scintillating scotoma

I have migraines. Occasionally they are preceded by a visual aura. A typical scintillating scotoma. Defined as "a localized area of diminished vision edged by shimmering lights or zig-zags; in many people it indicates the onset of migraine".

It's a scary thing to experience for the first time - and yet somehow incredibly beautiful too. This shot reminded me of that first scintillating scotoma - scary and simultaneously exhilarating. It made me realise how fragile our perception of the world could be. Ultimately I'm glad I experienced it. The headache and vomiting that followed, I could live without.

WHO meets Gates

Bill Gates, self-professed optimist, addressed the World Health Assembly in Geneva this week, highlighting the plight of the world's poorest countries.

He spoke of the "tragic, incredible inequity between the health of the people in the developing world and the health of those in the rest of the world". And to prove he's not an all-mouth-no-trousers kind of guy, he has more than doubled the resources for the Health Foundation he created in 2003, to a cool $450 million.
Read more here.

GO NOW VOTE (please)

I'm not exactly known for my over-patriotism, but I strongly believe everyone who CAN vote today, should. (Let's briefly also mention those who CAN'T vote here in the UK.) You owe it to yourselves and your country! Those people before you, who fought and died for this right. Go make them proud.

Wallace and Gromit's makers have also made a fab wee video for non-voters... (via complete lack of surprise.)

So for the UK General (or for that matter, the Palestinian Municipal) Election, if you haven't done already, go now and vote!

blog blog

My main blog, wheelbarrow, has been invaded and taken over by photos - that's ok - I'm better at taking pictures and I kind of like it like that. But sometimes I want to write about stuff too, hence the *new* blog section. The words were there at the beginning (or Big Ning, as my uncle says), and they'll be there at the end goddammit.

european countries visited

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