International Rock Gardener e-magazine

[IMYoung]

Okay.... I'm told that this  Adobe version we are saving to has been out for over a year and is the one used for the Bulb Log, also.

The option of saving to previous versions of Adobe would mean either we cut the size of the magazine altogether and/or cut the quality of the photo files to enable a reasonable download size of 3 Mb.  
Since the Adobe reader is free to download and anyone using a work computer is likely to be using the latest versions, we have not found this to be a problem cited by other readers.

Experimenting here, on a pc, we have found that an upgrade is quite straightforward and did not require a reboot.... so perhaps there is some variation in these things?

The other problem with making something backward compatible is, how far do you go? We are trying to make the best use we can of the facilities available free to access.
We are also mindful of download limits for folks, too.
 Do let us know of others are having problems and we will see if we can help.

[McDonough]

Okay.... I'm told that this  Adobe version we are saving to has been out for over a year and is the one used for the Bulb Log, also.

The previous International Rock Gardener PDFs were PDF Version 1.6 (Acrobat 7.x).  The current Issue #5 May 2010 is PDF Version 1.7 (Acrobat 8.x).  When going to a newer release of software, requiring readers to also upgrade their software, possibly hardware too (see below), it is advisable to mention the newer version requirement on the downloads page.

Since the Adobe reader is free to download and anyone using a work computer is likely to be using the latest versions, we have not found this to be a problem cited by other readers.

It is not necessarily straight forward when the upgrade requires...1) an ancillary or adjunct piece of software be installed which is new and unfamiliar to the user (Adobe DLM)... one wonders if it is legimate... 2) one must be diligent about NOT INSTALLING the promo virus-protection software that is bundled or "piggybacked" ontop of the "free" Adobe ancillary software (which could mess with one's current legitimate virus protection software), and on my system where I was using Adobe Reader 8, installing version 9 required a reboot, as it did on my wife's computer. 

My wife, when confronted with the same Adobe Reader upgrade requirement, under different circumstances, was befuddled and alarmed about the extra software being downloaded and installed (Adobe DLM) and the prompt to install so-called free virus protection software (it defaults to being installed), an immediate concern because of one of the most malicious and predominant viruses out there one that pretends to be legitimate virus-protection software, when it itself IS THE VIRUS.... so her hesitancy and confusion as how to proceed were justified.  This last point, the phony but incredibly real-looking bogus Anti-Virus "virus" can trick almost anyone, (see: http://www.sophos.com/security/threat-spotlight/020510-threat-spotlight.html), it appears to be a Microsoft Security Update running a virus scan on your computer, displaying phony alerts about a bunch of viruses it is finding... the phony AV software (virus) comes in many guises... at my previous company we had dozens of laptops users fooled by this with their computers trashed and requiring a redo, and my wife's computer caught the virus (I was able to remove the virus), my daughter's computer got it twice (was able to remove it the first time, the last time around requiring that the whole operating system Windows XP be reinstalled).  So, an upgrade to Adobe Reader, that wants to install anti-virus software, should raise a red flag, many users will not know what to do with this situation.

The point of my message, was to alert readers of the IRG May 2010 issue, is to be very aware of what the upgrade steps/concerns might be.

The other problem with making something backward compatible is, how far do you go? We are trying to make the best use we can of the facilities available free to access.
We are also mindful of download limits for folks, too.
Do let us know of others are having problems and we will see if we can help.

In businesses, we always set PDF creation utilities and software, to create the PDF as PDF Version 1.5 (Acrobat 6.x), as that version is the most universally used (it takes a while for all users in the world to catch up), to avoid a preponderance of call-backs saying they can't read our documents.  One also needs to be mindful, that not everyone has high-speed internet access, so for someone in rural areas like Jane McGary, still using dial-up telephone access, to download and install a 38 Megabyte update, and the adjunct software, is not quick and easy task.  The newer version of Adobe Reader states a System Requirement of "•Intel® 1.3 GHz processor or equivalent"... on two other computers used by my family members, both or only 1.0 GHz processors... yes we probably need to upgrade our computers too.... but I'm not "going there" at the moment.

[IMYoung]

I bow to your greater technical knowledge, Mark and I quite agree that one should always be wary of any "sneaky" add-ons.
I  can only say that I have made all the IRG pdfs and have changed nothing from issue to issue. If there is a difference it was not of my deliberate action ..... I am no expert in such matters, I freely admit!
Naturally, if there were any deliberate change then it would be both politic and polite to make an announcement to that effect though a little tricky to do so when I was  unaware of any such need.

 

[IMYoung]

Interestingly, I have just taken the following info from the five IRG issues:
January shows as PDF version  1.7
February shows as PDF version 1.6
and March , April and May are again PDF version 1.7

If anyone has been having trouble viewing the IRG, please contact me at info@srgc.org.uk and I will willingly send you a version saved to the earlier specification, as Mark recommends.

I am aware that not everyone is able to have a broadband or even a reliable service for their internet connection: I live in the city that is the oil capital of Europe and my broadband connection falls off all the time but I soldier on.... it still beats the carrier pigeon and the slate!  

[IMYoung]

Issue 6 June 2010 of International Rock Gardener is now online at the SRGC website
http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/index.php?log=international .....for the listing
and here for the June issue.....

http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2010Jun251277455250IRGJUNE.pdf

This issue is the beginning of a concerted celebration of the various rock garden organisations around the world and, of course, that brings us to the subject of the International Conference to be held in Nottingham, England in April 2011, so there are the first two  introductions to the Speakers for that Alpine Extravaganza..... including, I'm delighted to say, NARGS own Todd Boland !  

 More about the other Conference Speakers in upcoming issues.

The deadline to take advantage of the great discount for early booking for this event, which only takes place every ten years in the UK, is the end of Agust 2010, so make a note in your diaries to be sure of securing your place in good time!
The event is being organised by the Alpine Garden Society and will be held at the East Midlands Conference Centre at the University of Nottingham....
see here for a flavour of the venue: http://www.nottinghamconferences.co.uk/emcc/

and here for the programme : http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/events/Eighth+International+Rock+Garden+Conference+/235/

and, most importantly   here for  booking your place:

http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/sales/conferences/bookings/2011/

 

 

[Todd Boland]

What a lovely article Maggie!  You did your homework finding the various internet groups where I have posted pics!  I hope I can live up to the expectations!  Really looking forward to the International meeting and as luck should have it, I will leave the day after the meetings conclude for a 1 week botanizing trip to Crete.  Looking forward to that too!

[IMYoung]

Issue 7 of International Rock Gardener, for July 2010 is now online at the
SRGC website.


http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/index.php?log=international

In this issue there are more introductions to Speakers arranged for the
Alpines 2011 Conference, organised by the Alpine Garden Society, to be held
in Nottingham, in the UK, in April 2011.

The issue also features more floral emblems of alpine plant organisations
around the world.....if  your local club emblem hasn't  been featured yet, why not drop a
line to me to tell me about it?

M.

[IMYoung]

Issue 8 of International Rock Gardener, for August 2010 is now online


http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/index.php?log=international

[Spiegel]

Congratulations on Issue #8 of The International Rock Gardener.  I'm always waiting eagerly for the next issue and the quality of photography and content continues to inspire.  I've read and reread these many times and think they could easily become a book.

[McDonough]

Issue 8 of International Rock Gardener, for August 2010 is now online

http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/index.php?log=international

An excellent issue!  And finally, we see Lori Skulski the person and NARGS Moderator, not as a distant blip in some far away avatar .  Thanks Lori for all of your fantastic botanical travelogues so far, these are worth their weight in gold, not only on NARGS, but on SRGC too.

[Lori S.]

I echo the praise for IRG!  Great work, Maggi, on another fascinating and engaging issue!   I thank you very much, also, Maggi, for the very nice introduction.

And finally, we see Lori Skulski the person and NARGS Moderator, not as a distant blip in some far away avatar .  Thanks Lori...

Dang, my cover is blown!    You're welcome - it's my pleasure to share those experiences!  I hope others enjoy seeing them, as well, and are encouraged to add their own accounts, or to participate in whatever way they wish in this forum.

[Todd Boland]

Congrats Lori!  Lovely shot!  You are now famous! 

[Hoy]

The 8th issue gives me the same dilemma as the others have done: Where in my garden can I try to put more stones and plants? (By the way - if you ever get the chance visit the Lake Van area and take a bath in the soda water. )

Nice to meet you "in person", Lori! Who could think that spent flowers could be that impressing!

[Lori S.]

Thanks, Todd and Trond.  Yes, that's the constant dilemma... where to put more rock gardens?  We are long since out of lawn area, but do have big planted areas that no longer hold much interest and are starting to seem expendable.  My problem is to come up with an actual plan!
I wonder if Lake Van is compositionally similar to the alkaline sloughs (lakes) across the prairies where I grew up?  The salts in the water provide great buoyancy, and dry white on the skin.   (This year, with the ridiculous amount of rain out there, they will all be terribly diluted though!)  I must look into that further.

[RickR]

Dang, my cover is blown!

Yes, it's blown and you deserve it!
Congratulations to both you and Maggi for another wonderful edition of IRG!