Thank you,

Brenda Kato

————

Dear friend,

I am proud to be a team leader for the Light the Night Walk.  I proud my
company, Garden City Group, supports this charity that is near and dear to
my heart.  Most of my friends know my daughter Madeleine is a Leukemia
cancer survivor, but I’m not sure anyone can appreciate how devastating this
cancer is to families when their loved ones are diagnosed.

I have included below a little bit about our  family experience, a story of
joy as we see Madeleine surviving and thriving.  Also included is a link to
a Youtube video that we did for Nemours Childrens Clinic that you may find
interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqWa9mFPi3o&feature=player_embedded

All-County girls basketball: Madeleine Roberts’ past made her stronger
Bartram player had to beat cancer before turning to basketball.

Madeleine Roberts

http://staugustine.com/sports/high-school/2010-04-17/making-her-stronger

Please use the link in this email to donate online quickly & securely.  You
will receive an email confirmation of your donation as soon as it is made. I
thank you in advance for your support which will make a difference in the
lives of thousands of patients battling blood cancers.

I really appreciate your generosity!!

http://pages.lightthenight.org/ncfl/Jacksonv11/brobert81b

Thank you,

Barry Roberts

P.S. Please forward this email to as many people as you can to encourage
them to donate as well!

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fineartamerica.com – unique visitors 800,020, referring sites 924, tags: art-on-demand, art-prints, art-prints-on-demand, canvas-prints, fine-art

Society6.com – unique visitors 69,709, referring sites 185, search terms 35

20×200.com – unique visitors 40,850, referring sites 97, tags:0

artoftheprint.com – unique visitors 17,295, referring sites 23, search terms 106, tags:0

artstar.com – unique visitors 3,162, referring sites 7, search terms 0, tags: 0

zatista.com – unique visitors 3102, referring sites 8, search terms 3

tinyshowcase.com – unique visitors 2.978, referring sites 10, search terms 2

circuitgallery.com – unique visitors 1,067, referring sites 3, search terms 0, tags 0

eyestorm.com – unique visitors 991, referring sites 0, search terms 0, tags: 0

theworkingproof.com – unique visitors 687, referring sites 3, search terms 4

aceditions.com – unique visitors 363, referring sites 1, tags:none

exhibitiona.com- too low for comparison

Let me know which sites you like best and why please.

Go after the real terrorist and threat to humans and all living things, Monsanto. Don’t know what I’m talking about? Read up on Aspartame, NutraSweet, Round Up, Genetically Modified Organisms, truth in labeling, radiated produce, Splenda, MSG, high fructose corn syrup aka corn sugar.  Watch Food Inc. on YouTube for free.

In 2009 I shopped again I found a policy (not saying it is a good policy) for 250 per month. I believe the drop in premium was because of the threat of a single payer system. It’s funny how (R) people claim they are in favor of a free market except when their corporate tax code perks and big business welfare are taken away. Bailouts are OK for big banks, big oil, big insurance but fuck the people who can’t find jobs now that Wall Street and Uncle Scam screwed up the economy.

The only problem with starving the poor is that there are more poor than rich and those gated communities wont protect the rich forever. Especially as the middle class starts to become poor. What will happen when the middle class can’t afford the drugs that keep them sedated, apathetic and non voting?

Liberals caught a break in the 2000′s with the NFL coming to town. Progress has been made in the arts scene by very determined people but no liberal political power has been gained. Step outside of the small liberal bubble we have created for ourselves in Riverside and the arts scene the reality brick strikes hard as you travel back in time to the 50′s where conservatives live in their heads and in gated communities, country clubs and church groups. The liberals in this town fail to mount any alternative attack because why? I guess it comes down to money and leadership. You tell me. When do you want to mobilize to represent the working class, and the arts? When will we demand clean elections and retire pay to play politics? I’m  ready now.

The downside to CafePress was that the base price for each item was so high, even charging 5 dollars over the base price for an item made it expensive. The base price is how much it cost for the single blank item without your design. I realize that one-offs are always more expensive to produce but I think they could lower their base prices. The second part I did not like was the quality of the t-shirt printing. This may have changed in the past few years but in 2008 they were using the iron-on printing for the graphics. This technique does not hold up in the wash, it fades and cracks and peals off.

I have recently joined and plan to order some products from some of the new places below to see if their quality is better. If you have ordered from any of theses sites pleas let me know what your experience is.

http://www.zazzle.com/ (not a member yet)

http://www.society6.com (new member, this site is free to join)

http://www.fineartamerica.com (love this site but it cost 30 per year to join)

The best place to sell handmade original items still remains Etsy.com and Fine Art America. Fine Art America cost much less than Etsy but has less traffic. Etsy has 6,992,268 unique visitors a month and Fine Art America has 530,395.

Jacksonville’s problem is the same as any small rural town in America, young people with talent have to leave to find work.

Jacksonville’s population consist of large groups of people who have zero vested interest in improving the culture or nightlife of Jacksonville. Let me explain.

First are the “transients” in the Military and here for a few years. These people do not invest in property, attend PTA/school board meetings or bother with local politics because they know they will soon move. One good thing is that I have always been able to buy a washer and dryer for about 150 bucks when they leave. They don’t buy expensive furniture or invest in art because they don’t want to take it with them. If they came from a city with more culture they can’t wait to get back to it. If they came from a smaller town they think it’s too big and does not offer much more than their small town and they move home or out to the suburbs.

“Country locals”, the people born and raised here that have never traveled outside of Florida, I call them the “Don’t know that they don’t know and don’t care”,”Dukes of Hazard”, “Go Gators” types. These people cook great barb-q and are fun to tailgate with but have no knowledge or interest in the arts past music that is played on the radio. They love college football even though many never attended college. They are slow to adapt to technology and could care less about fashion.

“Church people”, not just FBC are not bad people. For the most part they are trying to raise their children with morals and values. Unfortunately, they do not value the arts beyond Christian Praise performance, church theater and family friendly content. These people have no interest in “night life” beyond a good restaurant and football celebration. Drinking in bars is discouraged. They are “Focused on the Family” and do what their church leaders tell them is the right thing. I believe this group has been completely misled by our politicians by claiming to be Christian and Pro Life. Having read the Bible, I do not understand how the teachings of Jesus and corporate greed, abuse of our natural and human resources became aligned. However, this group has bought the Republican Party line hook line and sinker, mostly sinker. They listen to Rush Limbaugh and the like.

“Country Club” people have some money that they spend on their large house, big cars/trucks, food, clothes, and sports. They may attend church but more for networking and have no issue with drinking when it comes to sports or sports bars. They are more adept to technology but follow the mainstream media’s or consumers reports guides to buying. They do purchase expensive homes and furnishings but tend to take art advise from showroom designers on what will match the couch.

Imagination Squared showed us again that we are overflowing with artistic talent. We have even more musical talent. How do we get our local population to support the arts?

How do we reach the “transients” the “country locals” the “church people” the “country clubers”? Teaching art in k-12 school would be a start. Having more cultural events like Art Walk, RAM, and our art museums. Maybe we need to go to their churches and do a presentation on local arts. Maybe we need to get the Jaguars to support the arts and mention our events during the game. Maybe we need to contact the bases and have our events added to their welcome packages. Maybe we have to come together and support the artist we know that are having shows. Maybe we need to create art exchange relationships with larger cities.