International politics and us

A lot of things have happened since I last posted here.

When last I gave you an update, I was preparing for a second photo shoot to generate more original images for our tools -- this time, we were lining up models over 60 and under 15 to round out our collections of hands, feet and faces. Unfortunately, a few weeks before the day of the shoot, the photographer I had been working with had a family crisis and needed to step out. At that point, I was paralyzed by uncertainty, and lost a lot of time just trying to figure out what to do next. It had taken long enough to find a photographer I loved in the first place. There had been some false starts with others, who had disappointed in various ways for various reasons, so I was overjoyed when this one stepped in and made the first photo shoot so successful.

I wasn't sure what to do. I didn't know how long she would be tied up with family matters, so I didn't know whether it was worth going through the process of searching for and vetting a new photographer. By the time it became crystal clear that no, I should not wait on her, a few months had passed and I became busy with my own work and life. So I put the money for the shoot back into the bank and have been holding onto it until the next opportunity presented itself.

Time passed. I answered emails and gathered photos for an environment study tool, but at first was too overwhelmed with work to keep up with making blog posts, and then a little embarrassed to make blog posts after such a long gap. I kept saying, when I finally get the shoot together, then I'll have something really great to post!

Then last night a group calling itself "The Islamic State" attempted to hack this site and post all manner of threatening things. Their attempts were thwarted, and I am spending today hardening the site even further in case they try again with new tactics. I'm furious; I can only assume they object to the site because it's possible to see nude or semi-nude human bodies.

Well, guess what, jerks? We won, and I'm adding a handful of new nude photos to the figure study tool today to celebrate.

Also, if you happen to know a good photographer in the Beaverton/Portland/Tigard Oregon area, send 'em my way! I want to schedule another hands/feet/faces photo shoot for this summer.