From the Publisher by Deverick Martin Many thanks to those of you who took the time to complete our 2002 reader survey. We are poring over the results and considering a number of significant changes to be as responsive as possible to your input. This was the first time we offered our readers a choice of sending in the survey in written form or completing it online at our Web site. I was a bit apprehensive about offering this choice, concerned that well-meaning readers who would have responded in writing would choose to send in their responses online but then not get around to it. At the same time, there are significant cost savings to an online survey. The majority of the responses (57%) came in online, but our return rate was about 10% lower than in prior surveys. I really liked the online system because the responses were automatically tabulated as they came in and I could see the trends in real time. The written responses have now been keypunched and merged with the online data. We are working on analysis and response now. One incentive we offered was that respondents would be entered into a drawing for anything advertised in these pages. The person whose name was drawn asked to remain anonymous. She chose to use her $150 prize in two ways: a haircut using sacred geometry by Moréah Jarday and a healing session with Ingrid Dunki-Jacobs. She described both experiences as "wonderful." Here are some of the things that I have learned from our reader survey: The FYI section again is your favorite feature of the paper (as it has been in prior surveys). I suspect it is because the information is well organized. For example, you can go to a specific date when you have time to participate in an event and see what your choices are, without having to look at events that you can’t attend. Our readership continues to be predominantly female, well educated, and mature (the average age is 51). It seems time to add new material to these pages. Our readership has a high level of interest in topics such as organic foods, health food, nutritional supplements, and health and beauty products. We could be providing more information in these topic areas. In addition, I have added these words to our mission statement in the staff box: "empowering positive choices for the natural and social environments." That means that I will be looking for more powerful ways to have a positive effect on the natural and social environments through our editorial and advertising sections. I am planning a new feature on responsible choices such as socially responsible investing. In our 2000 survey, two thirds of our readers said that they were interested in knowing more about socially responsible choices. We have recently made the most sweeping changes to our writers’ guidelines in recent history (see <http://newtimes.org/submissions.html> for details). My intent is to expand our work of bringing loving, healing energy to our world. With this issue we launch a new column entitled "Intuitively Speaking," which affords you an opportunity to get answers to your questions regarding relationships, work, finances, family, health, children, pets, and the other side. Deborah Ilg begins her column each month with an overview of the month that is applicable to all readers. I am also receiving many great ideas in response to my request for a new name for The New Times, and I offer many thanks to readers who are sending in ideas. I am planning a staff retreat to thoughtfully take in your suggestions and work with them. I’ll also plan to tap the power of numerology and astrology in evaluating the choices and timing. If you haven’t had time to send in one or more suggestions, look for my contact information in the staff box on page 4, and send them in. In this issue, author Christopher Howard reminds us of how Christopher Columbus had to set sail in a world that was believed to be flat. Columbus held onto his knowing in the face of huge obstacles, ridicule, and near mutiny. Here at The New Times, we, too, have an opportunity to hold onto our knowing that the world can be a better place, different than the one many people perceive and experience today. Won’t you join me on an adventure to expand our work to manifest a more loving world that honors and respects all of life?