Image and..... Charity?

Two separate, distinct worlds revolving around one another... coming closer by the hour until they crash together in a horrid tangle of ideas, concepts, words, pictures, people, and ideology.

Sounds frightful. It really does. So frightful, in fact, that my breath caught in my throat as I re-read that sentence after writing it (I'm not exactly the type of guy who makes it through movies like The Grudge, The Ring, Saw, or I'm-Going-To-Kill-Everybody-in-Sight-the-gruesomest-way-possible-formulaic-American-horror-movie. Insert a title in place of that long dash filled word if you like).

But with that piece of ridiculousity (did I just coin a word?) out of the way.... image and charity, dear reader, are not destined to come together in cataclysmic world-altering explosions. In fact, image and charity are a nice fit together. A hand-holding, strolling down the beach-side boardwalk on a sunny summer Sunday sort of fit.

The long and short of it? Get involved in charity. Whether you donate, volunteer, or support in some other way. Not only does charitable work make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, it softens the perception of others towards you. And in turn, they may begin to feel all warm and fuzzy towards you (single men: re-read that last sentence and recognize that some of the 'people' who begin to feel warm and fuzzy about you are attractive, single women).

Generosity is a wonderful thing. For your soul and for your image. Did I mention that already? Yes? Well, consider this a reinforcement.

There's a reason (besides the obvious tax incentives) why A-list celebrities, politicians, and public figures are heavily involved in charitable work. It humanizes them. If Britney was involved in handing out foodstuffs to starving African orphan-babies, we the public might feel a little different about her.

Or maybe not... she's a little too far gone for the benefits of charity, even. Poor example on my part.

... if Lindsay Lohan worked weekends at a soup kitchen ...

Perhaps it's best if I stop commenting on Hollywood's megastars. The last thing that I want is to have to stop writing on this blog due to a gargantuan, frivolous lawsuit.

So, back to image and charity. Pamela Anderson has PETA (for better or worse). Joan Rivers has the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and God's Love: We Deliver. George Clooney has the United Way. Angelie Jolie has Peace One Day. Ellen DeGeneres has the Red Cross. The list could go on for as many celebrities as you can think of. The point? It's very difficult to find a celebrity not involved in charitable work in one way or another. Whether or not a person truly believes in the charity that they give patronage to is something only that person will know for certain. However, the benefits are still the same.

After I post this, I know that someone is bound to say 'well, then what charity do you support Mr. Porthos Man?'

I've been a patron of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Cancer Society, and St. Joseph's Care Foundation. Most recently, I've become involved with the Canadian Diabetes Association through Team Diabetes.

On that note, if you've now decided that you're ready to experience the warm fuzzies, I have good news for you. The best friend that I mentioned in an earlier post has decided to run a full marathon in Honolulu this December with Team Diabetes to raise funds for the Canadian Diabetes Association (I'm told her long-time boyfriend, Jeff, is also running with her. Which elevates the cuteness factor of the whole event up a few notches. Seriously. It made me smiley when she told me he was running with her).

So, want some warm fuzzies in your thumper? Support her too.

Money for Anne:
https://ocp.diabetes.ca/pledge/cspledge.asp?prId=td&oId=10771747&tId=10706

Money for Jeff:
https://ocp.diabetes.ca/pledge/cspledge.asp?prId=td&oId=10771803&tId=10706

Oh, and take a read through her blog. It's witty, enticing, and very entertaining.
http://anniedeesadventures.blogspot.com/

Four Wheels, Some Doors, and a Trunk

Today, dear reader, we're going to play Jeopardy.

It has four wheels, some doors, and a trunk....
... Comes in a variety of colours...
... Plays a big role in communicating your means, image, and personality...
If you said 'What is the automobile?' then you win the $2000 Daily Double.

(Your cheque's in the mail)

Yes, your ride is a part of your image. Maybe that's shallow and materialistic.. but it's also a reality. Get used to it. Image has been important to humans since the dawn of recorded time; ever since the first caveman painted his under-eye area with green dye instead of red, and had all the little hottie neanderthal groupie-women flock to his side. Since that day, humans have worked to improve the perception of themselves in the eyes of others.

One question that burns in my mind is this- is it really as shallow and materialistic as those elements that run counter to mass culture would have us believe? Humans are in essence biological beings (yes, even Stephen Harper; cutesy blue sweater-vest or not). There are countless examples in nature of animals using bright, shiny things to increase social standing and attract mates (think peacock's tailfeathers, the bright pinky hue of the flamingo, and the vibrant colours of the toucan).

Perhaps the Porsche 9-11 is our equivalent of tailfeathers (pronounced 'pour-shuh', I'm told) Or the Maseratti Spyder. Or the Maybach Phantom. Or the Lamborghini Diablo. Or the BMW 3-Series (a little closer to affordability for me, anyway).

So what does your car say about you?

Sophistication? (Mid-priced European import, dark colour)
Fun? (Bright yellow or orange convertible sports car)
Adventuruous? (4x4 with a removable hardtop, complete with mud spatter)
Mid-life crisis? (Entry-level Porsche Boxster, cherry-red)
Soccer mom? (Massive, fuel wasting SUV with a single passenger)
Hardworking, salt-of-the earth contractor? (Heavy-duty pickup with a tool box, complete with rust patches)
Broke? (2002 Chevrolet Cavalier with scratches on the bumper and a massive dent in the hood)

Yes, dear reader, these are stereotypes. Yes, dear reader I judge people whom I see based on their image before I know them. So does 99% percent of the human population on planet earth. Again, if you don't like it, you will have to get used to it. Or perhaps accept it. Or at the very least acknowledge it.

What I don't do is continually apply these stereotypes to people after I get to know them (unless they're deserved). Hopefully most people are of the same mindset; there is a big difference between judging and being judgmental.

I'll leave you with this one thought: sometimes stereotypes exist for a reason. But, be open-minded anyway.

(Maybe the guy driving the penis-on-wheels midlife crisis cherry red Porsche Boxster is just free-spirited. Or perhaps colour blind)

The Case of the Missing... Je Ne Sais Quois.

As I walked into a grocery store in the north end of the city today, I noticed something of immediate eye-catching interest. A woman with an aqua-blue coloured handbag, of the sort that you would get at a Bentley's or perhaps an Ardene. Pleather, presumably. That's fine, however.. I don't get hung up on the price of particular goods, cheap or expensive (just know that you get what you pay for, dearest consuming public).

What was particularly interesting was that the handbag matched the shirt the woman was wearing perfectly. Cool, ya?

Well, the shirt she was wearing was a solid coloured tee shirt with a simple neckline. Nothing at all ornate or decorative about it. So, we had this fancy (looking) handbag and a very plain tee shirt. It was a bit out of place.

Colour matching is a great thing.

Colour coordination is essential when you're communicating with clothing (and no, I don't mean talking to clothing). But, also consider things like textures and weaves. Patterns. And audience. If your outfit is inappropriate for your audience, the message will get lost.

(ie- wearing track pants and a sweatshirt to the boardroom is inappropriate. You might be trying to say 'I'm a super-slick professional go-getter', but that outfit will send another message entirely... 'I'm a complete slob who doesn't really have any respect for any of you').

So, the moral of the story? Yes, make sure your socks match. Yes, make sure your necktie isn't coming out of your fly. Yes, make sure your black bra doesn't show under your white gossamer blouse.

But also consider the purpose of your outfit. Don't think that it has one? Maybe not for you (other than accessorizing your birthday suit)- but what you're wearing ALWAYS says something to the people around you. Every single time.