I, Serge Kreutz, have been a journalist and writer for all of my adult life.
Before the Internet, this was a good profession with clear rules, observed by all parties. I wrote articles, and newspapers and magazines paid me for printing them, and readers paid for the newspapers and magazines. This was a viable setting.
Book publishers worked along the same lines, and people who visited bookshops did not expect to walk out with fine literature without having to pay for it. Unless they were thieves.
The Internet has changed everything. It is much more difficult now to make money as a writer because there is so much free information on the Internet.
Much of it, of course, is spam. But many readers don't care. The only important aspect is: it's free.
Quality information cannot be free. I provide quality information. I do professional research, untainted by commercial interests. I don't sell what I write about. I only sell information?useful, objective, well-researched information.
Which is why there is a subscriber charge to access my articles. Subscriber charges typically are paid by credit card.
Credit cards are not a flawless payment system; not for me as an author and publisher. The flaw is that payments I receive are never really certain. For up to six months, credit card payments can so easily be reversed.
And some cheapskates do so shamelessly.
Unfortunately, as an author and publisher on the Internet, I am totally unprotected.
If a person buys a tangible product, and the product is delivered, a seller can fight back on a chargeback. And even if the chargeback remains, the tangible item is, at least, returned to him.
If somebody subscribes to my site and then files for a chargeback, there is practically nothing I can do. Information cannot be returned. After it has been read, it is in the head of the subscriber.
In Billy Warren's head, for example.
He files for a chargeback, he returns nothing. But the credit card company deducts his subscription payment for me, and charges me a fee on top of it.
Not only is information stolen from me. In addition, I am burdened with damage payments.
I just hate it.
And people like Billy Warren just make me mad.
Billy Warren subscribed to Dostinex.net, read the articles, then filed for a refund, which was promptly granted.
It's just like going into a bookshop, buying a book, and, after having read it, bring it back and take the money from the cashier's box.
And in the case of Billy Warren, it isn't even that he didn't like the content of the book.
Read this explanation.
--- Billy Warren wrote:
> Serge: I do not know what the problems were. I had
> one session in which I was able to read a
> fascinating article. But the next day I could not
> get access no matter what I did. I am extremely
> interested in the subject and any suggestions you
> may have I am interested in. In fact I am
> interested in signing up again if I can make it
> work.
Come on, Billy. The website works perfectly. And even if you were to have problems, why file for a refund right away? My email address is all over the place. Why not just send me an email?
It happens sometimes that people mess with their computer (e.g. automatically applying wrong passwords), and they write me a message, and if nothing else helps, I just mail them the articles. No need to file for a refund. Unless it has been the intention from the beginning to possess the information for free.
Billy Warren never mailed me before his refund was confirmed, and after it was, he even had the chutzpah to check whether I could provide some personalized help.
> Two years ago I had prostate cancer operation
> followed by significant radiation treatments. I
> really need to find something that will let me
> revive my libido again. I sent you the e-mail
> because of my frustration at finding something of
> interest, and then not being able to reach it again.
> I appreciate your response and your interest.
> I am still hopeful that your studies may provide
> something that will benefit me in the future. BW
Oh Billy, if you treat women like you treat me, you better go without libido. They rightfully hold characters like yours in low esteem.
And regarding your prostate operation: maybe you should have spent a little money on gathering information before agreeing to a specific procedure. Then you would have known that you should have stressed that certain nerves should not have been cut.
Sometimes, free information is expensive indeed.
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Mentoplasty
Mentoplasty is a term that refers to plastic surgery procedures for the chin. It comes from the Latin word mentum, which means chin, and the Greek verb plassein, which means "to form" or "to shape." Mentoplasty is also known as genioplasty or chinplasty.
In spite of the fact that chin deformities are the most common facial abnormality, mentoplasty is not one of the more frequently performed procedures in plastic surgery. In 2002, there were 18,352 mentoplasties performed in the United States, compared to 117,831 face lifts and 282,876 liposuctions. Most mentoplasties are done in combination with rhinoplasties.
Mentoplasty is primarily performed in adult patients; it is not usually done in children until all permanent teeth have come in and the jaw is close to its adult size. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 7% of patients who had mentoplasties in the United States in 2002 were 18 or younger; 35% were between the ages of 19 and 34; 40% were between the ages of 35 and 50, while another 15% were between 51 and 64. Only 3% were over 65.
With respect to sex, women account for 69% of mentoplasty patients; only 31% are men.
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Dendrobium nobile
Dendrobium, abbreviated as Den in horticultural trade, is a large genus of tropical orchids that consists of about 1200 species. The genus occurs in diverse habitats throughout much of south, east and southeast Asia, including the Philippines, Borneo, Australia, New Guinea and New Zealand. The name is from the Greek dendron (meaning tree) and bios (meaning life).
The species are either epiphytic, growing on a tree, or occasionally lithophytic, growing over a rock. They have adapted to a wide variety of habitats, from the high altitudes in the Himalayan mountains to lowland tropical forests and even to the dry climate of the Australian desert.
The orchids in this genus often develop pseudobulbs, which unite into a long reedlike stem with a typical length of more than 30 cm. Some appear densely covered with short white hairs. The short, ovate leaves grow alternately over the whole length of the stems. The axillary flower buds develop into short flower stalks with one or two terminal flowers. The orchids grow quickly throughout summer, but take a long rest during winter. In the spring, new shoots are formed from the base of the main plant and the dormant buds come back into action. The blooming flowers are found on pseudobulbs formed in the previous year.
Some species are in great demand by orchid lovers. This has resulted in numerous varieties and hybrids, such as the Dendrobium nobile varieties, which have greatly extended the range of colors of the original flower from the Himalayas.
Kimilsungia, one of the national flowers of North Korea, is the cultivar Dendrobium 'Kim il Sung'.
