Mel Hopkins

Miles Aldridge, hair stylist Yusef and Viola Davis on set for TIME 100. Courtesy Miles Aldridge https://www.instagram.com/p/BTJi-U5gHbt/?taken-by=yusefhairnyc A picture is worth a 1000 words... and the story we tell as a result reveals so much about ourselves.. Famed Fashion Photographer Miles Aldridge and Stylist Yusef , (a black man) collaborated on this cover... according to Yusef, he did her make-up and hair and seems to be quite pleased. Ms. Davis' s dress is green, think: chroma key to make it easy for Photoshop. It appears, however, that Ms Davis isn't re-touched. Here's time's article "The Story behind The Time 100 Most influential People's Covers" about why the photographer staged the look... "Color, courage and clarity are the key notes for the covers of the TIME 100 Most Influential People issue. Photographer Miles Aldridge, who created the portraits, knew immediately that they had to pop and clash with as much vitality as a Mozart concerto. “I wanted the pictures to be bright; bright being almost an adjective for sound rather than for image,” says Aldridge. “In a way, I’m talking about Matisse; the way his colors were always juxtaposed so beautifully. There was a sort of visual stimulation, that almost felt like music.” Aldridge, a seasoned fashion photographer, decided early on that color would be his unifying tempo, marking a clear departure from previous year’s more muted tones. But the people and personalities were still the beating heart of the photos. The pioneers, titans, artists, leaders and icons – of whom Riz Ahmed, Melinda Gates, John Legend, Jeff Bezos and Viola Davis made the covers – are giants in their field. It was important then, that they held their own against the boldness of Aldridge’s palette. Though his shoots are heavily constructed, photographing strong personalities such as Viola Davis, mean the subjects' energy becomes part of the stimulus. The result for Davis was an incredibly warm and joyous burst of laughter – sparked from a conversation about her Oscar win – which Aldridge then asked her to repeat over and over again. “[The smile's] essence is from the real world,” he explains. “But its actual construction is completely artificial.” Aldridge’s contact sheets are the antithesis of Cartier-Bresson’s ‘decisive moment.’ “It’s not like a lucky moment. It’s very controlled,” he adds. “But therein one can be expressive with the rules.... More at TIME”

@Troy, I like/bookmark on Quora, "like" on Twitter ; "like" here (aalbc)... and the rest of my likes are on wordpress blogs and disqus - all these sites allow me to return to my likes (well I haven't figured it out on quora yet - but I can return to my bookmarks on there. I don't get current events -news from these sites (well, I do get breaking news from twitter) but I do get information to add to my research...

@Delano, Twin!!! I think logically and yes conceptually too! ..When I speak, sometimes I behave like the characters Mr. Spock/Star Trek or Dr Temperance Brennan on "Bones" - I learned how to speak "emotion" from watching others and listening to how they emotionalize their conversation. The only time I stray is when I'm speaking metaphysically but then again metaphysics is the mother of logic, so maybe not :shrugs:

Would you believe "liking" something is also for reference. Some social networking sites with news allow you to bookmark for reference. In its absence, if I like and want to refer back I will put a "like" on it". According to the people who study us (Pew Research in this case), black people do it more than any other culture/ethnicity. I guess we like to follow up on what we read. Isn't that something?

@Troy Absolutely this makes sense. I never understood those "relationships books" that tell people what to do... but books that offer insight are awesome. This is why I enjoy @Cynique writing. She's never preachy - but instead touches you in that place that says "look at this"..."Oracle" (Matrix), comes to mind. How insightful of you to touch on one of the scenes that struck me so deeply... It was a beautiful scene to me because she was forced to confront her truth. She was jealous. Her truth would have remained submerged (her shadow-self ) if her husband didn't "treat his body like an amusement park." (Seinfeld reference) - When we don't reveal our truth - our partner may have expectations of us that aren't valid. Such as how her jealously would prevent her from adopting the "baby girl". I believe intimate relationships when done honestly are actually selfish because they teach us so much about ourselves. It's how we truly learn to love ourselves and subsequently evolve to a higher consciousness. By the way, I would put a "like" on your comment but I reached my maximum of 25 likes for the day Oh by the way, after I wrote that about "Mr. Alright" I searched for him online. I found him on facebook ... I made the right choice.

@Pioneer1, time exist in your mind where all concepts exist. However, using your words in reference to the Akaschic records, if one can't show you how to get there then it ( "past, future") doesn't exist.

@Cynique this is another strong ESP area for me.. I've actually witnessed something before but when actually experiencing it, I changed the outcome. I took a different path during the experience than when I only witnessed it. The outcome was decidedly better than when I witnessed it the first time. When I define De Ja Vu - it means for me to witness something then experience it. For me I only recognize it's a deja vu when it's an actual experience. I'll say - uh-oh... I know how this turns out and then I react or respond differently... I experienced Deja Vu in this discussion forum. today. I saw a response to me - and at first I was going to answer it one way -but I remembered the outcome would result in something unpleasant...and today, I didn't want antagonize, I wanted to be understood.

So you were just being contrary then...because this is what I said about perceiving racism" - Sometimes I think there are several people occupying Pioneer1!

An egg will on drop on the floor here on earth - due to gravity. Therefore, free will is limited to the natural laws of the environment. If you know and understand the natural laws and make your decisions accordingly then nothing is predetermined. Preach!!!

@Delano "something" told me I would better understand the answers in the "psychic ability" topic I posted, if I began here... I'm now on the first page and it has been incredibly enlightening. As I mentioned I sensed "Pi" movie energy from you - and your response in this topic confirms to me why I felt it. You've already put the information in the aether so I think that's how I was able to access it. (not sure but I think that's how mental telepathy works... To that end, I feel that you may be experiencing a block with Pioneer because you two speak different languages... Your symbols conflict with his symbols - he's emotion based and you're logic based - and it's producing conflict. There's something you have to learn from each other... as both of you have someone like the other in their immediate circle that you both like to communicate with but can't seem to find the words to make the connection... I think if you both seek to translate what the other is saying in your own language - you will reach a breakthrough... maybe not with each other but in your respective offline lives This came up in the chart that @Delano prepared - although it wasn't ongoing behavior it did happen "There was two things I mentioned which would not be apparent. Helping behind the scenes and empathy. You give assistance and you don't want the fanfare, sometimes you help or donate anonymously."

My experiences indicate this would be irrational behavior. Straight 'hood, woods, white burbs, law enforcement profiling" mentality. Sort of like when I said, I see black men as warriors" when I've actually learned that quite a few black men are sniveling cowards... I'll pass. I'll continue to play folks on how they present- and if they present differently each time we meet I'll play the side facing up.

I can feel it. That's probably why it came to mind.

@Troy This is probably why I'm no longer married. I couldn't live with someone who is less than honest with me. No stranger in my bed thank you very much. Even my children are honest with me, and I them, to the best of our ability. Sometimes, they will stop me and say TMI... or I'll say to them, I'm glad you told me after the fact, or would probably have lost my mind. But family needs to be closer than friends in my book. Friendship is where intimacy begins. @Cynique beautiful! Your life stories always leave me verklempt. Yours, is what I was looking for in a marriage - now I wonder if I should have said yes, to "mr alright" too. In fact, I see what Troy means - if it were the 50s I most likely would have. My mother still thinks I'm crazy for not saying yes to him too. (he was kinda gorgeous and even successful for his age.) Ah hindsight - she really is 20-20

Yes, here we are in agreement. Those Fools are easy to spot. Most of the GOP use racism tools to achieve their goals. 45*s their leader and his racist bag tricks included but not limited to the birther movement (black president is illegitimate) , central park 5 (black thugs attack white pure woman), housing discrimination (blacks bring down the value of the neighborhood) - and it continued to grow until he founded his movement of hate. As you see, he outperformed the GOP religious right leaders in the primaries because he threw in blacks are despicable and ruining this country. He assured his voters,he would remove all that's not white from the land and make America great again... I wouldn't be surprised if his own presidential campaign resurfaced all those past dastardly deeds to his followers so they would believe he was truly one of them... We often forget not everything that hits the airwaves is for our consumption. We have a meme -dog whistle politics so we have to ask ourselves. Who is the intended target for the message. 45* has been trying to become president for a while - so this time he ran a campaign that appealed to the most deplorable beings in this country. The blacks who voted for him are the same blacks who wallow in self-hate. Having said all that, @Troy, No I won't say 45* has to act in a racist manner to execute his racist campaign of hate... Too many people play roles to achieve their goals. It would be naive of me to put anyone in a box. That's dangerous. "Every mark and every play of any con game is different. You have to memorize the elements of con." Any hustler knows you got to play people how they present - to decide they're one thing or another is to get played.

Bump

@Pioneer1 , wrong question. I don't believe in "past, future" per se... I only know that "Now" exist... (and sometimes "Now" is even shaky) I may refer to the past -or even indicate that there's something I'd like to come to past but I use those references for conversational purposes. At this juncture, I can't conceive of a location for the past or future... I asked you because you said, you're convinced that only your God knows the future. Anyway, to answer your question - yes. I have met people who knew the future and prepared for it in their past ... My father was one such person. His foresight made sure his family would be taken care of economically and financially long after his untimely death. Also, we both know one person who saw the future - his name is @Troy,. He is in that long list of people who prepared in their past for something that today has met and or beat expectation. Oh and I have to include Larry Silverstein . I don't know him but I've read enough about him to know he had to see the future YES!!!

YEP!!! Nailed it...

This has been my experience... My relationship model hasn't worked for me until either he or I left the relationship. I'm a firm believer in being friends with my intimate partner or spouse - but while in the relationship it seemed as if my mate was always suspicious of my motives. When it was finally a bust - then the dude always came around to be one of my best confidants and friend...(you can imagine how many guy friends I have now - that I can actually count on when I need them. ) Still It was bizarre to me , still is, but from your perspective I can see how our culture breed adversaries and how and why my relationship model has been difficult at best. Good talk, good talk!

So you don't really know. You just have your reasons to believe. Cool I just wanted to know how you arrived at your conclusion.

But it isn't. or you'd be a clean slate with no perspective. You only know something is offensive to you based on life experience. For example, when flying to Dubai, I wouldn't offer my left hand to any passenger unless I'd want to offend them. Or, you didn't know you were a human male as an infant or even a toddler . You began to have experiences, such as seeing similar beings that forced you to realize you weren't unique, you probably identified with those who looked like you, young or older and you began to imitate them. Then your experiences shaped your life as a boy and you grew into a man. Life experiences and instructions are how we develop our perspective, a point of view. You can be intuitive as in building on what you already know; but intuition is knowing without the benefit of experience, facts or (gasp) proof on a subject.

@Pioneer1, Yes, how do you know, God knows the future... you've mentioned that you've test humans and they've failed. Have you test God in this respect? THIS! - I do this as well but this is almost a mathematical ability - almost on the order of fictional movie PI - How do we separate ability from intuition? Or do you see them as one in the same?

It doesn't have to be ideal but a model so you'd have a bit of road map on how to cultivate a relationship. Growing a relationship isn't dependent on a changing culture - relationship building skills are timeless. My parents grew up together and were best friends - I took my first clues from their marriage and modeled my intimate relationships after there's; sometimes with mixed results. You've been married since the 1990...this would give an indication you have a clue to how to build your relationship with your spouse. Now this doesn't mean you can advise me on how to build a relationship but you do know how to build a relationship that matters and it's a long-term one with your partner. That's what I meant. Today, many people don't have that first relationship to imitate. So they turn to the streets...and then as you mentioned " do NOTHING to facilitate a long term relationship with women." and that's problematic.

I think people confuse gender roles with sexuality... I blame commerce