Photographer

Check out Richard Renaldi photographs that are part of his Touching Strangers series, the concept is fantastic.  Connecting people together. :)

http://www.upworthy.com/a-photographer-persuades-strangers-to-do-something-really-odd-and-they-totally-love-it?c=ufb1




photo taken from http://www.democraticunderground.com/103619910. 
Richard Renaldi - photographer

Powerful poetry

I just wanted to share this video with you.

http://www.upworthy.com/watch-a-student-totally-nail-something-about-women-that-ive-been-trying-to-articulate-for-37-years-6?g=2&c=ufb1

Wow, this is powerful and sad because it is so true.  This is a powerful statement about what our society, our culture, teaches all of us what women are expected to be like.  We are expected to be beautiful and to be beautiful we have to be slender and have the perfect body.  Women (and some men) are constantly trying to figure out a miracle diet that allow us to "shrink" and "occupy less space." A diet that actually works, unlike the sneak-down-at-midnight-for-a-lowfat-yogurt diet.  I don't know about you, but I can relate to this poem a lot.  Women filter what we say, we choose things based on its lack of carbs, we debate about having another slice of pizza because we don't want to look like a pig and we don't want to gain weight.

She talks about how her mother passes down these qualities, obsessions, etc, but it isn't just our parents who pass this down to us.  It is the people around us. It is everyone, peers, teachers, bosses, friends, etc. who pass these to us.  What is acceptable?  What is the "ideal" person?  The photoshop models who can have imperfect bodies cloned away?  They stop being actual people when you digitally change them.  Why do women feel they have to grow in?  Why can't we just accept we all have different body types and try to aim to be as healthy as we can.  Why do people who see a woman with curves or "thick" assume she isn't trying to lose weight?  If she's happy with her body, why does she have to lose weight?  To please others?  It should be to please herself, yet we all seem to want to change our appearances for each other.  Why?  Why are people mean about another person's appearance?  So someone isn't as aesthetically appealing to you as someone else, but this is subjective.  Why do people have to state that to the person's face?  I read on facebook and other social media sites comments when a post is made about women body types.  So many of the comments are disrespectful and people look at our little profile pictures to get information about someone, so they can be disrespectful to specific people.  They can call someone fat who has called them out for being disrespectful because they classify the person in their profile picture as "thick."  Is that why we are on this earth: to treat other people like they are inferior? like they are garbage? like they don't have feelings?  No one is superior, and no one knows everyone else's story.  Don't judge a book by its cover.  Back to these concerns being passed down by her mother: parents have a lot of influence as to what their children believe to be right or wrong, healthy or unhealthy, acceptable or unacceptable.  Love your child and try to let them know that you want them to be healthy and to do what they enjoy doing before judging them.  Take care of them, teach them by practicing healthy habits (not just food, but in self esteem).  

Government Shutdown

I am disappointed with our government right now.  They allow their personal beliefs get in the way of what is best for the people.  People on WIC are no longer receiving what they need for their families or for themselves.  Ridiculous.  Just because you have the power to shut down the government, doesn't mean you should.  People are still having to work without getting paid.  And I'm sure we are all still getting taxes taken out of our pay checks.  I'm also sure Congress is still getting paid, even though some of the people they represent are being pushed into traffic.  They did this because they are in power.  We elect these people.  I say we do a clean sweep and push everyone in Congress out in the next election.  They will not reach a compromise because they are rich jerks who can't understand people who live from pay check to pay check (or WIC check to WIC check).  They won't understand because they will never elect for themselves to follow the same laws that govern the rest of us.  No one is above the law.  No one is superior to anyone else.  Overthrow the government and show them who is really in charge of this country.  We, the people, can fix this better than the government who refuses to compromise.  Parties divide our country when they throw temper tantrums and refuse to compromise.  Grow up, figure this out, so people who need government assistance can get it.  We should take care of our citizens.  Some assistance could be due to laziness, but some it is due to hard times and bad luck.  We will pay to kill people in wars, but when it comes to assisting people in our own country it is questioned.  What does that say about our country?  I'm definitely not proud of my country at this time.  Our representatives are failing us.  A taste of power and they do what would be right for themselves, not what is right for the people they represent.

Go home Congress, you're drunk.  On Power.

Please Participate!!!!

Hello,

If you notice in my blog, I speak a lot about equality.  Well, I have decided to do something a little different for my artwork, which emphasizes similarities that everyone has with each other.  I would greatly appreciate as much participation as possible from all around the globe.  The paragraph below speaks to the project that I would like to work on (it is also available on my website= http://trippkristen.wix.com/kristentripp--art#!connections-project/c1rkk), along with a portfolio of my work):

I am a graduate student in Sculpture at Wichita State University.  Part about what I love when I talk with other people is finding out information that has made them the person who I am talking to at that point in time.  We all have had struggles in our life or exciting opportunities that have completely changed our lives or how we see the world or how we see ourselves.  However, we also all see the memes/messages that float around in cyberspace reminding us that we often forget we don’t know everything that a person has been through that has created the person before us and that we should understand that before treating them disrespectfully.  The memes /messages wouldn’t exist if there wasn’t at least a little bit of truth in them.  This brings me to the point of this request.  I would like to get to know you better.  If you have had something in your life, struggles, opportunities, regrets, etc. or anything that you want to talk about, please contact me with your story.  It will be considered anonymous, unless specified otherwise by you.   I am hoping to take everyone’s story that is gifted to me and create sculptures aimed at emphasizing the personal connections we have with others.  This could be a fragment of your life, just one instant or situation or event that you have been through, or it can be an ongoing situation/event.  Photographs of these will be taken and placed on the site, with possible fragments of the letters.  If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Please send me your story.  E-mail or by letter.  Thank you! :)

My contact information:

Website’s contact me:

http://trippkristen.wix.com/kristentripp--art#!contact/czpl

E-mail:

connections.project.kct@gmail.com OR tripp.kristen@gmail.com

Address:

1434 North Saint Paul St, Apt. 201

Wichita, Kansas 67203

Rights?

I have a two year old nephew and two nieces, eight and nine years old.  I often find myself wondering who and what they will be when they grow up.  Guessing what type of job or field they might end up in is pretty fun, however, guessing how people will interfere in their lives and rights when they get older is not fun.  What if one of them grow up and discover they are homosexual?  Right now, when everyone assumes they are heterosexual, they have all the rights that go along with being a "normal" person, a heterosexual.  They can dream about getting married to the person of their dreams (as long as it is a man for my nieces and a woman for my nephew), but that all comes crashing down if they are actually homosexual.  Even though more laws are passing to help homosexuals out, more can and should be done.  I could care less about the sexual orientation they end up being.  I want them happy because I love them.  I want them to be who they are and be comfortable with who they are.  People say that "gay" marriage isn't a right but if a heterosexual couple were turned down to be married, there would be a fit.  "Gay" marriage is MARRIAGE.  Stop putting "gay" in front of it.  We are all humans.  Be proud of yourself and help others to be proud of themselves.  You are awesome.  Everyone is awesome in their own way.

Racism: Are you part of the problem?

Recently, there has been a lot of talk about racism.  I have heard blacks talking about whites being racists, I have heard whites talk about blacks being racist, I have heard blacks saying Hispanics are racist, Hispanics saying blacks are racists, etc, every possible scenario.  It is true what everyone says.  Why is that?  Why are people still cruel to others?  We are all the same, we are made up of the same stuff.  If a white person gets shot or stabbed, they bleed and face the possibility of death.  If a black person gets shot or stabbed, they bleed and also face the possibility of death.  If a Hispanic or Asian or Native American or any person gets shot or stabbed, they bleed and face the possibility of death.  How is this a difficult concept?  It isn't, we allow our differences to get in the way.  Everyone needs to realize there is only one race: the human race.  Until people see everyone else as equals, regardless of their skin color or traditions or differences of any sort, there will always be hate in this world.  It is pretty sad that this is something we can change, but we are too busy blaming each other for it when if you are placing blame, you are probably part of the problem.  Look at your role in the world and this problem.  Are you helping the situation or hurting it?  We are all equal.  We all deserve to be equal.  Believe it and treat each other, regardless of any type of difference, as brother and sister.  Be a part of the solution, a part of a progressive world and society.

What is Normal?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?client=mv-google&hl=en&gl=US&feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=CnOJgDW0gPI&nomobile=1

Everyone who sees this, please watch the video linked above.  I want as many people to see this video as possible, all around the world.  The message isn't just about sexuality. 

The video above replaces the "normal" heterosexual majority with a homosexual majority, as well as questions regarding gender roles and about bullying and severe consequences of it in general.  The video shows a girl who likes boys *gasp!!!!* in a world where everyone has either two moms or two dads.  One of those moms seems to despise heterosexuals, which you can see more clearly when a heterosexual couple moves in fairly close to them.  She even tells her children to walk the other way to school, even though it is twice as long.  Vandalism to the couple's property begin to happen, spray painting "God Hates Heteros" and "it is a sin for a man to lust after a woman.  It is abomination for a woman to lie with a man outside of breeding season.  Any such person harboring lust in their hearts for the opposite sex will burn in Hell."  I got even more angry when the video captured the truth even more successfully when it showed a group of girls shoving her head in the toilet and a teacher seeing it happen and allowed it to happen and even punished her for it: "It's just a phase, you will grow out of it.  Maybe if you find yourself a nice girlfriend they will stop teasing you."  Then later when she had to run for her life from a group of children who caught her and beat her up and told her to kill herself.  She kept receiving texts insulting her, not even being able to escape the bullying in her own home.  Not only that, but her moms fought, arguing about moving was the only way to basically escape the shame of having a kid beat up for being a hetero.  She gets home late, with "Hetero" written in black marker on her forehead and is bleeding from being kicked around.  All of the events in the video are true stories from victims of bullying.  She committed suicide because she couldn't understand why everyone hated her and why she wasn't "normal."

This is despicable.  Our world.  Our people.  The people who do this to others are despicable.  It is not acceptable.  We should not allow this, but we do.  Enough people allow this to happen.  They allow it in our schools, at our work places, and everywhere else.  This video is so powerful because it shows the TRUTH of our world.  Everyone should be outraged by this.  Bullying happens in our schools everyday, and when the child goes home, sometimes it, because of phones or the internet, it doesn't stop.  They can't escape it.  People are people.  It does not matter if they are homosexual, bisexual, transgender, or heterosexual.  It isn't a choice either.  They are who they are.  If you disagree with it, fine, but simply disagree with it and don't practice it yourself.  Most of us know how it feels to be bullied.  I was bullied when I was younger.  It made me feel like crap and I dreaded going to school the next day, even though I loved learning.  Teachers and the administration need to step up and do something immediately when they learn of bullying, and they need to make sure it makes a mark on the bully.  However, it isn't just up to teachers and the administration, it is up to the parents and the children of the bully and the bullied and the ones looking on allowing it to happen.  Parents need to teach their children that bullying is unacceptable and they should stand up for themselves and that it isn't ok.  They need to teach their children that they are SO FULL OF AWESOME that the children actually have confidence in themselves to be independent and to stand up for themselves and for others.

I read news articles all the time on the internet about someone else committing suicide because of bullying, regardless of why (because it doesn't matter - too fat, too thin, "wrong" sexuality," too tall, too short, too awkward, dumb clothes, dumb hair, insert what ever insult you have ever received here _____________, and more....), it is unacceptable.  There is always a reason for someone to make fun of someone else.  It is time to evolve as people.  Here is my plea: have confidence in yourself to stand up for yourself and for others and believe with all of your heart you are equal to everyone else on this earth and treat everyone as though they are your friends and equals.  I don't approve of everyone's lifestyles, but it is their choice.  I can offer my advice if I think it is dangerous, but if they don't have a choice, I can offer a couple of ears to listen or a couple of shoulders to cry on or a couple of arms to offer a hug.  These articles I read are about people, just like you, just like me: they are people who have been hurt, either physically, mentally, or emotionally because they are different from other people.  Heck, even people who are mentally challenged are made fun of, who ever gave them a choice to be how they are?  No one.  And, yet, people see it okay to make fun of them, or they see it okay to pity them.  Both are wrong.  See them as full of awesome and they have potential to be more than who they are, if given a chance, if believed in.  If you are someone who thinks it is okay for someone to vandalize someone's property or physically hurt someone because someone is different than you, then YOU are the problem.  Not the person who is different, because we are all different.  If you are someone who is teaching others that being different is wrong, including if you are leader of a church who is teaching this, then YOU are wrong.  If you are a leader of a church, then you know that the god you look up too, regardless of religion, always states that they, the god him/herself will be the judge of the people when it is time.  Do not take on the job of judgment, because it means YOU are a fool.

WE ARE ALL EQUAL.  Be an advocate for PEOPLE, not for men, women, children, homosexuals, heterosexuals, bisexuals, transgenders, blacks, whites, Asians, Latinos, Europeans, etc., but for PEOPLE.  No one should have to experience hatred of others.  If you hate others, then maybe you should question if it is really the others who you hate...or is it the fact you hate yourself?  If you hate yourself, then why?  One shouldn't hate themselves.  Everyone has an incredible story that makes them full of awesomeness because they are unique and can offer the world something no one else can.  Love yourself, love others.  Support equal rights for everyone.

Unfortunately, I am only one person saying this.  Multiples have a greater impact, so if you share the video, share your voice on the subject of equality, WE can make a difference.  Hopefully, we will see it during our lifetime, if not, hopefully, our children will. 

Congrats MN!

I just wanted to post a short congratulations to Minnesota for permitting same-sex marriage.  I was super happy to hear about this.  However, we have so far to go, just in the U.S., let alone around the world.  But I am happy that Minnesota is joining Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa!!! (my state!), Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Washington DC.  I wish it weren't just to permit same-sex marriages, but to just state EVERYONE is equal and that marriage is one of those rights.  I shouldn't complain though, at least it is a step in the right direction.  Decisions like this help to increase my faith in humanity, however, they also remind me that people still believe they are superior to others since we have to pass laws that actually state these.  I would like it if I could start a petition, EQUAL RIGHTS FOR EVERYONE IN AMERICA (prefer the WORLD, but I'll settle for one country at a time) and get as many people to sign it as possible and give it over to congress and say, "See?!" You guys represent us and this many people want this to happen, so make it happen!  Wouldn't that be awesome?  I'll keep dreaming, along with a lot of other people, that one day Martin Luther King's dreams will come true and we can all walk side by side as equals.

Same-sex partners. EQUALITY.

I was on facebook earlier and saw yet another story of a same-sex couple that couldn't visit the other in a hospital.  Some of these couples have been together for 20-40 years that I have read in these articles.  I can't comprehend this.  If we replace in these articles "partner" for "friend" it would read "friend of 37 years."  Who would keep someone who has been a person's friend for 37 years from a friend in a hospital (especially a friend who could be dying)?  Talk about cruel and unusual punishment.  People should be ashamed, our government should be ashamed.  Marriage is about love and friendship.  A man and woman get married because they love each other and are best friends, same with a man who wants to marry a man and a woman who wants to marry a woman.  Equality.  That's what we need.  We should already have it, but we don't.  Why?  Why are people scared of equality?  It is a matter of power.  People have to stomp on others to continue believing they are superior to make themselves seemingly worth more.

Here is a call out: write to your government and make your voice heard: WE WANT EQUALITY FOR ALL!!!!!!!!!  It could be as simple as that.  If everyone sent that simple message to their government, they would have to take action. 

Respect and Social Media

Lately, I have been getting fairly upset about some comments I have been seeing on Facebook.  A simple picture with a math questions concerning order or operations can lead to people calling each other retards or morons.  Just because someone gets a question wrong, doesn't mean people should call them names.  We complain about bullying/cyberbullying with children in school, but we as adults teach them this.  We say it is okay because we do it to each other.  Be respectful.  Plain and simple. Another page I have been seeing a lot of comments is The Tattoo Page.  Yes, people have been submitting photographs of themselves barely clothed showing off tattoos and sometimes the tattoos can barely be seen (or not seen at all), but it doesn't mean one has to be mean about the person or their body.  They can comment, about how it is a tattoo page and they can't see the tattoos, but it is no reason to call them names or be disrespectful toward the person.  How imperfect their body is (weight, how small breasts are, etc.) not important.  Everyone is imperfect and we should be proud of that.  If you want to hate, join the Westboro Baptist Church.  All of their signs have the word "hate" in them.

BE RESPECTFUL OF EVERYONE.  End of story.

Where Was Your D*ck? Seth MacFarlane Oscar Parody

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9DMOE-K5ro&feature=youtu.be

This video has a point but not the whole point.  Women show so much on screen - this isn't a sign that they are good actresses.  Their actual acting tells us if they performed well, not how much they can show us.  However, guys are picked for a part in a movie if they have nice bodies too.  We usually don't see much of their penis, but we see a lot of shirtless men.  Men who look nice play in roles and are expected to show off at least their upper bodies as often as possible.  Same issue, it isn't just with women.  I do get tired of watching a movie and all of a sudden I am seeing a scene where a woman's breasts have to be focus even though that has nothing to do with the plot.  I think directors and other people behind-the-scenes choosing people for roles for specific reasons should be held accountable....they shouldn't insert a sex scene somewhere because they feel like it'll boost ratings.  They should challenge themselves with how successful they can be if they run a clean show instead.  They are probably too scared to do that though. 

Animal Cruelty - ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING

This is absolutely disgusting and completely unnecessary.  Animals and people are comprised of the same materials: bone, muscles, nerves, etc.  THEY FEEL PAIN, JUST LIKE PEOPLE.  This is absolutely ridiculous and sad.  I am upset with humans. If anyone buys real fur or allows this to happen (either by ignoring or participating) you aren't worth dirt - in fact, dirt is worth a lot more.  Normally, I do not like insulting anyone, but even these workers....one, there are a lot more of them than their bosses, so even if their bosses threaten to fire them, if every single worker had an ounce of compassion to say "NO" and fight against this animal cruelty, the people in charge would have to change their methods.  DO NOT BUY REAL FUR.  SEND LETTERS TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT OR ANY GOVERNMENT THAT DOES THIS.  If you would not do this to a human being, then there is absolutely no reason to do this to an animal or any living organism.  Living organisms should NOT be treated this way.  Absolutely disgusting and the majority of the world hates you if you treat animals this way.  This should not be happening anywhere.  If they insist on using real fur instead of fake, then why can't they humanely euthanize them - still sad and unnecessary - but at least the animals don't have to be tortured first.  For the rich people who prefer real fur - you could be doing something to stop this, you have the money, you could be publicly advocating for humane conditions and deserve to die if you are not doing anything about it.  If you are rich and do not like genuine fur or it's not a necessity of your life, you can still be doing things about it because you have influence, however, I respect you more than the others.  For those who are doing things about it, thank you.  I wouldn't even mind it if our government bombed them and said this is the reason why.  I am so upset right now from viewing this video and seeing the animals thrown around in tiny cages not even big enough for them to move and seeing THE ANIMALS STILL BREATHING AND MOVING AFTER BEING SKINNED ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  UGH! 
Normally, I do not advocate for violence either, but I truly think that people who think this is okay and who are doing this should be skinned alive and the others need to watch as it happens.  Animals can't scream the same as humans can, maybe the ones watching will get the picture.  Then they can go through it and I hope they are still moving and breathing after their is off of them.  UGH!!!!!!  CHINESE GOVERNMENT FOR ALLOWING THIS - YOU DISGUST ME!!!! STOP DOING THIS TO ANIMALS!  YOU SICK PEOPLE!  UGH!!!!!!  Wow.  I can't even go on right now.  This is not the end of this rant though.  When I calm down a little, I will post more and will be sending them my opinions.  Ugh.  Disgusting.  Torture is sick.

I have to warn anyone who watches this video: It is a very upsetting video.  I cried and was immediately extremely angry.
Source:  https://secure.peta.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3957

Ranting

Rantings:

http://jezebel.com/5934975/paul-ryan-sponsored-a-bill-that-would-allow-rapists-to-stop-their-victims-from-aborting

Really Paul Ryan?  You need to go dig a hole, climb in it and never come back out.

Ugh.  Paul Ryan decided to sponsor a bill that would allow rapists to sue their victims if the victim decided to get an abortion.  Moron.  If anyone supports this, they deserve a swift kick in the head.  First they rape the person then they can sue them?! Really Paul Ryan?!  And we wonder why rapes are under reported.  UGH.  Of course, only if the rape is legitimate should this matter anyway, right?  UGH.  These ignorant republicans make me angry.  Ignorant people make me angry and disappointed in my country.

In Walmart the other day and we walked by the weights.  It irritates me every time I walk by something like this.  The one, two, and three pound weights, of course, have to be brightly colored.  One pound HAS to be either pink or purple, otherwise, women probably wouldn't be able to lift it.  One it would probably be too heavy and, two, it just isn't stylish enough to pick up.  I do not like the color pink, however, I fully believe colors are for EVERYONE.  Anyone can like any color that they want.  Girls aren't limited to pink and purple and guys are limited to blue and black.  The "heavy" weights are usually always black.  Make them all bright colors or make them all black, don't turn this into gender specific.  Ugh.

Another pet peeve: Children toys.  We walk down what we call the "pink aisle" when we go into stores.  This is my nephew, we told him to pick something he wanted out.  He picked up a doll.  OMG!!!! We can't have that!!!! A doll is for girls and pink or purple?! OMG he must be homosexual!  Ugh.  Ignorant people irritate me (yes, again).  The dolls only came in pink and purple, designating them for girls in this society.  Well, not any more.  My nieces and nephew are learning they don't have to live in ignorance like our society allows.  Make dolls of every color, place them in the toy aisles without a "pink aisle."  Boys can wear pink, girls can wear blue.  End of story.  Stop teaching them that they have to fit within specific gender roles.  What if they don't fit within those gender roles?  What then?  Then we have taught them that they are wrong, even though they can't help it.  We have alienated them to believe the person who they are is wrong.  I will NOT support this, and you shouldn't either.

*Kristen