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  Updated December 28, 2016 | By Bob Fugett

      Forum - 2013

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#Time ESTNameComment                       Bob's Response
673812/30/2013 11:26:37 AMGuild
Forum
To keep the Forum loading fast, it is now divided into separate years with a navigation bar added beneath the "Currently Showing" prompt above and below the comments section.


(and update your Bookmarks)

67373/2/2014 10:03:19 AM
SLU
Λ Ω Φ



67363/1/2014 11:26:06 AMSugar Loaf
University
Branding
Cowpokes
Jessica Hengen was very excited when Mary delivered t-shirts to her class this morning, and suggested adding names of those who give classes to the back of the shirts.

That is a great idea, but the t-shirts are a world class branding exercise which must be as simple as possible in order to keep the message clear.

The simple design and text of the t-shirt reinforces the branding of Sugar Loaf as a center for the arts and education.

Sugar Loaf has long since been a mecca for the arts with significant educational opportunity being offered by many of the artists living and working here, but that message has been diluted over the years.

The typical advertising for a typical town with typically trendy shops will of course have everybody's name plastered all over every hand-out, promotional item, print ad, and television spot produced (the only way to get anybody to contribute) while every person who looks at any of it will be put to sleep immediately.

Sugar Loaf is better than that.

There are people in Sugar Loaf who are the best of the best at what they do, and many of them give classes helping others become the best as well.

As a branding exercise the Sugar Loaf University t-shirts are kept as simple as possible so the message of the excellence of Sugar Loaf rings through loud and clear.

The shirts are meant to engender discussion and pose questions instead of shutting down conversation with immediate cliché answers as in, "Oh, another t-shirt with a bunch of advertising on it."

One such conversation occurred in Anne Marie's Deli this morning between Mary Endico and Spencer Effron.

Spencer was over-the-top excited to get his free t-shirt yesterday, and today he told Mary how much his daughter also loved the t-shirt but asked him, "Where is Sugar Loaf University?"

Spencer told her it was a gag, so Mary got the opportunity to explain that it is not a joke ... real college credit can be received from numerous classes which have been ongoing for years in Sugar Loaf.

Clay Boone has students who have been with him more than 20 years!

Plus there are many more stories similar to Clay's (see some of Clay's students work), but nobody ever talks about it, and the people giving those classes have never needed to advertise.

I just got sick and tired of hearing Sugar Loaf referred to as a laughing stock by people who have never been given a clue, so I decided to do something about it.

Anyway, the truth has always been here right under everybody's noses, so click for more information about Sugar Loaf University.

And the next time Mary finds herself in the situation of having to explain, I hope she has memorized the following statement (the rest will be obvious): "The Sugar Loaf University t-shirts are a branding exercise clear and simple."

As for myself (since I am an artist) I would never do anything just for the sake of branding, so I have to admit that my main interest in the t-shirts has nothing to do with Sugar Loaf at all but is merely a study in semiotics.

A very successful study I might add.

67342/28/2014 8:56:04 AMConnieYesterday at the pottery studio a student admired my Sugar Loaf University T-shirt.

"Where is Sugar Loaf University?" she asked.

I answered, "Right here, you're standing in it. You're already a part of it."

Next scene: "Sqeeaall ... I want one!"

"What size?"

"Thank you, how much do I owe for this?"

"Nothing, Bob and Mary of Endico Watercolors had the shirts printed to promote Take Time to Learn."

"That is brilliant! I love it!"

And with that, the shirt was on her body.

I was asked to send her Thanks.

And at that point you found the submittal form for the Sugar Loaf Guild Forum was kaplooied, reported it, and got it fixed.

Proving once again that this most special of places for learning, achieving, and improving (Sugar Loaf, New York) is the most special place of learning, achieving, and improving there is.

The only suggestion I might have to better it is: "We need more Connie's."

67312/27/2014 10:14:16 AMStew
Dehnt
I am interested in taking one of the Sugar Loaf University courses for college credit.

I saw somebody wearing the t-shirt and got the website from it.

The page said to post here for information.

What do I have to do?

Nothing to it, easy as pie.

I will send you e-mail and help you get all set up.

BTW: I do not get paid for this, but it is my honor and privilege to help.

67292/18/2014 8:20:33 PMWTFAll things considered, I have no idea what you have been talking about.


There are artists in Sugar Loaf who do the same level work but have told me (or Mary) specifically that they wish to not be famous, nor to be shown online.

On the other hand, there are people (not artists) who constantly complain about how bad their business is, as if they were not in control of it.

I have done what I can.

C'est fini.

67282/18/2014 2:20:19 PMCuryousDo you think Vero will be keeping an ear out for the next great artist enclave and report back?

I hope so.

67272/18/2014 1:25:16 PMVeroI love the Sugar Loaf University Idea - not that you need my approval, I just felt like giving it. Been very busy and not on your site much - my loss I'm sure - keep kicking ass creative beings. I know I am. Namaste.

Oh, I don't know, I'm pretty sure we can use your approval. Sawadee krup.

67252/16/2014 9:28:43 AMGuild
Staff
Snow
Recovery
Focus
Group
Randy, your special once in a lifetime parking space is again prepared for your use ... today only!

Have to tell you, yesterday during the snowstorm the Endico Studio made enough money to pay your rent for the month.

Like I said guys, hope this doesn't blow up in your face.

Also hope that someday Randy will be able to make his rent in a single snow day.

67242/15/2014 11:27:42 PMBradHi Bob, I made a change or two on the site.

Can you help me figure out why my image 662.jpg won't show up in the lobby?

The path looks fine to me so I can't figure it out.

You are right; your path statement is correct, but the 662.jpg does not exist in that folder on your website; probably got lost in the shuffle.

Grab the thumbnail to copy over from here:

1) Right click.

2) Save Picture As...

67232/15/2014 11:40:05 AMBob
Fugett
Randy, after the last Guild Meeting (5 minutes ago in the Endico Studio), I realized I missed telling you the full story Clay told us at a previous meeting with regard to why he never attends meetings.

It is a very interesting story, and I'll give you the run down during the next meeting as one of the Old Business agenda items.

Or maybe we could hook up with Clay, and he can tell you directly; he loves to yack about the past (we just can't call it a meeting).

I have to say I don't like the looks of this.

67212/15/2014 9:32:52 AMGuild
Staff
ONCE IN A LIFETIME
SPECIAL FOR
RANDY BROWN

Yo Randy, we have ok'd it with Endico that you may park in the studio parking lot today, if you should choose to come open Bee Positive.

BTW: There is a nice path already shoveled to your door.

You guys are always doing something weird.

You should probably add that the parking lot is also open to Sugar Loaf University students (both credit and non-credit).

Hope this doesn't blow up in your face.

67192/14/2014 11:13:18 PMCab
LeFevre
Describe your reaction to tomorrow's predicted 3 to 5 inches more snow.

Dissociative episode.

67182/14/2014 11:49:02 AMSnowdenMust be brutal.

Well, kids, let me tell you about back in the day: Mary and I would dig out by hand all the way from the far down way in the back bottom of Scott's Meadow up past all the empty week-end shops to Kings Highway using a shared sort-of-half-shovel we bought at some yard sale for a nickel.

I think the weekenders would show up and assume the owners of the Meadow had it done, never had a clue it was us.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

67172/14/2014 9:22:06 AMRandyAs pretty (albeit only for a moment) as it may look sometimes, I don't like to play or work in that stuff.

Maybe the view from Roamer's Alley may change my mind.

Oh, it is going to change your mind all right.

My quandary is trying to decide if your spelling of the place is a tongue and cheek nod toward my writings about how it is named after a family, not an activity; or if you really did miss that it is Romers' Alley.

However, as I put it so eloquently prior, "Nobody cares."

On the other hand your enlightening will probably be somewhat delayed as it is unlikely the Alley will be dug out from under the snow until late June at the earliest, no matter what you call it.

Can't blame them much, I shoveled us out 5 times last night and Mary did another this morning, but it still looks like we haven't done a thing.

At the time of the UPS photo yesterday (bringing matboard for Mary to finish some custom jobs), there were already 10 inches on the ground.

The plowing service should be here as soon as they finish the Barnsider parking lot.

So there goes last month's profits, but I am sure our lovely neighbors will be thanking us for it.

67162/13/2014 1:22:31 PMWynn
Turh
Can you imagine, some people are actually rich enough to play in the snow?!

On the other hand, lots of us are getting to work in it:

67142/11/2014 12:33:11 PMCam
Fan
That giant digital camera you guys have in the Endico Watercolor Studio, you got that because the Museum of Modern Art in New York City uses the same one, right?

Not exactly.

It was the year 2000 and nobody thought digital photography could ever be as good as film, but I knew better.

I spent three months researching cameras looking for one that would do the job, and it turned out to be a very hard thing to find.

I had to learn all about digital photography and compare lots and lots of technical specs.

When I finished the research I told the manufacturer not to waste our time but just put us in touch with their best installer.

Only after I told the installer what we wanted and contracted for them to deliver did I find out they had just installed the exact same system for the Museum of Modern Art; plus the Vatican and U.S. Department of Defense used the same.

I assume those places hired teams of fancy consultants to come to the same conclusion I did myself.

The technology is used for satellite imaging applications such as Google Earth.

At one point I had to talk to the Department of Defense about how they handled a problem with the lighting, and their solution brought us closer to where we wanted to be, but it didn't totally get the output up to the quality Mary and I demand ... so we worked a little more on our own to get it going.

In any case, in retrospect the camera was the right choice, because 14 years later it still has three (3) times greater resolution than most current high-end cameras, and that is even before considering the large format camera mount and lens optics which really make it special.

It was expensive though ... cost us a little more than two (2) nice houses in Middletown would have cost at the time.

I don't know what I would have done with two more houses, but we have photographed well over 6,000 of Mary's hand painted original watercolors with no end in sight.

Thank goodness people in Orange County, New York have a sophisticated eye for fine art and like to buy expensive paintings.

I am sure nobody in Sugar Loaf has a clue we have the camera, nor would they know what it means if they did.

67132/9/2014 10:37:02 PMCuryousI see where you added one of Connie's pieces to the bottom of the search page as an addendum expansion for:

That page makes you seem a little whiny; are you feeling sorry for yourself?

Hell no, I have had the pleasure of knowing Clay Boone, Connie Rose, and Mary Endico; nobody is so lucky.

I am just going to find someplace with more people like them and finally get my ass out of this laughing stock little hamlet where people like those three (3) have become the exception rather than the rule.

67112/5/2014 12:37:41 AMBob
Fugett

Well, that's not going to go over well.

67082/2/2014 8:45:05 PMJames
Lynch
founder of
Fforest Camp
It’s my experience that artist communities are almost always camps because they appropriate space that nobody else wants (at the time), but by virtue of a creative progressive view of neighborhoods they create a demand from others that ultimately marginalizes them, so they are forever transient.

No way!

You mean the events in the stories I wrote (ongoing) are universals that have also happened elsewhere?

I knew my stories were great literature, but who knew just how great.

In any case, by your saying "marginalizes them," I'm assuming you meant to say, "… marginalizes the artists who built them."

Did you yourself get chided for pointing out these simple obvious facts?

Maybe it is merely the truth that makes them transient.

People don't seem to like the truth, while those who speak it are constantly searching for others who are comfortable with it ... or at least for those who won't go off the deep end when the truth is carefully stated.

I must mention that Sugar Loaf, NY expresses a rather long standing enduring legacy, but that seems to be because it is a "true artist community" not just another beneficiary of the slap-dash moniker now being applied to every trendy strip mall plus legions of socially engineered corporate land use developments all over the place, every one of them supported by donor dollars, not commerce, in order to keep the artists under control.

Still, what you say rings true.

You'd be surprised how many people live and work in Sugar Loaf but remain oblivious to the vast resources that are here ... in quality and quantity like nowhere else.

Can't really blame people for being oblivious; there are those in Sugar Loaf who profit significantly by keeping those facts hidden and have become quite skilled and aggressive in doing so.

66971/30/2014 4:11:00 PMBob
Fugett


Notice that circa 1980 we were handling at least one major event every single month of the year.

Yeah, we were special.

The full story starts HERE.

66962/6/2014 12:56:26 AMConnieDear Bob and Mary,

You tell the truth.

Most people don't like the truth.

Duh.

And even if they do admit the truth, about their life, and their family and their hopes, and dreams, dreams and foibles, there is the question of:

"If I change my way of thinking, was it all for naught?"

Very few could find the strength in themselves, even if they had the talent, to do what you two have acomplished.

So let the dreamers dream, and the haters hate, and the lovers love.

Keep the Forum OPEN.

Stay where you are.

Keep doing the good that you do.

Connie!

You are a person who gets out and about, and you know things and people, so maybe you have a lead on where the next great artist community is happening.

I am pretty sure Burning Man has seen its day, Sun Dance is played, plus Sturgis has gone the way of Daytona etc, while South Beach only has its moments, but in the old days artists would show up for the (becoming) famous Sugar Loaf shows and everybody would be all chatty and full of information about where the actual workers were who were working on doing their work (though everybody was very envious of those of us here in Sugar Loaf), but as Mary and I found out this year, those days are gone, so we are relying on you to have a thought.

Anything in the air?

The place we are looking for will at the moment look very much like Scott's Meadow does right now today (just as it did way back when), but it will not yet be surrounded by a bunch of useless yuppies who believe they should be earning a full-time wage from a part time effort, along with those who will not even apply their name to their thoughts.

It will be a place nobody has yet heard about, and except for the people who are working there, it will be a place everybody is scared to come to and would never think about starting a business in it, and certainly never want to live there.

It will be without banners and overdone signage.

It will also not look like an easy mark to "make shitloads of money" where the locals couldn't possibly know what they are doing.

It will be a place where you will hear words said about it such as, "What?! Are you crazy? Why would you want to go there to live and start a business? You'll starve."

It will look very much like today's Detroit (but without the skyscrapers, small enough to manage), and in order to suit Mary it will have to be a little warmer than Sugar Loaf.

There will be no leaders, no organizations, no rhyme, no reason, no nonsense.

The people living and working there will appear crazy to the outside world, totally bonkers, rabid about their work, very un-American.

You know, the people there will say things like the first line on Andy’s website (“I love what I do …”), but they will actually mean it.

People who teach there will be giving people the real deal information and skills they have spent years perfecting, not just the "experience."

I understand that Mary and I are somewhat different from regular folks, but that is the point: there used to be lots of us here, and I am sure there are lots of us someplace else at this very moment.

So if you catch wind of that place, please tell us before it is ruined; we have had enough of this bullshit soulless laughing stock of a Sugar Loaf (paraphrased from Winship's words with a nod to Luft Gardens).

And while you are thinking about where that place might be, put down your bottle and flag us gone.

BTW: Talent is bullshit; work is the thing, and of course it is all for naught, always has been, always will be, but that has nothing to do with the doing of it.

66931/29/2014 2:16:16 PMGuild
Internet
Standards
Conformance
Checkers
You were right, Bob.

We took a look at that website (newest result of that scam initiative), and it is definitely using old technology — totally incompatible with most of today's web browsers.

You probably feel vindicated.

Not really.

I'm not even going to mention the problem to anybody, because last time I did they blamed it on me.

Think I'll just be veh-wee, veh-wee quiet till all this stuff works itself out and I receive a written letter of apology.

Mum's the word.

66921/29/2014 10:10:01 AMGuild
Relocation
Spotters
YO! RANDY'S
BROTHER

Yo, Randy's brother, Randy says you ran across an alternative to Sugar Loaf somewhere in Arizona that is full of top quality artists working on the continual pursuit of improvement and running their businesses full time with an overtime commitment — that is to say something very similar to the old Sugar Loaf.

Randy forgot the name of the town, so if you could post the name here, our core group of successful Sugar Loaf artists can start researching it as a good place to move to.

The en masse migration of Sugar Loaf artists is not going to bode well for the businesses who remain in Sugar Loaf, but enough is enough.

Clay Boone has already been researching Wyoming for us, but we had to explain to him that a bunch of tommy-gun squirrel hunting red-necks are not necessarily artists.

For any of the locals interested in seeing what Sugar Loaf will look like after the artists leave, go down into Scott's Meadow and look around; be aware a movement is currently underway to bring Romers' Alley up to the same fine standard, and the Theatre has recently made significant progress in a similar direction.

As for myself, I am just a little tired of being the only person in town who will point to these facts while the hamlet's major Advertising Agency still refuses to put out a shingle stating their purpose but instead continues pretending to be a jeweler ... and has begun charging people for work the Guild already did for free.

66911/27/2014 9:13:42 AMConniePeople are asking me about the Sugar Loaf University T-shirts.

Are they for sale and how can they get one?

They LOVE the concept of Make Time TO LEARN.

How many of what size do you need?

My plan was to put them on eBay at $100.00 each with the note: "You paid too much for this shirt; let that be your first lesson."

But there will be a massive discount on Connie related shirts, so just tell us how many and what size, and we can order them to put together a deal you can't refuse.

Otherwise, they cannot be bought, they have to be conferred.

66901/26/2014 9:26:23 PMBuzz
Thrill
Brigrade

On the other hand ...


66891/26/2014 9:20:31 PMBuzz
Kill
Brigade
Houston, we have a problem ...

And by "Houston" we mean Randy.

66871/26/2014 3:12:28 PMBob
Fugett
Randy!

While I was in your shop (talking about how slow today is, what with snow, cold, etc), Mary sold a painting to two people from Syosset of whom one had been here in the warmer weather and brought their friend back to see Sugar Loaf, specifically because they were both sick and tired of going to trade shows where it is, "all the same crap," (their words not mine), whereas Sugar Loaf is refreshingly REAL!

Truer words have never been spoken, even if I did not say them myself.

Mary sent them to Jessica, Clay, Stained Glass, 18th Century and you, so try not to dissuade them of their clear understanding of what is special and worth coming back to in Sugar Loaf.

I am pretty sure you will not let us down but will continue to let them see how special this place is.

As an aside, be careful about getting hooked up with people who would like nothing better than to make this little hamlet just exactly like those shows, shops, and outlets, that people are coming here specifically to avoid, and doing so in the dead of winter during some of the worst weather on record.

66861/26/2014 9:19:48 AMRandyFantastic beginning!

I want to join by offering —

The Art
of Communication:

a blend of expressing your creative talents while increasing your communication skills.


I'll be working on the curriculum and present the offering as soon as I move to a larger shop.

Now that's what I'm talkin' 'bout!

There is no town, nowhere, nohow, that's got what Sugar Loaf's got.

Suck on our shorts, big-box stores and mega-malls.

Too, too, too, toooo good!

Thanks, Randy.

66851/25/2014 3:32:57 PMGuild
Faculty


Cool!

66831/25/2014 2:24:18 PMConnie RoseWant to learn a craft?

Want to learn in real time?

With real materials?

With first-rate instruction?

Then Sugar Loaf University should be your choice.

Make time to learn.

I've been attending and teaching and sharing and selling for thirty years.

ERROR: You made a typo, Connie.

In the place of: "Sugar Loaf University should be your choice," it should read, "Connie Rose sould be your choice."

Toughen up, will ya?

BTW: If you run into Randy Brown ask him, "Ok, Randy, now who's yer mommy?!"

66821/24/2014 10:34:56 PMConnieSell the story!

Screw selling the story.

Give away the truth!

The returns are greater.

66811/24/2014 10:13:29 PMEarly
Worm
Did I just watch you put together some text predicting it would achieve not only top Google ranking but SOLO Google ranking; then you made it happen ... in three (3) days?

And you say it is all simple technique that anybody can do, and for FREE!

One would think the locals would be all over this Sugar Loaf Guild Forum like white on rice trying to learn as much as they can about online promotions and basic computer functioning!

One would think.

66781/24/2014 4:55:57 PMCuryousSo that last post, that was apropos of ... ?

Nothing.

66771/24/2014 12:52:27 PMBene
Kounder
So what do you think; Ray Boswell is going to be holding papers on that house across from Scott's Meadow they couldn't sell?

Based on my morning website usage logs review (Delaware law office trolling the Guild website starting with Boswell's ending with Boswell's plus hitting the Financial page), I just had somebody check it out, and every indication is yes ... couldn't sell it, holding papers.

That is usually the case when you can't get a straight answer.

66761/24/2014 8:54:46 AMRandyHOLY SEARCH ENGINE, BATMAN!!

Excellent, thanks for responding.

I will leave all this up for a couple days to give the other Guild members a chance to see it.

Then I'll simplify the entire Forum and go into hibernation mode while the Chamber flails around trying to figure out how to beat me.

Can't be done.

66751/24/2014 8:11:00 AMBob
Fugett
Ok, Randy, over night the thing happened, so I hope you have been watching.

It only took three days.

From "no search results found" with a bunch of alternative choices to:

Here is what it looked like before:

That has been your lesson on what it means to be a truely unique singularity.

The difference between trying to fight your way to the top of a heap of the trite and typical, versus presenting the world wide web with something actually different.

But enough parlor tricks.

Post here or e-mail Mary just as soon as you see this (a repeat of the link on post #6673 for convenience).

Then I can hide these last few posts from the prying eyes of those who would do us harm.

66741/23/2014 11:48:21 PMGuild
Flagrant
Promotions
Focus
Group
Randy, while we are waiting a few more days for the other search to resolve, take a look at this:

Any questions?

Once again, totally easy, TOTALLY FREE!

66731/21/2014 5:08:47 PMCuryousBut why?

Because I can ...



Randy, hopefully the link below will not get to you too late for you to watch this happen:

Bookmark (Favorite) the Google returns for the link immediately above, and check back over the next few days to see what happens.

Keep quiet about it, and don't tell anybody what you observe.

11/24/14 update: Actually that only took three days, but here is what it looked like before:

66721/21/2014 1:17:51 PMSkipp
Dek
Yeah, but will Randy's stuff show up for sale on Internet search engines?

Absolutely; just takes a few days ... and it is easy and TOTALLY FREE?!

66711/21/2014 1:13:51 PMGuild
Online
Sales
Tech
By the way, Randy, we have also provided you a FREE online sales module at:

Mary will show you how to do it for yourself, takes a couple minutes, nothing to it (actually takes less effort than the bullshit requirements for the new Chamber social media nonsense), and it is FREE - TOTALLY FREE.

Yeah, I tried to show this to Country Life, but the guy had some odd beliefs that it had to be complicated; plus he was spending $800.00 per year just for his overly complex website.

He wouldn't listen, and now he is gone ... much the same way most of the people going along with the recent Internet Scam will also be gone soon enough.

The scammers will just move on to prey on the next set of unwary newcommers.

Anyway, Mary will drop by, show you how to do this for yourself — all free, already set up, all simple, the Guild gets nothing, and did I mention - TOTALLY FREE?!

66691/20/2014 9:38:18 PMBob
Fugett
Well, Randy, now you've done it; now you've really done it.

It has come to my attention that you have chosen to stay away from that social media web presence scam which was specifically initiated in an attempt to shut down the Sugar Loaf Guild website.

Of course, I realize you did not refuse to partake for my benefit but because you understand it is worthless foolishness; however, you still win a boost to your own Guild web presence pages.

It is a reward for your clarity of observation if nothing else.

Otherwise all of our projects with regard to those people who did participate have been placed on hold (for reasons explained below).

Also you mentioned that people are finding your pages easily enough (I am the best there is with search engine optimization), but many are disappointed that your work is not yet displayed.

So while we are taking a break from development of the other stuff on the Sugar Loaf Guild website, we will focus on getting more of your images online.

In any case, I will still have to endure a brief time when those haters pretend their initiatives are working before the final recognition settles in about their assured failure, and I would be stupid to be adding to the Guild website while that process is ongoing.

There is an old story about a heated cycling competition wherein somebody complained that one of my friends was not pulling his fair share, but my friend shouted back, "You are just trying to beat me, and I am not going to help you do that."

The Sugar Loaf Guild website and programs have been a massive benefit to local businesses, those against us included, but I would be stupid to continue helping people who are actively trying to injure us while they take the credit for results of my work and at the same time are charging for services we have offered every shop in town for free.

I am not going to help them beat us.

The trouble makers are certainly not long for this little hamlet, so when this is all over Mary and I can get back to our standard all out full steam ahead promotion of the town's artistry.

In the meantime, here is a little gift to you.

You know I like to work in real time, improvising on the world stage, so here is your new page in progress:

Everything I say about your work on the page is true just so long as you never forget that Clay's yer daddy, Connie's yer mommy, and Mary is your big accomplished sister, etc, etc.

66681/20/2014 2:32:09 PMSam Zon
Pillers
I just saw where a business that failed to make it in Sugar Loaf is now providing infra-structure and advice on how to make it in Sugar Loaf!

Makes no sense to me either.

66671/19/2014 9:05:16 PMGuild
Security
Bob, show Randy something about that MIT et al attack.

Ok.

Randy, here we go; you will see right away that something happened, even though the images are not large enough to see the actual numbers; in fact the numbers would just make it harder to see.

These are screen shots taken from my logs review this morning, and what you are looking at is merely a Microsoft Access Database file that I designed to filter and arrange the raw data so it makes sense.

Image number 1 is a typical screen of attachments to the Sugar Loaf Guild website; you will notice it is quite sparse (and if I showed it to you in person I could show you how most of it is bots but programs such as Google Analytics, not to mention those scam artists who just raped this little Sugar Loaf community with Vapor Ware and in the future will take credit for work I have already done, would report these results as thousands of hits):

Column A shows the IP#'s while Column B shows the "referers" (such as Google, Bing, tweety-face, or another website, etc):


Image 2 below is page 1 of 4 of the attack, and you will first note there are no "referers" (these hits came from nowhere):

Put the images in separate TABS for easy comparison.

Pay attention to the extreme regularity of columns between A and B in the Attack version (there are slight variations that can be seen on closer inspection as the attackers tried numerous paths to access the database).

You will also see in Column A that the IP#'s from which the attachments come are changing regularly.

The numbers occurred in blocks in the order shown below starting with the first one at MIT:

18.187.1.68
173.254.216.68
199.254.238.44
166.70.207.2
72.52.91.19
128.6.224.107
173.254.216.67
18.187.1.68
64.113.32.29
128.6.224.107
216.218.134.12
173.254.216.68
208.115.111.71
64.113.32.29
204.8.156.142
72.52.91.19
216.218.134.12
173.254.216.68
64.113.32.29
173.254.216.68
18.187.1.68
128.6.224.107
178.18.17.204
18.187.1.68
66.180.193.219
18.187.1.68
173.254.216.68
204.8.156.142
184.105.182.85
72.52.91.19
204.8.156.142
72.52.91.19
128.6.224.107
128.6.224.107

Several of the numbers were repeated while MIT (the apparent ring leader) appeared 5 times.

So sad for MIT that they do not have 10 teams combined that could touch the hem of my online skills.

The entire attack took 26 minutes 21 seconds with less than a half dozen other attachments during that time period (which is itself an anomaly).

Below is a link to ARIN, the Internet naming authority, where you can check the point of origin for the IP#'s starting at MIT, then San Francisco, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Fremont, Rutgers, etc.

Copy/paste the numbers into the top right entry box:

After you have had your fill of IP# tracking, take a look at the link below which shows the page that people who piss me off are forever after bumped onto when they try to attach to the Sugar Loaf Guild:

Thanks to Connie Rose for the image that she cut from the Sugar Loaf Guild town brochure (in about a second and a half) while talking to me about the weather or something.

Man, does this little town have TALENT, or what?!

66661/19/2014 12:05:48 PMRandyReferences? Hell, I thought I was doing well just to figure out the Symbols.

Ok, here's a starter hint: translate the Greek letters to English phonetically, and look at it; sound it out.

The English letter equivalent for the first symbol is?

The second?

The third?

Put 'em together and ... ?

66651/19/2014 11:36:23 AMGuild
Security
Yesterday the Sugar Loaf Guild website was the target of a coordinated attack initiated from an IP# at MIT; followed in rapid succession by Rutgers; then near Fremont, CA, and someplace in Michigan, plus a separate Boston area IP#.

It was a very humorous and unsuccessful attack, in which they tried repeatedly to break into the underlying database using several different methods.

Very funny because they were using attack methods that would have worked if the Sugar Loaf Guild website was structured the way most websites today are built, but the underlying files of the Sugar Loaf Guild are hand coded singularities which do not respond the way the attackers would suspect.

However, here is the big secret: there is nothing on the Sugar Loaf Guild website, so the people at MIT (just like that nasty forum poster had done previously) were merely tilting at ghosts.

Better luck next time, numbskulls.

I think you are making a big mistake giving away that much information.

You should keep quiet about the attack, and report all the new activity as a "significant increase in web activity" due to "specific successes with social media initiatives."

That's what everybody else does.

Oh, that's right (I forgot), you are not getting paid for this.

66641/19/2014 9:25:11 AMRandyLAMDA OMEGA PHI

    SLU

Am I to assume this indicates you have tracked down all the references?

And you are leaving the sound of this particular one hand clapping unstated in order for the next person to have the fun of figuring it out?

As an aside, LAMDA <> LAMBDA, but I am sure you knew that.

66621/18/2014 11:47:59 AMGuild
Perimeter
Watch
Attention Guild members: the forces of evil are aligning against us.

I don't know if that is an old story, or a new story, but it is certainly the same story.

66601/16/2014 9:21:00 PMGuild
Search
Engine
Optimization
and
Rankings
Pummelers

Calling all Randy's!


66591/16/2014 8:11:29 PMP SmithDear Mary,

Your fantastic painting arrived this afternoon in perfect condition.

It is beautiful and is full of fantastically positive energy, and we will gain from it each and every day.

I would love to hear how you produced this piece, and we are both so grateful to you and Bob, plus Mac for linking us.

I have been humbled throughout our communication.

I am in your debt!!! Pam

You have failed the test.

Positive energy is the absolute very least aspect of the painting to consider (almost equal in irrelevance to "beauty"), both in intent and in execution.

Sorry.

You have the option of tracking down a truly gifted watercolor artist, showing them the piece, and then letting them explain the difficulties overcome in the production of such a museum quality piece.

If they do not use the term "mud" as the most likely potential pitfall and outcome (especially in light of it being accomplished using "wet-on-wet" technique), you should dump them as a consultant and move on to a more thorough search for deeper expertise.

After you feel you have successfully completed your review, and have confidence in truly understanding the work, you may re-apply for certification.

At that time the follow up question will concern the impossibility of accurate reproduction of the painting you are looking at in any other medium: an original is an original is an original.

A guideline for gaining understanding is to compare the piece you have to posters, prints, and fine art books, plus online images ... looking closely at the color temperature value variations plus depth of dye saturation and detail overall.

Keep in mind that merely the (successful) inclusion of such wide temperature range variations within a single piece is in itself a mark of mastery, and that should get you started.

I have toggled your note over here to the Guild Forum, because the Endico Forum is reserved for Mary's fans.

BTW: You do not owe us a thing; give it to MacMurray College.

66571/16/2014 2:18:31 AMGuild
Faculty
The year has begun, so listen up!

The new T-shirts are at the screen printers; the new ads are ready to run, and the required paperwork is complete; so everybody, "START YOUR ENGINES!"

66551/15/2014 10:36:47 AMCuryousWhat do you think the BIG problem is?

People acting as if their life is set, while waiting to be set for life.

[That's right, Randy; you've never heard that before; it's mine.]

66541/14/2014 6:46:22 PMSmith, PhDBob, I am always open to improvement; and, having considered your critique, please know that you and Mary are the two most accomplished people I have known.

I am truly in awe of what you guys have done, and I recognize your crediting what you have been able to do, to what you learned at Macmurray College.

As you know, I have not yet received my Endico, and I expect to be even more grateful when it arrives.

I am so proud to know you and truly am humbled that you responded ... you know that I have genuine experience with someone who tried to survive as a painter.

TU!

P

I must say you are not the most apt of students, because that was toned down almost not at all.

I thought I was going to have to call an intervention for the person posting all the nastiness, but now I will be sure to expand the interventions to include your own over the top flatteries.

Maybe you just need to get out more, but I can tell you without question my compatriots in Sugar Loaf are laughing their asses off at the thought of my being any more than just a run of the mill everyday Sugar Loaf artist.

The person you know who tried to survive as a painter only made the simple mistake of not trying to do it in Sugar Loaf, the one true place in the universe where a life in the arts is not only possible, but probable.

In any case, assuming we are talking about the same person, I know for a fact the work that I do (and Mary's as well) is but a poor reference to that person's own level of talent and skill.

Right place, right time for us (which as it turns out is this place and anytime).

UPS says your painting arrives by Thursday.

There will be a test.

66531/14/2014 11:48:46 AMAnonymousWow!

Mary Endico was just here in the Boswell Pottery Studio, and somebody mentioned they didn't know who she is.

Man, I had to take several steps back believing she was gonna blow.

Yes, I have been coaching her.

BTW: I think I do know who you are, Connie Rose.

66521/14/2014 9:51:23 AMP SmithI have just been informed that your generous gift has been received by Mac!

Nothing has ever been done like that in association with me.

I am humbled that such an outstanding and accomplished person as Bob Fugett would do this!

Thank you and know that you and Mary are highly valued. P

Thank you for the kind words, but I am merely average and typical of the creative people in this little out of the way hamlet of world class artists.

Though I grant you it has been rather difficult keeping that clear, because there are significant commercial interests allied against us and working overtime trying to hide that fact.

Otherwise, I have been helping people with their writing skills, so if you will allow me a comment regarding your own.

I would tone it down a little on the "outstanding and accomplished" part, while the term "person" has been the subject of much debate.

66511/13/2014 9:22:25 PMRandy
Brown
Hi Mary (and Bob:)

I don't remember how I helped ... not a surprise ... but I'm always glad to expose ignorance when and where I can.

I've only been a part of the Sugar Loaf Community for a little less than a year (but I have been visiting for over 30 years), and I have learned that there is no one else here that has contributed as much to the spirit and promotion of our community as you and Bob.

There are others who have done a great job of supporting what we are all about, but their efforts seem to pale in comparison.

I have talked to a lot of people in the last year - you know that I try to learn something about everyone - and everyone who says they have visited twice knows who it is that are the "anchors" in the village.

I start asking "Have you seen this or visited that" - "How did you learn about us"?

They all answer with a vague reference to something they saw or read, and then I give them a copy of the Sugar Loaf Guild Brochure telling them what they can find in it.

Their response is always "Wow, thanks."

It's as if I have given them a treasure map, and actually I have.

I have had a few people return and say it was because they visited the Sugar Loaf Guild website and learned so much about the town, and how there was so much more here than they originally encountered on their first "walk about."

It is the Guild Brochure that leads them to the Guild Website that leads them to the Treasure (a return to Sugar Loaf).

The brochure is beautiful!

It's a work of art ... as it should be.

My hat is off to you and Bob, and my thanks goes to both of you also for your work of art that is the Sugar Loaf Guild website, not to mention I am thrilled that it includes me.

There is a sign in my shop that says "People will forget what you say and forget what you do, but, they will never forget how you made them feel."

The Guild Website welcomes them into a unique place of incredible pictures, color, information and history.

They feel wow'd ... and they remember.

When they get here we all make them feel wowed again by our interest in them... and they remember.

We can't bicker and snipe at one another, and then turn on our heels and say "Hello, welcome to Sugar Loaf" and not have it sound hollow ... they feel it and they remember.

I know I am preaching to the choir.

I know you get it.

I know that the effort you and Bob have put into supporting Sugar Loaf has been phenomenal.

I admire and appreciate your continued efforts in spite of the negativity you sometimes encounter.

If that negativity comes from ignorance, as it often does, then your narrative and Bob's summary recently placed in the forum should clear that up.

If it doesn't come from ignorance for some, then it is from stupidity, and you can't fix stupid.

On the other hand, if it is just malicious or petty (as appears to be the case with the most recent attacks), ignore it.

Never give it credibility or the slightest chance that your thoughts about it could taint the beauty you create.

By the way, I've never had a visitor comment about the Forum to me except my son, and that's because he reads everything.

I read it because I learn something from it each day.

I have seen some comments from visitors and they have all been very positive.

Only intra-community posts have been negative (and from only two point sources at that).

But, you already know that.

As an aside: I thought after I wrote this that I could have put it all in the Forum.

If you would like it included there, I am sure Bob can cut and paste.

Randy, just because you missed one of those nonsense Chamber meetings, and they elected you to something, that doesn't mean you are allowed to speak.

On the other hand, your e-mail regarding the recent spate of malicious comments and commercially motivated misrepresentations of the Guild is typical of the strong outpouring of good wishes we have received, so it is as good a letter as any to represent the feelings of those around us.

The website usage logs show that this most recent mailing (that you are responding to) has proven to be the single most successful promotion (albeit accidental) that has been accomplished in Sugar Loaf since we came here 37 years ago.

I am still reeling from the number of actual human readers that have shown up on the Forum.

It has been the perfect springboard for our full-out Social Media Sockets Campaign, also well under way.

You mention in your letter that you read the Sugar Loaf Guild Forum daily because you learn from it.

So here's a lesson.

Get your butt back to town and get back to work.

You obviously have too much time on your hands.

As for Mary and me, I believe we have made it abundantly clear that we are not making money off the Sugar Loaf Guild; we are spending money on it.

66501/13/2014 9:34:45 AMGuild
Precise
Language
and
Grammar
Checking
Mavins
Kudos to Jay Westerveld (Sugar Loaf Historical Society) for reporting the "Nasitiness" spelling error (now fixed).

If Jay were more open with his communications, the team would have provided a hot-link for that mention of the Sugar Loaf Historical Society.

No need to send people to something that has restricted access.

"Absolutely, totally, 100% open" is our motto.

Lay off Jay; he is just following along with the standard tweety-face nonsense du jour.

Otherwise he reported a typo, and that is a treasure, so get over yourselves.

66491/12/2014 5:56:50 PMBradThanks again for all your help and wisdom!

I'll talk to dad and see what he wants as far as htm page wrappers and information. I assume that will take a lot of work and time to make each htm page the way that I did for the previous lobby larger images.

Sounds good for the photoshop. I'll discuss with him further. Once I get photoshop, that will begin our NEW training. How to resize, how to sharpen images, etc.

I just left Clay a phone message that all his images are up and running.

You will be able to add the html wrappers at your leisure; and once you set up one as a template, it will be just copy paste and changing a couple numbers while most of the organizational work is already done with what is on the Guild version ... unless Clay finally makes it into the 19th Century and realizes there is a whole world going on around him.

Once you have Photoshop up and running, the resize, etc will take less than 5 minutes to show you (much, much easier than anything else you've done), and you can bring your laptop over to Clay's and I'll show you in person ... if you don't realize immediately that I can step you through it online just as fast.

Maybe that cantankerous old granpappy Clay Boone will get happy for a minute or two.

I'll have Mary send you her most recent e-mail response to the nastiness below; you're gonna love it; not to mention we just heard from Jay Westerveld (Sugar Loaf Historical Society) who actually said we are doing GREAT with the Guild website.

Go figure.

66481/12/2014 5:20:48 PMBrad1.) What is the "Template" information at the bottom of the gallery lobby page for? Can I go ahead and hide this?

2.) For each larger image, after clicking on the thumb-image, will I need to make an htm for each of these? Each larger image does not seem to have it's own page. How can I caption these larger images and do all the page wrappings unless they are turned into individual htm pages?

3.) Going forward, when I add new images, I will still have a re-sizing issue that I'll need to discuss further with you. I was unable to purchase photoshop (or some other similar software) due to the expense, as I found they were several hundred dollars to obtain.

4.) This is a good start and my eyes are slightly cross-eyed now!!!!!!!

1) Yes, you can get rid of it; I only left it there for a convenient copy paste for adding new elements.

2) Yes, each image is currently on its own; you can add html wrappers at your leisure if more information is required; you will notice the information provided with the larger images on Clay's Guild version is very sparse, so press Clay to see if he has any actual viewers who are looking for more information; maybe a simple larger image will be enough.

3) Clay said he was going to pay for your Photohsop, and Photoshop Elements is probably all you will ever need; it is $62.99 on Amazon; here is a link:

You could download the PC version instead of waiting for a disk.

4) I think you are pretty much done; ALL of Clay's images are now available from his own website; it takes time to make woodcarvings so he will be adding them very slowly and worse case I will size them for you here, put them on the Guild version, and you can grab them there.

I opened the Lobby.htm page here, and it loaded super fast; you are the BEST!

You might want to remove his cell phone number from the Contact page until he gets it up and running again.

Also 2nd from top left of Organizational Signs is missing both thumb and larger image: #622

Congratulations! That didn't take so very long, right?

66461/12/2014 1:06:10 AMConnieI love this site!Now what are you doing; just goin' along with the crowd?

66451/12/2014 1:05:47 AMSophia K.I am just going to keep this simple and sweet:

I LOVE THIS WEBSITE!

There's no accounting for taste.

66441/12/2014 1:05:29 AMPamela Smith, Ph.D.Dear Bob and Mary,

On behalf of the Board of Trustees for MacMurray College, I write to thank you both and the Sugar Loaf Guild for stimulating a most productive fundraising effort for our College. You, Bob, are proof of the magnificent education that our grads earn when one applies the tools you learned at Mac. As you have seen, Dr. Judith Dozier, Yale University, who has been a long time trustee, sees year after year that our College continues to produce high quality education in a rural community where strong positive relationships with faculty enable students to grow and prepare for a satisfying life post college.

You have both been most generous in sharing your creativity, success and knowledge with all of us who have had the joy to be associated with you. You are a model for all graduates and we will be notifying alumni to that which you have done to help Mac.

The Board will be certain to use the new resources you have generated wisely. Our objective is to deliver a quality education for all students. In order to do this, we need successful endeavors like the one you both have launched and we are open to working with all who can help.

The Sugar Loaf Guild sounds and looks (via web) fantastic and my husband and I cannot wait to visit. I anxiously await the opportunity to hang my Endico painting in a space that Mary kindly led me to fill. Upon my return from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, I will contact you.

Please know that we truly appreciate you, Bob and Mary, and thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Please stay in touch with us!

Bob, so glad you have decided to finish your degree!

Best regards,
Pam Smith


66411/10/2014 8:17:15 PMGuild
Nastiness
Weeders
Thanks to everyone who responded to the most recent e-mail regarding the person who was misrepresenting the Sugar Loaf Guild for personal financial gain.

Due to the fact that an e-mail provides a driver's license grade ID, we have used the return e-mails to identify the final culprit and our lawyers should be contacting them very soon.

The mystery is solved.

Thanks again to all who responded.

Now maybe this Forum can go back to doing what it does best, helping promote Sugar Loaf artists in a strong positive manner heretofore impossible in all media.

Everybody: don't forget to let us know how the Social Media Sockets campaigns are coming along.

Nobody else has them, because they use proprietary technologies that are not commercially available.

It truly is the next big wave in advertising, and only Sugar Loaf has it — beating the big-boxes at their own game.

So far for us the Sockets campaigns and Town Brochures have been our biggest successes, along with the other initiatives mentioned below (6636) and on the Financial page.

Remember the Sugar Loaf Guild never asks for money, but we ourselves continue to pour money and effort into a wide range of town advertising.

If you want to give somebody money (and be part of a "group"), go talk to the Chamber.

Thanks again, Sugar Loaf, you have made us true winners.

66401/10/2014 8:29:49 AMLaura
Vreeland
Hello,

I have never experienced someone asking for money for the guild, however, I have had several clients ask why this “guild” bashes Sugar Loaf, it’s people and it’s businesses on a regular basis, online in a public forum.

Your concerns should be on what your little “guild” DOES represent, ZERO UNITY and SUPPORT for all of Sugar Loaf.

If you and your “guild” care to truly provide support for this commUNITY then I suggest you begin with a POSITIVE, SUPPORTIVE blog, not one that leaves the world wondering why you are even here, and in turn, why should they bother coming here.

Thank you for reading and have no fear, the guild is clearly represented all on it’s own.

Too bad it’s in a sad way.

Laura Vreeland
Laura’s Sweets Specialty Bake Shoppe
Proudly~ Sugar Loaf, NY

Thank you for the feedback.

I assume the negative Sugar Loaf bashing to which you refer are these two posts:

6281
6510

Those two posts have always been a concern.

The earlier one ("Is this forum some kind of a joke?") was posted by someone who has significant financial interest in seeing the generous Sugar Loaf Guild programs not move forward, and in fact, only moments before their posting, they stood beside me while being shown the website first hand, smiled in my face, and thanked me for all the great work.

The later one ("gigi") comes from someone who has never spoken to me personally, so I assume they were influenced by the first person (and obviously did not review the entire website themselves); plus they believed this website to be a "town" website, so I always thought they were just misguided.

All the negativity found in the Forum has been identified as coming from two known sources alone.

Otherwise, a public forum is just that, a forum which is open to the public.

Therefore your customers are always welcome to post positive messages in the Forum in order to offset any negativity—negativity which has been quite sparse in any case.

Any truly public forum will always be subject to some negativity.

Thanks again for the feedback, and for attaching your name to it.

If you wish to not be associated with the Guild, I will remove "Laura's Sweets Specialty Bake Shoppe" from the Guild's active advertising programs and this website.

Just post a note here in the Forum.

BTW: I always like to help people, so here is your free English grammar lesson: the possesive form of "it" is "its" while "it's" is a contraction of "it is."

Usually I will make those changes for people who post here, but I did not want to add to the confusion by altering your original e-mail submittal.

Of course I mean the email that you sent directly to Mary Endico, the 37 year full time Sugar Loaf artist who among other things ran the next four Craft Fairs after her arrival (1977) while establishing a procedures manual to be used by all the organizers after her, and then organized the art shows (when all events were true juried exhibitions), put more than a quarter million of her own dollars (earned from sales of her own hand painted watercolors to people visiting Sugar Loaf) for the restoration of her studio & gallery on main street, plus $15,000 into the lawsuit protecting the trees defining the Sugar Loaf skyline, and continues to maintain the parking lot servicing customers for most of the center of town (on her own property, at her own expense, with her own liability, while nobody in town has ever been charged a cent for its use), and she has worked tirelessly on town beautification efforts (even going so far as requiring me to previously become an 8 year member of the Town of Chester Planning Board in order to further her efforts), and not to mention just last year she put another $22,000 dollars (her own money) into generalized town advertising ... that includes this website which a group of people are currently working in concert to destroy.

I am sorry to mention all that here (though much was left out), but people seem to have forgotten.

Bob Fugett

66311/5/2014 12:36:30 PMGuild
Legal
Eagles
Bob, we did some research on the issue you asked about, and we found that as a matter of law a landlord is legally bound to provide parking for their tenants (especially commercial tenants) as well as for the customers of those tenants.

Just as I thought.

66301/5/2014 12:21:17 PMCuryousI heard that Randy completed his final work and has graduated.

With honors.

66291/5/2014 10:35:15 AMRandyDid Yoda ever waste Luke's time? NOT!

Speaking of things backwards, I believe your most recent experience with the Chamber has given you a bit more insight into what I have been saying about how things in Sugar Loaf work exactly the opposite of what one would expect being a recent refugee from the corporate world.

In corporate America people fight to gain a position of power and authority.

In Sugar Loaf people fight to avoid a postion of power and authority.

We also have skills, and we depend on them to provide our living, which is a thing quite rare where you came from.

If you are good, I will show you one of the finest examples of top quality art work that I have ever seen.

It will be your biggest eye opener yet, and earn you your diploma.

I also would like to confirm (hopefully) that the Canvas did not take the opportunity while running the article about you to hit you up to pay for additional ad space.

66281/4/2014 3:55:27 PMGuild
Fan
So Bob, what'dja do all day?

Wasted Randy's time.

66221/2/2014 9:23:41 AMMike WilsonThanks Bob for the very good review of the times when I was there.

I will always have fond memories of Sugar Loaf (discounting for personal issues - haha).

For the gifted, Sugar Loaf is a great venue; for some of the others - well they come and go.

You have put together a great site, and I hope the Guild outlives the naysayers.

I hope for a good, happy, prosperious year for All. Mike

Thank you for the kind words, Mike.

For some of the rest of you, "Did you hear that, Sugar Loaf naysayers?! "

That was Mike Wilson a representative of the best of the best of the enduring Sugar Loaf community, a community of artists and artisans who do not even need to live here to retain membership.

A community so subtle in presence but powerful in effect that one might easily miss seeing it despite thriving off its existence.

There are those in the hamlet today who might not even know where the Parsonage is, but they are still benefitting from the hard work that Mike Wilson put into it.

Work accomplished by Mike's own hand.

Due to the fact the Guild, like the Sugar Loaf community, is merely an idea (an idea that keeps on giving), it cannot help but outlive the naysayers.

Good ideas are cheap and easy to maintain; nay saying on the other hand is a very energy intensive and inefficient activity ... doomed to failure.

Thanks again, Mike, for your words in this forum and for your work in building the Sugar Loaf community.

66181/1/2014 12:38:28 PMCuryousWhat is this with that Mike character?

He is a Sugar Loaf old timer (made things really good around himself, best he could), was here during what I call the PJ transitional period when things went cahflooey for a time.

PJ refers to either "Pre" or "Post" the name of his first wife who was an unparalleled really, really, really bad influence in town.

I will guarantee you that if she were here now, the Sugar Loaf Guild brochures would be disappearing out of the kiosk, along with numerous shops, the Barnsider, and any number of display counters within the quad-state area.

Things have never been quite so bad again after her leaving (neither for Sugar Loaf nor for Mike), though it has come to my attention there is currently a valid contender to her throne of tears, a pretend artist and all.

66171/1/2014 10:03:08 AMMike WilsonHi Bob -

Happy New Year to you and Mary.

Can't believe, but after all these years stumbled accross this site.

Talk about memories.

The Parsonage that I spent more years, money, and sweat salvaging looks great.

Your own word "artistry" makes Sugar Loaf look like Paradise.

Have the day-to-day political BS ever slowed down and have people united to help the town?

Now divorced from Jill and Lorraine.

New Guyanese woman on the list (some say I just don't learn - haha).

Very best wishes to you and Mary for 2014 !!!
Mike

MIKE!!!

In summary you are famous on the Guild website though you were not referred to by name, so people are just going to think I made this whole thing up about you writing in this Forum.

You have actually found this site rather quickly, because it is still less than a year old, give or take.

Did it myself, funded it myself, and Mary took all the exterior photos (well ok, I guess she was actually the one who funded it besides).

And no, the day-to-day BS has not abated (though one new guy in town believes things used to be so "together" when he used to drive through in his car), and I am under constant attack from others for putting the truth out there.

One of my neighbors actually stood beside me in the studio shaking my hand, slapping my back, and beaming with thanks for what Mary and I have done with the Guild website and advertising, then promptly ran home to post ugliness just so they could run around town deriding the content of this Forum, using their own post as the prime example.

On the good side, the true artists are still here hidden away in their studios while servicing a world of adoring fans who come for the work and ignore the burgeoning nonsense.

Here is a snippet from one of my stories in Bob's Corner in which I believe you will recognize yourself and the work you did on the Parsonage:

"It got so bad a would-be glass artist accused their blown glass teacher of hiding secrets from them (as if the craft did not demand years of careful work and study), and they made the comment while sitting outside the Barnsider smoking cigarettes and complaining their husband (feverishly hanging sheetrock alone in full view directly across the street) was failing to finish the build of their shop in a timely manner."

I can hear people in town now, "That person Mike did not post in the Forum; you are making the whole thing up just so you can mention one of your stories again!"

You will recall I last started the Guild website in 1997 with offers of free services even greater than today, but I got so hammered by vested contrary interests (particularly by someone you know) that I put it off until things settled down.

This time the exact same stuff started all over again, but Mary and I have ignored it while maintaining a record of the true story and forging full steam ahead.

In case you missed it, the snippet above is from my 6th story (out of currently 9), and it is titled:

You will certainly recognize the facts as facts and enjoy reading all the other stories from the beginning.

Otherwise, Sugar Loaf actually is pretty much of a Paradise—for those who want to be full time artists and are willing to do the work to make it happen.

In general, those people still don't waste their time attending the bullshit group meetings.

It would take one of those groups a few hundred years to put together a website like this, even if they could figure out how to come up with the money (money I avoid needing because I have skills).

In any case, I am sure your taste in women has improved, so you will not be pulled through the ringer again in 2014.

66161/1/2014 9:21:01 AMDon
Tahpovit
Hold on.

Just like Christmas morning, it is New Years Day, and you are still working!

Like I said, "Welcome to Sugar Loaf."

Anything less than a 100 hour workweek here is considered part time.

Besides I have some ground to make up, because after the woman from Yale was here, Mary told me, "If you ever leave me in a room again with another smart humorless bureaucrat, you will be packing your bags."

661312/31/2013 9:15:53 AMCuryousI hear there are big doin's afoot.

I have set the wheels in motion for a major event in which Randy will be an unwitting participant.

Don't tell him about it, because I think the guy hates me, but he will be powerless to stop it.

In the meantime, Mary reports painting sales for the year are up by almost 30% over the previous several years.

Don't tell anybody about that either; they might think the Guild website and initiatives have been successful and hate me even more.

660512/28/2013 3:04:38 PMFranken
Furter
I saw what you did to Randy: he was trying to usher you out the door, but you just sat down on his chair so he couldn't budge you.

Don't you owe him an apology.

Probably so.

Here, Randy, as an apology, a link to information about that guy who was as I thought, though we were reading merely a gifted translation of his words not the actual words themselves:

You will notice that the Wikipedia article uses the pronunciation style which I showed you, though some of the symbols are specific to German thus not found on the graphic chart I gave you which does show the entire English vowel system (complete) but no other languages.

As an aside, I hope you realize the person who put that first nasty comment in the Forum did so specifically for the purpose of running around town and telling people how bad the Forum is, specifically by pointing to the statement that they themselves put in it (using an alias).

660212/26/2013 4:26:26 PMC.Rose
Happy New Year
Sugar Loaf Guild

Thank you for putting this "Historic Hamlet" in perspective through this guild website.

"Historic?! What we are doing right now today is historic."

- B.F.


Cheers to 2014!

Connie!

You are going to love this.

But first let me apologize for the way the Forum posting screwed up your formatting.

I could see what you did in the database, but html simplifies spacing, so I hope I retrieved it for you.

Ok, here we go with what you (being the one true Sugar Loaf artist grown and bred) are going to love!

With regard to that thing I wrote below about the person who posted, "Is this Forum some kind of joke!"

Well, it jogged Mary's memory, and she said, "Wait! I have e-mail from the person you think did that, in my watercolor sales database, so you missed checking. Run that IP# against it."

I did, and voilà, that nasty hateful despicable comment has now been indisputably confirmed as coming from exactly the person I previously decided it must be.

I had substantial evidence before, but now we know beyond question.

People cannot post in this Forum (or be on this site) without me having their IP#; people cannot send e-mail without including their IP#; most people have a static IP# associated with their home or business—even though Optimum pretends you have to pay extra to get one.

I don't know what it is about my statement that people do not understand, "I pay very close attention to my web traffic."

Much closer than can be done with Google Analytics.

That is how I know (within hours) which advertising is helping us, and which advertising is a waste of money.

In any case, an IP# posting = IP# e-mailed, and e-mail is a driver's license grade named source.

Want to know who did it?

Here's a hint: "The broader the smile the greater the deceit."

660112/26/2013 12:40:19 PMCuryousWait a minute; I thought that stuff Randy makes is crap!

Yes, though much less so than at first (young lad has a way to go), but the manner in which he handles his clientele has always been without reproach and truly world class.

Just the sort of thing we need.

Make it yourself, and treat customers like royalty.

I mean think about it; much of the stuff he makes is just recycled nonsense from big-box crafts stores, but if a person goes into one of those places they are confronted with a giant cavernous lifeless void full of details, and the sales people are at best barely conscious, selling stuff made by slave labor in China (or someplace) of which they have little or no knowledge.

But if somebody goes into Randy's studio, they are confronted with a lively Randy (a very good thing), and the stuff is put together by his own hand (mostly).

Doesn't get much better than that.

Well, ok, there are shops in Sugar Loaf having all that plus truly unmatched world class product ... can't get it ANYWHERE else.

Try to beat that with online shopping, or massive commons.

660012/26/2013 10:31:58 AMRandyBob,

I always appreciate your advice and am in the process of learning the Sugar Loaf way.

Actually, I have encountered a few Sugar Loaf "Ways."

I'm choosing the stay creative, positive and supportive "way."

With your help it seems to be working so far!

My Daily List is:
1. 30 min on exercise
2. 30 min on typing
3. 30 min on writing
4. 30 min on guitar

Then there is the creative time in the shop.

In that order.

Biting off a big chaw I know, but to commit is to begin.

Many ways but only one path.

I am sure it has not been lost on you that when you first got to town I could come over and have a long conversation, but already in the few months you have been here (due to your work on your own product, and correct presentation of it), it is now impossible for me to stop by and have more than a few minutes of your time, and in order to have a coherent conversation I have to keep popping out onto the bench while we are interrupted by the flow of your adoring fans.

And a number of them are multiple repeat return customers ... already.

After the last time I was over to see you, I pointed out to Mary the irony of the pile of possible advertising venues you were considering on your work bench while you could barely keep up with the steady stream of people already arriving.

It is something I have seen over and over: make it and they will come.

I also pointed out to Mary the obvious fallacy of most of the advertising done in Sugar Loaf over the years, and handled by people who really would like to see us fail.

If that advertising worked, there would be no need for it (the strong artisan shops already never bother), therefore those in charge of it need to keep business in town hobbled in order to continue collecting on services (no more than prayers actually) presented as community services ... which are nothing like community service plus coming from a pretend artisan.

Be careful out there Randy, people have smiled big right in my face, slapped me on my shoulder thanking me for the great work done on the Guild site plus our $17,000.00+ (our own money) already poured into town advertising this year, then run right back to their computer and posted nastiness in this Forum such as, "Is this Forum some kind of joke!" with follow up lies about what the Guild site represents throughout town.

Also do not open up strange e-mail requests, even if they are supposedly from your own son.

On a lighter note: Will you be open tomorrow?

I am giving a tour to a high powered funder from Yale University whom you might like to hook your wife up with, for possible coordination with Orange Regional Health Care funding efforts.

And for next year Mary and I have already begun work on the Sugar Loaf University T-shirts and advertising spots.

BTW: Don't let on to anybody that Sugar Loaf has a vibrant, energetic, and unstoppable community in place; we like to keep that fact underground and under wraps; hope I won't get into trouble for letting you see it so quickly.

Keep me out of trouble by telling everybody you meet that they should never come look at the Guild website, because it is horrible, and I am an insufferable asshole.

Do that and I promise I will not let you down.

659912/25/2013 8:08:26 AMBene
Kounder
I can't believe it.

It is Christmas morning and you are working!

Exactly.

In Sugar Loaf anything less than a 100 hour work week is considered part time ... and doomed to failure.

659812/24/2013 9:47:19 AMCuryousAren't you afraid non-Guild Members will look at what you wrote to Randy and take advantage?

Can't be helped.

659712/24/2013 9:37:32 AMGuild
Improvement
League
Randy, now that you are starting to understand the secret to success in Sugar Loaf is to make something of your own and present it correctly to the steady stream of visitors coming into your studio, here is your ToDo list that you should print-out somewhere, stick in your wallet, tape to the refrigerator, post on your website, place in your display advertising (hopefully real advertising vehicles not the current nonsense that non-artisan shops are considering which none of the real shops in town will be adding to in any case), then review this list below first thing every morning and adhere to it each and every day for the rest of your life.

Ready, here are the items for your ToDo list:

1) Touch type 5 minutes; try to beat 4wpm

That's it; my gift to you.

If you really must, add a thing or two later, but don't do it until this item has become second nature, not even a thought.

It is your path to beating the "chump change" earnings you thought were significant in the best of your past jobs.

Sugar Loaf will provide the rest; it has for a lot of us in the past and continues doing so for a lot of us today.

BTW: The only way to beat that 4wpm (effectively) is to go as slow as you possibly can, 5 minutes per day, each and every day.

You will soon be as far ahead of the crowd as I am, maybe farther.

658912/22/2013 3:01:50 PMBob
Fugett
I have heard through the grapevine that Randy Brown of Bee Positive is considering moving down into the end of Romers' Alley.

I would like to take this opportunity (hope I'm not too late) to beg Randy to move into the open shop just to the north of us.

Currently Randy is undoubtedly the strongest new attraction that Sugar Loaf has, or has had in recent memory, and the reports we continue to receive about the true over the top satisfaction that all of his clients profess is just astounding.

Please, Randy, move in next to us; it will be a boone to our business!

Besides, I spent a lot of time out on the street during development of the Sugar Loaf Guild website, and I can tell you that business is so booming in Romers' Alley, they really don't need your extra boost.

You're just saying this because that crap Randy sells will make yours look good.

Completely disgusting and self serving!

658812/22/2013 10:41:31 AMWeb
Presence
Partitioners
We now have a new top contender in the category for most avid readership of the Sugar Loaf Guild website.

It is My Sister's Closet with 22 visits to the site.

Their IP# is:
68.193.149.47

That number was doubly confirmed by trolling recent Sugar Loaf e-mail broadcast lists.

Congratulations to My Sister's Closet!

Wow.

658612/21/2013 1:14:25 PMA. StuteMan, when you finally stop being nice to someone you really stop being nice.

True.

658512/21/2013 9:21:12 AMGuild
IT
Team
Gigi was observed browsing the Endico website yesterday.

Got there by means of a Google search.

She has a Mac computer.

I know; I've been watching.

Precious little browsing as usual.

Here are my notes tracking her activity:

Gigi 12/20/13: ggl > / 1s idx 3s fav 1m15s, Par9TxtLobby > gal 10s, Img3Txt > colslctd 21s, col2021 15s, 569 32s, nav > book/haute

Click on the links to follow her path.

Think I know where she lives, as if I did not know already, but the final tip-off is called "self interest."

She also took a look at this Forum a few hours later; didn't look at anything else on the Guild website; probably doesn't want the truth of the site to screw up her belief about the site.

Her last post using the alias "Anon" was #6579 below.

658212/17/2013 6:39:23 PMConnieI know you are a genius.

And now I think another contributor to this forum knoows it too.

I like being on the good genius side.

You could not be otherwise.

Still, best to not be saying bad things about my peeps or about my Guild (which does not even exist anyway yadda, yadda, blah, blah, quack).

658112/17/2013 3:59:38 PMSee.RoseTalk about Substance Abuse!

I heard a certain "Cannot be replaced ever Watercolorist" drove out in this storm to get Doughnuts!

I can neither confirm nor deny while my licking of my fingers shall not be used in the indictment against me.

Did you hear what I did?

A College Trustee from where I went to school contacted me hoping for a donation; but I turned the tables on them, talked them into donating $500.00 dollars themselves, and additionally they are having the college run an Endico Watercolors promotion calling Mary an internationally renowned artist (which she is).

Among other geniuses I can now claim the moniker marketing genius, and the best part is I used the education that they gave me in order to do it ... used their own sword against them.

I am legendary.

657912/14/2013 1:04:39 PMAnonI would like to know why you don't think as maybe that more than one person just hates the guild too? I'm not the same as "gigi". Maybe think about what you are posting before doing so?

Because too many people have given us kudos, but in your case: same IP#, same device, same Chrome browser (recently updated), same type of venomous hatred spewn, probably means the same person.

Just because somebody calls themselves "Anon" on the Internet, that does not mean they are anonymous.

Static IP#'s are used to track down pedophiles and other criminals every day.

Yours is: 69.122.121.228

Want me to show you on the map the physical location that IP# is assigned to?

Or the IP#'s associated with the other shops in town?

Otherwise, I am sorry to inform you that, in fact, there is no Guild, just me (Bob Fugett); and Mary allows the website under protest.

All the hatred you feel toward people in town, that you think justifies your ranting in this Forum, should be directed squarely at me, and me alone.

Nobody else even knows you exist (people in town are barely aware of this Forum), and I only know you as IP#: 69.122.121.228

You may name yourself whatever you wish, but that IP# is not likely to change.

All the expenditures for advertising and programs on the Financial page came out of my own pocket, along with all the design, production, and paste up being done by me alone, not to mention all of the writing plus computer coding (yes, I am a genius): no donations from any other people in town are received, no dues, no meetings, no grants from outside sources, no nothing.

This website costs me less than $4.00 a month and is paid-up for the next 10 years, so it is unlikely to shut down even if I'm dead.

It is at the top of Google and other search engine returns simply because I am really, really, really good at such stuff.

Ok, Mary did go around and take a photo of absolutely every business in town (keeping them updated) to make this website the only fully inclusive Internet presence in Sugar Loaf, but still ...

The Guild you think you are fighting against does not exist.

You are jousting at a ghost.

Gigi, you really are off the deep end, and I have been too nice to you (partly because this is so juvenile I at first thought you were a kid).

Future posts from your IP# will be removed as inappropriate ... unless I decide it is better for people to continue seeing how small, mean, and hate filled you really are.

Therefore, you might like to work on your writing skills, because I will no longer copy edit your grammatical errors.

I assume you will be checking back here in a couple months like always, so I will not have to try to track you down in real life in order to explain all this to you in person.

Nobody else in town cares about you either: they are not against you, they just don't care one way or another.

Each of them has a thing called a life to attend to.

You yourself should probably seek professional help for whatever substance abuse problem it is that is ruining your own life.

People in Sugar Loaf are not your problem.

But thanks for giving me an opportunity to put something truly interesting in this Forum.

Usually visitors to the Guild site are quickly shuttled off to do business with the best shops, and they rarely ever see this Forum, but now if somebody from the outside world does show up here and reads my response to you, they will be excited with interest, and I will be building a larger readership.

So thanks again.


For historic interest:

Gigi One
Gigi Two (aka: Anon)

657412/12/2013 11:35:41 AMCuryousYou do realize that it is probably just the NSA trying to figure out why you are so damned good at this, don't you?

Probably.

657312/12/2013 11:26:37 AMBob
Fugett
Well, another of my grand predictions has finally come true.

Over the last ten years or more, every time I heard about another cell tower going up and ruining the vista, I complained to Mary saying, "First off they shouldn't even have to put up any cell towers. I mean cable goes along that wire strung across the street from us, and they could put receivers on critically spaced telephone poles that (unfortunately) already exist."

It would be extremely cheap, efficient, and they could run as many services as they want without anybody even being aware of it.

So last night around 2:00 am, I heard a bunch of ladder noises coming from out on the street; then my Internet went down, and I noticed the television (running on mute while I worked on French vowels) had frozen.

I thought, "That makes sense. Optimum must be working on that aggravating problem across the street they always have trouble with."

Then this morning I'm going through my regular routine which includes re-setting my iPod WiFi just before syncing my database, and bawhaam, I see a half dozen new WiFi connections.

So Sugar Loaf is now a WiFi hotspot.

Looks like we are inching toward the day when enough people are online and sophisticated enough about it to finally understand what I have done, or more to the point, what I am capable of doing.

Better have Mary phone Optimum to make sure it was them who did it, and not another fly-by-night operation getting ready to take credit for the bounty provided by the Sugar Loaf Guild website.

657212/11/2013 6:20:55 PMCuryousI heard a rumor Scarlet's Way bought Boswell's house on main street.

Small town ain't it?

656912/10/2013 11:45:54 AMConnie Fat RoseThank you for clearing up more of my ignorance.

Of course now I have less bliss.

Here's the deal:

One of these years that winter fat will start rolling over into the next winter.

Otherwise, sorry Mary harassed you about it; I think she just got tired of harassing me about my own.

656812/9/2013 6:46:08 AMSol
Man
Got one for Randy:

Better give him this as well:

656712/7/2013 6:54:53 AMGuild
Flagrant
Promotions
Focus
Group
This morning's logs reveal that The Canvas is getting ready to do an article about Randy Brown of Bee Positive.That sounds right.

The Canvas uses the guild website for their basic research regarding who's new and what's what.

656612/6/2013 9:28:02 AMBradRan into a few problems last night, mainly with setting up the large images. There is something wrong in the way that I pull them over and then change them to .htm.

I wanted to test things the way that I've been testing and for some reason when I try to open the htm pages for those images I just get a page of garbled code.

I have run into this problem before and was able to tinker until things were right but I couldn't figure it out last night.

I'll have to keep tinkering.

In the mean time I have successfuly pulled over the new LobbyDEV page and that seems to work for the most part. I was able to place it in my backup folder and open that just fine.

Until I get things working properly, however, I am hesitant to pull it onto the actual ftp site. I do like to test things over and over from my backup before I ruin anything on the main site.

Anyway, I can pull the larger images over of course, but I've been unable to get them to show up either the way that I usually test, or by following the path in LobbyDEV's path statement.

It's a matter of looking and looking and looking some more until I figure out what I'm doing wrong.

Hey, with all of my mistakes and lack of know-how it looks like I'm a qualified candidate to be hired to work on the Affordable Healthcare website! AND they won't even fire me!!!

Those are not htm pages, just jpg image files compressed into zip file folders.

You don't need to change a thing.

Double click the zip files which will open up a folder full of jpg images (50 per folder), pull the images into your local directory.

There is only one (1) htm file, the LobbyDEV.htm.

Pull the DEV file onto the server, nobody can see it, and it can't hurt anything ... just make sure everything is correct before overwriting the actual Lobby.htm file.

Also pull over all the large image files (jpg's out of the zip files), put them in the images folder on the server.

They also will not hurt anything but allow you full freedom to test.

Just to make sure: backup, backup, backup.

Tell your boss you need 15 minutes off work, go home, do it, be back by lunchtime, with 10 minutes left over for your own use.

Have you noticed the disconnect in everybody's thoughts about the Affordable Health Care fiasco?

Everybody is scared shitless the NSA is tracking their every move when actually the government can't track people's personal information even if the people themselves take a week out of their lives in order to give it to them while begging them to take it.

The problem with the Health Care site is that they tried to manage the problem, not fix it.

The basic problem actually is all these competing multiple non-standard databases, but instead of putting together one authoritative replacement version (starting small and cheap and allowing it to grow naturally), they just tried to tie all the existing nonsense into one big dysfunctional package.

I don't think they meant for the dysfunction; I've just never met a politician who has a clue about technology.

Seems like they all bought the Tweety-Face lie like most everybody else.

To summarize: In retrospect they never meant to provide health care, just another "Shopping" experience, complete with lucrative kick-backs into their own pockets (I'm assuming).

On the other hand you yourself have been unsuccessful in opening a standard zip file, full of standard image files, and pulling those files from one folder, into another, and then into another.

Maybe the government was doomed from the start.

656512/5/2013 4:50:54 PMAl
Anon
So I heard that reprehensible Bee guy sold 5 pieces of his crap to that damned Jolly Bus.

Hi Al, I think your sister was just in here.

Good to hear from you.

Otherwise, I am sad to tell you that hearing Randy sold 5 things to the bus people now makes me totally in favor of those buses (never thought I'd say that), and my policy update now states: "What this town needs is more Jolly Buses and more dangley things."

Finally, something I said that will not be controversial.

656312/5/2013 4:35:21 PMBradThanks so much Bob! Tonight I'll take a more careful look at everything and then update the site appropriately. Thanks for your help!

Actually I can see already that you have just saved me countless hours of work. Can't thank you enough.

As for the larger images, I still need to pull those from your site to mine. I'll also do that tonight as well.

I only started by pulling the thumbs over and then had to look for a while at how you organized things and where everything was placed.

The thumb of Buffalo Bill, accompanied by the larger image was sort of a test run on my part to see if I was doing things correctly.

Tonight I'll get going on what you have provided as well as getting the larger images pulled over.

That is just as I figured when I saw the new image along with a couple attachments to the Forum submittal form previously which I saw as a thought process.

Let me try putting together a zip file so you don't have to grab the big images one at a time.

I'll email it.

656212/5/2013 5:36:43 AMBob
Fugett
Good morning, Brad : )

Great changes to Clay's website!

I see that all the thumbs appear to be in place, so the full size images must be close behind.

I hope you are not putting them in place one at a time.

You can highlight the full folder of large images and drag/drop them onto the server in one motion.

If the copy process fails at one (or several) point(s), you can always fill in the missing images individually.

I will prepare a quick stop-gap version of the lobby page to allow all images to be published immediately ... and that should shut Clay up.

In the meantime check to make sure my plan is not false logic:

On my iPod over WiFi the entire 298 thumbnails load in about 30 seconds (with plenty to look at during the process), and Safari drops the scroll bar that appears on my PC (which loads the page even faster).

Unless you find the load time is insanely unacceptable, I will go full steam ahead putting together a quick page for you to copy/paste onto your own site which will include all the thumb nail images but arranged and categorized like this:

I will link all the thumbs directly to the larger images (sans info), so you can fill in the info page wrappers at your leisure.

I will get started on a page for you right away in the belief that if you find a problem, you will post a note.

In the meantime, try not to say bad things about the other businesses in Sugar Loaf (or Warwick, Chester, Middletown, Doylestown, everywhere else really) who for the time being choose to live in a 19th Century slow worthless Tweety-Face world.

I certainly try not to give them much grief, but I still can't figure out why it is that it is always ends up being all MY fault they can't get their acts together.

Here; you can take a look at the page as I develop it:

11:46 am - All Done!

1) Right Click

2) View Source

3) CTL-A

4) CLT-C

5) Save as txt file named "LobbyDEV.htm"

6) Pull it onto the server

7) Make sure it looks ok

8) Backup your current "Lobby.htm"

9) Overwrite with the "LobbyDEV.htm"

10) Pull it over to the server

11) Done-itty, done, done, done!


: )

BTW: It's 3:15 pm and I just had Mary run down and roust Clay to come look at the page. Everything is ok.

 

656112/4/2013 1:36:51 PMThe
Locals
So now it looks like you can never close this forum!

I guess.

656012/4/2013 11:54:45 AMAnonThis forum should be closed permanently, its only purpose is to let Sugar Loaf businesses gossip about each other and make Sugar Loaf look like an awful town filled with hatred.

Well, Gigi, thank you for so eloquently adding to the conversation.

We will take your kind suggestion under advisement and see if something can't be done about it.

What was it exactly that put you over the edge (again), the French?

655912/3/2013 2:51:43 AMBobservantWow.

I just did a search for your poem (in quotes), and that particular construction is unique on the Internet!

In a few days you will be able to find it, but only right here, and all those other similar returns will disappear.

655812/3/2013 1:57:32 AMConnie
Rose
Given the fact you hate talking to people, I find it odd you are working toward a PhD in Linguistics.

Linguistics is not about talking to people.

Linguistics is about observing how people talk to each other.

Did you know that in France to live is to see?

Actually see in the past and live in the present.

Ironically the simple truth of the matter can neither be stated in French nor in English.

If you ever did write it in French, even though it should be immediately obvious to every French speaker, you would only be told it is grammatically incorrect.

In English the concept itself seems impossible, or at least that has been my observation in Sugar Loaf ... where a large number of people live without seeing.

So how's about that, looks like I just wrote my first French poem.

"Tu vis est tu vis."

655711/25/2013 12:33:41 AMBob
Fugett
I had occasion to look up the difference between 'industrial' vs 'artisanal' with regard to something I was reading in French.

What I stumbled upon was the fact that some communities (Countries, to be more specific) actually go out of their way to draw a clear distinction between merchants, craftsmen, and industrialists ... and in so doing they establish a very simple comparison.

In fact it is a legal distinction and throws an obvious light on the reasons artisans always do better than merchants in Sugar Loaf.

Here are a couple of easy paragraphs in English:


If anybody shows further interest, I will explain the difference between an artisan and an artist, and that explanation will cause a war.

In the meantime, I will go back to trying to figure out why it is that when I clear my throat around francophones they think I said something.

655511/20/2013 9:39:27 PMPam
Huling
Hello Bob,

How are you? Hope you're well.

It's been a while, but the final piece has been published today for the John Markus short-form documentary video, and I thought you'd be interested in seeing it.

You are welcome to post it on the blog if you think that would be appropriate:

JOHN MARKUS
The Fabulous Lipitones

once on page
click "Video" text link
right side below image


Thank you once again for all of your help!

We hope you enjoy the piece.

All the best,
Pam

Perfect!

It was great to see John's mom and dad again, and the excerpts from the historic London, Ohio, video gives me a chance to point to a taste of the full length video available at the London Public Library.

[This is a follow up to London, Ohio posts starting at #6287-6371]

655411/19/2013 10:49:20 AMCuryousThere is something oddly backwards about that heated negotiation.

Standard Sugar Loaf.

In any case, Peter was rather kind in accepting the money; most of our neighbors won't even speak to us.

655311/19/2013 10:27:13 AMConnie
Rose
I saw a rip roaring fight outside Anne Marie's Deli this morning between Peter Von Uchtrup, of 18th Century Furniture, and Mary Endico, of herself.

It was something to behold, what with Mary being about 1/64th the size of Peter.

What was that all about?

It was a fight over the price of one of Peter and Manon's tables.

Mary was trying to give Peter a check, and he was refusing it.

It was a custom made table that was constructed specifically to fit in the entryway of the Endico studio, and there was some question over what it was worth.

Negotiations began at zero, then quickly escalated to $100 dollars when Peter realized the gristly little old pygmy woman wasn't going to budge on writing a check.

Mary finally talked him up to $200 dollars after refusing his $150 dollar offer several times.

The table only went so cheaply because I had failed to clarify with Mary beforehand the bottom line.

Manon Von Uchtrup had shown up to deliver the table without a bill, but Mary remembered the table she pointed to as model for the custom job was marked $400 dollars.

So I told Mary to give them a check for $1,000 dollars (after all it was a custom job), and if they didn't take the money, I was going to carry the table back myself, but I missed telling Mary to accept absolutely no less than $400 if Peter tried to talk her down.

If 18th Century would charge what their product is worth, Manon might not have to be working five (5) other jobs (though I do suspect she just likes being out in the community doing significant work).

Just a miscommunication was all.

654911/16/2013 12:55:16 PMwʌn θɪŋ
/'rændi/

IPA

/braʊn/

IPA

654811/12/2013 12:11:49 PMBiz
Watch
Whatever happened with that person who put the deposit on a sign with a vendor at the most recent "Festival" then couldn't make contact again?

Mary made a follow-up phone call, and found they had finally talked to Tammy pointing out the possible problem, and Tammy was shocked because she also had given the "artisan" a deposit on four signs.

Our customer also finally made contact with that supposed sign maker, so maybe things will work out.

If not, for good town PR, Mary and I have personally offered to give them back their $43 dollar deposit, and Clay has offered to make a sign matching (but better) than the one they ordered and for FREE ... if things go sour.

The customer didn't even know who Clay is, even though the booth they ordered their sign from was within 25 yards of his front door.

The one (1) customer Mary thought she was getting from that "show" ended up trying to bargain on the price of a painting, so Mary sold it to somebody else.

Festivals!

654711/9/2013 10:44:00 AMGuild
Bot
Watch
In the last week or two there has been an insane increase in the amount of activity on the Guild website which is obviously bot (not human) connections.

What do you think is up?

I assume somebody is feeding information to those worthless listing services and taking credit for "increasing" town web hits.

654611/7/2013 9:17:16 AMRandyWOW, you've really been working!

I wish I had the time (or rather the inclination to make time) to study what you have put together — OMG, now that I have peeked please don't tell me there will be a test!

Your significant understatement aside (with regard to this tipittiest tip of the iceberg), you are correct.

Time is what you make it.

The test will be a self test.

Here is the single question:

"Will you be able to endure the blow back if you ever are foolish enough to try and get somebody to understand what you have seen?"

On the other hand you have given me a quandary.

I probably have to leave the previous post published in order for the next person to guess at what you are talking about.

654511/6/2013 9:34:33 AMCuryousBob, what have you been up to?

Working on this:

Actually I should say this and associated pages.

As soon as the Gang of Three has seen it, I will toggle this post off as otherwise distractive.

654411/2/2013 12:56:06 PMGuild
Website
Activity
Responders
This quarter's award for Most Active Attractive goes to Luft Gardens.

In fact web activity generated from Internet searches by actual human visitors to the Luft Gardens spotlight was so strong that improvements for contact to map links was identified and enabled.

The improvements were made specifically because of observed behavior of human visitors to the Luft Gardens spotlight, but everbody benefits.

To put that in context: Luft Gardens even kicked Boone's ass in the "We are so cool you'll be looking for us online" department.

654311/1/2013 10:50:06 AMKen
Kroslak
Please update The Country Life hours of operation on the Guild website to:

Sat - Sun
12:00 - 5:00

Mon - Fri
shopping by appointment



Thanks for the update!

654210/30/2013 5:45:47 PMBradIt's about time!!!!!!!!

I guess.

Some sort of a post tweetie-face web presence had to be here to handle such things as the following:

This morning Mary received a phone call from a long ago customer who was here a couple weeks ago for the "Festival" and put a deposit on a supposed custom sign to be made by one of the exhibtors.

Afterwards the customer had not been able to make contact with the seller and considered their $43.00 lost, but they just wanted to make sure the incident was reported so that the "craftsperson" would not be invited back

I guess they remembered our old process (now defunct with the new organizers) of actually jurying people into shows with a follow-up and blacklisting if the exhibitor caused problems.

In any case, nobody was returning the customer's e-mails while the Chamber website doesn't even have a phone number posted.

So they called us.

Mary gave them a couple of direct numbers to call, but wouldn't it have been nice for them to have a place like this Forum to publish their concerns?

On the other hand a review of the recent blow-up over content in this Forum (actually the entire website when complainers were questioned) revealed that every single person who was having a problem with the Guild site was also having a problem with their own substance abuse ... so I would be remiss if not reopening to sober comment.

Mark youself down as FIRST.

654110/29/2013 12:47:15 PMCuryousThe November issue of the Delaware & Huson Canvas Newspaper (the only substantial regional print publication that specializes in the arts) ran a "Spotlight on: Sugar Loaf Guild" section (p. 32) highlighting Rachel Bertoni.

Given the amount of effort Rachel has put into actively trying to get the Guild website shut down, don't you find it odd?

Yes, I do find it odd, but not nearly as odd as Rachel Bertoni herself probably finds it.

653910/26/2013 4:38:18 PMGuild
Web
Presence
Team
More photos for the newest, best ever, Sugar Loaf, made onsite, clothing shop:


 

Don't forget you placed them at the top of Google within 2 days of posting their spotlight:



653210/21/2013 9:48:40 PMConnieBut you filled out copyright forms, put a notice on the Guild brochure, and everything!

I only did that so when this would surely happen, I would have a record of having said it first, and not chance being disallowed from using my own words.

653110/21/2013 9:28:23 PMConnieDid you see that new ad in the Times Herald Record?

It looks like somebody copy/pasted your words directly from the Sugar Loaf Guild website.

How do you feel about that?

Hmm, let's see ... how do I feel about somebody repeating word for word what I have been trying to get said about Sugar Loaf?

Reminds me of the time a local bicycle club censored one of my articles in their newsletter, so I started the American Road Cycling website.

Later after constantly hearing how popular my writing had become, the club officials asked me to edit their own newsletter.

I laughed and declined saying, "Sorry, no, I already have a significant readership online, but you had better read the American Road Cycling website, before feeling disappointed, so you will be glad I didn't agree to edit your paper."

In this case, however, I feel like I have just put my kid on the bus for the first day of kindergarten.

It is a pretty special once in a lifetime feeling.

On the other hand, that ad is probably going to be just one more thing I get blamed for.

I plan to put the forthcoming comments on my wall right next to the ones from the people who at first told me I was making a big mistake by not tying into the Chamber site, then later complained how I had taken over Internet search returns for Sugar Loaf thus allowing this website to speak for the town.

Hopefully that ad you dropped off was not placed by the person who is running around town trying to make a buck off my efforts, and who has otherwise totally stopped producing their own artisan product while desperately trying to cover that fact in the eyes of the public.

All they have accomplished is to bring more attention to the Guild website.

Can't blame them for trying though.

653010/20/2013 8:14:27 PMGuild
Web
Placement
What do you think, some kind of record?

Maybe; just two days after first publication pushed to the top of Google:

652810/17/2013 5:36:58 PMGuild
My
Back
Your
Back
Raspers
Randy, the people you sent down bought a painting, but you are not getting a thing for it.

Well, maybe a little gratitude on our part but not that much really.

We will also on occasion be sending people down to your shop with the same expectations ... zip, zero, nada for us, because setting somebody on the correct path is its own reward.

That is just the way we handle such things; as for others in town your mileage may vary.

652710/16/2013 12:12:45 PMGuild
Steering
Committee
In summary what we have noticed is that it is not only extremely difficult to explain the ongoing successful excellence that has perennially existed in Sugar Loaf (and continues to exist despite the years of sideways advertising), but there are also people who will actually go out of their way to make sure that truth is not heard.

On closer examination the problem seems to stem from shops that have ceased producing their own product but continue to cover that fact while pretending to be actual artisans, as if they were still following the model of the long standing truly excellent businesses in town which have worldwide followings.

Additionally among those pretend shops (clearly out of the mainstream) the underlying cause seems to be substance abuse problems, which is an added reason for their horrific outcry when the truth of robust commerce in Sugar Loaf was revealed.

Substance abuse is not something easily rectified, and it is certainly outside the scope of this website.

On the other hand, Bob has begun the next series of promotions which will center around the educational opportunities within Sugar Loaf.

Did you know that you can take classes in Sugar Loaf for college credit?

I figured you did not; very few do.

652610/15/2013 5:37:58 PM


652510/15/2013 5:37:58 PM


652410/15/2013 5:37:58 PMGuild
Subterfuge
Staff
For those who have complained about the closing of this Forum, we have designed a workaround to keep updates away from the prying eyes of those who would squelch the truth.

Immediately below are the ongoing comments hidden from skimmers in order to correctly service those who want to stay current with the actual happenings in Sugar Loaf.

Readership of this Forum remains strong ... even post-shutdown.

651810/6/2013 12:41:57 AMGuild
Web
Presence
and Flagrant
Promotions
Team

Post
Forum
Shutdown
Update
Comments are closed (served their purpose), but as always we continue to add free spotlights, free 360 surrounds, free social media socket campaigns, free specialized print ad campaigns, free mailings, free makeovers, free computer support, free categorized product promotion, and more free goodies for every shop in Sugar Loaf, NY ... artisan or not.

Always have, always will.

We have already worked through most of the artisan shops, so if you want to be fast tracked just stop by the Endico studio and tell Mary to put you on top of the list.

Make sure you read the stories and understand the Guild website first, because you will be quizzed.

As Aaron from Luft Gardens recently said to Bob Fugett, "What is important is the work."

In any case Mary and I will continue our clockwise stepping through town which began near the end of the year 2012 at location number 1 on the walking map.

Almost immediately and ever after every business in town has remained strongly represented on the Photos Page and Walking Map.

Adding profiles, spotlights, product links, and 360 surrounds to this website is an ongoing process.

Did we mention totally for FREE?

You don't even have to give up your right to complain.

If there is a massive outcry we will reopen this forum to public comment.

651710/5/2013 1:15:20 AMgigi

This is
a repeat
of #6510

I grew up in Warwick, and Sugar Loaf has always been a beautiful little town.

It just lacks appeal.

It lacks a reason for people to come.

I believe the goal of having the Bakery Boss come to help that amazing little bakery will do a lot for the town.

Lets face it — the town needs help; it needs publicity.

The reason so many Sugar Loaf businesses are against having any publicity is probably just because so many of the shops need a makeover themselves.

For anyone to say that the bakery is not truly art work, they should be ashamed of themselves.

What happened to local businesses supporting each other.

Shame on you jealous souls.

As far as I know nobody in town has ever said the bakery is not truly art work.

The only reference to that which I can recall came to me via Peter Von Uchtrup of 18th Century Furniture when he mentioned something was said by somebody from the bakery itself.

I don't recall the exact quote, because at the time it seemed such a ludicrous concept I discounted it as a miscommunication.

Also as far as I know, I am the only person in town who found this low budget pandering cable production a total fiasco.

Plus I cannot find the shops you are talking about who are in need of a helping hand up, nor was anything provided to the bakery that could not have easily been provided times over by the local community had somebody cared to ask.

It is all very confusing to me.

In any case thank you for the comment, because it proves the thesis I have personally been trying to explain all over town.

After I started working on the Sugar Loaf Guild website, I went around and talked to people one on one and found that most shops were doing very well indeed.

But the truth about the continued prosperity of the artisan shops has been snowed under by years of unfocused typical advertising.

Your comment is the perfect confirmation of that fact.

In a day or so all of this Buggery Boss stuff will be a forgotten minor footnote.

Now I have to set about explaining to people that "gigi" was an actual person posting and not just something I made up to support what I have been warning about.

651510/4/2013 4:03:11 PMTended
Consequence
Wow.

Exactly.

651410/4/2013 8:57:32 AMRachel
Bertoni
I believe you mispelled "owned."

No, I did not.

The word "pwned" is web speak approximately the same as the word "owned" but with a more aggressive trash talking taunt connoted.

Do you know nothing about the Internet?

651210/3/2013 11:10:33 PMBob
Fugett
Randy, I found the page you told me you were looking at:

Do I know how to track activity on my websites, or what?

651110/3/2013 9:19:03 PMTruh Bull MakerI must have been living, working or shopping somewhere else during the time when The TV Reality Show people came to film ...

The Painting Gallery Boss
The Woodcarver Boss
The Leather Boss
The Pottery Boss
The Candle Boss
The Hamburger Boss
The Photography Boss
The Handmade Clothing Boss
The Jewelry Boss
The Frame Boss
The Stained Glass Boss
The Hard Work Boss
The OPEN sign Boss
The Good customer relations Boss

Oh, and the "Get it?" Boss

OK I'm done typing about all the businesses in Sugar Loaf that have been in business for over 30 years.

I have orders to fill.

You have somewhat under estimated the mark here, Truh Bull.

Some of the businesses you mention have been (and continue to be) highly successful members of the Sugar Loaf Community for nearly 50 years, not just 30.

I'm still trying to figure out what idiot might have said that culinary is not art.

651010/3/2013 4:50:51 PMgigi I grew up in Warwick, and Sugar Loaf has always been a beautiful little town.

It just lacks appeal.

It lacks a reason for people to come.

I believe the goal of having the Bakery Boss come to help that amazing little bakery will do a lot for the town.

Lets face it — the town needs help; it needs publicity.

The reason so many Sugar Loaf businesses are against having any publicity is probably just because so many of the shops need a makeover themselves.

For anyone to say that the bakery is not truly art work, they should be ashamed of themselves.

What happened to local businesses supporting each other.

Shame on you jealous souls.

As far as I know nobody in town has ever said the bakery is not truly art work.

The only reference to that which I can recall came to me via Peter Von Uchtrup of 18th Century Furniture when he mentioned something was said by somebody from the bakery itself.

I don't recall the exact quote, because at the time it seemed such a ludicrous concept I discounted it as a miscommunication.

Also as far as I know, I am the only person in town who found this low budget pandering cable production a total fiasco.

Plus I cannot find the shops you are talking about who are in need of a helping hand up, nor was anything provided to the bakery that could not have easily been provided times over by the local community had somebody cared to ask.

It is all very confusing to me.

In any case thank you for the comment, because it proves the thesis I have personally been trying to explain all over town.

After I started working on the Sugar Loaf Guild website, I went around and talked to people one on one and found that most shops were doing very well indeed.

But the truth about the continued prosperity of the artisan shops has been snowed under by years of unfocused typical advertising.

Your comment is the perfect confirmation of that fact.

In a day or so all of this Buggery Boss stuff will be a forgotten minor footnote.

Now I have to set about explaining to people that "gigi" was an actual person posting and not just something I made up to support what I have been warning about.

650910/3/2013 2:50:13 PMHoly SheetI am suffering now with a Warren Zevon earworm.

Bring lawyers, guns, and money.

650810/3/2013 8:58:00 AMCuryousSo what are you going to do next, say something about that obvious pedophile?

Probably not.

I should be dead by morning.

650610/3/2013 12:00:00 AMCare
Phil
I think she cut out the cupcake to show a visual expression of the reason she was drawn to being a part of this Hamlet called Sugar Loaf for 30 years.

The real artists of Sugar Loaf will always shine through the fluff.

You are probably correct.

We told the rebbe guy from Kiryas Joel that he could have the entire contents of our house when he purchases it to open the religious school and drug rehab facility in it, but we are taking the little cupcake with us.

It is our prized possession.

Our Satmar friend said, "I should care?"

650510/2/2013 5:29:12 PMBuggery
Watch
On 10/02/13 near 5:00 pm Connie Rose, Mary Endico, and Bob Fugett were standing outside the Endico watercolor studio in lovely downtown Sugar Loaf, New York, while Connie was just finishing up another failed attempt to convince Bob that the people he was accusing of being lying low life smile in your face back stabbing assholes, that those people were actually merely terrified and fearful, and it can't be helped.

Realizing her efforts were futile, Connie reached into her car, grabbed one of the new town brochures, which anyone with a brain knows (along with this website) is the single most accurate representation of the true Sugar Loaf there has ever been, and with a pair of scissors taken from the same car (what people in the third world would call a mansion) and focusing in on the Endico watercolor shown on the brochure while ignoring vociferous complaints from Mary about using up an item she had paid for, Connie magically:

Well, nobody is going to like this!

650410/2/2013 2:57:01 PMGuild
Practices
and Standards
Despite our warnings that we are closed this week due to the Buggery Boss fiasco, people have been pushing past the signs and grabbing Mary's attention to let them in.

How many times do I have to say it, "If you make it (well) they will come."

650310/2/2013 1:14:53 PMCuryousWhat have you found out?

That apparently the only person in all of Sugar Loaf who actually knows something is Connie Rose.

Every time I need some basic question about the arts answered, it always turns out Connie is the best source.

Though I do sometimes have to stretch her to the breaking point in order to get as much information out of her as I'm after.

650210/2/2013 12:56:44 PMConnieI checked everything out, and you were correct.

I figured as much; thanks for helping.

650110/1/2013 10:01:58 PMGuild
Social
Media
Mavins
Connie, go track down The Bodhi Tree (Romers' Alley) on fb and figure out what the deal is for us.

Careful: there are about a million other Bodhi Trees.

Don't you wish somebody would finally come along who did their name search homework before opening their doors?

In any case, use your minions to do the full subtle Guild job of gathering the information and checking them out; maybe make contact if it seems appropriate.

I've completed the IRL study.

Somebody led them to believe we don't have Social Media covered and nailed.

Hahahaha!

I also have a list of people who have been problematic lately vis-a-vis our current goals, so we will slowly be phasing them out of town, but I will send you that list through private channels.

Otherwise, the Guild site has become a hot-bed of activity.

People have finally gotten around to giving the stories a thorough read, and I would guess the response on the street is upwards to 93% positive, especially from the good shops.

Wow, who knew people would get so excited about this.

650010/1/2013 12:02:24 AMSummer
Eisen
Briefly describe this website.

An intervention.

64999/30/2013 9:04:15 AMCuryousSo what do you think the problem is?

It's an age old problem.

Somebody said the economy is in ruins and somebody else said, "Let them eat cake."

64989/30/2013 8:52:27 AMNeahBoreSave me a walk across the street; what do those new signs in your window say?

RECIPE FOR DISASTER

Our sincerest apologies for Endico watercolors brief hiatus today.

We are taking the week off while Buggery Boss rapes then makes a buck off our high quality little hamlet.

This TV reality fiasco will be gone soon enough and we will still be here to reopen and wipe up their mess.

In the meantime our valued customers can reach us online to set up private viewings and be let through our back door for personal appointments.

Once again, sorry for the inconvenience and thanks again for helping us wade through another outsider intrusion.

64979/29/2013 4:23:30 PMBstdrHow is it going with that, how'd you put it, Buggery Boss fiasco?

They have already used the Endico name to get their foot in the door of one of the artisans, and Mary had to go around and make sure they understood she was not letting them use her stuff for the show.

Mary tore up the release forms and didn't sign them.

We'll be closed.

64969/29/2013 9:25:50 AMPositively
64th Street
Review Board
We have identified the good folks and are running with them.

Excellent.

No time to bother with the bad folks.

64939/28/2013 8:27:51 AMGuild
Web
Watch
The mystery of the how, where, and why of the recent web scam presentation at the Barnsider has also been solved.

Thankfully Charlie Maninno just did an image Google search for his name and found his clock from the town brochures at the very top of returns, so at least he knows that those "proposed" services are already being provided by the Guild for free.

Some other people seem to need a good scamming to feel good about themselves.

If not for this most recent episode from the Bernie Madoff's of web design the town would understand that there are at least three people currently doing equal work (or better than) on their own, and without compensation.

64929/28/2013 8:09:05 AMCuryousDon't you mean The Bakery Boss (below), a spin-off of The Cake Boss?

I prefer to call them The Buggery Boss due to the term's more specific accuracy.

Oh, by the way: close and continual tracking of website IP# activities has finally determined the identity of the faux "Peg" (renamed as Maggie here) who sniped the Forum in classic snarky troll fashion.

64919/28/2013 8:01:21 AMGuild
Circling
Vulture
Patrol
Just to be clear: Mary Endico and Bob Fugett will not be participating in the upcoming Buggery Boss fiasco.

Although Bob did take time out to introduce the show's art director to a couple of the top studios in town, he only did so in hopes of making it clear that the signage hemorrhage on the corner of Wood's Road does not represent the true state of affairs in Sugar Loaf, and that if the "bakery" had a true quality product they would not need a makeover.

Not to mention everything this low rent cable reality show is promising to provide for the bakery is nothing more than would have already been provided for them for free by top shops in town ... if they had only asked and made a good faith attempt to do good work.

64909/27/2013 9:49:21 PMConnieI wish I had something funny or cute to say about Sugar Loaf tonight.

I have to say something more serious.

I want to thank our Guys who come out and save us when we need them.

The Sugar Loaf Engine Company does amazing work in our community.

I hear the sirens go off, and I always say prayers.

One prayer for the people who need help, and one for the selfless rescuers.

A very good friend of ours was badly hurt in a horrific accident on September 13th.

He had to be airlifted to WCMC.

It is only because of our local Firemen, EMT's, and Police that our friend is able to have the chance to fight for his life.

I humbly went to the Department and thanked them.

I could be clever here, but ... well I guess I can't.

Thank you for doing that.

64899/27/2013 6:07:16 PMBob
Fugett
Hi Ken,

I now see the problem you were talking about.

On loading your home page my browser displays a warning which it should not.

Talk to the people at the hosting service, and ask them if they would like to make sure that warning never appears again, or if you should move to a service which will do it, and at less than 10% of what your current provider is charging you.

Here's a screenshot of the warning:

Your service provider seems to be the problem, but I am not sure why I did not see it when you told me about it, before we deleted that offensive banner ad.

The good news is that the warning doesn't show up on my iPod, which I guess is good for your business but now makes me worry about the security of my iPod.

64889/27/2013 9:50:54 AMKen
Kroslak
Good Morning Bob!

Thank you so much for your time and support yesterday. I greatly appreciate all you and Mary do for Sugar Loaf and its businesses including The Country Life.

I am not sure about the quote that you were recalling when we spoke yesterday. It sounded familiar, but I could not fully recall it either. I am happy to say though, that Debbie and I love life in the country.

We are living it, breathing it and working it here in Sugar Loaf and the Warwick Valley as personified by our store, The Country Life.

“Country”, as a style, has gone through some transitions and now ranges from primitive to rustic to vintage to cottage. People often mix styles and include other defined styles such as Adirondack, Cabin and Lodge. It is not unusual to see homes decorated in Traditional or even Modern that will incorporate some décor that would typically be considered “Country”.

The Country Life has customers from the New York City suburbs who frequent our shop looking to bring home something to adorn their home that will give them the memory and feeling of life in the country, or simply put, the country life.

I view “country” as simple, comforting and connected – simple in style, providing a feeling of comfort, and connecting us to the open land.

Like a plant brought indoors brings nature into our homes, a handcrafted table connects us to a simpler time when everything in a home came from its surroundings before the time of factories and overseas manufacturing.

Here is more than you probably want to know about The Country Life. Have fun!

Thanks!

Actually that is significantly less than I want to know about The Country Life.

I'll stop by today to find out more.

It does start putting a few things in context though.

My own interests are very narrowly defined as "what do you make" not "what do you sell" but the more I find out about The Country Life, the more I understand why your business is thriving in Sugar Loaf while so many are complaining.

Listen up folks, The Country Life appears on the surface to be just another retail shop, but it is being run like a true artisan business.

No wonder they moved from Warwick to Sugar Loaf.

They knew this is where they would fit in, and where the good stuff is.

For other would be Sugar Loaf businesses, here is a look at what a real business prepares for themselves:

And by the way people: did you notice all of Ken's talk about what Country Style is, and how it works in human life?

That is called a mission statement.

Get one of your own.

64869/26/2013 10:41:07 PMBob
Fugett
Yo, Ken.

Your new profile is up and running.

The text never arrived via email, but I'll stop over and we can put it directly onto your domain name website with the photos ... save a step.

I Googled how to get all your listings to show with a simple search for your user name on eBay.

It is too simple.

Just click the Advanced search, and select "By User" from the selection list on the left.

You will be able to put a link on your domain site that does it automatically.

This is going to be sweet.

If nobody kills me first.

Mary and I have found eBay (and online in general) close to worthless for painting sales (something about people liking to see the painting in real life before spending a bunch of money), but if we have junk around the house to sell at 10% of what we paid for it, things go fast, and Mary is always shocked how easily people find arcane pieces of equipment and oddities you wouldn't think people would even be looking for.

Here's Mary's current listings:

64839/25/2013 3:27:18 PMCuryousDon't you have something for Randy?

Yes.

 

Also:

 

Every one of them (except maybe Endico) is totally pro bono.

Every one of them enjoys the highest search engine rankings and social media interest.

International visitors are frequent.

Some of these websites were the very first of their kind, were initiated the first year of the World Wide Web, and they remain unchallenged to this day.

They are frequently reviewed and quoted with links around the world.

Some of our neighbors may be aware how we were wintering in Florida State for three months a year, 17 years in a row, but that did not mean I was not working.

All the websites linked above have Forums that dump feedback into the same database as the Guild (what you are looking at now), and I check them all and respond in one place ... easy ... no hassle ... can even do it on my handheld.

I track activity on all of them using a proprietary process I developed myself that makes Google Analytics look like a kindergarten class.

If you know anybody with technical knowledge, they are all hand-coded with C#, ASP.NET (by me, along with most of the writing) and the underlying infrastructure relies heavily on Microsoft SQL Server database (world class, large scale, multi-national corporation scalability and function).

Some of the most frequented, and most loved, are the most incendiary.

Not to mention the total amount of resources consumed by all of them combined totals less than what would be provided by the most minimal cheapest website space currently available ... less than $5.00 per month, $60.00 dollars per year.

I am sure you have been in Sugar Loaf long enough to realize that when it comes to promotional prowess, Mary and I (along with our cohorts) have no peers.

We ignore the steady stream of trouble makers and get on with our business.

In any case, Mary and I make just enough from Endico online sales to barely pay for these websites, allowing them to exist for free, while 99.9% of Marys significant income derives from Sugar Loaf street traffic.

Get it?

You will NOT be able to explain any of this to anybody in town; they have no way to comprehend it.

64829/25/2013 2:08:18 PMLoco
Interest
No, be serious; what does this town really need?

 

And:

 

64819/25/2013 2:03:41 PMLoco
Interest
Really, what does this town actually need?

More dangly things.

64809/24/2013 5:40:55 PMConnieSo why do you think they are doing it then?

I thought about it all day because it didn't make any sense.

Nothing in that proposal offers anything more than what the Guild site is already providing for free.

The only thing that would make sense is if Bertoni and Maninno are getting monetary kickbacks ... money directly into their pockets.

That's the best I can come up with; everything else points to the Guild website being far better for everybody involved.

Stroke for stroke, line item by line item, the proposal only regurgitates already established Guild services but leaves a few significant functions out, probably because they are technically too difficult to repeat.

64799/24/2013 1:07:03 PMConnieWhat's all this stuff I hear about somebody putting together a repeat of the Sugar Loaf Guild website with exactly the same (well maybe a little less than the same) services but charging $4,000.00 a year for an already existing FREE service?

I told you we were cool.

Everybody wants to make a buck off our reputation.

Too bad they don't know how we built that reputation.

64789/23/2013 11:47:39 AMJuryHoly, crap!

Bob Fugett was just asked by Anne Marie and immediately thereafter by Spencer Effron if he was ready for the upcoming Craft Fair.

When Bob mentioned that those shows used to be Juried Exhibitions, neither of them had ever even heard of juried shows, did not know the term or what it meant.

All excellent shows are Juried Exhibitions which means in order to be a vendor at one, you have to submit an application with explanation of your work plus photo slides (now digital photos), and the show organizers establish a committee to go through the applications and select which ones will qualify for the limited number of vendor spaces.

In the medical and academic professions it is called "peer review."

The committee would also go around during the event to make sure vendors were honest in their applications, and if they weren't they would be black listed for the following shows (same thing if they left early missing a day of three day events).

Top artists will not waste their time at lesser shows.

I explained that is why parking for events in years gone by extended to Warwick one direction and Chester the other.

The last show Mary ran had doubled qualifying applicants from 32 the previous year to 76 that year.

Mary got in trouble because the show ended up making money … despite her best efforts to spend every penny she could on advertising.

It was a feather in an artist's cap to be in one of the Sugar Loaf shows, and customers came by the thousands knowing that they would find high quality work done by the vendors themselves.

Don't forget, those shows happened during one of the hardest economic downturns this country has seen plus the oil crises.

Still things got bought by people who knew that they had to be careful with their purchasing dollar and only buy quality items that were made to last.

The current event organizers are probably themselves unaware of juried shows just as Spencer and Anne Marie were … which explains why the recent events are hard to distinguish from flea markets.

And people wonder.

64779/23/2013 8:40:15 AMNewt
Kuhmer
Why is the Sugar Loaf Chamber of Commerce having so much trouble collecting dues?

Something must be wrong.

People keep trying to donate to the Guild, and I keep telling them to give it to the Chamber instead, but all I ever hear is, "Well ... I'll just keep the money in my pocket then."

Except for Randy, of course, but he's a newbie pie-in-the-sky Pollyanna naif who also over thinks things.

Wait till he's seen a Chamber meeting.

64769/23/2013 8:22:57 AMCuryousBy the way, what was the question that Country Life asked at the last Chamber of Commerce meeting that blew things up?

I have no idea.

Randy Brown (Bee Positive) told me he had heard a rumor about it, but I figured it was just another nonsense question that caused some nonsense person to go off the deep end again.

Randy also said somebody walked into the meeting late, just as it was happening, and got caught in the cross-fire.

It never occurred to me to ask what it was all about; who cares?

Shops in Romers' Alley are already organizing their own splinter group (an age old American tradition wherein democracy is best described as the proud success of warring committees of one).

The more the merrier.

As for us, the Guild brochures have already seeped into the collective consciousness and are performing miracles!

64759/23/2013 7:55:51 AMSugar Loaf
Town Brochures
Status
The second printing of the town brochure is here.

This time the printing was 9,000; however, people should consider there is an infinite supply, because Bob and Mary plan to just keep getting them printed due to the strong positive impact the brochures have already shown.

Clay Boone has distributed over 1,000 to kiosks in Middletown and north, with Newburgh planned.

Bob Fugett hand delivered a supply to every shop in Sugar Loaf with a steady supply placed in the Barnsider and the Sugar Loaf kiosk.

Mary Endico went around to shops updating older versions with the newest printing.

Denise Griggs of Practical Magick has taken hundreds to Westchester, and Mary Endico will be distributing to a few venues between here and NYC today.

Anybody with an idea how we should expand our distribution can post a note in this Forum — no Guild membership required — no sign in required.

These brochures have filled in the gap left by the Sugar Loaf Chamber of Commerce which apparently has no budget for anything this year.

In any case, the Guild has an extra $300.00 to donate to the Chamber if we can ever find out how the donation will be published and receive trusted assurances that it will be.

Anybody wishing some of the brochures can stop in the Endico studio for as many as they require.

Routes are being formalized.

Clay Boone and Denise Griggs (Practcial Magick) are the current stars of distribution.

64749/22/2013 2:40:43 PMTruth
Slayer

 

 

   IF YOU THINK
   YOUR
   GOVERNMENT IS
   EVER GOING TO
   HELP YOU...

  YOU'RE AN IDIOT.

 

 

 

 

 

   IF YOU THINK
   YOUR
   GOVERNMENT IS
   STANDING IN
   YOUR WAY...

   YOU'RE
   AN EVEN BIGGER IDIOT.

 

 
 

64739/22/2013 1:01:28 PMMiss
Communication
Facter
Terry did not say she thought her e-mail in from the Chamber (which she never even looks at) was BCC'd; she mentioned that it wasn't, but she always BCC's her own e-mail out.

Right.

The Chamber list is what she grabbed first to send out notifications about her house for sale.

Thanks for fact checking the communication error.

64729/21/2013 8:06:40 PMBradThe only images I have are the ones I sent to you.

Should I use your Photoshop image now?

And what are you referring to when mentioning the enlargement of pixels?

Are you saying I should change the code to make the image larger there?

If those are the largest images you have, then you are screwed, buddy.

Images can be resized smaller much better than larger.

You can make smaller ones larger, but they end up looking at least as bad and probably a lot worse.

Give me a second to put together a demo.


Take a look at this Esterbrook Church image that is the actual image on your website which is being resized smaller by web browsers by your settings of the height and width:

Now look at the actual image of the Hailey sign:

You will notice the size settings for browsers causes the Hailey image to display slightly larger (on your page), while the Echurch image displays significantly smaller.

CAVEAT: Your Internet Explorer browser may still be resizing the Echurch smaller even when you open the actual image.

Making the Hailey larger is part of the reason it is a little soft looking on the website page.

Change your image height and width from 450 x 300 pixels to match the actual image size of 310 x 200 pixels.

That will make the image sharper but a little smaller.

After that you can grab my images that were sharpened in Photoshop if you like them better.

I told Clay to make sure you had Photoshop installed and running on your computer before you come up for a lesson, but I can probably step you through sharpening and sizing online as soon as you get Photoshop going.

Photoshop does a better job of resizing than merely setting width and height in code then having browsers (such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Chrome) do the resizing.

Best case: images are resized in Photoshop; then the code is set to match the new image size exactly.

Unsharp Masking is a secondary step applied to the already resized image at the exact size it will be used.

Skipping this step of carefully resizing images for use is apparently the reason Jessica Hengen's postcards are so soft looking (not a substandard print job as we previously suspected), so I tried to explain the process to her, and she was making progress until her neighbor stepped in the way in order to keep her stupid.

In any case, I did a quick check and Photoshop Elements will probably be as much as you ever need.

As for the current state of affairs, maybe the person you got the Hailey image from can give you a camera original image that is similar in size to the Esterbrook image ... unless it was done with an older phone ... in which case you are soooo screwed (until somebody gets out to Wyoming and takes a reasonable photo).

In case you are wondering about the Sugar Loaf Chamber stealing my images, I did tell Randy they are welcome to use the images, but I asked Randy about it, and he hasn't spoken to the person who did it yet, so they took them before speaking to Randy, nor did they ask me about it either.

They took a bunch of them, from various sites, probably had no idea they were mine, and the Chamber President told Randy they didn't need my help because they had their own process.

I guess FREE help was too expensive for the President; they'd rather have the help stolen.

Numbskulls.

64719/20/2013 11:51:01 PMCuryousDo you think that ad rep you met in the middle of Sugar Loaf today had the slightest clue she handed you three of your own ads as part of her sales pitch?

Unlikely.

I am also pretty sure she had no clue that the great idea she had for a website was merely a subset of the smallest section of what the Sugar Loaf Guild website provides already plus more ... for free.

Maybe someday somebody will happen by who has done their homework before trying to tell me what I so desperately need.

I am also sure the members of the local chamber of commerce have no idea the number of my images that were stolen for use as their most recent website addition with neither request nor attribution.

64709/20/2013 7:18:22 PMBob
Fugett
Brad, thanks for the files.

I added Unsharp Mask for comparison.

Do larger images exist, such as camera originals which would be at least 10x larger?

64689/20/2013 9:41:28 AMGuild
Extramural
Holy moly, Brad finally got one of Boone's remaining four "out west" signs up on the new Boone website ... and it just might be the best sign Clay has ever done.

Brad, email me the full original image, and I will show you some Photoshop magic to make it sharper after it was resized smaller.

64679/19/2013 4:49:55 PMGuild
Biz
Watch
Ok, blah, blah ...

It's Thursday afternoon and same ol' same ol'.

Two late day sales just made standing around all day well worth it.

Just like yesterday and the day before.

Ho, hum.

64659/18/2013 10:37:21 AMGuild
Website
Usage Logs
Review
Yesterday somebody was on Bee Positive looking around.

They went onto the Walking Map, but from there (on the map proper) they clicked Bertoni instead of Bee Positive, so they probably wondered why they didn't get placed directly at Randy's sign on the Historic Photos page.

In any case, previously they were here 06/10/13 and arrived again yesterday via the same IP# assigned to: HVDN-GHVHS-1 Greater Hudson Valley Health Systems.

Randy might know who they are and be happy to tell them what they missed.

Thanks for the info ... very useful.

64639/16/2013 12:53:24 PMGuild
Biz
Watch
So it is Monday, very early afternoon, and there hasn't been a person in town all day.

Except for UPS who knocked on the door the second Mary went to Lowes for painting supplies.

All of a sudden a big black Beemer pulls up to the front, and two lovely ladies hop out, run into the studio (where the lights are off), and Bob goes down to be greeted by, "Is Mary here?"

"Yes, she's out back; I'll go get her."

After finding Mary on the back roof painting the house, Bob goes in, says, "She'll be right here."

Mary comes in, and while Bob is turning on lights and music he hears talk about a house on the Cape, an invitation for Mary to come up and stay anytime (for free), and decorate the place with her watercolors, or they can send photos ... for her to decorate the place with her watercolors.

Another "dead" Monday in Sugar Loaf; another few thousand dollars.

Dear, Sugar Loaf, keep your shops open and your lights on — everyday — full-time while making something worth coming for.

You'll be glad you did.

Otherwise, stop throwing up ugly banners, illegal signs, and complaining about your lack of sales.

All that is left is explaining again to Mary how she is not allowed to be on roofs painting buildings.

64629/15/2013 10:50:35 AMGuild
Finality
Appraisers
Looks like our work here is done, folks.

The local chamber finally realized they were missing the big picture and added a new walking tour to their website which outlines the long standing resident artisans in the hamlet.

At least three (maybe four) of the businesses are mentioned despite them not even being members of the chamber.

I believe they have at last understood what the real draw to Sugar Loaf has been and where their true resources lie.

Good job, Finality Team, take a well deserved break.

64619/13/2013 8:57:13 AMGuild
Academic
Standards
Pursuant to his assiduous reading of the Guild forum, and in particular for clicking on the most recent 360° surround plus taking the extra step of viewing the associated detail page, Brad Kibler is herewith removed from Academic Probation and is immediately re-qualified to review sports statistics on his handheld.

The lad does his homework.

64609/13/2013 6:49:31 AMCuryousWhat do you think Randy is up to?

Well, my hope is that he is doing his morning floor exercises and not wasting time reading this nonsense.

However, if he was reading it, I would only remind him that one cannot go wrong with Windows.

And by the way, he should start his timer and get going on his floor exercises.

64599/11/2013 9:17:25 PMBob
Fugett
To my three favorite regular readers, Connie, Brad, and Randy:

Here is something nobody but you guys are likely to see.

When I handed my music CD to Peter VonUchtrup (18th Century Furniture) explaining the process, archival materials, etc he asked, "Wow. How many of these have sold?"

"Not so many actually."

"Where'd the money for the equipment come from?"

"Mary's painting sales, of course."

In fact Beth and Don Duke (My Sister's Closet) told Mary her painting sales put their kids through college using the money Don made over the years working on our house in Sugar Loaf."

I forgot to mention that those sales were directly to street traffic in Sugar Loaf happening the same time Don and Mike were working on our house ... lots of people think Mary has outside galleries representing her work.

Not true.

 

Don't miss:

64589/11/2013 12:07:26 PMGuild
Financial
$16,821.97

Guild expenditures for all programs this year to date total: $16,821.97.

Also the Sugar Loaf Guild website now surpasses the local Chamber of Commerce website in total number of daily hits, plus a steadily growing number of regular new viewers has finally been observed ... some are very thorough readers.

This unexpected growth has been attributed to the new town brochures provided by the Guild, while Matt Kannon of The Barnsider reports they have been seeing a lot of new faces coincidental with the start of the Guild website late last winter.

We are still trying to figure out how to donate $300.00 to the Sugar Loaf Chamber of Commerce despite the current president refusing to talk to us or even acknowledge our existence.

Anybody with a theory is encouraged to express it.

Don't forget to mention another top business in town has again confirmed that after years of prominent display on the local Chamber website, they have found that site to be useless in terms of attracting business to their location while they continue experiencing robust word of mouth referrals and success in providing high end product to the stars.

And by saying "to the stars" that is not idle chatter, because if I mentioned some of their clients by name, you would assuredly gasp, "Wow, you mean real stars, the most famous of people."

Therefore, I have begun work on the final chapter for the Guild website, and I may be able to mention specifics of their client list on publication.

Just remember, Sugar Loaf, you are famous and everybody knows it.

64579/10/2013 5:41:57 PMGuild
IT
Mr. Fugett, yesterday's log shows Randy missed seeing that there are more than one 360° surround for 18th Century Furniture, so he only looked at the first link.

Maybe that has been rectified already, but just in case ...

Ok, I'll post a link to the 360° of Integration page, because at the top there are three (3) images making it clear.

64569/10/2013 2:37:13 PMBradI hope my kids buy me an original Sugar Loaf coffee "chalice" for Christmas this year!

Hmm ... let's see.

The official record for who's been naughty and who's been nice seems to show Brad is on academic probabtion.

Therefore, the kids better do it, 'cause Santa ain't likely.

64559/10/2013 12:21:15 PMGendarmeI heard there was a tussle after that gathering over at the Boswell studio the other day.

That's right, still going on, Connie and I are fighting over which of us was the biggest fan of everybody else there.

64549/9/2013 10:07:14 PMCuryousI hear the local Chamber of Commerce is the worst.

How bad is it?

The Sugar Loaf Chamber of Commerce is so bad, Clay Boone joined one in Wyoming.

64539/9/2013 9:47:38 PMA. StuteI think they have them made in Taiwan.

Wouldn't surprise me.

64529/9/2013 9:33:08 PMConnieOn a side note, that was not a chalice.

Yeah, I know.

What was I going to say, "She made a mug"?

Who'd read that?

Besides, "turning a chalice" is a significantly more accurate description of the actual event.

64519/9/2013 9:32:51 PMBstdrWait a minute, I saw that happening.

Whenever you see that many top level artists all in the same place, something is about to happen.

The first rule of Sugar Loaf Guild is you never talk about Sugar Loaf Guild.

64509/9/2013 9:30:25 PMDragon
Nails
I was driving by the Boswell pottery studio this morning and noticed in the parking lot ... well, I'm not sure what I noticed.

Did I actually see what I thought I saw?

You did not.

64499/9/2013 12:54:15 PMGuild
Veracity
Checkers
Somebody better tell Randy that Bob is making this all up.

He'll catch on, but that was one jim dandy meeting wasn't it?

64489/9/2013 2:17:50 AMCuryousWhat have you got to say for yourself?

In a world of garishly presented over lit product, where the intent seems to be a noisy direct assault on the senses (in order to mask an underlying barren purpose), it is refreshing to find an environment carefully constructed over a lifetime aimed at quiet contemplation of a refined and sumptuous craft made by a hand of integrity ... and made by the person to whom you are speaking, right there, in that place, and in that time.

This is that place, and that time.

64459/8/2013 8:16:27 AMCuryousThat's interesting.

What defines a Chamber of Commerce?

A Chamber of Commerce is an organizational structure in which people who could not get out of their own way band together in order to stand in the way of others.

64449/8/2013 6:40:50 AMGuild
Advocacy
Program
Chair
$300.00 DONATION OFFERED

Sugar Loaf Guild would like to donate $300.00 to the local Chamber of Commmerce.

That will add to this year's expenditures toward Sugar Loaf promotions to date totalling: $16,680.54.

Unfortunately the current President of the organization has not returned our calls and provided information about how the donation will be published.

Anybody have any ideas?

Your guess is as good as mine.

64439/7/2013 9:35:57 PMGuild
Community
Watch
Randy Brown of Bee Postive has gone over to the dark side—joined the Chamber.

Don't look at me; Rachael Bertoni's doing.

Couldn't be helped.

64429/6/2013 7:53:27 AMKathy HackbarthI gotta tell ya, Bob, NICE WEBSITE!

I've loved Sugar Loaf since I first stepped foot on the soil when I was 13 yrs old.

My wonderful art teacher (from Bergen county) brought us there on a class trip, and I deemed I would (one day) be a resident artist there.

I own an Endico watercolor from the early 80's (before she had the whole building) and am proud to display it in my home.

I am sooo happy to see her prosper over the years.

She must think I was a weirdo—always congratulating her of her success like a staulker all these years!

Divorce has left me on a financial rebound, but I'm coming back, and WILL be a SugarLoaf artisan soon enough!

Any tips? Any suggestions?

The man at the frameshop told me I should have an alternate source of income ... Internet, etc. I agree.

Scott's Meadow was being renovated close to ten years ago, I spoke to the landlord, and visited back, and it still doesnt look finished.

I confess I havent been back in the last year though.

I now live in Greenville and work at the Warwick Winery, so things are looking up.

So one day, Jupiter willing, I can live my dream.

Nice talking to you, Bob, and by the way, I saw the ad in Canvas.

Thanks for the kind words about the website.

I didn't find an Endico painting sale to the name Hackbarth on her database, but we are always looking for images of early works that were out the door before our imaging process, so if you have a digital photo of the work, and an indication of the name it was purchased under, we can find the sale and get it on the published image database for provenance.

As for tips and suggestions about how to get going in Sugar Loaf, I would start by saying the level of commitment and quality of artistic work required is immense.

If you haven't done so already, make sure to read the nine stories starting with It was That Kind of Town.

Those stories outline what so many people have done wrong in the past to guarantee themselves failure.

However, you have already stepped outside that mold by asking how businesseses who succeeded have done it, before jumping in and assuming it is obvious.

On the other hand, it appears you have already gotten your first bit of bad advice.

If the Internet was suggested as a rational means of income, take it from me, the Internet is almost worthless for art sales.

As you know Mary has sold nearly 20,000 of her own original watercolors right off her work table to street traffic in Sugar Loaf.

We have routinely sent out postcard mailings to thousands of her collectors with specific reasons to check her website, but the number of sales that have come from the Internet has been barely enough to stop Mary from allowing me to close down all my websites and get a life.

Sugar Loaf is the opposite of the Internet: it is a living breathing functional home of the arts though it is surprising how many of the residents themselves remain unaware of that fact ... as you have seen, when it was suggested to you that having a full time business as an artist in Sugar Loaf is impossible.

What nonsense.

It is even more surprising how many of Mary's neighbors still don't know what she has done here, or how it has happened.

Part of that can be attributed to the more than full-time commitment required which makes her too busy to get out and tell them.

On the other hand, Randy Brown (newly opened beside Bertoni Gallery), reports that in the couple of months he has been here part-time, he has already sold over 30% of the one hundred works he has created since opening.

The secret to success in Sugar Loaf is to focus on making your own (continually improving) product, post and keep regular hours in your own studio which is open to the public, and treat customers with respect.

I am sure Randy is soon to outgrow his shop, so you might want to stop in (Bee Positive) and have a converstation with Randy while leaving your name with Rachael Bertoni in case his shop comes up for rent.

Romers' Alley also has a rather high turnover, and I am told the shop spaces rent for less than a local self storage bin.

Scott's Meadow is always in the process of being "finished"—it was that way the day we got here in 1976 (when we opened shop in the next to last space all the way down the hill on the left), and it remains the same today.

By the looks of things, the landlord (absentee) might have had their fill of trying to rent the tiny little cubicles they chopped it into after we left (guess we made it look too easy), and they might be open to the idea of letting somebody take over enough space (cheaply) to "create" something and build a following.

In any case, Sugar Loaf is undoubtedly the land of opportunity, not easy (takes the best of best efforts) but definitely possible, and those were just a few of the opportunities.

A number of the successful businesses have started by doing juried shows and exhibitions elsewhere, so I will leave you with a quote from Luft Garden's brochure:

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." — Theodore Roosevelt

Welcome to Sugar Loaf!

64419/5/2013 9:59:09 PMBob
Fugett
Hi Jessica : )

I tried to find a good explanation of pixels vs dpi online but was only reminded why it was so hard for me to get a handle on it.

However, I did find a shortcut (merely toggle off "Resampling"), and I also think I know what has been the main problem.

Send me one of your camera originals in whatever format you use for archiving, and I will prepare a quick tutorial and post it on the Guild forum in case somebody else has an interest.

The camera original can be of anything, and it doesn't have to be good (doesn't have to be out of your box or anything like that), blurry picture of the family dog will suffice, just the largest file and format you take off the camera and save as your authoritative original. -b

Bob, you probably better email this note as well.

64389/4/2013 10:56:33 AMCuryousHow 'bout that weather report?

It is one of the best of those cool, clear, crisp blue early autumn days.

There is almost no traffic in the hamlet but a constant hammering and sawing as somebody works on one of the buildings.

That is to say, it is just the way I like it.

In the Endico watercolor studio a day like this means that any moment somebody is going to drive up, hop out of their car, drop a few thousand dollars on us, then jump back in and roar off pleased with themselves for having beaten the crowds while basically stealing a painting right off the work easel.

And that sound!

The intermittant pop, pop, bam, then whirr buzz, buzz whirr as something is getting done.

The woodcarver Boone is back in his lair, Connie the potter is turning her chalices, the watercolorist is in full production mode, and Jessica is starting a new sculpture.

The crowds have left us alone for a moment.

Couldn't be better.

It is another timeless Sugar Loaf day.

64379/4/2013 10:38:55 AMPa
Duhr
I heard you had a rather spooky experience.

Spooky doesn't even begin to describe it.

I was over at the Boswell studio the other day when Connie decided I had enough dropping by and finding her puttering around fixing equipment, maintaining the grounds, etc, and it was time for me to see her throw a pot.

So she sat me down in front of her production wheel, grabbed a slab of clay, centered it quickly and turned a chalice.

Holy bat shit Batman, it looked like nothing happened.

She dropped her fingers toward the clay, and boom there was a chalice.

It was smooth, beautiful, perfect, and I hadn't even seen her touch it; it was as if she just breathed on it ... a subtle breath and there's your pottery.

Like the old joke, "Want to see my quick draw?"

"Yes."

"Wanna see it again?"

I am betting a lot of people would like the opportunity to see that happen, but I guess it's just another one of those famous hidden Sugar Loaf secrets.

Really: yawn, sigh, there's a pot!

Wow.

64328/31/2013 11:42:34 PMGill
Pressman
Ok, kiddies of the night, here is one for you to read before everybody else gets up in the morning:

Article 'the' withheld for aggravative purposes.

64288/31/2013 12:28:13 PMGuild
Linguistics
Scoundrels
Google shows 49,100,000 instances of the phrase "Open to Public" versus only 19,900,000 instances for "Open to the Public," but don't tell Connie somebody squealed on her.

In this town doesn't make a bit of difference one way or t'other; besides that is not the issue Connie identified though it is clearly an issue and she did identify it.

64278/31/2013 12:21:43 AMCuryousI don't get it.

Already beaten down by your day running around passing out the new Sugar Loaf town brochures, why did you stay up late spending the last 8 hours reworking the back page, getting yourself all overtired and red-eyed, just because Connie Rose complained about some pickayune little detail?

Really, why did you do that?

Because Connie's right.

64258/29/2013 10:58:00 PMGuild
Staff
Clay Boone just rolled back into town, and Bob already got in trouble.

Bob was complimenting him (or so he thought) on the eight (8) new signs Clay did while out west.

Bob said, "Man Clay, those are beautiful. You sure brought wood working to a whole new level."

Angrily Clay cut him short with an almost spitting, "They're not wood workings, they're wood carvings! Don't you ever call them workings!"

So now I know never to call them wood workings; I already knew never to call skin illustrations tattoos.

Live and learn.

64248/29/2013 1:44:41 AMBruceHi Mary,

I was in the store last winter, and we discussed a painting I bought back in the 80's.

I gave you my name, █, and you found it!

Purchase date and all.

I sent you a photo of it — white birch trees with a rose colored sunset.

You archived it with the number, and of course I can't find the number or purchase date.

I ripped my house apart to no avail; I'm sorry to be such a pain in the ,,,,,,,!

Do you think you can find it and send me info?

It would mean so much to me.

One of my brothers is wanting it from my dad's home and is saying where's the proof that I purchased it!!!!

The audacity.

Thanks, Mary, for your help.

See you in the fall.

Bruce

Hi Bruce,

This is Mary's husband, Bob, handling the night desk.

The painting is: #5910, purchased 10/26/86.

Mary will email you tomorrow to see if you need a written receipt.

Thanks for writing and absolutely no trouble looking it up.

Anytime.

Bob

64218/27/2013 9:21:10 AMCuryousIt is now Tuesday morning; about that painting ...?

Shipped.

64208/26/2013 6:51:33 PMEBSaw your work at ██ and ██'s house -love it!For those interested how a world class Sugar Loaf studio does business: the query at left was received with a painting ID# via the Endico website at 6:51:33 pm today (Monday); within 20 minutes they received the response below.



Hi Ellen :)

Thank you for your kind words

██ and ██ are two of my favorites.

I have reserved painting #██ for shipment or pick-up.

The total will be $██.00 (free shipping on this) and included in the price is either a silver, gold, black, bronze or brushed pewter frame … your choice.

If you wish to have it shipped, I will send it out tomorrow, and after you receive the painting and ok it, I will contact you for credit card info.

If the painting does not meet your expectations I will give you shipping instructions for returning it (also free).

Otherwise, my studio is open to the public Saturdays and Sundays from 11:30 am until 5:30 pm or any weekday by appointment.

Return your physical address and frame color if you wish it shipped.

And thanks again for reminding me of ██ and ██.

Best,

Mary

64198/26/2013 2:56:22 PMB.OtchOk, maybe I could half way buy the black eye story (lame as it is), but if it was Bob with the black eye there is no way you could convince me it was the dog.

Probably best I can hope.

64178/26/2013 1:22:19 AMCuryousWhat makes you think this is a town of alcoholics and battered women?

Simple.

As for the alcoholics: one of the prime motivators for posting the Guild website was the amount of online chatter about how bad business is in town, but we knew better: things are GREAT!

On closer inspection all the negativity was coming from a few bar stool bloggers.

As for the battered women: there is an entire quadrant of the hamlet that for the last 20 years or so has been held under the thumb of one of the nastiest most controlling "delegators" on the planet (owner of a vanity shop), but at least one person under that thumb has said, "You have to understand them; they have a good heart and really wish the best for everybody; they suffered a horribly abusive childhood, so we understand their nastiness."

Such a comment and allowance could only come from somebody (or group of somebody's) accustomed to denying then excusing abuse; not to mention there are businesses in that quadrant who even advertise that position.

Sadly it is an environment wherein I am by definition a pariah so can’t do a thing about it.

Beat the drum as I may, none of them are allowed to even consider the fact that I might have an artistic eye.

64168/25/2013 10:54:57 PMB.OtchThe dog did it. Probably the one and only time in the total history of Mankind that this statement is true. Should probably come up with a fake story that sounds better. Don't pick anything that has to do with falling in showers or walking into doors. Good luck.

Which was the very first thing out of my mouth when she pointed it out to me, "Oh, great! You know who is going to get blamed for this in a town of alcoholics and battered women?"

Our little Miss Polyanna could not believe it true.

Now she sees, albeit poorly.

The only thing saving me is the fact that people who know her understand it is obviously impossible for it to have been me.

I am still alive.

But the world being what it is, my only recourse seems to be to shoot myself and leave her trying to explain how she didn't do it.

At least she'll get a medal for it.

64158/24/2013 12:03:00 PMGuild
Promo
Sqad
Coordinate with the upcoming Canvas article about J. Hengen Design, the Sugar Loaf Guild is proud to present (as our gift to Jessica) a complimentary ad assembled for free and placed in the same issue.

Another fine benefit of having an artisan shop in Sugar Loaf.

Jessica has been very complimentary and thankful.

Hopefully nobody will point out to her that we are not so much helping her as riding her coattails to the top.

64118/22/2013 8:57:02 PMTBBob,

I enjoyed reading through much of the Sugar Loaf Guild website the other day, but you probably saw my IP address already :-)

So much old Sugar Loaf lore. I especially liked your tribute to Roger Romer.

And just so you are aware ... I did like your brochure.

And I did not tell Randy that business was bad. (I skimmed the forum too) :-)

I'm selling the building because of being post head injury, burr hole, craniotomy and health issues which were triggered by medications from surgery and hospitalization.

I have become acutely aware over the few years since then that I cannot juggle all the balls.

I need to put some down.

Right now the shop only being open on the weekend is a dropped ball.

Moving the shop back to the house and selling the main street building is a step toward simplifying my life and moving toward sustainable effort and activity.

Wish me luck :-)
... and keep writing... the story about your involvement with music was awesome too!

Blessings,

Terry Boswell

Thank you for the kind words and assurances that my head-em-off-at-the-pass warning to Randy was not really needed.

Mr. Bee Positive would not have known what to do with any implication business might be down in town.

His experience has been so strongly just the opposite, but I know there are lots of shops who have done absolutely everything wrong then blamed Sugar Loaf for their failure.

I followed your read of the site very closely, and you have now earned a 4.0 grade point and top level standing in your understanding.

You will surely want to know about the couple of things you missed with regard to how insanely interactive the Sugar Loaf Guild website is.

You missed clicking the houses on the Walking Map itself, which would have brought you to the appropriate photo page listings just like the text links you did click.

And from every listing on the photo page you can click the Walking Map Link (bottom right of each photo) and it will pin the business on the Walking Map like: THIS.

The cross reference of Map Links is very helpful to people touring town with handhelds.

Also when you were on the Products page, it appears you missed the fact that it is also interactive; clicking on a product type will bring up a special shortened version of the photo page showing only the shop (or shops) that provide the product linked.

It is not surprising you missed those aspects, because a lot of people miss them due to the fact that no town on this planet has so much function built into to their website ... just one of the fine benefits of being an artisan in Sugar Loaf.

Here are my notes that trace your read of the site showing how long you were on each page, then which link you clicked to navigate to the next:

OOL-CPE-WRWKNY-68-193-148-0-23 ? > / 0s idx 1s fav 1m45s, FinalParNoExagger > about 1m36s, TxtFinalParMySituation > HistPho 23 1m5s, 360sNav > BoswellAndy360 (full load) 52s, 360FrameCaption492 (Boswell) > HistPho 12s, hNav > chat 13m32 mVrt > frm_que, mVrt > AnneMarie 5s fav 13s, mVrt > BeePos 13s, mVrt > BNE 10s, mVrtDJMan > DJ/idx 34s, mVrt > LuftGardens 21s, mVrt > FredUngar 31s, mVrt > ThatKind 1m, bNxtOnly > CandleMaker 3m, bNxt > MakersBreakers 3m2s, bNxt > FourStep 6m1s, bNxt > JonBaugh 5m37s, bNxt > TooMuch 5m30s, ThankYouJon > JonBaugh 37s, WeekConvincing RayBoswell492 > HistPho 21s, ? > HistPho (did see guildinv2.pdf - offer vids, sites, etc) 1m3s, bNxt > Startup 5m54s, bNxt > CuttingRoom 5m38s, bNxt > TruthBeauty (Maninno clock full load no clicks on Scotts Meadow historic photos or Financial page)

That was quite a read.

I am sorry to report that I do not have the correct card swiper to accept Blessings, but thanks for the thought.

64068/21/2013 11:08:52 AMGuild
Conformance
Checkers
With the new town brochures out to the printers, Bob did some research last night looking for the next advertising vehicle to get the word out of the ongoing health and prosperity within the hamlet.

He came across an article about a standard art gallery sales practice that will sicken every successful Guild shop in Sugar Loaf.

While there was a moment in time when Sugar Loaf was attracting the sort of mercenary low life's described in the article (due to the success of local artisan businesses that were certainly the opposite), those days are long gone with only a few remaining vestiges.

So to make it perfectly clear that the top Sugar Loaf Guild shops are unique in their handling of customers (and help point out the few bad actors who may remain in the hamlet), below is a link to an article about the type of sales technique that has never, and will never, succeed in Sugar Loaf over the long haul:

Guaranteed path to failure in Sugar Loaf.

That was so important, I am re-posting the link myself:

Guaranteed path to failure in Sugar Loaf.

64058/19/2013 10:58:13 PMEmme
Paathe
You're upset lately.

It's all this nonsense about me being a counterculture icon.

I'm not counterculture just counter to culture.

If this website wasn't so insidious and subversive, it would be more obviously insidious and subversive.

The distinction is not trivial.

64038/17/2013 1:00:09 PMConnieGreat photo of Sundog's door open with the closed sign hanging.

Always a needed reminder: no means no.

64028/17/2013 11:23:32 AMGuild
Net-porter
Yesterday it appears the woman who asked about the Sears Home visited the Sugar Loaf Guild site.

This is a major success for the new brochure which is still in prototype.

She had asked Randy about the Sears Home because she recognized it as unique architecture.

Randy (Bee Positive) was paying close enough attention to know that he better shuttle her down to the Endico studio in order to get some historic perspective.

As the lovely lady and her husband were getting into their car to leave town, Bob thought it best to show her the brochure in progress, and when she gasped and immediately started reading it, Bob said, "Don't bother to read it now, here is a prototype copy we printed ourselves you can take with you."

Later Mary said to Bob, "That woman's husband is sitting on My Sister's Closet porch across the street," and Bob said, "Couldn't be; they got in their car and left."

Ten or so minutes later Mary said, "You're wrong; there they are walking in front of Sundog Stained Glass."

Apparently the interested woman read the brochure as they were leaving town, realized there was a lot more here than had met her eye, so they stopped and did the walking tour.

Later she showed up on the Sugar Loaf Guild site, looked at the Historic Photos page, then clicked over to the Sears Home on the Walking Map, and later still used a text link to click back to the Sears Home on the photos page.

Pretty impressive success for the new town brochure.

Not to mention Randy's on the ball attitude got her into the Endico studio.

It was another one of those days where Mary was selling painting after painting to a steady (but small) crowd of Sugar Loaf browsers while we all marveled at the number of stores that were closed but whose proprietors will soon be on the airwaves complaining there is no business for them in Sugar Loaf.

I guess I will have to agree with them: they have no business in Sugar Loaf.

Too bad Connie is tucked away down around the corner and missing it all.

And too bad Brad was too busy to get up here in Clay's absence in order to see the glaring truth about the ongoing churning commerce inside the Sugar Loaf gates.

64018/16/2013 4:05:43 PMGuild
Biz
Watch
Randy, the person who bought that painting was from Hoboken, NJ.

First time in Sugar Loaf.

Leave Randy alone.

He's headed off for a much deserved vacation where he won't have to put up with the likes of you.

64008/15/2013 2:46:34 PMGuild
Mailbag

Yes you did.

63998/14/2013 12:42:24 PMAn onny assOh just learn to cook something and stop it.

Unlikely.

63988/14/2013 9:33:51 AMCuryousI just got invited to a TED dinner.

Sounds like one of them pseudo-religious, quasi-techno, pod-people pyramid schemes; what do you think?

Here's an idea worth spreading: open an actual artisan business based on street traffic in Sugar Loaf.

63978/13/2013 10:39:08 AMPond Whale HunterTo Nick Z.

Taking it off while taking it on. (Lendved Style)

Huzzah!

Nick can't read, so he is not going to see that.

Does harken to the past though, don't it?

63968/13/2013 8:25:34 AMConnieYes, it would have been generous of you to use that edited space to place a gentle reminder.

Save the Bobofrogturtle Shrimp Eating Sugar Loaf Pond Whale!

Of course now, maybe 10,000 flyers tossed to the ground may end up to be an artsy-looking paper mache sidewalk?

That is the hope.

On the other hand these flyers have historically been a great help, maybe not the worthless current crop of them, but the old timey Jon Baugh versions like our newest is.

However, town flyers may be only a help to Endico I guess, because Endico is the only person in town who seems to need to make a living from people coming to town.

Nobody else in town gives a shit about Sugar Loaf; they just use it as a bedroom community for doing Renaissance Fairs and Religious Festivals or writing historic books from afar while hamstringing the local community in hopes of supporting their thesis it can't be done any other way.

Good luck to newcomer shop keepers finding out the truth ... much less outsiders finding out the true uniqueness of the hamlet.

So far our experience has been that even just picking up that flyer and glancing at it goes a long way toward revealing the truth of the matter.

Those flyers ending up on the ground afterwards will just be gravy ... and provide another economic recovery jobs program for clean-up services plus fodder for recycling.

We are just doing our part.

Did you know Nick Zungoli was spotted yesterday morning, shirtless and across the street from his studio, cleaning up the mess his neighbors have allowed to fester?

I hate the man, and even I have to state right out loud that was pretty impressive.

Somebody doing something more than bitching.

63928/12/2013 5:50:58 PMRandyHey ... !

New kid gets picked on; that's just the way it is.

63918/12/2013 2:47:18 PMConnieI disagree with what Matt said; it's hard to get good at something.

Matt didn't say it is easy to get good at making something, he meant it is easy to sell it in Sugar Loaf once you get good at making it (actually even before you get good at making it and especially if you let people watch you making it).

You've just been hanging around too many people who waste their time running around to outside shows, continue to shoot themselves in the foot at every possible opportunity, don't open their doors when they are in town, don't treat people correctly, and don't understand the town's street traffic.

You know, about how they should set Connie Rose up on a porch on one end of town, let her work in front of people, sell the product right out of her hand, and rake in the dough.

It is easy.

As soon as a shop keeper steps back from selling their own product in order to sell bits and pieces of other people's work, they may was well continue on back and drop off the cliff, because they have just become like every other trendy nonsense shop in the world ... good luck making that work here.

I mean Randy has only been here a month, and he is doing great, and his stuff is total crap.

You telling me you can't beat that?

Hell, Randy is already trying to figure out how to sucker a bank into letting him buy two of the buildings in town, and in another month he will probably own Sugar Loaf and that horrible Kiki woman (Jill Light) is probably going to help him do it.

You really think it's all that hard?

63908/12/2013 1:25:48 AMBradBob, it may not seem like it if you were to visit my site right now but I am actually busy putting your table template to use.

Currently I am doing all of my work in a testdev version of my "lobby" so that I can work out kinks and mistakes as I go along.

1.) I successfully established your table source code which was easy enough.

2.) It took me two full evenings of late night work just to simply pull every single one of the images off of your web site and onto my computer. (SHEESH there are A LOT of images!!!! Your hard work with dad's sites over the past several years is very evident and I don't think dad or anyone else could ever know how much hard work, time and energy you have put in. We are always appreciative, very thankful and in debt to you!) Anyway, the images are all in my images folder waiting to be transferred over to my root directory any time I'm ready.

3.) On the testdev version of my source code I have been continuing the table, very slowly but surely, and adding images along the way. Once I have all of the images on the "lobby" page then I'll begin to add the "href" options to each of the images, and the new pages for each of those images, so that you can click on each one to see a larger view of the image.

4.) Once I have all of this accomplished then I will rename the testdev version and overwrite the original version of "lobby." Next I'll drag the completed new version of the "lobby" onto my root so that it will officially become a part of the site.

5.) When I complete this I will have dad check it out and determine if he likes it this way or if he would rather the images be broken down into categories the way you had them on your site. I happen to like the way you broke them down into categories but that gets very complex and as it is now I'm sure I'm putting way too much time into this. I think one baby step at a time is good right now. I like having a diverse showing of what he's capable of but I'm very slow with this still so I'm just taking it one step at a time.

6.) All of this will take time doing! I'll get a couple hours here and a couple hours there to work. I'll also get a little more efficient each time but it's slow going for now. You know I'm not a computer tech!!!

So, that is the status update. It may not look like it but I'm working. Amazingly I've actually worked many hours but I'm learning a lot and getting better.

Next time I'm up (and I don't know when that will be yet) I'll ask you to look at some issues I'm having, aesthetically speaking, and see if you to show me how to fix.

Thanks again for all your help!!!

Hey, don't blame me for the number of images; that is all Clay Boone at work, and all those images are but an ittsy bittsy corner of the vast body of work he has completed ... not to mention the three (3 at least) signs he's done out west.

I've been trying to explain to Randy how that kind of output defines what a true artist does, because the truth about what has made Sugar Loaf great remains a hidden treasure (to the steady stream of here today, gone tomorrow hangers on with pretend venues), and there are still remnants of that view in Randy's perception of Sugar Loaf, which he sees as a splintered group of trendy shops.

The underlying glue that holds it together has always been hidden by the flurry of activity of wannabees over top of it, so you can't blame Randy for seeing it that way.

He will eventually understand, however, because Randy is in fact a true artist himself.

I've been telling people he is Charlie Maninno Light, because he has that creative spark and also does a lot of work with found objects, except at the moment Randy is using a bunch of low quality junk purchased at A.C. Moore, so his work is crap — but he is still experiencing strong sales (his first month open) which should be a lesson to every shop in town who fails to open their doors, and treat people right, but complains about their state of affairs.

The fact is, if you MAKE it, they will not only come they will buy it.

But like I said, Randy is the real deal, and some of his found objects actually are repurposed goods from the real world, so there is hope for him.

I look forward to the day I can stop saying, "Yeah, Randy is Charlie Light, but right now his work is total crap."

It is an overstatement anyway.

I did tell Randy I thought you were showing up on the Guild site to grab images when I explained the only people coming to the Guild forum are you, Connie, and Randy.

I had noticed the odd attachments coming from your same IP area, but with a slightly different arrival footprint.

So you are working on files that are only on your laptop?

I have tried all kinds of variations on what I figured you might name the test files online but haven't found them.

Here is the caveat: Make sure to test everything online while you are working on it, because sometimes there can be a subtle difference in the way files are served to the web, and it is easy to do a great deal of work only to find you have to redo it once you take it live.

If you have a live version, tell me the page file name so I can check it out.

Too bad you've been busy, I so hoped to get you seated in Clay's studio (without an attack dog) so you could see how much business he is missing (even when he is here).

Randy himself went there several times when he was moving into town (before Clay went west), trying to get Clay to make a sign for him but never connected.

He ended up making his own sign (it is beautiful), and people are already asking him to do one for them.

I see that as a very, very good thing.

I am pretty sure we will have to clean the poop off Clay's floor after he returns, gets going on the new Firehouse table, and I bring Randy over to look at it.

I have been trying to explain the whole thing to Randy, but when he sees it first hand in real life he will be spilling his guts onto the floor so to speak.

Might also become Clay's new neighbor.

BTW: I really haven't done so very much work on Clay's sites, I am just better than anybody on this planet when it comes to automating repetitive tasks, and handling such things as project planning, management and follow through, online coding, databases, organization of information, and mostly the articulation and presentation of all this plus getting stuff to the top of Google, etc.

The truth of the matter is that it is not so much the amount of work, but the vision, basis, and presentation of that work that defines what I have done, but it looks like I will not live long enough for the rest of the world to catch up close enough to get even a glimpse toward understanding.

As long as I get to stay on my bicycle, I really don't care though.

63898/11/2013 9:31:36 PMMorning
Wake Up
Call
Good morning, Randy.

What I am about to do is generally a really, really bad idea, but you have earned it.

Plus I won't be naming names (because you know the situation) and like I have said before, you, Brad, and Connie are the only people reading this forum, so I can vent without harm.

The people mentioned will never see it.

First off, you will recall the people I brought in to meet you who are selling their house.

I do not need to know how that went (none of my business), but I just wanted to make sure you read the subtext.

On a lovely Sunday afternoon with Sugar Loaf maybe not packed but busy, I met them while I was walking down to give a prototype of the new town brochure (which I am sure they hated) to their employee.

It was the third time I walked down that afternoon, but the shop was still closed.

Also you might have noted that the owners of the shop had not even opened their other location in Sugar Loaf (the house which is for sale).

Think about that for a moment, then allow yourself to discount anything they may have said about hard times in the hamlet.

While that was going on, the following is what was happening in the Endico studio.

I have prepared a report from information given to me by Mary Endico about her weekend, and this is the part where I am going to shamelessly state specific dollar amounts.

I know this is in bad taste, but I think you need to know.


Friday:
1. $300 floral painting wedding gift; used to live here 12 years ago

Sat:
1. $350 tree for hallway; have 9 Endico paintings already which were all purchased in 2007; still need more large abstracts for living room.

2. $64 moon; their first purchase, but they've been coming to Sugar Loaf for 30 years.

Sun:
1. Two (2) $250 trees and one (1) $64 tree; they haven't been here in 4 years but already own 11 Endicos.

2. Setup the sale of a $4000 painting to a couple who were here 4 years ago; I took contact information because no previous purchases, but they had remembered they liked my work; have limited space because they are collectors.

Otherwise, I talked to numerous other old customers who just stopped in to say hi and various new people who left with my brochure and a Guild business card in their hands.



So Randy, of special note is the Sunday activity, because there were lots of people coming into your studio at the very same time (causing me to periodically duck out from our conversation), but when I got back home and spied my neighbor blocking traffic into her studio by sitting on her porch with her nose in an iPad, I walked over and said, "How was your day?"

"Not one person came in all day, but one person did go into the back shop." was the reply.

I had stood beside her for a full minute and a half before she looked up and said, "Oh, no. You again."

Get it, Randy?

The only reason I am reporting figures (this was not a great weekend for us), is because I've had it up to here with people in town who haven't a clue about the truth of the town, who break every rule in the book about how to run a business and how to treat their customers, and then decide they need to spout off about the sad state of affairs and throw up more signage and nonsense.

Not to mention there is the guy doing a major renovation to a building two doors down from us who has not even taken the time to come in and find out what kinds of businesses are flourishing in Sugar Loaf and why (never been in the Endico studio), nor even bothered to check the Guild website after I directed him to the information.

Shameful.

The last I heard he was expecting to rent to a lawyer.

So like I told you, Randy, save your pennies (if the other house doesn't work out for you), because soon enough the house two doors down from us will be for sale with a "very motivated" seller.

All's I'm saying is, "Don't do absolutely everything wrong and then complain about what Sugar Loaf needs."

I am only telling you this, Randy, because I can see you are doing everything right, but as a newcomer artist it is very easy to run into people who are absolutely certain they know what's going on, but really don't have a clue (like Orange Regional doesn't have any local artists on display), and I just wanted to make sure you have your inoculation.

I know you were aware of Sunday's street traffic, and I am only saddened that Brad never got to sit in Clay's shop (sans attack dog), and see the same thing for himself ... to report back to Mr. Boone on his return — that what I have been saying is true.

I've done what I can.

Maybe someday somebody with a brain will go help the Chamber of Commerce finally understand.

I am certain I will not live to see it.

BTW: The phone, fax, and email on the historic document I gave you is obsolete, so I have redacted them from the online version.

63888/11/2013 9:42:20 AMJenn
Wine
Describe your proudest moment.

63878/11/2013 1:41:16 AMCuryousWhat is the secret to success in Sugar Loaf.

Expanding on what Matt Kannon has been quoted as saying below, the secret is simple.

Do exactly the opposite of everything you have heard is the secret to success in almost every other place in the world.

For example, consider such as the age old myth, "All of us are smarter than any of us."

Actually in the real world (away from corporate minders who wish to control you), that statement is found to be totally false.

The fact is: "The group is always significantly dumber than any single individual within it."

Ignore the crowd (even fight against it) and do something of significance.

The crowd will only do what it has always done: try to impose its will by virtue of its protoplasmic weight alone.

Every successful business in Sugar Loaf has long since ceased going to group meetings.

63868/10/2013 9:47:44 AMRandyAnytime someone visits Sugar Loaf and words like flabbergasted and very excited are used to describe their experience, I get goosebumps.

As far as the compliment all I can say is, "Awe schucks."

All right now, settle down.

63838/9/2013 10:43:07 AMRandy BrownHello to Bob and the guild gang.

I saw the finished 360 Degrees of Integration of my shop, and it is fantastic.

Thanks for a job well done (as usual).

I even caught a glimpse of the "ghost" — that ought to give them something to search for and talk about.

Prospects of a "Town Brochure" - sounds incredibly positive.

Let me know how I can help?

Thanks again for all you do.

Thanks for all the kind words.

The brochure is already off to the printers (we've never been known to dally around), and it is different from any brochure you have ever seen.

It has proven so good in fact that Mary already handed out a prototype yesterday to some people who stumbled into Sugar Loaf for the first time.

They were flabergasted and extremely excited to get it.

Things are heating up, my friend, things are heating up.

As for what you can do to help: just keep being Randy.

63808/7/2013 12:49:12 PMCuryousSeems something is brewing, so what's happening in Sugar Loaf?

We are almost done with the design of a new town brochure which will go into all the touristy kiosks in the tri-state (maybe quad or quint-state) area.

Hopefully it will be done in time to surprise Clay when he gets back later this month.

He is probably constipated from all his dealings with cowboys out west, so we are hoping to help him out by having the final printing on his work table as he rolls into town.

When Clay sees the new Guild brochure, he is going to poop his pants.

63768/5/2013 2:50:13 AMGuild
Google
Gaggle
One week after first publication of Luft Gardens' new profile, Google is returning this on page one for: luft gardens sugar loaf

Which return would you click on?

You people are the absolute best at what you do, and I know exactly why.

63728/1/2013 4:04:17 PMGuild
Staff
Here is a little tidbit given to Mary Endico today by owner of The Barnsider Matt Kannon:

Success in Sugar Loaf is not a big mystery.

1) Find something you like to do.

2) Do it well.

3) Live where you work, so you don't have to commute.

4) Open your doors.

It's easy!

Never better said.

Maybe we'll make it the next Guild ad.

63697/31/2013 7:26:39 PMConnie RoseI love the full page ad you put on the back cover of The Canvas.


Thank you for sending a copy down in person!

Are we cool or what?

We are the absolute best at what we do, just like Connie Rose!

63667/28/2013 11:07:16 PMLuft GardensHi Mary,

Thanks so much for stopping by and adding the pics and info to the Sugar Loaf Guild site! Looks great!

Pleasure meeting you and thank you again, we really appreciate it.

Aaron & Jennifer

It was our privilege.

Your work is emblematic of Sugar Loaf.

63657/28/2013 4:23:47 PMGuild
Get Out
the Word
Brigade
New shop profile.

Shop's not new, just the profile.

Wow!

63347/22/2013 9:37:38 AMArtie
Zen
Well, that explains why no other town has a website as nice as the Sugar Loaf Guild site.

Yes, it does.

63337/21/2013 1:45:42 PMSylviaI understand this.

I watched how you made certain that Clay Boone would have his own independent website preserving his images no matter what happens to you, and how quickly you got his son Brad Kibler up and running maintaining it, and how after Google was returning it for logical Boone searches, with Brad set to take control of the equity already established in the current website's temporary domain name (should he choose to do so before its scheduled auto-destruct), how you then removed most of the related posts here because they were too technical for this forum.

I get that, makes perfect sense.

What I don't understand is this.

Given the extreme high quality of the Sugar Loaf Guild website in terms of ease of use, extreme interactivity (even the Walking Map is interactive), the lack of distracting external links to all those so called "social networking" sites which are really only coporate logos being passed around Wall Street like lottery tickets, plus the Guild site's massively strong presentation of the essence of Sugar Loaf, not to mention the insane level of technology that has been brought to bear over the last six months setting up the process and infrastructure, what I don't understand is why you refuse to take payment for any of it ... even going so far as to fund some related external websites and standard print ads out of your own pocket while taking not a penny for yourself.

What's up with that?

$320,000 Dollars
per year

Here's the problem.

My fee for authoring a website like the Sugar Loaf Guild site (to make it worth my stopping what I am already doing) would be $320,000 dollars per year with a five year contract plus some other conditions being met.

Therefore charging people anything at all for any of it would just be misleading.

It is probably not very obvious to people, what it takes to put together a Sugar Loaf Guild style website, so I understand why the value might not be recognized.

Don't forget, this website is purposely designed for simplicity and ease of use while hiding the complex details of the technology at work behind it.

In fact the goal is for a user to think nothing at all happened on the site; they just found what they were looking for and maybe learned something new about Sugar Loaf.

The extreme technical excellence of the website should not even enter their mind.

Except those who have done their homework understand that sites coming even close to the Sugar Loaf Guild are increasingly rare on the Internet, and that makes it even harder to see how truly far ahead of the curve the Guild site is.

In fact the Guild is so far in front of the curve that even taking a straight line direct run trying to beat it will likely fail.

Truly post-tweetie-face.

The person most likely to understand what I am talking about is Brad (Clay Boone's son), because I spent some time with him one on one explaining the technology.

But even Brad only glimpsed the smallest tip of the iceburg, enough to get him up and running with his own site but actually not even the tip, just a cartographer's rough drawn map implying the direction in which one might go to find the tip.

The full story would more closely show how I am able to do such things as teach Google to provide the world's best presentation of:

That, my friends, was a quick lesson in semiotics but outside the scope of this discussion.

So like I said, it would take $320,000 per year in a five year contract (tax free) just in my own pocket with some other very important conditions met.

For one I would need at my disposal a roomful of programmers, because the last six months has taken me off my bicycle too much and I put on weight.

I will not do that again.

A roomful of replacements would be needed to take over the coding because programmers trained on the newer slower tools would need extra help to keep up with what I can do on my own.

The other requirement would be a massive promotional budget to help get the word out using old timey standard print and other traditional advertising methods.

We have spent over $15,000.00 in the last few months, and that is not nearly enough to show any remarkable improvement over the interest I am generating online for free, but it might be nice to inform some of the people who are still languishing on the other side of the digital divide.

The final necessity is that whatever project the website served would have to be culturally significant and extremely so.

Which brings me to the final reason I am doing all this for free.

The most important requirement for me is cultural significance, it far outweighs the considerations of time and money, but there is nothing in the world more culturally significant than what is happening right now today in Sugar Loaf.

That means I am obligated to provide the service at any cost to myself but free to everybody else.

I know it can sometimes be hard to spot the cultural significance of what is happening in Sugar Loaf because of the number of shops that routinely come and go after buying into marketing nonsense enticing them to follow corporate schemes specifically designed to make them fail.

Such stuff as banners, e-blasts, online networking, and standard advertising that mimics shopping commons and big box stores but doesn't provide a shred of possibility of beating them at their own game.

Or as Clay Boone has so aptly described shops who follow that line, "... those folks who only bring the brown trucks into town ignoring the fact a brown truck can just as easily deliver direct."

Those marketing ideas come from corporate stores which only wish they could compete with Sugar Loaf but can only struggle to cut short a few startups by distracting them into wasted effort on proven paths of failure.

Consider this.

Yesterday a first time couple from New York City came into the Endico studio.

They were taking a random ride out in the country specifically to get away from the City, and they just happened into Sugar Loaf, and just happened into the Endico studio.

They were beside themselves seeing such high quality art in a little out of the way place decidedly not New York City—where they had assumed all the great art to be.

In fact they soon realized that not only was the work they were looking at as good as anything in New York, it was actually better.

So Mary explained how that happened to be, how it was because of her process, and how that process is one which could not be supported by living anywhere else (especially in New York City despite her work having been shown there on occasion and recently used on the home page of the country's top watercolor show at the National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park South, NYC), and how she enjoys an international following with people coming from places as far away as Ireland, Japan, Europe and South America once a year to "check in."

As an aside Mary is not the only one in Sugar Loaf with such a following because of doing top level work.

Further aside even a local print publication purporting to specialize in regional arts has missed this fact in the past, nor am I sure they get it yet.

Therefore since I am the only one around with the understanding and specific skills set deep enough to effectively put it all online, it is my absolute duty to do it, and to do it for free.

I am an artist and have absolutely no interest in becoming a "web designer."

The Sugar Loaf Guild website and process is a profound resource helping make this the best place in the world to build a solid business in the creative arts.

This website is only one of the special supporting infrastructures like none other in the world available only to businesses in Sugar Loaf.

More people are becoming aware of that fact every day.

63327/21/2013 11:36:17 AMSundogThis is huge!

Korey found this online.

Check out #4.

Out of all the shops in the country ... and also, someone recognized it and located it in Sugar Loaf, check out the comments.

Doesn't get any better than this.

Sugar Loaf, its "that kind of town."

I think you mean:

HUGE!

Actually it does get better.

If that website was not so ugly with eight corporate logos at the top but no mention (on its own) of exactly who, what, when, and where that sign exists.

Plus no indication of who owns the website, what authority they bring to bear on the postings (other than pretty pictures), and why somebody might want to come to the location of that sign in order to gain from whatever makes the shop preferred over every other record shop in the world (which it really is, because I know for a fact there are at least a few records there that are epic in the historic record).

Good thing a Sugar Loaf regular caught the error which is not so surprising considering the number of Sugar Loaf regulars that are out there.

On the other hand, this is the Internet, and it is very possible that the person who commented was the very person who placed the image there to make the standard big show about a robotic acquisition program.

Hard to tell.

I mean think about it.

Somebody thought it worth the effort to post the URL here, in a place nobody frequents.

In any case, D.J. (aka D.J.) should charge that website for the use of his image!

I should charge them for publishing a link and image reprint of their logo header.

Also somebody around here should have mentioned to me that D.J.'s pages had gotten corrupted and were refusing to serve.

However, thanks for letting me know that I had left the submittal form open to html injection.

All fixed now.

Otherwise, this was posted from an interesting IP#: an Optimum Warwick number which was last here 05/22/13 and not the standard Sundog IP.

Thanks for posting and prompting me to upgrade security settings for the Submittal Form to guard against html injections.

My thought is Korey did this whole thing.

I'll send Mary over to Sundog to confirm provenance of this posting.

Editors note: Whoops, never mind.

Mary just checked and confirmed this posting is indeed a Sundog submittal from Joann's upstairs computer.

Multiple IP#'s: the actual artisan shops in Sugar Loaf are rich, are they not?

Therefore I'll roll back on the security clampdown, and please excuse me for the impromptu Internet lesson; I can't help myself.

In fact this whole thing is indeed deemed:

HUGE!

63307/19/2013 1:38:38 PMI.M.
Prestt
Wow, that was quick.

Did I fail to mention I know what I'm doing?

63297/19/2013 1:26:53 PMGuild IT
Mid-Morning
Search
Review
Brigade
Brad Kibler is already on page 1 of Google searches for: clay boone woodcarver sugar loaf ny.

Kid is clever.

Let me help him out.

63237/16/2013 11:38:28 PMGuild IT
Night Shift
Cool: 07/17/13

Except the errant right bracket reappeared under the table:

>

63207/15/2013 12:45:16 PMGuild
Historian

Liz will love it, thanks.

63167/13/2013 7:32:34 PMGuild
1st String
IT Squad
We updated Clay's phone number.

All you guys, and by that I mean each and every one of you, are the best.

63157/12/2013 11:15:18 PMTuristeThat was fun.

Wasn't it?

Nighty night.

63147/12/2013 11:11:32 PMBradBy the way, that particular eagle that I carved in the picture was done for the Navy recruitment office up in Middletown.

It earned me a promotion before I ever even put on the uniform.

That was way back in '94 or '95.

I wonder if it's still hanging in there?

Now that's more like it.

If you find it is there, I will go take a picture of it for the Boone Enterprise Level Websites.

63137/12/2013 11:05:14 PMBradAnything I have accomplished in the shop just simply would never have happened without dad standing over my shoulder guiding me along.

I've seen other work by other woodcarvers from other places but trust me when I say no one, and I do mean no one, is as good as Clay Boone.

He's simply the best there is at his craft.

Hands down and no question about it.

And your point is?

Clay ain't here.

What time will you be there?

63127/12/2013 11:04:05 PMRandyDouble wow!

I know, I know.

63117/12/2013 10:48:54 PMConnieWow!

I know.

63107/12/2013 10:47:00 PMCuryousWhy would you want Brad to go down into Clay's studio and waste time whittling?

Because Brad is Clay Boone's son, a third generation woodcarver, and he has long since done this:

Not bad for a kid.

63017/10/2013 9:31:12 AMGuild
IT
Team
Morning logs show that activity on Boone's website has dropped off the cliff, hit the ground like a Korean airliner.

Probably means that he has finally shook the hand of every person in Wyoming who has an Internet connection, or he got a big job and is working on it, or he got too drunk to talk to people and is taking a few days to sleep it off.

In any case, it means it is time to put Brad into Master Classes in order to get him ready for the big take-over (which looms closer every day).

Ok, I got it.

Brad, here is your assignment.

Click on the link below and copy/paste the single line of code anywhere into Big Belly index.htm, then update it online.

After setup you will change the date appropriately (just change the number) each and every day ... no matter what!

It should take a total of 37 seconds each day, but it must be done consistently.

I will check every morning to make sure a change has been made.

This will give your final indication whether or not maintaining Clay's website is something you even remotely want to be doing.

BTW: Predmore read your article, and I sent her a phone number for the next person to contact.

63007/9/2013 11:15:30 AMGuild
IT
Team
We went ahead and posted Clay's newest signs at the top middle of Commercial Signs and Organizational Signs.

I trust this will not quell the fire under Brad with regard to making those links happen on Big Belly.

62917/6/2013 10:55:14 PMBob FugettBrad, I am thinking about closing down all my websites and never touching my computer again for as long as Mary and I both shall live.

Take a look at what I have to deal with more and more often.

In contrast somebody walked into Mary's studio Tuesday (on a "dead" day in Sugar Loaf) and purchased $3,000.00 worth of paintings, and then somebody on Thursday (another "dead" day in Sugar Loaf) came in and purchased one for $400.00.

Ask Clay if he has ever heard something like this (which he is likely to hear through his website): "Uhm, Clay, we bought a custom hand carved sign from you in 1991, and it has served us well for all these years, but we just closed the business and are wondering if you might know where we could sell the sign."

 

Quit trying to scare Brad.

62897/6/2013 1:39:11 PMBradNo, I haven't tried it as of yet.

I'll give it a go Monday night and let you know how it went.

Great.

And thanks for the great story.

Finding out that you wrote the whole thing on your phone, leaves me breathless.

I knew that the few edits required were atypical for your writing, so I blamed Cookie ... guess I should have known better.

Man, what an effort, and what a great result.

Thanks for the story.

62887/6/2013 12:41:27 PMBradThis is in response to Judith Predmore's inquiry as to where she might find Mr. Ezra Decker's 100th birthday video.

That is to say, this may shed some light as to the starting point from which you might want to begin your search.

As it just so happens, I was up visiting with my family for this Fourth of July weekend and was just laying out on the church pew in my mother's piano room.

With a pile of other old magazines and music books that were being cleared of dust and re-organized were a few copies of old newspapers.

Long time Sugar Loafers will remember the brief but fantastic publication known as "The Sugar Loaf News."

The copies that we have here are from 1987 to 1988.

In Volume 1, Number 3 of the Winter, 1987 edition of "The Sugar Loaf News" there is an article all about the celebration of Mr. Decker's 100th birthday.

It was quite a celebration, and Mr. Decker was quite a man.

Anyway, in the article it states the following: "A brief description by Dr. Richard Hull about the world on November 27th, 1887, Ezra's day of birth, captured our interest. A video taped interview with Ezra was playing for view by family and friends. The tape was of Ezra speaking about Sugar Loaf and his earlier years. The video and VCR were graciously donated by Dr. Richard Hull."

So, there ya go.

Your starting point is with Dr. Hull who is a very well known Sugar Loaf historian, and it would only make perfect sense that his name would be associated with this historic event.

I'm sure if he doesn't have the video then he may remember who he gave the video to.

I was young when I knew Mr. Decker, but I can attest to the amazing capability, strength and fortitude of this brilliant man.

I can remember being out back playing basketball with friends or routing on one of dad's signs in 90 degree heat in the dead of summer and looking over to see Mr. Decker meticulously pruning his garden or climbing the ladder to do repairs on the chimney.

I would shake my head in amazement.

Dad would always tell me to keep one eye on my work and one eye on Mr. Decker out there in the heat, and once or twice I will admit that I'd have to run over there in sheer terror after seeing him tumble over.

But he was no frail man.

He was old in years, but in spirit he was strong and determined.

I'd nervously peer into his eyes, standing there over him like the dopey, goofy little boy that I was, and as he laid there on his back I'd ask, somewhat afraid, if he was ok.

He'd say, "Go get Clay, boy," and I'd start my vigilant gallop back to the shop to grab dad.

Dad would bring him into the shop and sit him down with cold water and a wet rag, and after a brief spell of selling my dad on the idea that he was fine now, Ezra would make the trek back over to his garden and continue on his way.

Mr. Decker was a great man (and many knew him better than I), but I remember him always as an inspiration.

As with the many other characters, craftsmen, artists, and people that I've known over the course of my lifetime, he was a true Sugar Loaf original.

Genuine, unique and fantastically amazing!

Yep, Dr. Hull is one of the two people I sent Judith to right away but never heard back whether she got a response or not.

I see that zip file has not been copied over to Big Belly yet ... run into a problem?

62857/2/2013 9:16:45 PMElizabeth Hi Bob,

I have enjoyed all of the reading.

WOW, Sugar Loaf sure has changed since I was a child. I hope to bring my kids there one day to see where I grew up in my younger years.

I received your package today. Thank you. I can't wait to start reading.

Liz

Probably more astonishing than what has changed is what has remained the same.

One night around midnight long ago, Mary and I walked in the starlight through the open farmland from a party near the far end of Black Meadow all the way back into Sugar Loaf.

We did not see a single car the entire time (took almost an hour), and we spent most of the time in the middle of the road...totally unafraid.

Now that entire corridor is filled with houses and developments with a fair amount of light pollution at night, and you would be hard pressed to find five minutes any time night or day without several cars going by.

You would have to be daft walking there at night even if hugging the curb.

On the other hand, within Sugar Loaf itself the number of long standing businesses that remain unchanged is remarkable.

It is a testament to the quality of their product and a business model that is shockingly different from most other places.

One of a kind, hand made artisan items, available directly from the people who make them.

Pretty cool.

Maybe Mary will get a picture of your old homestead for you.

Please, stand by.

62847/1/2013 12:05:05 PMDorraine ScofieldHi - I was with a friend yesterday walking around Sugar Loaf for the first time and stopped into Endico.

While being blown away with her paintings, I also saw your CD's with the note that they were not actually for sale there but said I could download.

I have not done so yet (only because I'm a musician too & it felt like it would be kind of like stealing).

But I do love your sound and just wanted to communicate that to you!

All the best,
Dorraine Scofield

Well, you have said the magic words: love your sound, so you certainly have my permission to download my music.

I am sorry the CD's were not for sale in the studio, but it recently came to my attention that I only have 8 left, and the process with which I made them is not so easily repeated... long story involving gold substrate archival CD's and custom 200 year archival printing of the insert done with a printer that is no longer made, and mine is fried.

Thankfully, there is the Internet, so all is not lost.

Please enjoy the music as my special guest and forgive the couple spots where the master tapes were hydrolized by the time I digitized them.

Also, as a first time Sugar Loaf enthusiast, you qualify for a free copy of my book.

I will send you e-mail to get your physical address for sending a complimentary copy.

Extra thanks for taking the time to write and asking about the downloads.

62836/30/2013 11:42:42 PMDawn
Tahpovit
That was slick.

You sure quelled that nonsense post haste.

Sure did.

Now back to business.

Brad, have you made progress on getting those images posted for Clay?

Liz, did I provide enough linked information to answer all your questions about the state of the union in Sugar Loaf?

Connie, how are you progressing with those four (4) books: Golden Holocaust, Effective Study Skills, Carlo Juggling, and of course my own Impulse and Strength?

Randy, that reminds me, I assume your own progress with my book and your guitar is moving along apace?

To the Warwick Humane Society, Sugar Loaf Fire Department (and all the other organizations that Sugar Loaf Guild has provided funding for this year), you are quite welcome.

Judy, thanks again for the Ezra Decker woodcarving photo, and did either of the two people I suggested as possible sources for information regarding Ezra's 100th Birthday video ever respond?

And finally to all, sorry for the recent slight diversion, the previous person posting was of course not the Maggie you all know and love.

They did not provide their true name, but our best guess is it was a local who keeps trying to get something going online but has been perennially unsuccessful... obviously didn't recognize a state of the art next generation authoritative non-automated truly interactive forum designed for the post-tweety-face-world.

Too technical I guess.

In any case whatever is truly new always has to go through a period of snarky troll attacks, so we should all thank that person for helping us through the startup phase.

It is unlikely we will ever see the IP# showing up around here again.

62826/28/2013 3:09:21 PMMaggieI did not say anything negative about the site as a whole, merely that the forum is not the best tool to have on this site. This is a perfect case in point, people should see the positive things and not the negatives. I just feel a forum gives people too much freedom to speak freely. Just some constructive criticism.

I'm not sure I agree with you a hundred percent on your police work there.

An open dialogue is the best thing possible, especially for a situation such as the one within which I find myself regarding Sugar Loaf.

There are no negatives to speak of, while the solid businesses in town could care less what is muttered about them in marginal online rants.

Most of them don't even bother to advertise except through their long standing proven channels including word of mouth, direct mailings, and international publications.

Their work speaks for itself, it is the best there is, and their customers (the true critics) know this to be true and keep coming back for more.

For my own part I might shut down the Forum if not for my substantial investment in rope commodities which I dole out freely, allowing the unwary plenty of it to hang themselves with.

Did you honestly believe this forum is not moderated?

62816/28/2013 1:18:15 PMMaggieIs this forum some kind of a joke? If it's supposed to be promoting Sugar Loaf, it is a sad excuse at that. Just a heads up, it's very unprofessional looking and in poor taste.

Now that's funny.

The IP# this submittal came from is a static Optimum Online number that was first recorded on the Sugar Loaf Guild website 05/29/13 at which time they were on the home page for just over 2 minutes before clicking the left side vertical menu to view Bertoni's listing and 11 seconds later clicked over to the Walking Map pinning once again the Bertoni location.

Three days ago (plus before that on the 23rd), the IP# appeared on Dr. Art's site.

Sure took them long enough to comment: almost 1 full month.

If I were to offer an edit, I would suggest instead of saying "sad excuse at that," it would be more correctly phrased as "sad excuse for that."

In any case, as a factual matter this website is neither.

Must be a disgruntled employee or a former Bertoni tenant.

Funny stuff.

62796/26/2013 11:17:49 PMLizI have to tell you that I still love playing my guitar. It is very relaxing and helps me get away from it all. I also volunteered and taught guitar class at my children's elementary school for several years. I even performed at the school Christmas Concert with all of the guitar students. There was a PTA function that I performed out with another PTA Mom who sang Christmas carols. Both of my kids have guitars and my son is finally getting into playing now. His Colonel and some of the other JROTC Cadets play.

I still have my old guitar book from our lessons back in 1980. I have shown my kids my trophy from the guitar competition that we went to. Now that's a blast from the past.

To catch up a little: We moved to Florida all those years ago. My Dad passed in August of 2007. My Mom, brother and sister all still live in the same area. My Mom still has Mary's paintings hanging in her house. I moved about 1/2 hour from my parents back in 1986 and still live in the same town. I have 2 kids. Wyatt is 15 years old and Madison is 11 years old. The kids keep my young. I divorced my husband back in 2009 and life is much better now. Besides playing my guitar, I love to ride my motorcycle. I purchased a motorcycle after the divorce and my boyfriend (Jr. high school crush) and the kids love to ride. It's another relaxing thing for me to do. Life is great!

Well, enough about me. How are both of you? How is Sugar Loaf? I have always told my kids that if we ever go to NY that we will have to go to Sugar Loaf so I can show them the town. When did you open a recording studio?

How did I make "Impulses and Strength" possible? I would love a copy. My address is: ██

Ok, now we can take my process out for a spin.

Watch this.

With regard to how things are in Sugar Loaf, they are great.

Scroll down the page linked below for current photos of all the shops in Sugar Loaf with hot links to websites, Google Maps, and my own Walking Map:


You can click on any building on the walking map image (linked next) to view the shop that is currently housed there:


However, you might be surprised how many people in town are missing the fact how good things are, so take a look at these nine stories to understand why they are missing out. It starts with:


As a special side trip to see how the recording studio (now gone) developed see the flipbook near the bottom of the page at:


In answer to how you made the book possible: without students to confirm the validity of concepts, how could I know what works, what doesn't, and why?

Therefore your complimentary copy is in the mail.

So there you go, see how my process works?

With a few simple links, I have given you more to read than you are likely to, and I have also established an overview for the next thousand or so people who ask me how things are going.

Cool, huh?

62786/26/2013 8:49:18 PMElizabeth
Censullo
VanBrocklin
Oh my gosh. I can't believe this. It has been a few years.

Do you have a Facebook page? How have you been? I remember selling Jelly-Bellies at the store. At least, I think I remember that. Please tell Mary that I said hello.

A friend of mine went to NY and she stopped by last night to tell me about the trip. I pulled up a map to show her where I lived, and the next thing I know is that I was showing her a Google Map of Sugar Loaf and telling her all about you and Mary. Then, I saw that Sylvia passed. She was a sweet lady, and I still have the rock tumbler and the rocks that I bought from her. After that, I started looking for you and Mary. Wow!

Yes, you were one of the great (jelly) beaners, and you will recall that was way before anybody ever heard of Jelly Bellies.

Now they are everywhere except here.

No need to say hi to Mary, she's been reading along.

Also no Facebook...too restrictive (and insidious) for somebody like me who effectively owns the Internet.

In fact, I always tell people my websites are for the post-tweety-face-world, a statement that will make perfect sense in time.

In the meantime a search for Bob Fugett right now will provide more than anybody should ever want to know about it today.

Since you were one of the test cases that made "Impulse and Strength" possible, where do I send your free complimentary copy?

62776/26/2013 8:43:56 PMElizabeth
Censullo
VanBrocklin
Is this the Bob that taught me how to play my guitar alllllll of those years ago?

Absolutely yes, this is that Bob, but I do believe it was only yesterday, or so it seems.

I remember giving you at least one lesson at your parents house on the corner of Lake View Drive and Pines Hill Road back when I had guitar, would travel for in-home lessons.

62766/25/2013 8:54:51 PMElizabeth Censullo VanBrocklinI'm looking for Bob, a guitar teacher from Fantasy Factory, in Sugar Loaf, NY.

He was my guitar teacher many years ago.

I would love to re-connect after all of these years.

Please email me at ██.

P.S. Bob, I still play my guitar. You were an inspiration to me as a child, and I have never forgotten you.

Elizabeth Censullo

Hi Lizzie : )

This reminds me of one of my favorite new theories.

I always hear people talking about how prescient they are because of how many times somebody they were just thinking about shows up or contacts them.

I finally got aggravated hearing it so many times, so I took a few extra minutes trying to figure out why it is such a common myth.

So here's the theory: what if people's inner mind has absolutely no perception of time?

By that I don't mean a "poor" concept of time, as in I missed that appointment by five minutes because I thought I had longer, but absolutely zero concept of time, as in 10 years, 5 years, 3 minutes, it's all the same to your internal perception.

Plus things you think about as "future" might hold the same timeless space in your mind and be easily transposed to proximity with any other memory or thought (with thoughts being indistinguishable from memories at that level).

Therefore whenever anybody shows up after a long time, you might have thought about them once 7 years before, but your mind's perception (at the basic internal source) could easily transpose it to, "Man, I was just thinking about them!"

So here is how that theory works in this present context: I was just thinking about you last week, and I know exactly when.

I was finishing up one of my bicycle rides that goes by your old house.

I thought, "It is strange how I have never stopped feeling like this is the Censullo house, and they are just gone for the day."

I continued, "What is really odd is how I have the exact same thought every time I ride by here, a couple dozen times each summer, not to mention the times I drive by here in the car (many more) as well."

"Looks like Tommy just finished barbecuing. I wonder if Elizabeth is still playing? She sure was smart and talented."

So thank you for confirming my theory.

I was just thinking about you, and any time you ever would have written I would believe the exact same thing, so it's great to hear you are ok.

That means you win a free copy of Impulse and Strength, but I'll get your physical address via e-mail.

Bob

62756/24/2013 8:02:40 PMKimMary,

Very nice meeting you today.

Just a note that my website address is kmdesigns.biz.

Can you please update this.

Thank you

Kim

Hi Kim : )

Bob had been fooled by one of those online auto-aggregators into posting an old link.

But now I think we've got it.

Check out the corrected link from the Historic Photos page.

Thanks for helping improve the Guild website.

Mary

62736/24/2013 3:36:48 PMGuild
Staff
Sylvia is gone.

Irreplaceable.
62726/22/2013 5:14:15 PMAnzwar
Meethis
You did a great job putting together this website to promote all of Sugar Loaf, but you are always so reserved when speaking about your own business.

Why so?

Try this on for size.

A lovely couple was just in after purchasing their fifth home.

It is in the Poconos, and they were checking it out after the closing.

The husband wanted to celebrate by going to Mohegan Sun, but the wife said, "Let's go to Sugar Loaf instead and buy art."

They had not been here in 27 years but still remembered the reputation we built way-back-when and maintain to this day.

They bought five (5) paintings and of course have a whole bunch more walls, nooks, and crannies to fill with art of all sorts.

So congratulations, Sugar Loaf!

You have held on to the reputation of being the one place to buy singular works of artistic excellence directly from the artisans who make them.

That very particular uparalleled reputation we worked so hard, watercolor after watercolor, tune after tune, meeting after meeting, promotional ad after promotional ad, year after year, day after day, cherished customer after cherished customer, hour by hour, minute by minute, we now hand it back to you again, Sugar Loaf, page by page on this website.

Don't lose it.

62716/21/2013 5:49:08 PMJudith D PredmoreThank you for getting back to me so fast.

The only other animal I have is an owl; he made me three, one for each of my children.

Two have gotten lost over the years, but I still have one left.

I think my daughter checked with the Chester library, nothing.

I will send you a picture of the owl.

I really do appreciate you looking into this.

I'll send you an e-mail address for the photo; can't wait to see it.

First stop in my effort to track down the video will be an attempt to get somebody else on the job.

Watch how I do that.

Yo, Connie!

You are able to put up with church people and know how to do things online, see if you can't come up with a lead on the missing Ezra video.

There.

We'll see how that goes.

Judith, thanks again for the great project.

62696/21/2013 9:18:32 AMJudith D PredmoreI am Ezra Deckers granddaughter.

I have a few of his animals that you have pictured on the website.

I would like to know what happened to the video that was made on his 100th birthday party which the Sugar Loaf Methodist Church put on, November 28, 1987.

I wish to obtain a copy for our family history.

I would really appreciate a reply on this.

Thank you.

Hi Judith : )

Thanks for writing.

I love an interesting project, but I personally avoid church people like the plague, so before I go around poking my nose into places I ought not be, let me check to see what you've done already.

1) Have you checked with the Chester Library?

Maybe the person who made the video thought to put a copy there.

2) Which begs the question, do you know who the person was that made the video?

Maybe I can track them down.

3) Have you checked with the Chester or Sugar Loaf Historical Societies.

They are not as clever as I am, but I believe they have something online.

In any case, Ezra was a real special person to us, so if you have photos of more of his animals that you would like to add to this website, I would love to post them.

Also any information you would like to add about him would also be great.

Thanks again for writing.

Bob

62676/20/2013 9:46:32 PMGuild
IT
Firewall
Brigade
Brad, here is your Internet lesson for the day.

We know Clay has told you about it but thought you'd like to see first hand examples of a situation which is only getting worse.

In the Endico Forum read carefully the questions and answers starting at: Post #6207

Note how many people are willing to pretend being Mary's customer in order to try and profit off her work without her involvement.

Each query has to be treated as a valid one because of the full day of lag time before web usage logs can be reviewed, and they will show these people hit all the expected places and landed on "How much is my Endico worth?"

With each instance of this nonsense the language forbidding such questions is strengthened on the input form, but it only seems to make the next person more circumspect trying to avoid the obvious revelation that they are merely looking for a way to make a buck on Mary's reputation.

Fortunately for Mary, I handle the whole mess and she never even hears about it.

These jerks really think they get to talk to Endico.

Only her collectors get through.

Think about it: why can they never come up with the name of the person who gave them the painting?

Might that name be Yard Salem?

I hate the Internet, and if we were not making a sale once or twice a year because of it, I would never even turn on my computer.

Not hardly enough return for the massive effort required but something I started and can't seem to stop.

And Clay phones me today all excited about somebody in Wyoming seeing his website commissioning a sign.

I am pretty much screwed.

Well actually, I guess it is now you who are pretty much screwed.

I am pretty much relieved.

62636/20/2013 10:25:40 AMRandyYou guy(s) at the Guild are awesome.

What you have done at no cost for us is incredible.

I read the back and forth between you and Brad and have no idea what ya'll are talking about.

I only know that the finished product that I see is terrific.

I write SugarLoafGuild on the back of my business card that I give to anyone that comes into the shop and we chat a little.

I say "if you really want to learn about Sugar Loaf and its artisans..."

Brad is pretty much sure that he also doesn't understand what we are talking about.

We are almost finished with the process of having him take over BooneWoodcarving.com, so when this tick bite kills me Clay will still have a website (not that it has ever done him any actual good).

Brad has never authored a website before, so I told him to setup a bogus domain name to practice with, then I showed him how to copy/paste Clay's old website over.

Here is what Brad has done in just a matter of a few hours work (don't forget he was learning how at the same time):

Couple more minor tweeks and I can deed BooneWoodcarving over to him, and voilá, fait accompli.

Clay's website run by his own son.

I had told Brad to get BigBellyWoodcarver.DUM, due to it being most appropriate to a Boone related website, but apparently .DUM was not available (go figure), so Brad went with the .COM

62626/20/2013 9:44:14 AMGuild Conformance SquadBrad, on commencing the close review of BigBelly it was noted that the link at bottom of index.htm results in a 404 error.

Your choices are to remove the link (below the firehouse image) or copy over the referenced zip file from my KeyTap version of Boone.
62606/19/2013 8:25:42 PMBradThanks for the tip on the alleged account manager. I'll be on the look-out.

Also be on the look-out for what I describe at the end of my response immediately below (re: $4,000.00 dollar template site).

62596/19/2013 8:19:58 PMBradBob, videos are installed and working now. Nothing to it just as you stated. Looks as though everything is complete which is very cool.

Do I need the link that is at the very bottom of the Home page? Or can I get rid of that on my site?

It is totally your site so do whatever you want.

You also might like to alter the Copyright page info, because that was just a bluff anyway from way back when there was an outside chance somebody might actually honor such things.

And as a reinforcement of my caveat below: Think about how much actual effort you put into getting that site up and running.

Got it in your head (remembering you are a rank beginner)?

Good.

Now you will understand why I took a step backwards and gasped when the guy who makes my eyeglasses told me he recently spent $4,000.00 dollars for the design of his website (an obvious template site) and then started paying $30.00 a month just to keep it going.

And his website is peppered with ads for competing products.

62586/19/2013 7:51:00 PMBob fugettYo, Brad, be careful out there.

I just got spam from a supposed Raymond Penalosa at WinHost offering to be my "account manager" for any problems or confusions I might have with WinHost, and he can provide "affiliate dollars" to me since I am such a good customer.

To top it off, the offer came from a plausable e-address therefore obviously bogus.

I could set up my own similar e-address and start offering the same services to anybody I identified as a WinHost customer.

I am assuming this is BigBelly fallout.

Be careful out there; it's a big nasty Internet.

If that account manager was the real deal they could have easily checked out my history and realized that not only have I not had any problems with WinHost, I could teach that guy a thing or two about hosting services myself, not to mention everybody at WinHost.

If I were a newbie (say like Brad), I might fall for it, but as it is I am not even falling for the CIA plant who is pretending he defected to China.

I'm sure the Chinese ain't buying it either, because they're a durn sight smarter than me.

Only the target audience is likely to fall for that whole charade, and we all know who that is.

62576/19/2013 6:42:36 PMCuryousHow's that logs review process coming along?

Ok, usual suspects today.

Except three or four really weird hits from Forida (state), Indiana, and Texas (or Colorado I think without checking), and all exhibited the same unprecedented footprint which may or may not have been people, so it might have been the work of Brad who has friends.

62566/18/2013 6:09:23 AMEarly
Worm
DAILY BOONER

This morning we saw a possible Brad visit via a "Norton Safe Search" which is probably another one of those "systems" that helps "hide" somebody on the Internet.

Kids gotta try I guess.

Don't forget to mention the person from Gillette WY, and how you haven't even gotten to the Sugar Loaf Guild logs yet.

You might like to mention how insanely efficient Brad's attachment to get the Boone Brochure index.htm was.

Only hit it twice 4m42s apart.

Bravo, Brad, whom I believe may have a friend near Indianapolis.

So overall (now that the full logs are reviewed in a world record time of 1.5 hr) it was Connie, Brad (from a few IP#'s and maybe a friend), Bee Positive (an increasingly rare arrival), and not much else.

Google Analytics would have given me the total in the thousands, and the US Government wouldn't have had a clue one way or another.

Now that I have my morning routine done I can go see if I should be getting on antibiotics for my most recent tick bite.

62556/17/2013 11:59:18 PMGuild
Staff
Listen up folks, and be quick about it.

Rachel Bertoni is running an ad for her free music series and has room for 12 of the local shops at $70.00 per.

The Guild has committed to one space and Endico watercolors has committed to another, so that means only 10 left.

Hurry up and contact Rachel, or suffer being left out.

UPDATE: 4 spaces remaining as of 10:26 pm 06/17/13

Make that call!

62536/17/2013 11:47:46 PMBradDone and done.

Man that was easy!

Please tell me that wasn't the only thing I could've done from the start?

That would have saved a whole lot of time.

Then again, I wouldn't have learned as much.

I believe that from here on out I'll be able to add pictures easy enough.

As for the design and order of where the pictures go, I'm sure Amber can help me with the code but otherwise I'll call you when I have issues.

I'll be in town this weekend, so maybe I'll stop by if I have questions.

Let me know if anything looks out of place or not working correctly.

Sounds like a plan.

Actually it only seems easy now.

Have you so soon forgotten how hard it was just to get a file (any file) onto the FTP site, or even get the FTP site open on your desk?

How quickly they forget.

You should have been around years ago, when this stuff really did NOT work as advertised.

62526/17/2013 11:39:29 PMGuild
Neophyte
Webmasters
Watch
Team
We notice that clever young Brad fellow has his home page header navigation bar working correctly.

He is a smart one.

I'll do a close inspection of the full site tomorrow after my morning's website usage logs review, sometime around 2:00 pm I would imagine.

62506/17/2013 3:48:01 PMBradOk that's great Bob. I'll try what you have suggested later on tonight and let you know the outcome.

As for knowing the usage logs so well and all of the detailed info about the places people navigate to and whether they are on hand-helds or PC's and what pictures they are looking at...well, all I can say is you should sign up for the NSA.

I hear they're looking for a few good men like you!

Actually I believe the NSA is looking for a few lesser men than I am—they don't have to be so good at tracking info and certainly don't have to be able to keep a secret.

62496/17/2013 1:01:24 PMDaily
Whac
-A-
Mole
Today's logs review (for yesterday) saw a significant Billings, MT user on the Boone website, then a Warwick visitor to the Sugar Guild website which was an apparent residual Boone initiated Googler.

The Warwick browser took a look at the Guild Financial Report...see link in footer at bottom of this (and every) page.

Otherwise it was just Brad and Connie overall with a possible extra Brad on the Boone website looking at 81 of the flipbook photos.

So three (3) maybe four (4) actual humans and lots and lots and lots of bots and off-shore attacks which would be reported as "individual hits" if one didn't know better and was using a commercial web tracker like Google Analytics.

BTW: Connie saw the upgrade to Fugett Sound, but Brad attached with his handheld so only got to see the old mobile version (not changed).

Man, I sure do love knowing stuff.

62476/16/2013 1:51:15 PMBradWell thank goodness,you know how awful it is to leave no spaces after those pesky commas,etc,etc,etc.....
..........
..........
,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,

Look what you kids have made me get back to work on:

62466/16/2013 1:08:13 PMC.RoseI'm gonna put a space after your comma ...

Seems more a reference to a dangling particple.

62446/15/2013 9:28:09 PMBradAnd now I'm armed with a mouse.....wireless,even.

Sky's the limit from here!

Dude!

Plus you are recipient of the coveted Connie Rose: I Didn't Put A Space After My Comma Award.

Double dude!

BTW: An ellipsis is three periods…not five.

62436/15/2013 7:22:13 PMGooRooExcellent!

Already two more images.

Leave Brad alone.

62426/15/2013 2:53:18 PMBradWould you mind emailing your phone number to me?

I will have Amber call you in a little while if that's ok with you.

She'll be sitting at her computer, and she'll be able to tell you what she sees and what she's doing.

Is this ok?

Due to the fact that while you were writing your request, I had the same thought, already phoned Boone in Wyoming, got your number from him, called to find Amber had already left, but we just spent four hours on the phone together getting things going real nice, I would imagine the e-mail is no longer necessary.

62396/15/2013 8:56:28 AMGuild
IT
Team
Morning logs review show that Brad did his homework last night by looking in all the right places getting ready for this morning's web design session.

You might want to post an aid.

Ok, Brad, now that you are going to have onsite help, here is the jump ahead master class.

Once you can change things on the faux website, you could either grab a copy of Dr. Art's site or the old Boone site and blast it onto your test site.

Both those sites are straight html and should be easy to copy (not for you of course but for Amber):

62386/14/2013 9:29:24 PMBradBob, sit down and hang on tight!

Real-live changes will be coming to our favorite little pseudo web site as early as tomorrow!

I finally lassoed that wonderful, hi-tech-saavy-computer-whizbang-extraordinaire, daughter of mine.

We have a date with web design destiny tomorrow morning!

Stay tuned....

This is very EXCITING!

I have been looking for it every morning...can't wait.

If you run into trouble give us a ring.

If you are in Sugar Loaf you can drop by.

After you get all that going, you guys can run out west and drag Clay back.

Tell him we have all learned our lesson, and he can have all the assault rifles he wants for shooting turkeys...if he'll just come home.

62376/14/2013 1:06:22 PMGuild
Foreign
Office
Watch
Team
BOONE UPDATE

Today we received this via snail mail:

The text read:

The heck with finding a Craft Community; I'm staying right here, and I'm not telling you where here is.

As you already know, I've placed some ads.

Traffic here is very heavy.

It took me an extra 30 minutes to get to town the other day.

If not the 300 head of cattle, then you have to wait for the mule deer or elk to cross the road.

Anyhow, take care and thanks for all the help...Booner.

Brad, next time you talk to Clay ask him to please send more postcards.

I am selling them on eBay as rare historic artifacts of stuff reasonable human beings don't waste their time doing anymore.

They fetch a pretty penny.

62356/13/2013 1:13:13 PMBradNo family from Michigan that I am aware of. [see question @ Bob's Response post #6226]

When I touch base with Dad in the next day or two I will ask him if he has spoken with anyone from that area during his travels.

He does have the "schmoozability" of Jarvis Boone, however, so I would not be surprised if he came into contact (somewhere along the way) with someone from that region who was impressed enough to check things out.

Yep, that Clay is a prime example of what I have been saying for years, "You should not expect your website to send you customers, you should be sending your customers to your website."

There is a sizable industry based on tricking people into believing just the opposite.

Clay already has people visiting his website to find out a little more about him even before he joined the local Chamber out west and before his display ad has run.

Randy Brown has been doing the same thing here.

Schmoozability aside, however, Clay's big draw is the quality of his work.

62346/13/2013 11:30:33 AMGuild
IT
Team
BOONE REPORT

This morning's website usage logs review showed that Clay Boone is still very active out west with two separate users showing up from Casper and Douglas, Wyoming.

After reading Clay's home page each visitor bookmarked it...a big win.

I am writing this while ignoring our telephone that is ringing off the hook with telemarketing cold calls, probably because somebody got our phone number on one of the lists I spend my life trying to stay off of.

Why these telemarketers think I am at all interested in "increasing my internet ranking" is anybody's guess, probably because they have convinced so many clueless business startups that "web search optimization" or getting listed on any number of a million "travel" sites has anything at all to do with building an actual business.

In any case, I never pick up the phone unless it is a proven customer or Mary when she isn't around.

I find it odd that the IT Team refers to itself as I.

You might mention that aside from Boone's activity Kayla was also spotted on the Endico website getting there from a Google search for "mary endico," probably trying to figure out who the weird old woman was updating my order for Kayla's first custom made leather dog collar.

Also there was that person who came and took a look at Boswell's house and read the Ezra Decker article.

It was cute, because they were apparently using some sort of cloaking software of the type people are lead to believe "protects your identity online."

Funny stuff!

Yesterday on the way out for my bike ride, I stopped by to check on Connie Rose and found her rolling clay balls for some purpose or another.

When I stopped back after my three (3) hour ride, she was in exactly the same spot, still rolling out balls...though significantly beaten down by the process.

That, my friends, is the life of a true artist.

As the saying goes: "Art is war."

62336/12/2013 11:49:53 PM:)Do yourself a favor.

Shop Sugar Loaf.

AND DON'T EAT ANYTHING YOU WANT.

Lots of people doing themselves the favor of shopping Sugar Loaf today, and Mary even went across the street to confirm our neighbor was missing that fact, despite having a large window on a world they were ignoring.

The shop behind us is about to close with the owner complaining, "Not enough people come down the lane."

Bullshit!

Not enough hours being open and servicing the clientele appropriately.

Mary (out back with her dog) is very much aware that more people go to the shop behind us than come through our own door (monitored by bell and security cams) because venturing down the alley is an adventure.

People get there and find a locked door, or poor service.

It's the sort of misrepresentation that adds to the myth of the ghost town (always has) and causes people who should know better to devolve into gimmiky promotions (or shift their business model out of town) while overlooking the simple fact that we don't really need any more customers in Sugar Loaf; what we need are more artisans to help us handle all the customers that are already coming here—still being attracted by the reputation for artisan work built and solidified years ago.

We only need another rabidly excellent artisan (or two) who will open full time every day (not just weekends or parts of the week)...and I will be able to get out on my bike more often.

That is why we are going into aggressive all out full-on find the artisan mode with our new ads.

Otherwise, I am pretty sure I can eat whatever I want, so I will.

62326/12/2013 11:32:29 PMConnie CigbeerHi, I was thinking you had put an emoticon next to my name.

So I used the ':)' as my identity.

I left a note in emoticon style.You said I was right about something, so I made the emoticon symbol for like. (y) makes the thumbs up sign.

Look how good I did figuring it all out despite being a total dufus with regard to having missed the fact that I had started with the emoticon myself....: )

In any case, now with the famous period (or comma) with no trailing whitespace, this is Classic Connie Confirmed.

62316/12/2013 10:40:03 PM:)(y)

Hmmm...98.15.155.153, a Road Runner IP#.

Previously on Sugar Loaf Guild Site 06/10/13, attached via ? to / (home page) then 3s later clicked the header navigation link to the Forum.

That would imply a bookmarked browser link established using a different IP# or input by hand.

Tomorrow morning my logs should show a very similar footprint as the one described above, then a submittal past the Captcha onto the Forum of course.

I have my suspicions but am always wary of making unconfirmed assumptions, so I think I get it but am withholding comment pending more information or standard known tells which would be found in more extensive text input.

I guess I could always conclude: Connie with a beer in hand stamping a cigarette butt under her heel.

At least I got to look up the spelling of withholding.

Now if you will all excuse me, I have to hack some mainframes in China while trying to figure out why Apple still exists.

62306/12/2013 9:36:02 PMBob
Fugett
Connie : )

You were right!

On page 24 of Impulse and Strength I did mention emotion in that context.

However, you will notice I at least reversed the word order: emotional and conscious became conscious and emotional.

If I were to revisit that section I would mention only "conscious" in the second instance with a parenthetical suggestion of allowing "emotional" involvement to take care of itself, because for most people conscious involvement is what requires the effort while emotional involvement is effortless and distractive.

In case somebody is wondering, here is:

3rd paragraph below "Drawing the Line".

62296/12/2013 1:31:26 PMGuild
Staff
BIZ REPORT

Today is Wednesday and a steady stream of shoppers are walking through Sugar Loaf carrying bags and purchases.

Good luck trying to explain that to shops who are not open, or working too hard to look past their own front door.

Can't blame them much; the only reason I'm looking outside is because I'm deciding if I can get out on my bicycle; plus it seems short-shorts are back in style.

62266/12/2013 10:18:29 AMBob
Fugett
Randy (Bee Positive),

In your readings, here is something you missed that you might find interesting.

On the page linked below, pull down to Flipbook History of Fantasy Factory > Endico Watercolor Originals and click through the photos:

There are short descriptions attached below each photo.

In any case, Randy, you will be glad to hear our search for another robustly serious artisan to come to Sugar Loaf is going very well indeed.

Which reminds me:

Brad, can you think of any reason Clay Boone's website has been experiencing significant browsing from the Troy, MI area?

I know Clay already has two sign jobs setup in Wyoming, and I see how his display ad placement out west has affected his website traffic, but I am only guessing that there are Boone family members near Troy.

Am I correct?

62256/11/2013 7:57:10 PMGuild
Business
Info
Aggregation
Committee
Thanks for the update.

62246/10/2013 2:04:35 PMBob
Fugett
It only took seven (7) months, but the Sugar Loaf Guild website is now off and running.

This morning I even skipped my usual five (5) hour web usage logs review and went with Mary to run, walk, and fidget with Coach Wendy (from the Warwick High School staff) for a hurly-burly four mile rugged trek in Hickory Hill Park.

When I got back and started the logs review I found that Kayla (Scarlet's Way) and Randy Brown (Bee Positive) were in a dead heat competition to see who could send the most visitors to the Guild website.

Then, just when I thought it was over, I found somebody local had browsed several of my sites including KeyTap, Endico, Fugett Sound, Sugar Loaf Guild, and even Dr. Art's.

Strong reading in some areas, but very scattered Bing driven browsing overall.

It was obviously a research project for the person—with a probable "How can I take advantage of this?" stance.

Aside from that, I finally tricked Randy Brown into rubbing the lamp three times then suckered him into it, so he has now replaced me as the Genie in the Sugar Loaf bottle.

Let Randy try to convince people that the bottom line is posted and assiduously kept regular business hours with a note on the door if altered.

In any case, the Sugar Loaf Guild website itself can pretty much run itself while I need only respond to direct input and Mary's ongoing project of finding out who's who and what's what in Sugar Loaf these days.

Now that the basics are online, unless somebody has already read and understood the stories there is no need to harass them.

As for me there will be no more running around town feeling like a combination carpet bagger and used car salesman in my own community.

A job well done.

You forgot to mention one of the saddest moments of your life was when you stopped by Next Generation Hobbies yesterday and found them packing up to leave...right before your planned extended story on how the products in that shop represent the best it can get with regard to moving people toward making thier own stuff.

Next Generation Hobbies was the perfect complement to artisan shops in Sugar Loaf.

It was not in any way an instance of the Sugar Loaf Four Step but merely collateral damage of the hamlet's recent lack of advertising focus.

And, Bob, stop weeping about how wonderful that shop was and how much better than you could have even imagined...after you finally went in.

62236/9/2013 10:51:44 PMGuild Editorial StaffThanks to a tip from Randy Brown of Bee Positive, a couple of awkward backlinks have been removed from the Bob's Corner stories.

The changes should make reading them easier than ever.

You should also thank everybody who caught the Lendved spelling error as well...especially Peter and Amy.
62226/9/2013 3:18:03 PMScarlet's
Way
Bob,

Thanks for stopping in; it was such a pleasure meeting and speaking with you!

Thank you for all of the information and directing me to the Sugar Loaf Guild website.

It is very informative, and I enjoyed my Swag Bag!

Actually, Kayla, thank you for helping me think through my process.

I checked my notes again after I got home and realized you and your dad had clicked on the wrong building (easy to do on the small map), so that is why I thought it was KM.

In any case, I was correct in seeing the hand of Kayla all over the browsing, so thanks again helping me keep things straight.

62216/9/2013 12:39:57 AMCuryousIs what I am seeing what I think I am seeing?

Yes, it is exactly what you think.

Connie knows all this stuff very well and is only pretending she doesn't so I will write something about it.

62206/9/2013 12:17:59 AMI am the dark sideOK, without a brownie for inspiration, I will try to explain "What the hell I was talking about."

When you came to the "sweatshop" and brought me a book, remember?

We started a rant/conversation about learning to juggle, play musical instruments, dust, clean, paint, think, throw pots.

I told you about how I was working on the throw/throw catch/catch exercise I had seen on a youtube video.

You shook your head and said, "No, no, you aren't even supposed to be working on that yet."

Then you talked about hand position.

You showed me an app that shows the workings of the muscles.

My brain cooked that experience like a fine crockpot meal.

I came to a wonderful/scary/pitiful realization.

I don't even deserve to even try to throw pots!

I really have no idea what the hell I am doing!

No wonder I have hit or miss days.

I have been lulled into thinking I can make pots when all this time I have been guessing and hoping and getting some lucky days.

I am now very decidedly working on finger placement, direction of my energy, and knowing where my left foot is.

Don't mean to cook your noodle any more than it already is, but what you REALLY need to be working on is the placement ratio of commas vs white space.

That will insure the exercises you will be developing over the next few months will make it to print in a way that will be helpful to other potters who have not had the benefit of 25 years pot throwing experience but maybe get there sooner than you did due to your efforts to help them.

Which reminds me: a Zen archer practices raising and drawing the bow for 25 years before an actual bow touches their hands.

Here, compare commas in the column at left to your original submittal below:

OK,without a brownie for inspiration,I will try to explain "What the hell I was talking about."

When you came to the "sweatshop" and brought me a book,remember? We started a rant/conversation about learning to juggle,
play musical instruments,
dust,clean,paint,think,
throw pots.

I told you about how I was working on the throw throw catch catch exercise I had seen on a youtube video.

You shook your head and said,"No,no,you aren't even supposed to be working on that yet."

Then you talked about hand position. You showed me an app that shows the workings of the muscles.

My brain cooked that experience like a fine crockpot meal.I came to a wonderful/scary/pittiful realization.

I don't even deserve to even try to throw pots!

I really have no idea what the hell I am doing!

No wonder I have hit or miss days.

I have been lulled into thinking I can make pots when all this time I have been guessing and hoping and get some lucky days.

I am now very decidedly working on finger placement, direction of my energy,and knowing where my left foot is.

62196/8/2013 8:50:13 PMC The LightWow!

I can't believe the conversation that I had with a semi-retired musician and high tech studio mavin who helped me with my pot throwing.

Something happened during a duet like rant about M. Endico, Jeff McBride, juggling, apps about muscles, etc.

I will totally need a walnut infused brownie in person to explain.

But everything is changed and a new awakening has taken place.

I don't know if I should kiss you or punch you in the face.

The more you know, the more you realize what you have yet to learn.

Thanks a lot. Maybe.

Hi, Connie.

What the hell are you talking about?

In any case, I do have to report that I shall never again be seen wandering around town, because I have now totally lost it and gone over to the dark side.

Here's the deal.

You know all the offensive signage that has been the talk about town lately?

Well, I cornered the woman while she was visiting Randy at Bee Positive, and laid down the law, actually just mentioned the sign law and how all that nonsense is nonconforming (not that anything in town is in conformance).

Obviously one cannot do such a thing without showing up later with Swag Kits for all, right?

Also I needed to do a site visit to fine tune the walking map hotspot links.

So I dropped in at Practical Magick with T-shirt, water bottle, guild cards, and a financial statement in tow (you know that sheet about all the good things we have been funding such as $1,000 for Wikipedia, $300 for the firehouse, $300 for the Warwick Human Society, bunch of print ads, no dues, no meetings, no responsibilities, etc).

Long story short, I hesitated at the front door trying to decide if the shop was even open, almost killed myself trying to step over the doorsill past the covered windows and door, ducked into and under the late 60's vintage entrance curtains, not beads mind you, but still...

I half thought my skin illustrations would soon come alive.

Anyway I had a conversation with her (Denise I believe) and she did not say one thing during the whole affair that was not spot on and correct with regard to what she is doing there and why.

She even "got" the back of the T-shirt faster than anybody so far.

Then when I walked out of the shop I looked around at that gawdawful proliferation of overrun signage again and realized, "Shit! This is just perfect for that little shop. This is only a spillover of the articulation of her vision for her shop. Nothing else would be appropriate here, and anything less would be a distraction."

That place isn't even a shop; it is a movie, a period piece, an exact replica of something not seen in such shining disarray since Daytona Beach spring break 1969.

It gave me goose bumps as I almost wept and fell in love with it.

I am now worthless to everybody else and would actually stand strong for her right to have it exactly like it is (first amendment and all that), even if she extends it in any way she might see fit.

Also, did you know that Kayla, over at Scarlet's Way, never even heard of Connie Rose before, nor had she heard that world famous potters were working not 50 feet from her shop door?

And let me tell you, when it comes to being on top of one's business Kayla has no peer.

Plus she attests to a very vibrant Facebook process, so what has Connie Rose been doing with her time?

Transferring by hand an endless series of communion sketches from young people's paper renditions onto chalices for firing?

You people need to get out more.

62166/8/2013 10:32:15 AMTim BrownHi Bob

I wanted to thank you for all that you have done with The Guild.

I woke up with a cup of coffee this morning and logged on.

Although I live in South Florida now, it was a real pleasure to be brought back to the unforgettable hamlet of Sugar Loaf.

Years ago, I used to spend all of my time with Patrick and Sumari down near the tracks at their shops.

I'd listen for the chimes, be guaranteed to run into a creative rogue or two, and I must have put a gazillion miles in walking up and down the street.

It's been eight years or so, but man, I think of those times almost every day.

Sugar Loaf, and its artistry, has really propelled my life.

We always have points of reference, as people and as artists, and Sugar Loaf has provided me countless opportunities to remember: for one, that staying creative always pulls you through.


Which brings me to thank you, also, for posting Bee Positive's brochure.

I know that you are in for a magic carpet ride with Randy Brown.

He is the real deal.

I've met some powerful people in my life - but no one has been more consistent than he.

He really IS the way he seems.

The creativity and sincerity that pours out of him is electric.

He has been a huge influence on me for the past 40 years...I know this because he is my father.

I'm so excited for him and all that he can share with all of you now.

Thank you, Bob, for starting my morning today.

Your work and obvious dedication is extraordinary.

I look forward to logging on and imagining me being right there in Sugar Loaf again.


And just so you know...I grew up listening and watching my dad, Randy, pick that Epiphone like James Taylor.

His playing and his voice have never left me.

He told me that he read your book, reached for his guitar and was stunned.

Something had come over him.

I wanted to thank you for that as well.

Allow me to repeat what I wrote in the response to post #6195:

Help, help!!!

Now with his son Tim, Randy has lashed me to a bed in their basement and broken both my ankles with a sledgehammer.

Aside from that, Tim, should you not be wasting your time on this forum but rather be working on a movie script?

62156/7/2013 3:47:33 PMBob
Fugett
Recently somebody described to me a work of art found in the main entrance to Orange Regional Medical Center.

When I said, "I bet I know just who did that piece," they told me that it couldn't be, because Orange Regional did not use any local artist's work.

However, the description of the work was such that I was sure I knew the artist, so I went over to look at it myself.

Turns out it was exactly who I thought it was: Laura Breitman.

Not too long after Mary and I came to Sugar Loaf, Laura moved into the building at the end of the cul-de-sac beside our house...had dated the candle maker for awhile.

Later her (now) husband Mike Needleman worked with Don Duke (our neighbor across the street) on the major eco-friendly retrofitting and renovation of our house at 1386 Kings Highway (two doors down from the Candle Shop).

For one Halloween party early on at the Rob Wright Pottery and Sculpture Studio (in the building that later became Syms Jewelry, and then Arlene's, and later Pisces Passions), Mike and Laura were in attendance with Laura in short-shorts on roller skates (like Rollergirl in Boogie Nights but long before) and Mike came dressed in Middle Eastern garb and never once dropped out of character or even acted like he knew Laura.

Mike did such a perfect job, it was years before people found out the "mysterious Muslim guy who showed up unannounced to the party" was actually Mike...and decidedly not Muslim, not that there's anything wrong with it.

In any case, Mike and Don's renovation to our house lasted three years and included all the work done inside and out, except for some stuff I did myself (like the upstairs bathroom) and the internal audio specific portions of my recording studio which was handled by a professional audio design company.

That is why I was sure I knew the artist: I do!

Wow. You even used your real name for this one.

But you failed to mention the artwork was actually a print reproduction of Laura's work, not one of her originals, so it is not really art at all.

More like a poster.

If that is what Orange Regional considers art, I shudder to think what they might consider clinical practice.

62146/7/2013 12:47:23 AMGuild Standards and PracticesBob,

Due to the recent quandary arising from the presentation of that thorny consternation with regard to intellectual property rights and management issues, we suggest you undertake an extended study of musical indeterminacy as it relates to the surrounding subjects of Marcel Duchamp, Piet Mondrian, Joan Miró, Sophie Taeuber-Arp, not to mention whipple and mark trees, and of course Calder (friend of your mentor Vera Newmann).

In the meantime, it is probably acceptable leaving the website status quo but best to get back in your hole and put this puppy on hiatus.

Ok.
62136/5/2013 8:59:48 AMGuild
IT
Staff
This morning we saw the first human IP# from Billings, MT hit Clay Boone's website.

Somebody is out there talking up Sugar Loaf!

Clay does great work: both with wood and personal interactions.

62096/4/2013 3:15:04 PMOSHAMr. Fugett, why have you been spending so much time over at the Boswell sweatshop.

Unionizing the place and hoping you guys will show up.

Right now I'm working on a big placard to carry in front of the shop between playing my guitar and singing protest songs.

The poster reads: RAY BOSWELL UNFAIR TO CONNIE ROSE!

That woman should be up front on the porch of a big main street shop making stuff for people to purchase.

62086/3/2013 7:58:16 AMIndie
Hauzer
I just heard a rumor that J.Hengen (the person in that new 360) sold one of her little clay statuettes for $700.00 dollars.

Could that be true?

I heard the same rumor.

Her studio is way back out of the way in Romer's Alley, so who knows?

62065/31/2013 9:36:34 PMFish
Yonado
How's that search for the great new Sugar Loaf potter coming along?

More coming soon!

62055/31/2013 8:02:51 PMBruce MathiesonHi Bob,

I just stumbled upon your Impulse and Strength Book - purchased it for my Kindle!

Also listened to some of your music and visited Mary's website.

It's weird and wonderful connecting like this after so many years, and by accident.

Cynthia and I are doing great. We hope you guys are too.

Our last visit to your place was when our son Ryan was about 2 years old - now he's 33.

I'm glad you are still making music and art and still in Sugar Loaf.

Hope to hear more from you.

Bruce

Huh?

This was not actually by accident old friend; I set the trap and have been lying in wait for this very moment.

I have a present that I have been saving for you, so return your physical address via return email.

Otherwise here is something interesting which you would find on googling "MacMurray College Bruce Mathieson" (without quotes), but here is the direct link:

Make sure Cindy has on her Depends Adult Diapers when she reads it.

And yes, everyone, this is the famous Bruce Mathieson who is one of those people that taught me how to think.

Below is an historic photo on the eve the two of us were to be purchased in a slave auction to co-ed women in the Student Union:


From left:
Bruce Mathieson
Bob Fugett
1969

Click the image for a better view of why Bruce commanded the higher price.

61975/30/2013 7:44:47 AMGuild
Staff
THE WAGER

Today Clay Boone leaves for extended travels in the great Out West.

His itinerary will include (but not be limited to): Red Lodge, MT, Rapid City and Sturgis, SD, Park City, UT, and Jackson Hole, WY.

This is all part of a grand wager he has with Bob Fugett.

Bob bet Clay $1,000.00 dollars that he could not find anything like Sugar Loaf anywhere else anywhere.

If Clay finds a place like Sugar Loaf (in terms of density of actual full time high level working artisans), Bob will have to hand over $1,000.00.

If Clay cannot find anything like Sugar Loaf anywhere else anywhere, he will have to admit to Bob that he is wrong, which is a far sight bigger loss than a mere $1,000.00.

Bob is looking forward to collecting his winnings.

Ironically, Mr. Boone's new closed today, here's-how-to-reach-me, sign makes his studio look more open than ever.

Not to mention the grand attack dog Cody Bear will be riding shotgun out west.

I think I will take over Clay's classes while he is away, because I've seen one, and apparently the only skill a teacher needs is to carry a whip and crack it every time people start talking and stop moving wood.

Otherwise, the students run their own show.

61965/29/2013 9:18:21 PMGuild
Editorial
Staff
Aren't you forgetting something?

Oh, right, in separate incident:

WE FOUND OUR POTTER!

Next up: blown glass artist.

61955/29/2013 9:09:13 PMGuild
Editorial
Staff
Here is Randy Brown's:

It illustrates how easy it is to underestimate Sugar Loaf...before you get here.

Help, help!!!

Randy has lashed me to a bed in his basement and broken both my ankles with a sledgehammer.

61945/29/2013 4:45:16 PMGuild Staff
STOP THE PRESSES

Stop the presses!

After Bob Fugett made his big deal about never going to hear from Randy Brown after putting together his quick down and dirty web presence for him, Randy stopped by today and dropped off a hand written thank you note.

Randy had not even seen Bob's email yet.

How much egg do you think Bob can lick off his face before he gets too fat for cycling?

We will publish the letter soon: hand written ... whoever heard of such a thing?

Seems to have been some sort of sea change or something.

61935/28/2013 8:50:29 PMBob
Fugett
I must apologize for being so tardy in responding to everybody's posts throughout the day.

I missed seeing them because I was working on: THIS.

It took a lot of time and intense careful effort to rip apart the guy's brochure and repurpose it online, but it was worth it so he would have at least some sort of a web presence.

Once again, the 'THIS' found above is a link, so click on it.

Then after I got that all set and ready, I sent out a link in an email to the person benefitting from the effort:


Hi Randy : )

Welcome to the Sugar Loaf Guild: where all things good are not only possible but probable.

Here is your new complimentary online presence:

[a link was provided]

Thanks again for coming to Sugar Loaf.

Bob Fugett


Mind you I did all that in full knowledge that the person benefitting would not even click to look at the Guild website, nor bother to merely send a return mail Thx.

But like I said before: I am going to find the person who will become the next great Sugar Loaf Supershop, starting with a potter who will blow the doors off the current crew (and once again I hope my saying so out loud does not cause somebody to spit and crumple a perfectly good clay form).

61925/28/2013 6:07:29 PMConnie's MomI'm sure that my daughter would have run and caught up with any friends who were turned away by her security force: except that she can't run because she smokes too many cigarettes.

Besides, she probably had flax seeds stuck in her teeth.

I think she is trying to stay slim by cutting out the beer and pasta, so she can get trim and agile like some of Sugar Loaf's more successful Lady Artisan/Shopkeepers.

I wish some of these busybody commenters would inform my firstborn that hard work and talent (and more hard work) got her this far...not playing online and smoking cigarettes.

Well, Connie's Mom, now that I have met you I understand why Connie towers so far above the crowd in terms of her character and abilities.

Just think what Connie might have been had not the apple fallen, not so very far from of course, but certainly a ways down the slope below the tree of its genesis.

61915/28/2013 5:45:54 PMEve N BusyerbodyI hear that a certain Thinks-she-is-all-that-and-a-bag-of-chips-with-fries-to-go-with-that-shake has let her security go home for the day.

Personally, I think Ms. Chips and Fries should invest her money in a hairbrush and some root touch up dye before she goes around judging people's shoes, or lack there of.

That is the good thing about getting old and hard of hearing.

Even if I could understand such an odd accent from whatever corner of the third world it came from, I still wouldn't be able to hear enough of it to decide if the person was mad about something or just excited to see somebody acting rationally (in a country not known for that) and being complimentary on a fashion choice.

It goes without saying the person should never be told the amount of money that would immediately change hands if anybody found out my verifiable footprint is visible in the dust at any given location.

61905/28/2013 5:36:09 PMOlde Washe WomanRumor has it that Connie Rose has become such a celebrity (at least in her own mind) that she has hired security to guard/block the studio door.

She must be hallucinating about her old jewelry days—when the dust and scraps of gold and silver were swept up and kept for their value.

Apparently Connie has informed her security team to block any well meaning friends and fellow artists who come to see her with wet bare feet.

It is assumed that the clay dust that might stick to those peds could have been swept up and reformed into pots—the very pots that make such living for Ms. Rose that her lavish lifestyle should include hired security from the Dominican Republic.

One would expect that Nike and Adidas might put a lot more effort into making pants given the fact they already have most of the world's population in their back pockets.

61895/28/2013 5:17:41 PMSMHWow! You would think a person could walk around barefoot in the rain without being interrogated, right?!

Actually, if one attended a quality university and studied such matters, you would not think that.

By the way: the highlighted text above ("not think that") links to a pertinent YouTube college student video if you click on it.

61885/28/2013 1:00:45 PMArtie
Zen
I am writing a letter to Connie Rose.

How should I address it?

To: The Source

61875/28/2013 11:43:45 AMCuryousHey, wait a minute.

Aren't you Bob Fugett?

Why yes, I guess I am.

61865/28/2013 11:14:29 AMPessy MysticMake sure you buy shirts first.

On it.

After walking around the show this weekend I feel like Charleton Heston in the last scene of Planet of the Apes, "You blew it up! Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!"

I also feel like Bob Fugett circa 1976 in Scotts Meadow during the time he got a key from every shop in the Meadow in order to let in customers coming down the hill who would ask, "Why aren't any of the shops open?"

Bob would hold up the wad of keys and respond, "They are all open. Which one do you want to see?"

Then he would hand the money over to the individual week-end shop owners saying, "Look what happens here in the middle of the week...but you have to be open."

I have found artisans before, and I will find them again.

I am sure there is somebody out there who will rip the local disinterested potters a new one.

Can't wait to write about it.

[Whoops, don't let me make you crimp that form, Connie.]

61855/27/2013 6:06:14 PMConnie RoseThank you, Mary Endico, for your pledge to the Sugar Loaf Guild and the donation to the Sugar Loaf Fire Department.

Jeez, Connie, don't bring up that thing about the extra money: I haven't told Mary about it yet!

Other than that, you might be able to help us.

We are going to use the next portions of the advertising budget to look for a potter who would like to come to town and start a lucrative open to the public working studio.

We have talked to the potters already in town (who are not open to the public), but they haven't got the slightest interest in taking advantage of the largess of the hamlet's robust street traffic, so it is time to put out some feelers.

We used to have a great potter who was also a sculptor, but he had a very clever way of turning off clients so didn't last very long.

If you run into a likely pottery candidate have them take a look at the Guild website; and, after they prove they have read it, I will explain to them the stuff about Mary's 20,000 paintings sold directly off her work table, about the continuing flow of very interested buyers eager to get real deal artisan products directly from real deal artisans who are making them.

I have to tell you, the money that people coming into Sugar Loaf are willing to pay for true high quality artisan work is virtually limitless...though it appears Mary and I are the only people in town who know this.

In any case, my review of the work at the most recent street fair came up bust.

Too bad the current event organizers have let the quality of the shows slip so horribly.

However, there has to be at least one potter out there who would really like to find their easy access, direct from their home studio, supportive audience.

Also I have an idea about the next artisan to find after the potter, but first things first.

We will be pumping a bunch of money into the search for a potter very soon.

61845/27/2013 3:16:20 AMCuryousIt appears the recent spate of donations and awards has brought the Guild expenditures over your $10,000 budget for 2013.

Fortunately Mary Endico has pledged another $5,000 bringing our current budget up to $15,000.

61835/26/2013 9:46:35 PMGuild
Staff
$300 DONATION
(another one)
PLUS TOP HONORS
AWARDED

Today the Sugar Loaf Guild donated $300 to the Warwick Human Society at their booth in the Craft Fair.

Also Swag Kit awards for Best in Show and a Purchase Award were handed out.

Here are the details.

Although the Craft Fair is not a Guild event (and does not focus on hand made one of a kind artisan wares), Bob Fugett assumed there had to be at least one actual craftsperson in attendance, and if their product reached the correct level of quality they should receive an award.

He established an ad hoc award for Best in Show which expanded into an additional Best in Show Purchase Award.

After walking around the event a few times Bob narrowed the Purchase Award down to a single exhibitor who had excellent quality hand pulled silk screened T-shirts and silk scarves (plus one Batik), so he used the Purchase Award to buy a T-shirt for his wife (the guild will not be charged for it).

But Bob understood that the winner of the Purchase Award should also be given an official Sugar Loaf Guild Swag Kit so the Guild will be charged for that.

Fortuitously awhile later when Bob was trying to make the final Best in Show decision between a couple of jewelers, Connie Rose happened by and helped him decide.

Most of you know Connie Rose as a life long Sugar Loaf resident, a perennial craftsperson and artist who has worked in numerous capacities for several top businesses (and one not so top) finally coming to rest as General Manager for Boswell Pottery...where she throws pots on the wheel and trouble makers on the sidewalk.

In any case, Bob asked Connie to help with the final choices for Best in Show, and she saved his butt on this one.

Connie pointed out that the work Bob was just about to bestow was in fact merely assemblies of ready made parts, so while they were certainly put together carefully and with a clever eye, they could not really be considered hand made.

So Bob said, "Well, there was this other place near the hamlet's south entrance, so let's go look at it, and you can show me what to look for."

When they arrived at the other booth, Connie said, "Well this time, Bob, you have picked correctly."

Turns out it was the work of Ron and Fa of Moon Angel, long time Sugar Loaf residents who allowed a booth to be opened in their name despite the Sugar Loaf Craft Fair having become a "small" event in their larger schedule of robust top line events.

Hoping to school Bob's eye, Connie launched into a description of the process required to produce such work as was being displayed, and the obvious truth of that description reduced Bob to goose bumps and a quavering lump from where he gasped, "Well, this is definitely the best of the best of the best here today, this is the realest of all real deals, the true article, so I don't care if they aren't outside vendors, I am giving them Best of Show no matter...after all, I do have to sleep at night."

Then Bob convinced Connie to help with the presentations, and the two of them traipsed back uptown to gather up the winner of the Purchase Award who would also come back and help with the presentation of the Best in Show Award not to mention get to meet some actual lifetime full time successful working artisans (which everyone agreed is a significantly different sort of creature in case you don't know).

Below is the pictorial summary of the day's events.

Click image


$300 Donation to
Warwick Humane Society

Left to right back row -
Guild Presenters:
Mary Endico,
Christine Louvet,
Joann Mannino

front row
Human Society Staff:
Annie Tinnirello,
Adrienne Lepre,
Dana Tuckfelt



Click image


Best in Show
Purchase Award
Left to right -
Alyssa Seaman (winner),
Connie Rose (presenter)



Click image


Best in Show
Moon Angel

Left to right -
Madison Monaco,
Alyssa Seaman
Connie Rose,
Hanna Monaco

Ok, some explanation: when we tried to present Best in Show (above) the frenzied crowd trying to purchase items at Moon Angel had the sales force so harried we could barely jump in and take our chances.

That is why the focus is a little soft, and Hanna Monaco is far right facing away from the camera...taking care of business.

Not surprising, because Best in Show really did mean Best in Show.

Click image


Pretty girl outtake -
Madison Monaco
of Moon Angel

We had it,
so we used it

You guys probably should not have buried the photos at the bottom like that.
61825/25/2013 3:59:12 PMGuild
Staff
$300 DONATION
TO SUGAR LOAF
FIREHOUSE

Today the Sugar Loaf Guild donated $300.00 to the Sugar Loaf Firehouse to be used however they see fit towards equipment, programs, or education.

Below is shown Mary Endico and Anne Marie presenting the check to Len Knapp and Patrick McKevitt.

Click image


Left to right -
Len Knapp,
Mary Endico,
Anne Marie,
Patrick McKevitt

You really cannot thank those people enough.

Did you know the volunteers at the Firehouse went out of their way to provide parking for the entire Craft Fair Festival and only asked a minimal donation from attendees in return?

61815/22/2013 5:32:53 PMGuild
Staff
The deed is done.

Sugar Loaf Guild has donated $1,000.00 dollars to Wikipedia.

The Guild website is now linked on the Wikimedia Foundation Benefactors page.

Does the Guild support great stuff, or what?

61805/22/2013 4:17:02 PMParker OwenThis is in reference to Bob Fugett's April 4th article on Jon Baugh.

My name is Parker Owen and I am good friends with Max Thompson, whose mother, Elaine McGuire Thompson, was Mr. Baugh's niece. Max has three of the glass paintings that his great uncle gave to his mother, Elaine, many years ago (as well as a portrait of his mother which I believe was also by her uncle).

He was searching his great uncle on the internet under his pseudonym and his real name and found this mention of him in your publication. Max, currently without a working email, asked me to write and extend his wish to become reacquainted with his great uncle's immediate family. He is currently recovering from a serious asthma condition at his mother's house here in Atlanta, GA and asked me to give her home phone to you in the event that you could forward it to Maddie Dake, his great grand daughter mentioned in this same article by Mr. Fugett.

Mrs. Elaine Thompson: ███
In the event you need my number: ███

Thank you,

Parker Owen

Hi Parker : )

Thank you for writing.

I have forwarded the information and toggled off the phone numbers here as a security measure.

Hope it helps out.

Here is what I forwarded:


Hi Jennifer : )

Sorry for the intrusion.

I am personally very leery of Internet queries, but just in case this is something real (and something you want to respond to), I just received the following message in a post to the Sugar Loaf Guild website:

*********************

This is in reference to Bob Fugett's April 4th article on Jon Baugh.

My name is Parker Owen and I am good friends with Max Thompson, whose mother, Elaine McGuire Thompson, was Mr. Baugh's niece. Max has three of the glass paintings that his great uncle gave to his mother, Elaine, many years ago (as well as a portrait of his mother which I believe was also by her uncle).

He was searching his great uncle on the internet under his pseudonym and his real name and found this mention of him in your publication. Max, currently without a working email, asked me to write and extend his wish to become reacquainted with his great uncle's immediate family. He is currently recovering from a serious asthma condition at his mother's house here in Atlanta, GA and asked me to give her home phone to you in the event that you could forward it to Maddie Dake, his great grand daughter mentioned in this same article by Mr. Fugett.

Mrs. Elaine Thompson: ██
In the event you need my number: ██

Thank you,

Parker Owen

*********************

Hope I have done the right thing here.

Bob Fugett

61765/20/2013 9:37:56 AMGuild
Staff
This morning Mary Endico dropped by Anne Marie's Deli (Sugar Loaf's gossip central) and dropped off two swag kits (see: Financial Statement).

The conversation turned to the upcoming festival and how the Firehouse is now charging event goers for parking in their parking lot.

Anne Marie asked if the Sugar Loaf Guild had a stand on the issue.

Could you comment, Bob?

This is beyond simple.

The Firehouse is a volunteer organization whose members are willing at any moment (night or day) to drop whatever they are doing and run into your burning house to try and save your dog, not to mention put out the fire.

Are you kidding?

They should be allowed every possible opportunity to collect some money to pay for equipment, education, and programs making their task easier and safer.

Look, the people who put together the festivals are expecting them to bring money into town for the businesses here, and they never think twice how the disruption might affect the already actually established local businesses, such as Anne Marie's (who will be placing a helper at the barricades in order to help everyday regular customers thru them to get their breakfast, etc).

As an aside, the Endico Studio only stays open for the events because there is always one customer who shows up forgetting to call first, and that customer would be very aggravated to find a festival and no Endico.

If the goal is to attract money to Sugar Loaf, shouldn't the very first drips and drabs of that money go directly to the organization providing a large part of the parking—the Firehouse?

Get real people.

This shouldn't even require a comment.

The Firehouse maintains that property, will be responsible for repairing it, and takes on the liability of allowing people to park there.

Of course they should be allowed to charge for that.

61745/18/2013 10:06:35 AMCuryousSo what was Brad's award?

From my personal library a copy of the seminal work on high-end programming:

Hejlsberg, Anders, Scott Wiltamuth, and Peter Golde. 2004. "The C# Programming Language." Boston: Addison-Wesley. ISBN: 0-321-15491-6

And to wash away the sweat engendered by receiving a PhD level hard bound textbook, a special bonus of my own book on musical process.

Photos are pending, although I do believe somebody already facebooked the awards ceremony.

61735/17/2013 10:38:25 AMGuild
Staff
AWARD CEREMONY

There has been a two way tie for this year's Most Avid Reader Award.

In a hotly contested competition for reading every single word (and then some) of the Sugar Loaf Guild Site, top honors go to Connie Rose (Operations Manager at Boswell Pottery) and Brad Kibler (Clay Boone's son).

Below is a photo of Connie Rose receiving her award.


Connie Rose (left)
receiving award
from Mary Endico

Connie commented, "I am flattered and had no idea...but isn't this just the perfect example of quintessential Sugar Loaf Guild process? I mean, it wasn't just some contest for the sake of having a contest. It was something based on merit, and I won for actually doing something worthwhile. Plus the award itself is very useful: a big thick book full of useful information, so I can keep on reading and learning more about the world around me. I love it, and you made me feel like I earned it. Thank you Guild!"

Having given Connie the originally scheduled award, the Guild is currently reviewing the particulars of acquiring another object of equal merit to give to Brad.

It has to be just right.

Did you expect this stuff was going to be easy?

61725/17/2013 10:34:01 AMBradI tested things on my work computer, and I have passed the first test.

I'm able to copy the link, open in Notepad and manipulate "Bold" into "Italic."

I will repeat the process on my home laptop.

I've just learned something new!

Yippee!!!

See if this gets you going (I just stepped through it on one of my own sites, made sure it worked, but when I tried it on yours there was a slight change — no default page, just jumped right to the login dialogue), but it might still work for you, so try it.

In your web browser URL field enter:

ftp.YourDomainName.com
[the BooneBigBelly thing]

 

A default screen like the following will display:


 

It is telling you to do this:


 

A login dialogue will display for you to enter the User Name and Password that WinHost provided (it will be eight characters taken from your domain name, and whatever password you already setup):


 

A folder will open which will function more or less exactly like all the folders on your computer:


 

You can drag and drop, or copy/paste the file you have been working with.

Rename "Winhostdefault.htm" to something like "Winhostdefault_Old.htm"

Rename the Bare Bones file to "index.htm"

Now a standard http://YourDomainName.com in the browser URL will open that page.

You will also have to put the image for the helper screen in an images folder that you can also create in the FTP window.

BTW: This is a very insecure process, so be careful with it, and I never want to know your User / Password under any circumstances.

Any questions?

61695/17/2013 1:03:13 AMGuild StaffAccounting has outgrown the Forum, so here is the new page:

Note: permanent link is also at bottom of page in all Guild website page footers.

Now anybody can check the most current budget status anytime.

61685/16/2013 11:59:29 PMBradOk clearly this will need to be a step by step process.

I tried to download FileZilla and got stuck right there.

I'm already lost.

Now, I can view the source code for the bare bones file so I suppose that's a start.

Although all I did was follow your simple picture instructions.

Perhaps I need more of the pictures!

At least I know how to change the "bold" to "italic" once I reach that stage.

I'm also having other technical issues with modems and internet providers, but I can work around that.

I'll be up Saturday.

Sorry, we'll need to use the training wheels to start.

If you are having trouble with modems and service providers you will have to work that out first, and I can't help you with that from my location.

Until your connection is set, anything I show you here will not work from your location anyway.

When you acheive a stable (fast) home Internet connection, problems such as the FileZilla download will likely disappear.

Besides, my experience has been that nothing that the Internet provides comes even close to being worth all the inherent associated trouble.

I had assumed you already had fast home Internet, because this nonsense is certainly not worth the cost of getting it if you don't already have it.

However:

1) Did you save, view, and alter that BARE BONES PAGE on your own computer?

2) Can Amber setup a Facebook account for you?

ADDENDUM: I just had a thought and tested it.

You really don't need an FTP client (such as FileZilla), because you can do this in Windows Explorer directly.

Get a good connection, and I can step you through it with pictures in about 30 seconds (30 seconds for you, couple hours for me, so get your connection squared away first).

61575/9/2013 12:23:37 PMBob
Fugett
Brad, here's your assignment.


Copy the above linked file onto your laptop and confirm you can open that copy in your browser.

Then open that copy in Notepad and change the Bold to Italic.

HINT:

Bold = b
Italic = i
Paragraph = p

I included a note about how to look at a page's source code.

I am thinking we may as well leave this discussion here until it gets too technical.

BTW: WinHost once suggested to me this free open source FTP client -

I suggest choosing "Yes" to view only secure content when asked on getting to the page.

Also, if nobody at work has any suggestions, I will help you sort through new generation WYSIWYG html editors by selecting one of the free open source apps and testing it for you.

61565/9/2013 11:03:20 PMBradBob, I've gone to ███ and set up an account using the pseudo domain name of ███ as you instructed.

After sifting through some of the general tutorial information, however, I am completely lost as to where to even begin creating the site.

Perhaps we should get together soon, and you can walk me through it, as I have never undertaken the task of actually setting up a site.

I'll be up only briefly this weekend but next weekend will be back and have more time then.

Let me know if you have some time next weekend (or another time) that would work better for you.

Talk to you soon and thanks again.

Absolutely, we will get together as required, maybe won't need to.

I have hidden your new domain name here for the moment in order to avoid Internet search bots populating databases with the content before you are ready.

You have probably heard, "Things never get erased from the Internet," and the Guild Forum is not hidden to bots, so they would start linking that domain right away.

I have also toggled our discussion onto the American Road Cycling forum, so we can move the discussion over there and not gum up the works here.

Soon as I see you have read this, I'll toggle it off here, and we can continue over there.

Make your next post over at ARC.

There is a Submittal Form button at the top of the page, and it works more or less just like the Guild Forum (actually goes into the same database).

Otherwise, you have already finished creating the website!

Done and done.

That is all there was to it.

I have seen your default page serving, so now it is just a matter of adding a few files.

This is going to progress like a Space Shuttle launch.

A few moments of rumbling with stuff falling off the slow moving behemoth, then ZOOM, into space we go.

I have already set up some files to get you started.

First off: do you know how to FTP files?

61545/6/2013 12:32:48 PMSwag
Watch
While getting some dental work done Bob and Mary dropped off more Guild swag at:

Best of the best, that Dr. Gulak.

61535/5/2013 11:33:50 AMGuild
Staff
At last Bob Fugett ties the Sugar Loaf Guild history all together with a final story, and it is quite a journey.

Grab your tickets and hop on board for:

It's about time: people were getting anxious.

61525/3/2013 1:55:06 PMBob FugettOk, so I was just in the Candle Shop trying to give Peter and Amy their Guild swag and beg them to let me do a 360 of their work area.

Whooieee...are they busy.

Apparently they just got back yesterday and are already running around like chickens with their heads cut-off trying to put stock in place, service customers, deal with nonsense like mine, etc.

In fact I had to abort the first attempt and saunter on up to Boone's while waiting for people to get out of their shop, then when I finally got in it wasn't more than three minutes before another customer was selecting candles.

I felt like a salmon trying to jump the rapids and get up stream for a word with them.

We are tentatively a go for the 360.

Looks like the real businesses in town are really busy just like always.

61474/28/2013 1:04:19 PMGuild
Staff
A $1,000.00 donation is being given to the Jacksonville Watercolor Society as part of the ongoing Sugar Loaf Guild advocacy program.

See below starting at: 6136

61384/26/2013 5:20:14 PMTWSo sorry, I seem to keep either deleting, or sending this out before I finish.

Once again, you are a most talented artist. Your work is amazing!

The dates that are in consideration are Fall Oct 28-31, 2014 or Spring March 24-27, 2015.

Would you please consider my request.

I also know how far in advance these dates are, but it is something that we require to be scheduled way in advance.

Thank you again for your consideration,
TW

Hi TW : )

Sorry for the confusion caused by the submittal form confirmation page.

My husband, Bob, is working on the problem, but the full text of your three submittals did arrive correctly.

I also typed your email address incorrectly when I sent my first response, so sorry for that as well.

Thank you so much for the very complimentary offer.

For the foreseeable future I will not be able to provide clinics, because I am tied to my studio creating pieces for my collectors.

However, I really appreciate the efforts of the Jacksonville Watercolor Society and wish to make a donation to the organization in the amount of $1,000.00.

I would like to make my donation in the name of the Sugar Loaf Guild...long story.

Also, could you take a quick look at this link to confirm it shows the Endico form problem you observed:

Thank you again for the flattering offer, and let me know where I can send my donation check.

You may respond by direct return e-mail.

Mary Endico

61374/26/2013 5:03:01 PMTWOnce again I am writing to you.

We met a week and a half ago at your studio.

You gave me a watercolor painting book. I am TW from Saint Augustine, FL.

I am the workshop coordinator of the Jacksonville Watercolor Society, and I would like to contract with you to conduct a 3 day watercolor workshop.

The contract would also include judging our fall or spring show and giving a demo at our general meeting.

It would require you to be here 4 to 5 days, so we would prepay your hotel, include meals, daily contract costs, travel allowance, fee for judging and demo.

Houston, we have a problem.

61364/23/2013 1:54:02 PMTWMy husband & I had the opportunity to meet you last Wed. as we walked about Sugar Loaf.

You gave me a copy of Ed Whitney's "The complete Guide to Watercolor Painting."

We are from Saint Augustine, Florida.

I explained that I am a fairly new watercolor artist.

I'm a member of the Jacksonville Watercolor Society and the Florida Watercolor Society, and I attend workshops when they are available to me...Do you hold classes or workshops?

Thank you,
TW

The following e-mail was sent by Mary, but she made a typo in the e-address causing it to be undelivered—and that prompted the new direct to Endico Forum function for questions and comments submitted through her website.


Hi TW :)

Thank you for taking the time to write.

I currently do not have any plans to teach watercolor workshops but I will keep your name on a list in case I do decide to offer one.

It was a pleasure chatting with you,

Mary Endico

61354/23/2013 11:33:34 AMBurd
Wadger
A little birdie reported that Banner Boy was overheard in The Barnsider Restaurant wringing somebody's ear off about how bad things have been in Sugar Loaf.

Therefore Bob Fugett went out of his way to track down specifics and got the story first hand from an insider at the Barnsider.

Turns out the person who was having their ear wrung into a cauliflower was really just "Yes-ing" Banner Boy, because their own experience (as a Barnsider insider) was that business has been just fine there…actually a little too busy for their own particular tastes.

This pretty much constitutes the final confirmation of the results of the recent Sugar Loaf Guild advertising campaign with local street survey and online investigation into the recent spate of negative comments about the health of businesses inside the hamlet.

In summary the Committee observes that the reports of Sugar Loaf's demise have been greatly overstated while actual online activity is far below what one would guess based on search engine aggregation of obsolete social media content.

Those in town who are running actual businesses are still pretty much strangers to online activity while all the recent banners going up are truly just another example of Signs of Desperation with a couple rounds of the Sugar Loaf Four Step.

Too bad about the lack of online activity.

Despite this time around the Sugar Loaf Guild having received an extremely positive response from everybody contacted, it looks like I will still have to wait another 15 years before people fully understand the significance of my Internet skills and what these technologies can do.

No problem with that: I've got bicycles to ride.

61344/20/2013 11:22:35 PMArtie ZennManninos gotta be happy about that.

Everybody's ecstatic.

61334/20/2013 3:48:19 PMGuild
Staff
Connie, HELP!

C'mon you guys.

It's just Peg Conner trying to fit in.

Looks like she missed reading Sugar Loaf Four Step Process.

61324/20/2013 9:07:16 AMCuryousIt just occurred to me.

I believe that Sugar Loaf has previously unreported resources that go well beyond anyone's wildest imagination.

And you would be right.

61304/19/2013 12:11:12 PMSundogI just saw your 360 of my studio: thanks soooo much!

It is great fun to spin my room around.

Thanks for your hard work and expertise.

Wow.

Oh, there you are Joann...I was just talking about you.

Who was the person that designed DJ's card, and are they still in Sugar Loaf?

Otherwise, I believe there is a typo in your post.

I am sure by "expertise" you meant to say "Thanks for your hard work and extra sleaze."

I am not aware of having any expertise.

61294/19/2013 12:09:22 PMbonesI think he has a presence on Discogs, too, but I don't remember his store name.

I found it: shinjaesuk.

Thanks for mentioning it.

Seems better than the eBay page, so I redirected links from his Guild Spotlight.

You might have noticed DJ's business card on his Guild page.

Well, the woman over at Sundog told me who did it, but I wasn't listening and only realized later she might have been talking about somebody still in Sugar Loaf, so if you know anything about that let me know.

Thanks again for the DJ tip.

61284/18/2013 10:53:30 PMVie NellYo, lookie here!

How'd you find that?

Isn't that D. J. Mannino's eBay store?

Have you seen this?

61264/18/2013 10:49:52 AMGuild
Staff
The IT Team asked that we post a special thanks to Joann Mannino for helping trouble shoot the Server's date/time anomoly.

Apparently Joann has significant Internet skills and authors her very own domain name sites.

That places her far ahead of the standard run of the mill Facebook crowd.

With Joann Mannino's help the web team has now set up a special calculator to make date/time conversions in order to keep a closer watch over the increasing activity on the Sugar Loaf Guild website.

Joann Mannino: a web master.

Who knew?

61184/9/2013 10:44:49 PMGuild
Staff
It has come to our attention that some of the better shops would like to make Sugar Loaf Guild business cards available to their customers.

The cards are free to any Sugar Loaf artisan.

Any who would like a handful of the official Sugar Loaf Guild business cards to display in their studios can post a note in this forum, or e-mail Mary, and they will be hand delivered.

Or drop by Endico Watercolors at your convenience and pick some up.

The cards are being made available for free thanks to Christine Louvet of MetaMORPHosis.

Thanks again, Christine.

And thank you, Staff.

You should probably mention again that the cards are free to all Sugar Loaf artisans.

And point people to the rollover showing both sides of the card.

61154/6/2013 5:04:19 PMJennifer McGuire DakeThank you for your response.

It, as well as your article, was greatly appreciated.

We hope to send you some pictures soon.

Couldn't be better.

Thanks again.

61124/4/2013 7:30:55 PMMaddie Dake Hello Mr. Fugett,

My name is Maddie Dake.

Jon Baugh was my great-grandfather.

I never got to meet him, but I hear he was a great man, and I have heard many stories about him.

We actually have a few of his paintings hanging in my grandparents house.

Thanks for this piece of history,

Maddie


PS: His real name is Herbert Henley McGuire; born in Gadsden, Alabama; October 31, 1908.

And thank you for writing also, Maddie.

Especially thank you for improving the record by providing your great-grandfather's true name and date of birth.

I have already used your information to update the final paragraph at the bottom of the Jon Baugh article.

I should mention that the stories you have heard about how special your great-grandfather was, were probably somewhat understated.

Even here in Sugar Loaf, I do recall that during every large gathering there would be a few moments when somebody would quiet everybody down in order to thank Jon for all the work he was doing on advertising.

But my thought was always, "These people are not making nearly a big enough deal about the work Jon is doing."

I must also mention how good it is to see his character and talent have survived and been passed down through the generations.

I sense in your own writing, Maddie, that you carry Jon's greatness within you.

I am sure you have done much already that is great and will surely do much more in the future.

If you have any digital photos of Jon's work at your grandparents house (and would like to see them included on the Sugar Loaf Guild website), I would be more than happy to post them.

To simplify things I will send an e-mail to Jennifer for you to use for sending photos.

Extra thanks again for helping improve the record with Jon's real name.

61114/4/2013 7:30:22 PMJennifer McGuire Dake I love the story on Jon Baugh.

He was my pop-pop (my dad's dad), and I have few but very fond memories of Sugar Loaf.

I would love to bring my family there someday to show them what I remember.

One of my favorite memories was the tobacco shop owned by Nigel the giant leprechaun.

I still remember the smell: I had some tobacco that I had tied hanging in his shop.

Also walks to the post office!

Thank you so very much for the article.

My children enjoyed the history of their great grandfather!

Thank you for writing, Jennifer.

Of all the wonderful moments in my life (and there have been many), receiving your posting followed quickly by Maddie's wonderful writing has to be one of the best.

When you visit Sugar Loaf you will be pleased to find that much is just as it was, and some of it maybe even a little better.

A few more houses in the surrounding countryside, but things could have been worse.

Certainly the aura around the working artisans has not changed a bit.

My wife and I are currently running display ads in the local papers that are reminiscent of Jon's fine work.

Not as nice, of course, but the same idea of full inclusion.

Truly if Jon (Herbert) had not done the work that he did, Mary Endico and I would not be here still selling our work.

Thanks again for writing.

60913/28/2013 1:08:59 PMGuild
Staff

Progress Report

Of this year's $10,000 advertising budget $4,733.95 has now been spent which leaves $5,266.05 to be used.

A lot has been learned about the continued vibrancy of the artisan businesses in Sugar Loaf, and the reception of the updated Guild website by the community at large continues to be strong.

The naysayers of the past are either gone from town or significantly marginalized.

A major revelation has been: what at first appeared to be strong Internet activity by local businesses (finally) turned out to be merely search engine aggregation of content from orphaned social media profiles and little used websites.

In addition to tracking the success of local print advertising online, the Guild Staff also established Internet test cases and combined tracking of those cases with on-the-ground surveys.

The results of that study may be startling to some.

A number of social media sites are still being routinely monitored, and what has been observed is that true Sugar Loaf artisan business owners do not bother with social media nor pay much attention to their online presence in any way.

We have found one active user, but they are not a primary business owner.

They are also significantly above the level of ordinary online users (hors categorie, sui generis), and even though they are active online, they do not have the most basic information about their closest neighboring business which is less than a hundred yards from where they work.

Just another indication of how social media is neither social nor media but actually tends to pull people apart then evaporate into the ethers.

Additionally, that other business at first glance appeared to have a strong online presence, but on closer inspection it was hard to identify if they themselves had any interaction at all with their own Internet portals (Word Press and Facebook pages).

There is one other somewhat active online user, but that person actually does not live in Sugar Loaf and only comments from the other side of the country.

Tracking of the sparse online activity that does exist found that even a direct negative attack from the distance blogger had no effect on the community's reception of a faux Facebook profile established as part of the study.

The remainder of online activity appears to be sporadic entries by business owners who have been told they need to do so but are not clear on why they should.

Our test online profile promptly won a "contest" immediately on "Liking" something—despite being far from the stated target number when they clicked.

An indication that they were the first actual response the business had received online.

On the other hand, in-person interviews and survey of the current status of actual artisan businesses (hand-work prepared and sold by workshops that are open to the public in Sugar Loaf) continues to show these businesses are strong and growing.

Not to mention some instances of businesses leaving town were found to be a result of obvious pilot error and not the result of any supposed economic downturn.

Two reliable anecdotal reports were: 1) the organizer of an art co-op found the other involved parties were not helping, so they closed down the co-op and moved to another location in Sugar Loaf, 2) a business that should have been able to succeed was hobbled by the owner/operator's insistence that spending the day playing computer solitaire would gain their fortune.

On the other hand, a growing number of true artisan businesses are reporting the same status: they are following the correct process of tried and true business practices, and their businesses are continuing to thrive and grow.

The bottom line is that none of these results could have been predicted from what was found online or through print publications and standard media: we had to go through Sugar Loaf on foot in-person and find out the truth.

Therefore, aside from our continued print advertising test campaign, The Guild will now focus on adding to the page of  360° views of working artisan studio spaces.

 

Line item expenditures:

11/07/2012
188.80 web host
2013
01/08 82.00 bus card
02/01 250.00 Canv/yr
02/25 105.00 War Adv
02/28 200.00 Camp
02/28 705.15 Kain awds
03/05 423.00 Canv/swag
03/07 250.00 Canv/yr
03/15 1,541.28 War Adv
03/19 423.00 Boswell/swag
03/23 282.86 Bertoni/swag
03/24 141.43 j. Hengen/swag
03/24 141.43 KellyJane/swag

4,733.95 total


 

Thank you for the report, Staff.

Things are looking great.

60783/27/2013 11:12:39 AMGuild
Staff
Got something for Brad?

Yes.

Brad, thank you for taking a look at Dr. Art's website.

That is truly about as much of a web presence as a person needs.

In fact it is a little more than needed.

I noticed that the few people per week who hit his site were always going quickly to the "hours" page (and never looked at anything else), so I added his hours to his home page, and now people only hit that page.

The current activity on Clay's site (including the Sugar Loaf Guild version) are generally people looking for either something like, "How much is my Jarvis Boone woodcarving worth," or they quickly check out a few very specific types of carvings—such as recently lots of Commercial Signs.

I guess all the activity around Commercial Signs bodes well for the economy, but in terms of what is actually needed for his website, all of what I have provided Clay can be provided much more simply than the way I have done it with Sql Server, C#, and Asp.net.

Your getting something up and running like Dr. Art's website (with a domain name such as BigBellyWoodcarver.dum ) should be pretty easy.

Something rudimentary with a link to Clay's profile on the Guild website would get things going, allow me to transfer his domain name over, and then you could expand your own pages at your leisure.

Soon I will be posting a summary report regarding what we have learned using the tandem print ads and Sugar Loaf Guild website.

Thanks again for taking a look at Dr. Art's site and for getting ready to take over Clay's domain site.

60713/26/2013 11:02:55 AMCuryousWhatever happened to that Connie Rose person?

Finding out that Connie was still in Sugar Loaf after all these years was a gift.

She quickly learned how to be a writer/story teller on this website then went off and became a writer and story teller.

In fact she learned so quickly that one would think she never did NOT know how.

Anyway, she has lots better things to do, but watch for her to post on the Guild site from time to time.

Otherwise, Connie Rose is still in Sugar Loaf, and you can see some of her work here (be sure to scroll down).

60613/25/2013 12:09:35 PMhumble studentAhhhhhh......

You, Connie, are one funny dude so are receiving a promotion.

Get a bicycle and helmet, stop smoking and drinking, prepare to kick people's butts, and start posting here: ██.

You can post stuff you would never want to post on the Guild site...even before getting a bicycle (and helmet), and I will treat your postings in exactly the same manner as you have become accustomed.

Just don't send your Facebook ninnies over there, they won't like it and have no business being there.

Anybody who doesn't like salty language, please do not hit that link.

60603/25/2013 11:17:18 AMConnie.
Rose.
I added the period after the N and again after the Y as they appear in the logo.

I must withdraw my blade.

60593/25/2013 10:06:06 AMGuild
Staff
The aesthetics of logos and signage are outside the scope of this website.

Bob says that he is more concerned with the meaning of signs and logos than he is with their aesthetic appearance.

If the current Sugar Loaf Chamber logo means: "hand made crafts and art of the highest order made right here in Sugar Loaf by resident (or near resident artists) with working studios open to the public" then he is all for it, no matter what look and feel.

However, if the current Chamber logo stands for: "some cute trendy retail shops" then he has no interest in it at all and has better things to do with his time.

He doesn't hate them for it, just has no interest in it.

So aside from the personal taste aspect of whether the logo is good, bad, or indifferent, that is one thing, but Bob's interest in this case is best defined by: semiotics.

From: Book Editing Staff

On the other hand, when it comes to grammar, punctuation, and precise communications, Bob will cut a biotch.

Here is the way the "punny" edit looks when taken out of the Sugar Loaf Guild book format and allowed to stand in equally sized columns:

And here is the most recent "kerning" edit viewed similarly:

You will notice the Kerning edit was subject to a happy accident, wherein the correct punctuation resulted in a better appearance, but that is only happenstance and in that one view, on that one device.

The relevant changes were made only to the punctuation itself.

60583/25/2013 9:56:42 AMbiotchKerning!

Now I know the technical term to describe the wrongness of that awful Sugar Loaf,N.Y. logo.

Kerning!

Now I know the technical term to describe the wrongness of that awful Sugar Loaf, NY logo.


Changed:
1) space after comma
2) no periods with NY

60573/25/2013 12:24:59 AMbeer thinkerJust askin: why is the response box wider than the comment box?

I am just a simple person, albeit "class of my own" in other respects.

I get confused about the difference between punctuation / grammar changes or the way the wording is spaced.

You are a mind reader.

I just had the same thought, and went back to check the code.

The columns are defined to be exactly the same, but due to the fact there are no true standards on the Internet, there is an arbitrary change in the width when rendered on different devices.

Aggravates the hell out of me.

However, it does allow you to see what happens to text when lines are broken differently.

It is one of the reasons a printed book is better, because you can be sure that what ends up in somebody's hand is what you saw when printing it.

I often find myself fine tuning text to fit a format, and printers that I have spoken to remark how they will do the same sort of thing at print time.

Formatting and subtle control of kerning and word spacing is much more controlled in print.

I wrangled a lot of the passages in Impulse and Strength until they read correctly in the printed book format.

It is a good thing the Internet is basically useless to actual businesses.

You should see how screwed up Andy Boswell's website is on my computer screen.

Parts of it are unreadable.

The Performing Arts Center website crashes my computer.

To make things worse, digital users themselves often set different font size and color scheme which makes it impossible to predict what something is going to look like.

My solution is to always just keep things as simple as possible.

The problems with color rendering are even worse.

The colors of Mary's paintings are impossible to reproduce in any other medium, making an original, is an original, is an original truer than ever, but communicating that fact over distances is problematic.

In fact, Mary even asked the Canvas to not reprint her work due to the problems with newsprint color.

Her Curators' Guide is printed using the best possible process and materials, and when you see it alone the colors are unbelievably good (much better than any book or art print you have ever seen), until you place it next to one of her originals.

In fact, when Rachael Bertoni was in this weekend, we showed her the Guide, and she brushed her hand against one of the images saying, "The colors are so lush you want to touch them."

Then I pointed to the painting from which the image came and said, "Unless you compare it to the original which is far better."

Rachael said, "Wow."

In summary, punctuation and grammar are exceedingly important while variable line spacing is just something we have to live with.

You may have noticed that I did not close the spaces around your "/" between "punctuation" and "grammar" in your question.

Closing the spaces would have been grammatically correct but could cause a wild raggedy line break in some cases, so I let it go.

But here is how important correct English can be: Given all the hurdles Obama had to overcome, what if in addition to the other problems he had axed people for their vote?

Would he have gotten many?

60563/24/2013 11:51:07 PMShop
Hopper
You are very punny.

I like when you fight amongst yourselves for maybe Mary's amusement.

You are very punny.

I like when you fight amongst yourselves, for maybe Mary's amusement.

60553/24/2013 11:18:58 PMRed
Thurly
Yeah, I agree with Prie.

You made that Connie person place her periods flush left against the preceding word with a space after.

Those were obviously not meant as periods but as a charming use of inline bulleted talking points.

You, Bob, are an idiot.

Has been said before.

60533/24/2013 10:56:34 PMPrie
Ying
What gives you the right to edit people's writing?

Nothing.

Well, there is the fact that I have an almost BA Degree in English Literature (short by 1.5 semesters of 2nd year French).

Plus I guess I might mention that I am a paid professional author.

In fact I just got my quarterly financial report from Amazon.

Here are my sales for the last three months:

3.50 Jan 2012 Kindle Direct
3.50 Feb 2012 Kindle Direct
6.98 Feb 2012 Kindle Direct
-----
13.98 total quarterly

I know that sounds like a lot of money, but I have never had any trouble spending every cent of it.

Also there is the accounting for the monies I have made designing websites.

Those totals are even more impressive.

Here is my lifetime report:

ZIP
ZERO
NADA
-------
NOTHING total lifetime

Actually I took the liberty of puffing up my earnings here, just a little bit, because if I take consideration of the fact that I have to pay for all my websites, my lifetime total is really less than nothing.

However, I am sure whoever will submit to editing understands that I am not nearly the final authority, and they should take my changes as merely suggestions which can be refused.

Besides, everybody quickly learns that these things are best handled in formalized classes where academic credit is earned.

Academic credit is worth something, my commentary is not.

So I guess that means I can draw my credentials solely from my website earnings alone, and my first statement was mathematically correct in that NOTHING gives me the right to edit people's writing.

Screw 'em.

60523/24/2013 7:49:12 PMOops!Gosh darn that space I missed!

Nobody will ever know.

60513/24/2013 7:48:09 PMGrass
hopper
Thanks, Edit School.

I would like to ponder the changes that were made.

I will have some questions. The questions will be written in my little note-book.

Fixed.
60503/24/2013 7:20:10 PMEdit
School
Years ago, my sister Patti asked our Father to buy her a word processor with spellcheck.

I quietly walked around the house gathering a couple of things.

When I finished finding what I was looking for I walked over to the Dining room table where they were having this conversation.

Then I threw a dictionary and a pencil onto the table.

Two pairs of surprised eyes stared at me as I said,"Have something to say before you need a couple thousand dollars to say it!"

So, yesterday as per our in person conversation, I took my own advice.

I went to the Dollar Store and bought a lined paper notebook and a pack of mechanical pencils.

Funny,the pencils have a delete feature and make a click sound.

Years ago my sister Patti asked our father to buy her a word processor with spellcheck.

I quietly walked around the house gathering some things.

When I finished gathering what I was looking for, I walked over to the dining room table where their conversation was in progress.

I slapped a dictionary and pencil onto the table between them.

Two pairs of surprised eyes stared at me as I said, "Have something to say before you need a couple thousand dollars to say it!"

So yesterday, per our in-person conversation, I took my own advice.

I went to the Dollar Store and bought a lined paper notebook with a pack of mechanical pencils.

Funny, the pencils have a delete feature and make a click sound.

 

 

I will gladly explain the reasoning behind any edit that you cannot figure out.

60493/24/2013 6:40:58 PMCRI think you told me how to compare the original version to the edited changes.

I cannot remember how to do it. I only see the copy that you repost.

Loving these lessons.

I screwed up and didn't open another post for copy/paste.

I did however keep a copy of the original, so I will re-post it above on the left, and copy/paste my version on the right.

Easy to compare.

60483/24/2013 5:45:12 PMTaking a breakI will have to carry a "wareboard" more often.

I made 19 changes but re-thought 2 rolling them back for a total of 17, more or less.

I changed one image slightly which you might view as closer to the actual event, or somewhat skewed.

I may have gotten involved at some point and missed counting.

None of this means the whole thing would not have been just as fine with no changes at all.

The confirmation would be if it still says what you meant but just a little easier to read.

60473/24/2013 2:17:49 PMNot making any $ whilst playing on Years ago my sister Patti asked our father to buy her a word processor with spellcheck.

I quietly walked around the house gathering some things.

When I finished gathering what I was looking for, I walked over to the dining room table where their conversation was in progress.

I slapped a dictionary and pencil onto the table between them.

Two pairs of surprised eyes stared at me as I said, "Have something to say before you need a couple thousand dollars to say it!"

So yesterday, per our in-person conversation, I took my own advice.

I went to the Dollar Store and bought a lined paper notebook with a pack of mechanical pencils.

Funny, the pencils have a delete feature and make a click sound.

Sweet. (19-2)

60463/24/2013 2:12:14 PMA. StuteSure seems like this is a happenin' town.

There's your under statement for you.

60453/24/2013 1:32:51 PMConWow! I sure do get around.

Wait until I get that little I-Pad thing you showed me.

The salesman at Radio Shack in Chester said the closest thing he had to what I described started at 199.00.

It is an iPod (not the iPad), and did you ever hear of eBay?

The link above goes to auctions of the exact version I showed you: iPod 3rd Generation (really old technology).

I have seen them go for as little as $80.00, but you'll have to shop a bit and take a chance: eBay ain't perfect.

Then get one of your actual friends who knows something to help you set it up...I am not one of those people.

These devices really should be much cheaper, because robots do most of the assembly, and just like cars there are far too many of these things lying around in a heap somewhere.

On the other hand, your computer and full keyboard are much better.

I really feel sorry for anybody who hasn't learned to think with ten fingers on a keyboard.

Did I mention the two new SUPERLATIVE Guild members are:

J. Hengen Design

Kelly Jane

And a sculptor is on the way, plus the person who organized The Work Bench is still in town.

60443/24/2013 12:57:46 PMConHmmm...so many IP#s, so little time.

I am not sure what this means. Why would I have four?

Does this number represent where I am when I use the computer?

Yeah, Connie's in the house!

I don't know what a couple of your IP#'s mean either.

I know one seems to be when you are at Boswell's, where you just posted this.

Another I thought was at your home, but today I see there were two others from yesterday, so I assumed it meant you had a dial-up at home, and those types of connections pool resources and hand out a different IP# everytime you connect.

In any case, that is all secondary.

Mary just had the greatest experience possible with two new Guild Members.

She reports their studios are SUPERLATIVE!

I cannot begin to state how excited I am to see how GREAT my town is doing.

First off, turns out The Work Bench is not so much gone as the person who really organized it dumped the excess baggage and moved down to J. Hengen Design.

Leaves room for Rachael Bertoni to attract another great artisan...and she wll.

More on all this later.

Anyway the two new SUPERLATIVE Guild members are:

J. Hengen Design

Kelly Jane

Yesterday, Rachael Bertoni confirmed how good business is in Sugar Loaf, and these two people today re-confirmed that with Mary.

There is also talk of a new sculptor coming to town.

Wheee!

Are we lucky to be here, or what?

60433/24/2013 11:56:50 AMCuryousWhat have you learned?

Among other things I believe I have learned that from home Connie Rose connects to the Internet using a Frontiernet dial-up connection.

I am currently tracking 4 different IP#'s associated with her.

60423/24/2013 8:20:51 AMBradBob, it's no problem at all.

I'm happy to help in whatever way I can.

Both Dad and I are very appreciative for all of your efforts, and I don't view it as an "assignment" at all.

Thanks again for your time and energy and I'm certainly happy to assist, any time.

Holy crappers, it's the real Brad.

Here is the plan.

You, Brad, are going to set up another domain name for Clay through some service of your choice.

I personally use WinHost, and a domain name registration through them (actually sub-contracted through TuCows) costs $10.00 per year, but there are lots of other options and cheaper.

This stuff really should be free, all things considered.

A basic website at WinHost is $4.95 per month, thus $60.00 per year, so with the Name Registration that makes $70.00 per year total...way too much for the actual benefit.

The amount of resources provided with their basic website is far more than I have ever used total even when I was handling 33 websites (all for free).

If not for the requirements of domain names (which is merely an entry into a database, but for which they require a separate website contract, $4.95/mnth), I could cram everything I have ever done into a single, smallest website.

Plus I have never even come close to taxing basic bandwidth allowments that seem to be meant for passing around thousands of massive porn images, which is nice but not useful for our business.

When I had my own colocated server, I gave everybody space for free (never even began to put a dent in the hard drive space, nor bandwidth used), but that server got hacked, and I shut it down, brought it home, threw it in a closet.

Domain name registrations would still have cost money for that machine, but I had seen that price fall from $140.00 minimum per month, through $36.00, now $10.00 at WinHost...and there are cheaper, not to mention I had figured out a clever way to use sub-folders and avoid the domain name (and cost) requirement altogether.

Actually, at the beginning the simplest of websites cost $23,000.00 per month, and I almost went for it, but the price came down so fast I was saved from my own stupidity.

After my server got hacked (really just an injection attack because I missed a lesson on Sql Server 101), I said, "That's it, these websites are useless anyway, so I'll just let them go," like Clay let go his previous domain name, but Mary whined, "Couldn't you just keep mine going? It's cute."

My long standing observation is that anybody with an actual business to run has very little use for the Internet, and Rachael Bertoni confirmed that again when she was here yesterday—she has been pressured to expand her web presence, but she doesn't know why she should (and she is right).

When I showed her Google results I have acheived without spending a penny, nor even tending to SEO in the least, not even so much as bothering to tag anything, I think she pooped a little.

In any case, if you set up a basic little website for Clay, I can transfer his current domain name (ClayBooneWoodcarver.com) over to you, and then I don't have to worry about being dead and Clay trying to secure rights to his name.

My current websites are all hand coded C#, Asp.net sites, using Sql Server for automation of repetitive tasks, but that is only because I have to tie Mary's website into our local point of sales database, plus it helps me manage a lot of various nonsense which is truly of no use to anybody, but I got started on it and keep thinking the next step will top it off and I can quit.

Here is an example of the only thing an actual business needs online:

Everything I have done for Clay can easily be repeated with a static, basic HTML website (just would be hard to maintain if a lot of content was being added), not to mention Clay's website is already far more than a human being needs in the real world, if that human has real skills and a real business, which pretty much defines Clay in a nutshell.

In any case, as an alternative to WinHost you might take a look at: 1 & 1 (they have been around forever), and of course there's GoDaddy (which seems to be somewhat reasonable), but I haven't ever used them, just always aware they exist.

Not to mention, there are lots of FREE options which I think might require getting your site wrapped in other business advertising, but you might want to start by looking at these Wikipedia articles:

Free web hosting service

Comparison of free

On the other hand, you could just try WinHost and register something like:

BigBellyWoodcarver.dum

Then let it go if Clay ever got on his bicycle again.

When you come up to visit, we are supposed to get together and confirm information, but my belief is this shouldn't be that hard for a person with rudimentary computer skills, which I am assured you are well beyond.

BTW: Explain to your Dad the concept "Content is King," so he will understand he is doing more of a favor to me, than I am to him, for allowing me to publish his images, in my attempt to explain how cool Sugar Loaf is, so somebody from the outside world might get excited and come in to buy another big painting from Mary someday, so she will stop nagging me about being such a wasted loser.

Of course, neither you, your Dad, nor anybody else in Sugar Loaf itself would qualify to get me off the hook with a painting purchase.

It will have to be somebody from a great distance, who made a big trip, just because they knew it would be worth it.

60413/24/2013 12:00:01 AMGuild
Book
Editing
Staff
Mornin', Con!

Begin your review at:

Jeesh, Staff.

Give a girl a nap.

60403/23/2013 11:10:52 PMCon I love learning.

Now I will go to sleep and process all that my brain has "eaten."

100%

A++

Gold Star

Goodnight.

BTW: Overnight you will loose 20% of what your brain has "eaten," so a tune up review will be required tomorrow.

Since every step has been documented here, your review will be easy.

60393/23/2013 10:54:43 PMConThis Ol' Grasshopper can learn new tricks.

I'm really having fun "learning to carry the board".

Perfect!

Now: Period before final quote, not after.

I said, "This."

Not, "This".

Taught to me by Dora Mallairo (used to work for Silvia, taught English and Theater at Burke, fixed me up when she proofed my brochure for my cassette album, 1987).

You may see it the other way (with periods and commas outside of final quotes), but that is British English, not American English.

60383/23/2013 9:41:48 PMConOhhhhhh!

That is so cool .

Thank you !!!

Quick master class.

Period (.) immediately after word. Space after period. Try it.

Something like this.

Not like this .

Got it?

60373/23/2013 8:59:38 PMConnieI like the way you break up the text . How do you put the spaces /skip lines ?

enter key

Wow, I hadn't even noticed you were not putting in any line breaks!

60363/23/2013 5:19:26 PMGuild
Book
Editing
Staff
I know playing on the computer doesn't throw me any pots.

My bad.

Thank you!!!!!!!

Count the changes while I go to Goosepond for a 4 mile hike/run on some mountain trails.

Then go back and copy paste your entire rough first draft (left side panel, not my comment on right) from #6025 into a new posting.

Include the number of changes that you count for my edited version in the left side panel here.

60353/23/2013 4:58:12 PMConnie.I know playing on the computer doesn't throw me any pots to sell . My bad . Thank you !!!!!!!

Yippeeeee!!!

60343/23/2013 1:11:42 PMConnie Rose I don't know where to paste to . And ,that's all I get for that book I wrote ? !

You'll get more after I see a paste.

Sorry for the delay: Rachael Bertoni was just in and we were going over how terrific business in town has been.

She made the mistake of asking how I tracked activity on the Guild site, so I showed her.

Bet she won't ask a question around me again.

I believe she was very happy customers came in and broke my flow.

In any case, highlight some text.

While holding down the CTL (control) key tap the C.

Open another posting, and put your cursor in the box just like you are going to type, but while holding down the CTL (control) key, tap V.

Done and done.

60333/23/2013 11:37:19 AMConnie RoseNope ,that video shows exactly what he looks like while working . A meditative trance for hours and hours is what it takes to produce so much work .But you are correct in that anyone contemplating taking on the life of a potter will see .This ain't no party . This ain't no disco . This ain't no fooling around . The hardest thing to break our students of is the percieved flair of the potter . Wild undulating hand motions as seen by Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze in Ghost make me conjure up my own TV -like visions of a Catholic Nun slapping hands with wooden rulers . The real flair is in that brain . The body works as a well oiled machine as the mind juggles retreat schedules ,writes new programs ,and moves along the force of family , home and business . That said , it is when the phone rings or a person enters the room that the trance is broken . You will be greeted with a hearty Hello ! There will be jokes and stories and hearty laughs . But all the while that machine will keep working .So is the "glamorous life" of the working craftsman .But you know this .

Where's my copy/paste?

60313/22/2013 12:36:59 PMConnie RoseI am totally enrolled in copy and paste school.

Big Boz was showing me some stuff this morning.

Cool, cool, cool.

I will edit the more recents but leave post #6025 as our test case, and you can copy/paste your comment from it into a new post once you see how easy it is.

In the meantime:

I would have to say, however, that you have redefined the term "not staged."

If Ray could look more uncomfortable and stiff as a politician, I'd like to know how.

Not to mention, last time I caught him working he was covered with so much clay dust he looked like the Pillsbury Doughboy.

Plus I figure the video is so long in order to cut down on the competition, "So you want to be a potter? Want to make chalices? Here's what it takes."

60303/22/2013 12:03:02 PMA.
Stute
Man, you are harsh.

You have no idea.

60293/22/2013 11:35:23 AMBrad
Kibler
By now you probably know that I am not Brad Kibler, and I am only here because my dad (Clay Boone) is making me take over his website...he said you're tired of dealing with it.

In any case, if I were Brad, what would you want me to know?

I would want you to know that I saw you click each and every link posted for Connie Rose, and you gave a thorough reading to all the material for which (though it may help you in the great Boone website takover) I must apologize again for handing out work to you.

You may notice that Connie (on the other hand) has a life, and doesn't even have time to learn the very most basic essentials of her computer...though she certainly can yack on the Internet.

I would also caution you against ever having anything to do with Facebook.

Man, that place is so scary it isn't even obvious.

Did you know you can post a profile, get a bunch of friends, have them re-post your own post, and then go back in much later (after people forget about it) and alter your original post—changing it everywhere?

You could do something like, "Connie, have you seen this?!" with a link to Sugar Loaf Guild, then have her yack it up to all her friends (well, not her "friends" actually just people who click), then let the post get out to everywhere there is, and later change the link to open a porn site.

So everybody who gets to Connie's page (and the pages of everybody who has shared) will end up clicking on Sugar Loaf Guild but find themselves in porn-ville.

Don't get me started.

60273/22/2013 10:46:44 AMConnie Rose I promise to check out the clicks you sent.

But for right now I have pots to carve.

If you get a chance, I hope you can check out our video of making chalices.

No staging, no cleanup.

Just slow purposeful work that one by one leads to thousands of finished pieces.

Plus as you know: this is all going on while making other pots, special commissions, helping our studio members, sweeping occasionally (so plants don't start growing), paying bills, answering phones, dental visits...did I mention I had work to do?

Going now!

Yes, I saw the video, and will post a link here just as soon as you learn how to copy/paste.

Seeing what Ray is doing on that video, and what the impact of that work is (when you think about the long lasting effect), I have to say Ray is certainly doing the Lord's work, and I am saying that despite personally hating religion (and everything about it) with every fiber of my being.

Except that thing Ray is doing, sending out stuff for kids to work on, bringing it back for firing, then giving them an artifact for a lifetime, well that is the Lord's work—despite the connection to religion.

Let me know the minute you learn to copy/paste, so I can post a link to the video—and upgrade your presentation at left while teaching you to do it yourself.

We wouldn't want the world at large to start thinking nobody can tell stories correctly around here.

60263/21/2013 10:54:27 PMConnie RoseI am so limited as to what I can do on the computer. I keep learning ......

Consider this:

The Internet is extremely simple, but all the software you are using is specifically designed to hide that fact from you.

I am not kidding.

Being able to copy/paste is maybe the most powerful skill you can learn, and it allows you to become a master of the Internet, not its unwitting slave.

If I were standing beside you at your computer, I could show you this in less than 10 seconds.

However you and I are at this moment embroiled in social media which is only the appearance of social and not really media at all.

Therefore see if this helps (you can practice in a Forum submittal):

A Mac uses the Apple Key instead of the Control Key (CTL) shown in the video.

BTW: Did you hear about Peg Conner winning a $25 gift certificate over at Bertoni?

How sweet is that?

60253/21/2013 10:24:59 AMConnie RoseThanks for the story .I know playing on the computer doesn't throw me any pots to sell . My bad .Next time I see you ,you'll have to tell me what that last line means . PS guess Andy got busted for cleaning (huge yellow mop/bucket . OK Back to work .

Ok, time to step up our game.

Let's show the world how high level artisan work is accomplished.

Tell me you know how to copy/paste.

If you don't, have Andy show you, then copy paste what you wrote at left into a local Notepad or very simple word processor on your own computer.

After you have done that, post another comment here just saying: OK.

If none of this makes any sense, I have another plan, but try this one first.

I'll go ahead and start checking my morning logs while you figure it out.

OK?

60243/20/2013 10:08:12 PMConnie RoseOk, ok, but get me a saucer of milk first.

Tell me again about the "wannabe glass blower."

I'd have to say: "God help my karma."

Deepok Chopra and Dr. Wayne Dyer would be shaking their heads.

This is easy.

It was one of the last times I ever bothered explaining to somebody how superlatively excellent business (creative artistic productive) business can be in Sugar Loaf (like nowhere else...nowhere).

The person in question had taken over the last space after ours in the Meadow and was worried about their prospects, was talking about how they wanted to do stained glass but thought it couldn't work.

Believing I was being supportive, I mentioned that we had just made over $2,000.00 on a single day...and that was back when a dollar was still worth .34 cents.

That figure would have represented almost a year and a half's rent (living quarters and shop) for us in the Meadow at the time.

Instead of taking that as an indication of possibility, they took it as a challenge, and the next several years I heard nothing out of their mouth except how much money they were making.

I believe it is where the term "bajillion dollars" came from.

They got into EST and all sorts of pop culture nonsense similar to the stuff perpetrated by the guys you mention.

By going to juried glass and crafts shows our pretend artisan built a slight reputation among the clueless for "knowing how to display stuff," which would have been impossible not to do, given that the places where they purchased their goods (note I said purchased, not created) had already weeded out the less than serious artisans, and those artisans who had survived the process were bringing the very best they could manage.

How could anybody NOT pick fairly decent things.

You could go into one of those shows and throw darts blindfolded, skewering stuff to bring home and lay out any way you wanted, and the final display would look just fine.

Maybe not the level of excellence that we saw over at Andy Boswell's (who I am thinking ignored my request for mess and actually staged his studio for our photo shoot...see the first photo that settles after load here), but still one would have a decent display.

The last straw for me was when (after our pretender had made a big showing about gonna be starting a glass blowing business in town) they started complaining how their glass teacher was, "...hiding secrets" from them.

The hidden secrets of course were: study hard, work hard, and learn the craft, which are not secrets that any teacher has ever held aside.

Finally Mary came back from a meeting at this faux artisan's house and said to me, "I don't know why I cannot get comfortable around them. I mean I really try, but I just never feel right."

My response, "You mean just because they are obnoxious?"

Well the rest is history, but maybe you could become the glass blower they never became.

Hell, somebody should.

The absolutely insane potential of business in this town is beyond description: shown by how long our wannabe couldn't be gotten rid of.

At least it gave me a break from promoting the town.

I was shaken by that experience and was not about to throw good effort after bad.

BTW: After I confirm in tomorrow's web usage logs that you have seen all this and clicked the correct links (heaven forbid you don't), I will toggle all this nonsense off, because it is really of no use to anyone, and will only confuse new comers.

In toggling it off here (the Sugar Loaf Guild website) I will at the same moment toast your noggin by toggling it onto another website where it will be more appropriate...this database is used by 11 of my websites.

After that I have a couple very specific questions about who is doing what in town, and for which you may have the answers and possibly may be able to give to me without zoning out again.

Let me just reiterate that wasting time online: 1) gets no pots thrown, 2) barely gets read, 3) has no impact when it is read.

I am only using this website to check the effectiveness of advertising in the local print publications.

You, my dear Connie Rose, are hors categorie, sui generis to that end...maybe to everything.

60233/20/2013 7:35:42 PMConnie RoseSo many questions.

In the old days I'd say you have to buy me a beer, but in the old days you probably would never have asked.

I work for/with a story teller.

My living is made from those stories.

I see the stories evolve over time edited and added to. (Oh , you didn't think we just threw pots over here did you?)

Anyway I like your stories.

They are real.

Not that mumble blumble bullshit they put on the brochures with that stupid logo that looks like Sugar Loaf is in New Jersey with the...going off on a tangent.

I just like how story tellers tell their tales.

I can't know when you would pause to let a point sink in.

I can't read a sigh or a muffled snicker.

I can't read a smile or a frown in tone.

Frankly, Bob and maybe Mary...I have trouble reading anything 'cause it makes my eyes tired!

I hate to be the one to point this out to you, but that was a story, and it was you who told it.

Had me peein' my pants there for a moment and then at the end.

That was so precise I am betting that if you would read any of my stories aloud, all the pauses, sighs, and snickers would be just where they should be.

In fact they would probably be in a better place, because you would bring your own experience into the mix.

You told that story so well (despite not answering my question, "Which one?"), I am now going to give you a little secret about writing that you probably never heard before, because as far as I know nobody ever said it before.

The setup is this.

Once upon a time, I had lots of e-mail conversations with a nephew of mine who happens to be the only person I will talk to in my family.

After a couple years of that, I had to go back to Ohio for something, and my nephew showed up at a family gathering.

He said a few words, and I recoiled at his southern backwoods accent, "Wow, what a moron. Why didn't I realize he was just one of these aggravating religious rednecks?"

But I quickly caught myself, "Wait a minute, this is Mitchel, he is far from moronic. In fact he is smarter than me."

All of a sudden I was back talking to the guy that I had all the e-mail conversations with, and the accent dissolved away.

Later I did a review of the situation and realized, "Hmmm, when I read his e-mail, I couldn't hear his accent. And that's it! Everybody writes without an accent, and the person who does the reading hears it from their own internal voice...with exactly their very own accent. It is being read to them by their most intimate friend. Their self."

"Cool! When I write something, I am using the reader's own internal voice—directly. What an instrument! That sure makes a guitar seem paltry. No equipment...right to the source!"

Now here's a bonus secret.

There is no such thing as social media nor social networking.

Those are just marketing terms.

So here's my offer.

Instead of me wasting time trying to make the Internet something it is not (by adding sound to my words), you, Connie, put together a public access fully functional working pottery studio in Sugar Loaf, complete with posted hours of operation, prices on things made right there for purchase, and a visible creative process for the curious to observe, and I will show up at the opening and read one of my stories in person (assuming you can settle the crowd down once they realize I'm there).

Of course you will have to pick one of the stories (there are thousands).

Here's one you haven't seen: VeraCity : MacMurray College.

If you can make it to the bottom of that story, it is all about how social networking is neither social nor networking.

I'm sure you know all my music is already available online for download for free, and you probably also know I totally failed at trying to get Andy to start a business in Sugar Loaf.

Who could imagine that 35 years after trying to talk his dad into opening a business in Sugar Loaf, I would be trying to get the son to do it.

Why anybody would spend time organizing and traveling to various shows, events and gatherings (all over the place elsewhere) when right here inside Sugar Loaf is a 24/7/365 presenter's paradise, I'll never understand.

Someday a Boswell may actually take this town seriously.

Ok, one more point since this website is pretty much cooked and ready to serve.

Take a look at this list of cities and scroll down very leisurely taking the time to absorb what it means: Cities.

That is a partial list of cities from where Mary has attracted people to come into Sugar Loaf.

Here are some of the paintings she has sold to them: Sold Paintings.

Be sure to click on some of the paintings because that is just the directory, listings in a style (then specific paintings) are deeper in.

There are also people from Europe who come here once a year to, "...see what's new," and get some of it.

All of that was accomplished right off her work table at the front of her shop in Sugar Loaf, no galleries, no shows, no bullshit.

Well ok, she used to submit paintings to juried shows, won some etc, and did a couple street fairs in the first year we were here, but we soon realized how much energy we could save to put into product by focusing on the Sugar Loaf location…not to mention how much better people treat you once you are off the street.

In any case, you could do it too.

That’s enough.

I am now officially too fat to spend another second on this website.

60213/20/2013 4:43:23 PMConnie Rose Why? 'cause isn't music and sound your forte ?

I thought your idea of putting the viewer in the studio was so good.

Then I thought if sound was added that would add a whole 'nother layer of interest .

So any who (as I'm already in the askin' mode) how's about a pic of Billy Perry in the Past Characters?

If you've got the Perry pics, we've got the disk space.

As for my question "why," I miscommunicated.

I meant to say which story first, and why should that story be first.

What was it you found significant about it, liked about it, and why do you feel that one warrants a broader treatment, etc.

As for sound and music, after putting a quarter of a million dollars into equipment (never mind the facility in which to house it), and spending a few lifetimes dealing with such things as intractable noise floor problems, non-standard listening environments, the insane juxtaposition of bleeding edge super high technology coupled with the time requirements (counter intuitive) of an extremely labor intensive production process, I gave the whole kit and caboodle to a nephew (on Mary's promise we could get our fancy large format scanning back camera which is still 10 years later ahead of its time), and then I decided to spend more time writing, because (drum roll, get ready for it): talk is cheap.

You do realize nobody is reading this other than you, me, and sometimes Mary, don't you?

In any case, I'll have Mary send you e-mail, so you can send back some Perry pics (which you will of course pre-screen for reproduction rights).

60203/20/2013 3:26:08 PMConnie RoseThis may be asking a lot, but here goes.

I would love it if this site had audio.

I wish I could hear you tell the stories you have written.

Tone, inflection, pauses, maybe some of your music in the background.

I might be asking a lot, but at least I'm not asking for Whirli gigs and falling down banners.

A'ight.

'ight.

Which one first, and why?

60193/20/2013 2:15:04 AMChuck
Enin
Anything new?

You betcha.

60183/19/2013 11:08:04 PMGuild
Staff
The IT crew reports that they have added "plants and herbs" to the Products page due to a recent website user appeared to be looking for such.

Thank the IT people for catching the omission.

And somebody apologize to Sugar Loaf Mountain Herbs.

60133/18/2013 10:31:57 PMConnie RoseI love the stories you write.

Brings back a lot of memories—good and bad.

Anyway, we are still here, livin' life, and making stuff that people want.

Thank you for the kind words.

I am glad you like the stories, but I would be remiss if did not make sure you understand that you can write the same stuff yourself.

My goal is for each story to be easy and quick to read, so the speed with which you can read through them can mask how long they took to write.

The first eight (8) stories currently at Bob's Corner are probably best described as the product of a 2 month long writing trance.

No joke.

The first story in the series is referenced on the Guild business cards and all the print display ads with the statement: It's That Kind of Town.

Like I said those stories are the product of a 2 month effort.

I made the effort because I thought they might be important for the next person coming to Sugar Loaf hoping to start a self sufficient artisan business relying solely on Sugar Loaf street traffic (as you know is done every day).

That is how I justified my night and day writing with only short sleep breaks, basically a 24/7 full time effort, for two months.

Stand up, sit down, pace, write, rethink, rewrite, then some Yoga type floor exercises, and again stand up, sit down...

Mary would be asleep on the couch by 7 pm and get up to go to bed around 9 pm as I asked, "You're going to bed already?" and when she got up at 5 pm the next morning I would always startle and ask, "You're getting up already?"

Even when I wasn't at my keyboard (which is where I stand) I would be going over the text in my head (such as during my daily 4 mile walks in Goosepond Park or maybe a 40 mile loop on my bicycle), writing and revising the whole time.

Good thing Mary kept selling a bunch of paintings to keep me fed.

Speaking of Mary again, part of my process is to have her (or anybody passing by) read what I am working on aloud to me.

Readers are always shocked when I catch their errors without looking at the text.

I basically end up memorizing each section until I can recite it verbatim.

That helps me with the language and assures a smooth flow.

If Mary (or a reader) stumbles over an error after trying it again, I look at the language and fix it.

Often Mary (or a reader) comes up with an aggravating idea that corrects my own error.

I keep refining the phrasing until it flows like music, and the goal is for people to read through easily with never a stumble.

The pictures are supposed to drift through your head without the language stepping in and mucking things up.

I have found that the closer I get to the truth of the memory, the better the text flows—even if I have to make the text a little longer.

Takes a long time, but the process is straight forward and simple.

I have written elsewhere that my process is: Write everything down. Put it aside. Read it again later (aloud) to see why it sucks. Throw away 98% and start over. Do that again and again until it is fixed.

Therefore, extra thanks for liking the stories and for now helping me let people understand they are not magic.

60123/18/2013 9:45:01 PMConnie RoseOMG !!

Obviously My Gait?

60113/18/2013 9:52:27 AMConnie RoseAhhhh yes, I remember some of those days well.

Now I am much more accustomed to being referred to as ma'am.

Thanks for the belly laugh this morning.

Fortunately we are all famous enough for somebody to have posted an historic photo of you walking through Sugar Loaf.

Yes, click on the link.

60103/18/2013 12:42:26 AMConnie RoseThank you for all the work you have put into this website.

I have loved working, living, and shopping in Sugar Loaf since I was a teenager.

I was born to make things and to share my love of craft.

I love this Hamlet.

One would have to be crazy not to love it.

Here's a story.

For many years Mary and I would knowingly look at each other whenever we heard cars in a rush down main street throwing on their brakes and squealing to a crawl.

Of course we were inside our shop and couldn't see, but we knew exactly what was going on outside...everybody knew.

We had become accustomed to the very particular commotion of guys in their cars sliding to a crawl and creeping on through.

Mary would look at me, I would look at Mary, and we'd wait a beat in order to nod and smile our tandem chant: "Connie must be walkin' through town."

Actually the chant was shorter than that.

Just a glance, pause, nod and: "Connie."

Giggles and back to work.

Really, you gotta love this town.

60093/17/2013 12:53:49 PMWebb
Wrangler
Holy crafters, Batman!

One word to Connie Rose and the circuit boards lit up like a Christmas tree.

All the money poured into advertising this year ($3,742.23 so far), and all it really took was a word from Connie—for free.

We had twelve (12) new people show up to look around a little—all within a few minutes of each other—and that was just yesterday

In part, there seemed to be connections to:

1) Paul Ellis
2) Practical Magick
3) The Country Life

Somebody even hacked the Walking Map query string a little bit.

Cool!

Anybody wanting to promote their business in Sugar Loaf should track down Connie Rose, hand her a $100 dollar bill, and beg her, "Please just mention my name."

Connie Rose is the Sugar Loaf Oprah!!

Unless Andy Boswell actually was doing his own Internet writing, then somebody better go over there, slap his keyboard out of his hand, and make him get back on his wheel.

60083/16/2013 7:47:31 AMBrad
Kibler
I'm not Brad, but if I were what would you want me to see?

This.
60073/15/2013 6:43:08 PMGuild
Staff
Listen up kids.

Two new (count them, 2) Official Guild Members:

1) Connie Rose
2) Andy Boswell

These two people are now full members in good standing with all rights and benefits accrued from their valued association with the Guild.

Congratulations to these fine Sugar Loaf artisans, but mostly we thank them for allowing us to mention their names here.

Photo profiles coming soon.

By soon I believe you mean Tuesday.

60063/15/2013 9:15:32 AMCuryousDid I just notice something new?

You certainly did!
60053/7/2013 1:06:32 PMBene
Kounder
So, of the original $10,000 dollar Guild budget, that means $6,254.77 remains to be spent.

What next?

Times Herald Record.
60043/7/2013 11:02:14 AMGuild
Staff
Progress Report

To date Sugar Loaf Guild 2013 total advertising expenditure has been in the amount of: $3,745.23

The Warwick Advertiser ad rep has made amends, so we contracted for 26 weeks at $1,541.28.

Here are the line items.

11/07/2012
188.80 web host
2013
01/08     82.00 bus card
02/01    250.00 Canv/yr
02/25    105.00 War Adv
02/28    200.00 Camp
02/28    705.15 Kain awds
03/05    423.00 Canv/swag
03/07    250.00 Canv/yr
03/15  1,541.28 War Adv

3,745.23 total

Thanks for the report.

60033/5/2013 1:12:04 PMRed
Thurly
What did you think about the Canvas article on the Sugar Loaf Guild?

Insanely perfect!

59962/28/2013 7:16:53 PMGuild
Staff
Progress Report

Members will be happy to hear the Sugar Loaf Guild has used a portion of this year's $10,000 dollar advertising budget to make a donation to the annual Kain Climb Cycling Event.

Proceeds of the event go to Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp which provides special camping experiences to seriously ill children throughout the Northeast—FREE of charge.

The Sugar Loaf Guild donation consisted of a check for $200 dollars plus 5 prize Plecbo T-shirts with Plecbo sport water bottles (a value of over $600 dollars) for a grand total $800 dollars donation provided to the cause.

The T-shirts and water bottles are the same ones given as welcoming gifts to new Guild Members.

And yes, of course we remembered to put a few Guild business cards in the bottles.

Guild websites have already experienced a bump in activity due to network chatter regarding our donation.

This brings the 2013 Sugar Loaf Guild promotional expenditures up to $962.15.

Not to mention that Sugar Loaf Guild takes great pride in being part of the Hole in the Wall Gang solution.

That is $962 dollars down and only $9,038 dollars to go.

We may figure out how to spend all this money yet.

Thanks to everyone for their input.

In particular, thanks to Brad Kibler for identifying and reporting a possible website hack attempt.

59932/24/2013 10:58:51 PMBen
DeWicker
How are those test ads coming along?

Great!

$355 dollars down and only $9,645 dollars more to go.

We have now discounted Straus News and will not waste another penny on them. [03/07/13: Amends have been made, so we have now contracted for a 26 week insertion of our display ad in the Warwick Advertiser.]

Their ad rep lied to us.

I am sure people want to know a little bit about how I am tracking this, so here's a little snippet.

One of my techniques picked up over the years is to test somebody's responsiveness, especially if I am about to hand them money.

I told Mary, "I think that rep still hasn't seen the website. How can they advise us on advertising when they haven't the slightest idea what it is we are advertising?"

Mary already had to toss them out of the shop before Christmas when they were hawking group ads.

Mary was aware at the time that the rep had never been in our studio previously, and they didn't even bother looking around to see what was here as they walked in off the street trying to sell us something.

So I had Mary send them a seemingly inocuous (though to the point) question via e-mail with a link they would have to click in order to answer truthfully.

It was sort of a "Like" on steroids, and one which I could verify in my website usage logs.

Simple question, "Bob thinks you have not seen the Guild website yet. Is this the website you saw?"

Included was a link to the Sugar Loaf Guild home page with a little ID in the link so I could verify with no question that they had hit it.

They answered almost immdediately, "Yes, that is the one I saw."

But they had absolutely no way of knowing, because they never clicked over to see.

Needless to say I have been tracking 5 other IP#'s associated with that person, and none of them have been on the site.

In any case, the rest of the world's response to the ad in the Warwick Advertiser wasn't so terrific (it was ok but no barn burner), so we'll just move on to testing the Times Herald Record.

Maybe the Record will do better—more like The Canvas where most of their staff was all over the Guild website with a fine tooth comb and whose publication of the ad gave us great results within two hours of release.

The fact somebody there screwed up and bothered Peter during a dipping is just unfortunate and something sure to never be repeated, thank you, Pete.

Man, I love this new digital age...no guessing.

59912/22/2013 10:13:18 AMArt
Theasen
What have you been finding out about advertising Sugar Loaf?

I have found that ad reps for the local print publications are clueless about how, what, when, and where Sugar Loaf exists.

Not surprising I guess, considering how people inside of Sugar Loaf who have been handling advertising are equally oblivious to the same.

Somebody just called Peter while he was in the middle of a dipping and got a very rude awakening to the fact that true artisan businesses in Sugar Loaf have no interest whatsoever in receiving more publicity, free or not.

You know, I stated as much about a dozen times in the stories here not to mention the fact that bothering Peter during a dipping is like accosting a surgeon in the middle of an operation.

One would have thought an ad rep for a publication running the Guild Ad would have at least read the basics.

I'll have to drop by The Candle Shop and thank Peter for striking a blow against telemarketers on behalf of busy people everywhere.

59902/20/2013 11:39:58 PMGuild Staff
Progress Report

We have contracted for another test ad.

A one time insertion of the standard ad will appear in the Warwick Advertiser at $105.00.

Unfortunately the web master reports that the ad rep involved in the placement has never seen the Sugar Loaf Guild website, so it is unlikely they will be able to provide any actual help regarding what ads we should run, when, and where.

The web master will be tracking the activity on the website very closely when the ad runs.

Activity around the ad in the Canvas (simple, small, display ad) was visible within 2 hours of publication.

This could be the make or break moment for Strauss papers, because although $10,000 dollars is our budget, we are not going to waste it with haphazard insertions.

Sounds like more of the same long standing nonsense with people involved in advertising Sugar Loaf who do not have a clue what is here.

59892/20/2013 7:58:12 AMBrad
Kibler
Hi,

I am Brad, the son of Clay Boone.

My dad gave me your e-mail address and said I could contact you if I have any trouble setting up a new domain name for him, so you can transfer all the files and control over to us.

Is that ok, or should I just post here?

Now that you see how things work around here, let me apologize.

When I told your dad to have you set up a new website so I could transfer his current domain name over, I was misunderstanding your level of computer skills.

He told me your work was computer related and that you had seen his new website, so I jumped to the conclusion you were a rabid gamer high on cheese puffs and latte.

I assumed it would be beyond easy for you to set up a site, and fun.

I never meant to give anybody an "assignment."

I am just concerned that the stuff I have done for him over the years will disappear if anything happens to me, so I am in the constant mode of trying to find an alternative.

When I did the most recent version of the Guild website, he asked me what I thought he should do about getting a website, and I said, "You should probably get a domain name, so you can use it on your trip out west later this Spring (where his plan is to get the hell into Dodge) and not confuse people with the Sugar Loaf Guild site.

He said, "Great, that is just what I am going to do."

To make it easier for him, I set up a domain name (he had let his previous one lapse), and repeated the functioning of his Guild Profile on it, while Mary paid the nominal fee at the hosting service for one year.

Seemed like the least we could do, since he so graciously allowed us to publish images of his work, but then he got all whiney and huffy and tried to pay us back for it.

I don't do this stuff for money … in fact there is not nearly enough money (neither here, there, nor anywhere) in the world to get me to do this stuff for pay.

I just do it, and in this iteration of the Sugar Loaf Guild website, I am only conducting a grand experiment which can best be described as: "Is there even a remote chance the true story of Sugar Loaf can finally be told correctly?"

Therefore, when Clay tried to pay me, I said, "No, just take the $60.00 for this year, give it to Brad, and have him set up a quick website so I can transfer the name over to him. That way I won't have to deal with it anymore and you can pay the hosting service directly."

I mean, these days any 12 year old can put together a website, and they do, just take a look at a few dozen random websites.

As far as I can tell, 12 year olds are the only people currently designing websites.

On the other hand, the only thing anybody really needs a website for is to post their hours and a quick summary of what their services are ... nothin' to it.

Except last night when I went over to get the ok for a newspaper to use the carousel horse in an article, Clay explained that when he had said, "Brad works with computers," he really meant "Brad does data entry," to which I responded, "To do that he doesn't need to know anything about computers, just has to be real good at handling information."

In any case, I had not meant to pass out an assignment, just thought this would be real easy for you and fun.

Maybe we can just keep looking for that 12 year old who needs a project, and I will keep my tough love stance with Clay by refusing to accept payment while handling my own chores such as: 1) this morning my website usage logs did not update on the server, 2) plus I see while writing this note to you that Mary's laptop scrunches up the text in the Sugar Loaf Guild Forum.

Just another day in Bobland.

59802/9/2013 11:36:36 AMWeb
Master
Today a rather thorough reader got to the map, then went all the way down to the second text list (alphabetic) in order to click on "Barnsider."

It appears people are still missing the extreme interactivity of the Walking Map.

Maybe you should remind them to go to the Walking Map and click on any random location on the image of the map itself, not just the text links.

Not surprising, people have never seen such state-of-the-art coding applied to something so close to them.

They just wouldn't think of trying it.

Therefore I will make the suggestion for you.

Somebody please go to the Walking Map and click on one of the buildings on the map itself (the map itself has hotspot links).

02/11/13: To the person with the Comcast Account - Thank you!

59792/8/2013 9:48:28 AMWeb
Master
Please thank the person who clicked on the Walking Map revealing the broken link for The Workbench and apologize for my error.

Also the non-functioning Previous link on the Products page.

All fixed now.

Good work, but I have no idea who it was.

59762/5/2013 11:37:04 AMGuild Staff
Progress Report

The Webmaster says that people have been doing a lot of reading on this website.

In fact, somebody from near Atlanta got here by way of a Google search for "sugarloaf candles," read a bunch of stories and came back later for a second helping.

Of course we have no way of knowing who it was, but they were a very thorough reader.

I know (saw the report), but thanks for posting.

The Advertising Chair wants to let our first ad percolate awhile before expanding into other publications.

That way we can get a good handle on the effectiveness of each expansion and will be less likely to waste any of our $10,000 dollar budget.

I have to agree with them.

59702/1/2013 10:45:56 AMWeb
Master
This morning's website usage logs show that the person asking about Guild Membership missed seeing the interactive functions of the Walking Map, Products List, and Historic Photos pages, and how they are all tied together.

Maybe you should remind people that the Walking Map has hot links to information about the shops, and the Historic Photos have a link to the Walking Map placing a pin on specific locations.

I have enough trouble trying to figure out where to spend $10,000 dollars of the money earmarked for advertising.

People are accustomed to static template websites and can easily miss the fact the Guild website is several generations ahead of the curve.

Always has been, probably always will.

I like how the Products List links to a page which aggregates the shops on three levels.

I could remind people, but they wouldn't know what I am talking about anyway.

59681/31/2013 2:09:27 PMNZCongrats on resurrecting the Guild, Bob.

I learned about it when I saw the ad placed in Canvas Magazine this month.

What has always separated Sugar Loaf from other arts destinations is the ability to meet working artists in their home studios.

Your new website does a great job of underscoring what is special about our hamlet.

Let me know how I can join your guild.

Thank you for the kind words, but I cannot take credit for resurrecting the Guild.

It has been chugging along quite nicely on its own for all these years without any help from me.

Granted it has stayed under many people's radar.

As for my own input, I have merely been placed in charge of $10,000 dollars of this year's advertising budget so decided an expansion of the historic Guild website would be one of the logical first steps.

Mostly an investment in time and energy and very little money—paid for it myself.

In any case the ad in Canvas is just the beginning.

As for Guild Membership, I am not in charge of that, but will put in a good word for you with the committee.

I can't imagine there will be a problem.

Thank you again for posting, and enjoy the stories.

BTW: I notice you took a quick look at endico.com and saw the Gamut Test.

59631/21/2013 12:38:44 PMGuild Staff
Progress Report

$10,000 local ad budget for Sugar Loaf Guild has been established for 2013.

Plan was to match Chamber budget while placing matching ads 1 for 1, but currently the Chamber has $0 dollars budgeted for advertising.

Therefore we established our own budget with $10,000 being a reasonable startup.

The town will be canvassed to confirm makers after completed business cards are added to the gift package of the free t-shirt and sport water bottle to be given to whomever takes the time to report.

Things are moving along rapidly and the website has already enjoyed much success.

Good ... posting these progress reports is a great idea.

You might mention that the definition of makers can be found here but for context people really need to start here and read through the 9 stories.

Otherwise the activities of the Sugar Loaf Guild will not make much sense.

593212/24/2012 4:38:28 AMLoaferWow!

You really need to start with the first story.

593112/22/2012 11:56:24 PMArtieI just read your stories.

That must have been some feeling: the transition from pariah, to curiosity, to famous.

I would say one of the weirdest moments was when a bunch of us were sitting against the wall by the door of Fantasy Factory (now Endico Studio) during one of the fairs when we noticed the parade of tourists had turned away from looking at the crafts booths toward us in order to watch the artists.

591011/10/2012 7:48:57 PMCuryousIt has been 15 years since you first posted the now historic Sugar Loaf Guild website.

What was it that got you going on this again?

The final straw was seeing a character in a reality show make a statement that the panel of stained glass they just pulled out of a trash pile was obviously old and valuable because it was handmade and far better than anything made today.

I knew that was nonsense, and could not let such a boneheaded statement go without repudiation.

Several of my neighbors do better work, do it by hand, and do it today.

Time to bring Sugar Loaf, NY back to the top of Google.

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