text:
On this day, the first anniversary of Trump’s presidency, the same day our government has been shut down, women are marching all around our country- AGAIN. Women are claiming their power to define, establish and maintain their human rights as citizens of the United States and of the world.
This is nothing new. For centuries (possibly millennia!) women have had to defend their very femininity against concurrent cultural perceptions of their intellect and abilities, as well as their worth and status in society. It has become tedious to address each cultural nuance, each new attack against womanhood, which presents itself. Given that it is our female anatomy and physiology which allow for the continued procreation of humankind, what in hell is the problem? Remember, “it takes TWO, baby!” to make a baby. Women and men are equal partners. Why have our cultures throughout the ages failed to reflect this equality? The likely answer is: PREGNANCY.
During pregnancy, women are somewhat physically and emotionally vulnerable. While this vulnerability is temporary, it can be misperceived as weakness- and therefore exploited. Further, until the recent era of ready access to dependable methods of birth control, it was common for women to get pregnant every two to three years. They spent years of their lives in a vulnerable state.
Throughout history, we have attempted to control our fertility. Anthropologists have discovered condoms made from a variety of materials dating back as far as 3000 years ago. Yet the use of artificial contraception (any method other than abstinence) has created enormous cultural and religious controversy for centuries. Changing the number of pregnancies women experience would of course create change in society. Those changes are not totally predictable, nor are they necessarily desirable to all.
1960- Enovid, the first birth control pill, cleared the FDA for human use.
1965- The US Supreme Court gave married couples the right to use birth control, but unmarried women in 26 states were denied access to birth control pills.
1972- In Baird v. Eisenstadt the US Supreme Court legalized birth control methods for all citizens regardless of marital status.
2018- We’re still marching. Sexual harassment against women reached a tipping point last year, and our hidden shame has been thrown off by giving it our voice. Epidemic domestic violence continues despite all our efforts.
It seems we must keep on marching.
Dedicated to my four granddaughters: Allyson, Christina, Amber, and Elizabeth; and to my two grandsons, Joseph and Jacob.
. . . . ENTER: the intruder . . . .
Our lives devoid of sanity, of hope . . .
By profession, I am a registered nurse practitioner specializing in anesthesia. In 1990, I also completed a BA in Cultural Anthropology. While pursuing my studies, I’d been enthralled by Margaret Mead’s research in American Samoa for her doctoral thesis in Anthropology. I’d also had the opportunity to meet her daughter, Mary Catherine Bateson, when she was a visiting lecturer at George Mason University. So when an advertisement appeared in our anesthesia journal in early 1992 seeking volunteers to work in American Samoa, I knew I had to respond! I wanted to experience Mead’s South Pacific paradise for myself!
Making it happen was no small task. I didn’t want to move out of my condo, so my son Michael agreed he would stay there and cover the expenses. I contacted LBJ Tropical Medical Center and told them of my interest, sending my resume and copies of licenses, etc. I also began looking into possible free-lance work to do after I returned. I told my boss about my plans, and to my surprise, he offered me a leave of absence instead. I happily accepted. Finally I was ready to go!
Dr. Sam met me at the airport on July 1, 1992. He told me I would be staying at the Rainmaker Hotel temporarily because a hurricane the previous year had damaged the volunteer apartments. The hotel was lovely; I settled in and began working the next day at the hospital, which was about a mile away. But by July 7th, I wrote in my diary, “I’m bored staying here!” So I visited the damaged area to assess the condition of my future “home.” The apartments were filthy but some were structurally intact. I chose one with a roof (!!!) and then went to speak to the head doctor of the hospital. I suggested I could clean up the place myself. He agreed, so the next day I moved my belongings and went to work!
For the next few days, I provided anesthesia services during the day under less than optimal conditions. Medications were in short supply, equipment was outdated and un-serviced. I had to be constantly alert for the types of problems I’d never encounter on the US continent. Evenings at “home” were just as challenging! The apartment was not air-conditioned and depended upon louvered windows (with no curtains) for air circulation. I had also quickly discovered my four- and eight-legged roomies! Roaches, rats and geckos had preceded me! I cleaned to discourage the roaches, repaired the cupboard bottoms which allowed constant access for the rats, and decided the geckos were my friends! So when I went to bed on July 11, 1992, I was exhausted!
Groggy confusion quickly gave way to pure terror. I screamed at him to get out, irrationally demanding to know who he was and what he wanted. As he slowly walked toward me, I sat up and wrapped myself in my bed sheet and grabbed my glasses. Then he plopped into the chair near my bed and said, “I just want to talk.” Right! Although it was quite dark in the room, I could see he was wearing only swim trunks. I demanded to know how he’d gotten in and he told me he’d broken in with his knife; then he reached for my cigarettes on the table and knocked over a glass of water at my bedside. It shattered on the floor. ….. Shorts. Knife. Broken glass….. No idiot would believe his intentions were to merely “talk” to me. My heart sank; I put my hand to my forehead wondering how I was going to get out of this alive. He asked, “what’s the matter?” “I’m tired,” I lied.
“I’ve gotta pee. Where’s your bathroom?” he asked.
“Right across from the door you broke into!” I barked.
The time had come. I waited until he got through the bedroom doorway then said I needed to get some water. Carefully, I got out of bed at the foot, avoiding the shattered glass. He didn’t turn. I hurried toward my kitchen, opened the outside door and ran! The slamming door alerted him, but he couldn’t have had time to pee- he chased me! Thankfully I had enough of a head start toward (hopefully) inhabited apartments. He saw where I was going, then turned and ran the other way.
The person who responded to my door banging called hospital security, who chased down the intruder and called the police. They brought him in handcuffs so I could ID him. But he looked me in the face and said, “It was me.” I asked him why, and he said he’d seen me through the windows and I’d looked “nice.” He was taken to jail briefly then sentenced to be publicly shunned. Several days later, the Assistant Attorney General of American Samoa called to tell me about how shunning is used to shame people for certain crimes when no physical injury had taken place. He said it works very well in their culture, as public avoidance causes much shame. He also asked me to please stay for my promised three months, as Samoans depended on their volunteers for health care. I assured him I had no intention of leaving.
Local people and my friends and family were very concerned and supportive. The emotional toll wasn’t a burden I could have easily carried without their help. Yet there were just a few who asked, “What’s the big deal? He didn’t hurt you, so. . . ?” But of course pain is rarely only physical. The comments and attitudes of those few still haunt me, just as the sight of the intruder’s knife left behind near my chair haunts me. They are just a tiny glimpse of what the “Silence Breakers” must face.
Donald Trump should be removed from office immediately.
This missive is not meant to convince you of Mr. Trump’s incompetency in his role as President of the United States. Your own eyes and ears have informed you of his instability, narcissism, paranoia and lack of a normal moral compass. You have no doubt felt waves of disbelief, disgust, and fear in your heart and gut as you witnessed his behavior, listened to his words, and read his “tweets.” Your internal body wisdom has been flashing a neon warning sign! Yet you have a job to do, a career to pursue. And so you have attempted to accommodate him and “give him a chance,” because after all, some of his beliefs mirror your own. And of course what can you accomplish for your constituents if you are not re-elected? But being co-opted into Mr. Trump’s mindset and allowing him to set normalcy standards of behavior and belief are not conducive to fulfilling your duties as our representatives. Neither will it be possible to try to work around him. He is a dangerous and unpredictable man. [Please read The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump, October 2017, ed. Bandy Lee, MD. Contributors are 27 mental health experts who felt it was their civic and moral “duty to warn” us of the danger Mr. Trump presents to the USA in his presidential role.] Therefore it is incumbent upon each of you to ask yourself some difficult questions: Who am I? What do I believe? What are my most cherished goals? Each must be answered honestly (if only to yourself!) without prejudice or rationalization. Then remind yourself there is strength in numbers!
We, the people of the United States, have elected a group of wise, moral and powerful women and men to help us maintain and improve upon the nation our forefathers created for us. To do so, you must reclaim your power and become a united front! Together, your primary responsibility must be to help heal the divisiveness in our country. All other agendas must wait. A gentle, non-judgmental hand will be needed to accomplish so noble a goal. Keep in mind Mr. Trump won the presidency by acknowledging and validating the concerns and fears of some among us. That in itself is commendable for all who aspire to leadership, as the knowledge may be used to realistically address common concerns. But such was not Mr. Trump’s goal. He inflamed fear and anger while emboldening incivility toward one another. He encouraged scapegoating- blaming the “OTHER” for our problems. Then he decreed only he could help. Mr. Trump appeared to be understanding, empathetic. But his goal was to create an image that would buy him a win, the power of the presidency. The image is a sham.
By reclaiming your power and leadership, you who represent us in Congress can stand united and reject the “malignant normality” presented by Mr. Trump. [Terminology used by Robert Lifton, MD, in the aforementioned book. It refers to creating a culture in which abhorrent practices are deemed “normal.”] Using either impeachment proceedings or the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, you can reveal the sham Mr. Trump has engendered. By being truthful and sincerely empathetic yourself and by avoiding making Mr. Trump himself a scapegoat, you can remove him from office and prevent further damage to your integrity and the integrity of our country. Then through legislation and public discussions, you can encourage us to reaffirm that all human beings deserve dignity, respect and kindness. You have the power to empower, to remind us we are each in control of our own destiny; blame and shame have no useful place in our lives.
I beseech each of you to do your part as an elected and trusted leader of our country. Thank you for choosing to serve us.
With just one chance to care.
Our minds charge, “Be aware!
We must answer . . . . .
. . . . . with a prayer.
The need to love and be loved: our primal cry is just that simple and just that complex. Love demands much from us. Caring, compassion, kindness and commitment rank high among those requirements. Without love none of us would survive beyond birth. We need each other. Alone, we die. Together we flourish and have the opportunity to experience joy, hope purpose and contentment in our lives. Yet nothing is guaranteed. That means we have work to do!
Fully understanding who we are as human beings is our essential task. When I refer to us as “wholly holy humans,” I mean we are the embodiment of conscience and love [holy] with the instinct for personal and species survival [human.] These two primary aspects of human nature are permanently intricately intertwined. Nevertheless, tension exists between them. This tension may be thought of as a tug-of-war for dominance. Our holiness and our humanness are constantly competing for our attention as we choose how to view both the world and our place in it. This tension gives birth to most of the challenges we face throughout life.
Our personal and species survival rely upon our interdependence with each other, which in turn requires us to love and have compassion for one another. Meanwhile, our humanness decrees we want to define the terms for interdependence! Moreover, our definition of survival has become, “I want to be who I choose, live as I choose, while maintaining my self-esteem along with my reputation and status in society!” Each and every time we perceive our desires are threatened or under attack, we feel afraid.
Fear may lead to anger, antagonism, even war. But on a day-to-day basis, fear often lurks beneath our awareness, creating suspicion, hypervigilance, and anxiety. Such states of mind may lead us to misinterpret the people and circumstances in our lives. Too often, we don’t recognize our fear and ‘own’ it as an essential and useful part of who we are. Instead, because we have come to believe fear is a human weakness, we externalize it. Consequently we mislabel our fear (often in a self-serving or righteous manner!) then name a scapegoat.
Our scapegoats take many forms: another person; a group of people; natural and accidental events; a world view or a religion; a supernatural being like a devil. All become diversions which prevent us from correctly understanding our own issues and finding useful solutions to them. They waste our time, emotions and energy while leading us down a rabbit hole. We may war with our scapegoats, but we can never control them!
Fortunately there is another path. By recognizing and embracing who we are as human beings, we can actually nurture our holiness by putting our survival instinct to good use, the use for which it was intended! It is incumbent upon all of us to use our innate intelligence to continuously question our perceptions with self-honesty and an open mind. Our challenges were born within us. Their solutions must come from within. Voila! Control is in reach!
The people of Charlottesville, Virginia, who endured bearing witness to the consequences of fear run amuck while seeing events for what they really were, yet persevering with grace, dignity and forgiveness.
The people in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and all the Caribbean Islands who were in the path of recent hurricanes, along with those who came to provide assistance. The world was privileged to witness your struggle as you faced catastrophic conditions. You showed all of us the enormous capabilities of humanity, giving us hope. May your recovery be swift, your hearts lightened.
We must take care of ourselves before we can take care of others.
Together these truisms exemplify one approach toward living our best life possible. They tell us we must each nurture our own physical and mental health before we are capable of caring for another. Then we must meet our responsibilities to those closest to us- our families and communities- to the best of our ability. Furthermore, we should do so while recognizing and relying upon our interdependence with one another. Many of us prioritize our personal lives in this way, and we often apply the same truisms to any large body of people with whom we form an allegiance as well. For example, we may put the needs of our own country above the needs of other nations.
A. PLANET HEALTH: Gone are the days when we, as a much smaller number of human beings, could avail ourselves of the earth’s resources without much concern. Now, given the enormous growth in our population, we cannot deny our presence here affects the health of our planet, its ecosystem and atmosphere. It is essential for each of us to respect and nurture our environment. We are responsible for taking care of the only home we are likely to inhabit.
Try to imagine living in a world without our co-operation to maintain human rights. I doubt many of us would care to live in such a world. Our humanity must be cherished by all, for all. We can only hope to enjoy human rights if we are willing to protect them for everyone.
We have heard a great deal lately about putting “America First.” Our allegiance and commitment to our great country is honorable and commendable. Yet our first priority must always be to humanity and its survival. Our allegiances should and can be balanced within the larger reality. Our innate goodness and humanitarianism- the holiness in our humanity- will guide us.
I published this originally with the intention of addressing why the average person lies, how our lies affect us, and what we can do to change our behavior. This essay does NOT address those who are chronic liars or who have personality disorders. Those people are not likely to be amenable to either advice or treatment.
Until the lie was whispered.
Until the lie was confirmed.
Until the lie was repeated.
Until the lie was denied.
We tell ourselves stories: stories which include part reality, part perception, and lies- tiny lies, huge lies, self-serving lies. Sometimes we even lie to ourselves about why we tellthose lies. So can it be any surprise we lie to others? Why are we so dishonest?

lowercased:
on this day, the first anniversary of trump’s presidency, the same day our government has been shut down, women are marching all around our country- again. women are claiming their power to define, establish and maintain their human rights as citizens of the united states and of the world.
this is nothing new. for centuries (possibly millennia!) women have had to defend their very femininity against concurrent cultural perceptions of their intellect and abilities, as well as their worth and status in society. it has become tedious to address each cultural nuance, each new attack against womanhood, which presents itself. given that it is our female anatomy and physiology which allow for the continued procreation of humankind, what in hell is the problem? remember, “it takes two, baby!” to make a baby. women and men are equal partners. why have our cultures throughout the ages failed to reflect this equality? the likely answer is: pregnancy.
during pregnancy, women are somewhat physically and emotionally vulnerable. while this vulnerability is temporary, it can be misperceived as weakness- and therefore exploited. further, until the recent era of ready access to dependable methods of birth control, it was common for women to get pregnant every two to three years. they spent years of their lives in a vulnerable state.
throughout history, we have attempted to control our fertility. anthropologists have discovered condoms made from a variety of materials dating back as far as 3000 years ago. yet the use of artificial contraception (any method other than abstinence) has created enormous cultural and religious controversy for centuries. changing the number of pregnancies women experience would of course create change in society. those changes are not totally predictable, nor are they necessarily desirable to all.
1960- enovid, the first birth control pill, cleared the fda for human use.
1965- the us supreme court gave married couples the right to use birth control, but unmarried women in 26 states were denied access to birth control pills.
1972- in baird v. eisenstadt the us supreme court legalized birth control methods for all citizens regardless of marital status.
2018- we’re still marching. sexual harassment against women reached a tipping point last year, and our hidden shame has been thrown off by giving it our voice. epidemic domestic violence continues despite all our efforts.
it seems we must keep on marching.
dedicated to my four granddaughters: allyson, christina, amber, and elizabeth; and to my two grandsons, joseph and jacob.
. . . . enter: the intruder . . . .
our lives devoid of sanity, of hope . . .
by profession, i am a registered nurse practitioner specializing in anesthesia. in 1990, i also completed a ba in cultural anthropology. while pursuing my studies, i’d been enthralled by margaret mead’s research in american samoa for her doctoral thesis in anthropology. i’d also had the opportunity to meet her daughter, mary catherine bateson, when she was a visiting lecturer at george mason university. so when an advertisement appeared in our anesthesia journal in early 1992 seeking volunteers to work in american samoa, i knew i had to respond! i wanted to experience mead’s south pacific paradise for myself!
making it happen was no small task. i didn’t want to move out of my condo, so my son michael agreed he would stay there and cover the expenses. i contacted lbj tropical medical center and told them of my interest, sending my resume and copies of licenses, etc. i also began looking into possible free-lance work to do after i returned. i told my boss about my plans, and to my surprise, he offered me a leave of absence instead. i happily accepted. finally i was ready to go!
dr. sam met me at the airport on july 1, 1992. he told me i would be staying at the rainmaker hotel temporarily because a hurricane the previous year had damaged the volunteer apartments. the hotel was lovely; i settled in and began working the next day at the hospital, which was about a mile away. but by july 7th, i wrote in my diary, “i’m bored staying here!” so i visited the damaged area to assess the condition of my future “home.” the apartments were filthy but some were structurally intact. i chose one with a roof (!!!) and then went to speak to the head doctor of the hospital. i suggested i could clean up the place myself. he agreed, so the next day i moved my belongings and went to work!
for the next few days, i provided anesthesia services during the day under less than optimal conditions. medications were in short supply, equipment was outdated and un-serviced. i had to be constantly alert for the types of problems i’d never encounter on the us continent. evenings at “home” were just as challenging! the apartment was not air-conditioned and depended upon louvered windows (with no curtains) for air circulation. i had also quickly discovered my four- and eight-legged roomies! roaches, rats and geckos had preceded me! i cleaned to discourage the roaches, repaired the cupboard bottoms which allowed constant access for the rats, and decided the geckos were my friends! so when i went to bed on july 11, 1992, i was exhausted!
groggy confusion quickly gave way to pure terror. i screamed at him to get out, irrationally demanding to know who he was and what he wanted. as he slowly walked toward me, i sat up and wrapped myself in my bed sheet and grabbed my glasses. then he plopped into the chair near my bed and said, “i just want to talk.” right! although it was quite dark in the room, i could see he was wearing only swim trunks. i demanded to know how he’d gotten in and he told me he’d broken in with his knife; then he reached for my cigarettes on the table and knocked over a glass of water at my bedside. it shattered on the floor. ….. shorts. knife. broken glass….. no idiot would believe his intentions were to merely “talk” to me. my heart sank; i put my hand to my forehead wondering how i was going to get out of this alive. he asked, “what’s the matter?” “i’m tired,” i lied.
“i’ve gotta pee. where’s your bathroom?” he asked.
“right across from the door you broke into!” i barked.
the time had come. i waited until he got through the bedroom doorway then said i needed to get some water. carefully, i got out of bed at the foot, avoiding the shattered glass. he didn’t turn. i hurried toward my kitchen, opened the outside door and ran! the slamming door alerted him, but he couldn’t have had time to pee- he chased me! thankfully i had enough of a head start toward (hopefully) inhabited apartments. he saw where i was going, then turned and ran the other way.
the person who responded to my door banging called hospital security, who chased down the intruder and called the police. they brought him in handcuffs so i could id him. but he looked me in the face and said, “it was me.” i asked him why, and he said he’d seen me through the windows and i’d looked “nice.” he was taken to jail briefly then sentenced to be publicly shunned. several days later, the assistant attorney general of american samoa called to tell me about how shunning is used to shame people for certain crimes when no physical injury had taken place. he said it works very well in their culture, as public avoidance causes much shame. he also asked me to please stay for my promised three months, as samoans depended on their volunteers for health care. i assured him i had no intention of leaving.
local people and my friends and family were very concerned and supportive. the emotional toll wasn’t a burden i could have easily carried without their help. yet there were just a few who asked, “what’s the big deal? he didn’t hurt you, so. . . ?” but of course pain is rarely only physical. the comments and attitudes of those few still haunt me, just as the sight of the intruder’s knife left behind near my chair haunts me. they are just a tiny glimpse of what the “silence breakers” must face.
donald trump should be removed from office immediately.
this missive is not meant to convince you of mr. trump’s incompetency in his role as president of the united states. your own eyes and ears have informed you of his instability, narcissism, paranoia and lack of a normal moral compass. you have no doubt felt waves of disbelief, disgust, and fear in your heart and gut as you witnessed his behavior, listened to his words, and read his “tweets.” your internal body wisdom has been flashing a neon warning sign! yet you have a job to do, a career to pursue. and so you have attempted to accommodate him and “give him a chance,” because after all, some of his beliefs mirror your own. and of course what can you accomplish for your constituents if you are not re-elected? but being co-opted into mr. trump’s mindset and allowing him to set normalcy standards of behavior and belief are not conducive to fulfilling your duties as our representatives. neither will it be possible to try to work around him. he is a dangerous and unpredictable man. [please read the dangerous case of donald trump, october 2017, ed. bandy lee, md. contributors are 27 mental health experts who felt it was their civic and moral “duty to warn” us of the danger mr. trump presents to the usa in his presidential role.] therefore it is incumbent upon each of you to ask yourself some difficult questions: who am i? what do i believe? what are my most cherished goals? each must be answered honestly (if only to yourself!) without prejudice or rationalization. then remind yourself there is strength in numbers!
we, the people of the united states, have elected a group of wise, moral and powerful women and men to help us maintain and improve upon the nation our forefathers created for us. to do so, you must reclaim your power and become a united front! together, your primary responsibility must be to help heal the divisiveness in our country. all other agendas must wait. a gentle, non-judgmental hand will be needed to accomplish so noble a goal. keep in mind mr. trump won the presidency by acknowledging and validating the concerns and fears of some among us. that in itself is commendable for all who aspire to leadership, as the knowledge may be used to realistically address common concerns. but such was not mr. trump’s goal. he inflamed fear and anger while emboldening incivility toward one another. he encouraged scapegoating- blaming the “other” for our problems. then he decreed only he could help. mr. trump appeared to be understanding, empathetic. but his goal was to create an image that would buy him a win, the power of the presidency. the image is a sham.
by reclaiming your power and leadership, you who represent us in congress can stand united and reject the “malignant normality” presented by mr. trump. [terminology used by robert lifton, md, in the aforementioned book. it refers to creating a culture in which abhorrent practices are deemed “normal.”] using either impeachment proceedings or the 25th amendment to the constitution, you can reveal the sham mr. trump has engendered. by being truthful and sincerely empathetic yourself and by avoiding making mr. trump himself a scapegoat, you can remove him from office and prevent further damage to your integrity and the integrity of our country. then through legislation and public discussions, you can encourage us to reaffirm that all human beings deserve dignity, respect and kindness. you have the power to empower, to remind us we are each in control of our own destiny; blame and shame have no useful place in our lives.
i beseech each of you to do your part as an elected and trusted leader of our country. thank you for choosing to serve us.
with just one chance to care.
our minds charge, “be aware!
we must answer . . . . .
. . . . . with a prayer.
the need to love and be loved: our primal cry is just that simple and just that complex. love demands much from us. caring, compassion, kindness and commitment rank high among those requirements. without love none of us would survive beyond birth. we need each other. alone, we die. together we flourish and have the opportunity to experience joy, hope purpose and contentment in our lives. yet nothing is guaranteed. that means we have work to do!
fully understanding who we are as human beings is our essential task. when i refer to us as “wholly holy humans,” i mean we are the embodiment of conscience and love [holy] with the instinct for personal and species survival [human.] these two primary aspects of human nature are permanently intricately intertwined. nevertheless, tension exists between them. this tension may be thought of as a tug-of-war for dominance. our holiness and our humanness are constantly competing for our attention as we choose how to view both the world and our place in it. this tension gives birth to most of the challenges we face throughout life.
our personal and species survival rely upon our interdependence with each other, which in turn requires us to love and have compassion for one another. meanwhile, our humanness decrees we want to define the terms for interdependence! moreover, our definition of survival has become, “i want to be who i choose, live as i choose, while maintaining my self-esteem along with my reputation and status in society!” each and every time we perceive our desires are threatened or under attack, we feel afraid.
fear may lead to anger, antagonism, even war. but on a day-to-day basis, fear often lurks beneath our awareness, creating suspicion, hypervigilance, and anxiety. such states of mind may lead us to misinterpret the people and circumstances in our lives. too often, we don’t recognize our fear and ‘own’ it as an essential and useful part of who we are. instead, because we have come to believe fear is a human weakness, we externalize it. consequently we mislabel our fear (often in a self-serving or righteous manner!) then name a scapegoat.
our scapegoats take many forms: another person; a group of people; natural and accidental events; a world view or a religion; a supernatural being like a devil. all become diversions which prevent us from correctly understanding our own issues and finding useful solutions to them. they waste our time, emotions and energy while leading us down a rabbit hole. we may war with our scapegoats, but we can never control them!
fortunately there is another path. by recognizing and embracing who we are as human beings, we can actually nurture our holiness by putting our survival instinct to good use, the use for which it was intended! it is incumbent upon all of us to use our innate intelligence to continuously question our perceptions with self-honesty and an open mind. our challenges were born within us. their solutions must come from within. voila! control is in reach!
the people of charlottesville, virginia, who endured bearing witness to the consequences of fear run amuck while seeing events for what they really were, yet persevering with grace, dignity and forgiveness.
the people in texas, florida, puerto rico and all the caribbean islands who were in the path of recent hurricanes, along with those who came to provide assistance. the world was privileged to witness your struggle as you faced catastrophic conditions. you showed all of us the enormous capabilities of humanity, giving us hope. may your recovery be swift, your hearts lightened.
we must take care of ourselves before we can take care of others.
together these truisms exemplify one approach toward living our best life possible. they tell us we must each nurture our own physical and mental health before we are capable of caring for another. then we must meet our responsibilities to those closest to us- our families and communities- to the best of our ability. furthermore, we should do so while recognizing and relying upon our interdependence with one another. many of us prioritize our personal lives in this way, and we often apply the same truisms to any large body of people with whom we form an allegiance as well. for example, we may put the needs of our own country above the needs of other nations.
a. planet health: gone are the days when we, as a much smaller number of human beings, could avail ourselves of the earth’s resources without much concern. now, given the enormous growth in our population, we cannot deny our presence here affects the health of our planet, its ecosystem and atmosphere. it is essential for each of us to respect and nurture our environment. we are responsible for taking care of the only home we are likely to inhabit.
try to imagine living in a world without our co-operation to maintain human rights. i doubt many of us would care to live in such a world. our humanity must be cherished by all, for all. we can only hope to enjoy human rights if we are willing to protect them for everyone.
we have heard a great deal lately about putting “america first.” our allegiance and commitment to our great country is honorable and commendable. yet our first priority must always be to humanity and its survival. our allegiances should and can be balanced within the larger reality. our innate goodness and humanitarianism- the holiness in our humanity- will guide us.
i published this originally with the intention of addressing why the average person lies, how our lies affect us, and what we can do to change our behavior. this essay does not address those who are chronic liars or who have personality disorders. those people are not likely to be amenable to either advice or treatment.
until the lie was whispered.
until the lie was confirmed.
until the lie was repeated.
until the lie was denied.
we tell ourselves stories: stories which include part reality, part perception, and lies- tiny lies, huge lies, self-serving lies. sometimes we even lie to ourselves about why we tellthose lies. so can it be any surprise we lie to others? why are we so dishonest?


text:
To view the full size picture in each case, click the thumbnail.
Fr. Luciano Capelli, Rector and Principal - in the background are the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, Mr. Allan Kemakeza, and the Salesian Provincial of Japan, Fr. Stephen Fujikawa.
Guests, including PM, on tour through workshops.
HONIARA 30 June -- ‘Christianity is more than a solution to problems; it is a proclamation of the good news’. That is exactly what Don Bosco Faculty, students and guests from here and abroad headed by Prime Minister Sir Allan Kemakeza did on Friday June 28th at 9:00 am at the Don Bosco Compound at Henderson.
The message proclaimed loud and clear was perceived by all: There is a God who cares for the Solomon Islands youth and provides for them opportunities for growth and educations in many ways. The Don Bosco way is but one of them.
The Prime Minister expressed what everybody deeply felt in his heart for the occasion: a personal and community sense of gratitude to God for this gift of His Spirit through Saint John Bosco. He said that the emphasis on technical skills would provide young Solomon Islanders with the training they need to find future employment.
The display of decent technical skills acquired in such a short span of time was the icing on the cake. The guests marveled at the excellent layout and fine equipment and the high concern for detail so evident in every corner of the complex. Not a few placed a good number of orders for ovens, BBQ plates, coconut scrapers and others, not to mention chicken, piglets and eggs production.
The youth felt it was their day and expressed through music what was in their hearts said by Don Bosco more than a100 years ago “It is enough that you are young for me to love you… for you I will offer my life even to my last breath” .
Fr. Stephen Fujikawa, Provincial of Japan, was happy and delighted to note that the boys are responding well and are interested in acquiring skills and talents. His advice to us goes thus: “Try to conserve all that is good in your culture and all do your best to improve your skills and talents through your work and study”.

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to view the full size picture in each case, click the thumbnail.
fr. luciano capelli, rector and principal - in the background are the prime minister of the solomon islands, mr. allan kemakeza, and the salesian provincial of japan, fr. stephen fujikawa.
guests, including pm, on tour through workshops.
honiara 30 june -- ‘christianity is more than a solution to problems; it is a proclamation of the good news’. that is exactly what don bosco faculty, students and guests from here and abroad headed by prime minister sir allan kemakeza did on friday june 28th at 9:00 am at the don bosco compound at henderson.
the message proclaimed loud and clear was perceived by all: there is a god who cares for the solomon islands youth and provides for them opportunities for growth and educations in many ways. the don bosco way is but one of them.
the prime minister expressed what everybody deeply felt in his heart for the occasion: a personal and community sense of gratitude to god for this gift of his spirit through saint john bosco. he said that the emphasis on technical skills would provide young solomon islanders with the training they need to find future employment.
the display of decent technical skills acquired in such a short span of time was the icing on the cake. the guests marveled at the excellent layout and fine equipment and the high concern for detail so evident in every corner of the complex. not a few placed a good number of orders for ovens, bbq plates, coconut scrapers and others, not to mention chicken, piglets and eggs production.
the youth felt it was their day and expressed through music what was in their hearts said by don bosco more than a100 years ago “it is enough that you are young for me to love you… for you i will offer my life even to my last breath” .
fr. stephen fujikawa, provincial of japan, was happy and delighted to note that the boys are responding well and are interested in acquiring skills and talents. his advice to us goes thus: “try to conserve all that is good in your culture and all do your best to improve your skills and talents through your work and study”.


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Here I will post whatever I happen to be working on. It could be something for the house, something fun for me or the kids. I do a lot fo wood work projects, but I’m trying to get back into microcontroller based projects. There is so much cool stuff available today in that arena. hopefully you cna use these posts to build something you like. The posts will not be time based, but project pased. So updates will happen to the specific post on the project.
There are literally hundreds of projects I have done over the last two decades. from simple and small to large and complicated. This is a new website, I won’t be rehashing my past here.

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here i will post whatever i happen to be working on. it could be something for the house, something fun for me or the kids. i do a lot fo wood work projects, but i’m trying to get back into microcontroller based projects. there is so much cool stuff available today in that arena. hopefully you cna use these posts to build something you like. the posts will not be time based, but project pased. so updates will happen to the specific post on the project.
there are literally hundreds of projects i have done over the last two decades. from simple and small to large and complicated. this is a new website, i won’t be rehashing my past here.


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We are book lovers, so we visit the library at least twice a week and we check out several books each time we go. As we walk around in the Children’s Department, I’m always looking for books with brown faces on the covers. And when I spy one, I always take a closer look at it.
This willy-nilly method of roaming the library in search of books featuring characters of color wastes time and often yields few results, so it’s not a technique I recommend. However, there is a resource you can use to find self-reflective Black books for children and I think it’s a resource you’ll want to own.
Black Books Galore: Guide to Great African American Children’s Books by Donna Rand, Toni Trent Parker, and Shelia Foster is a great title to have on your homeschool resource shelf. It is an A+ guide that can help Black homeschoolers find books with African or African-American themes. You no longer have to wonder how to find Black books for Black children!
The book is divided into four different sections: books for babies and preschoolers, books for early readers (grades K-3), books for middle readers (grades 4-6), and books for young adults (grades 7-9). Each section includes an alphabetical list of books titles, short summaries of each book, and an occasional accompanying book cover illustration. In addition, each book is numbered for easy reference.
If you’d like to search for Black children’s books which meet certain criteria, you can do so using Black Book Galore’s title index, author index, illustrator index, or topical index. In addition, a list of Reading Rainbow books is offered and books are also categorized according the literary awards they have won (Coretta Scott King, Newberry, and Caldecott Awards).
It’s important for African-American children to read stories with characters who look like them. Such books can build a child’s self-esteem and inspire him to do great things, all while encouraging a love of literature. And when you exhaust all of the titles in this book, you can enjoy subsequent titles by the same authors.
Summer is an excellent time to dive into great literature. Get a copy of Black Books Galore: Guide to African American Children’s Books and then head to the library to check out the suggested titles or buy your own copies to add to your family library. Once you have the books in hand, get reading right away and consider using the suggested titles to enhance your At Home Summer Reading Program. Enjoy!
I will be looking for this resource In Our library. Great post !
It is wonderful resource! I’m planning to purchase the other books soon.

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we are book lovers, so we visit the library at least twice a week and we check out several books each time we go. as we walk around in the children’s department, i’m always looking for books with brown faces on the covers. and when i spy one, i always take a closer look at it.
this willy-nilly method of roaming the library in search of books featuring characters of color wastes time and often yields few results, so it’s not a technique i recommend. however, there is a resource you can use to find self-reflective black books for children and i think it’s a resource you’ll want to own.
black books galore: guide to great african american children’s books by donna rand, toni trent parker, and shelia foster is a great title to have on your homeschool resource shelf. it is an a+ guide that can help black homeschoolers find books with african or african-american themes. you no longer have to wonder how to find black books for black children!
the book is divided into four different sections: books for babies and preschoolers, books for early readers (grades k-3), books for middle readers (grades 4-6), and books for young adults (grades 7-9). each section includes an alphabetical list of books titles, short summaries of each book, and an occasional accompanying book cover illustration. in addition, each book is numbered for easy reference.
if you’d like to search for black children’s books which meet certain criteria, you can do so using black book galore’s title index, author index, illustrator index, or topical index. in addition, a list of reading rainbow books is offered and books are also categorized according the literary awards they have won (coretta scott king, newberry, and caldecott awards).
it’s important for african-american children to read stories with characters who look like them. such books can build a child’s self-esteem and inspire him to do great things, all while encouraging a love of literature. and when you exhaust all of the titles in this book, you can enjoy subsequent titles by the same authors.
summer is an excellent time to dive into great literature. get a copy of black books galore: guide to african american children’s books and then head to the library to check out the suggested titles or buy your own copies to add to your family library. once you have the books in hand, get reading right away and consider using the suggested titles to enhance your at home summer reading program. enjoy!
i will be looking for this resource in our library. great post !
it is wonderful resource! i’m planning to purchase the other books soon.


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Hauskaa lauantaita, tervetuloa Allsorts haasteen pariin!
Tälla viikolla tarjoamme tekniikkahaasteen: embossaus, kohokuviointi, joko märkäna jauheilla tehtynä tai kansioilla kuivana - tai molempina kuten minäkin tein! Pari ylioppilaskorttia, The Ton Stampsin ruusulla, väritettynä Zig vesiväritussein.
Hi; Happy Saturday, it's time for a new Allsorts Challenge! DT Annie's technique theme is "Embossing, wet or dry - or both, as I did"! I made two graduation cards, one red and one more pink.
Diecuts: wooden text (painted &embossed), graduation hat both from Heidin korttipaja.
Black and pearly white cardstocks.
A glorious Rose Mervi and great idea embossing the background in white.
Ihania ruusuja ja upeaa kohokuviointia! Iloista Vappua!
So beautiful! Gorgeous rose and love the embossing!
The rose looks fabulous agains the lovely sheen of the card you have used to emboss, love the use of the black too.
Kyllä vaan on kauniita molemmat!!
Love the dry embossing background for your wonderful rose!
Nice touches to make this card perfectly fitted for graduation. I really like that EF and the shine of the embossed paper.
So pretty! I bet the receiver will be very happy to get this. Love the white rose paper behind the image. Gorgeous!

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hauskaa lauantaita, tervetuloa allsorts haasteen pariin!
tälla viikolla tarjoamme tekniikkahaasteen: embossaus, kohokuviointi, joko märkäna jauheilla tehtynä tai kansioilla kuivana - tai molempina kuten minäkin tein! pari ylioppilaskorttia, the ton stampsin ruusulla, väritettynä zig vesiväritussein.
hi; happy saturday, it's time for a new allsorts challenge! dt annie's technique theme is "embossing, wet or dry - or both, as i did"! i made two graduation cards, one red and one more pink.
diecuts: wooden text (painted &embossed), graduation hat both from heidin korttipaja.
black and pearly white cardstocks.
a glorious rose mervi and great idea embossing the background in white.
ihania ruusuja ja upeaa kohokuviointia! iloista vappua!
so beautiful! gorgeous rose and love the embossing!
the rose looks fabulous agains the lovely sheen of the card you have used to emboss, love the use of the black too.
kyllä vaan on kauniita molemmat!!
love the dry embossing background for your wonderful rose!
nice touches to make this card perfectly fitted for graduation. i really like that ef and the shine of the embossed paper.
so pretty! i bet the receiver will be very happy to get this. love the white rose paper behind the image. gorgeous!


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Colour Cloud Blending Ink from Cosmic Shimmer by Creative Expressions is a water based ink that can be used for blending and stamping, creating smooth and even shading and crisp stamped images. Use Creative Expressions Blending Smoothies for the most effective finish.
Phill Martin's Carnival colour scheme is the perfect way to bring on the summer in all your craft projects and this Electric Blue is sure to make a splash!

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colour cloud blending ink from cosmic shimmer by creative expressions is a water based ink that can be used for blending and stamping, creating smooth and even shading and crisp stamped images. use creative expressions blending smoothies for the most effective finish.
phill martin's carnival colour scheme is the perfect way to bring on the summer in all your craft projects and this electric blue is sure to make a splash!


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One of the best places to visit in Colombia, this park located in the Caribbean will surprise you with its jungle and beaches, free of umbrellas and buildings, enjoy the pure nature.
One of the essential if you go to Havana is the Callejón de Hamel. A street of barely 200 meters full of Afro-Cuban art and culture.
Are you looking for different dates or destination? Contact us and we will design your ideal trip!
Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy your favorite rhythms where they were born.

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one of the best places to visit in colombia, this park located in the caribbean will surprise you with its jungle and beaches, free of umbrellas and buildings, enjoy the pure nature.
one of the essential if you go to havana is the callejón de hamel. a street of barely 200 meters full of afro-cuban art and culture.
are you looking for different dates or destination? contact us and we will design your ideal trip!
don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy your favorite rhythms where they were born.


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The Purple Pinkie Nail Salon: New For Fall - Retro Magic Manicure!
New For Fall - Retro Magic Manicure!
We have a new Magic Manicure style for fall, The Retro Manicure! This is the hottest style for nails this fall. This cool style comes with all the magic of the Magic Manicure as well, it gives your natural nails a little extra added strength, color will not chip for two weeks, possibly longer and best part, your nails are "dig in your purse" dry when you leave the table!!

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the purple pinkie nail salon: new for fall - retro magic manicure!
new for fall - retro magic manicure!
we have a new magic manicure style for fall, the retro manicure! this is the hottest style for nails this fall. this cool style comes with all the magic of the magic manicure as well, it gives your natural nails a little extra added strength, color will not chip for two weeks, possibly longer and best part, your nails are "dig in your purse" dry when you leave the table!!


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Hello, and welcome to my website! My name is John Strickland and I have been in love with the past since first learning about it in books littering my father’s bookshelves while growing up in California. I now live with my wife and five children in beautiful Puget Sound, where I am the pastor of an Orthodox Church in the town of Poulsbo, amid the serene fjords and forested mountains that surround a place called Liberty Bay. I am also the author of a book entitled The Making of Holy Russia and have been teaching college for a couple of decades.
My next book is about the history of Christian civilization, or Christendom, and this blog is designed to give me a chance to develop ideas for it and share them with you. It is entitled Paradise and Utopia for reasons that will be clear as you read through my posts, but if you would like a head start you can read the page entitled “What is Christendom?” off of the main page. You should also know that I have a podcast by the same name and you can visit it to listen to more in-depth presentations and lectures on the topics I raise here.
I will try to post new articles on this blog each week, and if you enjoy them please leave a comment, or (even better) subscribe to it! And if you wish to contact me, I can be reached through the contact form off of the main page.

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hello, and welcome to my website! my name is john strickland and i have been in love with the past since first learning about it in books littering my father’s bookshelves while growing up in california. i now live with my wife and five children in beautiful puget sound, where i am the pastor of an orthodox church in the town of poulsbo, amid the serene fjords and forested mountains that surround a place called liberty bay. i am also the author of a book entitled the making of holy russia and have been teaching college for a couple of decades.
my next book is about the history of christian civilization, or christendom, and this blog is designed to give me a chance to develop ideas for it and share them with you. it is entitled paradise and utopia for reasons that will be clear as you read through my posts, but if you would like a head start you can read the page entitled “what is christendom?” off of the main page. you should also know that i have a podcast by the same name and you can visit it to listen to more in-depth presentations and lectures on the topics i raise here.
i will try to post new articles on this blog each week, and if you enjoy them please leave a comment, or (even better) subscribe to it! and if you wish to contact me, i can be reached through the contact form off of the main page.


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Wednesday, Nov. 28 Filming Locations for Good Girls, Jessica Jones, FBI, Honest Thief & more!
Here’s a look at various filming locations for Nov. 28, 2018: Filming in California TV Series: Black Monday Stars: Don Cheadle Location: 770 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles (6:00 AM – 10:00 PM) through Dec. 29 TV Series: Good Girls Stars: Mae Whitman Location: 5353 W 3rd St, Los Angeles (6:00 AM – 10:00 PM) through […] The post Wednesday, Nov. 28 Filming Locations for Good Girls, Jessica Jones, FBI, Honest Thief & more! appeared first on On Location Vacations.
Missed out on the gift package version of the Batman: The Complete Animated Series Blu-ray set? Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has just announced a content-only version that’s now available. The 12-disc set (list price $89.99) comes with all episodes, “The Heart of Batman” documentary, the remastered animated films Batman: Mask of the Phantasm and Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero, and digital copies. Here’s a clip from “The Heart of Batman” talking about the design influences.
When you’re looking for Sci-Fi, the best place to turn to is Comet TV. They have a wide selection of favorites from all the decades. I am working with COMET TV + CHARGE! on this post. All opinions are 100% my own. COMET TV continues to be the home of the sci-fi classic Babylon 5 […] The post Comet TV Giveaway appeared first on .

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wednesday, nov. 28 filming locations for good girls, jessica jones, fbi, honest thief & more!
here’s a look at various filming locations for nov. 28, 2018: filming in california tv series: black monday stars: don cheadle location: 770 wilshire blvd, los angeles (6:00 am – 10:00 pm) through dec. 29 tv series: good girls stars: mae whitman location: 5353 w 3rd st, los angeles (6:00 am – 10:00 pm) through […] the post wednesday, nov. 28 filming locations for good girls, jessica jones, fbi, honest thief & more! appeared first on on location vacations.
missed out on the gift package version of the batman: the complete animated series blu-ray set? warner bros. home entertainment has just announced a content-only version that’s now available. the 12-disc set (list price $89.99) comes with all episodes, “the heart of batman” documentary, the remastered animated films batman: mask of the phantasm and batman & mr. freeze: subzero, and digital copies. here’s a clip from “the heart of batman” talking about the design influences.
when you’re looking for sci-fi, the best place to turn to is comet tv. they have a wide selection of favorites from all the decades. i am working with comet tv + charge! on this post. all opinions are 100% my own. comet tv continues to be the home of the sci-fi classic babylon 5 […] the post comet tv giveaway appeared first on .


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Western blot analysis of recombinant Rat IL12A.
IHC-P analysis of Rat Intestine Tissue, with DAB staining.
IHC-P analysis of Rat Adrenal Gland Tissue, with DAB staining.
IHC-P analysis of Rat Lymph Node Tissue, with DAB staining.

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western blot analysis of recombinant rat il12a.
ihc-p analysis of rat intestine tissue, with dab staining.
ihc-p analysis of rat adrenal gland tissue, with dab staining.
ihc-p analysis of rat lymph node tissue, with dab staining.


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When you think about ducks that live in fully furnished houses… Only Donald Duck comes to mind. However, there are more ducks in this world, and, fortunately, some of them meet kind-hearted strangers that become their rescuers and friends. One of these fortunate ducks is called Petunia, who happily lives at her rescuer, Chantel Grant’s, home. But Petunia is aware of how lucky she is and she really makes sure that her owner knows how grateful she is. Each time Chantel Grant, her human, comes back home from work, she returns to see the face of eternal gratitude and appreciation.
Look at her shake her tailfeathers!
She is so cute! Birds can be so affectionate too if you show them love!
I wish the story included what she was rescued from. Or maybe I don't?
and tolerate her playful behavior which is strange because they hate all birds including each other. She’s a year old and just the best friend I could ask for. Now, there’s more poop than I can even fathom, so she’s lucky she’s cute! She cuddles with us on the couch or bed, and takes a long bath every day. She’s unfortunately deathly afraid of kiddie pools for some reason, so the tub it is. She has her own tub She’s lays us tons of eggs, which are very good for baking but I don’t see myself making a duck egg sunny side up egg anytime soon lol. I just can’t get over the fact that I know where that egg came from, and know how gross her poops are....lol.

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when you think about ducks that live in fully furnished houses… only donald duck comes to mind. however, there are more ducks in this world, and, fortunately, some of them meet kind-hearted strangers that become their rescuers and friends. one of these fortunate ducks is called petunia, who happily lives at her rescuer, chantel grant’s, home. but petunia is aware of how lucky she is and she really makes sure that her owner knows how grateful she is. each time chantel grant, her human, comes back home from work, she returns to see the face of eternal gratitude and appreciation.
look at her shake her tailfeathers!
she is so cute! birds can be so affectionate too if you show them love!
i wish the story included what she was rescued from. or maybe i don't?
and tolerate her playful behavior which is strange because they hate all birds including each other. she’s a year old and just the best friend i could ask for. now, there’s more poop than i can even fathom, so she’s lucky she’s cute! she cuddles with us on the couch or bed, and takes a long bath every day. she’s unfortunately deathly afraid of kiddie pools for some reason, so the tub it is. she has her own tub she’s lays us tons of eggs, which are very good for baking but i don’t see myself making a duck egg sunny side up egg anytime soon lol. i just can’t get over the fact that i know where that egg came from, and know how gross her poops are....lol.


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Hermosa Vineyards, is a cozy little winery in Palisade, dedicated to hand crafting the finest wine from grapes grown in the high mountain desert of western Colorado. All the wines are produced in very limited quantities. The goal is not to be one of the biggest wineries in Palisade but rather one of the best! With some great wineries in Palisade, I'm in good company!
Copyright © 2018 Hermosa Vineyards LLC - All Rights Reserved.

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hermosa vineyards, is a cozy little winery in palisade, dedicated to hand crafting the finest wine from grapes grown in the high mountain desert of western colorado. all the wines are produced in very limited quantities. the goal is not to be one of the biggest wineries in palisade but rather one of the best! with some great wineries in palisade, i'm in good company!
copyright © 2018 hermosa vineyards llc - all rights reserved.


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Just read a blog post that really was encouraging...and thought I would pass it along. Catch up with Megan Miller as she discusses, Loving Well in Moments of Crisis. It is hard to love well when life is hard, isn't it? Especially with the ones closest to us! The challenges seem to bring out the best and worst in us, and honestly, it is so much easier for me to think of myself and my needs when life turns unkind. We have a major life transition coming up next month (make that transition number....??) *smile* But needless to say, there's been lots of change these past few months-year, and there is more to come. Florida is waiting for us, and we are getting excited (some days) and anxious most other days. The questions plague us: Will we find the job, church, doctor, grocery store, you name it...that will make it feel like home? And then I have to remind myself: Ruth, this is not your home! Your home is in heaven, and you are simply traveling through this world, to the true life that awaits us in heaven. Maybe if I could keep that perspective foremost in my mind more often, this transition would be a little easier.
What do you do when you are dwelling on your circumstances, and not your Savior? How do you draw your mind closer to heaven? Please share!

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just read a blog post that really was encouraging...and thought i would pass it along. catch up with megan miller as she discusses, loving well in moments of crisis. it is hard to love well when life is hard, isn't it? especially with the ones closest to us! the challenges seem to bring out the best and worst in us, and honestly, it is so much easier for me to think of myself and my needs when life turns unkind. we have a major life transition coming up next month (make that transition number....??) *smile* but needless to say, there's been lots of change these past few months-year, and there is more to come. florida is waiting for us, and we are getting excited (some days) and anxious most other days. the questions plague us: will we find the job, church, doctor, grocery store, you name it...that will make it feel like home? and then i have to remind myself: ruth, this is not your home! your home is in heaven, and you are simply traveling through this world, to the true life that awaits us in heaven. maybe if i could keep that perspective foremost in my mind more often, this transition would be a little easier.
what do you do when you are dwelling on your circumstances, and not your savior? how do you draw your mind closer to heaven? please share!


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Recently, I have had on my heart to encourage a certain group of people; hurting parents of teens or adult children. Being a parent of three adult sons, my husband and I know full well the joys and pains of this season. When I was a young mom I went to a Mom Seminar. I will never forget what the speaker said. She said when our children are young we are often physically tired but when they are grown we are emotionally tired. Her words flew over my head until my boys hit the teenage years.
You see, since I was a young girl, I wanted to be in control of my circumstances and make those I love happy and safe. I honestly felt that if I tried my best and did what it takes I could actually achieve my goal. My desire carried over into motherhood when at the age of 23 I had our first son. I wanted him to be perfectly clean, wear matching nice clothes, have educational toys that would launch him into being a genius, and much more. I read lots of books on motherhood, toddler-hood and child raising. All these things were not bad if I also understood that we could not protect him from everything forever. Of course when he was little I could watch him closely making sure he was out of harms way. I could make sure he was bathed daily, teeth brushed, fingernails clipped and hair combed. However, year by year the control I had over my son was lessening. I had overlooked a very important fact; it was not my job to protect my son forever. My true job was to point him towards Christ and to prepare him to be independent of me. What?? Yes, to be independent of me. When I was a young mom my identity was wrapped up into being needed by my kids. However, when they hit the teenage years and were naturally becoming their own person my heart experienced a new break. My belief that I could do everything right and they would avoid the mistakes and pain I endured came crashing down suddenly. You see, I was not only trying to point my kids to God but I was mistakenly trying to BE God in their life. We did teach them about God, love, respect, and hard work. However, I micromanaged out of fear and wouldn't let them make many decisions on their own. I wanted the very best for them and felt I knew what that was. So, it was no surprise that the teenage years were hard on both sides. However, it was only preparing me for the boys leaving home and moving into adulthood.
As our boys are now in their 20's and we have one grandson and one on the way, my husband and I have experienced much joy and laughter. However, to be very honest, we have also experienced some deep heartbreaks that only the Lord could mend and is still mending. There were days when the pain was so great it was hard to press on. However, God was and is so faithful. I would love to encourage others from the journey we have traveled and are traveling now. I need your help. Are there any topics you would like to learn more in regarding being parents of teens or adult children, and the effects these things have on our marriages? If so, please send me a reply. Also on the website page is a place you can ask for prayer and can share how you need encouragement.
Thank you for taking the time to share your heart and your struggles. Whatever you are walking through right now, remember that God is with you. He not only has the answers but He IS the answer. He will give you strength when you can't go any further! Please know I am praying with and for you!

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recently, i have had on my heart to encourage a certain group of people; hurting parents of teens or adult children. being a parent of three adult sons, my husband and i know full well the joys and pains of this season. when i was a young mom i went to a mom seminar. i will never forget what the speaker said. she said when our children are young we are often physically tired but when they are grown we are emotionally tired. her words flew over my head until my boys hit the teenage years.
you see, since i was a young girl, i wanted to be in control of my circumstances and make those i love happy and safe. i honestly felt that if i tried my best and did what it takes i could actually achieve my goal. my desire carried over into motherhood when at the age of 23 i had our first son. i wanted him to be perfectly clean, wear matching nice clothes, have educational toys that would launch him into being a genius, and much more. i read lots of books on motherhood, toddler-hood and child raising. all these things were not bad if i also understood that we could not protect him from everything forever. of course when he was little i could watch him closely making sure he was out of harms way. i could make sure he was bathed daily, teeth brushed, fingernails clipped and hair combed. however, year by year the control i had over my son was lessening. i had overlooked a very important fact; it was not my job to protect my son forever. my true job was to point him towards christ and to prepare him to be independent of me. what?? yes, to be independent of me. when i was a young mom my identity was wrapped up into being needed by my kids. however, when they hit the teenage years and were naturally becoming their own person my heart experienced a new break. my belief that i could do everything right and they would avoid the mistakes and pain i endured came crashing down suddenly. you see, i was not only trying to point my kids to god but i was mistakenly trying to be god in their life. we did teach them about god, love, respect, and hard work. however, i micromanaged out of fear and wouldn't let them make many decisions on their own. i wanted the very best for them and felt i knew what that was. so, it was no surprise that the teenage years were hard on both sides. however, it was only preparing me for the boys leaving home and moving into adulthood.
as our boys are now in their 20's and we have one grandson and one on the way, my husband and i have experienced much joy and laughter. however, to be very honest, we have also experienced some deep heartbreaks that only the lord could mend and is still mending. there were days when the pain was so great it was hard to press on. however, god was and is so faithful. i would love to encourage others from the journey we have traveled and are traveling now. i need your help. are there any topics you would like to learn more in regarding being parents of teens or adult children, and the effects these things have on our marriages? if so, please send me a reply. also on the website page is a place you can ask for prayer and can share how you need encouragement.
thank you for taking the time to share your heart and your struggles. whatever you are walking through right now, remember that god is with you. he not only has the answers but he is the answer. he will give you strength when you can't go any further! please know i am praying with and for you!


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June’s meeting was one of our favorites to date. For those of you who missed it, we welcomed Courtney Mailey of Blue Bee Cider, Hannah Pollack of Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches, Erin Powell of Ginger Juice, and Amy Hicks of Amy’s Garden. These ladies, along with many other women entrepreneurs from the RVA food community, were featured in the new B side Collective issue. A beautifully crafted publication, the B side did an amazing job of highlighting women in our buzzing local food scene.
After a short introduction from the B side founder Ja’Nai Fredrick, moderator Robey Martin crafted a discussion that navigated the ups and downs of entrepreneurship and discussed what it means to grow as a business and how to do it thoughtfully.
They all attributed part of their success to Richmond’s supportive food community, and said that collaboration is key when you are growing a business. Saying “yes” to everything early on has its benefits.
We are so thankful to all who where involved with this event. Thanks to our panelists and awesome moderator, to the B side Collective, to St. Stephen’s Church for hosting us, to Miss Priss Tea and Eggspress for the delicious food and drink, and to Sarah Der for the photos. Support these women, and all your other local farmers and food businesses. As Ja’Nai says – help us grow Richmond’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Next month we will be meeting at Hardywood Richmond to hear from Parker Agelesto with Capital Region Land Conservancy. More details here.

lowercased:
june’s meeting was one of our favorites to date. for those of you who missed it, we welcomed courtney mailey of blue bee cider, hannah pollack of nightingale ice cream sandwiches, erin powell of ginger juice, and amy hicks of amy’s garden. these ladies, along with many other women entrepreneurs from the rva food community, were featured in the new b side collective issue. a beautifully crafted publication, the b side did an amazing job of highlighting women in our buzzing local food scene.
after a short introduction from the b side founder ja’nai fredrick, moderator robey martin crafted a discussion that navigated the ups and downs of entrepreneurship and discussed what it means to grow as a business and how to do it thoughtfully.
they all attributed part of their success to richmond’s supportive food community, and said that collaboration is key when you are growing a business. saying “yes” to everything early on has its benefits.
we are so thankful to all who where involved with this event. thanks to our panelists and awesome moderator, to the b side collective, to st. stephen’s church for hosting us, to miss priss tea and eggspress for the delicious food and drink, and to sarah der for the photos. support these women, and all your other local farmers and food businesses. as ja’nai says – help us grow richmond’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
next month we will be meeting at hardywood richmond to hear from parker agelesto with capital region land conservancy. more details here.


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Chiropractic care at Fidel Integrated Medicine is not limited to spinal manipulation and massage therapy. Though these hands-on therapies are effective for pain management, they may not be effective measures for conditions like myofascial pain syndrome and fibromyalgia. These conditions can cause debilitating muscle pain that severely limits mobility and daily activities, and they are often unresponsive to conventional pain management therapies like medication. Dry needling has seen success in reducing muscle pain to facilitate physical therapy that will further improve mobility and comfort. Unlike injection-based therapies that facilitate healing through various biocompatible solutions, dry needling only uses very fine needles to activate trigger points, which are points at which nerves communicate with muscle tissues. Read on to learn more about this therapy that has helped numerous patients overcome muscle pain in our Baltimore office.
Though dry needling looks very similar to acupuncture, it is a unique therapy that should only be performed by practitioners specifically trained in dry needling. Dry needling works, because it stimulates nerves to block pain signals in the muscles, and it also causes the body to repair the damaged nerve endplates that are responsible for pain and spasms regularly felt by the patient. Because there are no injections involved in dry needling, there is little risk for adverse reactions or bleeding.
The dry needling procedure will take place over several treatment sessions, which will last anywhere from 20 to 60 minutes, depending on the scope of the area being treated. There may be some soreness or cramping felt in the effected muscles, though you should feel little to no sensation on the skin as needles penetrate the skin’s surface.
Dry needling is generally not a standalone treatment. It will function as part of a larger pain management plan that may also include chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy, and massage. Immediately following each dry needling treatment, you can promote the healing process by lightly stretching and self-massaging treated areas. Over time, you may notice substantial improvements in mobility, pain, and inflammation. You may also be able to transition away from pain medications, which can have a number of adverse health effects with continued use.
To learn more about dry needling and other alternative treatment options for chronic muscle pain, connect with Fidel Integrated Medical Solutions. Call our office today to schedule an appointment where you can discuss which treatment options will be best for your needs.

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chiropractic care at fidel integrated medicine is not limited to spinal manipulation and massage therapy. though these hands-on therapies are effective for pain management, they may not be effective measures for conditions like myofascial pain syndrome and fibromyalgia. these conditions can cause debilitating muscle pain that severely limits mobility and daily activities, and they are often unresponsive to conventional pain management therapies like medication. dry needling has seen success in reducing muscle pain to facilitate physical therapy that will further improve mobility and comfort. unlike injection-based therapies that facilitate healing through various biocompatible solutions, dry needling only uses very fine needles to activate trigger points, which are points at which nerves communicate with muscle tissues. read on to learn more about this therapy that has helped numerous patients overcome muscle pain in our baltimore office.
though dry needling looks very similar to acupuncture, it is a unique therapy that should only be performed by practitioners specifically trained in dry needling. dry needling works, because it stimulates nerves to block pain signals in the muscles, and it also causes the body to repair the damaged nerve endplates that are responsible for pain and spasms regularly felt by the patient. because there are no injections involved in dry needling, there is little risk for adverse reactions or bleeding.
the dry needling procedure will take place over several treatment sessions, which will last anywhere from 20 to 60 minutes, depending on the scope of the area being treated. there may be some soreness or cramping felt in the effected muscles, though you should feel little to no sensation on the skin as needles penetrate the skin’s surface.
dry needling is generally not a standalone treatment. it will function as part of a larger pain management plan that may also include chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy, and massage. immediately following each dry needling treatment, you can promote the healing process by lightly stretching and self-massaging treated areas. over time, you may notice substantial improvements in mobility, pain, and inflammation. you may also be able to transition away from pain medications, which can have a number of adverse health effects with continued use.
to learn more about dry needling and other alternative treatment options for chronic muscle pain, connect with fidel integrated medical solutions. call our office today to schedule an appointment where you can discuss which treatment options will be best for your needs.


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With internet becoming a necessity, Airtel has now launched its V-Fiber service in Chennai promising speeds of up to 100 Mbps.
Airtel has announced the launch of the V-Fiber service in Chennai. The service, which is based on Vectorization, which is Europe’s No.1 fixed broadband technology, makes Airtel the first operator in India to use the technology. The company has also upgraded local exchanges with equipment to handle fiber speeds.
Airtel has also revealed that there is no need for wiring or drilling in customer’s premises, just a new modem upgrade is required to experience ‘V-Fiber’. Airtel is offering the service to all its existing customers at no extra monthly cost. New customers will get unlimited three months’ trial offer.
The Airtel V-Fiber service is expected to be launched in Delhi & NCR and Bangalore in coming weeks and would eventually be deployed in 87 cities. To register, customers need to file a request on airtel.in/vfibre.

lowercased:
with internet becoming a necessity, airtel has now launched its v-fiber service in chennai promising speeds of up to 100 mbps.
airtel has announced the launch of the v-fiber service in chennai. the service, which is based on vectorization, which is europe’s no.1 fixed broadband technology, makes airtel the first operator in india to use the technology. the company has also upgraded local exchanges with equipment to handle fiber speeds.
airtel has also revealed that there is no need for wiring or drilling in customer’s premises, just a new modem upgrade is required to experience ‘v-fiber’. airtel is offering the service to all its existing customers at no extra monthly cost. new customers will get unlimited three months’ trial offer.
the airtel v-fiber service is expected to be launched in delhi & ncr and bangalore in coming weeks and would eventually be deployed in 87 cities. to register, customers need to file a request on airtel.in/vfibre.


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IF YOU WERE TO LOOK at his resume, you might not guess that architect Arthur Dyson was based in Fresno. He studied under Frank Lloyd Wright, has won countless awards, and his designs are known around the world.
Fast Facts: •	Fresno was founded in 1872 as a railway station of the Central Pacific Railroad, and was incorporated 13 years later.

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if you were to look at his resume, you might not guess that architect arthur dyson was based in fresno. he studied under frank lloyd wright, has won countless awards, and his designs are known around the world.
fast facts: •	fresno was founded in 1872 as a railway station of the central pacific railroad, and was incorporated 13 years later.


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Many Ancient civilizations have their own predictions about our times.Mayan 2012 calendar is world famous but many other civilizations also have predictions.
Australian Sapphire prices are set to boom with the announcement of Richland Resources pulling their first Sapphire out of the Capricron Sapphire mine. Together with two other factors Aussie Sapphires are about to become extremely popular.
The biggest shopping weekend of the year is coming! Get ready for the Gem Rock Auctions Black Friday Make An Offer sale.
Certified Gemstones are a great way to build confidence with buyers. Gem Rock Auction aims to have the most number of certified gemstones on the web.
From closing down the retail shop to successfully selling online, Mygems a gemstone business explains the reason why they chose to sell online.
Was your gemstone ethically sourced? You’ll soon be able to know for sure! New gemstone testing and marking techniques can tell you exactly where your diamond or emerald came from.
In theory, almost anything that was once alive could become a fossil even a scrap of the jelly like tissue from the soft body of a sea creature.
The Gemstone Sheriff Program is a world first program that allows customers to request a review on any item listed on Gem Rock Auctions.
The Hope Spinel has set a new world record for the highest price ever received for a Spinel. Click to find out how much it sold for.
We often think upon Africa as the world’s main source of quality gem stones but did you know that USA has large and unique deposits of gemstones?
2016 will be the year of the rose-tinged Morganite. Pantone has released two colors this year and we will show you what gemstones will make the cut.
A new world record price was made on 13 November 2018, when the Pink Legacy Diamond sold at Christie’s auction house in Geneva.
Pinky rings are types of rings that are primarily worn on the fifth finger, which is also referred to as a pinky finger. Pinky finger originally derived its name from a Dutch word “pink” which means a little finger.
Are you looking for a place to sell gemstones online? Gem Rock Auctions is a fantastic platform that allows all types of people to sell their precious gemstones online direct to the public. Will you join us?
The Shanghai Share Market has crashed but at Gem Rock Auctions we always see the upside. Click to read about what has happened to the gemstone industry during the last share market crashes.
With Mother’s Day on Sunday May 14, now is the perfect time to find this year’s gift. Gem Rock Auctions offers a range of gorgeous jewelry including rings, pendants, earrings, and bracelets.
The Sunrise Ruby sets a new world record price for a Ruby at the Geneva Sotheby's Auction. It breaks the record for the total price as well as price per ct.
2015 was a massive year at Gem Rock Auctions. Check out some of the biggest and best gemstone sold online throughout the year.
There have been some incredible gemstones sold over the years to astute collectors. We will look at the most expensive stones ever sold.
Here are our top ten gemstones that we think ever collector should own. Black Opal, Grandiderite and Musgravite all feature. How many do you own?
Looking for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift? There is no better gift idea to say I love you than a precious natural gemstone.
Did you know that there are bras that come with a starting price of $15,000,000? Check out the last 22 years of Fantasy Bras from Victoria's Secret.
When Will Gemstones Overtake Diamond Sales?
Gemstone mining is expected to grow in the next years to come so it is a good time to analyse what is going on.
How corruption, government interference, smuggling and tax avoidance impact the Tanzanite industry.

lowercased:
many ancient civilizations have their own predictions about our times.mayan 2012 calendar is world famous but many other civilizations also have predictions.
australian sapphire prices are set to boom with the announcement of richland resources pulling their first sapphire out of the capricron sapphire mine. together with two other factors aussie sapphires are about to become extremely popular.
the biggest shopping weekend of the year is coming! get ready for the gem rock auctions black friday make an offer sale.
certified gemstones are a great way to build confidence with buyers. gem rock auction aims to have the most number of certified gemstones on the web.
from closing down the retail shop to successfully selling online, mygems a gemstone business explains the reason why they chose to sell online.
was your gemstone ethically sourced? you’ll soon be able to know for sure! new gemstone testing and marking techniques can tell you exactly where your diamond or emerald came from.
in theory, almost anything that was once alive could become a fossil even a scrap of the jelly like tissue from the soft body of a sea creature.
the gemstone sheriff program is a world first program that allows customers to request a review on any item listed on gem rock auctions.
the hope spinel has set a new world record for the highest price ever received for a spinel. click to find out how much it sold for.
we often think upon africa as the world’s main source of quality gem stones but did you know that usa has large and unique deposits of gemstones?
2016 will be the year of the rose-tinged morganite. pantone has released two colors this year and we will show you what gemstones will make the cut.
a new world record price was made on 13 november 2018, when the pink legacy diamond sold at christie’s auction house in geneva.
pinky rings are types of rings that are primarily worn on the fifth finger, which is also referred to as a pinky finger. pinky finger originally derived its name from a dutch word “pink” which means a little finger.
are you looking for a place to sell gemstones online? gem rock auctions is a fantastic platform that allows all types of people to sell their precious gemstones online direct to the public. will you join us?
the shanghai share market has crashed but at gem rock auctions we always see the upside. click to read about what has happened to the gemstone industry during the last share market crashes.
with mother’s day on sunday may 14, now is the perfect time to find this year’s gift. gem rock auctions offers a range of gorgeous jewelry including rings, pendants, earrings, and bracelets.
the sunrise ruby sets a new world record price for a ruby at the geneva sotheby's auction. it breaks the record for the total price as well as price per ct.
2015 was a massive year at gem rock auctions. check out some of the biggest and best gemstone sold online throughout the year.
there have been some incredible gemstones sold over the years to astute collectors. we will look at the most expensive stones ever sold.
here are our top ten gemstones that we think ever collector should own. black opal, grandiderite and musgravite all feature. how many do you own?
looking for the perfect valentine’s day gift? there is no better gift idea to say i love you than a precious natural gemstone.
did you know that there are bras that come with a starting price of $15,000,000? check out the last 22 years of fantasy bras from victoria's secret.
when will gemstones overtake diamond sales?
gemstone mining is expected to grow in the next years to come so it is a good time to analyse what is going on.
how corruption, government interference, smuggling and tax avoidance impact the tanzanite industry.


text: Godspeed You! Black Emperor (GYBE) returns with its first single LP-length release since the group's earliest days in 1997-99. 'Asunder, Sweet And Other Distress' clocks in at a succinct 40:23 and is arguably the most focused and best-sounding recording of the band's career. Following Godspeed's return from a long hiatus at the end of 2010 to begin playing live shows again, and with the hugely acclaimed 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!' release in 2012 marking their first new release in a decade, the group slowly and steadily put the new album together through late 2013 and 2014. This mighty slab of superlative sonics is shot through with all the band's inimitable signposts and touchstones: huge unison riffage, savage noise/drone, oscillating overtones, guitar vs. string counterpoint, inexorable crescendos and scorched-earth transitions. 'Asunder, Sweet And Other Distress' finds Godspeed in top form; a sterling celebration of the band's awesome dialectic, where composition, emotion and 'note-choice' is inextricable from an exacting focus on tone, timbre, resonance and the sheer materiality of sound.

lowercased: godspeed you! black emperor (gybe) returns with its first single lp-length release since the group's earliest days in 1997-99. 'asunder, sweet and other distress' clocks in at a succinct 40:23 and is arguably the most focused and best-sounding recording of the band's career. following godspeed's return from a long hiatus at the end of 2010 to begin playing live shows again, and with the hugely acclaimed 'allelujah! don't bend! ascend!' release in 2012 marking their first new release in a decade, the group slowly and steadily put the new album together through late 2013 and 2014. this mighty slab of superlative sonics is shot through with all the band's inimitable signposts and touchstones: huge unison riffage, savage noise/drone, oscillating overtones, guitar vs. string counterpoint, inexorable crescendos and scorched-earth transitions. 'asunder, sweet and other distress' finds godspeed in top form; a sterling celebration of the band's awesome dialectic, where composition, emotion and 'note-choice' is inextricable from an exacting focus on tone, timbre, resonance and the sheer materiality of sound.


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It is advisable for all businesses that are willing to increase their provision of services, to include product reviews to enable them to grow in a positive direction. Ideally, the number of available service providers is very high, such that if you need to attract more to your business, it is vital to have a way in which you show them you are the best. Consumers play a significant duty bin every business. Consumers are capable of creating a chain reaction that indicates whether the product was right, enhanced customer satisfaction, and if there are hopes to rebuy the product. Customers reactions toward business products are necessary because, through them, he is in a position to ensure that there is an appealing implication. Once you incorporate the use of product reviews in your business, it becomes possible to create a positive impact on your business products by acting immediately on the negative product reviews.
Another vital advantage of product reviews is to highlight essential sales opportunities. Appealing buyers and making your merchandise known as a duty done by the sales team. The team might not manage to harness the full potential of the product leading to undersell it. You can use the meaningful elements of a product that clients underscore and use them for selling The missed chances that the users underscore can also be used to boost the product or service significantly.
Promotion of change and enhancement of products is another critical benefit of product reviews in a business.It is hard to meet every person need as you offer your services, but it is possible to try and reach the need of most of them. Some assessments of your product might be insincere and prejudiced; a more significant number will come from your genuine user and will honestly tell you about the encounters they have had with the product.The problems might be the use of the product, technical or issues with compatibility if the product is software. The affected company is required to take into account every analysis received from the users and act on the products to suit the client’s needs. It is critical to learn more advantages of product reviews in your business, by visiting other authors website to read more.

lowercased:
it is advisable for all businesses that are willing to increase their provision of services, to include product reviews to enable them to grow in a positive direction. ideally, the number of available service providers is very high, such that if you need to attract more to your business, it is vital to have a way in which you show them you are the best. consumers play a significant duty bin every business. consumers are capable of creating a chain reaction that indicates whether the product was right, enhanced customer satisfaction, and if there are hopes to rebuy the product. customers reactions toward business products are necessary because, through them, he is in a position to ensure that there is an appealing implication. once you incorporate the use of product reviews in your business, it becomes possible to create a positive impact on your business products by acting immediately on the negative product reviews.
another vital advantage of product reviews is to highlight essential sales opportunities. appealing buyers and making your merchandise known as a duty done by the sales team. the team might not manage to harness the full potential of the product leading to undersell it. you can use the meaningful elements of a product that clients underscore and use them for selling the missed chances that the users underscore can also be used to boost the product or service significantly.
promotion of change and enhancement of products is another critical benefit of product reviews in a business.it is hard to meet every person need as you offer your services, but it is possible to try and reach the need of most of them. some assessments of your product might be insincere and prejudiced; a more significant number will come from your genuine user and will honestly tell you about the encounters they have had with the product.the problems might be the use of the product, technical or issues with compatibility if the product is software. the affected company is required to take into account every analysis received from the users and act on the products to suit the client’s needs. it is critical to learn more advantages of product reviews in your business, by visiting other authors website to read more.