It all started for me one afternoon back in 1986 when I was at home sick from work and nursing a bad cold. To while away the hours I began channel surfing when on my screen came a wild-eyed, blue jean-clad bad boy donning an eye patch who was trying to chase off a lovely young nurse. Although I had watched Days of Lives (DOOL) before, there was something special about these two that immediately drew me in. I was riveted and couldn’t look away and so began my Steve & Kayla dorkdom (SKORKs).

Their wonderfully rich portrayals were the reason I watched DOOL in the 80’s. Mary Beth Evans who plays Kayla Carolina Brady Johnson is one of those rare daytime actresses that can communicate volumes with just a look, and can nail a scene without looking like she’s even trying. Stephen Nichols who brings the character of Steve Earl Johnson to life consistently gives every ounce of emotional, mental, and physical muscle needed to leave an indelible mark especially for this fan.

After Nichols decided to leave the show in 1990 his character was given a classic soap “death”, and I just couldn’t bear to watch Kayla attempt to move on without him so I tuned out. The demands of day-to-day life took hold again and it wasn’t until one day when I happened to come across a video of them on You Tube that the memories came flooding back and I realized how much I had missed my old friends. After some further digging I found out that TPTB had brought Steve “back from the dead” after 16 years (no one really stays dead on Days) and had reunited the couple at last.

For me a soap opera is like a never-ending novel allowing me to peer into the exciting lives of much-loved characters on a day-to-day basis while remaining at a safe distance. Most people scoff at soaps because the dialogue usually lacks subtlety or mystery. Characters tend to say what they mean and tell the story without veils or hidden meaning. But the intimacy developed between the viewer and character is hard to resist.

Soap characters sometimes replace real friends when you stay home all the time. To the shut-ins, isolated, and the lonely, soap operas supply a real need and a safe haven from the harsh realties of the world we live in.

Is this really any different than the kid who locks himself in his room playing video games or who spends hours on the Internet? I think not…so I prefer not to judge.

Being a self professed computer geek I also love the fact that there is a large online community made up of viewers from around the world that freely share their love as well as disappointment in their favorite characters and shows. They are amongst the most vocal and devoted of all television viewers, and are quick to respond when they feel a new head writer or producer has driven the soap’s narrative off-course (Dena Higley anyone?).

I had the pleasure of meeting some of my fellow SKORKs recently at an event that took place here in Charleston and it was comforting to be surrounded by people who understood my nervousness at finally come face-to-face with the actors who had embodied these characters for so many years. It’s always a risky business meeting famous people because it’s so rare that they actually live up to one’s expectations, but Mary Beth Evans and Stephen Nichols were gracious, giving, funny, and candid. They held nothing back and gave us all some wonderful memories that are sure to stay with us for all the Days of our Lives.

There is no disputing that Illegal Immigration is a dilemma for this country of ours, but a Constitutional Convention is certainly not the way to solve it.

For those of us who need a little history lesson, a Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) is a legislative body that operates above the limitations of the Constitution, for the single purpose of changing the Constitution. This makes a Con-Con more powerful, and way more dangerous, than any other legislative body. This is not an opinion; it is a fact of law! It is also a means of destroying the American Republic and would be opening a “Pandora’s box” so to speak for radical change. Once you let the “genie out of the bottle” who will be able to control it?

So once again back room politics has won over principle when the South Carolina Senate passed S. 856 calling for a Federal Constitutional Convention to address issues associated with illegal immigration.

The fact that Senator Glenn McConnell was the person who authored S. 856 seems to have played a major role in getting it passed. Senator McConnell is no stranger to controversy. One only has to look into his questionable tactics related to the Hunley Memorial to see the power he wields in getting what he wants. Not only is he the President Pro Tempore of the Senate but also has the power to make committee appointments. Having a kingpin like McConnell, who exerts his influence over the Senate, has created an atmosphere of fear, and it appears very few have the stomach to go up against him. South Carolina voters should seriously be wondering if they actually have representation anymore since it seems that most of the senators voted for their own self-interests instead of the interests of the nation or of South Carolina. On a more positive note we would like to congratulate the seven senators with the courage to vote against this bill: Bryant, Fair, Ford, Jackson, Matthews, Peeler and Ryberg.

By the way, the last time that we had a Constitutional Convention was in 1787, when we got the Constitution that we have now. That Con-Con was originally meant to make some small changes in the Articles of Confederation. Instead a new Constitution was born, but it was born out of leaders of the freedom movement who were trying to defeat tyranny. Although he may have delusions of grandeur, McConnell is certainly no Washington or Jefferson.

We already have the ability to pass state laws to protect the people of South Carolina from illegal immigration, and most of these laws would not require any assault on the Constitution. Laws of this kind have already been passed in States like Georgia and Oklahoma and illegal immigrants are leaving those states as a result. Many other States are also considering these steps as well so why can’t South Carolina?

Reading Carolyn’s blog on Generations got me thinking - maybe you are not really a part of the generation your birthday falls under.

Here’s an idea: maybe we should determine our generation not by our age but by how we use various forms of media. Margaret Weigel, who has worked at Harvard and MIT doing research on digital media engagement, says “We should not judge people rigidly by the years they were born. If we want to define people by categories, it should be by behaviors because this is something each of us chooses.”

Increasingly when people talk about Generation Y, the main thrust always seems to be technology. All generations embrace the technology of their era (radio, vinyl records, boom boxes, CDs, the internet), but it shouldn’t be the only thing that defines them.

Many Boomers remember advertising with fondness, not many members of Gen X or Y would say the same. Members of Gen X & Y generally want more work/life balance, as they’ve seen the costs paid by their parents. The survivors of the World War II GI Generation appreciate the simple things in life, like not having bombs falling from the sky on a regular basis.

The first thing that defines any Generation is their perception of other Generations. All Generations think that other Generations are peculiar, and a bit creepy but they’re just all born of a different social environment.

As a member of the post WWII Baby Boomer generation I can attest that we grew up in a world that revolved around us and we continue to believe the world revolves around us. For the most part our childhoods were spent in the ease and comfort that our parents’ and grand parents generation sacrificed so much for. Children who are raised to believe the sun rises and sets for them can’t imagine risking their own comfort for anything that does not directly threaten them. The heightened Narcissism of my generation is the foundation upon which so many of our troubles seem to rest.

So here is a test I found on the Internet. Add up your points to figure out what generation you’re really a part of:

Do you have your own web page? (1 point)

Have you made a web page for someone else? (2 points)

Do you IM your friends? (1 point)

Do you text your friends? (2 points)

Do you watch videos on YouTube? (1 point)

Do you remix video files from the Internet? (2 points)

Have you paid for and downloaded music from the Internet? (1 point)

Do you know where to download free (illegal) music from the Internet? (2 points)

Do you blog for professional reasons? (1 point)

Do you blog as a way to keep an online diary? (2 points)

Have you visited MySpace at least five times? (1 point)

Do you communicate with friends on Facebook? (2 points)

Do you use email to communicate with your parents? (1 point)

Did you text to communicate with your parents? (2 points)

Do you take photos with your phone? (1 point)

Do you share your photos from your phone with your friends? (2 points)

0-1 point - Baby Boomer

2-6 points - Generation Jones

6- 12 points - Generation X

12 or over - Generation Y

Through time there have always been discussions about generations. Last year I received my SRES [Seniors Real Estate Specialist] designation in Charlotte, North Carolina. The course was not only enlightening but also very topical. I’d like to share some of what I learned with you, so on a monthly basis I’ll be posting my thoughts.

I found not only the labeling of each generation fascinating, but the generational differences based on events of that generation’s childhood, and how those events impacted their lives and the values and beliefs that were created by those events.

To help understand each generation’s differences the following are the dates of each of the current generations and their respective labels:

From 1901 – 1926, G.I Generation, Aged 82 and older
From 1927 – 1945, Silent Generation, Aged 81 -63
From 1946 – 1964, Baby Boomers, Aged 62 – 44
From 1965 – 1976, Gen X, Aged 43 – 32
From 1977 – 1994, Gen Y, Echo Boomer, Aged 31 – 14
From 1995 – Present, Gen Z, Millennials, Internet Gen. New Silent, Aged 13 and under

As the oldest living generation, the G.I. Generation’s attitudes and values were shaped by the experiences of the depression and WWII and were in general profoundly affected by both events.

• They experienced an 86% decline in the stock market.
• Social Security and the GI Bill were enacted during their formative years.
• They had great respect for authority and in doing so many G.I. generation members finished their education, got married, had kids and bought homes.
• Over 80% of the members in this generation own homes and it is estimated that over 60% do not have mortgages on their homes.
• They are frugal and cautious…and see debt as abhorrent to their genetic make-up.
• The believe in sacrifice, saving, and working hard…and trust government, big-business, and each other.
• This generation believed in being a team player and thus very community minded.
• They were the generation that took the American dream of being a homeowner to heart.

When interacting with the GI Generation:

• When addressing them, use the formal “Mr. or Mrs. Smith,” never the informal “Harold” or “Esther.” In their youth, manners and respect were the expected, proper, and the norm.
• As a professional, they are likely to see you as an authority figure and ask for advice and recommendations.
• For the GI Generation, personal service and relationship building is an expectation…not a nicety.

The question that must be raised is what good can we learn from this generation and how do we apply a lot of the good old values to the different generations out there and make it work for each generation to come?

Until next time, The Silent Generation.

This time of year always makes us stop and think about what is important in life. It forces us to stop and count our blessings. It gives us pause to think about the world as we’d like it to be. And it gives us the opportunity to send greetings of hope and joy.

We can make this world a better place.

This Holiday Season, we look to all of our friends and family for inspiration to do more.

And from our CYH family to yours, we wish you a very Happy Holidays.

All of us probably have role models, mentors or people we just admire. I lost one of mine today, and I am deeply saddened by his passing.

David Wood, a renowned branding guru, entrepreneur, corporate leader, and my mentor died November 26th, 2007. He was 64.

I met David twenty years ago when I took a job at his international branding consultancy in New York. When you meet David for the first time it seems like you have known him all your life. Charismatic was created as a word to describe people like David.

He was a truly gifted speaker, gregarious, and gracious. He encouraged his employees to put their heart and soul into their efforts and success surely would follow. David believed in that principle all his life.

When a mentor dies, the loss is significant — in part because the relationship defies easy description. His impact on my life was immense.

I will miss David, as will the thousands of people who were touched by him in his 64 years of greatness on earth.

God bless you, David

(© 2003 - 2007 Niles McMaster. All rights reserved)

Gandhi told us “The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems.”

Don’t get me wrong, it’s wonderful to spend one day being thankful, but it’s another thing entirely to actually be thankful every single day of the year, long after all the turkey and fixin’s have been consumed. Why not resolve today to not only live a life of thankfulness but to be the “change you wish to see in the world.”

Happy Thanksgiving!

Words cannot express our excitement at being awarded the “Best Agent Website” by AgencyLogic and Allen F. Hainge who is one of the industry’s top technology coaches/speakers. We’ve worked hard to design a site that stands out from the rest, and this honor has given us the encouragement that we are on the right track. With the advent of Web 2.0, and a host of wonderful tools that have been developed for real estate, we have exciting things planned in the near future so check back often.

Here’s what Allen Hainge had to say about our website:

There are many outstanding features of this site, too many to mention here, but these are some of the significant ones:

• This site focuses on providing information for the consumer, rather than on the agents. One simple link marked “Agent Info” at the top of each page is a nice, low-key way to provide the viewer with agent information.
• Every page exhibits professionalism, both in page design, text and graphics. Ample evidence suggests that these agents and their designer really understand the principle of “keep it simple” as well.
• Information on this site is very complete and comes through without clutter, as exemplified in the buyer and seller information sections. The majority of agent sites require the viewer to scroll numerous times to view such information. This site presents each step in one easy-to-view page. Moving to the next step is easily accomplished via a page-by-page menu at the top of the page. It is a nice concept, one which should be followed on more agents. Once again, great text and great graphics are characteristic of this section.
• An emphasis on area information is evident. Cultural events, dining, shopping, schools, interesting facts, accommodations and more are presented in an informative and pleasing manner under “Charleston Essentials.” Each page in this section focuses on one category at a time, without clutter, and provides a menu of other categories subtly and effectively.
• Unlike many agent sites, this site demonstrates an understanding where they are going to live is as important as the home itself in the minds of buyers. While not as extensive as on some sites, community and area information is still very complete and very well done, starting with an interactive map which allows viewers to click on a number of communities. Each community page allows visitors to see general area information and provides links to community Web sites which show them more.
• Blogs and podcasts, elements of “Web 2.0,” are effective, immediate ways of getting information to today’s consumer. Used effectively, they build an on-going link to such consumers. Recognizing this, these agents provide a link to an extremely well-done blog.
• This site goes beyond selling and listing homes in that it promotes community outreach. It features an appeal for support of CARMA (Charleston Area Realtors for Meaningful Assistance) and the “The Giving Tree.”

Believe it or not, what you write on the Internet will follow you for the rest of your life. An Internet tattoo of sorts. For better or for worse, what you blog has been etched into your digital skin – and the process is very difficult and painful to reverse. For this reason it is imperative that you closely evaluate what it is you are about to say, and if it is really how you want to say it.

Blogging originally started as an online diary where people could fantasize, rant, or vent as they pleased. Nowadays, however, search engines can locate keywords in certain blogs and bring an indeterminate number of viewers to that once private diary. The Internet is more publicized, and nothing short of a firewall and several passwords can protect your innermost thoughts from being seen by the world. Think the Martian Man Hunter times six billion. Depending on your aim, this may or may not be a good thing. For the chronic-spammer, it may be a great thing.

Even the professional world is beginning to wizen up. Facebook, MySpace, Xanga, and countless other websites are subject to their investigations. If you don’t want somebody to find out about something, don’t put it online; it’s bound to be unearthed if you do. Particularly compromising blogs and photos have spelled disaster for an otherwise upstanding job candidate. Even if you have privacy settings in place, this still applies. Everyone has a price. Money can turn those privacy settings off and allow anyone to take a gander at what you thought was preserved for your own viewing pleasure and maybe a select group of friends. If people can purchase cell phone records, there is no limit to what they can do online. No amount of layering can cover up those compromising tattoos, x-ray goggles are the newest fad.

The worst thing about tattoos is that you often get them when you are young; when they seem like a good idea and look pretty cool. Then you get older. At first they are just a funny reminder of a wilder past. Then as you begin to age even further the tattoos are no longer just a friendly reminder of a wilder past, but have the real potential of coming back to haunt you. Your hair turns gray, you gain non-muscle weight, and your skin sags. The “cool” tattoos now look misshapen, faded, and overall pretty ugly. You wonder why the heck you ever consented to something like that. The statement you made in your younger days is the bane of your elder ones.

The same goes for blogs. The rebellious or controversial statements of your wilder youth come back to bite you. Or better yet, your heated, spur-of-the-moment comments cost you your credibility, a friendship, or maybe even your job. It becomes infinitely more difficult to take back what you said. One bad blog may take one thousand apology blogs to correct. In the same way a tattoo takes extensive laser treatment surgeries to disappear and even then may show a scar.

The lesson? Think about what you are going to say or write before you actually do it. Take a moment to let your passions cool. Maybe write it out by hand first, and then slowly peruse and correct it after your fiery personality has abated a little. Drink a beer, take a nap, go out for a run…anything to center yourself. And if you are in the right mind, don’t write something in a vulgar and disrespectful manner. Your two cents will be worth a whole lot more if you get your point across while maintaining your dignity. There are too many people out there who will drop the f-bomb and call it a day. If you write something you can be proud of, you won’t ever have to look at the tattoo and say, “what in tar-nation was I thinking?”

The “Padre”
CYH Citadel Intern

There are so many things that people hold dear to them. Whether it is because they paid a lot of money for them, or because someone special gave it to them, whatever the reason, people hold things dear to them. For me, it is my newly presented Citadel Ring. The coveted “Band of Gold” is something that I have had my eye on for three years, and now it is in my possession and I almost can not believe it. I hold it dear not because it costs a lot of money, or because it is shiny gold, but because it is a symbol of so many things that I do hold dear, and experiences that have shaped who I am now. The most important thing that I am reminded of is my family. For many cadets, the ring is all about them, about what they have accomplished and how far they have come in their cadet career. For me, it is about the resolve of my family to help me to finish. It was about a week or two before Parent’s weekend when I found out that my mother had breast cancer. I was devastated. She lived in Okinawa, Japan at the time, and I, in Charleston, could do absolutely nothing to help her. She was always there for me, and I wanted to be there for her. I begged and pleaded with my parents to send me a ticket and I would come home and take care of my mother. They wouldn’t allow me to come home, for that I am ultimately thankful. For a while I was extremely worried for my mother that she would not be around to see me graduate or get married or have children of my own. My aunt had died only months before after her years long fight with cancer, and I was afraid that family history would win out over modern medicine.

My family moved to Charleston from Okinawa in the following months, and that eased my mind. I was able to focus a little more on school since I could go home on the weekends and take care of my mother. Seeing her suffer with the chemotherapy treatments, was the most painful thing that I have ever seen, and yet she still managed to play mom to me, and listen to be gripe about the upperclassmen who were yelling at me all the time, and the boys that I liked and the teachers that I hated. She didn’t complain about her hair falling out, or the numbness in her fingers and toes, or the nausea, she continued on, as if it were nothing. It was during this time, that my mother taught me a valuable lesson; as long as you have your family, you have everything. In talking with her, and hearing her tell her story to others, it was me and my family that allowed her to keep on going, and not want to give up. All I could think of during this time was making it through the week so I could get home to her. It was as if nothing could bother me when I was with my mother, and with my family. The hardest thing for me was not being around them all the time. The Citadel is an extremely stressful place, and even more so without a support system. I found solace in the thought that when I received my ring, I would be near the end of the tunnel, the light would soon appear. When I look at my ring, I see in it my mother, her strength and her resolve. When I look at my ring, I see perseverance, and stamina and tenacity. When I look at my ring, I am reminded of the reason that I have stayed here for these three years… my family. With out them, I would not have made it through; I would not have wanted to make it through. When I wear my ring, I wear it for my family, my support system.

Smiles

Stephanie Slan (CYH Citadel Intern)