Liquid Light

Sometime I have to step back and take a look at something to really appreciate the absurdity of the situation. Take one of my favorite topics, politics, and look at it from a distance. We have a system now where the loudest, most opinionated, most polarizing, and often most idiotic get the stage. Instead of intelligent debate, actual discussion, fleshing out of ideas for the betterment of the county, and for the species as a whole, we have sound bites. Ten second answers that don’t begin to address the complexity of an issue, that seem to serve the sole purpose of giving people something to latch onto, something to scream to the masses, repeat to their friends and those they disagree with. Short and catchy answers that can be shot back and forth in an argument, answers that regrettably don’t even begin to scratch the surface.

I don’t profess to be an expert on every issue, or even any issue really. Over the next few months I’ll be diving head first into them head first to get a better grip and to solidify or change my stance. As I do, I’ll be posting here. LGBT rights, abortion, birth control, death penalty, gun control, campaign finance, healthcare, and much more will make an appearance.

A few days ago I was asked a very interesting question, what was my opinion of women that did some modeling, be it professional or otherwise and posted those photos onto sites like facebook. We were in the middle of a photo shoot at the time and the young lady asking had run into a rather absurd situation a few weeks prior.

She had been on the beach with a friend of hers and they started doing a little impromptu photo shoot; a professional photographer happed by and did a few photos of her as well as the ones her friend was taking. When she got back home she posted one of the photos to facebook and made it her profile picture. Having seen the photo it was actually a quite striking photo, very well done. The mother of one of her friends saw it however and told her son that she didn’t want him hanging out with her any more because of it. This slipped out in a conversation and understandably upset/annoyed her.

Since then, I’ve been giving it a lot of thought, trying to figure out what my opinion on the matter really is. I’ll admit, I may have a skewed view as I enjoy doing photo shoots like that and because I only do them for fun, I can be selective with who they’re done with. Nowadays for me to be interested in doing a photo shoot the person not only has to be of a striking appearance, but have the personality to back it up as well.

I generally see two types of photos being done, those that are more artistic, while showing beauty they also show class, and the typical self shot in a mirror or holding the camera at arms length.

The latter, they’re cheesier, more apt to be a “I HAS BOOBIES, LOOK AT BOOBIES!” photos. The main use of them is pretty much for a quick ego boost, post them online, send them to a friend/lover and get the response. That’s not a bad thing, as long as your entire identity is not tied up in the physical appearance, not dependent upon what others think of how you look.

When you’re getting more professional photos done, I think the attitude towards them is a bit different. You’re taking time, picking out outfits, doing makeup, actually paying attention to the background, etc. These have a more lasting appeal, they’re the ones you can look back on 30-40-50 years from now when the looks have faded, when you’re matured into a woman and bring back the fond memories of youth. You’re recording a time in your life when the outer beauty was young, fresh and your inner self was still forming. Perhaps I idealize it to a degree, but we all have our hopes of what’s actually taking place.

So what about posting those photos online for others to see? Why not? What’s wrong with showing off how you look? I’ve found that not matter how beautiful, intelligent, funny, and personable someone is, they have times of doubt, times where they worry about, or even hate how they look or how people perceive them. What’s wrong with showing a photo that presents you in a wonderful light, shows you as gorgeous, sexy, confident? Hell, I encourage it, everyone needs reinforcement sometimes, it does not make you a slut, whore, bitch, whatever, just because you’re doing it. To be frank that attitude is destructive, should be avoided.

Knowing the young lady that was asking the question, I could hear another one in the back of her mind; how does it relate to her ideas of feminism, is doing so hurting or helping her?

I don’t know all her opinions and beliefs on the matter, that would actually be an interesting conversation to have sometime, so I’ll stage my answer as to my beliefs on the matter.

To me, feminism is about liberation, getting away from antiquated notions of what’s proper, about what a woman can or should do. It’s about a woman’s freedom to express herself, be it in how she dresses, speaks, writes, or acts. Casting aside gender bias, double standards between men and women. Supporting each other while striving for true equality. I’d say posting photos supports feminism, and more power to those that choose to.

To sum it up, my opinion on the matter is:

Have fun, keep doing it, post them when you want, save them when you don’t. Years from now you’ll look back on them, proof that Grandma wasn’t always old. In the present, looking at them can boost the ego and bring back memories of a day well spent. Just don’t let your entire identity become how you look now, focus on who you are.

My first memory of space flight was in kindergarten, we all got to sit on the floor; the teacher wheeled in a tv and turned it on. A few minuets later there was an explosion on the screen and the teacher jumped up to turn it off. Challenger had exploded. I didn’t understand it then being only five years old, but it’s still a crystal clear memory to this day, one of the events in your life where you remember exactly where you were and what you were doing when it happened.

Since then I’ve been to Space Camp, studied astronomy, spent many nights staring through a telescope, laying out under the stars, etc. My sense of wonder with space has never diminished, exploring, finding the unknown, photos of stars and galaxies, it all fills me with a child like sense of wonder and amazement.

Watching the launch of NASA’s Ares rocket today brought it all back again. Watching a huge rocket lift into the air, propelled past mach one and ready to enter space on a journey few people have ever been on brought a smile to my face.

Space exploration isn’t about money; it’s not even how feasible it is. Exploring space is about discovery, being able to say we know more about what’s out there, reaching out and expanding our civilization further and further into the unknown. Thinking of the distances that man made objects have traveled and the speeds at which they’re doing so are mind-boggling. What’s even more so though is putting that into relation with the rest of the universe, we only know the smallest amount about our little section, and there is so much more out there.

Who knows what could be discovered, what could be out there? Things we’ve never imagined are a certainty; lets see just what they are?

Others have written much more eloquently on the subject and are out there to read, if you have any interest it’s well worth the time to search them out.

NASA Ares Flight

And a new domain and all.  Time to get started.