Good Morning Dear Reader. I woke up bright and early this morning, due to rather stupidly forgetting to close the curtains when I went to bed last night. Mind you, it’s been quite a good thing, I’ve been able to get loads done.

On his Persuader blog, Jack Yan posted an interesting article about the rise in the number of institutions which wish to restrict and control the internet. This rang a bell with me, because I firmly believe that the internet should be free, and should transcend international borders. Naturally, there are some things that aren’t acceptable, the exploitation of women and children, for example. However, these are matters for the police, controlling the net is not going to stop crimes of that nature happening. Trust me, woman and children have been exploited for centuries, it didn’t just start when the internet was invented. Yes, the ‘net does allow people with those interests to congregate together, but it also makes it easier for the relevant bodies to catch them. There is no such thing as anonymity online, whatever you may think. Someone can always find and track you.

People should be allowed to use the internet freely, the growing number of calls for restrictions and regulation are, on the whole, being made by organisations who have much to gain from making the web less free. Whether it is a dictatorship wanting to pull the wool over the eyes of it’s citizens, or a religious group crying ‘but think of the children’ or a multi-national company who wish to keep their brand on top, all have a vested interest in regulating what you and I are allowed to see. This is dangerous ground, but as Jack says in his piece, “ . . . there are still more people outside of the controlling, censoring institutions than inside them.”

The London Stone is due to be moved to a temporary home. What’s that you say? You’ve never head of the London Stone? Well, me neither, and it seems we are not alone, it is, apparently, one of Britain’s more obscure artefacts. Of unknown origin, the stone has been located in London for centuries and has a similar mythology to the Tower of London ravens. In other words, should it be moved, a terrible fate will befall London, or maybe even Britain. At the moment the stone is located in the cricket department of a soon to be demolished sports shop, where it has been cared for diligently by the manager. Superstitious readers will be pleased to know it’s removal will only be temporary, and plans are already afoot for the stone to be returned to it’s original site and placed on more public display. In the meantime, we had all better keep our fingers crossed.

Fancy a spot of paper folding? I’ve always found origami fascinating, not that I have any talent for it LOL It is jolly clever though. If you fancy having a go, take a look at this blog which displays some lovely examples of the Japanese art form, as well as instructions explaining how you can make your own paper creations.

Last week, I posted about the Eurovision Song Contest. Today, I leave you with the best Eurovision song ever. Yes, it’s My Lovely Horse by Fathers Ted and Dougal . . . picture quality is a bit iffy, but hey, what a tune LOL

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Ally has tagged me for a rather interesting meme. The idea is I tell you ten things about me connected with an allotted letter, in this case ‘f’ If anyone else would like to have a go, just leave a comment and I’ll send you a letter. Sorry, bad pun. Anyhow, here are my ten things beginning with ‘f’.

Fur - I have always found the idea of wearing real fur really quite revolting. It’s not just an animal welfare issue, even as a little girl I would shudder when I saw someone in the street wearing a fur coat. I mean, uurgh! Why would anyone want to walk around with a dead animal on their back!? The worst type of garment were those that came complete with a head which would be arranged so that it hung over the wearers shoulder, treating anyone passing to the sight of a pair of glassy, dead eyes. I can understand that in some regions fur is both acceptable and necessary, but not here. There are a huge range of alternatives that don’t have that yucky factor.

Flowers - no garden is complete without a few. At least as far as I am concerned. Serious gardeners will often dismiss them as being a waste of valuable space, after all, you can’t eat them, or use them to produce anything else. Even so, a world without flowers would be a much duller place. I can’t think of a more beautiful sight than a field full of poppies or a woodland clearing awash with bluebells. “I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers.” – Claude Monet, a bloke who knew that flowers are not just decorative but inspirational too.

Films – one of the best inventions ever. I love films, from the old black and white classics which are the perfect way to while away a rainy afternoon, to modern masterpieces, which hold you spellbound and which you always wish had been just a little bit longer. A good film is like a good book, it can take you to places you have never been, or often could never go. It can let you experience situations you would never want to be involved in first hand. It can enthral and delight you, scare the living daylights out of you, or reduce you to tears. A really good film can even make you think, it can expand your view of the world, broaden your horizons, encouraging you to consider ideas or issues that may not have entered the sphere of your existence before.

Fun - People don’t have enough fun. We spend too much time racing around with our heads down, fretting about stuff that really isn’t all that important in the great scheme of things. We should all make an effort to laugh more, and spend time each day doing something that is simply jolly, good fun. Which leads me on to . . .

Fandango - I’m not sure why, but I have always wanted to learn this dance. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be taught anywhere I have ever lived, but I’ll keep looking.

Fundamentalists - I find these people very hard to understand, I suppose I’m not alone in that. It’s not just the things they say, which are very odd no matter what brand of fundamentalism they claim to represent, it’s their absolute certainty. The greatest thinkers of all time have failed to come up with absolute answers to questions about the nature of our existence and the possibility of some kind of supreme being or higher power. Considering that, why on earth do these people feel they are right? Why can’t they understand the difference between faith and truth? They don’t know anymore than anyone else, but despite this, they insist they have all the answers.

Felines - I’m a big fan of cats both large and small. I like other animals too, I’m not one of those crazy cat ladies. However, cats do have a certain charm. They look great, and I love their laid back attitude, and independence. I know this is what puts a lot of people off them, but I like it. In a way, the relationship you have with a domestic cat, is a bit like the kind of relationship you have with another human. Cats won’t love you unconditionally, they expect a certain amount of respect, but they can be very loyal and affectionate, and not just when they want food, whatever non-cat owners may think.

Flibbertigibbet - I like this word. It actually means “A silly, flighty, or scatterbrained person, especially a pert young woman with such qualities.” Definition from http://dictionary.reference.com/ To me, it sounds like a small insect, something that is a cross between a butterfly and a ladybird.

Female - I really like being a girl. Not that I have anything to compare it with, but I am glad I wasn’t born a boy. Girls have much better wardrobes for a start, you are allowed to cry and be emotional, and the equipment is much better, if you see what I mean. I’m sure men like their bits and pieces, and they do have their uses, but I wouldn’t want to walk around with a set myself.

Football - Sorry, couldn’t leave this out. I’m a big fan of football, and have supported Liverpool for as long as I can remember. I know it’s only a game, and shouldn’t be taken too seriously, but it makes me happy. Well, sometimes.

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