Re earlier post 'Comment Rant'

My earlier rant re spam comments (http://3rdphoto.blogspot.com/2005/10/comment-rant.html)

They [Blogger folks] fixed it !!!

See http://buzz.blogger.com/2005/10/on-spam.html#links

RSS Feeds - What are they and how do I deal with them

I recently posted a note advising I'd put up an RSS feed.

So, what are they and how do I deal with them?

Well it depends on what you want to do. Do you want to get automatic updates whenever I publish a new post, or do you want to have your Blog RSS capable?

Reading RSS Feeds

For this you need an RSS Reader (I use an Open Source and therefore free reader - http://www.feedreader.com/) It is simple to instal and use

It comes with a large number of feeds already available - new, sport etc and you can add any feed you like.

You also receive notification when feeds (web site RSS feeds) are updated

Have your Blog RSS capable

To make your own Blog RSS capable, you need to subscribe to a feed aggregator (I use FeedBurner, http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/home which is free.

You sign up and enter your Blog address (it works with Blogger).

Periodically FeedBurner checks on your postings and makes them available (aggregated) to folks who use a reader

Give it a try...you only live once ;-)

Serendipity

Somtimes fate just takes a hand. Or God/Allah depending on your beliefs. I took this shot of some flowers picked out of my garden by my neices and look what turned out!! Very reminicient of the great Flemish masters of still life. (See http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/history/lecture40/17.html)

Photo Competition

Harphampix are having a Photo Competion on the theme of "Street Furniture" Really thought this should go in ;-)

It is a sculpture in Ottawa in Canada called "Maman"

Competition details below
http://www.harphampix.com/v2/folder.php?id=702

Photos of Scotland

The BBC web site has an ongoing picture galley with shots taken by the public
you can find it here

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3631797.stm

Another Blogging Beachhead!

Well, I've now activated an RSS feed and you should now be able to read my blog via a news reader!!

Hopefully updates are working and I'll be able to see this when I request fedd update from FeedReader

Fun with Photography

An original, if uninspiring, photo of a swan.
A little PSP magic and you get the much more interesting image shown in Signature Swan posting. It is so easy...even I can do it ;-)

Signature Swan

A little fun ;-)

This comes from an original image of a swan photographed on 10th July on Linlithgow Loch.

A few moments of madness in PSP (Paint Shop Pro - your other great image software) and this is the outcome.

Nice I think....do you agree?

My favourite Scottish beach

This has to be my favourite beach in Scotland! It is a short drive from where I live, local to a number of towns and yet not many people are aware of its existance........so I'm not going to share its location with the Web!!

Nature abounds year round and it always makes me feel so much better when I've gone there

Blue Sky Flying

Something cheerful after my rant in the previous post ;-)

This was shot early June on a boat trip around the 1000 islands in Ottawa in Canada.

I'd like to say I have the kind of expensive camera equipment that allows you to get these kind of shots, but it was truely a happy accident that I caught the gull.

Getting the shot in focus was more of a miracle ;-))

Comment Rant

I'm half smiling and half raging.....will there be some automated junk comment to this 2 seconds after I publish it??

I like the concept of receiving comments and I do get some nice ones like one from Sandy who just left a little uplifting comment, sort of neighbourly like...you know...friendly.

I don't want to stop taking comments..free speech and all that...so does anyone know how to defend your blogsite against these self-publicising comments? If you do I'd really appreciate it.

btw if your browsing and there is a later comment, say within 2 secs of this one....you'll know what I mean

RANT OFF

Celtic Quiz

This scene was shot right in the centre of a very popular and busy east coast Scottish town. It doesn't look it though does it?

A clue can be seen on the horizon ;-)

Drop me a comment if you want to guess....good luck!

By the way, I had to wait ages till people stopped walking by and the scene has been slightly enhanced.

NOTHING has been cloned or airbrushed out....that is the scene that I saw...beautiful isn't it?

Even if you were to go there I bet you'd not even notice it...it took me some time to see the potential of the shot...but that's because of the artist in me ;-))