Joomla or Bust !

Today I attempted to install Joomla for the second time. I spent some time with it months ago - but couldn't determine fully the pros or cons on either or why I should bother. But now faced with a big job, member-side features, bulletin boards and anticipated user-interface file exchange(s), I had to weigh in between Drupal or Joomla..

For starters, Xampp will not work on Mac OS for recognizing Joomla, and suspect the same for Drupal. So that meant a Mamp install, MySQL config (pre-installing/sourcing CMS in htdocs folder!!!) and then Joomla launch. All of which was a headache since I couldn't remember whether I created "master" admin vs regular admin, and which pertained to either the database vs the backend admin privileges of J. Stay organized as you admin your install.. Easy if everything installs correctly, and you have no previous MySQL databases/privileges or username discrepancies.

Having finally got the admin sign-in working, I sought out some templates, tutes to follow on template installs, and then some to get up to speed on navigating the system configuration and how it works. It was a headache at times, but i was able to finally get a banner logo installed and fumbled around the file hierarchy, folder locals, et.

The membership feature and modular aspect of how I envision to integrate files exchanges should, I hope, make this production easier, especially if membership should take off. So there's bound to be a little frontend learning curve on design, formatting and installing needed plugins. Just more WIP and remaining patient. It's my impression the PHP integration of the system is probably one of the louder bells, than whistles when it comes to SEO objectives. So, we'll see. In due time.

Nevertheless, I'm optimistic with getting the CFM community concept "on-line" soon, and tugging on favors/ears/code from developers far and wide. This is a project I started 5 years ago, however untimely, pre-broadband (50%) across most cultural and socio-economic lines. But with that changed now, and prices on related software/hardware more accessible, perhaps things will line up more readily..

Stay tuned !

"Back to me"

KE - tearing it up. "How long have I been sleeping."

God Bless The Child, That's Got It's Own...

THIS... This truly is this artist - at the top - top of her game.. not that she's seen the top of the mountain, yet, but that this moment in this performance, she'd agree, it was a "moment." This performance. "God Bless the Child, that's got it's own." It's a big, big *@#$%@#@?" plate.

Great Visual to sound - Sound to visual

derive (1x6x4x1) from Ricardo Greene on Vimeo.

AIG v US - The Match of the Ages

It seems a little obvious now that
the 20 + employees at the AIG Financial Products division overseeing the remaining books of “credit default swaps”(CDS) (presently estimated value now reduced to a mere 1.6 of the original 2.5 trillion) have been playing the “hand of their life” and sticking to their guns, entitlements, for their now infamous “retention bonuses.” AIG Edward M. Lilly, the CEO that stepped in last year as a public service for a $ 1.00 a year, stated before the senate yesterday that the matrix, therefore “the manufactured knot of financial genius, behind these CDS is so complicated and intertwined that should these “special” few not get their way, their entitled “retainment bonus,” that the banks of the world would melt to their cinder blocks. There can be no question now how good these “salesman” were, given the solemnity Liddy expressed in alluding, deferring, to these “gods of finance.” It may well be the last sales pitch these Wall Street wizards are ever likely to pitch, at least on US soil.

Liddy gingerly stepped around not having to bring this "belief" to the floor as he was certain to be asked the “names” of these holdouts in this specialized AIG division. But Barney Frank wasn’t buying it. Without hesitation, Frank demanded the names of these “masters of the universe” which precipitated Liddy to say in so many words that such disclosure would force the hand further and these “righteous” few would lay their cards down and walk. Liddy stated this “holdout” in the most sober and solemn of assurances, and with great confidence that such vacuum would defeat all the intent behind the stimulus billions now propping up this hobbling financial giant. On several occasions Liddy reassured the house that should these chosen few not get their way in keeping their entitled “retention bonuses,” they’d walk, which now seems inevitable if congress’ newly proposed legislation to tax, claw back, the monies is passed in the next few days. Unfortunately, a good number of these holdouts are on British soil. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney of New York spoke on CSPAN this morning she was confident both houses would pass the 90 percent tax bill on TARP fund bonus recipients without incident.

This drama on the stage of “Capitalism” could never have been imagined. That said, this “real time” world news epic playing out before all appears to have the potential of reaching ink levels akin to all the published works of our American and French Revolutions combined, if not more. Liddy even went further to shore up “insulation” for the holdouts and not disclosing identities by reading from documented copies of purported “threats” he’s received towards various AIG players. Senator Frank wasn’t buying it though, and suggested that should any of us “be held powerless to exercise our government business, nothing would get done.” Perhaps the term “Financial Terrorism” crept on the mind of many as these events blossomed in Senate hearings Wednesday. And, President Obama’s characterization later Wednesday of AIG being like a “time bomb strapped terrorist” demanding concessions couldn’t be more on point. Frank additionally added that he was willing to solicit the DOJ and FBI to determine the threat level behind the communications, the Liddy threats. It seems imminent the names of these traders, not “traitors,” will surface, and their names burned in the annals of finance, world business and history for centuries to judge them, should they do what they seem to be threatening to do. If their game is that toxic and capable.

New York’s Attorney General, Andrew Cuomo has long been on the trail with disclosing the names of these “FinTers” since investigating these individuals connected to AIG surfaced while taking issue with similar types at Merrill Lynch. Subpoenas have already been served on AIG for these insiders Mr. Liddy mentioned to the senate, despite his consternation to openly admit, if not hesitant and reluctant combined, they’re complying with the disclosures. Several individuals at Merrill walked with comparative numbers in “bonuses” while the Fed was shoring up the Bank of America merger, buy-out, and guarantees were being drafted to close that bail out.

And while so many would like to “claw back”10 years of de-regulations and impose criminal liability in the context of these “doings,” nothing could be more aggravating to many a US and local attorney generals’ whose hands are significantly tied without substantive law on the books.

“We’ll see your 169 million, raise you “every financial institution on the planet” and call you.

As I write this, our congress, and thus their crying constituents - just played their biggest hand in this poker game they’ll ever chance to against these “holdouts” with HR 1586 and the 90 percent tax legislation imposed on TARP bonus recipients. And they call.

Now – were soon to see whether our calling these “holdouts” bluff was smart, albeit haste, or whether those three cards they’ve been holding really were three aces, king high. And if they are, and these CDS book overseers at AIG walk, and the matrix underlying their complicated books beyond the scope even Einstein couldn’t imagine to untwine in reasonable time to save the world’s financial institutions, the heat from the blame game to follow is likely to bring some global warming few could ever have imagined.

JMPendley
March 19, 2009

Yes, indeed.. A national stage deserving all the way.

You were.. All the way.

Incredible 1 minute Forest Gump Production

What an awesome 1 minute remake on Forrest. This is genius.

Better Moen Yet !

A great clip of an old friend, mentor, music enthusiast and conversationalist. Few I've known could discuss "figured bass" as well as he.

New York Cool --------='

Waites on "Brother Can You Spare A Dime"..

Thanks Abe !

I have been driven many times upon my knees
by the overwhelming conviction
that I had nowhere else to go.

My own wisdom and that of all about me
seemed insufficient for that day.

Abraham Lincoln