Missing People on TV

I enclose below part of an email I was delighted to receive today, about the UK charity Missing People. I hope this program helps some families get information about their loved ones.

*****
I just wanted to let you know that if you or any of your colleagues want to get more of a flavour for Missing People, we will be featured daily on a month-long BBC One series, Missing Live, starting from next Monday (21 April) which is aired from 09:15 to 10:00 (so set those video recorders!).

The BBC has been delighted with the previous success of Missing (achieving the largest ever audience share for this time slot) and have now made the decision to go live. Each day there will be appeals for the missing provided by the charity, interviews with families and experts on the issue, as well as highlighting historic cases. A Missing People representative will be featured daily. Monday’s programme also kicks off with Missing People supporter Bob Geldof being interviewed.

There is a feature in today’s Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml?xml=/portal/2008/04/18/ftmissing118.xml) about the series and you can also click here(http://www.missingpeople.org.uk/news-and-events/press/detail.asp?dsid=1406) to read full details about the series.
*****

I hope you will support the efforts of this charity and families of the missing, if you can.

Like a Bride

I mentioned "The Butterfly Ball" before, well, this time it's "The Peacock Party". How beautiful is that creature, peeking demurely over his shoulder like a bride displaying her wedding dress and train to the gathered guests?

I have a copy of "The Butterfly Ball", but unfortunately not "The Peacock Party" since a fire destroyed many of my favourite books a few years back. I can't even find the words online, which is a shame - I very much remember the image of the Eagle, which I drew a few times as a kid. It was a bit spooky, but not as much so as Old Blind Mole in "The Butterfly Ball" - he was creepy.

The cutest little guy I've ever seen

Isn't he just adorable? I was fascinated by the markings on the beak, which was already an unusual colour without the markings. What a sweet little duckling, and if that doesn't make you all go "aaaahhhhhh" then you are heartless. ;-)

Hail to the Pelican Paparazzi!

At the end of January I visited Florida, and saw my first pelicans, among other animals I will no doubt display here shortly.
I had a few friends with me, some of them photographers, and a funny sight we must have made as we crowded round one poor pelican, each waiting for 'the perfect pose'. My daughter laughed aloud to see this particular one, so I thought I'd share it.


Dedicated to all the Pelican Paparazzi - you know who you are, and I love you all.

For my US Friends - Happy Thanksgiving

The Eagle

He clasps the crag with crooked hands;

Close to the sun in lonely lands,

Ring'd with the azure world, he stands.

The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;

He watches from his mountain walls,

And like a thunderbolt he falls.

Alfred Tennyson

I took this photograph last year, and thought it might be appropriate to post it up for Thanksgiving, for my American buddies. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season.

"The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), our national bird, is the only eagle unique to North America. The bald eagle's scientific name signifies a sea (halo) eagle (aeetos) with a white (leukos) head. At one time, the word "bald" meant "white," not hairless."

URGENT appeal for help - Particularly USA Readers

There's not much I can say to add to what Kelly explains in her blog today. Please take a few minutes to send an email, or write a letter, to help this incredibly important organisation to survive.
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/2006/07/71006-matter-of-urgency.html
[Quote]
To Family Members and Friends of the Missing,

Monday, November 5th, 2007, might be remembered by those involved in the missing persons cause as a day in which a huge step backwards was taken. Unless something major breaks in the way of funding, this will be the day in which the National Center for Missing Adults (NCMA) will close their doors. Thousands of families will be affected, now and in the future.

Why is this happening?

The answer is complex, but in summary:
· The NCMA stepped up and assisted over 13,000 victims of Hurricane Katrina and was to be reimbursed for those expenditures, which were close to $250,000. At this time, the NCMA has only received $50,000 to cover the work they did at the request of the Dept. of Justice.
· The 2007 re-authorization of Kristen’s Law, (HR 423) which would provide the NCMA with up to $4 million per year in funding for 10 years, continues to remain in the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security committee, with no action taken to help the center. This re-authorization effort has been in the works unsuccessfully since 2005.
· As experienced not only by the NCMA, but by other national organizations, including ours, the public does not generally consider missing adults’ assistance nonprofits as a part of their charitable giving plans. Corporations are also hesitant to provide funding, and grant makers don’t seem responsive, either. This lack of support has also contributed to the problem.

What will save the NCMA at this late hour?

If an “angel” company or person comes forward who can help keep the center operating until the Kristen’s Law Re-authorization funds are released.

AND/OR

The DOJ immediately releases the funds owed to the NCMA from their work related to Hurricane Katrina.

What Can I Do?

I spent time talking with Kym Pasqualini, founder of the NCMA, late last night, and based upon the conversation, this is what she asks of you if you feel moved to help with a final effort.

· Kym feels that, out of all the national media, the person who could best help with exposure and a push for action is Larry King of CNN’s Larry King Live Show. She says that Larry’s show is watched by many members of congress and that he is not afraid to step on toes to get something accomplished. If she could get a spot on his show as soon as possible, she plans to talk candidly about the situation. If you can help with this step, please write to Larry King at larrykinglive@cnn.com and ask him to have Kym on as a guest immediately. Keep in mind that even if a spot on the show is not successful at moving congress or getting the Katrina reimbursement, it could reach the “angel” company or person as mentioned above.

· Contact Peter D. Keisler, acting Attorney General, and let him know how you feel about missing adults losing their national clearinghouse and resource. Mention the 2007 re-authorization of Kristen’s Law, (HR 423) You can also write to Vice President Dick Cheney at vice_president@whitehouse.gov The White House fax is 202-456-2461. Use AskDOJ@usdoj.gov to send correspondence to the Attorney General’s office.

· The webpage for the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security is http://judiciary.house.gov/committeestructure.aspx?committee=6 Once there, click on the names of the various members and be redirected to their own websites with contact information. You can also write to your congressman.

Time is quickly running out for this year’s session, so please send your letters right away.


[/quote]

How to be helpful

We can all do a little bit for helping others, with minimal effort.

I have written before about Project Jason, and am doing so again. They have joined an initiative for fundraising, where all you need to do is use a different search screen from your usual google page.

Read about it here:
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/2007/10/102107-no-cost-way-to-help-project.html

and support it here:
http://www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=857029

Probably a few years too late...

I should have bought one of these:This post is to commiserate with the one person who has tried to handle the various personalities of a person regularly in pain. From the anger, the fear, the frustration and the resentment, to the intermittent highs and lows, G - I know you did your best.

A rose, for romance.

I could go with the obvious Shakespeare quotation here, but decided not to.

This rose is for romance, for beauty, and for memories.

This rose is for the one who sends me roses every day. Thank you.

Very Disappointing

I have long been a fan of the Foo Fighters, among other rock bands. They created one of my all time favourite songs with the beautiful "Walking After You", and have a wonderful sense of humour in many of their videos.

However, this week I learned something really tragic, that makes me view this group in a whole new light; a light that is less than flattering. On their website, the Foo Fighters promote the HIV denial website 'Alive and Well' (http://www.aliveandwell.org/)

This website presents "information that raises questions about the accuracy of HIV tests, the safety and effectiveness of AIDS drug treatments, and the validity of most common assumptions about HIV and AIDS." They give information such as "In a contagious epidemic, healthcare professionals working among the ill usually run the highest risk of contracting a disease. During the entire AIDS epidemic however, only 25 cases of AIDS have been reported among healthcare workers who claim occupational exposure as their only risk, and none of these 25 cases have been described in the medical literature. " (ignoring the reduction of risk of infection when these healthcare professionals can engage certain safe practices, such as safe sex, and protective wear when handling blood, etc).

These people encourage HIV sufferers to ignore medical advice, and abandon conventional medical treatments. The owner of the site is HIV positive, and since diagnosis has become pregnant twice. When asked for advice by a person whose partner's ex has been diagnosed, she advises "I think it’s important to clarify that AIDS is not passed from one person to another. Rather than being a disease, AIDS is a category of 26 conditions only some of which are contagious." .

Now, I completely understand that the Foo Fighters are nothing more than human, but I admit to falling into that easy trap of building a mental image of those we respect. When I listen to their music and lyrics, and watch the way they put a show together on stage, I imagine them to be intelligent, rational people. I built an image in my mind of a group of people who respect their fans, and who are literate enough to read and understand informative information about such issues as AIDS.

The discovery that they could be so ignorant of facts and irresponsible to their fanbase has been a cold wake up for me. They actually distribute "Alive and Well" leaflets at their gigs.

Finding this out a few nights ago was combined with another shock - that Matt Bellamy, the singer for Muse, believes that both 9/11 and 7/7 were not the work of terrorists, but rather actioned by the governments to create a false flag to support their desire for war. I can understand that people sometimes feel things don't quite add up, and feel suspicious about events as they unfurl. However, to ignore the vast amount of detailed information that exists, not least on the web, and promote that conclusion, is a disgrace. (Matt Bellamy was interviewed by leading 9/11 conspiracy theorist Alex Jones on this issue).

People in such public positions, with fanbases who may choose to take their words at face value, should really take that as a serious responsibility, and endeavour to check the facts of the case before promoting anything. I fail to see how either of these cases have been appropriately researched, because certainly the evidence to the contrary of what they suggest is massively overwhelming.

Puffin again, for Lisa

I went back to the cliffs this week, and managed to capture a few more puffin pics. I like this one as it seems to be smiling my direction.

Two Wolves

Perhaps it was the eyes of the wolf, measured, calm, knowing.
Perhaps it was the intense sense of family.
After all, wolves mate for life, are loyal partners, create hunting communities
and demonstrate affectionate patience in pup rearing.
Perhaps it was the rigid heirarchy of the packs.
Each wolf had a place in the whole and yet retained his individual personality.
Perhaps it was their great, romping, ridiculous sense of fun.
Perhaps it was some celestial link with thw winter night skies
that prompted the wolf to lay his song on the icy air.
For the native people who lived with the wolves,
and the wolves once ranged from the Arctic to the sub-tropics,
there was much to learn from them.
Is it any wonder that the myths of many tribes characterise the wolves
not as killers but as teachers?

Unknown

Lynx

A short little break from the wolves, for the beautiful lynx. This one was just finished munching on a little chick, and as you can see, thoroughy enjoyed it. :)

Wolf

This was my favourite of the wolves we saw that day, and he seemed to take an interest in me. So, because he couldn't reach me for a snack, we had to settle for my getting quite a few good pics.

Company of Wolves

I will probably do a little series here with a few more wolf pics, because I finally got to see them out in all their glory yesterday, after several visits to the Highland Wildlife Centre.

I am spoiled for choice with good literature about wolves, so I will find a good one for a future post. In the meantime, hope you like this pic.

Spooky Tree

I saw this tree while out walking in Glentanar, and it really caught my eye. The contrast between it and the healthy green trees around it is very marked.

I found this poem that I thought might go well with this picture:

The Dead Tree

My life is a dead tree;
Spring is a mockery to it;

But in the winter it shall bear the snows
And rear aloft its stark and hopeless branches
As bravely as another.

^__Thomas E. Moore.

http://skyways.lib.ks.us/poetry/hoopes/deadtree.html

Radio Waves for Jason

I would like to tell you about a woman I have come to admire tremendously, although I have never met her.

She is immensely brave, dedicated to her cause, and always carries herself with dignity and courtesy. She has helped change laws in America, has appeared on television, on radio, and at public rallies all over the States. I suspect, however, that she would prefer to live forever in anonymity if it meant that the catalyst which propelled her to this fame had never happened.

You see, one day Kelly Jolkowski's son Jason stepped out of the house to put out the trash, and never came back in.

There was no evidence of foul play, and none of the usual things that accompany runaways. He has simply vanished. Since then, on top of dealing with her loss, Kelly (and her family) has campaigned tirelessly to help improve things for families who are living without the knowledge of what has happened to a loved one.

Kelly and her family set up Project Jason, which has the support of the '18 Wheel Angels' - drivers who carry images of missing persons all over the nation. They worked to help establish Jason's Law; establishing from that the Missing Person's Clearinghouse. Project Jason established the 'Adopt a Missing Person' campaign to provide assistance to other families in desperate need of getting information out about their loved ones. Kelly started a blog to highlight the terrible situations families find themselves in, and how they are preyed upon by self-interested vultures. The list goes on, and it can easily be seen that because of Kelly, and Project Jason, much has been done to help families of missing people.

The latest project for Kelly is a much more personal one, and just as deserving of support. I can't imagine what it must be like to live every day with such a gap that must be left when your son just vanishes. I can't imagine all the years spanning out without contact, or information, or closure. There is nothing in me that can begin to understand the highs and lows of such hope and disappointment. Recently many of us read about two separate cases of children returned alive to their families after years on lists of the missing. This must impact a family like Kelly's so much more intimately and intensely than the rest of us - how can that not lead them to hope for the same outcome, and soon? I know that Kelly prays, and I hope it brings her the strength and comfort she needs.

What she also needs, are resources. Her son was keen to get into the radio industry, after an internship with a local station. The latest project is hoping that should he currently be active in making a life for himself, he would be involved in a radio station somewhere. Project Jason has a list of radio stations, and an email template already written up, and all they need are volunteers to work through the list, sending in the email to various stations. It provides a photo, a vocal clip and an aged photograph of Jason, in the hopes that he might be recognised. If you have some time to spare, and the ability to copy, paste and send information to a subset of this list of stations, Project Jason would love to hear from you.

You can read about the project:
http://www.projectjason.org/

and volunteer by emailing your interest to:
radiowavesforjason@projectjason.org

Let's see if we can help bring Jason home, or at least get information to his family about what has happened to him in the past five years.

Pat Cash - for my sister :D

These are the shots I managed to get as Pat Cash arrived, and then as he posed for us as he left again at the end of the afternoon.

He was in great form, despite some moments of frustration at the umpire, as previously mentioned. He seemed to thoroughly enjoy himself, and welcomed all input from the crowd in attendance. He thanked the audience for their support at the end of the match, and promised that they would be returning to Belfast again. I hope this is the case, and look forward to making an annual trip back 'home' to watch these superstars of tennis.

Doubles Delights

Henri LeConte showed up for the tennis with a rather ick David Beckham hairband type affair, but thankfully it didn't impact his sense of humour.

One of his doubles opponent was David Fleming, and each of them was partnered with a local star. These are the two young gents in the second picture - David O'Connor and Niall Fitzgerald. I was most impressed with Fitzgerald's skill, and his attention to the match despite the best efforts of LeConte to distract everyone. I shall be watching for him in the coming years with a similar interest to the one I developed in Andy Murray two years ago. Here's hoping his career takes as high a turn as Murrays.

Questioning the Umpire

Following from my earlier post about the tennis and quality of line calls:


I think the frustration in Wayne Ferreria's face is all too apparent. In the second photograph he was getting back up from having dropped to his knees in shock at the decision made.