Archive and library #photography
My camera takes photos that are 24 Megapixel and often that translates to a file size of 12 Mb or more. I then resize the folder to a size suitable for the internet which is typically 1 Mb file size per image. The images take up a lot of space on my laptop and video takes up even more. It is essential then to move them onto some kind of removable storage. My archive consists of a 500 Gb external hard drive and I have just bought a 1 Tb flash drive which will become another archive for images, video and music. I can simply move the latest files from the library on my laptop to an archive and free up space.
Blue sky thinking #Sunday #ramble
It’s Sunday morning and so once again I allow you into the labyrinth of neural pathways that is my brain and share my thoughts with you. What’s on my mind this week? I’m still doing social media stuff and trying to share pictures of the community I live in that show it in a positive light. I could do dark industrial pictures of the Black Country but we now have nature reserves and we even have the Black Country forest! Times change and there is no point getting stuck in the past. Industry belongs to a bygone age, we are now producing different things and it can be more fun and be more creative. Anyway, I’m now into blue sky thinking.
Social media and blogging channels #media
It is difficult to engage with users on social media and it is even harder to engage with readers with a blog. To engage with readers with a blog you have to write about subjects they are interested in, or are passionate about. Something quite personal that they identify with is even better.
Building bridges with China #opinion
This week Wolverhampton Wanderers announced a deal to show their matches on pay-to-view television in China. Is this a good idea? Well, Wolves new Chinese owner Jeff Shi must think so. Do I think it is a good idea? Well, I know many Chinese students at the University of Wolverhampton quickly become Wolves fans when they come to Wolverhampton, their halls of residence, Randall Lines, is close to the Molineux stadium. We have to start building bridges with China and with other nations. We can’t become isolationist.
Globalisation risks for investors #investments
Globalisation
Globalisation has to some extent brought us prosperity but it has also brought us cartels and monopolies. Some of these companies have grown so big through the spread of globalisation that they are now very difficult to challenge and so have a virtual monopoly. Facebook, for example, has little competition. There are alternatives in China like QQ but in the western world, Facebook has the power to dominate the market.
Graphic design using PhotoScape
I’ve been using PhotoScape to do some graphic design to publicise a few events. It is fairly easy and very effective. You can not only tell people about your event but show them the location with a picture. Today, I’m doing a photo shoot to raise money for Birmingham’s Children’s Hospital and so designed a graphic to publicise it.
Communication and other worries
It’s Sunday morning and so time for another ramble when I allow you into the deepest recesses of my mind and tell you what I’ve been thinking about this week. As usually, I’m concerned with the weather because I have washing on the line. I’ve also been concerned with my health and with communication.
A walk in the park #life
It’s Sunday morning again and so once again I let you into the innermost recesses of my mind and share my thoughts with you on this sunny Sunday morning. I am, of course, thinking about the weather, we have more showers forecast. I want to go out and take photographs. A walk in the park? Maybe not… (more…)
A Scrooge-like Christmas? #ramble
People haven’t been spending in the shops this week even though stores are cutting prices and having early sales. We do have official austerity and the poorest in society have been hard hit by government policies. (more…)
Santa on social media #Christmas
This week I’ve photographed a Christmas lunch for the elderly and when Santa’s sleigh passed by my house, I grabbed my camera and took a few pictures. The pictures of both events went out quickly on Facebook and helped promote the events. It raised awareness so people feel like it’s Christmas. It has added to all the other Christmas promotions too. (more…)
Images and stories
I designed a new banner for our Facebook history page this morning. Social media is all about engaging with members or fans and keeping interest alive. It’s the same if you run a community group or a small business. (more…)
Life: diversity
Do you remember Christmas when you were a kid? I still remember the things associated with Christmas. We had tangerines at Christmas, now it’s satumas. Whatever happened to tangerines? We had nativities at school and we learnt Christmas carols. Childhood is about learning, the knowledge we gain is the foundation of our lives. (more…)
Want to be a writer?
One of the reasons I started A Zillion Ideas was to give people a chance to write and be published. You have to write to gain experience and having your work published concentrates the mind. You try harder when people are reading your work. Fairy Dharawat has written some good posts and more recently she has been joined by Ramya Raju. I would have liked a few people from the UK too!
Engaging people in the modern world
At one time it was enough to have colleagues and friends. Now we are expected to ‘engage’ people through social media and in other ways. We have LinkedIn for our professional profile and connections. Facebook for less formal ‘friends’ and there are various community groups we can join, rather than going down the pub. (more…)
Psychology | Digital brainwashing
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
We tend to think of spies getting caught when we think about brain washing. The idea was to control the spy, change what they believed and turn them against their own country. The enemy in war is often demonised by governments and the media. They use brainwashing techniques to describe the ‘enemy’ calling them the ‘reds’ or the ‘yellow peril’ or worse. They portray the enemy as inhuman. The reality is quite different, so the spy is confused when he’s caught.
Thrifty Thursday | Walsall again?
The Aldi super-six this week are celery, cucumbers, lemons (3), spring onions, tomatoes (6) and garlic (4). They are all 49p each. That’s the same as last week. I spend ten pounds this week in Poundland, which isn’t difficult.
Psychology | Communication
We tend to have a conflict in our lives between our primitive desires and our desire to improve ourselves. This affects how we communicate with each other. Our lives have become more complicated and so has communication. We are individuals, but we take decisions collectively and need the support of others.
Engaging social media
Social media sites like Facebook and LinkedIn have become an important part of people’s lives. The profiles on these sites are like your front garden, they say something about you. LinkedIn is like the office and having a professional looking profile sends out a message to others about your professionalism. Your Facebook Timeline also says a lot about you. You should be careful what you post there.
Neodigital Art | Timeline pictures
This picture is my my cover picture on my Facebook Timeline. On the left of the picture is my profile photo, just underneath where the sun is in this picture. When you’re doing a photo like this, it’s important to get the text in the right place.
How to start a blog
If you want to start a blog, you have to think about a few things. You are going to be publishing articles and maybe photographs too. You can choose a number of ways to do it. I use WordPress, but I have used Blogger. You also have to think about who will read your blog. Who will your articles appeal to?
Thrifty Thursday ideas
The super-six at Aldi this week are; parsnips (500g), avocado, new potatoes (750g), button mushrooms (150g), red onions (1kg) and butternut squash. They are all 49p each. It’s cold here and it’s a good idea to cook a home made soup or stew to keep out the cold. We need a little more fat in our diets, this weather.
Halloween help wanted
I’ve started with a really spooky picture of Moorcroft Wood today because it’s Halloween. I’ve been building this website up since February and it’s been a struggle. It’s not just about writing, I also have to do publicity. I need help today with publicity.
Education | How the West was lost
Commodore
I remember my first computer in the 1980’s it was a Commodore. I could program it, it had a book that told me how to do it! Can I program my new Samsung? Can I hell as like! They are now made for using programs and playing silly games; keeping in touch with friends using social media and tweeting what you get up to on a night out. Could all this trivial behaviour have something to do with why the Western world is experiencing it’s worst depression for 80 years and countries are going bankrupt? (more…)
How to become Internet famous
Writers, artists and photographers
If you are being creative either as a writer, artist or photographer, you want people to see what you do. Many of my friends are writers and trying to get people to buy your novel is about making a name for yourself. People buy books for many reasons. They like the look of the cover or the blurb on the back sounds good. The most important reason people buy a book though is they have heard of the author. So many of my friends are trying to make a name for themselves and what better way than on the internet? (more…)