Bainbridge Island and civil liberties

On holiday in the Seattle area, I spent yesterday walking around the centre of the city and, after a lunch of clams and fish and chips, took a ferry across Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island. After a visit to a bookshop, I was stopped by a member of the American Civil Liberties Union. He was looking for support for among other things, their campaign to close the POW camp at Guantanamo Bay. I explained that I was a foreign tourist, but he said that he had signed up someone from Australia recently. While I, in broad terms, agreed with the ACLU’s stance, I couldn’t bring myself to contribute to an organisation involved in political struggles in a country that is not my own. I meekly offered a link to the ACLU on my blog as a sort of substitute.

Hypocrisy on the Pavement?

I think cycling is a good thing: healthy, environmentally sound, cheap etc. Cyclists rightly complain that roads are not designed to accommodate their needs and risk their lives daily by peddling unprotected among tons of high speed metal objects, that is to say cars and lorries.

But then they spoil it by cycling on the pavement and expecting pedestrians to get out of their way!

This has come to my attention recently on the Wye Bridge in Monmouth where cyclists regularly push past me on the pavement (for American readers, the sidewalk) heading into the town centre. These aren’t just kids who should know better either: these are foursomes of hard core ubercyclists with their fancy skin tight shirts and helmets, decked out in the proper gear for a day out on their bikes.

If you are one of those cyclist who doesn’t bother to obey the Highway Code and get off your bike when on the pavement you shouldn’t be surprised if you begin to lose the respect of other road users.

The Wye at Bigsweir

The Wye at Bigsweir

Originally uploaded by Monnowman.

I walked from Monmouth to Tintern along the Wye Valley today and took this at Bigsweir, half way between Wales and England.

Freemasonry goes cool and edgy

This article from the Los Angeles Times reveals a new trend among American Freemasons.

Mouth of the Monnow

Mouth of the Monnow

Originally uploaded by Monnowman.

The confluence of the Monnow and Wye Rivers: the mouth of the Monnow. Whence presumably comes the name of the town, Monmouth, nearby.

Magnolia trees, Littlecote House, Berkshire

Littlecote House, Berkshire

Originally uploaded by Monnowman.

These magnolia trees caught my attention, blooming in the sunlight against the snowy background of the gardens at Littlecote House in Berkshire.

Monmouth from Buckholt Woods

Monmouth from Buckholt Woods

Originally uploaded by Monnowman.

Went for a walk here today as I hadn’t seen the countryside on this side of town. Picture is taken with my mobile phone so very wide angle too much foreground!) and panorama stitching a bit iffy.

Having a Yorkshire accent makes you sound intelligent

A study at Bath Spa University has found that the British accent most likely to be perceived as indicating intelligence is the Yorkshire accent. A Birmingham accent (think Ozzie Osbourne) was ranked bottom in the perceived intelligence league.

Hilarious video - well it made me laugh, anyway.

No philosophising or polemic in this post. Just a video that made me laugh.

Simon’s Cat ‘Cat Man Do’

The Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff

We visited Cardiff this afternoon. This is a photo taken with my mobile.