As the Christmas Season fast approaches, The Barrie Home Inspector, has pledged all fees collected from home and WETT inspections for the week of Dec 15th to 20th inclusive. All fees will be donated to RVH Regional Cancer Center who will be sending out a letter of recognition to each person who participates.

With the aid of local Realtors and Home Inspection clients, The Barrie Home Inspector hopes to raise between three and four thousand dollars to donate to this worthy cause. As a long term resident of the area The Barrie Home Inspector is proud to be able to give back to the community and in keeping with the Christmas spirit hopes to make this an annual event.

View RVH Regional Cancer Poster

Even though all funds are being donated you still receive the premier inspection package that has been an industry leader, and includes:

Free WETT inspection for your wood stoves or fireplaces;

Free Thermal Imaging Scan of the insulation and openings;

Money-Back guarantee, good for 30 days after you take possession; and

Our own Fair Pricing Policy which allows you to only pay for the services you are receiving.

Unfortunately we will only be booking up to twenty inspections for the one week period so I apologize in advance to any individual that misses out on the opportunity to help the community and urge you to contribute in other ways for those less fortunate or are in need this holiday season.

Regards

Roger Frost

Owner
Napoleon Home Inspections

Email Blackberry    roger.frost@sympatico.ca

Cell phone   705-795-8255
Toll Free      888-818-8608

Here are some common sense tips and advice of things to do prior to the winter season arriving. It is better to be snuggled up in front of your fireplace once old man winter arrives, rather than rushing around repairing items that some fall maintenance would have prevented. So with that thought in mind please peruse the following list:

1) Furnace Inspection

· Make sure your furnace is in good working order. Make sure that the thermostat and pilot light are working properly and that the pipe bringing fuel to your furnace isn’t leaking or loose

· Stock up on furnace filters and change them monthly.

· Consider switching out your thermostat for a programmable thermostat.

· If your home is heated by a hot-water radiator, bleed the valves by opening them slightly and when water appears, close them.

· Remove all flammable material from the area surrounding your furnace.

2) Get the Fireplace Ready

· Cap or screen the top of the chimney to keep out rodents and birds. Check top of chimney for cracks in cap or mortar. Also check visible bricks and mortar for cracks. Have any cracks repaired prior to winter.

· If the chimney hasn’t been cleaned for a while, call a chimney sweep to remove soot and creosote or buy equipment and do it yourself.

· If your home is heated by a fireplace or wood stove, buy firewood or chop wood. Store it in a dry place away from the exterior of your home.

· Inspect the fireplace damper for proper opening and closing.

3) Check the Exterior, Doors and Windows

· Inspect exterior for crevice cracks and exposed entry points around pipes; seal them with exterior quality silicone caulking.

· Use weather stripping around older style doors to prevent cold air from entering the home and caulk exterior window joints to ensure no drafts are present.

· If your home has a basement, consider protecting its window wells by covering them with plastic shields. Ensure your window well drains are installed properly, covered with screen and then a layer of stone. They are tied into your weeping system and any debris could block your foundation weepers causing problems with your basement.

· Remove any un-needed screens and store until spring.

4) Inspect Roof, Gutters & Downspouts

· If anybody has been working in your attic or you have not had a home inspection then I would suggest you have a look in your attic and ensure your insulation is evenly covering your ceiling. You should be able to scan entire attic with just a spot light from the entrance hatch.

· Clean out leaves and debris the gutters and use a hose to spray water down the downspouts to clear them, As long as you’re cleaning out leaves, make sure none are clogging your chimney. Install a screen over the chimney top after cleaning.

· Check flashing to ensure water cannot enter the home. Check for cracked caulking.

· Replace worn roof shingles or tiles. If trying to get one more year out of older roof, ensure all suspect areas are sealed with roofing tar. The cost of fixing wet insulation and damaged drywall makes this a worthwhile chore.

· Clean out leaves and debris the gutters and use a hose to spray water down the downspouts to clear them, As long as you’re cleaning out leaves, make sure none are clogging your chimney. Install a screen over the chimney top after cleaning.

· Consider installing leaf guards on the gutters or extensions on the downspouts to direct water away from the home. If your downspouts drain into a French drain or similar drainage system I would recommend installing a Tee onto downspout just before drain so that in the event the drain freezes the water from roof can spill out the Tee, thereby saving splitting downspouts and backed up eavestroughs.

5) Service Your Summer Equipment

· Drain gas from lawnmowers. Another solution is to simply run your machine out of gas, this eliminates any problems with Spring starting.

· Service or tune-up snow blowers. Make sure oil is changed and fresh gas is put in. Run up your snow blower before it gets cold. It’s easier to work on when the temperature is warmer.

· Dig out your snow shovels and ice chippers. If you have a winter door mat, clean and prepare for use.

· Gather up your summer lawn equipment and store together in dry area.

· Sharpen ice choppers and buy bags of ice-melt / sand. If your driving a truck and need weight, water softener salt is heavy and you always have it for your machine and if you get stuck it makes a good surface for gripping.

· Many air conditioner technicians now advise against putting cover over your central air conditioner due to the trapped condensation. I agree with this but that is an individuals choice.

6) Check Your Buildings Foundations

· Rake away all debris and edible vegetation from the foundation. If there are any low areas that have developed near your foundation, now is a good time to fill these in. Rule of Thumb for grading is one inch slope away from your house for every 6 feet.

· Seal up entry points to keep small animals from crawling under the house. Also ensure your vents are closed and all your foundation insulation is still in place if you have a crawl space.

· Inspect sill plates for dry rot or pest infestation.

7) Inspect Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

· Ontario Fire Code requires a smoke detector on every level of the home and adjacent to sleeping areas. Buy extra smoke detector batteries and change them when daylight savings ends if your smoke detector is battery powered.

· Don’t Install a carbon monoxide detector near your gas fired furnace and / or water heater as there will always be traces of carbon monoxide present and this will create nuisance alarms. Near your sleeping areas is more suitable.

· Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors monthly to ensure they work.

· Buy a fire extinguisher for your kitchen area.

Plumbing Maintenance

· Locate your water main in the event you need to shut it off in an emergency. They are usually located very close to your water softener if you have one.

· Drain all garden hoses and neatly store for the winter.

· Insulate exposed plumbing pipes in any un-heated areas. If not used then draining is the best course of action.

· Check your furnaces humidifier, clean filter and ensure water is turned on.

· If you go on vacation, leave the heat on, set to at least 55 degrees and make arrangements for a relative or trusted individual to regularly check your house while your away.

9) Landscaping Items

· Trim trees if branches hang too close to the house. If they are close to hydro wires phone your local utility and notify them. Remove dead branches. Ice, snow and wind could cause weak tree trunks or branches to break, damaging your home or car, or injuring someone walking on your property

· Plant spring flower bulbs and lift bulbs that cannot winter over such as dahlias in areas where the ground freezes.

· Seal asphalt driveways, brick patios and wood decks.

· Move sensitive potted plants indoors or to a sheltered area. Wrap your shrubs with burlap to prevent ice damage.

10) Be Prepared

· Buy indoor candles and matches / lighter for use during a power shortage. Lanterns are good if you are in a rural area that experiences many power outages.

· Find the phone numbers for your utility companies and tape them near your phone or inside the phone book.

· Buy a battery back-up to protect your computer and sensitive electronic equipment.

· Store extra bottled water and non-perishable food supplies (including pet food, if you have a pet), blankets and a first-aid kit in a dry and easy-to-access location.

· Prepare an evacuation plan in the event of an emergency.

If you have a tip that works for you, feel free to add as comment.

Brought to you by the Alliston Home Inspector

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Recently I had my heating ducts cleaned in my house after finishing a renovation project. The duct cleaning company used a video camera to inspect my ducts before and during cleaning, what a sight to behold!   There were pieces of drywall left over from the original construction and of course lots of dust. I talked to many companies prior to choosing Anderson duct cleaning, and as they explained,  the main difference is two fold; one if you don’t use a service that actually contacts all the areas of your ducts you will not remove the dust that is attached to your ducts, and two; using a camera guarantees that all the dust and debris is being removed. Shawn, the owner,  also gave me a great tip, when doing any kind of work in your home that can generate dust, close off your cold air returns to stop any dust from entering your duct work.

A typical house contains dust from pollen, spores, pet dander, lint, bacteria, etc. Even regular home activities like cooking or dusting add to the dust in the air inside the house. Such dust particles results in irritation of eyes and on entering the respiratory system, may cause respiratory disorders, damage to the lungs, or in unique cases, even cancer. 

I now have two transparent inspection plates in my furnace, one on the cold air return and the other on the supply side duct work. As Shawn explained, after the major duct cleaning, I will now only have to have my cold air ducts cleaned when I can visibly see dust starting to collect in the duct work.   Considerably cheaper than having whole system cleaned. The secret to keeping your supply side duct work clean is using a proper air filter. Shawn recommended staying away from cardboard edged filters as they often collapsed inside the cold air return and allowed dust and contaminates to pass.

In order to keep the quality of the air inside the home healthy, good quality furnace filters for your furnace unit should be used. There are various types of filters available on the market. These can be disposable, reusable or refillable. They’re usually made from materials like fibreglass, metal, man-made or natural fibres. The efficiency of a filter is decided by fibre size, fibre density, airflow rate and particle diameter. Different types of filters available in the market are:Panel Filter- These types of furnace filters commonly consist of 1″ fibreglass filter installed in the ducts. However, these furnace filters are not very effective in removing dust from the air, as its primary function is protection of the internal fan and minimizing dust on the heating coil. These are a very basic filter and can trap only larger particles from the air.

Washable/Reusable Filters- These are meant for extended use, and with regular cleaning and maintenance serve a very long life. Their downside is that it is nearly impossible to get completely cleaned and therefore adds resistance to the airflow. These types of furnace filters are also not very effective in trapping very small particles.

Pleated Filters- These are a modified kind of panel filters that have pleats or folds to increase its surface area. This design change makes it more efficient at trapping dust particles due to increased surface area. However, here too, the furnace filter starts resisting airflow once it starts collecting dust particles and thus should be replaced regularly.

High Efficiency Pleated Filters- These filters have an additional component of electrostatic charge that is designed to capture extremely small particles and various allergens, which make-up 99% of the particulate composition of the air. However, even these should be changed at regular intervals to maintain the air quality, and the airflow. Alternatively, refillable furnace filters are also available in this type.

High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filters- These are extended filters that are able to remove sub-micron particles with high efficiency. HEPA filters have corrugated separators that have the core filters folded back and forth over it. This gives strength and also facilitates air passage between the pleats. However, these types of filters are not designed to fit most of the standard furnaces, as they require a separate system that includes a fan and a filter.

 Choosing an air filter can be a daunting task with the number of filters and varying prices. One tip is common with all the experts that I read and watched on TV, if you can see through your filter then it no good. Most recommended the pleated type of filter which gives you more surface area of filter. These filters can then be chosen by the size of particulates that they will pass.   The more particulates they filter the more expensive they become. Electrically charged filters were recommended to be one of the better filters as they also come in a washable model. My particle model has a pretty standard 16 X 25 X 1 inch filter but there are cartridge filters available that are up to 5 inches thick.

Electronic air filters charge the particles as they pass which then attracts them to the filter. These filters can then be removed and cleaned in your dishwasher. Both the larger cartridge filter and the electronic air filter have to be custom fitted to your furnaces cold air return.

Remember to periodically to check your furnace filter as the more particulates they collect the more frequently they should be changed as they will affect the air flow to your furnace.

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It is a nice thing to be able to tell of a good deed or exceptional service. We enjoyed that feeling last week, we had gone to Milestones Bar and Grill in Etobicoke for lunch.  The interior was a pleasant surprise with individual booths for all customers, set at varying heights, very unique.

The food was great and the service excellent.  We throughly enjoyed our meal.  When we left my wife accidentally left her glasses behind.  Two days later when she was looking for her glasses she concluded that she had last had them at Milestones when she was reading the menu.  I called and talked to Sarah, who was amazing, she tracked  down the glasses for us.  I offered to send them a self addressed envelope to return the glasses and she told me that they would look after that.

The very next day we received the glasses by courier,  no charge.  With businesses trying to wring every nickel they can out of you and the constant drop in the level of service, this was an amazing show of kindness. They knew we were not from their area so this act of kindness was not driven by the thought of getting business. My hat goes off to Sarah and the staff at Milestones for their unselfish and kind behavior.  Keep up the good work.

Roger

Making Sense of Facebook and Marketing Tips and Techniques

By Dr. Cindy Gordon

In the last couple of years, Facebook has gone from a college photo-sharing site to a burgeoning business- networking platform for self-promotion, advertising and multimedia interaction. With new apps and add-ons, Facebook users can send each other a virtual drink, create and host events, advertise their businesses through social ads, and more.
There are now over 66 million “active” users, with an average of 250,000 new registrations per day. Facebook claims over 65 billion pages views per month, and that people spend an average of 20 minutes on the site every day.
Recently, Facebook began working on translating the site into different languages in order to make the site available internationally. This will increase its reach to more global audiences, and make it even more valuable target for marketing campaigns.
According to Hitwise, over 72% of all U.S. social network traffic in 2007 went to MySpace. Although, Facebook’s traffic increased 50% last year and MySpace traffic decreased 8%, these numbers remind us of there is still tremendous value in MySpace and its eyeball reach.
One of the questions we are often asked in supporting our clients develop stronger business innovation strategies leveraging social mediated technologies is how do we make sense of how these new toolkits can be applied to reach our customers, employees and suppliers differently.
Facebook is one of literally thousands of social networking toolkits, Linked IN, Google’s opensocial, Twitter, Spock etc…all are examples of potential social networking solutions. It is important to have an overall strategy and architecture vision to ensure you are using
Below is an excerpt from the Facebook 100 tools and Tips to Tap the Facebook Customer that we thought was exceptionally, good published on January 23, 2008 by the Editors of CRM.

Why Facebook?
Why has Facebook become the go-to networking site for marketers? Check out these articles to read up on the rise of this networking giant.

1. Inside Facebook: This blog is devoted to “tracking Facebook and the Facebook Platform.” You’ll find useful stats, marketing tips and more.
   
2. Facebook’s Ads Page: This page explains how Facebook provides business owners with self-service solutions, market-research solutions and integrated solutions when it comes to advertising.
   
3. Should You Advertise on Facebook?: This article helps U.K.-based businesses decide whether or not they should advertise on Facebook.
   
4. The Value of Facebook: Even in its earlier days, Facebook was considered a hot commodity in the industry. This post uncovers why there’s good reason for all the hype.
   
5. What’s the Big Deal About Facebook’s Social Ads?: This article discusses why Facebook’s social ads are such a hit.
   
6. $240 Million! Think of All the Beer We Can Buy!: When Microsoft shows a $240 million interest in your company, you know you’ve made it. Advertisers will also want to take note.
   
7. Why Is Facebook Suddenly So Popular Among We Geezers?: A CNET blogger wonders how Facebook’s popularity has stretched from its original base of the under-25 crowd.
   
8. Ten Reasons Why Facebook Is So Popular: This tongue-in-cheek article explains exactly why Facebook is such a popular site.
   
9. How Did Facebook Become So Popular?: This blogger tracks Facebook’s rise to social-networking stardom and its technique of “utilizing one of the most powerful viral marketing strategies ever conceived.”
   
10. Facebook: More Popular Than Porn: Time magazine’s Web site discovers that Facebook is more popular than porn sites among college students.
    
11. Fifteen Reasons Facebook May Be Worth $15 Billion: Back when Microsoft decided to invest $240 million in Facebook, it also declared the social-networking site to be worth around $15 billion total. The reasons for the site’s popularity still hold true in 2008.
    
12. The Impact of Facebook’s Platform: This article from ReadWriteWeb compares Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to a young Steve Jobs and applauds Facebook for opening up its company to developers and advertisers.
    

Advertising
Learn about current and future advertising opportunities on Facebook by reading these posts.

13. Sponsored Groups: Sponsor your own group on Facebook by purchasing a link that hosts ad content, message boards and more.
    
14. Mini-Feed: When it first came out, members weren’t sure if they wanted to be updated each time a friend added new photos, changed their status or even wrote on someone else’s Wall. As an advertiser, though, you can track your Mini-Feed to find out what your friends have been up to and more closely study your target audience.
    
15. AceBucks: Facebook users earn AceBucks by playing games and taking surveys, then cashing them in for real-life prizes like Wii systems and iPods. Create your own survey or game to promote your business, then invite others to play.
    
16. Five Moneymaking Opportunities on Facebook: Mashable! lists several moneymaking strategies available on Facebook, advertising and otherwise.
    
17. Facebook’s Secret Rate Card: This article explores which Facebook advertising methods are worth your money and effort, and which aren’t.
    
18. Could Facebook Change Web Advertising?: Listen to this NPR (National Public Radio) report to uncover the newest trends in Web advertising.
    
19. How to Effectively Advertise on Facebook: Trendcatching’s post explores some of the more lucrative strategies advertisers have used to tap into the Facebook market.
    
20. How Does Facebook Figure into Your Online Advertising Campaign?: This article is a must-read for business owners who are thinking about incorporating Facebook marketing into their own advertising campaigns.
    
21. Social Networks Find Ways to Monetize User Data: Learn how to make money off of your Facebook friends (it’s not as sleazy as it sounds) with the tips and analyses provided here.
    
22. Digging into Facebook’s Ad Future: CNET News.com believes that Facebook has the capabilities to become an “advertiser’s paradise,” despite some social-networking sites’ inability to make serious profits.
    
23. Promote Your Cause on Facebook in Six Easy Steps: TechSoup shows nonprofits how to use Facebook for self-promotion.
    
24. Facebook Ads: Facebook’s official advertising page strives to prove how social ads, profile pages and paid ads can increase a company’s business.
    

Free Marketing Opportunities
The beauty of using Facebook as a marketing tool comes from the endless ways in which you can advertise your business for free. Once you’ve set up a free account, use your creativity to maximize these features.

25. Profile Page: All Facebook members get their own profile page when they sign up. Use this as your canvas to upload pictures, logos and other information about your company.
    
26. Groups: Use the site’s Groups feature to network with your target audience. You can join existing groups or create one just for your business to amp up the buzz about its services.
    
27. Facebook Marketplace: College kids use the site’s Marketplace to scout out used couches and find roommates, but a savvy business owner can advertise services and product sales, as well as search for new employees.
    
28. Networks: Ignoring the Networks question when you create your company’s profile could lose it a lot of business. List your business’s city, industry, neighborhood and any other relevant information to let potential customers and business partners know where they can find you.
    
29. Facebook Badge: Facebook describes its Badge feature as “a customizable way to share your Facebook information on other Web sites.” Creating your own Badge will link Facebook friends to your company’s Web site.
    
30. Events: Instead of printing out flyers and mailers the next time you want to advertise an event, use the free Facebook Events app to get the word out.
    
31. FunWall: Mass emails are so yesteryear. If you want to keep in close contact with your Facebook friends, use the FunWall to create a message or send a greeting to everyone at once.
    
32. Top Friends Network: Reward your top friends by sending them a virtual drink or writing on their FunWalls. As a marketing tool, the Top Friends network serves as another way to group your contacts, keep an eye on your target demographic, and quickly and effectively reach out to your company’s best customers.
    
33. Inbox: Send secure, private messages to your clients on Facebook with the Inbox app. You can still send out mass messages, but only to the contacts you select.
    
34. Notes: Mashable! calls Facebook’s Notes application a blogging feature because of the way users post links, messages, photos and other information that they want to share with friends. Even if you maintain a blog elsewhere, give your Facebook friends an exclusive peek into your company’s news and behind-the-scenes schedule by posting here.
    
35. Contact Importer: The contact importer helps you “find your friends on Facebook.” If you want to find out if your clients or other work-related contacts use Facebook but think it’s a little lame to come right out and ask, upload your contacts from AIM, Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail and more to find out if they’re online.
    
36. Share Partners: When you publish updates to your company blog or Web site, add the link or a link and a photo to your Facebook profile using the Share Partners app.
    

Tools and Applications
Facebook add-ons allow you to customize your profile page and build up virtual relationships with clients and customers. Check out these tools and applications that will give your marketing plan a boost.

37. Facebook Social Ads: Pinpoint your company’s Facebook friends and friend wannabes by creating a social ad that reveals itself to visitors of your profile and friends of friends of friends … you get the idea.
    
38. Facebook Pages: A more business-savvy name for Profile, the Facebook Page now includes all kinds of add-ons so that you can post videos, logos, pictures and other marketing info.
    
39. Facebook Polls: Businesses can effectively find out what their target audiences are thinking by utilizing this polling service on Facebook.
    
40. Facebook Beacon: Connect your company’s Web site to your customers’ Facebook profiles with the Beacon action alerts. By integrating just three lines of code, your customers can choose to let their friends see what they viewed and bought on your company’s Web site and more.
    
41. Facebook Insights: Through charts and mapping devices, companies can accurately track their “presence and promotion on Facebook.”
    
42. Facebook Platform: If you want stand out from the thousands of other Facebook advertisers, create your own tools and applications with Platform. This system helps Facebook users design interactive apps so that visitors and friends can easily explore what your company has to offer.
    
43. FeedBurner: Advertise your company’s blog or podcast with the FeedBurner app for Facebook. A feed will appear on your profile, so visitors to your page are instantly updated with new postings, videos and more.
    
44. Gydget: Small companies, bands, nonprofit groups and other organizations should try out Gydget, “a stand-alone viral-promotions tool” that you can add to your Facebook page and also encourage others to integrate with their own pages Update fans and clients with details about upcoming events, networking opportunities, sales and product launches.
    
45. Ether: Charge by the phone call when you list your Ether number on Facebook with this ingenious app. By adding the button to your Facebook page, you can advertise your expertise and invite friends to call you for advice.
    
46. Jobster: Attract new talent from the Facebook pool by integrating a Jobster button with your profile. Your company can build its own job network, submit a listing in the Jobster network and more.
    
47. QOOP: QOOP helps you create promotional items like T-shirts and mugs from digital photos. Facebook users can use the QOOP app to share the items by letting friends view and purchase your marketing creations.
    
48. Oodle Classifieds: Organize your company’s advertisements, job postings and classifieds on Facebook with the Oodle app.
    

Targeting the Right Demographic
Before you decide to tackle the entire Facebook market, try narrowing down your strategy by researching each of Facebook’s demographics.

49. Big Brands and Facebook: Demographics, Case Studies and Best Practices: This slideshow from Forrester breaks down Facebook’s primary demographics by age, country and other dividers to give advertisers insight into effective marketing campaigns.
    
50. Facebook Polls Launches Tonight: Marketing Research Paradise: This article details the ways in which Facebook’s Polls app can help your company get in touch with its target demographic.
    
51. Could Facebook Become the New MySpace: Many have speculated over the relationship between Facebook and MySpace.com, and this article explores the specific demographics of each.
    
52. Facebook by the Numbers: This article is from May 2007, but readers can still use the post as a guide to study Facebook’s age demographics.
    
53. Facebook Users Up 89 Percent Over Last Year; Demographic Shift: Find out how Facebook’s overall demographic has changed from its inception to today.
    
54. Facebook’s Most Popular Apps So Far: Want to know where to slip in ads and find your company’s audience? Find out which apps people are using the most on Facebook.
    
55. Facebook Goes Beyond College, High School Markets: Even if your company’s target audience isn’t made up of college students, Facebook is still a viable marketing platform. This article explains why.
    
56. Facebook Market Research Secrets: Discover the sneaky way to perform market research by using Facebook’s tools.
    
57. Facebook: The Future of Market Research?: This market research analysis holds that “sites [like Facebook] are providing useful business solutions not only to advertisers, but also to market research companies and marketing services companies.” Read the whole article to find out why.
    
58. Facebook Provides Fascinating Glimpse Into Society, Media Demographics: This analysis of Facebook’s advertisers also gives tips on how to look for marketing clues from your target audience.
    
59. Social-Networking Demographics: This article tracks the general demographic stats of social networking sites like Facebook.
    
60. Exercise for the Reader: Facebook Member Stats: The author of this post decided “to pull together some stats on relative numbers of members from each country.” Find out the results by reading the entire article.
    

How-to Guides
Follow these how-to guides to navigate the limitless marketing possibilities and tailor your own Facebook marketing strategy.

61. Six Ways to Market on Facebook: This article should help those business owners who are still relatively new to the Facebook world. Simple tips include “host an event and post it” and “post news articles.”
    
62. Inside//Out: Facebook: This blogger gives great tips on how to effectively market your company on Facebook without disrupting the advertiser-customer relationship.
    
63. Tips to Marketing on Facebook: Writer Janet Meiners considers some of the basic but effective marketing tools that Facebook has to offer.
    
64. Facebook Marketing. It Can Be a Good Thing: BusinessWeek’s article about Facebook marketing considers the pros and cons of placing ads on the networking site.
    
65. Eight Marketing Ideas from Facebook Groups: The Influential Marketing Blog dissects seven different Facebook groups and general event groups to find out what works and what doesn’t when promoting your event or business.
    
66. Ten Killer Facebook Marketing Tips: From sending virtual gifts to adding friends, this article explains why certain Facebook actions are great self-promoters.
    
67. Facebook Usage and Marketing: Check out this guide for tips on how to make Facebook’s apps work for you and your business.
    
68. How to Create a Successful Facebook Group: If your business wants to create a group on Facebook to reach a bigger audience, use these tips to gain a large following of fans.
    
69. Target Niche Audiences With Facebook Advertising: AllBusiness.com publishes this post to help advertisers understand the pros and cons of using Facebook as a marketing platform.
    
70. How Marketers Use Facebook: This upbeat article has some useful tips to introduce marketers into the world of Facebook.
    
71. Facebook Marketing: Social Networking at its Best: You don’t have to go all out with social ads and beacons to use Facebook as a marketing tool. This article explains the benefits of setting up your profile page and networking with new friends.
    
72. How to Use Facebook Status for Marketing Purposes: Instead of letting friends know that you’re “sleeping” or “at work,” use the Status feature to clue customers in on what big business idea you’re working on.
    

Small Business Strategies
Even if you don’t have the budget to promote a presidential election with ABC, your small business can benefit from Facebook’s marketing strategies. Find out how with this list of tools and tips.

73. Networking: Use Facebook as a Marketing Tool: This article focuses on how entrepreneurs can use Facebook as a self-promotion tool and turn social networking into professional networking.
    
74. Top Five Viral Facebook Techniques: Learn how to make the most of referrals, giveaways and other simple apps with the tips in this article.
    
75. Web 3.0 Marketing with Facebook: Find out why Facebook is great for small businesses wanting to tap into a large, global market.
    
76. Facebook as a B2B Marketing Tool: This article chronicles how ordinary Facebook users have begun to use the social networking community as a place to self-promote and improve business.
    
77. Top Ten Ways to Use Facebook to Promote Your Business for Free: If your company doesn’t have a huge marketing budget, don’t worry. This article gives tips on using Facebook’s free features to reach consumers.
    
78. Entrepreneurs Need Both Facebook and LinkedIn: This article from the Small Business Trends website details why entrepreneurs should take advantage of the many self-promotion and networking opportunities that Facebook offers its members.
    
79. Time for Facebook?: This author tries to figure out why Facebook, not just e-mail, is a useful tool for keeping contacts. Readers will also find tips on how to become more savvy at online networking.
    
80. Make Money with Facebook Applications: Web designers and developers are encouraged to create their own Facebook applications as an on-the-side moneymaking project.
    
81. Using Facebook for Business: A Real Life Example: The analysis of a real-life Facebook marketing strategy will help other small-business owners determine if a similar technique is right for their company.
    
82. Facebook Platform: This page includes “everything you need to get started building a Facebook Application.” Ready, set, design!
    
83. Facebook, a Marketer’s Friend: This article from The Wall Street Journal tracks a small-business owner and her lucrative, profitable adventures with Facebook marketing.
    
84. Five Ways Small Business Can Benefit from Social Media/Networking Sites: Small-business owners will find ways to use Facebook to meet their unique marketing needs.
    

The Danger of Facebook
Before you invest all of your company’s hard-earned marketing budget into Facebook advertising, check out these guides that discuss some of the negative challenges you might encounter.

85. Why Facebook Is Not a Viable Marketing Platform: Blogger Muhammad Saleem considers the reasons why Facebook marketing isn’t always a good idea. From lack of focus to lack of visibility, he argues that there are several reasons to avoid this strategy.
    
86. Facebook Grooming Us for Intrusive Marketing?: A blog at CNET News.com suggests that Facebook’s cozy relationship with advertisers treads on the dangerous concept of intrusive marketing.
    
87. Facebook Marketing Stunt Backfires: This article reveals how careless marketing tactics can lead to controversial, shady ad campaigns and bad public relations.
    
88. Five Things That Could Kill Facebook: From inbox contamination to application noise, learn how not to overdo your Facebook activity.
    
89. A Failed Facebook Marketing Campaign: Discover why Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s Facebook marketing campaign wasn’t a success, and what your company can learn from its mistakes.
    
90. Facebook’s New Ads: If You’re a Good Person, Why Should You Want Privacy?: Can advertising on Facebook backfire? This article thinks that it can, if members are annoyed that big businesses prey on social- networking sites just to spy on their consumers.
    
91. Facebook Beacon: A Cautionary Tale About New-Media Monopolies: This article condemns certain Facebook marketing opportunities like Beacon by calling the technique “a classic case of overreaching.” Read this post before setting up a Facebook-oriented marketing strategy.
    
92. Madison Avenue Stampedes Onto Facebook: This video/article combination warns Facebook users against huge corporations that are “using Facebook … to exploit the site’s functions for their own business-networking pursuits, personal expression and just plain goofy fun.” Make sure you steer clear of these sketchy techniques if you want to attract new customers via Facebook.
    
93. Ten Reasons Why Social-Media Marketing Sucks: From undefined goals to all-around randomness, see why this blogger thinks social-media marketing sucks.
    

Miscellaneous Resources
These resources provide even more insight into the many ways that advertisers can capitalize on Facebook’s popularity.

94. Social-Media Marketing in a Nutshell: Dosh Dosh introduces the concept of using social-media sites as venues for cutting-edge marketing techniques.
    
95. Facebook is the Marketing Story of ‘07: According to Influxinsights, “Facebook emerged from college dorms late in 2006 and then exploded onto the cultural scene in the U.S., U.K. and Canada in 2007.” Read the rest of the article to learn why 2007 was Facebook’s year.
    
96. Facebook Lets Advertisers Reach Members Via Free Apps: To reach customers on a “deeper level,” get tips on utilizing Facebook’s many applications.
    
97. Employers Reach Out to Recruits with Facebook: Besides marketing your business to consumers, why not market it to fresh recruits? This article shows you how.
    
98. Inside Facebook: The Facebook Book: This blog provides analyses and excerpts from the book “Inside Facebook” to help businesses understand what the social-networking trend can do for them.
    
99. Facebook Members Sell Their Own Ads: Though it’s currently against the rules, “more than 1,500 Facebook users have started placing advertisements on their own profile pages.” Find out how selling ads on your profile eventually backfires.
    
100. Why Your Company Needs to Be on Facebook: Harvard Business School’s Conversation Starter site publishes this article from Forrester’s Charlene Li. Check out the many reasons why all companies should consider joining Facebook.
     

If your organization is interested in investigating Facebook as a marketing channel further, the following resources may be helpful:
·                       The Facebook Marketing Bible: 24
·                       The Updated Unofficial and Smartass Guide to Using Facebook
·                       CIO: Facebook CEO Appearance on 60 Minutes Leaves Many Underwhelmed
·                       Facebook as a B2B Marketing Tool
·                       How to Market Yourself & Your Company on Facebook
·                       Facebook Marketing: Articles and Resources
·                       Wikipedia: Facebook
·                       Mahalo: Facebook

Summary

      Facebook is a solution that will continue to evolve and have impact on your future business models. Is your organization prepared to take advantage of these new forms of social media tools?

Yet again another article in which the “OMB” tramples over top of elected officials and stands by as taxpayers are “theatened” out of excercising their rights.  Interesting article from Toronto Star by Rick Smith 

Democracy suffers under barrage of strategic lawsuits

Toronto StarRick Smith
Devon Page

Opinion Editorial

As the old saying goes, “Big oaks from little acorns grow.”

So it has been in recent years in southern Ontario with small local land management disputes mushrooming into much more widespread and profound debates.

The standoff between concerned citizens and developers on the crest of the Oak Ridges Moraine in October 2003 led the newly elected McGuinty government to expedite its greenbelt commitment. Sometimes the very name of a specific controversy – “Ipperwash” for instance – comes to symbolize much larger social issues.

What we are witnessing at the moment is the making of another such seminal land use conflict.

On the western shore of Lake Simcoe at a place called Big Bay Point a dispute between concerned citizens and a developer is fast becoming another key test for all Ontarians and their provincial government.

What is at stake is nothing less than the democratic process itself. And whether ordinary citizens can continue to defend their communities and their environment without fear of devastating financial liability.

The proposed Big Bay Point development is a resort proposal of unprecedented size for this part of the province. In December, the Ontario Municipal Board approved a huge hotel and condominium complex including substantial commercial space and a 1,000 slip mega-marina.

Because the developer, Geranium Corporation, actually owns only about 200 feet of expensive lake frontage, the creation of this huge project will necessitate the digging of a new thirty-acre lake, the equivalent of more than 15 football fields.

Not surprisingly, the Big Bay Point development has elicited opposition because of its potential negative impact on the already threatened Lake Simcoe and the precedent it will set.

Opposition to the project is hazardous: Geranium has filed at least four separate lawsuits against its critics for a total of approximately $90 million. These lawsuits allege things like libel, intentional interference with economic relations and conspiracy.

In addition, the local ratepayer group (the Innisfil District Association or IDA) and its lawyers are the subject of an extraordinary cost claim for $3.6 million at the OMB. The developer has taken the highly unusual step of seeking the award against the lawyers personally and against their firm. As a result, the law firm has had to withdraw from the case and hire its own lawyer to defend itself.

Geranium has indicated that opposition to its project was justified until the various public agencies signed off at the OMB. From that point on, it argues, the actions of the IDA and its lawyers were vexatious and they should receive indemnity for every penny spent.

Some local residents were too frightened to testify at the OMB hearing despite being given assurances their testimony was protected privilege. And at least one other citizens group in Simcoe County has dropped its opposition to an ongoing development project specifically citing their fear of liability for the kinds of costs being sought in the Big Bay Point case as the reason.

This type of litigation could be characterized as Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (”SLAPP”) as the phenomenon has been recognized by some legislators and judges in the United States and British Columbia. An action which effectively silences any and all criticism.

According to the SLAPP Resource Centre at the University of Colorado, a “SLAPP” is a civil complaint or counterclaim filed against individuals or organizations arising from their communications to government or speech on an issue of public interest or concern.

SLAPPs often are brought by corporations, real estate developers, government officials and others against individuals and community groups who oppose them on issues of public concern. SLAPP filers frequently use lawsuits based on ordinary civil claims as a means of transforming public debate into lawsuits.

Statements of defence filed by members of the IDA are nearly identical: “This action, like many actions commenced by Geranium in this and other jurisdictions, is being brought by the plaintiff for the improper purpose of exerting pressure on (the IDA member) so that he would not publicly oppose the Plaintiff’s project (Big Bay Point resort).”

While most SLAPPs lose in court, they succeed in the public arena. This is because defending a SLAPP, even when the legal defence is strong, requires a substantial investment of money, time and resources. The resulting effect is a “chill” on public participation in, and open debate on, important public issues. This chilling effect is not limited to the SLAPP target(s): fearful of being the target of future litigation, others refrain from speaking on, or participating in, issues of public concern.

The developer at Big Bay Point argues the citizens and their lawyers wasted a lot of time at the hearing. The total length of IDA’s direct evidence was five days, the whole hearing lasted less than 25, making it one of the shorter OMB hearings in Ontario history for a project of this size.

Environmental Defence has launched an application before the OMB to intervene and oppose the motion for $3.6 million in costs. Specifically, it will put before the OMB the latest legal understanding of SLAPP suit litigation to enable the board to evaluate this unprecedented cost application in a proper legal context. Environmental Defence has hired eminent civil rights lawyer Clayton Ruby to argue this case on its behalf.

The threat of chilling public participation in planning is already occurring and the McGuinty government has the power and is obliged to stop it. As a party to the original OMB hearing, the Ontario government must oppose this cost application as being inimical to democratic participation and Ontario must catch up to the 20 or so U.S. states and British Columbia that have passed anti-SLAPP legislation to protect their citizens. Ontario needs such legislation as soon as possible.

Protection for the public from future intimidation must become the legacy of this awful episode in land-use planning history. In the absence of government action, no citizen in their would ever again appear in front of the Ontario Municipal Board.

Rick Smith is executive director of Environmental Defence. Devon Page is acting executive director of Ecojustice Canada.

The residents of the quaint rural community of Hillsdale are outraged, and so they have a right to be. Once again the OMB has come in on the side of the big developer. (and who is surprised at that)  The residents feel bullied by the developers after the fiasco in Barrie where the mighty Geranium Corp was going after residents for huge legal fees. The OMB seems to have a weird set of rules and no sense of fair play, which, comes as no surprise to anyone who has had any dealings with them.

Ontario is the only province in Canada to have an appointed board, whose only purpose would seem, to overturn decisions by elected officials in order that big developers may proceed without the blessing of the residents or majority of politicians.

Case after case, the OMB is just rolling along scorning taxpayers and elected representatives.  Will no one take a stand against this group of political appointees and shed some light on this travesty of justice?

Our politicians have sold out the people in this area when it came to protecting the drinking water. There is not a sane person who would, after reading the facts, could believe anyone could support site 41, and to heap more injustice on this rural community, now we are building over 400 homes in an area that is not suited for it and has no services for them, and no facilities to support them.  What do they expect this large influx of medium and low income housing families to do for entertainment? I might suggest they go to the local council meetings and hang out.  Perhaps they should also keep their eyes open for the “village idiot”, seems he has been seen sitting at the council table.

Construction defects and safety violations are quite common and are usually very visible, but the majority of home owners are totally unaware of them. Some, in fact, like standing water by foundations, are commonly avoided by the home owner as he walks around his house. People get used to seeing things and unless educated never realize the problem. The following, therefore, is a list of common defects likely to appear in a typical home inspection report:
1. Roofing defects, caused by aging or improper installation are likely to be found on most buildings. Excessive wear in area of discharge from higher roofs is also a common problem. This does not mean that most roofs need replacement, but that many are in need of maintenance and repair.
2. Ceiling stains in many homes indicate past or current leaks. Also a good home inspector will be alert to newly painted areas of ceiling, a dead give away of a cover up going on. The challenge is to determine if the leak was repaired or will recur during the next rain. Discovery is not always possible. A good moisture meter will help you tell if there was any recent leakage.
3. Faulty ground drainage often causes water intrusion beneath buildings. Such problems can be pervasive, difficult to resolve, and may cause damage to building components. Soil compaction is common along foundation in new homes, which is caused by natural settling. Advise home owners to build-up any low areas to maintain proper drainage.
4. Electrical safety violations, either few or many, are to be found in the majority of homes. Examples are ungrounded outlets, lack of shock protection, amateur wiring “improvements,” and conditions too numerous to name. FPE panels have a background of problems and aluminum wiring was used between 60’s and 70’s, and although allowed should certainly be identified. Many home owners are becoming very adept at hiding their aluminum wiring. Pushing wire tight to breaker and running copper from nearby junction boxes to the panel are just a couple of means of avoiding detection.
5. Rotted wood is common where components remain wet for long periods. Exterior locations are trim, eaves, and decks. Problems also occur at walls and floors in bathrooms. Mold can occur in as little as 48 hours when conditions are right, always recommend a mold specialist if mold is suspected.
6. Code violations are common where additions and alterations are built without permits. Sellers often boast that, “We added the garage without a permit, but it was all done to code.” This is a red flag to most home inspectors. Recommend your buyer check with local building officials if there is any doubt about permits or code violations, there maybe property line issues.
7. Fireplaces and chimneys are often unsafe. Common causes are amateur installation of hardware and fixtures, exterior rust damage, or simple failure to call a chimney sweep. Most home inspectors provide WETT inspection services, mine is included at no charge.
8. Water heaters are seldom in total compliance with code requirements. Violations include inadequate strapping, substandard overflow piping, unsafe flue conditions, and faulty gas lines. Rental hot water heaters are usually installed by gas company and rarely have any defects in their installation.
9. Gas furnaces often harbor defects. These range from dirty filters to faulty combustion; from poor airflow to exhaust hazards; from noisy operation to inadequate fire clearance. Given the potential for major consequences, annual servicing by the gas company is recommended. Inspecting furnace filter and finding any build up is a flag that cleaning is probably required.
10. Faulty firewalls are common in garages. Violations include, holes, unprotected attic accesses, doors not fire rated, drywall that is too thin, and exposed wood framing. In Ontario, interior garage doors, require automatic closures. Many homeowners disconnect the closures to make bringing in groceries easier.
11. Minor plumbing defects are commonly found, including loose toilets, dripping faucets, slow drains, leaking drains, hot water at the right faucet. Polybutylene Plumbing Lines (PB) (Quest) was installed in some homes and has been known to fail due to chemical reaction on fittings, this could lead to thousands of dollars in water damage and should be inspected by a licensed and insured plumber.
12. Failed seals are routinely found at thermal pane windows, resulting in fogging and mineral deposits on inside of glass. This is most common with windows manufacturer during the 1980’s. Casement windows can have faulty or loose mechanisms, cracks in glass panes and wood rot are also common problems found in many window units.
Most professional home inspectors belong to associations that keep them up to date on newly discovered defects and product notifications. I personally use, NACHI, Ontario Building Officials Association, ULC and CSA to keep informed of most technical bulletins and notifications.

After serving the community faithfully for many years an old landmark is about to meet its demise. Noted for having the best ice surface of all the arenas in the area and having been home to many past championship teams is not enough to save this grand old lady from the wreakers ball.

The local schools are not impressed with the fact that this quiet edifice is about to be replaced with bells and sirens erupting at all hours of the day which will be an added disruption to their students.

Quoting millions of dollars in funds to upgrade the old Barrie arena seems to be the main point of contention. The haste in which this decision has been taken leads one to wonder about the alternatives available. One glaring option is that if this building was a heritage building then these expensive upgrades would not be a necessity, also under Part 11 of the building code, once a building is over 5 years old, which I am sure this building qualifies for, then there are Alternate Measures which can be applied rather than trying to comply with todays more stringent codes. This is common practice and would be used in most cities and probably is in place already for this building.

As usual when a person controls the numbers and information being released they also control the truth, sometimes this is not always in the best interest of the taxpayer. Sound familiar?

Listening to the sound of the whistle blow from the Go train this morning reminded me of an article in the paper from an irate citizen complaining about the noise waking up those people at 5:30 in the morning. Later in the morning as I was having my coffee I read an article from the Barrie Examiner archives which told of the indignity Barrie suffered by being bypassed by the railway in favour of the hamlet of Allendale.

So this never ending love - hate relationship with trains and Barrie started way back in 1864 and continues to this day.  Ironic that originally Barrie was “miffed” that the train didn’t come to Barrie, and today, over a 130 years later, there are still people trying to get the train to go back to its original station located in Allendale.

This is a very Interesting relationship that Barrie continues to have with trains, will Barrie ever resolve its relationship or will this continue for another century or two before Barrie is truly happy with its trains?

Feel free to express your comments on this issue