nuit après nuit

nuit après nuit, originally uploaded by Sugarpoppy.

One of my first collage work, done back in Kuwait, in 2004, as a CD cover for Ocean. A set of my 12 12x12cm postcards --that also work as CD covers --are available for sale at artlounge gallery, Karantina - Beirut.

XO toujours...4EVER LuV

xo, originally uploaded by jdyf333.

Love, Amour Toujours, Always Love, always Coca Cola... Love, the other side of Life... Love, the ultimate Trip, indeed!!

C Weed Time

My first dabbling on Photoshop with a photo I shot on Ceningan island nearby Bali, "the island of the gods." It's see weed time on that small island of around 800 people, where no cars are available on those small bikes and boats. Here is a variation of colours achieved thru a Photoshop [basic] manipulation.

BELCOCCI

I LOVE COCCINELLES

I LOVE COCCINELLES

One stunning photo composition, taken in macro mode, by Deutsch national Ellen, a member of the Red Bubble community, whose hobby is to shoot God's incredible creation. Through this photo set, in a minimalist coloured atmosphere, the 'Ladybird on a candy' is given its perfect spirit --or at least as it appeals to many-including me: an optimistic, light and positive sign of God. Coccinellidae are found worldwide, with over 5,000 species identified so far; it is dubbed lady beetle by scientists and called ladybug in the US. Some people consider seeing one or having it land on one's body, to be a sign of good luck to come, whereas killing it presages bad luck.

The esteem with which 'coccinelles' are regarded has clearly roots in ancient beliefs.

1. In Irish, the insect is called "God's little cow";
2. In Croatian, it is called "God's little sheep";
3. In France, it is known as 'bête à bon Dieu', "the Good Lord's animal";
4. In Russia, it is "God's cow";
5. In Yiddish, it is called "Moshe Rabbenu's little cow" or "Moshe Rabbenu's little horse"; [apparently an adaptation of the Russian name, or sometimes "Little Messiah"];
6. In some cultures, they are referred to as "lucky bugs"

• In parts of Northern Europe, tradition says that one's wish granted if a ladybird lands on oneself.
• In Italy, it is said by some that if a ladybird flies into one's bedroom, it is considered good luck.
• In Central Europe, a ladybird crawling across a girl's hand, is thought to mean, she will get married within the year.
• In Greece, ladybugs are called 'paschalitsa', because they are found abundantly in Easter time along with 'paschalia', the Common Lilac plant, which flowers at the same time.
• In Russia, a popular children's rhyme exists with a call to fly to the sky and bring back bread.
• In Denmark, a ladybird, called a 'mariehøne' for "Mary's hen", is asked by children to fly to 'our Lord in Heaven and ask for fairer weather in the morning'.
• In Malta, the ladybird is called "nannakola"; and until a few years ago, little children sang: Nannakola, mur l-iskola/Aqbad siġġu u ibda ogħla meaning...

"Ladybird go to school, get a chair and start jumping..."

In Sugar Pop's Bubble, ladybird is called 'BelCoccinelle', as it brings her fulfillment and the sense of lightness of being--when it pops up every spring.

And, am still waiting for 'BELCOCCI' to fly by...

A Voice that could Stop Wars

ONE Achingly Beautiful NIGHT IN BEIRUT's Music Hall

Tunisian-born singer and oud virtuoso Dhafer Youssef’s hypnotic, Sufi-inspired music, which connects the ancient with the modern, the East with the West in an enticing coalescence of culture, dropped by Beirut for one dazzling night. The kind of gig you watch and pray would never end, charged with such magic that you knew it would leave its mark, move you, change you... He managed to put a smile of Wonderment on my face, which seems to last forever... Dhafer Yousef... One of the most interesting artists alive. I believe I was lucky to be in that enchanted Music Hall. The atmosphere was so electric; a genius of contamination in fact! I got transported, for an hour or so, to another level. This man is without doubt one of the most moving and spirited vocalist that I have ever heard or had the pleasure to see and meet live. Cuz I met him at the end of his gig, hugged him, thanked him for that awesome night that brought back hope to my city; yep indeed, “a voice that could stop wars;” and I promised him that we will meet again..