Susan Finch Solutions

Review of MURA CMS and FCKEditor

I launched a site this morning.It is a site that I created with CBTechInc's taff using a CMS of their choice: Mura.  It's a MySQL/ColdFusion based system that is free.  Mura runs on CF7+, Railo and OpenBD application servers. It also supports the following databases: MySQL, MS SQL and Oracle 10G.  I like most of the software.

The WYSIWYG editor needs some tweaking. Mura incorporates FCKEditor and it has known bugs that no one seems to fix.  The FCK Editor issues lie in the fact it removes code, adds in <p> tags where you didn't ask for them and makes other decision for you. It is also lacking an image resizer tool, so the end user clients have to either resize their images using Photoshop Elements or similar or loading HUGE images and squishing them down to distortion, killing the load time of a page.

The good news is it can be customized and tweaked.  My team has done this for Commpro's CMS that is used on the City of Brea's site, Laguna Woods Village, South Orange County Chambers , NRBA and others.  We are experts and twisting FCKEditor into shape to behave as it should, remove tools that clients don't want their admin users to have, as well as tying it their CSS files to make formatting of text easy and consistent with the rest of the website that is run by CSS.

Mura's product is friendly to add "components" to, giving the end-user clients a lot of freedom to insert chunks of content with a few clicks to any page or section. The only other negative I see in the navigation layout and limitations. It's not intuitive and you are not able to have drop-down menus if you make the wrong selection for a navigation item type.  This took a lot of rethinking the site layout.  This particular client didn't want to invest in the time for my team to change the navigation and give them more freedom, but they know it can be done.

Perry Property Advisors presentation, uploaded and printing!

As a team with my clients, we have worked very hard to put together this beautiful presentation to help Matt continue to build his residential broker business in Newport Beach /Coastal Orange County, California. He's been so busy, we've been proofing in the wee hours of the morning.

Matt Perry is a successful broker with Coldwell Banker because he always wants to stay one step ahead of his competition while continuing to offer his knowledge, candid views and integrity to his clients.  I am honored to have been asked to create this presentation for him.  Without giving away all of his secrets, here is a beautiful presentation he and his home team have written.

Measure Twice, Cut Once works in business, too.

My husband has been rebuilding our garage shelving.  You could store dead bodies on them.  He likes to build things one time and not have to back to fix shoddy work.  With the 105 temperatures he was a bit lax on the regular, measure twice - cut once rule.

I'm working with a few clients on new designs and launches of large projects.  I'm finding the same rule applies to creative projects.  I'd rather have my clients sit with a design for a week and really think about what should change and their needs, modifications, etc. rather than jump on their first reactions, and then redo it several times.  Many times we end back to a similar place where we started and sometimes we scrap it and start over. 

Whatever the final outcome, having them take the extra time -- scratch that -- INSISTING they take a few extra days to really sit with it, get feedback from those who should be able to give feedback and then meeting up again saves time for everyone; and frustration. Going over all of the merits of the suggestions, thoroughly may take more meeting time, but saves creative time and produces a much better end product.

Don't forget if the scope or project changes dramatically, don't be put on the spot to come up with a number for the increase in hours and money.  Ask them if you can get back to them the next day so that you measure twice - cut once and give an accurate, and realistic quote for all of those involved.

Don't let the heat affect your attitude towards others

We've heard the sayings, "Agree to disagree," "It's always good to tell the truth because it's easier to remember."  Killing them with Kindness is the topic in this short recap of manners reminders.  This is great for business and social situations.   In today's changing and challenging times, people will look within to improve their positions in life. These are examples of behavior to give 'kids of all ages' 3-93, that confident and competitive edge. Taken from the book: You've Got RESPECTFUL Manners! ~Tactful Tips from A to Z for Kids of All Ages   These are polite remembers for adults and kids alike to improve. I think you may find this video helpful. >. The view from the Bay had this segment with Louise Elerding >>
Thank you for this tip, Image & Etiquette Coach, Kay Hunter of Imagine the Possibilities.  "What is your image saying about you right now?"

Cellphone spyware - very real, very scary

My brother sent me a WMV file today from Channel 13 in Indianpolis.  They did a report on cellphone privacy, spyware and security. VERY frightening how easily people can tap into your conversations without your knowledge.  I felt this important to share with clients, friends, etc. Without any contact with your cellphone physically, people are able to download spyware from the Internet and use it to listen and record your conversations just because you have your cellphone on and near you.

Indianapolis - Your cell phone can be secretly hijacked, allowing someone else to hear everything you say and track your every move. 13 Investigates first exposed this problem a few months ago, and now WTHR has found a possible solution to help keep your cell phone and your family safe.

All across the internet, spyware manufacturers advertise products claiming they can help someone else spy on your cell phone.

WTHR tested some of those products in November and, since then, more than 4.3 million people worldwide have watched 13 Investigates' cell phone tapping investigation.

It showed cell phone spying technology is real, allowing someone to listen in on your phone calls, read your text messages, see your downloaded photos and track your location through constant satellite updates. And even when you are not using your cell phone, someone using spy software could tap into the speaker on your phone and secretly listen in to what you are doing. It's illegal to do that to someone without her permission, but because spy software is invisible and very hard to detect, millions of cell phone users are left vulnerable.

Read the full story here >>

View the WMV file with the report >>

I know the difference between being a Hispanic Professional and a Professional Hispanic.

I'm a poor excuse for a Hispanic and even poorer excuse for a Mexican, even though I'm half Mexican. Can many members of my family clearly communicate in Spanish? Yes. Do some of those same family members successfully run businesses and employ primarily Hispanic folks? Yes. Am I in either of those categories? No. But at least I know it. I realize not in touch with any particular ethnic segment of the market, unless suburban, professional mom counts. I get embarrassed for companies that think they get it and are in touch with whatever ethnic group they are targeting. I wince at their campaigns. Apparently I'm not alone in my anguish. 

Some Shops Have Painted Themselves Into a Hispanic-Only Corner:
You'll Need to Be a Hispanic Professional, not a Professional Hispanic, to Go After General Market

Humor, simplicity, Pringles made me click - a lot.

Cannes Festival isn't just about movies, it's about creativity in media, advertising and more.  With VERY little budget Pringles - yes PRINGLES - the canned potato chip folks - took the prize for best banner ad.  The story went something like this: