From the Guardian’s Photo Blog:
Lithuania’s Ana Koniuchovaite competes during the 5th European Artistic Gymnastic Championships in Moscow. The event takes place from 17 – 21 April. Photograph: Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP/Getty Images
Always keep moving.
And Deceit Can’t Save You So
From the Guardian’s Photo Blog:
An effigy of Margaret Thatcher in a ‘coffin’ is burnt together with a sofa and wood as people gather to celebrate the death of Margaret Thatcher in Goldthorpe, northen England. Photograph: Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images
We all watch them/We all watch them/We all watch them burn, etc.
I’m still not sure about the whole “celebration” of Thatcher’s death, to be honest. It seems too ghoulish, too gleeful, to me. Maybe I’m just not meant for these times.
At Night Time, I Go Out And
From the Guardian’s Photo Blog:
A Boston police officer stands near the scene of the twin bombing at the Boston Marathon late night in the city. Three people are confirmed dead and at least 141 injured.
I’m still not sure I have words for everything that happened yesterday.
No World Like The World That We Got Here
From the Guardian’s Photo Blog:
A Dormouse appears to be laughing as it sits on top of a yarrow flower. The amusing photograph, taken by Italian photographer Andrea Zampatti, in Italy, shows how the heat had a strange effect on this little critter. Photograph: Andrea Zampatti/HotSpot Media
I mean, seriously. Seriously.
And A Lava Too Hot To Put Out
From the Guardian’s Photo Blog:
Mount Etna is still spewing lava during an eruption on the southern Italian island of Sicily. Mount Etna is Europe’s tallest and most active volcano. Photograph: Antonio Parrinello/Reuters
Once upon a time, back in San Francisco, my family came to visit and we ended up in this terrible theme restaurant because it was close/no-one could agree where to eat/I have no idea. One of the things about this restaurant was that people could order a dessert called the Volcano, and when it came out of the kitchen – the door to which, we were sat right next to – the server would shout “VOLLLLLLL-CAAAAAAYYYYYYYY-NOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH!” at the top of their voice to announce it.
After you hear that yell for, what, twenty times or so in an hour, it sticks in your brain. So, when I think of volcanoes now, I tend to think of them as VOLLLLLLLL-CAAAAAAYYYYYYY-NOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHs.
And then I look at this picture, and remember how beautiful they can be, sometimes.
We All Watch Them We All Watch Them We All Watch Them
From the Guardian’s Photo Blog:
A woman looks out of her window as fireman inspect the debris after a fire in central Bermeo, northern Spain. The fire broke early this morning affecting six buildings, causing the collapse of two of them and damaging part of the City Council. Dozens of neighbors had to be evacuated due to the fire that started due to unknown causes that are being investigated. Three firemen and a police agent got slightly injured during the extinction works. EPA/MIGUEL TONA Photograph: Miguel Tona/EPA
The level of damage here just looks horrific. I have no idea why, what it is about this picture in particular, but looking at it I found myself wondering about the smell of this disaster, and the way it would make just breathing a particularly difficult experience.
Tramp The Dirt, etc.
From the Guardian’s Photo Blog:
A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads ‘Iron Lady? Rust in Peace’ in west Belfast, Northern Ireland, following Margaret Thatcher’s death. Parliament has been recalled today to honour Thatcher’s memory, a decision that is causing many divisions. Photograph: Peter Muhly/AFP/Getty Images
Do you see what they’ve done? They’ve turned “rest” into “rust” because she was the iron la- Oh, you got it already.
I find myself torn by the celebrations surrounding Thatcher’s death. On the one hand, I grew up in Thatcher’s Britain and understand the sense of… relief that such a horrible force in the world is gone, but on the other, isn’t there something kind of tasteless about organizing parties about the death of a nearly-90 year old woman who hasn’t had any real power for more than two decades…?
Cherry Blossom Clinic/Is There Any Truth in What They Say?
From the Guardian’s Photo Blog:
A Cherry tree in bloom at Scott circle in Washington, DC last night. Photograph: Mladen Antonov/AFP/Getty Images
There’re two cherry trees on either side of our house, here, and right now, our backyard is just filled with cherry blossom. It’s something that’s simultaneously beautiful and ridiculously messy after awhile. Nature, people.
The Protest That Was Welcomed By A Particular Head of State
From the Guardian’s Photo Blog:
Another scene from Hanover: Putin is confronted by an activist from the Ukrainian women’s rights group Femen as Merkel looks on during their visit to an industrial exhibition. Photograph: Sasha Mordovets/Getty Images
Putin’s face. Putin’s face.
Slowly, Slowly Through The
From the Guardian’s Photo Blog:
A golden sunlit aerial view shows paddy fields outside Jiangping village near Donglan, China. Photograph: Xinhua/Landov/Barcroft Media
This is just beautiful.