I’ve decided to highlight various Grenadian genealogical information I’ve come across online.  The first of this “series” is the extensive information collected by Desmond Preudhomme of  Toronto on the following families (this is an abridged list as the full list is very long):

BANFIELD

BISHOP

BOURNE

CAMPBELL

DATE

DE FREITAS

DE GALE

DONALDSON

DUNCAN

FARMER

GIBBON

GILL

GOLTON/GOULTON

GOODING

GRANT

HUGHES

JAMES

JOAN

LOFTUS

LUSAN/LUSSAN

OTWAY

PREUDHOMME

MARSHALL

MIGNON

MINORS

PATERSON

PAYNE

PETERKIN

RENWICK

According to the page Desmond’s contact information is…

Desmond T W Preudhomme

78 Mayfield Ave

Toronto, Ontario M5S 1K8

416 760 7492

d_preudhomme@hotmail.com

I am sure he would appreciate being able to connect with more relatives and discover additional family information.

Der Analyst Martin Birkeldh, der bei der Präsentation des jüngsten Quartalsberichts bei Starbreeze anwesend war, glaubt nicht mehr, daß das kommende Jason Bourne-Videospiel bereits vor dem sagenumwobenen Project RedLime veröffentlicht werde. Vielmehr erscheint es ihm mittlerweile naheliegend, daß Project RedLime im dritten oder vierten Quartal 2010, jedoch vor Weihnachten, und damit womöglich noch vor dem Bourne-Spiel veröffentlicht wird. Der Start des vierten Bourne-Films, mit dem das Videospiel vermutlich wegen der Marketing-Synergien parallel starten soll, wurde ja wegen organisatorischer Probleme auf 2011 verschoben. Die Vermarktung für RedLime könne dann jedenfalls im ersten Quartal 2010 anlaufen. Unbestätigte aber hartnäckige Gerüchte besagen, RedLime sei Syndicate.

-Thorsten Albrecht

To make things clear, as some of the material you’ll find here is very light-hearted, this is an actual news report. All quotes are original. I welcome comments below.

Gay Christians Criticise ‘Hate’ Bill

Dan Bloom

Senior gay and transgender Christians have attacked a pro-discrimination law which was defeated four times in the House of Commons and criticised by the European commission.

The clause, which allows “criticism of sexual conduct” on religious grounds, was kept in the Coroners and Justice Bill in the dying hours of the last parliamentary session despite being defeated in the House of Commons. Justice minister Jack Straw retreated after lords voted to keep it for the fourth time on 11 November.

But the comments from within the UK’s gay Christian community put pressure on the mainstream church, after the European commission wrote to the government last week to say its discrimination laws were “broader than permitted”, effectively forcing churches to end bans on homosexual staff.

Pastor Kieren Bourne of the Living Springs church, Bath, had a sex change operation in 1999 and is part of a small minority of gay or transgender Christians in the UK. He said: “I think it’s appalling. It seems to me that the church is being allowed to get away with discrimination when every other section of society is not.”

Brought up in New Zealand, Rev Bourne, 51, moved to Bath 14 years ago but was surprised by what he perceived as a less liberal atmosphere in the mainstream church. He joined Living Springs, a branch of the 95 per cent gay Metropolitan Community Church (MCC).

“Having the opportunity to question the appropriateness of [gay sex] should be open to people, but without being critical of the individuals concerned.”

-Patrick Whitworth, rural dean of Bath

Now living with a woman in Bathford, Avon, he said the pressure put on gay Christians by employment bans and discrimination leaves many feeling forced out of the mainstream church, and into organisations like the MCC.

And although the minority church, which was founded in 1968, holds tri-annual conferences – the next is in Acapulco, Mexico next year – it does not have the same political weight as other organisations. It has fewer than 15 churches in the UK and the Bath branch has only 13 full-time members.

One of these, Bill Fraser, has been a full-time churchwarden in Bath for five years. He first contacted the MCC last year after announcing his sexuality at an annual parish meeting. But he stayed in the mainstream church to “fight from the inside”, following the example of controversial gay American bishop Gene Robinson.

Another, 64-year-old lay delegate Jenny Bailey, was a long-time member of the Church of England when she began attending the MCC. She revealed her sexuality to her vicar in 1997, and said his hostile reception made her feel pressured to leave.

She said: “I did not feel my personal preferences were relevant inside the church. He said they were. He seemed to think I was going to walk in holding hands with another woman.

“Just a few weeks after that I had a serious accident and broke my ankle into about seven or eight pieces. Nobody phoned to check up and see how I was. I thought, ‘Why am I kidding myself?’. They didn’t want me.”

“I did not feel my personal preferences were relevant inside the church. My vicar said they were.”

-Jenny Bailey, lay delegate, Metropolitan Community Church

But Ms Bailey, who was married for more than 22 years before realising she was gay in her 40s, also issued words of caution about restricting free speech. She said: “I want it for myself, so why should I not want it for other people? It’s up to them, and it’s their personal opinion. But they should not be able to impose it on me.”

While the MCC argues anti-homosexual readings of the bible do not reflect its meaning, the mainstream church in Bath is more traditional.

The Church of England rural dean of Bath, Patrick Whitworth, said: “From the church’s point of view it is not God’s view. So having the opportunity to question the appropriateness of it should be open to people, but without being critical of the individuals concerned.”

Meanwhile a group hosted by the MP Clare Short will meet at the Commons this Tuesday to campaign against similar clauses in the Equality Bill drawn up by Harriet Harman, Labour’s deputy leader.

The bill is designed to ensure greater equality between people of different gender, race, religion and social class. But the group argues religious ‘opt-out’ clauses could be added as the bill progresses to the House of Lords.

Harwich is the spotlight Town of the Week. Harwich real estate offers a lifestyle that compares to any town on Cape Cod. Harwich offers beaches, golfing, ponds and all the quintessential Cape Cod activities that make buying Cape Cod real estate a dream for many.

The Cape Cod real estate market is moving steadily forward. Prices fluctuate from town to town and even village to village. If you are looking for Cape Cod real estate to buy as an investment, vacation home or primary residence, it is important that you work with a Cape Cod real estate agent that knows the data.

It is critical that the professionals that work with you understand your goals and can help you evaluate your investment in today’s market and potential in the future. Although it is difficult to determine the future value in any market, the Cape Cod real estate market is very much a local market and the property in some areas are able to maintain their values.

The non-real estate tip of the week is a safety tip all travelers should know. If you are driving to Cape Cod to see relatives or to look at Cape Cod real estate taking precautions on the road can save a life.

Much is being said about short sales and bank owned properties(REOs). Some of it is positive some negative. The Cape Cod real estate market currently has a good inventory of such properties.

The fact is that trying to obtain a distressed property is not for everyone. The process can be long and frustrating.

A short sale occurs when a seller owes more to a lender(s) than the property is currently worth. The process starts when an offer is made and accepted by the seller. It then has to be approved by the lender(s). Along with the offer, the lender in the first position, that which is usually owed the most money, must collect a docket of information from the seller to prove that this property will not sell for what is owed and that the owner cannot make payments.

Other lenders or lien holders, if any, who are owed money, need to be satisfied as well. Cooperation is not always given and the process can linger on for months or completely stall. Local banks that know

Bank owned or REO properties are a bit different, although they too can linger on for months. Most bank owned properties are now requiring proof of funds or pre-qualification from the lender with submission of an offer. This helps improve the timing of the process but puts more burden of the buyer upfront. Cape Cod real estate values are sometimes faster in the process. National banks who don’t necessarily understand the Cape Cod real estate market can be harder to handle.

You should be aware that multiple offers can be submitted with both of these situations. Many times the bank will approve a sale, then turn around and ask for best and final offer from all participants.

Distressed sales are great for those who are not in a hurry to buy a property and are willing to wait. Also you should have solid funding options and be willing to make offers on multiple properties to get the best value for the investment. It is important that one does not fall in love with the property, as you can end up losing it or overpaying and ultimately miss out on other buying opportunities.

Do not attempt these types of transactions if you have a deadline of any kind. If you have locked rate and/or are trying to take advantage of the current tax credit incentives, you should tread very carefully as you can end up losing on all ends.

Cape Cod real estate appeals to many, including investors, second home owners and first time buyers. No matter your experience level, using an attorney, real estate buyer’s agent or third party loss mitigation consultant is critical to help guide you through the process and set true expectations.

Heute veröffentlichte Starbreeze Studios einen Geschäfts-Zwischenbericht für Juli bis September 2009 als Pressemeldung, dem zu folge Electronic Arts in nächster Zeit mit der Vermarktung der beiden Produkte beginnen wird, an denen Starbreeze Studios in Schweden arbeitet. Bei den beiden Produkten handelt es sich um das neue Bourne-Videospiel und das sagenumwobene Projekt RedLime, von dem Manche behaupten, es sei Syndicate.

Die Gewinnerwartungen, die Starbreeze mit beiden Produkten verbindet wurden etwas reduziert, da kurzfristig Personal mit Festpreis-Verträgen aquiriert wurde. Die gegenwärtig ungewöhnlich hohe Verfügbarkeit von gut qualifiziertem Personal habe laut Starbreeze CEO Johan Kristiansson ausgerechnet mit der Krise zu tun, von der die Branche hart getroffen ist. Allerdings ist Kristiansson zuversichtlich, daß mit den beiden EA-Titeln die Absatzschwellen überschritten werden können, ab denen der Entwickler vom Publisher anteilige Bonus-Gratifikationen erhalten wird.

-Thorsten Albrecht

This week’s Cape Cod Real Estate Market Update covers the week ending November 13, 2009.

Knowing what is happening in the current market is critical for anyone who is thinking of buying or selling Cape Cod real estate. There are many opportunities on Cape Cod to buy a property that heretofore was out of reach for many. With that said, Cape Cod real estate still maintains value as compared to many other communities across the country. Many of the opportunities are for properties that are financially and/or physically distressed.

The Cape Cod real estate market is similar to many in the area of financing. The rates are currently fantastic, but many are struggling to qualify.  However there are several programs that can help buy now and take advantage of the opportunities that exist in today’s Cape Cod real estate market.

It is important that you work with a team of professionals that know the local market. First, start with a Realtor. A good Realtor will be able to connect you with a lender who knows the Cape Cod real estate market and can get you qualified for a plan that will work for you. The other member of the team is an attorney, who also knows the Cape Cod real estate market.

If you ever dreamed of owning Cape Cod real estate, then you owe it to yourself to at least investigate the possibility.

Copyright Columbia Pictures

Salt, the movie that would be fittingly dubbed “Lady Bourne Identity”, has released its first teaser trailer this week. Angelina Jolie stars in this action-packed flick, that seems to be very Bourne-esk.

Jolie knows how to handle action movies, and the solid supporting cast of Liev Schreiber and Chiwetel Ejiofor seem to be capable of handling it just as well.

Have a look and tell me what you think!

Change is constant. The leaves are now falling off their branches and cluttering lawns. The mornings are darker, longer. Daylight is decreasing.

The real estate market is no different. Weekly and monthly fluctuations with the average “sold” and “for sale” prices and volume can keep the observer very busy trying to make sense of it all. Other condition regarding interest rates and government incentives seem to be in constant flux as well.

What has not changed, in a while, is that there are some great opportunities in the market. The current market has created a great buying opportunity for those who are prepared and willing to participate. Many of the financially distressed properties, whether a bank owned, short sale or someone needing to sell quickly to avoid both, offer a great value. Some are priced so low that they can be purchased and resold within a short period of time for a profit. Others offer an opportunity for a buyer to get into a first home or vacation home in a neighborhood heretofore unattainable.

Most trends are supporting a healthier market, meaning prices could be close to the bottom and home equity will eventually be restored. However, continued foreclosures and job loss and the government home buying incentives, should keep the market ripe for buyers for some time.

Trying to “time” the market is a difficult practice and can only be truly accomplished with hindsight. If you have the capacity and the will to buy real estate, for whatever purpose, now is the chance of a lifetime for many.

Antes de assistir Bourne achava que era mais uma daquela coisas chatas, mas bem ao contrário. Com uma dose de suspense e ação é recomendado assistir quando não está com sono, pois não tão simples para entender. Ainda acho que o primeiro foi o melhor, apenas assista na ordem senão dai você não entende mesmo. Só para constar que Matt Damon é um perdido na vida e tentar descobrir que ele é.

The second day of work on the Sagamore Bridge was the first night I had to drive on and off-Cape. I arrived home nearly two hours after I left the office. That night this sign should perhaps have been labelled “Speed Fantasy.”

The need for speed

On March 12, 2010, Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum, United 93) re-team for the electrifying thriller Green Zone. In the film, Damon stars as Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller, a rogue U.S. Army officer who must hunt through covert and faulty intelligence hidden on foreign soil before war escalates in an unstable region.

I awoke this morning to several emails through my portfolio account and wondered what was going on… So I browsed on over there to read them and discovered that they were congratulating me on being a finalist in the Photo Focus Emerging Photographer of the Year Award.  I am in total shock. I entered the contest on a whim thinking there was no possible way I could be selected.  And then I see this?  WOW!  I am so excited to be featured with such fabulous photographers.

Edit: 10:12pm I did not realize what Scott had posted on the blog about me until I went back in to show the blog to my husband. Here are Scotts unbelievable and kind words.  I am almost in tears!!!

I haven’t read the books, but the Bourne movie series seems to be primarily about backpacking. Matt Damon’s character lives out the standard cliche of the American college student taking off from his homeland to wander around Europe with a knapsack, and maps in tote, living anonymously and making liberal use of trains and subways.

Only, with a bit more killing and martial arts.

Curiously, the movie turns this great American college students’ tradition into something sinister, backpacking-across-Europe as a metaphor for American imperialism. These movies would have you believe that America has unleashed a virtual army of anonymous backpackers across Europe and indeed the world to carry out our plans of world domination. And indeed we have, I suppose (it’s called the Peace Corps). Whereas the James Bond series was perhaps a fictionalized romaniticization of the spirit of the OSS, the Bourne series turns things around and presents a dark, foreboding contrarian view of the spirit of the Peace Corps. Metaphorically, it’s a scathing attack on the Peace Corps, which is why – while Bond is inherently progressive, Bourne is our foremost reactionary superhero. It’s so reactionary it’s not even comfortable with global efforts set up by ’60s peaceniks.

Voi non ci crederete ma vi sto scrivendo dal retro di un Fiat Doblò, accucciato. C’è ancora un po’ d’ossigeno e, visto che non hanno ben chiuso la porta, c’è pure la luce. È un po’ come in un film americano, non trovate? Se lo fosse davvero, un film, al primo semaforo o a quello che crederei un semaforo, visto che non ci sono finestrini e non vedo niente, forzerei la porta, mi butterei a terra e rotolerei nella Senna nuotando a pelo d’acqua verso la salvezza, meditando una vendetta atroce. Visto che questa è la vita vera, e visto che io sono suibhne e non Matt Damon, tra un quarto d’ora scenderò all’Ikea e comprerò un billy.

Tra l’altro l’interno del Doblò è ricoperto di legno e profuma di sauna finlandese. Però non inspiro troppo, potrebbe mancarmi l’aria…

At last, the passenger seat.

©Pat Coakley 2009

PHOTOGRAPHY CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION

It was just one week ago (this very moment!) that I was driving home from the airport, fresh (or fatigued, depending on your outlook) from my first visit to the beautiful, exasperating, exciting, strange and wonderful county of Italia, a whirlwind week of food, art, history, and friendship.  As if the jet lag wasn’t enough, we made sure we wore ourselves out, drinking in (literally and figuratively…I still don’t know how I functioned each morning after the wonderful bottle or so of wine I polished off every dinner) everything we could in the short time we had.  Our motto: Do it now, process it later.

I live in Southern Ontario, not exactly Hollywood North (although a fair bit of filmmaking does take place in Toronto and isolated areas) so when I see my environs captured on celluloid, it’s usually Anyplace, U.S.A. over top of places familiar to me with all the requisite flag and sign changes.  I can still however, scream and point as I see these poorly disguised landmarks in movies like Short Circuit, To Die For and Dawn Of the Dead (shot in the mall I used to work at and okay, I simply screamed in pain at Short Circuit).  But here was a country so steeped in history, so utterly familiar to those who have never been there that the very names conjure up vivid images, Trevi Fountain, St. Peter’s Basilica, Pompeii, the Colosseum, mozzarella, pizza, Michelangelo.  And so I found in my travels that so much of what I was seeing in person revived memories of movies both recent and long forgotten.  It seemed as though each sight, taste or smell elicited a film flashback  and so I will give a day-by-day reminisce, mingled with the movies brought to mind.

Day One: Rome (the airport at least)-Flying into Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport in Fiumicino, a suburb of Rome, I was reminded of the opening scenes of Avanti!, the Billy Wilder-directed Jack Lemmon comedy about an American businessman wrested from his golf-and-martini life to fly to Italy to facilitate the shipping of his father’s body back Stateside, even as he is engulfed by ‘amore’.  The opening scenes are the pilot’s view of the approach to Da Vinci Airport and I looked out the small window over the wing (why does it seem I’m always over the wing?) at the vast sprawl of suburban Rome, feeling somewhat more excited about the prospect than Jack Lemmon did.  As I climbed into my tiny Fiat Grande Punto and raced down the Autostrade on the 3 1/2 hour journey to our hotel, I felt at times like Matt Damon racing through the countryside in The Italian Job or one of the Bourne movies, until my wife told me to slow down or the GPS bleated its insistence that I was in fact speeding.  We arrived at our hotel, jet-lagged and apprehensive about this strange new country.

Day Two: Paestum-A mere four kilometres from our hotel (although the guide book said one kilometre so we decided to ditch the car and get a taste of the countryside…boy, did we ever) is the ancient Greek town of Poseidonia, which the Romans later named Paestum, where lay what most historians consider the best-preserved Greek ruins in the world.  Beyond the quiet humility I felt as I thought about my relative insignificance in the long dance of history that played out on this plain, I also felt awed as I envisioned a 40-foot-high Laurence Olivier sitting in the enormous temple of Zeus in the Ray Harryhausen ‘classic’, Clash Of the Titans.  But what I was most reminded of, sadly, was the movie that played on the plane the day before, the latest Nia Vardalos fiasco, My Life In Ruins.  The (unfunny) story of a Greek tour guide finding romance with the hunk bus driver while showcasing the beauty of Greece, I was saddened for a fleeting second by the thought of the wasted potential of Vardalos, who wrote and starred in the wonderful My Big Fat Greek Wedding then squandered that with Connie and Carla and this latest dreck.  Fortunately, the glory of my surroundings woke me from this sad reverie.  After our sojourn at the ruins, we stopped for our first lunch in a small bar/gelateria (a bar in Italy is the North American equivalent to a coffee shop) and it was here that one of the real differences between Europe and North America becomes most evident, the food.  In North America, we have a philosophy that more and bigger is better.  Grocery stores have become supercentres with several dozen varieties of, well, everything.  Buffets are ubiquitous, obesity is on the rise and processed is the word of the day.  In Europe, however, they still seem to take pride in their food, both growing and making it.  Everywhere we went, from the wonderful hotel restaurant to the Autogrill, Italy’s expressway rest stop, the food was terrific and made with care from fresh ingredients.  Virtually every local pizzeria featured what I would term ‘artisan’ food.  Which leads me to…

Day Three: Rome-We rose at 4:30 for the 3 1/2 hour drive back to Rome.  I know, “Why are you driving all the way back to Rome?”, you ask.  Well, you see, we had tickets for a papal audience at the Vatican at 10:30 and I had never driven in Rome proper so I wanted to get there in plenty of time, for that as well as REAL reason for the trip back, a 12:45 appointment at the top of the Spanish Steps to have our wedding vows renewed (yes, I’m such a romantic)!  Well, we made great time (again, Italian Job) and it seemed, as we approached the outskirts of Rome and the GPS informed us that we had a half hour to drive just 13 kilometres to reach our exact destination, that we were on the cusp of possibly the greatest day of our lives and everything was falling into place.  Then we hit the famed Rome traffic jam, five packed lanes as far as the eye could see!

(In the spirit of my beloved serials)…What dastardly deed had the populace of Rome foisted on our hapless hero and his blushing bride-to-be (sort of)?  Would they make it to their appointment with destiny?  Are their upcoming nuptials in jeopardy?  Would the marriage be consummated (okay, ewww..)?  Find out in the next spellbinding chapter of From Italy With Love or My Week In Italy Through Film at this theatre next week (or whenever I get the rest done)!

Last night I received emails from Guardian Jobs informing me that they’d been hacked by a hacker (who else?) and that they’d managed to acquire details that I’d used to apply for jobs through there, probably my address, email address, telephone numbers, probably my CV too. Many people would be concerned by this, I’ve remained remarkably calm in the knowledge that this is a crime essentially comparable to robbing Stig of the Dump. I’m actually quite excited about it. If somebody has stolen my identity, then in my idiotic head this means that technically I know longer exist. I am now Jason Bourne. Admittedly, a Jason Bourne who’s potentially looking at strangers running up an obscene amount of credit card debt in his name, rather than having $5 million stored safely away in a Swiss bank account, but still a Jason Bourne of sorts. Or the Jackal. He was also a man without an identity. Actually, that’s probably not true, I think the Jackal’s problem, and indeed, Jason Bourne’s problem, was that they actually had loads of identities. Too many if anything. That’s probably what’s happened here, I’ve had my identity stolen my some kind of trained assassin and they’ll use it to commit heinous crimes in my name and gallavant about the world with my passport. Admittedly, they’ll find it somewhat tricky to get into my character, and it’s a fairly niche identity to use.

“Bourne, we need you to play a One Stop employee who writes about cakes in his spare time.”

“What? Why?”

“Don’t question my methods Bourne. Can you do it?”

“Well, it’s funny you should ask, because it just so happens that I have the perfect alias…”

I actually did baffle a company with an alias of my own once. I used the name ‘Andrew Ward’ instead of ‘Andy Ward’, and they thought I was an entirely different person. I mean, as far as brilliant alter-egos go, it’s not exactly going to go entirely under the radar of Interpol, but for a moment I considered myself some kind of master criminal, expertly able to slip into different personalities at the drop of a hat. I say different personalities, it was me, just with a slightly more formal name.

Anyway, now one of two things can happen.

1. I can pay an organisation £13 a year to make sure that my details aren’t used for credit-based bad things. Which is at least 4 times what my identity is actually worth.

2. I can give the thieves a day’s head start and then track them across the globe for sport, culminating in an epic battle with my evil alter-ego on a volcano.

I think we all know which one I’m going to choose.

Problem: Keeping on top of customers while running a busy business
Solution: WeCanDoCRM Social CRM with integrated KashFlow accounts system
Benefits: Marketing tools generate new business, guide progression from sales lead to customer, invoice to collection

Recession is the best time to start a business we’re told.  If you can succeed in a tough market then you’re well positioned for the upswing as the economy recovers.

It’s advice many people are taking, especially those who find themselves unemployed as a direct result of the recession.  But for as many who are excited by the prospect of starting their own business, as many don’t make the leap for fear they won’t succeed.

Will Hawkins

That is where Will Hawkins comes in.  After a long and safe career, which started in the army but moved to corporate marketing, Will took the leap himself early in 2009, setting up Healthy Business to coach people in the skills needed to start and see success with their own businesses.

Will specialises in clients from the lucrative health and nutrition sector – a hot market: “Not only are more and more people looking to start their own enterprises, spurred on by changes in their circumstances, but the market for health and nutrition market is rocketing thanks to increased awareness of the importance of personal wellness,” says Will.

Healthy Business, based in Bourne in Lincolnshire, is now coaching a whole team of new entrepreneurs, keen to ensure they progress beyond the start-up stage to growth and maturity.  Will counts on his own vast experience to advise on marketing strategies to bring rapid income, often replacing that lost through unemployment; but his coaching also emphasises the vital importance of keeping costs low when funding your own business and growing it from scratch.

The Healthy Business website

“Starting up your own company is challenging enough without having to worry about managing all of your information using complicated IT systems,” says Will.  “My business requires me to be out and about with my clients and customers for much of the day.  Keeping on top of all my daily activities is crucial for maintaining good customer service, finding new customers and contacting existing clients.  I need to be able to do this from wherever my business takes me – I simply can’t afford anything else.”

Will’s business is run using two vital pieces of software: the WeCanDoCRM Social CRM system and KashFlow accounting system.  Together, the systems enable Will to market his business, prospect for customers, manage sales opportunities and then invoice and track his customer accounts – all available from wherever he can get an internet connection.

“WeCanDoCRM is simple to use and, like KashFlow accounting which I used already, carries out complex tasks without me having to be an IT expert. Because it is online, I know I don’t have to worry about backing up my data and if, by chance, I don’t have my laptop with me, I can always log in from another computer to carry out my administration, safely and securely.”

“I have access to information about my customers that many large businesses can only dream about!”

But simplicity, freedom of access and security aren’t the only benefit Will enjoys: “I also get to invest more time in marketing my business rather than wasting it managing computers and servers, which isn’t my core skill. Time and money are the most precious of commodities for small business owners and the more of one I can spend on the making the other, the better!”

Will carries out most of his business administration on his laptop, connecting to broadband when at home or through a 3G datacard when he is out and about – which is most of the time.  Through WeCanDoCRM he has access to all his customer details and can monitor the progress of his marketing campaigns no matter where he is.

“This gives me great flexibility and allows me to maximise my use of time,” says Will, pointing out that he can now administer his business in ‘dead’ time between meetings, regardless of where he’s located.

Healthy Business also punches way above its weight with an effective system for lead management that would humble many a large enterprise.

Raising a KashFlow invoice from WeCanDoCRM (click to enlarge)

“I easily integrated WeCanDoCRM forms into my web site so I can capture customer data straight into the system  – that’s fantastic, as I can be straight onto potential opportunities with fundamentally no delay or need for administration,” enthuses Will.

Will makes full use of the marketing tools and integration with KashFlow accounting to progress leads through to sales and then onto invoices.  All customer information sits within WeCanDoCRM — including invoices — which can even keep customer records updated from public profiles on social networking sites like Twitter.

“I have access to information about my customers that many large businesses can only dream about!” laughs Will; and that’s before he has even linked his Twitter to WeCanDoCRM!

Before he rushes to his next meeting Will shares the secrets of his success: “Work on your business, rather than in it.  Work hard to win customers and harder still to keep them.  I’d recommend WeCanDoCRM to anyone who wants the benefits of Big Business customer relationship and management systems but with a cost and simplicity for small businesses.”

WeCanDoCRM is available from WeCanDo.BIZ at www.wecando.biz

HOW TO: Integrate KashFlow with WeCanDoCRM

Somedays I wonder if there are invisible people around us. Not actual invisible people necessarily (though that would be cool), but people who are living their everyday lives in front of us, but are completely different people in their secret lives.

Maybe I’ve been watching too much Bourne lately, but it feels like there could be people who I know, or who I see in the grocery store, that work for the government, or other groups, and I’ll just never know. Why do they get all of the adventure?

At the same time, you never know, maybe I could be one of those people. I might do secret missions that nobody knows about. Just don’t check my trunk…

So, maybe don’t bother trusting anyone, because you never know. If you don’t like that, try trusting everyone, or at least trust that they’re secret agents…

Since we’re on the subject, I had a thought the other day. What would happen if Waldo and Carmen Sandiego were to hook up? Would their children be invisible?

You guessed it…I read the PluggedIn review. Please don’t be fooled by the PG-13 rating for violence, there was still a heavy dose of dirty exclamations in Ultimatum. One of the CIA goons seems to be totally clueless the whole time and he repeats “What the…” in just about every scene he’s in. Overall, the language was mellower, but still far too present to be ignored.

The big car chase was kind of a dud, let’s be real; who (with a conscience) wants to watch a slew of cars be crushed in every imaginable way? And most of them are stolen, owned by random innocent people, and simply ‘in the way’. If you really like crunching metal and pyrotechnics…buy a propane torch and a bunch of soda, it’ll save your conscience knowing that Bourne didn’t just smash a dozen cars with women, children and the elderly in them.

Marie is no more, but Bourne has a flashback of a…uh…situation with Marie (which of course, prompted the texture on our drywall to become profoundly interesting). We all got the hint that Nicky Parsons and Bourne had been romantically related at some point in time, just from a couple little clues.

Ultimatum was the best of the Bourne movies, in my opinion. But not because of the lack of moral catastrophes, or language, but because the sheer impossibility of Jason Bourne. The DPs still need to get a tripod and some SteadyCam gear, and the viewer still needs motion sickness meds just to watch these films. Damon still runs like a girl, but he jumps like a guy. None of the acting looked like….like, a Christian indie, and the weakest actors were hard to spot. Budget was obviously high because not just anybody can walk into Waterloo Station with massive 35mm cameras and Matt Damon.

Now that I’ve seen them all, do I recommend the Bourne movies? Nope. Not without Clearplay. They are entertaining, but (there’s always a ‘but’ isn’t there?) I was more up tight about hearing the next bad word than I was about Jason being in danger. After every movie I felt gypped of a couple hours. If you really must see them, invite yourself over to a friends’ house…a friend with Clearplay.

One more thing, those trailers have so many lines and scenes spliced together that they are almost like separate little movies. Stuff happens in the trailers that never happens in the movies, like the line “Listen to what I’m about to say very carefully, I remember everything.”. It’s actually two very separate lines. And if an independent filmmaker overlapped Supremacy and Ultimatum in such a cumbersome way, he would have quite a boatload of criticism.