Ancient wood and iron decorative shutters over a shopfront, Barcelona, Spain..
Today I was out buying things for my camera (and the new Bruce Springsteen CD Working on a Dream). I've been busy cataloguing photos - copying nearly 4,000 images onto CDs, so I can delete them from my laptop. And before you ask, yes, I'm getting an external hard drive to house the full-resolution photos.
Recently, I've had a few requests and had to hunt for ages to find particular photos - only to discover I'd deleted some of them! So this week I'm making a concerted effort to organise my images - both on an external drive and filing backup copies of CDs - so I can find them in a hurry. How do you manage to keep track of your photos? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
My very wise friend Vanessa Valencia wrote this today:
"...It was a very sad person who invented the idea of being too old for this or that. Of being too skinny, too tall, too short, too fat, for this or that. It was a very sad person, who blurted out mindless thoughts, that too many people listened to. Thoughts that set boundaries for centuries. Thoughts that had no meaning. No bearing. Just mindless thoughts of one negative person, that took off like wildfire. And because for some reason, it is easier to buy into negativity, we did. But, we don't have to. We never did..."
And I think her words definitely apply to these situations:
Joan Walsh's Salon article Some things just don't change
To favor due process is to favor "terrorists'" rights:
An excerpt from Glenn Greenwald's brilliant article in Salon:
"...As it turned out, of course, hundreds of the detainees imprisoned at Guantanamo when that 2004 Op-Ed was published -- ones which most of the country was calling "Terrorists" -- weren't "Terrorists" at all. They were guilty of absolutely nothing. In fact, the Bush administration subsequently acknowledged as much by eventually releasing hundreds of them -- after they had been put in cages for years with no trial of any kind. There still continues to be grave doubts about the guilt of many of the remaining detainees, including ones that have been there for years and are probably irrevocably broken as human beings.
"In fact, just two months ago, a right-wing, Bush-43-appointed federal Judge ordered five detainees released on the ground that there was never any "credible evidence" to justify their detention. Despite that, they had been imprisoned in Guantanamo for six years and were subjected to barbaric treatment that drove several of them close to insanity. They were released only after this judicial exoneration as part of a habeas corpus hearing in a federal court -- exactly the kind of hearing which the 2006 U.S. Congress, when it enacted the Military Commissions Act (with the support of most of the Washington Establishment), voted to abolish (an act that was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in its 2008 Boumediene decision, which restored habeas rights). Advocates of the Military Commissions Act, and those who now want to deny normal due process to accused Terrorists, argued then and still argue now the AP/Yoo line: Terrorists have no rights."
The newest fear-mongering campaign from the right and the media
Reading these three articles makes me shake my head in wonder at the biased reporting of the Associated Press (once a bastion of respected journalism) and other newspaper and television media. It's no wonder the mainstream media is faltering, when objective, ethical reporting is too often abandoned for television ratings and/or placating conservative advertisers.
Then there are the shrill one-note refrains of the Bush administration cheerleaders - who persist in making the same false claims, over and over, like a broken record. Instead of working together with Democrats to solve problems, all they do is try to spread fear and innuendo. Enough, already! The American public is not stupid and won't fall for the "shock and awe" spin and illusions anymore. Ca suffit!
Today President Obama discussed this genuine threat on which we all should focus some attention.
I certainly will Tara! Perhaps I'll post it on my blog later. :)
Posted by: Val | 28 January 2009 at 20:29
I'm glad we're finding our way back, too, Terri. It's been too long wandering in the wilderness. And yes, Vanessa is one smart woman!
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 28 January 2009 at 16:47
Thanks so much for the advice. I'm in the process of putting my photos on DVDs and on a flash drive, but must get an external hard drive. Storing one's best photos on special archival dvds sounds like a good idea. Not that I have many I would put in that category, quite yet! :)
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 28 January 2009 at 16:46
Susanna, I'm with you about Obama living up to his word. It's a wonderful thing to see promises come to fruition.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 28 January 2009 at 16:44
Yes, what wise words from Miss Vanessa - thank you for sharing them with us, Tara.
I'm so glad to see more wisdom is being used in the cases of those detainees...
I have so wanted us - the U.S.A - to become the 'good guys' again - the place where everyone's created equal - you're innocent till proven guilty - the place where everyone gets a fair trial - I'm glad we're finding our way back...
Posted by: tinker | 28 January 2009 at 07:16
PS: I'm behind in burning my photos onto dvds although we have an extra external hard drive. A photojournalist friend of mine burns his images onto special archival dvds and stores them in archival sleeves and then in archival boxes. He keeps them in two separate places - his apartment and at a relatives place - just in case something should happen, ex. a fire.
Posted by: susanna | 28 January 2009 at 04:32
Oh I like Vanessa's point of view. And I agree with you regarding Guantanamo and the shameful detainment of innocent prisoners. It would take a strong spirit to not be furious and filled with bitterness after being imprisoned for so long and without a fair trail - or a trail at all. I'm glad that Obama is living up to his word.
Posted by: susanna | 28 January 2009 at 04:29
It's disastrous - their lives wrecked and even their home countries don't want them. I wouldn't be surprised if those who didn't start out as terrorists don't resort to violence after their ill-treatment at Guantanamo Bay. Thanks a lot, Bush and Cheney, for endangering Americans around the world by your disregard for human rights of others.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 27 January 2009 at 21:14
Dear Constance, I really wonder how people like Rush Limbaugh sleep at night. Why does anybody even listen to the Republicans, when they've done us no favours? So far, they're doing what they can to obstruct Obama's positive actions and won't even vote for a stimulus package unless lots of pork is thrown in for their already-rich cronies. It's really pathetic, but what's worse is how many people hear what they say and accept their statements without question. Very dismaying.
Love to you! xoxox
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 27 January 2009 at 21:11
Val, thanks for the kudos! If you write a story about the doors, please share it!
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 27 January 2009 at 21:09
I am still trying to understand the Guantanamo fiasco. Many of these prisoners have no place to go once they finally do get out.
Posted by: meredith | 27 January 2009 at 16:26
Dear Tara,
This topic I was pondered as we watched John Stewart the other night. He showed Rush Limbaugh (sp) spreading vicious and hateful lies. People around here believe that stuff. ;-( It is SO disappointing and scary. Thank you for always having your finger on the heart of the matter and for printing Vanessa's wise words too!
xox
Constance
Posted by: rochambeau | 27 January 2009 at 15:07
Tara, I adore the photo of those doors. I wonder who made them and what their life was like. I think I'm inspired to write a story about that. Thanks Tara, you have an artists eye and you choose such interesting subjects.
Posted by: Val | 27 January 2009 at 14:35
Leau, Yes, we're lucky our new president is very smart. And he appreciates science, a dramatic shift from the previous president. Thanks for the good wishes! xoxox
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 27 January 2009 at 10:47
Vanessa is brilliant and my favorite line in the Obama piece" My administraion will not deny the facts, we will be guided by them." Brilliant!! I love that man. As always thanks for enlightenment. smooches
And PS: Good luck that with whole photo storage!
Posted by: Leau | 27 January 2009 at 04:09
Gill, your photos and 44,000 songs??!! I hope the tech guy can save it - quel catastrophe! Ha - I WISH I were always prepared - it's all an illusion, my dear! But I do try and am hoping to do even better in 2009. Hope you have good news from the tech guy. Thanks for the kind words about the photo. And you're absolutely right about limitations - they're only in our heads. Love you! xoox
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 27 January 2009 at 00:58
We are with Vanessa, what a brilliant thing to post. We all need to hear that we are worth more than our externals. Our core being is young to the end...set NO limitations!!!! Yes!
Oh the photo of the shutters, lovely. Details like that make all the difference. I must get to Barcelona!
Smart girl burning discs too, I didn't, and kept everything (EVERYTHING!) on my external hard drive, which blew up last week. It housed every photo, and all my music. 44,000 songs. Not kidding. I had a file on there called "every song you ever wanted". Now, I am praying that the folks at the nerd store can resurrect the info on there, or else everything is lost. :(
Enough about my troubles what I'm trying to say is, girl, you are so prepared all the time! You and your gorgeous flocked notebooks keeping so organized all over town. Oui, you are tres intelligente!!!
xoxoxo
Love yoU!!!!!
Posted by: Gillian daSilva | 26 January 2009 at 23:20
Thanks, TB. I read that piece and commented appropriately. And you're so right - the lies and manipulation are out of control. They've been shaping our country for the last eight years and that has to stop!
Thanks for the compliment about the photo. Aren't those shutters great - except for the metal gate behind them. Imagine at one point, it wasn't necessary to have any protection for a shop front, other than the shutters pictured. Now, too much crime to contemplate such a thing.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 26 January 2009 at 21:46
Barbara, thank you. Yes women have power, but not always the confidence to use it. Advertising and the Hollywood youth culture is to blame for much of it. In Europe, women are appreciated long past their '30s and valued for their wisdom and experience, as well as their beauty. No one considers beauty to be relegated to youth here; what matters is one's actions and attitude.
As for your comments about the naysayers on the right - well said! My sentiments, exactly!
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 26 January 2009 at 21:37
"Too old"?! "Too old"?! Personally, I feel we women of a certain age have the capacity to exercise an awful lot of power. Look at Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1204), an extremely powerful woman right up until her last few years! Look at Dara Torres, US silver medalist in the '08 Summer Olympics (swimming), who said, "You're never to old to dream." Nope, never, amen.
As regards the naysayers on the right ... to my mind they have voluntarily abandoned the principal responsibilities of any citizen of a democracy - to inform themselves of issues and events, to analyze the information, and to choose whether or not to accept and stand up for, or stand up to, the version the power-brokers offer. They wholly swallow the party line. Do they subconsciously believe it will absolve them of accountability??? I feel sorry for those who feel name-calling is intelligent discussion.
Posted by: Barbara | 26 January 2009 at 21:16
fear fear fear fear fear. I just watched Bowling for Columbine for the first time last week, and it is incredible how nothing really in this country has changed regarding fear-mongering and the media.
I really wonder what journalists who promote this hyped garbage really feel inside? How can they call themselves journalists? The amount of blatant manipulation is insane.
BTW, read an interesting and NOT surprising survey of a segment of society who vowed to put "Country First." You might want to check it out, too:
http://scienceavenger.blogspot.com/2009/01/so-much-for-country-first.html
ps. love the photo!
Posted by: tangobaby | 26 January 2009 at 21:04
Yes, vigilance - we've certainly learned the importance of that during the last eight years!
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 26 January 2009 at 20:24
Jeanie, that IS very exciting! Hope you do get to come to Paris in June! It would be such fun to have you here.
As for the "too old" issue, I think practically every woman I know goes through this sort of thinking - for no authentic reason, as Vanessa said.
Thanks, I'll stop by to enter your drawing. Did you enter my celebratory giveaway in the post below this one?
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 26 January 2009 at 20:24
Helen, thanks for the excellent advice. It's so difficult to ask technical questions in French; usually I wait until I get to London to ask specifics about computers or cameras. I do have flash drives, but hadn't thought of storing the photos exclusively on those (in addition to the external hard drive).
And sadly, it's so true about those LOUD naysayers and their refusal to open their minds and consider anything else. Loathsome? Absolutely!
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 26 January 2009 at 20:20
Cataloging photos. You have my respect and my sympathies!
Fabulous quote by Vanessa. I must revisit her blog -- I've been feeling a little "too old" lately. Gotta get that out of my brain!
A couple things -- I have a One World, One Heart drawing going on now, so stop by and two -- I might, just MIGHT be coming your way in June! Details to follow soon! But I'm beginning to get pretty excited!
Posted by: jeanie | 26 January 2009 at 20:16
I have many thousands of photographs and scans stored on an external hard drive since I am an avid photographer and also the "friend and family chronicler."
I also scan and save my original art work, my doll collection, and photos that people send me. I have been using digital photography since 1997, and I learned the hard way after the first computer crash in 1999.
I had stored a lot on floppies as well. Had to pay extra to get floppy drive on the current PC so I could work with those floppies.
As a back up for the external hard drive, I also have them stored on a 4G flash drives. (They come in larger sizes now. I bought these a while ago.) I just updated the flash drives a few nights ago. Backing up is chore I forget to do as often as I should.
I have stopped using CDs since the little flash drives are so cheap and easy to use. The jury is out on the longevity of flash drives over CDs...I think both are good. I have been giving flash drives as gifts with photos on them that I have taken for people.
Those annoying naysayers: they still have the same LOUD voices they had before the election. Not sure they will diminish or go away. They are as popular as ever on the airwaves and there seems to be some sort of effort to undermine anything positive. I listen to satellite radio, so I don't have to hear them...but I really wish they would stop the fear and hate mongering. I find it loathsome!
Posted by: Helen | 26 January 2009 at 20:13
I'm 100% behind Vanessa's statement.
You write... "objective, ethical reporting is too often abandoned for television ratings and/or placating conservative advertisers." This is the core of the problem. It started happening in magazines about 15 years ago, when the "advertorial" reared its ugly head. Editorial is now the slave of the advertising side. So, really, how can we believe anything under these cicrumstances.
Vigilance!
Posted by: Colette Copeland | 26 January 2009 at 19:20
Christina, I shoot in raw mode only for specific assignments. Normally I shoot in "fine" mode if the photos are going on my blog. But many of these photos in question are shots from my little Konica-Minolta Dimage, before I knew much at all about photography. And I'm still overwhelmed by how much I don't know about it - but I'm learning more and more and gradually acquiring the right tools.
And you're right about the nonsense! We have to stop paying attention to those naysayers.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 26 January 2009 at 19:08
So do you shoot in raw, most of the time??
I am starting to get my photos together and really need them off my computer. ; )
I have been reading some of this non sense that is being printed. This is just an attempt to put fear into us. So many of us expected this. We can't buy into this.
Posted by: soul aperture | 26 January 2009 at 18:44
Di, thank you! I need to keep the full resolution pics, in case they're used in a magazine or book. And yes, Vanessa is absolutely right.
Since its inception, Guantanamo Bay has been a travesty of justice. Because of its existence, Americans around the world have been exposed to more danger.
And I took a look and the cottage extension is gorgeous! xo
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 26 January 2009 at 17:48
1. Picasa is a good place to store your pics but they don't go in at the original megabytes.
2. Vanessa is so right.
3. I shudder every time I think of all those detained in Guantanamo without a trial and we in the West brag about freedom.
4. I have started, at last, to to post images of the finished cottage extension - take a look!
Posted by: Di Overton | 26 January 2009 at 17:25