Laneway Home: Special Real Estate post

   April 29th

  I live in the Toronto Downtown Core.  Recently was cycling my neighborhood when I came across this new idea that has been mentioned in the new.

 Laneway Homes are coming..                                     

                                          

Garage Mural in Downtown Toronto

                                                   

The Mentor's Mentor: Book Review

                                                                                         

  Jim Pagiamtzis review:
       Corey Olynik shares tremendous insights on the power of having mentors and strategies to accomplish huge success!

 10 out of 10 stars


 About book:

We hear a lot about mentoring. Not many resources to show us how to do it with impact. This book lives up to that promise.

Author Corey Olynik obviously loves helping people become all they can. You can hear it in the stories. You can feel it in the approaches. Corey has “been there, done that.” His insights into both the mentor and the protege are spot on. His techniques are tested. His hopes are evident.

The Mentor’s Mentor is a unique combination of motivation and how-to. His unique understanding of the mentoring relationship becomes clear from the first page.

In The Mentor’s Mentor you’ll learn six different roles every good mentor must play:

Confidante - creating a trusting environment for meaningful conversation.
Role Model - sharing stories from one person’s life to help another grow.
Guide - pointing out landmarks, small victories ahead and how to work toward them.
Tutor - helping someone learn and, more importantly, want to learn the things she is missing.
Coach - heartily patting someone on the back and gracefully poking him with a stick.
Sage - understanding someone’s higher purpose, connecting to it and showing how progress is being regularly made toward it.

The Mentor’s Mentor teaches how to live each of these roles effectively and how to recognize when to switch between them.

The Mentor’s Mentor is practical. The Mentor’s Mentor is inspiring. The Mentor’s Mentor is challenging. The Mentor’s Mentor is entertaining.

Absorb this book and you’ll be a better mentor, a better spouse, a better friend, a better boss, a better human being  learn more and buy book

Napoleon Dynamite (2004):Movie Review

                                                                                       

 Jim Pagiamtzis review
            A terrific film that follows the journey of Napoleon Dynamite and his weird and amazing friends.  So many lessons in the movie I lost track after the first 10 minutes!

 10 out of 10 stars



 About film:
Napoleon, a socially awkward teenager, gets caught up in his dysfunctional family's misadventures while trying to help a friend win the class presidency.

                                                   


The Best sequence in the film!
                                   

Jackass Number Two unrated (2006): Movie Review

                                                                   

  Jim Pagiamtzis review
           I didn't see the first one (thank goodness). I came across accidentally number two (seriously) and I don't know how I survived all there stupid, ridiculous and disgusting things they did to one another and to other unsuspecting people

  5 out of 10 stars



 About film:
 Daredevils (Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Steve-O) go for the gross-out when they subject an unsuspecting public to more outrageous stunts and practical jokes. Danger, pain and bodily fluids are in plentiful supply as the gang tries to up the ante in the continuous quest to shock and annoy.


                                               

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014): Movie Review

                                                                    

  Jim Pagiamtzis review:
       The most unlikely superheroes are put together to due unfortunate circumstances to fight Ronan the Accuser
      This is important film the leads to event that occur in Avenger Infinity War (2018_ and Avengers Engame (2019)


 About movie:
 Peter escapes from the planet Morag with a valuable orb that Ronan the Accuser wants. He eventually forms a group with unwilling heroes to stop Ronan.


                                             

Called To Action: Book Review

                                                                           

  Jim Pagiamzis review
    An amazing compilation of stories from professionals reflecting the journey of success and what they learned.
  
  7 out of 10 stars


 About book;
  Called to Action is a Leadership book anthology of inspiring stories by industry leaders and professionals who have answered their call to action in their personal and/or professional lives. Featuring multiple co-authors, every chapter is an engaging read with stories from leaders who have shown courage, vision and had an impact on the greater community in how they lead others and themselves.

Raising the bar on leadership excellence.

Called to Action is a co-authored book project by Sangeeta Bhatnagar and this very special team of leaders in their field: Afshan Kinder, Albert Di Mauro, Amar Narain, Asad Mirza, Bruce Simpson, Bruno Mariejeanne, David Fairweather, Elizabeth Sedlacek, Flavio Pereira, Kent MacPhee, Lisa Running, Mike Aoki, Neal Dlin, Penny St. Antoine, Rose-marie Fernandez, Sharon Oatway, Tara Wilson, and Tracy Valko . Read and buy book

Mental Health and the Role of Society to Combat it: Special Podcast

                                                                  

Last week (April 18th-19th, 2020) a mass shooter went on a rampage for over 12 hours in the province of Nova Scotia here in Canada. Investigations are still on the way at the time we recorded this episode but there are strong signs of a mental problem for the shooter.

 Two years ago, in about the same period, a mentally ill man killed 10 people hitting them in a rental truck in Toronto, only two months after that another mentally ill armed young man killed two and injured 13 in a mass shooting in the Danforth area in Toronto. 

Endless stories of people taking their own lives because of mental problems and the issue got bigger during the COVID-19 crisis.

 In this episode we are trying to shed some light on the mental health issue and how the society (local or global) can combat it together. 

Sharing personal stories and life experiences we're not trying to, nor claiming, that we offer any solution but we're trying to keep the conversation going on as we believe it's not being talked about enough. 

Episode Topics: 1- 0:20 Intro and paying respect for the Nova Scotia shooting victims. https://youtu.be/6Z9v8gsukGI?t=0m20s 

2- 4:13 How governments (Federal or Provincial), cities and municipalities can help in the mental health issues https://youtu.be/6Z9v8gsukGI?t=4m13s 

 3- 24: 10 The bigger role of the community to help combatting the mental issues and create safe spaces for people with mental problems. https://youtu.be/6Z9v8gsukGI?t=24m10s 

 4- 49:50 Closing remarks https://youtu.be/6Z9v8gsukGI?t=49m50s

 




                                                   

Maria Full of Grace (2004): Movie Review

                                                                                  

    Jim Pagiamtzis review:
          Maria (Catalina Sandino Moreno) goes on journey to make her own life and then it turns out she running for her life!

  6 out of 10 stars


  About film:
 Seventeen-year-old Colombian Maria (Catalina Sandino Moreno) is desperate: pregnant and with a large family to care for, she's forced to leave a demanding job after an altercation with her boss. Needing work as soon as possible, she encounters charming Franklin (John Álex Toro), who offers her a dangerous job as a drug mule. With cocaine pellets in her stomach, Maria flies to New York for the drug drop-off, but finds her new line of work may be far riskier than it initially seemed.






                                              

          

Blue Crush (2002):Movie Review

                                                        

    Jim Pagiamtzis review
       Spectacular actions sequences and the acting no so much.

  6 out of 10 stars



About film
 As a hard-core surfer girl prepares for a big competition, she finds herself falling for a football player.
                                      

Kingdom of Heaven (2005): Movie Review

                                                                          

    Jim Pagiamtzis review
    Amazing cast Orlando Bloom, Liam Neeson, Eva Green and the battle that happened in the twelfth century.

 7 out of 10 stars



  About film
 In the twelfth century, blacksmith Balian travels to Jerusalem, a city seething with religious wars. He transforms into a defending warrior who saves the city and its people.

                                          

Lesson learned from playing XBOX 360 during April 2020.

   April 2020

    In early March a neighbor was about to put his XBOX 360 and 10 games outside of his house when I asked him "Are you getting rid of it?"  He responded 'Yes I am, you want it?"

 I told him "I have not played video games in over 35 years!" He had bid smile and said  "A great new home for it ENJOY!"

 I was like "Okay!" So I took it and did nothing with it for a week. Had to find a monitor that I could plug into it and that happened also in a interesting way. There was couple moving near the library I pass by and one day and they had the monitor on their lawn and asked if it was for sale. They said "take it!"

 So I took it home and cleaned it and with the help of Google and YouTube I hooked it up!

  In the coming weeks I have only played one game Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 and have not fared well at all. Slowly I have been playing better in the easy levels.

 Look forward to playing the rest of the games! stay tuned..





                                               

Employment in the 21st Century n Post COVID 19 (S01 E03): Special Podcast post

                                                                  

About show:

Artificial Intelligence is affecting the employment market in the 21st century and automation is claimed to take a lot of human jobs. 

 

In this episode we will take on the controversial topic on how employment in the 21st century has changed because of the advancements of technology. 

 

We’re taking on the new standards of employment, the skill set training for the upcoming job market and the role of businesses and individuals in the modern job market. 

 

 Episode Topics: - 01:05

  Intro: Our format and timing based on audience request https://youtu.be/8m_zW1g4lfc?t=1m5s - 

 

 03:25 Automation and machines taking jobs from humans https://youtu.be/8m_zW1g4lfc?t=3m25s - 

 

 13:57 Companies laying off people and don’t care of training them for skill upgrades https://youtu.be/8m_zW1g4lfc?t=13m57s -

 

 23:15 AI is changing the way of evaluating people and how people can manipulate the evaluation process https://youtu.be/8m_zW1g4lfc?t=23m15s 

 

- 33:28 Biases in Employment (ageism, sexism, cultural backgrounds…. 

 

Etc.) https://youtu.be/8m_zW1g4lfc?t=33m28s - 44:08 Closing Statement: How modern employment should adapt the technology in a way that not affect the human factor

 

 https://youtu.be/8m_zW1g4lfc?t=44m08s #Employment #QLPodcast #JobMarket #COVID19 #AI

                                      

Bad Boys 2 (2003): Movie Review

                                                       

  Jim Pagiamtzis review
         Spectacular sequel with more action and terrific dynamic between Martin Lawrence (Marcus Burnett and Will Smith ( Mike Lowery)

 10 out of 10 stars


 Movie plot
Mike and Marcus, the Miami Police Department detectives, investigate the flow of drugs into Miami. Their search leads them to a dangerous drug lord who is planning to control the city's drug trade.

                                    

How Not to BE Wrong The Power of Mathematical Thinking:Movie Review

                                                                       

  Jim Pagiamtzis review:
     "Every chapter was simple amazing to read from front to back. Must read!"

  10 out of 10 stars


 About book

  The Freakonomics of math—a math-world superstar unveils the hidden beauty and logic of the world and puts its power in our hands

The math we learn in school can seem like a dull set of rules, laid down by the ancients and not to be questioned. In How Not to Be Wrong, Jordan Ellenberg shows us how terribly limiting this view is: Math isn’t confined to abstract incidents that never occur in real life, but rather touches everything we do—the whole world is shot through with it.

Math allows us to see the hidden structures underneath the messy and chaotic surface of our world. It’s a science of not being wrong, hammered out by centuries of hard work and argument. Armed with the tools of mathematics, we can see through to the true meaning of information we take for granted: How early should you get to the airport? What does “public opinion” really represent? Why do tall parents have shorter children? Who really won Florida in 2000? And how likely are you, really, to develop cancer?

How Not to Be Wrong presents the surprising revelations behind all of these questions and many more, using the mathematician’s method of analyzing life and exposing the hard-won insights of the academic community to the layman—minus the jargon. Ellenberg chases mathematical threads through a vast range of time and space, from the everyday to the cosmic, encountering, among other things, baseball, Reaganomics, daring lottery schemes, Voltaire, the replicability crisis in psychology, Italian Renaissance painting, artificial languages, the development of non-Euclidean geometry, the coming obesity apocalypse, Antonin Scalia’s views on crime and punishment, the psychology of slime molds, what Facebook can and can’t figure out about you, and the existence of God.

Ellenberg pulls from history as well as from the latest theoretical developments to provide those not trained in math with the knowledge they need. Math, as Ellenberg says, is “an atomic-powered prosthesis that you attach to your common sense, vastly multiplying its reach and strength.” With the tools of mathematics in hand, you can understand the world in a deeper, more meaningful way. How Not to Be Wrong will show you how. Learn more and buy book

Casablanca (1942): Movie Review

                                                                 

         Jim Pagiamzis review:
             Spectacular perfomances by Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart and awesome supporting cast in the movie classic

 10 out of 10 stars


        Movie plot:
          During WWII, Rick, a nightclub owner in Casablanca, agrees to help his former lover Ilsa and her husband. Soon, Ilsa's feelings for Rick resurface and she finds herself renewing her love for him.

         
                                                           

Stir of Echoes (1999): Movie Review

                                                                   

   Jim Pagiamtzis review:
       Kevin Baco is stellar performance in 1999!

  8 out of 10 stars



       Movie Review;
     Blue-collar family man Tom Witzky (Kevin Bacon) scoffs at supernatural phenomena -- until he lets his wife's sister, Lisa (Illeana Douglas), put him into a hypnotic trance. Upon waking, Tom realizes he has a psychic connection with his son, Jake (Zachary David Cope). He also has alarming hallucinations of a missing teenage neighbor named Samantha (Jennifer Morrison). Tom, convinced his visions will lead him to the girl, begins a desperate search that puts him into a life-threatening situation.

                                                  

XBOX 3600 GB HD:Product Review

                                                         

         Jim Pagiamtzis review
         "Fabulous system with amazing games"
 
   10 out of 10 stars

       About product
   Game Controller

• Connectivity Technology
  wireless
• Controls
  A button, B button, Back button, D-pad, Guide button, Left bumper, Left trigger, Right bumper, Right trigger, Start button, X button, Y button, dual analog sticks

General

• Video Memory
  10 MB
• Sound
  Surround Sound
• Network
  Fast Ethernet
• Games Included
  Pro Evolution Soccer 2009
• Manufacturer
  Microsoft

Connections

• Qty
  1, 3
• Type
  AV cable port, HDMI output, LAN, USB 2.0

Video Output

• Max External Resolution
  1920 x 1080
• Graphics Processor
  ATI Xbox 360
• Video Modes
  1080i, 1080p (Full HD), 480p, 720p
• Analog Video Format
  PAL
• Video System
  PAL

Miscellaneous

• Included Game Console Accessories
  AC power adapter, SCART adapter, Xbox Live headset, component HD AV cable, ethernet network cable
• Compatibility
  MS Windows XP Media Center compatible

Header

• Brand
  Microsoft
• Product Line
  Microsoft Xbox
• Model
  360
• Packaged Quantity
  1

Game Console

• Name
  Xbox 360
• Type
  game console
• Storage Type
  HDD
• Storage Capacity
  60 GB
• Media Type
  DVD
• Network Interfaces
  Fast Ethernet
• Games Included
  Pro Evolution Soccer 2009

Processor

• Type
  PowerPC
• Number of Cores
  Triple-Core
• Manufacturer
  IBM
• Clock Speed
  3.2 GHz

General

• Manufacturer
  Microsoft

Get Connected 21st Century Special Post: Further your skills during COVID-19

1.      Smart Serve / Food Handler Certificate 

For activations that involve the serving/handling of alcohol – a Smart Serve is required. In Ontario – you can obtain this certification online. It is a great tool to have in the experiential marketing industry as it will open more opportunities for you. 

                                                               i.      For the month of April – Smart Serve is providing FREE online training (which otherwise typically costs approx. $65). You can access the registration here. 

A Food Handler certification is another item sought out by many clients as well. This is required for all activations/samplings involving food. This is also a tool necessary for any serving position as well. 

                                                               i.      You can obtain this certification here. 

2.      Free Online Courses 

Have you ever wanted to expand your skill set and learn more about a new area of study (such as finance, computer science, or psychology)? Now is a great time to do so. There are some online resources (some of which are from prestigious universities) that provide free courses for a variety of different subjects. I’ve provided some resources below: 

                                                               i.      Coursera 

                                                             ii.      Harvard University (some classes are free – others cost approx. $30) 

                                                           iii.      Free Code Camp (there are a variety of different Ivy League courses to choose from) 

  

Practice Social Distancing 

Together – we can slow the spread of COVID19. We understand the challenges that isolation presents after being away from our friends and family – but the sooner we can flatten the curve the sooner we can all get back to our “normal” realities. Please stay home as much as possible. I’ve provided below some awesome resources to stay in touch with friends and family during this time: 

  

1.      Watch2Gether (this website allows you to watch videos with your friends – synchronized at the same time). 

2.      Google Hangouts/ Zoom video conferences / Skype are all a great options for group video calls that allow many people to dial in at once 

3.      House Party – this is a great app to download if you have not yet. You can video chat with your friends and play some games as well. 

  

  

Mental Health & Well-Being 

It is natural to feel a heightened sense of anxiety and uncertainty during this time. If you are struggling with these emotions – there are many online resources aimed to help. Here are some suggestions: 

  

Headspace – this is an application you can try for free that provides guided meditations to practice mindfulness. 

Anxiety Canada – this website offers great articles and resources on coping with anxiety. They host seminars you can dial into as well! 

Fitness – it is important for both your physical health and mental health to stay active during this time. Many fitness studios are providing free online classes you can follow along with in the comfort of your home. See below for some Instagram pages that have great virtual workouts: 

@barryscanada 

@flytclubto 

@fitsq 

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