Baltimore

Finally the Baltimore pics are up.

Eventually I'll have a blog of more substance but for now - pictures.

So I took Harold to the water ....

I know I had promised photos of Baltimore and I will eventually. However, last weekend Jon and I went to Geneva Ohio for the Great Lakes Medieval Faire (review eventually) and -- of course -- Mine (and Harold's) first view of Lake Erie.

Definitely awe inspiring.

I loved the combination of resort town feel with down home country charm.

I think we'll be back.

Meanwhile --- photos:

G'mornin Harold

I have to laugh at that - having your muse wake you just to say good morning.

Then again there are worse things.

I find myself for the first time in literally ages longing for my camera. I literally itch for it. The photos I wish to take, the areas I long to photograph and chronicle, places new to discover and places to rediscover.

It's been a long time since I've felt that.

Perhaps it's the age old excitement over turning another year older. Perhaps it's just the blissful idea of no concrete plans, no demands, for the next 3 days.

Perhaps -- just perhaps -- the idea of a few pints in Fells Point wooed my picky muse.

Either way, there will be pictures this weekend :)

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The photo above was taken of The Inner Harbor in Baltimore from the walk by Rusty Scupper winter 2007. Oh yes, there will be Rusty Scupper in my future this weekend as well ;)

Harold insisted :)

Since this year July 4th falls on a Friday and July 5th falls on a Saturday, Jon and I decided to spend that weekend in Baltimore. Yes I know it's a little bit silly (just a little) when we're so close but I remember the unending marathon of 2006 when it was so very hard to get OUT of Baltimore after fireworks. With a hotel room, this won't happen. We're also staying in a lovely lil area 1/2 between Fells Point and The Inner Harbor -- Little Italy.

Yes pictures will be taken. These are the photos from July 4 2006.

Besides, I've been to The Capitol for July 4th celebrations and frankly I think Baltimore is more user friendly and has much nicer fireworks displays. When faced with the lovely idea of a 3 day weekend and where to celebrate Independence Day AND my birthday it really was a no brainer.

Of course Harold insisted I let it be known -- in case anybody happens to wander up Baltimore way and wants to say hi.

We may do a tour, we might do another visit to Poe House (which I've not photographed before), we may just wander around Fells Point and Little Italy -- the plans are deliberately loose. We don't have to get a spot and be locked in (ala The Capitol last I was there) and hey if it rains (which less than friendly people have taunted me with) then by damned it rains.

It's not like we'll melt or anything .....

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The photo above is from July 4, 2006, (Inner Harbor Baltimore) where I found that allllll day plus hours getting out afterwards rather takes the joy out of the excursion ;)

the winter moon

There is something peaceful about the full moon through winter bare trees.

Shining brightly, illuminating the night

So close and yet so incredibly far.

There's more than one form of pirate

No I'm not referring to the Johnny Depp variety

Recently I was thrust ever so rudely into the world of plagarism and intellectual property theft. I say rudely because I've always rather skated under the radar of this person - being neither loved nor hated. As such, as NOT being the tallest nail, I wasn't hit.

Yes I still should've said something before - called him out on his behavior - but I didn't and for that I feel 9 shades of a coward.

In essence what happened was this: I was directed to view a slideshow titled:

"MDRF from my eyes (2000 - 2006)"

You would assume that that meant the pictures were either *of* or *by* the slideshow creator. Sadly that wasn't the case. There were a number of fairly good photos that were neither - they were just blatantly used. In fact an entire series were mine. His excuse? They 'somehow' ended up in his archives. Well since I had not shared them with the group he's owner/moderator of and since he's not on my Live Journal friends list, he had to go hunting for them. Where? who knows. It really doesn't matter. I am not the only one either - a lovely friend of mine had one of her photos used as well. THEN the entire slideshow/video montage was copyrighted to his name at the end.

Let me tell you this leaves a horrible taste in your mouth. At one point I called this person friend.

At every turn we gave opportunity for apology. At every turn our comments were deleted and no apology - nor credit - given. During this time another friend requested images of her found on this slideshow/video montage be removed. I often photograph people and it's always been my way to allow them to have total access to any photographs they're in. If they don't want it shown, it is not. I give them the digital copy and then delete it from my laptop. Simple. Easy. Clean. When this lady requested her images removed, her comments were deleted.

His ultimate response was another entry with an avatar of someone flipping off and the letters BFD below. The test of the entry reads thus:

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Pyrate at Large (pyrateatlarge) wrote,
@ 2007-08-10 19:58:00

Current location: in the lair
Current mood: laughing and pointing
Current music: Opportunity - Pet Shop Boys
Entry tags: get a life

rolling eyes at juveniles (and so-called adults who whine)
If you feel so strongly. . . hire a lawyer! ROFLMAO

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As of this writing, the video was in incarnation #3. The photos in question that were not his work were removed. The photos that the person requested removed still remain.

All of this could have been avoided so very easily had this person not bullied his way through a good portion of his existance taking what he wanted without thought to others. Yes that is a fine definition of a bully and I've found that while I don't suffer fools gladly, I will NOT suffer a bully in my presence.