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	<title>ConstructionMike.com</title>
	<atom:link href="http://constructionmike.com/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://constructionmike.com</link>
	<description>Making A Living In These Tough Times &#38; My Take On Politics &#38; Culture</description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:03:20 +0000</pubDate>
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			<item>
		<title>SCCG 1.1</title>
		<link>http://constructionmike.com/1235/sccg-11/</link>
		<comments>http://constructionmike.com/1235/sccg-11/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:59:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Construction]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Construction Guild]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Making Money]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Business Venture]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Closer Look]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Construction Business]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Contractor Referral Service]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Customer Base]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Google]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Google Search Bar]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Hadn]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Happy Customer]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Job]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Local Builders]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Long Time]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Main Contractor]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[New Jobs]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Plumber]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Recession]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Referral Companies]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Referral Web]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Referrals]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Term Customer]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Trades]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://constructionmike.com/?p=1235</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[	Back in August of this year I noticed a real drop in my long-time established construction business.  All of a sudden there were no calls and no job requests.  Other local builders had already experienced this.  The recession became very real all of a sudden.  My business has always been based upon referrals.  Referrals are [...]


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1151/the-construction-guild-2/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The Construction Guild'>The Construction Guild</a> <small>	A local C</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1028/what-are-you-doing/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: What are you doing?'>What are you doing?</a> <small>	I&#8217;v</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1142/local-construction-guild/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Local Construction Guild'>Local Construction Guild</a> <small>	I&#8217;m</small></li></ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[	<p>Back in August of this year I noticed a real drop in my long-time established construction business.  All of a sudden there were no calls and no job requests.  Other local builders had already experienced this.  The recession became very real all of a sudden.  My business has always been based upon referrals.  Referrals are the single best way to generate new jobs.  It&#8217;s all based on the quality and cost of your work.  A happy customer will gladly refer you to someone else.  A bad job is a dead end.  You might make some money, but it&#8217;s at the expense of developing your long-term customer base.</p>
	<p>This past year I had been learning about the Internet, specifically about developing some kind of online business.  I&#8217;d learned a lot but hadn&#8217;t really used this knowledge in a business venture.  All of a sudden I got the idea for an online referral web site.  I always work with and refer certain contractors because I trust them and  their work.  All of my work is from referrals.  But where does a customer who doesn&#8217;t have a trusted referral go to look for a contractor, a plumber, a trades person?  So I started to investigate this online.  I typed in &#8216;contractor referral&#8217; into the Google search bar.  I discovered a large number of web sites that promoted a contractor referral service.  So I decided to take a closer look.  I made a list of the main contractor referral companies and began my research.
</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1151/the-construction-guild-2/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The Construction Guild'>The Construction Guild</a> <small>	A local C</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1028/what-are-you-doing/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: What are you doing?'>What are you doing?</a> <small>	I&#8217;v</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1142/local-construction-guild/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Local Construction Guild'>Local Construction Guild</a> <small>	I&#8217;m</small></li></ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://constructionmike.com/1235/sccg-11/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Santa Cruz Construction Guild Facebook page is up</title>
		<link>http://constructionmike.com/1232/the-santa-cruz-construction-guild-facebook-page-is-up/</link>
		<comments>http://constructionmike.com/1232/the-santa-cruz-construction-guild-facebook-page-is-up/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:38:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Construction]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Construction Guild]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Internet Marketing]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Making Money]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Age Kids]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Bible]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Book Marketing]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Facebook]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Justin Smith]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Santa Cruz]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Tutoring]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://constructionmike.com/?p=1232</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[	The new SCCG Facebook Page is up  I don&#8217;t have much experience with Facebook, so I bought a book on Facebook Marketing.  It&#8217;s the &#8216;Facebook Marketing Bible&#8217; by Justin Smith.  I&#8217;m also talking to some college-age kids.  I may need to get some tutoring!
	Here is our new logo:
	



Related posts:Santa Cruz Construction Guild is one Page [...]


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1133/santa-cruz-construction-guild-is-one-page-one-of-google/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Santa Cruz Construction Guild is one Page One of Google'>Santa Cruz Construction Guild is one Page One of Google</a> <small>	This morn</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1230/facebook/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: FaceBook'>FaceBook</a> <small>	The Santa</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1121/the-construction-guild/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The Construction Guild'>The Construction Guild</a> <small>	Hello fel</small></li></ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[	<p>The new <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Santa-Cruz-Construction-Guild/217554862728" target="_blank">SCCG Facebook Page</a> is up  I don&#8217;t have much experience with Facebook, so I bought a book on Facebook Marketing.  It&#8217;s the &#8216;Facebook Marketing Bible&#8217; by Justin Smith.  I&#8217;m also talking to some college-age kids.  I may need to get some tutoring!</p>
	<p>Here is our new logo:</p>
	<p><a href="http://constructionmike.com/wp-content/uploads/guild-logo-v2008.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1233" title="guild-logo-v2008" src="http://constructionmike.com/wp-content/uploads/guild-logo-v2008.jpg" alt="guild-logo-v2008" width="378" height="408" /></a>
</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1133/santa-cruz-construction-guild-is-one-page-one-of-google/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Santa Cruz Construction Guild is one Page One of Google'>Santa Cruz Construction Guild is one Page One of Google</a> <small>	This morn</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1230/facebook/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: FaceBook'>FaceBook</a> <small>	The Santa</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1121/the-construction-guild/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The Construction Guild'>The Construction Guild</a> <small>	Hello fel</small></li></ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://constructionmike.com/1232/the-santa-cruz-construction-guild-facebook-page-is-up/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>FaceBook</title>
		<link>http://constructionmike.com/1230/facebook/</link>
		<comments>http://constructionmike.com/1230/facebook/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:41:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Construction]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Construction Guild]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Internet Marketing]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Making Money]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://constructionmike.com/?p=1230</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[	The SantaCruz Construction Guild Facebook Page is up.  I&#8217;m learning about how to use Social Media to let people know about us.



Related posts:The Santa Cruz Construction Guild Facebook page is up 	The new SThe Construction Guild 	Hello felConstruction Guild Member 	The Santa


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1232/the-santa-cruz-construction-guild-facebook-page-is-up/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The Santa Cruz Construction Guild Facebook page is up'>The Santa Cruz Construction Guild Facebook page is up</a> <small>	The new S</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1121/the-construction-guild/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The Construction Guild'>The Construction Guild</a> <small>	Hello fel</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1125/construction-guild-member/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Construction Guild Member'>Construction Guild Member</a> <small>	The Santa</small></li></ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[	<p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Santa-Cruz-Construction-Guild/217554862728?ref=mf" target="_blank">The SantaCruz Construction Guild Facebook Page</a> is up.  I&#8217;m learning about how to use Social Media to let people know about us.
</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1232/the-santa-cruz-construction-guild-facebook-page-is-up/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The Santa Cruz Construction Guild Facebook page is up'>The Santa Cruz Construction Guild Facebook page is up</a> <small>	The new S</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1121/the-construction-guild/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The Construction Guild'>The Construction Guild</a> <small>	Hello fel</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1125/construction-guild-member/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Construction Guild Member'>Construction Guild Member</a> <small>	The Santa</small></li></ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://constructionmike.com/1230/facebook/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>LEED Test Training</title>
		<link>http://constructionmike.com/1209/leed-test-training/</link>
		<comments>http://constructionmike.com/1209/leed-test-training/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:41:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Alternative Energy]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Internet Marketing Products]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Architect]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Certification Tests]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Green Energy]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Insights]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Job]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Leed Certification]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Pat Flynn]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[People]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Test Training]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://constructionmike.com/?p=1209</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[	I found a great site that helps people take the LEED certification tests successfully.  Pat Flynn  was laid off from his job as architect and had to find a way to create an income.  He had created a blog where he shared his insights into passing the LEED test.  His readers [...]


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1153/alternative-energy-2/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Alternative Energy'>Alternative Energy</a> <small>	Here</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/238/alternative-energy/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Alternative Energy'>Alternative Energy</a> <small>	Alternati</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/72/household-wind-appliance/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Household Wind Appliance'>Household Wind Appliance</a> <small>	Here</small></li></ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[	<p>I found a great site that helps people take the LEED certification tests successfully.  Pat Flynn  was laid off from his job as architect and had to find a way to create an income.  He had created a blog where he shared his insights into passing the LEED test.  His readers were so happy about this that they encouraged him to write a book.  he did, and you can find this at <a href="http://www.greenexamacademy.com" target="_blank">http://www.greenexamacademy.com</a></p>
	<p>LEED certification is important to anyone getting into green building and alternative energy.  Check out Pat&#8217;s site!
</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1153/alternative-energy-2/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Alternative Energy'>Alternative Energy</a> <small>	Here</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/238/alternative-energy/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Alternative Energy'>Alternative Energy</a> <small>	Alternati</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/72/household-wind-appliance/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Household Wind Appliance'>Household Wind Appliance</a> <small>	Here</small></li></ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://constructionmike.com/1209/leed-test-training/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Guild Logo</title>
		<link>http://constructionmike.com/1204/guild-logo/</link>
		<comments>http://constructionmike.com/1204/guild-logo/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:21:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Construction]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Construction Guild]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Internet Marketing]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Making Money]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Cummins]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Dee]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Digital Image]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Graphic Designer]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Guild Logo]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Local Restaurant]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Owner Friend]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Preliminary Design]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Residential Designer]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Restaurant Owner]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://constructionmike.com/?p=1204</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[	I&#8217;ve been working on the Guild logo this past week.  I went to a local designer who was referred to me by a local restaurant owner / friend.  I went to the designer&#8217;s office and asked him about mu need for a logo. How much will it cost?  He looked me in [...]


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1232/the-santa-cruz-construction-guild-facebook-page-is-up/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The Santa Cruz Construction Guild Facebook page is up'>The Santa Cruz Construction Guild Facebook page is up</a> <small>	The new S</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1155/construction-guild/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Construction Guild'>Construction Guild</a> <small>	The local</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1133/santa-cruz-construction-guild-is-one-page-one-of-google/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Santa Cruz Construction Guild is one Page One of Google'>Santa Cruz Construction Guild is one Page One of Google</a> <small>	This morn</small></li></ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[	<p>I&#8217;ve been working on the Guild logo this past week.  I went to a local designer who was referred to me by a local restaurant owner / friend.  I went to the designer&#8217;s office and asked him about mu need for a logo. How much will it cost?  He looked me in the eye and said; $2,500.  I had a momentary &#8220;er, what?!&#8221;, but he was serious.  I declined that offer.  Another local graphic designer who did some work for me years ago took a look at the project and ballparked it at $300-500. He suggested that the more time and effort I put into the preliminary design, the less expensive it would be.  We had similar ideas about the design, so I drew it up.  <a href="http://www.santacruzconstructionguild.com/susan-dee-cummins/" target="_blank">Susan Dee Cummins</a>, a residential designer and member of the SCCG offered to make a digital image of it in CAD.  Here is the preliminary design:<br />
<a href="http://constructionmike.com/wp-content/uploads/guild-darkhead2000.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1207" title="guild-darkhead2000" src="http://constructionmike.com/wp-content/uploads/guild-darkhead2000-299x300.jpg" alt="guild-darkhead2000" width="299" height="300" /></a>
</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1232/the-santa-cruz-construction-guild-facebook-page-is-up/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The Santa Cruz Construction Guild Facebook page is up'>The Santa Cruz Construction Guild Facebook page is up</a> <small>	The new S</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1155/construction-guild/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Construction Guild'>Construction Guild</a> <small>	The local</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1133/santa-cruz-construction-guild-is-one-page-one-of-google/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Santa Cruz Construction Guild is one Page One of Google'>Santa Cruz Construction Guild is one Page One of Google</a> <small>	This morn</small></li></ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Guild News</title>
		<link>http://constructionmike.com/1198/guild-news/</link>
		<comments>http://constructionmike.com/1198/guild-news/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:22:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Construction]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Construction Guild]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Internet Marketing]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Making Money]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Colored Markers]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Guild News]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Index Card]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Index Cards]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Orange Stripe]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Subcontractors]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://constructionmike.com/?p=1198</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[	It takes time to build the guild.  I started by contacting trusted contractors and subcontractors first.  Then I started talking to people they referred.  I use a simple system of 4&#215;6 index cards to keep track of all these folks.  Each person has their own index card.  I write their [...]


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1121/the-construction-guild/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The Construction Guild'>The Construction Guild</a> <small>	Hello fel</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1151/the-construction-guild-2/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The Construction Guild'>The Construction Guild</a> <small>	A local C</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1155/construction-guild/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Construction Guild'>Construction Guild</a> <small>	The local</small></li></ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[	<p>It takes time to build the guild.  I started by contacting trusted contractors and subcontractors first.  Then I started talking to people they referred.  I use a simple system of 4&#215;6 index cards to keep track of all these folks.  Each person has their own index card.  I write their name and contact info, plus all the relevant information and then I note when I contacted them and their response.  I also use colored markers to id these cards.  An orange stripe mean that I sent them all the information.  A green stripe means that they joined.  It&#8217;s really simple and low tech.  I like that.  It works for now.
</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1121/the-construction-guild/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The Construction Guild'>The Construction Guild</a> <small>	Hello fel</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1151/the-construction-guild-2/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The Construction Guild'>The Construction Guild</a> <small>	A local C</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1155/construction-guild/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Construction Guild'>Construction Guild</a> <small>	The local</small></li></ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Daily Guild</title>
		<link>http://constructionmike.com/1196/the-daily-guild/</link>
		<comments>http://constructionmike.com/1196/the-daily-guild/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:02:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Construction]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Construction Guild]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Internet Marketing]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Making Money]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Ads]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Free Classified Ad]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Good Times]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Local Entertainment]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Local Service]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[News Weekly]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Readership]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Santa Cruz]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://constructionmike.com/?p=1196</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[	I placed an ad with the local entertainment and news weekly - The &#8216;Good Times&#8217;.  I placed an ad in the local &#8216;Service Professional&#8217; column.  That costs $40/ week and runs for 13 weeks ata time.  They also threw in a free classified ad.  I picked the &#8216;Good Times&#8217; because it [...]


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1151/the-construction-guild-2/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The Construction Guild'>The Construction Guild</a> <small>	A local C</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1142/local-construction-guild/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Local Construction Guild'>Local Construction Guild</a> <small>	I&#8217;m</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1125/construction-guild-member/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Construction Guild Member'>Construction Guild Member</a> <small>	The Santa</small></li></ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[	<p>I placed an ad with the local entertainment and news weekly - The &#8216;Good Times&#8217;.  I placed an ad in the local &#8216;Service Professional&#8217; column.  That costs $40/ week and runs for 13 weeks ata time.  They also threw in a free classified ad.  I picked the &#8216;Good Times&#8217; because it has a large readership and people do check out the ads.  This ad is directed towards homeowners.  It&#8217;s part of building up the awareness of the Santa Cruz Construction Guild.
</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1151/the-construction-guild-2/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The Construction Guild'>The Construction Guild</a> <small>	A local C</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1142/local-construction-guild/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Local Construction Guild'>Local Construction Guild</a> <small>	I&#8217;m</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1125/construction-guild-member/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Construction Guild Member'>Construction Guild Member</a> <small>	The Santa</small></li></ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Hang &#8216;Em High</title>
		<link>http://constructionmike.com/1181/hang-em-high/</link>
		<comments>http://constructionmike.com/1181/hang-em-high/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:55:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Economics]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Alan Greenspan]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[American Democracy]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Andrew Fastow]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Apartment Prices]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Ben Bernanke]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Fat Cats]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Financial Charts]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Financial Collapse]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Financial Pyramid]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[George Soros]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Goldman Sachs]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Henry Paulson]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Israel Shamir]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Lehman Brothers]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Marc Rich]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Maurice Greenberg]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Merrill Lynch]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Michael Milken]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Tom Friedman]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Us Stock Markets]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://constructionmike.com/?p=1181</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[	Instead of spelling disaster, the financial collapse offers a unique opportunity to fix all of America’s ills.
	Hang &#8216;Em High!
By Israel Shamir
	Seven years after 9/11, we witness another, greater and even more enjoyable collapse, that of the American financial pyramid. It took some twenty years in building; its collapse took only a few weeks. Let us [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[	<p>Instead of spelling disaster, the financial collapse offers a unique opportunity to fix all of America’s ills.</p>
	<p>Hang &#8216;Em High!<br />
By Israel Shamir</p>
	<p>Seven years after 9/11, we witness another, greater and even more enjoyable collapse, that of the American financial pyramid. It took some twenty years in building; its collapse took only a few weeks. Let us cut the hypocritical crap: this was a wonderful show, no ifs, ands or buts. The US stock markets boomed when they bombed Baghdad and Belgrade, they prospered when they robbed Moscow and squeezed sweat from Beijing. When they had it good, they had plenty of money for invading Iraq, threatening Iran and strangling Palestine. In short, when it was good for them, it was bad for us. Let them have a taste of their own medicine!</p>
	<p>“They” are not the Americans, and “we” are not the rest of the planet. “They” are a small sliver of the American population, the get-rich-quick crowd from the East Side of Manhattan and similar places. The last twenty years witnessed a great shift of money upwards, to a smaller and smaller pack of greedy beasts. <span id="more-1181"></span>While the majority of Americans lost the ability to send their children to universities, these fat cats bought themselves villas in Florida and houses in Tel Aviv. Worse, they spent their billions buying up the media in order to subvert American democracy and send American soldiers to fight wars in far-away places. A big part of the stolen money was siphoned off to Israel, where apartment prices went through the roof and are still rising.</p>
	<p>They had it good; they were proud that the financial charts of the US and of the world were drawn up in a small room by Henry Paulson of the Treasury, Ben Bernanke and Alan Greenspan of the Federal Reserve, by Maurice Greenberg of A.I.G. They built their world surrounded by Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs, Marc Rich, Michael Milken, Andrew Fastow, George Soros, et al. Their exciting new world of Lexus and Nexus was glorified by Tom Friedman of the New York Times. They gave the Nobel Prize in Economics to Myron Scholes and Robert C. Merton, proud board directors of the now infamous Long Term Capital Management hedge fund that was bailed out by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to the tune of $3.6 billion. President Bush rewarded them for their unaccountability by releasing them from the burden of taxation. Let them pay now for all the fun they had.</p>
	<p>They took your real dollars and turned it into funny money &#8212; “unredeemable, non-interest-bearing promissory notes of the Fed, that are not backed by anything other than the confidence of the credulous”, in the words of one Internet wit. The ruination of the American working class and even its middle class is unavoidable The fears about the Large Hadron Collider creating a big black hole in place of Earth were based on this sinking feeling that the incredible riches of the US are disappearing into their own black hole.</p>
	<p>This is not the first confidence trick in US history: Jay Gould and Joseph Seligman caused the &#8216;Black Friday&#8217; stock market crash in the late 19th century, while Jacob Schiff caused the notorious ‘Black Thursday’ panic that led to a nationwide economic depression[1]. Seligman was also the mover behind the Panama affair, a stock market swindle that became proverbial in France. The swindle was set up by two Jews of German origin, Jacques Reinach and Cornelius Herz who bribed parliamentarians. While Reinach was working on the right wing, the ‘Republicans’ of his day, Herz was working on the ‘Democrats’. Wikipedia quotes Hannah Arendt, who wrote that the middlemen between the business sector and the state were almost exclusively Jews. This warm embrace between the state and the business sector was a recipe for disaster.</p>
	<p>Obviously things have changed since then, and now the Mammonites are of various persuasions, even of Christian Science, like Hank Paulson, whose net worth is estimated at $700 million and whose career at Goldman Sachs (Chairman 1998-2006) made him the obvious choice for the position of secretary of the treasury. Only their devotion to the god of Greed remained constant. In the world of ideal capitalism (“market economy”) they so glorified, they would have paid a price. In Glen David Gold’s vastly entertaining novel Carter Beats the Devil, their spiritual ancestor was tarred and feathered by strong-willed Connecticut folk circa 1670, for he had bought a whole boatload of imported products with the criminal intent of getting rich quick by cornering the market and ripping off his fellow men. Nowadays such a criminal would get a medal from the neo-liberal Milton Friedman Fund, a citation from JINSA and be taught as a positive example by the Harvard Business School.</p>
	<p>Now they intend to use their control over the government in order to shift their losses onto ordinary Americans. Whether this act is called ‘nationalisation’ or ‘privatisation’ or ‘bailout’, the bottom line is that many Americans will find themselves poor, and all Americans will have a huge tax burden to bear. But the perpetrators of the pyramid will get off scot-free; they will retire to their castles and to their sure and protected investments as they have always done before.</p>
	<p>The Americans were played for suckers; they were cleaned out as easily as were the unsophisticated Albanians a few years ago. Even worse: the Albanians took out their guns and pursued the robbers; the Americans take it all lying down. But the device was the same.</p>
	<p>The Americans are entitled to know who robbed them and their children: these are the men who became so ostentatiously rich during last two decades. They should pay the price of their crime. And if the government, the President, the Congress and Senate, the Democrats and the Republicans are reluctant to enforce it, the ordinary Americans may do as their Connecticut Yankee ancestors did: apply tar and feathers liberally. If this does not help, hang the bastards on the lamp posts.</p>
	<p>This is exactly the time to remember why America’s Founding Fathers enshrined the people’s right to own and bear arms in the Second Amendment to the Constitution. Thank God the ADL did not cancel it yet. These arms are not for robbers: they are given to enforce justice when all other means fail. Aux armes, to arms, as the French said when giving this treatment to their tricksters. America has a great tradition of instant direct justice enforcement, this Hang’em High call of the Westerns. Heed it now!</p>
	<p>Let US soldiers come back from unneeded wars and remote bases all over the world: their real enemy is in their own country. In the ringing, still relevant words of Lenin, let us turn the imperial war into a civil one, against the greedy bastards. Instead of charging taxpayers, turn the US into a billionaire-free zone! The billionaires, these greediest rats, gained most from the Great Pyramid; pauperise them. Nullify their bank accounts. The disappearance of trillions of dollars from their electronic bank accounts will drive the value of the greenback up; your salary will become real money again!</p>
	<p>If we assume that more than half of all billionaires are proud members of the Israel Lobby, it will also solve the Middle Eastern problem. To be on the safe side, confiscate all the assets of the Pyramid-builders: of Paulson and Bernanke, of Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs executives, and of President Bush who allowed it all to happen. Peace will come to Palestine, Afghanistan and Iraq; Americans will again become proud of their country. Such mass confiscation will restore democracy in the US: the next candidates for the Presidency will not go hat in hand to AIPAC to declare their fealty. The defeat of Greed will turn people back to God; the eliminated ballast will allow for national medical care, social security and free education for all. Instead of being a disaster, the financial collapse offers a unique opportunity to fix all America’s ills. Do not miss it!</p>
	<p>Speaking for the wide world outside America, I’ll tell you this: do not throw good money after bad. Reject the seductive purring from Washington. Consider your funds in the US already lost. If you can still get something, good; but do not waste money and efforts to regain what is gone. There is a most valuable asset you may get for the lost ones; that is your freedom and independence. An undermined dollar means your economy will be safe. The Pyramid collapse will set you free!</p>
	<p><a href="http://www.israelshamir.net/English/Hang.htm" target="_blank">LINK</a>
</p>


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		<title>Osmotic Power</title>
		<link>http://constructionmike.com/1179/osmotic-power/</link>
		<comments>http://constructionmike.com/1179/osmotic-power/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:10:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Alternative Energy]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://constructionmike.com/?p=1179</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[	Here is an interesting development in alternative energy:







Related posts:Alternative Energy 	HereAlternative Energy 	AlternatiHousehold Wind Appliance 	Here


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1153/alternative-energy-2/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Alternative Energy'>Alternative Energy</a> <small>	Here</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/238/alternative-energy/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Alternative Energy'>Alternative Energy</a> <small>	Alternati</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/72/household-wind-appliance/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Household Wind Appliance'>Household Wind Appliance</a> <small>	Here</small></li></ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[	<p>Here is an interesting development in alternative energy:<br />
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</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/1153/alternative-energy-2/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Alternative Energy'>Alternative Energy</a> <small>	Here</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/238/alternative-energy/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Alternative Energy'>Alternative Energy</a> <small>	Alternati</small></li><li><a href='http://constructionmike.com/72/household-wind-appliance/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Household Wind Appliance'>Household Wind Appliance</a> <small>	Here</small></li></ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>Local Connections</title>
		<link>http://constructionmike.com/1162/local-connections/</link>
		<comments>http://constructionmike.com/1162/local-connections/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:07:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Construction]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Construction Guild]]></category>

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		<category><![CDATA[Santa Cruz]]></category>

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		<category><![CDATA[Trust Network]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Uncertain Times]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://constructionmike.com/?p=1162</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[	I started the local Santa Cruz Construction Guild as a way to network and to create work for members.  In these uncertain times it&#8217;s important to connect with good people.  Trades people and builders who have built up a solid reputation for good work should connect more with each other.  A reliable trust network can [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[	<p>I started the local <a href="http://www.santacruzconstructionguild.com" target="_blank">Santa Cruz Construction Guild</a> as a way to network and to create work for members.  In these uncertain times it&#8217;s important to connect with good people.  Trades people and builders who have built up a solid reputation for good work should connect more with each other.  A reliable trust network can only be a good thing.  Phase One has been completed. The basic guild is in place with 35 members.  The next phase will focus on expanding membership and developing new ways of connecting with the public.  The aim is to generate work for the members.<br />
Contact me about information on starting your own local construction guild.
</p>


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