Memorial to WWII soldiers that belonged to the local Kiwanis Club tucked away in a residential area.

PhotoHunt

Photo Hunters

I had to get a bit creative with this week's theme. Living in the middle of a metropolis such as we do makes it far easier, and cheaper to rely on public transit. Here in Toronto I actually prefer taking the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) for the most part, and enjoy taking surface routes such as the one in the photo above where I can relax, and either people watch or check out the scenery while traveling to my destination. As far as fares go they are pretty reasonable, and even offer a monthly pass.

Happy weekend everyone!

Next week the theme is: Memorial

PhotoHunt

Photo Hunters

Close-up of the infamous Wem ghost photo.

Yesterday it came to light that one of my favourite "ghost" photos is actually a hoax. The photo was taken in 1995 when the Wem Town Hall had burned down. The photographer Tony O’Rahilly who was photographing the horrific scene claimed that the image of the girl appeared when he developed the roll of film.

There was much speculation as to the authenticity of the photo, and for those who believed....the identity of the young girl herself. A myth grew around the photo that it may have been the apparition of Jane Churm, a 14 year old who had accidentally started the great fire of Wem in 1677, and had been reportedly haunting the town hall.

Tony O’Rahilly died in 2005 and to his last days maintained that the circumstances surrounding the taking of the photo, and the image of the ghostly girl were true.

Postcard depicting the "ghost girl"

The photo has now been revealed as a hoax, by a keen eyed fellow who recognised the young girl in a postcard that he came across that was stamped in 1922. She (whoever she was) is the image of the girl in the famed "ghost" photo. You can read more about it here.

The revealing of the hoax is kind of timely for us as Matthew just a couple of days ago published a blog entry on how the bending of the truth, exaggerations, and outright hoaxes particularly those perpetrated in the name of paranormal "reality" tv shows is a great disservice, and detriment to the study we love.

As stated above the "Wem ghost" pic was one of my favourite photos. And while I am normally happy when answers are found to some of these mysteries, even if they turn out to be natural explanations, this for some reason just makes me sad.

I guess I was taken or I wanted to be taken by it because it looks like what I would expect a photo of an apparition to look like.

Oh well............HOAXES SUCK!!!

Wordless Wednesday

This week's theme was surprisingly easy for me as I immediately thought of my better half.

Here is a pic of Matthew out doing a bit of photo hunting of his own.

Happy weekend everyone!

Next week the theme is: Monthly

PhotoHunt

Photo Hunters

The HuffPo asks "what child wants this?" and I say what child would not! As a kid heck yes, I would have wanted one, and I'd be lying if I said that I wouldn't want one now! This sleeping bag is a must-have on my wish list! Would be great to take on our beach/camping trips.

The product's website says they do not ship to Canada. Boo!

Taken in High Park, Toronto this past weekend. There are lots of urban critters to be found there.

Wordless Wednesday

Taken last summer before my Mom's death from pancreatic cancer

I am fortunate in that today I will be celebrating Mother's Day with my own daughters, and my sister, and niece. I will be surrounded by love, and with the memories of my Mother who was a kind and gentle soul. Much of what is good within me I owe to her, and her memory will give me strength, and comfort today, and always as I remember the good times, and create new ones with my own children. The pain of her death last year is slowly ebbing, but the missing I know will never go away.

Wishing ALL Mom's a very Happy Mother's Day! And to ALL of you who can, hug your Mom a little bit tighter today.

Mama cat and her kittens. My sister found her a few years back inside her basement window well where Mama had given birth.

The runt of the litter with her adoptive Mama the kiddo. You may recognise the kitten from last week's theme, which was black. This is Maya before she came home with us.

Happy weekend! And Happy Mother's Day!

Next week the theme is: Half

PhotoHunt

Photo Hunters

Taken two years ago somewhere in southwestern Ontario. For about a year this photo was the mother-ship's desktop wallpaper.

Wordless Wednesday

.....by another Canadian woman, and a senator no less!

Came across this news item on the CBC website:

Conservative Senator Nancy Ruth told a meeting of international women's equality rights groups Monday morning that it would be best for them to "shut the f--k up" about their concerns over the government's maternal health initiative.

Read more

I have never trusted anyone who has told me to keep quiet, particularly in such a rude way. Women throughout history have suffered by being made to shut the f--k up, or living within societies where their opinions and views are suppressed or not valued. No good has ever come from women being made or told to shut-up, and Senator Ruth should be very ashamed of this statement even if her comments were not meant for the general public to hear.

Perhaps she already knows how offensive her comments were.....it would explain this later statement made by her in regards to the shut the ef up.

"I'm not going to repeat them in front of microphones. You gotta be crazy."

If anything I hope this spurs Canadian women to speak even louder particularly when it come to health issues facing other women both in Canada, and abroad.

Liberal MP Dr. Carolyn Bennett said Ruth's comments shocked the room. Bennett said she thinks Ruth's advice exposes something the government has denied — that for those who speak out against the government, there will be repercussions.

Funding cuts are one example of a repercussion the groups fear.

But the activists say they won't be taking Ruth up on her suggestion to keep quiet. Katherine McDonald is executive director of Action Canada for Population and Development.

"The time to speak out is now. If we hadn't spoken out over the last three months, contraception would not be part of this initiative."

McDonald is referring to the government's reversal on its initial announcement that family planning would not be part of the maternal health plan.

Bennett echoed another panelist at the meeting, saying that women in the world didn't achieve what they have over the years by "shutting up."