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Peaceful creek... For #LandscapePhotography  curated by +Margaret Tompkins 
#E620   #Olympus   #FourThirds  

For #macromonday   curated by +Kerry Murphy +Kelli Seeger Kim +Jennifer Eden and late for #floralfriday  curated by +Tamara Pruessner +FloralFriday 
#E620   #olympus  

Wild Violet (Viola pratincola), the prettiest weed...
#FloralFriday curated by +Tamara Pruessner +FloralFriday

Take notice...

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Absolutely genius shot!!!

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WHAT A SHOT!
Source: kasparallenbach.ch
#costa #concordia #Italy #ship #photography

Ah... THAT is a good start for any day... I love a great sunrise!

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Another ripple...

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Art Thursday.

The Nudity in Art History.

Let the flagging begin. #googlepluscensorship #occupygpluscensorship

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Thank you for speaking up +Bryan Jones

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#occupygpluscensorhip

I support freedom of speech
Not only in the streets of America, but also in the streams of G+

I've been living in China for over six years now. And it still never ceases to amaze (and amuse) me that the government believes it can control what people read, think and say. But, hey, it's their country and the powers that be are entitled to their indubitably doomed opinion.

Publicly, I grin and bear it. I give mianzi, or face, to the Chinese way. Privately, I grimace and VPN the hell out of it. I have to...if I want access to information, instead of propaganda. Or when I want my G+ fix. Or even if I want to work on Google Docs.

It's my choice to continue living in China, so I live with, endure the consequences. But when I log onto G+...whether it's to dip my toes or to do a total belly flop in people's streams...I'm looking for a breath of fresh air. Not a cloud of more oppression.

Censorship isn't just wrong. It's evil. Plain and simple. Period.

Now, I understand that this is Google's game and they make the rules. But that doesn't mean the rules are right. Or that they can't be changed. Or shouldn't be changed. Take the nymwars as a prime example.

The Chinese have a saying – meibanfa, which simply means "nothing can be done." Nothing I can do. So why bother? Why make trouble for myself? Or my family? Which pretty much explains why some change in China is godawful slow. Although I personally see more and more people chaffing under the yoke each and every year.

But, I'm American. Google is American. I believe in doing no evil. Google believes in doing no evil.

What's wrong with this picture?

And, I mean this...quite literally. What's "wrong" with this image? Or that image? Whose place is it to determine which image is "right" or "wrong?" Are we not all 18+ adults on Google Plus? If something is beyond the pale for you...for your tastes or your beliefs...by what right do you choose, or dictate to me, what I can read or see?

Personally, I've run out of patience with people who are flagging images. [Just now, I see that my re-share of a +Paul Roustan post with his body painting images has been flagged.] More importantly, however, I've run out of patience with Google. The policy is not only innately ridiculous for an adult community, it reeks of the kind of oppression that is intolerable.

Therefore, a call to virtual arms!

Along with my diatribe, I have included visual protests to Google's policy. A challenge, if you will. Some of them have been flagged and censored on G+. Some of them have not. None of them offend me. If they offend you...move on, ignore, block, flag...censor away.

If you agree with me, I ask you to please PUBLICLY RE-SHARE this post.

I want to start an occupygpluscenshorship movement. I want to create a Ripple with this post. I want you to create your own Ripple. Please publicly re-share this post. Then publicly share your own post with your own images.

If you agree with me, please don't just +1 this. Pluses are nice...and welcome. But do more than plus it. Publicly re-share. And then do your own post. The more people who protest Google's policy, the more Ripples we create. If we can create enough whitewater, we will get Google's attention.

Please PUBLICLY RE-SHARE! Please join in...

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Honoured to be included in this select circle, thank you +Margaret Tompkins 

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>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Great Photographers With < 10,000 Followers

The photographers here are all in my personal circles.  The choices are mine and mine alone.  No one asked, begged, or pleaded to belong.  No bribes were offered or accepted.  These are the people that I follow because I appreciate their great quality photography and their interaction.  Most I have met as I help curate several of the photography themes.  There are NO requirements to share this circle.  I would appreciate the people in this circle plus the post, leave a comment, and share the circle as public.  

Each profile has been verified by me.  Most have < 10,000 followers (when they were put into the circle).  They each have high quality original photography content.  You won’t find many animated gifs!  I have included myself in the circle and also the landscape page.  Many are fairly new to G+ so please make them feel welcome!!

Landscape Photography:  I invite everyone to check out the +Landscape Photography  #LandsacapePhotography theme.  If you want to impress me, that’s the place to do it!!  Post a great landscape that will get my attention.  See the About tab for all the details.

I wasn’t included, what do I do?  If you meet the criteria, weren’t included, but think you should be, then leave me a comment.  Maybe I don’t know about you.  There are millions of people on G+ and I don’t know everyone.  However, I’ll be happy to have a look at your work if you will call it to my attention.  Start posting landscapes that get my attention (see above)!!

There’s a really great photographer XXX that you didn’t include.  Please feel free to recommend qualified people.  I discover new people every day and would be happy to look at their work.  Please make sure that the recommended person meets the criteria.  If they don’t then that tells me a lot about you!

#Circleshare   #Sharedcircles  

Getting ready to leave on vacation for the next couple of weeks... I will be back just before Xmas and hopefully with loads of photos to process... Most won't notice I'm away, but for those who do, I'll be back soon.
Take care!

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In Hoc Signo Vinces  
for #SacredSunday  by  +SacredSunday™ , +Manfred Berndtgen , +Robyn Morrison ,  +Chatchai Rombix , +Justin Hill ,  +Steve Barge , +Carolyn St.Charles  & +Sherrie von Sternberg and 
for #hqspcarpediem  by +Alison Thurston 
#E620   #Olympus   #FourThirds   #pixelworld   #hdrphotography  

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Also for   #landscapephotography  and #hqsplandscape  curated by  +HQSP Landscape  +Delcour Eric  &  +Ara MO 

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Added photos to AllThingsRed Sub-Theme Announcement - RURAL LIFE.

Added photos to AllThingsRed Sub-Theme Announcement - RURAL LIFE.

Quote from 2 Broke Girls: "Twitter is stupid, and Instagram is Twitter for people who can't read... " Just overheard on TV!
I almost choked...(•‿•)

This one is for #streetartsunday  curated by +Luís Pedro & +Peter Tsai 
#E620   #Olympus   #FourThirds  

Brilliant work... Crazy storm!

In case you have him in your Circles and hadn't noticed, the profile of Jason Hurtado Daniels is no longer reachable and gives a 404 error...
https://plus.google.com/107342445128902420647

A wink at my Scottish friends... For #floralfriday  curated by +Tamara Pruessner 
and #hqsppromotion  by +Carina Marsh +Marina Versaci +Syuzanna Avetisyan +Mukundh B +Thierry Raemaekers +Tammy Boldt +Rinus Bakker 
#E620   #Olympus   #FourThirds  

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Thank you for sharing +Paul Spoerry 

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Yahoo Compromised... change your pw

In between City and country  for #landscapephotography  curated by +Margaret Tompkins 
#E620   #Olympus   #FourThirds  

For #TreeTuesday  curated by +Christina Lawrie and +Shannon S. Myers I wonder if it is cheating if it is from last October?
#E620   #Olympus   #FourThirds  

For #FloralFriday  with my sympathies +Tamara Pruessner 
#E620   #Olympus   #FourThirds   

For #Tuesdecay  curated by +Ian Ference 
#E620   #Olympus   #FourThirds  

Spring going to summer in full bloom downtown Montreal... And it smells great too!
#E620   #Olympus   #FourThirds  

For #floralFriday  curated by +Tamara Pruessner +FloralFriday 
#E620   #Olympus   #FourThirds  

For #FloralFriday  curated by +Tamara Pruessner +FloralFriday 
#E620   #Olympus   #FourThirds  

Peony...For #MacroMonday  curated by +Jennifer Eden +Kelli Seeger Kim +Kerry Murphy and late (early?) for #FloralFriday  curated by +Tamara Pruessner 
#E620   #Olympus   #FourThirds  

Memories of last week for #FloralFriday curated by +Tamara Pruessner

#E620 #Olympus

Protect Canada. Spread the knowledge. Please, re-share!

for #MacroMonday curated by +Kerry Murphy +Kelli Seeger Kim +Jennifer Eden

for #FloralFriday curated by +Tamara Pruessner

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Beautiful composition and gorgeous colours...

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New Website Launch + Print Giveaway!

Hi friends! I'm please to announce the launch of my new website, www.meleahreardon.com, from which you are now able to purchase prints of my work! I will also be providing HDR tips and tutorials for anyone wishing to learn more about HDR photography, and will also work to feature and promote the talent of many skilled photographers on G+ in need of more exposure. Much time and effort has gone into making this site, and I'm happy to first share it here with my awesome G+ community. You all are the best!

In celebration of this launch, and as a thank you for all your support, I'm giving away three 8x10 high quality prints of this image of Mount Rundle. To enter, simply re-share this post, and I will pick three people at random from those who share it. The drawing will occur on Monday morning, and I will print and ship on on Tuesday.

Thank you!

I want "TRENDING ON GOOGLE+", "YOU MAY KNOW" and "YOU MIGHT LIKE" to be moved as entries in the "More..." sub-menu on the left-hand column, and Chat should also be made as a sub-menu entry on the left hand column this way, the 3/5 of my screen on the right could be used as additional width for the main stream an no more wasted White Space.

Hopefully an Extension will do that...

#newgoogleplus #whitespace

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From bad to worse... Every day ...

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#incomingstream

+Google+

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Funny... Gutsy...

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Joie de vivre

This fun photo, shot in Le Louvre in Paris, in front of the famous Henri Regnault's "Three Graces" painting was posted on #Facebook by Jim Harris . The next day it had been removed due to violation of FB community standards, probably driven by complaints, although the reactions from people were overwhelmingly positive.

Jim asks then this question : Whose community? Whose standards? http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/jim-harris/facebook-censorship_b_1250620.html?ref=canada

Let's test reactions here on Google+, as probably there are potentially less kids than over @ FB.

If you feel this is worth sharing, as I do, please send to your circles.

Adding some people who might offer thoughts on this :
+Rodney Pike +Guy Kawasaki +Guy Birenbaum +Chris Brogan +Hugh MacLeod +JD Andrews +Ben Kunz +Denis Labelle +Nina Paley +Franke James +Trey Ratcliff

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I completely agree and since I could not have expressed it better...

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I Want My Incoming Stream Back!!!

+Google+, in my opinion, just made their first major screw up. The Incoming Stream, for those that aren't aware of it, was a stream that included posts from people that have added you to a circle, but you haven't added them. It was an extremely useful tool to quickly browse through posts from the people who've added you, see what they're interested in, and oftentimes, end up adding them to a circle.

At the beginning of this month I even issued a challenge entirely based on it (https://plus.google.com/100035762233109552669/posts/5CWJ13dGseJ) It was a fun way of getting people to get to know one another, to interact with someone that perhaps on the surface they didn't share much in common with, and maybe find something surprising.

Well, that's no longer possible. Earlier today, Google removed this stream. Posted here (https://plus.google.com/113882113745075873153/posts/Rjt66GLtnA2) is the explanation for that choice, and I think it's foolish. The Suggested User list is not an adequate replacement for this feed. All it does is showcase high level G+ users, not those lesser known people who are constantly posting great content. In fact, the Suggested User list is largely useless. +Carter Gibson summed up the reasons why perfectly here: https://plus.google.com/115121555137256496805/posts/TWbvJ6qPMLU

The "What's Hot" list? Please. 90% of what I see there are cat gifs, posts from +Mike Elgan (which, since I follow him, I'm already seeing), and various posts from celebrities that I don't care about. Not useful.

They say that you can still see the people who circled you under the Circles button above. While true, it's useless for doing what the Incoming Stream did. A huge list of names does nothing for me. Do you really expect me to find the time to check the profiles of, at the time of this writing, 829 different people? There simply aren't that many hours in a day. Even if I were to delegate only 5 minutes per person, this task would take me just under 70 hours to complete. I'm not doing that. Would any of you?

In the comments for both +Dave Besbris's original post and +Natalie Villalobos's repost, I've seen people saying that they never used it anyway. Chances are, they didn't do that because they didn't know what it was. I'll admit, this was something that was never really explained very well, and it's only though trial and error did I figure it out. Once I did, I made almost daily use of it.

The solution to this was to perhaps rename the feature, or simply provide a better explanation of what it did...not to remove the feature for those of us who were using it.

I truly feel that Google made the wrong choice here, and I really hope they reverse it. The Incoming Stream was a valuable tool I used to decide who among the people that circled me should be circled back based on the content they posted here, and not having it changes a large part of my Google+ experience.

I want my Incoming Stream back.

Thank you for caring +1'ing and re-sharing...

Please, show you care, sign the petition here: http://goo.gl/fCmZw

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Let it ripple forcefully...

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#occupygpluscensorship

I support freedom of speech
Not only in the streets of America, but also in the streams of G+

I've been living in China for over six years now. And it still never ceases to amaze (and amuse) me that the government believes it can control what people read, think and say. But, hey, it's their country and the powers that be are entitled to their indubitably doomed opinion.

Publicly, I grin and bear it. I give mianzi, or face, to the Chinese way. Privately, I grimace and VPN the hell out of it. I have to...if I want access to information, instead of propaganda. Or when I want my G+ fix. Or even if I want to work on Google Docs.

It's my choice to continue living in China, so I live with, endure the consequences. But when I log onto G+...whether it's to dip my toes or to do a total belly flop in people's streams...I'm looking for a breath of fresh air. Not a cloud of more oppression.

Censorship isn't just wrong. It's evil. Plain and simple. Period.

Now, I understand that this is Google's game and they make the rules. But that doesn't mean the rules are right. Or that they can't be changed. Or shouldn't be changed. Take the nymwars as a prime example.

The Chinese have a saying – meibanfa, which simply means "nothing can be done." Nothing I can do. So why bother? Why make trouble for myself? Or my family? Which pretty much explains why some change in China is godawful slow. Although I personally see more and more people chaffing under the yoke each and every year.

But, I'm American. Google is American. I believe in doing no evil. Google believes in doing no evil.

What's wrong with this picture?

And, I mean this...quite literally. What's "wrong" with this image? Or that image? Whose place is it to determine which image is "right" or "wrong?" Are we not all 18+ adults on Google Plus? If something is beyond the pale for you...for your tastes or your beliefs...by what right do you choose, or dictate to me, what I can read or see?

Personally, I've run out of patience with people who are flagging images. [Just now, I see that my re-share of a +Paul Roustan post with his body painting images has been flagged.] More importantly, however, I've run out of patience with Google. The policy is not only innately ridiculous for an adult community, it reeks of the kind of oppression that is intolerable.

Therefore, a call to virtual arms!

Along with my diatribe, I have included visual protests to Google's policy. A challenge, if you will. Some of them have been flagged and censored on G+. Some of them have not. None of them offend me. If they offend you...move on, ignore, block, flag...censor away.

If you agree with me, I ask you to please PUBLICLY RE-SHARE this post.

I want to start an occupygpluscenshorship movement. I want to create a Ripple with this post. I want you to create your own Ripple. Please publicly re-share this post. Then publicly share your own post with your own images.

If you agree with me, please don't just +1 this. Pluses are nice...and welcome. But do more than plus it. Publicly re-share. And then do your own post. The more people who protest Google's policy, the more Ripples we create. If we can create enough whitewater, we will get Google's attention.

Please PUBLICLY RE-SHARE! Please join in...

#gplushalloween ... I'm told this looks disgusting...

Time for a little contribution for Internet Freedom... Please +1 re-share and SIGN the petition...

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Can't wait! Especially considering that " the circuitry uses readily-available low-cost components and can integrate into existing fibre optic infrastructures. "
Anyway one looks at it, it is good news!

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Broadband speeds of 100 Gigabit per second coming soon ?

#broadband   #futuretech   #sciencesunday    #europeanunion   #research   #euromaestro  

How would you like to be able to download a film in one second ? How about 20 films in one second ?

European researchers have found a way to have broadband speeds 2 000 times faster than today without a massive hike in costs.

Read the BBC article.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-20183914 

Such is the promise of Optical Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing, or OOFDM.

There are probably less than 10 groups in the world who have been looking at this sort of problem believes the research group.

But they also believe that they are the only group who has an end-to-end system.

This is the only system that we know of in the world that we can demonstrate working in real-time - with a real-time transceiver and a real-time receiver, says the head of the research group. 

Google Fibre offers 1 Gigabit per second connections in Kansas city. 

Maybe Google should be funding this ?

Even better, the circuitry uses readily-available low-cost components and can integrate into existing fibre optic infrastructures. 

How much would you pay for a 100 Gigabit per second connection ?

Watch this clip !

Added photos to #AllThingsRed - subtheme - SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY.

So, Microsoft is betting the house on Windows 8.... Mmmhh ... 

"Thirsty for clean water" 

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All Star Visual Artist  Contributors For  +PixelWorld   
I share the circle with the first supporters!

You may hop on the train by following the rules!

To All My Dear Friends:  If You Share This Circle, Thanks In Advance

ACTUAL SET OF RULES BUT VERY EASY TO FOLLOW

If you want to support this effort please follow these rules!!

1 Are you a kind and communicative person sharing your visual art good content? if yes
2 Reshare the circle public (else this is not going to work)
3 Tag +PixelWorld   or Hashtag   #pixelworld in All Your New Post ,
4 ask for inclusion

+PixelWorld  circle  Curated by +Alberto Carreras 


Thanks for your support:
+Raya Ozruso-Cottrell +dietmar rogacki +David Murphy +Celso Carvalho 
+Laouennig Blodwenn cotance +242Digital.Com +Richard Mabb +Mike Matney +JR Snyder Jr +Jim Brandano +Bo Insogna +Fuad Babayev +Octavio Alonso Maya Castro +art-profiles.com +Pablo Luis Gonzalez +Charlotte Lepage +Simone Zeffiro +Marie Pain +Suzuka Ballentine +CJ Cox +logan hubbard +Barbara Matthews +Leon Sarantos +Lorenzo Montezemolo +Yoli lp +Joe Myeress +Michael Plack +Monica Blatton Art +Anna Ryndak +Sergyum Shapowalow +Jay Henry +Mark Summerfield +Robert Fortenberry +Blake Harrold +Gunnar Kristian Kopperud +Henrik L Andersen +Liz Christian +Frank Thom +Lupe M. Luevano +Joe Urbz +Grobler du Preez +Rumiana Nikolova +Lee Jarratt +Emmett Lollis +Steve Tang +Christopher Prins +Tiago Jorge +Andy Stuart +Vladimir Kraft +Baki Karacay +Cesare Riccardo +Jeremy Lavender +Chantal Lyon +Magnus Ericson +Philippe Cornu-Marquis +Nicolas Green +Jimmy Symons +Stefan K. +Tanja Knorke +Auki Henry +Peter Scharff +Nat King +Vishal Kumar +Mr J Zee +Steven Sherwin +Gena Slash +Mathew Hanley 
Thank you for creating our +PixelWorld 

#circleshare   #sharedcircles     #sharedcircle      #sharedcircles #sharedpubliccircles #circleshare #circlesharing #fullcircleshare #addmetoyourcircles   #pixelworld   #pixelworldcircle  

Based in the  work of +Rinus Bakker +Charles Lupica and  +Peter From 

La réponse à la question Qu'est-ce qu'un athlète (Olympique ou non) n'est manifestement pas la même partout. Les valeurs humaines non plus.

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Another little push...

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We're just 1,200 signatures shy of reaching 100,000 on our http://StopTheTrap.net/ petition. With so many standing tall against the TPP's Internet trap, the collective voice of the pro-Internet community is getting louder.

Following the continued secrecy and silence surrounding the TPP, it doesn't seem like trade representatives and lobbyists are taking this seriously. In fact, Canada has been excluded from upcoming negotiations (http://bit.ly/LSP0zG) due to an imposed 'waiting period' that will be in effect until September. 

We're not waiting to get their attention. Help share this image and let's force the TPP to show its cards at http://StopTheTrap.net/.

For those of you who like all those fantastic pictures one finds on G+, I suggest 2 extensions I personally love and find absolutely indispensable. 
The first one is "Remove the limits of G+" by +Cem İnceçınar, you can find it here: http://goo.gl/aMMrB and I bet you will love the new look of your stream once you have it installed.
The second one is "G+ Full Size Image Viewer" by +Harry Ledley which you can find here: http://goo.gl/YeXWd just right click on a picture after you have installed it and select "View G+full size image" on the context menu.

Enjoy... and re-share if you find them worth it...
#photography   #landscapephotography   #macromonday   #floralfriday   #treetuesday   #hqsppromotion  

As this page devotes itself to taking time to really see and listen and and get to know someone, it is really worth taking the time to look at and appreciate. Hopefully you will and that it 'll move you as much as it did me.

Fuzzy!!  Here is another entry for #leavesonthursday  curated by +Marilou Aballe, +Margaret Tompkins and +Ray Bilcliff 
#E620   #Olympus   #FourThirds  

That tree couldn't fit in the picture... for #TreeTuesday  curated by +Christina Lawrie and +Shannon S. Myers 
#E620   #Olympus   #FourThirds  

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Easy enough... Now to get a pic worth enough... Not so easy!

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12 TOP Google+ Photographs for June 27
=================================
#PlusPhotoExtract

YOUR photo could be in the supporter section in the next daily Google+ TOP!

How? It's easy:
.

1) Share publicly this G+ post

2) Choose one of the best photographs you have published on G+ and leave a comment with a link under the original G+ post:
https://plus.google.com/111873853137122484021/posts/XzdBQabytxG
Jarek Klimek will manually choose one of those photos and place it in the supporter section in the TOP for the next day!


Indicate your best photographs to the Plus Extract algorithm:
https://plus.google.com/111873853137122484021/posts/37u6oWycU3K

Plus Extract FAQ:
https://plus.google.com/111873853137122484021/posts/LqrTRbP7Cpb

#photography             #potd  
.

For #MacroMonday     curated by +Kerry Murphy   +Kelli Seeger Kim  and +Jennifer Eden  
#E620   #Olympus   #FourThirds  

For #FloralFriday  curated by +Tamara Pruessner 
#E620   #Olympus   #FourThirds  

Another kick in the Creationists arse....

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This should brightened anyone's day

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This is not a story about a duck. Or a goose. It's about a small miraculous event with a boy named Robbie.

Right up the road from me is Blue Hill at Stone Barns; world famous as one of the centers of the sustainable farming and locavore movements here in the US. They raise all sorts of amazing animals and had just brought in a new flock of Goose called the Toulouse Goose (right) from France. 
They were having a feathered cocktail party, mingling with some of my favorite ducks who I find fascinating, expressive and fabulous.
I was sitting crosslegged on the ground outside their enclosure waiting patiently for them to notice me.
I got lost in studying them when I realized I had company.
An adorable little boy about 4 or 5 years old had sat down right next to me and was staring at the birds (or so I thought.) 
I said "hi" but he didn't answer; rather he just looked at me blankly.
I heard shuffling behind us and looked back to his parents and said "Hello"
They mouthed  to me "he has autism." 
I paused and then asked them his name.
The said "Robert but everyone calls him Robbie."
So I turned back and said "Hi Robbie" and started telling him about the geese and ducks; how special they were. How I loved listening to them speak and sing and how messy they were when taking a drink ...like my daughter Lindsey who always leaves clues as to what she's had to eat or drink.
All he did was look at me blankly.
I went back to shooting. I had my big white 70 - 300mm lens and started clicking away. About 50 or so shots in I happened to look back over at Robbie and he was staring at my camera. I shot some more. And then looked back to Robbie. He was still looking at my camera so intently.
It was a different look and I'm not sure why but I took the camera and put it in front of him to let him look through the eyepiece while I zoomed in.
He started giggling and wiggling, hooting and clapping his hands.
The transformation was amazing.
I looked over at Robbie's parents.
His mom's eyes were moist and his dad looked like he'd won an impossibly huge prize. 
I had chills and my voice cracked when I said "someone needs to buy someone their first camera." 
Robbie's father said "yup...think we're gunna go straight from here."

It was an absolutely magic moment.
An overwhelmingly magic moment. 
I have chills even now as I type this.
I know the power, connection and bliss I feel with a camera in my hand.
I know how it has added something amazing to my life. Transformed my life.
That I could see it (hopefully) take hold of another person was truly spectacular.
Just had to share this moment with you all.

Stay inspired. And perhaps today you can hand some inspiration off to someone special.

For #macromonday  curated by +Kelli Seeger Kim +Kerry Murphy +Jennifer Eden 
#E620   #Olympus  

It's raining...and this one makes me think of the sun... ;)
#LeavesOnThursday  

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Better keep an eye on this....

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When the Message Contains the Envelope: why CCDP is the end of online privacy.
#HPIO UK by +Emma Byrne for +HPUK...

http://h30565.www3.hp.com/t5/UK-Articles/When-the-Message-Contains-the-Envelope-why-CCDP-is-the-end-of/ba-p/3363

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Clearly shows how distorting the flat representation of the earth given by a map is...

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If you dug a hole to the other side of the Earth, where would you come out?

The Antipodes Map, a Google Maps mash-up, will tell you!

I would come out in the middle of the Indian Ocean off the South-Eastern coast of Africa.

http://www.antipodemap.com/

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Interesting development...

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European Commission Accepts Defeat In ACTA,
Embraces Copyright Reform!

In a speech today at Berlin conference re:publica Neelie Kroes, vice-president of the European Commission made some bold statements which merit this news flash.

“The Internet is the new frontier of freedom” said Ms Kroes to an audience of startups and activists in Berlin, acknowledging for the first time the political reality that “we are now likely to be in a world without SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and without ACTA (Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement). Now we need to find solutions to make the Internet a place of freedom, openness, and innovation fit for all citizens.”

This is a remarkable move by the European Commission, which is made in response to the public outcry. Ms Kroes says: “We have recently seen how many thousands of people are willing to protest against rules which they see as constraining the openness and innovation of the Internet. This is a strong new political voice. And as a force for openness, I welcome it, even if I do not always agree with everything it says on every subject.”

In a landmark speech she goes on, stating that freedom online is imperative and acknowledges that the “Internet is the new frontier of freedom”. She addresses the disruption that the new reality of a connected world causes in the world of politics and economics and reminds her audience that “some find that change too disruptive, too challenging, and want to stop it.”

Her conclusion: “But remember how many kinds of freedom we can promote and protect online. Fundamental freedoms – like freedom of speech, and the right to privacy. The freedom to innovate, and to be rewarded and recognised for your own bright ideas in the way you think fit. And the freedom of the Internet architecture as a whole.”

A truly remarkable speech, as for the first time there is a full acknowledgement of the new reality that there is no Europe without a free and open internet. The speech stresses the importance to safeguard this freedom and to fight cyber crime and issues like child pornography so it’s clear the European Commission doesn’t believe in an unregulated internet.

Kroes makes the comparison with the Wild West, as she has done in the past, to defend her attempts to make the Internet safe. She rejects the idea that online freedom and security must come at the expense of each other. “There is no freedom without security; these concepts are interdependent and complementary. I may have the legal right to walk down a particular road at night: but am I truly free to do so, if it is not safe?”

This clearly leaves some room to intervene and opposes the stand of people advocating absolute freedom on the web. However, her main message is “we need to find solutions to make the Internet a place of freedom, openness, and innovation fit for all citizens, not just for the techno avant-garde.”

In the second part of her speech, she stresses the importance of the web for the economic future of Europe. She speaks about “seemingly infinite innovation” powered by the Internet and that “whole industries once based on limitation and control could now be based on customer focus, sharing and interactivity. Freedom online can deliver that potential to innovate: but systems that are dated, closed or complex can strangle it.”

This is a clear attack on the old copyright-based industries. It seems like a smart move as Europe is not the biggest stakeholder here. There is no European Hollywood to protect, so why shouldn’t European startups be at the forefront in creating new services. This is clearly an area where Europe could take the lead and this speech makes it clear that the European committee will be actively leading the way.

Kroes offers aspiring web entrepreneurs help: she promises to remove barriers like the 27 different copyright regulations currently in force. She pledges to give “credit and political recognition” to European startups and mentions the Tech All-Stars competition where the EC tries to find the twelve best startups. For a hall packed of young entrepreneurs this must have sounded like gospel.

Landmark speech to get Europe on track – or still suspicious of new attempts to regulate the web in Europe?

Author: +Max Huijgen

Live stream from re:publica: http://re-publica.de/12/
Speaker list: http://re-publica.de/12/speaker/

See also: http://techallstars.eu/
Picture credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/holgerrings/6995442988/

>Want to receive more #EuroTech news? Subscribe to this page!<
Show your support by plussing the page and sharing it with friends.

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For those of you not (yet!) familiar with Elia's work...

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10 Free (High Resolution) Desktop Backgrounds

Just in case you wanted to spruce up your Desktop or iPad background today, here's a little bit of help. :)

The link to download can be found in the description of each image. The description is above the comments in the light box.

Some storm...

Gotta love Scott Adams...

Really Google?! Really??!!!

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Yes, I very much enjoyed that segment

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Last nights 60 Minutes story on an orchestra created in Kinshasa, Congo. This is one of the most uplifting stories I've seen in a long time. My heart was filled with happiness watching these wonderful people learn and play.

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This was the land of the free...

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Justices Approve Strip-Searches for Any Offense http://nyti.ms/HmbilE

If that doesn't say something about how the Supreme Court is on the fast track to building a country our founders wouldn't recognize, nothing does.

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Bell is already too big for it's breeches ...

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‎"If we care at all about the health, diversity and range of voices in the Canadian media, such ventures need to be turned back." -Carleton U professor Dwayne Winseck, warning Canadians that the Bell/Astral deal.

Let's get geared up and push back against the growing media giants that try to stifle our communications. We've taken huge strides together already, but we're going to need to grow our community to meet the challenges ahead. Tell friends to "like" us on Google + by linking them here [ http://bit.ly/GQGSZF ], and if you haven't already, join our Digital Action Team at http://openmedia.ca/team.

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Gem of quote from Asimov

Source: http://www.geekfill.com/

Brilliant!

I hope lot's of re-shares and +1s will convince this brilliant photographer to join more actively the photogs community on G+...

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So true...

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From natural resources to talent as the source of comparative advantage in the global economy - Tom Friedman nails it

Wonder what happened to Denis Labelle profile (https://plus.google.com/u/0/108384201920217141722) +Natalie Villalobos

Hopefully, this will be a positive review...

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the unaffiliated party will probably enjoy this...

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Correct.

Canada was tagged in Philippe Cornu-Marquis's album.

Takes only a few seconds to complete and send!!!

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Please re-share

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Why beans made me cry in my car today

I understand the definition of a recession and all that. I get the macro economics, but for most people, the economy can be measured by what food they can buy. I just got back from the grocery store and let me tell you, the State of the Union sucks ass.

I've been reducing meat and dairy in our household for my husband's health concerns. We've switched to using beans and lentils and rice as a base for our diet. When I first started doing this, about a year ago, the canned and dried bean part of the aisles were deserted. The shelves were always full, but not many were buying. It's been slowly changing, but what I saw today left me deeply worried. The canned beans were almost gone from the shelves. The aisle was crowded with people eying over the beans, hesitating, and then grabbing cans to put into their nearly empty cart. Same thing with the dried beans.

One younger lady looked so lost, staring and staring at the cans and bags, that I asked her if she was a fan of beans (ice breaker). She wasn't. Had not much idea what to do with them. But money was so tight and the costs of all staples and gas and utilities had left them with $20 to spend for food for the week.

I told her, "We can do this. I can show you what to buy and give you some ideas on how to make it. Very simple and you'll enjoy your meals." And that's what I did. Dried beans, split peas, lentils went into her bag. Bullion cubes. (Don't judge) Garlic bulbs. Rice. A few cans of vegetables. Potatoes and that was it. She had some staples like salt and oil at home so that was good. While I was talking to her, showing her what to buy and writing down a few recipes on the back of a scrap of paper I had in my pocket, I noticed others listening in. As soon as she was on her way, they were asking me if I could help them, too.

I looked at 3 ladies and 1 guy, standing there, looking ashamed. Fucking ashamed. And I was very, very angry. Yeah, this is how it is, now. A very old lady that was looking at the dried peas turned around and said she'd help the guy if I would help the women. So that's what we did.

You know, I'm freaking sick of 'finding' $20 bills that fell out of people's pockets in the grocery line because I know they need a few bucks and probably wouldn't accept it any other way. I'm tired of dropping off food at the food shelf and seeing almost bare shelves and desperate volunteers.

It's a campaign season so I understand that candidates and Parties need to position themselves, but damn it, the economy freaking sucks for huge numbers of us. Those running for office should all be forced to hang out at a grocery store for a few days and then they can talk about the state of the economy and what they propose to do. They should be forced to feed their family on $20 bucks and ask a stranger how to cook some freaking beans because that's how your personal economy is doing.

So yeah. I sat in my car and cried. And if you were there, and you had any kind of humanity left in you, you'd have cried with me.

I DO miss it!! And I wouldn't mind loosing the so-called "What's Hot" non-feature as well as the meaningless Suggestions...

This should be a must read...

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Excellent piece

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Spock would have never acted like that.

As kids, my brothers and I watched re-runs of the original Star Trek series every afternoon. Perhaps because I was the youngest (and the one bullied the most), I dreamed of being Captain James Tiberius Kirk, the hero of every show, who saved the USS Enterprise from a new crisis each episode. Kirk was a badass, never lost a fight. And as I got older, I appreciated his other conquests, too.

But now that I’m a scientist I find myself wishing I had more of the qualities expressed by another crewmember on the Enterprise: Mr. Spock. But not for the reasons you might think.

Mr. Spock is an iconic TV character, but he’s often parodied as the extreme stereotypical scientist. Like many other scientists featured in movies and on TV, Spock is portrayed as quirky. He’s half alien, half human. He has green skin, pointy ears and weird eyebrows. He talks funny. People crack jokes at his expense.

Source: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/01/spock-model-scientist/

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George's Pearls of Wisdom ... priceless!

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Words of Wisdom !!!

A happy and healthy 2012 to all!

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Thanks for the list!

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Dear internet:

As you know, we are all under serious threat of censorship by the ongoing SOPA/Protect IP legislation in the US Congress. Our legislators have demonstrated willful ignorance and dismissal of the dangers of the law they intend to pass. They are, naturally, very well funded for this act.

Regardless of whether this passes, backing this legislation was a declaration of financial war, and we must respond immediately in kind. So I have a simple suggestion for you, to supplement the obvious "call your representatives": worldwide boycott.

Below is a list of companies supporting SOPA. Right now, their return on investment is quite good for doing so; sure, they spend a couple million, but the potential windfall from this legislation — obtained from us, remember — will far exceed that amount. What they need to see is a balancing force on their bottom line — a financial incentive to back out of supporting this legislation.

Do you see a name in the list below that you do business with? A company whose products you currently buy, for which there are alternatives? A company you can harm financially by changing your decisions?

DO SO. And then call them up to tell them why.

Make it so that it's much more painful to them to support this legislation than any possible gain.

While you're at it, send a donation to our friends at eff.org — we need lawyers too, and the EFF is the Internet's law firm.

Sincerely,
Sai

P.S. Want to help me change the system itself? Take a look at +Make Your Laws / makeyourlaws.org.



1-800 Contacts, Inc.
1-800-PetMeds
3M Company
ABRO Industries, Inc.
Acushnet Company
Adidas America
Beam Global Spirits &Wine
Blue Sky Studios, Inc.
Bose Corporation
Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI)
Burberry
CBS Corporation
Comcast
Dow Chemical
Eli Lilly and Company
Estee Lauder Companies
Ford Motor Company
HarperCollins Publishers
Johnson & Johnson
LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton
Major League Baseball
Merck
NBC Universal
National Basketball Association
National Football League
News Corporation
Nike, Inc.
Nintendo
Pfizer
Philip Morris International
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
The Walt Disney Company
Tiffany & Co.
Timberland Company
Time Warner
Underwriters Laboratories Inc.
Universal Music Group Inc.
Viacom
Walmart
Walt Disney Company
Warner Music Group
Xerox Corporation

Source: http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-h3261/money - h/t +Erica Joy

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So, if ALL of the images in an album accompanying a post get flagged, the post itself is censored until review of the IMAGES... Even if the post itself contains nothing wrong... Another policy change required here... Please re-share so this ripples as widely as possible.

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#occupygpluscensorship

Flagged images get you gagged!

It's been more than 24 hours since a number of G+ers, including one concerned Googler, informed me that my original post (OP) now returns an error message saying this post no longer exists. I did not delete my OP.

The post included an album with 22 art/erotica images. Half of them have now been flagged by petty, prudish users who apparently have nothing better to do than purposely track down images that offend them. [Have a look at the screen capture while you can.]

This only serves to highlight my protest against Google's policy. According to the policy, now I am the only one who can view these images. Okay, fair enough.

But I had no idea that the flagging extends to the OP.

Now, no one except me, as the owner of the OP, can access it. You cannot comment, or re-share. I have requested that Google reinstate the OP, but until that happens, if it happens...not only are the images I shared being censored, now my words have been censored as well. That feels rather harsh to me and totally unnecessary.

For those of you asked what happened, now you know. For those of you who asked how you could publicly re-share my OP, the original text is included below.

If you believe in free speech and you would like to help motivate Google to institute some kind of filter mechanism, please PUBLICLY RE-SHARE this post!

It is Google's stated intent to open Google Plus to the 13+ crowd. It seems to me we should strongly encourage Google to implement filters before they open this community to the youngsters. That way all the, ah, kinks can be worked out in advance of the teen boom.

Notes:
1. The typo in the hashtag of the OP has been corrected. If you create your own #occupygpluscensorship post...and I urge you to do so...this will help us group together and lobby Google.

2. A number of you are receiving this directly because you participated in the great discussion on the OP, or re-shared it. Regardless of your opinion, I placed everyone in a censorship circle.

Again, I ask you to please PUBLICLY RE-SHARE this post...

________________________________________

If/when the OP is reinstated: http://goo.gl/qQGEW

I support freedom of speech
Not only in the streets of America, but also in the streams of G+

I've been living in China for over six years now. And it still never ceases to amaze (and amuse) me that the government believes it can control what people read, think and say. But, hey, it's their country and the powers that be are entitled to their indubitably doomed opinion.

Publicly, I grin and bear it. I give mianzi, or face, to the Chinese way. Privately, I grimace and VPN the hell out of it. I have to...if I want access to information, instead of propaganda. Or when I want my G+ fix. Or even if I want to work on Google Docs.

It's my choice to continue living in China, so I live with, endure the consequences. But when I log onto G+...whether it's to dip my toes or to do a total belly flop in people's streams...I'm looking for a breath of fresh air. Not a cloud of more oppression.

Censorship isn't just wrong. It's evil. Plain and simple. Period.

Now, I understand that this is Google's game and they make the rules. But that doesn't mean the rules are right. Or that they can't be changed. Or shouldn't be changed. Take the nymwars as a prime example.

The Chinese have a saying – meibanfa, which simply means "nothing can be done." Nothing I can do. So why bother? Why make trouble for myself? Or my family? Which pretty much explains why some change in China is godawful slow. Although I personally see more and more people chaffing under the yoke each and every year.

But, I'm American. Google is American. I believe in doing no evil. Google believes in doing no evil.

What's wrong with this picture?

And, I mean this...quite literally. What's "wrong" with this image? Or that image? Whose place is it to determine which image is "right" or "wrong?" Are we not all 18+ adults on Google Plus? If something is beyond the pale for you...for your tastes or your beliefs...by what right do you choose, or dictate to me, what I can read or see?

Personally, I've run out of patience with people who are flagging images. [Just now, I see that my re-share of a +Paul Roustan post with his body painting images has been flagged.] More importantly, however, I've run out of patience with Google. The policy is not only innately ridiculous for an adult community, it reeks of the kind of oppression that is intolerable.

Therefore, a call to virtual arms!

Along with my diatribe, I have included visual protests to Google's policy. A challenge, if you will. Some of them have been flagged and censored on G+. Some of them have not. None of them offend me. If they offend you...move on, ignore, block, flag...censor away.

If you agree with me, I ask you to please PUBLICLY RE-SHARE this post.

I want to start an occupygpluscenshorship movement. I want to create a Ripple with this post. I want you to create your own Ripple. Please publicly re-share this post. Then publicly share your own post with your own images.

If you agree with me, please don't just +1 this. Pluses are nice...and welcome. But do more than plus it. Publicly re-share. And then do your own post. The more people who protest Google's policy, the more Ripples we create. If we can create enough whitewater, we will get Google's attention.

Please PUBLICLY RE-SHARE! Please join in...

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"Scary" might not be strong enough...

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"The seedy underbelly of the iPhone" -- amazingly messed up apps. Scary. /by +Troy Hunt