Tech Tip: Using Google Images Search with Pinterest

"Curator : one who has the care and superintendence of something; especially : one in charge of a museum, zoo, or other place of exhibit" [Mirriam Webster online] Curators in a museum or gallery setting are always concerned with the provenance (history) of the pieces in an exhibition.
I would like to propose this same level of care when using social curation sites, such as Pinterest. It may take some extra time, but I think it is only fair to the photographers, craftspeople, bloggers, etc that created the original content.

How? Use Google Images!

note: you need to see that little camera icon at right edge of search box
if you don't see one, your browser is too old, this tip won't work

First, check to see what URL the image jumps to
(all Pinterest images are supposed to link back to their origin -- unless they were uploaded directly from the Pinner's computer)

Clicking on the image above was a dead link:

So, if the link is bad, it's time to do some detective work.
There is a reason I'm called SpyGirl!

Click down on the image you like and drag it to the Google Image search box.

Here's what came up in my Image Search:

Click through until you find the image.
(Sometimes this goes only to the top level of a blog -- disheartening because you'll have to scroll a lot*).

Copy the URL

It is now time to Repin and curate responsibly!

After hitting Repin:

Choose your Pinboard + hit "Pin It"

An image of your Pinning source will appear, choose "See it now"

Hit the Edit button:

Paste in the correct URL that you found during your Google Image search in the Link section

Hit Save Pin.
You are now a trustworthy curator! Yay!

If you're feeling especially anal, return to the source of your Pin, and add a comment, pasting in the same URL:

I got this, because it's a link:

So I removed the "http://" and replaced the dots in the URL

*If that's "too much" for you, at least have the correct URL on your own Pin.
*If you "don't have time" for all of this, may I suggest "Liking" the Pin instead of Repinning it?

I'd like to credit the catladies at GOMI for teaching me this trick.

Here's a humorous piece about the new usage of the term "Curate" written by ALEX WILLIAMS for the NY Times on 10/2/09

Crazy Quilt -- Synthetic Striped Knit Jersey

If I remember correctly, I got this dress at a ladies shop in Millbrook, NY. I of course had to shorten it.

I'm still quite fond of the color combo and I have a Pinterest board devoted to it!

Pinterest Hacking Update

I was SO HAPPY to get this:

 When I was pinning this:

to that "Adorbs" board that showed up on my upload list yesterday.
Yay Pinterest!
(My thinking was, if I pinned something to the board, then maybe it would show up - it was only visible in the list, not on my Pinterest profile - so that I could delete it. Does that make sense?)

Next I tried pinning exactly the same thing that I pinned yesterday to a new board:

Aaaaaah, no gremlins have added random things to the board.
Yay Pinterest!

Meanwhile, the whole process finally got me to put something up for sale on Threadflip: my nOir earrings that I got from Ideeli and never wore. One of those unfortunate purchases done in the heat of the moment. Here's a better photo:

If you crave them, click on over to my Threadflip!

Spammers Hacked My Pinterest

This just happened.
I pinned an image and made a new board for it. While I was doing that, a board called "Adorbs" (which appears to be a communal board) showed up on my list of boards and the pin was going to load on that. I again typed the title for my new board, uploaded pin. Clicked to view it and the board had another pin...

...loaded by "Debi Fitzsimmons"
I reported it but could not delete it.

I followed the URL of the spam pin: http://pinterest.com/source/wzus1.ask.com/
WOW, a whole lotta spamming going on.

I then tried pinning the item again in a new virgin board. This time there were TWO other pins.

Now I was getting creeped out.
I changed my password and deleted the two bad boards.

The "Adorbs" board does not appear publicly, but it's still polluting my upload list. I don't know how to get rid of it.

I'm not going to pin anything else from this computer (at work) for a few days (fortunately, I'm not back in the office until Monday). Maybe I'll try again from my laptop when I get home.
I put in a complaint to Pinterest Support, hopefully they can remedy the situation.
I feel violated. (I know, strong word for stupid Pinterest. First world problem. Still...)

Pinterest Paranoia and Pin Watch

text:
From a random tweet from IFB, I found peace of mind and fellow crusaders in the Battle against Spam on Pinterest.
I don't feel so crazy now. Onward!

Here is the tweet:

link to article -- READ!

The trail of links lead me to Pin Watch on Pinterest [link]:

If you are on Pinterest, please check out Pin Watch and read some of the links.
DON'T automatically follow a stranger if they follow "all your boards"
PIN RESPONSIBLY! Make sure the URL goes to the specific image/article.
Report any image that seems spammy.
Here's how:

click on "Report Pin" button

this box will appear > tick "Spam" > hit "Report Pin"

Pinterest, oh Pinterest

text reads:
4.19  I put this latest investigation collage together @ work on Mon. Just now getting it logged in here. I'm a bit divided about my Pinterest investigations. It feels so negative and unproductive. It just irks me so much that these "people" are hijacking the site for their own profit and nefarious ends.
I want to like Pinterest. I want to pin "correctly" and know that the pin points back to orig. source. I am irked by lazy pinners.

I really AM reluctant to continue doing this. I got weary of the Pose charade as well. I think I could be using my time better.

That said, when Michelle Obama"started following all [my] pinboards" I was curious to see where the pins came from... [4/20  just reclicked link and the page is down. hurrah!]

Ah, they're all the "media-cache" kind. The kind where the original source is removed.

Other troublemakers from Monday:

There is hope...
When I reclicked on the "dinner on the beach" today, I got this:

I Spy on Pinterest: All Pins Lead To...

Yesterday's investigation

Wendy's "Cool Stuff" pinboard has three sources for her pins...

This is the first one that I traced...

#2...

#3...

They all lead to this:

Did I click any further? No way!

I Spy on Pinterest

Yep, Graham loves his nail art...
Oh wait, all these pins go to the same link to Amazon.

Graham is an Amazon shill.
At least the pins are related to the product.

Note: this is part of my monitoring of Pinterest. Within the last month, I've noticed an increased frequency of spammy Pinners following all my boards. The bots are taking over and I am documenting and reporting the spam. Are the Pinterest bots getting you down?

I am a Spy = Iama Spy

Important: MOMS TAKE NOTE!
No age restrictions in Pose other than those imposed by Facebook. Easy enough to lie about one's age there. BUT at least on Facebook, one can control privacy settings. NO PRIVACY ON POSE. No way to block followers. This makes me UNCOMFORTABLE.

Spy Mission April 2012

SpyGirl Status Report

Hello, all my internet friends! I have several deadlines looming large...

An art exhibition that gets hung 4/22, opens 4/24, reception 4/28.
If you live in the Los Angeles area, the details are here on facebook
and here: annembray.com

I am working some of the art into repeat so that I can offer voile scarves in the prints... nothing completed on that yet... eeek! I promise myself to at least have the one above available. I want to wear it to the FABB West conference on 4/30! You'll be the first to get the shopping link when it happens.

The Threads and Surfaces Fashion Icon sketchbook is due to ArtHouse in Brooklyn on 4/30. Must get back to doing those portraits, I have 12 to finish. If I do one a day...
I'll be posting those here as I complete them.


TAXES!!!!!!


The fake wedding journal is on hiatus at present >sad face<.


Any OOTD posts will most likely go on Facebook for now so please go like SpyGirl to see what crazy combos I concoct next.

There are lots of things I want to write about but I must concentrate on the top four items above first. For instance, I've gone undercover on Pose just to see what happens. I'm also monitoring Pinterest with a high degree of paranoia.
SpyGirl is very busy -- "on the QT and very hush hush."

Later, my dears!

I heart Him

In working on a Modcloth Pinterest challenge, I have determined the theme for my journal during April's Int'l Fake Journal Month!
Shhhh, don't tell Thrilla - he'll get all twitchy. 

You can see my secret mission on my Pinterest 

BTW, doing a fake journal is a hoot. Less pressure than a "real" journal. It's how I became SpyGirl, so I'm all for it. See all the details on fake journaling here on Roz's site.