I have settled on using ZenCart as the shopping cart software for the store – but I am waiting for my Hosting Service to make the newest version a standard and available for one-click installment and upgrades. That they say will happen within a week so I will wait and have them install the newest version. Doing that will make sure that I am setup for upgrades when they have been checked out by the Hosting Service. Once I get the latest software installed I will bring it on line without a full face change to make sure it is working correctly – I will have all our products listed and available for purchase through PayPal – that will be the only payment gateway for a while – later I will bring on line the other cards – Visa, MasteCharge, etc. Without any other problems I should have the whole thing up and running for the Christmas season. Fingers crossed. Frank

Sawasdee Khrap

Having real problems with my Internet connection – sometimes it works – most times it doesn’t or is so slow I’m paying Broadband prices for dial-up service.   I started out using a dial-up while we were in the Lotus Hotel because it was impossible to run a private line or phone number into the studio room.  When we moved I started out getting the local phone Co.    TTT Internet ADSL service at 512/256 – spotty connections but mostly up and running, but it did have a slow speed.  Then I heard about True Cable Broadband Service 1024/512 and it was available in our building, so I signed up —– so far that was a mistake.

Almost a day after it was installed the d/l speeds dropped to almost nothing – I was better off with the 512/256 service. To see what was going on –  I have installed a monitoring program 

 (a great way to monitor your Internet speeds –   LineSpeedMeter from  www.tcpIQ.com  , it’s free and I set it to automatically check 48 times a day) 

 The program will run 11  down-load/upload speed tests every half hour.  I have clocked about a week of testing and the True Cable system is barely giving me a 256/256 speed.  I am trying to work this out with True and hope they can solve the problem.  Naturally they say it’s my computer that’s causing the problem – but I also have the laptop and it gets the same speed readings – so it’s back to their

...

I suppose you are all wondering what is happening here in Chiang Mai – I have been watching CNN and BBC News and see there is little clear information about the present political situation. Everything is OK – I think, as one government official said, a cancer has been removed from Thai politics and now the government can heal and resume working for the people. Being in Chiang Mai – very little military action so no pictures to show – life here is normal.

I’ll post more when it’s available – I want to make sure I post links only to creditable sources

—– For Bangkok news Bangkok Daily Post

For Chiang Mai Chiang Mai Mail (Weekly eNewspaper) Ciao Frank

Sawasdee Khrap Sorry for the long delay in posting – actually a lot has happened but we or I haven’t had the time to edit the photos and get a post completed. Right now we have another guest to Chiang Mai from the States, Dan – Tin’s friend, is in town and we will meet him tonight and hopefully help him set his itinerary for his vacation here. We have had several trips to Doi Inthanon Nat Park and have some great photos to show on the great waterfalls there. We also have some new shots on local Wats in the immediate area – We have been working on learning new software – Adobe Production Studio. This includes Premiere Pro (movie editor), AfterEffects (title and menu design), Audition(music & sound), and finally Encore DVD (putting the whole movie together). What a challenge, these are some powerful programs – but we purchased some great training video DVD’s and they really make a difference – should be able to make our own videos soon. Had to get new tires for the Mira, had a flat when I hit a large hole in the road which popped the old worn tire, and you would know it – it was in the middle of a terrific raining downpour – and so I don’t want to go through that again. At least now – sharp holes have to be very big to cut the new thick tires – safety first. Also found ...