Guess Who Holds This Klan Member's Life in Their Hands?

Yet another reason why being a racist totally sucks. Let's say you get injured at that White Power rally. Let's also say you lose consciousness. Well, in such a situation, one cannot choose one's doctors.

Now, to be honest, I don't know the outcome of this situation. They could have done what I would have done and made a key incision at the "wrong" spot. Nobody would have known. Mistakes do happen in the emergency room.

Seeing how these are hospital staff who have have sworn the Hyppocratic Oath something tells me the did their best to save him — despite the fact he is a racist bastard who doesn't deserve the air he breathes. Hospital staff are like that. Perhaps he came away from this experience a changed man. Perhaps he realized that these hospital staff took the high road, stitched him up, and saved his intolerant ass.

The cynical part of me, though, believes he walked away just as intolerant as before — and maybe more smug.

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Bellies Are Beautiful

Before people harangue me about the pic above by calling me insensitive, just remember that the woman wants her belly to be shown. She posted this on a "body-positive" site so that you could see her belly. I'm not going to say it was wrong for her to do so. Perhaps it is therapeutic — a way of getting the proverbial monkey off her back.

Whatever your opinion of her belly, and whether or not you think it's beautiful is another story. I'll be honest, I don't think it's beautiful. I'm not one to ogle bellies, so if you were to show me a picture of an obese belly, you're not going to get me to say it is beautiful. Still, it seems to me that the poster wants you, the casual observer, to say it is beautiful. She wants it to be admired, not ridiculed.

We think that the parts of our bodies that face the most shame and judgement are exactly the parts we should show the world. More love for the belly! All shapes! All sizes! All colors and creeds! Show us yours! We'll show you ours!

Bellies are Beautiful Body-Positive Gallery!

Here's my personal dilemma: while I don't like anyone to hate their bodies, at the same time, I think physical improvement is not something to be ignored. Take me for instance. I know I need to go to the gym. I don't hate my body, I think I'm pretty darn attractive, but I know I can benefit from physical improvement. As a result, I'm not going to post a picture of my belly to the world as I see it as an area to improve upon — and even if I didn't, I don't care enough to be admired for it.

Then again, I personally am not dealing with self-hatred and perhaps posting their bellies is just the recipe these people need to deal with whatever emotional issues they have. Even if it doesn't quite do the job.

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Pictures of People with One Eye Closed

Zhu Yunwei,a product design student in Germany, created a collection of portraits of people with one eye closed. To do this, he took two pictures: one with open eyes, one with closed eyes. Then he created one composite image. The effect is a little bit calm but unnatural.

I'm going to let Zhu explain why he created this work in his own words.

In my works, I show two entirely incompatible states at the same time two states of consciousness. I believe these basic states are just like the simple contrasts - black and white. I chose the portrait format. The face is the most direct and basic element / inter-medium of
human expression. Expressions such as laughter have a universal meaning and are metaphorical all over the world. I have taken many pictures of different people in the studio at my college. These people are of different ages, different backgrounds and countries of origin.

zhu yunwei: portraits

I think I will share five more pictures from the collection.

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Beautiful Victorian Children's Books Found at the Internet Archive

I was just reminded again on some of the hidden treasures of the Internet Archive. For a few years now, I've been enjoying some blues that have become public domain. And aside from seeing what Apple looked like in 1996, that's pretty much it.

Of course, imagine my surprise when I discovered that the Internet Archive also has a fine collection of public domain children's books complete with colourful jaw-dropping picturebook glory. The picture above is from a book written by Thomas Crane in 1882. Here's is an excerpt:

Then to the Hotel on the quay they all went;
To remain till the morrow they all were content:
After so much fatigue Father thought it was best,
For the children were weary and needed the rest.

Abroad — A Childrens Story

This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are over 2,000 books in this collection.

This children's library will offer you hours of amusement. If not for younger kin with old-fashioned tastes, then for that whimsical side of yourself that still takes pleasure in childish things.

Japanese Women Eating Heads of Cats

I have, for your edification, Japanese women eating heads of cats. Yes, they are live cats. If you want a larger view, click on the pick. I love the glazed look in all of their eyes and the thickly applied mascara. The cats seem way to submissive. Perhaps they've been party to this for too long.

Don't laugh. This could be the next cultural fad imported from Japan.

Ghetto Prom Pictures

It is undeniable that the ghetto has inspired some amazing fashions.  What is not so known is that, thankfully, much of their fashions does not make it out of the ghetto.  Byron Crawford has catalogued some of the more dubious trends to have made it to the prom.

My mom emailed these to me earlier today. Apparently, jigs in the ghetto have been wearing some rather outlandish-looking outfits to the prom. Some of them I had to resize so that they'd fit in my center column. In those cases, you'll want to click to enlarge. Actually, you probably won't want to.

Ghetto prom pictures

Sometimes, the urge to make a statement becomes an assault on the eyes.  While I am thankful of the innovations hip hop culture has introduced to the North American mainstream, I'm relieved that some of these innovations have stayed in the ghetto.  That goes for anything, though.