Pic Today 2/23/12

"ASHES TO ASHES"

It's not just western Christianity

where ashes have significance in ritual and religion.

Ashes play a part in worldwide cultures and ceremony.

Ash Wednesday was celebrated by Christians yesterday --

where ashes are rubbed on the foreheads of the faithful --

thus beginning the 46 days of Lent,

leading up to the celebration of Easter.

Most religions honor periods of repentance

and sacrifice to atone for sins.

A good time to atone.

Mankind seems to have been busy

in the "sin department."

(The ashes for Ash Wednesday

are traditionally from the burnt palm leaves

from the preceding Palm Sunday.)

Pic Today 2/22/12

LITTLE BIG GUY

Good things come in small packages.

(And survive.)

Meet the tiniest reptile, brookesia micra,

a chameleon that fits on your fingertip,

just found on Nosy Hara, an islet

off the north coast of Madagascar.

At one time, islands like Madagascar

also had giant animals. But it was the

littlest animals who survived over a million years.

The big animals went extinct, while little ones survived.

Big species were vulnerable because

they require big habitats and they were hunted by humans.

Small species require relatively few resources

and very little space.

(A lesson for survival.)

Here's the jungle where they survive and prosper.

(Photos: PLoS ONE Magazine)

Pic Today 2/21/12

HERE'S

WISHING YOU

A "FAT TUESDAY"

Behold the King!

After all, today is Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday)

the day before the start of Lent . . .

a time to celebrate, and indulge "to the max"

before the "lean days" of giving up.

What are you giving up for Lent ? ? ?

Pic Today 2/20/12

WHEW

"I'm glad the Mardi Gras weekend

is finished."

(Too much partyin' for this old dog!)

Pic Today 2/19/12

MARDI GRAS ST. LOUIS

BEADS, AND MORE BEADS

No descriptions necessary.

(Let's let the pictures do the talking.)