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[Homestead] Strive for friends and solutions

From: Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>
To: Homestead <homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: [Homestead] Strive for friends and solutions
Date: Sun, 23 Mar 2008 08:36:05 -0700

Many of us resist being drawn into dead-end political discussions, experience a moment of weakness or remorse, and away we go again. Political angst is endless and conditions easily judged hopeless. But how can we hope for improvement if we do not engage? How will we improve if we cannot rise above mere criticism and fight for our solutions?

I find this worth thinking about from time to time:

I Am A Beautiful Old Person
by Eleanor Roosevelt
Many people will walk in and out of your life,
But only true friends will leave
footprints in your heart.
To handle yourself, use your head;
To handle others, use your heart.
Anger is only one letter short of danger.
If someone betrays you once, it is their fault;
If they betray you twice, it is your fault.
Great minds discuss ideas;
Average minds discuss events;
Small minds discuss people.
He who loses money, loses much;
He who loses a friend, loses much more;
He who loses faith, loses all
Beautiful young people are accidents of nature,
But beautiful old people are works of art.
Learn from the mistakes of others.
You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.
Friends, you and me....
You brought another friend....
And then there were 3....
We started our group....
Our circle of friends....
And like that circle....
There is no beginning or end....
Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is mystery.
Today is a gift.

From genegerue AT ruralize.com Sun Mar 23 12:52:18 2008

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From: Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>
To: Homestead <homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org>
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Subject: [Homestead] Book review strategy
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I am trying to figure out how to become a good enough book reviewer that I can persuade publishers to send me advance copies in those subjects of my interest. When I get lucky and publish the first review of a book on Amazon I get lots of attention and it helps with my standing, credibility and exposure. But when I do not find out about a book until others have already posted reviews, I wonder if my time is wasted.

So I am trying to figure how to get better positioning on Amazon even though I am late. You can help. Go to my just-posted review of Barbara Kingsolver's book: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle on Amazon.com. My review is on page 17 of the 22 pages of reviews. This should get you there:

http://www.amazon.com/review/product/0060852550/ref=cm_cr_pr_link_17?%5Fencoding=UTF8&pageNumber=17

At least they put me at the top of the five pages of reviews written earlier. At the end of my review, if your conscience allows, please check the box that says it was useful. I hope to get many people to do this and then see what happens to the position, if anything.

What is your take on all this?

From lisakvperry AT gmail.com Sun Mar 23 14:11:47 2008

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Date: Sun, 23 Mar 2008 14:11:45 -0400
From: "Lisa K.V. Perry" <lisakvperry AT gmail.com>
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Subject: Re: [Homestead] Book review strategy
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On Sun, Mar 23, 2008 at 12:52 PM, Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com> wrote:

At the end of my review, if your conscience allows, please
check the box that says it was useful. I hope to get many people to do
this and then see what happens to the position, if anything.

What is your take on all this?

I've always enjoyed your reviews.

I like that you ask for my 'vote' (or rather, the Homestead members'), in a
polite way and add 'if your conscience allows,' which isn't all out begging
and leaves wiggle room. I'm happy to 'vote' in a positive way for your
well-written review.

Won't name names, but my husband's sister (who is married and took her
husband's name) authored her first book w/ Writer's Digest. Ever since, we
are occasionally solicited to similarly help her, only she doesn't ask as
politely. She says (in so many words), "here's the link, please click on it
to make my newsletter rank higher in this contest, or, please vote for me to
be best this or that." It's sent to a big friends & family list.

That sort of thing turns my husband's stomach (and it's his sister) and
mine. We usually do not 'vote' but it seems to work for her, she'll announce
later in another email that she moved up or won something. And the situation
is repeated a few months later. She's always been that way, we don't get it
but she apparently has mastered 'manifesting'. My not 'getting it' probably
explains why I don't fully understand the 'manifesting' thing. But I'm also
a self-proclaimed 'late bloomer,' so my turn is coming.

Perhaps if she asked the way you did, I'd feel better about it. To me,
manners mean a great deal.

I guess it's how the world works, to ask for help from the universe of
others to get ahead. It's not that we've never asked for help (speaking also
for my husband), but not in the same way. Repeatedly. Guess we're more
go-it-alone or make-your-own- success kind of people, which might also
explain why it takes longer. Though success is defined on many levels (and
we have plenty), but that's another essay.

Happy Easter.

Lisa

...the first outdoor Easter egg hunt was held this year and the Border
Collies ate three eggs before the hunt began.........

[Homestead] Strive for friends and solutions, Gene GeRue, 03/23/2008
- Re: [Homestead] Strive for friends and solutions, Lisa K.V. Perry, 03/23/2008