Trump, Magritte, and me
Here’s a tongue-in-cheek photo of Donald Trump, circa 1989 (taken for Fortune magazine), doing his own Magritte thing:
Whatever happened to that handsome, slender guy?
Same thing that happens to all of us, if we live long enough.
Which reminds me—I’m been contemplating updating my “neo with apple a la Magritte” photo. After all, it’s over eleven years old.
What do you think? Should I update, or keep the illusion going?
(I’m not talking about a reveal, by the way, although sometimes I contemplate that as well.)
“Whatever happened to that handsome, slender guy?”
Like so many others he grew older and fatter. Unlike many others he also became President of the United States.
I vote for update. (Written by someone who has a 4 year old photo on the email account!)
You should keep the apple, but make it purple.
Whatever turns you on. It’s your blog. I come here for your writing.
I say update. You’ll feel better if you do.
Update with apple as in original.
Keep it.
We know you’ve been dying to go see The Makeover Guyâ„¢ so this would fit with a new photo.
I’d ixnay on any eveelray, but let your artistic nature guide your decision, as always.
That picture with the books, boots, and apple is timeless. So much narrative in one photograph, and not a face to be found.
I’d like to see a good photo of you Neo…you are near and dear to many of us and we’d like to see you
Update. Your words place you in time, anyway. But reveal, maybe no. It usually comes at a price – would there be a countervailing upside?
Keep it.
When I clicked on the article to see the comments and make a reply, I didn’t see any comments. I predict that I will be able to see all the comments after I post my comment.
Keep it as it is. I like the unknown nature of it. That, and I’m a traditionalist at heart.
I’m in with the keep it crowd.
Do one that emulates the 1989 Trump Magritte with the apple being tossed in the air. Strike the same pose he did!
Update but use one of the new apple varieties you love so much, maybe with a bite missing. Never much cared for the green apples. Too tart for eating out of hand.
Mystery, tradition, and entropy. All argue for keeping it as is. You are ageless, at least in our minds. So it should remain.
No face, that’s my vote. No egocentrism.
What you have is perfect. No need to change.
Count mine as a vote for updating, Neo.
I’m a believer in full disclosure in most things.
You are too smart a person to have let yourself go anyway so the updated photo will still be very flattering , I’m sure.
I faced the same choice a few years ago in relation to my photo on my firm’s web-site when I hit 50 and suddenly noticed that my hairline had receded.
(Damn those ceiling-mirrored change-rooms!)
Clive James, the tv critic, said that when it comes to their hair, all men over 40 are either an “o” or an “m”, the former being the circular bald patch at the crown and the latter applying to the temples.
Well, not only was I developing both – but I suddenly noticed that the “o” and the “m” were moving to join up. Bad news.
On the bright side, it prompted me to go back to the gym again after years away and control those things that are within my control.
There is a funny scene in Seinfeld that you or your readers may recall where George and Elaine are driving back from a flea market where George has picked up a hat that really does flatter his face.
Elaine comments that he should wear it all the time but George, in one of the few examples of common sense he ever showed, declines on the basis that he can’t glue it to his head so it has to come off some time and his dates will just find out one day anyway. Regards.
A little fun eh?
Ok then:
The deal is that icon is so small it could cover a lot of ground. At a glance it almost looks like the Barbara Hershey of “Hannah and her Sisters” is hiding behind that apple. Or her cousin at least. [And no, no reminders how she looks nowadays. Please.]
So leave it the way it is for now. Why prematurely deprive yourself of Internet marriage proposals? Why go in for half-measures before it’s necessary?
Have you seen Camile Paglia’s pic since she updated? Yikes!
Wait instead until you are fully “dignified looking”, to change it. You know, say, kinda Virginia Woolf-ish, … Or with a bit of luck more like Gladys Cooper
Keep the illusion going. I like the hint of what you were, physically. Your writing shows how you have developed your mind. I really like your hair then. And, you have written about your continuing effort to maintain it.
Change your real name to a one-word variant like Cher or Madonna, but leave the blog alone.
Update if you wish, but leave us and others guessing a bit. Keep the apple and anonymity. We live in an uncertain world.
The apple is one thing…relative anonymity is another. But the real question is, “Have you kept the curly locks?”
John Guilfoyle:
The real answer is “yes.”
FYI Neo, my google search for “pic neoneocon” turned up this in first place:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6nKEYIeREd0/TqjNUQX_wGI/AAAAAAAANpk/_dOi4SegyW0/s1600/bernardine%2Bdohrn.jpg
Someone at google is having fun.
The Other Chuck:
Bernadine Dohrn????
Stephen Ippolito Says:
April 21st, 2017 at 6:43 pm
* *
On the subject of “o” meeting “m” – an old joke says that men with a bald spot in the front are great thinkers; men with a bald spot in the back are great lovers; and men whose bald spot in the front meets the bald spot in the back think they are great lovers.
Man, Trump really likes his dark blue suits and red ties.
Here’s my vote: say nothing more about the photo. Wait a month, and replace it — for one day only — with a similar photo, but with a red apple. Then a few days later — for one day only — with a papaya, or a squash. Continue the little changes and see how many and who notice. My guess is the women will notice, but not the men.
Neo, I went back this morning to investigate the strange picture of Bernardine Dohrn that came up with a google search of your picture. It seems there is a Cynthia Kaufman who is a far left writer/Gramsci admirer with a picture similar to yours – shoulder length wavy hair and black dress. She was interviewed on a PJM style leftist blog which ALSO interviewed Dohrn. Hence by association Kaufman/women in black dress with similar hair/blog you get 3 pictures in a row: you, Cynthia Kaufman, and Dorhn.
And so much for the accuracy of google!
Update. It’s spring; time for new beginnings.
I’d like to see a “painting” filter applied to a Magritte-style photo, and keep only the apple and face, editing out the supporting hand (or what-have-you).
You are way overdue for a bikini pic. Maybe while running toward the camera on the beach, with the apple in your mouth.
heh.
Jim Doherty:
Are you suggesting something like this?
@Neo – nope, don’t change. Your current photo is just fine – actually very nice.
What needs changing is the template. The website needs to have a much wider central column (where all the content is displayed) – easier readability, more user friendly.
AND, it needs to render on mobile much more cleanly, for similar reasons.
Name change if you want, but for any of the aesthetics, this is what I’d recommend is your first priority, as overall it would freshen what is a bit dated wordpress / website theme.
… IMHO, for what it’s worth. 😉
Jazz apple ?
@Bill – used to be my go to uniform way back when.
A very popular “power look” at the time.
Then business casual happened and never looked back (fewer opportunities to wear suits anymore – usually best to match the client’s standard, with a tiny step up).