So Earth Hour is being “celebrated” on Saturday night. Between 8pm – 9pm, in select cities across the world, we’ll turn off the lights.

I plan to go downtown. May take some before and after pictures. I will probably have a good time. But will all this really make a difference? Seriously? Will turning the lights out for one hour make a difference? Who will listen? Who will make change? If you’re looking, look in the mirror.

In related news, I watched the movie Syriana last night. It’s based in reality form a book called “See No Evil“

Lots of questions came up from this movie. One of them was, “Why?”

Why should we curb our enthusiasm for oil?

Global warming? Because it’s running out? It’s too expensive? Carbon just is not good to breathe? American Oil industry perpetuates the colonialization of third world states?

These are meant to be questions for you to discuss and answer yourself. The answers should not depend on your political persuasion or your religious affiliation. I always think of Sting’s song “Russians” during times like these.

They should just be based on WHY.

Karim Kanji

Seeing that my brother and I are visiting Yankee Stadium this summer, some of my posts will be baseball based. That being said…

A curious and compelling article about the state of naming rights of baseball stadiums. Check it out HERE.

Karim Kanji

I just wanted to let everyone know about a cool podcast that I recently came across.

It’s called Motivation to Move. Now, if you are busy and strapped for time, this is the podcast for you. It’s only a minute long and provides tips on health and wellness.

Check out the full website at: www.MotivationToMove.com.

Karim Kanji

I’m sure many of you have heard these “famous last words”. Whether they are true or not is a discussion to be had at a later date.

What I want to highlight, though, is our ability or inability to be original.

An original thought or idea seems hard to come by these days. Managers want the employees to work a certain way. Computers will only work will a prescribed input. Entertainers are producing movies and songs that our parents used to listen to. And just this morning I was looking at my dad’s ties….

You get the picture.

So, I am excited to introduce you to a totally NEW idea. A NEW way of looking at things.

It concerns baseball and the role of IMPACT players.

Here’s the background. For all you Toronto Blue Jays fans, you will relate. Remember Joe Carter? He was the guy who hit a walk off home run to end the World Series and win it for the Jays. Not too many people have done that. Anyways, many people at the time used to say that Joe Cater (a 30 HR, 100 RBI player) hit his home runs when either the game was out of reach or the Jays were ahead by many runs. People were questioning his IMPACT.

Well, a genius has provided all you seam heads with a new stat. A new way of looking at the IMPACT ballplayers have in the grand scheme of things.

This genius’ name is Aneez Kanji. Presently with Sun Media, Aneez has summarized his thoughts in a blog. Check it out. It may be the first NEW idea you’ve seen in a while.

Karim

• HNIC, with Sherali Najak as Exec. Producer, strives towards ACE: Authentic, Canadian, Entertaining.
• This is the 55th year on the air for HNIC.
• thought process which drives Sherali – it’s not about facts and figures but about feeling.
• HNIC strives to make a connection with people.
• the goal of the leaders at HNIC is to inspire a connection with the audience.
• important to know what you want to do in life.
• stressed the importance of volunteering to open doors.
• applied for jobs he didn’t want or “deserve” because he just wanted to get into the broadcasting industry (because he didn’t have any experience)
• talked about being unreasonable which was very uncomfortable but which helped him land jobs within CBC he shouldn’t have applied for.
• while attending Mohawk College, he gave his time and energy and enthusiasm to any and all jobs just to gain experience. (he was open-minded and had time and passion.)
• failed in his first year at College.
• got his first CBC job while failing at school.
• applied for a director job at CBC Newsworld with NO EXPERIENCE at 18 years of age while he was still a student! Got the job!
• believes in creating your own opportunities.
• Leadership and Love is unconditional.
• reason why Bob Cole is still with HNIC is because he gives the viewer that feeling.
• doesn’t believe in asking people to do better if they are already doing their best.
• also produced a Peter Mansbridge ONE on ONE Special with His Highness The Aga Khan.

Amazing 2 hours of insight into HNIC, CBC. Also a great speaker who talked with his audience rather that to his audience.

Karim Kanji

Interesting, isn’t it?

Customer service.

In Toronto, such a concept may have been going out of style. Is it suddenly un-cool to be kind these days? I pride myself on being a Torontonian. A city with a big feel, yet small enough to enjoy. This was my picture of T.O.

Recently, I was subject to 2 cases of BAD customer service. The first was from Mr. Lube and the second was from Direct Energy. I won’t bother you with the details, but in both cases, I “left” without the problem being solved and with a bad taste in my mouth. Kind of like my UHaul case a year or so back. I highly doubt these companies will earn a dime from me in the future.

Now, before you think I am “attracting” bad vibes, I do have 2 recent “success” stories. TTC and Kelsey’s. Alot of people like to beat up The Better Way. My last experience was pleasant, thank you. The driver told me to have a good evening as I stepped out of the bus! Amazing!

At Kelsey’s I had every single wait staff member in the restaurant serve me and my party this past weekend.

Moral of the story: I like you , enjoy GREAT customer service. It’s the least we can do for each other.

Have some horror stories? What about Success stories? Send them in and I’ll post them. Just keep them clean 🙂

Karim Kanji

Rakshande Italia of the Toronto Star has penned a very insightful and interesting article about Realtors. The article focuses on the Greater Toronto Area. However, I am sure the same tales can be told from municipalities throughout Canada.

Excellent article Rakshande! Keep up the great work!

Karim Kanji

Well, here I am. Back again. Stirred but not shaken. So, here we go. News and views from everything real estate in Canada and maybe from other places…..

Did you know that Toronto is Toronto’s biggest landowner? Neither did I. and to think these guys are running short on their budget. Did they not know we are 10 years into a Real Estate boom?

Looking for a 78% return? Well, you’re 10 years late. Or maybe not. If you have a roof over your head and you own that roof you may be richer than you think.

Calgary seems to be crowded because now they are looking to the sunny U.S. south for vacation homes.

Toronto seems to be slowing down. February is not over but here’s the news so far.

Non-Descript East York lowrise stars in Hollywood thriller, JUMPER. I wonder if Juno lives there….

Toronto is slowing down. What is happening in Calgary? How is a 35% jump sound to you? Nice!

2 interesting articles about the U.S. housing/mortgage slump/disaster.

Canadian Realtors may be getting into MMA soon. Why? Because they are becoming targets of more and more violence.

Sharia Loans. Scam or Not? I dunno really. Some say scam. Others feel a need is being met. I think they are a scam because ALL loans (even if they are dressed as sheep) charge interest.

Now that you have read this far you get a treat. CMHC’s 1st quarter Outlook.

Cheers!

Karim Kanji
www.RealCashCanada.com

Maybe the question is why? Or, “Who asked for this review?”Did D-Mac just wake up one afternoon from a deep slumber and come up with this all on his own? I didn’t even know they said a Prayer, let alone, the Lord’s Prayer.

I find it interesting that the Lord’s Prayer was banished from Ontario public schools by the Ontario government. And they’ve been reciting that cathy prayer ever since. Until now.

And now they are publicly thinking of changing this tradition. Isn’t there more important things to do for McGuinty? Maybe clean up the streets of snow and crime? Maybe work with cities to address uploading and downloading issues.

Actually, maybe banishing prayer from ALL government activities is a good thing. How so? Well, think of the scene from Pulp Fiction where Samuel Jackson’s character recites a passage from the Bible. Remember the one?

“The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother’s keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee.”

Then he lays the smackdown – trigger style – on his prey.How does this relate? Is Samuel a good guy just because he recites a prayer before he gets trigger happy? Is he going to heaven? Now think about the Ontario government, or any government, for that matter. Just because they pray before raising taxes doesn’t make them angels.That’s my two cents for today. Now leave me alone while I go and pray.

The path of the righteous man is beset…..

Karim Kanji