Here it is! I thought it was about time to tidy up the site with a new theme and a new outlook on life. Please let me know what you think. If you liked the old one better, let me know that too. And if something is broken that I haven’t found yet, I would really appreciate the information.
And yes, I took the header photograph. It is sunrise over Ralston Creek here in Charleston, SC. If you want to see more of that shoot, you can check out my Flickr photo gallery.
OK, so I may have a thief in my bird feeder, but I have a friend who has a bandit in her house. Actually, that should read “Bandit in her house” with a capital “B”. Bandit is actually the name of her raccoon. My friend Jan’s thing in life is rescuing wild animals that need help. She works with an organization named Keeper of the Wild. Keeper of the Wild is a Federally recognized non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation, preservation and rehabilitation of South Carolina’s Wildlife. (Sounds like an ad, or like I copied that description from their website.) They really are a cool organization and have even been on TV on Jeff Corwin’s Animal Planet show.
Anyway, back to Bandit. My friend Jan rescues a lot of different animals form raccoons and possums to bobcats and otters, but sometimes for different reasons they are not re-releasable. In the case of Bandit, at least now, she is not releasable because she is spoiled and prefers Pringles potato chips to wild berries. And so now, Bandit is a house-raccoon. Actually, much of her times is spent up in the chimney. I am not sure whether she really likes it up there of if she just likes being able to drop down and scare unsuspecting visitors. Trust me, it works.
So, I thought I would give you a couple of pictures and a warning. For the pictures, you have Bandit at the table and another one of Bandit descending from the fireplace. You know there is something going on when you see a chair in the fireplace. And as for the warning? Never have a pet or other animal for a house mate that has hands or opposable thumbs to open jars, cabinets, refrigerators, purses . . . well, you get the picture. She is a really sweet animal, just make sure to hold on to your valuables.
I was in downtown Charleston yesterday taking some pictures when I came upon an interesting site. Now, which is more intriguing? The fact that the wheel is meant for some type of crooked road we don’t have around here, or the fact that even in such a condition that you would see fit to lock the bike up? In general though, I really just like the picture. It is one of those that you look at quickly, say “OK” but then go back and realize that there is more there than you saw on first glance.
Another image I captured that appealed to me is of one of the upper windows of the Circular Congregational Church here on Meeting Street. The original structure was built around 1730, but this building was put on the same site at a much later time. This is actually the parent church of the Unitarian Church in Charleston, the church that I am a member of. But, as for the picture, I wasn’t sure what was really going to turn out when I took it, but I was trying for kind of a lost, wintery, haunted impression. Not perfect, but I think I captured it fairly well.
I ended up talking about 120 shots while downtown, but I am still going through them and seperating the mediocre from the really bad. It was about 40 degrees so I was freezing to death - remember I am a southern boy born in Louisiana and raised in Charleston - but at least it wasn’t too bad if you kept moving and the sun was shining. If there are any more worth posting when I finish the sorting, I will do so.
There has been a lot of talk on the web and even the national news over the last couple of days about how Tom Cruise is nuts and how the Church of Scientology is whacked out. This all stems from a video that leaked out of an awards ceremony and has been posted on the net. Yes, maybe Tom is a little overboard on this and yes, maybe the Scientology isn’t for everyone. But how is what he is stating that much different that the evangelicals of many religions? Christians and Islamics both have radical wings that to the rest of us seem way over the top.
No, I am not defending Scientology - sorry, but I don’t agree with them - and no, I am not attacking Christians or Islamics or any other religion. What I am saying is that here is a guy who is fervent about what he believes in. For that I congratulate him. He may be wrong, but at least he believes in something enough to speak up for it and act upon it. As long as what he is doing and saying isn’t harming others, then let him alone. He feels that his religion compels him to act and help others. Sounds like a call that many religions have and that few people in those religions follow.
What I think most people are upset about is that he is excited and fervent about an idea that they don’t believe. If he had the same energy and push for a Christian religion you would call him a missionary. If he was attacked or even killed for this belief, you would call him a martyr. But, since his is a viewpoint that the majority don’t hold, we just seem his as a nut case with too much visibility.
Sounds like we need learn a bit more about acceptance. Or at the very least, tolerance.
There has been a lot of talk on the web and even the national news over the last couple of days about how Tom Cruise is nuts and how the 
