Aww so CUTE!

Wing and I headed to the Perth Zoo to get a look at the Alpine dingo pups. I think our blood sugar levels spiked.

The as yet unnamed dingo pups. They should come with an Excessive Cuteness Alert warning.



And, the 'new' Cheetah, Kifani. 10 years old and absolutely beautiful




Star was beautiful, but very shy, she is now taking part in the breeding/conservation program at another zoo.

The Mechanics of walking

I have been going for a walk before lunch, but today I wanted so see how the lower back pain started. It was actually rather interesting.

Turns out it starts in the upper right glute, then starts hurting under the last left rib (the floating rib, and my guess is because the glute is getting sore, I am adjusting my posture to relieve the pain there) and works its way straight across. Then the entire lower back becomes stiff, then the lower back from ribs down just painfully locks up so breathing is a bit.. well I can't take deep breaths, because the ribs on the lower right side just lock up and don't move. This is what makes having a regular exercise regime difficult to keep on.

Going to make appointment with a physio and see what he/she can do for me.

**YAAAAAWN**

Went for another 40 minute walk around the neighborhood. Didn't find anything of interest to photograph.

Feeling kind of tired tonight, but I don't think it's from the walk, but from my not getting to bed before 1am last night, and Loki, the furry alarm clock, wanting me up at Dark O'clock.

I know this isn't all that 'green', but I console myself with knowing I used paper towels made from recycled paper. Ziggy loves to savage paper towels. Takes her about a week to ten days to totally shred it. She also likes it if we use the tube of the roll as a 'den' for one of her toys. She hunts and drags it out. You should hear her yowl when she has decided that it's "The Hour of Scampering" :)

I guess I struck a nerve

It seems that the mods of aforementioned photo group feels that my not naming them, and not naming the group while pointing out their blatant favoritism isn't nice, so have sicced mods of other groups over to chastise me for daring to question and comment about their BS on my journal.

I shot an arrow in the air... and landed dead center in the target.

All's fair in image moderators/moderating?

Not hardly.

I'm not a shit stirrer, but when I see blatant favoritism, or bias, I will speak out. Politely, but firmly.

Last year, I submitted a photo to a certain group on Redbubble. It was accepted. A few month ago, I submitted another photo. It was rejected. I found this odd because after looking through the photos on the group, I found over 10 in 30 seconds that had same lighting, same composition, just different subject or location.

I questioned about it and was give the lamest excuses, and said moderators called in their calvary to berate me (the damning with faint praise variety so it had a semblance of politeness). I backed off. Funnily enough, every photo I have submitted to this group has been rejected, even if I duplicated someone else's photo (I don't mean copied, or stole, but made one of the same layout, lighting etc etc)

Yesterday, I submitted a photo to that group again. It was rejected out of hand. What got me is this: the photo I submitted last year, was the same composition, lighting, clarity, reflection just different location and was accepted. I called them on it, and again, the calvary arrived, popped onto my own journal to again chastise me for daring to speak out about bias and sulky mods. One of them linked to the conversation of the group. I deleted the comment, and asked to please not link without my permission. He complained. I said "Did I name anyone? Did I name group? No, and I intended to keep it that way".

My journal is for me, not them. If they don't like it, don't read it.

Oddly enough, I got a few dozen bubblemails (Redbubble message system) from others who felt the same way I did about how images are rejected even though examples of almost identical images could be found that had been accepted.

I think the best solution is to just bail from that group. They want to keep featuring/accepting the same clique of friends over and over.. their loss.

I think I dodged a bullet

This time of the year is typically difficult on my eyes, mostly because there are at least 3 different wattle trees in our neighbors' yards. Those trees are the reason I have to use a clothes dryer and not hang things out to dry outside.

I had been having pain in my left eye. Then on Friday, it was red, and the conjunctiva was visibly swollen, as was a 1 cm part of my lower eyelid. I got to pharmacy, got mild antibiotic eye drops and a topical antihistamine drops. Less than one day of using the recommended dosings, my eye has almost totally recovered. Didn't go into full blown pinkeye.

Last thing I need is a repeat of 6 weeks in a darkened room, like what happened a few years ago. I am very grateful for this.

Dunsborough Trip (part one)

Dunsborough , a set on Flickr.

Wing's company had a "Last Hurrah", as it's been sold, and is no longer the same company. Was a lot of fun. Yes, I know that "Sugarloaf Rock" is one of the most photographed landmarks in W.A., but it's the first time I have had the privilege of photographing it.