It's not real estate related but I can't resist the urge to write about the Blue Rodeo concert Thursday night at the Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto. My wife was at the cottage and my friends otherwise busy and so I decided, "what the hey, I'll just go myself" and I am glad I did. It was Blue Rodeo's 10th annual show at the outdoor lakefront performance site and a large crowd gathered (19,000 is capacity).
The grass area, where I sat, sold out but there was room to be comfortable under the late summer evening sky. The affection shown by the crowd towards the band really impressed me (many seem to have been to lots of Blue Rodeo concerts) and they responded by putting on a great two-hour, two-encore performance. They played many of their hits ("Try" was one of the encore numbers) as well as some new songs from an upcoming release, and even a few sing-alongs.
To bring this back to real estate, it made me appreciate living in a city where we have a facility such as the Amphitheatre and can see such great performances.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Summer Holiday Reading
I was fortunate to spend two full weeks at my family cottage this summer. It has been a few years since I have been able to spend two full weeks there and I found that it makes a big difference. One week feels like three days while two weeks feels like three weeks. You need those extra days to slow down from the city pace and not try to fill every day with activity before it is time to go home.
I enjoy the time at the cottage as an opportunity to some uninterupted reading while not too tired (as compared to bedtime reading). I always try to do some "work reading" and some recreational reading. My work reading was "What Would Google Do" by Jeff Jarvis. I found it to be a rambling piece with the author often repeating himself. However, it was enlightening for me on the impact of the internet on business. The author suggests ways in which Google's business model can be applied to other businesses,including real estate. It is worth a read. A new book that likely covers some of this same territory is Free:The Future of a Radical Price by Chris Anderson (he is referred to by Jarvis in his book). For more info, and reviews by other readers, google the title!
My "recreational" reading was Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson with David Relin. It tells of Mortenson's efforts to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan, beginning in the mid 1990s. Reading this book helps to build an understanding of what is happening in those countries with the Taliban and the Islamic extremists. Mortenson tells an interesting anecdote of going to pay his respects on the death of Mother Teresa ending up by himself in a room with her body. The book wasn't as "recreational" a read as often do over the holidays but well worthwhile.
I enjoy the time at the cottage as an opportunity to some uninterupted reading while not too tired (as compared to bedtime reading). I always try to do some "work reading" and some recreational reading. My work reading was "What Would Google Do" by Jeff Jarvis. I found it to be a rambling piece with the author often repeating himself. However, it was enlightening for me on the impact of the internet on business. The author suggests ways in which Google's business model can be applied to other businesses,including real estate. It is worth a read. A new book that likely covers some of this same territory is Free:The Future of a Radical Price by Chris Anderson (he is referred to by Jarvis in his book). For more info, and reviews by other readers, google the title!
My "recreational" reading was Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson with David Relin. It tells of Mortenson's efforts to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan, beginning in the mid 1990s. Reading this book helps to build an understanding of what is happening in those countries with the Taliban and the Islamic extremists. Mortenson tells an interesting anecdote of going to pay his respects on the death of Mother Teresa ending up by himself in a room with her body. The book wasn't as "recreational" a read as often do over the holidays but well worthwhile.
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