What I Am All About

Dear Take 25 to Hollister Readers,

I'm a bit early for my Sunday's post, but what's time when something needs to be said pronto.

Some of you have been with me since I began this blog, way back in 2008. I truly appreciate each and every one of you for your return visits.

Some of you have just discovered me today, whether it be today, the date of this post, or some time in the future. Hmm, sounds strange, but I think you understand what I mean. To you, I say: Welcome! Thank you for stopping by. I hope you go check out other pages after reading this lengthy, wordy post.

Here goes: It was brought to my attention that a person has been upset because I had posted my photo of a public display she had created for a public institution a couple of years ago. Because she had not contacted me directly about her concern, I have no idea what her exact issues are. Please know, everyone, that I am approachable. I don't bite. I was told though that she did not understand how I can sell copies of my photo of her public display. And there, dear readers, popped my dumbfounded "Huh?"

So, because of this, it's important that I let you all know:

1. I write this blog for fun. Take 25 to Hollister is my own creation, my baby. The blog is not connected to any organization. I do this blog alone.
2. Sometimes I get suggestions for topics, which I appreciate. Every so often, a person will ask me if I could do a post about a future event his or her organization has planned, and usually I will.
3. I don't get paid for writing Take 25 to Hollister. In other words, I receive neither money nor gifts from restaurants, shops, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, or individuals about events, products, or services that I write about. Should I receive some form of compensation, I would post that information because FCC requires that I do.
4. Once, I received $5 in my virtual tip jar. Thank you, ocean girl!
5. Unless otherwise stated, the photos on Take 25 to Hollister are mine. I took them. Yep. So, that means I own the copyrights to all my photographs, just as each of you own the copyrights to your photos. Unless I've misinterpreted copyright law, a photograph that one takes of a building, a display, or, even of a picture is the intellectual property of the photographer who took the photograph.
6. I don't sell my photos—the ones that I post on Take 25 to Hollister. One day, I would like to sell my photos. But that day is not here. Besides, if I did sell my photos, I would advertise it quite openly on my blog.
   
   If someone has bought a photo that comes from Take 25 to Hollister, please email me immediately: susieeemac at gmail dot com. Someone is pretending to be me! I hope I don't hear from anyone, because I don't want to have to deal with such a problem. So, maybe don't tell me. But, let the person from whom you bought the photo know that a) you know that she isn't the real Su-sieee! Mac and b) she owes me money now!
7. As many of you know, it is quite easy for unscrupulous people to "steal" photographs and words from Web sites and pretend those photos and words are theirs. So, I've made it a habit to put a watermark on each photo that I post on Take 25 to Hollister. The watermark may be my copyright, www.take25tohollister.com, or both. I place the watermark in a spot where it would most likely ruin the image if a thief tried to erase it.

There you have it, dear readers.  This is what I'm all about, as I write about and photograph my hometown and surrounding area.  I hope that the person who is upset has read this and is no longer upset. Whatever she thought I had done to wrong her—whatever it may be—was inadvertently done. And, to ensure that everything is put to rest for her, I have removed both my photos of the public display from the Web.

Thank you, dear readers, for your support over the years.

Sincerely,
Su-sieee! Mac


Post Script

I am writing this about 15 hours after having published this post. I learned a big something about myself today. My short-term memory is shot! Is this what comes from growing older?

It turns out that somewhere near the beginning of this blog's time I created a copyright alert that pops up whenever someone right clicks on one of my photos. The alert reminds you not to "steal" my photo. There was also a message about sending me an e-mail if you would like to purchase the photo. When I started producing Take 25 to Hollister,  I thought I would sell my photos. I forgot about that. I also forgot about the copyright alert. I deprogrammed (or whatever the correct term is) the right-click feature on my mouse because I find it a nuisance. In short, out of my sight, out of my mind.

So, today, after much protesting that I don't know about any copyright alert message, the husband calmly showed it to me. It took awhile to find the gadget that produces the message, and in so doing, I finally recalled that it was me who put up that notice about selling photos. Way back when. Hmmm, that could be why someone asked to purchase a photo last year. I had declined because I wasn't set up to sell photos. Hahahahah. Is this what growing older is all about? Oh, I already asked that, didn't I?

As for the copyright alert, it's still there. I just revised the message.

Roaming Peacocks

Casa de Fruta is a fun place to walk around. Both in its various shops and on the grounds. Old farm machinery and equipment are on display, as are roaming ducks and peacocks.

Snow on the Diablos

Yep. Snow was on some of the eastern peaks above Hollister on Sunday and Monday. This is how it looked on Sunday afternoon. Yep.

Some Goats, a Rooster, and a Horse

Here's a reminder of how things looked before farm lands around Hollister were converted into neighborhoods. This farmstead is less than two miles east of downtown Hollister. It also had a few llamas hanging around.

2012 San Benito County Farm Day

Looking west from the Hollister Business Park

Tuesday, March 20, 2012, will be San Benito County Farm Day. This is a special annual event held at Bolado Park for the third graders in our local schools. Farmers and ranchers provide the schoolchildren with the opportunity to learn about nutrition and the cool agricultural community in which we live.

For more information, visit the San Benito County Farm Day page on Facebook. Also, check out Down on the Farm, by Alice Joy, an article about the 2007 Farm Day event, which was published in the Hollister Free Lance.