ECards Are Back!

I used to have a really nice E-Card program at the Borzoi Central web site. When I moved to a new server after getting a reseller account with my web host (made hosting for all my various domains much more affordable) the script would no longer work despite being the same domain name and all. Instead of providing support for the script or allowing a re-install, the script's creator insisted that I would have to shell out $250 for the new, updated program and that they no longer supported the other (interesting since there was no effort in installing it other than providing a download link). So I had to ask myself...why am I going to pay $250 for a program that one day they will decide they no longer want to "support" and insist you pay an exorbitant amount for the updated version. Considering I had already paid around $150 for the previous version, and that I provided the service at absolutely no charge on the site, I could not justify further expenditure. So...that said...beware of ECardMax unless you get thrills by flushing money...because eventually, they will pull the rug out from under you.

So Borzoi Central has been lacking in an ecards program for a while and I occasionally would do a little googling to see if I could find a comparable script. Finally, a month ago, I found something that looked promising. I came upon Maian Script World that had several different PHP scripts to choose from, including an ecard system. I was thrilled to see it was PHP - the former having been CGI driven. I finally had a chance to install it on the site and got some of my pictures uploaded for use. The only thing it lacks from the earlier script is the Java effects - otherwise it trumps the expensive program in spades. Hoorah!

In the future I will be checking out the other Maian scripts such as the blog and the recipe exchange. In the meantime, I will work on getting more and more pictures uploaded for the ecards, and the graphic icons created. So far - the program has received several nice reviews from users.

Borzoi Central Updates

Trying to catch up posting various proposed legislation information on the Borzoi Central Forums. There has been such a steady rise in laws that affect pet owners and in many instances removes our rights as property owners. Although most folks like myself do feel they're a special kind of property, but property nonetheless.

New items posted include Dover, DE; Ohio (SB 173); and Lawton, OK (Advertising Permit).

Also posted updates for CA's AB 1634 and District of Columbia.

Also posted several new events to the Events Calendar (mostly in the month of July).

New link for the Sighthound Mall Yahoo group posted in Hound Clothing and Market - Arts links pages.

New links on the Health page - canine autoimmune thyroiditis, vaccination protocol, feeding sighthounds,

New link added to the Jewelry page (a GORGEOUS brooch/pendant of a running Borzoi - the detail is exquisite!).

New Link and a Bit More

Posted a new link for a sighthound (performance) club Borzoi Central's Performance Page - Bluegrass Coursing Club (in Kentucky, of course!)

Also - almost finished with the redesign of Texas Dogs Online. The databases handling the club, rescue and breeder listings will need a bit of minor tweaking in the near future - but need to gather the $$ to purchase the pro version of the script that runs them.

And.........it's raining again. We are going to just float away :(

Some Link Updates

Trying to catch up on adding links I have saved from various list posts and managed to get several entered at borzoicentral.com. Notable items include:

On the performance page:

• Anne Midgarden's study on the conformation of Borzoi as it relates to speed
• Sighthound Racing Online - internet mag for amateur dog racing enthusiasts (as in LGRA and NOTRA events for Borzoi fanciers)

On the Health links page I added a link to the online Merck Veterinary Manual and to a veterinary resource page authored at Cornell University

The most changes came to the Issues page - which lists items related to pet law. This area has grown monumentally because of 'animal rights' (as opposed to welfare) wackos who are trying to eliminate the ownership of any and all pets. One of the more notable links is to PATHWAI, which stands for "People Against Treating Humans Worse than Animals, International". Also added is a link to PetPAC, which is a political action committee spearheaded by Borzoi fancier Bill Hemby (who is, BTW, a super guy I had the pleasure of meeting at the 2006 BCOA National Specialty in Washington). Many of the other new links on the page are the result of the AB 1634 mis-labeled the "Healthy Pets Act" - dog fanciers (and other serious pet owners) know it as the "Pet Extinction Act".