Food

I was replying to a friends guest post on a vegan food/travel site when I decided to write this. She wrote a smart, well balanced article, but it reminded me of a studying nutritionist who came into my work, saw some Oreo's, and said "that's not food". I wish people would learn how to speak properly and learn the difference between what is, what isn't, and what they feel or think about something.

Food, according to merriam-webster dictionary is:
a : material consisting essentially of protein, carbohydrate, and fat used in the body of an organism to sustain growth, repair, and vital processes and to furnish energy; also : such food together with supplementary substances (as minerals, vitamins, and condiments) b : inorganic substances absorbed by plants in gaseous form or in water solution
2
: nutriment in solid form
3
: something that nourishes, sustains, or supplies

I'm really tired of people seeing something like Oreo Cookies and saying "that's not food" It IS food! it may not be healthy food, it may not cover all your base needs or do anything other than keep you from starving to death but IT IS FOOD!

Yes we know a lot about how food affects us and what our bodies need and what what they may not need but our brains like. We in the United States and other food rich nations can be picky, But! Don't go off decided what counts as food! As long as it fills your belly and doesn't harm or kill its food, period. No debating this fact, food is not subjective like art. You can either eat it, or you can't. Yes you can eat somethings that are poisons, and some are slow acting and even found in our food but, that is a whole other tangent on manufacturing. We eat food to stay alive. If we don't we die. You can eat whatever you want whether its romaine lettuce or a 2 inch thick T-bone steak, or a package of Oreo's. But please don't get all pissy and start trying to make food subjective! There are still places were that's not an option... heck there are places where food is barely an option. A good amount of people starve to death each day, so if a package of Oreo's, a t-bone, or a salad will save their life its because it's "Food".

Respect... I just don't get it?

For some reason I keep getting into trouble over Respect. I've had this problem my whole life. Teachers, bosses, friends, family, pastors, and anyone else I interact with tend to think I don’t show respect, or at least what they think respect is. That may be my biggest problem. My definition of “respect” is not in line with what most people in my country see it as… or maybe it’s just that they confuse or don’t know the definition of it themselves. I’m sure Webster’s Dictionary has some base definition that leaves lots of room for interpretation, but I’m not going to bother posting it, as people can look that up themselves.

To me, respect is showing people that you think they are worth something and that they are important to you. One can show respect by being helpful or giving complements, by being a friendly ear or a friendly kick in the ass when one is needed. People are respectful to those who have earned their respect or to people they’ve just met who they give the benefit of the doubt to until the respect is earned or lost.

Respect is not about giving needless complements to make someone happy (i.e. brown nosing). It’s not about refraining from complementing someone because someone else may be offended. It’s not about changing who you are to make others like you. Respect is not something you do only because it’s the polite thing to do, nor because others think its proper behavior.

Respect is given to by You to those who You think deserve it or those who may deserve it. I’m really tired of people wanting and expecting respect just because They think They deserve it! That’s not how it works, never has, never will. I’m also tired of people thinking I’m being disrespectful for saying something that is true, simply because those people think someone else is in a position to take offence at my statement. Since when has stating a Fact or a Truth become a sign of disrespect!? Just because someone has an issue with the truth or doesn’t think the person stating the fact or truth is in the proper position to state it doesn’t mean that person is being disrespectful!

Please, do me a favor. The next time someone does something you don’t like and you begin to tell them “it’s a matter of respect” Stop and think. Is it really about respect? Or is it just something your ego doesn’t want to deal with?

"My Goal"

For awhile now I've been working on building up my photography portfolio of people. To do this I'm using sites such as Model Mayhem and the like to network and find people to photograph. Its not going so well...

Why you ask, because the models are only worried about their carrier and their goals. They don't care about mine even though models and photographers are a team out of necessity. It really upsets me that I can have a model booked and they'll cancel me just a couple days prior to the set shoot and say stuff like

"Hey. Unfortunately I won't be able to. I'm no longer doing tfp work due to high demand. I also need to focus on only what benefits my portfolio. I hope you understand."

Especially when they are the one who initially contacted me first. When I replied to this particular model and said

"No, but its your life and your call. So, Good luck."

I was further dismayed when she replied with

"Yeah, I'm sorry.. and I do feel bad. I'm on another level at this point: being sought out by agencies and working out auditions with IMG, Ford, and Elite and possibly getting flown out to NYC to do so. They don't want me working with photographers who won't work with my portfolio, and it sucks, but a cosplay shoot simply won't go unless you can make it editorial, which is doubtful. I can't waste any time right now either at this point. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I do need to stick to my ultimate goal."

First: What Kind of a modeling agency would want a model who makes a commitment then cancels with two days notice or less and uses such a lame excuse as "well... something better may come along"! You've already made the booking! I'm sure they didn't say "So stop all frivolous shoots NOW!" I'm sure they just meant "Hey, keep in mind in future bookings how the shoot will look in your portfolio"

Second: Your Goal!?!?! What about mine?! My goal is what spawned the posting you contacted me over in the first place! And now its okay to stomp on my dreams of being a big shot photographer because you have agencies just beginning to contact you! Hello, does the saying "don't put all of your eggs into one basket" mean anything. For all you know I'll make it first and the company will want to have you after seeing my Portfolio with you in it!

People, Companies, Models Please get your heads out of your butts and think!

Here’s the question that’s going through my mind

If tragic events are so soul altering that you still remember where you were and what you were doing when they occurred and you insist upon stating it every year upon the anniversary of the event… What’s the point?! What is the point of just saying I remember?! If you truly believe that the event was so altering of soul and time why do you insist upon only remembering?

I say, tell me what you’ve done! What have you done since that day to reduce the chances of it happening again? How have you changed your outlook? Your interactions? Your beliefs? What have you Done?! Remembering is only the start! It has been several years now if you’ve done nothing other than say “I remember” once a year, then just shut the hell up! Act, Do, Change or don’t waste my time by saying “oh I remember that day! It was horrible… oops I have to go. I’m late for my hair appointment?”

Help me out here will ya?

Since all of us can sometimes be called a "bitchy little artiest fanboy/girl" How do you tell a writer that you love their story and world but they have no concept of how to write it? and with Audio/Podiobook authors that they need to either use words they know how to pronounce, or look up how to pronounce them?

I ask this because I love reading and listening to Audio/Podiobooks, especially on long trips, and I believe that some of these authors deserve more credit for their creativity. Though frankly, I don't see them ever getting the amount of credit they should, unless they fix the above mentioned issues.

So how can I tell them those types of issues without offending the author? Is it even possible? I want to and like to help people improve what they do, but this requires tact and that's something I'm currently lacking in this situation.

Professionalism!

I tend to spend a lot of time running into Journal entries from friends that all come down to a lack of Professionalism. Now just because that word directly stems from the word Professional doesn’t mean that what I’ll be saying here is unrelated to amateurs and wanna be’s as well. It doesn’t matter if you are a hobbyist or a “bread winner” if you aren’t professional about it you’re going to end up disappointed, mad, or black listed.

What is professionalism? Well merriam-webster.com defines it as: “the conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a professional person.” To expand on that Professionalism is acting in an expected acceptable manner while trying to meet all stated or contracted arrangements and goals. Basically, do what you said you were going to do when you said you were going to do it. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Photographer, Model, Lawyer, Construction Worker, or even a Hired Cat Burglar. If you said you’d do it, then do it!

Flip Side

Professionalism also means covering your bases. If you constantly book work, prepare in good faith, and then get canceled on then you are likely one of two things. You’re either not what was advertised or you’re a SUCKER. Starting with the nicer one, if you’re not what was advertised then yes, you will be canceled on a lot and it will be your fault. Be happy that the other party canceled on you rather than them letting you make a fool of yourself first and then suing for their money back. Now the Blunt one: being a sucker, chump, or patsy. This means you constantly fall for the same thing repeatedly thinking “oh, this time it will be different” … Guess what? It won’t be. Remember a sign of insanity is trying the exact same thing over and over again while expecting different results. If you set up, let’s say, a photo shoot operate in good faith and constantly find yourself feeling jipped when the deal falls apart. Then you have to make changes in how you do things and never go back to the former, proven faulty method. Yes, you will “lose out” on some work but that’s in quotes for a reason! Think about it, if the other party can’t give you some sort of guarantee then something is probably wrong. I for one would rather “lose out” on iffy work that may or may not actually occur so I can spend that time looking for solid work that’s backed up with guarantees! If you insist on being a sucker and setting up iffy work don’t count the money until it’s in your hand. If you can’t make rent without it keep looking for something better. Heck worst case you’ll find guaranteed work and can cancel on the iffy ones stating that as your reason. If that iffy work was sincere and professional they should respect your reasoning and be willing to cooperate with you your way the next time.

For those of you who don’t like reading and skipped all of the above, do what you said you would when you said you’d do it, be capable of doing all that you agreed to, and if you bang your head against a wall… its going to hurt!

Oh, and one more piece of being a professional, if you screw up, Admit it, Apologize for it, Make reparations, and Do everything possible not to do it again!

Thinking about buying a NetBook

I need a portable computer for school so I can get away from my Desktop PC. I'm looking into NetBook computers as they're affordable, for me, right now averaging $400 dollars US for what's "rated" as good. Does anyone out there have one or know someone who does. I'm looking for suggestion on what to look for and what to stay away from.

My only requirements are my school requires MS Office 2007 software and this horrid program called MyScribe that is NOT 64bit Vista compatible.(for my Online Text Books)

Any info or help would be greatly appreciated as I currently know next to nothing about them.

Thanks G-C