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• Black and White Tutorial
  by Elvina-Mae Farkas

  OK, many people ask me how I get my black and white photos done, and most of the time I try my hardest to explain it all through a reply …

  OK, many people ask me how I get my black and white photos done, and most of the time I try my hardest to explain it all through a reply email. But recently a bubbler bubblemailed me and asked, so THIS time I figured I’d draw one up. So 4 hours later and I think Im done. WARNING: LARGE LARGE LARGE FILE!! WILL TAKE A WHILE TO DOWNLOAD But once downloaded, I suggest that you right-click and SAVE, so you dont have to come back each time. =) And another thing – sorry if there is incorrect spelling, punctuation etc. I didnt read over it! OKIE DOKIE – so for starters, pick a image you would like to turn into black and white. Ive made this tut to suit a portrait photo. You can do it with landscape, etc. Just with some common knowledge of where to edit and put things. Shouldn’t be too hard! So here is my orginal: / This is a photo of my mate Tristan. Pretty plain photo of him sitting in the car, on our way to the races. =) HERE WE GO! WOO-LAH! I also just edit to get rid of his moles, etc. That might be my next tutorial – haha! Hope this helps guys! Feel free to comment if you need help etc. I’ll try and do my best to answer them for you!

• Get your new RedBubble ... T-shirts and some display changes
  by RedBubble

  Hello! Well another Thursday and another release … this release was all about t-shirts. We’ve shifted all production to the US and …

  Hello! Well another Thursday and another release … this release was all about t-shirts. We’ve shifted all production to the US and we’re using a new t-shirt printing technology. This technology can print white ink – which makes designs work on dark coloured t-shirts. We’ve also introduced more colours and an XXL size. Ed has written more here. We’ve also updated the layout of the ‘work view’ so that it’s clearer that folks can buy things and so that the comment box is closer to the work (to make commenting easier). The next release is all about groups … we’re adding forums to groups and making the administration of groups much smoother (and there’s a few other group goodies that we’ll keep as a surprise). Happy bubbling! Peter

• How To Photoshop: Navigating the Program
  by Brittany Kinney

  Hey all, / Below are a list of easy keyboard commands for Photoshop. I’m using a regular PC (Windows) but if you use a mac, all of the con…

  Hey all, / Below are a list of easy keyboard commands for Photoshop. I’m using a regular PC (Windows) but if you use a mac, all of the controls will be different…and because I don’t have a Mac within reach, I can’t get the commands for that. Sorry Mac users! Control + N = Opening a New Canvas / Control + O = Opening a new project from a different file (such as a photo) / Control + Z = Undo very last action; nothing past that. / Control + Alt + Z = Undo past actions; infinite. / Control + Shift + Z = Redo an action (that is, if you have already undone an action.) / Control + Shift + F = Fade… (This is a VERY useful tool that I just discovered about 2 minutes ago…For example, you draw something a little too light…do this command then you can make the brush stroke’s opacity darker! Again, VERY useful!) / Control + X = Cut / Control + C = Copy / Control + V = Paste / Control + Shift + V = Paste Into (Don’t know exactly what this does for sure yet but, apparently it’s useful?) / Control + I = Invert (makes a negative [or positive] of the image selected) / Control + A = Selects the whole canvas / Control + Shift + D = Reselects the part that was once selected, then deselected. / Control + D = Deselects the canvas / Control + – = Zoom Out / Control + + = Zoom In And there’s plenty more but these are the basic necessary keyboard commands for Photoshop. -Brittany

• Price Change
  by AlienVisitor

  I have lowered the price of all my art by 25% until the new year.

  I have lowered the price of all my art by 25% until the new year.

• Just thinking…as I do
  by JakkiO

  I read a fellow bubblers journal tonight re being judged for what you do and I wondered if I should change. / And it really struck a chord…

  I read a fellow bubblers journal tonight re being judged for what you do and I wondered if I should change. / And it really struck a chord in me. I wondered if I should get a real job, listen to mainstream music, cut my hair (again), paint my house a different colour, or even change my dog. All because I just don’t fit in. Not even with the art crowd. And I thought…NUP. Embrace your individualness peeps :)

• a life changing group
  by Jo O'Brien

  I am honored to be a part of the Melbourne & Victoria Group. I host and am a member of a…

  I am honored to be a part of the Melbourne & Victoria Group. I host and am a member of a few groups, but none has affected my life quite as profoundly as this one. Together as a group, we have seen collaborations, exhibitions, competitions, tutorials, classes and workshops, advice, social meet ups and the odd romance. None of us have a lot of free time, or a lot of cash, but when we put our heads and hearts together the hardest projects become a pleasure to work on. Melbourne Underwater Competition / Members used disposable underwater cameras to capture Melbourne from a different perspective. Winners walked away with a new digital camera and some family passes to the aquariaum. (FYI, getting prizes isn’t difficult. For this competition I just sent off a nice emails to Kodak and Melbourne Aquarium) / photo by Michael Alesich The BubleRelay / Several months ago we created a pack full of donated goodies including a digital camera, graphic journal and writing book and starting passing it around by hand – member to member. As each person gets the kit, they use the contents to add to the journals, take photos and make art. Each person is encouraged to add to the pack as it goes. This might be a slowly moving project, but it is special and inspiring for the people who share in it. Archery Day / Paul got over 40 of us together for an archery day and BBQ lunch. It was a fantastic day out and despite the lack of cameras, we still got to do a lot of shooting. / photo by Mark German Writers’ Meets / We have such talented writers in our group. And they are such a committed bunch who meet monthly for good wine, warm company, reading and writing. Bellmusker is the organisational queen and keeps these regular events interesting and welcoming for all. / photo by Bellmusker Win an Exhibition / We are so lucky to have Mark from Brunswick Street Gallery who has kindly offered us a gallery space where we now curate a fortnightly exhibition of work as chosen by the group. Bubble Walks / A collective of photographers keen to meet up once a month and do a walk through Melbourne taking photos and generally being merry. Adrian has taken some great initiative to get this idea going and now many of us are excitedly waiting the first one. Lorne Weekender / A bunch of us packed our bags and headed out to Lorne for a relaxing weekend, photos of sunsets and good company. It was just what the doctor ordered! / Photo by James Price Rialto Exhibiton / Paul worked some magic and scored us the Rialto Towers Main Plaza for our hugest exhibition yet. Over 40 bubblers had their work exhibited at this Melbourne landmark with over 5000 people passing daily. The whole excercize was planned over some after work coffees with a couple of days for setting up and packing up. Aradale Asylum / In a couple of weeks, many of us will be driving out to Ararat to spend the weekend camping out at the closed down Aradale Asylum and making art. Melissa has been amazing, organising our access to this stunning location and ensuring everyone will be comfortable during their stay. / Photo by Mark German Zoo Day / We thought, heck, lets got to the zoo. This was a great, relaxed family day to unwind and see some animals. Melbourne & Victoria Group Book / The idea is simple, we pool our images and words together, make a book out of it and then all the contributors can purchase copies at cost price and resell it to make a profit. Everyone wins, and for those who are published, there are a bunch of other people who then have a very real financial incentive to get your work (along with theirs) ‘out there.’ Many thanks to the hosting team: John, Michael, Melinda, Paul, Tim, Bellmusker and Mark, and to all you freaking fantastic people. You guys make it an absolute pleasure to log on every day.

• Site Update - Art, Clothing and Writing
  by RedBubble

  Art, Clothing and Writing So there’s good news, and bad news … Lets start with the bad – Over the last few weeks we have…

  Art, Clothing and Writing So there’s good news, and bad news … Lets start with the bad – Over the last few weeks we have been working madly to break up the site into three major sections – Art, Clothing and Writing. We want to value and allow focus on each of these areas separately… Writing is ‘this’ close to being done, but it wasn’t quite right so we had to hold it back and polish it up a bit more… BUT you can look forward to a whole section of the site where written work is treated the same way as any other artwork with things like separate descriptions and excerpts etc. The good news … Art and Clothing are here – The T-Shirt previews in the galleries and zoom views acutally ‘zoom’ in on the artwork, no matter how big or small, so everyone should have a much better idea how hot some of these designs really are. And … One more thing … If you’re into T’s then you can’t miss Issue one of Stitched Comming Soon Writing, updates to ranking and some more special goodies.

• How 9/11 changed not only America, but the World
  by Christopher Ewing

  I remember what I was doing seven years ago today. Going on about my daily routine. Having already started classes as I attempted to get…

  I remember what I was doing seven years ago today. Going on about my daily routine. Having already started classes as I attempted to get that “college degree” to better my life. It was about mid morning, sitting in the library, TV was going, and the news breaks in. They take us to the scene in New York City right after a plane had crashed into one of the Twin Towers. / This stopped everyone in their tracks, all watching the TV closely. Our minds trying to absorb the scene we were viewing. Gasping as we watched the second plane go into the second Twin Tower. There was such a hush across the whole room, you could have heard a pin drop. / We all stared at the television, no one believing their eyes, gasping as we watched the towers crumble right in front of us. The sickest feeling coming over all of us as we watched this terrible event happen in real time. / Everyone has their opinion of who is really behind this. My personal gut feeling was our own government is behind this so the citizens would approve a war that was wanted. I will always go down stating our own government set up this massive catastrophy to have us to say Ok to a war we are still in, and probably wont ever “win”. Each person has their own views, and this isnt about who did it. It no longer matters who is behind it. What matters is how this one day event has changed America and the World. / Since this event, we all have had the word “fear” shoved down our throats. Our innocence was stolen on this day. On September 10th of 2001, everyone was going about their business, they could move about the world without a suspicision of being tied to a terrorist group. Our government here, has made every citizen feel they are the terrorists, and created a so called war against terrorism. We have been made to accept being checked at any place we go. We have a harder time just crossing the borders which we used to cross with a simple passport. / The cameras with “big brother” watching are set up in places you wouldnt ever think they would be. You are now fingerprinted just going into a court to settle a simple traffic ticket. Airports treat every single person as if they were a terrorist. I have a friend who was pulled aside and questioned and searched thoroughly because he “fit” the terrorist criteria the government has set up to decide who might/ might not be a terrorist. Their version of a terrorist, is a person who is traveling alone, no luggage, and a one way ticket, per our new government standards of who is a terrorist. All he was doing, was going to visit his daughter. / America wasnt the only country affected by this event. There were citizens from all countries in that building. So the World was affected by this, not just America. The whole world was put on lock down after this tragic event, not just America. As photographers, we cant do a simple shoot of buildings anymore without some military personel coming up and questioning us and moving us along. Simple life as we once knew and took advantage of, was totally taken away after those planes hit those buildings. / I think it’s time all the governments realize, you can not ever do away with terrorism. A person making a threat to another, is a form of terrorism, so how can we completely abolish it? We can’t. / I think it is time for people to make all governments realize, we aren’t a threat to anyone. We are only trying to make a living, and better ourselves. / It no longer matters who is behind that tragic event that happened seven years ago. What matters is how all countries around the world treat the mass population. / We are in a war we had no business being in, we were lied to, to get there. The biggest shame is the event that happened on 9/11 is used as the reason we are there. While the person “acused” of doing it, is still running around free. Meanwhile the citizens of this country and others are treated as if they were the instigators behind it. Many will make excuses trying to justify how the world is now, but there isnt any justification, as thousands of lives are being lost across the world, to accomplish something that can’t ever be stopped. If we are to really stop terrorism, then we have to start as individuals, by not making threats to another person. So to the people who were there that day, to the people who lost loved ones that day. I am so sorry for your loss and your horrible memories of 9/11. I am sorry that a handful of people who’s selfish gains have embedded a memory that wont ever die in your minds. It is a memory and a loss that shouldnt have ever happened, to end up in a useless war that probably wont ever end. / For those who read this, no I am not anti-American, I am, however very ashamed of the leaders who took this tragic event and made the mass popluation live in fear the past seven years and still trying to do so. I am ashamed at the citizens who have allowed fear to become second nature to them. I am sadden that we no longer think for ourselves and held accountable for the actions we take. I am saddened that we accept being treated as criminals when we have to do simple tasks to just make a decent living. / This date of 9/11, will be forever etched into our minds, with the vision of those towers coming down. As thousands of people lost their lives, just doing their daily routine. I think it is time the citizens of all the countries take their lives back. Let the governments know they wont get away with always trying to scare us into agreeing with them. I am tired of hearing “fear”, I am tired of watching Tv shows that are based on nothing but fear and terrorism. I am just tired. / I want to see happiness and free will come back to the people’s eyes as I look into them. I want the trust I had before 9/11 when I go into a big building. I want my old America back, I want the Old World back. I just want that innocence we had on September 10th, 2001. / It is time for Peace to come about to all of us, in our public and private lives. It is time to stop all the blaming others for events happening. It is time for us all to take a stand, and take our lives back. It’s time we stop attacking others who might believe something different then what we do. It’s time we start putting the respect for “to each his own” back, and do away with the fear tatics. May peace be with you all today, as the news medias and everyone else will remind us what happened seven years ago today. September 11, 2001 We will not, ever forget.

• How to make real change
  by Julie Langford

  I have recently had this comment discarded from a discussion on Redbubble – I have no idea why as not only was it completely relevant to …

  I have recently had this comment discarded from a discussion on Redbubble – I have no idea why as not only was it completely relevant to the topic, but was also in response to another persons post. Ironically, the discussion was about censorship and how it is a bad thing?? So, I have decided to start the discussion here instead, as all of my contributions to the original discussion are likely to be deleted. Here is the comment I made and I would very much like this discussion to continue, in a place where I can participate – the subject is important to me as those who know me will already know. Julie Langford , 17 minutes ago in response to this / / And yet poverty still exists in so many places in the world. Many programs have been instigated all across the globe to try and eliviate the problem, very few of them work. The question is why? I wrote This is a good question xxxxxxx, and one which interests me greatly when it comes to activism. I give a substantial amount of time in voluntary work to the conservation of primates – the great apes in particular. There are many groups that share enthusiasm for this work, from anti poaching, armed guards in the protected forests of Africa, right down to school teachers who teach about the apes, both in Africa and the West. I have heard many an activist cry out the simple sentence – Stop killing apes, aimlessly, without thinking why people aren’t listening to them. The fact is, it is easy for a lot of people to say this, when they havent got to worry about where the next family meal is coming from. It is easy for more advantaged people to say it, when they have some creature comforts and dont have to risk their lives and that of their children everyday by drinking water that will kill them. Instead of standing up and shouting Dont do it – why not look for alternative ways for the hunters to make a living, and help them achieve it. Alternative livelihoods need to be promoted and education given on how to improve living standards for families provided. Education to halt the bushmeat and pet trade in exotic apes and monkeys needs to be promoted. No matter how much a person doesnt like the action of these hunters, unless they can communicate and get the message over that there are better ways to earn a living, and then go on to help with projects to promote these alternatives, whats the point in saying – Oh, dont do it, or shouting about it! How do you feel about activism? Do you think it works? Do you think that simply stating what you think, without thought of how to achieve things will work? Is it better to communicate on the same adult level, rather than shout down people who oppose your view? I personally think its good to talk, and when people disagree with a view, now matter how strongly you feel about it – you are more likely to have a chance at getting that opposing view to change, even if only a tiny bit, by talking in a civil manner. ALL comments are welcome! There will be no censorship by way of deletion of any comment that is part of the discussion – whether it opposes or agrees with any view within the opening post of this journal, or in the comments within it. No personal attacks, or naming and referencing peoples work without their persmission will be tolerated [no matter who they are by, or who they are directed at] and will be reported – however, they will not be deleted by me – if attacks do take place, they will be left for Redbubble to delete, or request deletion by me. If you do want to quote people in here, or make reference to their work outside of this journal at all [other than their original post in here to reference your response] please seek their permission. I will not participate in censorship against anyone for their view here, nor will I shout at, scream at, or attack them. I will however, ask people to play nice and report attacks against anyone, to Redbubble staff.

• Seeking Recommendation : Photoshop - Illustrator - Digital Photography
  by webgrrl

  Im posting this out here (and to the universe) to send me a place..a course..a teacher.. a something (!) so that i can really LEARN..fine…

  Im posting this out here (and to the universe) to send me a place..a course..a teacher.. a something (!) so that i can really LEARN..fine tune what i know..go further, with 100% commitment…willing to pay money even, about these three subjects: Advancing my self taught knowledge of Photoshop Learn/study Illustrator Immerse & LEARN into the technical aspects of Digital Photography (cuz at the moment its ALL instincts,luck & a lots of try & wing’in it) Can anyone recommend short courses available in Melbourne? A good teacher? I now have the time and some $$ to finally give 100% to myself (no more stayhome-single mum of four kids and occassion to put my needs in the backburner!) and would really like to learn/do all the things ive wanted to do for like, 23yrs now.. when i look at job vacancies..i dont feel like i have a chance in any of them, cuz of the job/software requirements – sometimes i dont even fully understand the sentence/job terms! Haha.. I am all self taught, and i dont know what i know, if that makes sense… Ive always been the type to take on projects/jobs by instinct and wing-it, learn as i go, jump in with both feet..to get whatever that needs to be done. And 99.9% of the time, ive done it :) quite well..if i may say so, myself :P so now..ive got no more ‘dependants’ and its time to look after me! ive done some courses before, and theres a lot of courses out there that put me to sleep..especially tafe/community type ones.. Thats prob more cuz im self taught, and maybe i should be in the ‘advanced’ course..but cuz i dont have a beginner ‘certificate’ or anything.. Ive always had start with the Beginners course. I am planning to apply for NEIS and hopefully start that early Sept. But i still want to fine tune my skills, knowledge AND also start mixing with people of same interest, aims.. The self is made, not given. It is a creative and active process of attending a life that must be heard, shaped, seen, said aloud into the world, finally enacted and woven into the lives of others. / —Barbara Myerhoff /

• all change
  by susan davies

  get a bit bored from time to time so its all change…....my profile pic that is its a more up to date one lol hugs suexx

  get a bit bored from time to time so its all change…....my profile pic that is its a more up to date one lol hugs suexx

• *I WILL CHANGE ALL THOSE FOR WHOM YOU INTERCEDE*
  by TREVOR IRWIN

  http://www.philadelphia33.org/ Precious Brothers and Sisters in the Lord. It is Sunday Morning here…

  http://www.philadelphia33.org/ Precious Brothers and Sisters in the Lord. It is Sunday Morning here in London. Time: 8:20am. / As I have decided to spend most of the day in prayer for all who are in need, The Holy Spirit has put an urgency to share with all who are Prayer warriors a deep truth found in Gods word about his part in answering our prayers for those whom we pray For. JOB 22:30- “I will deliver those for whom you pray for”. This is from the {Amplified Bible}, which is one of the few that gives an accurate interpretation of the original text. [Please take note: Not all bibles are accurate. The king James is still the best, but a few others have been so watered down that they make the true meaning of the scriptures weak. Remember its not about personal taste here. It’s about the true undeleted word of God. So I do use the Amplified, alongside the King James Version] Job 22: 30 I WILL CHANGE ALL THOSE FOR WHOM YOU PRAY. This should give each one of us great confidence and excitement, as we stand before God Interceding for our precious friends in their times of need. Our Heavenly Father assures us that If we Intercede on their behalf, that God himself will hear and change their situation, Circumstances and bring them out stronger than what they were before. Beloved. Its not long winded prayers that gets Gods attention. it is your level of Faith and understanding of his will. Its Not your tears that moves him, It is Faith. / Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarded of them that diligently seek him. Jesus constantly encourages us to pray. to our heavenly Father. But In every case he assures us that God will answer us and grant us the request. / John 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. / Mat 21:22* And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Intercessory Prayer is often not a ministry that is open to all to see. often it is in the quite Prayer Closet, or out of reach of others who cannot see or hear you. But God does hear you. HE HAS PROMISED YOU THAT HE WILL CHANGE, DELIVER, SET FREE, SUPPLY ABUNDANCE OF GRACE AND FAVOR, HEAL AND TURN SITUATIONS AROUND TO THE BENIFIT OF ALL, When we Intercede. This ia an office, a Ministry that God desires to grow within his church [The Body of Christ]. The Church is not a building that many call Church. The Church is the Body of Christ here on earth, . You are am member of His body. / Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. You are the one he wants to stand in the gap. The one who he waits to hear and the one he has promised to answer when you pray. Sadly today many within the Christian ministry seek the visible and noticeable ministries. The Preaching and teaching, ministries. This is good as they are greatly needed. But Intercessory Prayer is much in demand. I don’t want to take up much of your time her, but I feel led by God to share with you a experience the Lord revealed personally to me. In my days as a baby Christian I would spend almost all of my prayer time asking God for the things I needed and desired, as the Word of God revealed them to me. For Years I would pray and still not receive all that was requested. But I continued to seek God. Serving God for over 15 years without even the money for a plane ticket to travel to the people of Africa where God sent me was not living in His abundant provisions. Yet at these times he would always send those whom he had handpicked to meet my needs and also to bless them in their obedience in giving towards his minister and work. Then Through JOB 22:30 Amp Bible] He opened my eyes to the benefits of praying for others. I started to bring people before him each day, and I saw the changes that God had made in their lives. Family Members, Church Members, Neighbours, even those who had lied to me and let me down. God changed them. Many are saved today and did not know that this little Evangelist was praying for just that. Beloved, I have had an angel pay my hotel bill. I shook the hand of an angel several times. I have held the hand of Jesus, and had people I did not know sow seed I to Gods Work in Africa. I pray daily for the souls of the extreme poor villagers and the sick and hungry children here at home. I see the Grace and Favour of God manifest each time I Go on Mission. I speak words of Life into the dry barren hearts of the nation and its people. Each time I go, I have the confidence that God has been working and preparing the hearts of all who will come in contact with me, to receive his son Jesus as Lord and Saviour. / John 6:44* No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. / I intercede for each man woman and child. I see the results just as he has promised. Beloved. We have had all the great preachers preach and today still preach and teach. God Bless them as they continue to win countless souls for God. But Preaching is not enough. We need to learn to intercede and how to Pray for others. I need your Prayers of intercession and Where led by God financial seed. It is your Intercessory Prayers that Make mission work so sweet and successful. Conclusion / The lord has indeed opened a great door of Opportunity to reach the lost and intercede for those in need. When you look away from yourself and pray for others, God will change them and in doing so he changes you also. Your needs are met in Christ. Not all have come to this level of understanding. Let us bare one and other up in prayer. Hold someone’s hand today! Stand beside them in Faith. Pray also For Olga and the team at Living Christianity. They are placed here by God to help and encourage all. LIVING CHRISTIANITY IS GOING TO EXPLODE WORLDWIDE!!!! Evangelist Trevor Irwin. http://www.philadelphia33.org/*

• Fighting Procrastination!
  by adgray

  To those of us who always put off until tomorrow what they could have done today— _You will always wish for better / in what’s pa…

  To those of us who always put off until tomorrow what they could have done today— You will always wish for better / in what’s past and what’s to come / but only right this moment / is where everything is done! TODAY IS THE TOMORROW YOU WAITED FOR YESTERDAY / DO IT NOW!

• Calling all Americans with heart and Australians
  by Melinda Kerr

  I know you’re out there. / Some of you may know of the emergency situation happening in Eastern Congo right now. The town I was in last ye…

  I know you’re out there. / Some of you may know of the emergency situation happening in Eastern Congo right now. The town I was in last year is under seige and so are people I know and love. I know it’s such a downer to hear these things but I have to be an advocate. / The fight is over minerals – you may have seen the movie “Blood Diamond?’ . Well this is very accurate but just replace Diamonds with Coltan-the mineral used in mobile phones and some computers. Following is an email from the head of HEAL Africa I received 10 minutes ago. Then there’s a letter our American friends can copy to send to their congressman and US companies such as DELL/Apple/ Hewlett Packard. Please please please… Dear friends, Please be reassured for all of us. We have woken up safely. After a night of shooting in the town, all is quiet, and Jo and I and about half the staff are at the hospital. CNDP are outside the town, and they do not want to engage the MONUC – that would be a major diplomatic faux pas. So probably the wisest thing the Congolese army could do was to run away. The shops are mostly intact, thanks to the police patrolling the main streets. Some of the military are coming back into town. The casualties are many, especially from the populated areas, where most of the looting occurred in private houses. One family near ULPGL lost seven children. The bandits were also out in force, including the ones that come over from Gisenyi Pray for the family of Mrs Esanga and her family. They are all here in the hospital. All four children were seriously injured and the mother was tortured. They put a grenade under the mattress of the six-year old, where he was sleeping. I went into surgery while Jo and Kimona were repairing the older brother, putting his liver and intestines back. We pray he will survive. Such cruelty is incomprehensible. It has nothing to do with war; it is banditry and terrorism. Saturday, I am supposed to go to RSA with Dr Likofata and Dr Bitwe for the research training. We will decide on that one tomorrow, after seeing how we get through this night. With best wishes. LL The letter for your Congressman and US companies… / I am writing to ask you for reassurance that none of the coltan used in your products comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo. As I am sure you are aware, conflict has resumed in northeast Democratic Republic of Congo, a conflict that is fueled by the lust for the Congo’s riches, including Coltan. Over 80% of the known reserves of coltan is found in NE DRC, but the coltan being exported is more often than not blood coltan. Much of the coltan finds its way to the US via Rwanda after it has been extracted by men, women and children terrorized by beatings, killings and rape at the hands of soldiers, rebels and militias who trade coltan for funds and weapons to further the conflict. The problem of blood coltan is so grave that the U.S. Senate recently passed the Conflict Coltan and Cassiterite Act of 2008 (SB 3058). Similar to the legislation banning importation of blood diamonds, SB 3058 will require that coltan be certified as conflict free before being imported. / / Please advise me / 1) where does your company obtain it coltan? You cannot rely upon shipping documents that indicate someplace in Europe, Asia, or even Rwanda. Most Coltan comes from the DRC. 2) What assurance do you have that your suppliers of coltan have not obtained it from the DRC? 3) Have you even asked your suppliers to reveal the original source of the coltan you have purchased? 4) What is your position on the Coltan and Cassiterite Act of 2008 (SB 3058), now pending in the House of Representatives? 5) What steps are you willing to take to assure that your coltan is conflict free? / Your web site suggests that you are a socially responsible company. Please carry out that representation by taking steps to make sure that the coltan in your products is conflict free and by instructing your lobbyists to push for passage of SB 3058 in the house of representatives. / / Very truly yours, / / / / ______- / / Sent to the following people: / / Rosemarie Thomas / Secretary to the Board of Directors / Hewlett Packard Company / 3000 Hanover Street, MS 1050 / Palo Alto, CA 94304 / e-mail: bod@hp.com / / Steve Jobs, CEO / Apple Computer Company / c/o Katie Cotton, Vice President, World Wide Corp. Communications / katiec@applec.com / / / Michael S. Dell / Chairman of the Board and CEO / Dell Corporation / Board_of_Directors@Dell.com /

• Redbubble Order arrived/A name change/And congratulations.
  by Rhana Griffin

  (happy dance happy dance!) Only a short 8 days after placing my order my goodies have arrived!! Pretty impressive considering the pos…

  (happy dance happy dance!) Only a short 8 days after placing my order my goodies have arrived!! Pretty impressive considering the postie had to trek through Tassie Devil infested hills to get here! The quality of everyones prints is amazing Had I a camera right now I would post you all a picture of me grinning like a cheshire cat with all my wonderful images… alas that is not to be. Jeff, Heaven turned out… well… heavenly ;) The smallest shade of noise but not enough to detract from its overall beauty. However House on a Lake II is absolute MAGIC!! Think I will be keeping that one for myself ;) On a side note… I will be changing from my username to my real name. Still the same me, but my Mum wants to order some stuff and she wants the name she gave me on them and well… being as she endured 16 hours of labour and 34 years of angst raising me… who am I to say no? Dont let yourself get confused though – I have been Bella for so long online though that I actually answer to it in real life – so either will do! =)) Finally… a big congratulations to all the winners and runners up of theReal Photography Challenge What a wonderful comp with well deserving winners!!! Peace Out / Rhana {{shudders}}

• A Call for Guerilla Public Art - nofrillsart and Guernica
  by najeroux de fa fa

  For those of you who were curious about Picasso’s Guernica… T…

  For those of you who were curious about Picasso’s Guernica… The following blog text can be found here Art has power. Here is how much: John T. Unger, an artist and longtime commenter on Collision Detection, recently announced an intriguing art project called “American Guernica: A Call for Guerilla Public Art”. He’s calling upon artists nationwide to post replicas of Guernica, Picasso’s famous antiwar painting, on billboards and the sides of buildings(...). Why Guernica? Because Picasso intended it to depict the horrors and insanity of war, particularly the human destruction wreaked by bombings. Guernica caused a stir when it was unveiled back in 1937, and apparently it still does. John says his inspiration for the project came from an Iraq-related incident, as detailed by Wikipedia: A tapestry copy of Picasso’s Guernica is displayed on the wall of the United Nations building in New York City, at the entrance to the Security Council room … On February 5, 2003, a large blue curtain was placed to cover this work, so that it would not be visible in the background when Colin Powell and John Negroponte gave press conferences at the United Nations. On the following day, it was claimed that the curtain was placed there at the request of television news crews, who had complained that the wild lines and screaming figures made for a bad backdrop, and that a horse’s hindquarters appeared just above the faces of any speakers. Diplomats, however, told journalists that the Bush Administration leaned on UN officials to cover the tapestry, rather than have it in the background while Powell or other U.S. diplomats argued for war on Iraq. / As John writes, “If the painting intimidates warmongers into covering it, then why not make sure that it goes up in as many public spaces as possible?” The original article – American Guernica: A Call for Guerilla Public Art The response resulting from nofrillsart’s piece LOOMING proves that even in our seemingly small international web community of RedBubble, there are people prepared to stand for what they believe in. Our art is here to be seen and invoke thought, arouse converstion and discussion and hopefully inspire. I’d like to make a stand today to no longer post empty frivolous work. Fuck sunsets. I want to see the dawn of a new day. I want to thank everyone who has participated in bringing about these discussions. It means that your art is doing it’s duty. Inspiring change. najeroux

• I'm Being Metamorphosised!!!
  by udonchow

  This Doodle Tree artwork of Margpie is such a wonderful surprise for the day! :D I was so over …

  This Doodle Tree artwork of Margpie is such a wonderful surprise for the day! :D I was so over the moon when Margpie first bmailed me to tell me that she did a piece of artwork with me in mind and included my owls in her trademark doodletrees and asked if it would be ok for her to publish it here. I am so touched by her warm gesture and generosity of heart to me here on RB, please allow me to share my joy and Margpie’s Doodle Tree Art here :D Metamorphosised The little friends came to visit Doodle town, / they transformed the place and brought back the colour, / they were special , they spread their magic throughout the land / and now once again there is peace. This is a special tribute for Udonchow whose words of wisdom and unyielding support during the last few weeks has made her very special to me. / Thanks Ellen xx THANK YOU MARGPIE!! :D :D :D

• Idea: Change Default to Least Expensive
  by Stephen Mitchell

  Suggestion of the day to RB Admin. If any other exhibitors disagree or agree with my idea, please comment here! *I’d prefer the defaul…

  Suggestion of the day to RB Admin. If any other exhibitors disagree or agree with my idea, please comment here! I’d prefer the default when opening the ‘purchase cart’ to be on the cards (the least expensive item) rather than framed options. This might seem mad, but there are two reasons: 1. We prefer more sales, rather than none at all. Some people may baulk at the prices of these framed images – even though they are fair and reasonable!! So let them see the cards first. (Some people may prefer to purchase 50x$5 cards than purchase a $250 framed image.) / / 2. I had someone say, “Hang on, this says ‘From $3’ – but I don’t see anything under a $100.” They simply didn’t see the choices of frames, canvas, etc. They arrived at the first screen and figured that was all there was.

• What Makes You Think Your Art is Good Enough?
  by Stephen Mitchell

  What makes you think your art is good enough to upload to RedBubble? 1 Gut instinct? / This is the best way to know if your art, ...

  What makes you think your art is good enough to upload to RedBubble? 1 Gut instinct? / This is the best way to know if your art, writing, or photography is good. For photographers, we simply know when the shot matches what we were trying to achieve. For writers, it’s when we write from the heart. For artists, and I mean people who manipulate binary-pixels as much as I mean painters etc, I imagine you know when your art has reached its point where it cannot be modified any further without ruining it. That’s right, ruining the final result. / Gut instinct tells you when you have just reached that pinnacle and achieved the art you imagined in the first place or saw through the view-finder. 2 Did someone in your family like the shot? / Trust me, I know from bad experience that relying on the opinion of family (to tell me what makes a GREAT shot) is never a good idea. As much as they believe in your artwork, they cannot see through your eyes. / I only upload a few distinctly better shots to RedBubble out of every few hundred. I might shoot between twenty and a hundred photographs from the one location, but I know almost immediately if it was a good shot or not. On occasion I only have to take one shot to get THAT shot, the one that gets shown to you, my friends and my family. What makes you think your art is good enough to have printed? 1. You received 1,000 ‘Oh, Nice!’ Comments ? / Nope, this is not a good enough reason. Your art needs to be an extension of who you are. Despite what you see here on RedBubble, your art should not be a popularity contest, nor a multitude of ‘nice’ comments. Much as I enjoy getting a few nice words about my work, I’ve recently learned that unless the person actually says something constructive, unique and interesting about the actual photograph … the comment may just be a stock answer to everything they see here. NOTE: OK, so sometimes it can be difficult to put into words what you like about some one else’s art, but at least say something unique. Yes, my photography of flowers have DOF, POV, macro-detail, lots of colour and are ‘hot’, ‘cool’, ‘wow’, and ‘whippitycrack’. Now tell me WHY you like it, WHAT it is that makes it good and HOW many you are going to purchase! :D 2. Only you can know if your art is worth selling on RedBubble. / Do you think someone would purchase it as a card? Or are you just showing off an image that you want others to consider before you commit to it? Ok, so we all do that occasionally. I’m not saying it’s wrong to upload the incomplete and unfinished, but this is RedBubble. It’s not just a community, forum and friend-making location: It’s an online print-shop. 3. Don’t be concerned with anyone’s opinion before presentation. / Upload those few shots you really believe capture what you were attempting. If you really believe the art is good, show it to the RedBubble world the whole internet. Because everyone online and offline is now going to see you and your art. RedBubble is a name, not a fortified location. Our comments, words, suggestions, responses, queries and ‘drool’ will be carbon copied across the planet and archived on the “WWW” Today I shot 5GIG of photographs in 5 hours. / I had a day in the Adelaide CBD, revisiting previous locations, visiting a few new places and discovering new things at each location that I did not see the first time! This added up to around 1,000 photographs. / ... I’ll be the first to admit that less than 200 are any good. / ... Less than 60 are very good. / ... I’ve uploaded only TWO of them to RedBubble. I might add a few more. / ... SEVEN have been loaded to my flickr gallery . All are getting lots of traffic, with very few comments. Just the way I like it. Each of those photographs got some pixel-manipulation. Yes, I do, when necessary. Each of those photographs were one of a several exactly the same … but I decided that one would serve the purpose I was looking for. / I didn’t ask anyone on RedBubble or Flickr if they would like to see it : I made that decision while perusing them on my 500GIG HD. A lot were shot purely because I like architecture, but many were shot because I figured they’d look good as a card or framed image. One of them is a test-image, to see the response/traffic rate. See if you can pick it. 4. Would you delete or replace a photograph if enough people said they didn’t like it? / Seeing as how so many of us rely on the comments of others to fulfill our online life, IF someone was to suggest a fault, change, modification or complete make-over of your art work, would you? I believe I might change an image. I have certainly changed my opinion on pixel-manipulation! I know I’d delete an image, but only from the RedBubble-database. I’ve done that several times. Where’s your thoughts on this? You’ll notice I rarely make comments on other people’s art. There is a LOT of great work on RedBubble. I just don’t have the time to tell you. Anyhow, you know your work is good. Or you would never have taken the time to put it on RedBubble …. right?

• Another sale---I am so blessed!!!
  by Jan Landers

  Many thanks to the buyer of Winds of Change Tee!!! My heartfelt gratitude to you, whoever you may be! May it bless your journey!!! P…

  Many thanks to the buyer of Winds of Change Tee!!! My heartfelt gratitude to you, whoever you may be! May it bless your journey!!! Peace, / Jan

• The New (A Question or Two?)
  by InfinityRain

  Well I was thinking how sleek the new gallery is and how easy to navigate, thought wow what a great idea…...but then I started browsing…

  Well I was thinking how sleek the new gallery is and how easy to navigate, thought wow what a great idea…...but then I started browsing through the pages, one by one. All the popular photos and then thought, wow I just uploaded a photo let’s see who else is up about this time and adding to their portfolio. So page by page I went through and I’m not finding a single one of my photos in there. / That brings me to two questions…...1) Are they not in there because I don’t live in Australia therefore cannot sell my work yet?? and 2) If they aren’t going to be included in there how in the world are others going to find my photos except those people I have already commented on and will be commenting on in the future? Don’t get me wrong I still love the new gallery and the other changes being made, but I would love to know why mine aren’t being included anymore. They were there before the changes were made.

• A question of style
  by Natalie Perkins

  So, I sort of hinted at the funk I’m in at the moment in my last journal entry. The truth is, I feel very creatively crippled right now. ...

  So, I sort of hinted at the funk I’m in at the moment in my last journal entry. The truth is, I feel very creatively crippled right now. I have ideas that my skills can’t handle. My style is all over the place. I’m in a period of rupture and break. This is good, right? All artists and designers have to find themselves in this predicament every now and then and it pushes them into new territory – hopefully better and more successful territory for all the angst and self doubt. It’s a Big Deal that I’m opening this up to you guys, my peers and of course the lurking supporters of my work. Typically I am quite insular, fearing that if I open up about my worries that I might be seen as a failure or unsuccessful. No one wants to be that person. But this is the thing, right? This is a hurdle I need to leap over. If I can’t open up a dialogue with people who may well be experiencing the same issues, gosh I’m a pretty bad communicator and in turn, a poor artist. It’s the essence of what we’re doing, isn’t it?! So, I’m having trouble with style. My style. It feels like I’m dabbling in too many mediums and stretching myself all over them in a chaotic sticky jam like mess. If you want to, we can use this entry to talk about issues of style: how you found yours; if you’re on a quest to find it; or if you’re evolving from one style to another. This whole issue reminded me of an entry on madeit.com.au’s blog: Independent Designers & Developing Style. I’ll include a few examples from that entry here. / Audrey Kawasaki (USA) “Blueroom” – 1999 / Audrey Kawasaki (USA) “Karasaki” – 2008 / Stella Im Hultberg (USA) “Jolie” 2005 / Stella Im Hultberg (USA) 2008 / Lilly Piri (AU) “At The Gallery” 2004 / Lilly Piri (AU) “Monkey Arms” 2008 It’s quite amazing to see how these beautiful artists have grown.

• Have You Loved Yourself Today?
  by frozenfa

  Allo Allo!! i just recently upload this new piece today, I Love Me – Have You Loved Yourself Today?...

  Allo Allo!! i just recently upload this new piece today, I Love Me – Have You Loved Yourself Today? / / Please do check it out, as i think RB might have failed to add it into watcher’s activity list.. i guess it’s because i had it on “Hide this work from others” mode first.. dang… UPDATE: This piece just got featured on Thought Bubble Group and The Patchwork Group!! Awww… Thank you, Moderators!!! =D Hope you like it! =D There are some of us, who took it upon ourselves to do things for others. to help others.. to make others happy.. but we forgot about ourselves! we forgot that we need to make ourselves happy too. we need to love ourselves too. if we don’t love ourselves, who’ll love us? i dedicate this to every one of you kind souls out there!! remember to always love yourself as well!! =D i especially thank Karin who kept reminding me that i am love-able as well. bad history and with the kind of people i’m surrounded by, i was made to believe that nobody will love me for everything that i am. am made to realise all my faults and bad points and weaknesses. made to believe am ugly and useless. having depression doesn’t help as i view myself as nothing more than a mental girl. i totally believe that it’s impossible for anyone to really love me. But Karin showed me otherwise. she made me answer and admit my pretty gd points.. and i realised.. hey!! i can be love-able?! am still trying to accept that now.. lolz.. it’s still kinda hard to accept, having been instilled those “i sux!” mindset for years… ahahahah.. XD Thank you, Karin!! GLOMPZ!!! fa: i had to force Tim to carry that signage cos he wouldn’t say the words!! stupid monster.. / Tim: it says I Love Me!! how can you love yourself!! you’re big, fat, ugly and you’re mental with me in your head!! / fa: awww.. i can love you too, can’t i~ XD / Tim: NOOOOOOOOOoooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also available as magnets / keychains / and buttons /

• I Wish...
  by Gracey

  ...that I liked every piece of art on RB, but if I can’t (and I don’t) that I can at least respect the person as a human being and not of…

  ...that I liked every piece of art on RB, but if I can’t (and I don’t) that I can at least respect the person as a human being and not offer derogatory comments ...that every issue raised did not end in personal attacks, but if it can’t, then at least I don’t add to the fray ...that religious or political discussions remain the topic and not degenerate into wars on who is right, but if it can’t, then I can learn to accept the views of others as simply opinions and leave it be ...that people would take the time to understand each other, but if they can’t, then I hope I can learn to ...that I could change the world, but if I can’t, then at least I can learn to change me (hopefully for the better) ... Obviously, I can’t and don’t (won’t) speak for anyone else, but, oh…I do wish.