Gary Keller

As chairman of the board for Keller Williams Realty, Gary Keller helps provide strategic direction for the company, while serving as a visionary leader within the North American real estate industry.

Gary and his writing team have written three nationally best-selling books: The Millionaire Real Estate Agent, The Millionaire Real Estate Investor, and most recently, SHIFT: How Top Real Estate Agents Tackle Tough Times.

Based on his leadership qualities and contributions to the real estate industry, Inman News named Keller to the 100 Most Influential Real Estate Leaders of 2010. He has also been voted as one of the five “Most Admired People” in a survey conducted by REAL Trends magazine, was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Central Texas and the second most influential person in the real estate industry by REALTOR® magazine, and was a finalist for Inc. magazine’s Entrepreneur of the Year award.

Despite the sharp downturn in the real estate market, since 2005 Keller Williams Realty has grown 30 percent in agents, 40 percent in market centers, 21 percent in closed units and 11 percent in closed GCI, under Gary’s direction. This unparalleled growth recently led the company to being recognized as the second-largest real estate franchise in the United States.

Additionally, Keller Williams Realty has received many honors including: the number one real estate franchise on the Annual Franchise 500 list from Entrepreneur magazine, highest in overall satisfaction from home buyers for three years in a row from J.D. Power and Associates, the highest ranked real estate franchise on the annual Training Top 125 by Training Magazine, named to the elite Franchise High Performers list by The Wall Street Journal.

Keller’s passions include snow skiing, fly fishing, playing the guitar, horseback riding, golf, reading, movies, rock concerts, football, basketball, and spending as much time as possible with his family and friends. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife, Mary, their son, John, and their three dogs, Max, Grace and Cash.

By Freddy de Freitas 

“The Captain of Her Heart,” the hit of the Swiss duo Double, was an international success, reaching #8 in the UK Singles Chart and #16 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Double (pronounced dubb-el -) formed in 1983 in Zürich, Switzerland, by Felix Haug (drums and keyboards) and Kurt Maloo (guitar and vocals) out of the trio Ping Pong of which both Maloo and Haug were members.

Double released three 12″ maxi singles—“Naningo” (1983), “Rangoon Moon,” and “Woman of the World” (1984)—before they had a chance to record their first album.

The black-and-white music video for “Rangoon Moon” became a cult clip in Europe and got air play on VH1 in the United States.

Two years later, Double became known worldwide with their first hit single, “The Captain of Her Heart,” from their first album, Blue, a best-seller.

In 1987, Maloo and Haug recorded their second and last album, Dou3le, visualized best in the performance of the legendary Swiss mime group Mummenschanz in the award-winning music video for their song “Devils Ball,” featuring Herb Alpert on trumpet.

Double started to work on a third album in late 1988, but due to artistic differences, disbanded a few months later.

Maloo continued his career solo again and released, under his own name, Single (1990), Soul & Echo (1995), Loopy Avenue (2006), and Summer of Better Times (2009). Since 2007, he has been performing with his own band and played several concerts and festivals, including NuNote Lounge Fest in Moscow. Haug died of a heart attack in 2004.

Maloo, talked to Freddy de Freitas, about his career, life, family, and dreams.

Who’s Kurt Maloo? Who’s Kurt Meier?

I was born Kurt Meier and decided to take the artist name Kurt Maloo in 1975 to sign my paintings. I’ve chosen Maloo for phonetical reasons only, not knowing if the name really exists. Almost 30 years later I got an email from Rohinton Maloo, a business man in Mumbai, India, asking me whatlost cousin of his tribe I was. He told me the story of the Maloo family, of which about 50 people still live all over the world. They migrated from Persia and patriarch of the tribe’s name was Mal, which means big. Arriving in India they called him and his people Maloo.

When did you first start singing?

I was twelve and we had a performance in school around Christmas. We were three musicians wearing white long johns and white shirts in a dark room with UV-light. No one wanted to sing, so I said yes. I think we played Twist and Shout by the Beatles.

Have you always been in the music business?

I used to be a painter in my early twenties, but then gave it up for a career as a musician.

Did Arnold and Babette Meier influence your career? What is your first memory of being inspired by music?

My father was not musical at all, but my mother played the mandolin and came from a musical family, that gave home concerts in the old days. She used to sing and dance with me a lot.

When did you realize you could live as a singer?

I made music long before I was able to live from the royalties of my songs. The Captain Of Her Heart changed everything.

Where did you meet Felix Haug ?

I met him back in 1979 during a music workshop near Zurich, Switzerland.

In 1983, you and Mr. Haug created Double.? What was the concept?

There was no concept. We had a trio before called Ping Pong and when the bass player left we looked at each other and saw Double.

When writing your songs, is there a particular process you undertake?

I collect ideas for lyrics or complete lyrics in a small black book. When I start to compose I check if there’s anything that might fit. If not I write a few words to set a mood and then go from there.

You achieved international success in 1986 with “The Captain of Her Heart”. What Did you and Mr. Haug expect to happen with this song?

We liked the song very much, but didn’t believe it was a single since music played on the radio had to be danceable or at least more uptempo in the mid eighties. Then some secretaries at the record company started to whistle the piano melody in the office and the A&R got convinced it could be a hit.

Did “The Captain of Her Heart” make you a millionaire?

If it did where’s all the money now ? hahaha…

What particular song does Mr. Maloo find hard to sing live, one that brings back a lot of emotion?

Remorse

You turned 51 years old on 16 April 2004, two weeks later Mr. Haug died (May 1) of a heart attack .How do you take control of your emotions ?

That was a shock indeed. We haven’t been making music together for a long time, although I considered him still my best friend.

Who is your inspiration?

My daydreams

Where would you most like to perform?

Open Air in Rio de Janeiro in wintertime.

Critics often described your music as “heartbroken soul.” What’s the spin on that?

There’s heart and soul in it. Not so much broken though. Soul in the sense of emotional content, not musical style.

You are from Switzerland, your wife and your youngest son from Germany, your daughter from France. Is your home a section of U.N ?

haha….yes, I considered myself always citizen of the world. Nations are artificial homes. My home is where my heart is.

Do you have an official language at your home?

High German. The way it’s written. My mother tongue is a strange German dialect, that’s spoken in Switzerland.

Is there any chance your kids follow your path or your wife’s footsteps ?

No, both are studying design.

What’s the best piece of advice you have received?

Tomorrow is another day.

What advice would you give to other musicians trying to get off the ground?

Let your music fly high, but keep your feet on the ground.

What hidden talents do you have?

I can be funny, believe it or not.

I have to ask you, what is your favor food?

Home cooking

Any special place for vacation?

Anything warm and beautiful embedded in a cultural background. I’m

getting bored very quickly.

If you weren’t singing, what would you be doing?

Writing, traveling and listening to stories of others.

What doesn’t anybody know about the singer Kurt Maloo?

Not much. Kurt Meier has become Kurt Maloo over the years and my public

image is not far away from my private life. I’m writing a book about my life right now and when it’s finished there won’t be many secrets left.

Where can we buy your music?

There are links on my website kurtmaloo.com and basically on iTunes and Amazon.

INDIANAPOLIS—Barnes & Thornburg LLP has once again been recognized as Central Indiana’s top company based on the results of the 2012 Indianapolis Star/WorkplaceDynamics Top Workplaces employee survey. This is the third year in a row that Barnes & Thornburg has been ranked as a “top workplace” and the second time in three years that the firm has been listed as the No. 1 large company in Central Indiana.

In addition to this recognition, the firm received top honors in the leadership category with Robert T. Grand, managing partner of the Indianapolis office, receiving the survey’s Leadership Award.

This year’s survey collected responses from over 20,000 employees throughout 98 Central Indiana companies. The survey covered areas regarding values, leadership, management, benefits, pay, growth, opportunities, appreciation, work/life balance, and retention.

With more than 550 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the 100 largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from its offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Delaware, Indiana, Los Angeles, Michigan, Minneapolis, Ohio and Washington, D.C. You can also visit us online at www.btlaw.com.

Zoos claim to educate people and preserve species, but they usually fall short on both counts.
Most zoo enclosures are very small, and rather than promoting respect or understanding of animals, signs often provide little more information than an animal’s species, diet, and natural range.
Animals’ normal behavior is seldom discussed, much less observed, because their natural needs are rarely met. Birds’ wings may be clipped so that they cannot fly, aquatic animals are often without adequate water, and many animals who live in large herds or family groups in nature are kept alone or, at most, in pairs. Natural hunting and mating behaviors are virtually eliminated by regulated feeding and breeding regimens. Animals are closely confined, lack privacy, and have little opportunity for mental stimulation or physical exercise. These conditions often result in abnormal and self-destructive behaviors or “zoochosis.”

Deffer a 12 year old deaf Siamese/Tiger cat and  Ball Python adults are best of friends so to speak. They curl up and sleep together on my bed. I really love admiring how they have taken a mutual interest in each other over the past eight years with no negative behavior toward each other. It sure would be nice if humanity could learn from snakes how to co-exist with all living creatures. There is SO much we can learn from animals if people would only take the time to notice.

Merrillville, Ind.- White Lodging Services is pleased to announce the Residence Inn Indianapolis Downtown on the Canal has undergone a complete renovation of its 134 suites and public spaces, transforming it into an upscale hotel, designed to enhance the comfort and lifestyle of travelers on the road today. The newly refreshed hotel, owned by RLJ Lodging Trust and located at 350 W. New York St., offers guests flexible spaces and amenities to help maintain a healthy balance and routine while traveling.

Located near a variety of downtown attractions such as The Children’s Museum, the Indianapolis Zoo, White River State Park, Lucas Oil Stadium, Banker’s Life Field House and the Indianapolis Convention Center, the hotel is a perfect rest stop for the city. The Residence Inn Indianapolis Downtown on the Canal is also located 8 miles from Indianapolis International Airport.

“When on the road for an extended period, our guests need space to spread out, to maintain their life’s pace and restore their energy,” said Diane Mayer, vice president and global brand manager, Residence Inn. “Residence Inn offers a seamless blend of modern style and functionality that allows them to settle in and thrive.”

The spacious, residential-style suites offer accommodations that are larger than traditional hotel guestrooms. The spacious layout provides separate zones where guests can relax, work, eat, and sleep, thereby maintaining their routines while away from home. The updated kitchens outfitted with full-sized refrigerators and stainless steel appliances make living on the road easier for both business travelers on long stays and families on holiday. With a larger, expansive workspace, free high speed Internet access, and a multitude of easily accessible outlets, guests are able to work efficiently throughout the suite. Thirty-seven inch flat screen televisions and luxurious bathrooms with extra storage space make it possible for travelers to live and rest comfortably.

Conveying the same feeling of comfortable living on the road, the hotel’s re-designed public spaces have been transformed into multi-functional living spaces where guests can relax or collaborate on their own terms. The new open communal living space allows guests to connect with friends, family or colleagues in a modern living room style lounge and around the firepit in the outdoor open-air living room. Free Wi-Fi and private “nooks” with personal high-definition flat screen televisions provide a private/public work space outside of the suite.

With more than 620 hotels in North America, Europe and South America, Residence Inn, a Marriott power brand credited with introducing the extended-stay lodging segment 37 years ago, offers guests lower rates for longer stays. With a free hot breakfast offered every day that features a variety of quality items and healthy alternatives, Residence Inn helps guests prepare for the day ahead and maintain a healthy balance while on the road. In addition to the robust free hot breakfast offering, other valuable amenities include grocery delivery service, 24-hour market, fully functional kitchens in each suite, fitness room and guest laundry room.

Challenger Richard Mourdock doesn’t get it.

That’s what Indiana Farm Bureau President Don Villwock and other Indiana farmers are saying after this week’s U.S. Senate debate.

Mourdock ‘Flat-Out Wrong’ on Rural Economy, Ethanol

“Mr. Mourdock is flat-out wrong when he asserts that ethanol increases the price of gasoline,” Villwock said this weekend in an official statement. “Ethanol currently saves consumers nearly $1 per gallon and therefore Hoosiers benefit from ethanol every mile that they drive.”

Agriculture is one of the few business sectors that remained somewhat stable, even profitable, during the recent economic downturn, Villwock said. “I am disappointed that candidate Mourdock did not study up on one of the primary reasons this is so – ethanol.”

Lugar’s Ag Background Leads to Indiana Jobs, U.S. Security

Because of his farming background, Lugar “knows that ethanol creates new markets, so farmers are able to rely less on the government for income and contribute more to the critical work of budget reduction. Ethanol is a win-win-win for all of us. It helps the environment by using renewable resources and reducing emissions. It’s a win for rural communities because renewable fuel plants supply much-needed jobs and economic development,” Villwock said, “and it is a win for farmers because renewable fuels create demand for crops and a more stable farm economy.”

Farm Bureau credited Lugar for being a longtime supporter of renewable energy and a strong advocate of a national energy policy that reduces our dependence on imported oil. Villwock said Lugar effectively educates Congressional colleagues about how ethanol contributes to U.S. national security and reduces the profits Americans send to the volatile Middle East.

Producing ethanol takes one-third less energy and water than just five years ago, Villwock said. “All this means we can produce ethanol for 89 cents cheaper than gas. Thank you, Senator Lugar, for getting the facts straight.”   Lugar co-owns and manages his family’s 604-acre corn, soybean and hardwood tree farm in Marion County. He is a former chairman and current member of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Group Advises Mayor That Going Vegan Is the Best Way to Help the Planet

Green, Ohio – PETA has sent a letter to Green, Ohio, Mayor Richard Norton asking him to change the city’s name to “Meat’s Not Green” for 24 hours in honor of Earth Day (April 22). PETA’s request will bolster the city’s “Living Green” campaign, which promotes Earth-friendly measures, including encouraging residents to use water-conserving rain barrels and buy locally grown food. PETA points out that in addition to causing health problems and animal suffering on a massive scale, raising animals for food is acknowledged as a leading cause of greenhouse-gas emissions, water pollution, and land degradation.

“‘Meat’s Not Green’ is a catchy name that would encourage everyone to think about the ill effects of meat on the environment, animals, and their own arteries,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “After all, one of the best things that anyone can do to go ‘green’ is to go vegan.”

With the letter, PETA included artworkshowing a potential Interstate 77 sign that reads, “Meat’s Not Green.”