Author: Paul In The Buff

Chief mischief maker at Living In The Buff Studio. A project turned, movement, turned cause to find fulfillment within and without.
Screen Capture from the movie Breathe

Work Complaints. General Complaints. All The Complaints.

Posted on by Paul In The Buff

I’m in IT, and it is a ridiculously complex environment. Technologies are siloed, and everyone has specific jobs based on the technology area they deal with. That means everyone, in each area should have some relative expertise in their technology, and how it fits into the interconnected parts of the IT environment. However, daily, I find this isn’t the case. My job is very much a generalist type position that has to sort out issues that could stem from any one of these other silos, and when I ask those other silos for information about their silo the answers I get generally range from, “I don’t know,” to, “Not my problem,” to no response at all, or a response that is of no value.

“Ask Howard.”

Who is Howard? What department?

…no response.

I have to assume they meant Howard the Duck, so I’m heading to Cleveland.

Movie Poster for Stages

Weigh-In Wednesday – Back to Routine

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The previous weekend was the 48-Hour Film Project. Our movie titled, Stages was filmed in record fashion. Our first year leading our own team; we kept the production streamlined, the story easy to follow, and sensible, and our production schedule stayed very close to schedule for the entire day. Because I directed it,  filmed it, and edited it, it was less of a challenge keeping the vision on point.  The Premier Screening was this past weekend, and I have to say, I think it played well. Not as flashy as some films, but given our small team, and limited technical resources, it still came out clean, and cohesive, and seemed to have the emotional impact we were going for. Confirmed by a few different viewers, some even said it appeared on screen as one of the best looking, best filmed movies of the day.

A Manifesto of Love

Posted on by Paul In The Buff

To this city, and this region – Buffalo – the City of Good Neighbors. We don’t always exemplify that, but I would like to think we exemplify it more often than not. Yes, you’ll see more examples in the media of us not being good to each other, but the media doesn’t often tells us about the acts of kindness we see, and perform every day. Rarely do you hear stories of the success of our refugee programs, of the community organizations that help welcome the world to Buffalo, and give them the help they need when they get here. Rarely do you hear of how those same refugees are building their own communities, and running successful businesses while adding to Buffalo’s diverse culture. There is no coverage of neighbors helping neighbors daily, not out of obligation, but out of a want to be helpful, and to foster a kind, and cooperative community. 

I want to be a bigger part of this. I want to show love to my neighbors, those who come here seeking a better life, and the future generations who will call this region home.

Weigh-In Wednesday – Three Decades Later

Posted on by Paul In The Buff

By far, the people who complain the most, and about the most trivial, nonsensical things are Conservatives/Republicans/The Religious Right.

While they sit back, and call others “snowflakes” for things like, not wanting to be shot while in school, or not wanting the police to kill you during a routine arrest (often a BS arrest), or things like justice, and civil rights, those on the other side worry about coffee cups not being Christmassy enough, religious symbols not being allowed on public (tax funded) buildings, and scream about their faux persecution in the face of others demanding equal rights. They live on socialist ideals, and taxes, yet complain the policies they don’t want are all socialist, and therefore evil. They stump over free-market ideals, but when the free-market puts them in their place they complain they’re being discriminated against.

It’s a shopping list covering every aisle of hypocrisy, and irony when you think about it.

Wix... wait, what?

Weigh-In Wednesday – Stunning Websites without Stunning Images

Posted on by Paul In The Buff

I saw an add for Wix.  Wix annoys me. They promote their services as “do it yourself for free,” and try to convince people they can just build a wow-factor website in under 15 minutes at no cost. 

Eight days later, most users have an incomplete website that looks like a 5th grader built it in 1998 using Microsoft Frontpage and Paint, and on this monstrosity there’s a Wix advertisement in just about every corner that pops up whenever your mouse cursor gets within 30 pixels of it.

Weigh-In Wednesday – Something Missing

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#PHOTOGRPAHYWITHOUTLIMITS

I came up with that tag a number of years ago in a way to express that I’m kind of a go-anywhere, do-anything for a good shot kind of photographer. Obviously, I have limits, but they’re usually based more on how can I get the shot AND keep my camera safe? Because if I can’t retrieve the shot, then it’s not worth the shot.

At the start, someone believed it was in response to a threat lodged by a former colleague that I would never take photos at an event in WNY again. That was a silly threat, with no chance of being enacted, so I wasn’t really worried. Since then I have photographed countless events. I can try to count them. Shall we?

World’s Largest Disco, multiple times. Witches Ball, every year. Pride Parade, on behalf of 2 different organizations. Cupid Undies Run. Carley’s Club fundraiser. St. Paddy’s Day Parades.  Not to mention dozens of Yelp community events, Buffalo Without Borders, and thanks to my relationship, First Night, Steam Punk Fest, and a dozen other events she has performed at. 

Something Like On-Line Dating

Posted on by Paul In The Buff

She divulged fantasies. The simple, the complex. She wanted to be thrown against a wall, and kissed with passion. She wanted to be tied, spanked, and forced to have orgasms. She wanted someone to go down on her, and reciprocate what she gave her partner in intimacy. She wanted to be loved, fucked, and used. He was willing to give it all; he often reminded her that he had very few limits or boundaries. But her fears kept her from acting. She felt every situation needed further vetting, but the more Hailey got to know Billy, the more obsessed with him she was becoming.

It had been a while since anyone had been open, and vulnerable with him. She had poured her feelings, and her desires out to him over the previous weeks, and now here she was taking her risk. Did she really know him? Did he really know her?  He wasn’t exactly sure what to expect, but he knew what direction he wanted to move her toward…. Everything was in order, and waiting for her, but despite her exuding a sense of calm, Billy could still sense her hesitation.

Silent Voices - where I got to play a complete jerk. Conservatives would say this would influence me to become one.

Weigh-In Wednesday – All This, and More

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For those who need to hear it – the nicest people generally get a lot more hardship thrown into their lives. It is one of the things that makes them the nicest people.

They know what it’s like to struggle. They’ve fought battles, and those battles have built their uncompromising character. They have empathy for the struggles of others because they’ve struggled, and don’t want to see others struggling. They have big hearts, and tend to be extremely generous because in the end everything they’ve fought through teaches them the most important things aren’t money, or material possessions, but love, and seeing those they love live fulfilling lives. They understand true morality isn’t found in a book of fables, but in the way you treat someone who can do nothing for you in return.

This concluded my text based, non graphical internet inspirational meme.

Pride - And my Views in Buffalo Rising

Weigh-In Wednesday – Walking The Line

Posted on by Paul In The Buff

No, the Red Party isn’t our local communists. Let’s be honest, most communists are only called communists because that’s how the conservative right wants to define anyone with socially altruistic ideals, and demonize them for it.  This Red Party is about  raising funds for local organizations that provide services to underrepresented populations in Buffalo, specifically women in situations that may prevent them from being able to afford, or procure sanitary products when necessary. This is actually a major problem for many populations, whether the women are members of refugee groups that make it to America with little more than the clothes on their back, homeless women trying to get by, or women escaping domestic violence relying on the help of others to figure out where to go next.

It is a serious social issue, and for women in these situations, it is a matter of healthcare, and dignity.