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Wear Your Beads in Good Fortune!

Why I Design Only One

Why do I design one of a kind jewelry? Because I’m not designing for everybody. I’m designing just for you. I want you to have something that speaks to your heart, that allows you to feel really good about yourself and whatever you’re doing. I want to make the piece that gives you the extra confidence to make that presentation, sing that song, argue that brief; make that sale, get that promotion. I want them to be absolutely wowed by you. I want to make your “magic amulet”. I want to have your precious just ready and waiting. I want to create your valued treasure that you can wear and enjoy for years to come.

I knot between the beads because I want it to last. It’s always so sad when I hear that someone’s favorite necklace came apart, and all the beads scattered, and they couldn’t find all of them. That’s why I knot between the beads. Yes, strung art does wear and break. But you don’t want to lose your treasure.

So that’s why I do it. That’s why I guarantee my workmanship. And when the inevitable happens, I’m there to make it all better.

To that end I want to remind everyone that I am happy re-string your broken treasures. I can make better, stronger. I can find the right bead or centerpiece to refresh and renew your necklace, and let the song return to your heart. So don’t dispair. Email me today. I care. I’ll listen.Let me help. It’s what I do.

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Wear you beads in good fortune!

Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of Where?!

I’m beginning to think that it’s time for the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts to go away. When I was growing up during the 50′s and most of the 6′s, I was not allowed to join the Girls Scout troupe in my neighborhood. My parents were informed that there was a “colored” troupe I could “join” on the West Side of Chicago. However, that group was NOT allowed to participate in activities with the other troupes in the City. Besides, I lived walking distance from Lake Michigan. So, it was really too far to go across town. Furthermore, it was insulting and discriminatory.The same thing happened to my brothers with the Boy Scouts (of America?! my ass!).

My father thought socializing with children our age, learning about nature and learning crafts and camping skills were important, so were enrolled in both the local YMCA and also a neighboorhood club, that provided lots of activities for children during the summer. Neither association discriminated. All were welcome. Consequently, there were white, black, Asian and Hispanic children. And we all got along for the most part, if for no other reason than we all lived in the same neighborhood, and went to the same schools, public, private and parochial. We played outside together on the street.

The only time there was a problem was when there was the annual trip to the television show, Bozo’s Circus. All the non-white children were forced to remain on the bus, or stay home and not participate because Bozo didn’t want non-white children on his show. That didn’t change until the late 60′s, due to a court order. It was the same order that required that the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts integrate. By that time, it didn’t matter to us. However, I suppose it was good for the children that grew up later.

I became disgusted again with the Boy Scouts when their blatant hostility to homosexuals came to the fore during the 80′s and 90′s. Although I have supported the Girl Scouts over the years. The only reason I did was to support them was because I was supporting my neighbors and my friends children by purchasing cookies from them.

Today I have learned that the Girl Scout are considering having their uniforms manufactured in China! That would cause several hard-working AMERICAN workers to lose their jobs! The GSA claim they are “concerned about providing good value to their members”. Oh, please! If the almighty dollar is more important than instilling American and patriotic values, just disband now. Otherwise, it won’t be the Girl Scouts of America, will it? No, it will then be the Girl Scouts for China! It’s already the Boy Scouts Just the Ones We THINK Are Straight. What kind of values will be instilled in our children?! That money is the only thing of value! Some moral compass THAT is!

Stop Poisoning Our Children!

Children’s Jewelry Recalled Because of High Lead Content By JCK Staff Posted on September 23, 2010 D&D Distributing-Wholesale, Tacoma, Wash., is recalling children’s “mood ring” jewelry because of high lead content, according to a report in The Seattle Times. The jewelry was made in China, the report said.

Please, please stop poisoning our children!

Stop buying this crap!

Listen, everyone. China got the bright idea to substitute cadmium for lead. However, it’s just as toxic! Granted, it was because the US raised their regs and came down on China last year about this problem. However, you need to still be vigilant.

Stop buying ‘cheap jewelry” for your children. China is only concerned with China. It makes no difference to them if your kids get sick, because they already have YOUR DOLLARS!

Yes, I KNOW your daughters and their friends like it, it’s cute, and “everybody has one”. But I’m begging you, before you buy that trinket for your children, ask the store clerk or the manager about the country of origin for the product. If it’s packaged, read the damn package! If they cannot tell you, or will not tell you, DO NOT BUY IT.
Buy jewelry that’s stamped as sterling silver. Often you’ll see the symbol .925. ( Or buy gold.Yeah, I know it’s more expensive. ) And again, quiz the sales help. If everyone keeps up the pressure, the corporate honchos will learn to stop trying to make a fast buck at the expense of the safety and health of the American public.

Why Customer Service Means Respect

I recently made an online purchase. No big deal, done it before. However, what got my goat, was their attitude towards customer service. I placed the order and received the confirmation email. I didn't expect to receive the tracking number immediately, because I ordered over the weekend. Monday morning, I sent an email, requesting the UPS tracking number. Later in day received replay that request had been forwarded to shipping department. After two days, and no response, I called to request my tracking number. The person who answered the phone was polite enough. She indicated that the person who did the shipping was on the phone. Did I want to hold?

I assented. After ten minutes of listening to dreadful “on hold” music, I hung up. Upon calling back, and making the same request, I was tersely informed that the shipper was very busy. I indicated that I had been waiting for over two days for a reply to my question. She then got quite snippy with me, telling me that they were just “too busy”. I asked to speak with a manager. She then said she would take my name and number, and assured me the shipper would call as soon as possible. She also indicated that it had been shipped; so what was my problem? I reiterated that I wanted the tracking number. Period.

About three hours later, the shipper called and was obviously irritated that he had to deal with me. I had left with the person that took my phone number, along with my name, order number and phone number. Upon providing the same information, he indicated that he would have to take time to look it up, a major inconvenience for him as he was “so busy”.

At that point, I admit I became quite annoyed. He said it "just too much trouble, and took too much time, to notify customers of their tracking numbers". I gently pointed out that since he was using UPS online shipping, all he had to do was check the box to inform customer of their shipping details, which would automatically generate to email and send it to the customer. Some have to plan to receive deliveries. Further, as a business-owner who serviced online clients, I always sent my customers their detail information.

At that point, he informed me that he had been shipping for“almost a year”, and that “he knew what he was doing”. I told him that I would take that into consideration, the next time I needed that sort of product, his company offered and make another decision as to where I would shop in the future, because I was not happy with their customer service. No aplogy was forthcoming.He informed me that they had “the best customer service, and that I did not know what I was talking about”.It was more important to justify himself than appreciate his customer's needs!

Yes, red fire jumped out of my eyes. I have served my customers online for over ten years. I lose sleep thinking about how I can improve their online experience with me. Because I'm here and they're way over there, somewhere. I want them to feel like I am accessible, and considerate of their needs and wants. One of my main concerns as as online retail merchant is to provide as much assistance to my customers as I can. After all, they don't know me. They're making a selection on faith, trusting that I will not only provide them with a product exactly as described and seen (if not better), but also provide them with a pleasant experience, reinforcing their decision to trade with me, and by extension, their good judgment. To that end, I will confirm the order by email immediately, and thank them for their custom. When I ship their selection, I email the tracking number so that they know I take them seriously and have care for them.

I respect my customers. I know my customers are very busy. That's one of the reasons they shop online. They do not have time to call, sit on hold, or email repeatedly. Nor should they have to! I value their consideration. They are not simply marks, or suckers ripe for picking.

Customer service is all about respecting your clients. And, whether or not someone makes a purchase or not, I still consider them to be very important. Showing respect will also garner more business. The person you satisfy and positively reinforce, will trade with you again. They may not tell anyone else about their satisfaction. They may not even inform you that they're unhappy. You simply will never hear from them ever again. But I guarantee that if a customer is displeased, then all their friends will know about it. And you will have devalued your own product!


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Meditating on America: Ben and Now

Over the weekend I watched a re-run of a documentary about the inventions of Benjamin Franklin, and how his scientific way of thinking had influence on his approach to politics.. I've always admired him. I think he's the greatest American thinker. Ever. And one of the greatest minds humanity has ever turned out. I believe the secret of his creative genius was his use of reason. His analysis of form and function was amazing. By using the most basic of scientific principles of observing and accurately recording, he could arrive at the operational definition, thereby solving a problem (better heating) or answering a question (electricity).

Right now people are operating under the assumption that we live in a zero sum universe, either shrink, ing or fixed. That translates into if your make a penny that's bread of out my mouth. Meaning there are finite resources and therefore finite opportunities for survival.

Enter the concept of organizing: sharing and pooling resources for mutual gain. (We used to call it hunting and gathering) It's the ability to rationalize another's behavior is why we decided to organize first, for survival. That in turn changes perception where the sum of the parts is greater: out of many we are one. If that's true, i.e it works, and we survive and thrive, then the universe is expanding, neither fixed nor static.

How in the hell did we get from the reason and logic to superstition and fear in 200 years?! What the hell is the matter, here?! This is asinine.

History has clearly demonstrated that the universe is expanding. We're still here, aren't we? Therefore so our our possibilities. Just go back to figuring out the ways it can be done. WWBD

Letter to The First Lady on the Occasion of Her Visit to the Gulf States

Dear First Lady of the United States:

Thank you for planning to visit the third world part of the country. No doubt, while you are here, you will be shielded from the less savory parts, the sharecropper farms that still exist in Georgia and Alabama, the parts of Louisiana where there are regular daily power failures (Orleans parish). Bring a flashlight, and extra batteries.

Perhaps Ms. Sherrod will be available to sneak you away for a few hours, so that you can see how we really live down here. If you can slip the Secret Service, you will have the opportunity to experience what it's like to be a “person of color” in the South.( I know what I'm talking about. I am a black woman, who grew up in Chicago. I went to Lab School like your daughters. I'm college educated, and working only 10 hours a week). If you get caught, make sure you have your passport and White House credentials on you, or you could end up in jailed as a “street-walker”.

No doubt the satraps in charge will grovel obsequiously in your presence. remember however that behind your back they will be plotting ways to demean ad belittle any good work you will try to do. It'll be just like visiting South Africa in the 1960's. You will treated like an “honorary white person”. Make sure you are well-vaccinated. bring your mosquito repellent, first aide kit and malaria tablets. Do not drink the water. Do not get sick in Louisiana! If you do, fly home immediately. Health care in Louisiana is wholly inadequate, as in the entire South. Bobby Jindal, Richard Shelby and Haley Barbour have worked very long and diligently to keep us ill and unemployed, so we may be too weak to greet you if you come.

Enjoy your stay!