To quote a friend:

“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.

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.

Most open source programs also have reasonably priced add-in/mods that add IMNHO are essential – SEO, Store Location, Wish Listing, and other “would be nice” things. as well as those “paid” apps, ZenCart not only have many “free” even has a very well written (albeit not free) book available in both bound/printed and e-book formats.

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.

No Idea WHERE to get this information?

It is really easy – IF you know your own address.

First you need to look up your correct Zip + 4 code, easily done courtesy of the
USPS’s Zip Code Lookup feature

Now, using the Zip Plus 4, go to GeoVisualizer’s Converter

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.

Ain’t technology grand!

Since I do not read Japanese, and even if I did…, I would like to find out the correct name for each of the Asian knots pictured below and possibly even a link to where the information might be … in English

Click for larger view

For the sake of context, I usually sleep in the guest room because it is closer to where I needed to be if Mom needed help in the night, and because I tend to be a toss and turner and no surprise Talker when sleeping.

FORTUNATELY I also tend to fall asleep while reading so the light was on.

About 1:30am I woke up and felt something cold and dampish around my upper arm.

Thought we had a roof leak since it seemed to be moving – That must be dripping … right

WRONG – Sat up in time to see a SNAKE almost hidden under the pillow I HAD, up until about 4 seconds ago had wrapped around me. Something I would have missed had the light not been on.

After a non-crucial (it turns out) one or two seconds to take a fast deep breath, dump the waste basket and slam it over the snake.

OKAY NOW WHAT DO I DO?!?!?

Oh my good Lord in Heaven, there is a portion of it sticking out, but if I lift the edge minutely to shove it back in will it escape like the rattler that bit Valerie. What would Valerie do (our cousin who raises snakes) Vaguely I remember seeing Valerie using a flat piece of cardboard to slide under their Snake boxes

I used a 14 inch Double Ended Crochet hook to push its bits under the basket.

and thought, yet again

MMOG, NOW WHAT

All I can say is THANK GOD FOR COLOR CARDS and the fact that most are done with “over sized” cardboard. Better yet thank goodness I was working on some color cross refs yesterday .

Wait, I can’t leave that color card under the snake, what if it makes a mess and damages the samples!

By this time, the colorful words have reached sufficient volume so that TH has somewhat awoken and comes in to see if I am Okay, why are there tissues all over the floor, and why am is standing with my weight baring down on the top of the waste basket where the tissues belong.

No, I AM NOT OKAY, there is a snake under the waste basket and I have

ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT TO DO NEXT?

Following the careful replacing of the Presencia Color Card with an appriopriated size Priority mail box (the guest room is also my “shipping center” but the color card was closer”

After several minutes of discussion, ending with you cannot kill it and are you sure you did not just have a nightmare?

“FINE I will take it outside – but if it is dumb enough to come back, before it is large enough to catch mice, then its safety is NOT assured.”

The boring end to this little adventure. I carried it outside and dumped it into the road (as far as I willing to go in sleepwear.

For those interested in the details. I came back in and sat down to GOOGLE Maryland SNAKES – it appears to be a Black Rat Snake – not a poisonous breed but still not welcome in most people’s beds

Based on the picture in the Wiki entry, it appears to have been a young Black Rat Snake.

Now I need to go call the family herpetologists and find out what to do next – to determine how it got into the house. Likely the same way the field mice do.

I think I will go read email. Hopefully that will be less exciting.

Wheat

P.S. I solemnly promise never to complain about the odd size card stock used by most YARNandTHREAD manufacturers to make their color cards no matter who awkward it is to try to mail them or the awkward shape of that particular (shoe box) priority mail box.

Tiny URL : http://tinyurl.com/snake-blog