So, two days ago I took some selfies on my back porch. I needed to take the photos in bright light, otherwise my iPhone pics come out dark, like the current one. I tried to remain expressionless for the photos, but because the light was reflecting strongly off the porch, I couldn't help but squint.
I suppose, given the nature of this blog, all three expressions are appropriate.
Coincidentally, just the other day my son and I were watching The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, and I mentioned that I'd been told in high school that I looked like Lee Van Cleef (the "Bad" of the title):
My son then pointed out that in fact I look more like Eli Wallach (the "Ugly"):
I prefer the Van Cleef comparison, even though he died at age 64 after years of heart disease and throat cancer. (Wallach died at 98 just three months ago.)
Personally, I plan to live to 105. And as I age, I intend to become even more skeptical and disdainful and hateful, all of which should be reflected on this blog.
In any case, as I stare out at you with those baleful eyes, try not to take it personally.
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41 comments:
I suggest this as your new photo
https://www.flickr.com/photos/okelley/3339230501/in/photostream/
G
G --
That first picture is uncommonly complimentary of you. I do like the shackles though, they do illustrate how I feel at times.
As far as "resting bitch faces" go, I usually can't help but think that they often make a statement about the personalities of the people who have them. (Except me, of course.)
PS -- Skepticism leads to disdain, which in the long run results in hatred. They're all interrelated.
I'm glad you thought so John. I thought it like a modern day Delacroix
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty#mediaviewer/File:Eug%C3%A8ne_Delacroix_-_La_libert%C3%A9_guidant_le_peuple.jpg
G
G --
I've never understood the point of that woman's breasts being exposed in that painting; it seems a little out of place somehow in that context.
Oh man. You should pack up and go to Hollywood.
You would make an excellent villain with a pan like that, John, and ride with the poxiest cut throats of the old west. A change in props and you could be a steely eyed protagonist on some action flick.
I hate an loathe men that are smarter and better looking than I am. You are on my list with guys like Uncle Bob.
Watch your step. :)
Glen --
Thank you.
I guess I am starting to get pretty villainous-looking in my old age. (Any Leftist can just take away the "-looking" part.) The squinting did exacerbate that though.
I just looked on UncleBob's blog, and the only picture i could find was of him as a baby.
That awkward moment when you're trying to think of a compliment of another man's face that doesn't sound weird...
well, you've definitely got a masculine face, pretty strong looking, and prominent cheek bones are always a good thing when it comes to looks. I can see the NE Asian...
What's the thinking behind don't smile?
Steven --
Thank you. (I'm beginning to feel that I put the pictures up as a way to fish for compliments.)
I guess I didn't smile because all the photos of me smiling come out bad. Plus smiling for a selfie seems particularly contrived somehow.
And, since I'll probably end up using one of those photos for this blog (if I can figure out how to put it there again) I didn't want to look too pleased with myself, which is the kiss of death if you ever discuss serious topics (which I occasionally touch on).
If you want to know if somebody has a masculine face, just imagine them with a wig on...could they pass for a woman in drag? in your case no, terrible face for a woman. :-D
Steven --
Ha, thank you. In all honesty, that picture probably makes me look more masculine than I am. (I'm fit, especially for my age, but of average masculinity.)
Apart from how somebody looks and sounds, what do you think masculinity is?
Steven --
I was just referring to the outward physical manifestations of testosterone, not talking about any sort of deeper quasi-philosophical meanings.
I'm of average size, and nobody would ever mistake me for Mike Tyson.
I guess I was just asking what do you think are the masculine character traits (in regard to which you judge yourself average...)
Your answer gave me a handle on it. The outer and inner manifestations of testosterone...good way to look at it. All I could really think of was aggression and social dominance and maybe libido.
Seems like Mike Tyson is your gold standard of masculinity :-D
Steven --
My face is a good example of what I am. I have a strong brow ridge and cheekbones, both of which are generally correlated with androgens. But I also have a weak chin (at least when viewed from the side), and high androgen production is generally correlated with a strong, jutting chin.
And at 5'11", 163 pounds, no, no one is going to mistake me for that gold standard of testosterone on the hoof, Mike Tyson.
I'm also not particularly socially dominant or aggressive. Haven't been in a fight since high school, and that "fight" was hardly worthy of being called that. I avoid confrontation.
PS -- On a scale of 10, how do you rank yourself?
What's average? 5?
I'm really not sure. Probably not far off average, either way.
You seem to air on the side of modesty and you look probably more masculine than average.
Are you aware of the face width to height ratio issue?
http://pss.sagepub.com/content/early/2014/01/23/0956797613511823
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-good-life/201201/the-face-leadership
Steven --
Yes, I had heard that, actually my own pointed it out to me the other day. But I would think that's also partly a racial thing.
I think its probably pretty robust within the white male population. Most of these studies will involve mostly white guys and this was an interesting one:
http://motherboard.vice.com/en_uk/blog/ironically-a-mans-face-can-tell-you-if-hes-likely-to-act-like-a-racist
The article explains its a function of testosterone so if black guys have wider faces, it might just be because they have more t.
Steven --
Interesting, and it's also true, in my observation, that loyalty to one's race is highly correlated with testosterone levels. I wrote about it here, in the third post I put up at the start of this blog:
http://justnotsaid.blogspot.com/2008/10/male-hormones-and-politics.html
It is true that blacks have wider faces and higher testosterone levels, but Asians also have wider faces, and one doesn't associate them with high testosterone levels. (In fact, it's more complicated than that: Asians surprisingly have high levels of testosterone, but they also have fewer androgen receptors, which are also part of the equation, so are less masculine on average.)
BTW, I'm guessing you err on the side of modesty yourself; I know of very few boxers who aren't naturally high in testosterone.
Your observation was astute given the research.
I didn't realise Asians had wide faces. I was the one who told you the thing about the androgen receptors though.
I can't call myself a boxer. I did a bit of training when I was 15- that's all. I needed toughening up to be honest.
If it wasn't so dangerous to get punched in the head I might have another go. Not sure how I'd handle men punching me though; it was only kids before and that was bad enough.
Steven --
Thank you.
And sorry, should have given you the credit for the androgen receptors info. I'd forgotten.
Boxing isn't worth it, stay away. You have a good brain, why let it get damaged?
Just looking at you there, you are pretty tanned. What do people usually think you are? Do they ask or appear to be trying to work it out?
Steven --
I've had all sorts of guesses, usually people seem to assume I'm vaguely Mediterranean, or some sort of Hispanic from south of the border. Some just assume I'm white. A minority say that they saw the Asian blood, but I've also had the experience of telling Asians that I'm half-Japanese, and having them call me a liar (most don't).
The tan is because I swim at an outdoor pool most of the summer.
All of your three pictures look similar, having a hard time seeing "skeptical," "disdainful,"and "hateful" in any of them. If I saw you on the street, I think that I would recognize that you're part Asian. A Japanese man whom I admire is Michio Kushi (he and his first wife, Aveline) introduced Macrobiotics into the U.S.A., having done a lot of good for people with health issues.
-birdie
Birdie --
True enough, I was sort of just saying those things for the sake of the post. The three emotions do lead to each other (in the order i listed them) however, so they are all related.
You have a better eye than most.
I'd never hear of Kushi, but macrobiotics does sound like the sort of thing the Japanese might subscribe to.
Due to Michio Kushi's influence, this is why we have natural health food stores today. He and his wife were pioneers in the health food industry, teaching people about food, the healing properties that exist within food. I find his books interesting. He used to be based in Brookline, MA, having a school there.
-birdie
Birdie --
In that case I guess he was a huge influence.
John....You certainly don't look 60 to me sir!
All that swimming has paid off as you appear to be in good health and much younger looking than 60.
Ya' ever considered a beard of handlebar stache? Just saying.
Spike --
Thank you very much.
I actually had a mustache when I was young, though it wasn't quite a handlebar. What I really need is a beard to cover up my weak chin. Only problem with that, my facial hair is now white, so if I grew it out, I WOULD look 60.
Thanks for the suggestion though.
John--I'm with your daughter in that I think you would be best off minus the post dateline cnbc arrest mug shot and get a normal professional photo that shows you in your best light, not your worst. You're a good looking guy, so why hide that? Brian
Brian --
Thank you, my brother just said the same, that else are lousy photos. But the fact is, I generally dot photograph well, and I actually don't think these photos are all that bad. I'll probably en up using the middle one, at least for a while.
Hi John You comments on the photos got a laugh out of me!
Andrew
Andrew --
Thank you, then the post accomplished its purpose.
John,
Very clever blog! I was laughing out loud! Donna
Thank you Donna.
(Hope you weren't laughing at my resemblance to Eli Wallach.)
John, definitely not! I think you have a wry sense of humor and thought your comments and then the pics were so funny! Donna
Donna --
Thank you, I actually wasn't fishing for a compliment there, was just trying to make another joke.
(Anyway, Tuco is one of my favorite characters in filmdom.)
Nice to hear from you.
http://instagram.com/steviemac30/
You may as well put a face to the name.
Hi :-D
Steven --
Thank you. Maybe it's because you told me you were from Liverpool, but the expression on your face reminds me a bit of the Beatles.
The second picture from the left makes you look pretty tough. And I like the caption with the Husky.
Ha I know a few people around here who look like Beatles. I have an uncle who looks quite like Paul. Maybe I should have added my picture at Strawberry fields.
Thanks, I guess. With photos, you could probably create several different impressions depending on which ones you choose. I'm somewhat neurotic and honest so I tried to provide balance.
It's unlikely anyone will read this and even more unlikely that anyone will care, but the second from the left John referred to is now third from left and won't be that for long.
See, neurotic. Couldn't let it lie. Stuff like that bothers me, when something will be misleading.
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