On this day in 1732 George Washington was born.  With the birth of any child come the hopes and dreams of his or her mother and father.  However, no parent could have foreseen the life that George Washington would lead.  His rise to greatness and his willingness to walk away from power and turn it over to others peacefully, democratically, in a way never before done and only rarely duplicated since.   

George Washington was a statesman in its truest sense.  He participated in all of our Nation's greatest early moments.  He was an explorer who pushed the boundaries of a young nation westward.  He was an elected politician - first serving in the Virginia House of Burgesses and of course later as America's first President.  He was a soldier and leader of men as a Colonel in the Virginia militia and later as Commander in Chief of the American Army.  He was a farmer and he was a gentleman. 

The 20th century and now in the 21st century has seen a coarsening of politics and cynicism in the American populace.  Brookhiser's book is a humbling reminder of the true grit, greatness and even humility of our founders.  His book recites many of the qualities we learned as school children about our first president but goes much further to illuminate the multi-demensional character of George Washington. 

In this story of George Washington we learn what enabled him to achieve all that he did.  We see a picture of his nature, his morals, and his ideas.  As Brookhiser himself said, "His attention to courtesy and correct behavior anticipated his political philosophy.  He was influenced by Roman notions of nobility, but he was even more deeply influenced by a list of table manners and rules for conversation compiled by Jesuits."  Our political leaders could learn a great deal from Washington's example.

One of the truly great ironies of George Washington's life is that while he is considered the "father" of our country he actually never fathered any children.  Yet, since the earliest beginnings of our nation in 1776 he has been considered the founding father.  And like a father he stepped back when it was time to let his child, his country, stand on its own. 

The book came out in 1996 and I was humbled and inspired by it then.  I just reread the book again to recharge my belief in our founding principals.  I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to be inspired a truly wonderful, intriguing and inspiring man. 

As a student of history and REALTORŪ I give this book my highest recommendation a solid SOLD  SOLD  SOLD  SOLD out of 4 sold signs!

For more on George Washington visit the Mount Vernon website, the White House website,  and please pick up a copy of Founding Father by Richard Brookhiser at your local library, bookseller, or at Amazon.com.  You will be glad you did.

Coach Don Haskins played by Josh Lucas      

                      Team at the NCAA Championships

I have never been paid to report on movies, entertainment or anything for that matter.  I do, as those who know me, watch films critically.  Last night I saw Glory Road and was moved by the film.  Why would a vertically challenged middle-aged guy like me enjoy a film about basketball players.  The answer is simple - this film is about much more than sport.  It is about character.

I look for films with great stories and with characters who exhibit passion.  For me, Glory Road is one of those.  This film is about life or more accurately life in a turbulent racial time in our nation's history.  A time when it was it was unthinkable to take risks as Coach Don Haskins did in bringing young black youths from the northen inner cities to play in the then segregrated south. Giving young men - black and white - a chance to work, live and learn together from one another. 

This film demonstrates the trials they endured on and off the courts.  It is fast paced and doesn't dribble along.  Most possibly due to being a Jerry Bruckheimer production.  Not only does Mr. Bruckheimer seem to have the Midas touch with entertainment his films are always action oriented.  What makes this different is the action in the games is a complementary analogy of the action taking place at that time in history in the Courts, in Congress and across the south.   

Whether in reality Coach Haskins was a great socially enlightened individual or like many throughout history was just at the right place at the right time and took advantage of his great fortune is left to those who know the man and his players.  His motives matter little to me because even if his motive was simply just to "win" I believe he illuminated the true path to racial equality.  Success begets success.  Learning how to win requires learning how to be a winner. 

Coach Haskins taught his players how to be winners and each player went on to make a difference in their community. To me that is the sign of a winner.  Now, if the NCAA could bottle that and sell it they could afford to educate every young person in America. 

As a moviegoer and REALTORŪ I give this film - SOLD  SOLD  SOLD  SOLD out of 4 sold signs!

Check out what others think about GLORY ROAD and feel free to share your comments.

Yesterday a group of six northern California MLSs (Metrolist Services) who announced their plan to consolidate into a single 46,000 member MLS has named the new organization the Northern California Real Estate Exchange, or NCREX for short.  The new real estate exchange is expected to facilitate the sale of over $100 billion dollars of real estate annually. NCREX also released further details regarding its near-term consolidation plan. 

"The 12 person regionalization task force chose the term 'real estate exchange' because the term 'MLS' is somewhat outmoded and means different things to different people; plus it also has historical baggage attached to it." said Gregg Larson, CEO of Clareity Consulting. "We are trying to create a brand new real estate information exchange for the next 20 years, and we wanted to start with a blank sheet of paper to design it properly." Larson added, "A fresh name helps free up people's thinking, which opens the possibility to do something truly remarkable in northern California."  

NCREX has begun its search for brokerage owners and brokerage senior executives to fill 12 of its 15 director seats. The three remaining seats are reserved for the organization's future CEO and two outside directors.  NCREX is searching for broker candidates who are business oriented, successful, and well respected industry leaders. To best represent its participants and subscribers, the directors will come from a mix of small, medium, and large size companies. "NCREX is being designed to serve its brokers, agents and other subscribers, not to be a profit center. Our goal is to create a technically competent information management and service delivery organization that is financially stable and designed to meet the challenges of tomorrow's business world. NCREX is not being designed to enrich anyone or any organization in the process." said Larson, the NCREX spokesperson.

To better serve the current and future needs of real estate professionals in northern California, the MLS participants have agreed to standardize on a single set of business rules and regulations and a common database structure. The organization will begin mapping the multiple databases into one common database format in late January. NCREX expects to have the standardized and consolidated database completed and populated by mid 2006 and available to brokers and their authorized IDX providers by Q3 2006. The multiple MLS organizations will consolidate operations and convert to the new NCREX system throughout 2007.

It is believed the regional MLS will create efficiencies for real estate brokers and agents by eliminating the need to belong to and navigate multiple MLSs and conform to multiple sets of rules and regulations.  These changes will allow brokers and agents to better serve consumers. The organizations founding NCREX are REInfolink, Contra Costa MLS, Bay East MLS, East Bay Regional Data, Central Valley MLS and the San Francisco Association of Realtors MLS. Other Northern California MLSs are invited to join NCREX. 

The idea of a state-wide MLS has been percolating recently.  This is a natural first step in that direction. However, to date the MLS associations involved are in the greater San Francisco Bay Region.  It remains to be seen if other REALTOR association located throughout Northern California - notably Sacramento, Sutter-Yuba and some of the other fastest growing areas will join with NCREX to make it a truly Northern California MLS or if it remains primarily a tool for Bay Area users.