Written by Karen D. Swim
I pledge to run a clean campaign and honor my campaign promises. If elected, you’re all invited to the White House for a celebration, and yes there will be cake! Can I count on your vote?
The Ugly Side of Beauty
Written by Karen D. Swim, Photo copyright 2008 Darnok, courtesy of Morguefile.com
Yesterday as I was scanning Google trends I noticed that one of the top searches was model suicide. This morning, I took the time to read the story. I had no intention of blogging about it. In fact I had a scheduled post, but the story and the comments really bothered me so I thought I would share it here.
Ruslana Korshunova, a 20 year old Russian model nickamed the Russian Rapunzel, plunged to her death this weekend from her home in a tower in New York. The police are investigating her death as a possible suicide, yet that has not been confirmed, as of this writing.
Korshunova was a cover girl for Russian Vogue and French Elle. In the article she was described as sweet, and as is common no one saw signs of depression.
Many of the morning comments were disturbing with jokes made about her blowing off the roof because of her weight to people wondering why this is news. One of my young nephews committed suicide in April and I can honestly tell you there is absolutely nothing funny about suicide.
While making light of death is disturbing enough, the comments also reveal deeper issues with how we feel about beauty. Our culture is obsessed with beauty yet on some level repulsed by the obsession. Men and women strive to emulate the models of beauty yet we objectify those very same models and ridicule their seeming perfection.
Even as we buy potions, creams, miracles in a jar and flock to the latest fitness craze, we rejoice when a supermodel falls from the runway or when a celebrity is filmed from an unflattering angle. We seem to want to tear down the very images that we as a culture have elevated as a model of “success.”
We hungered for news of Britney Spears’ decline. Her mental illness and odd behavior held us capitvated while lining the pockets of big media. We have plastic surgery to correct our flaws, and restrict our diets to perfect our bodies. We want flawless skin and perfect abs like the airbrushed photos of models and celebrities. Yet we poke fun of these same images when they gain 10 pounds or are caught looking less than fabulous.
Today, a young woman is dead. She was beautiful but more importantly she was human. I did not know her but today I mourn her loss and all others who felt that death was their only way out.
Do you think we’re obsessed with beauty? Have the images of beauty ever influenced your own behavior or attitudes?
Pretty and Functional
Written by Karen D. Swim
Yesterday, in the throes of moving the blog and setting things up, my dear James offered a profound comment that stayed with me all day “Ah, good girl!! Now that was smart. Forgoing pretty for functionality… ” Now less you think he was being snarky, allow me to explain.
The original plan was to hire the Pen Men to make me pretty and functional all at once. I would unveil my new address with the house freshly painted and curtains in the window. That was the plan. However, I could take the rental no longer. The walls closed in, my neghbors were noisy and there was no room to grow a garden, so I donned my ninja gear and did a stealth move in the middle of the night. No notice, no moving van, just packed up the bare essentials and moved.
James’ comment stayed with me because I realized that in business and life I want it all – I want pretty and functional. I am not content to look pretty and be worthless and I want my life to operate in the same way. I want my stuff to do the job but look good doing it. However, if I’m forced into a corner and have to choose one thing, well I choose function because I like pretty but I am also a practical sort.
My blog is not yet pretty but I am not ashamed to tell you that the ability to offer you comment luv has my toes tingling with excitement. Featuring your recent comments right over there, has me giggling with glee. So, in a way functional can be pretty even without the trimmings.
Soon I shall be even more functional and pretty to boot. So pardon my dust while we clean up the place but when my interior decorators have worked their magic, you will be awed.
What about you would you choose pretty or functional?
Moving Day!
Written by Karen D. Swim
Happy Wednesday! Well, this blog has moved. If you typically access this blog from the tab on my website, I have not yet updated the navigation. Please bookmark our new address. Although I have talked about this move for quite some time, the execution has not gone as planned. Thank goodness for MERRY tips! The move and brand new design were to happen simultaneously. However, I could not bear the frustrations any longer, so last night I picked up and moved (with help from my awesome web host!).
So, no Men with Pens pretty custom design (yet) but commenting will be easier and I will have comment luv (yippee). I was so excited last night I woke up at 3 am and watched the news! Yea, bad idea, but the 3 am ABC news is very interesting, kind of BBC mixed with Good Morning America mixed with carnival. Hmm, this could explain the later dreams about Bette Midler.
I’ll be back tomorrow to hit you with the happy stick in the blog’s new space. I’ll be sure to update you on how to keep subscribing too, one of the many things that must be figured out today.
Have an awesome day and if you’ve got wordpress tips, I’m sure to be asking lots of questions on Twitter or Plurk today!
Peace and love,
Karen
Planning, Failing and Java Beans
by Karen D. Swim
It is not even 12 noon and I am already on Plan C for my Monday. Plan A was a carefully thought out, high powered day filled with charging through my to do list and checking off tasks with glee. Plan A required a full night of sleep on Sunday and an early start. Plan A fell apart at 7 am this morning.
Plan B was to put the blog post off for a couple of hours, charge through the most important task on my to do list and then rest if necessary. Plan B was history by 8:30 am. Plan C was to get some rest (better to get a late start with renewed energy than to drag through the whole day), awaken refreshed and proceed with Plan A.
Did I mention it’s not even 12 noon? What does all of this have to do with you, your life and your business? Well, absolutely nothing. Think of this post like a Seinfeld episode, it’s a post about nothing, or rather the mundane things in life that sometimes make for good humor.
Actually this post may have a point. A few weeks ago, Darren Daz Cox commented that the whole point of having a blog is to be personal. So Daz this one is kind of for you. While many cringe at the thought of being personal, equating it with spewing projectile vomit in public, allow me to offer my insight.
Being personal does not mean that you are required to share the titillating details of your life. Your blog is not a confessional, unless of course that’s your thing. However, no matter what your blogging purpose may be, readers do want you “to keep it real.” Dry boring facts without personality may inform but they will not engage. If you don’t believe me, check out what CopyBlogger had to say on the subject last week.
Blogging is a contact sport, and requires a willingness to get up close with readers. Let your personality and style show up in your content, and be willing to engage readers in discussion.
If I had WordPress this would be classified as Way Off Topic. So bear with me today, I’m human and tired. Tomorrow is a new day and if everything aligns perfectly, my post will actually have a point.
How is your Monday going?