Just wanted to update everyone on the image issue.  Rebecca, the owner of the this site has removed the image per Moxie's request and replaced it with an image of one of her own creations. I've contacted her and asked that she come back and visit to address some of the concerns about the site.  Let's give here a chance and see if maybe we can help her develop another great puppet resource on the internet.

Just wanted to update everyone on the image issue.  Rebecca, the owner of the this site has removed the image per Moxie's request and replaced it with an image of one of her own creations. I've contacted her and asked that she come back and visit to address some of the concerns about the site.  Let's give here a chance and see if maybe we can help her develop another great puppet resource on the internet.

Sounds good Shawn................. I agree , You can never get enough information available. We Welcome her comments, and it would allow others to ask question about the site.

I agree, developing more great resources is always a good idea..besides we all tend to forget at times that good ideas aren't always without a few mistakes in the beginning.we have to be willing to give people a chance to grow with our help instead of condemning the ideas at the onset

Hello Everyone Here at Puppets and Stuff -

Please forgive my absence since I first posted here at Puppets and Stuff.  Until Shawn sent me a personal email today, I had forgotten that I did not check the forum here for awhile.  Certainly I did not want anyone to get their "knickers in a twist."  I too, love that expression by the way.  Thank you, Na, for giving me a chance to respond and also for throwing that wonderful expression into the mix of things.

I respect the concerns that some of you have voiced about the site as I know how the internet can be at times.  Also, I recognize that you do not know who I am personally, and have no idea if I am of quality character, etc..  So, let me start by addressing a few simple questions and then I will remain here in the forum to continue to respond should any other questions arise.

First, I sent an apology to Moxie, the creator of the fabulous fiber art doll - "Puppets Need Puppets Too."  To my misunderstanding, there are different levels of copyright on Flickr, and Moxie owns all of the rights.  I had thought that since the photo was posted publicly on Flickr, and because I gave her credit in the photo credits of the site as well as a link to her website, that posting her image was not a problem.  I would not ever take someone's hard work, and therefore sent her an apology and removed the image immediately from my website.  If you get the opportunity, check out her work as she seems to be a highly creative and innovative artist.  Second, Sit Down Essay, is not a fishing site and does not sell any products.  I again apologize if it is creating difficulties in some of your browsers.  The first section of the website is hosted by Wix.com and was created on their site as well.  The second portion of the site (the network/forum portion) was created using SocialGo.com.  The network portion is also hosted by them.  Hold on a second...it seems my post is too long, let me finish this in my next post...sorry.  Rebecca

  Well, at any rate, here I am continuing my post.  I am not sure if there is a limit to the amount of words per post, but I will try to keep them at a good limit anyhow.  Here are the answers to some more questions about: www.SitDownEssay.com

First and foremost, thank you again for giving me the opportunity to respond to any concerns.  In terms of needing to log-in to view the site's contents, I am not sure if the correct link was clicked on.  If it was, I apologize for the lack of viewing options.  However, try this.  When on www.sitdownessay.com - click on the link at the bottom of the homepage that says to "log-in or create a profile"  Once clicking on it, the website will direct you to the network portion of the site.  You do not need to create a profile in order to view the members' work.  If it is telling you need to do so, please let me know, and I will contact my hosting provider and explain the difficulties and get it cleared up.

Secondly, there is barely any content up at the site.  I mean, barely any!!!    This is completely a new project that I am working on and therefore need to get more people interested and also need to post more of even my own work.  Right now, I have been so worried about how to get more members, and views, that the content is not yet at all where I would like it to be.  I like the way the website visually looks, but that's about it - there is a lot more work to do.   Hold on again, I need to make another post, because I am worried about the word limit on this post. 

Welcome Rebecca to Puppets and Stuff!  I think in all this we forgot to welcome you... how rude of us! 

Ahh yes I was able to get to the network portion of the site.  Looks like you have a pretty good start.  I must admit the word Essay scares the pudding out of me. It seems so grown up and literary.  Not sure I could rise to those expectations.  Heck without spell check half the words in this post would be misspelled. 

Again welcome to PandS and good luck with this new venture!

Okay, here is the third part of my post...

I absolutely adore puppets, however, the site is eventually meant to serve as a creative social network for writers, illustrators, puppeteers, comedians, etc. who want a creative hub of sorts to post their work and develop a profile.  On the site itself, there is a forum for "essays."  It is not a general forum, but a place for writers to post essays and gain feedback on their work.

Each member (when I say member that is an entirely free thing and will not ever cost anything - I promise) can create a profile where he or she will have a collection of friends, a wall for comments, etc..  They can also post videos and photos as well as audio essays.  I am trying to encourage people to post their work and develop a network that is not only based on "personal photos" and "personal updates" but rather a network based on creativity.  Do not get me wrong, I have all the respect in the world for Facebook and its main creator, Mark Zuckerberg, however, I just do not want Sit Down Essay to be about popularity, personal appearance, what anyone did that day, etc..  Sit Down Essay is about blending the general concept of social networking, with the idea of literary magazines, You Tube, puppet shows, artistic websites, comedy sites, and such. 

I used to work as a clown and costume character back in the day and sometimes brought around a bird puppet known as "Hiccup."  My love of puppetry simply began with Sesame Street and the Muppets, but then continued on with such incredible companies as the Red Moon Theater in Chicago.  I will post a lot more in the time ahead, but as always...happy creating, and thank you again for the opportunity to explain myself and website idea.  Rebecca 

Thank you so much Shawn for the official welcome.  I truly appreciate it, and will come back on later tonight to look around and post some more.  As for the writing portion of the site, no worries at all.   I would love if there were some creative essays on puppets or puppetry posted.  It's all welcome at the site.  Thank you again and congratulations on a truly wonderful forum that you have here.

P.S. You know I had forgotten about the limit on post. It is set at 20000 characters. Maybe I should make it unlimited.    I think I had that set at one time because of spammers.  They love posting long list of links. I'll have to think on that one.

Hello again Rebecca, i have since been to your site and i must admit, you have created a fantastic work, it isnt easy to start something like this and i think you have done a grand job, no knickers in a twist here!! i will join to give support and to see what help i can give and receive, after all, there where the early days of P&S at one point, and look at it now!!!
Ben.