Photography, Kalipedia Lithuania, Structures around the Dock

Kalipedia is the main port of Lithuania and as such it is quite industrial, but does possess a small but nice old town. Nothing that compares really to Tallinn or even Riga on the Baltic. But charming none the less. I have to say I liked the old soviet structures more and the concrete news plinths!

Photography Derelict Linnehall Tallinn Estonia

On the edge of Tallinn's old town sits a derelict concrete building almost abandoned, Linnahall was built for the 1980 Moscow Olympics and was originally called the Lenin Palace of Sports and Culture. Though the building is out of use the exterior is still frequented by people who wander over the mossy crumbling boulevards that run over the roof of the structure towards the sea. I found this as interesting as Tallinn's old town, a relic of communism and its ultimate decline. 

We Didn't Start the Fire!

I don't usually look to Billy Joel to reinforce my own perceptions of the world, but when listening to We Didn't Start the Fire and the references of major headlines from his life time its not hard to think t he was right........The world has been burning, since the world has been turning.

When I scroll through my news feed and see all the horror and misery that goes on in the world it makes me feel utterly depressed and any attempt to make a better world the most futile of acts! Well that's how i feel sometimes. In other moments I feel far more positive. 

One of humanities most interesting traits is its diversity, whether that be culture, race or history etc. The very things that make us take pride in our species are the things that cause the misery and horror in our news feeds. I don't know why we humans are built this way? I am sure there is some evolutionary reason for it, after all we are still animals like everything else on this planet. All be it with a brain that can make art and language, break down and understand how are world is constructed and even leave our little oasis Earth and enter the desert of Space. We are animals still. 

What depresses me more than anything is that if we ever (and its a big if) achieve and end to the daily shit and murder, it will mostly come from one homogenizing force! Where we all think and do the same..... Or evolution hurries the hell up and changes us for the better. 

Photography, Broughton Church near Preston Lancashire

Found a stash of old photo's on my old hard drive taken back in Preston where I used to live. This is Broughton Church taken in the early hours! The earliest part of the Church dates back to 1533 but records show the site was used as a church/chapel as far back as the 12th century. 

UKIP Summed Up By Stewart Lee

I think I have spoken about UKIP (United Kingdom Independence Party) before, their central reason for existing is to withdraw the UK from the European Union. this is something which I am totally against. However over recent years UKIP have gained considerably in popularity, but along with thier valid political position there is a horrid underbelly which is 'nasty'. The party has become (I don't think it started off like this) a group of racist, homophobic bigots! This is generally found in the lower ranks rather than with the likes of Nigel Farage, but their politics is certainly directed and forged with these ideals in mind.

On one of my feeds somewhere I came across this by Stewart Lee (one of my favourite Stand Ups) summing up UKIP.

 

Nothing I have seen reflects my own thoughts better than this......

Solar Lights, Better Than I Imagined

In an effort to remember that the garden is just not my domain but also my girlfriends I bought some solar lights. Which had been something she had talked about having, I have to say I was not that keen for whatever reason. So I parted with £15 and bought 20 meter length of LED's, simple warm coloured and not shaped like butterflies. The problem with the internet it can show you some very seductive and amazing design pictures and its not always something you can replicate. However on this occasion I am happy with what I have done. The pictures of course can't do it justice, the limitations of smartphone photography at dusk/night are all to plain!   

Next Months European Elections

I got my polling card through last week for the European Elections on the 22nd of May, generally I think it has a rather low priority for most people in the UK and I expect that it will have a low turn out. I for one will be voting, as I do in every election. But I do feel that the European election is important, in fact very important  and more people should take part in it.

The UK's relationship with Europe and its membership with in it is a political hot topic at the moment and one I certainly have strong feelings about. The rise of UKIP as a force is the EU parliament and possibly even with in the UK parliament by the next election shows that a large percentage of the population has serious issues with the relationship we have with Europe. The Tories of course are traditionally anti EU and have promised a referendum on membership after the next election and one if it happens I would make sure I vote in.

Europe is good for us, the EU is good for us, you only have to skim over the history books a see that peace in Europe has been achieved through the coming together of nations! Peace, Unity and Stability has been achieved and that is in no small part down to the creation of the EU! Much of the resentment towards Europe I feel comes from some historical British feeling of superiority more than anything else. And this is epitomised utterly in the values and ideals of the UKIP party. A party that harks back to the pre-Windrush era, where Britain ruled the waves and Europe was a turbulent, fascist, communist, revolutionary place full of garlic eating, sex mad, wops and frogs! You only have to look at the relative decline of the British National Party and the rise of UKIP to make an educated guess who is supporting them.

I really just don't understand where people are coming from when they decide to vote UKIP!