ALMOST FUBAR...
I
feel some need to explain the technical problems that
accompanied the October/November issue's web posting.
Ultimately, we got the Zephyr online and for those of you
who were happy to see the end of the PDF downloads, I
could not agree more. But if future efforts to make such
changes prove to be as difficult and labor intensive and
exasperating as this one was, I'd never try it again. And I
would go broke as well.
accompanied the October/November issue's web posting.
Ultimately, we got the Zephyr online and for those of you
who were happy to see the end of the PDF downloads, I
could not agree more. But if future efforts to make such
changes prove to be as difficult and labor intensive and
exasperating as this one was, I'd never try it again. And I
would go broke as well.
For
years Moabite Gary Henderson was my webmaster
and his responsibilities were limited when we were a paper
publication. When I was forced to give up the newsprint,
Gary adapted the PDF format, with my blessings, based in
part on the fact that this publication operates on a shoe
string. Posting the pages as PDFs was a relatively simple
procedure and it rarely took Gary more than four hours to
get the pages online.
and his responsibilities were limited when we were a paper
publication. When I was forced to give up the newsprint,
Gary adapted the PDF format, with my blessings, based in
part on the fact that this publication operates on a shoe
string. Posting the pages as PDFs was a relatively simple
procedure and it rarely took Gary more than four hours to
get the pages online.
But
from the beginning, I received regular complaints
about the PDFs...for some they worked well and down
loaded quickly, for others it was like watching grass grow.
Still more could not get them to open at all. Sometimes
the PDFs downloaded to readers' desktop. Clearly I had to
make a change.
about the PDFs...for some they worked well and down
loaded quickly, for others it was like watching grass grow.
Still more could not get them to open at all. Sometimes
the PDFs downloaded to readers' desktop. Clearly I had to
make a change.
Several
webmasters volunteered proposed options, none
of which Gary felt he had time to pursue, since he only does
web work part-time, and so I finally hired someone else
who assured me he could show and implement "alterna
tives to putting the paper together in a way that will open
quickly and still look like the Zephyr. I know it can be done
pretty easily and once it's in place it'll just be a matter of
plugging in your stuff out of InDesign. Main thing is to
KEEP IT SIMPLE."
of which Gary felt he had time to pursue, since he only does
web work part-time, and so I finally hired someone else
who assured me he could show and implement "alterna
tives to putting the paper together in a way that will open
quickly and still look like the Zephyr. I know it can be done
pretty easily and once it's in place it'll just be a matter of
plugging in your stuff out of InDesign. Main thing is to
KEEP IT SIMPLE."
I
was hesitant and made it clear that I could not afford
any changes that were labor intensive and costly. But fi
nally, I went forward.
any changes that were labor intensive and costly. But fi
nally, I went forward.
I
don't doubt his sincerity or his conviction that the
switch could be "easy" and "simple." But it turned out to
be a nightmare for him and for me.
switch could be "easy" and "simple." But it turned out to
be a nightmare for him and for me.
His
Grand Plan simply did not work. Ultimately he was
trying to cut and paste the entire issue into html style
sheets, a paragraph at a time from the PDFs. The agoniz
ingly slow transfer created hundreds of new typos and dead
links and misplaced and scrambled paragraphs in the pro-
cess.
trying to cut and paste the entire issue into html style
sheets, a paragraph at a time from the PDFs. The agoniz
ingly slow transfer created hundreds of new typos and dead
links and misplaced and scrambled paragraphs in the pro-
cess.
Finally,
five days past our planned posting day, I re
cruited the services of my web host, who was able to access
the site and fix most but not all of the problems. NONE of
the work that had been put into that issue, except perhaps
the home page, could be used again. As one web designer
noted, it had too "much internal spaghetti and bad devel
opment practices" to even consider using it for this issue.
cruited the services of my web host, who was able to access
the site and fix most but not all of the problems. NONE of
the work that had been put into that issue, except perhaps
the home page, could be used again. As one web designer
noted, it had too "much internal spaghetti and bad devel
opment practices" to even consider using it for this issue.
We
finally put October/November online late on October
3. As I type this, weeks before this issue is posted, I am still
not sure how we are going to accomplish that task.
3. As I type this, weeks before this issue is posted, I am still
not sure how we are going to accomplish that task.
In
the long term, I may heed the advice of the web host
and completely abandon the "newspaper look" of The Zeph
yr. He suggests I post the entire site within WordPress. I
would, in fact, welcome your thoughts. Are you agreeable
to a Zephyr web site that looks like everyone else's? It may
come to that.
and completely abandon the "newspaper look" of The Zeph
yr. He suggests I post the entire site within WordPress. I
would, in fact, welcome your thoughts. Are you agreeable
to a Zephyr web site that looks like everyone else's? It may
come to that.
I
do have one ace up my sleeve and if this edition offers
an html version that makes the PDFs an option and allows
you to flip from one page to the next, you will know that
my Ace worked. If it doesn't, then we must retreat in the
short-term to the PDF format until next June. I hope you
will bear with me. I am doing my best.
an html version that makes the PDFs an option and allows
you to flip from one page to the next, you will know that
my Ace worked. If it doesn't, then we must retreat in the
short-term to the PDF format until next June. I hope you
will bear with me. I am doing my best.
OBAMA and "PROGRESSIVES"
...ONE YEAR LATER
...ONE YEAR LATER
It
has been more than a year since Barack Obama's stun
ning presidential victory. I was 10,000 miles away on elec
tion night but even from my remote location, the jubilation
was palpable. It was an incredible evening.
ning presidential victory. I was 10,000 miles away on elec
tion night but even from my remote location, the jubilation
was palpable. It was an incredible evening.
That
night I received an email from longtime Grand
County resident and political/environmental activist Dave
Erhley. Though I was j ust one of many recipients, since The
Zephyr seemed to play a role in his message, I probably
interpreted his words a bit more personally. I was inclined
to respond immediately, perhaps even in the next issue of
The Zephyr. But I decided to give it some time.
County resident and political/environmental activist Dave
Erhley. Though I was j ust one of many recipients, since The
Zephyr seemed to play a role in his message, I probably
interpreted his words a bit more personally. I was inclined
to respond immediately, perhaps even in the next issue of
The Zephyr. But I decided to give it some time.
Now, a year later, I think the time has come. First here
is Dave's email:
is Dave's email:
Dear all,
Obama
carried Grand County, Utah. The progressive,
green, candidate won all three contested County Council
seats and the progressives now have a clear majority on
the Council. How loud can I sing "Happy Days are here
again"? This all reflects the demographic changes that
have occurred in Grand County in the last four years...
Fallout from the amenities economy I guess...
green, candidate won all three contested County Council
seats and the progressives now have a clear majority on
the Council. How loud can I sing "Happy Days are here
again"? This all reflects the demographic changes that
have occurred in Grand County in the last four years...
Fallout from the amenities economy I guess...
So
this Fall, we have lost Jim Stiles and the Canyon
Country Zephyr to Australia but we, progressives, have
gained political standing locally. Jim, this is another as
pect of the amenities economy you have been hammering
on.I hope you have the courage to discuss the pros and not
just the cons of the demographic shift you outline so well
in Brave New West. I must say, I will miss the Zephyr but
I WELCOME this new political environment here behind
the Zion Curtain in Grand County. Oh, Happy Day!!!
Country Zephyr to Australia but we, progressives, have
gained political standing locally. Jim, this is another as
pect of the amenities economy you have been hammering
on.I hope you have the courage to discuss the pros and not
just the cons of the demographic shift you outline so well
in Brave New West. I must say, I will miss the Zephyr but
I WELCOME this new political environment here behind
the Zion Curtain in Grand County. Oh, Happy Day!!!
Dave Ehrley
In
the last year I have pondered the meaning of "pro
gressive" or "green" or "liberal" and its true meaning, and
frankly it has become a bit hazy to me, Certainly there are
essential differences between the two major parties, some
times inflexible positions that I once called "ideological
entrenchment," but now I'm not so sure ideology has any
thing to do with it. It has more to do with "partisan intrac
tability."
gressive" or "green" or "liberal" and its true meaning, and
frankly it has become a bit hazy to me, Certainly there are
essential differences between the two major parties, some
times inflexible positions that I once called "ideological
entrenchment," but now I'm not so sure ideology has any
thing to do with it. It has more to do with "partisan intrac
tability."
It has been
more than a
year since
Barack
Obama's
stunning
presidential
victory..
more than a
year since
Barack
Obama's
stunning
presidential
victory..
It was an
incredible
evening.
Is
there a difference anymore in the minds of most knee-
jerk liberals and conservatives between rhetoric and real
action? Just because some politician gives a speech, does
that really change anything, or does it simply make the
speaker's constituency feel better? Have we come to the
point where "feeling better" is all that matters?
jerk liberals and conservatives between rhetoric and real
action? Just because some politician gives a speech, does
that really change anything, or does it simply make the
speaker's constituency feel better? Have we come to the
point where "feeling better" is all that matters?
With
passion and conviction and eloquence, Obama
promised real change for our country during his historic
campaign. And I am eager to acknowledge that "partisan
intractability" comes from both ends of the political spec
trum—the right wing propagandists never fail to disap
point me when it comes to shameless and hysterical distor
tion. Still, I'm not sure at times what they're frothing over.
On many levels, policy has not changed all that much.
promised real change for our country during his historic
campaign. And I am eager to acknowledge that "partisan
intractability" comes from both ends of the political spec
trum—the right wing propagandists never fail to disap
point me when it comes to shameless and hysterical distor
tion. Still, I'm not sure at times what they're frothing over.
On many levels, policy has not changed all that much.
More
than anything, President Obama benefits from the
fact that he succeeds one of the worst and certainly the
most inarticulate president in the history of this republic.
He cannot help but fare well by comparison. But is that
good enough to placate and even seduce his supporters?
fact that he succeeds one of the worst and certainly the
most inarticulate president in the history of this republic.
He cannot help but fare well by comparison. But is that
good enough to placate and even seduce his supporters?
I look off over the shore of my western sea,
having arrived at last where I am...
the circle almost circled.
But where is what I started for so long ago,
and why is it yet unfound?
2 Walt Whitman