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Posts Tagged ‘self-publishing magazine’

Is magazine marketing right for your business?

May 25, 2010

Yesterday, while purchasing sandals for my son at Famous Footwear, the cashier handed me a magazine with my receipt, saying, “And here’s a free fitness magazine to thank you for your purchase today.”

“Cool!” I thought. Something for nothing is always a neat thing. And in this case, the brightly-designed and aptly named (Mind Body Sole) magazine seemed to be something right up my alley. The cover beckoned me to flip it open, with headlines like:

  • INSIDE >>>Exclusive Savings Offers
  • Tone up for Summer!
  • Comfort Food Makeovers
  • A Pizza Diet? Is it for real?

Inside the 60 page rag I found strong graphics, good photography and well-written articles peppered with ads for athletic shoes—brands all found at Famous Footwear. Genius.

Famous Footwear took a risk to spend the money to design, edit and print this magazine. One that, in my opinion, paid off. How?

  1. The articles were well-written and edited and provided content of value (and relevance) to their readers.
  2. The design looked professional and reinforced Famous Footwear’s brand elements.
  3. The product ads reinforced Famous Footwear’s product lines (and allowed the vendors themselves to present their products within their own brand campaigns).
  4. The magazine connected with the readers beyond the experience of buying shoes, building brand loyalty.
  5. The magazine drove readers to their website, allowing additional opportunities to interact with (and collect data) about their customers.
  6. The magazine included a special offer, to entice current customers into becoming repeat customers.

So is magazine marketing right for you? Before you jump in, beware of the following:

  • Creating a magazine isn’t cheap. To do it right, you’ll absolutely need a graphic designer/creative director, editor, copywriters, photographers, models, stock  photography, a sales representative, and project manager.
  • Publishing your own magazine takes time. Don’t expect it to happen in a couple of weeks. Depending on the content, you’ll need several months for planning and writing, a month for design and layout, and several weeks for printing/proofing. If you’re planning to publish more than one magazine, come up with an editorial calendar and production schedule to keep it on track. Note of caution: be careful not to call it a quarterly if you won’t follow through and publish it on a quarterly basis—you’ll lose faith with readers and advertisers.
  • The quality of the magazine should please your vendors. Vendors can help offset the cost of producing and printing a magazine, but if the end product doesn’t result in a return on their investment, you may end up harming that relationship. Make sure your magazine is created professionally, to a level that meets or exceeds the quality of your vendor’s ads.
  • You’ll need a plan for distribution. Consider whether you’ll send your magazine via direct mail, hand it out in stores, or rely on a third-party distributor to help it “get out there.” You’ll also need to decide if you’ll charge readers or make it a free publication.
  • Your content should be of value to your readers. Although it’s tempting to fill the magazine with plugs for your business, this should not be the focus of the content. Readers are savvy! They’ll quickly toss a magazine that feels like a big advertisement. Instead, focus on quality, relevant articles that connect with readers in way that fits the lifestyle message of your brand. They’ll get it. Trust me.

In summary, a magazine could be a great resource for your business—and your vendors—to connect with target audiences when done well. Not quite ready to commit? Consider a four or eight-page booklet or online brochure instead—they’re a great way to showcase your brand and your products without the huge page count.

As always, at Mix Creative we’re happy to talk with you about your magazine, booklet or any project! Contact us at 612-226-5717 or email us to chat about your project.


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Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Mid-Month Inspiration

Welcome back for some mid-month inspiration for our February "Sweet Inspiration" Challenge.

Some of our designers have made another project using
Stampendous Products! Check them out below.
You have until February 28th at 11:55 p.m. EST to enter your project to the gallery!

Our random February winner will receive a $25 gift certificate to Stampendous!!

Sunday, February 5, 2017

January "Put a Stencil On It" Challenge Winners

*Click here for our February "Sweet Inspirations" Challenge!*

It's time to reveal the winners of our January "Put A Stencil On It" Challenge! The entries this month were so gorgeous and inspiring!! Thank you all SO MUCH for continuing to join our monthly challenges. You can view the gallery of January entries here.

The winner of our January challenge is Anna with her gorgeous purple and pink project! Please grab your winners badge below and display it proudly on your blog!

Now time for our Honorable Mentions
Please grab your Honorable Mention badge below!

And the winner of the StencilGirl Products gift certificate is Helen Gullett! Please send an e-mail to mixedmediamonthly@gmail.com with subject line MMMC January Winner by February 15, 2017. Congrats!

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #33 - Sweet Inspirations

Welcome to the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #33
"Sweet Inspirations"

(create a project inspired by our challenge graphic)
***please remember to add this graphic to your blog post***

Our February Sponsor is Stampendous!! They are offering our lucky random winner a $25 gift certificate!!

Our February Guest Designer is Fran Seiford.

Fran Seiford, owner and CEO, made her first $25 investment in the craft industry when she ordered a batch of custom rubber stamps made from her own illustrations. Her initial investment soon blossomed into a wide range of craft tools and products to help others in their creative expression. As Fran says, “A handmade card or craft speaks from the heart.” Fran still designs almost all our stamp images and personally oversees the cohesive look that has come to be associated with Stampendous.

Fran made this super "sweet" and beautiful card for our
"Sweet Inspirations" Challenge.

And now for some inspiration from our Design Team...

Make sure you visit each designer's blog and leave some comment love for them... we LOVE hearing from you all!

Please follow these rules to be eligible for placements and prizes. Entries not following our rules will be deleted.

* You must use our challenge graphic in your challenge post.
* You must comment on at least 3 design team member's blogs.
* Your post must link back to the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge post
* Add a link to your direct postnot your entire blog, a YouTube Video or a Pinterest Board
* You can combine with up to 4 other challenges.
* No Backlinking (linking a project completed before the start date of our challenge) allowed! Any back-linked entries will be deleted.
* You can enter up to 5 times, create whatever you want, and HAVE FUN!

You have until 11:55 pm EST on February 28th to enter!

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Why I haven’t written an analysis of Google+

In the swirling social media maelstrom, new products, especially from the likes of Google – remember Wave? Launched with fireworks and died like a damp squib -cause a lot of excitement. And busy professionals do need to sometimes make snap judgements about whether these things are going to be worth investing time in.

However, sometimes I think people are driven more by the desire to write the ten-ways-google-plus-will-help-you-make-10-million-dollars-of-sales/donations-OMG article than to actually give the new platform or product a chance.

The thing is, it’s not brands that are going to make or break these things. They are not being built, primarily, for us to use professionally (although Google is planning a professional platform, which should be interesting). The proof of the pudding will not be whether we think on first acquaintance, with just a few hesitant conversations going on, we can build as vibrant communities here as we have on Facebook or Twitter.

Suddenly the fact that communities have a very different character depending on the platform gets forgotten. We try to apply what we’ve learned from Facebook because ‘it’s a bit like Facebook’. We try to apply what we’ve learned from Twitter because ‘there are Twitter-like elements’. We forget we have to learn some new things from Google+, if it succeeds, because it is Google+, and not anything else. Sure, tribal human behaviours online are pretty similar wherever you go, but the specific ways they manifest themselves take on quite astonishingly different flavours on different channels. Google+ will have its own.

My first approach to a new tool or platform is always, always to approach it on a personal level, as myself, and learn its etiquette, syntax and possibilities. I have to have this knowledge of this as an ordinary user if I have a hope in hell of understanding it and using it effectively as a marketing professional. Customer services breakdowns and crises happen when brands forget to be human. The basics of marketing stay pretty much the same online and off, but each individual interaction needs to be appropriately tailored.

So, while I’ve read an article or two musing on interesting points of development, I’ve deliberately shelved any premature analyses for later, and held fire on making any. Of course I have ideas about how this might go, but I like to give these things a chance to breathe and grow.

In the meantime, I’m building circles.

One response to “Why I haven’t written an analysis of Google+

  1. I sort of enjoy making circles and deleting them just to see them bounce and roll off the screen. Is that wrong?

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Car Naps

Car naps have become the bane of my existence.  Yet they are also the fruit of my day.  For whatever reason, my 15 month olds hate sleep; and in turn me.

Wait, not all sleep.  Just naps.  And not hate so much as avoid.

It’s gotten to the point where I have to throw them in the car and drive around for them to get a nap!  Anyone with toddlers knows that they need the naps to not be monsters the rest of the day.

I don’t know if any of you twin moms out there have this struggle too, but we have not been able to sleep train our boys yet.  That means I can’t just drop them in their cribs and wait for sleep to happen.

I long for that day.

I’m giddy for that day.

But today is not that day.

::Written as I sit in the parking lot of my polling place while they finish their nap::

2 thoughts on “Car Naps

  1. I don’t have experience with toddlers. However my twins are 4 months old and I’m in the process of sleep training them. I give them 20 minutes once I put them down in their cribs to cry it out. If after 20 minutes they are still crying, I go in their room to soothe them. They are pacifier addicts, so normally their fuss is due to spitting it out. Just a little tactic I’ve found that is working for sleeping training.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We are going to start something similar soon. They don’t use a pacifier or a bottle though! Self soothing is going to be the struggle.

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Moms Expertise

How to get money for kids: teens first job

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my 1st job was at 15 at a white castle just for 4 hrs 5 days a week and I got payed decent to help out with minor things at home, my sister was the block babysitter she was 13 yrs old but she only did it after school from 5 pm to 8 pm... my brothers help out elderly ppl to clean the backyard or on snow days nothing major. And we all had to give at least $20 from what he had!

My first job started when I was 12. I started cutting grass in our trailer court. I made $100 a week then in my senior year I went to school half a day and started working at Kings Dominion. Fast food places are great first job for teens also. Being a dog walker is a pretty easy first job and most teens love animals. Being a cashier at like walmart or something is a good first job also

My first job was at 15. I worked at Friendlys scooping icecream. 15 was when working papers were issued in our school. I think it is a great idea for teens to work. I know it taught me responsibility and independance. Once I had experiance working I was then hired by an attorney at 17 years old. My favorite job! Getting your foot out there in your community can help you achieve lifetime goals.

My first job was when I was 16 at McDonald's. It was actually a great experience. I learned quite a bit about work ethics and having pride in the job you do. We were taught the importance of smiling and kindness,courtesy, how to properly count back money, the importance of always appearing clean and proper, being efficient and accurate , and how to be a part of a team.

Our daughters have volunteered with us since they were young. None of them have really had a job outside our home/business until now. Our girls will be farm sitting for our neighbor/friend this weekend. They are very excited about the opportunity. While we were there our neighbor's friend came by and she will be going away next month and mentioned the possibility of having our girls take care of their animals. Sooo....the girls are really hoping that works out. Not only for a bit of extra cash but because they truly love animals and helping out.

Our oldest daughter has blogged for income. She also writes for two mom bloggers and earns money that way. Now that she is looking at college expenses, I have been trying to give her more paid opps through my blog as well.

Most of the jobs at any restaurant or grocery store they have to be at least 16 . My boys wanted to do some work this summer but It is about impossible to find anything . I have even looked for anything ,like people needing yadr work or things like that done , it is very frustrating . Our local paper hires teens but they are full for the summer .

When I was a teen I had a paper route, have you looked into them mowing lawns or helping neighbors do odd jobs, helping with a nursing home. Local thrift store or something might hire for them to sweep and dust shelves.

What is Moms Expertise?
“Moms Expertise” — a growing community - based collection of real and unique mom experience. Here you can find solutions to your issues and help other moms by sharing your own advice. Because every mom who’s been there is the best Expert for her baby.
Add your expertise
Similar moms expertise
How to get money for kids: teens first job
06/22/17Moment of the day
You know, I don't think any mother aims to be a single mom. I didn't wish for that, but it happened.
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Moms of big kids
CelesteLeah8TheresaJessicaCrystalShawn AnnMichelleCandaceElizabethIuliiaJaniceDaria


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Moms Expertise

Dangers of propping a baby bottle

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What is Moms Expertise?
“Moms Expertise” — a growing community - based collection of real and unique mom experience. Here you can find solutions to your issues and help other moms by sharing your own advice. Because every mom who’s been there is the best Expert for her baby.
Add your expertise
Baby checklist. Newborn
Dangers of propping a baby bottle
04/12/17Moment of the day
Can't believe my lil man is 6 months already!!!
Browse moms
Moms of babies


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Tuesday, July 16, 2013

BLOG TOUR [Interview + GIVEAWAY!] Twinge by Homar Solano

by Homar Solano

This is the story of Julie Moore whose dreams and aspirations is to get just the ‘right guy’ in her life, but her dreams and aspirations are about to change forever…

In broad daylight, life in Dead Valley is just too darn perfect, seldom if something bad ever happens. But once it turns dark outside, the environment turns hostile. A lot of people go missing each night without a trace. No one in the valley knows exactly why, and they are afraid to uncover the truth. That is until a bright sunny afternoon, Julie Moore is pronounced dead. Stunningly, the next morning without any knowledge that she is supposed to be dead, she finds herself walking in the village. Living in a nightmare that she hopes to awaken one day, she has now to uncover the hard reality of her true identity and the secrets that the village hides within itself, before it’s too late and the evil begins exterminating her and the people from the valley…

But will Julie Moore dreams and aspirations to get the ‘right guy’ as she tries to find her way out from the secrets she uncovers prevail?

Homar Solano was born in Los Angeles, California, although wihin a year his parents brought him to Chicago, Illinois, were he grew up and currently resides, with four brothers and two sisters, plus a father and a mother that inspires him to write on a daily basis.

His great devotion for history and science and literature, incline him to get curious while his sister read a complete book in one setting, uninterruptly. His mind began wandering what was that, that made people immerse themselves completely inside a book. He went to read various books until he got hook up with suspense and thrillers; he then went adding paranormal, urban, chick-lit, and fantasy to his most-read books. His passion for reading has grown over the years, leading him to be highly immersed into reading and writing.

Twinge is his debut novel.

Author Homar Solano

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Vanilla and coconut flavor

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?
Eggs and bacon with a cup of coffee

Night owl, or early bird?

One food you would never eat?
I will eat everything. Even those food that I dislike I would keep coming for more, because I have learned that the more you eat any food you don’t like, after a while the taste buds will approved it.

Skittles or M&Ms?

When you were little, what did you want to be when you "grew up"?
I wanted to be the U.S president. Until I was fifteen years old I was still thinking like that.

You have won one million dollars what is the first thing that you would buy?
Honestly, I would buy a house.

Print or Ebook?
Both. I think the ebook has revolutionized the way how we can contain a whole library in the palm of our hands. But physical books are also important if you love the smell of books or like the pride of having a book in your hand.

What movie are you looking forward to this year?
Well I haven’t have time to look up what movies will be coming out this year. But I will love to see a movie with lots of suspense, drama, and some turns, with a message for us the viewers at the very end of the movie.

Finish the sentence- one book I wish I had written is....
Not yet written

What is next on your to read list?
More YA books. I love them.

Any other books in the works?
Yes. In 2014 I have another book coming. But I can’t talk much about. The only thing I can say and assured is that is going to be a paranormal YA book

Thanks! You’re awesome! :D

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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Supreme x Vans Motion Logo Era Collection

As teased earlier this month via an editorial in Japanese publication PRODISM, Supreme officially unveils its latest collaboration with skate shoe goliath. Incorporating the brand’s Goodfellas-inspired motion blur logo, across the sole of a classic vans Era silhouette with a canvas upper and leather lining, the collection consists of four colorways and will be available in-store in New York, LA, London and online March 3rd, then available in Japan on March 5th.


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Filmmaker partners with Free Planet Radio, Odyssey Community School

Press release:

Writer/Director Partners with Free Planet Radio and Odyssey Community School to Develop Feature Film, “Harmony”, a Compelling Look at Compassion between Cultures

Filmmaker Pana Columbus is partnering with Asheville’s World Music Trio, Free Planet Radio, and the Odyssey Community School on her movie “Harmony” which she plans to shoot, in part, in Asheville. Columbus calls the film, “an invocation for peace in the Middle East”. The film tells the tale of an American philosophy professor whose son is killed in the Iraq War. Her search to understand what makes a society peaceful leads her to study with different Eastern cultures, such as the Tibetans, the Balinese, and the Sufis. On her journey she discovers a secret, utopian, island society whose religion is rooted in creating interpersonal harmony through music. After the community is discovered by the media, individuals from Israel and Palestine become initiated in the society’s practices, and a new wave of possibility enters the previously dead-locked Middle Eastern region.

Pana’s career has primarily been as a playwright and director, and she is no stranger to using the arts for community transformation. Her play, “The New Earth”, performed in 2006 at the Zoellner Arts Center in Bethlehem, PA, was the catalyst for the creation of an environmentally based charter school in Emmaus, which now serves over 350 students. Her production of the play “Gilgamesh” performed at Allentown Symphony Hall and hailed by the Morning Call newspaper as “An ambitious and stunning accomplishment…” was the catalyst for a non-profit that launched an on-going, inner-city, classical music program at Roosevelt Community Elementary School, which was recently honored at the White House (one of three schools nationally).

Her process in seeking to catalyze change in the Middle East will start in Asheville. Her first step is to build empathy and love for both sides of the conflict in initiatives created in partnership with the Odyssey Community School. The partnership will include projects that cultivate understanding for both Israelis and Palestinians with the students, parents, and staff, as well as for the greater Asheville community. For example, this spring, she and her composer husband Scott Eggert will do a residency at Odyssey Community School in which students will rehearse and perform an original play with music called “Home Safe Home.” This play will be performed at the Odyssey Community School at the unveiling of a Peace Garden built at the school.

For the greater Asheville community, she will be holding monthly music gatherings with Free Planet Radio, recently voted #1 World Music Ensemble in WNC, starting in January. These gatherings will capitalize on the many devotional singing traditions in Asheville to develop the actual scenes in the movie that take place on the utopian island. Says Columbus, “If we’re going to create an enlightened utopian society of musicians and singers in the film, what better place to create that society than Asheville?” Free Planet Radio will be providing the music as well as composing original music developed at these events for the film’s soundtrack.

Pana is currently seeking singers to cast in this film. No acting experience required, but a familiarity with music as a devotional modality, such as chanting, group call and response, etc. would be helpful. If interested, please email

Columbus recently published her memoir, “She Wore Blue Invoking the Water,” which is available at Malaprop’s Bookstore. She is also facilitating a weekend retreat called “The Elements of Transformation™”, an in-depth experience for those seeking support to make a change in their lives, held on October 4, 5, 6 at the historic Wysteria Inn in downtown Weaverville. For more information, visit

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Letters to Lydia: 1 Month

To my sweet, beautiful daughter,

I can hardly believe I’m typing these words: today you are one month old! Oh my gosh!

Lydia, one month

This past month has been the best of my life, and try as I might, I know that any attempt I make at summing it up in a matter of words will fall so short of how wonderful it really was. I’ll not fully be able to reflect the amount of joy or love your daddy and I feel. We are simply and absolutely overwhelmed with you. You – wonderful you. What a precious gift you are to us!

Here’s a highlight of your first month:Of course, the month started in the hospital, with your beautiful birth. In the hospital we were bombarded with people coming to see you – not just our friends and family (who were absolutely welcome!), but one medical person after another. In between people coming to poke and prod you for one reason or another, we spent a lot of time snuggling skin-to-skin and marveling at our beautiful baby.

Seeing the man who was simply my husband before transform into your daddy has been beautiful. Seeing him care for you so tenderly is precious and warms my heart to the point of near explosion! I have so many pictures of you snuggled up against his chest. I keep thinking that maybe one of the photos I take will adequately capture the fullness of my heart when I see you two together, but alas, no, they never do. Reality is far too sweet!

On your third day of life, we were over the hospital experience. We were ready for the chaos to end and and so ready to start our new life together! So, we dressed you in an outfit that was much too big, and took you home.

You weren’t a fan of the carseat, but as soon as we started moving, you fell right asleep (you still do!). I felt badly for your dad on this day, because not only did he have to drive with “precious cargo” for the very first time, but he had to do during the first snow of the season! Thankfully, the roads were nice and clear by the time we actually headed out, but it made for an exciting morning nonetheless.

On the way home, we had to stop at Babies “R” Us because you were such a peanut you wouldn’t fit into the diapers we had at home. I don’t ever want to forget the way your daddy sweetly held you in his jacket as we walked around the store, partly because you were fussing and partly because he just wanted to hold you.

Once we got home you got to meet more of our family. Including:

Auntie Hannah

Grandma Phyllis

Popa Byron and Lola Elsa

Uncle Mark and Auntie Erin

We also had dear friends visit (but sadly, didn’t take pictures of everyone).

Jenny and Ashley were pretty excited to meet you (you were excited too, despite what this picture shows!)!

But maybe most excited was Meliha and Auntie Lisa. Meliha was so excited to hold “that baby” and proclaimed baby “Lahdia” to be “sooo tute!” She’ll be a great big sister come April!

Oh, and I can’t forget Bridger!

Hannah kept big brother Bridger for us while we were in the hospital and brought him to meet you on Thursday. He was VERY excited about this new little person, but he’s been very gentle and respectful. He was curious about you and really likes to lick your feet! He especially likes you when you’ve gone #2, but he’s kind of a grosso! He’s handled the transition to being second fiddle very well, in fact, he’d be the perfect dog if he could keep his excitement in check and his hair on his body instead of all over our house!

When we weren’t cuddling at home, or entertaining visitors, we managed to go on a few outings. Including your first doctor’s appointment at 5 days old.

After which, you joined mommy and daddy for our first “date” as parents. We enjoyed sushi and you enjoyed sleeping.

We got great use out of our Moby wrap, and even daddy got in on the action (until Lola Elsa made him take you out and give you to her!). We used the wrap a lot, especially for our evening walks with Bridger. I love that I can have you right close to me, all bundled up under my jackets so you stay warm. You fuss for a second or two when I first put you in, but then, every time, you fall asleep as soon as I start walking. I love wearing you!

Christmas came a week after you were born and we celebrated your one week birthday by going to Door of Hope’s Christmas Eve (Eve) service. Thankfully I had the Moby, because otherwise I think the stranger sweet woman behind us would have picked you right up. We had been major slackers about church in the year before you were born, but in the four weeks you have been alive, we have been three times. It seems wrong to have so much joy and goodness and not worship. Seriously, I could spend every minute thanking Jesus for you.

Mama had lots of fun with different outfits for you, though most of your clothes you were still too small for.

Lola Elsa brought you your first Christmas dress, which papa was not super impressed with, but mama loved! You even had a fancy headband and sparkly bracelet to match!

As much as I loved dressing you up, you spent a good amount of your first month naked because you were too stinkin’ cute and because it let us give you as much skin-to-skin as possible. Plus, you made quite a mess with your milk in the beginning and it was just easier to wipe up your chest instead of changing your clothes every time.

Most of the month, though, was spent snuggling and sleeping. You did a lot of this:

and this:

and this:

 You were in our bed on a little wedge the first two weeks, and then mama pulled out the co-sleeper. We’re still working on that. You much prefer sleeping right next to mama.

Considering we had a newborn, this past month has gone pretty smoothly. Yes, there’s been a lot of adjustments being made, and getting used to the interrupted sleep has been interesting, but doable. Your daddy and I have grown closer together, yet also had to navigate some speed bumps that go along with changing from a married couple to parents. We had a hiccup with your weight gain during your second week, but learning to trust my body and to trust you helped us overcome that (thankfully!).

Ok, enough of me blabbering on. Here are your stats at 1 month old:

Weight: 6 pounds, 11 ounces at 22 days old

Diaper size: NB (you were in Preemie for the first two weeks though)

Clothing size: Smaller NB. You still don’t fit in the bigger NB stuff (Gap and Circo seem to have bigger NB than Carters does)

Diet: Mama’s milk only, straight from the source

Sleep: You spent the first half of the month sleeping like a…well…baby…but you’re proving to be a bit more feisty with sleep the more alert you are. You are usually a good napper and are following a loose eat, awake, sleep pattern every 2.5 – 3 hours during the day. At night, once you go down you’ll usually sleep for four hours and then you’ll be up every 2 hours after that. Once you get to sleep, things are great, but getting you to sleep is more difficult than I was hoping it would be. I think part of it has to do with you still having your days and nights a bit mixed up and you having a night-owl streak like both of your parents. We have spent many nights dancing with you while you lay quietly against our chests with your pretty eyes wide open.

Nicknames: Baby, baby girl, pretty, punkin’ pie, sweetie baby and Walter (only when she’s grouchy and making a stink face)

Favorite things: The Moby, our Stroller, the Boppy Lounger, your WubbaNub, and mama and daddy

Oh Lydia. My sweet baby! This past  month has been incredible. Watching you grow from this:

to this:

has been absolutely amazing! You have brought your daddy and I so much joy! We love every single detail about you and though I’m already mourning your squishy newborn-ness, I can’t wait to see the sweet little person you become. You are my delight, my whole heart. I’ve wanted you forever but truly, as much as I anticipated becoming a mom, this past month has taken every thought I had about it and blown it out of the water. Never have I idealized something so much, only to eventually realize my dreams fell so short from reality. You are better than I could have ever dreamed. I love you! As our book says, my beautiful girl, “You are my angel, my star and my love will find you where ever you are.”

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Morality on a scale… but whose scale do we use?

I have been asked on occassion if it is possible for a person to be morally pure in one area of their life while at the same time being morally corrupt in another area of their life.

Let me state here and now that I think we all understand that there is not a single person who will be morally pure in the sense that they will be error free every single day of their life.  However I do believe to be considered morally pure one can and must, each day, conciously decide to walk according to the will of their Creator.

Now back to the original concept of (basically) compartmentalizing one’s life.  Let us just say that this person if faithful to their church in every way.  They attend regularly, they  tithe and give offerings.  They volunteer their time for church functions, they may even go on overseas mission trips.  For all intense and purposes everyone who sees this church person would say that this person is a solid Christian.

This same person at home is faithful to his wife, plays an active role in the raising of his children, his lawn and house are kept in good order.   If you were to ask his neighbors about him they would confess that they could wish for no better neighbor.

In order to be faithful to his church in the tithe, the offering, volunteering his time and going on mission trips and too be a good neighbor doing all the things that involves this individual is employed as a Real Estate Agent.  He is not the Broker in Charge but instead works for someone out of their office.  Just for the purpose of this writing let us assume that the BiC is less than a person of integrity and has all of the agents working out of that specific office not out and out lie about some of their properties but maybe just omit some things.  Not big things but things that may seem just to small to mention to any perspective buyers.  No matter how small these things are it would still cost the buyer of the home some money to fix/repair/modify or whatever the case.  So as a matter of routine this morally pure person, in order to keep his job in this office has agreed to “go along to get along”.  After all it is not like they lied about the home not having termites when it did or something big like that.  Maybe it was just a ceiling fan and after all it would only cost the new home owners a couple of hundred dollars to get a new one installed.  No big deal on the grand scheme of things.  But this is not a one time occurrence this is a way he has chosen to do business.

He has justified his way of doing business because after all God has surely blessed him and look at all the work he does in his local church.  For years he has been able to provide nicely for his family.   Surely, he is not doing anything “that” wrong.  After all he knows of other Real Estate Agents who do far worse than that.

So here are the questions.

1. Is this individual morally pure?

2.  Is he good enough?

3.  Is it okay to compartimentalize you life?

4.  If you were aware of this going on what would you do?… if anything.

5.  How much trust would you have in a person like this?

7 Responses to Morality on a scale… but whose scale do we use?

  1. jonolan says:

    From what I gather you are born in sin and doomed by your own fallibility to continue to sin throughout your life. So what IS good enough when failure is foredoomed by the nature of your creation?

  2. mssc54 says:

    Jonolan; your rudimentary understanding is basically correct.

    However, those of us who truly believe in the Creator will recognise where that sin line is and will therefore be less likely to step over it. We will of course make mistakes but they will be fewer and fewer as we mature in Christ.

    Beautiful pic by the way. You should try to get out in the sun more.

  3. Lindsey says:

    I don’t think that it’s possible to compartmentalize. Either we try to do the best we can in every area, or we are hypocrites.

    I know that probably sounds a tad ironic considering our recent argument about Edwards, but while you think that Edwards chose a path of sin I choose to be optimistic and assume that he simply caved in a moment of weakness, when he was under tremendous strain.

    In any case, if holiness is the goal it must be the goal universally. Otherwise it’s just a farce.

  4. mssc54 says:

    ROFL well I didn’t actually roll on the floor physically but I really did laugh out out loud when I initially read your post.

    Lindsey… I can’t help it I’m still chuckling while trying to type.

    Arguement about Edwards, what ever do you mean.

    We certainly agree on this one. You can’t intentionally decide to live one way in one area and believe it will not affect another.

    Thanks for your input!

  5. The Christian Ranter says:

    I think men and women are different with respect to compartmentalizing. Men can be serial killers and “the quiet neighbor who was always willing to help”, while women tend to mix those compartments together so that one aspect effects all of the others. I think the Bible tells us that if we are guilty of one sin, then we are guilty of breaking all of the law.

  6. moriahjoy says:

    I think Jonolan points out something fundamentally important here…nothing we do can make us morally pure…but what is called into question by the story you present is this man’s conscious intentional hedging of integrity in his job…

    I sin every day; I fall and I fail and I make mistakes. But my desire and my choice is to live according to God’s best and moral law…and so I pick myself up and try again.

    To settle and purposefully choose to sin and somehow try to sanitize it or compartmentalize it or compare yourself to others and determine you do better than they is to miss the whole point: we can never be morally pure (the crux of the Gospel message and the reason for the need for a Savior) and yet, out of love for God and a trust in His judgement for the best in our lives, we must try to continually become more like Jesus and less in bondage to our former selves but live as children redeemed and renewed.

    As you said, the more we mature in Christ, the less apt we will be to choose sin.

    Either way, I’m thankful Jesus provides for us because we all fail miserably on this sin issue.

    But for the grace of God, go I.

  7. lawyerchik1 says:

    At one point in my past, I took a class or two on being a real estate agent (and practiced real estate law), and while I understand your point and the bottom-line principles, you have to realize that, at least in Michigan anyway, the listing agent represents the seller in a real estate transaction. He does not have any obligation to the buyer, other than to provide the seller’s disclosure statement, the listing (which should identify what does or doesn’t go with the house), and make the property available to prospective buyers for a showing.

    If there is an offer to purchase and the buyer does not have his or her own agent, the listing agent IS STILL THE SELLER’S AGENT – and as such has no duty to tell the buyer anything. In fact, if he told the buyer, for example, that the ceiling fan did not go with the house, and he caused the seller to lose out on the sale, the listing agent could be liable for breach of his fiduciary duty to his seller.

    So, his higher duty, if you will, is to his seller (the person with whom he has a listing agreement) – not to the buyer. The old adage “buyer beware” is true: as a prospective buyer, if you don’t have your own agent (known as a “buyer’s agent”), or if you have one but don’t actively take a role in asking about what does or doesn’t go with the house and insist on a written list of what you’re getting, it is not that the seller’s agent is being dishonest; it’s that you didn’t do what you should do on your own behalf.

    That said, generally speaking, anything that is fastened to the property such that removal would leave damage is generally considered a “fixture,” and is usually going to go with the property, unless there is a disclaimer otherwise. If, in this case, your hypothetical seller removed the ceiling fan/light fixture and replaced it with a general light fixture, and there was no specific addendum including the ceiling fan in the purchase agreement, there isn’t anything much to do about it.

    This wasn’t supposed to be that long of a comment!! Sorry!! I just don’t want someone thinking of another person as “moral” or “immoral”, “trustworthy” or “untrustworthy”, or to assume that he or she was “compartmentalizing” his or her life on the basis of incomplete information about what his or her job really is about.

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A business professional with more than 15 years of experience serving clients, financial executive Mubashar Ayoob provides affluent families and individuals in the United Kingdom and the Middle East with a variety of wealth management services. Mr. Ayoob focuses extensively on clients with ultra-high net worth. As a result of his close connection to the Middle East, as well as his current position as a Senior Vice President of Investments at the Dubai office of investment management firm Merrill Lynch, he can advise an extensive clientele in a range of countries, such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

Mubashar Ayoob studied Marketing and Finance at Southeastern University in Washington, where he earned a high grade point average. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in 1996, Mr. Ayoob joined Merrill Lynch as a Financial Advisor in the London office, overseeing hundreds of millions in assets under management over the course of six years. In his first year, he earned the honor of joining the Falcons Club, a special group of the highest performers globally, for his efforts.

Subsequently, Mubashar Ayoob’s performance at Merrill Lynch helped him gain the executive position he holds today, but he first switched firms, accepting a post with UBS. He acquired knowledge and contributed in the areas of investment management and tax planning. Upon joining UBS, he participated in an extensive training program covering all aspects of wealth management. While serving as a Director and Senior Client Advisor at UBS, Mubashar Ayoob utilized his marketing experience to expand the firm’s number of high net worth clients, through cold calling, networking and referrals. After four years working at UBS, Mr. Ayoob was head-hunted back to Merrill Lynch as a First Vice President of Investments. He earned a promotion to Senior Vice President and relocated to Dubai, UAE, to expand his business and better serve his clients. At his new office, he recreated his successful business model for wealth management for the Middle East region.

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Tag Archives: Stone Hill Winery

Safety first: drink wine

By Alyssa Salcido

HERMANN, Mo.— You don’t typically think about microorganisms when you pop a wine cork at a Missouri winery and in fact, this has been true throughout history: wine was consumed without worry. Water, however, was often contaminated.

“Wine has always been safe to drink, even 1,000 years ago, water could kill, but wine was always safe,” said Dave Johnson, senior winemaker at Stone Hill Winery.

Johnson pic_Salcido

Dave Johnson, senior winemaker at Stone Hill Winery shares points about the history of wine on a vineyard tour. Photo by Alyssa Salcido

In history, the wine process had antibacterial power. Johnson explained that once the alcohol is present the drink is impervious to microorganisms.

“Water made wine safe, but wine also made water safe,” Tom Standage said in History of the World in Six Glasses. “As well as being free pathogens, wine contains natural antibacterial agents liberated during the fermentation process.”

Today it’s all a careful game of chemistry. Winemakers have perfected a measured exposure to certain elements. But keep in mind once your bottle is opened, it can expire due to exposure to oxygen. Red wine has about two weeks and white wine only has about three days before the wine begins to turn into acetic acid, giving the wine a vinegary taste. Even then, the wine is not unsafe to drink, but your taste buds may not agree.

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Filed under MU School of Journalism, wine

Sorry, magical friends don’t make your wine

By Felesha Lee

Metal tanks, essential to the winemaking process, at Stone Hill Winery cost about $10,000 each for the 8,000 gallon size. Photo by Felesha Lee

HERMANN, Mo — When you walk down the wine aisle at your favorite grocery store, you see beautifully packaged wine. You might have imagery in mind of grape stomping when you see the elegant bottles, but the wine that got there is no stranger to modern technology. Though you can’t detect any trace of it in the grocery, your wine spent months on a journey through heavy machinery.

At Stone Hill Winery in Hermann, Missouri, tens of thousands of dollars are spent on equipment to make the wine perfect before it splashes in your glass. First, at Stone Hill, grapes are picked by a mechanical grape harvester, eliminating the need for most manual picking in the field. Next the grapes are hauled by truck to a de-stemmer/crusher. Then, before certain wines acquire their toasty oak taste in barrels, it spends time in a giant metal tank for fermentation before bottling. At one point wine is refrigerated to just above its freezing point to help separate the tartaric acid crystals from grape skins from the finished wine. The crystals are harmless (they’re a natural component in grapes), so you can still drink your wine if you find the small white flakes in your glass, but it just won’t look as pretty.

According to Dave Johnson, senior winemaker at Stone Hill Winery, the metal monster tanks cost $10,000 or more, and that’s just for the 8,000-gallon size. Stone Hill also has tanks that will hold five times that.

The tanks, made by the Paul Mueller Company in Springfield, Missouri, are easy to get parts for if something malfunctions, but Johnson said tank breakage is the least of his worries. A more critical issue for Johnson are the pipes since they are built into the cellar structure much like your house plumbing. Johnson said that’s a problem he hopes not to have.

The heavy equipment is essential to Stone Hill’s process. Though it would make for a more interesting conversation, our wine doesn’t come from a place free of modern world mechanics where dainty fairies crush the grapes and carry it straight to your glass. Heavy machinery is used to produce wine quickly, safely and at the volume customers want.

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The Disneyland debacle and my own two cents

This is a topic I’ve been meaning to write about for, oh, about 5 years now.   Since my daughter was born, in fact, and I started caring a little more about these things.

57 months, two more kiddos and a move to the US later, and two things have prompted me to finally get around to putting my thoughts down this week.  The first is Disneyland.  The second is the startling realisation that on Thursday I’m going to have to register my not-so-baby girl into Kindergarten.

The current measles outbreak here in the US, which reportedly originated from an overseas visitor to the happiest of destination vacation spots, has now resulted in at least 52 Disneyland-related infections in California alone.  The disease has spread to 6 other states and Mexico (so far), with more cases in the month of January alone than the US usually sees in an entire year.  15% of these people have been hospitalised.  FIFTEEN per cent.

To all who come to this happy place: Welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America, with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.

Walter E. Disney, July 17, 1955

Not such a happy place this month though, huh, Walt? What kind of future does a child brain-damaged by encepahlitis have? How much joy is the 2 year old hospitalised by pneumonia experiencing?

Needless to say, because it is Disneyland, suddenly the immunisation debate is all over social media again.  The anti-vaxxers are out in force, spreading their tales of mercury-laden poison, reigniting the MMR/autism fire, and singing from the rooftops about their increasingly baffling “the government and big pharma want to poison us all” conspiracy theories.  Which is always good for a bit of light reading while you’re nursing a grizzling baby at 3am.  A baby who, incidentally, is particularly unsettled this week, having just received four shots of pure government-mandated poison into his chubby little thighs.  Quick, somebody call Social Services, I’m a terrible, ignorant mother, a danger to my children and probably to all mankind!

So, what does this all have to do with my little kindergartner, you might wonder?

Well, on Friday, I took Baby James for his Six Month “Well Child” visit with our pediatrician.  I asked her about the current measles outbreak, and whether I ought to be worried for my son, who is still too young to be offered the MMR vaccine.   Instead of the “Oh no, it’s nothing – relax, Mom!” response I was half expecting, she sighed and adopted her grave face.  Thanks to the actions (or should that be non-actions) of the anti-vaxxer brigade, in order to protect my baby from a disease that was all but eradicated until very recently (as recently as the year 2000), I need to be on my guard.  If we’re invited to play-dates, it is up to me to call ahead and ask the host “Are all the children there vaccinated against measles?  If not, sorry, no bueno, no fun.”  She then followed up with “And then you need to ask whether there are any guns kept in the house”.   And while that is definitely a topic for another day, it is interesting that she treated measles infection and deadly weapons with equal gravitas.

While contemplating the thought that I actually have no idea whether all or even any of Evie’s little buddies are up to date on their vaccination schedule, I started to wonder what the figures really are in this part of the world, the special little bubble we live in, full of educated and privileged Microsoft, Boeing and Amazon families.  The sorts of families who might, for example, vacation at Disneyland without a second thought.

39% of the Kindergarten students at X Y Elementary have met state immunization requirements. The Washington State Department of Health recommends an immunization percentage of 95 or greater.

Or maybe, “OhmyfuckingGodWHAT!!?” might have actually been my initial reaction.

Nearly two thirds of my daughter’s future classmates do not meet state requirements?  Right.  Good to know.  Excuse my ignorance on the topic of education establishments in the United States, but….why the hell are these children permitted to enter the school system?  What is the point of government recommendations if people pay about as much attention to them as they do to the “12 Items or Less” sign at the supermarket checkout?

Of course, dear, sweet, naiive anti-vaxxer mom, I understand completely that it is your right to refuse vaccinations for your child.  And I’m sure that you are quite convinced that your reasons are valid, your research extensive, and your decision entirely your own damn business.

BUT, equally, it is my right to send my daughter to school without having to fear the diseases she might bring home to her vulnerable youngest sibling.  It is my right to take my children to meet Mickey Mouse, without the fear that our vacation may end in an ER visit.  It is my right to express utter incredulity that you, being in the extremely privileged position of having the chance to protect your child (and mine) from harm, choose instead to take your chances.

Did you know that Roald Dahl, beloved children’s author of such fabulous tales as Matilda, James and the Giant Peach and The BFG, lost his 7 year old daughter, Olivia, to the measles?  From reading to her in bed, as she apparently recovered from the worst of her malady, to “in an hour, she was unconscious.  In twelve hours, she was dead”.  Just.  Like.  That.

I’ll let that sink in a little.

Did you know that Andrew Wakefield, the doctor responsible for the deeply flawed research study (with a sample size of just 12 children) which was widely reported to prove a link between the MMR vaccine and autism in children, has not only been totally discredited, but has been stripped of his medical license?  Dozens of subsequent research studies have debunked his scare-mongering theory, and the British Medical Journal has gone as far as to call his research “fraudulent”.  But tell me,  the next time your child develops a 103 degree fever, a nasty rash, an unusually sleepy demeanor – any of those scary things we hate to see in our little ones – do you plan to rush Little Tommy to see your trusted family practitioner, or will it be more “Aha, oh no, that doctor will only try to convince me to give our baby a nasty shot – instead, I’m taking our sweet little flower to that man that was charged with four counts of dishonesty, and twelve counts involving the abuse of developmentally challenged children.  HE is definitely the man to trust with the life and health of my irreplaceable offspring”.

Yes.  That makes sense.

Did you know that the measles is one of the most contagious preventable diseases out there?  Let’s say that your non-vaccinated-through-choice child does develop some of the telltale symptoms of this completely harmless “I had it as a child and I was absolutely fine” illness.  The high temperature, the rash, the refusal to eat.  You take little Clara, who was breastfed until she was 3, has only ever eaten organic, and most definitely gets her 5-a-day, (actually it’s more like 10) to the pediatrician’s office to find a way to ease her suffering.  Except, in the waiting room, she suddenly gets an urge to vomit (another delightful symptom), and rushes to the bathroom to purge.   No biggie, you clean up as best you can, and then you leave.

Four days later, in I come with my 6 month old for his scheduled check-up.  My little cherub who, you probably remember, is not yet old enough to get that precious vaccine.  Except, as we wait, he does what babies are prone to do at inopportune moments like these, and we rush to the bathroom for an emergency diaper change.  He doesn’t crawl on the floor.  He doesn’t lick the toilet.  He doesn’t eat the contents of the trash can.  And yet – BOOM – now he has measles.

Four days.  No physical contact with your child, or any of the things she touched.  Yet…plenty of fun and games ahead for my bouncing baby boy.

Did you know that approximately one in ten children with measles develop ear infections that can lead to hearing loss?

Did you know that as many as one in twenty children with measles will develop pneumonia (the most common cause of death from this disease)?

Did you know that one in a thousand little ones will develop encephalitis, the same brain swelling condition that killed Roald Dahl’s daughter, to whom The BFG was dedicated?

One in a thousand.  Huh.  It might not sound much to you, but when you remember that measles affects 20 million people around the world each year….well, that’s 20,000 dead Olivias right there.

The reasons I have heard for not vaccinating range from the sublime to the ridiculous, and I’m not inclined to address or promote each crazy conspiracy theory or piece of flawed “evidence” here.  As I have said before, maybe that is your right to choose.  Well, it’s your child, so of course, it is your right.

But the problem is, it’s not just your child.

We will ALL rely on herd immunity at some point in our lives.  Whether it’s as a newborn, as a parent to a NICU baby, as an elderly grandma whose fragile immune system ain’t what it used to be…ultimately, a decent level of herd immunity reduces the likelihood in your city or town that an infected person will even brush up against, let alone endanger, someone who could be vulnerable.   Like that 8-year-old whose parents rejected vaccinations, or a baby too young for the MMR jab, or a 5 year old so debilitated by allergies, he is not even eligible for the shots that could save his life.  Health professionals say that a vaccination rate of about 95 percent is needed to effectively protect a community. Fall too far below that level and you’re in trouble.

Now, I hope, you might understand my dismay at that 39%.

A healthy diet filled with organic veggies, probiotics and whole grains, extended breastfeeding, a dedication to at least 60 minutes of outdoor exercise and fresh air each day….they are all extremely admirable choices, and I take my hat off to those parents who manage to instill such a healthy regimen in their family life.  As long as those lifestyle choices are an add-on, rather than an alternative, to your family’s vaccine schedule.

Otherwise, what happens when this outbreak starts to edge a little closer to home?  When those hospitalised children are not in the next state, but in the next classroom?  When they start bringing in the men in the HazMat suits?  Where will you turn?  Will it be to your local farmer’s market, or to the medic with the syringe in her hand?

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11 Responses to The Disneyland debacle and my own two cents

  1. Aimee says:

    Thanks for this. Very timely as R having MMR jab on Thursday. And well….. I’m nervous! Not just of all the scaremongering but R is highly allergic to eggs and milk. NHS say MMR safe for egg allergy but….. still nervous 😦

    • Kerstin Pepper says:

      Aw, lovely, poor wee Robert. Yes, I don’t think MMR is an egg-based one, I think that’s just the ‘flu (and you can now get the non-eggy one for ‘flu, too). Nerves around vaccines are understandable, just because of all the controversy (where there’s smoke, there’s fire, etc etc), but imagine how much *more* nervous you’d be if there was an outbreak at his nursery, or where you work? I hope Thursday doesn’t make you cry too much. James’s 4 shots on Friday were heartbreaking – happy little bunny, and then….FURIOUS with me! 🙂 xx

  2. lucie says:

    Extremely well put Kerstin! And I have to say, a lot more eloquent and less voraciously angry than my own views on anti-vaxxers. I feel extremely strongly about how important vaxxing children is, and the need for herd immunity. I’m honestly baffled how any sane, educated person can thoroughly do the research (and not just that of the dreaded Dr Google) and still decide that not protecting their own offspring against deadly diseases isn’t the right choice.
    Personally I don’t even consider it a choice, it’s an obligation as both a parent and a responsible member of society.
    I hope Andrew Wakefield is tormented by each and every vaccine preventable death. One man’s greed has destroyed countless lives.

    • lucie says:

      Obviously I meant “IS the right choice”!!

    • Kerstin Pepper says:

      Thanks, Lucie. I tried not to rant too much, because I want it to be taken seriously, rather than as an hysterical diatribe. Believe me, I’m a lot more sweary in private, when I read the ridiculous comments on my local FB pages. Such as:
      “I’m not trying to be rude when I say this but pharma companies do not make vaccines because they love us and want us all to be healthy. These people are not philanthropists, these people are shrewd business people. Their profits are so large and their power is so great that they have convinced our Gov to make it illegal to sue them if their vaccines injure or kill someone. That’s why there is a fund set up for that to protect them. Why would you inject anything into your or your children’s veins from a company who has no accountability in making sure is safe.”

      Actual quote, written about 2 days ago. This is what we’re up against.

  3. Sam says:

    Very eloquently put, hard to believe that in the country that leads the war on terror, they’re not all that bothered about protecting themselves when it comes to something so easily preventable. Let’s hope biological warfare doesn’t include measles!

    • Kerstin Pepper says:

      Thanks, Sam. I know – and it’s spreading so quickly. Just since I wrote this, we’re already up to over 100 confirmed cases from the Disneyland origin, and it’s now in Oregon and Washington. So, it really is creeping closer and closer to home. It makes me SO cross, just how preventable this is. Imagine all those mothers in third world countries, who would chop off their left arm to get access to vaccines for their children. How would they feel to know that there are mothers out there choosing to chance it, because of some bizarre, misguided notion that the government and pharma companies are all just “in it for themselves”. GAH!!!

  4. Helen Liz says:

    Is the the same USA that wanted to refuse me a student visa in the 80s because I had NOT had an MMR jab? My parents’ excuse? It wasn’t available when I was a tot. I’d had my measles and rubella jabs and had actually gone the whole hog and had mumps, so was vaccinated against all three. But I couldn’t put a date against the box. Well not until my GP swore, damned all officials to eternal hell and put my measles vaccination date against the lot. My, how times change…

    • Kerstin Pepper says:

      Yes, exactly!! In order to get our green cards, we all had to have a blood test to make sure we had all the antibodies to prove we had either already had the disease, or had had the vaccine. Including my poor 2 year old (despite the fact we had her vaccine records – they “look different” to theirs, apparently). And yet, as a citizen, apparently do what you like, go where you want, everybody else be damned.

  5. Diana says:

    My husband remembers his school lining everyone up for the shots. This was in 1959, and no one had a choice. I remember the same in 1970. As for big pharma out to get us, poppycock! We have a friend who works for “big pharma”, helped develop medicine for ebola patients. Anti-vaxxers, yikes! It’s “I’ve made up my mind, don’t confuse me with facts”.

  6. Pingback: This (ludicrous) heated debate | The Peppers head Stateside!

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Looking for directions. Can you help?

Over the past 18 months I’ve really gone through a lot of changes in the way I view and understand the world around me. And its almost like I am seeing the world with new eyes, as the curtain is pulled back more and more and the injustices, the shocking truths veiled underneath our lives become more and more apparent. And for each inch the curtain draws back, and I look a little closer, a little deeper, new shades of grey appear and the lines of order and structure to my reality blur even more out of focus. From the trainers on my feet, to the shampoo I use, even the milk that I drink. Understanding how everything around us is created, maintained and ultimately, monopolised has been a difficult and testing experience, but even more so, one which compels me to act. One that reaches down deep into the pits of my being and violently rattles the cages. I cannot keep sitting still like this. And the more I see, the more I seem to find the same thought re-appearing in my mind. That, to the extent that I can, I do not want to be a part of any of that. I won’t contribute to the problems, I’m going to work to be a part of the solution. There is a lot I am sure I have yet to learn, and I have only begun to even touch the surface of understanding how this wonderfully complex world operates, and how deep the rabbit hole goes. But if I know anything, its that I want my contribution to be positive. I want the world to better, because I was here. If the world is full of a darkness that has spread through every crevice and every crack, I want to be a bright emanating light. Because that’s what we are, and certainly what we need right now.

And amidst all of these lofty ideals and great desires, things are more uncertain than ever before. There are no more safety nets like at school, college and even university. This is it. I have to find my way in the world, and make it work so at the very least, I can stand off of my own two feet and get by and progress. It seems my time and hour of calling has finally come. Time to get things moving once more.

Those who have spoken to me recently may be aware that for some time now, I have been intent on going away for a few years to study. For lots of reasons that I won’t go into, I have decided that the place I originally wanted to go to, is not the right step for me.

And so, I am now faced with a bit of an interesting dilemma and a dilemma which I would like to share with you today. Because somewhere out there, something, some golden opportunity, has my name written all over it. I just need to get my hands on it. I have been searching far and wide to find the place/opportunity that will best give me what I am looking for and I’m close, I can sense it. But I’m still a little bit lost. I know I am almost there, but not just yet.

It’s like when you’re driving somewhere, you’re looking for your destination – checking  your map and your tomtom, phoning up your relatives/friends but still, you can’t quite find it. Even though its (frustratingly!) probably only around the corner. And then you pull over to the side of a random street and ask passers by for directions and as it turns out, it is just nearby around the corner, and you’ve just come a little too far or taken one wrong turning somewhere. So this is me, doing precisely that. Pulling over on the side of the road, and asking for help.

So if you are reading this, please spread this message far and wide for me. Share it on facebook, twitter, email, whatever you think is best. Show it to people you know and/or to people you think may be able to give me a point in the right direction and get back to me. Any and all suggestions are welcome! If you know of an opportunity, or a place you think I should visit, opportunity that I should check out as I embark on my journey, let me know!

So to clarify, let me tell you a bit about what I’m looking for and interested in so that you can help me find it:

– I want to dedicate the next 2 years to really pushing my own personal growth and to studying/education. Preferably I want to go around India/China side of the Asian continent. It doesn’t have to be one place/opportunity for the whole 2 years, it could be several.

– Somewhere where I can learn more about spirituality, about myself, about life and really experience the true meaning of this wonderful little world we are in. I want to study intensely, and then when I come back, share what I have learned with the world in order to make it that bit better, and that much brighter.

– Somewhere where I can learn more about Hindu/Buddhist teachings. But away from any ritualistic/blind thinking. Something very reason and rational based. For example, I really admire Swami Vivekananda’s teachings (see ‘Unity in Variety‘ post), J. Krishnamurti, Bruce Lee which draw from these philosophies but really sift through and draw out the core, empowering messages that have been somewhat lost.

– Somewhere where I can get away from the world of commercialism/capitalism/materialism/all this other BS and draw out the great person that’s lurking beneath. Even if it’s deep in the Himalayas somewhere!

– Somewhere where I am challenged and pushed not just to my limits, but even beyond them. Both physically, and spiritually/mentally. (You need physical discipline, as well as spiritual). I want to see for myself what happens when I am thrown into the deep end.

– Somewhere where I can learn and see for myself the injustices and inequalities in the world.

– Somewhere where I am not committed to the organisation afterward/am not restricted by that sect/viewpoint/movement/organisation.

– Whatever the place is, wherever it is. I don’t want to just become all spiritual and then be ignorant of world issues/affairs. I want to be learning but at the same time, involved in some grass roots movements or something like that.

– Obviously I have a limited budget. So money wise it needs to be affordable/sustainable.

So what are your suggestions? Do you know of a great opportunity that I might be interested? Whether its a gap year opportunity somewhere, or a placement, get in touch. Maybe you knew someone who went travelling or went yourself. Post me a reply on here/twitter/FB. I’m all ears. Most of all though, please share this post, and pass it on so that I can find what I am desperately searching for.

We all know the world isn’t really going to end in 2012. But what if it was? How would you live your year then? I know my answer.

What would yours be?

4 responses to “Looking for directions. Can you help?

  1. well I am not sure where to leave my response but I would like to help. Some place you might be interested in is Agape, with Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith. I have been attending for the last year as a streamer due to there only being one located in L.A. so I attend online at agapelive.com It is not ordinary. Everything you listed in this blog of what you are looking for I found in Agape and I believe you might too. it has been the most amazing thing in my life! Honestly though what you and many others are searching for well the answer for everone is, YOU, the answer is inside each and everyone of us.

  2. Thank you for your reply – I have actually heard of him before. He was on the film ‘The Secret’ right? Will definitely look more into that.

  3. Pingback: 7 reasons why 2012 absolutely rocked | Keshav's blog·

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Avery Tequilana Sour Coming To Barrel-Aged Series

This morning we get to see the 43rd release in the Avery barrel-Aged Series.  This one continues on the Tequila-theme and it will be named Tequilana.  This sour ale is aged in Suerte Tequila barrels and it will be packaged in a limited run of 1200 cases of 12oz bottles.  This beer will hit 7.35%-AbV and it will be packaged on 5 Mar 2017 so stay tuned for full release details.

About Bil Cord

Founder, owner, author, graphic designer, CEO, CFO, webmaster, president, mechanic and janitor for mybeerbuzz.com. Producer and Co-host of the WILK Friday BeerBuzz live weekly craft beer radio show. Small craft-brewer of the craft beer news sites and one-man-band with way too many instruments to play.

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Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Mike Mullin's "Ashfall"

Mike Mullin is the author of Ashfall, which was recently named one of the top 5 young adult novels of 2011 by NPR. He’s not much of a movie buff, however, so he invited Jenny at Forever Young Adult to dreamcast Ashfall:
In Ashfall, the super volcano in Yellowstone National Park erupts, bringing an end to the world as we know it. Not only is most of the continental U.S. covered in feet of ash, but food sources have been privatized and the general population has turned into thieving, murdering cannibals (you know, like they do). Alex stayed behind when his family headed across state lines to visit his uncle -- right before the eruption -- and now he's determined to make his way to them.

Alex is a reluctant hero, and Alex Esmail (as seen as "Pest" in Attack The Block) would be the perfect young actor to bring levity to the role while still being able to pull off the intensity the situation calls for. I think he'd also be pretty adorable in his attempts to romance Darla, who is a hard-ass genius hell-bent on survival. Whether she's tending to a nasty wound Alex sustained in a fight, or gutting rabbits, or grinding corn in a bicycle-powered mill, Darla's fierce power could be portrayed by no one but Saoirse Ronan (did you see Hanna?). She would be able to depict Darla's severity and vulnerability, while being the perfect foil to Esmail's charm.
Learn more about the book and author at Mike Mullin's website and blog.

Writers Read: Mike Mullin.

--Marshal Zeringue


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Whether you have lived in Florida for 10 or more years, or just recently moved into the state, it is obvious that we have something really special here. From the fabulous climate to the unique flora and even the alligators and panthers, Florida is like no other state in this nation.

However, it can take some getting used to.  85 degrees on Christmas and a growing season that starts in September and ends in May is not what most folks are used to having.  And we are still in the northern hemisphere! The very first State Fair in the country is held in Florida each year.  It happens in February!

There are also differences in homeownership in Florida, and that is what this website is all about.  The aim is to, over time, provide a single location to get any and all the information you will need to enjoy life to the fullest here, and especially on the Florida Gulfcoast.  From government and business website links to information on the unique homeownership aspects to the lawn & garden differences to the cultural events, we hope to have everything you need right here.

I am a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate and have lived here in the area since I was 16. I attended area schools, graduated from the University of South Florida, St Pete Campus and met and married my husband right here in Pinellas county.  While we have travelled extensively, all our residences have been right here in the Sunshine State, and most of the time here on the Gulfcoast.  I hope that you will take advantage of my skill and expertise for any question you might have about living and playing in Florida.

Call me! Let’s chat!

Everything you ever wanted to know about living in your Florida home! Written by Mary L Galea, LLC, a Realtor Associate of Coldwell Banker Residential Realty, LLC

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• 1-844-PET-ALERT
    (9AM thru 6PM PST)
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White Small Long Hair

  • Cat
  • Phoenix, AZ
  • Missing since Oct 8th
  • Sex: Female
  • Age: 15+ years

Declawed, small white long hair, never been outside before. NO collar. Ok with people when she is comfortable but will be scared.

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Last Seen

Location: 5303 E Calle Ventura, Phoenix, AZ 85018
Crossroads: Lafayette and 53rd in Arcadia


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• 1-844-PET-ALERT
    (9AM thru 6PM PST)
  • MyLostPetAlert Reviews - Facebook
  • MyLostPetAlert Reviews - SiteJabber
ID# 73546

Solid Black Chaweenie

  • Dog
  • Birmingham, AL
  • Missing since Oct 5th
  • Sex: Female
  • Age: 3-5 years

Skeeter is a Chihuahua/weenie dog mix, she is solid black, has short hair, and she responds to “Skeeter” she may bark at strangers but she doesn’t bite. She has been spayed so she has a green tattoo.

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Last Seen

Location: 2809 Center Point Pkwy, Birmingham, AL 35215


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There seem to be a rising wave of internet crimes lately. this has let to a lot of skeptism about whether people should really be involve in online business transactions.
The rising wave of sofisticatication made it difficult for people’s personal information from getting to them. Infact, a simple email from an unknown source is enoug to put you and your personal information at risk according to finance expert Liz Wetson. Even something as innocuous as a stolen e-mail address puts you at risk, because criminals can use it to better target their attacks. A scammer could send you a fake e-mail from your bank to trick you into handing over your account password according to Wetson.
Some times we need to be careful of the kind of data we supply these social networking sites.Hackers use such sides to steal people’s personal information.
Its up to us to try and protect ourselves from falling prey to these scammers.
For more information about internet security please log on to

About dariyan205

Am a simple guy with a passion for business and investment. A self employed Hero. I love helping people achieve their financial goals and objectives.
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Archive for January, 2016

Islam Today

Posted in Uncategorized on January 14, 2016 by bricko

Today, 6 plus billion people will arise in the morning and go about their day, a day that is everywhere eased and enriched by the discoveries of scientists as made concrete by engineers. And while a considerable minority of those worthy scientists and engineers profess islam as a faith, every one whose work makes life better for the human race is working outside of the Islamic world. Not one of the labor-saving, wealth-creating, suffering-destroying, and life-enriching technologies you will use today, whoever you are, was conceived and brought to market in that part of the world under any of the flags of mohammedanism.

It’s not so much that they’re opposed to modern civilization; increasingly, they’re irrelevant to it. Like a bad-seed child, they have no positive accomplishments and no attainments to point to; they are reduced to vandalism and crime to seek attention.


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Tag Archives: Marriage

Seven Years and Many More: Year 1

Marriage is this bizarre thing.  When I was younger, I always dreamt of finding “the one” and I’d follow that Godly man anywhere (so I said).  Back then, I also thought marriage was about happiness.  (Simeon told me it was about God and I told him he was nuts.)  I told God I wanted a preacher or a teacher, but was not interested in a military man.  You should have seen my face in college when Simeon announced he was seriously considering the military a couple of weeks before we started dating.  I was too embarrassed at the time to explain to him that he should stick around and date me, but did insist that he not leave just yet.

Wedding (317)

Marriage has been the death of me and yet has made me stronger in some areas too.  And I am serious.  There have been parts of marriage and raising a family that have been so painful that you wonder what the condition of your heart and soul look like and if this must be what death feels like.  People say marriage and family are “hard”, but that does not really prepare anyone for what hard looks like and how you seek God out to help you with that load.

Year One

Our first year of marriage, I had just graduated with my teaching degree in Chemistry, Earth Science, and General Science 5-12 and had even taken Spanish to help make me more desireable in the teaching field.  I had gone into college with the hopes of eventually obtaining a doctorate in education and moving into administration at the high school level.  My personality was pretty focused on achievement and I think I thought that was how you earned God’s love too.  I wasn’t “perfect”, but used to feel like I should strive to be and wondered why the heck most people did not want to do that.  (It’s exhausting for one.)  So with that process, the people closest to me would definitely get an earful of my opinions when I thought they were headed the wrong direction.  And my expectations…they were high for others, but just as high if not higher for me, so what was wrong with that?  Life had been difficult growing up having been through a couple of divorces as a kid and several moves and family drama every which way you can think of (seriously, like the ghetto kind).  So as an adult, I thought I could make a life for myself that was not so difficult and I could finally find joy and peace or calm seas.  I had an ideal life in my head and thought I had found the man who would help me live it.

The Big City – Okay, I was more of a small town girl.  Wichita seemed scary and humongous to me when we moved there.  The city seemed like a great place to move in order  to secure jobs.  Simeon transferred to Starbucks in Wichita where we rented a small, but nice 1 bedroom apartment.  June through August, I worked as a camp counselor, but could not get a teaching job for the fall.  Come to find out, the school district was in  a hiring freeze AND for some reason not a lot of other places want to hire someone with an overqualified resume to organize clothing.  I could not even get a substitute job, because they only hire during certain times of the year.  Student loans started sending bills 6 months after graduation.  Fun.

So I was stuck at home in an unknown city, uncertain of how to connect anywhere.  It was depressing.  My husband worked hard at Starbucks and came home with the hope of relaxing rather than getting out of the house.    We had been arguing over the summer, because I was gone all week except Friday nights through Sunday afternoon.   I discovered that my new husband did not like unpacking or organizing (and still does not).  The job of making home rested on me for a handful of Saturdays and then more when camp ended.  Simeon also did not enjoy doing homework to the point that there were some more failed classes.  We also found out one of us had a credit card spending problem, though later down the road we realized we BOTH had spending problems.

On Simeon’s end of marital life, he had married a woman who had been through a date rape whose LAST love language was intimacy.  Combine that with all of my frustrations towards him during that phase, you know there was not much going on.  The less going on in that department, the more Simeon felt rejected and unloved.  The more he brought it up, the more I felt pressured and didn’t want it.  Simeon gave me permission to also say that porn was a big addiction and issue for him during college and the first part of our marriage as well.  The rejection he felt from me, compounded that problem.  You can  guess how I felt about that.  What did I do with my time?  Job hunted, learned to crochet, and adopted a cat.

After a big argument over what to make for supper one night; I was sitting outside on some steps thinking that I had made a HUGE mistake in getting married.  I regretted it.  I also knew a lot of people struggle their first year.  It was the first time I realized I had anger problems.  Either way, I had made a promise and was going to stick through even if it was hell.  As a kid of divorce, I did not want any part of it for myself.  Both of us had agreed it would never be an option.

I sought help in the form of a mentor through a church we had just visited and started attending weekly studies in a small group.  I learned not to let excuses get in the way of attending that group too, because those ladies were that awesome (well, actually God working through them).  Simeon would beg me to go, because I came back in a better mood.  We started regularly going to church.  I was hired in December as a long-term substitute.  THAT was actually so hellacious that I began questioning whether I should be teaching at all.  The students had run off their teacher and several other subs and they were quite shocked when I kept returning.  Simeon was very supportive through that time.  Some good times included teaching the cat to fetch, discovering parks around Wichita, Renaissance Fest, and bike riding.  It was also a plus that we could go out to eat at so many different places and go on a date whenever we wanted.  Have you been to the Warren Theater?  It’s amazing. Also, Kinai’s is the BEST sushi place in town in my opinion.  In the spring, God moved fast.  Within a few days of each other, Simeon was hired as a children’s pastor at the church we were attending and I was hired as a Chemistry teacher at a local private school.  We then moved to a bigger, cheaper apartment and welcomed the summer.