CircleCount helps you better understand Google+

2013-05-23 23:16:58 (10 comments, 0 reshares, 14 +1s)

So, the Hangout app has been named best new app by +The Verge 
I have to say, I agree.

Now if only I could convince my friends and relatives to use it. 

2013-05-23 21:56:26 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 21 +1s)

When Mama Bird stepped on yet another Lego land mine, several choice words came to mind. "Sorry" wasn't one one them.

#mamabird   #lego  
www.mamabird.me

2013-05-23 02:26:41 (15 comments, 0 reshares, 66 +1s)

I'm sorry I am swamping your stream with my visage.. again. But I needed to say something about this photo. I used it on Sunday for the Selfy Sunday, but after the awesome +kimberton pemberly sent me some amazing textures, I found one that I could use for this frosty portrait. So thank you, Kimmie, you're the best. 

I'm going back to hide under my rock now. 

2013-05-23 02:23:05 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 10 +1s)

Added photos to May Self Portrait Challenge: Your Choice!.

2013-05-22 18:41:10 (24 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

Can someone please 'splain something to me:

Now there are the new Hangout App (to the left) and the G+ app (to the right).
I thought, the Hangout App would replace the Hangout and Messenger options in the G+ app. But that's not the case. 
The new Hangout app offers Hangouts and Chat, and so does the old G+ app. But when you chat with someone, the chats do not sync. The new Hangout app however syncs with the Gmail web chat. But the old G+ chat does not.

I'm very, VERY confused. I need to go lie down now. 

2013-05-22 17:20:59 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 28 +1s)

Mama Bird wasn't sure if she should cut it, or lay eggs in it.

#mamabird  
www.mamabird.me

2013-05-22 16:41:46 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 16 +1s)

When your day at work is so boring, you actually want to do some work to make the time go by quicker... the situation is desperate.

2013-05-22 03:18:36 (8 comments, 1 reshares, 24 +1s)

Typos are so much fun when you're not the one making them.
#fail  

2013-05-22 02:43:21 (8 comments, 1 reshares, 50 +1s)

My son's soccer team this year is abysmal. They've been beaten by every other team in the league by a huge margin. From having fun at soccer in previous years, Thomas went to hating the game. The team is frustrated, but they hang on and show up, Tuesday after Tuesday.

Tonight was a particularly bad night. Pouring rain, freezing cold. Yet they managed to win their first game of the season. How? Because they showed up, and the other team did not.

Yes. They're still playing badly. But I'm super proud of all of them. It shows that sometimes, you don't need to be more skilled than the others to be the better team. :)

2013-05-22 00:53:30 (20 comments, 0 reshares, 12 +1s)

Uhm... could someone kindly point out to me where "Upcoming Birthdays" have gone to? I kinda liked the fact that it was in your face so I can't forget to check... (I have really poor social skills and need all the help I can get.)

2013-05-21 23:52:16 (18 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

Google+ for iOS just finally crapped out on me. It was wonky in the last few days, now it's dead.

2013-05-21 22:36:50 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

Introducing Snapsation

Amongst the greatest human needs is the need to tell stories, to record memories, and to share our moments with the people who matter the most to us.

When you need an awesome dating profile picture, a business portrait, photos of your family reunion or milestone events. You need an amazing local photographer to help you to capture all of  life’s moments.

As a local business you want to show off how amazing your restaurant is, the decor in your Bed and Breakfast, to show off your beautiful store or great new products, to record your industry happenings and events.

Finding a photographer is intimidating. And harder than it should be.

Photographers need customers. No matter how experienced a photographer is, there never seems to be enough time to focus on getting new customers. And for the many passionate andta... more »

2013-05-21 22:27:56 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 13 +1s)

Vancouver and Chilliwack are only about 75 miles apart. But if you should ever come to this beautiful part of the world, DO NOT ATTEMPT to get to Chilliwack to visit me. It has been proven time and time again to be an impossible feat. Great walls, dinosaurs, magical forest monsters and tanks... with big guns.
So close, yet so far away.

I will continue to live my life without visitors. Shunned, and lonely.
Oh well. Damn dinosaurs. 

2013-05-21 18:48:14 (3 comments, 3 reshares, 25 +1s)

#autoawesome  appears to work beautifully. This is a series of images I am using for a timelapse project - just wanted to check out this new motion feature and see what all the hubbub is about. 

Taken in #Portland   #Oregon  During 2013 Cinco De Mayo Festival. 

Tip : It took roughly an hour or so for this to appear in the album so be patient after you upload. Eventually it will process it and you'll see a moving image in the series somewhere. Mine was mixed in the middle of all the photos. 

Looking forward to seeing more of this. Excellent work +Vic Gundotra  +Google+ Photos  +Bradley Horowitz  +Ujjwal Singh and all others!

2013-05-21 17:36:10 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 19 +1s)

Fuji... where is my 27mm pancake?? Can't you hurry up and announce it? I haven't bought a lens in, like, AGES. And this one is so cute!!! :)

*taps foot* I'm waaaaiting...

(Image courtesy of www.fujirumors.com)

2013-05-21 02:28:32 (17 comments, 0 reshares, 44 +1s)

PEOPLE! If you insist on populating my long exposure shot, could you at least have the decency NOT to move???
Is that really too much to ask?
Huh??

2013-05-20 23:42:03 (38 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

Flickr isn't unlimited anymore. Instead of $ 30/unlimited, you now pay $ 50 a year for 1 TB without ads, or $ 500 a year for 2 TB without ads.

FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS??

2013-05-20 20:51:10 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 54 +1s)

Afternoon at the lake...

2013-05-20 05:04:38 (17 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

Can someone explain something to me:

Nero placed blame on the Federation for the loss of his homeworld and sought revenge. He emerged from the black hole Spock created to destroy the supernova in 2233. The USS Kelvin was the first ship that Nero encountered and attacked.
In 2258, Nero captured the Jellyfish as it emerged from travel through the black hole. What was only a few seconds for Spock where 25 years for Nero. He marooned Spock on Delta Vega.

How did he know where and when Spock would be emerging from the black hole. And how did he know about the Red Matter?

I'm lost. 

2013-05-20 00:13:04 (9 comments, 1 reshares, 22 +1s)

it's *WORLD IBD DAY* #WorldIBDday  
 i am here to bring awareness to all of you.  
Do you have any questions about my Crohn's Disease or any other IBD {Inflammatory Bowel Disease}?  
IBD is very different from IBS {Irritable Bowel Syndrome},
so please try not to get the two confused.
Millions of people all over the world are affected by this life crippling disease, it's time to get the word out so we can find a cure or at least get a little understanding as to what we go through on a daily basis.  I also want to thank all of you that have reached out to me and to others who struggle with similar issues.  
Ask me anything !!
(no, not that...  geesh)

Wonder where i bought my T-Shirt?::
http://thegreatbowelmovement.org/ibd-tshirts/why-ask-me-crohns-shirts/
More IBD Awareness?::http:... more »

2013-05-19 23:33:36 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 77 +1s)

Karin Nelson was tagged in Karin Nelson's album.

2013-05-19 23:33:19 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 23 +1s)

Added photos to The Selfy Sunday Project.

2013-05-19 05:59:22 (21 comments, 0 reshares, 15 +1s)

Only 24 hours remain to shoot a selfy. I don't think there's enough time left to fit in plastic surgery. Damn. 

2013-05-18 20:19:34 (6 comments, 2 reshares, 51 +1s)

I posted so many cat videos in the last 24 hours, I really need to post something else to attempt repairing the considerable damage my reputation as serious photographer has suffered. 

2013-05-18 18:18:34 (19 comments, 0 reshares, 29 +1s)

After stalking her with my camera FOR DAYS, I finally caught Gracie on tape while she does one of her amazing tricks!

#caturday  

2013-05-18 16:21:48 (12 comments, 36 reshares, 139 +1s)

The Sad Cat Diary. 
Epic for #caturday .

2013-05-18 07:40:49 (8 comments, 4 reshares, 21 +1s)

For your late night entertainment:

2013-05-23 22:27:04 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 19 +1s)

When her husband promised to make dinner that night, Mama Bird should have known that his secret family recipes were "Papa John's", not Papa Bird's. 

www.mamabird.me
#mamabird  

2013-05-18 03:10:18 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 29 +1s)

OMG. I know I'm 8 years too late, but I am now officially addicted.
I CANNOT STOP WATCHING YOUTUBE!!

2013-05-18 02:34:06 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 11 +1s)

Some familiar faces in this one.

2013-05-18 07:36:51 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 22 +1s)

She had asked him to meet her at their favourite restaurant. She wanted to tell him that maybe they needed a break from each other... that their life had become too predictable... too stale. She meant to tell him that she needed to change everything... 

He had noticed her seriousness, the stern look. And as he glanced back at her, with his gentle eyes, waiting for her to explain, she suddenly wasn't so sure anymore if she needed to change anything at all.
"So, what are we going to do this weekend?", she asked, and smiled. 

2013-05-17 20:03:47 (20 comments, 0 reshares, 67 +1s)

I don't know about you, but for ME, today is a 2-donut-day.

2013-05-17 03:52:16 (6 comments, 3 reshares, 43 +1s)

Ok. Let's see how this puppy handles panos. 
One from tonight. 

2013-05-23 22:27:22 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 31 +1s)

"Mama Bird was upset that he had nicked all that food from her pantry, but she sure as hell didn’t want him to give it back now."

My house, tonight.

www.mamabird.me

2013-05-17 01:42:19 (9 comments, 2 reshares, 12 +1s)

In today's video I walk around a park and try to get you away from the internet.

2013-05-16 23:28:51 (8 comments, 2 reshares, 24 +1s)

The other day, my son was my test subject when I had to set up the lighting for a portrait shoot on location ... and Auto Awesome stitched them all together. 

Almost as annoying as in real life. :)

2013-05-16 19:43:50 (22 comments, 1 reshares, 72 +1s)

Ok, I admit it: I WAS WRONG.
The new Google+ is the thing. It's the shizzle. Totally hot. Awesome. A thing of beauty. Multiple columns and all. Even now, as not everything is working just quite right yet, it's a pleasure to use. I have a new-found passion for this social network... or shall I say, this social universe. 

It doesn't happen often that I'm wrong... and even less often that I admit to it. So my advice to you is to take it in and cherish it, Google. 'Cause it may never happen again.

Oh, and ... THANK YOU! :)

2013-05-23 22:28:03 (5 comments, 19 reshares, 90 +1s)

Even Mama Bird is totally surprised by the new layout.
www.mamabird.me

2013-05-16 03:03:18 (12 comments, 1 reshares, 7 +1s)

Ok, Randomizer. We can do a deal, I'm sure. You do me that little tiny favour of picking ALL of my horizontal pictures to be displayed LARGE, and I will do a little favour for you. I'm sure we can come to an agreement. It's easy for you. Just a little tweak, right? I'll make sure you won't be disappointed. I know people. I have connections. There must be something I can do for you. Nobody needs to know. Are you getting the drift? Come on, old buddy old pal. Seriously, Randomizer. Don't make me beg. 

I mean, I will make you an offer you cannot refuse. Bro, it's going to be...

Randomizer??

#Randomizer  ??

2013-05-16 02:43:48 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

We should try this.

2013-05-15 23:24:11 (36 comments, 1 reshares, 38 +1s)

Ok, new Google UI. Let's talk about the good stuff:

1) The font. I love it. It's adorable. Fancy. Modern. Fun. Pretty. Snazzy. It's beautiful. And I love it. Have I told you that I love it?

2) Focus on Vertical Pictures. YES! I have to admit that I did neglect the portrait format somewhat because the pictures just didn't play nice on G+... fancy that. However, with this new layout, the portrait size pictures appear in their full glory. Finally. Love it.

3) Great layout, really. IF you are browsing random things. I said I'll concentrate on the good stuff. 

4) Uhm.... help me out? What else do you think is awesome??

#googleplusupdate  

2013-05-15 22:17:36 (10 comments, 1 reshares, 10 +1s)

Stop the Blister Pack Madness!

Once again, the blood of an innocent shopper has been spilled while trying to open an impenetrable blister pack. When it the madness going to end? Don't we have enough garbage in this world already? Do we REALLY need to use enormous amounts of plastic to package teeny TINY items to properly display them in the store?? There are alternatives. Many companies are already using them. Why isn't there a ban of this crap yet?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrap_rage

(Disclaimer: No real blood has been spilled in the making of this picture. Actually I did cut myself when I opened this stupid thing, but I will survive. Can someone hand me a bandaid... anyone...?)

2013-05-15 19:02:12 (15 comments, 0 reshares, 12 +1s)

Feeling overwhelmed by the new G+ data avalanche? You CAN choose a one-column-layout. :)

2013-05-15 01:28:51 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 17 +1s)

Camera Bondage?

Peak Design's Cuff and Leash aren't some kinky sex toys, but the most versatile and comfortable wrist strap/neck strap combination I found to date. 

I wanted a wrist strap I can put on the camera or take off it in a second flat. Comfortable and durable. I also wanted a shoulder strap I can adjust in length from really short to super-extra-long cross-body. Same comfy, durable finish. And my OCD demanded that my wrist and my neck strap be "a set". They have to look like they belong together. Duh.  
I wanted both to be hot-swappable, without ugly dangly-bits hanging from my camera that catch onto stuff, snap off teeth, scratch the finish, come off too easily, etc. etc. I wanted to be able to carry both straps with me at all times, without using up too much real estate in my camera bag. Look at the neck strap (to the right): This is howsma... more »

2013-05-14 01:35:22 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 23 +1s)

While I was working on my long exposure pictures, Thomas built an inukshuk by the creek. And then he meditated. No, actually I don't know what he was doing at that point, but I suspect it was his usual "Ok-mom-I'm-waiting-for-you-to-get-the-damn-picture-just-tell-me-when-I-can-move-again" posture. 

2013-05-13 22:01:55 (15 comments, 0 reshares, 30 +1s)

Today, while stitching up the hole in the crotch of my yoga pants, I wondered about life. I wondered about the reason we are here, if there is more to life than work and food, and how our past affects our future. I wondered where we came from, and where we will go, and ultimately, if they're still called yoga pants even if you don't do yoga.

2013-05-13 03:49:56 (18 comments, 1 reshares, 57 +1s)

So I went to the lake today to take a couple of pictures.
And the parking lot was roped off. I didn't care. Since there was absolutely NOBODY there, in the middle of the forest, I parked there anyway, right in front of those ropes, only to come back an hour later to find a ticket on my windshield.

Bastards. 

2013-05-11 17:16:43 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 47 +1s)

Tornado-Kitty is showing off.

#caturday  

2013-05-11 03:48:13 (9 comments, 0 reshares, 31 +1s)

Mama Bird's Friday Night: Imagination, and Reality
Yep. Luckily even the drag makeup isn't real. 

2013-05-10 17:56:08 (12 comments, 4 reshares, 25 +1s)

I was thinking the exact same thing... :)

(Image from to Sourcefed.com)