Columbia's Two Newest Listings...

We Just Put These Two Houses On The Market...

The 1st picture is an adorable bungalow in the Forest Acres area. It is in "move in ready" condition w/designer colors, and features an awesome backyard (you will not be disappointed) for entertaining. If you or anyone you know, is looking to live in the downtown area, this is a Forest Acres cream puff that is offered at $159,900.

The 2nd picture is a great house in the Belmont Park subdivision. This home is also "move in ready," as it is only a few years old. It features a popular "semi-open" floor plan as well as a nice master suite w/double vanities, seperate shower, garden tub and large closet. This is a lot of modern house for only $192,900.

Facebook's "True Age Test." Ooof

Thank goodness 40 is the new 30...

A few weeks ago, I joined Facebook. I'm sure you are making fun of me already, but it's actually a little bit unbelievable. This thing has connected me with people that I haven't seen in 15 years.

Anyway, someone sent me a third party application called, "The True Age Test." I thought it was interesting enough, so I agreed to participate. It asks questions like how much sleep do I get, has an immediate family member ever had heart surgery under the age of 60 and do I eat breakfast. Well, after I completed the 30 questions, it reported that my "true age" is freaking 41 years old! Gad-Zooks!!!...It was AWFUL!!!!

To make matters worse, some friends decided to report their "true age" to me. I've heard that a 36 year old is "26", a 35 year old is "27" and an over 40 person is "29." Another reported that his true age is "27." He is really 34. So far, I'm the only person that I've found that is "actually" older than I really am!

I was so pissed off, that all I could think to do, is throw down on some oatmeal and cranberry juice...and take a freegin' nap...

Everyone Please Think Happy Thoughts Tomorrow...

We know that you will have a headache...

Starbucks all closing tomorrow: Where will customers go?
Posted Feb 25th 2008 5:30AM by Sarah GilbertFiled under: Bad news, Starbucks (SBUX), Employees
Tomorrow evening, starting at 5:30 p.m. (local time), your neighborhood Starbucks is closing. Yes, yours -- and yours, too. (If you live in the U.S., that is.) CEO Howard Schultz has ordered this emergency intensive remedial training, hopefully giving baristas valuable skills they should have learned in the ordinary 40-hour new "partner" training. One of the skills -- which, according to one New York Starbucks manager involved in the test training program, was a "revelation" to some of her workers -- is a milk steaming technique that will allow baristas to "free pour" (without holding foam back with a spoon) the milk no matter how the customer orders the drink.

Partners will also be instructed to wipe the steamer wands and rinse the pitchers and shot glasses every time -- not a new idea, but according to anecdotal evidence, also not commonly done. A new procedure will be instituted for the espresso machines; baristas will always pull a double shot, instead of occasionally pulling only one when only one shot is needed. This, apparently, will assure a better-tasting espresso.Baristas, customers, stockholders and analysts all seem to agree that, much though retraining may be necessary for some individuals, it's not bad foam that has prompted the dip in Starbucks' (NASDAQ: SBUX) stock price; no, it's the uneven and quixotic management initiatives. Now, we're a coffee shop... now we're the "third place" with comfortable chairs... now we're a movie studio... now we're an Apple store... now we're a book publisher/record company/toy store/candy store/cookbook... now we're a fast food joint. It's enough for stakeholders to all rise up with a single voice and ask plaintively:

How Ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude...

With the square, black buzzer in hand, my wife and I were patiently waiting to be seated at Za's. For a few minutes, we were probably third in line to get a table. All the sudden this nice couple walks in, scopes out the situation and notices that there is one freshly cleaned table. Well, they swiflty grab two menus and their napkin wrapped silverware, to gladly clain their new spot.

I don't know if the couple noticed, but everyone else saw this act of rudeness. Waitresses, the manager and customers were all looking at each other across the room. Of course, Jenna and I didn't really care, as we were just visiting with everyone. It was a tinch awkward though. Even worse, two of the people waiting were in their military camouflage.

I looked at the fella's in uniform, and just shook my head and rolled my eyes. Taking the high road, they just shrugged their shoulders...

Someone needs to tell the couple that this is not how we do it, in the city "where friendliness flows..."

Feb. 18 - Feb. 22, 2008

>>This Weeks New Listings...

Tom Young Goes For It

Tom Young Will Run for Skipper’s Seat
February 21, 2008 Filed Under The Shot Written by The Shot

His statement:
I’m running for the State House to share my Plan for Palmetto Progress with Aiken County voters. Having been born and raised in Aiken, I understand and appreciate the quality of life that we enjoy in Aiken County. It is important that we preserve that quality of life but also work to move our region forward.

Based on the conservative business principles of Ronald Reagan and Carroll Campbell, my plan can make our county and our state more competitive in today’s global economy by recruiting jobs, cutting taxes, reining in wasteful spending, preserving our natural resources, fighting illegal immigration, reducing the cost of health insurance, and building an education system that provides a trained workforce. Many people in state government talk about change, but unfortunately it’s followed by inaction while our state remains in neutral. My plan will support efforts to restructure state government and efforts to strengthen family values.

In the following weeks, we will release portions of my Plan for Palmetto Progress. These ideas – many known but some unknown to the voters — will reform Columbia and move both Aiken County and our State forward. We are excited about the opportunity to serve and look forward to taking our message – A Plan for Palmetto Progress – to the people.

...It's Like Peas & Car'rots ???

"Like Mamma used to say...." Forrest Gump

Love him, or loathe him, Senator McCain is about to get a lesson in "branding." Over the coming months, these two images may be burned into our brains like Nike, Chevy and Coke...

Columbia's Red Tape Wrap Up...

Downtown Columbia's New Zoning Ordinance is Happening...

Marc Mylott, Columbia's Zoning Administrator, sent this out a few days ago. Email me at fjones@cbunited.com , if you would like to see the document... FJ

Greetings Everyone . . . as requested by City Council, the proposed ordinance for interim measures will be on their agenda for this Wednesday, February 20th. We just finalized this very complex ordinance yesterday. Please note that, in the event City Council wishes to receive legal advice concerning the ordinance, it would be in executive session and the ordinance would be held over for consideration until their next meeting -- Wednesday, March 5th.

For your information, I have attached a copy of the ordinance as it appears within City Council packets.
<<2008-001(9)>>

Best regards,

Marc S. Mylott,

AICP Director of Development Services / Zoning Administrator City of Columbia

Feb. 11 - Feb. 16, 2008

>>This Weeks New Listings...

A Little Bit Awful...

I know the chances are slim, but if you ever run into this person... please briskly walk away.

I just watched one of the most unfomfortable 30 minutes of TV, that I can remember.

Free Screen Cleaner!

Get you computer screen cleaned for free, with no effort. Click here...https://emp.ucsd.edu/swf/screenclean.swf .

My car windows get this treatment on a regular basis...

$3 Million = Columbia's Pocket Change

For the last few years, the general rule has been that if you owe about $100.00 in parking tickets, you get towed. If you are lucky, you can catch the "meter maid" before he/she calls the tow company...but you better have cash.

Columbia (WLTX) -- When people buy lottery tickets, they want to collect millions and so does the city of Columbia. The difference is they're banking on unpaid parking tickets.

City officials say there are $3 million dollars of unpaid tickets that haven't been paid.

Mayor Bob Coble says there is a plan. He says reports indicating the city is considering issuing criminal warrants to people who haven't paid are false. Coble said, "While you would have the right to do that, criminal warrants wouldn't be justified for parking tickets."

Instead, he says they're sending letters asking you to pay up and if you're a multiple offender, your car could get towed. They're also considering a program that would withhold money from tax refunds.

Coble said, "As unpleasant as it can be for cities to collect debts, every debt that's not collected means someone else has to pay it or there are less services."

Now, the city's hoping luck is in their favor and the orange and white ticket holders help them collect their overdue prize.If you want to find out if you have an overdue parking ticket in Columbia, call (803) 545-3362.

For a Good Laugh, Watch This...

HA! This is pretty funny. You will laugh, as you shake your head at this Hitler/Gamecock spoof...

You may have seen this 10 times. If you haven't, click the link below...

>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oADv2ZWozSg<<

Feb. 4, 2008 - Feb 8, 2008 New Listings...

>>This Weeks New Listings...

Cherry Cola

State of the City; 5 challenges facing Columbia

Today, The State Newspaper wrote a story about 5 challenges that face our city. As their points may be valid, I would like to mention one more; Our *&^%^& RED LIGHT SYSTEM!!!.

Our red light system is so bad, that I'm surprised no one has accused the City of being in ka-hoots with local auto repair shops/gas stations. The amount of time that we stop and start everyday, must contribute to the overall cost of our vehicle repairs and gas costs. Maybe the billboard folks are the reason we have to stop AT EVERY BLOCK. Either way, it is awful.

About two years ago, I told some of my buddies that I was going to start entering downtown listings in the MLS as being in the "Cherry Cola" area. Of course, they wondered what I was talking about. I simply told them that with all of the glowing, unsyncronized blinking, hanging cherrys that populate our city, it would be a great fit.

A few solutions coming soon...

Jan 28, 2007 - Feb 3, 2008

>>This Weeks New Columbia Listings...

Worst Logo Ever?

WUT? Madison Avenue should be ashamed...

Ok. Virginia Tech has one of the worst color combinations in all of college sports. However, the NFL seems to think that it needs a little turquoise. Wut???

What we have here, is one of the most awful branding pieces in the world today. I'm not sure what they are going for here, but it must be one of two possiblilities; 1) A late 70's/early 80's CBS Wild World of Sports, triple ringed tube sock era throwback (w/ a modern color touchup), or 2) The overhead view of a Star Wars fighter ship, that at the moment, is making a sharp left turn.

The NY Giants and New England Patriots have updated (or thrownback) their logos in the last 10 years. Needless to say, both are far superior to this years Super Bowl logo.