I found the most brilliant website recently. If used as intended it’s a step forward for democracy, making it easier for people to offer their opinion on subjects that matter to them directly to the Prime Minister. And if not, well, it’s entertaining reading.

I first came across some pretty distasteful stuff calling to ban the practising of the Muslim faith in the United Kingdom. Actually, much of the religious stuff was verging on the comedic. For example, Christian’s are being side-lined in British society. Unless you remember that senior members of the church can still be found in the House of Lords.

This weeks PhotoFriday theme is “Barren.” Here is my entry. This picture was taken on the Tibetan side of the Himalayas on the last day as we were about to head back into Nepal.

Please also vote for my entry in last weeks challenge, “Busy.” I’m number 278 (“–> Stephen <–“).

This weeks PhotoFriday theme is “Busy.” Here is my entry.

This image was taken as the sun rose over Adams Peak in Sri Lanka, after our night climb to the top. Despite the unsociable hour, it was incredibly busy. Some of the older folk were very competitive, pushing us out of the way for a prime spot to see the sun-rise.

This weeks PhotoFriday theme is Gray. Here is my entry.

My thesaurus tells me that a synonym for grey, in the sense of grey day, is gloomy and sunless. You can’t get much more gloomy and sunless than this day at Geysir in Iceland!

This weeks PhotoFriday theme is “Purity.” Here is my entry. It was taken at a Cao Dai ceremony in Tay Ninh, Vietnam. These ceremonies and white cloaks suggest a type of purity.

Please also vote for my entry in last weeks challenge.

We went to see Pet Shop Boys play live at the Hammersmith Apollo on the 6th. It was a great gig, possibly the best of theirs that I’ve seen. This is perhaps the fourth or fifth time I’ve seen them over the years and the first time I’ve not left at least a little disappointed.

But despite the ups and downs of their live shows, they have maintained their prime position in my music collection since at least Actually came out in 1987. That makes me feel old! Of course you can’t really rationalise something that tugs at raw emotion in the way that music often can[^1], but that has not stopped me trying to figure out why I keep listening to them[^2].

This morning a member of the Darlington household passed away quietly in his sleep. Cornelius Maximus Willmington IV was less than a year old. He is survived by our other goldfish, Bob.

Cornelius was never the brightest fish in the bowl, and it’s not like he was up against stiff competition. He often did “Jaws” impressions, his fin breaching the surface of the bowl but terrorising few, and had a tendency to try to eat bubbles rather than the food we fed them every day.

This weeks PhotoFriday theme is “How I See Myself.” Here is my entry.

I am very short-sighted…

You scored as Scientific Atheist, These guys rule. I’m not one of them myself, although I play one online. They know the rules of debate, the Laws of Thermodynamics, and can explain evolution in fifty words or less. More concerned with how things ARE than how they should be, these are the people who will bring us into the future.

| | | Scientific Atheist | \| \| \|—\|—\|—\| | 83% | |—|—| | Apathetic Atheist | \| \| | 75% | |—|—| | Spiritual Atheist | \| \| | 75% | |—|—| | Angry Atheist | \| \| | 50% | |—|—| | Agnostic | \| \| | 33% | |—|—| | Militant Atheist | \| \| | 25% | |—|—| | Theist | \| \| | 17% | |—|—| What kind of atheist are you? created with QuizFarm.com | |—|

This weeks PhotoFriday theme is “Futuristic.” Here is my entry.

When I think “futuristic” I think “space travel” and “space men.” I’ve never been into space but I have been down Karl Johans Gate in Oslo, Norway.

Please also vote for my entry in last weeks challenge, Large. I’m entry number 193.