Not Kenny Rogers!

I do quite a bit of web site development and have a strong background in ecommerce. One of my long-time clients is the Blacksmith’s Journal. They publish a monthly newsletter which has always been printed and physically mailed out to their subscribers.

Their printing and mailing costs have been skyrocketing and have become a major part of the subscription price they charge. A few months ago they asked me to develop a way for them to switch to an entirely online e-subscription process so they could deliver the monthly newsletter electronically.

We just completed the project, and I must say the transition went very well. Now subscribers can purchase or renew their subscriptions online. They log into a protected subscriber’s area where they can download all the issues published during their current subscription. The system handles renewals automatically, and the publisher can send an email to all subscribers every month when the newest issue is published.

You can take a look at the site here: Blacksmith’s Journal

I really screwed up. I missed most of the opening ceremonies.

Everyone I know who saw the four hour show can’t stop talking about it. Sounds like the Chinese outdid themselves this time. While the media keeps harping on the poor air quality and oppressive political atmosphere, the Chinese Olymic organization was quietly creating what sounds like one of the most impressive shows in history.

I’ll be looking for replays or perhaps a DVD. It sounds like it would be well worth watching. I’ll certainly be watching the closing ceremonies.

Maybe they’ll ask Kenny Rogers to play at the closing ceremonies…