Spring flowers in May
The river in the picture is the River Tame. This photo was taken last May, but I drove past there yesterday and the flowers are just starting to bloom again. They seem to grow all along the Tame, I’ve seen them at Walsall and Dudley.
Psychology | perceptions of self
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
The only perception that early man had of himself, was what he saw when he looked at other people. Looking at their reflection in a pool of water was probably quite intriguing. We can see our reflections using mirrors at any time.
Normal April showers?
I took this photo a year ago. I look at the sky a lot now in an attempt to predict the weather. The sky looked a paler blue last year, today it’s been a deep blue with white clouds and April showers. We had a very wet summer last year, are we back to normal now?
Psychology | Friendships
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
How many friends do you have? Do you you have lots of friends whose company you enjoy? Or do you have a few friends who are very loyal to you. We often don’t even think about what friendship is or how important it is.
Psychology | Emotional motivation
The human mind can seem to behave strangely at times. We always have a reason for doing things, but that reason isn’t always logical or even sensible. We are often motivated by our emotions. Frequently, out of fear or desire.
Ding dong, its Saturday
I get more local readers at weekends because my blog posts are featured on ‘the yamyam’. There appears to be more and more local bloggers now and they are writing good posts. Anyway, in case any local reader is wondering, today’s picture is of King’s Hill Park, just outside Darlaston.
Psychology | Communication
We tend to have a conflict in our lives between our primitive desires and our desire to improve ourselves. This affects how we communicate with each other. Our lives have become more complicated and so has communication. We are individuals, but we take decisions collectively and need the support of others.
More snow hits the UK
It’s nearly Easter and we have more snow! It was the first day of Spring on Wednesday and just as you thought it was safe, the snow came again. The weather here is as unpredictable as the politics, but doesn’t it make life interesting? Getting around today is a little difficult, the bus station was closed.
Psychology | Logic, proof and belief
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
People often disagree about things. We disagree about politics, religion and money most often. We will also disagree about status; we look up to and respect different people. We might disagree about art or music; we all have different tastes. We can even disagree about which foods we like.
Psychology | Out of Desperation
People will often behave out of character because they are desperate. Desperation can drive us to commit crime; even murder. Desperation is feeling we can no longer tolerate our situation. We not only want to change how we feel; we need to change how we are feeling. We need to stop the pain. It might be physical pain, but often it’s psychological pain.
Psychology | The meaning of life
Have you ever wondered what our purpose is in living? Life does appear to be our purpose, to live and survive. Our purpose isn’t just to survive as individuals, but as a species. When we feel we’re in danger we feel the need to fight or run away. Our desire to face danger and survive can mean that rather than fight as individuals, we will fight as a collective. This can lead to riots and even wars.
The psychology of luck
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Imagine going into a casino and playing a slot machine and winning every time. Then trying other games like roulette and winning again. If you started with just a pound (or a dollar) and doubled your money twenty times, you would be a millionaire. Imagine how you would feel.
The Saturday collection of this week’s highlights
Today’s picture is of the bridge across the canal that goes to Moorcroft Wood. Many canals run in a straight line, but this one meanders around a little. You can walk along the canal from the waterfront outside Walsall Art gallery, through Pleck to Darlaston and past George Rose park to Moxley and eventually end up here. It’s fascinating to see how the canals run through the Black Country.
Psychology | Valentines Day
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
It’s St Valentines Day on Thursday. Saint Valentine’s Day has been celebrated officially since the 6th century and unofficially it goes back to Roman times. The giving of traditional gifts like flowers probably goes back over 2,000 years. People also send love letters and cards to symbolise their love. In modern times chocolates and other gifts have also become popular.
Psychology | manipulation
We all have some weakness and that can make us susceptible to manipulation. There are psychopaths and people with psychopathic tendencies who will readily exploit any weakness they see. They have little or no empathy for people who they perceive as being weaker and more vulnerable than themselves.
Blue Monday
It is the third Monday in January and so called ‘Blue Monday’; the most depressing day of the year. The bills are coming in, we are using a small fortune in gas and electricity to keep warm and the weather is awful. Can it get worse? Probably not… Many of us are suffering from the usual winter bugs too.
Actions speak louder than words
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Do you ever hear some politician criticising the unemployed and calling them skivers? Then see them swilling champagne at the racecourse, wearing top hat and tails. Should we take into account people’s actions, as well as their words?
What a strange week?
It was a strange week for me. The stock market seemed to do well, which was good news. Then on Thursday I had a hospital appointment. My blood test result was good. I just remembered I had a problem with my alarm on my car when I came out. I must get new batteries for the key fob! Then it was the winter solstice yesterday and the Mayan apocalypse.
Psychology | Vanity
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Excessive?
I’ve had a suggestion for a psychology blog about vanity from Poundland Princess. She does seem to have a fetish for cosmetics! But is it vanity? Vanity is considered in the Christian religion to be one of the seven deadly sins and associated with excessive pride.
The Saturday review | SAD
My photograph today is a little different. I tried some night photography this week. It wasn’t a great success, but it’s always worth trying. The shutter was open for about 3 second for this shot so I had to hold my breath and keep the camera very still. That’s Moorcroft Wood on the left of the picture.
Psychology | Striking a balance
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Do you think too much?
Do you ever leave the house and then wonder if you’ve turned everything off and locked the doors? I know that I automatically turn things off and I lock the door, but occasionally get distracted. Did I forget to lock the door, because my neighbour called to me?
Name that river!
I used a photo from last year to start today’s blog. We haven’t had very much sunshine this year. Locals can try to guess where it is and the name of the river. We only have one river though so if that isn’t enough of a challenge, check out the flood light in the background between the trees. Where is that? (more…)
At least Guy Fawkes had a go
Guy Fawkes was one of the conspirators that tried to blow up the House of Lords and King James the 1st on November the 5th, 1605. The House of Lords is still there 400 years later. At least they tried. This week a house was up for sale in London for £100 millions. That’s more than last night’s Euromillions jackpot. It was a very large terraced house, leasehold of course. The land wouldn’t be sold, that is traditionally how the rich stay rich and bleed the poor dry. The Duke of Westminster must own a fair bit of land in London.
The end of British summer time
Yes, it’s the end of British summer time this weekend. We move our clocks back one hour and get up an hour later! Officially, the clocks are changed at 2am on Sunday morning. Unofficially, mine will be changed when I get around to it. It was cold getting up at eight o’clock this morning, it will be worse tomorrow.
