Bending the truth

Robert Doisneau, Le Basier de L'hotel de Ville, 1950

The photo above was shown to me by a friend while we were having a discussion on the honesty of art and art forms. I won't go into the entirety of the conversation here, simply because it is unnecessary. Like most of my conversations with Mic it ended unresovled, just the way I like it! Since then I have been keeping this photo as the background and contemplating the meaning of it.

The photographer, Robert Doisneau is a well known French photographer who took pictures of everyday life on the streets of Paris. he did this for years and got plenty of great shots. The Kiss by the Hotel de Ville happens to be his most famous. It was a symbol of pure uninhibited romance captured by the camera. Now the true question is; since it is a photograph, which is a picture of something that really happened, is it telling us what really happened? Most people want to believe it is. Afterall it would be happier to think of this photo as the capturing of a secret moment between two people. It helps support the yerning for the belief in true romance. Which I would like to think was the point of this photo.

The real truth is that this couple are not a couple at all; they are a hired pair of models. They were paid to do it. Which means the embrace was not one of romance but one of money. It's a falsification of the truth, it manipulates its audience. In this way it plays up to all art form by bringing on a reaction.

The true moral of this whole rant is that what you are presented with is always a biased representation of the truth. As this it should always be second guessed, in thought if not in action. Unless of course you're happy being given an altered truth, sometimes that's just easier to accept than reality.

Mirror, mirror on the wall...

And now for a topic I was thinking about today while sitting on the toilet. Yes admit it, we all think while on the toilet; it is an alone time in which we all must be left to deal with the humanity of ourselves.

So while facing my own humanity, I thought about how different it is to approach a room like a bathroom at night instead of the day. For me this involved 3 distinct fazes;
1. The walk to the bathroom was in the dark. I don't care what you tell me, a walk in the dark is creepy - even more so in a place I am familiar with. It's the fact that the room through which I know exists during a time when no person is usually there but me. For me a walk down a familiar hallway is less comforting than my 3 am strolls down Sherbrooke from St. Laurent, through the ghetto. This is because no one is there. And so I must turn on the lights, it promises me that everything that should be there is there and nothing foreign is hiding in the cover of the night.
2. As a child I was always afraid of toilets. Mostly of when they flushed, I thought they would suck me in. That fear has stuck with me in some Pavlovian self conditioning. I still to this day get twitchy, most noticeably at night when it comes time to flush the toilet.
3. My biggest problem was always with the mirrors. Mirrors have tradtionally always held a mystical appeal. They have been suggested as portals to other dimensions, such as in Alice Through the Looking Glass; and have been suggested of the ability to show a true self. It was this reflection that I was and to this day am still afraid of at times. I fear that I will look into the mirror and not see the self that I wish me to be, but that person that I am consistently afraid of having become. This is amplified by the night, and the previous two factors that raise my blood pressure. Luckily for me and perhaps many of us no such mirror exists that can yet talk back and speak the truth of our natures. My only comfort is that with each fearful glance, there is still just me, the undefined staring back.

The moral of the story, don't buy a mirror unless you're ready to deal with your reflection. Or if you gotta go, you gotta face the demons of the midnight toilet.

Anyways, that's really it. This was just one of those things that regularly circulate through my head... Just thought I might as well let it out and give my mind a rest. The whole perception of reality thing always got to me anyways.

Night all...

Another week down

Well another week came and went, and what have I learnt in the last 10 080 minutes? Well aside from the fact that that is an incredibly satisfying number... I can pull basically 2 all nighters in a row and not look or even feel tired. Is something wrong with me? Perhaps... The key I feel to my success is a cd that I have listened to almost without fail for the past couple of weeks. Back to Bedlam by James Blunt is currently on the top of my list as a must have. This man is truly incredible, I just can't stop, this music is eatting me like a disease (but the painless kind).
Enough of that, I also got a haircut (see the pic!) to remedy the creepy mullet action the previous hairdresser gave me. This woman was great. She's this crazy little asian woman who lives for wrestling and thinks booty calls are what's wrong with the world. Well at least someone has an idea.
Now I'm off to the new Sunday night ritual... I promise you cheap tacos, cheap chocolate and a steady supply of weed will be the ultimate end of me. I wonder what will kill me first, lung cancer, heart disease or stupidity?

Happy Birthday

I would like to dedicate this song to my Mom, on her birthday;

Forever Young by Bob Dylan

May God bless and keep you always,
May your wishes all come true,
May you always do fo those around you
And let others do for you.
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous,
May you grow up to be true,
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you.
May you always be courageous,
Stand upright and be strong,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy,
May your feet always be swift,
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift.
May your heart always be joyful,
May your song always be sung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

Happy Birthday Mom :)
Love ya.

Procrastination professional

Now for some time wasters....
This is a must do for the ultimate in time wasting... igod
Ever wanted to know if that junk mail photo you got last week was the real deal? Snopes wil demystify the photo and more for you!
Then there is the classic for any College student.
Don't know what you want to do, but feel wasting time on the internet is the perfect way to accomplish your goals? Check out stumble upon, just enter your preferences and it will give you webpages that suit your interests... thgey come to you!
Finally, my favourite. The old stand-by, albino black sheep.
That's it for now.... have any other good procrastination suggestions? I'm all ears!

Hottie Hot Pants

So about a year ago while walking around Bondi Beach with friend, a pregnant woman with camera walked up to Ash and a friend. She said she just needed them to hold a model for a shot.
Just a few days ago he finally got an email from this mystery woman. Ends up that she's releasing a new line of lingerie under the name Bondi Strippers. Hahaha, and Ash (on the left) and his friend are now on the website!
How great is that?!

Animal Activists

On a slightly more random not... visit the PETA and GoVeg websites. They have hours of informative videos and propoganda; please be advised some are rather graphic.
What is portrayed is nothing new to me, and really has not convinced me to give up the little meat I still eat. But I found some of the videos (ie on animal cognition) pretty interesting.
Now despite the fact that I am a true animal lover and these people do have honourable intentions and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, take what is said with a grain of salt. I have seen too many people form rash opinions on entire industries and groups because of the actions of a few illbehaved and immoral individuals. And always question what is being told to you, no matter who says it.
Peace,
Booth

Least We Forget

Ok, so this is my second attempt at this post... I had written an eloquent diatribe about what I am about to say, so please bear in mind... this is a second post. To start off where I left... nothing much has been happening in the past week. It's all school school school! This week alone I don't have a day where a big assignment or presentation isn't due - I love paying for this. But on the bright side there are only 2 1/2 weeks of class left before finals. Now I know this may seem like a scary number, but for me finals means a break from all of this is coming, and I will this time be able to spend almost 3 STRAIGHT WEEKS IN BURLINGTON!!! This is an accomplishment all of its own for me, and I plan on enjoying every minute of it with the people I never get to see.

Point next, remembrance day is nearing. As a matter of fact it's this Friday. This 'holiday' I find sneaks up on me every year. Halloween ends, there's a week and a half of 'wtf?!' and then we're all standing silently for the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month. Don't get me wrong I have no problem with it, as a matter of fact my main opinion is that many people these days have become very nonchalant about the whole thing. I see fewer young people with poppies and fewer veterans out to sell them. It seems as the generation that remembers passes on the uninhibited energy of youth fails to stop and ask, 'what's with that red flower you're selling?' It could be that as time passes by, the courageous acts of these men and women become overshadowed and drowned out by the horrid events of the present and all of our emotional energy has become drained.
People tend to not realize the added meaning of the poppies. We do not wear them just to remember those who have fallen so that others may rise. We wear them to show that we stand among the fallen. That we are one of the poppies in Flanders Field sprung from the courage, fortitude and beliefs of our ancestor’s sacrifices. To wear a poppy is not just to remember silently, it is to loudly crusade for the weak, oppressed and powerless. Otherwise what is the point of history, if nothing is learned? What good has come from these deaths if people still live impoverished of their most basic of human rights?
For me the poppy evokes mixed emotions. With each flash of red I see, a sense of unclean pride overcomes me. Why should I be proud of this? Despite not ever dying in vain, I feel that we as a country have let down the ghosts. And they still haunt us for that reason. Eventually I hope that the poppy will one day represent remembrance of the times we had a hand in overcoming the ills of the world. And that we need not overcome them anymore.
What so ever the reason, the meaning of Remembrance Day is fading from our memories. To halt this decay, we must take new steps worth remembering.

And there it is, my serious blog of the month. I hope it wasn’t too depressing, but hey I felt like it had to be done.
Till next time my friends,
Booth
p.s. to keep jog your memory check out the Remembrance Day Website, it has tons of links to check out, just incase you want a distraction.

Ok so no pictures this time... but I have included my favourite cartoon instead. Those who know particularly evolution will appreciate the humour. Perhaps at a later date I will break out my favourite joke, especially since it is a Gary Larson!
Last saturday was Halloween party part deux. This time I was Marilyn Monroe, and it worked out fairly well. After a failed attempt at 737, a club I am yet to haev the patience to wait in line for, we headed off to Cafe Campus, saw the line then darted to Vol de Nuit. Surprisingly we were the only ones in costume... but hey whatever. Made soem new friends with guys up from Dartmoth, took them to Bifteck, then dumped htem there for some other newer friends. In the end had a great time with the group and didn't get home until an inappropriately late time... All I can say is, "thank you daylight savings!"
Lately I haven't been up to much, just a load of work. If this week doesn't kill me, than I will definitely just end up a butchered mess. But hey, what else is school for. And what better way to take advantage of mild insomnia than putting it to work? I have however gotten into the even more severe habit of turning off my alarm in my sleep. Since I don't actually have a clock radio, or any other alarm clock to speak of I am using my cell phone. Bad idea, despite the fact that it is hidden on the otherside of the room, without fail I find it in my sleep and bury it under the pillow beside me. Lately I have been rather adept at changing the ring tone and adding new 'numbers' to my contacts list. This must stop... but I haven't quite figured out how to do it... hmmm.
The greatest acomplishment of my week will be yet to come... I, yes I, Sara Booth am going to clean my room tonight. Just rest on that thought for a moment... then move on and check up on me later.
Last but not least, a quote I saw written on the condemed building on Ste Catherine's near the Atwater mall, "I will love my wife and 'my' child forever". Apparently this wifey was having some fun with the milk man... really all that can be said to that is, why on earth would one man want to make that known?