Lisa Coleman of Our Eyes Open‘s Bird Weekly photo challenge this week asks us to post long-legged birds.







Lisa Coleman of Our Eyes Open‘s Bird Weekly photo challenge this week asks us to post long-legged birds.
Monday means Melanie’s Share Your World!
4. When, if ever, is taking a human life justified?
In self-defense (when one’s life or loved one’s life is threatened) – this may seem broad, because some people consider “threatened” to be when someone walks on their lawn or comes up to their house and rings the doorbell. I do not think it is justified in such circumstances. In the last several months, police brutality toward Black people has been in the forefront of people’s minds, because of the unnecessary deaths of George Floyd and Brionna Taylor, among others. These cops were not being threatened. They just abused their power and should be prosecuted.
Sometimes a person may feel threatened due to past circumstances, such as a woman whose husband has been abusive toward her or her children, and it is understandable (though not laudable) that she would seize an opportunity to kill him, even if he weren’t threatening her at that particular moment.
Also, it is somewhat justified to kill during wars, but not civilians and not even some wars which are completely unnecessary. World War II was a justified war with a clear enemy that invaded other nations’ sovereignty. During the Vietnam War, there were some incidents that the media brought our attention to, of massacres of civilians and burning their towns, such as the My Lai massacre. This is only one example of atrocities committed during wars, which are not justified under any circumstances.
If one considers abortion the “taking of a human life” – which is controversial – then I also think it is justified according to a woman’s particular circumstances, which range from being unable to raise the child or being afraid of losing her job, to extreme cases like rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is in danger if the pregnancy continues. I am “pro-choice” because I think it is a private matter between a woman and her doctor, and I don’t presume to judge whatever situation she is going through. That said, I do not approve of abortion if the fetus is already viable – that is, can survive outside the womb, usually the late 2nd trimester or later, UNLESS it is a threat to the life of the mother. A fetus in the early stages of development does not feel anything yet so doesn’t suffer during the abortion. That said, really I don’t like abortion at all, at least not for myself. I could never have done it – I know I would have regretted it all my life if I had. When I got pregnant, I considered it as an option but my circumstances, while not ideal, were not dire, and I knew that I really wanted to have children. So I think it is a matter of choice.
Another controversial subject: the death penalty. I am totally against it. It is a barbaric custom that belongs to the past and I am ashamed that it is legal in my supposedly modern, civilized country.
Attitude of Gratitude Section (Always Optional)
Do small miracles exist?
Yes, if one sees them as “miracles.” They are the unexpected joys that people feel blessed or grateful for. I like to watch nature shows on TV, and I find it miraculous how various species have adapted to their environment – like fish living in the deep ocean who can produce their own light. I feel awe toward the wonders of nature. We are so blessed to have this beautiful planet that provides us with such bounty. Let’s not ruin it!!!
Travel with Intent has a photo challenge, One Word Sunday, and this week the topic is overlap.
Overlapping turtles – at this nature preserve, the main visitor center is undergoing renovation, so the small animals are now confined to a much smaller space until the work is complete.
Overlapping bricks – Tacoma, WA Chinese Reconciliation Park
Overlapping flowers
Overlapping coral – Brookfield Zoo
The topic of Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge this week is yellow.
Yellow building – Regensburg, Germany
Yellow rose – Chicago, IL
1st Presbyterian Church light fixture – Evanston, IL
Sunset at an outdoor concert – Elk Grove Village, IL
Brookfield Zoo entrance – Brookfield/Chicago, IL
Fish – Brookfield Zoo
Autumn color reflected in a pond with ducks – Des Plaines, IL
Flower – Arlington Heights, IL
Buildings – Luxor, Egypt
Yellow-breasted weaver – Tanzania
Aspens turning yellow – Denali National Park, Alaska
Leaf – northern Wisconsin
The theme of Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge this month is colors; this week is Blue.
Ruin of a castle, Wachau Valley, on the Danube in Austria
Amsterdam, de Pijp neighborhood
Across the street from our Airbnb, Amsterdam
Bench, Poulsbo, WA
Our niece’s wedding – blue flowers on her dress, blue walls of the church, bridesmaid’s dark blue dress
Chihuly glass sculpture, Museum of Glass, Tacoma, WA
Three fire hydrants painted blue, Arlington Heights, IL
Sea life exhibit, Brookfield Zoo, IL
I took these photos of a curious penguin and a companion at Brookfield Zoo on Oct. 29.
Posted for Granny Shot It’s Bird of the Day, 11/2/19.
Granny Shot It has a daily photo challenge, Bird of the Day (BOTD). I am contributing with photos of a very bold peacock and his companions at the Brookfield Zoo. This guy kept walking toward me as I was snapping his photo with my cellphone! He appeared to have no fear of humans whatsoever – he is probably used to zoo patrons throwing him crumbs.
I saw another peacock when we first arrived. His leg is banded so zoo researchers can track his movements.
Peacocks and peahens pecking for food in the grass
On this cold October day, I went with my sister, her husband, my niece and her boyfriend to visit the very uncrowded Brookfield Zoo! Here and there were whimsical Halloween displays, so I am posting them here for Granny Shot It’s 11-day Halloween Decoration Challenge (Day 10).
Many bird species gather in large numbers. I often hear a chorus of sparrows when I pass by their favorite trees or hedges.
Copious gathering of cattle egrets (Tarangire National Park, Tanzania): along the lakeshore and even in the trees!
Copious gathering of flamingos (Amsterdam zoo):
Posted for photo challenges RDP 9/17/18: Copious and Becky’s Month of Squares: In the Pink.
For Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge, this week the theme is Fun and/or Flowers. In April, after our Panama Canal Cruise, we spent two extra days in San Diego. Visiting the Zoo was a must (I had to see the koalas and pandas!) and Balboa Park also has lovely flower gardens. Here are some highlights of both FUN and FLOWERS in Balboa Park!
FUN
I love this orangutan granddaddy’s expression!
These two trees were at the botanic gardens in Balboa Park. I am including them under “Fun” because they are unusual and interesting!
Topiary elephants!
FLOWERS
Most of the flowers we saw were at the rose gardens.
I don’t know that lovely woman whose head appears among the flowers, but I think she fits quite nicely into the picture, don’t you?
Here are some other species of flowers we saw: