H O R I Z O N S

So, last night I was reading about NASA’s news conference scheduled for 2 p.m. EST today, Thursday, Dec. 2,

to discuss an astrobiology finding that will impact the search for evidence of extraterrestrial life. Astrobiology is the study of the origin, evolution, distribution and future of life in the universe

http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/nov/HQ_M10-167_Astrobiology.html

This got me thinking. As I pondered life in the universe, the synapses triggered associations such as, the lyrics of a great Bahamian Calypso/Rake N Scrape song, that goes,

“We headin’ in ta deep Space an’ we takin’ Rake ‘n Scrape”

The more I thought about it the more I think that the folks at NASA may want to take a look at the Rake N Scrape capital of the world, Cat Island, Bahamas.

Cat Island holds an annual Rake N Scrape Festival showcasing this infectious genre of music comprised of a cast of characters, resourceful musical instruments and clever, often humourous, lyrics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qneSWfo51sU

AND … Should NASA locate our extraterrestrial neighbors, Cat Island, Bahamas is seeming to be the ideal location to invite them to visit.
Renowned actor and Bahamian Ambassador, Sir Sidney Poitier, who was born in Cat Island, Bahamas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney_Poitier

Sir Sidney, once said in an interview, “… My knowledge of the world was gathered in Cat Island and Nassau. I learned from how people lived and what constituted a good person, in Cat Island. ”
Therefore, I am confident that Cat Island would be sure to provide NASA’s new found guests some great insights into our world.

Without a doubt, Cat Island represents some of the best ‘natural beauty’ our ‘blue planet’ offers. The ‘Family Islands’ or the ‘Out Islands’ of the Bahamas are billed as ‘The Real Bahamas’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwDBPXEQ1ik
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAvmiPOLEuc
You know, the more I pondered this, the more I realized that Aliens, Rake N Scrape and Cat Island, Bahamas were closer than the ‘6 degrees of separation to Kevin Bacon’.

A new connection arises.

Could Hollywood, an expert on aliens and extraterrestrials, have known of the association to ‘Cat Island’ when it produced the 1953’s movie “Cat Women on the Moon”? http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1729535744/tt0045609

yet, you don’t need a rocket ship to get there.

So, should NASA find success in their new venture, I wish to advise them that Cat Island, Bahamas awaits the newly tapped potential tourism market.
Make sure to check out our some of our current listings in Cat Island, while you play that Rake N Scrape.
http://www.hgchristie.com/details/cat-island/vacant-land-cs10576
http://www.hgchristie.com/details/cat-island/income-property-cs10551
http://www.hgchristie.com/details/cat-island/greenwood-estates/house-cs10620
http://www.hgchristie.com/details/cat-island/hawks-nest/vacant-land-cs10622
http://www.hgchristie.com/rentals/details/cat-island/house-s91
Other Cat Island related videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvu5wmong5ERake N Scrape

Image courtesy Foster + Partners

Could Hong Kong’s new development plans support my traffic musing for developing downtown Nassau?

So often I sit in traffic heading from the Eastern End of the New Providence Island for over an hour.  This slow pace is perpetuated by the business community attempting to get to their place of employment, concomitant with the start of schools, via limited arterial vehicle access to downtown Nassau.  While an argument for public transportation, car pooling, biking, etc… can be made within this subject, as someone engaged in real estate, I ponder what opportunities lay in my field of expertise when this challenge is applied.  Like Hong Kong, we are an island and the land mass ends at some point.

What if some of these folks don’t need to be near the school anymore?  Are there heavy hitters in our vibrant island city that would enjoy waking up and walking to work?  What if after work they were able to play downtown? I suddenly have visions of dining, cinema/theater, grocery stores, banking, a cultural epicenter  and more swimming in my head.  I wax nationalistic and think of the improved experience for our downtown tourist visitors.

I pause and acknowledge my environmental conscious, keeping a watchful eye on the news from Dubai

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/28/business/energy-environment/28dubai.html?_r=3&nl=&emc=aua22

I am ever mindful of over development or development that does not consider the intrinsic needs of the land and its people.  Yet, could this be an opportunity that is good for all?  Much of our current prime Nassau real estate remains downtown in neglected conditions.  Could commercial and residential combine to create a revitalized area whose benefits extend these areas?

Is the Capital City of Nassau a prime opportunity for the right investors to create a mirror project, on a smaller scale, such as the one being under taken in Hong Kong?  Hmmmm….. this musing is making more sense everyday  – honk, honk…

Image by BlogMama via Flickr

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In a recent Toast Master’s District 47 Executive Council meeting held in Ft. Myers, Florida, HG Christie’s Agent and Appraiser, Elbert Thompson , was named the Area Governor of the 2nd Quarter for District 47.

Elbert has captured this esteemed honor after 13 distinguished years with Toastmasters International and has competed and won several contests throughout the years. Rising as a leader during his affiliation with this well-regarded organization that is dedicated to enhancing communication and leadership skills, Elbert also served as a club president. His stellar performance within the Toastmaster’s organization has now yielded wider recognition with this prestigious award for a district that stretches across the Bahamas and South Florida, from Key West to Tampa. This represents approximately 5,000 members and 42 areas.

HG Christie salutes Elbert in this outstanding accomplishment. During his professional career Elbert has maximized his speaking talents, knowledge and exceptional training skills in many venues. One of Mr. Thompson’s most memorable posts in the Bahamas where his exceptional skills could be witnessed was as a news anchor and reporter with the national televisionand radio station, ZNS.

When congratulated he remarked, “I was truly shocked and humbled by the honours when my name was called and I thank all of the Area 83 clubs, their executive officers, members and Area 83 Council members as their work and cooperation has made this all possible. GO AREA 83!!!!”

HG Christie is proud to have Elbert Thompson as a valued member of our team. Elbert shines not only at Toastmasters but professionally as well. A respected appraiser, a Top Producing Agent and recently a proficient company trainer. So “GO ELBERT! Shine on!”

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Thawing in the warmth of the Bahamian Sunshine nearly 100 Air Canada passengers disembarked the inaugural international direct flight into George Town, Exuma on Sunday.

After just a few short hours, commuters sporting gleeful expressions headed off to play at the new Sandals Emerald Bay resort ready to soak up the gorgeous Exuma seaside.

The island of Exuma is welcoming and grateful for these direct flights and views this as just the beginning of an even greater increase to international arrivals to Exuma. Executives with Air Canada have said that they are ‘booked to capacity for the rest of the month for their flights into Exuma’.

“We are so proud to be here,” said Sandal’s Chief Executive OfficerAdam Stewart. “We are here today and are committed to the people of Exuma.

The executive was present yesterday for the day’s festivities, along with a host of other island officials.
Raymond Francis, executive director of the Out Islands Promotions Board, noted that the inaugural flight came at a time when most big airlines were considering cutting routes to boost cost efficiency – that’s proof, he said, for what’s in store for Exuma in the near future.

“It goes to show that Air Canada and Sandals are confident in Exuma’s tourism growth,” he said. “We are confident this direct service will boost tourism demand [and] we hope this will entice . . . and provide much needed direct service from Toronto.”

The Air Canada flight will operate one day a week servicing the Toronto to George Town routes.

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Potential home buyers who delay have a lot to lose.

First-time home buyer and move-up tax credits worth $8,000 and $6,500, respectively, expire April 30. Buyers who qualify get a dollar-for-dollar reduction in taxes or a cash payment if they don’t pay enough taxes to cover the credit.

Other factors that should spur buyers:

Low mortgage rates. If the Federal Reserve stops buying mortgage-backed securities at the end of March, 30-year rates will almost certainly rise to more than 6 percent.

Rising prices. About 30 percent of markets are already experiencing price increases. Prices are falling in 12 percent of markets, says Fiserv (but that only helps if you want to live there).

Source: Money Magazine, Beth Braverman (03/02/2010)

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The Mortgage Bankers Association is seeing signs that the foreclosure crisis is ending.

“The continued and sizable drop in the 30-day delinquency rate is a concrete sign that the end may be in sight,” says Jay Brinkmann, MBA’s chief economist, in a published statement.

Brinkmann said that normally there is a large spike in short-term mortgage delinquencies at the end of the year because of high heating bills and holiday expenditures. This year, there was not only no spike, but the 30-day delinquency rate actually fell from 3.79 percent to 3.63 percent.

Thirty-day delinquencies have historically been a leading indicator of serious delinquencies and foreclosures, Brinkmann said.

“[This] gives us growing confidence that the size of the problem now is about as bad as it will get,” he said.

Source: Mortgage Bankers Association (02/19/2010)

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As a musician I have developed a keen sense of sound. I make conscientious efforts to not expose myself to situations where the music will be off key, because it is excruciating. Couple that with marketing information, a prime area of interest to me, and I am there!

Apparently, according to an article from Fast Company on addictive sounds, Buyology Inc. and Elias Arts, a sound identity company in New York, used volunteers and the latest neuroscience-based research methods to confirm that sound has remarkable power. This of course is not surprising. The surprise was just how many commercial brands have made their way into the world’s 10 most powerful and addictive sounds. These sounds that penetrate our subconscious daily beat out some of the most familiar and comforting sounds of nature, including the sound of waves – one of my personal favorites.

Great article – check it out:

http://www.fastcompany.com/article/the-most-addictive-sounds-in-the-world-advertising-neuromarketing?partner=homepage_newsletter

Recognize this one? Bet you can hum it…

http://images.fastcompany.com/mp3/top10brandedsounds/Intel_Logo.mp3

This ranked #2, proving repetition is the key.

How about this #3? http://www.martinlindstrom.com/sounds/PhoneVibrate.wav

If you know this, I bet you are one of the millions that is familiar with the term ‘Crackberry’.

This one though #1, has got to be my favorite and obviously for everyone else too…http://www.martinlindstrom.com/sounds/BabyGiggle.wav

Bet you smiled when you listened to it.

Check out the full list below and listen in. While the sound of waves didn’t make this list, I am not ready to scratch it off of mine. As I type I am enjoying the sound of the rain on the window. Wonder why that didn’t make the top ten?

Listen in to

THE MOST ADDICTIVE SOUNDS IN THE WORLD

Non-branded and branded sounds:
1. Baby giggle
2. Intel
3. Vibrating phone
4. ATM / cash register
5. National Geographic
6. MTV
7. T-MobileRingtone
8. McDonald’s
9. ‘Star Spangled Banner’
10. State Farm

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I was marveling at the amazing stunts that Shaun Whitebrought to the Halfpipe in the Olympics. http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-snowboard/athletes/shaun-white_ath1023740ln.html

While other competitors executed difficult Olympic worthy programs they were made to seem simplistic and luster lacking after having watched Shaun White. This charismatic ‘surfer dude’ type takes to snowboarding like a duck to water. I sit and enjoy the experience with Shaun sucked into the vortex of the moment of glory.

While I vicariously enjoy the moment with Shaun I can’t help from begin my ‘armchair analysis’.

As someone whose business is reliant on marketing, I begin to question the wisdom of rebranding at this stage of Shaun’s career. In a Prince like maneuver (remember his attempt to become that symbol thingy) http://www.faqs.org/faqs/music/prince-faq/general-faq/, Shaun is attempting to rebrand from the ‘Flying Tomato’ to notoriety as ‘The Animal’. Beyond questioning the wisdom of this, I can’t get the image of ‘Animal’ the spunky Muppet out of my head. Then I find out that this is the inspiration. I guess I get it now. http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978057399&grpId=3659174697259360

I press beyond that because truth is Shaun has proven himself a demigod entitled to change his name as he wishes. I go back to relishing the moment of the realization of a life’s dream.

Shaun’s affable personality is evident from the tender age of 14 as he explains to an interviewer that he was no longer in school because they did not view snowboarding as a valid sport. Consequently, they felt he was spending too much time out of school and he was asked to leave. This week Shaun’s pursuit of his dream was validated by the world.

As ‘The Caribbean’s Private Island Specialist’, I have met hundreds of folks with a dream. The scenarios are as varied as the individuals, but at the heart of the matter is always ‘The dream’, our personal propulsion. This leads me to think for a moment on our (HG Christie) portfolio of private islands providing access to dreams. Ranging from 265K to multiple millions these dreams are within reach for many. (Check a few of them out on the links below.) This was the subject of a recent French TV shoot I was involved in (more on that another time).

http://hgchristie.com/index.php/details/index/Id/17946

http://hgchristie.com/index.php/details/index/Id/20068

http://hgchristie.com/index.php/details/index/Id/20037

http://hgchristie.com/index.php/details/index/Id/11941

We sometimes forget to listen to our dreams. We get distracted or we lose hope. Yet today, I head into my day encouraged by ‘The Animal’ to go for the dream and reach for gold whether others view it as valid or not. I look forward to helping others find their dreams too.

“Wonder if I can get the guys in the band to call me ‘The Animal’ now? I am the drummer after all.”

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So, yesterday I as sat on the chilly, yes that is ‘chilly’ – but gorgeous, little island of Nassau in the Bahamas, I pondered as to whether or not the wise Asians had it right this year – proclaiming this ‘The Year of The Tiger’. Perhaps more appropriately this should declared “The Year of the Pants”

First, we had the GeneralLarry Platt go viral on American Idol with his “Pants on the Ground” song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMwhl4IrPNc

And now, the world is once again focusing on pants as the Norwegian Curling team sends a ‘loud’ statement with their pant selection from “Loud Mouth Golf” http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/vancouver/2010-02-16-talk-of-vancouver-wednesday_N.htm

However, true to form, the wisdom of the Eastern hemisphere prevails. Today balance has been restored and the declaration of ‘The Year of the Tiger’ is apropos. This morning the Olympics, which by the way have been phenomenal, takes a media backseat to Tiger Woods breaking his silence and releasing a statement.

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/02/tiger-woods-breaks-silence-with-statement.html

So, now I sit this morning in my humble office in HG Christie and evaluate what all of this means for the world. Could this be a commentary on the global economy? “Don’t look like a fool, but be bold.”

Perhaps the gleaned wisdom for real estate in 2010 is: “ Employ ‘The Eye of the Tiger’, but don’t get caught with your pants down”?

Hmmmmmm….. I’ll get back to you on that.

I’ll think on this some more as I sell breathtaking real estate like the Albany Development – a collective vision of Tavistock Groupand Golf icons Tiger Woods and Ernie Els.

Check it out : http://hgchristie.com/index.php/details/index/Id/19894

Okay, you know what, the world is indeed in balance today. Well, at least my little corner is.

Have a good one.

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