CircleCount helps you better understand Google+

2013-05-17 06:14:26 (45 comments, 19 reshares, 278 +1s)

Okay so I wanted to see what Auto-Enhance would do to a painting - so I painted this, it's just a sketch really, I can't be arsed to spend more than a couple hours painting anything anymore.  I get bored. :p

Anyway I could not let auto-enhance "fix" it, it saturated everything too much - so for right now I'm still leaving it off.  This is not auto-enhanced at all.

Martine Desroubins from Otherland - my take on her, anyway :)

2013-05-16 17:09:15 (41 comments, 25 reshares, 509 +1s)

This was from my weekend ranger-ing last Sunday.  Many steps involved in getting the kind of crazy light happening, it involves blowing out your original and pulling in colors in Lightroom with the "Luminance" slider then split toning a black and white copy in Photoshop.

All that tinkering for fun, just to get something a little ghostly and spooky and moody.  I find the little sign on it that says "home" the creepiest of all.  o_o

2013-05-16 00:38:24 (46 comments, 9 reshares, 248 +1s)

Hmmm, interesting new way to share photos.  Upload to an album first then share later.  Instead of how it was before where it makes the post as soon as you upload.  I think I actually like this a lot, as I can just fill my albums and organize and then share whenever I feel like it, from wherever I feel like it.

Good on you again, +Google+ Photos !!  

It was tricky today out at Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge.  I went right at Noon - the most unfavorable light there could be.  I made the best of it 8)  I definitely want to go back!

2013-05-16 02:26:13 (51 comments, 80 reshares, 137 +1s)

Hey photographers under

Home>Settings> 
you probably want to uncheck these two boxes  Or just the first one, if you don't want auto-contrast, brightness, noise-reduction settings done on your photo by Google+ automatically.

The second one just will make animated GIFs out of photos in a series. Or collages.   Not really an issue.

2013-05-15 21:30:24 (14 comments, 4 reshares, 157 +1s)

Another Thistle - today - Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge.

Mostly so I can SQUEEEE at the new Google+ layout OF LOVE.  Oh my god, I love it so much, so much, so much. SO MUCH! /bouncebounce

Looks like dragging/dropping still just goes to "Photos from Posts" but that's ok.  

+Google+ Everything about this layout is LOVE.  It is so good.  Just, big thumbs up!!!

2013-05-18 17:09:04 (15 comments, 9 reshares, 223 +1s)

Pretty sure this is a Thistle?  But really I have no earthly idea, I just like taking pics of flowers, I never know what they are.

Growing wild, Pee Dee National Wildlife Preserve, NC   today 8)   Was only able to spend 45 minutes there but I plan to go back soon™

2013-05-15 13:26:05 (46 comments, 36 reshares, 415 +1s)

After all, is it not the way we humans shape the universe, shape time itself? Do we not take the raw stuff of chaos and impose a beginning, middle, and end on it, like the simplest and most profound of folktales, to reflect the shapes of our own tiny lives? And if the physicists are right, that the physical world changes as it is observed, and we are its only known observers, then might we not be bending the entire chaotic universe, the eternal, ever-active Now, to fit that familiar form?

If so, the universe, from the finest quantum dust to the widest vacuum spaces, does indeed have a shape. It begins, ‘Once upon a time….’

--Tad Williams, Otherland, Sea of Silver Light

I just finished Otherland re-read a few days ago.  It was magnificent reading it again.  I had forgotten a lot in the last 10 years or so since I read it the first time.
That ... more »

2013-05-15 05:46:05 (56 comments, 38 reshares, 234 +1s)

Seen from +Liz Super Cheers earlier today in a locked post.

I love this kiss  Everything about it is delicious.  It's also how I am kissed all the time, so probably why I'm liking it so much. ;)

(Just sitting here waiting for my new Camera battery to charge, so yeah, looking at pretty GIFs isn't so bad.)

2013-05-14 20:29:09 (84 comments, 1 reshares, 155 +1s)

OH MY GOD This was my birthday present from my husband!!

It was out of stock so a bit belated but... OH MY GOD I just snapped this with my GalaxyS3, thank you Google+ Instant Upload :D

My delightful loving husband, I can't believe it :)  I'm charging the battery right now, I cannot wait to go out with it!  Now I can send my MkII out to get the sensor cleaned, muahaha :)  I am slapping my 24-70mm on this baby and never letting go. <3 <3 <3

(I know some of you will sneer with contempt and your first thought will be "oh god why waste such a machine on her well, here's a bird or three for you.  I'm sure there will be plenty of you and I know you're out there.)

2013-05-13 14:32:51 (25 comments, 12 reshares, 248 +1s)

Another shot of my roaming day yesterday.  *Somewhere in North Carolina* and I couldn't really even tell you where we were.  We just picked a direction and drove.  It's become a fun little way to pass some weekends :)  Next time I'll make my daughter come and be my model - this shot is just wanting a pretty girl in it, standing on the road.

(Was going to write up a long post today regarding a book I just finished, but I'll keep it to photos until Google figures out this whole "relevancy algorithm" business.)

2013-05-12 21:13:06 (25 comments, 7 reshares, 210 +1s)

Went roaming today - sometimes you take an interesting turn.  We opted to turn around :p

2013-05-12 17:31:01 (6 comments, 6 reshares, 65 +1s)

Saw this last night. The Great Gatsby  It was very good.  Can't really spoil it, since the story has been out for 90 years.  :)   I loved it.

The CGI was dodgy in a few places, and that's really a shame - because there is no real excuse for that, but it was noticeable.  

I thought it hit all the right notes.  

2013-05-11 20:30:43 (82 comments, 37 reshares, 395 +1s)

Seen on FB - but I agree with the sentiment 100%

2013-05-09 15:52:51 (161 comments, 4 reshares, 541 +1s)

So, this happened.  *I recently turned 40*   I said I'd do a pic when I did and here it is.  I didn't airbrush anything and it should be big enough to see all my wrinkles and spots.  My daughter said my wrinkles were all from smiling and so that's why they're still pretty.  She is a sweet, lovely girl :)

I think this one I'm leaving up for good.  I can be 40 forever. :)

2013-05-09 15:21:44 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 17 +1s)

My current jam for today :)

2013-05-08 01:41:00 (29 comments, 19 reshares, 381 +1s)

There is a very good reason why England is my favorite place on earth. <3

An old one from 2010, when I was still shooting JPG.

2013-05-07 18:42:33 (14 comments, 7 reshares, 122 +1s)

Downloaded Cartoon Camera Pro whilst waiting in my hair salon. I am digging it!

Got it on the google play store.

2013-05-07 12:25:12 (85 comments, 7 reshares, 80 +1s)

It seems that a lot of people misunderstand the blocking feature.  

I'm so well acquainted with this feature of Google+ that I thought I'd give everyone a little refresher course!

What blocking does (as in the image below - I used my husband's profile as an example, since he won't mind and I won't be blocking him LOL)

Blocking will only keep someone from commenting on your content.

Blocking someone keeps you from seeing THEIR posts in your stream, but if you never had them circled, you wouldn't anyway, so kind of pointless there Google but whatever.

Blocked people STILL SEE YOUR PUBLIC POSTS <-- most common misconception.

Blocked people are removed from your circles IF you had them circled to begin with.  If you did not have them circled, obviously nothing happens.
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2013-05-06 00:15:50 (0 comments, 20 reshares, 354 +1s)

Game of Thrones ohhh yeah it's on!!!!!!

Episode 6.  Wooot.

No comments, no spoilers! :P

2013-05-04 18:51:55 (24 comments, 61 reshares, 184 +1s)

Texas to Alaska to Argentina and Back on a Motorcycle, 500 days, 80,000+ miles
Some amazing sights and some frightening roads (and some of the ways I'd hardly call a road or even a path!)... very entertaining! (cool music too)

2013-05-04 01:07:25 (40 comments, 29 reshares, 149 +1s)

Articles like this get zero play, so I've learned not to share them.  No one likes them.  Or very few people like them or are interested in them.

But stuff like this is where the good stuff is and where science fiction is becoming a reality, right in front of our very eyes.  These are the places that I frequent on the 'net and what I am interested in (whom I follow is very different than who follows me, I have your usual suspects but the rest are all historians and scientists) and I really can't get enough of it.

I guess I let my guard down from time to time and just post it.  I mean I already posted a stupid Cat gif today and a movie review.

http://beta.spectrum.ieee.org/nanoclast/semiconductors/nanotechnology/nanosponges-soak-up-antibioticresistant-bacteria-and-toxins

2013-05-03 23:35:50 (41 comments, 30 reshares, 356 +1s)

Just got back from Iron Man 3 was quite fun, quite good!  Stay til the end credits for a cute little scene as well.  Marvel is always cool like that :)

I thought they did a much better than #2 which was a hack job, even for a popcorn flick like these.  It is very hard to beat +Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark - his charm fills up the screen with every scene.  Enjoyed ourselves, excellent cast, fun script belly full of popcorn and candy. 

Saw it in IMAX 3D as well, not sure how much wasn't 3D but it was really lovely.

2013-05-03 18:08:45 (40 comments, 99 reshares, 251 +1s)

as the Reddit title says;  LEEEEERROYYYY MMMJENNKIIIINSSSSS

lol :)

2013-05-03 14:31:25 (16 comments, 2 reshares, 107 +1s)

For those that know, there is no reason to explain how I was doing a /dancedancedance being here back in 2008.

For those that need an explanation; you wouldn't give two tiny shits anyway.

Had delicious Bangers and Mash here, they make award winning stuff.

2013-05-03 14:15:43 (31 comments, 2 reshares, 122 +1s)

SPAZ  This was 2005

That's Robert Jordan :) <3 <3 <3   I waited first in line at DragonCon to meet him.  It was spectacular.

Authors (the good ones anyway) are something altogether special and absolutely elevated human beings.  

2013-05-03 13:35:46 (19 comments, 1 reshares, 72 +1s)

Oh my god!!!!  This is the only snap I have left of anything related to my High School.  Bwahhaha, this is a thousand years old.  I think I was in my 10th year here.  

Yep, Theater geek here.  I did shows from my 5th year to one year at Uni.  8 years of my life acting, mwahahaha.  

Everyone just totally assumed I'd head down to L.A. - hell, I thought I would, too.  Until the specter of actually going down there loomed after graduation.  I chickened out royally.  But I'm glad I did.  I love my life I have now. :)

2013-05-03 13:27:55 (16 comments, 1 reshares, 84 +1s)

It's golden oldie time!  This is my son at like 4 months old, almost 20 years ago :)  He used to sit and watch Star Trek: The Next Generation with me in that chair, I'd chill on the floor with him.  

He looks a bit worried, doesn't he? I wasn't very camera happy back then 8)  Too busy!

2013-05-02 22:43:22 (16 comments, 35 reshares, 252 +1s)

Life Collosus by Akimen for the online game Rift

http://akiman.deviantart.com/art/Rift-Life-Collosus-213835241

Talk about some gorgeous, beautiful outstanding artwork!

Maybe if I practiced for another 10 years I will get a tiny bit of this skill. :)  

2013-05-02 13:08:27 (32 comments, 7 reshares, 164 +1s)

Also: #thorsday  Because Vladimir Kulik actually is Thor.  Look at this guy.   Chris Hemsworth has nothing on this guy.

Not really substantive posts today, just not feeling it.  #splashingthepot

2013-05-02 13:01:48 (63 comments, 18 reshares, 136 +1s)

I think 75% of the time I'm here I write comments and then delete them to not cause issues.  

I mean, I warn people right on my profile.  I have opinions. (But who cares, everyone does.)

But it's just not worth it most of the time.   You don't even have to have a wild/crazy/mean opinion.  It could simply be disagreeing.  Still not worth it to bring it up.

Do you filter what you say on social media?  I think it's a good idea.

2013-05-01 23:43:25 (20 comments, 3 reshares, 74 +1s)

Camelot Unchained funded!!  

There is still 16 hours to get in on it!  

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/13861848/camelot-unchained

2013-05-01 16:32:34 (51 comments, 26 reshares, 413 +1s)

My garden never fails to be mysterious and enchanting.  I'm very lucky ^_^

Today is Beltane, the ancient festival of fertility and the beginning of summer.  I spotted these Domos having a bonfire and so I surreptitiously crept up and tried not to scare them - and document it!

This is hopefully something to cheer up a very great lady who is a bit low.  I hope this gives her a smile :) #weloveyoupemberton   +kimberton pemberly 

2013-04-30 13:31:35 (38 comments, 19 reshares, 329 +1s)

Look what I just wandered into in my garden this morning for #toytuesday  !!

These cute little fellas were very friendly. :)

The curator for this tag is +Lars Clausen who has been enchanting us with his adorable Toy Photography since the very beginning of Google+

2013-05-01 09:42:29 (18 comments, 23 reshares, 344 +1s)

Back to photos.  /grumble

"Every moment of one's existence one is growing into more or retreating into less. One is always living a little more or dying a little bit."
-Norman Mailer

2013-04-29 22:24:25 (31 comments, 5 reshares, 48 +1s)

Scanned from my Departures magazine.  I thought it incredibly telling and fascinating.

What top photographers really think of Instagram

"It's very of the moment.  Fast and little edited and a bit too much all the same thing.  Images start to look alike in this context.  Posting is a creative output and at the same time an act of self-indulgence.  Is it really your moment or a shared Instagram moment?"  -Ilan Rubin

"I don't like to use digital that much, and I don't use social media either.  I use large-format film.  My motto is: 'Film is made to remember, digital is made to forget."  -Robert Polidori

"I stink at Instagram!!!!  I am such a voyeur!  So much fun! I love it!" -Jennifer Livingston

"Oh dear no.  Guess I don't keep up.  I don't bombard friends with pix." -Mary Hilla... more »

2013-04-29 17:00:08 (140 comments, 7 reshares, 182 +1s)

So my two posts this morning were impulsively posted - as I wanted to really cover this topic.

My son is at University.  He came down this weekend with his girlfriend to visit and to bring some stuff down from his Residence Hall before finishing up this year and moving back for the summer.  He related this story to me;

He was walking home from his girlfriend's Residence Hall at about midnight.  A pretty fast clip, but just walking.  Another girl came down some stairs and started walking in front of him.  He was probably 12 feet or so behind her at this point.  But realize, he was already on the sidewalk - she turned in front of him.

As they are going along he notices that she speeds up considerably.  Eventually pumping up the speed to a jog.  Simply because he was a man, walking behind her.  He felt terrible.  He told me he didn't want to say anything toher to as... more »