“I don’t think that you have to be a member of the “offended” group to be offended or have an opinion.”
Amen, but let me explain and add a bit of context, I was raised Terminally Catholic with equal influence and exposure to both the Roman and Russian Orthodox theology. Into the mix, toss the fact that the only way the family of my best friend could get her into Hebrew School was if I “kept her company” so one of my first religious realizations was to understand how closely tied all the worlds religions which have not been altered to suit the needs of lunatics are “much the same”
After that, it may be worth knowing I grew up in what was a working family neighborhood, extremely racially and religiously and ethnically mixed.
Quite simply, good and evil exists universally and without regard to race, religion or country of origin.
Each of us decides what offends us. It is ONLY when we seek to impose that decision on others that we all run into trouble.
I generally CHOOSE to hold the thought that MOST people are basically good and if I just look a little harder I will find that they are not evil – unless they are part of that small percentage that really is not just evil but intent of spreading their evil deeds among us.
Our strength is not in one perspective, it is our diversity AND the Right and Responsibility to hear and be heard on the issues – not busily attacking personalities. The entire “if you are not at the table, then you are on the menu” mentality is so completely offensive that I cannot “get” why we do not understand what is being done to us – INCREMENTALLY.
For example. In my opinion, MOST of those who died on 9/11 were *not* heroes,
They were VICTIMS – Yes far too many who died where those who CHOOSE to risk their lives to benefit others (Fire, Police, and other members of the NYC Uniformed Services.) Just as every one of us who lost family or friends or colleagues or who went for even an hour not knowing if one of our own was coming home that night.
So yes, I am offended that ANYONE should “decide” that instead of honoring those who served, those who serve and as importantly their families – should have that sacrifice minimized.
Are many of these victims among the heroes – yes they well may be. It is, after all, VERY NORMAL for Citizens of the Free World to help in a catastrophe ( and we see it every time there is a disaster both here and at home from a neighbor in need to a volunteers from within and without the scene of a natural disaster)
Most of those who perished are, in their own home and communities, a different kind of hero. Men and women who got every day and went to work so that their families would not be forced to join the ranks of those feel their are “entitled” versus those willing to earn. That dying breed brought up to believe that what is worth having is worth working for.
Those who suffered under the irrational dictatorships of Russian (both Czarist & Communist), China, The Middle East or Africa and increasingly by that segment of USA society that is bent on reducing the rights and freedoms on which the USA was founded and built; those who were victimized by those pogrom, jihad or just plain inhuman insanities – should NEVER AGAIN be minimized.
Those who died under Hitler’s rule in the Halocaust, were VICTIMS, their memory should be honored by each of us committing to NEVER AGAIN giving into the likes of Hitler – The heroes were the mostly VOLUNTEER members of the Armed Forces and those in the various Resistance movements who CHOOSE to risk their lives to benefit others.
OR, more importantly, Neither the Victims OR Heroes should be demeaned by either revisionist Dictators or wanna be Dictators who would prefer to control your thoughts through any means possible INCLUDING taking away the value of the acts of the Heroes, Those Who Serve – Now and in the Past.
We have a responsibility to those whose memory we honor to do whatever is possible to see that never again is such tragedy allowed to happen to any race, religion or people.
Again, yes, I am offended that ANYONE should “decide” to ignore the unique memory of all involved by placing come thick bland distraction on the true meaning of the day of the deaths of victims or heroes.
But mostly I am offended by those who insist they have the right to change my beliefs simply because they do not like them. So long as our individual pursuit of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness does not harm another. You are entitled to disagree, but not to dictate.
The YarnQuest Project is moving along nicely, although admittedly more in Programmer than real time
In answer to some questions, after a great deal of thought we believe that IF managed properly, other than the FIRST edition, it can and should be kept in the under $30.
About CD’s. believe it or not the “production cost” for a “useful” CD Version is not all that different than a printed version. In fact, in terms of development, printed is less expensive – so while media MIGHT effect the price of “future” editions, it will not for the “first”.
Of course, getting answers to questions always “begets” more questions, here are the latest:
1. Are there any yarn specific details that need to be included?
(no promises but all suggestions will be carefully considered)
2. Does there need to be more than ONE FULL edition per year?
2a. If yes, why
3. Aside from YARN information – what else *really* needs to be there.
i.e.; as a confirmed cross crafter, I ALWAYS want to know WPI (Wraps per inch)
4. PRINTED, if you ruled the universe, is you could change the way the book is presented,
a) what size and type of binding would you choose.
b) how would you like the information presented
some choices (and feel free to add your own ideas)
by yarn distributor
i.e. Alpaca Yarn Company, Brown Sheep
or
by yarn LINE and YARN Name
or
your choice?
5. Electronic Version – given the “enhanced search” possibilities of E-Version, what electronic features/functions would be most helpful to you. I.E., US Manufacturer/Distributor clickable links and/or contact links.
6. Should NON-Yarn but YARN Related Distributors (Bryson, Chernin, Zweigert, etc) be listed with a “description” of the types of product lines they represent?
7. If you carry thread line(s) (Presencia, Sullivan’s, etc) would it be helpful to have a “color cross reference” and if yes, what lines?
8. If you want/prefer an Electronic Version; what device(s) should the application work with?
Last but not least, since that we are working on this is reasonably public knowledge, please feel free to share these questions where ever you would like – the more input we get in the next month or so, the better.
What software should be used to develop a web site is a question gets asked at least once a month someplace in the various groups dedicated to Fiber/Needle Art professionals by those who make their art to sell, or self-publish instruction or teach and Retailers
Abiding by my new resolution to make an FAQ type entry for these type of questions (and with the clear understanding this ONLY WHEAT’s Opinion.
Please note: I am NOT looking for work, after more than two years of dealing with major illnesses; I also don’t have all that many extra pennies to rub together. Even so, I am not yet ready to again assume responsibility for any client – Although sitting around treatment places does give you a lot of time to think – Although once we get this the apps all working together, that (selling our services) will change.
Let’s me begin by saying the principle problem with *any* Microsoft product is, well you may know the old joke about “how many MS programmers to change a light bulb?” ” NONE, they just declare dark a new standard.” and that is just when you want it to work with Internet Exploder it boggles the mind what happens when something generated by an MS product is viewed in a non-MS app.
The absolutely critical difficulty with blindly recommending ANY software is that unless one has a feel for the PURPOSE it will be used for, you cannot make an intelligent suggestion.
Please let me make it clear that what works best for me and mine, may not be what you need, but a lot of thought and planning when into our choices, so for this discussion, while not the only options, ZenCart! is the one I know best.
The second step/recommendation I prefer to make is to get and read until your head stops hurting Liz Castro’s book Creating a Web Page with HTML
So what is an Artisan, Self-Publisher or Teacher of Fiber/Needle Artisan or Retailer to do?
It really does not matter if you are an individual artisan, or doing business as a wholesaler or even a retailer who does or does not wish to “sell on the web”.
FWIW – I think anyone who wants to build and/or maintain their own website needs to realize that there are at least THREE maybe FOUR Browsers you need to be sure the final product looks at least OKAY when viewed using those – FireFox, Opera, Safari and possibly Google’s Chrome and maybe others.
In addition, one needs to at least consider how/if it will display in Iphone and similar apps.
As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I think that ANYONE who sells at ANY Level, should at least consider using a Shopping Cart as their primary “vehicle”. There are several that are open source (free) and well supported by their individual community. In addition, there are a variety of add-in/mods
Personally I am a fan of ZenCart! but then I have invested a serious amount of time energy and effort over the last two years to it, others may have/make other choices depending on what they see as their short and long term needs.
I do NOT sell any of the paid mods, but I also do not regret having purchased them. They have made a positive difference – but then it usually takes us months if not weeks to make the buy decision.
Right now we have been building a variety of “test the app” sites and used some in at least one retail domain. We have seen dramatic increases in traffic and even better in orders. Although we do discount for trade professionals in the Retail account, because we do not offer all products for wholesale, so have only very limited “wholesale” customers using that site.
Within the next few weeks*, we expect to “finish” up (or so the two programmers have promised*) the development (nuts and bolts) although not the design (pretty stuff) for a wholesale showcase plus ordering for those eligible for wholesale accounts.
We think that this second site will be what those who restrict their sales to “wholesale to the trade” really need, a showcase for their products, a way to easily keep up to date and provide both a place for Retailers to place their orders, and obtain what they need to use your information for their retail sales – of course, the obligatory blog because that is what will probably continue to drive SEO for at least awhile yet.
For a designer, the way I think of the combination is that your landing page is your business card, your “store” even if it does not allow purchase, is your portfolio and your blog is the “job interview”.
although I have not mentioned much about WordPress in this note, I suppose if forced to make a blind recommendation, it would be reasonable to say that the combination of WordPress and ZenCart! – independently hosted should pretty much meet most of the needs of a Fiber/Needle Artisan.
Interestingly, as I have learned more about ZenCart! I am even seeing ways that, with thought, it can be used exclusively (read that no blog) but you will need to learn a bit of HTML.
Civil comments and questions are welcome on the blog – complimentary or not – so long as the write identifies themselves at least to me. (read that if the user does not have enough gumption to identify themselves to me, then I don’t publish the comment)
*Programmers do not think in the same time frames as the rest of us.
So what you need to do is move to the next unit of time, double it and then you may have a reasonable estimate of when it will really work – Thus, “a few weeks” would likely translate to “a few Month” which doubled, means in about 2 quarters.
Talk about a “BFO” (Blinding Flash of the Obvious) – as we were planning a day of visiting various retail locations to “see what’s out there”, it occurred to me (these things happen at 04:00) that it would have been MUCH simpler if I had less tedious way to make an itinerary.
Okay, I have already said that taking the time to look up the full, NINE digit ZipCode, is really helpful if you want those traveling thru to drop in.
AND, have mentioned my pet peeve – web pages where the STREET address is not easily found on EVERY page of your web presence.
So here is my latest bit of advice – INCLUDE YOUR GPS Coordinates.
Why? Just think about how many folks now have phones that allow them to get directions – all based on GPS technology.
For best results, type in your entire address and it appears that choosing Yahoo as the source might be a bit more accurate than Google Maps.
Once you have the cross hairs where you want them – cut and past the information from the map on your lower left “Center: 39.41355,-76.94434″ into your page as:
Latitude: 39.41355 Longitude: -76.94434
You will have given your potential customer yet another way to find you.
