Stop Sylvia Browne

No photo today, as I don't have one prepared following a hectic weekend with visiting family.

However, I wanted to post to bring attention to the following site:

I fully support Mr Lancaster in his endeavours with this site, and would invite you all to read it whether you object to people claiming to be psychics, or you support and believe people who claim to be psychics. It provides good information, and poses questions you may wish to have Sylvia Browne address (or any other psychics you may know). Certainly, when I watched her years ago and believed what she said, I still wondered why she refused to tackle certain issues that would surely prove to the world how valid and important her powers are, if she speaks the truth.

I would also like to use this opportunity to remind you of the other site I support as best I can. It is run by Kelly Jolkowski, whose son has been missing for years and is the reason her site exists:

http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/

Kelly appeared on the Montel Williams show in her plight to find her son, or at least get some publicity out there about his case. She did not encounter Sylvia Browne in her slot, but she has information from others who did.

http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/2006_03_01_voice4themissing_archive.html

Sylvia has regular appearances on the Montel Show, and this for me was something that intially added a lot of validity to her claims, through my respect for Montel's open and straight style of journalism. His support for Sylvia Browne stands in a remarkable contrast for all the other amazing pieces of work he has done to uncover frauds, educate people about scams, and highlight issues concerning the emotionally vulnerable.

I can only assume that his support is somehow related to Sylvia's claim that a cure for multiple sclerosis is imminent: something he suffers from and would obviously hang to any hope of a cure.
http://www.montelms.org/

Sylvia is also much discussed at one of my other favourite sites - the James Randi Educational Foundation. In fact, Mr Randi issued a challenge to Sylvia Browne which she accepted, but has so far ducked out of following through:
http://www.randi.org/

http://www.randi.org/sylvia/index.html

The Window Cat

Now that the colder weather is setting in, I thought I'd dig out this photograph that just epitomizes summer for me.

I wake in the morning, feeling the warmth and hearing the birdsong of a new summer day. As I lie in bed my cat finds the prime spot for sunshine, and the strength of the light heightens the definition of his shadow. He sits there, soaking up the heat, and I lie there watching his shadow. His ears flick when he spots a bird, and once in a while he'll lick his paws, but other than that we are a decadently lazy pair.

Skaterboy

I love this photograph.

I love the way the sun lies across the arms and legs, and I really like the definition of the muscles in the skater's arms and back.

I was delighted to find a skateboarding competition at one of our local parks this summer. I would relish the opportunity of taking more photographs of several of the guys who took part as the standard was quite high, and the tricks were regular and stunning. The participants were all very friendly, and clearly enjoyed the event as much as I did, although obviously they put a lot more energy into it than I did!

[If you are in this picture or know this skater please feel free to contact me to at least get prints from that day, or let me know about other events.]

Sometimes, nature is just as dramatic as fireworks

These fantastic sunbursts over the ocean in the mornings, and over the mountains in the evenings are a regular sight where I live, and yet they still never cease to amaze me. The drama of the weather is a beautiful and yet often terrifying thing. The beauty of a seascape like this is regularly a disguised warning of storms to come.

"The Sun now rose upon the right :
Out of the sea came he,
Still hid in mist, and on the left
Went down into the sea.

And the good south wind still blew behind,
But no sweet bird did follow,
Nor any day for food or play
Came to the mariners' hollo !"

"The Rime of the Ancient Mariner"

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Guy Fawke's Night

These pictures are from last year's 5th November celebrations.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes

Remember, remember, the 5th of November

The Gunpowder Treason and plot;

I know of no reason why Gunpowder Treason

Should ever be forgot.

Owl Butterfly

This beauty is called "Caligo memnon memnon", or the Owl Butterfly. I am sure you can see where it gets its name.

Although they are native to tropical rainforests, like Costa Rica, I was lucky to see this one in Scotland at a great little butterfly farm in Edinburgh.

Because they are native to tropical rainforests, like Costa Rica, I was lucky to get this photograph at all, as it was one of the few to survive the constant fogging up of my poor camera!

Love is like a butterfly

As soft and gentle as a sigh;

The muli-colored moods of love

Are like its satin wings.

Love makes your heart feel strange inside

It flutters like soft wings in flight.

Love is like a butterfly

A rare and gentle thing.

Dolly Parton

"Love is like a Butterfly"