The Poetry Of Marketing

Our home was warm in the shade of the trees or when the sun was not upon it.

It was built on the side of a hill, near a lake where spirits could be free.

On the warm porch - hummingbirds watched, from branches where they sit, and the cat and the dog lay sunning, as we read - nestled very closely.

It was made of dark wood and of brick, had green shutters and was designed by our father: as a place to come to rest after a day, a week, or as a refuge throughout the years.

It was a place - tranquil and safe, warm and friendly - quite unlike any other.

It was a place for exploring - the woods, the lake, and yes … our inner fears.

We welcomed friends unto this place. We called out: come one - come all, and many hours were spent talking, playing cards, or simply sitting by the fire.

We conversed many times, learning of each other, telling our tales, which then seamed tall.

From life’s struggles, which then seamed unreal, we learned to fight … and to never tire.

It is there we learned to dream our dreams, and that with work, anything could be done.

We tried out many things, as we grew - trying desperately, to discover who we should be.

It is there we learned to love, to win a heart … and how our heart could be won, and slowly there emerged, a person strongly formed, from deep inside … which was free.

And if we closely listen now - even though we are many miles, and many years away -

We can see ourselves sitting by the fire, with family, with friends … or late at night - all alone.

We can see this place we can hear the voices, and listen to their conversations as they say:

“Feel the sun, and the soft wind blow. Hear the trees … as they whisper soft secrets of — Our Home.”

Tom Knutson MN:: 1995 top 3% nationwide poetry contest

1998 top 2% nationwide poetry contest
1999 Mists of Enchantment, Library of Congress
1999 Best poets of the 1990s, Library of Congress

2000 National and International acclaim
2000 Mobius Poetry Magazine, Thanksgiving issue
2001 Songs put to music POP, Country, Blues
2002 National and International acclaim
2003 Today’s Woman Magazine poet of choice
2004 Two Editor’s Choice awards
2005 Mobius Poetry Magazine, Spring Issue: email@tko-usa.com

Is poetry too complicated for the average reader? Is it too cryptic, scholarly? If you ask a large group of average people what they like or don’t like about poetry, you’ll get a few different answers, but there is an overwhelmingly common category of responses.

One of the main reasons that people say they aren’t addicted to contemporary poetry is that they feel it is too cryptic. The language, they say, isn’t tangible. Despite the fact that there are a great many contemporary poets out there writing and performing poetry that appeals to the non-cryptic taste of many would-be enthusiasts, this poetry isn’t highly visible in the popular media.

The second reason that some people say they aren’t interested in poetry is that their idea of poetry is based on the old classical stuff they were forced to read in high school. Who can relate to ‘thee’ and ‘thou?’ People feel that poetry is an abstract language that has very little relevancy to the modern world.

So, what is out there, and why don’t people bother with it? The answer is that, for a very long time, poetry has been seen as a literary playground directed toward other players. Publishers recognize that poetry doesn’t sell very well, and so, they are apprehensive about publishing a great many books of poetry. The problem, though, is that while there may or may not be a market for poetry, no one really knows for sure. In short, no one is making an effort to shove it into mainstream media.

Perhaps if people knew the kinds of poems being talked about in the literary circle by poets such as Ted Kooser, Louise Gluck, or many of the other poets (yes, there are poets who are still living, thank you), then maybe the people would be a little more apt to purchase a book or two of poetry.

What Can You Do to Help Popularize Poetry?

Devrie Paradowski is a freelance writer and poet. She is serious about getting poetry into popular culture. She recently published a book of poetry, “A Ray Squeezed Through,” in an effort to promote her new literary journal, “LE Quarterly.” Her book can be found on Amazon.com, and at http://www.Lulu.com/devrie . Visit the literary journal at http://www.literaryescape.com/journal

Because electrical lighting consumes nearly 15% of a household’s electricity use, you may wish to learn about some energy efficient lighting alternatives. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are one you should consider.

Their design blends the energy efficiency of fluorescent lighting with the convenience and interchangeability of incandescent fixtures. CFLs will fit nearly any fixture designed for an incandescent bulb.

CFLs can replace incandescent lights approximately 3-4 times their wattage, which means you can save up to 75% of the lighting energy. Although CFLs cost 10-20 times more than comparable incandescent bulbs, they last 10-15 times as long. In other words, over the long term you save lots of money by paying more up front.

Compact fluorescent lamps work a lot like regular fluorescent lamps. They’re comprised of two parts: a magnetic or electronic ballast, and a gas-filled tube. The gas inside the tube glows with ultraviolet light when electricity from the ballast runs through it. This in turn triggers a white phosphor coating on the inside of the tube, emitting visible light all the way through the surface of the tube.

The type of compact fluorescent lamps which use magnetic ballasts flicker when they start, like regular fluorescents do. They also weigh more than CFL’s with electronic ballasts, which may make them too heavy for some light fixtures. Electronic ballasts are more expensive, but light immediately. They are also more efficient than magnetic ballasts. Most currently available CFLs have electronic ballasts. Because compact fluorescent lamps are designed to operate within certain temperature ranges, temperatures outside the range cause reduced light output. A CFL’s temperature range can found printed on most lamp packages. Although there are models offered for outdoor use, most are for indoor applications. You can install outdoor CFLs in enclosed fixtures to reduce the effects of colder temperatures and wind chill.

This type of lighting is at its most cost effective in areas where lights are left on for long periods of time. In locations where lights are turned on for short periods of time, such as in closets and pantries, an incandescent bulb may be a better choice. Since compact fluorescent lamps do not need to be changed often, they are perfect for hard-to-reach areas like ceiling fixtures.

Try out a CFL for a test run and see how much energy you save.

Storm Rising along the Lima Coast

[Summer of 2002]

…wind was blowing furiously

It never left for a moment

Bursts of fury

I found it difficult to keep

My feet placed, thus,

I clung to my knees

For one blissful moment

I could not now disguise it

From myself

Some subtle feeling

Manifested itself

Then the current drew

Sharply away from me

With her mystery

Back out into the open sea

Yet, still it roared back at me!

It was an expressed release

It made my head swim

I noticed it keptstep

With my exultation!…

#761 7/14/2005

Notes: There are mysteries to the sea, at times it seems as to have its own mind, its own character; as if nature was plugged into all that exist. Earth itself being an entity with its own lively soul. We all seem to be somehow connected do we not, to the sea, to its ghosts that live within it; to the earth that holds it, and its atmosphere about us that seems to a balance between man, nature and space. Even the moon has its duties to the earth, and man, to protect us from harmful elements. Who gave them such a command? Someday it wall all fly into space, the oceans and all, and earth knows it, and wants to share with usas it is part of usits accommodating mystery, while time lasts.

Dennis Siluk’s new book, “Spell of the Andes,” is now available at your internet books stores; http://www.amazon.com and http://www.bn.com; he live is Minnisota and Peru with his wife Rosa.

Before a buyer considers your home seriously, it must meet his needs in many ways. It must be a suitable neighborhood, commuting distance, size, layout, etc. If most of these needs are met, the buyer will move toward making an offer for your home. The purchase decision is an emotional and intellectual response, based on a level of trust in your home. So, it is logical that in preparing your home for sale your goal should be to enable the buyer to build trust in your home as quickly as possible. Your first step should be to address apparent and hidden repair issues.

Make a Complete List

Keep in mind that potential buyers and their real estate agents do not have the fond personal memories and familiarity that you have with your home. They will view it with a critical and discerning eye. Anticipate their concerns before they ever see your home. You may look at the leaky faucet and think of a $10 part at Home Depot. To a buyer this is a $100 plumbing bill. Walk through each room and consider how buyers are going to react to what they see. Make a complete list of all needed repairs. It will be more efficient to have them all done at once. Use a handyman to fix the items quickly. If your house is a fixer-upper, keep in mind that most buyers will expect to make a profit that is substantially above the cost of labor and materials. When a house needs obvious repairs, buyers will assume that there are more problems than meet the eye. Take care of repairs before marketing your home. Your home will sell faster and for a higher price. Get an Inspection

It is a good idea to have your home inspected by a professional before putting it on the market. Your may discover some issues that will come up later on the buyer’s inspection report. You will be able to address the items on your own time, without the involvement of a prospective buyer. You do not have to repair every item that is written up. For example, due to building code changes, you may not meet code for handrail height, spacing between balusters, stair dimensions, single glazed windows, and other items. You may choose to leave items such as these as they are. Just note on the inspection report which items you have repaired, and which are left as is. Attach the report to your Seller’s Disclosure, along with any repair receipts that you have. A professional inspection answers buyers questions early, reduces re-negotiations after contract, and creates a higher level of trust in your home.

Offer a Service Contract

A home service contract may be offered to the buyer for their first year of ownership. For a fee of about $350 a third party warranty company will provide repair services for certain systems or components in the house for one year after the sale. These policies help to reduce the number of disputes about the condition of the property after the sale. They protect the interests of both buyer and seller.

Should You Remodel?

Our clients often ask if they should remodel their house before marketing. I believe the answer to this is no - major improvements do not make sense just before selling a home. Studies show that remodeling projects do not return 100% of their cost in the sales price. Normally, it does not pay to replace cabinets, re-do kitchens, upgrade bathrooms, or add space prior to selling. There is a fine line between remodeling and making repairs. You will need to draw this line as you review your home.

Repair Decisions

Countertops are outdated: If other components of the house are up to date, the kitchen may be greatly improved by new, modern countertops. Although this is an upgrade, not a repair, it may be worth doing because the kitchen has a significant impact on the value of your home.

Carpet is worn or outdated: Carpet replacement almost always worth doing. Sellers often ask if they should offer an allowance for carpet, and let the buyer choose. Do not take this approach. Choose a neutral shade, and make the change yourself. New carpet makes everything in the house look better.

Wall texture is poor: You may have an outdated texture style or acoustic ceiling. In most cases, it does not make sense to strip and re-texture the walls. Just repair any wall damage or minor texture problems.

Walls need paint: This is a must do! Freshly painted walls greatly improve the perception of your home. Don’t forget the baseboards and trim. Use neutral colors, such as cream, sage green, beige/yellow, or gray/blue. Stark white, primary colors and dark colors do not appeal to a wide market, and may be a negative factor.

Bathroom caulking is dirty: Put this on the must do list. Cracked or stained caulking is a turn-off to buyers. It is easily replaced. Make sure the tile grout does not have voids.

Drainage or leak problems: Address any drainage issues or leaks in plumbing or roof. Use professional help to correct the source of the problem and check for mold. Fully disclose the repair on your sellers disclosure, but avoid giving a personal guarantee of the repair.

Structural and trim repairs: Fix any sheetrock holes, damaged trim, torn vinyl, broken windows, rotten wood or rusty fixtures. Homes sell for more that show a reasonable level of maintenance.

Overgrown shrubs and weedy beds: Repairs to the yard are some of the most cost effective changes you can make. Mow and edge the lawn. Add inexpensive mulch to flower beds. Cut back any shrubs that cover windows. Trim tree branches that rub against the roof. Buy new doormats. Replace dead plants. Remove any trash.

Check HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems: These systems need routine maintenance. Have the heat/AC system serviced and filters changed. Check for plumbing leaks, toilets that rock, corroded water heater valves, and other plumbing problems. Replace burned out bulbs and electrical fixtures that do not work. Check your sprinkler system and pool equipment for problems.

Make Needed Repairs

If you are planning to sell your home, your first step should be to discover and make needed repairs. By making repairs you will answer buyers questions early, build trust in your home more quickly, and proceed through the closing process with fewer surprises. Your home will appeal to more buyers, sell faster, and bring a higher price.

Producing a video for your company can be an exciting and potentially stressful experience. There’s more to it than simply assigning a video production company to the task and crossing your fingers.

To get the most from your video production dollars, we’ll take a look at seven top tips for making your corporate video a success.

1. Start with Results. The first step is to work out exactly what you want your video to achieve. Is it to train staff on a new procedure or is to increase interest at trade shows? Design your video concept around the desired result. Often clients get caught up with showing off their company that the main message gets lost.

2. Write a brief. Once you know what you want to achieve, work out what you want to show and explain in your video. Formulate a brief that specifies your objectives, target audience, the countries your video will be viewed in and any required languages. A list of all the shots that you need is also helpful. Will the bulk of the shots be at your premises and do you need your CEO to talk to camera? Video production companies will try to calculate how many days filming are required to work out the cost, so it’s important to know how much needs to be filmed at the outset.

3. Know your image. What sort of image do you want to present to your customers? While watching your corporate video, your customers will be left with an impression of what type of business you are and what to expect when doing business with you. If your television program happens to be radically down-market than your up-market product suggests, then you create cognitive dissonance in your prospects. This will mean that your viewers will be left with an uneasy feeling that something isn’t quite right with your company and will automatically distrust your message. To avoid this, make sure the quality of production reflects the quality of your product/service. This can involve using a professional camera operator with broadcast quality gear to having a graphic artist design maps and titles.

4. Messages. One of the key areas to work out is what communication messages you need to get across. Work out the 4-6 key messages and develop the video around these. If you have too many messages people will tune out. Essentially, make sure you give information that your audience wants to know (not what you think they ought to know).

5. Script. The script provides the backbone to any video project. It’s always worthwhile spending extra time refining the script. As a rule of thumb, it needs to be completed before any filming begins. The best kind of script is short and sharp and revolves around your main messages. The quicker you can get your message across, the better the result. Avoid putting everything into the script, as wall to wall voiceover is quite tiring (and boring) to watch.

6. Assign a contact person. A designated person from your firm will need to be available to work with the video production company. The production house will need script information and approval, help in organising shoots, copies of your logo and other relevant materials and someone to view a draft of the video and then finalise. This person will also need to make sure that the look and feel of the video best represents your company.

7. Get expert advice. A good production company will be able to advise you on the best format for your needs such as the music, the filming, editing style and how the schedule will run. They will also be able to take your brief and come back with a range of suitable suggestions. Don’t stress about the technical issues. That’s the job of your producer.

(c) Marie-Claire Ross 2005. All rights reserved.

Marie-Claire Ross is one of the partners of Digicast. Digicast works with organisations who are not satisfied that their marketing and training materials are helping their business grow. She can be contacted at mc@digicast.com.au. The website is at http://www.digicast.com.au

With the hippest new clothing designers for Autumn 2009 landing from around the fashion world each day on the fashion online website and in the stores, there’s lots of fabulous new handbags to desire. Let fashion store Matches introduce our coolest new designers and our brand new favourite bags and shoes of the season, here is the designer names to know right now. There’s a magnificent buzz all around jewellery creator Alex Monroe’s pieces, not least for the reason that they are the nicest neck wear around but because they are embellished with cute bumble bees and almost singing birds. London’s amazing designer Christopher Kane has yet again designed the most superb piece of the Autumn 2009 season. This time it’s Christopher’s gorilla print tee for guys and girls that has fashion store Matches very excited. Also, designer store Matches have the superb Clements Ribero back, designer clothing store Matches were first in line to snap up their Spring 2009 collection of deliciously soft cardigans with beautifully lush embellishments.

Matches are now stocking the all new and really unique necklaces and bangles by fabulous designer Hannah Martin. Jewels that are a little bit mysterious, a little bit decadent and drastically sexy. Matches bring you direct from an airy loft apartment in New York City- Haute Hippy, the brand explains it all. The finest of both worlds combine for a wonderfully vintage inspired, fabulously made pieces that are glamorous, sexy and extraordinarily cool. And now for the two J males, Julian David and the fashion designer Julien McDonald. With highly soft, feather-light scarves in a host of patterns Julian David is the accessory designer to watch and get prepared to party in Julien MacDonald’s outstanding dresses.

Be completely smitten by the most recent collection to hit the high fashion stores, it is London based label Loha Vete by Max Zubari. These designer items are love-worn t shirts embellished with Zubari’s own personal slogans about life, love and relationships and everything in between. Show your heart on your sleeve and make ordinary clothing a statement. Stay up to date with all the latest Stella McCartney fashion styles.

Be sure to check out the designer store Matches online website for more information about these trendy new fashion forward designers, the most current must haves and the inside scoop about all things fashion and designer on Matches daily blog.

Despite being hidden away from other rooms in the flat, the bedroom is a vital place to spend quality time relaxing and sleeping. For this reason it is incredibly beneficial to buy first-class furniture & accessories to make your bedroom a more peaceful liveable area.

The most necessary bit of furniture in a bedroom is undeniably the bed itself. Beds come in an abundance of different sizes and forms. For starters, beds can be attained as a single, double, king-size or super king-size.

While size is a vital aspect, the actual style of bed you pick will also make a big difference in how your bed is utilised. If you are restricted by available room, acquire a cabin bed or storage bed as these have well-situated storage drawers underneath.

If you take pleasure in having friends over regularly choose a guest bed that meets your exact needs. A guest bed has a supplementary pull out mattress underneath. You can also get a folding bed for guests, as this bed is small & lightweight, which offers easy manoeuvring.

If you are restricted on available bedroom space for your friends & family, then it is suggested to acquire a sofa bed. Sofa beds look exactly like sofas and can be coordinated to your family room decor, but also convert into a relaxing sleeping option for friends.

To get the most pleasure and resilience out of your bed, you will indeed need to select a mattress. There is a broad range of mattresses to elect from recently, with one of the most fashionable styles around being a Memory Foam mattress. The value of a Memory Foam mattress over other mattresses is that it moulds to the position of your specific body for added comfort & support.

When obtaining a new mattress, check that it’s the precise size as your existing bed. An example, a single bed will only take a single mattress, whilst a double bed uses a double mattress. Find a vast selection home products including; bedroom furniture, duvet covers and office furniture from leading brands online.

To complete your bed off, select a duvet cover that is comparable to your existing décor. Not only do duvet covers come in a large mixture of finishes & colours, but they can very easily be created with green materials. Best of all, duvets are both light & simply to wash down.

Another valuable piece of bedroom furniture you should own is a chest of drawers. A chest of drawers can store a lot of your clothing, and can with no trouble at all be matched with other bedroom furniture you may own.

The bedroom is a place where you can unwind after a hectic day. The room should offer a person complete relaxation. The bed plays a huge part in providing the required relaxation after a good day’s work. But often you find that people are not happy with their sleep, look tired or have back pain in the morning. This is sometimes due to improper posture while sleeping and mostly due to the usage of beds that do not provide proper support to the back. This in turn hampers sleep.

The Bragada mattresses are one of the best in the world today according to many and they aid sleep. These mattresses are approved by the Orthopedic Research Institute and provide very good comfort. The Bragada mattress is famous now through out the world.

If you have bought a mattress recently and feel that you have missed out on an opportunity to buy the Bragada mattress you can always buy the Bragada Memory Foam topper and put it on top of your present mattress. You will be getting all the benefits of a Bragada mattress. The prices are very reasonable and you can buy online as well. There are many websites selling these mattresses.

With the brilliant sunny months close approaching you can find a lot of theatre shows at the spectacular west end Theatreland. The most eagerly anticipated musical show to open is Sister Act, this musical show is directed by the amazing Whoopi Goldberg. The musical is based on the famous movies and features a brand new cast and a whole host of new religious pop songs to sing along to. The show has already premiered to the theatre journalists and had outstanding feedback. The very best coming from The Telegraph and The Evening Standard, both who mentioned how good the musical production had been put together and how excellent the songs were. This production sounds like a huge hit and a show that you must watch.

Another brilliant show to premiere this Summer up in Theatreland is another film adaptation, Priscilla. It has Oz telly soap star Jason Donavan as the leading star and sees Jason Donavan dress up in the campest costumes ever seen on the West End. The songs again are catchy and upbeat. This show is a definite popular hit and a musical that is sure to capture the heart of Londoners and London tourists. If you enjoy London’s West End, then find London theatre tickets at knock down prices online.

From time to time there are certain shows that stand the test of time. One of the most popular musical shows is Phantom of the Opera. This musical draws in the crowds month after month and is one of the most popular musicals in the capital. The musical production has been running for over fifteen years. The theatre production is based upon a French novel and was written by the well known play writer Andrew Lloyd Webber. The production is about a young lady who’s father dies suddenly and sends her an angel from heaven to look after her. The angel falls in love with the woman and things turn ugly with the angel threatening the young girls childhood sweatheart.