Crappy Bird Image May Be Worth Thousands of Dollars

The Best Things on the Internet Ain't Free

 

 

They have lots of freebies on that WWW-Thingy but, not all photos are that way.

For example, none of the photos, I post online are free.

 

This pigeon photo is worthless and, I wasn't planning on selling it.

But, if I put it on the internet, somebody might take it.

If they take it without my consent we could have a big party, thanks to DMCA.

That's the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998.

After the party, I'd sober up and probably order some more cameras and lenses.

To Fully Understand You Have to See This

 

The $8,000 Mistake That All Bloggers Should Beware by KARI DEPHILLIPS 

It had to be the most enjoyable blog, I've read so far, this year.

What a gal. She had to get a lawyer because somebody snitched a photo.

She got a great discussion going in the comments.

Over an hour, I spent, reading everything.

Entertaining and lively, it was.

She even calls the attorney names.

Me too, I think lawyers are a bunch of leeches.

But, I wouldn't put that in writing.

Oops.

The Moral of the Story

Don't steal photos from photographers who post them online.

Even if you think it's not worth a dime.

A crappy bird picture may cost you a few thousand bucks.

If somebody asks me nicely, I could give this one away for free !

Best to put it all in writing, nice and legal-like.

They have these things called laws.

Before Taking Your Clothes Off Tonight Read This !

It Could Have Made the Silly Sign Page

 

This was the first photo I shot on the way to the 2013 Sabani Boat Race.

The ferry ride from Okinawa to Zamami Island can get boring if you don't know what to do.

Most people hangout in the air conditioned compartments, not me.

On the upper deck, out in the fresh air, is where I like to be.

When I saw the sign, DO NOT TAKE OFF CLOTHES, I had to shoot it.

They must have had a problem with people getting naked up there, in the past.

 It got me wondering.  Where did they think they were, in Europe or something ?

Now That I Have Your Attention

 

 

 

There's something funny going on these days with the internet thingy.

Fooling around with the social networks gets some traffic on websites so, we all use them.

The Facebook dude, I like to call Zuckerberganator, is really alright, sometimes.

And, the folks over at Twitter, spread a lot of information, too.

Being an old guy, though, I can't sit all day squinting at the little tweets and shares.

It's been around awhile now, that Google+ thing and, I just started using it.

Some of the guru dudes I met online are saying things like this:

It looks like the Googlenator will gobble all the other social networks-up.

 Before you go to sleep tonight join me over there.

Then, it'd be alright to take your clothes off and have a good night's sleep.

The real Silly Signs may be seen in THE DOOZIES

A Million Views: It Happened Sometime Last Night !

One Million Views !!!

This happened a lot faster than I could have ever imagined.

The Blogger thing just took-off and hit 1,000,000 overnight.  Before I woke up.

The view-meter was at 1,000,061 when I got here this morning.

Here is the Screenshot

 

The contest is over. It will probably be this weekend before we determine the winner.

One million views, on a blog from Okinawa, Japan is a pretty big deal.

Call me a redneck, if you'd like. There's a little secret, I should probably tell you.

Five years ago, I didn't know how to turn a computer on so, I called a friend named, Joe.

And, he came over. He showed me where the power button was and hooked me up.

Then, we got the internet thing and wired me to the World Wide Web.

Through many trials and lots of errors, this blog got where it is today.

And, I made some great friends, around the world, along the way.

This internet thing, I used to be scared of may really take-off, someday.

Dontcha think ?

 

What Happens Next

 

The Blog and Facebook Pages, where contest entries were made, will be printed.

With the Ryukyu Dudes assistance we will pick the winner.

As promised, this will be a random selection, done redneck style. 

No fancy machinery, other than a pair of scissors and somebody's baseball hat.

Snip all the names from the contest entries and throw them in a hat.

Then, somebody just reaches down and pulls out the winner.

We'll find a pretty girl.  Thataway, nobody can say the contest was rigged. She does the picking.

Maybe, I'll even wear a tuxedo, or a T-shirt that looks like one.

Dang.  I hate getting all dressed up.

This thing is gonna hafta wait 'til the weekend.  But, we'll getterdun. 

Meanwhile, I'd like to thank everybody for visiting here.

Now, this whole internet thing gets me wondering, sometimes.

Do you suppose that meter would break if it hit, let's say 1,000,000,000,000 views ?

Internet Doomsday: What if the Sky is Really Falling ?

Don't PANIC !

The sky ain't falling.

Breaking news came across my internet wires today.

They're talking about some internet blackout/doomsday/virus stuff.

Malware checker dudes, FBI, Facebook, McAfee and some DNS Changer Group 

ALL WANT TO HELP YOU

They say you can go online and get a FREE CHECKUP HERE 

HAH !

Well, I don't think the sky is really falling so, I ain't doing nuthin' right now.

But, if you don't hear from me tomorrow...

... it's probably because I'm hiding in here.

Sooner, or later, if people keep it up, one of these doomsday predictions could come true !

Yahoo ! It's a Dream Come True !

The good folks from YAHOO BROADBAND got this place back online.

It will take awhile to get everything reorganized around here.

Almost two months of work has managed to pile itself  on the back burners.

I want to thank everyone for being patient with me.

A few hundred emails and StumbleUpon mails are waiting for my attention.

Then, there's some editors waiting for articles.

Once I tackle all that stuff and getterdun, my normal routine of craziness will resume.

While you're waiting, you should get plenty of rest.

And, eat more fiber ! 

Visit my homepage for the PHOTO OF THE DAY

Excessive Misery: A Photo Essay

Gloom, despair and agony on me

Deep down depression, excessive misery

If it weren't for bad luck

I'd have no luck at all

Gloom, despair and agony on me

 

It seems like moving to this new location is taking a bit longer than planned.

Hanging around waiting for the electrician, telephone company and internet dude, I keep busy.

Like, I probably played over 10,000 Solitaire games, and even won a few.

 

The telephone people came one day and put a brand new wire on the pole.

But, the doohickey thing that makes internet run ain't here, yet.

One way to make sure a whole bunch of people show up is to paint the floor.

It hasn't worked, so far.  But it ain't dry, yet.

We'll just have to wait and see.

Gloom, despair and agony on me. Groan.


Visit my homepage for the PHOTO OF THE DAY

Photo Essay: Another Day in the Temporary Office

 

Here is quick look at the temporary office I've been using.

 

What I try to do is get there early in the morning.

That way I can get the laptop warmed up and hog up my favorite four seats.

It's a nice clean place with hi-speed internet service and friendly people.

While I'm working online I drink lots of fresh coffee.

They even got my drinking this stuff called Bubble Tea.

There will be a full report coming on that stuff later but, if you just can't wait, GO HERE.

 By the end of the month I should be moving down the street to my new office.

It's really going to be different from where I'm at right now.

 It might take awhile for me to adjust to the new office environment.

For sure, I'll miss those gals being nice to me and bringing me coffee and tea.

But, I just noticed a little Richamocha Cafe motor scooter parked out front.

So, I reckon if I call them once in awhile, they could deliver the stuff to my new place !

Visit my homepage for the PHOTO OF THE DAY

Editor's Picks (Photos) for the Month of March 2012

The Bee and the Iris

White Azalea

Okinawa Iris 2012

The month of March can come in like a lion and go out like a lamb.

It can also come in like a lamb and go out like a lion.

That's what I learned today at ANSWERS DOT COM

It's been a terribly busy month for me so, I didn't enter many photos in contests.

From the photos that were selected as Editor's Picks, you'd think I'm turning into a flower

 photographer, or something.  Hah !  Don't worry, wildlife is still my favorite subject.

The details on how those photos above were taken can be seen by clicking on the titles.

Only, I don't tell the judges everything.

Like, see that bee up there on the iris ?

Well, I was talking to him.

It's pretty hard to shoot a scene like that, the way I want to.

The wind moves the iris petals.  The shadows and light keep changing.

The background in the scene keeps changing.  And bees move around a lot.

Nobody was anywhere near me so, I could say stuff like

LOOK AT THE CAMERA

LET ME SPOT FOCUS ON YOUR EYEBALL

HOLD STILL YOU LITTLE SON OF A BEE

SO, THAT'S WHAT I DID !

Don't let the judges know. OK?

Here's what kept me so busy this month and away from my normal routine.

I did a test article to see if I'd be accepted as a Featured Contributor for Yahoo as an International Travel Writer.

And, I passed the test !

That's good news. But, wouldn't you know it ?

After all the years I spent trying to learn this internet thingy

some knuckleheads decided they're gonna shut it down !

Twice Within a Week

It's been awhile since I've updated here. I've been too busy researching and typing on other people's blogs and neglecting my own.

It started paying-off, though. Twice in the past week my photos and attempts at writing have hit online travel magazines. This photo of a Mud Festival, along with another of dragonboat races got published at http://www.apogeephoto.com/

Another version of my Bullfighting in Okinawa was published 3 days earlier in a travel and culture online magazine http://www.nihonsun.com/2009/07/03/bullfighting-in-okinawa/

One thing I've learned, recently is that this internet thing, I'm always complaining about is a pretty handy tool when it comes to making contacts. You can meet all kinds of professional writers and photographers, help each other out, get published and avoid getting caught in scams (Which there are plenty of, out there).

To all my friends, photographers and writers: Thank You and have a good week !