It’s been a wild ride. I saw Elvis.

As a “notable KW blogger” (I love that) and as a Realtor (I love that too), I’m often involved in the workings and doings of our society, living and working here, I know a lot of people, they do a lot of good, I try to help. Usually I ply my trade as a trusted advisor and a knowledge knower, and as an interested observer and sardonic commentator, more on the fringes of power and knowledge than close to the power-brokers.

But society is always evolving, times change, people change and here we are 100 days from the tapping of the keg and Oktoberfest, Kitchener-Waterloo’s parade and the festivities that will ensue. New excitement is already in the air. Will she or won’t she? Will Ellen Degenerers be our parade marshall?

I think she will. I think Ellen Degenerers will do something pretty wild and come to Kitchener. 28,607 people hope so too.

100 days. She’ll be here before you know it.

Filed under: general news by Keith Marshall
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Tomorrow we get a new tax, the HST or Harmonized Sales tax. It’s just what we need after the G20 fiasco, harmony.

Politics is the art of controlling your environment.  – Hunter S. Thompson.

We haven’t done much to try to stop the tax. Canadians are an accepting bunch. Why try to change something that can’t be changed, right?

Tax is the money side of politics. I’m not political. I feel the same way about politics as I do about Chinese opera and daytime TV. It’s a necessary evil. It’s something there for those who like it, something to glance at for the rest of us.

I feel the same way about disco as I do about herpes. – Hunter S. Thompson.

When the HST first started being discussed in the media I have to admit that I thought about Hunter S. Thompson. Not only because he shares the initials but because of the way the government promoted the new tax as a great thing for all Ontarians. It was a pretty slick campaign. Hunter S. Thompson might have thought so too.

I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. – HST

In honor of the HST, here are two more quotes from HST.

There are times, however, and this is one of them, when even being right feels wrong. What do you say, for instance, about a generation that has been taught that rain is poison and sex is death? If making love might be fatal and if a cool spring breeze on any summer afternoon can turn a crystal blue lake into a puddle of black poison right in front of your eyes, there is not much left except TV and relentless masturbation. It’s a strange world. Some people get rich and others eat shit and die.

Life has become immeasurably better since I have been forced to stop taking it seriously.

Filed under: editorial by Keith Marshall
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I met a retired couple recently that had just sold their $600,000 home in Beechwood and were looking to buy a $300,000 home in Laurelwood. Downsizing. Snowbirds.

They had also purchased a $300,000 home in Florida. They said, “You wouldn’t believe the deals in Florida!”

It got me thinking that there are probably other real estate deals out there. I found this on the internet. What can $150K buy in real estate around the world.

http://matadorlife.com/what-can-150k-buy-in-real-estate-around-the-world/

Filed under: general news, just for fun, real estate trends by Keith Marshall
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It used to be with Royal visits that the Royal train would slowly chug its way across the nation, stopping here and there for a little visit with the adoring masses. Three weeks in the colonies, with a walkabout here, some tea and sandwiches there.

That was then.

The Queen of England is coming to Waterloo Region on July 5^th. The Duke of Edinburgh is coming too. They’ll fly into Breslau, race off to RIM for a 45-minute appointment to get her blackberry fixed (just kidding – she’ll tour the facilities) and then back the airport to Toronto.

Short but sweet, just like this post.

http://news.therecord.com/article/729410?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Filed under: Around Kitchener Waterloo, general news by Keith Marshall
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We are running out of space in Waterloo Region. Now we’re filling in the gaps.

The big chunk of land near the centre of Beechwood owned by Grace Mennonite Church is set to be developed by Cook Homes. The problem is that the residents are used to this being a big empty field. They’d like it to remain a three-hectare meadow or if not, then for single-family homes to be built there.

The neighbors complain about the increased noise and traffic the townhouses will create. The issue is before council

http://news.therecord.com/article/729783?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Filed under: Around Kitchener Waterloo by Keith Marshall
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