{"id":13001,"date":"2015-01-15T19:31:02","date_gmt":"2015-01-15T19:31:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/?p=13001"},"modified":"2015-01-16T00:05:36","modified_gmt":"2015-01-16T00:05:36","slug":"help-desk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/?p=13001","title":{"rendered":"Help Desk!!!!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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We all need help, I sure do, I was preparing to do today’s blog entry and “accidentally” made yesterday’s go away, trashed it!@^!?!%^$!#@^%\u00a0 Arrrgh!\u00a0 I really hate when that happens, I have found no way toy retrieve it so, I’ll revisit those thought on my podcast when I get that up and running!\u00a0 So today I want to address a bunch of different issues so let me start with a very common question for which I thankfully finally found the answer!!!!<\/p>\n

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QUESTION 1.\u00a0 How do I get your eBooks (anyone’s eBooks) on an iPad or tablet?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Well I can’t help you other tablet user’s because I’m a\u00a0 MAC guy and not very good at that, did I mention I trashed yesterday’s blog entry!!!!!\u00a0 I have wanted to put my own and several other’s eBooks on my iPad and finally found the solution.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thom Hogan had a great article on his website ByThom titled Downloadable PDF Instructions<\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0 I follow the instructions for the MAC and now I have all my eBooks and a number of others I love on my iPad, and they look great!!!\u00a0 Some of you have bought various eBooks and tried to download them directly on the iPad, and my experience is the files are just to large unless you have a very fast internet connection or super high speed wireless.\u00a0 So if you are having issues check out Thom’s excellent article!\u00a0 While we are on the subject of Thom, a lot of my readers and friends have asked me what I think of his reviews and articles.\u00a0 I really enjoy Thom’s writing sand 90% of time I agree with his conclusions and reviews!\u00a0 My grandmother once told me if two people, especially a married couple, that have all the exact same opinions, one of them is not necessary!\u00a0 So while Thom and I are not married we do deal with many of the same subjects so it is not surprising that on rare occasion we would occasionally have a different take.\u00a0 No harm no foul, one this is for sure Thom’s opinions always make me think! …..and that’s a good thing<\/p>\n

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QUESTION 2.\u00a0 Got an email from a friend and they simply asked did you mean what you said in today’s blog? (the one I accidentally erased!!!!!)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Let me attempt to answer that questions and bare with me.\u00a0 Let me share how most of the blog entries are written, especially the ones with deeper meaning and spiritual connotations.\u00a0 First, I don’t write them.\u00a0 They are inspired by the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 If you are a regular reader, you already know and understand what I’m talking about, if you’re not, you’re either scratching your head wondering if I’ve lost it, or you are running out of the house as fast as you can to get away from your computer!\u00a0 It’s simple, when you accept Christ, God sends the Holy Spirit into your life, your heart,\u00a0 your being, to guide you, comfort you and help you, that’s why in the Bible He is called The Helper.\u00a0 When I start to write often I get inspiration that comes from beyond myself, words of wisdom, of comfort, of knowledge well beyond my own.\u00a0 Yesterday what I wrote, it flowed almost so fast I could not type fast enough.\u00a0 I can’t just repeat it, it didn’t come directly from me, but I think I can summarize.<\/p>\n

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I was apologizing for feeling some what guilty about making profit from things I enjoy so much, writing, teaching, speaking to groups, sharing.\u00a0 I don’t think profit is bad, I’m a capitalist.\u00a0 I believe in hard work and giving people things they need or want and it is a good thing to profit from your efforts.\u00a0 I don’t believe in greed, wanting more than is fair, but I enjoy the fruits of my labor.\u00a0 If you run workshops and sell books you have to advertise, let people know what you are offering.\u00a0 Thus you hawk your products, workshops, books etc.\u00a0 The point I made yesterday was that while I like to make money, that is not what drives me.\u00a0 What drive me is; Being with those I love<\/strong><\/span>, my wife, my family, my friends and brothers ans sisters in Christ.\u00a0 Sharing, teaching and writing about subjects I love in hopes others will enjoy and learn from my experiences.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong> God has richly blessed me with a great life seeing and doing wonderful things, I just want to share it while I am still here and can!\u00a0 Finally My Heavenly Father has forever changed my life,He has brought me peace and Joy, and purpose.\u00a0 I want to encourage others to want to know Him and accept Him, the Man who completely changed my life forever!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I shared a fanciful story of having won the 100 million dollar lottery and what I would do with the money, the bottom line is the few things I would buy I don’t really need anyway, and my security and peace is not in pile of money, but in Him!\u00a0 So anyone who thinks when I hawk a class or book that I just care about the money, doesn’t know me at all.<\/p>\n

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Question 3.\u00a0 I heard a rumor that you were going to cut back on workshops in 2016 is that true, and is it health related?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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It is true, but not health related.\u00a0 This year, somehow,\u00a0 I ended up in 18 workshops, and I never intended for that to happen.\u00a0 I love teaching with Jim Begley and Snake Barret, and Jack Graham, Jim Haverstock, Bill Pekala, Fred Sisson, and Vinny Colucci and many others, but I will reduce the total number of workshops next year to a little over half this year’s total.\u00a0 I certainly will still do some His Light events and some with Jack Graham.\u00a0 However, i want to spend more time writing and doing some personal travel with Sherelene in 2015.\u00a0 I want to drive the entire length of Route 66 sand blog about\u00a0 it and maybe produce a book.\u00a0 I want to spend some more time with family and just slow things down a little.\u00a0 I love to teach but a workshop almost every other week is too many!\u00a0 Jack does it all year long and I don’t know how he does it, but he is a great teacher and I’ve really enjoyed teaching with him!\u00a0 I still have my KelbyOne and Photoshop stuff too so it adds up fast!\u00a0 I’m not going to disappear, but several other things are in the works and I’ve got free up schedule time!\u00a0 More info as things get clearer!<\/p>\n

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Question 4.\u00a0\u00a0 I know you’ve had the 50-140 f 2.8 WR OIS lens for awhile bow and have posted no images, what is your opinion, I’m thinking of buying one, but at that price want to be sure!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Buy it!!!!!\u00a0 The weather has been terrible in Kentucky so I just haven’t been able to take it out and ring it out!\u00a0 In spite of that I have thoroughly tested it and have to say it is among the five best lenses I’ve ever shot!\u00a0 What are those five?\u00a0 The Fuji 23mm f 1.4, the Fuji 56mm f 1.2, the Nikon 200mm Micro Nikkor and the Nikon 400mm f 3.5 IF-ED Nikkor + the new 50-140 f 2.8 from Fuji!\u00a0 It may be the sharpest of all these lenses, it is beyond sharp!!!\u00a0 The most amazing thing besides it’s sharpness, and build quality is how fantastic the OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) works.\u00a0 In the image below I hand held the lens at 140mm , which is the equivalent of 210mm) at 1\/27th of a second and then at 1\/7th of a second, both full frame and at 100% hand held!!!!!!!<\/p>\n

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Full image 210mm\u00a0 1\/27th of a second<\/p>\n

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Full image 210mm\u00a0 1\/27th of a second 100% Crop<\/p>\n

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Full image 210mm\u00a0 1\/7th of a second<\/p>\n

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Full image 210mm\u00a0 1\/7th of a second 100% Crop<\/p>\n

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Yeah, me too!\u00a0 It is flat out unbelievable!\u00a0 Imagine what images will look like of a sturdy tripod!<\/p>\n

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Remember the new Close-Up Book<\/span><\/strong> is out and you get the free copy of the Building a System for Field Use<\/span>!<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Thanks to Dan Roeder, he has recovered yesterdays lost text!!!!!!!<\/p>\n

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Hey folks, the Close-Up Book is out, be sure to go to the eBook Store, to the right, and check it out! \u00a0Now we are down to the last two days of 10% savings on workshops!<\/strong> \u00a0Get your deposit in today or tomorrow and same enough for one nights lodging or several days of meals! \u00a0Things are filling up fast so if you want to join us in 2015 please look at the schedule today!<\/span><\/p>\n

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Here are the workshops that are almost full!!!!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n


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Great Smokies in Spring \u00a0Only ONE Spot left!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n


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Memory Lane in Rogersville, TN \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Only a few spots left<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n


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The Palouse \u00a0(June) with Jack Graham \u00a0Almost full<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n


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Nashville (End of July) \u00a0with Ricky Skaggs extended to 5.5 days \u00a0Filling Fast<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n


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The First ever Fuji X System Workshop at Mt. Rainier (August) with Jack and I \u00a0Almost sold out now!!!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n


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Nova Scotia (October) \u00a0Only two spots left!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n


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Southwest Tour (Early November) with Vinny Colucci and I only a couple of spots left!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n


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Today\u2019s featured Workshop is Old Car City! \u00a0This is a bargain at $799. \u00a0take off 10% and it\u2019s just $719. \u00a0REGISTER before Midnight tomorrow and I will throw in the full set of my 12 eBooks!!!!! \u00a0That\u2019s a $65. value in books! \u00a0Add to that, a future discount on any workshop (Domestic) with His Light Workshops of 10%. \u00a0So if you love old Cars and Trucks this is a great opportunity!<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Today\u2019s double barrel deal at the eBook Store \u00a0Both The Close-Up Book<\/strong> and Building a System for Field Use for<\/strong> $9.95!<\/p>\n

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O.K. \u00a0Sales pitches are over for now! \u00a0<\/strong> I feel guilty selling books and doing workshops and making a profit! \u00a0\u00a0If I had won the lottery and had no financial needs, I would be doing this all for free, I really would. \u00a0Just fantasize with me for a minute!!! \u00a0Let\u2019s pretend that yesterday I won the Mega Millions Jackpot or whatever they call it now! \u00a0Since we are pretending let\u2019s say 100 million after taxes. \u00a0So seriously what would I do!!?? \u00a0Here is what I think I would do. \u00a0Pay of my Churches mortgage, put enough money aside to assure my grandchildren a college education, or start a business in life. I might replace my 2007 Toyota F J Cruiser that has 243,000 miles on it, but I might not, it suits me. \u00a0I would buy a nice beach home on a beautiful beach somewhere not to hard to get to, Sherelene loves the ocean and the beach. \u00a0I would get a NET Jet card so I could fly wherever I wanted to go and never darken the door of commercial airport terminal again. I would also run a half dozen incredible trips a year to great destinations like Patagonia, and and simply invite 8 or 10 people to go along, no cost, all expenses covered, hey, I\u2019m a multimillionaire!!!!!<\/p>\n

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Personal purchases? \u00a0I would buy another powered parachute and another Trike (kind of ultra-light) I really miss flying. \u00a0That\u2019s about it. \u00a0No D810, no long fast glass, no more Fuji bodies (not until something cool comes out) \u00a0Don\u2019t need anymore STUFF! \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0So the question is would winning that 100o million really materially change my life? \u00a0Well let\u2019s see, the church will pay off it\u2019s own mortgage and Sherelene and I contributing what we can will help that happen over time anyway, If \u00a0I paid for it all I would rob that privilege from the other members and honestly that wouldn\u2019t be such a good thing. \u00a0Sherelene and I get to a beach at least once a year and I am not sure I would like to try and maintain another home another place, \u00a0it\u2019s enough keeping our current home up! \u00a0I drive everywhere I can, I am a frustrated \u201cwish I was truck driver kind of guy anyway\u201d, so I guess and I can deal with commercial air a little longer! \u00a0I\u2019m probably getting a little to old to keep flying anyway, but I do miss that!!! \u00a0\u2026\u2026..and as I said I really don\u2019t need or want more stuff! \u00a0I heard a wise man once say, at some point in life you don\u2019t own stuff, the stuff owns you! \u00a0\u00a0Storage, maintenance and too much attachment!<\/p>\n

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So I guess I\u2019m fine with that I didn\u2019t win the lottery, but then why am I working so hard in retirement if it\u2019s really not about the money? \u00a0Glad you asked!<\/p>\n

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Let me share what drives me!<\/p>\n

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Being with the people I love.<\/strong><\/span> \u00a0My wife and best friend Sherelene, my family, my friends, photo buddies and brothers, and sisters in Christ.<\/p>\n

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Teaching and writing and sharing.<\/strong><\/span> \u00a0I love to write blogs, books, teach face to face! \u00a0It is to me, the highest form of giving back. \u00a0I have been the recipient of so much joy and fun, and I want to make sure I pass it on to others. \u00a0I can\u2019t leave here until I\u2019ve done everything in my power to make other people\u2019s lives better.<\/p>\n

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Truly making a difference in people\u2019s lives by leading them to Jesus!<\/strong><\/span> \u00a0I can\u2019t talk anyone into wanting to meet my Savior, or argue or debate them into it, \u00a0the only thing I can do is what HE did. \u00a0Love them with His Unconditional Love. \u00a0A love that says I don\u2019t care what you can do for me, I don\u2019t even expect you to treat me a certain way, I just want to have fellowship with you, and I\u2019m willing to die for you to redeem you!!!!! \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI \u201d can\u2019t do that, but through his power, grace and strength I can do as much as He allows!<\/p>\n

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When eBook sales spike, (since the new eBook came out this morning), \u00a03 hours ago, nineteen books have sold, sorry about that, five more \u201cbings\u201d now it\u2019s 24! \u00a0I don\u2019t see dollar signs, I see people that care what I have to share, that means so much more than dollars, Hey I\u2019ll take the dollars, but it is secondary to the joy of sharing and having people benefit and enjoy my efforts!<\/p>\n

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When I teach as workshop and someone says it was one of the best experiences of their life, you can\u2019t imagine how much that thrills me! \u00a0Often when I drive or fly home from a workshop a replay those expression of joy and praise God all the way home!<\/p>\n

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But, most of all, when I share my love of Christ with someone and it leads to them changing their life forever, nothing that has ever fallen in my lap equals the feeling of knowing \u00a0my life, Through Christ<\/strong>, has made a difference for someone else\u2019s!<\/p>\n

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So yes we are trying to make retirement money, hey guys Fuji hasn\u2019t stopped coming out with new bodies and new lenses, but please trust me, really please trust me, that part comes in way back in third or fourth place!<\/p>\n

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Be blessed today,<\/p>\n

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the pilgrim<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    We all need help, I sure do, I was preparing to do today’s blog entry and “accidentally” made yesterday’s go away, trashed it!@^!?!%^$!#@^%\u00a0 Arrrgh!\u00a0 I really hate when that happens, I have found no way toy retrieve it so, I’ll revisit those thought on my podcast when I get that up and running!\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13001","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chronicles"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13001","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13001"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13001\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13015,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13001\/revisions\/13015"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13001"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13001"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13001"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}