Living Imperfectly

Brilliant observations about British society.  When you think of the Caste system you think of India...but maybe you should think of England first.

I've been concerned that America is heading the way of the British Empire, but this makes me realize that's not really possible given that "elites" are not as narrowly defined in America.  You can make it in America much easier than you can elsewhere.  I truly believe it.   Obama, Oprah, Billy Mays...I'm not sure any of these people could have made it in England.  In fact I'm almost certain.  While we have much to improve in our country, after listening and watching this - it makes me appreciate why we are a truly wonderful people (discounting for the wingnuts).   We appreciate risk, we reward it, we root for the underdog, we're never satisfied.  It's something that Japan, England and perhaps (although I'm not quite sure) China don't have (at least yet). What would appear to be our weakness to others is in fact our strength. 

More here and here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Rimbaud

http://home.snu.edu/~dwilliam/s97/india/caste.htm

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I was just watching the Daily Show on Hulu and an ad for Trojan condoms came on. Ok, whatever.  Some crazy condom called ECSTASY.  It's supposed to make you feel like you are having sex with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie at the same time. Like I said, whatever.  Curious I clicked the link and found out that Trojan has a whole website of condom videos.  It occured to me that the marketing of condoms is an incredibly fascinating business.  Sex, pleasure, comfort, reliability are all factors in a buyers decision, right?  Some of the marketing actually focuses on women and some of it is directed toward men...(I'm sure the market for women is bigger these days...no pun intended).  

This, however, was the most bizzare ad.  It's very creative, a little spooky...I just can't figure out who it's directed toward...except maybe bloggers like me!  Maybe it was some sort of pre Burning Man promotion....

UPDATE: upon closer inspection it appears the video was created by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronni_Raygun_Thomas  Intersting. I'll have to check out more of his work.

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Bravo my friends at IAC. Brilliant cross promotion when you renew your subscription for a couple months.  Something to take the edge off the frustration with actually having to deal with real people and ensure that you will never be satisfied with the imperfect women you are going to meet in person. A win-win for them.  

Your transaction has been successfully processed.

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Mom is know for her crazy voicemails and letters.  They are all transmitted in the most loving of ways.  Some of them hit a chord, many of them miss the mark.  This one though hit home.  She sends me letters and often times they contain clippings with scrawls and notations along the side. This clipping was notable and it seems like a brilliant observation - sadly I think I am guilty of this, and it's something to really ponder. I think online dating only exacerbates the problem. 

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In the process of washing my eyes out with soap.  Did someone really know they were sharing this with the world?  I really didn't want to know this. Really.

Gretchen [Name Witheld to Protect the Guilty]

Gretchen took the Which sex position fits you best? quiz and the result is Doggy-Style

If you're a guy, you like being in control and sometimes you're focusing it all just on pleasure. So there would be nothing better for you than a girl who bends over and shows you everything, letting you take control of her body. Great for deep penetration, and it allows you to hit her G-spot while having hands available for her breasts and clitoris. You like seeing yourself in action don't you? If you're a girl, you obviously love pleasing your partner by letting him have the enjoyment of your body. You want him to have all of the control, and you getting a maximum penetration while doing nothing. Cheers

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More sounds from my journey.

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I've only been here for one evening, but I am fascinated.  Still getting oriented. 

Rather than pack in too much when I travel, I've found it better not to have an full itinerary.  All too often I find friends ask me upon my return - did you do this, or did you do that?  Often times I must tell them no.  They look somewhat dejected when I have not "checked" their boxes.  That said, I am checking my own - finding experiences that are far outside the guidebooks.  It seems to me you can draw interesting parallels to the way some people live their lives.  Some people are counting all the checked boxes, others are experiencing life more fully.  I'll leave comments on this reflection to another day.

I am now more used to spending 50 percent or more of my time wandering.  Sure I put together a list of things I would like to do or see; I miss out on some, but generally I get to many of them - albeit in a peripatetic way. If not, I'll be back.

While I love taking photographs, I realized that there is a lot to a story that photographs can't always tell.  The rhythms of a way of life, of people, of my adventure.  So for this trip, I've added another piece of gear - but with the best of intentions.  I wanted to capture the sounds as well as the pictures of my travels.   I could not be happier with my decision. 

Listen to the sounds as I wander in Istanbul.  Close your eyes, and imagine the evening.  Almost better than photographs in a way.

Also, thanks Olympus for making the linear PCM recorder LS-10. 

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Traveling at 36000 feet - drinking scotch, wine and Kerouack (not
necessarily in that order). If this should get posted - you can assume
I've landed safely in Munich. If this doesn't get posted you can
safely assume I am awash at sea.
 
I love this Kerouac quote since it is tracking exactly my thoughts
this past year.

"I shambled after....people who interest me, because the only people
for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk,
mad to be saved, desirious of everything at the same time, the ones
who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like
fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the
stars...."

I consider myself offcenter and most of my good friends would agree
that I am anything but traditional. To be normal is often to agree
to be average (or worse - below). I'm not of the belief that to be
different is to be exceptional - but rather that too many submit
themselves, become complacent and just stop thinking for themselves,
about who they are, and what they want to make of their lives.

Here's to all the mad men and women. In a crazy world, sometimes those
that would be called mad are perhaps the most sane.

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Off to Istanbul tomorrow. This seems appropriate. Don't look back! A few interesting side notes. The guy on the left in the video is actually Allen Ginsberg. Long story about how he ended up in the video. Apparently Ginsberg and Dylan had a very close relationship over the years. Learning more about it. For fun, I'm packing a copy of On the Road with me for my trip. If you want to see the Bob Dylan Don't Look Back documentary. Click here!

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