PHOTO OF THE DAY

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Here’s a happy accident. Yesterday, when I was over at the park taking pictures, I dropped into the conservatory. Coming from the very cold dry outside to the warm humid interior resulted in a foggy lens. I didn’t notice it when I took this shot. I sort of like it.

A WINTER WALK

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Took a walk around the park by the house today just to get some fresh air and see if anything jumped out at me as a photographic subject. Caught a few that you can see by clicking the link to my Flickr gallery.

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20 CENTS

20 cents.  That’s the cost of a single 9mm bullet if bought in bulk.  Is this truly the cost of a life today?  On Boxing Day (December 26th) a single bullet ended the life of Jane Crebra, 15, on Yonge Street in downtown Toronto.
 
Creba and her sister were out shopping for bargains when rival gangmembers opened fire on the crowded street.  Shots flew and, when the smoke cleared, young Jane was dead and six others were wounded.
 
What posesses people to put such a low cost on something as precious as a human life?  Do we blame the economy, our proximity to the US where handguns are easily obtained or society in general?  It’s easy to point at the number of socially disadvantaged single parent homes and prevelance of violence on TV, in films and in video games but somewhere along the way it appears that an entire generation lost the most basic of human values.  The value of life.
 
Everyone from church and youth leaders to politicians is crying that we have to do something to stem the worsening gun violence on our streets.  Do what?  Ban handguns, say some.  If someone wants a handgun, they’ll get one.  Tighten the laws?  I don’t think that someone who is willing to spend 20 cents to kill someone really cares all that much about themselves.  Certainly the courts could do a better job by applying the sentences we already have on the books but, again, I really don’t think that will scare some of these people off.  The problem is – they just don’t care.  How do we change that? 
 
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CELEBRATE EVERY DAY

The Earth Calendar is a resource that brings together information on observed holidays around the world.  For instance, did you know that today (December 23rd) is:

Feast of the Radishes (Oaxaca only) Mexico
Queen’s Birthday Sweden
Tenno Tanjobi / Emperor’s Birthday Japan

Using this information, you can find at least one reason to celebrate every day of the year.

Earth Calendar