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Why I love my little black burka (CORRECTED)

 While in Barcelona, I saw an exhibit that included work by Iranian photographer Shadi Ghadirian. I couldn't find images of the particular pieces online but the subject was more interesting that the execution anyway: Ghadirian discussed how the Iranian government will censor magazines from the US and Europe by physically blacking things out -- particularly, models' skin.

In women's magazines, for example, the government will black out any place where a woman's body is visible. Kind of ambitious, huh?

CORRECTION: The Marie Claire image found here is not in fact an example of censorship but rather a Photoshopped piece by Farhad Moshiri, originally published in Bidoun magazine (Winter 2005). Moshiri's work does, however, include some actual examples of censored magazines, which you can see here.

Baby already in danger

I spotted this car parked on Baltic Street near 5th Avenue. I have to ask: If you care so much about the kids, why have you obstructed half of your rear windshield?

The psychopaths in the room

That study about brain-damaged investors reminds me a recent Fast Company cover story, Is Your Boss a Psychopath? I suppose it's hardly news that emotionally stunted people make some of the best business decisions, but it's nice to see one's suspicions given the halo of science.

The Fast Company article points to Enron by way of example but I thought it interesting that it focuses on CFO Andrew Fastow and says nothing about CEO Jeffrey Skilling. Pretty much all I know about Enron's higher-ups I got from the documentary The Smartest Guys in the Room, so maybe I'm missing something here, but Skilling strikes me as a textbook psychopath. At any rate, the film portrays him in studied contrast to Enron's other CEO, Kenneth Lay. Whereas Lay sweats and shakes while lying, Skilling not only sells his bullshit with heart but jokes about it. He's one scary mofo.

Earn More In One Easy Lesion

More catching up on the news from my vacation brings me to an article from last Thursday's Wall Street Journal. It appears that having a bit of brain damage can make you a better investor.

The benefit appears to be the result of a lesion in the region of the brain that makes a person less sensitive to risk. I figured that would be the case (well, not the lesion part), since risk insensitivity and a willingness to capitalize on the risk aversion of others is a hallmark of the best poker players, who I doubt would appreciate the implication that they are brain damaged.

Regardless, the study should be taken with a heaping helping of salt. Deep in the story the author buried the fact that the "winning" players in the game were not nearly as successful in managing their finances in real life - three of the four brain damaged players had been through a bankruptcy.

Please Put Cellphones on Vibrate During Naptime

Disney has announced they are teaming up with Sprint to market cell phones for 8-12 year old children.  Models will be simple and have only 5 buttons, so the kids can't text message...

New cell phones are extra-small to fit children's hands, with "mommy" and "daddy" buttons for one-touch dialing. They come in colors called X-Ray and Bubblegum. Still others are set to feature animated characters on the display screen and have educational software built right in.

Future models will include a tracking device, so parents can low-jack their delinquents. Creepy you say?  Once we get used to 8 year olds carrying cell phones, what will come next?

Commercial Alert has a more critical vision than Disney and a campaign to get Congress to investigate and hold hearings on the impact of mobile phones on children's privacy, education, safety and health. (I'm not sure, but you may be able to send the letter to your congressman from your cell phone's web browser.)

Cell phones are enough of a distraction in high schools - ringing in class, kids sneaking calls in the back, text messaging under the desks.  When I was a teacher, I took one phone from a student that rang nearly every 5 minutes while I had it.  Another one I confiscated was a picture phone.  (Of course I looked at the pictures and I'll just say I wish I hadn't). 

But grade school and middle school?  Here's a scene. Jenni stands on the sidewalk outside of the elementary school behind Pluto sunglasses. "Mom, third grade has been over for like 5 whole minutes.  Where are you?"  Later, on the ride home, Mom has the DVD of the Lion King playing in the headrests of the Chrysler Town & Country DE (Disneyland Edition) while little Jenni talks to Megan on her Minnie Mouse Fun-Fone about recess and trading lunches tomorrow. Eeek.

Google Apps

Have you ever been frustrated because you couldn't figure out the exact intersection of a subway station? onNYturf has hacked Google Maps with an overlay of the New York City Subway system.

It can be a little slow to load, but it is a great idea. Take a look.

(via Daily Heights)

Calling All Gnomes

Despite the mass of accumulated evidence that drinking alcohol does, in fact, make people more attractive, Britain's Advertising Standards Authority has recently issued an edict that alcohol companies have to stop using hot models in their ads:

Drinks companies have been ordered to hire uglier men for their advertisements in Britain, to avoid suggesting there is a link between boozing and sexual success.

Men who star in alcohol ads that target women should be "balding" and "paunchy" rather than "attractive and desirable", according to guidance issued by the Advertising Standards Authority.

It is a stupid rule to begin with, but it gets much stupider when you read the rest of their logic when analyzing a specific ad in which an attractive guy is surrounded by women:

"In its current form we consider that the ad is in danger of implying that the drink may bring sexual/social success, because the man in question looks quite attractive and desirable to the girls. If the man was clearly unattractive, we think that this implication would be removed from the ad."

So ... because the man is attractive, they are worried that the alcohol will get too much credit, but if he were really ugly people would assume that he was a scintillating conversationalist?

Anyway, I have to get to England immediately. This could be my big break.

Hit the bricks, kid

I'm flying to Chapel Hill labor day weekend for a wedding. I didn't want to inconvenience anyone, so I figured I'd take the bus.... but after going to the online route planner (pictured at right), I think I am going to ask for a lift.

Real Beauty?

You might have noticed those new Dove ads, the ones featuring six ordinary women (i.e., not super skinny professional models) in white bras and panties. Salon examines the ads in "'Real Beauty'" -- Or Really Smart Marketing?, questioning the sincerity of Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty when the product the company is pushing happens to be cellulite firming cream.

I'd also add that despite the ad copy about "real beauty" coming " in many shapes, sizes and ages," the women in the ad look fairly homogenous. Their heights are within a few inches of each other, they have similar body types (curvy but not overweight) and all seem to be in their 20s or 30s. I realize most companies probably don't want an unattractive person associated with their product. But I wish Dove wouldn't couch their advertising in this touchy-feely sense of inclusion or female empowerment, not when they're just going to show us more images of attractive young women.

For more from Stay Free! on Dove's advertising, see George Jetson Gets A Present From Dove.

New from Stay Free! magazine

Home Movie Day is just around the corner -- August 13 -- so I thought I'd post the interview we did with the founders last year (from Stay Free! #23):

Reel People
Chances are those old Laurel & Hardy prints sitting in your basement aren't nearly as valuable as your mom's home movies. The founders of Home Movie Day talk about amateur films and what they can teach us.

What's Home Movie Day, you ask? Well, on August 13, theaters across the country will welcome locals to come and screen their films of family members beating the dog, witnessing cousin Ralphie's bar mitzvah disaster, etc. Here in New York, the magic happens at Anthology Film Archives. Check here to see who's organizing things in other cities, or contact the founders about hosting screenings in your town.