As IF Times

link X Factor judge Kelly Rowland has severe wardrobe malfunction | Mail Online.

Where are we? 1892? Is the mere glimpse of a nipple really newsworthy? Is it so titillating to see a few centimeters of darkened skin?  It’s not as if they are found only on the beautiful;  everyone has them, some apparently have 3.  Are there people out there that don’t have an internet connection?  Don’t have a televison set? Don’t have access to magazines?

In a time when it is politically incorrect to NOT accept men kissing men, or women embracing women, or extremely suggestive billboards, do people still go blushy-blush over an exposed nipple?  This is very curious.  As we all know, in Muslim culture, any part of the woman’s body is perceived as being risque if exposed to general view.  It’s surprising that they have not invented periscope-like devices for the women’s eyes in order to shield those from the sight of men.  But at least they’re consistent in their values.

In the normal world, it’s virtually impossible to get through a day without being exposed to what used to be considered ‘racy’ images during one’s daily activities.  Every possible centimeter of the human body is  used as marketing fodder to peddle everything from cars to crayons, yet somehow the 2 square centimeters of an average nipple is taboo.  If this little zone of human skin is so salacious, maybe they should consider banning  pencil erasers.   Why don’t they forbid cherries on ice cream sundaes?

We all know that entertainers are always pushing the edge as far as appearance, often in lieu of actual talent.  Did someone say Lady Gaga?  But like PETA supporters getting naked at protest rallies, it gets old and any shock value it may once have had is pretty minimal these days.  Like French can-can girls doing  high-kicks revealing petticoats, in a very short time, the exposing of nipples will be no more titillating than exposing a navel.  Speaking of which, people may recall that back in the 60’s TV show, I Dream of Jeannie, featured  Barbara Eden sporting a risque  harem outfit, but always with the belly button covered.  Apparently back then, a belly button was the same as full frontal nudity, or in the case of the Muslim world, an ankle.

Of course, some may argue that all of this bodily exposure are signs of society’s descent into depravity and decadence.  Maybe.  But I’d rather be exposed to nipples and belly buttons than to other more offensive images.  Michael Moore springs to mind.

link To be a great, McIlroy must stay true to himself – USATODAY.com.

 At the just concluded 2011  US Open , 22 year old Rory McIlroy’s prodigious talent  burst  him onto the world stage in dramatic fashion.  Readers can refer to other sports sites for details of his on course exploits, but my discussion is the more compelling story of the kid himself. 

Just 22 years of age and he already has been placed at the top of the sporting world as much for his character as for his athletic accomplishment.  He is much of what most celebrity athletes these days are not.  He is not brusque, arrogant or distant.  He does not wear strange clothing, have tattoos or earrings.  He does not  hide behind aviator sunglasses and surround himself with surly bodyguards.  He speaks humbly of his accomplishments, does so in complete sentences and is a filial son.  Unlike many top name athletes today, his ego has yet to overwhelm him.

It’s almost too good to be true.  He is like a Stepford wife.  With an impossibly beautiful swing bordering on golf pornography and a disarmingly modest demeanor, it’s hard not to be drawn to this kid.   In the golfing world at least, guys like Nicklaus and Palmer have always tended to their good guy image and may in large part explain their revered positions in golf.  This is in contrast to Ben Hogan and recently Tiger Woods, both of whom were more prickly personalities but were tolerated because of their talents.  A guy like Rory comes along and once again, people can pull for a hero without reservation.  He has the same quality as did a young Phil Mickelson.  Granted, he’s still young and much may happen, but the talent has been there since an early age and the grounding influence of his parents will keep him as a like-able person for years to come.  It appears that a strong value system was instilled from the outset.  Undoubtedly, his family and friends back in his hometown of Holywood, Ireland wouldn’t have rioted even if Rory had lost.

How many 22 year old kids go off to Haiti on their own volition without commercial intent to assess the conditions of the earthquake victims? How many young kids can take the crushing collapse that he experienced during this year’s Masters and brush it off with equanimity and without bitterness or recrimination?  The kid has a maturity well beyond his years and this gushing fan hopes that he will be the new standard of celebrity athletes in the future.  The world can use some genuinely nice guys.