Pussy Riot found guilty

The pompous judge is still reading out a long diatribe against freedom of speech as I write this, so I don't know the sentence yet. I feel disgust and outrage at the guilty verdict and hope that the sentence will take into account the time already spent in custody so that these three women can walk free today. I feel that's a slim chance. Meanwhile I'm trying to think of any Russian goods I can boycott, but it's hard. I guess I definitely won't be driving a Lada any time soon.

This is the band that should close the olympics!

Thanks to microdot at the brain police. I agree with him that the three band members should be freed now. Then fly them in to play the closing ceremony. Who needs the Spice Girls?

In the UK you can use a text message to add your name to a 'Free Pussy Riot' petition. Details on the Amnesty International site. For other countries check your local Amnesty.

UPDATE
There are also a number of petitions to free the band members on change.org. This one seems to be the biggest with 97,930 signatures when I signed it.

Whipsnade zoo

and a chance to try out my new camera

Although I'm not yet fully familiar with it, I like some of the results, more of which can be found here. A lot the shots I took using the 'dumb photographer- intelligent camera' auto setting, but I also experimented with taking control of the shutter speed and aperture, and I look forward to becoming more familiar with the possibilities and using them in a more adventurous and creative way.