video
They’re all three phenomenal in their own right, but Shatner and Tyson love to talk. And talk. And talk some more.
Ghostbusters was a motion picture juggernaut when I was younger and now it’s back, again, with the original crew, and villain, minus the late Harold Ramis (Egon). Over the years, a lot had been made of the proton packs the crew carries. A lot of people have tried making them, especially for comic cons. The problem is, no one seems to know how to handle the damn things. So, here’s a lesson.
The problem with science fiction is that it gives us an unreasonable hope that the future holds a cure for our persistent stupidity. There’s a good reason why aliens refuse to contact us.
I don’t particularly have any difficulty hearing. In fact, at my last physical, I was told that my hearing is surprisingly good for my age. That isn’t always a benefit. Sometimes I hear my children using language and talking about topics I would rather not hear from my 13- and 15-year-old. When I’m trying to get to sleep tonight and every little billow of the wind outside assaults my ears, I wish I was able to turn the noise down a notch or two. But when I’m watching any type of video, that’s a different matter altogether.
I’m not the only one who has difficulty hearing the dialogue in movies, YouTube videos, and pretty much any type of digital video. Granted, it’s not as much of an issue in the movie theatre, but I’ve not been to one of those in four years now. At home, hearing what’s on the television or streaming on my computer can be extremely difficult.
The solution, it would seem, is turning on Closed Caption. I use captions so often that I get a bit upset when I come across a video that doesn’t happen. Even when I’m home alone and turn the volume up as much as I wish, I still use closed captions because there’s too much that I miss without them.
Turns out, using closed captions is a thing a lot of people do now. Chances are, in fact, that you’re one of those people. I found this story from CBS Sunday Morning extremely interesting.
I haven’t seen the movie Oppenheimer because theatres are still a dangerous place for me to exist. Will it win the most Oscars tonight? I’ve no idea, but Brian Cox’s opinion is interesting.
And then Neil deGrasse Tyson and Brian Greene give their opinion on both the movie and the person.
Science doesn’t get a lot of attention in the movies and when it does it’s usually wrong. We’ll be anxious to see how the Academy responds.
The late singer Meatloaf was historically “praying for the end of time.”
The whole premise for US support of Israel is that the Jewish nation is critical to the prophecy of “end times” and must therefore be preserved.
Love is supposed to last until the end of time.
But, what if we already know where the end of time exists and it’s not on this planet, or anywhere near this planet, or having anything to do with humanity in its current form?
Physicist Brian Cox talks about black holes, the singularity, and what might lie beyond the end of time.
Don’t lie, you at least thought about it several times.
The pandemic isn’t over. Plenty of people are still quarantined for at least a week following exposure to COVID-19. If you’re locked in with a partner or playmate, then you have sufficient distractions. You can hold a conversation, or argue over what to stream next. If you’re by yourself, though, the options are less, and if you don’t keep yourself busy that line of insanity inches closer with each passing second. Hobbies are only good as long as one has supplies. We learned last year the dangers of eating everything in sight. How does one stay busy?
You know-how. We’re not going to pretend that masturbation isn’t a regular activity regardless of what else one might be doing, but online sales of vibrators and other personal pleasure instruments have skyrocketed the past two years as we’ve looked for new and exciting ways to keep some form of pleasure in our lives. This is part of who we are, a natural expression of pleasure that begins before we’re born. There’s no reason to be shy or ashamed in admitting that.
Instead, let’s celebrate the beauty. Let’s celebrate the freedom that comes from being in control of your own body. Let’s celebrate the wonder of deriving pleasure from yourself, for yourself, without needing the complications of another person. That’s not saying that relationships aren’t nice, but being in lockdown by yourself isn’t necessarily a complete negative.
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Being naked on the stairs is one of the sexiest scenes we’ve seen
There’s nothing particularly sexy about the average set of stairs in the average house. Sure, there are some wonderfully exotic staircases in special places around the world, but when it comes to the normal subdivision in the typical suburban neighborhood, the stairs are designed to be utilitarian, not statement pieces. Occasionally, especially this time of year, one might see a banister decorated a bit, giving the staircase its only bit of pizazz, but the rest of the year we hardly think of them beyond how tiring it is having to go up and down them all the time.
All that changes, however, when one places one of our favorite blondes on the staircase and then steals her clothes. Okay, we didn’t actually steal her clothes. She had already disposed of them before we got to this point. Still, one shouldn’t be the least bit surprised at the degree to which such a lovely body lends a whole new perspective to a set of stairs. Suddenly, they’re more than just a means of conveyance from one floor to the next. They’re an attractive and interesting frame for an incredibly sexy figure.
Staircases all over the world long for this kind of attention, this moment in the sun when they’re not being trampled upon by mindless feet that didn’t bother wiping off the mud first. In a world filled with mediocrity and boredom, an event like this is a distant dream for most staircases. Sure, we wish we could put an attractive naked person on every staircase in every home, but the chances of that are too slim and, quite honestly, there’s no way we could photograph them all.
Until there is more sexiness on more staircases, this photoset will have to make do in providing you the kind of multilevel entertainment you desire. Click on a thumbnail to see the image full screen and enjoy the view.
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Unwinding after a long day at work
Watch This First
Friday night after a long week at work. It’s pouring rain and the chill in the air leaves no question to the coming winter cold. A warm bowl of soup. A hot cup of tea. You’re relaxed and cuddled up next to the person you care about. You take a deep breath and relax. Life may be far from perfect, but at this moment it’s at least comfortable and that’s saying something.
You’re neither one in the mood to go out. There’s nothing overly exciting to watch on television. Another cup of tea, a little guitar, and you both realize it’s a little warm inside. Shirts come off, blankets come out. You move close together, enjoying the feel of each other’s bodies. You’re feeling good, and you’re both in the mood for a little bit of intimate pleasure. It starts with a soft touch, and then…
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Read what makes you happy.
First, the video
Critical facts and figures are included here
Reading is important. There’s no valid argument against it. Study after study, over 100 years worth of examination, reiterate the value not only of learning to read well but reading often. There’s no substitute for the endless advantages that come from reading. The case has been made for so long, it’s difficult to consider why everyone isn’t walking around with a book in their hands. In a way, you could. Smartphones are perfectly capable of storing and presenting ebooks that you could read anywhere it’s appropriate for you to be looking at your phone. Some ebook apps will even read it to you if you’re driving and don’t want to put it down.
Yet, somehow, too many people can’t read, and of those who can, too few bother. Adults under age 45 are barely reading at all and when they do, it’s something short. The result is not merely a level of incredible ignorance, but a severe danger to the world as a whole. People who can’t read misinterpret street signs, don’t read instructions, aren’t aware of medical information, and miss important life-saving information. The statistics are in the video so I won’t repeat them here.
So, we thought we’d offer a little encouragement. You see, it turns out that reading fiction is one of the best things you can do for your brain, and yes, erotic fiction counts. Go ahead, picture those steamy moments in your mind. Perhaps you might even recreate them with a consenting partner. As you do, you increase critical neurological skills and may even ward off some forms of dementia. The ways in which we benefit from reading are neverending.
And by all means, never miss an opportunity to read with a unicorn.
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A chaise lounge provides the perfect place to relax
The Video Version
You’ll want to view full screen with the sound on.
The end of a long day. You’re alone, no one else in the house. A little soft music, a relaxing drink, perhaps a light snack. The clothes you’ve been wearing all day weigh you down. You slip out of them, putting them in the growing pile of laundry. You have a couple of hours before anyone else is home. You stretch out on the chaise, relax, and release the stress that has plagued you all day. The important stuff will still be there later. For now, you need some time for mental healing and this is exactly what the doctor prescribed, or would have if doctors actually prescribed common-sense tactics.
As a society, we spend too little time giving our bodies a break. We don’t stop to think about how the many layers we wear contribute to the emotional weight we feel bearing down on us. We censor ourselves, our bodies, and deny ourselves the quiet, alone, naked time that we need to decompress. There are benefits not only for our mental health but physical health as well. Give your skin a chance to breathe, maybe apply some hydrating lotion while massaging your limbs.
Sure, you may want to be dressed before the kids get home, depending on your family dynamic. In-laws coming for dinner? Yeah, you don’t need the stares. But for now, this moment is yours. Take it. Drink it in. Shed all the nonsense that inevitably builds up across the day. Breathe. Close your eyes. Enjoy the music. You’ve not just earned this moment, you need it. Claim it.
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There Is A Penalty For Leaving
Watch full screen with sound on, please
Imagine showing up to a hotel, exhausted and weary from travel. You get the key to your room and open the door to find the maid there, tidying up, fluffing pillows, adding the final touches for your stay. She smiles. She seems friendly.
But after she leaves, you notice things are just a bit off. The towels are a deep red, the color of blood. An array of bandages sit on a shelf in the bathroom. The sheets are ice cold. The chocolates on the pillow are already unwrapped. And “Hotel California” plays on an endless loop through an unseen sound system.
Tired, you get ready for bed. All that matters is that you get a good night’s sleep. The maid appears to “tuck you in.” Just one of the “special” room services the hotel offers. She turns out the light, but you never hear her leave.
Your sleep is tortured by nightmares. You toss and turn. Then, you’re awakened by a piercing scream down the hall. That’s it, you’ve had enough. You get dressed, pack your bag, and get ready to leave.
The maid is standing in the hallway as you shut your room door behind you. “There’s a penalty for leaving early,” she says. Then she smiles in a way that ignites fear throughout your body. Your mind says run but your feet won’t move.
Don’t worry, it’s just a dream. Maybe.
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Punishment can also be fun
WATCH THE VIDEO PERSPECTIVE FIRST
About The Images
We like to think we know the proverb, “Spare the rod and spoil the child,” but that would be incorrect. What Proverbs 13:24 says is, “Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.” What the proverb seems to advocate is a severe form of capital punishment in child-rearing. While that might have been acceptable in 3,000 B.C.E. or so, it’s the type of thing that can get child protective services called on you today. Abuse is not good discipline.
However, some people, consenting adults who understand the risks and consequences of their actions, enjoy having the rod laid to their skin. For some, it is a form of erotic pleasure from which they derive great enjoyment. Sure, Freudian therapists have a field day with all the latent dysfunctionality of such an activity, but at the end of the day, for those who are knowledgeable in the practice and delivery of erotic punishment, there’s no lasting harm, only pleasure.
And when the punishment is delivered by the right person, it can become a work of art. The video and still images are different perspectives so be sure to observe both.
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A quietly beguiling start to the day
WATCH THIS FIRST
I’ve always liked the tone of natural light in the morning. After noon, on the waning side of the day, there’s more amber in the light and while that’s nice for things like romantic portraits of couples wandering through a field, it doesn’t shadow as well for black and white. Morning is better, cooler, more distinct.
There’s something to be said for the lure of lingerie as well. We do plenty of nudes, with no apologies or plans to stop, but occasionally, just to break things up a bit, lingerie is nice. There’s a softness that’s unique to the genre, a seductive “you can’t touch this” aesthetic that is simultaneously inviting and prohibitive. She’s gorgeous and sexy but she’s not taken by your charm.
The video presents a unique perspective on the images. Watch that first, then take a look at the stills below. Click on any of the thumbnails to view the set full screen.
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We sit on the couch and watch for hours but are we entertained or merely pacified?
Almost all of us have some form of media in front of our eyes during non-working hours. Many of us find ways to use or view online media in our work as well. Some call our entire society addicted to the images and the sound that now stream for us endlessly, 24/7. There is never a point at which something is not available.
But after a long day at work, when we shed our clothes and drop onto the couch, turning on the television or scrolling on our phones, are we truly entertained? Are we finding joy in what we see and hear, or is what we consume merely a pacifier, something to keep our brains mindlessly engaged in something of no real substance until we finally drift off to sleep?
Sure, we need a break from the stress of work, but does the thing we call entertainment do its job? Are we truly entertained? The internet goes out and the streaming stops. A glitch in the phone’s software and an app suddenly closes. You can’t find the content you were watching. More stress. More negative emotion. Are we benefiting?
The images take us through that series of attempting to relax, unsatisfied with the content, changing channels, excited for a moment, then frustrated at an interruption. Finally, we turn the whole mess off, and perhaps is the best thing we do all evening.
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There Is More Than What The Eye Beholds
The old adage that beauty is in the eye of the beholder is, to put it nicely, nonsense. First, some people wouldn’t recognize beauty if it came up and slapped them hard in the face, and most of those people deserve just such a slap. Second, beauty is not static. How it appears to us one time may not be the same as the next. I chose a fast-paced video this week because I want to emphasize just how quickly beauty moves through our lives. One moment it is there, the next it is gone.
Perhaps most important, though, is that beauty cannot be defined because it is never, ever, limited to a constant state. The natural ebb and flow of beauty mean that we can never nail down what it is or isn’t. Not only can we not trust our eyes, but we also can’t trust our emotions, our instincts, or our experiences. What we may see as beauty now may prove to be something quite different to our grandchildren. Likewise, what we find distasteful may, but future standards, be astonishing and lovely.
Ray Stevens once sang a song that was the heart of inclusivity. “Everything is beautiful, in its own way,” he sang in 1970. The song was inspiring and it made Ray Stevens a very popular and a financially prosperous individual. Ray’s right-leaning political views of the past few years have caused him to seem not-so-beautiful to a lot of people, though. Did he change, or did our view of what’s beautiful?
When I come across people I knew growing up, a lot of them say, “Wow, you’ve changed. What would your parents say?” I assume they think my parents wouldn’t approve of some of my actions and my liberal attitudes. I know my parents, though, and whether or not they approved of what I say or what I do, they would still love me. They would still find me beautiful.
Beauty, as the video says, is form. Beauty is substance. Beauty is the essence of nature and the fragrance of love wrapped in a single soul. The young woman in these pictures is beautiful. So are you.
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They don’t have to be big to make a difference
One of the things we’re learning is that digital photos aren’t permanent. Why? Because they’re too easy to delete, whether on purpose or accidentally. Digital photos disappear because they’re not always backed up. Change devices, they’re not there. A hard drive goes down, and they’re lost. And when digital photos go away, so does that history and legacy attached to them.
Sure, it may not seem like that big of a deal at the moment, but when you look back and are having trouble remembering who went with you to that concert, or the face of that person you met, or how small your kids were just yesterday, those photos matter. They’re worth keeping around and the best way to do that is to put them in frames.
They don’t have to be large prints. 3×5″, 5×7″, 8×10″ are all just as good as what you’re seeing on your phone, which is what most people use to view photos in the first place (much to my personal chagrin). Arrange them on your wall any way you like. There’s no “best” way and no one has a right to criticize however you decide to do it.
There’s also the fact that we’ve known for some time now that photos help people in various stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Photographs trigger memories that can’t be accessed any other way and helps the brain to improve some cognitive abilities. While photo books are the example used in this particular news story, having pictures on the wall, pictures of family, happy events, important events, helps keep the brain charged and working.
Photos are important. Don’t let them just sit on your phone. Put them in frames.
No matter which state you live in, the state fair is a big deal
State Fairs have been a big deal across the United States going all the way back to the 19th century. New York was the first state to have one in 1841 and the idea grew across the country. Their purpose is almost always to promote the state’s agriculture, livestock, and unique local business. Toss in a midway, concerts, and other attractions such as horse racing, rodeos, and tractor pulls and you’ve got a combination that attracts millions of people to each venue every year.
Until last year. I’m not aware of anyone having a state fair in 2020, breaking traditions that were in many cases over 100 years old. Their return this year was heralded as a celebration of states “returning to normal” and a sign of resiliency. Then, the Delta variant hit hard just as fairs were starting to open. That meant having to make a decision. Sure, the fair was going to go on, but should people wear masks, social distance, and take other precautions?
We hadn’t planned on going this year, at least, not as a family. I usually take a day to take pictures by myself, but even that didn’t seem like the wisest idea. I wasn’t making any plans to go until the Tipster came home from school with six tickets. She was excited. Thrilled. They represented achievement on her part. Now, we had to go. The issue: she’s too young to be vaccinated. The rest of us could get by reasonably safely by wearing masks, but were we putting her at risk just by showing up? Pediatric hospitalizations are higher with this surge than they were at any time last year. We were concerned.
In the end, we opted to grab a friend and go for a short visit. By limiting the time we were there, the places we visited, and the activities pursued, in addition to wearing masks and keeping our distance when possible, we hoped to minimize any exposure. We were there three hours, stayed toward the front of the fairgrounds, spent more time with animals in low-population buildings, and kept our masks on except when eating. There’s no such thing as a trip to the fair without fair food.
Three hours was enough for the kids. They saw what they wanted to see, did what they wanted to do, and were ready to go home. I never made it to the back part of the fairgrounds or any of the demonstration areas where I normally enjoy taking pictures. Those areas are best done without small children, though, and given that the fair closes this weekend, I don’t anticipate returning.
I’ll admit to being a little sad. I wanted a lot of fair pictures for my last year before retiring. Sure, I can still take pictures any time I go, but there won’t be a portfolio to put them in, no motivation beyond my personal satisfaction. After this year, it will feel different. I’ll just be another old man with a camera.
Still, what’s important is that the kids had fun. Sure, we were almost the only ones there wearing masks. This is Indiana. No one is surprised. But no one gave us any flack for it, either. We exercised caution and managed to fill the time with new experiences for the kids and unquestionably more food than anyone needed.
The video shows our brief exploits and a few sights that couldn’t be missed. It’s not comprehensive. There’s a lot more one can see. But in the words of a fictional farmer to a fictional pig, “That’ll do.” Enjoy.
Because August means Back-To-School
To infer that we haven’t been working on this project for a long time would be a lie. I first started discussing the concept in February and made it official in March. I would start shooting in mid-April, finish by mid-May, then have the project done by the first of June.
Yeah, right.
The idea sounded easy enough. We had a bunch of clothes that needed to go away and weren’t appropriate, for various reasons, for donation. I was going to cut the clothes down and make some form of swim/leisurewear from them. I would use fabric glue and rivets since I don’t sew. Old swimsuits would serve as patterns since I couldn’t find any at local stores. What could go wrong?
Everything. The glue didn’t stick to the fabrics. The rivets tore the fabric. The designs were too small, too large, or didn’t want to stay up. When the top of Liz’s suit popped on the first shoot, that should have told me that nothing was going to go smoothly. The software I planned to use wouldn’t work with the volume of pictures. Driving to Terre Haute to shoot Robin, the weather decided we needed rain. While shooting Keyona, a doe (properly credited in the video) decides to stroll across the river behind her, and then a couple of ladies passing nearby decided to stop and cheer her on. Shannon’s video disappeared. No trace of it ever existing. One model became ill while shooting. My car acted as though it would blow up (still isn’t behaving right). The entire month of April was cold.
Yet, despite all the delays and challenges, we made it. An awesome group of young women made themselves available, went hiking in the woods, and changed clothes behind a tree to give us the best shots possible. When something fell apart, we found ways to put it back together (or did without). When a deadline slipped, no one screamed at me and Kat constantly reminded me that this was my project, I couldn’t be fired for being late.
The video below is the result. I’ve learned a lot in the past few weeks. I’ve pulled at my hair more than a few times. The cats did their best to help even when assistance was not needed. Is everything perfect? Nope. There are a couple of glitches that probably have reasonable solutions but I wasn’t able to find them. I decided that I’m going to be okay with imperfection. This time.
This is a milestone. Don’t expect to see a lot of people dressed in anything between now and the end of the year, and definitely not anything I’ve designed. I won’t be assembling a large group nor creating anything spectacular. This is the last big event.
My thanks to Liz, Taylor, Rev. Skyy, Shannon, MissLeighanne, Emily, Robin, Keyona, and Syd K. Innovaria for their participation. Thanks to Kat for the inspiration and patience as there were times when fabric scraps threatened to take over the living room. Thanks to Big Gabe for keeping an eye on his step-siblings when schedules became difficult. And thanks to that doe for making everything feel perfect.
Here’s the video. Enjoy.
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Curfew FINALLY Being Enforced
Someone explain to me what religious events would be held at 1:00 AM.
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