This week in pictures

This week I surveyed a walk in South Nottinghamshire, that includes the ruins of St Marys Church, near Cropwell Bishop.
Went climbing in the Peak District.

Spotted some house sparrows on the bush in the garden.

And went down to London to visit my super friend Sarah for her birthday, and to go the the Women's Library to see Subtext in an exhibition about women's magazines!

Fridge-ID

I've heard it said that what's in your fridge can reflect how you live your life, but I think this makes it quite clear that what's on the outside can give an insight too - exhibit A: my fridge in all its chaotic glory.

Including:

• a diagram for the hairdresser explaining that I do not want triangular hair any longer.
  'activist', as described in a Patagonia advert.
• a newspaper story on surfing rats
• a message from the Salvation army - which I took out of context because I think it applies whether you're religious or not (full disclosure, I'm not)
• New York cab magnet
• assorted postcards
• (badly) photoshopped image of my boyfriend ice climbing the Eiffel Tower
• a watercolour that looks like a vagina
• a newspaper clipping about a friend who moved to NYC to be a butler.

What does your fridge look like? A place to paste up favourite things you've found, notes and magnetic poetry, or clean, sleek, metallic and minimalist?

Money matters

As much glee as I do feel about the atheist bus campaign raising so much so fast to fund advertising that counters religious propaganda such as the Alpha Course, it is a shame that the fervour generated here can't be replicated for other drastically underfunded causes.

I think the visibility of the Christian advertising chaffed at a lot of people, and by the very nature of outdoor advertising it was in their faces and unavoidable whenever they stepped outside, so ignited a reaction.

There are plenty of other causes that are in desperate need of support - domestic violence support and rape crisis centres are just two examples - but they are out of sight of the general population and out of mind.

Atheist advertising

Hold on to your hats because the first ever atheist advertising campaign is coming to London in January 2009!

The Guardian featured an article about it this morning encouraging donations from supportive atheists, and by 10ish they had received enough donations to secure the bus! By the time I looked at the fundraising page they were on £64K (update 30 mins later, £65k!)!!11!!!

Turns out atheists give generously and I love exclamation marks.

Ace.

Parallel lines

Out surveying yesterday I noticed that in this field, when you look down you just see muddy ground, but when you look up, at a angle you can see the scrubby bits of grass shoots are actually perfectly planted parallel lines of grass giving way to a green view.

Stamp collecting

Women of Distinction stamps, image from the Guardian.

If there was ever a time to collect stamps today is it, the Royal Mail are launching its first ever set of stamps dedicated to women who led important social (and feminist) change in the UK. Go Royal Mail!

Claudia Jones, was a journalist, socialist and campaigner for black rights.
Millicent Garrett Fawcett, who became president of the National Women's Suffrage Societies.
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, the first British woman to qualify as a doctor.
Eleanor Rathbone, a politician and campaigner for social reform who was a major player in the introduction of family allowances (now known as child benefit).
Barbara Castle, the former cabinet minister and the fourth woman to enter cabinet.

Marie Stopes, author of the first cheap book to inform women in plain language about family planning, and founder of the first free family planning clinic in 1921.

More Paliness

To build on my collection of quotes about Sarah Palin, today's example comes from well know political commentator Anne Robinson:

Robinson, Britain's best known public winker, remains deeply unimpressed by Palin. "It's depressing that she exists, never mind that she winks," she says.

From the Guardian.

Signposting - it's all about a joined up service

Ok, so that title is kind of an in joke for me as a local gov worker. I've made my excuses, lets move on.

Still, this is a signposting post, or a lazy excuse for a post, or an overexcited babbling on about stuff she loves type post.

In short, today's Guardian is ace.

I heart Richard Ayoade, particularly as the hot and bonkers shaman* Saboo in the Mighty Boosh. He is totally edearing in this interview.

"You know nothing of the crunch", swoon.

I'm also a fan of Pammy Anderson - inexplicably... She's interviewed today and kind of misses the point of feminism, though she does believe in the actual aim of the movement: equality. She also scores points for calling Sarah Palin "the helicopter huntress from hell". I can only hope that McCain** is reeling from the mistake he made to run with her - he clearly did not think that one through - she is a ticking timebomb "Let's get a woman on board, people loved Hilary, me wants some of that!"

Speaking of Palin there are some satisfyingly scathing articles on her in today's issue as well. Palin vs polar bears - my vote goes for the bears, natch. And Palin the ultimate rock and roll disaster. Hah.

* great combination!
** oven chips, hah!

AWOL

Sorry for the absent status - and right after I promised myself I would remember to blog as well. There are a few posts coming up on Weather Station for those interested in all things pictures.
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