August 31, 2005
Confessions of a Paranoid
For too long there has been an us and them mentality between artists and webmasters. Sure there's rampant copyright abuse, but some of that is innocent. Sure there is a lack of understanding how all of this works and therein lies the root of my problem.
Most artists know nothing about how all of this fancy pants digital stuff works. I know just enough to get me into trouble and I get just enough advice to help me jump to conclusions. I confess I am paranoid about the humor community but I think it is a bad thing for them to be afraid of me.
Fear got me into this predicament. The search for facts will get me out of it for sure but I would like to apologize for any feelings I have hurt or an inferences I may have inadvertantly made. From the very beginning I have been hoping that this whole noevilproductions.com thing has nothing to do with the humor community. But I still am obliged to find out WHAT happened.
The webmaster community is far more helpful than the arts community. Still photographers are the worse lot. I always attributed this to the fact that we work in solitude; us and the camera. Many of us do not want to share our knowledge or tricks fo the trade.
This is what I always like about the technology folks; very helpful. It's almost as if we are relieved that we finally found other people who understand what we are talking about; other folks who are eager to share what they know, their tricks.
I am sorry. My inexperience leads to me to question things and in so doing I frequently challenge those who are trying to help and/or teach me. I am learning and I have been sent down some dead ends in search for the facts. I do understand the legal reasons why some can't answer my questions. I even understand why I have to suspect the answers I am getting from my hosting company.
Thanks to all who have tried to help me.
Posted by photocartoonist at 1:52 PM
August 30, 2005
Madcap Recap:
The Grasshopper: A Study in Character
We've seen how Kat Caverly has moved from scientist observing character,
to photographer exposing character via images. And how she wasn't
content with looking at others, so she began to play in front of the
camera herself. When these photographs exposed her own characters, she
took them to the stage.
As Kat Caverly 'discovered' the internet, she learned that there was
something to this medium. Something beyond egreetings and a form of
promotion, the animation technology was going to allow for a form of
entertainment which had always interested her... film.
Caverly remembers “I wanted to make movies. I decided I wanted to make
movies in 1997, when I decided that I wanted to be a star! I love the
camera and I love being in front of the camera too.”
Years ago, her studies on performance lead to discussions with Marcel
Marceau about silent film, her rentals of such films lead to discussions
with the store owner, himself a fan of chop sockey movies. Eventually,
his passion for the genre convinces her to rent some of these films: a
new fan was born. (Little did she know this new film passion would
lead to Quacki Chen!)
Yes, films had always fascinated Kat Caverly, and this new medium would
make them more than possible – they could be, they would be done! But
there was much to learn.
Not just the technology itself, but along the way, she learned much in
the way of business. More than an education in the economy and the
lessons learned from clients that do not pay, she became informed about
copyrights and how to protect her creations. Now she had moved from
creating characters to real lessons about the character of others & the
development of her own.
As in those great chop sockey films, as in the great Eastern traditions,
Kat Caverly seems to have discovered that the path is as
important as the journey. Her path has led her to one of the most
crucial elements of human nature – so necessary in entertainment: the
essence of character.
by DEANNA DAHLSAD
Posted by photocartoonist at 11:52 PM
August 26, 2005
Here's the Story of a Funny Lady
Here's the story,
Of a funny lady,
Who was busy with websites (understated).
All of them had ecards
The newest ones
were even animated.
Here's the story,
Of BirthdayAlarm.com
Which was busy with ecards of its own.
The site had good traffic
but they wanted to grow.
Till the one day when the lady met this fellow,
and they knew it was much more than insight.
That these folks
Must somehow work together.
That's the way they became an ecard site
An ecard site, an ecard site.
BirthdayAlarm was started in 2001 by Michael and Xochi Birch and Paul
Birch to provide a simple way for people to remember birthdays. They
had a website, with a few thousand members, that reminds people of
birthdays. "Hmm, what do you do next? ...ecards to the rescue."
It was in this capacity that Michael called Kat in 2002.And they first
licensed 50 static ecards. In the year since they had signed that
agreement, BirthdayAlarm.com had grown tremendously. With the increase
in members & traffic, the site needed more cards, more cards, and more
cards!
While BirthdayAlarm.com was growing, Kat Caverly was increasing her
ecard line as well. Seeing how popular animated ecards were, she
increased production of them - BirthdaysBlow.com itself had 30 animated
birthday ecards in 2003.
Michael too had noted the popularity of animated cards, and he liked Kat
Caverly's new designs. Kat notes that she was excited to renew the
agreement because "they respect and admire what artists can do." So over
the next two months, Michael and Kat spoke frequently about the business
of ecards. In October of 2003 they talked about possibilities,
and on May 2, 2004, the premium e-cards launched.
Sure, the agreement pays well, but, I had to ask Kat: Aside from money,
why hook up with BirthdayAlarm?
Kat replied "The people; Michael is smart and innovative. I have been
treated with honestly and with integrity. And after working with his
brother Paul and his wife Xochi. I began to trust this family, this
company. Each of them is very bright and after three years of doing
business, they have exceeded my needs and expectations."
Mutual respect, creativity, and integrity that's the way they became
an ecard site.
Posted by photocartoonist at 8:51 PM
Update:: Domain Hijacking noevilproductions.com
Well it turns out my domain was the victim of an attack but not permanently. The registry records were not changed and I am guessing that since this domain was not yet being used by me in October 2004, that use of inactive domains might be a special form of hijacking. Turns out it is not hijacking, and it's not pagejacking in the usual definition of the word. And it is not a 302 redirect exploit of the search engines, as I first suspected.
It is still a mystery wrapped in a conundrum and it is beyond me still as to WHY anyone would do this.
Of course with all of the accusations against me I am a bit paranoid. Sometimes you really are being followed! There are people who have been trying to find something that proves I am corrupt; finding (maybe creating) anything that questions my integrity.
I will find out the WHO. I have the WHERE, IP address of the server that served those pages of porn and I will do whatever it takes to clear my name and clear my company.
I am hoping that this is a random act of piracy made possible by the fact that I did not lock my domain. It will be a dark day if I discover that this was another attack on my integrity. Was this personal?
Posted by photocartoonist at 6:53 PM | Comments (1)
My Side of the Story
by KAT CAVERLY
There is a lot of interest on WHO I am and What I do, so I would like to add my comments about a subject on which I have over 50 years of experience.
I am not a housewife.
I have never filed a lawsuit against anybody.
I have never hosted or linked to pornography on any of my websites.
I have had domains hijacked while they were parked.
I do tell artists when I find their content on websites.
I did take the side of the artists when some Humorweb members were sued.
I did forewarn the members of Humorweb about copyright infringement.
I did help some humor webmasters clean up the content on their sites.
I am a volunteer editor of the Open Directory Project (ODP).
I do not endorse all of the animation studios that have done work for me in the past.
I do not endorse all of the artists that have ever worked for me.
I do make it my business to review at least 2-3 websites every day.
I have helped artists learn how to find their content on the Web.
I was a member of Humorweb.
I was banned from Humorweb, twice.
The first time I was banned because of the lawsuits.
I did not sue any of them.
The second time I was banned because I removed sites from the ODP.
The sites did not feature content that I couldn't already find in the directory.
I never gave Humorweb members special consideration.
I do not target Humorweb members.
I only review the merits of the content on each site.
I have listed sites of my loudest critics.
I have removed my friend's sites.
I knew about the ODP and was listed there before I ever heard of Humorweb.
I have removed many sites from the ODP in many categories.
I have added many sites to the ODP in many categories.
I have added some of my own sites to the ODP.
I have removed some of my own sites from the ODP.
To my friends on Humorweb, thank you.
To my enemies on Humorweb, thank you.
Posted by photocartoonist at 12:17 AM
August 25, 2005
Whois using your Domain?
Thanks to the interest in me over at Humorweb, I was notified today that someone used my domain noevilproductions.com to host pornography while the domain was parked in October 2004.
I locked all of my domains in January or February this year, because I read about domain theft and today I discovered this usage from the archives on the Internet Archive and to be honest I still don't understand it.
The domain was not transfered, so it wasn't stolen. Someone just used it for links to Asian porn! How long did they use it? I am hoping I can get answers to my questions from my registrar and my admins.
I didn't notice it because the domain was not in use (at least not by me). So I am in the process of checking all of my domains and they are all locked now and have been for 8 months. Is there anything else I should be or shouldn't be doing to protect my domains?
Posted by photocartoonist at 11:08 PM | Comments (1)
August 21, 2005
Truth in the Dis-Information Age
Never has the old adage “just because you say so don’t make it so” been more true than on the Internet. But with so much information bombarding us every hour, every day, how many take the time to fact check?
Yes, I have an agenda. My agenda is my reputation and products are important assets to my company and I believe in affecting the Internet community positively. Therefore I actively police the Web for illegal usage of my products and I am an editor at the Open Directory Project.
It is obvious that many do not understand how the unauthorized use of intellectual property might hurt an artist, or a company. It is also obvious that the "If it is not tied down..." rule applies even more to the Internet.
There are many artists who just don't get that they are responsible for taking reasonable action to stop the infringment of their property. The courts are practical, and it IS a defense that the content is seen all over the Internet.
Content creators make their money by licensing the use of the products they create. The highest licensing value is for exclusive usage. If your intellectual property is strewn about the Internet for free or with too much non-exclusive licensing, you will not be able to land the lucrative deals.
I don't want to ruin anyone's life. In fact, my company's mission statment has been "We Bring Joy into People's Lives" since 1994. However, I will not allow the unauthorized usage of my work and I have spent considerable time learning how to track down and review websites.
I am losing faith in the general populations ability to not believe everything they hear and less of what they read. I see too much evidence that people simply believe whatever they want to believe and this philosophy is just dangerous.
Posted by photocartoonist at 5:10 PM | Comments (8)
August 16, 2005
"Mommy, What's An eCardologist?"
"Well, honey, 'ologist' means 'a person who studies.' So Kat Caverly is
an eCardologist, because she is a person who studies & is an expert in
eCards."
To be an eCardologist, you need to know more than you might think. You
need to know about sentiments & humor. You need to know who the consumer
is, and what they want. And you need to know how to promote your cards -
otherwise how can anyone find them, to see how magical they are?
Kat Caverly knows about humor and human character, and she was learning
more about the internet. The world wide web seemed a logical way to
showcase her portfolio of paper greeting cards as static online eCards.
So in June, 2201, Kat Caverly began her eCard empire with
Photocartoonist.com.
To be successful, online or offline, you need to offer a range of styles
of greeting cards. So, later in 2001 and continuing through 2002,
Photocartoonist.com began to offer photo-animated eCards. These cards
caught the attention of Michael Birch.
Michael, his brother Paul and his wife Xochi owned and operated a new
site called Birthdayalarm.com and they were looking for content.
In August of 2002, BirthdayAlarm.com licensed 50 static
cards from the Photocartoonist.com katalog.
“They wanted something different and that's what led them to me” said
Kat Caverly, “Having my website made this meeting possible.”
Realizing The Photocartoonist website was 'working,' she went on to
create several other websites.
In 2002, Christmaskookies.com launched, followed in December of 2003 by
Valentinesfromhell.com. In July of 2003 Birthdaysblow.com launched,
swiftly followed in August by eCardology.com.
But the lessons in eCardology were not over...
by DEANNA DAHLSAD
Posted by photocartoonist at 11:07 PM
August 15, 2005
Revolutions Are Revolting...
..especially when they are another trip around the sun.
Some people just can't enjoy their birthdays. They are so glum their
depression may last 364 days... leading them right back to another
birthday. :sigh:
These people suffer from B.B.S: Birthday Blues Syndrome.
Those who suffer from B.B.S. have a heightened awareness of time, which
leads to thinking and even caring. They simply care too much and it
cripples them.
Perhaps someone you know suffers from Birthday B.S. You care about them
- not enough to “send the very best” (and they wouldn't appreciate it
anyhow!) - but enough to want to help. How can you help those suffering
from Birthday B.S.?
There is relief. There is Damitol.
Send them Damitol: They won't give a rat's ass again.
Posted by photocartoonist at 10:23 PM
August 10, 2005
Is There a Cure for Birthdays?
by DEANNA DAHLSAD
Ahh, Americans, with their fear of aging... Somewhere between 'becoming
legal' at 21 and the dreaded 'older than dirt' 30, we learn to fear
birthdays...
Unlike others cultures which revere aging, we fight it every step of the
way. We think “There is nothing pretty about aging.” And when it comes
to our actions, there certainly isn't. Not much evidence of 'the wisdom
which comes with age' either...
Some folks reach for 'hope in a jar' liberally applying cosmetic cremes
and dying their hair. Some folks, like my dad, start shaving years. (He
froze at 29 for so long that one year he had to jump a decade, just to
remain 'realistic' with his greying hair.) Others visit doctors for help
in belying their years; trading the blowing out of candles for the
sucking out of body fat.
In our culture, aging is not entered into gracefully.
"Why can't there be a prescription to end my aging?" youth obsessed
Americans wail.
Sorry, Virgina, there is no anti-aging pill.
But if there were, this is what the commercial for such a
prescription would look like... side affects and all.
Posted by photocartoonist at 11:06 AM
August 8, 2005
Designing Woman
Katakismet Design is not responsible for any outbreaks of
insanity or institutionalization resulting from attempts at
reviewing this site using a 56k modem.
The year was 2000. I had just finished a year of freelancing as a graphic designer.
With no background, no training, no degree, no experience in graphic design,
I had to talk my way into an agency by creating a portfolio and creating a "professional
graphic designer" character. I wowed the agent. The hard part was the first month on the job!
I had been enamoured with computer design since 1995 and I knew that all I needed was a year
on the job to learn everything I needed to know. I knew it wasn't going to be easy but I was
right. I learned and I earned and by the summer of 2000 I was ready to open my own design firm.
Katakismet Design | New York was borne out of the necessity to promote my new design skills
and to try to capitalize on a lucrative service industry. What I didn't realize was that part of this
financial success was due to an economic bubble and the intoxication that resulted across the
industry. I had just got active online; my experience was in print. I didn't see it coming.
I still had an agent and in September 2000 I got the call that would change my life.
A company specializing in producing and promoting industry conferences like ApacheCon, JavaCon and the likes needed a graphic designer. Within two weeks I knew they needed more than just a designer. They needed a design firm to support all of the work. I checked out their schedule of events that was already booked in 2001 and I spoke to their other vendors. I negotiated a much higher fee and started building a new office. There was alot of work coming.
By December 2000, we were moving into a new office. I had two full-time designers and was looking to hire more. I leased equipment and put myself characteristically 100% into this new endeavor. It had the potential of making the production company that we had started in the summer of 1998 a reality and I was willing to work THAT hard.
Ah but it was not meant to be. Written in the stars was a collapse of all this and by the end of January 2001, this dream client proved to be a nightmare. She didn't have the money to pay my agent. My agent didn't have the guts to take her to task. We owed hundreds of thousands of dollars and I was scrambling to figure out what went wrong.
We kept ourselves busy by redesigning Katakismet.com and moving back into our studio and letting our new office, with all of the new renovations, go. In May 2001 I reinvented myself and realized that I had built-in positioning with "The Photocartoonist" and I found myself throwing myself online with the same fervor I had thrown myself into graphic design. We'd best move on, though it would take years to get over this financial blow. Oh well, it was only money. It did delay the progress with our production company but it allowed for three years of research and activity online. Now this is an advantage.
Posted by photocartoonist at 12:11 PM
August 7, 2005
Kat Caverly v7.1
by KAT CAVERLY
I have waited a long time for this day; 50 years to be exact and it was well worth the
wait. To tell the truth, I am looking forward to the next fifty years even more!
Today I awoke to a wonderous present; a collection of fabulous tie-dye shirts that go
well with my dreadlocks. Even my dreadlocks were treated to birthday love; twisted
with beeswax and aloe vera.
There is scientific evidence that our bodies renew every seven years,
so I would be starting my 7.1 being today. It feels great to have come
so far, and there is so much more to look forward too. There is only
one part that I don't like about getting older and that is the vision thing.
Yup my eyes just ain't what they use to be and that slows certain things
down, like making photographs...
...and doing make-up!
But where there is a will there is technology, progressive lenses
and magnifying mirrors. I really appreciate all the well wishes
and the best part is that I have one more day of celebration!
Birthdays are the greatest thing!!
Posted by photocartoonist at 9:08 AM
Happy Birthday Kat
We at the Institute for Advanced Stupidities wanted to be the first
to wish Kat a happy birthday.
But alas, we were bested by a certain individual who, in a breathtaking
stroke bordering on sheer idiocy, sang “Happy Birthday” through the
mail slot in the door at No Evil Productions. Those present were stunned.
At first they were not sure how they could be hearing this voice. “It was
like some strange magic”, said one later, “Looking around, we couldn’t
see any natural explanation for the melodious tones of birthday cheer”.
There was no radio, television or speaker-phone to explain the voice.
No video conferencing or web cast was in progress, and yet the room
was filled with song.
In an epiphany of retro-techno-imbicility this person had recognized that
two established ideas – each by itself well understood for ages- could be
synthesized into a third new idea of great power, but remarkable simplicity.
The Mail and the Megaphone were one, and neither would ever be the same again.
We the Faculty and students (one and the same) at the Institute, and indeed,
our fellow fools everywhere would like to add our voices in full throated
concordance with that of this profoundly silly secret admirer.
by THOMAS HUDSON REEVE
Posted by photocartoonist at 12:33 AM | Comments (1)
August 6, 2005
A Producer is Born:: 2004-2005
In 2004, we went into business with the Birch Brothers and helped them build their premium e-greetings on their fabulous site Birthdayalarm.com. I devoted myself to this project, as well as the efforts of many a fine artist, including my husband Thomas Hudson Reeve.
I decided I needed to think like a professional and agreed to become a full time producer/director. This was the beginning of my dream production company becoming a reality.
How to Keep Kat Caverly Fresh June 2004
More photos...
Coffeeeeeee 2005
Kat Caverly in Motion: Making a Point
Posted by photocartoonist at 12:38 AM
August 5, 2005
Designing Woman::2000-2004
On the streets of New York 2000
In 1999 I decided to start freelancing as a graphic designer so that I could learn "all things digital" and make the money to be able to afford the technology needed for our new production company.
At the Movies 2002
More photos...
TomKat 2003
They say you get shorter and fatter as you get older, but this is ridiculous!
How to Dread december 2003
I had always been fascinated by dreadlocks but I didn't think that white people could have them. A friend from Africa set me straight back in 1993 but it took me 10 years to finally do it. This was the results of our first attempt. I looked like a deranged sea urchin. Hahahahahahahahaha! But this didn't stop me.
Flashing my dreads 2004
Yes we finally had success, after much professional effort and patience. I must say I have gotten reactions that I didn't expect; and most of them from my friends. It sure does get attention, and that I do like. But like the bouffant there is a certain amount of prejudice out there against dreadlocks, like when someone thinks I am a rastafarian.
Posted by photocartoonist at 12:22 AM
August 4, 2005
After 40: A Real Character
July 1998::I am Woman Buy me Clothes
This was the decade of coming into my own. I discovered what I was meant to be doing with my life when I was 39 years old and for the next 10 years I would work every waking hour to reach the goal of making movies, which led me, drove me into the arms of technology and the Internet.
It was sort of like a movie I saw in college. It starred an actress in a park. She was being photographed by various men with cameras; first a brownie, then a polaroid, a cool black dude with a Nikon with a groovy wide angle lense, and at the end is a movie camera with the BIGGEST lense!
I have been attracted to bigger and bigger audiences. That is what brought me to the Internet. with my websites my photography, my characters, and eventually my animations have reached an audience of 20,000 people a day; people all over the world.
More photos...
A star of stage, and in my own mind, I boldly ventured into the minds and bodies of many different characters. I studied my idols; Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe, Jerry lewis, Carmen Miranda. I did off off off Broadway and off off off characters. I was a star of greeting cards and comedy clubs, one women shows and my own self-promotions and finally I was a star of the small screen; coming to a monitor near you soon!
MomKat emerges in 1999
Posted by photocartoonist at 6:36 PM
August 3, 2005
The "I want to be a Movie Star" Years
This is the closest thing I have been to normal. I did this because I was convinced by some professionals that I could look "normal" but act "kooky" and then I would get commercial work. Well they saw right through this facade but I must admit that this was a great headshot.
"Swan Lips" 1995
The upbeat Beat 1995
I started performing live in 1995 and continued through 1999, mostly in one woman shows of my own design to establish a resume but then in comedy clubs once people discovered that I was trying to be funny. My characters were fresh and my style was unique, but once again I found myself doing something that the business wasn't quite sure what to do with.
More photos...
Thinking of You 1996
Tom has never cared WHAT I do with my hair, except he has asked me not to shave my head. I have permed it, colored it red, black and bleached it various shades of blonde and white. I've had a crew cut, various stylish flips, and bouffants. Some people still think I'm a blonde. The fact is I have a blonde soul and I really really love the dark roots.
Here I am in our studio with the portrait of me from 1984 in the background.
Boy do I adore a good wide angle lense!
The Queen: July 1998
Now this is a look that I truly adored! Just the right amount of black roots,
short blonde hair sticking straight up, and those glasses. Yes I am a
character comic and I found it took very little for me to look very
different. It's all about the hair and make-up and I had been a
professional make-up artist since I did fashion photography
back in Atlanta in 1978. Now my make-up kits include
theatrical make-up and effects, prosthetic teeth, and
ways to make male as well as female characters.
Groovy baby!
Posted by photocartoonist at 10:34 PM
August 2, 2005
The First Change of Life
Shirley Kenosha is born February 14, 1994
Shirley is my alter-ego and the first character that I created. She was borne out of the observation
that greeting cards are mostly bought by women and most of those cards are sent to other
women. Shirley is "all women" to me. It was through performing Shirley that I came to know
that I have a blonde soul.
Shirley Kenosha aka kat Caverly 1995
TomKat 1995
More photos...
On January 18 Caledonia had her litter of 5 kittens.
And Shirley thought that they would make amazing earrings
...a little loud but definitely fabulous!
This was our first one-woman show, at the Red Room, which was a reknown poetry venue. My first performance ever ever was Shirley, as the upbeat Beat, doing 60 seconds of original poetry, at a local arts event in the Spring 1995. After this event, we were approached to do our own show, one hour of poetry! Tom couldn't believe that I said YES. I only had two poems, a total of 60 seconds of material, but I was fearless! Six weeks later we did an hour show at the Redroom and killed 'em!!
Buster and Rosie 1995
Black and Whites, piebalds as they are called are my favorites; they are the comics of the cat world.
Buster is the big fellow on the left; my bestest friend ever. And Rosie was my new "little one" that we had just found on the street they year before. I called Buster "Bubba" and Rosie "little Bubba".
Kat Caverly the character is born 1996
There was no stopping me now; I knew I wanted to be a movie star. Having no talent didn't
stop me either!
Posted by photocartoonist at 11:43 PM | Comments (1)
August 1, 2005
1986-1993
I seen the Pope and the Pope seen me! 1986
I love you cuz Caledonia is your name
I found all of my cats on the streets of New York and since my answer to everything was "take a picture of it" I took pictures of Neko, and Buster, and Rocky, and Sapphire, and Caledonia, and Rosie, and Delilia and all of her babies (Delilia was pregnant and had her babies in our studio), and Isabella. Eventually I stopped collecting cats when Tom told me that with the next adoption one Kat would go!
These Boots were made for Walking 1986
I was a blue jeans kinda gal and I loved my Raybans during the 1980's. My hair got longer as I toyed with the idea of growing it long again; that was until one day I looked at myself in the mirror and noticed that I had the same hairstyle as I did when I was 15 years old.
More photos...
Hell's Kitchen 1987
The new Improved Kat Caverly 1991
After many years of being weak and thin, after one day when I was walking down the street past a singing wino who looked up as I passed and said "hello skinny!" I decided I had enough and I started body building. I lost 20 pounds of fat and gained 60 pounds of muscle, but it took almost 3 years. It was wild and I was strong for the first time in my life!
Me and My Buster 1992
Buster was my bestest friend. I found Buster on the street in 1982 and it was like we knew each other in a previous life.
Sister Kathleen Anne and her Nun-chucks 1993
Until 1995 I only dressed up for Halloween but looking at this 1993 Halloween picture I see that this was the start of somthing BIG to come.
Posted by photocartoonist at 8:12 PM