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CreateSpace eStore is Closing Effective October 31, 2017
Big changes ahead for those who use CreateSpace….
Image from ShutterStock.
CREATESPACE ESTORE IS CLOSING
Beginning October 31, 2017, customers will no longer be able to purchase paperbacks directly from the CreateSpace eStore.
If you have a link to your CreateSpace eStore and a customer clicks on it, the customer will be redirected to the corresponding page at Amazon.com.
According to CreateSpace, the reasons behind the change include:
- It’s much easier to search for books across Amazon’s site than it is to search for books on CreateSpace.
- Amazon offers a much better checkout process than CreateSpace does.
- Amazon offers better shipping options, including Amazon Prime.
- Amazon sends out tracking notifications for orders placed through Amazon.
- Amazon’s storefront is a much more familiar interface for customers.
- Several customers have requested the features described above.
Unfortunately, when a customer clicks on a link to a CreateSpace eStore and is redirected to Amazon, authors will earn Amazon.com royalties (not eStore…
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LIFE TIDES
I shut my eyes, and I’m free
To really see
To really, really be
Some things we just can’t flee
Like waves of trouble all about
Like time that passes, passes by
I ask you why, oh why
So it does from the start
True love shores up the heart
A love you can not see
But dares to really, really be
You can’t see hope
But it’s there, yes it’s there
Hanging as if a rope
Walk with me these sands of life
Promise they won’t all be sands of strife
To live, to die, they say is gain
You’ll be there in that rain of pain
And when I shut my eyes tonight
Surely all will be alright
Stay by my side
And I’ll get through this dark, dark tide
Now in this sand I’ll hold your hand
The waves may scream my name
But I know who wins this game
The sun will shine
And yes, you’ll see, I’ll be just fine
SEEDS TO GROW
You planted me here so many years ago
Tired and worn out
Must be my time to go
I spread my branches toward your sky
Never once questioning why
The days, they pass
As do the nights
Now ending with a heavy sigh
And, when I was nowhere in sight
You’re the one that planned each day and night
You poured me full cups of sunshine, pelted me with wet rain from above
And fed me from treasures below
Oh, how can it be so
Tired and worn out
Must be my time to go
Tender branches once warmed by summer winds of long ago
Yes, my dark, dark winter is here
The falling leaves of death are oh so near
Come home you say
Your job is done today
For you planted seeds to grow
And they’ll forever stay
Don’t you know
No Less No More
It’s a funny thing sometimes what people will put on tombstones!
Building Presidential Consensus
Twenty-four years ago I had written a few letters concerning some of the issues of the day to our new President at the time – Bill Clinton. I actually received a letter back from him. I guess he got tired of all of my letters. It was kind of him to actually acknowledge my concerns.
His first few months of office were very busy after being inaugurated as the 42nd President of the United States on January 20, 1993 three months prior to the time I wrote my letter to him.
On January 25, 1993 Bill Clinton announced that Hillary Clinton would lead the task force on National Health Care Reform. The President hoped to reform the National Health Care system so that all Americans had health insurance. It would ensure what he called “Universal Coverage” which would hopefully control health care costs which were continuing to rise out of control.
On February 5, 1993 President Bill Clinton signed the Family Medical Leave Act that requires companies to provide workers with up to 3 months of unpaid leave for family and medical emergencies.
Then on January 26, 1993, six people were killed and more than one thousand suffered from injuries after a bomb was placed under the World Trade Center in New York City. This explosion marked the beginning of threats against the United States by both domestic and foreign terrorists. Who could foretell the dark days ahead relating to terrorism?
April 19, 1993 the day my letter was postmarked – In Waco, Texas Federal Law officers under the orders of Attorney General – Janet Reno fought a 51 day stand-off with a religious cult led by David Koresh. The battles resulted in terrible fires that destroyed the cults compound and killed 75 people.
Our country faces issues today, just like we did during Bill Clinton’s presidency 24 years ago. Although there are many things I did not agree with President Bill Clinton on, I can agree that we need to have a consensus to work together as a country and a people. After all, we are all in it together and we need each other.
Peach Cobbler Capital of the World
I was in the “Peach Cobbler Capital” of the world today believe it or not. Yes it’s true, I was in the small town of Porter, Oklahoma with a population of 574 people today to take care of some personal business. There is not a whole lot of town in Porter as you can see from the photo here.
Porter is located in the northeastern part of Oklahoma and is also the “Peach Capital” of Oklahoma as well. Every year for the past 50 years Porter has hosted their annual “Peach Festival” on the streets of downtown Porter.
On July 16th of this past year during the Peach Festival, Porter, Oklahoma set a new world record for the largest peach cobbler in the world weighing in at a whopping 2902 pounds. The winning cobbler which is now in the Guinness Book of World Records was 18 feet long and 8 feet wide and beat the previous record of 2195 pounds. The cooking pan that was built to cook the cobbler in was 6 inches deep.
It took 7 long hours to cook the peach cobbler cooked on kerosene burners in a permanent oven built right next to City Hall. The ingredients consisted of 405 pounds of flour, 300 pounds of butter, 87 gallons of milk, 537 pounds of sugar, and 966 pounds of Porter Peaches. So if you ever get hungry for some good peach cobbler and a lot of it, you might want to visit this little town during the middle of July. I am sure they might have some good peach cobbler and even a little ice cream to go with it!
Baby Girl Granddaughter Photos
Tony A. Smith 