the ability to talk about nothing

To talk about nothing is a paradox explored in Plato's Sophist. Lohbado sat in the park this morning, as the temperature went above zero in Montreal. It felt balmy in the sun, as if spring had begun. He sipped coffee and read a few pages of a library book, in French entitled Le Sophiste. He began with section 232, where L'Etranger (the stranger) discussed the nature of the sophist with a young man named Théétète.

Hootenanny portraits

Another fun and friendly Hootenanny took place Sunday at  Brasserie Beaubien in Montreal. Hootenanny is a wonderful occasion to relax, listen to music and socialize.

suit yourself

photo jazzed up with yellow graphic

Chez Jana store isn't on Cote des Neiges anymore. The above photos are from a few years ago. The store used to be up the street from the grillade.

confession

A loud honking noise startled Lohbado. He realized he'd been gazing at a building, without it registering. His mind had been far away, imagining the ocean, walking barefoot in the sand while clouds created spectacular light effects and birds flew around. In the middle of Montreal, it was like he'd been transformed to some sort of paradise and completely forgot where he was, until a van honked as he was about to step out from the curb.

The shock made things vivid. Grid-like rectangles of brick buildings impressed into his mind the reality of many rooms filled with people doing many things, a variety of human experience. He felt a sudden urge to confess. Forgive me for being sloppy. After confessing to the brick wall and windows, he resolved to watch where he was going.

Onion Agents

Years ago, while crossing the Plains of Radiation after the Apocalyptic War, Lohbado encountered Onion Agents who used emotional appeal to try and persuade lost wanderers to enlist in the RE (reconstruction effort). The first time  Onion Agents invaded his personal space, his eyes watered. After a while, he got used to them. They were about as annoying as telemarketers phoning up every day to ask if you'd like new doors and windows installed in your apartment. Lohbado eventually enrolled in a 6 week training program at Onion College which qualified him to work for the DR (department of regulation) as a PBE (push button expert).

February Bear

February Bear wishes everyone a happy Wednesday and pleasant month of February.

Moronovian Creativity

A new video about creativity on Lohbado youtube channel... three benefits of creativity. Three reasons to create: it's fun; it reduces loneliness and it stimulates the brain. Lohbado recorded this video while out on a bike ride then added graphics and narration at home.

goat hallucination

Abel Crane back in the late seventies, graduate student of religious studies at Lumpkins University in Yamaville had a vision of goats while cooking a pot of spaghetti in his basement kitchen. Probably it was from drinking too much coffee, not getting enough sleep in attempt to meet deadlines.

apartment tower

it's a question of how you look at it

Lohbado turned the corner to take a short cut down a back lane. He rode slowly to avoid broken glass, speed bumps, cracks and pot holes which could knock the air out or puncture a bicycle tire. One also has to be wary of motor vehicles which lunge backwards from parking spots, or delivery vans maneuvering into position at a loading dock. Lohbado looked up and was struck by the solid drab, yet somehow monumental apartment tower on the horizon. The tower drew his mind into the rich blue sky and space. In spite of the speed and noise of a freeway service road, the moment of turning down the lane opened a vast dream-like world, plenty of space for the imagination to have fun. He quickly took three photos then continued on his way. The above scene occurred in May 2013 in Montreal.

outside the house of pain

Lohbado dreamed about the time he visited friends at the hospital after a radiation storm blew in off the plains. Exposure resulted in visceral, melting mutations. Lohbado got to know Dr. Jane Wormsly as she collected worm samples at the hospital.

After the Apocalyptic War, the hospital was reorganized into pain wards. One ward dealt with throbbing, crushing pain. Another ward specialized in flashes of electric zap which set a person's teeth on edge and made hair stand on end. Then of course, the ward of nausea a cornucopia of unbearable nausea with ammonia, rancid tomato juice and hormonal overtones. Biting, tearing, stabbing, burning, bubbling and erupting pain, Lohbado ran screaming from the hospital and chatted with one of the orderlies on the front lawn.

Lohbado's eccentric library

post card of Niagara Falls

Lohbado spent the day browsing through his collection of books, post cards, art objects and oddities; perfect activity for a drowsy day. Sometimes his body felt so heavy and tired leaving no choice but to slow down. He stood in front of shelves and cabinets. He decided to work on videos about the books in his collection.

painted books

Another snowy day in Montreal, not so great for bike riding, Lohbado sorted through pictures of old painted books, acrylic on paper.

reflections after heavy snow

snow up to the door

looks like a coffin

More snow came down on Montreal, although not nearly so much as Sunday. Snow covered streets, Lohbado decided to wait another day before going for a bike ride. Once the plough passes, bike riding is not so sloppy and slippery. The trick is to keep the feet warm and not fall asleep.

heavy snow in Montreal

click picture to see video

February 12 a lot of snow came down on the city of Montreal. The next day, many people got out the shovel, snow blower or hired someone to move the snow. Walking to the public transit through deep snow provided exercise. The video was mostly recorded on Cote des Neiges.

bad apple gone good

apple decay

A bad apple in the barrel could be turned into a good apple for photo shoot, or to set aside for decay. Decaying apple exudes pleasant fragrance and offers a chance to contemplate the nature of change. Maybe at one point in the past, the apple hung from a branch. Maybe a worm tunnelled into the apple. It got picked, tossed in a basket and sent to a store. This time of year apples sometimes are slightly beat up and filled with bruises and holes. An old apple is better than no apple at all. Lohbado looked at the wrinkled skin and puffy blue veins on the back of his old hands and at the wrinkled skin of the decaying apple. Eventually everything wears out, gets old or dies.

winter vegetables

While snow came down in buckets over the city of Montreal, Lohbado admired winter vegetables in the comfort of his basement apartment.

old metal

metal hook

latch

 A pleasant activity for a Saturday evening, sit down and examine old pieces of metal.

fly from the wrath to come

Fear has been a huge part of Lohbado's mind, maybe due to DNA. He must have inherited some sort of rogue gene that made him fear impending doom, or people scheming to get him, to bring about his ruin. This morbid propensity is partly what caused him to undertake a study of religious and philosophical texts.

dill pickle review

Lohbado bought a jar of dill pickles, product of Ukraine at Krazy Kris grocery store in Cote des Neiges. He did a review of the pickles.

on the Plains of Radiation

painted book acrylic on paper

Lohbado dreamed about nationalistic fervour, how some people rallied behind megalomaniac dictators claiming to represent good in a war against evil. An apocalyptic war fulfilled the secret wishes of many. However, it didn't turn out according to how it was presented in the official rhetoric. Nuclear winter followed, a time of shock and awe. How could this happen? Many kept asking and wondering how leaders and administration could have unleashed such horror. After the devastation, Lohbado dreamed he was alone on the Plains of Radiation. A heavy drowsiness dulled the anxiety of wondering where he would end up or how he would get there. He looked at the ground below his feet as he tried to keep radioactive dirt from oozing over the top of his boots. He felt dizzy and disembodied. Lohbado woke with a migraine.

dream pages from painted book

falling bug 

from painted book acrylic on paper

 Often Lohbado went to the tabernacle and painted on the pages of old discarded books. Some of the books were older than Lohbado, but had no collector value. Painting on the pages gave them a new lease on life. A geometry textbook from around 1940 lay on a bedside table. Lohbado brushed off the dust and noticed dead flies on the window sill and tears in the screen window. He pulled up a chair, got out the paint and felt a communion with the micro world of insects and paper fibres. He set a cup of coffee and plate of toast next to the book and paint, since the stomach played an important role in the digestive model. In the stomach, mental and physical events churned into forms.