll, released Wednesday. And more than half say they worry about being able to pay their bills and about seeing their retirement investments decline. So far, Obama's job approval rating still is high, at 67 percent, and he is scoring strong marks for his handling of the economy.
The president unveiled his housing plan at a Phoenix-area high school in a state with one of the country's biggest foreclosure rates.
Nationally, Moody's Economy.com says that of the nearly 52 million U.S. homeowners with mortgages, about 13.8 million, or nearly 27 percent, owe more than their homes are worth after many months of declining prices.
How soon will the new plan show results?
"You'll start to see the effects quite quickly," Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told reporters in Phoenix, noting that rules governing the changes will be published March 4.
In theory, homeowners facing foreclosure or borrowers owing more on their homes than their mortgages are worth would have more opportunities to refinance their loans so that they have lower monthly payments. Lenders would voluntarily participate in the government programs.
The $75 billion Homeowner Stability Initiative would provide incentives to mortgage lenders to cut monthly payments in an effort to persuade them to help up to 4 million borrowers on the verge of foreclosure. The goal: cut monthly mortgage payments to sustainable levels, using money from the $700 billion financial industry bailout passed by Congress last fall.
Another part would specifically help people with dwellings whose market value has sunk below the principal still owed on the mortgages. Such mortgages have traditionally been almost impossible to refinance. But the White House said its program will help 4 million to 5 million families do just that — if their mortgages are owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
To boost confidence, the Treasury Department said it would double its support to the two mortgage giants that the government essentially took over last fall.
It said it would absorb up to $200 billion in losses at each company by using money Congress set aside last year and will continue purchasing mortgage-backed securities from them. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are projected to need a combined government subsidy of about $66 billion, well short of the new promise of up to $400 billion.
Obama emphasized that his plan focuses on helping families who have "played by the rules" stay in their homes.
But, he said, it will do nothing to help "the unscrupulous or irresponsible." He cited so-called speculators who took out risky loans on multiple properties to make money by selling them during the housing boom, lenders who took advantage of naive buyers by glossing over the fine print, and people who willingly bought homes that were way beyond their means.
"This plan will not save every home," Obama said.
Associated Press Writers Alan Zibel, Mark S. Smith, Jennifer Loven and Martin Crutsinger in Washington contributed to this report.
Ready to find a home at a great price in the Phoenix Metro Area. Speak To A Professional RE/MAX Phoenix Realtor NOW....Call : 623-979-8888. We can show you foreclosures, Short Sales, REO, as well as any and all homes for sale in the Maricopa area. Search the complete Phoenix AZ MLS for free at http://www.buyphoenixazhomes.com/
Monday, June 30, 2008
American Idol Auditions in Glendale AZ July 25 Jobing Arena
American Idol Auditions Glendale AZ July 25 at Jobing Arena
A little more than a year after the Valley's Jordin Sparks took home the 2007 American Idol crown, the talent show will return to Sparks' hometown of Glendale when it holds auditions July 25 at Jobing.com Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Ave.
It will be the show's first time hosting auditions in Arizona.
Show producers report that they've seen great talent emerge from the Valley - including Valley native Brooke White, who cracked the show's top five this year - prompting their decision to hold auditions here.
Men and women 16 to 28 years old as of July 15 who can legally work in the U.S. are eligible to try out. Some restrictions apply. Auditions start July 17 in San Francisco and will continue on to six other cities. Auditioners typically must show up a day in advance to get a required wristband.
'American Idol' Audition Do's and Don'ts:
Ditch The Costumes, Dude-Sung Celine CoversUnless you're just looking for screen time, leave the face paint, original songs and sack of nail clippings at home.
C'mon people! After six seasons, we get that the first few weeks of "American Idol" auditions are supposed to be a parade of freaks mixed in with a few potential gems just to keep it interesting. We know it's too late for this season's group of musical circus geeks, but if the first two audition episodes are any indication, some of you are in dire need of a refresher course on the do's and don'ts of "Idol" tryouts before we even start thinking about season eight.
Do: Tell the producers a great backstory that might land you one of those "down on the farm" segments where we see you frolicking with your son/daughter/pets/tractor. The sadder, the better.
Don't: Have your backstory be tied to a bag of nail clippings, your "Star Wars" fetish, a stalker routine, an ability to make funny noises or a "wacky" original song about abstinence. Speaking of chastity, though never-been-kissed virgin Bruce Dickson and his lock-and-key necklace told a tale so bizarrely endearing the striking Writers Guild of America should investigate whether he had some help with it, we recommend a little less sharing next time.
Do: Try to stand out in front of the judges by wearing something interesting, (slightly) provocative, flattering or, failing that, bland enough that it doesn't distract them from your singing.
Don't: Shop at the costume shop, paint your face, wear a Cowell-esque top that exposes enough of your chest that Simon and Randy lose their focus, attach anything resembling tin foil to your body or have your shirt signed by your "supporters." And, for the love of God, if you can't see your feet, don't wear a Princess Leia costume, even if you are manscaped. Nobody needs to see that.
Do: Pick a song that fits your voice and doesn't make it seem like you're trying out for "Best Celebrity Impersonators." (Hey, if the strike goes on long enough, it might show up on your TiVo queue!)
Don't: And we can't stress this enough, don't sing a song by a woman if you're a dude. We don't care how great you think Celine or Kelly are, the minute you start that tune you will automatically lose Simon and come off looking like a gender-confused contestant on a Logo reality show, whether you're gay, straight or floating somewhere in the guyliner-assisted middle. There are plenty of great songs sung by men for male contestants to choose from — just ask William Hung. OK, maybe not.
Do: Stand out and be humble. Believe it or not, you can do this by just being yourself — especially, it seems, if you are a cute, bubbly blonde with a growly voice or a cute, bubbly black girl with just the right amount of sass.
Don't: Talk back to the judges and come off like someone who might be lurking behind a garbage can waiting for Simon to get into his limo later that night. Yes, you'll get screen time, but nobody will take you seriously for the rest of your life (especially if your heart is set on "actressing"), and you will undoubtedly be dragged out a few more times over the season in clip shows that will portray you as the lunatic that you are.
Do: Wow the judges with your awesome range and strong vocals.
Don't: Tell them people have said you sound like Whitney/Mariah/Celine/Kelly, because 10 times out of 10, they're wrong and you're wrong and Simon's just gonna rip you a new one. And one more thing: Even if your cute-as-a-button model husband says you sound like a superstar, don't make him say it again in front of the judges if it's clearly not true because, once again, Simon's going to make the drive home more awkward than a Paula Abdul QVC appearance.
Do: Be comfortable in your own skin, even if it means snapping your fingers, bopping your head or making a hand gesture or two. The easier it is for you to move around and look the three judges in the eyes, the easier it will be to do it in front of an audience that's larger than the populations of Chile and Cambodia combined.
Don't: Breakdance, practice shadowboxing, flap your wings, stare at the floor, wriggle like you're giving birth to a 15-pound bag of sand, or, as we learned last season, pretend to be a large, caged cat.
Do: Prepare more than one song, preferably in a different genre. Occasionally, the judges want to hear an extra ditty before they dole out a Golden Ticket. If you only rehearsed "Another One Bites the Dust" and Paula asks for some Sinatra, don't be shocked when you end up another one gone, another one gone ...
Don't: Sing an unrequested second song. If the Idol Trinity agrees that you stink, bursting into a new tune isn't going to change any minds. You're just prolonging the pain. Plus, "Idol" producers love having fun in the editing room, so even if you didn't cut off Simon's critique with a second song-and-dance routine, that's exactly how it will be portrayed by the time it hits airwaves, and you'll ultimately look insolent, desperate and/or unstable.
And, if you're going to ignore all these suggestions and just be your freak-flag-flying self — which, after all, is what really makes us all tune in this early anyway — take a page from the book of 44-year-old Renaldo "You Are My Brother" Lapuz. The strange little man in the silver-and-white cape chewed up 11 minutes with his space-case anthem of brotherhood, which slowly evolved from typical Hung-esque time killer to a strangely great piece of TV that allowed the judges to let their hair down and indulge in some of the same goofball antics they are used to rolling their eyes at.
Ready to find a home at a great price in the Phoenix Metro Area, Westgate or Glendale area. Speak To A Professional RE/MAX Phoenix Realtor NOW....Call : 623-979-8888. We can show you foreclosures, Short Sales, REO, as well as any and all homes for sale in the Maricopa area. Search the complete Phoenix AZ MLS for free at http://www.buyphoenixazhomes.com/
Monday, June 2, 2008
Phoenix Fun. Things You Can Do In Phoenix That Are Way Different
Perhaps you've lived long enough to know everything there is to know about the Phoenix area. Watch them feed giraffes at the Phoenix Zoo? Root for the good guys during the shootouts at Rawhide? Wait for more than two hours for dinner at Pizzeria Bianco? Yes, you've been there, done all that.
But even if you've lived here all your life, we've found a few gems you've likely yet to uncover. At a certain upscale steakhouse, for example, you can belly up to the bar at happy hour and enjoy a free filet-mignon sandwich. Or freshen up in a bathroom named one of America's oddest by the Travel Channel, where lights dance along the walls. And when was the last time you took the reins of a mechanical bull?
Use this list to enrich yourself as a Phoenician, or employ it as a travel guide for when your brother-in-law from Wisconsin "drops by" for the 10th year in a row.
1, 245-part harmony
Hear the pure sound of the Phoenix Boys Choir, billed as the largest such group in the nation, with 245 members. The group has sung for presidents, won a Grammy Award and won prizes at international festivals and recorded with such artists as Stevie Wonder, Doc Severinsen and R. Carlos Nakai. The choir performs throughout the year in the Valley at concerts, festivals and churches. Check its Web site, boyschoir.org, or call 602-264-5328 for details on performances.
2, Musical digs
The Valley is home to dozens of concert venues, from the grand (US Airways Center) to the extremely intimate (Brickhouse Theater). The Dodge Theatre is a nice balance, offering enough room to draw top acts (Chicago and the Doobie Brothers perform there Tuesday), but is small enough to feel close to the performers. For a schedule and tickets, visit dodgetheatre.com.
3. Outdoors country
Dance the two-step under the stars to live country music at Greasewood Flat, the no-frills outdoor restaurant and saloon in north Scottsdale. Originally a stagecoach stop, this establishment has been a Valley fixture for more than three decades. 27375 N. Alma School Parkway, 480-585-9430.
4. Shades of blues
Take in a gritty set of blues music at the Rhythm Room, the Valley's best blues club. For 17 years, the cozy venue has served up local and national blues, rockabilly and roots music nightly. The atmosphere is casual, the patrons are friendly and the cover charge is affordable. 1019 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, 602-265-4842, rhythmroom.com.
5. Old-time saloon tunes
Sing along with country musicians and other patrons at the Rusty Spur Saloon in Old Town Scottsdale. This tiny venue bills itself as the oldest saloon in "the West's most Western town," and it's one of the friendliest. On an average night, you'll find a mix of tourists and locals, all intent on sipping something cold and singing the likes of Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, George Jones and George Strait. 7245 E. Main St., Scottsdale, 480-425-7787, rustyspursaloon.com.
6. Big sounds, little sites
Sometimes people complain that there's nothing to do in Phoenix. These are people who would say the same thing if they lived in Manhattan, or haven't heard about Modified Arts and the Clubhouse Music Venue, two teeny venues where you can check out cool bands on their way to being hot. They're the kind of places you can see VH1's You Oughta Know artists. They've hosted such bands as the Arcade Fire, Girl Talk, Ingrid Michaelson, Cary Brothers, Blitzen Trapper and other bands you probably already like on satellite radio but never knew their names. Clubhouse Music Venue, 1320 E. Broadway Road, Tempe, 480-968-3238, clubhousemusicvenue.com; Modified Arts, 407 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix, 602-462-5516, modified.org.
7. Standout stand-up
We're not LA, thank goodness, but we draw the kind of solid comic performers you might see on Sunset Strip, thanks to the Tempe Improv. The club brings nationally known acts (Jerry Seinfeld appeared here when he returned to stand-up after his sitcom ended) and serves dinner to boot. If you've watched stand-up comedy on TV and wondered what's the attraction, take in a live show. That's where the magic happens. Dive into the scene June 27-28 when Cedric the Entertainer performs at the Improv, 930 E. University Drive. Tickets are $45. 480-921-9877, tempeimprov.com.
8. Private karaoke
Indulge your inner Beastie Boy, Billy Joel or Beyoncé in one of four private rooms at the new Geisha A Go Go, a stylish destination for Japanese food and exotic froufrou cocktails. The rentable rooms ($50 to $100 per hour) feature 44-inch flat-screen TVs, their own waitresses, cushy couches and thickly insulated walls. You can bring in your own karaoke disc, or pick from huge books featuring Top 40, standards, rock, hip-hop and everything else. All the signature cocktails feature authentic Japanese sodas, juices or liquors. 7150 E. Sixth Ave., Scottsdale, 480-699-0055.
Must do
9. New Chez Nous
Sample one of Phoenix's best martinis (or a non-alcoholic drink) and hit the dance floor to sweet, old-school soul music at the newly relocated Chez Nous. The venerable lounge, with its notoriously dim lighting, was at another site for more than four decades. Original owner and interior designer Maureen Womack helped current owner Amina Uben decorate the new space, re-creating the gold-flocked wallpaper, picking out swanky new carpet and insisting that the red booths and sconces from the original be refurbished. 915 N.W. Grand Ave., Phoenix, 602-266-7372, cheznouscentral.com.
10. Cactus cocktail
Like Tovrea Castle and Camelback Mountain, some things speak specifically of life in the Valley. But much easier than touring the area, you can just sip a martini at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Phoenix, kind of a gastronomic sightseeing trip. Pink like sunset over the the White Tank Mountains, the Native Arizonan martini ($10) combines Arizona High Spirits prickly-pear vodka and a touch of agave nectar in a chilled glass. The vodka is distilled in Flagstaff. 6902 E. Greenway Parkway, Phoenix, 480-624-1000, kierlandresort.com.
11. Life after Mr. Lucky's
Cadillac Ranch, Saddle Ranch Chop House and Hammerhead Jacks all let you risk your life, or at least your back, on their mechanical bulls. OK, the last place has a modified bull that looks like a hammerhead, but you get the idea. The new Western hot spots are quickly building reputations as places to go to get rowdy. Hammerhead Jacks, 6900 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, 480-595-7100, hammerheadjacks.com; Cadillac Ranch, at Tempe Marketplace, 2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway, 480-894-1111, cadillacranchtempe.com; Saddle Ranch Chop House, 4321 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 480-429-2263, srrestaurants.com.
12. Surprise-ing jazz
You might not know that Surprise is one of the hottest jazz spots in the Valley. Owned by bass player Yorman Williams, who has shared the stage with every high-profile jazz musician you've heard of, Yorman's Bistro offers fab music with unjazzlike promptness at 7 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Williams performs with many talented guests, including George Benson, who occasionally drops by. Try the catfish, freshly breaded cornmeal strips or mussels Mississippi. 17191 N. Litchfield Road, Surprise, 623-214-2090.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Super Bowl Party 101
Super Bowl Party 101
Everything You Need to Plan a Super Party
For many sports fans, the Super Bowl is the best excuse of the year to host a party. Even non-sports fans like to get in on this event. It's hard to resist the excitement and casual fun that surrounds this big day in sports. It's not a party to get stressed over, but by considering a few details in your party planning, you can add to the fun of the day. These resources will help you pull together a sensational Super Bowl party this year. Peoria & Glendale, AZ will be celebrating!
The Basics
Planning Your Super Bowl Party - For a successful Super Bowl Party, you need to get your priorities straight.
Party Supply Necessities - The right party supplies and serving pieces help to set the mood for your football loving friends.
A Fun Super Bowl Snack Table - Get creative and decorate your party snack table to look like a football field by following these easy instructions that anyone can do.
The Food
Casual, hearty food is the name of the game for this party.
Leave your gourmet experiments for another day. If your guests can eat in front of the television, all the better.
Super Bowl XLII Party Menu - The New York Giants vs. New England Patriots give us some great party food options that will send all of your guests home happy, regardless of the outcome of the game.
Chili Recipes - Chili is a great dish to serve at a Super Bowl Party. Since it can be served in large mugs, your guests can walk around and hold it while watching the game.
Buffalo Wing Recipes - Where I live, wings are an integral part of every Super Bowl. In fact, the "Wing Bowl" is as eagerly anticipated by some as the actual Super Bowl.
Layered Dips - What would a Super Bowl Party be without plenty of chips and dips for dunking and scooping.
Spinach Dip Recipes - I love spinach dips. The spinach creates the illusion that we're actually eating something healthy.
A Football Field Cake - Create an edible centerpiece that will score a touchdown with your guests, no matter which side they're cheering on.
Chocolate Football Treats - Both kids and adults will enjoy these sweet and crunchy football shape snacks.
Other Entertainment
You may want to have a room with a television and a few rented videos for the non-football fans at your party.
Halftime Games - Get your guests moving and thinking during halftime with a few simple, fun games you organize during the break.
From Donna Pilato
If you are considering Arizona as a second home or need a larger home to host your superbowl party, please call RE/MAX Desert Showcase at 623-979-8888 today.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Speed Cameras, Road Cameras & Road Closures in AZ
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - The speed-enforcement cameras on Loop 101 through Scottsdale will keep flashing after today.
Scottsdale and the Arizona Department of Public Safety last week extended their agreement to operate the photo enforcement program up to Feb. 29, or until the cameras are affected by carpool-lane construction on Loop 101. The agreement had been scheduled to expire today.
DPS Director Roger Vanderpool requested the extension until Feb. 29 or until construction renders the cameras inoperative, whichever comes first.
Speeders shouldn't get their hopes up, however.
Construction on the camera-equipped portion of Loop 101 isn't scheduled to start until after February, Timothy Tait, spokesman for the Arizona Department of Transportation, said Friday.
The company could shift its sensors embedded in the roadway when construction crews shift the freeway lanes to create a work zone, ATS spokesman Josh Weiss said Friday.
The company would need permission from ADOT to do the work, but it could move its sensors when the agency temporarily closes the stretch of Loop 101 for construction crews, Weiss said.
ADOT closed parts of Loop 101 three times this fall to allow crews to re-stripe lanes and move equipment into place. The $47.5 million construction project will add high-occupancy-vehicle lanes in the Loop 101 median between Loop 202 on the south and the Pima Road/Princess Drive exit on the north.
The entire project is to be completed in late 2008.
Crews so far have been working on the southern end of the 15-mile project, between Loop 202 and the Via Linda exit. All six photo-enforcement cameras lie farther north, on the stretch running from Shea Boulevard to Scottsdale Road.
Four of the cameras are in the carpool-lane project area.
Scottsdale contracted this year with American Traffic Solutions to run the photo-enforcement program on city streets and Loop 101. The city in turn agreed with DPS that the state agency would be responsible for enforcing and administering the program on Loop 101.
Jane Larson, The Arizona Republic, Dec. 31, 2007 12:00 AM
Thursday, December 27, 2007
'RE/MAX is the No. 1 Real Estate Franchise'
Entrepreneur Rankings
Magazine: 'RE/MAX is the No. 1 Real Estate Franchise'
RE/MAX is the nation's No. 1 real estate franchise - and the No. 10 franchise overall - according to Entrepreneur magazine's 29th Annual Franchise 500 survey.
The survey appears in the January 2008 issue and on the magazine's Web site.
7-Eleven beat out Subway to capture the top position overall. Subway, which had ranked No. 1 for the past seven years, came in at No. 2, with Dunkin' Donuts at No. 3.
RE/MAX has a long, successful history in the survey. It ranked No. 11 overall a year ago, No. 8 in 2006, No. 10 in 2005 and No. 19 in 2004.
Among real estate franchises, RE/MAX ranks No. 1 for the eighth time in the past nine years. The closest competitor - ERA - came in a long way back, at No. 43.
RE/MAX ranks No. 1 overall in the Low-Cost Franchises category. It finished No. 2 last year.
Additionally, RE/MAX tops all real estate competitors at No. 7 on the Global Franchises list and No. 10 among Fastest Growing Franchises.
All companies in the rankings are judged by the same criteria, the most important being financial strength and stability, size and growth rate. Also considered: number of years in business, length of time franchising, startup costs, litigation, percentage of terminations and financing options.
The factors are plugged into a Franchise 500 formula, with each eligible company receiving a cumulative score.
Copyright © 2007 RE/MAX International RE/MAX Desert Showcase rocks Peoria, Glendale & Litchfield Park, Arizona!
Operation RE/MAX Boosted by New Government Initiative
Southwest Region Offices: 168
Southwest Region Associates: 4,263
Operation RE/MAX is among various programs in the private sector that will be affected by a dramatic new partnership announced at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., by the U.S. Departments of Labor and Defense. The $35 million program will assist military spouses in pursuing educational opportunities that will lead them to rewarding careers. The three-year pilot program will begin in January 2008, in 18 military installations in eight states. Operation RE/MAX, which was launched in August 2006, assists military spouses in starting careers in real estate, ranging from office support staff to real estate agents. More than 1,000 RE/MAX offices across the United States have enrolled in the program, and hundreds of military spouses have obtained employment at RE/MAX offices. Those individuals, and future enrollees, will be eligible for financial assistance via the new initiative. Contact Operation RE/MAX to see how you can get involved! http://www.operationremax.com/ http://www.buyphoenixazhomes.com/ for additional information in the Luke AFB, AZ area or career information.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Wine Drinkers More Likely to Live Longer, Study Finds
Wine Drinkers More Likely to Live Longer, Study Finds
Three-decade study found moderate wine drinkers lived longer than drinkers of other types of alcohol
Wine drinkers are healthier than drinkers of beer and spirits, according to new research conducted on men living in Finland. That's not too much of a surprise considering the lifestyles associated with each of the beverage types, but the study also suggested that moderate consumption of wine may contribute to a better, longer life.
Over the course of the nearly three-decade study, wine drinkers had a lower mortality rate than drinkers of other alcoholic beverages. The study, published in the February 2007 issue of the Journals of Gerontology, sought to determine if one's drinking habits affected longevity when measured over a long period of time.
The study was led by Timo Strandberg, a researcher at the University of Oulu, Finland. His subjects, all male residents of Finland, were all born between 1919 and 1934 and all had health checkups at the Institute of Occupational Health in Helsinki during the 1960s and 1970s. The men had their alcohol intake recorded during these examinations and were asked how they felt about their health. All of the men also had "leading positions" in private companies, which the scientists concluded came with some of the highest incomes in Finland (although exact amounts were not made available).
"This setting," the study authors wrote, "offers a clearer test for the effects of alcoholic beverages because the influence of social class on beverage preference is decreased."
By tracking down the men in 1974 and repeating the exam of them in 1985 and again in 2000, the scientists hoped to determine if alcohol consumption is related to both the quality--as well as the length--of life.
At the first examination, in 1974, 2,468 men reported if they preferred wine, beer or spirits, or if they didn't drink, or if they had no particular favorite alcoholic beverage. By the time of the second stage of the study, in 1985, only 1,369 men were available to be reassessed. Some dropped out of the study, some changed alcohol habits and 93 of the men had died. There was another examination in 2000, and by the time of the final calculations, in 2002, the scientists were left with a pool of 1,127 men who consumed an average of three drinks a day or less, and who also did not change their drinking preferences over the course of the study.
"Preference of wine was associated with decreased mortality when compared with preference for beer or spirits over a follow-up of 29 years," the scientists reported. Wine drinkers had a 34 percent lower rate of mortality, when compared to spirits drinkers, and beer drinkers had a 9 percent lower rate compared to spirits drinkers.
Wine drinkers were also in better health at the end of the study and had performed better on mental health tests. However, wine drinkers also tended to exercise more and smoke less, which leaves the researchers still with the possibility that wine is simply one piece of the happy, long-life puzzle, as opposed to a deciding factor.
"Is it the drinker rather than drink characteristics, as healthier men preferred wine?" asked Strandberg of the results. "That is what is important. The same applies for differences between beer and spirit drinkers," he added. "Spirit preferrers may lead a more dangerous life, with more risk factors, and all hidden aspects may not be culled in an epidemiologic study."
WineSpectator.com Jacob Gaffney
If you are interested in a list of local Phoenix metro area wine bars or if you would like to take advantage of the fantastic buyer's market for buyers, investors or renters in Peoria, Glendale & Phoenix, AZ, please call RE/MAX Desert Showcase 623-979-8888 to be connected to one of our outstanding agents!
Local wine bars on City Search:
Enotria, Scottsdale, Az
Sportsman Fine Wines Phoenix & Peoria, AZ Locations
Postino Phoenix, AZ
Park Wines, Litchfield Park, AZ
Su Vino Winery
Scottsdale's First Winery
7035 E. Main Street, Suite 110
Scottsdale, AZ
Meritage Steakhouse
Where fine wines meet Prime aged steaks
5350 E Marriott Dr
Phoenix, AZ
Tapino Wine Bar
Hip, relaxed, outdoor wine lounge
7000 E Shea Blvd Ste 1010
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Gaslight Inn
5747 W Glendale Ave
Glendale, AZ 85301
Kazimierz World Wine Bar
7137 E Stetson Dr
Scottsdale, AZ 85251-3220
Epicurean Wine
7101 E Thunderbird Rd #101A
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Armitage Wine Bar Lounge & Cafe
20751 N Pima Rd, Ste 120
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
Vino 100
30835 N Cave Creek Rd #125
Phoenix, AZ 85331
The Wine List Wine Shoppe & Lounge
14870 N Northsight Blvd Ste 109
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Uncorked
16427 N Scottsdale Rd Ste 130
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Cheuvront
1326 N Central Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85004-1719
Sweet O Wine & Chocolate Lounge
Westgate
9380 W Westgate Blvd Ste D101
Glendale, AZ 85305
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Phoenix AZ Webcams. Arizona Webcams
Phoenix AZ Webcams. Arizona Webcams
The links below provides an overview of all Phoenix Visibility Web Cameras. In addition, near real-time air quality data provide visibility and meteorological information to the public.
Digital images from Web-based cameras are updated every 15 minutes. Images will appear black during the nighttime hours for obvious reasons. If the image is missing, please be patient and try again later.
SOUTH MOUNTAIN
South Mountain is a rugged mountain south of metropolitan Phoenix. The view is from North Mountain looking toward the Phoenix downtown skyline and the South Mountains in the distance.
ESTRELLA MOUNTAINS
The Sierra Estrellas form a jagged skyline southwest of metropolitan Phoenix. The camera view looks south from Avondale.
WHITE TANK MOUNTAINS
The White Tank Mountains lie to the west of metropolitan Phoenix. The camera view looks west from Avondale.
CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN
The distinctive profile of this inner city mountain gives it its name. It is bordered by the cities of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. The view is from the Capital Mall area of downtown Phoenix looking northeast toward Camelback Mountain.
SUPERSTITION MOUNTAINS
The Superstition Mountains are part of the designated Superstition Wilderness Area. The view is looking east from downtown Mesa with the community of Apache Junction between the camera and the mountain vista.
Traffic webcams from Phoenix and the Arizona Department of Transportation
Phoenix Web Cam
live from ABC 15 Studios, looking North toward Camelback Mountain. Updated image every 10 minutes. More details
Chase Field Webcam
Live view of Phoenix from Chase Field, the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks More details
US Airways Center
Live view of US Airways Center, a unique indoor/outdoor venue.
Desert Botanical Garden
If you like to watch plants in their natural environment just watch this live webcam from the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona
KTVK-TV
From the roof of the KTVK-TV you may observe the weather and the sky from Phoenix.
Arizona Science Center
Live sky and weather views over the Arizona Science Center in Phoenix
Phoenix Children's Hospital
Watch the surroundings from the Phoenix Children's Hospital with the high mountains in the background.
Sedona's world famous webcams overlooking all of Sedona from 500 feet above the town on Airport Mesa.
Various webcams out the window of the Sundance Land and Development office on Snowflake's historic Main St. Watch this growing town in the beautiful White Mountains of Arizona. Updates every 5 minutes.
Grand Canyon AZ Web Cam
Friday, November 9, 2007
Phoenix Newspapers and News Media
Phoenix Newspapers and News Media
The first Arizona newspaper, the Weekly Arizonian, was published in Tubac in 1859. By 1870, the title had become the Tucson Citizen. Over one hundred and forty years later it continues to report life and times in southern Arizona.
Many other newspapers we read today--the Bisbee Daily Review, The Sun in Yuma, The Arizona Republic in Phoenix and The Daily Courier in Prescott--had their beginnings in territorial Arizona. Before statehood, two hundred newspapers were published in sixty towns; today over one hundred and twenty continue. They all provide written records of our communities and links to our heritage. Below are papers and TV stations for the Phoenix Metro Area
Arizona Business Gazette
Arizona Capitol Times
Arizona Informant
Arizona Republic
Asian American Times
AZ Central
Business Journal
Catholic Sun
College Times
Get Out
Jewish News of Greater Phoenix
KFYI
KNXV
KPHO
KPNX
KSAZ
KTAR
KTVK
La Voz
Monitor Hispano
Moreover
MSNBC East Valley Tribune
News by State
Phoenix New Times
Phoenix News Daily
Phoenix Post
PHX News
Prensa Hispana
Record Reporter
Topix
Ahwatukee Foothills News
Akwatukee Republic
Northeast Phoenix Times
When you need a home in the Phoenix AZ area Realtor, contact Re/Max Desert Showcase
Phoenix AZ Fun Facts
Phoenix Arizona Fun Facts
The advent of air-conditioning and airplanes has turned the Valley of the Sun into one of America's hottest vacation destinations - especially when most of the country is cold. Consider these facts:
• With 3.8 million residents, Phoenix is the fifth-largest city in the USA.
• More than 13 million people visit annually, arriving on more than 20 airlines.
• There are more then 55,000 hotel rooms, 200 golf courses, and almost no rain (7.66 inches of annual rainfall, if lucky, an average annual high temperature of 85, and 325 sun-filled days per year).
• Though Phoenix sits in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, its elevation is 1,117 feet (much higher than any point in Florida) and six lakes are within a 75-mile drive.
• The city is home to the world's largest municipal park: South Mountain Park covers 20,000 acres and includes more than 1,700 acres of traditional park land.
• The nine major-league baseball teams that train in Phoenix for six weeks (starting in mid-February) are the Angels, Athletics, Brewers, Cubs, Giants, Mariners, Padres, Rangers, and Royals.
• The Arizona Diamondbacks, who train in Tucson, play an 81-game home schedule in Phoenix.
• Other area sports include three pro golf tournaments, the annual Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (college football), and occasional Super Bowls (2008 is next).
• The area has teams from all of the Big Four sports plus arena football and the WNBA.
• City museums feature Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture, Native American art, area history, the world's largest collection of desert plants, and the largest collection of fire-fighting equipment on the planet - in something called the Hall of Flame.
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International, the world's sixth-busiest airport, also has one of the largest airport art collection (200 permanent pieces).
• By 2008, Metro light rail service will link the airport to the convention center and athletic facilities via a 20-mile arterial route, with another 27.7 miles of suburban track to be completed by 2028.
For further information, contact Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau, One Arizona Center, Suite 600, 400 E. Van Buren, Phoenix, AZ 85004 (Tel. 877-CALL-PHX or 602-253-4415, Fax 602-254-6500, http://www.visitphoenix.com/).
Thursday, November 1, 2007
The RE/MAX Balloon. History Of Re/Max Balloon
The RE/MAX Balloon. History Of The Re/Max Balloon
A company image seven stories tall. Multiply that by more than 90 and you have the largest fleet of hot air balloons in the world. Across North America and now increasingly around the globe, the red, white, and blue balloons emblazoned with the RE/MAX logo participate in balloon meets, highlight charitable and business promotions, and drift above athletic events.
And as the size of the actual fleet continues to grow, images of the tricolor RE/MAX Balloon logo multiply through every visual form of advertising and promotion. The RE/MAX Balloon, its logo form, and the accompanying "Above the Crowd"® slogan are all increasingly equated in the public mind with the RE/MAX organization itself.
Sale Away Balloon
The most eye-catching member of the fleet is the Sale Away Special-Shape Balloon. Each side represents the red, white and blue RE/MAX yard sign that has symbolized new beginnings for millions of people around the world.
More than 27 times taller than a standard RE/MAX yard sign, an estimated 100,000 people will see Sale Away every time it flies. Sale Away appears at sporting events and balloon festivals across North America.
The First RE/MAX Balloon
Admittedly, when RE/MAX first began its relationship with hot-air ballooning in 1978, the motivation was pretty straightforward: as a fledgling real estate network we needed a marketing image that would get noticed.
Just five years old at the time, RE/MAX already held more market share in Denver, the network's birthplace, than any competitor. Word of mouth was spreading fast about the network of highly experienced real estate agents who were proving to be more experienced, productive and knowledgeable than anyone else on the scene.
But market studies showed that among consumers in general, name recognition of RE/MAX ranked well below many lesser competitors.
Meanwhile, in New Mexico, a few RE/MAX agents and their regional leaders dreamed up the idea of entering a red-over-white-over blue RE/MAX Balloon in the 1978 Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. The RE/MAX ground crew wore jackets with patches that read, "Above the Crowd"®, a phrase devised by an Affiliate. And as often is the case with hot-air balloons, the RE/MAX Balloon really grabbed some attention. Plus, the imagery meshed perfectly with the RE/MAX network's emphasis on innovation, freedom and leadership.
RE/MAX International executives in Denver enthusiastically adopted the balloon image as the corporate logo. Within a year, Colorado had its own RE/MAX Balloon, and featured it prominently in a local television campaign. Within four months, RE/MAX held top name recognition in the Denver market.
Growth of the Fleet
The first gathering of RE/MAX Balloons was at the 1982 RE/MAX Great Balloon Race in Toronto. Six balloons participated.
Only six years later, 18 RE/MAX Hot Air Balloons were brought together outside Fenton, Mich. Spectacular helicopter footage of their morning flight over misty Midwestern countryside provided the basis of the RE/MAX "Take a Step Above the Crowd"® advertising campaign.
The third and thus far the largest mass ascension of RE/MAX Balloons took place in the foothills outside Denver in 1989, when 54 RE/MAX Balloons launched and were filmed in flight for yet another RE/MAX commercial. The grand RE/MAX ascension took place a day before the opening of the RE/MAX Balloon Festival, the largest charity balloon event ever held. Attracting 223 hot-air balloons from across North America, the festival was a fun-flying meet designed on a grand scale. Proceeds from the sale of tickets were shared between children's charities.
Promotion and Advertising
Besides highlighting promotional events, RE/MAX Balloons fly at all the major - and many minor - hot-air balloon meets across North America. RE/MAX Balloon pilots introduce school classes to ballooning, and couples ask to be married in the balloon.
The average RE/MAX Balloon makes 65 appearances a year, each event averaging more than an hour, for a fleet total of about 6,400 hours of advertising - equal to nearly nine months of 24-hour flying. RE/MAX expects to pass the 100-balloon fleet milestone in the near future.
The network's major graphic symbol, the RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon image appears on "for sale" signs, bus benches, billboards, in print advertising and television commercials. It is one of the most widespread and recognizable images in business marketing.
