White Creatures

Of all the anomalies of Mother Nature Albinos are one of the most beautiful ones.

Maybe it is because in the depth of all those colors, inside the green verdure, and beneath the bluest waves the white color immediately stands out. The owners of the white feathers, white fur, and white scales are deprived of their disguise, and their vulnerability adds tints of innocence to those otherwise deadly and wild creatures.

Here are some of the best examples:

Snowflake the Gorilla. A hero of a sad story. All gorillas in Snowflake's group were killed by hunters who wanted to capture him. He later lived in Barcelona Zoo, and in 2013 was euthanized because Snowflake suffered from skin cancer. Photo: Bret Arnett/Flickr.

 

Snowdrop the Penguin. This snow-white cutie resided at Bristol Zoo in England. Sadly, its life was short, and Snowdrop died in 2004. Photo: Adrian Pinstone.

A peacock. Maybe not as colorful as its friends, but still amazing in its beauty and royal pride. Photo: pavelrybin/Flickr.

Claude the Alligator. Resides in the California Academy of Sciences. Seems calm and laid back. Yep, only seems. Photo: trustella/Flickr.

Have you heard of Migaloo the albino whale who lives in the Australian waters? This extraordinary beauty even has its own website! Learn more about Migaloo here. Photo: Rob Dalton/Getty Images.

An albino squirrel. Just look at those red eyes! There are white squirrels in Nature, but those with red eyes are albinos. Photo: Keith Lovett.

Not one, but two albino kangaroos at the Featherdale Wildlife Park in Sydney, Australia. How cute they are! Photo: maywong_photos.

This albino deer is incredible. Just look at that elegant neck and white horns. Photo: Allie Caulfield.

 

Not only animals can be albinos, but insects as well. An albino moth. Looks like it's wearing a lush wedding gown. Photo Martin Kingsley.

 

Now tell me, have you ever seen such blue eyes? No, it's not a white cat. It is albino. Photo: Xabier M.

  

Albino tiger. Sadly, tigers are hunted down for their beautiful fur, and albino tigers are hunted more brutally for their unique and exceptional looks. Photo: Soham Pablo

 

And here is Morrigan from Witch Hollow! Alright, it's not really her, but my Morrigan is an ivory-colored crow, smart and quick-witted, and this is how I always pictured her.

p.s. If you know other albino animals, share their stories.

A little bit of water

Sitting alone, working on my book, and listening to "Silly Wizard," whose song will surely feature in the 3rd book of the Whitch Hollow series.

The song gave so many thoughts that writing became irrevelant for some time, and dreams about cold water led me on a search of beautiful photos of seas and oceans.

The Great Blue Hole, near Belize City, Belize. Photo by Yann Arthus-Bertrant.

Table coral near Kanton Island. Photo by Paul Nicklen, National Geographic.

Caniço, Madeira (Portugal). Photo by Lilian van der Sanden.

Sea kelps near Catalina Island. Photo by Timothy G. Laman.

An icebreaker in Lake Superior's Thunder Bay, in Ontario, Canada. Photo by Medford Taylor.

 

 

A whale in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, Massachusets. Photo by Flip Nicklin/Minden Pictures.

 

 The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo by Emory Kristoff.

Spanish dancer nudibranch. Photograph by David Doubilet, National Geographic.

The Ocean Voyager exhibit tunnel. Credit: Norsk bokmål.

 Photo by I.D. Blind.

Stephen King and e-books

Just read an article here, and can't suppress my surprise with S. King's decision. The writer’s latest novel, “Joyland,” will not be available in digital formats.

A rather strange decision, considering that King was one of the first to make his books available online.

Basically, King thinks he can encourage readers to go back to the bookstores and get his newest novel, though, in my opinion, he will encourage his fans to skip that particular novel (at least I won't be getting a paperback; it's too costly for me).

Why Mr. King wants to send us to bookstores is beyond me. Many readers are happy for the opportunity to read a book without the necessity to visit a bookstore, and I never saw a problem with that: it saves on money and time, and the fun is the same.

In the era of high technologies isn’t it a bit weird to put this type of limitations?

On the other hand, the article says that “Joyland” will still be available digitally on Amazon.

Hmm, now I can't help but wonder what Mr. King really wants to achieve.

Glamourous Merida

Stumbled across this picture today.
What have they done to beautiful Merida?

While I did not like the cartoon, I really loved Merida's appearance, and now Disney has turned her into a glamourous princess which totally contradicts to the character.

Why can't we for once have a girl who does not need make-up and shiny dresses?

Why do we need an insipid, dazzling princess with heavy make-up? There are so many girlish heroines; I think Disney could let Merida be what she was - a represantion of a different character, beautiful in her own way. Nothing against Disney's princesses; they are strong, determined, courageous, daring and bold, but a little diversity would not harm...ohh, Disney, Disney.

Do you like Merida's new look?

More here:
'Brave' creator blasts Disney for 'blatant sexism' in princess makeover 
Photo of Merida is taken from http://www.marinij.com.