King Lebron James made his house plans public, and they are impressive. 

The typical amenities that most mansions have will be the Master bedroom and have a 2 story, 2,000 sqft closet. Also a 6 car garage.

Now for the good stuff 

The home will have a movie theater, casino, two-lane bowling alley, barber shop, aquarium, sports bar and a recording studio.

35,000 sqft and no Startbucks…even Tommy Lee of Motley Crue has a Starbucks (along with a variety of of other toys)

It’s my dark little street that I live on. It’s like Disneyland that’s gone terribly wrong. It’s a fun place, like I started Tommyland when I named my house Tommyland, because to me it was the ultimate adult playground. There’s swings over the piano, sex swings in the bedroom, a Starbucks coffee thing in the bar, and a bar in a recording studio, a dirt bike track in the back to ride Dirt Bikes and swimming pools, Koi ponds and Japanese gardens. It’s like the ultimate adult playground and that’s where Tommyland came from. So I just kinda put that into my music or book or whatever.

So the question is…what is the thing that you would want in you house if you could have anything? 

I actually find that a hard question, because you have start thinking really absurdly to even start to get into the realm of what is possible…but for me, I would have to say, me and Lebron think alike…although I can do without the barbershop, and aquarium.

See, it's hard, I'm getting rational by saying I don't need the barbershop…

Popularity: 5% [?]

This week has been all about fun and games.  First Inman News reports that Coldwell Banker "goes virtual" with home sales on Second Life, then today Drew Myers at Zillow solicits ideas for real estate games using the Zillow API. Since we're all in the gaming spirit, we'd thought this would be the perfect time to share what we've been up to in the real estate gaming world.

We have a lot of stuff in the pot, and want to tickle you guys with the latest real estate tool we have in the works…Fantasy Real Estate  (TM).

What is it? I'm not telling.

What's it about? I'm not telling.

Is it a mashup? Is it a search engine? Maybe…

Is it going to get agents more business? yes
Will the public use it to find homes? yes
Will New data models be created with this? yes
Have I ever seen anything like it? NO!

We have been programming this for a long time, and we are very excited to say that it is in the last phase of development before we release it… Go check it out and get on the list for beta testers and early notifications.

Popularity: 7% [?]

It's really not an IVR (Interactive Voice Response) system, but it looks like www.gotvoice.com can handle some of the tasks a normal 800 Lead capture system can do, with a couple extra features.

We use Freedomvoice for our 800 Lead capture system. If you are unfamiliar with IVR, it is simply a voice mailbox in which  you record messages and provide the extensions to listen to the message. (example: 1-800-255-3254 x123) IF you do not use an 800 number, I highly recommend them. We pay around $30 a month for 100 mailboxes. (100-599). Mailboxes 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 all point to the same mailbox, but this allows you to track the incoming phone call. For example, If I make a message and set that message to mailbox 1, the extension will be 101, 201, 301, 401, and 501. mailboxes in the 100 range are from for sale sign calls, 200 are from Craigslist, 300 are from the newspaper, etc… The IVR systems will capture most phone calls, but the new VOIP, especially skype numbers do not get captured. For an extra service fee you can even capture address information for the phone number that called your mailbox.

There is a new FREE service from gotvoice.com that allows you receive all your voicemails on your computer. I know that service is not new, but there are a couple features of this service that I really think are interesting. 

1. You can record a message and broadcast it to all your contacts. I can see this used the same way we use our e-newsletters…create a service that broadcasts "Good Deals" or "Must Sells". You create a short message (they only allow 16 seconds) then broadcast it out to your contacts. It can ring the contacts phone or go directly to voicemail.
2. Call capture – although, I'm pretty sure this will not capture as many phone numbers as Freedomvoice. Freedomvoice captures all numbers including restricted numbers.
3. Check, and listen to all your messages online. I don't know if it is just me, but I hate checking voicemails on my phone…something about having to hit a bunch of numbers and listening to the recorded voice on my phone. I'm much more adept to check my messages from my computer.

This is going to be fun to play with. It will not replace our 800 number, but I can see some cool uses and it's just the beginning. If Freedomvoice allowed me to record my messages online like gotvoice, I would be in heaven. That would save me so much time, and keep me organized…

Of course you can probably see how this can be used to send mass messages (Spam) to people…Here is gotvoice's short list violations from their terms of service:

• Use the Communication Service in connection with surveys, contests, pyramid schemes, chain letters, junk voicemail, spamming or any duplicative or unsolicited messages (commercial or otherwise).
• Defame, abuse, harass, stalk, threaten or otherwise violate the legal rights (such as rights of privacy and publicity) of others.
• Publish, post, upload, distribute or disseminate any inappropriate, profane, defamatory, obscene, indecent or unlawful topic, name, material or information.
• Publish, post, upload, distribute or disseminate any topic, name, material or information that incites discrimination, hate or violence towards one person or a group because of their belonging to a race, a religion or a nation, or that insults the victims of crimes against humanity by contesting the existence of those crimes.
• Upload, or otherwise make available, files that contain sounds, voices, software or other material protected by intellectual property laws, including, by way of example, and not as limitation, copyright or trademark laws (or by rights of privacy or publicity) unless you own or control the rights thereto or have received all necessary consents to do the same.
• Use any material or information, including sounds or voices which are made available through the GotVoice Service in any manner that infringes any copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, or other proprietary right of any party.
• Upload files that contain viruses, Trojan horses, worms, time bombs, cancelbots, corrupted files, or any other similar software or programs that may damage the operation of another's computer or property of another.
• Use of meta tag searches on the web sites.
• Advertise or offer to sell or buy any goods or services for any business purpose, unless such Communication Service specifically allows such messages.
• Download any file posted by another user of a Communication Service that you know, or reasonably should know, cannot be legally distributed in such manner.
• Falsify or delete any author attributions, legal or other proper notices or proprietary designations or labels of the origin or source of software or other material contained in a file that is uploaded.
• Restrict or inhibit any other user from using and enjoying the Communication Services.
• Violate any code of conduct or other guidelines which may be applicable for any particular Communication Service.
• Harvest or otherwise collect information about others, including e-mail addresses.
• Violate any applicable laws or regulations.
• Create a false identity for the purpose of misleading others.
• Use, download or otherwise copy, or provide (whether or not for a fee) to a person or entity any directory of users of a GotVoice Service or other user or usage information or any portion thereof.

 

Popularity: 6% [?]

San Francisco would probably be America's craziest place… If it wasn't for Berkeley, our wacky neighbors to the East.

Shawn Alexander, who came from Fresno to visit her daughter Madison at Cal, was a bit surprised to see naked people in trees.

Source: SFGate.com 

Her daughter could only shrug and say, "This is the perfect 'only in Berkeley moment' to show to your mom."

Most of the participants quickly clothed themselves after the shoot and left. But a few lingered, nude, to take photos. Jess Walsh has been living in one of the oaks since December, and she was in no hurry to put her clothes back on.

"I'm having too much fun," she said. "This is liberating. I feel totally free. I recommend that everyone try getting naked in a big tree sometime."

I read a lot of blogs with posts about how good their city is and how interesting the places are around their town… Well let me say, your city is nothing compared to the Bay Area.

Here is couple other activites you can check out, and there is at least a 60% chance nude protesters will be at all of them

1. This weekend 12th Annual Anarchist Bookfair
   
   The bicycle parking area provided by the SF Bicycle Coalition was filled by noon with bikes of every make and size, and by 4pm the County Fair Building’s main hall was filled to capacity as people wandered between the rows of vendor tables laden with books, posters, t-shirts, free literature, patches and DVDs, groups from all over the west coast and beyond. It was quite a sight!

   hmmm….an organized anarchist event? Wonder if there are any books on oxymorons?
   

2. Please join us for a Critical Mass-style ride through the streets of SF this Sunday. We need numbers to make this work! Meet at Delores Park and bring a snack, signs, posters, music, kids. Make a statement about the war—ride your bike!

   "Make a statement about the war—ride your bike!" JEEZZZZ!

3. So, the Home Depot in Emeryville seems to have a MUCH better plant selection than the one in Colma, so I'm headed there this morning… probably around 11:00 am. Want a ride? I'm coming from the Richmond district, and can pick you up anywhere between there and the Bay Bridge.
   Source: Just a post from Craigslist

Have fun in your city this weekend, I know will… Going to Emeryville, Wooohoooo!

Popularity: 5% [?]

I thought this topic would interest a lot of people because last night something happened at our house that probably doesn't happen to a lot of people. It made me think about situational living and how it is hard to find real truth in neighborhoods. I think it would be interesting to read blogs about real events that happen in your neighborhoods, good or bad.

Basically, I live on a busy street in San Francisco, we hardly talk to our neighbors, but we do say "hi" if we see them. We also have our share of "shady" neighbors…that is really just a stereotype, because we have never really talked to them.

Last night around 11pm, we heard rapid-fire gun shots right outside our house. Maybe 8-10 shots really fast. I have shot a gun before so I'm familiar with the sound, but I have never been this close to "unknown" gunfire. It's pretty scary. 

Late at night we all turn the TV's down and we start to relax so gunfire is even louder then normal. Let me give you some situational living examples. If this has never happened to you, you will probably do this.

You hear rapid, loud "pops". If you are alone, you look the window, but since I was with Trang, we just looked at each other. Actually I think one eye was on Trang, and the other was on the window. You just sit there scared that a bullet might come through the window. It only takes about 5 seconds for all the "pops" to stop. Then you hear a car speeding away…but you still don't know what to do. Your hearts pumping even though you pretty much know its over. Then you look for your phone, just to have it…You want to go to the window, or even open the front door to look out, but you're still a little scared. You have to though, what if there is someone outside in the street dying? So you peak out the window, and you see all your neighbors doing the same thing…some are already outside. Then the cop cars start appearing, so everyone goes to the street and starts talking and chatting. We never talk to each other except for when there is a problem. The whole event lasts for about 15 minutes.

About 2 Thanksgivings ago, this happened while Trang and I were in San Diego. When we got back, we saw the flowers on the street and a little makeshift memorial for someone that was shot and killed in front of our house. That disturbed me, but not enough to make us want to move…It could happen anywhere in my opinion. If this shooting resulted in a death, I think we would definitely be looking to move ASAP.

I'm wondering if this happens a lot? have you ever heard gunshots late at night, right outside your home?

Funny, because our house value is around $850K…Not really funny, but if you think about those shows on HGTV about home prices around the country, "what you get for the money"…for $850K you get 1, maybe 2 shootings a year.

what would you do? would you move, or stay, or go by a gun to protect yourself? 

Popularity: 5% [?]

I made my first Blidget (Blog Widget) and it was ridiculously simple (I'm sure some of you have already done this).  It literally took me 2 minutes to make this and you can see it in action here.    Make your own by going to http://www.widgetbox.com/ and just enter your blog URL, customize the colors and that's it  -  widgetbox does the rest.  Let others subscribe to it and track how many hits you get.  (doesn't it look like a Nano ?):

Enjoy!

Popularity: 7% [?]

Am I going to update the time on all my tech gear tonight? No way, I live on the edge. I'm hoping to wake up and see a mega tech gadget war happening in my living room. Similar to "Mad Max". Basically a small tech gadget apocalypse. I don't know if it will be an all out, battle-royale, or an organized team-deathmatch, but either way, should be exciting!

I'm sure some gadgets are against war (IPOD) but you never know when the $#&@^ hits the fan.

All the tech in my house:
Camcorder, Digital camera, IPOD, Treo 650, Blackjack, XBOX 360, Gateway laptop, Sony Viao, Comcast Cable box, DVD Player, Video game switch, Cable modem, a tribe of wireless routers (3), USB voice recorders, RIO MP3 player, a couple alarm clocks and radios.

There are about 5 remotes controls for various hardware in the living room. These will probably be used as weapons.

My flatscreen TV will most likely be the center point of the battle, displaying messages from the supreme being.

I know what you're thinking, "Matt, What about the kitchen appliances?" Don't worry, I have thought of them. I'm assuming they will play dumb, until the major fighting is over, and then jump in. It's an old school tactic, but very effective. They don't call kitchen appliances "The Roaches of technology" for nothing.

Oh man, this is what you blog about before you have a chance to drink some coffee. This all started from an email I got from Palm to update my Treo 650.

Palm(R)

**********************************************************************
NEW Daylight Saving Time changes – Palm(R) device update required!
**********************************************************************

You are receiving this product-related message because our records
indicate that you have purchased and/or registered a Palm device.

Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins March 11, 2007 — three weeks
earlier than last year. DST will also last one week longer in the
fall as well, changing back to standard time on November 11, 2007.

To help your calendar events and email reflect these new DST changes,
please visit the link below to download the DST update for all Palm(R)
devices. Remember, your device will NOT update automatically, so
please download this update from Palm.com before March 11:
http://News.palmnewsletters.com/cgi-bin13/DM/y/ekJl0VrFdG0HXH0Zlu0Go

Popularity: 6% [?]

It's called "domaining", "domain Kiting", or "domain tasting". It is the art of buying domain names and parking them with adsense. I'm sure you know exactly what I'm talking about…so many times, I search for a domain name and see it taken, then I go to the website and find a single page parked with tons of ads on it. Frustrating, isn't it. need an example, look at domaining.com, it's a perfect example.

Domain tasting lets you try a domain name for about 5 days without having to buy it. Spammers have written automatic scripts to register as many domain names as possible. They immediately park ads on the site, and try to get some clicks. If the site does not produce they drop the name, or they drop it and re-register it immediatly…known as "domain kiting". So they can basically keep millions of domain names without paying for them. Of course the process is immediate so there is no chance for you to try to get a one of these domain names when they expire.

The spammers throw away the domain name if they do not generate any money, so how much does the domain need to generate in order to be kept? try $6 a year…not a day, not a month, $6 a year. Of course multiply that my thousands of websites and you are making some serious money.

With up to six million names tied up at any given time through a practice known as domain-name tasting, individuals and businesses are having even greater difficulty finding good names, particularly in the already-crowded dot-com space.

The practice has spiked, with an average tasting of 1.2 million names each day in December, compared with 7,200 two years earlier, according to data from Name Intelligence, which analyzes domain name patterns. Legitimate registrations made up 2 percent of the registrations at the end of 2006, down from about half in 2004.

Source: International Herald

Here is some good information about domain parking: Netbusinessblog.com 

How do you get an expired domain…old story, but a good read: expired domain auctions 

Bottom line is this, if it can earn 2 cents a day it can provide 6% ROI, at 3 cents a day that's a whopping 60% ROI and that's the bottom of the barrel, look and you can hand register much better than that daily.
Source: Webmasterworld forum on parking

so next time you try to get a domain name and find them all taken, just know you are not alone. 

Popularity: 8% [?]

We added a new plugin to our site today. It is called Link Love, and it rewards passionate readers by giving a link back to their site.

Normally, when you comment on blogs you do not get a link back, because of a 'nofollow' attribute. This is so spammers do not get a hold of your site and blast comments all over them and get better page rank…Oh wait yeah they still do that.

to give link love, use this plugin: Allpassion link love
To keep spammers off your site: Spam Karma 2 (Incredible plugin)

But wait, I don't just give love, I need to get some first, so you have to be a regular reader/commenter on our blog before you can get link love. I'm not telling how many comments you have to post, but I will say it is very low… 5 …I just want to make sure that the spammers don't get through. I can change it anytime.

BTW, comments like "great post", and "I like your blog", and "do you need Viagra" will get you nowhere!

If you have a real estate blog, and either remove the nofollow, or install the above plugin, let me know. I want to start a list of blogs that "Give the Love" 

Popularity: 7% [?]

Ok, so we have our tags set up from part 1 for single post pages. Now we need to make our title even more keyword friendly and use some of the tags we are generating to use on our main page.
View Part one

Make sure you have activated SEO Title Tags. Look in the options section of your blog admin and you will see SEO Title Tags. You should add a more specific title for your main blog...in this section: "For home page, specify title tag" enter a sentence that describes your blog. For example, here is my new title: "Real Estate Blog Consulting: Real World Tips For Marketing Blogs and Introductions to Technology". This will replace your current blog title, which is created from the options->General section of your blog. We have "Realivent Real Estate Technology Blog" in that section. This will still be used on all single pages and posts. The SEO Title Tag will also rearrange the title for all single posts and pages to display the post title, before the blog title. Before we activated the SEO Title Tag, our title for this post looked like this: Realivent Real Estate Technology Blog >> Better SEO for your Website using Plugins and Tags -Part 2 now it looks like this: Better SEO for your Website using Plugins and Tags -Part 2 >> Realivent Real Estate Technology Blog. It subtle, but effective.

before your blog changes the title, you have to add a little bit of php code to your header.php file.

In your current theme folder, open the header.php file and find the title tags.
Before:

After:

Basically the above code says, if the SEO Title tag is activated it will display the new formatted title, if SEO Title Tag is not activated, Wordpress will display the original title. So even if you remove the plugin, you title will still display your blog information. That's it for SEO Title Tags, our title is now golden. Are you on the first page of Google yet?

Let's go back to Tag Warrior again, we still have to add meta keywords to the main blog page.

Remember that Tag Warrior already makes meta keywords for single page posts, so we do not have to do anything. But for the main page, we need to add tags. I am going to us the UTW_ShowWeightedTagSet function to get the most popular tags for my blog and put them in the meta keywords. So my meta keywords will always match my content.

enter this code into the header.php file.

What the above code says: if the page is not a single post, (! = not true, or false) fill the content of our meta keywords with the most popular tags. The number 40, means I only want to show the top 40 tags, I would leave it at 0 to show all. But sometimes to many keywords is bad, Google will think you are a keyword spammer. For more information about the UTW functions, you can read about them from the options page for the plugin. There are links to formats and functions built by the author.

That should do it for the start of our SEO optimization. We now have a keyword friendly title, and heavy keywords in our metatags based on our most popular tags. Even if this has no effect, it only took us about 30 minutes and we don't every have to do it again...Next I'm going to try to remove all my html errors, and validate my html. I think I had over 400 last time I verified my html...I'm sure it's just going to be easy, I'll let you know how it goes. 

Popularity: 7% [?]