How to Use Google Drive as a 3rd Party Image Hosting Platform

So back when the horrid surprise of Photobucket’s greedapalooza was still fresh, a lot of people were looking for third party hosting alternatives. Someone out there had a really helpful list of potentials, but for various reasons, none of them suited me. I wondered whether I could make use of Google Photos as a third party platform.

As it happened, I couldn’t. Google had very recently ended its image hosting capabilities — unfortunate timing, that — but I did some poking about and found that there’s a work-around that lets you still use Google Drive as a third party platform. At least one person (hi, azriona !) was interested, so this is my attempt to tell people how to use this process.

I’m including a link to the YouTube video that taught me how to do this, which you might prefer to following my step-by-step. Here 'tis: https://youtu.be/zhwYRPImH9E.

( PreliminariesCollapse )
So you have your Google account and you’re ready to start.

1. Choose an image to upload, possibly from your own newly-created “Fuck Photobucket” file on your hard drive. Upload it to Google Drive. If you’re using Chrome, you’ll do it thusly (and if you’re using Firefox, Safari, or whatever, it will probably be fairly similar.) Click on Google Drive. Once you’re in drive, click on New, which is near the top left. You should get a drop down menu that includes “File Upload.” Hit it, and pretty soon your picture will appear in your drive. I put all my uploaded pics in one Drive folder for ease of access, along with my Permalinks record, so everything’s in the same place.


2. Now you want to adjust the picture’s “share” settings, so that it’s “Public on the Web.” How to do that? Your trusty right click button. Don’t open the picture; just right click on the thumbnail/description in the Drive list. When you do, you’ll see a bunch of options.


3. Open the “Share” option. A window should open up. Pay attention only to “Advanced.” Click “Advanced.”


4. You’ll get a different window. Look for “Who Has Access.” It will probably be set at “Private — Only You Can Access.” You’ll want to change that, so hit “Change.”


5. You’ll get three options. The one you want is “On — Public on the Web.” Make sure that button is the one you hit, then hit “Save.”


6. You’ll then have a “Link to Share.” Copy that sucker, and head on over to gdurl.com.


7. The very first thing you’ll see once you go to that site is a spot that says “Paste a Public Google Drive URL etc.” Put your URL there, and hit “Create Permalink.” Go down a little farther on the page, and there, under “Standard URL” you will have your shiny new permalink. Copy that permalink, along with a description of what the pic/image is, to whatever document you’ll be using to keep the information.


8. Voila! You now have the code you need to embed your photo wherever you want to embed it! (If we’re talking LJ or Dreamwidth, you’ll have be able to insert it via the "insert/edit image" or "insert photo" icons. I do it in the rich text format.)  And, because you’ve saved the permalink and a description in a file somewhere, you can use the same code again and again!

( After the fact stuffCollapse )
So there you have my extremely wordy how-to. I hope it might be of help to someone.

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Various Things Make a List

1. There are several people out there who have had recent birthdays. and if I have any brainpower left over the next 24 hours, I'll wish them proper natal salutations.
2. My company is once again planning its traditional pre-holiday layoffs. This year they come with potential buyouts. I am talking seriously with Bob about whether this is a possibility for me - as in, how desperately poor can we be and still keep the condo, and afford medications. The talk will have to be done quickly, since people have to put in for buyout consideration in less than a week. My company ... swear to god ....
3. Our remaining kitty, Opie, is driving us spare with constant vocalization. but we know it's because he's desperately lonely. We''ll be looking at the idea of finding him a new buddy sometime very soon.
4. Stan Lee has died.He had many faults, and his death wasn't unexpected but I'm still sad, because I fell in love with comics as a kid, with Fantastic Four's fight with Dragon Man.
5. Today is Veterans Day in the U.S. I grew up with Remembrance Day in Canada, and the relative diminution of the commemoration down here still bothers me somewhat.

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Belated Returns of the Day to the Long Absent ...

... to redscharlach, whose birthday was on Oct. 23, and whose fannish art enlivens many a fan's icons. She's long been absent from this part of the forest (I think she's more often on tumblr. I hope she had a great birthday.

... to lolmac , who hasn't posted any of her exceedingly funny Richard Dean Anderson lolmemes for about two years, and whose occasional comment is just as missed as those memes. I hope her birthday, on Oct. 24, was a good one. 

... to cosmiccoz , who also had an Oct. 24 birthday. She's long since moved to Twitter - and I need to wish her some delayed wishes over there - but I'm sure others around here know her and think of her with friendly thoughts. May her birthday, and her year to come, be so very much better than anyone could ever predict. 

... to viomisehunt, whose birthday was on Oct. 31. It's been far too long, and I hope her heart has been soothed and eased away from heartache in the last few years. It would be good to hear from her.

... to don_fitch, who I hope had another birthday on Nov. 2. When one loses touch with someone who is much older, that worry is always part of the wish. An old-time fan whose gentle mien hid pointed commentary and dry wit. The best to you, wherever you are.

... to erikvolson, he of the red hat. love of fine beer. and fannish enthuiasm. He's right here in my city (at least I think he is), and yet I haven't invited him over chez kathbob in ages. I hope his Nov. 5 birthday was a fine celebration.

This makes me sad, but not about them. I still want them to have had happy birthdays. 




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Can I Get An "Amen, Sister!"?

I sure as hell hope so, because this woman is so very, very correct. 

(Except the part where she says she thinks Americans are overly polite. WUT ... you crazy Britons, you ....)
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Saturday, With Spanokopita

I'm sitting here, with a glass of good Japanese whiskey, listening to Nat King Cole, while our friend Josh Allard makes spanokopita for us. All we had to do, he said, was keep chatting with him. He brought all the ingredients, the lovely lad, and so we've kept chatting, and watching him make spanokopita. In a bit, after we've put that in the oven, I may have a Big Ass Martini (tm), or a drink I learned about last weekend, the Turf, which is made with gin, sweet vermouth, orange bitters, and angostura bitters. We'll talk into the night, and every muscle in my body, every molecule, will relax. I hope your Saturday proceeds, or at least ends, with something as satisfactory.  This entry was originally posted at https://kaffyr.dreamwidth.org/712937.html?mode=reply, where there are currently comments. You can comment there or here, but prefer to read over on DW. You can comment there using open ID if you don't have a DW account.

"Rosa"

I approached this one with a certain amount of trepidation. It's U.S. history, about America's particular, and particularly virulent, racism (which is not to suggest that there isn't virulent racism of various flavors damned near everywhere, but yes, this is in my wheelhouse, so I was worried that it could have been mishandled.) It's written by Brits. The story could have gone very wrong. It didn't, in my opinion. Comments that follow are both Doylist and Watsonian and are under the cut because, while I tried to keep them fairly spoiler-free and I think I was successful, I don't want to take that for granted.

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How Could I Have Missed ...

... the Oct. 15 birthday of brithistorian ? Many happy returns of the delayed day to someone whose omnivorous curiosity and enjoyment of everything from science fiction, Korean food and K-pop, to Doctor Who and life in general is so wonderful to watch. May you have a fantastic year! This entry was originally posted at https://kaffyr.dreamwidth.org/712278.html?mode=reply, where there are currently comments. You can comment there or here, but prefer to read over on DW. You can comment there using open ID if you don't have a DW account.

Many Happy Returns of The Day ...

... to a_phoenixdragon , whose vibrant, fearless, creative, kind, and unstoppable nature have added immeasurably to my world. My dear, you will always have a special corner in my heart; may this year gift you with delight, material gains that god knows you deserve, and with so much more. One day, we'll meet again, and you can cook me your homemade spaghetti sauce, and we'll sit down and talk until the wee smalls about Who, politics, family, and anything else that we want to. Happy, happy birthday!

... to editrx , whose strength and pure gutsiness is matched by her creativity and talent with the written word. If I could box up good fortune I would fill several boxes with it, and mail it, overnight delivery, to this wonderful person. Thank you for making my writing better; thank you for being who you are - here's to you, and to a year that I ask the universe to make good for you! This entry was originally posted at https://kaffyr.dreamwidth.org/712018.html?mode=reply, where there are currently comments. You can comment there or here, but prefer to read over on DW. You can comment there using open ID if you don't have a DW account.

To Andy, With Love
( Andy Collapse )

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It's Saturday

I've had a mani-pedi; I've gone out for lunch/dinner with Bob to our favorite greasy spoon diner; we've listened to old time radio, from swing music to Jack Benny shows; I've put the gin and sake in the freezer and fridge respectively; our cats are curled up and sleeping. 

Yes, both of us are slightly under the weather; yes, my work situation still comes with daily douche meter readings; yes, union negotiations are less than optimal. 

That doesn't matter right now.

I hope your Saturday has gone well.  This entry was originally posted at https://kaffyr.dreamwidth.org/711654.html?mode=reply, where there are currently comments. You can comment there or here, but prefer to read over on DW. You can comment there using open ID if you don't have a DW account.

Still Alive

But goodness me, it seems to be taking too much energy. This entry was originally posted at https://kaffyr.dreamwidth.org/711261.html?mode=reply, where there are currently comments. You can comment there or here, but prefer to read over on DW. You can comment there using open ID if you don't have a DW account.

Happy Belated Birthday, carbonel !

Many happy returns of the day (Oct. 11), and of this past weekend as well - and of the entire coming year - to someone whose interests are omnivorous (traditional fandom, fic writer and afficionado, spinner, someone who, as a copy editor, appreciates the value of well-written words. Oh, and a Cubs fan, too. I met her more years ago than my son has been alive and, although it's been a long time since I participated in RL fannish activities up in Mipple City, I hope some day to once again see her in person.  This entry was originally posted at https://kaffyr.dreamwidth.org/710973.html?mode=reply, where there are currently comments. You can comment there or here, but prefer to read over on DW. You can comment there using open ID if you don't have a DW account.

Things, things, things.

( The Affair of the Dog in the NightCollapse )

Next - I truly loved "The Woman Who Fell to Earth" and want to talk about the kindness I saw in Thirteen, but  right now is not the time for me to do that.

Third - I realized that I've never liked the phrase "I'll love you 'til I die." I've always preferred "I'll love you forever." I don't know whether there's something beyond this life, but there may be, and the people I love, I fully expect I'd love beyond the gates of death. And if there's nothing beyond those gates, then I will still have loved them forever. 

( Solsbury HillCollapse ) This entry was originally posted at https://kaffyr.dreamwidth.org/710542.html?mode=reply, where there are currently comments. You can comment there or here, but prefer to read over on DW. You can comment there using open ID if you don't have a DW account.

A Few Belated Birthday Wishes

Yesterday, the lovely heatherbelles celebrated a birthday, and I hope she had a great day. She not only loves history, she takes care of it in her superhero identity as a social history curator - and how awesome is that? She is smart, cheerful, a lover of family and of Doctor Who, the shared fandom of which helped introduce me to her many years ago. Should I ever have the chance to visit the UK, she will be one of the first people I look up. Happy Birthday!

supergee 's birthday was also yesterday. Of all the many people I've met online, he is one of the most perceptive, witty, well-read and memorable. He is an old-school science fiction fan, with an omnivorous and seemingly indestructible curiosity about the world around him. Would that more people were like him, and shared his appreciation of both heart and intellect. Happy Birthday - may the coming year be a good one for you, and for those you love. 

ETA: 

Augh! The estimable strannik01  also had a birthday that I managed to blank on, back on Sept. 28. Like me, he is a newspaper reporter. He reports in the city, and has a great understanding of the neighborhoods that are his regular beat. He's a fine storyteller; I am always happy to read the tales he writes about his family and his life. I've been lucky enough to have a coffee or two with him, and hope to have more, soon. I hope your day was excellent, and that 2018-2019 is very good to you!


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Got Through It

I wrote three stories, and covered a fourth, which I'll have to write about tomorrow, in time for a 10 a.m. deadline. I think I can do it, but yeah, a hell of a start to the week. 

I had a video chat with Andy this evening; I want to let him know that we're here for him to vent to, as he needs it. He's looking for work in all sorts of places, and waiting for his Washington Uber driving OK to come through; I knew that work and available cash was going to be their stressor really soon after they got to Seattle, but knowing it doesn't make it any easier to watch. And of course, they knew it was going to be difficult at first - but knowing it and experiencing it are completely different things. Sent them some good vibes, if you think about it, eh?

I did clear up one potential glitch in my efforts to get a new Canadian passport - I'd simply downloaded the wrong form, which was giving me wrong, and very worrisome, information about the process I need to go through. Thank heavens it was, as I found out today, wrong. 

I still haven't uploaded our Seattle visit pics. Then again, I don't intend to inflict too many more of those on you, My Faithful Readers. 


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I Hope I Can Handle Monday

I'd like to think that this weekend has provided the spiritual nutrients necessary to fortify me for the coming week. After all, I've been relatively productive, which is one of the metrics by which I measure my worth (thank you, Nana!)  I got my nails redone yesterday, and made a decent beef and vegetable stir-fry yesterday. Today, I got out the big slow-cooker and made a beef stew, complete with parsnips, apples, celery, onion, potatoes, wine, beef broth, diced tomatoes ... we'll see if the various flavors blend or fight with each other. (ETA: they blended quite nicely.) 

In the past few days, I managed to write and post a drabble, I've managed to converse with people online, and I've read some lengthy essays on things non-Kavanaugh related (and some that were). all of which I think provides excellent mental exercise for me. 

Question for some of you: am I a minority in thinking that this essay not only smacks of "hey, you kids, get off my lawn," and of an obdurate refusal  to acknowledge language's evolution, but that it's poorly written? As far as I can tell, it doesn't even properly make or advance its supposed core argument and theme: "We are allowing a perversion of meaning to creep into our language, where words are used for control, rather than persuasion."

Just me?

I remembered today that I hadn't posted any pictures of our Seattle trip, which I'd said I would do. Here's one that Andy took of Bob and I at the Chihuly gallery and museum. 


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Kava-naught-not

Thanks to supergee  for the link to this. 

And thanks to the comment section of the piece for what's under the cut.

ETA: I forgot this. I should never forget something of this quality.

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Title: Cycles
Type: Drabble, 100 words
Author: kaffyr
Characters: Twelfth Doctor, Clara Oswald
Summary: He was still relearning to care.
Author's Note: I'm not particularly good with drabbles, because my natural urge is to write long. But it's been long enough since I wrote anything, that I figured I'd try going outside my comfort zone. I wrote this in response to one of the Dr. Who challenge communities.
Disclaimer: I own no Whoniverse characters, and take no coin. They are the sole property of the BBC and their respective creators.
*******   *******



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Memo To Self:

When you see commentaries that mention "Moffat" and "Doctor Who" prominently in the description or summary, think seriously about not reading them. The odds are high they will feature an author inveighing against The Moff, with others nodding their heads in agreement; by excising such commentaries from your day, you will lower your blood pressure and quite likely save your computer keyboard and screen from spittle and/or breakage.


(Yeah, yeah, folks have a right to their opinion, and I have f'listers who share that opinion. And sure, enough people hew to the Awful Moff School of Whovian Obsession that I could very well be wrong in my love for his run. I don't fucking care. And I get incredibly tired of swimming through the various One Minute Moff Hates. They make it hard-to-impossible for me to react and interact with thoughtful critiques of Seasons Five through Ten. They're out there, but when I've had to slog through page after page after rant after polemic about Moffat to get to them, I want to stab my eyes with a fork.)


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 Scattered Thoughts on Seattle

We're all packed and ready to head home to Chicago; it's been a surprisingly good visit, but I know the two of us are looking forward to sleeping in our own bed, and I suspect Andy and Emily will be happy to get their bedroom back. 

(I said surprisingly good, by the way, because I hadn't expected to be able to do so much, in such a relaxed way, in so short a time.)

The environment in Seattle reminds me a lot of Nova Scotia, except that there are mountains and tall hills instead of short rocky hills, and redwood type conifers instead of scrubby spruce. Seattle and it's surrounding suburbs remind me architecturally and atmospherically of a mix between Halifax, N.S., and Minneapolis; a lot of art, tiny hip neighborhooods cheek by jowl with cruddy neighbor hoods. I'd love to see what the zoning rules and patterns. Are in the city, but that's just the policy wonk in me. 

My birthday went beautifully; I was coddled to within an inch of my life, and ate some of the best sushi I've had in ages. I took more pictures and may post two or three of them when I get home. For now, I'm just enjoying some quiet time with Andy.
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