Arachnaphobes look away now...

Female Garden Spider, a big 'un, in the greenhouse. Macro rings mean getting close. Oh yeah. I really am that brave...

Started nominating in the Momentum competition - really is interesting to see how many entries for a competition based on shots of movement in sport have no movement and/or sport involved. Hmmmm.

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God botherer: Hello there, do you have a moment for God?

Me: No, sorry.

Ah, you're a non-believer then?

Oh no, I believe wholeheartedly. I believe that your god is an arrogant, vindictive, cruel, stupid god.

What?!?! He's a loving God!

Explain earthquakes and volcanoes then.

But they're natural phenomena...

And god doesn't stop them. And people die.

But he created the earth, he has no control over the earth after that. It is man's free will...

So he made a world knowing that it was utterly imperfect to the point that things could happen that would kill people? It's a bit of an initial design flaw really, even if he does have no control afterwards - which in itself seems odd for an omnipotent being if you don't mind me saying.

He didn't do it on purpose to kill people!

So he's fallible?

What? No! Of course not, God is infallible, it is man who is fallible.

But we were created in his image...

But as men, not as gods!

So now you admit there are more gods? This is enlightening.

He is the one, true God! You must forsake all others!

Not when he makes such monumental cock-ups. I'd rather have a god who could admit to his or her mistakes, or really was infallible.

But he is infallible!

Well you told me that your god didn't create the world with flaws like earthquakes and volcanoes deliberately. That must mean they were an oversight. A mistake. An error...

No! It's just the world!

Did your god create the world?

*stomp off*

(no. 72 in a series of 3,987,232 conversations I wish I'd had)

(If you want more/better bible reading Google "dr laura bible and homosexuality letter". It appears the story behind the letter may be an urban myth, but it's still a fun read. I want to smite my neighbours...)

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Remembered another thing that people say about the Mini what I have and drive and stuff. The same people who complain it's not a 'Mini' because it's now big (usually followed by a comment that it's about Astra-sized, it's that enormous) will often later in the conversation then ask "How do you even fit into a Mini???".

Logic and preconceptions do not good bedfellows make...