April 1st, 2008 at 13:05 pm » Comments (0)

Expect for the part where I was the FOOL or at least the Ignorant Blonde….

This is not an April Fool’s story.
Based on information provided in this thread, in the ZenCart Support Forum

Although I really liked the idea from PaulM of the Netherlands, I was pretty convinced that it was going to be necessary to “start over”.

However, after searching around the Community support forums, I found this seemingly unrelated thread from

It “seemed” to me, that IF the problem was in fact the Product ID numbering,

Then IF I could reset Product ID’s and then Reload using Lessons Learning to avoid a repeat of the error again….

It was worth a try. The worst that could happen is I would have to “start over” and that was already a “real” possibility.

I am happy to say that it does seem to have worked and I will now be spending the next few days, rethinking my product ID numbering plans, and using Easy Populate to Reload.

Still VERY VERY annoyed over the lack of information that could have helped me to avoid the problem in the first place - NOT with ZenCart - learning curves are part of the package when you choose Open Source.

BUT we purchased Easy Populate Advanced JUST to avoid the problems of “no documentation”. More about that another day, for now, my recommendation is DON”T Buy it if you are doing so with an expectation of Support beyond excuses for why no support has been forthcoming.

My thanks to the folks in the forum, who have been so helpful. Guess I need to buy some coffee this week for the Zen Team

It Is The Veteran….

Charity Challenge-American Red Cross

DrByte

http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showpost.php?p=235363&postcount=2

November is the anniversary month of this blog, in just a few days, it will be one Year old and I will be, well let’s leave it at a lot older than that okay. For many, the Holiday season and our birthdays are often a time of reflection. I just happen to have both in same time frame.

Donate Now

Each year as we all reflect, it seems there is just no end to the natural and man made disasters that call on the charity of us all each year.

It is both heartwarming and utterly fascinating to see how the on-line community so often, so generously and so quickly responds and especially those very special people who like to bend string respond with comfort by whatever means they can.

Generous as those who practice the NeedleArts always are, when I read a note that saying someone wanted to help a friend who lost her home replace your yarn, hooks and needles, I thought how generous, but then I remembered something written September 1st, 2005, by Karey Bresenhan of Quilts, Inc wrote:

” I am terribly concerned about the urgency of the short-term needs of these poor souls–(Katrina evacuees) … for shelter and perhaps long-term living arrangements. Most of them left New Orleans with nothing but the clothes on their backs. I know there are other projects that are being started for quilts for long-term needs, but right now, folks, these people have NOTHING and most of them have NOTHING to go home to. They need help NOW! ”

In other words, comforting as new craft tools and materials might be, there are/were more urgent needs. So Karey’s words have stayed with me, and admittedly coloured how I have chosen to help since then. As we each decide how or if we can respond, some by making squares or afghans or quilts; others by remembering that the Red Cross is a wonderful way to see that their ability to provide immediate relief and necessities not just to major disasters such as fire or flood create wide spread devastation, but also locally to that family whose home has burned to ground, or to firefighters in communities across the country.

I am fortunate to have many “fiber art” friends and much loved family who live in Southern California and especially in the San Diego area. So, this year, in lieu of the usual “nice dinner” to celebrate my birthday, we are sending donations to the American Red Cross- divided between our local chapter and the San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter

I will be using the donation link for San Diego on-line donation service and designating the monies be used in both cases for:
Local Disaster Relief Fund

I would ask my friends and family who would normally send me even a dollar birthday card in the mail, to donate those dollars to the Red Cross Chapter of your choice instead. Email good wishes are enough for me - there is so much more needed by others.

I encourage you to use the On-Line method and add the amount of first class postage - even pennies can makes a difference.

If you can, please do participate in other initiatives to bring hope and comfort to victims, be it afghans or quilts for local law enforcement to have and distribute, or larger efforts to benefit the San Diego folks,

Not sure how to find your local chapter? Just plug in your zip code here:

And, if you can, be a regular Blood Donor - you can get information about this by finding and contacting your local regional center. - it just might be your life that is saved as a result of your generosity.

And yes, as the subject implies, I have a few more “Charity Challenges” in mind. So stay tuned.
Even if we don’t have a lot, it is so easy to share just a little.

August 30th, 2007 at 10:14 am » Comments (0)

I was pleased to read Carol Ventura’s recent blog-a-mentary detailing on her view of “Free” patterns and information.

Carol’s commentary opens the door to an important discussion and I would hope one that helps us all to understand the difference between that which an author/teacher choose to gift to Stitchers and that which is taken with only the most base of rationalizations.

So what is the issue?

It is about the MIS_USE of Complimentary Patterns, Charts, & Instructions

And, how often, almost innocently damage is done by that Mis-Use through a desire to “help”

Usually not realizing, but all to often simply not caring, if by helping some, you are hurting others.

It does not matter what the craft, but for today, it’s Crochet.

At the core of the discussion has to be and is the shared basic belief of the importance of “passing on the traditions”

To name just a few others, and in no particular order other than alphabetical by first name
Darla Fanton, Janet Rehfeldt, Jean Leinhauser, and
Kim Guzman

All of the above, like Carol, give of their time and expertise not just thru their publishing and teaching, but by their participation “on line” helping others to “learn the craft” and by offering help in a dozen other ways.

Aside from excellence in teaching and a dedication to producing quality patterns another thing all of above share is that they have been victimized by those who improperly share their work, both what is for sale and what is offered via the web on a complimentary basis.

When an author or publisher offers knowledge on their website, in a “group” or through “A-Longs” on their blog for your personal use, that is truly wonderful and you should take advantage of that offering for your personal use.

We need to distinguish what and how we can ethically share the information and knowledge offered for so tiny a price as to be considered free.

First, Personal Use does not grant you right to copy and distribute

Second, “Education” does not, unless you are a licensed educational institution, permit copying and distribution.

This means:

It is NOT OKAY to duplicate and distribute it without specific permission of the author.

It is not okay for another teacher to take that and share it by using it in their own classes without specific permission.

It is not okay for a shop owner to download and print out patterns - with or without charge

What is OKAY is to provide a link and then the “Personal User” will be obtaining the information in a fair and ethical manner.

Why, because as Carol so correctly pointed out in her blog

” Back to reality. Free patterns are part of my answer to (gaining) increased visibility - and it’s working. My books are not flying off the shelves, but they are slowly making their way into loving homes. “

The very small price these sharing individuals are asking is that the individual visit their websites, groups and blogs to obtain their gift to you the stitcher. They sincerely hope you will find the information and instruction they share for your personal use is helpful.

It is also, as Carol pointed out, their hope that as a result of that visit you will find their style and presentation will lead to your investing in one of their publications or taking a class with them.

Don’t we owe each of these sharing individuals that iota of courtesy and respect?

Shouldn’t we be willing to pay the tiny price of a moment of our time for all the instruction and inspiration they freely offer to us?

P.S. My thanks to Carol for raising this issue, and more importantly for that class at South East Fiber Forum so many years ago that taught me Tapestry Crochet - I happily recommend all of her books.

July 12th, 2007 at 14:33 pm » Comments (0)

“My heart found its home long ago
in the beauty, mystery, order and
disorder of the flowering earth.”

Lady Bird Johnson

22nd December 1912 - 11th July 2007

Dear Mrs Johnson

You will be remembered for many things, but as a “child of the 60’s” it was your work as an environmentalist that most impressed me then and throughout your life.

Without you and your efforts one of the small pleasures of life might not exist for those who find themselves “required” to spend time driving along our nation’s highways.

Thank you for understanding, as you wrote in your diary…

“Getting on the subject of beautification is like picking up a tangled skein of wool..All the threads are interwoven — recreation and pollution and mental health, and the crime rate, and rapid transit, and highway beautification, and the war on poverty, and parks — national, state and local.”

I promise to continue to take a moment to admire and be inspired by the simplicity and beauty of the wildflowers and to remember this simple pleasure would not be there without your efforts that have led to highway beautification, first in Texas and now throughout almost every state in the Union.

But most of all thank you for understanding

“Ugliness is so grim,…A little beauty, something that is lovely, I think, can help create harmony which will lessen tensions.”

You will be in my thoughts each time I drive one of the highways already benefiting from your work and even more so for those that have not.

Wheat

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Please Visit & Donate In Her Memory, to the :
	Lady Bird Johnson WildFlower Center University of Texas - Austin