Time-Lapse Map of Nuclear Tests

Isao Hashimoto created a 14 minute film depicting each of the 2,053 nuclear bomb tests that have occurred around the world.

Such sad folly, thinking these weapons of mass destruction might somehow keep us safe. What a world we live in, poisoned by our own weapons.

Can you make yourself vulnerable enough to find yourself in the other rather than using violence (or the threat of violence) to wipe the other off the map?

One the Eve of War: The Measure of a (Wo)man

The ultimate test of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and movements of convenience, but where he stands in moments of challenge and moments of controversy 

--Martin Luther King, Jr., January 27, 1965

Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction. 

--Martin Luther King. Jr., "Loving Your Enemies," in Strength to Love

War is Not the Answer

Vintage Sailors: An Awkward Realization

Photo Credit: Ian Swart

This picture tells an interesting tale. On multiple sites across the net this image is curated on blogs suggesting it depicts two couples on a double date.

It doesn't actually depict any sort of actual dating. 

Lewis Swart is pictured in the front left along with three of his Navy buddies. The image was taken at the Aquarium Restaurant in New York City sometime during the World War II era. 

If you'd like to learn more about "Grandpa Swart" visit his grandson's Flicker page. The images are a wonderful collection of visual history of one family's experiences in World War II.

This photo provides a great example of how an image can take a life of its own. It is easy to see what we'd like: it takes a little bit of research to see what that actual story is.
For more images of vintage men and their relationships (some gay, some straight) visit: Two Men and Their Dog; Adam and Steve in the Garden of Eden: On Intimacy Between Men; A Man and His Dog; The Beasts of West Point; Vintage Men: Innocence Lost | The Photography of William Gedney; It's Only a Paper Moon;Vintage Gay America: Crawford Barton; These Men Are Not Gay | This Is Not A Farmer | Disfarmer; Desire and Difference: Hidden in Plain Sight, Come Make Eyes With Me Under the Anheuser Bush, Hugh Mangum: Itinerant Photographer, Two men, Two Poses; Photos are Not Always What They Seem,Vintage Sailors: An Awkward Realization, Three Men on a Horse, Welkom Bar: Vintage Same Sex Marriage, Pretty in Pink: Two Vintage Chinese Men, Memorial Day Surprise: Vintage Sailor Love, Memorial Day: Vintage Dancing Sailors, The Curious Case of Two Men Embracing, They'll Never Know How Close We Were, Vintage Love: Roger Miller Pegram,Manly Affections: Robert Gant, Homo Bride and Groom Restored to Dignity, The Men in the Trees, The Girl in the Outhouse, Tommy and Buzz: All My Love,Men in Photo Booths, and Invisible: Philadelphia Gay Wedding c. 1957. You can also follow me on Tumblr.

Suicide, An Unheard Cry: Vintage Views of PTSD

I've recently discovered that the National Archives has its very own YouTube channel. Where have these marvels of history been hiding all my life?

Here are two clips to get you started: