Joe Fernald

Hello bloggers,

So I got sucked into the You Tube videos on renovations and came across a guy that built his family a pond that was the size of most neighborhoods. You could take a jet ski around it! I was thinking, okay, that's extreme but I love the Japanese culture and would love to get some Koi fish. You can actually train them to come to you when it's time to eat. They look really cool and can actually be worth a mint.

Here are a bunch of cool man, and woman I'm sure, made ponds from around the world I would like to use as inspiration:

The giant zipper lotus pond

You can almost hear the waterfall in the background.

This one is my fav! Great job who ever did this one!

Awesome home and pond!

Now for the giant ponds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHf9psaCWTE

http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=SljdqvLKLyA&feature=related

Let me know what your experiences have been with ponds. I know they're a lot of money and work but look pretty cool.

Thanks and enjoy the rest of your weekend,

What's going down kids,

So I was talking to my buddy Chad about working for a major cola company and he was saying they have cleaner water in their cola than in normal bottled water you buy over the shelf made by the company. If this is true than why is the water more expensive than Coke and Pepsi? Water bottled in the store can cost you up to $7.60 per gallon and Soda costs a couple bucks. Maybe it's because soda is mass produced more than water? Maybe it's because you pay for it...as do I.

So I was thinking about a one of those giant cartridge style water filters that go under your sink at home. Surely they're cheaper right? Here's what I found out. Your home filter that you keep in your fridge is a single block charcoal filter. Do you ever see those black looking specs in your glass? That's harmless charcoal. The filter that goes under your sink is a two stage filter that relies on free floating particles that will filter even more. I found the prices to be right around $300. That includes the entire system.

If your all about the environment, think of all the plastic bottles you'll be saving too. American throws away 2.5 million bottles every...want to guess....

Hour!

So what does it do? Well according to the company...Designed with the unique Micro-Pure technology, the H-300-HSD is designed for truly challenging water conditions and reduces the following contaminants: Lead to below the Federal Action Level of 15 ppb Cysts such as Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica and Cryptosporidium parvum Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs), including THMs As well as the following substances: Chlorine taste and odor Dirt and cloudiness Mold and algae Oxidized iron Oxidized manganese Oxidized sulfides Particles 1/2 micron and larger in size The H-300-HSD offers additional features, such as: A bacteriostat agent to combat the growth and reproduction of bacteria within the cartridge to prevent premature clogging Reduction of lime and scale build-up in appliances that use water More efficient filtering, which requires less frequent cartridge change Fresh water on demand A lower operating cost that is below the price of bottled water As well as: A 1/2 gallon per minute flow rate A 300-gallon capacity When it's time to change the H-300-HSD filter, order replacement cartridge number EV9270-75.

Stay Hydrated!

Ned gets a faceful of dirt from his dry canteen.

Have a great Friday and we'll talk soon!

Hello law abiding readers,

I received a mass e-mail from from my broker about the $8,000 tax credit. Curious because Friday was the last day to get your offers in... I actually read it. Come to find out it was an e-mail about people changing the dates to get their clients the credit even though Friday was the last day.

Normally our broker won't fill our in-box with a bunch of junk mail so I thought this was probably an issue. So here is my cry to the agents of Active Rain. I understand it would be easy to change the date on your purchase and sale agreement. Maybe have something dated earlier and act like it wasn't. Yes, you would save your clients money on their home but the consequences could kill your reputation and you could loose your license, or worse.

If you want to save your clients some moola than find them a great deal on a home but don't break the law. It would be horrible to hear about someone having to quit the biz just because they tried to save their client cashola.

Oh and if you still want the tax credit and you play by the rules:

Home Buyers Tax Credit Military and certain federal workers stationed overseas have until April 30 of next year (2011) to get under contract. "It applies to any individual (and, if married, the individual's spouse) who serves on qualified official extended duty service outside of the United States for at least 90 day...s during the period beginning after Dec. 31, 2008, and ending before May 1, 2010," the IRS says.

I AM THE LAW! ~Judge Dredd.

Have a great day and keep it legal,

Hey people of the net,

I'll admit it.

I made fun of the tax credit. That's right. I had only a limited number of clients coming to me trying to get their into their new home before time was up. As we all know they extended it and I thought Wooopidy-doo! Don't care. We have extremely low interest rates, low home prices, more to choose from and, well, me!

But here's where it felt like someone took a fire hose to my face when I asked for a cup of water. For the last two months my cell phone has kept Verizon in business. People were calling all night long. It was the greatest feeling in the world. It almost felt like 2006, but not quite. So here's a 14 year old TRL shout out to my friend the tax credit. I'll miss you and home you're extended again.

Goodbye my LOVE!!!

Hello Active Rain Bloggers,

As I step into the new realm of business cards I find myself remembering the scene from American Psycho and tremble with fear. Will my new card have to look like everything else out there? NO! I'm taking a new route with my card. Something as professional as you would expect with a lawyer but with a personality, the card that is! So I went down to a amazing paper company in Portland and couldn't believe the prices. They quoted $250 for 100 cards. I realized I could loose about $40 at Starbucks and that's not even including handing out my cards. I'm not going to give away my ideas until they're done but I will tell you a little about the card.

1. No gloss~ I want it to look professional, not like a Polaroid.

2. Nice paper~ People will feel and see the difference.

3. KISS Method~ Keep It Simple Stupid. It works in Advertising and Marketing so it will work with me.

4. Choose a font that doesn't look like it belongs on a cereal box. We're selling homes not sugar coated flakes.

5. Don't be like this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YBxeDN4tbk

Here are a couple cards I like:

Scratch and read variety.