CircleCount helps you better understand Google+

2013-04-22 13:40:43 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 23 +1s)

I've been away and will continue to be away from Google Plus because of pressing work demands and because I'm catering to Zoe Bear, whose latest budget-busting ailments include bronchitis that turned into a postnasal drip, so, except when she's asleep, she's still almost constantly coughing but it's no longer a loud honking sound. With medication she's doing somewhat better, but she doesn't react well to meds, so it's been a trying time.

At any rate, I'm posting today in honor of Earth Day (http://www.earthday.org/earth-day-history-movement), which began 43 years ago today. There are many ways you can celebrate it, but the most important at this time on our planet is to get involved and stay involved in protecting it from the ravages of climate change (http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/genergy.asp), for our sakes and for the sakes of future generations. Make your... more »

2013-04-15 13:09:57 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

spring colors abound
dots and smudges of pollen
turn all to yellow

#haiku

2013-04-11 12:16:19 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 24 +1s)

I have two weeping redbuds on my front lawn. They are putting on a beautiful display at the moment.

The tree pollen count in Atlanta yesterday was 4151, where 1500 is considered Extremely High. Things will improve later today when the rains come, but with them will arrive the probable tornado watches and warnings. As beautiful as Atlanta is in the spring, it's a scary time and not a place to be if you're allergic to pollen.

#womenwildlifeandnature #HWSIWomenPhotographers  

2013-04-11 12:13:34 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

windows are open
fresh breezes and birdsong fill
my home with springtime

#haiku  

2013-04-09 15:42:39 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

A little humour

2013-04-09 13:24:42 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Dear Google Plus,

A caption is not a description. Why did you change the algorithm so that one's entire post of a photograph becomes the caption? :-(

2013-04-09 13:22:46 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 17 +1s)

Last week I went to a lecture at the Chattahoochee Nature Center on falconry. It was interesting and informative, though I am two minds about the sport. Falconers say they raise young raptors to be better hunters before they release them back into the wild, but I frankly think Mother Nature should be left to her own devices. At any rate, at the end of the talk they brought out this lovely Harris's hawk (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Harriss_Hawk/id), a bird of the U.S. Southwest. I had only my iPhone with me and was able to get at least this semi-decent shot of the bird, whose name is Melinda. I wish her a good life when she is returned to the wild.

#womenwildlifeandnature  

2013-04-07 00:23:36 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 22 +1s)

I wanted to share this one immediately. I was out on the patio enjoying the last notes of birdsong when I saw something large fly onto a branch of a loblolly pine at the edge of the woods that abuts my next-door neighbor's yard. I ran into the house and grabbed my binoculars and the trusty S5, since the T4i had a 60mm lens on it, and I didn't want to take the time to switch, plus I have more range with the S5. In fading light, this greatly-cropped photo is the best I could get. If only that clump of needles hadn't been in front of the owl! A pair of these Great-horned owls has lived in the woods for as long as I've lived here (I moved into my house in 1995). I hear them now and then but rarely see them, and in all the years I've been here, I never gotten a photo of one until just now. I hope I don't have to wait another 18 years to get another, better one.

2013-04-05 14:12:00 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 17 +1s)

"raindrops study"

The sun is trying to peep out from the lingering clouds this morning, but it was hidden for the last few days, so I was unable to do any outdoor shooting.

2013-04-05 12:24:02 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 27 +1s)

Reshared for #FloralFriday, curated by +Tamara Pruessner.

2013-04-05 12:26:20 (1 comments, 2 reshares, 16 +1s)

275 Ultra Hi-Rez Photos of New Zealand 8 months of work for you to enjoy! :) 

I'm loving the new ability on Google+ to upload my original size photos!  If you want the How-To, I updated the article at http://www.stuckincustoms.com/2013/03/21/google-now-allows-full-rez-photos/ .

I moved here about 8 months ago and have been taking photos like a man possessed!  I think about 90% of the photos in here are new ones that I taken and recently processed.  The other 10% are from my first 2 trips here that convinced me to make the move! :)  Anyway, enjoy... 

2013-03-27 13:33:31 (6 comments, 2 reshares, 28 +1s)

I'm still not able to do a whole lot of walking yet, though my injuries are nicely along the way to getting healed, so here's a shot from last year of dogwood buds opening. I call it "stages".

2013-03-25 12:42:37 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 13 +1s)

Reshared for #MosaicMonday, curated by +Mim Eisenberg. +Mosaic Monday 

2013-03-23 23:06:03 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

I wanted to do one more post about the cutbacks in NASA Education and Public Outreach.  And really the cuts in all research that the sequester is causing. These are real cuts that affect real people.  Let's not blame who caused the sequester, or whether it is a cut in the increase in spending and not the meat of the budget.  It is happening to scientists, engineers, and science communicators right now, and will get worse. 

So you can bitch in the comments that I am full of it, or you can try do a little to help.  
Write a letter, spell out your reasons why you think we should increase spending on NASA, and all research.  Or write and say no, don't do it. But do something.
I have written my own Congresswomen and Senators.  And I'm writing to the congressional leaders too, and here are their addresses.

The Honorable John Boehner Speaker 
U... more »

2013-03-23 22:34:41 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

after day-long song
it's a wonder he's not hoarse
but thrasher still sings

#haiku  

2013-03-23 18:35:53 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

A Circle Share
Circle sharing by individuals seems to passé these days, and most shares are curated circles put together on some general basis by a few. That suits me fine because I am not fashionable and pretty faded! :)
This circle is not one which contains all my best friends here or all the folks whose photography I really admire. It contains members who are my engagement set. People who follow my posts and people whose posts appear on my stream on a regular basis. Part of the selection has to do with Gplus's stream feed algorithm and part of it has to do with time zones. But these 200 are part of my life on GPlus now and I meet them virtually almost everyday.
I am sharing this list mainly for the benefit of my new followers who are looking for worthwhile additions to their circles. I expect that they will not be disappointed by the selection. 
Finally,comments ar... more »

2013-03-23 18:29:01 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 13 +1s)

The rain stopped long enough for me to get outside and take some photos of my next-door neighbor's camellia. Here is my life-cycle mosaic of it.

2013-03-23 14:21:37 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

I woke to lightning
and a boom of close thunder
the rain will persist

wet brown thrasher sings
undeterred by steady rain
a full-throated song

#haiku

2013-03-23 19:07:22 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 17 +1s)

In the Purple

Peeling back the petals
folding over the hue
looking deep inside
there may be something
something hidden
something beautiful
something daring
something delicate
something blooming
something worth seeing
©Michelle A. Potter

#photography   #crocus   #purple   #purplecircle  +PurpleCircle curated by  +Lynn Langmade +Sinead Sam McKeown +Craig Szymanski +106787788 +NatureArtThursday  curated by  +Trisha Standard +Dane Clingan #natureartthursday +ColorsOnFriday  curated by  +Karsten Meyer +Britta Rogge #ColorsOnFriday +FloralFriday  curated by  +Tamara Pruessner #floralfriday +FlowerFriday  curated by  +Angie Davila +Four Seasons Friday  curated by  +Stephonie Schmitz #FourSeasonsFriday +10000 PHOTOGRAPHERS  curated by  +Robert SKREINER #10000photographersaroundtheworld +HQSP Flowers  curated by +Rinus Bakker +Tammy Bol... more »

2013-03-20 12:40:18 (8 comments, 0 reshares, 21 +1s)

with fluted cup rims
yellow and gold daffodils
herald spring's approach
#haiku  

At last it's spring! Enjoy the season, Flickr friends. Or for those in the southern hemisphere, I hope you enjoy the radiant colors of autumn.

I'm recovering from last week's fall and drove for the first time yesterday. I'm pretty darn stiff and sore in the mornings, but a couple of Naproxens take care of that pretty quickly. Nevertheless, when I go grocery shopping today, I'm going to use the electric shopping cart that'll let me sit and cruise through the aisles. I'm still grateful that I didn't do more damage to myself. It could have been a heck of a lot worse.

2013-03-19 14:49:59 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 12 +1s)

Reshared for #BirdPoker - black beaks, curated by +Phil Armishaw.

2013-03-18 21:54:15 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Shutting down and unplugging. Tornado watch and severe thunderstorm warning. Ah, springtime in Atlanta.

2013-03-18 01:20:25 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

from four different trees
a brown thrasher sang and sang
from sunup to dusk

#haiku  

2013-03-15 22:39:55 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

I had my FOS Spring azure and Cloudless sulphur today. Singing birds included the Brown thrasher, Cardinal, Song sparrow, Carolina wren and Robin. Pesky birds were the two Brown-headed nuthatches which, for the last four days, have been pecking almost constantly at the very tippy-top of my chimney. Clapping at them didn't deter them, so I connected my back yard hose and whenever I hear the tapping now, I go outside and spray them. Once I resume work tomorrow (assuming my foot will be healed enough to use the foot pedal of my transcription software), I won't be able to hear them from my office, so the hole they're creating will just get bigger and bigger and bigger. Sigh.

2013-03-15 20:42:00 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 14 +1s)

For +Lee Daniels, in sympathy and with love.

2013-03-12 12:48:58 (16 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

I fell last night and hurt my right foot, left hand and left side/ribs. I went to the ER to make sure nothing was broken, and the x-rays were clear. Now it's just going to take quite a while to heal. Meanwhile, I'll be spending even less time than normal at the computer and here on G+.

2013-03-11 12:11:35 (8 comments, 1 reshares, 31 +1s)

The center of a multi-colored pansy that has brightened my garden through the winter.

2013-03-11 00:30:46 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 6 +1s)

My name is Brandon Stanton and I'm a photographer in New York City. As many of you already know, several months ago I was approached by the fashion label DKNY, who offered me $15,000 to purchase 300 of my photographs. I politely refused the offer. But earlier this week, one of my fans discovered that DKNY was using my photographs anyway-- in Asia. (Full Story: http://thebea.st/13ijYt6) 

As atonement for this infringement, I publicly requested that DKNY donate $100,000 in my name to the YMCA in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, so that underprivileged children could attend summer camp. DKNY responded on Monday with a $25,000 donation.

Over the next three days, my audience stepped in and raised the full $100,000 themselves. Over 3,000 people chipped in, and raised an astonishing $103,710 in 72 hours. (http://bit.ly/YTy4h3)

I have no interest in vilifying DKNY. It is a company... more »

2013-03-10 23:19:00 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 9 +1s)

Pan-STARRS, seen from Queenstown, New Zealand
via: spaceweather.com, photo taken on March 2, 2013

2013-03-06 12:33:50 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

it wasn't forecast
so the light dusting of snow
was a nice surprise

#haiku

I'm hoping the people in the Midwest and the D.C. area dig out safely from their big snowfalls.

2013-03-05 13:14:52 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Circle 1.0 of the brand NEW Community: TOP Photos on G+
of +10000 PHOTOGRAPHERS around the World  by +Robert SKREINER 
Link to Commununity:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/102730381095199131702
In this circle are included the first 500 Members of the NEW Community!
The next Circle 2.0 will be published with the next 500 Followers a.s.a.p.
We welcome all who share this circle! Thank you in advance!
All who join the Community "Top Photos on G+"
are included in one of the the next circles. 
Please add also the moderators to your circles.

Hashtag for this post and circle:   #TOPphotoscircle1  

There is a chrome extension to automute Google Plus Posts by hashtag:
http://code.google.com/p/nonplus/

#10000photographersaroundtheworld   #bird... more »

2013-02-28 13:31:43 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 35 +1s)

I'm resharing this Carolina wren shot for #BirdPoker - raised tails, curated by +Phil Armishaw 

2013-02-27 13:18:23 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 31 +1s)

The Brown thrasher is the state bird of Georgia. It is a dapper bird, don't you agree?

Today is another post-and-run day. Sorry. I hope everybody is fine.

I temporarily took down this feeder a couple of days ago because a large flock of pine siskins were gobbling down my (expensive) Southeastern No Mess seed. When they move on, I'll put the feeder back up. (I have other feeders around the house that the siskins never touch, even though one of them contains the identical seed.)

2013-02-24 16:17:59 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

started this morning
having a hooting exchange
with a great horned owl

#haiku  

2013-02-24 16:03:42 (7 comments, 2 reshares, 32 +1s)

My Lenten roses bloomed three days earlier this year than last, which was way earlier than they'd bloomed in years past. I took this with my new Canon Rebel T4i.

2013-02-20 22:00:04 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

pantry moths flying
I've been fighting them for years
the plague just won't end

#haiku  

2013-02-19 22:50:51 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

light lingers longer
halfway through the shortest month
warm spring days are near


#haiku  

2013-02-19 20:45:18 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

Pine warbler mosaic, for +Mosaic Monday  #mosaicmonday ,
curated by +Mim Eisenberg.

I am trying to figure out the new way Picasa Web Albums now works, so please forgive multiple posts of this. I'm trying to get this to appear both in Photos from Posts and my Birds album and my Mosaics album.

2013-02-19 20:24:20 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Pine warbler mosaic, shot through two different windows of my house. For #MosaicMonday +Mosaic Monday  curated by +Mim Eisenberg (me).

2013-02-19 20:12:47 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

after days of rain
sunny skies have reappeared
the breeze remains cool

#haiku  

2013-02-19 20:34:31 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

Nature's Art
© Jeff R. Clow

Hard to find a better artist than nature itself......

2013-02-16 13:22:35 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

Here is my Zoe Bear on her 14th birthday (well, the shot was taken yesterday). She's my scrappy little pup, having long ago gone through an attack of pancreatitis that nearly took her and then suffering from assorted digestive issues since then. Last year she developed an inflamed tear duct, which is not as visible in this photo as it can be. In that eye she also has what's called pigmentary keratitis, which means that brown pigment is intruding into the white of her eye. That it's not also affecting her iris is because she's on special eye drops, so her vision is not at all affected.

She also has arthritis, which is under control with Dasuquin, which is a canine version of glucosamine/chondroitin. When it had flared up, I had been giving her Metacam, an NSAID, but even though I had been giving her just a teeny, homeopathic dose, it affected her kidneys, so now her latest... more »

2013-02-15 01:30:50 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 18 +1s)

Reshared for #birdpoker - ugly perches, curated by +Phil Armishaw.

2013-02-13 14:42:44 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 15 +1s)

If I don't post because I don't have time to go visiting, I'll never post, so please understand if I can't view your wonderful photos and posts right now.

This daffodil is just one of the several I took in from the garden before this, the third straight day of rain and cloudy skies. I think the sun will come out later, and then it'll turn chilly again, with nighttime temps back in the 20s. But from birdsong in the morning to movement of birds around branches just beginning to bud, it's apparent that spring is on the way.

a springtime delight
a vase full of daffodils
brightening my sill
#haiku  

2013-02-13 14:40:02 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

goldfinches now show
hints of their breeding plumage
as they gobble seeds

pine siskins join them
all over the front feeder
as squirrel watches

#haiku  

2013-02-12 14:47:45 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

what's that cheery song?
it's a cardinal up a tree
singing for his mate

#haiku

2013-02-12 14:01:24 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 25 +1s)

Reshared for #BirdPoker - on a branch, curated by +Phil Armishaw.

Sorry to have reshared so many at once, but my Google+ time is very limited.

I hope everybody is well.

2013-02-12 13:59:40 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Reshared for +BirdPoker - on a branch, curated by +Phil Armishaw.

2013-02-12 13:57:39 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

Reshared for +BirdPoker - on a branch, curated by +Phil Armishaw.

2013-02-12 13:53:49 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 12 +1s)

Reshared for #BirdPoker - on a branch, curated by +Phil Armishaw.