This has been the longest I have been away from blogging – writing, reading and communicating with fellow bloggers. It has also been the longest I have ever been from any form of “artistic” manifestation. That is not true actually, I have been taking a lot of photographs, but as always I never get around on doing anything with them, so I disregard any importance to that issue. They just get stored with their siblings on my hard drive.
I blame it (as always) on lack of inspiration, and time (lack of), but with everything happening in this world and with the abundance of material to talk about, I should have no excuse.
Truth be told though, I have been doing a lot of traveling; inside and outside of Canada, that I just had other outlets to communicate with people. And it has been both enriching and overwhelming at some points, that self-satisfaction is attained but never shared. Which is okay I guess…
I also chose a bad time to write again as I leave to Peru in the few days to come, but I guess any time is as good as any. I leave on Saturday to be part of a humanitarian mission operating in the slums of Lima. We will be stationed there for about two weeks working with optometrists, tending to Lima’s poor and “humbler” inhabitants. I will try to blog as of there, and post on the flaneur. I know I always say that, but this time if I have Internet access, I am going to have to; I am expected to, by the mission organizers. I will let you know though. I will update here as soon as I start posting on the travel blog. Our two-week mission is supposed to be intense and draining, as we are scheduled to see about 700 patients every day, but on the other hand, I am also positive that it is going to be an unequaled enriching experience.
Wish me luck.
PS: the object photographed [la goutte d'eau] is by Michèle Lapointe | Artiste.
2009 / Mont Royal, Montréal / Canon Powershot SD750
For a while now, I have been struggling with the idea of originality in the design world. Everything seems a bit banal and many times predictable. I don’t know if it is still possible to see innovative and totally original masterpieces. We may have to get used to seeing copies with transformation and mutations.
It is shame, and I am sure we are all trying hard to evade this unconscious “inspiration”, but it is almost impossible. With that many images stored in our memory, and with the Internet as vehicle, information multiplies exponentially and is put at our disposition at any time.
It is almost as if what we know is what we see; what we can create is already there.
I say almost, because I would like to keep a margin for error, and for hope that I am wrong and we still can create, design and innovate.
Here’s what Jim Jarmusch has to say about that. what do you think?
"Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is nonexistent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery—celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: “It’s not where you take things from—it’s where you take them to."
I wonder what use is "vivid" and "creative" imagination, if it does not materialize into realizations, and is solely kept to your low profiled, nonchalant, procrastinating mind…
Thoughts have to get out there in any shape or form, and through any media. Otherwise, they will leave you… they don’t belong to you. They are not yours to keep and will not hang around you for ever, so you might as well put them to good use once they are around.
Ideas bless you for a while, and then turn on to become muses for others.
When this intellectual promiscuity is mixed with a severe case of lack of action, it puts an end to originality, and suffocates the seed to any potential unique creation.
Thoughts fly searching for willing-to-act minds…
That's what they do, and you got to respect that. Time is short, and they have got to be fair. In fact imagination is the only thing that is left fair in this world. It belongs to everyone. It is then up to you to materialize the images and the visions - in any modest way - otherwise they will remain dreams.
The whole world is out there, and you’ll be stuck inside your head... the smallest of worlds there is.
---- photo take during a visit to an exhibtion at the CCA - Actions: What You Can Do With the City presents 99 actions that instigate positive change in contemporary cities around the world. Canadian Centre for Architecture, 26 November 2008 - 19 April 2009
After carrying the burden for years and years, I finally decided to organize a big blowout sale.
I will be selling: - my conscience. - my values. - my principles. - my scruples.
If you are interested, please drop me a line. You should also keep in mind that they may be very expensive as they were very dear to me, and still hold a sentimental place in my heart. It really pains me to let them go, but I have to survive and go forth. And it is a lot easier to do so without ethics.
I was browsing the net last night when I landed on a very interesting article (to me at least), written by Professor Ahmad Houry PhD, and Dany Doughan.
The article was meticulously detailing the ways by which you can deal with the infestation of Thaumetopoea pityocampa, better known as Pine Processionary moth caterpillars, or what we like to call: doud jommar.
This lucky find brought back many of my childhood memories – as usual – and I immediately jumped into avid reading mode. As kids running in the forest, we knew everything we needed to know about those worms; there were rules. And we made sure to stick to the rules if we didn’t want to deal with the nasty rashes. We had heard horrible stories.
rule number one Don’t touch them!
rule number two: Don’t touch them!
We knew that they weren’t necessarily going to harm us, but it was just better to stay out of their way. We knew that if we saw a line formation, we should not try to kill them. We should just avoid them, jump over, and keep walking. If we saw a white foamy nest up on a tree, we should just pick another one to climb and another shade to play under.
They were just hairy that way.
When they came too close to the houses (or when we came close to their habitat), men would gather with torches made out of branches, and just burn them right there.
The authors here were very scientific and informative all through the eight pages of the article. The started out by identifying the problem and its gravity; they dismissed all common and popular beliefs, and later moved to presenting and explaining the lifecycle of these little monsters. When this was out of the way, they then proceeded by explaining the proper ways which one can use to get rid of the worms, and their nests.
(they were also wise enough to note that the aim of this campaign was not to kill annihilate the worms, but only to decrease and limit their numbers).
method one … use a biological pesticide called Bacillus thuringiensis… (and that with the specific dosage, and at a certain time of the year…etc – and they explain in detail how this should be done, what will happen to the worms, and when to follow up and spray again – very scientific and extensive details )
method two … if nests prevail during winter time, you have to cut the branches using big cutters tied to the end of a tall stick to avoid being close to the nest… and all that has to be done in February. Again they present very precise information on how to do that.
method three … as for the nests that are perched high up on the tree and are unreachable, use a hunting rifle and “shred the nests to pieces”… again this has to be done in February.
I'm sorry... What?
Why didn’t you say so? I could have stopped reading 7 pages ago if you had just told me that I could shoot the shit out of them! .
Why the extensive scientific report if in the end, I am going to get barbaric and shoot at the nest with a rifle? Why imply constant care and caution, when at the end there will be mayhem?
Stay right here… I am getting my gun.
---- This is by no means meant as critique of the very important and much needed work published by the authors… I really did enjoy the read… I just find that the ending is hilarious. read full article in PDF format here (the article is in arabic)
“TEHRAN — Iran has successfully sent its first domestically made satellite into orbit, the country's president announced Tuesday, claiming a significant step in an ambitious space program that has worried many international observers.” – globeandmail.com
Now that the Iranians launched their first satellite carrying rocket - omid, hope - into space, do you think wars will follow, and start moving upwards? Do you think the time for space wars with zoom zoom lasers and all, is nearing?
Or will they all play fair.
Where is Bond when you need him?
---- But you know what? I am happy for them… why not. No really why not! Kudos to you Iran.
… You just be nice about it now; because honestly you scare me a little.
Don’t prove them right.
---- Why did you have to align like that in front of the camera, and repeat allahou akbar all that much, while holding an old ass telephone… that was some funny shit man! Watch video here. (youtube)
I am sure that by now, many Lebanese across the world have seen this image that has been circulating in emails. At first I thought it might be a hoax, but then I got it many times, from different sources… And this mass advertising scares me.
“Beirut - "Noor International Holding", located in Beirut, declared its determination to present to the Lebanese official authorities the development of "Lebanon's Cedar Island" project facing the Lebanese coast in order to get the approvals. The company revealed also that the project is an artificial island in the sea and it is similar to Lebanon's national symbol. It is worth mentioning that this island will be the biggest artificial tree in the history”
Now pardon my arrogance and maybe my pretense, but with my multiple architectural degrees, and in all modesty, I can sincerely say that I would tend to have thoughts regarding this. So here’s my educated opinion:
What the FUCK do you think you’re doing! "Dr. Saleh confirmed that the project, in its plans, takes into consideration the protection of the maritime environment without causing any damages to it due to the fact that some of the Island's parts will be the cedar's branches floating above the sea surface."
What? Does anybody buy that? So you’re telling us, that you are going to claim 3.5 M.sq.m of marine land, and not disturb aquatic life? Or the planet? I don’t care how many environmentalists you’re going to hire, but I don’t buy into that… not one bit.
Furthermore, and to add to the insult, Dr. Saleh claims that he “invented” the idea, while flying above Lebanon on the Middle East Airlines (of course). He thought “why don’t we eternalize the emblem, by having a giant Cedar island float at sea… Did any of you not think that this is a dumb imitation of the ultimate Dubai stupidity that is called the Palm Island, when you saw the image? … Thank you! I am sorry, but you did not invent shit! A person that is capable of such projects can not possibly have a creative mind…
Why… Why would anybody dotted with the least bit of logic, and with the thinnest grain of intelligence, think that Lebanon would need this? What is the point? There is no argument whatsoever that I would accept to justify this endeavor, so they should just save their breath, and withdraw this delusional masterplan, as I am confident that it will not pass cabinet.
I went on their site (which I am not even going to bother giving you), and much to my surprise I actually found in their guestbook, insane people that supported this delusional project. Those who did not approve were a bit more numerous, and that is a big kudos to the Lebanese.
The fine Doctor also claims that his mega-project will grant 50.000 Lebanese new jobs. Those workers will only be the tentacles of your glory, your construction workers, and then they are gone; they may later work as servants for the elite society you are creating on your gated island, built on PUBLIC LAND. Is it not enough that most of Lebanon’s shore is private and exploited, now you’re extending to the sea.
“Moreover, the company mentioned that it will be the main developer of the project and that it has started its calls with many Lebanese investors residing in Lebanon and abroad, with Arabs and other investment parties.”
You have to give it to him though; the man is a clever businessman. He is creating work for himself. He is the Client and the Architect at the same time, and all we have to do is bite. He created the idea, and then became the client. He won his own competition, and commissioned the job to himself, so he became the Architect. What he is doing now, is trying to sell the idea, so that he can steal public domain, and sprawl his gated community. He can finally act as the “main” developer, and will reap the profit of his own lie.
I am almost positive though that the Lebanese government will not go through with him on the project. Despite what I think of our politicians, I suspect that most of the elected officials will quickly dismiss this environmental and social disturbance.
Otherwise God help us.
Dr. Saleh, if you really care for the cedars and their symbolism, and if you really want to do something for Lebanon (and not just the filthy rich few) why don’t you spend a fraction of that money (7.4 billion) to plant actual Cedar trees up Mount Lebanon; that’s Cedrus libani for you.
I’ll even write to the government and push them to name a whole forest after you…
Jan 09 / Arenal, Costa Rica / Canon PowerShot SD750
I was watching “the secrets of survival” on the Discovery Channel tonight, as they were featuring an interview with a young couple that had set out for a three hour hike in the Amazon rain forest, but because of one wrong turn, their short exploration turned into a six day nightmare. In order to teach us the secrets of survival in the hostile jungle, “the dude” was going to reenact the couples' ordeal and try his luck in the same jungle, at the same spot, and see if he can find his way out of the thick jungle.
Instead of just jumping in - grabbing a handy cam to document his trip - and showing us first hand how to tackle the dangers of the rain forest, the moron shows up with a two-man camera crew, and a local guide carrying a rifle and a machete, to make sure he doesn’t do anything “wrong” (as he so eloquently puts it).
After atrocious minutes of documentary-gone-wrong-tv-torture, and trying to clumsily tackle dense vegetation - while at the same time being slick, funny, and real - he makes it out of the jungle in two days, bragging, boosting, and all happy. …. As the program ended, and the credits started scrolling, the dude poses the ultimate question: “Why was I able to make it out in 2 days, when it took the couple 6? Is my sense of orientation better than theirs? ...” ....
No you stupid arse!
You came out in two days, only because you were never really worried about your safety, or your life; there was nothing threatening your existence... You could at least think straight, and not panic, although you did at some points... oh wait, that was to make it look credible. You weren’t "really" worried about getting lost in this dense emptiness. You weren’t the least ticked about being attacked by a jaguar since Eduardo behind you, walks with a finger on the trigger of his riffle. You weren’t either under the same amount of pressure for fast and critical decision making, and most of all, you weren’t subject to the terrifying feeling of loneliness that they were in, since you had your goofy buddies walking beside you, filming your pretty face make dumb grimaces every time a mosquito flew over. You couldn't even possibly begin to feel the terror of never being able to be found that they had, since a plane was hovering above, trying to see if they could spot you... They did not have the luxury of having the information you had meticulously gathered before you went on this "journey". They were at some point, even contemplating suicide, while your ass was clowning back and forth in front of the camera... making jokes. In fact, and now that I think about it, the only moral and physical suffering you sustained was a few nasty mosquito bites, and loosing your integrity.
I got news last week. I was so waiting for this to happen. After Architecture, and Urban Design, I decided to go for my third degree, and try to widen my spectrum of design disciplines, in this architectural world. I am now a Landscape Architect.
To me, this step is not only an academic and professional accreditation, but also a personal reward of accomplishment, for past years’, sometimes painful, sacrifices. And I know that this will sound tacky, but I truly couldn’t have done it without your support and your actual physical help during the final weeks.
It has really been a very crappy blogging year. I have to admit. Maybe next year’s resolution should be about blogging a bit more… writing, drawing, posting photography, reading others; you know, just more participation on blogland. I apologize to the faithful few friends who email and keep asking for my whereabouts, and I apologize to myself for this promise of fragile commitment.
This is a crop from an email I sent to one of my best friends… (usually I don’t re-read my emails, and I didn’t edit before I pasted on here… so pardon the mistakes)
“Dec.15.08 @ 1:51 a.m.
Finally, and after a lot of debate and calculation, we decided that we are going to Costa Rica. N. and me, J. is also coming along. A. and M. will head there a couple of days before us, and will meet us in San Jose on the day of our arrival. We're going to be camping in the jungle and on the beach most of the time. With the monkeys, the parrots, the red eyed frogs, the snakes and the rest of them crawlers; it should be a beautiful adventure. We're very excited. I am sure I'll have the opportunity to bring back beautiful photography for your eyes to feast on. Between N and me, we have 4 cameras…
Did you know that Costa Rica is a country that has no army? Can’t find those anymore man! It is something. 35% of its territory is protected reserves, and it is one of the first "environmental" countries… definitely recommended for backpacking and ecotourism… By 2010 it will become zero carbon emitting. Not too bad for a "poor" country is it? Define poorness after this; it takes a whole new meaning. How did we end up needing so much stuff I don't know. How could we do it, and how could we not see it? We're now at the mercy of things... of commodities. Yeah yeah, I know... an old theory, but still... very valid. We shouldn't forget it; and take its bait.
Oh by the way, I need to buy so many things to prepare for the trip! How about that? ;-)
The above, was just tourist mumbo jumbo, and National Geographic shit… I will give you more interesting, and more intelligent feedback once I set foot there. Take care, z.”
There you go… hope you have a “happier” 2009… keep safe, keep healthy, and most of all, be happy. See you soon.
For years I have been urging my sister to start working towards putting her poems in a book, and publishing it. I honestly think that she has an instinctive talent for placing words together, and deserves a shot out there with the rest of the spontaneous poets.
She finally succumbed to my incessant nagging, and prepared a draft, that she intends to send to a couple of editors she contacted. She got her copyrights all sorted out, printed out a few copies, and is now getting ready to confide it to the red metallic mailbox, on the corner of a random street in Montreal... the city she mostly loves.
Before she does that however, she entrusted me the monumental responsibility to proof read and edit the draft copy, before she sends it out to "strangers". This a most difficult task for me, not only because I have never written poetry, but also because I haven't been able to write anything substantial or remotely smart for the past few months; I am absolutely lacking any kind of inspiration these days. (I am only playing with Holga, but this will come in another post).
I think it is working out pretty well though. I am taking my time, working on only about three poems a day (a bus ride), while trying to be efficient, and non-judgmental. Since I have no proper training in doing what I am asked to do, I am mostly relying on common sense and musicality, to modify, suggest and critique, whatever doesn't sound or ring so well. Of course she thinks that the progress is too slow, as she was ready to send it last week, but I think I convinced her to be patient, and to give it, and me, some time.
I hope I do a good job, and give the manuscript its worth, and I wish her all the luck in the world for her ambitious endeavor.
La Route des Vins' 08 / Dunham, Qc. / Canon Eos Digital Rebel XTi
It snowed today. My favorite season is officially over with this first white coat.
For the past few days now, wind has been picking up, and the rain came down washing away the last stubborn yellow/red/orange leaves. Naked and deserted, deciduous trees are emerging rapidly and abruptly throughout the desolate landscape.
The color scheme will now change for the few months to come… awaiting the next green.
Can’t complain much though. We have had a magnificent and sublime Fall season this year. Despite long inhumane working hours, I have managed to squeeze in a few unplanned and spontaneous road trips and hikes, which generated beautiful frames and surreal colors to be carried away in memory… in the form of photographs.
Although this was a fruitful and a personally satisfying season of photography, I was very unfortunate to lose two very important team members along the way: My old and reliable Nikon FG, and my Polaroid camera; may they rest in peace. They both added magic and pleasure to my photographic journey, and it is really a shame to see them retire, and bite the dust…
A new member joined the clan though… But that's the topic of the next entry.
June 07 / Montréal, Qc. / Canon Eos Digital Rebel XTi
Tuesday night… Cold outside… warm inside… Every day life…
Wife and sister were sitting in the living room. Like humming of bees, they were talking and conversing while doing their “girly” things. The T.V was on, but they were not watching anything in particular. Every once in a while, they would glance, find something interesting… pause… and then continue with their business.
Dude was there… in the room… hovering around and about... dropping a sentence from time to time. He was quietly enjoying those rare moment of tranquility, when his brains are not processing multiple images and sequences, in front of a computer screen.
Suddenly, dude felt he wanted to be in on the private chat, the laughter, and the giggling. In his boyish awkward, way of seeking attention, he stands up… heads towards the girls… lifts his hands up in the air… does weird stupid dance… shouts out loud… pauses… and heads back to the couch… ... Girls never stopped humming… …
He just shouted the silliest childhood cliché… something that would have caused any sane head to turn with surprise…
Butterflies & Demons / Nov.07 / Montréal, Québec / Canon Eos Digital Rebel XTi
He had a dream about her last night... They were together, in their usual little hideaway. That old vernacular, yellow stone house hidden deep in the heart of the mountain they loved so much.
With only the occasional mist as their accomplice, for years they were able to meet there… clandestinely.
They were happy, enjoying their intimacy, and their isolation. The world revolved only around them, and the rest fell into oblivion. Suddenly, a life threatening incident occurs, and without thinking for even a second, he did something that ended him dead to save her life.
He instinctively sacrificed his being, for her. … He always asked himself that question. You know. That question he always thought he surely knew the answer for. If he would really die for her.
People love, and say I love you all the time... but would they really die for someone?
In this intense, unrehearsed, and unconscious phenomenon of dreaming, he got his natural and unconditioned answer...
He would do it faster than the flick of the wings of a butterfly. He would do it in a blink of a memory.
I haven’t been able to write for quite some time now. A terrible lack of concentration due to overworking, numbness and loss of interest in anything remotely intellectual due to the difficulty my brain is having processing the constant browsing my eyes are performing, and being such a fake perfectionist, all contributed to the many reasons I haven’t been able to finish a decent post for the past few months.
Chaotic thoughts, and unorganized images, result in corrupted instances of time, and loss of memory.
Funny coming from a wannabe blogger trying to maintain a blog with “memory” as title.I have more posts “saved as draft”, than I have as “published”.
For a while now, I couldn’t finish one thought.I either lose interest a few sentences away, or just finish the post, and decide to publish it the next day and never do. Both come to the same fatal end; I am not writing.
I started reading a lot again. I had even boycotted reading on the bus… something that was very relaxing and dear to me. I just didn’t feel like thinking... plain and simple. Not that I didn’t want to, just that I “preferred” not to.
It must have been that I had to devoid my head... even if for a little while. ….
Sometimes I thought I could just post photography, to help with the block, but then resolved not to... but that is another big issue story I am going to have to tell you about some other time. One drama at a time. ….
It was an amazing Labor Day weekend we had in Quebec. The weather was beautiful, and Montrealers have been waiting the whole summer for such a long weekend.
The sky was blue, the sun was up, and people were OUT.
We rented a car for the holiday, and were able to “go away” for the weekend. We took the ferry to Burlington, and drove the way back passing by beautiful scenery and cute little towns. Then drove to the Outaouais region in Quebec, and tended to “wild” and farm animals in a wild life reserve…
We had excellent company; we walked under the sun, rested our eyes across sublime landscapes, and recharged them with raw, natural, non-Photoshoped colors.
Thanks to good friends, to reconnection with nature and its rightful inhabitants, to a given day of simple and pure happiness, and of course to photography... I now have a new set of beautiful and vivid memories that will hopefully help me get to my next momentary failure.
Thank you all for your concern, your comments, and your emails... all is relatively well here. Nothing but too much work, procrastination, and bad time management... everything I do best.
Unvisited Leftovers / June 06 / Montréal, Qc / Canon Eos Digital Rebel XTi
Are you able to, like me, dig through your past anytime you like to?
Anytime you have a moment, you go looking for a past moment from your lifeline, and project it into your present; into that moment you were having.
Or had actually, since you are constantly living in your past.
It’s a bitch isn’t it?
I always thought that it was a blessing… no it isn’t. Believe me, looks are deceiving. I was deceived. I deceived myself. Don’t worry, I am so good with that. I am used to lie to myself. I am used to trick myself into believing, that everything I do, is what is supposed to happen.
No… no. Believe me it is tiring. Living the past over and over and over. You tell yourself, that the past isn’t so bad, since you’re still enjoying it in the present. But that’s part of your delusion... part of the hypnosis. The cycle is viscous, and memories can sting. Without prior notice, and just when you thought that the image memory summoned is pleasant, safe, and smile-drawing, a virus parasite thought interrupts your process recollection, and your lovely window to the past turns into a film noir. Thrilling and interesting to go through for sure, but that wasn’t the ride you paid for.
You got fooled again. You got fooled by your own creation, and by your own being.
Here’s to memories… We live for them, from them, and through them. Here’s to two years of urban_memories [the unfinished polaroids].
Snow is starting to melt away leaving a big black mess behind. Dirt, garbage, gravel, and brown grass are dominating the streetscapes. The city is getting ready for its big Spring clean up, and Homo Urbanis is getting impatient waiting for hot sun and open terraces. Slowly but surely, Metropolis is coming to life again; already moods are shifting.
We had a big scare last week with a snowstorm in April, and we may get another white coat this week, but spring is definitely stepping in. You can smell excitement in the air.
I am going to start taking my camera out again. For the past few weeks I opted to leave out my faithful daily companion, as I was not in the mood for capturing moments. My eyes were not capable of seeing anything beautiful. I relied on the mobile phone camera when brief appetite appeared, but never felt like holding my camera… I should give it a name by the way…
I have been waiting to post this for a long time now, but if you remember this, then you’ll probably be expecting me to post the sequel and final results.
Yes! Again… She won!
.
Busy Schedule_the end / Dec. 07 / Mtl, Qc / Canon Eos Digital Rebel XTi
“The world is changed; I can feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth, I smell it in the air, much that once was is lost, for none now live to remember it”
This has been the longest I have been away from blogging – writing, reading and communicating with fellow bloggers. It has also been the longest I have ever been from any form of “artistic” manifestation. That is not true actually, I have been taking a lot of photographs, but as always I never get around on doing anything with them, so I disregard any importance to that issue. They just get stored with their siblings on my hard drive. 
.