http://jezebel.com/this-commercial-totally-nails-the-double-standard-for-m-1478197103

This is an interesting commercial that was shared by one of my friends on Facebook (and in real life;). I am just moderately skeptical when companies selling products veer so blatantly into the social realm, because their agendas are so unclear. Are they truly using their platform for good, or are they pandering to the desires and frustrations of their target markets in the hopes of building the brand and expanding its base? Dove yielded huge dividends in the goodwill department by employing so called “average” women in their commercials, which barely, if ever, discussed the benefits of their products.

Selling products by focusing on the merits of the product in absolute terms, and in contrast to the competition, is often a thing of the past. Nevertheless, I believe this approach to be a slippery slope that threatens to turn consumers into pawns. Pawns that fiercely defend the agendas of their kings and queens whom they never actually see, who reside so far away from the fight and benefit so richly.

I think that those who are too eager to jump on the social agenda bandwagons turn the wrong questions into war cries. To do so is to move from one powerless and abused state to another. The answer to this riddle and the intent is in the hearts and minds of those who produce these pieces. Which of us can truly know their goal, but the question is worth asking. In the meantime, I suppose that all we can do is hope for the best and engage in the dialogue that it inspires one way or another. Perhaps this is our reward. Either way, as you ruminate, please massage your social consciousness with Pantene.

NB: I think that Jezebel.com is too often the “girl” who cries wolf.

I just read an article about the Knicks who are currently 3-13. Of all people, it’s Metta World Peace waxing philosophical and extending a great life lesson through the lens of the sub .300 New York Knicks. In addressing continuing (and seemingly ludicrous) aspirations for a championship, he said:

“It’s like when you’re home and your son is doing bad in math class, and your goal for him does not change, right?” he said. “You still want him to be a really good kid, right? And good at math. ‘Go do it, son!’ That’s how we are here: ‘Do it, Knicks! Do it!’ ”

In the face of adversity, are your goals changing?

I began to write on the wide variety of themes that this article presents, during which a number of images and references came to mind. However, upon further thought, I believe this story to be as rich as an abstract work of art. I never name my paintings for example, and I never discuss what motivates them. I believe that art should not be corralled in this way because it is so open to interpretation and personal injection. This story ultimately made me feel that way, and I would like to share it without too much shepherding. Of course, I had to title the blog post and I did not want to waste at least some of the images that came to mind, so I have shared at least that much.

To me, this story is like a poem to the soul and senses; it speaks to our views of the world and our place in it. I believe it to be that deep and the implications and drivers, that unanswerable. As such, I will leave it to you to take from it whatever you will. I enjoyed reading the varying perspectives in the comment section of the article, and would encourage you to do the same. It would also be great to get your comments to whatever extent you feel like sharing. I believe that however we feel about it and its themes, this story clearly delineates; the past, present and future, while keeping them integrally tied. We decide the extent to which we believe all three are related and determine outcomes, based on our presence within the matrix of time (past, present and future) further divided by privilege or its absence.

(Just in case this link ever dies, google: “Switched at birth: Son born to rich parents sues hospital after life of poverty”).

“Kareem” means “generous” and “giving”. One of the best gifts I’ve ever received was a simple head nod upward from my brother, Kareem, an acknowledgement that I had been heard.

I told my brother that I loved him as he lay, wide awake and seemingly recovering, in a hospital bed. He was in good spirits. We spoke about the book of jokes and riddles I had chosen for him with permission from Ms Warren at the school library. It was quite a big book, so I would have been surprised if he was half way through (I wish I knew the name of that book). When we spoke, he mentioned that he’d read the whole thing. Twice. Overnight.

It was Wednesday, November 29, 1995 around 7:30am, right before school. The typewritten note that I’d included in the pages of the book celebrated his not having to go to school or do dishes. I waited for our mother and the nurse to walk away so that no one would hear, but him. I came back to his bed after a little deliberation and distance then I said it.

This is something for which I’m most grateful, not knowing (or being able to fathom) that it would be the last time I’d ever see him alive. It was not easy for the newly 17 year old me to express my feelings, but I made myself admit it to Kareem, my first sibling who’d recently turned ten. I thought I’d see him the next day, but I didn’t. I thought I’d see him the day after that, but that was the last day.

I’m really glad that I said it because to this day I still believe that it’s the best decision I’ve ever made in my life. After all these years, just knowing that still makes me cry.

I am thankful for many things, and foremost among them are people who share their ideas and thoughts with me. Yesterday, I asked friends on Facebook to share why they are grateful and an interesting pattern emerged from their responses. On the surface, though clearly not superficially, most people are happy for friends, family, and health. None of this seems exciting or unique, but this is probably so in large part because of how fundamental those elements are to everybody’s happiness. Most reasons for gratitude reside in these basic and predictable building blocks.

The surprise for me was below the surface and between the lines: fundamentally, most of the respondents seem to be grateful for who they are. This was interesting because it was not reflective purely of an outward view which gratitude often is. Additionally, it came from people who are thoughtful and self-aware, so it could not be dismissed as self-aggrandizing rambling.

Our self-worth appreciates when we can step outside of ourselves and analyze who we are for good and bad. Like many of those who shared, I often separate my gifts and blessings from myself. Often, to dwell on or share thoughts about one’s own advantages seems to be the height of arrogance, but such an ability could just as easily be the height of humility (if I do say so myself), because we realize that it’s not really about us. We realize that we are, in fact, only vehicles of conspiring circumstances and genes and belief in the younger “us” by others, that made us who we are, and that by extension is the current “us”. Of course, we have had a hand in the crafting, but the extent as a ratio of total output is debatable. Nevertheless, we are so much more than “us”, that we can opine on ourselves in as much, if not more, wonderment than anyone else could. We are also less than “us”. We are less surprised because we know the inputs, but more surprised because we know our shortcomings and the challenges which we have faced.

Knowing ourselves in this way, facilitates, even heightens, our gratitude because we realize that it did not have to be this way. We are grateful for the people in our lives because they did not have to, and will not always, be there. We are right to be grateful for ourselves.

For those of you, like me, with a penchant for analytics and beautiful things – BEHOLD: “Information is Beautiful”:

http://www.coolhunting.com/design/information-is-beautiful-award-winners-2013.php

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/4269161

This is good. My one pushback is that the idea of selection still comes through in this perspective: What pain do I WANT? The idea should be refined to reflect that we should take a benefit out of whatever pain comes our way. This would be a lot more consistent with real life in a very real and often unfeeling, if not cruel, world. We may even change our perspective on, thus changing the definition of, pain that is useless. Useless pain is pain with little to no practical lesson; it is neither instructive nor directive.

I get the point of the article that we need to experience pain at higher levels to correspond with our desired happiness, but that thought should be extended to reflect that boundless joys can come only from limitless, or at least limitless exposure to, tribulation – not preselection. What lessons can I learn from ANY and ALL pain that comes my way? That’s an even better, more realistic, and more beneficial approach.

This article captures, with empirical evidence, critical elements of two debates often ignored or misunderstood. Issues of race and socio-economics cover and color each other overwhelmingly.

The defense of capitalism often conflates what is relative with what is absolute. The relative change and progress from the low and high point of one’s economic life may be staggering; such as being born into homelessness only to become a VP in a Fortune 500 company. Despite such a remarkable, sometimes even superhuman change in social standing, their ultimate high watermark on the scale of absolute economic strength may still be relatively low.

Cross-applying this idea of relative change (appreciation in the ratio of social and economic standing), versus absolute economic power and the influence that extends and multiplies from it, is critical in addressing racial inequality. Significant barriers to a consistent and far reaching improvement of the historically underprivileged continue to exist, and will continue under the current system.

In my case, it is a system from which I have benefitted due to my middle class foundation, but also one which to some extent also limits my attendance in the highest strata. I straddle the fence (or at least a fence) between racial and economic worlds, often in a grey zone like many of my peers, which only makes this article all the more fascinating.

Farmers rotate their crops so as to avoid or reduce the extent to which certain nutrients are extracted from the soil. Sometime they even till some of the produce back into the soil to enrich it.

Often, through fire, nature orchestrates its own long term advancement and growth through short term destruction. In so doing, it clears paths for what is new, returning what is old to the earth.

Soil produces living things, but must be sustained by death. It is not only sustained by life, just as life is sustained by it; but soil is in fact the remnants of life. If nothing is dying nothing is growing. That’s life.

Last night I attended an open gallery in SoHo and would like to share some of the amazing work with you here. I met Isack as I took a leisurely walk in the Village after a Sunday brunch about a month ago. He had a number of his bigger pieces on a sidewalk display and I immediately appreciated his work. Of special interest was the black & white image with turquoise flowers, which is included below. Of course, the flowers and leaves can be made to be any color combination the art lover wants, but that was and is still my favorite.

By means of conversing with Isack, I spent some time with his photoshop wizard of an assistant, Sara. Besides educating me a little about her process, Sara was wearing very cool boots of which I should have also taken a picture. She showed me the original image of the flowers from which the other images had been derived. It was beautiful and naturally vibrant, which is precisely why I found it boring in comparison. I was surprised at being disappointed with nature. Maybe I’m just more of a black & white kinda guy… with a splash of turquoise.

I had been feeling neutral on that walk a month ago, but seeing the images infused me with a heightened, yet still calm, energy. I felt that again last night, and his studio is the kind of open loft space that I dream about. Literally. Last night after the show, I dreamt that I was in an open home full of art, with a stage for an orchestra, a huge kitchen and big windows overlooking Haiti. When you visit his website, you will understand the Haiti reference and influence. There was lush greenery and lots of bush, that backed up immediately and very abruptly to a dessert. Perhaps this was the contrast that the artist and his assistant seek to emphasize captured by my subconscious.

You can find more of his work at Isack-art.com
The images will be better on his website, because the reflections and lighting will not be evident as they were when I took the photos of his images included here.