Valentine BS & True Love

"Love is trembling happiness."

--Gibran K.Gibran

February 14 is branded worldwide as Valentine day; a day to declare your flame to your beloved and express your feelings by offering stuff brilliantly marketed, which makes of FEB14 a shopping-spending-frenzy-silly VALIday and of Valentine, nobody but an arrogant crook.

Each year as Valentine approaches, retailers double, or even triple the price of roses. While they are classic symbols of love, are they worth the rip-off? Do you have any idea how much money is made on Valentine Day? Me neither. However, it's another one of those days many go out to buy stuff they don't need.

Be wise, boycott Valentine! Don't get caught up in the hype. Resist impulse and publicity guerrilla. Marketing has no end when it comes to V-Day and it's for a big chunk so non-sense! Is it not obvious that it's spread as a marketing stunt to help sell hearts, red goods and China made cheesy merchandise. As consumers we need to question the products we buy and challenge the companies that produces useless stuff. Common, play it Adbusters mode, Go BND [Buy Nothing Day] and instead celebrate Love 365 days. Shop less, Love more!

Am sick of hearts, am dead sick of teddy bears. Valentine is to blame; however, marketers are the culprits. Crafting, designing, drawing something means more to me than receiving store bought stuff.

Customise your love, spread your smile like a real message of Love. Better, LIVE, LOVE LAUGH. Nurture Hapiness, cuz this is what Love is all about. Share it, spend time with loved ones, rather then spend cash on them.

Anyhow, below is my pick of good design stuff speaking of love without that corny-cards style. And this is what is called 'The Art of Communication' and LOVE deserves such a treat.

Buddha Butter by Rubyred from Redbubble

'Razorheart' by lucanindustries from Redbubble

By Carrie Glenn of Redbubble community

Love Bites by Sadmachine on Redbubble

By PixelProtest from Redbubble

By Vladimir Chaika

By Faizee from RedBubble

By Al Neaimi from RedBubble

By Simon Lovelace - love v/s hate

By David Barath from Hungary

Sugar à la Pêche

la sug, originally uploaded by Sugarpoppy.

Sugar a la pêche et c'est bien clair..C'est à La Voile de Rmeyleh que Sugar mon lab chocolat m'emmène aux vents du Sud Liban pr naviguer les vagues de mon jardin d'enfance...
C'est le Bonheur redéfinit par La Sug et sa joie de vivre est diablement contagieuse...
Merci d'exister ma belle chocolat--HUG

Revolution

'The fist' was part of Free for Wall exhibition- work by R1

Kiss me Deadly & OBEY

KISS ME DEADLY is another one of those stunning mind-blowing designs created by Shepard Fairey, ma boule's "coup de coeur" of the moment; in 'inglishe,' ce serait quelque chose comme,,, Shepard Fairey my heart crack crack... Just love all his doings, his approach to the world of communication, his imprint left in visual design, where André the wrestler will always remain this ghastly image firmly stuck in my mind... He did IT and I can't but SALUTE his art, as he keeps on captivating me; specially that a good chunk of his visuals and design expressions & impressions have this alluring characteristic that manages--every time i come across his work-- to delight me and arouse my admiration. Hats off -- & STRIKE ME DEADLY FAIREY!! IT'S ALL GOOD!!

Obama Rocks

I love Barack Obama. He represents the Hope, Change, Progress that --not only America-- but the whole world is in dire need of. He represents a new era of positive change. As a support to the future president of the US ;0) have remixed Shepard Fairey infamous poster [below]. On top, my gift to the man who mirrors all the colours of the world, its lights and all shades. He's such a positive energy to humanity as a whole, he's certainly able to help people delete 'the wicked Bush years.' So here it is; a pop design for Rocking Oby --[a play on Fairey's Mega OBEY].

Here is the Progress visual, one of the triptych [Hope, Change, Progress] created by Obey's Shepard Fairey as a support to Obama; the original limited edition offset lithographs got sold on eBay, as fast as a lightning; signed and numbered by the artist, their price reached US $900. Even the stickers are selling like pancakes and, if I remember correctly, they are sold out too.

"I wanted to make an art piece of Barack Obama because I thought an iconic portrait of him could symbolize and amplify the importance of his mission. I believe Obama will guide this country to a future where everyone can thrive and I should support him vigorously for the sake of my two young daughters. I have made art opposing the Iraq war for several years, and making art of Obama, who opposed the war from the start, is like making art for peace. I know I have an audience of young art fans and I’m delighted if I can encourage them to see the merits of Barack Obama.” Shepard Fairey

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!!

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..

I LUV RIEN

TILL FURTHER NOTICE, I LUV 'RIEN'

BUT  MICKEY...N' MY POPPY FLOWER, MY LAB SUGAR....

Love & War

Bomb, Barriers of Love & War graphed on Beirut's walls Came across these Wall Art Tags surfing the 'weewee' Wild Web... Found them Lovely, Loud & Fully-Loaded of War memories. These tags act as a reminder of a mentality still deeply anchored in many Lebanese minds, which seem to be setting the stage for another skirmished round, with their rancorous spirit building barriers and putting wicked bitter sentiments at the forefront. These graffitis are one good metaphor of all the ingredients that pilled up & triggered back in 1975 an angry thunder on my country. Today, it seems that not much has been learned from the past, not much has been altered in the mentalities--even the new generation has been contaminated with hate, intolerance, and the poisonous confessional sticky-deadly virus. May Peace prevail!... The featured Street Art Graffiti from Beirut, are archived on one interesting blog from Lebanon, worth a surf; it is dubbed as A Diamond's Eye View

PINCE MOI, JE REVE

by Urkuk

Oui toi!!! J'en pince pour toi--- Alors que je ne devrai en pincer pour personne; mais bon... C'est Comme ÇA!!!

textes: Gaston Bachelard graphisme: Gilles Dupuis

Sugar defining Happiness

Here is my one year old luny-sweetie-gaga-choco lab--she is as loco as one can get--- So meet SUGAR popin' up of happiness in her snowy playground... Plus maboule tu meurs!

Look for the Moon

Lunear eclipse of 2004 -

Photography by David Ball

It will be the last total lunar eclipse until December 20, 2010.

Eclipses occur only at full moon when the Sun, Earth and Moon are in a perfect line.

Because the Moon's orbit around Earth is not perfectly aligned with the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun, eclipses do not occur at every full moon.

The moon will enter Earth's shadow at 8:43 p.m. ET (that's 7:43 p.m. Central, 6:43 p.m. Mountain and 5:43 p.m. Pacific) on Wednesday, Feb. 20. So, will be able to see IT, inshallah, before dawn today...

Unlike solar eclipses, [protective eyeglasses needed], lunar eclipses are safe to view with the naked eye. So arm yourself with a telescope and sit back comfortably, pray for a clear weather and wait for Godot or... the total eclipse phase. It's likewise!!

Otherwise, click for a QuickTime movie of a simulated eclipse.

GOOD TO KNOW2: Later this year, in August, there will be a total solar eclipse and a partial lunar eclipse.

ET VOILA POUR CE SOIR LES BREAKING NIOUZE DE MA BOULE...IL EST TEMPS DE FILER...

BEIRUT TALKIN'

This wall reads

"BEIRUT ENHAKAT"

& it means

'IF BEIRUT SPOKE'

Anything, everything and all things have been said about Lebanon and its people; whereby, Beirut, the city, my city has been embodying all possible superlatives but many dreadful qualifications too, depending on the nature of the chaos that reigns. Nonetheless, Chaos is Beirut’s middle name. And I guess, we, all very much, agree on that one. Beautiful or messed up, Chaos (yes, with a big C, mind you!) is always an interesting state to delve into and swing with, as we go on exploring its terrain or potential ramifications. The sharpest depiction of my chaotic-beloved Beirut has always been a tag that goes like this: “Crazy - Charmeuse - Chaotic Heyya Madinatee.” Even the language(s) we speak is as messed up as the country itself; an outspoken Chaos that is!

SUGAR N' HUG

SUGAR

HUG

The 10 Most Popular Dogs in the U.S. according to the American Kennel Club. 1. Labrador Retriever 2. Yorkshire Terrier 3. German Shepherd Dog 4. Golden Retriever 5. Beagle 6. Boxer 7. Dachshund 8. Poodle 9. Shih Tzu 10. Bulldog

GRRR

This is a collage I Love by German artist Monika Aichele

My KING

Here is a pic of my King via VisualMente

JOYEUX BORDEL

Well, that's MY Zone, n' here is Sugar the brown puppy lab along with Lady black Hug, and the featured visual is my first computer graphic collage, usually it's all hand made, the true stuff- Anyhow, here is my tribe---C'est ma tribu, c'est ma bulle; c'est tout mon bonheur avec Ocean, mon homme, mon amour maboule... & I have a feeling...[still a gd sign] It's gonna B ONE BEAUTIFUL MESS on ma bulle maboule!! Prêt pour le décolage?... Parce que moi, d'avance j'ai le vertige... Alors, Allez...CIRCULEZ, Y'A RIEN A VOIR! Revenez plus tard...