Books by Jennie Marlow

Jennie Marlow will be signing and discussing her books prior to the scheduled workshops on Thursday evening, July 8, 2010, at 7:00pm. For more about Jennie Marlow visit her website at JennieMarlow.com.

And for more information or to register for the workshops see my previous post.


100 Days of Wisdom: Inspiration from Spotted Eagle , Grandfather White Elk and White Buffalo

100 Days of Wisdom is a collection of powerful, inspiring quotations taken from the work of spirit guides, Spotted Eagle, Grandfather White Elk, and White Buffalo. Jennie Marlow’s guides challenge and motivate us to transform our perceptions of what is real, and to tackle life’s most persistent problems with willingness and determination. Presented in the style of a journal, the messages from Jennie Marlow’s guides are themed by subject in order to facilitate a process of discovery and meaningful change. This book contains 100 quotations, each presenting us with an opportunity to shift our perception of reality. This book can be used in a variety of ways—as a book of quotations selected at random, a daily journal, or as a process guide for individuals or groups. Each quotation provides the opening for a powerful spiritual inquiry.

Personal Magic: A Spotted Eagle and Grandfather White Elk Book

Spirit guides Spotted Eagle and Grandfather White Elk offer a compelling new model that allows us to embrace a reality not driven by fantasy or materialism, and that still affords us great freedom and peace of mind. They demonstrate how spiritual authenticity can give us access to our most powerful and intriguing possibilities. Personal Magic describes authenticity in real-world terms, as strengths and challenges, and as innate gifts and talents that we can employ in creating what fulfills our deepest desires for a joyful life. Personal Magic defines eight magic types. These magics express our uniquely human powers - the things that make us magical, creative, and able to build our lives on a foundation of what is real. This book offers fresh, no-nonsense insight into what human creative power is really all about, at the level of the individual, and how we might learn to dance with the uncertainties in the Universe that created us.

Jennie Marlow Booksigning and Workshops at Paragraphs

Do the keys to your success feel like a puzzle?

There are some vital things you may not know about how your emotional
and energetic systems work for you or against you. There is a way
forward, and it is all about returning to your authentic self, where your
power and potential lay waiting to be re-discovered.

FREE CHAT & BOOK-SIGNING at Paragraphs

THURS, JULY 8TH FROM 7PM TO 8PM

Emotional Mastery
WORKSHOP, SATURDAY, JULY 10TH
Self-Intelligence
WORKSHOP, SUNDAY, JULY 11TH
PRICE: $149 EACH
Register for both workshops by
June 15th for $199 & save 33%

Emotional Mastery WORKSHOP, SATURDAY, JULY 10TH
The truth is, we have all been conditioned to be inauthentic out of fear.
This conditioning creates the building blocks for a ‘not-self’ that is
making your choices and interacting on your behalf. You have a fear and
fantasy-based emotional system that governs how you react to others and
your world. Learn how to deal effectively with emotional triggers, fears
and destructive behavior patterns in yourself and others in Jennie
Marlow’s ground-breaking workshop, Emotional Mastery. In this
workshop, you will learn a simple, straight-forward system for using
your energy productively, no matter what uncertainties you face or what
is happening around you.

Self-Intelligence WORKSHOP, SUNDAY, JULY 11TH
Have you tried all sorts of success systems, only to find they don’t
deliver the promised results in your life? It may be that the strategies in
these systems will never work for you! Why? Because your design only
works when you are authentic, and your authenticity may operate quite
differently than it does for others. If you like astrology, you’re going to
love the Human Energy Design! Human Design combines Western
Astrology with the Eastern wisdom traditions of the I Ching and the
Hindu chakra system. It offers penetrating insight into how your energy
is uniquely designed exactly three months before your birth. Introduce
yourself to the real you and your personal success strategy in Self-
Intelligence, Jennie Marlow’s eye-opening introduction to the Human
Energy Design.

Jennie Marlow is an author, spiritual teacher and spirit-based
business consultant. A former Silicon Valley executive, she now
devotes her life to helping others achieve personal mastery. Her
behavioral and spiritual models for the Post-New-Age are used by a
growing number of therapists, coaches and consultants in personal
growth, psychology, leadership and business.

Private Consultations TUES &WEDS, JULY 13TH &14TH

Jennie will also be available for in-person or telephone consulations by
appointment. For more information, please call toll-free 866-270-3783 or
send an email to information@jenniemarlow.com.

ONLINE REGISTRATION:
www.jenniemarlow.com/SPI
CALL TOLL-FREE: 866-270-3783
OR CONTACT DR. SUSAN DUVE:
drsduve@duvewellnesscenter.com

The Passage - On sale today

“It happened fast. Thirty-two minutes for one world to die, another to be born.”

Texas History Book Featured at Book Signing

Arcadia Publishers, the premiere local history press, has published two titles which are a must for anyone who has an interest in the history of the Rio Grande Valley. Both books are filled with pictures from the archives of several local historical societies and private collections.

Join us at Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard, on Saturday June 12, 2010, for a book signing featuring San Benito and Charro Days in Brownsville, which are both part of the Arcadia Press, Images of America series.

There are two opportunities to meet those involved in publishing these books, first from 1 to 2 PM to have books signed and again, at 6 PM when there will be time for discussing the books, a short reading, and additional time for having books signed.

Refreshments will be provided.

Both sessions are free and open to the public.
No purchase is required to attend.

Book Description for "San Benito":
San Benito was built on the banks of a dry riverbed of the Rio Grande, called a resaca. Long ago, Coahuiltecan Indians made their home here, and Spanish land grant ranches flourished in the 1700s. The arrival of the railroad in 1904 brought a diverse group of pioneers from the Midwest in search of cheap and fertile land. These early settlers, together with descendents of Spanish colonizers, began an agricultural community. During his engineering surveys in 1903 for the proposed railroad connection to the rest of Texas, Sam Robertson realized the potential of the land. He envisioned an irrigation plan that would utilize the resacas to bring water from the Rio Grande and thus make arid ranch land into a garden. It was with this history and this dream that the little town of San Benito was created. San Benito is also home to entertainment--Conjunto Music began here--and it is the hometown of international singing star Freddy Fender and Olympic athlete Bobby Morrow.

Author Bio:
The San Benito Historical Society, founded in 1995, compiled this book with images from townspeople and from its own collection. The mission of the historical society is to chronicle, protect, and preserve the history and cultural heritage of San Benito.

Book Description for "Charro Days in Brownsville"
Brownsville, Texas, was established in 1850 on the banks of the Rio Grande. Every February since 1938, this thriving community of nearly 200,000 has joined its Mexican neighbor, Matamoros, to celebrate their shared cultural heritage. Charro Days burst upon the Rio Grande Valley scene in the depths of the Depression, bringing dances, parades, fireworks, boat races, and a rodeo to a dispirited populace. The celebration achieved instant success, followed by national recognition in magazines, radio, and television. Renowned dance bands and celebrities increased the enjoyment of revelers dressed in Charro costumes. As time passed, Charro Days evolved with the addition of events such as the Mr. Amigo presentation, which recognizes an outstanding Mexican, and the Sombrero Fest, which attracts a large number of attendees with its diverse entertainment.

Author Bio:
Anthony Knopp is an emeritus professor of history at the University of Texas at Brownsville and a former president of the Brownsville Historical Association. Manuel Medrano is also a professor of history at the University of Texas at Brownsville and a recognized expert on Mexican American history and culture. Priscilla Rodriguez is the executive director of the Brownsville Historical Association. Many of the photographs used in this history are from the archives of the Brownsville Historical Association.

Impatient With Desire by Gabrielle Burton

A new historical novel by Gabrielle Burton, Impatient with Desire brings us answers to the unanswerable question: What really happened in the four months that members of the ill-fated Donner party were trapped in the mountains? And it brings to stunning life a woman--and a love story--behind the myth. Of the 87 men, women and children in the Donner Party, 46 survived: two thirds of the women and children, but only one third of the men. And in this novel we experience the saga of the Donner party through the voice of Tamsen Donner, a wife and mother.

In her 1891 memoirs, Virginia Reed recalled the departure of the Donner-Reed company:

"Never can I forget the morning when we bade farewell to kindred and friends. The Donners were there, having driven in the evening before with their families, so that we might get an early start.

Grandma Keyes was carried out of the house and placed in the wagon on a large feather bed, propped up with pillows. Her sons implored her to remain and end her days with them, but she could not be separated from her only daughter. We were surrounded by loved ones, and there stood all my little schoolmates who had come to kiss me good-by. My father with tears in his eyes tried to smile as one friend after another grasped his hand in a last farewell. Mama was overcome with grief.

At last the drivers cracked their whips, the oxen moved slowly forward and the long journey had begun. ... Many friends camped with us the first night out and my uncles traveled on for several days before bidding us a final farewell. It seemed to be strange to be riding in ox-teams, and we children were afraid of the oxen, thinking they could go wherever they pleased as they had no bridles."

On April 23, 1846, under the headline "Ho! For Oregon and California" A notice of their departure was printed in the Sangamo Journal, Springfield, Illinois,

"The company which left here last week for California embraced 15 men, 8 women and 16 children. They had nine waggons. They were in good spirits, and we trust they will safely reach their anticipated home."

As the group traveled west they were joined by additional families who were embarking on the great migration to California in search of new land and opportunities. And thus began a story that has remained with us for over 150 years. Most remember the Donner Party for the tales of cannibalism that are associated with the survival of the ill-fated party when they were caught in the Sierra Nevada mountains during the winter of 1846. But this story is really about so much more than the macabre jokes surrounding it.

The Donner brothers, George and Jacob, were considered prosperous, elderly farmers who had no reason to go to California. Born in North Carolina and descended from German immigrants, they had already migrated by wagon from the Atlantic to the Mississippi. Having heard of the wonders of California, they thought they would try one more migration.

The novel is centered on the story of George, 60, his third wife, Tamsen, 45, their three children, Frances, 6, Georgia, 4 and Eliza, 3, and George's two daughters from a previous marriage, Elitha Cumi, 14, and Leanna, 12. Historians have long known that Tamsen kept a journal, though it was never found. In Impatient with Desire, Burton draws on years of historical research to vividly imagine this lost journal--and paints a picture of a remarkable heroine in an extraordinary situation. Tamsen's unforgettable journey takes us from the cornfields of Illinois to the dusty Oregon Trail to the freezing Sierra Nevada Mountains.

On October 31st, the front axle of George Donner’s family wagon broke. Cutting timber for a new one, George gashed his hand and they are separated from the larger group who have made it to Truckee Lake. But, just as the group attempts the final push over the pass, it begins to snow. Fifty-nine people huddled in the three cabins near the lake, hoping that the early snow will melt and they would still be able to cross the pass. The Donners and others, 22 people in all, were stranded about six miles east on Alder Creek in three shelters hastily constructed from tents, quilts, buffalo robes, and brush. But as the snow continued to fall the two parties settled in and tried to survive and hoped help would come.

When the third relief party reached the lake in early March, only seven emigrants remained alive. Tamsen Donner was among them, still remarkably strong for all she’d been through. George, who was dying, begged her to leave. Tamsen refused. She would not let her husband die alone.

All the children of George Donner’s family survived. George and his wife, however, perished in the mountains. Eliza Donner, three years old in 1846, later wrote a book about the events, the only surviving member to write a book-length account. It was published in 1911. George’s daughter Leanna, twelve years old at the time, became the last living member of the Donner Party old enough to remember the events, dying in 1930.

For more information:
The Donner Party - PBS American Experience
Tragedy in the Sierra Nevada: Serene Musings
The Donner Party Diaries
Patrick Breen's Diary
History of the Donner Party

Thank you

I posted this on the South Padre Island Forum but decided I wanted to let those who don't follow the ins and outs of our local political debate online know how much the support we have received at Paragraphs means to us.

I can't believe how many people have taken the time to say such kind things about Paragraphs and especially about the house concert we had last week. I want to thank Nancy, Micheal, and Jerry for offering this great evening of entertainment. They performed simply to share their stories and music with an appreciative audience. Yes, people were generous with tips, but this performance was all for community and a way for us to show some appreciation for our wind-loving spring and fall visitors. Cathy Laferty brought wings, soft drinks, and veggies to share which everyone enjoyed.

I know there were several other things happening that evening so I really appreciate the support we received and the many words of encouragement.

As I sat and listened to the stories and music, I looked around at the faces of people who were obviously having a good time, and I realized how truly lucky I am to be able to realize my dream. Songwriting is about language, life, and friendships and these are the things we believe in at Paragraphs.

So, thank you everyone.

Nancy Cook and Micheal Laferty on the Courtyard at Paragraphs

When I opened Paragraphs last spring it was just about the time the Colorado contingent was arriving on South Padre Island with the wind, for a month or two of good times, camaraderie and excellent wind surfing and kite boarding.

Colorado has a lot of really great independent bookstores so several of these visitors to the island naturally found their way to our store. In the process, I was lucky enough to meet Nancy Cook, a wonderful singer-songwriter who currently lives in the Breckenridge area.

Music is often poetically described as a vehicle and in the case of Nancy, the term is literal. In the course of her musical career, Nancy’s songs have taken her far and wide--the Pacific Northwest, California, through the Rocky Mountains, down to Texas, out to Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and Indiana, and overseas to Italy, Jordan, Japan, and Korea. She is at ease playing everywhere from large halls to cozy cafes, living room concerts, peace conferences, military bases, folk festivals, churches and retreats—anywhere that people want to listen. She has opened as a solo artist for such diverse national acts as Shawn Colvin, Lyle Lovett, Leo Kottke, David Wilcox, Warren Zevon, Rodney Crowell, Karla Bonoff, David Bromberg and Leon Russell. In listening settings such as these, she enjoys sharing the stories that surround many of her songs—stories of the journey we all share.

Then, I discovered that she and Micheal Laferty, a singer, songwriter & storyteller of "Texas Music...Island Style"--who we all know and appreciate as the great entertainer he is--liked to work together and do a little songwriting. Micheal's music is a reflection of his island lifestyle and tropical surroundings, and is garnering recognition, in the Americana/Texas Music genre in the States as well as Europe, and he has become a defining benchmark in the emerging “Gulf Coast Americana” market.

Nancy and I had discussed putting on a songwriting workshop at the upcoming music fest but that didn't work out when the format of the festival changed. At times Micheal had mentioned the idea of doing some kind of house concert at the store, but we never really went farther than talking about it.

So I am so thrilled that we have finally managed to find a time when both are available and ready to show up at Paragraphs to hang out and make a little music.

Micheal and Nancy will be at Paragraphs on Wednesday, May 5, at 7:00 pm. All are welcome to attend this free evening of music and fun. Bring your favorite beverage, plan to relax and hang out, and enjoy a great night of entertainment. Donations for the musicians will be appreciated and CDs will be available for purchase.

Nancy is now celebrating the release of her 5th CD, entitled FOCUS—a hybrid mix of new releases and the best of her previous recordings. It is now available locally at Paragraphs Books, or can be shipped or downloaded, along with previous releases, at a very reasonable cost through several internet sources.

Micheal calls South Padre Island Texas “home”, and spends his time happily wandering between the Rio Grande, New Orleans, and the Florida Keys. A repertoire of material that weaves seamlessly in and out of all facets of human emotion, a blazingly wicked wit that immediately engages the audience, and an unabashed love for what he does makes it easy to see why fans, and media alike, compare Micheal with such notables as Robert Earl Keen, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Joe Ely, Lyle Lovett, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Jimmy Buffett.

His 2008 release ""Parrotheads in Cowboy Boots" is also available locally at Paragraphs.

Alice in Wonderland

The new movie production of Alice in Wonderland produced by Tim Burton is sure to introduce a whole new generation to this classic and favorite fairy tale by Lewis Carroll. If you are anywhere near me in age -- yes, I know, older than the hills -- you will remember the golden-haired Alice made popular by Disney Studios and the wonderful illustrations of Tenniel.

But, what do you know about the real Alice. There are a couple of new books out that introduce us to Alice Pleasance Liddell, the muse behind Carroll's Alice.

For the lover of everything Victorian, The Real Alice in Wonderland, a Role Model for the Ages by C. M. Rubin is a beautiful book. Filled with cut-out vignettes, the book has the impression of a tenderly and lovingly created scrapbook. There are photos of the Liddell sisters taken by Charles Dodgson, the shy Oxford professor of mathematics and amateur photographer, snippets of letters and journals, as well as sketches and watercolors by Alice. The book is a celebration of the complete Alice story, real and imagined.

The "Real Alice in Wonderland" book is dedicated to all those who inspire the minds and souls of human beings. What does it mean to inspire? In the Victorian age, when few children escaped tradition, Alice Pleasance Liddell inspired the greatest children's story of all time, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." This book brought Alice and Lewis Carroll together for their lifetimes and forever. The story behind the story is a rich history of a very creative, curious, and magnetic young girl who grew up to become a cultural icon and one of the most celebrated women of the last 100 years. It is a story of love, tragedy, duty, courage and loyalty to family and country - that will surprise and deeply move you. It will make you think again about what it means to inspire.

But, as beautiful as this book is, there are many unanswered questions about the relationship between Charles Dodgson and Alice Liddell. The Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas hosted A Lewis Carroll Centenary exhibit, in the Ransom Center’s Leeds Gallery in the fall of 1998 and the website has a wealth of information about Dodgson, his photography, and Alice Liddell. If you are interested in the story this is a great resource.

In an 1877 letter, Carroll tells his correspondent that he considers himself "an amateur-photographer whose special line is ‘children’." He then encourages the recipient to bring the children by to meet him "not [to] be photographed then and there (I never succeed with strangers), but to make acquaintance with the place and the artist, and to see how they relished the idea of coming, another day, to be photographed."

Carroll’s photographic style evolved from the straightforward work of his early family albums into a more adventurous and interpretive one. In an almost magical fashion, Carroll’s photography allowed the natural child and the fanciful artist to combine in the production of memorable images. In fact, Carroll has left us with some of the most profound portraits of children ever created.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the work for which Lewis Carroll is best remembered, grew out of a river outing by Carroll, his friend Robinson Duckworth, and the three young daughters of Dean Liddell - Lorina, Alice and Edith. Carroll first told the girls the story of Alice during that memorable day, July 4, 1862, and, upon their urging, expanded it into a manuscript version shortly thereafter. In November 1864 he presented his manuscript tale, "Alice’s Adventures Under Ground," to Alice Liddell.



The new historical novel by Melanie Benjamin, Alice, I Have Been, gives the reader a more nuanced view of the life of Alice, as the young girl immortalized in the classic tale, and then follows her into adulthood. Benjamin was intrigued by a photo showing the young Alice as a scantily clad "wild gypsy child" and her eyes which expressed innocence combined with a seductive quality well beyond her years.

The relationship between Liddell and Dodgson has been the source of much controversy. Many biographers have supposed that Dodgson was romantically or sexually attached to her as a child, though there has never been any direct proof for this and more benign accounts assume merely a platonic fondness.

The relationship between the Liddells and Dodgson suffered a sudden break in June 1863. There was no record of why the rift occurred, since the Liddells never openly spoke of it, and the single page in Dodgson's diary recording 27-29 June 1863 (which seems to cover the period in which it began) was missing. The only source for what happened on that day has been speculation, and generally centers on the idea that Alice Liddell was, somehow, the cause of the break. It has long been suspected that her mother disapproved of Dodgson's interest in her, seeing him as an unfit companion for an 11-year-old girl.

This mystery sets the backdrop for Benjamin's story. She explains:

As I was researching Alice's life, three major aspects seemed to speak to me—the childhood, obviously, which remains so fascinating to fans of Lewis Carroll; the possibility of romance with Prince Leopold; the fact she had three sons who fought in World War I. So concentrating on these three distinct time periods—which really span most of the Victorian era—made the most sense, and I knew that thematically, the link between them all was always going to be Wonderland, or rather—the impossibility of Wonderland, after all.

The first section was probably easiest to write, however; the third, the most difficult. This was where there were so many gaps in Alice's story; she simply went away to Cuffnells for years and years, only re-emerging near the end of her life with the auction of the book. Yet during these years, she raised three sons whom she would have to send to war; this intrusion of bigger events sometimes made it more challenging to keep Wonderland and Dodgson still in the center of the story in that third section.

To hear more from Melanie Benjamin listen to the interview at NPR Weekend edition or Fresh Air

Ladybug Girl at the Beach

I am looking forward to the release of this wonderful new picture book which is one of several books scheduled to be published this summer as part of Penguin's "Catch the Reading Wave" promotion.

Jacky Davis - author
David Soman - illustrator
ISBN 9780803734166
available May 2010


Lulu loves the beach. Well, she’s never been there before, but she knows she will love it. And then she sees the ocean and it is big and loud and rough.

That’s okay—Lulu wanted to build sand castles and fly her kite with Bingo anyway. But while they are building their sand castle, the sneaky ocean comes in and tries to steal Lulu’s favorite pail. This is a job for Ladybug Girl!

Lulu conquers her fear of the ocean when she remembers that Ladybug Girl can do anything, in this gorgeously illustrated companion to the popular series.

Who Pays When You Buy Tax-Free Online?

While economists nationwide argue over whether we have begun to recover from the Great Recession, one financial reality is beyond dispute. Our state is facing the biggest budget challenge in decades. Even in a slowly rebounding economy, Texas is faced with a projected mid-year budget shortfall of $10 billion. Without a state income tax, our sales tax revenues are a primary source of funding for public services.

The enormous irony in this troubling story is that Texas is allowing hundreds of millions of dollars in sales tax to go uncollected by allowing remote online retailers with a significant business presence in our state to ignore their obligation to collect sales tax.

Given the sums involved, you would think there would be many in the state calling for this situation to be remedied. There are not. Perhaps it's because opponents of sales tax equity have, so far, managed to obfuscate the issue through a combination of misinformation and scapegoating.

Under current sales tax law, any out-of-state retailer is required to collect and remit sales tax for purchases made by residents in Texas if the retailer has a physical presence in our state. Current sales tax laws dictate that an out-of-state retailer has a physical presence in a state if they have a store, warehouse, office, or sales agent in the state.

Amazon.com and other online giants have thousands of affiliates in Texas, and they are actively promoting products sold by these out-of-state businesses. When this promotion results in a sale of said product, the affiliate earns a commission. That, by any definition, makes the affiliate a sales agent, and that means that these online mega-retailers have the legal presence in our state that requires them to collect sales tax.

The Amazons of the world and online affiliates are naturally opposed to any steps that states might take to enforce existing sales tax laws. Strategically, their stance makes a lot of sense because it gives them a significant competitive advantage over our in-state businesses that must add the additional cost of sales tax.

Furthermore, there is no doubt that consumers enjoy this so-called advantage. Many people will shop at out-of-state e-tailers just to avoid paying sales tax. That sounds fine, but we need to ask ourselves, in the long run, who really is footing the bill for these duty-free purchases?

Well, I can tell you who is not paying the bill: Neither online affiliates nor remote retailers. We are not talking about just a few dollars here and there flowing out-of-state. The reality is that hundreds of millions of dollars are lost each year, and the figure is growing.

This is money that should be going to first responders, to local communities, and to lessen our tax burden. Instead, this money is flying out-of-state to remote retailers and the affiliates that pocket the cash while taxpayers subsidize their use of our in-state services, our roads, and their very business.

Taking advantage of our state's unwillingness to enforce sales tax laws during the best of times is egregious enough. However, during a recession that has hit our state and local economy so hard, it's an affront to every business and citizen in the state. And what's worse, on an economic level, it makes no sense.

Legislators who oppose sales tax equity tout their belief in fiscal responsibility. But, in truth, how fiscally responsible is it to maintain a public policy that subsidizes out-of-state retailers while punishing in-state, tax-paying businesses and residents? Does fiscal responsibility demand that our state government burden residents and businesses with higher taxes and fewer services to placate out-of-state retailers that only take from our state and provide nothing in return? Yet that's the stance our state legislators and Governor are currently taking.

And so I ask one more question: How's that working out for us exactly? The current budget shortfall tells me the answer is not so good. Opponents also love to argue that folks like me are calling for a new tax. The idea that any struggling retailer in our state would demand a new tax on consumers just doesn't pass the giggle test.

In truth, if an out-of-state retailer does not have nexus in the state, shoppers are already required by law to submit the sales tax to the state. The real question is over who should collect this tax – you as a consumer or the out-of-state retailer. Now, granted, our state has not really done much to enforce the collection of use tax from residents, but trust me, as the budget situation worsens, it will. So either you're going to pay it or someone is going to collect it from you.

Finally, as for those who worry that sales tax equity would somehow harm online business in the state, let me stress that most online retailers, including Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble, and Sears, already collect and remit sales tax for online purchases. Technological advances have greatly simplified and automated this task. Huge corporate retailers like Amazon.com and Overstock.com are the few remaining holdouts and the money they siphon from our local community and residents is significant and growing exponentially each year.

So please, when you go to the Internet for some tax-free shopping, I would only urge you to remember that your purchase isn't really free at all. In fact, that tax-free purchase costs all of us and our communities a lot more than you might think.