Reward

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Today I got a leaflet through the letter box. It said in large, red letters at the very top, REWARD. I watched the person who dropped the leaflet through the door and noticed that she was pushing a bulky, old-fashioned baby buggy. She'd left the baby and buggy in the street and had walked into the drive to leave the note at our house. I watched her leave with a bundle of leaflets in her hand, to go to my next door neighbour and to the rest of the people in my street. 




I read the note which had fallen on the mat. It was the best 'lost cat' ad I'd ever seen. After catching the reader's attention with the word Reward at the top, the ad went on to say that the cat was 10 years old and was sorely missed by its companion (another cat) and a sad little boy. The ad urged readers to search in their sheds and outhouses to make sure the cat hadn't been locked in by accident. 


The leaflet saddened me because I know that sick or injured cats usually go away from their families to die. I suppose they want to spare their families the trouble of arranging funerals and going through the process of grief. Granted, there's nothing like a funeral agent or crematorium where pets are concerned, but the emotional expense can take a lifetime to recover from.

I wondered if it was kinder for this woman and her family to live in hope that one day their cat would return home, lick his paws and purr for his favourite bowl of food, than to suggest that maybe, her much-loved cat may already be dead. 

Iceland Volcano Pictures

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I've had volcano ash on my car for a few days now. It looks, as you can imagine, a mess, but I'm leaving it there for fear that washing  the vehicle would result in ash being rubbed into the surface of the paint. Hopefully a shower of rain would do the trick safely. Of course, I'm not complaining. After all, the poor souls in Iceland have to live through a thousand times worse than a filthy, volcanic-ash-covered car.
My cousin sent me these pictures (below) yesterday which made me realise the real impact of what is at stake for the Icelanders. My thoughts are with them.
Note: I would've given credit here, but I don't know who these photos belong to.

Earth Day 2010

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On the 22nd of April, 2010, more than one billion people from 190 countries will be celebrating Earth Day.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the celebrations. Highlighting this event is crucial in encouraging, not only people like ourselves, but Governments and corporations worldwide to create and maintain a global, green economy. Please do your bit to make our Earth Day more visible.
You can also make your pledge to actively reduce, reuse and recycle. Some of the top pledges on the Action centre for Earth day are: 

• Developing green products that will change consumer behaviour in a positive way.
• Using a reusable water bottle and bringing a coffee mug to the coffee shop (and work).
• Recycling more recyclable items.
• Picking up garbage around town.
• Turning off the tap while cleaning your teeth.
• Turning off the light when you leave a room.

You too can decide to take action for Earth Day and beyond. Amazon is launching their amazing Earth Day Store on April 22nd. It's designed to give consumers the facts about sustainable living, and help them make green solutions every day of the year. Customers can also save on green-cleaning and baby products, toys, personal care, lighting, etc. Visit this link for special Earth Day Savings and this one if you want to make the best of green, sustainable goods all year round. 

Happy Earth Day!

Meow Meow Drug (Mephedrone) To Be Reclassified

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Mephedrone, a legal drug known in the streets as Meow, Meow is to be reclassified as of midnight tonight. This deadly drug, very similar to ecstasy, is sold with ease all over the Internet as plant fertiliser. This drug is said to give extremely quick and fantastic highs which produce horrendous hallucinations. The low comes quickly too, but lasts in some cases for as long as three weeks, accompanied by rashes and depression.

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Mephedrone is extremely addictive, which is not surprising because it's not meant for human consumption. People taking this drug experience very low periods when the only thing they can think about is getting their next fix. It's known for causing breathing difficulties, nose bleeds and even strong paranoia.


I've read some of the forums where drug users were discussing their personal experiences in taking meow meow. One person said he'd been awake for 56 hours. Many said they started as a joke and end up being so hooked, they could not stop even though they tried. Recently I read an item reporting news of a young man who hallucinated so terribly, he pulled off his own scrotum after taking this drug. At the time of writing, M-cat (meow meow) can be passed through customs without any problems as it's legal 'plant food.' It's shipped and delivered as a normal, average package with no questions asked. 


Mephedrone, which can be snorted, licked or swallowed, was never actually intended as plant food. It has always been manufactured as a drug. Having been on the streets of Britain for only two years, it's clear that it has spread to dangerous levels because it's already the fourth most used drug here after cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy. 

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From midnight tonight meow meow is no longer legal. It's to be reclassified as a B drug which means anyone found in possession could have a maximum sentence of five years. So many young people have already died. Hopefully this new law will put a lid on this madness.

Top Celebrity Animals - Past And Present [Pics]

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Many times the animals are a large part of the reason certain shows become our favourites.  I remember watching 'Mad About You' in anticipation of seeing Murray, the family dog. Marcel, the monkey in FRIENDS also brought me lots of laughs and I missed him when he left the show. 
Now, for a trip down memory lane, here are some pictures of some celebrity animals (in no particular order) that brought a smile to generations of viewers. 


Marcel - the monkey from FRIENDS

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After Ross (David Schwimmer) was divorced from Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) in this popular sitcom, he adopted this cute Capuchin monkey and named him Marcel. Things were quite smooth at first until Marcel's unusual sex-drive meant that Ross couldn't cope with him any more. He was eventually donated to the city's zoo and was later said to be staring in his own movie.

Free Willy

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This whale (real name Keiko) astounded everyone in its talent for performing in front of the camera. Free Willy had 3 film instalments and a 4th one is expected this year. This loveable mammal even inspired an animated series, making Keiko the most famous whale that ever lived. He won the hearts of movie goers every where.

Eddie from Frasier

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This Jack Russell Terrier reportedly chewed everything his owner owned and became a very unmanageable dog at home. None of this mattered though, when he found stardom on this popular American sitcom. Eddie mastered a bored stare which he kept reserved for his owner's (Marty) son. 

Murray from Mad About You

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This border collie was owned by the Buchmans (Helen Hunt and Paul Reiser). Paul found him when he was a puppy and 'met' his wife while taking him for a walk. Murray is portrayed as a very dumb dog who's fixated on chasing an invisible mouse.

Mr Ed

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Allan Lane's voice was used for Mr Ed, a talking horse, who could only speak to his owner, Wilbur. Ed's scrapes and mischief served up a ton full of laughter for the show's many viewers.

Lassie

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Lassie was played by a collie called Pal and several of her descendants. Lassie was probably the most well-known animal on TV.

Rin Tin Tin

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This character was played by several German Shepherd dogs who were related to each other. This show became exceptionally popular on stories on radio, film and TV.

Skippy

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Skippy was meant to be a 'pet' kangaroo owned by a little Australian boy. Skippy was able to 'speak' to his owner and work with him to save people's lives in the reserve. People from 80 different countries tuned in to watch Skippy each week. 


Vincent from Lost

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In my opinion, Vincent is the cutest celebrity animal on TV. I adore his little face. He's a Yellow Labrador Retriever and has turned up at intervals to help or comfort the survivors on the Island.


Do you have a favourite celebrity animal? Is there any on my list that made a show more attractive to watch?

Photo Albums

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Here in the UK, it’s almost time for new class photos to be purchased. I don't buy them all every year, but I make an effort to get the ones that stand out in quality and pose. I've already got a large amount of pictures and photo albums and the kids are still young. I often wonder where and how we'll store all the photos we have in eighteen years' time. With wedding photo albums, birth, anniversary and graduation pictures, you wonder how one has storage space for anything else. 

Even with the introduction of the digital age, there's still nothing that captures those special 'tying-the-knot moments as splendidly as wedding albums.

On the matter of school photos; on the day, I make sure the kids’ collars are straightened, their hair brushed neatly, and uniforms in tip top shape. 

When I get the proofs back something is invariably out of place. My youngest has the most flyaway hair that's ever graced the head of a little girl. A feature that’s always very noticeable in our photo books. We’ve decorated our walls and albums with school pictures of the kids, many of which I’m not totally crazy about. 

My son, at 10 years old, is in year 6, which is his last year in Primary school. I suppose this means that I have to buy his school pictures this term. I’ve sent back the proofs with the cheque and await yet another school photograph to add to the wheelbarrow of pictures we carry from place to place when we move house (which we're doing soon). 

Are you one for keeping real pictures in albums like we do, or are you one of the new-age babies who store all your pictures digital-style? Have you still got your wedding photo album nestled neatly in your safest draws or have you stored them on the digital camera with grand plans to have them printed one day?

How To Get Some Perspective in Your Life

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A discussion of some important facts of life which we allow ourselves to forget.

In our world of Internet and Space travel, it’s difficult to keep our lives and priorities in perspective. It has been said that one picture is worth a thousand words, so I’ve abandoned my plan to write about how viewing life from a different perspective can give us a twisted view of reality.

I’ve decided instead, to illustrate using pictures, how easy it is to lose sight of where our lives should be and what attitudes we should hold fast. If we take the reality of our individual lives and adapt it to the humdrum of what society would have us be, we could end up having very distorted and misconstrued ideas of what is honest, good and important in the journey of our time on earth.

Look at these pictures taken from awkward perspectives. Their realities have been distorted to become something totally different.

All pictures are with express permission of Ahmad Anvari.

Pulling up the moon? Sometimes we take on tasks which in reality are too heavy for us to carry. Let’s keep our work load practical and sustainable. Burning out like an overused, neglected candle leaves us unable to serve anyone in the end.

Where is her head? Use your head when you feel like you’re being swept away by the tides of materialistic fortune and fickle fame. These things surround us everyday, enticing us to believe that if we ourselves could be surrounded by an entourage of false friends, we would be happy as well.

It's very easy to fall over when your foundation is not built on a solid, moral value base.

Grab every opportunity to show love to the people who matter in your life. It makes no sense to wait for special occasions.

Stretch as far as you can to help out those in need.

Pick up every opportunity to be childlike, funny and spontaneous, even if others think that you’re silly and immature.

Dwelling in the past and on mistakes you’ve made bends you out of joint and renders you unable to enjoy the pleasures of right now.

Face up to your fears. Look at them in the eyes and take them on. This is the only way to discard what could otherwise debilitate you.

There’ll always those who will try to take your mind off your goals. It’s enabling for some people to watch others wallow in their low expectations of their lives. Having you at the bottom gives them a reason for not trying to get ahead themselves. Give them the elbow and stay as far away as possible.

Love life and take part in physical events. It’s surprising how much stress is expelled by 10 minutes of brisk walking. Try it. Leave that computer now and then and release stress in physical ways.

Keep your light shining.  It’s not okay to let it go out for even a second, for in that moment, a loved one drifting astray may need your light to guide them back home.

Let us remember, while we laugh at these pictures, that sometimes when we’re certain we’re right and someone else is wrong, it may just be because we’re both looking at that particular situation from different angles.  

What we therefore see, are imperfect parts of a whole. What we perceive with our own eyes is not necessarily the truth. It could just be that our vision is coloured by the very individual glasses that we insist on wearing.  Maybe life is not as bad as it seems, perhaps if we take off the glasses of misery and don the rose coloured pair, our outlook may be a lot more positive. 

And how could ‘positive’ hurt? 

Let’s try to remember to file the basic important factors of our lives into the correct perspective.  In today’s society where celebrity status is craved after, and riches is the pinnacle of perfection, let’s decide that our perspective will remain focused on the ideals, beliefs and people who really matter. 

Let’s decide that our perspective will always be founded not on what society thinks we should aim for, but what our life has taught us that we need.

Let the angle of the pictures we take be the one that truthfully reflects reality.

I know, I did say I would use pictures, not words.  I failed. 

Quite publicly and miserably.


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