October 3, 2007
Waiting for Giftums
By the Greetums Lady
I am so excited that I can hardly wait any longer. But greatness takes time, and Giftums takes even longer! Development of the idea has been a journey but it only took us two weeks of pre-production to develop the product category. And this new greetings product is awesome!
We are scheduled to go live on Facebook.com by October 15th but we will keep it on the down low until we have tested with a small BETA group. Please let us know if you'd like to participate!
Posted by photocartoonist at 2:38 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
June 4, 2007
The Perfect Moment
Spring is an Occasion
There are those moments, those occasions that are just reasons in themselves to celebrate.
Spring is one of those occasions.
As a photographer first, I believe every picture tells a story and as our local community
garden comes alive this Spring. And Tom's photos are celebrations!
Now it is June. Memorial Day is past and students everywhere are ready for Summer. Even
the weather is ready for summer. But it is still Spring; my favorite season because the
world comes alive again, and flowers bloom and with them hope "springs" forth and we
all can celebrate this wonderful time.
So savor it. Photograph it. Remember it.
Posted by photocartoonist at 10:10 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 15, 2007
An April Fool's Dreams
If you have been wondering what the NoEvil dreamteamsters have been up to for the past
month, well we are doing the biggest thing we have ever done; we are creating our very
own greeting card company - Greetums. And it is coming soon to a monitor (and mall)
near you! We'll keep you posted, so please stay tuned.
What is Greetums?
Greetums is a way to connect, express and celebrate with the family &
friends you already have, even if they are not members. It's more than
cards, more than a reminder service; it's an organizer based on the
people and the events you cherish. It's a lifestyles site for people
who love to express their love and friendship.
It's not a social site to meet/make/force new associations, but to
cement the ones you have.
Posted by photocartoonist at 10:02 AM
July 26, 2006
Introducing Tic and Tac
By DEANNA DAHLSAD
Unlikely friends, perhaps, but Tic the mouse and Tac the elephant are best of friends.
Does this seem an unnatural friendship? Aren't elephants afraid of mice? No, Virginia, they aren't afraid of mice. That's a myth or old wives tale presumably based upon the human love of comedy -- and seeing a large animal afraid of a small one is pretty funny. But Tac is not afraid of Tic; these two are friends.
These two do have a problem, however, and that is what to get that special someone for their birthday. Tic believes cheese is always the perfect gift.
Tac thinks flowers are rather cheery and persuades Tic they'd make a wonderful birthday gift. But what kind of flowers? Tic of course, thinks cheese flowers would be best, and delivers quite an enthusiastic pitch. But Tic's rather an amiable sort, and abides by Tac's selection of a beautiful non-cheese bouquet.
While Tac may prefer his flowers in water, and Tac likes his with cheese, they both agree on wishing your friends and family a very happy birthday.
Posted by photocartoonist at 10:37 PM
July 19, 2006
July 19th is Flitch Day
By DEANNA DAHLSAD
A flitch is measurement of bacon, equaling half a pig. But before you jump to the conclusion that this holiday celebrates excess and making a pig of yourself, which would be a very American tradition, I'll direct you to the following information.
Flitch Day is an old custom, originating in Dunmow, Essex, England. Once a year, a flitch or 'slab' of bacon was given to any married couple who could prove they had 'not wished themselves unwed.' To offer their proof, a couple went before a mock court. In this court was a jury of bachelors and maidens, to which the the married couple would try to prove that they had lived in harmony and fidelity for the past twelve months. If they succeeded in convincing the jury, the couple was awarded a flitch of bacon from the local monks. Not surprisingly, it is said that very few "took home the bacon."
There are historical references to this day as far back as 1104, and it was a regular civic event in Dunmow by the late 1800's. Eventually, those who settled in America, brought the tradition with them.
I suggest that the citizens of Dunmow may very well be the founders of Reality TV. For it sure sounds like unscripted entertainment full of ways for the married couple to be unpleasantly surprised with evidence contradicting their claims.
Not only does this custom still live in England, but it's an event now held every four years, and frequently televised.
Now the question remains, how long until FOX airs "Bring Home The Bacon" -- complete with single jury members with firsthand infidelity information to share.
Posted by photocartoonist at 2:25 PM
May 24, 2006
Don't Send Me
By KAT CAVERLY
From my mailbag:
comment: I do not wish to receive e-cards. How can I block them?
That is a very interesting question; how do you block receiving e-cards?
Well, e-cards are sent to you from your friends and family. You could start
by telling them that you do not want to receive e-cards. I assume you prefer
paper greeting cards. Tell them!
But be gentle, because e-cards like all greeting cards are social
expressions; expression of love and friendship.
There are many ways of blocking e-mail too. Ask you ISP. Check the manual
for your e-mail program. You can block whole domains like hallmark.com, or
americangreetings.com, or my sites.
Or you could simply hit the delete button.
I hope this helps.
Posted by photocartoonist at 12:36 AM
April 5, 2006
Good Intentions
By DEANNA DAHLSAD
Letters, notes, emails and greeting cards are all attempts to find and
bind relationships, deepen friendships and unite people to the ones they
love. Correspondence creates connections to the past as well as forges
affections of the future -- Saying "We will engage again and again."
Some would argue that greeting cards and ecards are 'lesser' ways of
doing this. 'Tis true a lovely handwritten letter or handmade card is
far more personal than anything prefabricated, but if one waits for the
time to sit and compose such items, will they ever truly be created?
Hell is paved with good intentions.
If your intention is to stay connected, isn't timing at least of equal,
if not greater, importance than how the message is generated? Isn't a
card created by another, filled with your sentiments, with an added dash
of your own personality injected via typed text or personal signature,
delivered in a timely manner worth more than a letter that never
arrives?
Greeting cards are like the proverbial bird in the hand when compared to
the two in the bush of hand-created works.
On the other (empty) hand... If you send a card empty of genuine
personal feeling, you offer nothing. And you too will come up empty handed.
Businesses used to send holiday cards, or anniversary cards celebrating
the union of being in business together, as a way to seem more
personable and friendly as opposed to appearing like some cold
corporation (which they may or may not be). Unfortunately, now many of
these cards are sent with an emotionally distant printed signature, or
(heaven forbid!) just a printed corporate logo.
Many wise salesmen send personal rather than, or in addition to,
corporate cards. They know sales is about building and maintaining
relationships with real people. And it's difficult to feel a real
person sent you their earnest wishes with a rubberstamped signature next
to a corporate logo. The same is true of software that 'personalizes'
emails via the insertion of the receiver's name. We as receivers may
understand why this is done, but we really don't feel valued, and we
must wonder if in fact we will engage again and again...
So, what are you to do with your well wishes and good intentions then?
You are to express them as personally as possible at the time when they
are needed.
Posted by photocartoonist at 11:40 PM
March 23, 2006
More Than What You Say
By DEANNA DAHLSAD
Amy Vanderbilt once said, "Good manners have much to do with the
emotions. To make them ring true, one must feel them, not merely exhibit
them." She may well have been speaking about greeting cards too.
Like the tired Wal Mart greeter who mumbles 'hello,' or the crabby
receptionist who barks her 'hello' in such a manner that it sounds more
like a 'sit down' command; it's not the words, but how you feel them,
that makes or breaks a greeting.
So when selecting a greeting card, it's not always about finding the
exact perfect wording -- it's near impossible for someone to predict all
of what's in your mind. But cards can capture the feeling, the essence
of your emotions.
It's the warmth, spirit and readiness of the greeting which matters most.
Send your wishes with genuine and sincere emotions, and the recipient
will feel them. Really. It's the same magic mom uses to read the words
'I Love You Mom' on every drawing you ever made.
So it doesn't matter if you wishes are spoken, delivered via email, or
created from the cheapest construction paper and paste by pudgy little
fingers. Just open your heart, and let your spirit pour out.
Posted by photocartoonist at 1:53 PM
March 7, 2006
All Manner of Manners
By DEANNA DAHLSAD
In 1922, Emily Post the philosopher suggested a way of living: "Manners
are made up of trivialities of deportment which can be easily learned if
one does not happen to know them; manner is personality -- the outward
manifestation of one’s innate character and attitude toward life."
While I am in no way suggesting that we return to such formal or rigid
customs such as calling cards (with specific specifications for men
and for women) -- not even the Emily Post Institute suggests this
-- but I do think it's important to consider Post's point of view,
that manner is the outward manifestation or presentation of
one's character and attitude towards life.
One way to positively display your manner or character is through
manners. While many think of manners as some formal, perhaps even
antiquated and out-dated set of foppish behaviors, manners are
one way of easing the stresses of living among other people. Saying
'excuse me' when sliding past another in an elevator, holding the door
open for the person behind you, covering your mouth when you cough, send
a 'Thank you' for a courtesy recieved, these are more than good habits;
they are public ways of showing our respect for others as well as
self-respect.
And these actions are courtesies which need not be for public display
only. Too often we forget to include those nearest and dearest to us,
especially those we live with, such actions of respect. It's a shame
really, for if manners are a way to make communal living easier,
wouldn't we be better off to demonstrate them at home as well?
What's more, if we really love and value these people, why not show them
our considerate character and positive attitude toward life? Why not say
'excuse me' when sliding past your spouse in the kitchen, hold the door
open, cover our mouths when coughing, deliver a 'thank you' for some
generosity shown by a member of the household... Surely if they make our
lives richer, we can afford to not skimp on such gentle luxuries, and
flaunt our happy attitudes.
As John Cassis said, "It's nice to be important, but it's more important
to be nice."
Posted by photocartoonist at 5:58 PM | Comments (1)
March 2, 2006
E-cards vs Paper Greeting Cards
By DEANNA DAHLSAD
Many people cite convenience as a reason for sending e-cards. Not only
are they easy to send, with a few quick clicks, a few more keystrokes,
and one final click to send, but they may be a saving grace for those last
minute folks. And of course, it can be much easier to search for and
locate that perfect card at home rather than at the store with impatient
children, or husband, in tow. But are e-cards acceptable?
According to Emily Post's site, yes! When asked if it is
acceptable to send holiday e-greetings, the reply was "Yes -- if your
intended recipients are frequently online and you're fairly certain that
they would welcome this type of greeting."
And this of course, means that you should know your card recipient
well. Miss Manners believes that letters are better than greeting
cards, and so likely believes that greeting cards are better than
e-cards -- so if you have a proper and formal person in your life,
e-cards are likely not the best option.
While it may seem obvious not to send an e-card to Great Aunt Edna
either because she's not online or she is the more formal type, there
are other times that e-cards are not appropriate.
For example, some folks are vary wary of 'opening' e-cards. Even if
they are safe, your recipient may not believe so, and
your greeting will not be read. 'Not read' is as good as 'not sent'.
Others may only have internet access at work, and sending personal
e-mails to people's work addresses may be a problem as many companies
have policies against receiving and sending personal e-mail at work. If
your greeting isn't outright blocked, the recipient may get in trouble
-- which is likely not the way you want to be remembered for sending
birthday wishes.
And of course, there are some situations with some people in which e-cards
may be in bad taste. Some of these include condolences for the loss of a
loved one through death or even divorce. And, in some cases, e-cards
sent for romantic purposes may well end in, well, a reason for another
to send you a condolence card. Know your recipient!
So e-cards have not replaced paper greeting cards -- they have not even
decreased the use of paper cards.
In a recent article, the Washington Post notes that the rise of e-cards hasn't
diminished the popularity of old-fashioned paper cards. In that piece,
Valerie Cooper, executive vice president of the Greeting Card
Association, is quoted as saying "I think because people are e-mailing
so much, they're connected to a lot more people than they were 10 years
ago."
So it seems that building your friends and contacts in a digital world
increases your real world connections.
Posted by photocartoonist at 11:04 PM
February 22, 2006
Thank God for Them
Thank THEM!
I used to work in the non-profit sector and usually one of my tasks was
working directly with volunteers. Obtaining and training volunteers is an
expensive part of operating a non-profit organization, yet volunteers
are vital to the survival of non-profit organizations. They are
valuable resources, and organizations work to keep them as long as they
can. The trick is in learning how to keep those volunteers.
Obviously volunteering isn't about the money, for they are paid
nothing. And while it's true volunteers believe in the organization's
mission, they can donate their time and energy to so many deserving
causes, that really there has to be more to it than that. Ultimately,
keeping volunteers comes down to how you treat them. And those of us
working in this area had a golden rule of sorts: Thank every volunteer
seven times.
Yes, seven times.
No, you don't repeat 'thank you' seven times. But you are conscious of
every opportunity to thank them such as when they arrive, when they
leave etc -- even creating times to thank them, just so that you are
certain they are appreciated.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all took the time to thank and appreciate
the ones around us? Those people that we love and cherish, the people
that help us get through bad days, the ones who are not only there to
come home to, but make that house a home -- these are the people we
count on the most, yet take for granted the most. And we don't need to
do that. We can, we should make the time to thank them.
That's what Thank You cards are for: they are ways for us seize very
chance we have to make our loved ones feel like loved ones.
By DEANNA DAHLSAD
Posted by photocartoonist at 12:50 PM
February 8, 2006
Giving More Thanks
By DEANNA DAHLSAD
Some might argue with my statement that the Thank You card is
unexpected. For example, when you give a gift, a Thank You card is to be
sent in return. While this is a lovely tradition, it's not done as
often as it should be. And we, the gift senders, we understand that the
gift is appreciated, even if life is so busy that folks forget or cannot
keep up with these common courtesies. So we don't really expect to
receive these cards anymore.
(If you are one of the few folks who actually uphold your end in this
tradition, that's wonderful -- Don't stop!)
But this is not the only use of Thank You cards. In fact, it's the way
I least use my Thank You cards. My number one use of Thank You cards is
to send them anytime, just as a reminder of how special a person is to me.
Unlike the 'thinking of you' cards or the 'get well soon' cards, Thank
You cards have no down side to them. They are not sent because we are
miserable, or because we think the receiver is miserable. They are
given because the sender is aware of the real reason for sending a card
in either situation: you are thankful for having this person in your
life, and you want them to know it.
The Thank You card expresses more than a situation, it expresses the
relationship, and perhaps even more significantly, allows the sender to
note the specific qualities they admire about the person they are
writing to.
Thank You cards express our appreciation, warmth, and affection. They
send a simple but powerful message: I appreciate you.
And no one ever gets tired of hearing that.
Posted by photocartoonist at 11:28 PM
February 2, 2006
Thank You, Thank You Very Much
By DEANNA DAHLSAD
Most greeting cards, paper or ecards, are expected. We expect them for
our birthdays and at holiday times. We expect them for our personal
events such as anniversaries, new babies, and (knock wood) hospital
visits. We even expect cards for the events in other people's lives,
such as holiday cards for their holidays, invitations to their birthday
parties etc. But there is one card, one greeting that stands above all
of these.
This greeting is special because it's unexpected. Not only is it
surprising to receive this card for 'no reason', but it's flattering to
receive it because this card is truly all about the receiver.
What is this powerful card? The Thank You card.
I've long been in love with Thank You cards. Ever since I moved out of
my parents house, it's the one thing I've always had stocked at my
house. Even today, with ecards ever near, I am never without my stack of
paper Thank You cards. I've run out of toothpaste, milk, bread, cat food,
and even toilet paper. I've run out of gas. But never Thank You cards.
If I'd feel naked without my paper cards, I am also addicted to Thank
You ecards. In the next few entries, I'm going to sing my praises of the
Thank You card – and by the end, you'll be convinced it's the one
greeting card you cannot live well without.
Posted by photocartoonist at 2:13 PM
January 17, 2006
Save a Tree
By DEANNA DAHLSAD
Have you made a New Year's resolution to be kinder to all living
things? Have you decided that from this moment on, you'll make choices
which better the health of our planet?
Or perhaps you are being pressured to become a tree-hugger by a family
member or friend who insists that you should make such a change in your
life. To make matters worse, this person has a birthday this week!
If any of this applies to you, boy, do we have a card for you! In fact,
we have many ecards for you.
For the ecologically conscious, ecards are the practical alternative to
paper greeting cards.
With ecards, you not only spare a tree, but you spare the hurt feelings
you would otherwise create by not acknowledging a love-one's special
day. Ecards allow you to both save a tree and save a relationship.
No longer must you hem and haw over the ethical dilemma of kill-a-tree or
hurt-a-friend. Now, the answer's easy: send an ecard!
Just another one of the world's problems solved by No Evil Productions.
(However, when it comes to the 'paper or plastic' question at the
grocery store, you are on your own.)
Posted by photocartoonist at 7:53 PM | Comments (2)
December 21, 2005
I Really, Really Love You
By KAT CAVERLY
In this season of goodwill towards man, my attention turns towards LOVE.
Partly because I am finishing up production for Valentines Day
(I know, I know I am also late with this holiday) but mostly because
THE Season fills my heart with love and joy.
And just in case I haven't told you lately, I Really REALLY LOVE You!
Posted by photocartoonist at 8:32 PM
November 21, 2005
Tis the Season for the eCard
But are they safe?
In this season, The Season, where all things greeting card are exchanged,
we were asked, “Are eCards really safe?”
eCards are environmentally friendly, sparing trees & saving landfills;
they save us time and money; and most importantly, allow us to make the
folks we care about smile. But are they safe?
Yes Virginia eCards are safe, but there are bad people out there and
e-mail is being used for nefarious reasons and sure people have used
the good name of the wonderful eCard to lure people into their traps.
Some people fear using eCards, feeling they are risking downloading a
virus, spyware, adware or some other unwanted evil. Let's look at the
facts as well as tips for avoiding all e-mail troubles.
Fear #1: The eCard Bears Unwelcome Gifts
The Truth: Reputable eCard sites host the images, sounds and designs on
their own servers. This means your computer isn't downloading anything,
just playing files on a webpage.
Repeat: Legitimate ecards do not contain attachments.
Safety Tips: While we can't tell you the urls or names of all the bad
sites, a good rule of thumb is this: If you get a pop-up requesting you
to name ('save as') a file &/or select where to put a file, click
'cancel' or close and go no further.
Don't try to save an eCard for viewing later. Most sites protect their
eCards for copyright reasons, but this also protects you. Currently
BirthdayAlarm.com saves a history of all ecards, so the cards are always
available to play again later. This option means there is no need to
worry about saving them, along with anything undesirable, to your computer.
But don't panic when you see a file loading. A taskbar showing
you the progress of a loading file is not the same thing as
downloading a file. (You will not be asked to 'save as' or
provide any locations for saving the file when files load.)
Fear #2: eCard Companies are Phishing
The Truth: Premium e-greeting companies like BirthdayAlarm.com do
request billing information from recipients. And most offer at least a 30 day
free trial to their service. Payment details are required.
Safety Tip: Like offline, know the companies you are doing business with.
Check the About sections. Legitimate companies publish contact
information which includes a brick and mortar address. Check them out.
Contact the local Better Business Bureau.
Fear #2: eCards Are Tools For Spammers
The Truth: Reputable companies, eCard or otherwise, do not sell, trade or give-away email addresses or other information.
Safety Tip: View the company's privacy policy for assurances prior to agreeing to any site policies - even the viewing of the ecard.
Working With Email Accounts
As senders, we often use our Hotmail, Yahoo! or other free email accounts to send our ecards. We do this out of the fear that the ecard company will spam us or send an abundance of 'newsletters' or other unwanted emails. Or perhaps, this is to shield your personal doings from your workplace or another reason (heck, on the Web we all have more than one identity - so I won't judge you!).
However, our friends and family often do not know these other email addresses. They become suspicious of these emails and are quick to hit delete. And many email filters may 'junk', block or otherwise mistreat emails from 'unknown' senders, preventing your ecard from even being seen by your recipient.
Give your friends and family members the chance to find your e-greeting - send it from a known email address. And use credible e-greeting card websites.
General Safety Tips:
Do not open e-greetings from people you don't know. If you receive an eCard from an unknown email address which has a name you recognize, email your friend or family member at the email address you do know, and ask them to verify if they sent you an e-greeting from another email account.
Preview a link's Web address before you click it. If the link doesn't show an address, move your mouse pointer over the link without clicking it and the Web address should appear on the bottom bar of your Web browser. If the address doesn't seem legit, don't click the link.
Don't accept an end-user agreement without reading the fine print first. Oh, sure, it's tedious, but you might inadvertently agree to install spyware, adware or something else you don't want.
Don't accept "e-card viewer plug-in" - even if it has a certificate that looks convincing. Most ecards are viewable without additional plug-ins.
When in doubt, do a quick Google search for url's, plug-in names and other details to avoid scams. If it's a legitimate eCard, it will be there after a few minutes of quick searching.
Keep your anti-virus and spyware protection programs running. If
you did make a mistake, you'll have better chances of avoiding the worst
case scenarios.
Posted by photocartoonist at 11:52 AM
November 14, 2005
Yappy Birthday: Are Birthdays Going to the Dogs?
Feel like birthdays are for the dogs? How about from the dogs?
This isn't just a group of dogs barking the usual 'Happy Birthday to
You.' This is an original jam session of animated urban pooches! These
canines are so street, the music can only be called yip-hop. And their
performance is sure to make the birthday boy or girl you send it to howl
with laughter.
You don't have to be a dog lover to appreciate the humor of a scrappy
band of dogs, but it sure yelps - err, helps!
Posted by photocartoonist at 11:03 PM
November 1, 2005
A Luxurious Birthday Card Laugh
By DEANNA DAHLSAD
She's a lady of luxury: spas, martinis, and a sophisticated air about
her that says she's seen it all... there are no surprises left...
Or are there?
It's the unexpected, not the martinis, that gets even she to laugh. And
laugh. And laugh some more.
What woman hasn't wished for a day to do just this? Heaven is a facial,
a fluffy robe, drinks & having one's toes sucked... (Did I just share
too much information?)
This is the kind of card that will get your birthday girl to laugh - no
matter how bored she is by the whole birthday thing. Even if she thinks
birthdays suck, she'll appreciate the whimsical portrayal of her
sentiments!
Sending this card with its unexpected greetings is sure to elicit a
smile. And it's much easier than delivering martinis – and a goldfish!
Posted by photocartoonist at 11:20 AM | Comments (2)
October 24, 2005
Having Trouble finding that perfect eCard?
I have a difficult time finding birthday cards for my brother in law.
After five years, the gifts are easier - now that I've discovered that
Nerf toys are not only happily received, but giddily used. But that
still leaves the problem of the greeting card...
I have tried using children's cards. While the toys work, the cards do
not.
I have tried humor cards, with some success... when they hit, they hit
big! ...but when they fail :shudder:
And I know I can't send sentimental cards. Or cute & cuddly cards. So I
still struggle to find the perfect (or the least complained about)
birthday cards...
I can't be alone. Every one must have someone they struggle to find
cards for... Who's the difficult person for you?
Post your problem -- and be specific! We don't need names & locations,
but don't just say 'cards for men' or 'cards for women.' Let us know
the relationship that's involved. Is it your sister's birthday? A card
for your wife on Valentine's Day? Oh, and tell us your gender too. I'm
interested to see if there are any patterns that emerge...
By DEANNA DAHLSAD
Posted by photocartoonist at 1:31 PM | Comments (1)
September 23, 2005
You Have to Kiss Alotta Frogs...
It's been a few years since I've been single, but I don't forget, nor do
I take for granted, the difficult process of finding my mate.
I've tried to forget, but I can't. It's seared into my mind... And then
there are all the single folks I know who keep reminding me what it's
like out there... For example, that coworker who has been standing
'round that water cooler all day, whining about her love life (or lack
thereof). :sigh:
Like momma said, you've got to kiss a lot of frogs to find your prince.
If you've got a friend, a sister, coworker - who ever it is – that
suffers from frog kissing frustrations here's a cute way to cheer them up.
This cute ecard is one little pick-me-up that won't try to take them home.
And maybe then we can all return to laughing at the water cooler. :wink:
By DEANNA DAHLSAD
Posted by photocartoonist at 9:50 PM
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
July 30, 2005
Cake on the Internet
by DEANNA DAHLSAD
Has the Internet gone too far?
With the proliferation of the internet, folks now celebrate their
birthdays digitally. There are emoticons that hug you, chat room
birthday parties, e-cards, & even e-invitations to chat room birthday
celebrations.
Has technology gone too far? Have real birthday parties been replaced by
digital celebrations? Have geeks & technology won, rendering greeting
cards, real hugs from family & friends, and even birthday cake obsolete?
Is there no end to the madness?!
Now, thanks to BirthdaysBlow.com, you can even have your digital cake &
make fun of the times too!
Watch the singing robot as he makes birthday cake, “tastes like a TV
set.” Mmmmm
Posted by photocartoonist at 8:52 PM
July 29, 2005
Who Suffers from DGB?
by DEANNA DAHLSAD
I have a brother-in-law that I adore. However, as is the case with most brother-in-laws, I never know what to get him. Worse yet, is the selection of a birthday card. This is partially due to the fact that our relationship is based mostly in teasing each other. That, and he's a guy - getting any fella a mushy sentimental card puts you on the 'eeiiiwwww list' for life. If I send him a mushy e-card to his office email, I can be certain that I will forever be referred to as 'Her' in less than flattering terms...
Brother-in-laws aren't the only difficult ones to get birthday cards for. What about that girl you meet a few weeks ago in chat? She mentioned her birthday, but you don't know her that well... but she's so sweet, you don't want to let her special day go by without wishing her well...
There are co-workers, grandparents, aunts, kids, and virtually any man
(I've ever met anyway)...
These are people who suffer from DGB: Difficult to Greet on Birthday-itus.
Those who wish to celebrate their birthdays also suffer. :(
If you are looking for a funny way to send birthday wishes to those people in your life who suffer from DGB, try BirthdaysBlow.com.
Quirky, strange & warped, these cards are funny enough to generate a genuine lol, or at least a smile; without any inappropriate stuff to get you or them in trouble.
It's an experience that will leave you all smiling.
Posted by photocartoonist at 11:21 PM
June 28, 2005
You Approach The Birthday Zone
By DEANNA DAHLSAD
Birthdays are an ambivalent mix of happiness & sorrow. We delight in the attention, yet hate the focus on time. We love a day that's focused on "me," but hate to think of looking at what we've done and not done - it leads to thoughts of who & what we've lost... and when it will all end...
I know. I just celebrated my 41st birthday. And my 25th year entering The Birthday Zone.
What is The Birthday Zone?
If the Twilight Zone is a fifth dimension, the Birthday Zone is yet another dimension of sight, sound & mind. A land of the nostalgia of the past, shadows of future fears, and the things & ideas of now, which all holds us back from enjoying our lives today.
The Birthday Zone is a series of ecards which capture all the angst and tension of this time & space, yet uses humor to remind us to slow down, and smell the roses - or the coffee, as the case may be.
No boring static cards, but cool mini-movies with all the familiar pop culture goodness of vintage television - flash films you can send to remind folks that even if they aren't celebrating their special day, you are.
Unlike Rod Sterling's creation, you know the Birthday Zone will hit you, your friends & relatives, every year. Why not celebrate it before you find yourself trapped in... The Birthday Zone.
Posted by photocartoonist at 11:20 PM
May 28, 2005
HappY Birthday to You: Final Chapter
I have been around the world asking about the term of copyrights, reviewing various laws in various countries:
According to Circular 15t, US Copyright Office
Renewed Copyrights Automatically Extended to Maximum of 95 Years
Under the statute, copyrights that had already been renewed and were in their second term at any time between December 31, 1976, and December 31, 1977, inclusive, were automatically extended in duration. The total length of these copyrights is now 95 years from the end of the year in which they were originally secured.
So in the United States
2030 for the lyrics (if they really own them)
music: copyrights expired in Jan. 1, 1950
But in the rest of the world, notably the EU countries, and other Berne signatores, the rule of law is author's life + 70 years. So in Europe, the copyright on both the music and lyrics might expire in 2016, but in Germany and the UK, the longer term of 2030 might be upheld. ??? International Copyright law? I have nothing but questions.
Remember that Internet is a worldwide usage, so IF the 1935 Happy Birthday to You musical composition is really, really owned by Warner-Chappell, the copyright won't expire until 2030... that is unless the term gets another extension.
One last question remains; I have a copy of a 1912 publication that features "Happy Birthday to You" which was not published by Clayton F. Summy and was not authorized by the Hill sisters (and was not published by Robert H. Coleman either). This very well may have been an infringement on the lyrics of "Good Morning to All" but unless the Hill sisters fixed the "Happy Birthday to You" variation of their song in a tangible form prior to 1912, the author's right to first publication would not apply. How would they get ownership of a derivative work that they did not fix in tangible form?
Also there are citations of earlier publications, and copyrights, that predated the Hill sister's 1893 "Song Stories for the Kindergarten". Is there proof out there that this song, popluarly known as the Happy birthday song, is nothing itself but a derivative work?
Curious minds want to know!
Posted by photocartoonist at 11:28 PM | Comments (4)
May 25, 2005
Happy Birthday to You
This is NOT legal advice
Does anybody really OWN these words?
Did Mildred and Patty Hill know back in 1893 that they were about to create a legend? How could they even guess that in 2005 a major music publishing company, Warner-Chappell would still claim ownership to their song! And who would have foreseen the value of the worldwide rights with the invention of the e-card?
Yes, Warner-Chappell claims to own the rights to the "Good Morning to All" musical compostion, first registered with the US copyright office in 1893, with that registration updated in 1896. Yes, this song became known as the Happy Birthday song, but did the Hill sisters pen these lyrics?
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear (name)
Happy birthday to you
There is no evidence, even Patty Smith Hill's testimony in the infamous 1934 court case, that they wrote those words. In fact there is evidence that even their lyrics to "Good Morning to All" were a derivative of:
Happy Greeting to All
Happy Greeting to All
Happy Greeting Happy Greeting
Happy Greeting to All (©1858)
It is true that the Clayton Summy company registered a piece of sheet music in 1935 under the title "Happy Birthday to You" which used the same music as "Good Morning to You" with the addition of one note, because Happy is two syllables and Good, well is only one.
Clayton Summy is the same music publishing company who published Mildred and Patty's little ditty back in 1893, and again in a larger, illustrated volume in 1896. I claim that no one owns the words "Happy Birthday to You" but Warner-Chappell claims that THEY do own these words, as lyrics, because of this 1935 copyright registration document.
The 1935 registration document does not substantiate this claim. It is a registration of a derivative work (the arrangement) and a work-for-hire by another composer, Preston Ware Orem (the music). The US Office of Copyright has this document and it is a matter of public record.
The Library of Congress does not have the deposit document that went with this registration but James Fuld (author of The Book of World-Famous Songs) does have an early edition of this sheet music, dated 1935, which has No Attribution for the author of the lyrics, and Mildred Hill attributed as the author of the music and this music was arranged by Preston Ware Orem, titled "Happy Birthday to You" and features the Happy Birthday to you lyrics.
The Clayton Summy company was sold and became Summy-Birchard, which was bought by Warner-Chappell. Buying copyrights is a lucrative business in the music industry. In the 18 years I have been in the greeting card business I have never been told that anyone owns those words. Quite to the contrary, it is widely believed that no one owns the simple phrases, Happy Birthday, I love you, Happy Valentines Day, Merry Christmas, Happy Birthday to you; you get the point. Copyright law does not cover "names, short phrases, titles". That is a trademark issue and another story. Strangely, "Happy Birthday" was allegedly trademarked by a Chinese company last year for use on toys. In my opinion this is a dubious trademark at best. And even that does not effect the greeting card business.
It's All About Context and Jursidiction
Yes it is true that the Happy Birthday music is in the public domain in the United States, but it gets tricky with the lyrics. Internet usage is by definition worldwide and intellectual property laws in other countries have been based on author's life + for more years than this song, and its predecessors has been around. The question is how would a foreign jurisdiction measure the term of this copyright.
James Fuld as well as other musicologists believe there are even earlier publications disputing this claim of a current copyright. But the legal position says that every publication without authorization is tainted and possibly nullifies the validity of the publication of the lyrics. Is it ture? Is it possible that the Summy registration in 1935 is the only authorized publication that can be found in the world that combines the music with the lyrics that we all know as the Happy Birthday song?
Posted by photocartoonist at 3:38 PM | Comments (6)
March 8, 2005
Warning: Repeated Birthdays can lead to Old Age
If a regular day turns into a birthday, will you be ready?
There are four things REQUIRED for a birthday celebration:
1. birthday cards
2. the birthday song
3. presents
4. a cake with a candle
And the beautiful thing is that you can do all of these things for yourself.
Optional are:
5. doing a happy birthday dance (in your birthday suit for extra points)
6. sacrificing a chocolate cake
7. sleeping for 2 days after the party
Take 1 and call me next year!
Posted by photocartoonist at 12:45 PM
February 13, 2005
Make a Difference this Valentines Day
Who is this Saint Valentine and what does love have to do with it? The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine, all of whom were martyred. According to one legend, Valentine sent the first "valentine" himself to his love from prison. It was signed "from your Valentine".
Some believe that the Romans has a mid-February custom, that stems from the believe that birds chose their mates on February 14th. Pastors would substitute the names of saints to suppress such practices and February 14th became known as St. Valentines Day, but the custom of celebrating the chosing of a mate, like most old customs, stuck.
St. Valentine was executed in Rome on February 14, about the year 270. The oldest known Valentine, in England, dates from around 1400. According to Catholic.org, St. Valentine is the patron saint of "affianced couples, bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travellers, young people".
Hmmm, the patron saint of greetings??
Posted by photocartoonist at 11:18 PM
February 10, 2005
I get NO Kick from Champagne
but I Get a Kick Out of You
Introducing Miss Ethel Merlin; an aging songbird, a diva extraordinaire! And she has a soft spot in her heart for you!
Posted by photocartoonist at 10:05 PM | Comments (1)
December 27, 2004
Auld Farts
As 2004 comes to an end, I spend these last few days reviewing all of the wonders of this year. It has been an incredible year, full of creativity, full of opportunity; full of laughter!
Here's a laugh on me!
Posted by photocartoonist at 10:58 PM
December 25, 2004
A Blue Christmas without You
Merry Christmas to Everyone
Posted by photocartoonist at 12:00 AM
September 23, 2004
The History of the Greeting Card: e-Cards
According to iMedia connection, online greeting cards sales accounted for less than 1% of the 7.5 billion dollar greeting card market in 2003. Putting that into perspective, an estimated $52 million in e-cards were bought and sold in 2003. An ecommerce analyst at Jupiter Research projects this number will increase to $79 million by 2007. Not bad for an industry that had been growing at less than 4% a year prior to 1996 when Blue Mountain Arts created the online category.
This miniscule percentage held by the e-card category is based mostly on the fact that the leading site offering e-cards, Hallmark.com, does not charge for its online greeting cards. And there are many more free e-card sites; notably 123greetings.com, the largest free e-greeting site on the Internet.
According to 123greetings, they have been on the Web since 1995 but Blue Mountain Arts brought the e-card to worldwide attention being in the top ten web properties in 1998. In 1999 they sold bluemountain.com for $780 million dollars to Excite.com. Only two years later, almost to the date, Excite sold bluemountain.com to American Greetings for just $35 million dollars. And within two months, American Greetings introduced paid membership for e-cards. History was once again made in greeting cards.
Posted by photocartoonist at 9:34 PM
The History of the Greeting Card
Having read on a site that the Valentine was the oldest known greeting card dating from the 1400's. According to riverdeep.net:
"The oldest known Valentine was a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, from his prison cell. It is on display at the British Museum."
That is hardly what I think of when I think Greeting Card. It wasn't until cheap printing came along that the greeting card as we know it was popularized. Before 1860 the greeting card was a piece of fine art.
The Greeting Card Association claims that the custom of sending greeting cards can be traced back to the ancient Chinese, who exchanged messages of well-wishes for the New Year.
The first commercial valentine greeting cards produced in the United States were created in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland (1828-1904), the mother of the American Valentine.
I read that Christmas cards were introduced and popularized by John Calcott Horsley (1817-1903), the artist of the first Christmas card and I see that Sir Henry Cole supplied the idea. Louis Prang, known as the father of the American Christmas Card but his first cards were sold in England.
For years I believed that the first commercially produced paper greeting card was a Christmas card, manufactured in Germany. But now I am seeing that the greeting card was popularized in England, first with Valentines Day and birthdays. Common tradition was to visit someone on their birthday to wish them well and the first birthday cards were apology cards when one couldn't make that visit. Louis Prang, a German immigrant who started a small lithographic business in Boston back in 1856, is often credited with the start of the greeting card industry in the United States.
I was surprised to discover in 1990 when I did my first research on the greeting card industry that 90% of all paper greeting cards are sold in the United States. The business has grown to 7 billion dollar plus worldwide annually and with the addition of e-greetings, the industry has started on a new road of history.
I wonder who sends all of the e-cards now?
Posted by photocartoonist at 8:17 AM
September 18, 2004
Ganesh Chaturthi | September 18, 2004
Om Shree Ganeshaya
There is a world of celebration out there and today is the start of the festival in India celebrating the birthday of Lord Ganesh. There is a beautiful devotional song, called an arti, for this holiday and we recorded this especially for Ganesh Chaturthi on the sitar.
I am making a list of all of the holidays all over the world where people send greeting cards to celebrate their special festivals. My motto is, No Holiday Left Behind.
Posted by photocartoonist at 2:11 PM | Comments (2)
September 15, 2004
Shana Tova | Rosh Hashanah
Our Wish for a Sweet New Year
This is a beautiful time of the year for Jewish people; a new beginning. It is also solemn time of the year; a religious time. The ten days starting with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur are commonly known as the Days of Awe. This is a time for introspection, a time to consider the sins of the previous year and repent before Yom Kippur.
Among the customs of these holidays, is to seek reconciliation with people you may have wronged during the course of the year. Another custom is to dip apples in honey to symbolize the wish for a sweet New Year.
Posted by photocartoonist at 11:39 PM
September 13, 2004
The Making of the perfect Christmas Tree
It's Christmas at Kat Caverly Studios
The whole studio is a buzz with Christmas. We are making a list and doing things twice! Everyone is involved as we prepare to make the best Christmas e-greeting ever.
I decided to be the one to create the perfect Christmas Tree.
This animation will feature an illustration of a Victorian parlor on Christmas morning, with a traditional tree decorated with beautiful ornaments. These ornaments and the lights will actually be photographs and the special ornaments will feature the technology of Object VR (virtual reality), all built and coded using Macromedia Flash.
I decided to create the tree using a 3D program and after days of research, ended up using XFrog. To create the look of the branches and needles of my precious spruce, we travelled to Central Park and did a detail photograph of a blue spruce leaf, on location.
I used Photoshop CS to create the texture map and after days of testing, arrived at the solution for the look I wanted!
Because I am using both a full image in a 800x600 pixel animated e-card, and close-up inserts for the Object VR, I needed to render two different resolutions of the tree model. Once the background illustration is complete, I will use LightWave 8 to light the tree to match, if needed. Mostly I plan to make any adjustments using Photoshop CS.
There will be an animated angel who brings the room to life. Snow (of course) and roaring fire in a fireplace and we are producing arrangements of timeless Christmas music to complete our scene.
One of the things I love most about designing greetings cards and e-cards, is that I get to totally immerse myself in the holidays 3 times each year. I love Christmas so much, I have decorated my office with my ornament collection. I have over 100 ornaments and growing!
Posted by photocartoonist at 11:42 PM
September 11, 2004
Remembering Grandma and Grandpa
I love looking at old photographs. We always smile in photographs! I guess because we are told to say "Cheese". Very funny. Cheddar!!
I remember my paternal grandparents very, very well because I lived with them from the time I was one to almost six. And we lived in the same apartment building on the South Side of Chicago until I was eleven years old. I saw them both every day.
I used to "work" with grandpa. He owned the apartment building and he taught me that work was play. Grandma use to try to get me to eat! And she taught me how to tell the truth. They both taught me that I could be anything, do anything, as long as I was willing to work for it.
Yes I love going back to those times. The lake, the apartment I grew up in, and Carmen the chihuahua. Always cutting in on the act, Carmen was a diva and we used to terrorize each other because I HAD to be the center of all attention! My grandfather had a wonderful, dry sense of humor and that little Hitler mustache (grandma and grandpa were from Austria) just tickled me!
I have so many fond memories and I wish they were still here for me to share this day with them. Bless you grandma and grandpa Klutsarets.
My maternal grandparents were also very interesting. I lived 6 months of my first year of life with them out in California. I don't remember anything from then but the fact that I learned to swim. I was eight months old. Or maybe I am remembering my cousin telling the story of the day I pooped in the pool!
My nana was from Limerick, Ireland and she was a drill sargeant of a lady and could scare the smirk right off of my face! I got the gift of the gab from my Irish roots. Contrary to popular belief, the gift of the gab is not the LOVE of talking. It is the ability to talk people into things! And I got that too, thankfully.
My grandfather was from Germany and he had been a detective on the Chicago police force. He taught me to suspect everyone, trust no one. I would make a good cop. My Aunt Lorraine lived in the house my grandparents owned and she was my favorite Aunt. Aunt Lorraine was my mother's oldest sister.
I loved that house and we visited often. Nana if you can hear me honey, I love you and grandpa, I am taking care and have a healthy amount of paranoia thanks to you! This day is to honour you grandma and grandpa Boske.
As you can probably guess I was not born Kat Caverly. My father and his brothers got tired of having everyone butcher their name, Klutsarets, so they changed their name to Klutcharch. Stop laughing. I'm serious! When I was a kid I was just happy that I wasn't born into the Kluts side of the family! Seriously, I have relatives named Kluts.
Yes, humor is a defense and I learned early to defend myself and my name! When I divorced my first husband and I got the papers that said that I could resume my maiden name. I replied, "YOU can resume my maiden name." And Caverly stuck. Kat is a topic for another day!
Posted by photocartoonist at 12:01 PM
September 8, 2004
Patriot Day | September 11th
Forgive but never Forget
I will never forget that day in 2001 and the following week. New York was in shock. Washington DC was in shock. Pennsylvania was in shock. The airline industry, all of America was in shock. Now, three years later, we are rebuilding; we are getting stronger.
There is still fear but it is not on the streets of New York anymore. It is more in the words of politicians trying desperately to be the voice of their people. It is unfortunate that this is used as sound bites and bullet points. But let us never forget the heroes and the innocence of the victims.
Let us never forget those who have fought, who still fight for our nations beliefs. May their memories be blessed. May they come home safe.
Posted by photocartoonist at 10:49 PM
August 30, 2004
Moon over Manhattan
You are Never Alone
Friendship. Did you ever have an imaginary friend? Do you ever get the feeling that you are being followed?
Someone, somewhere, deserves to be Mooned!
Posted by photocartoonist at 11:16 PM
August 21, 2004
A Star is Borne
Introducing Smuggly the duckling! Multi-lingual, he stars in Feliz Cumpleaños and Happy Birthday
Posted by photocartoonist at 11:44 PM
August 7, 2004
They say it's My Birthday
Happy Birthday to ME!
To say that I love birthdays is to put it mildly; I adore birthdays. And the best thing about birthdays is that it is someones BIRTHDAY every day! So I have a great excuse to sacrifice a chocolate cake every day!
This year my favorite birthday song is Happy Happy by The Arrogant Worms.
And this year my favorite birthday card is Happy B Day
And german chocolate cake is still my favorite birthday cake! And I am definitely blowing out all of the candles this year because I got a bunch of birthday wishes.
I will report back on these pages later today on my favorite presents and my words of wisdom at this great age. "Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me...!"
PLEASE, send me your birthday greetings kat@photocartoonist.com
Posted by photocartoonist at 2:04 AM
July 24, 2004
The Cure for the Common eCard
eCardology.com features some of the funniest animated e-greetings on the Internet. Many are offered as part of the new line of premium e-greetings distributed by Birthdayalarm.com.
We're trying to raise the bar on the production of animation for e-cards; producing original music as well as unique new characters and scripts written by an eclectic bunch of playwrights and filmmakers.
eCardology.com plans to produce lines of traditional greeting cards as well as cutting edge comedy. New cards are added every week.
Posted by photocartoonist at 11:02 AM