Friday, July 18, 2008

Big Wise Man


After yesterday's post and all the discussions it triggered I thought it was a good idea to bring some peace to this blog! And who best that Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (better known as Mahatma - great soul - Gandhi) the man who contributed to giving India its independence and fought, among many other things, for the liberation of Indian women. I found this bust in a restaurant where I had lunch yesterday in the 15th arrondissement. Have a great weekend everyone.

52 comments:

  1. Now that's a guy who didn't keep his head buried in the sand.

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  2. LOL Uselaine! All we need is peace and just give us some peace!

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  3. All we are saying, is give peace a chance...

    Speaking of Steak Tartare…. There was a very interesting article in yesterday’s NY Times about the proliferation of hamburgers in Paris restaurants. It used to be that you could only get a good burger at Joe Allen, and more recently Breakfast in America. But times change, and Parisians have embraced the burger, even if they still insist on using a fork and knife.

    I’m having trouble creating links so here’s the URL:

    http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/16/dining/16paris.html

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  4. What do you mean, have a great week-end. What, did I skip a day? Is it Friday already?!!

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  5. Perfect Eric! I hear one of Gandhi's favorite dishes was "peace and carrots"...no salt needed.

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  6. Forget the steak and hamburger; visualize whirled peas.

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  7. uselaine and CL, you are both too funny for me!

    Eric, I am feeling more peaceful already!

    I am on my way to the airport to pick up my world traveler daughter! It has been three weeks, and I can't wait to see her!

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  8. We need a little peace around my house. Wonder if would help to bring one home?

    What is behind his head? Looks like a ballerina outfit. Would have been strange if they put his bust above the painting :)

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  9. Very cool photo, Eric. (And thanks for the warm wishes for our weekends, even though it is a little early for that here!)

    USElaine, loved the comment about Whirled Peas! It makes me laugh every time I see it.

    Hope everyone has a great rest-of-the-week and weekend--wherever you are!!

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  10. Misawa Mama - I'm grateful to Eric to have a place on the internet where I can come and say, "you know, until you mentioned it, I hadn't even noticed the ostrich."

    Christie - I better confess now, I got that off a bumper sticker some years ago. It's not original with me. ;^)

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  11. misawa mama -- that looks like an ostrich to me. I'm guessing that's why tall gary made his comment about Gandhi not burying his head in the sand.

    uselaine & coltrane -- you guys are a hoot!

    eric -- this is a nice break.

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  12. "Sometimes you're the statue, sometimes your the pigeon [ostrich]." Ghandi.

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  13. Mahatma Gandhi learned to sew on a Singer sewing machine while imprisoned by the British, and called it “one of the few useful things ever invented.” When Gandhi became leader of India, he banned foreign imports with few exceptions; one of them was the Singer sewing machine. There is a scene in the Hollywood film "Gandhi" where he is sewing (to woman's amazement).

    There was an article on France24 this morning about fashion designs from Lebanon. Really beautiful.

    I left a link address to a friend's site that designs Islamic fashions with a flare (with matching BURQAS) at the end of yesterday's comments.

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  14. Honest differences are often a healthy sign of progress.
    Mahatma Gandhi

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  15. Artizara, my friend and Islamic fashion designer, told me that she buys many designs of embroidery from women in refugee camps. The goal is to increase income and generate opportunities for women and men. While creating jobs for women in the camps, the embroidery project also preserves and promotes traditional embroidery. Some are fortunate enough to have a small sewing machine.

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  16. Coltrane,you and Michael remind me of Henny Youngman--kaBOOM.
    Tall Gary re: yesterday's comment, I wanted to tell the waiter that the milk has preservatives, but in very bad French, I said the milk has condoms.lol.
    There is a very interesting Indian neighborhood near the Stalingrad metro. Everything from groceries to restaurants to clothes.

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  17. I love the juxtaposition of Gandhi and the NO SMOKING sign!! I'm thrilled to see that sign and know that on my next visit to Paris I'll be able to enjoy my daily grand crème without smoke.

    Kelly don't stay up all night grilling your daughter on her trip even though I know you want to. You must be so happy that she's home!

    Uselaine I still see that "Visualize World Peas" bumper sticker all over Berkeley!

    Lois very interesting about Gandhi and sewing. And I'll check out your friend's fashions as they sound very interesting!

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  18. thanks for explaining that bumper sticker Katie, I was actually thinking of peas whirling around in a blender...I hope someone is laughing!
    Gandhi is the greatest.

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  19. Oh Tamate! You are too clever!
    And Eric, what a find and great tie-in to yesterday's post.
    -Kim
    Seattle Daily Photo

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  20. Have to mention (prompted by coltrane on my blog and given the coincidence of this post today) that today I found myself in the presence of the Dalai Lama -- another wise man and one of my heroes. I actually got chills.

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  21. Sometimes I get to the blog when I'm too tired to say much. Or, like yesterday, I was afraid to say anything lest I say the WRONG thing. Today, you're all so witty (what else is new?) and I'm so tired and--WHUT? Mahatma Gandhi has an ostrich on his shoulder! It must be time for me to go to bed.

    Lois, you always have such interesting tidbits of info.

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  22. Great choice of photo/topic to follow yesterday. I can't recall having seen a bust of Gandhi before ... anywhere. I've seen photos, paintings, and so on, but not a bust. How cool that you found this in a restaurant. This is interesting, too, because I've been thinking lately that I'd like to see the movie starring Ben Kingsley. I haven't seen it in many years.

    Alexa, how did you come to be in the presence of the Dalai Lama today?!?

    Thank goodness such brave, insightful individuals continue to show up in this world.

    BTW, I'm sorry I missed the discussion last night. I caught up on the past couple of days of PDP tonight. :)

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  23. parisian heart -- it was an awesome moment. Check out my blog, where all is revealed (but I didn't get the photo).

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  24. parisian heart -- it was an awesome moment. Check out my blog, where all is revealed (but I didn't get the photo).

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  25. Double comments -- how did that happen??

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  26. 'Sometimes you are the statue, sometimes you are the pigeon' : I am feeling like I am going to have a hard day with this sentence in my head... Sometimes you are the statue while you are thinking you are the pigeon and the opposite is also true. lol
    I read several other Gandhi's quotes : so true and incredible of awareness.

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  27. One of my favourite quotes are:

    You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
    -Mahatma Gandhi

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  28. Tomate, Artizara's fashions are very reasonably priced. Her website is in $US as she lives in San Diego, California. Her (Islamic) models are beautiful; not what is represented in the news.

    Katie, Yes, her fashions are interesting. There is so much detail. I bought several things when my daughter was in Iraq. I wanted to fit in "fashion wise". I brought a few tunics to Paris. I wore a pink and silver tunic one night when I went to a friend's cafe in Paris. She really liked it -- she said, "you're classy".

    Petrea, Thank you. When I look at Eric's photo of the day -- it always brings something to mind. As they say, "a picture is worth a thousand words". However, I do try to condense my comment to less that a 1000 words:-)

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  29. I've always liked what Gandhi said when asked what he thought of western civilization: "It would be a good idea."

    Lois -- your friend's Islamic fashions are lovely. I went to an Indian wedding recently and wore a salwar kameez. So beautiful and comfortable and forgiving! I've said that when my slowing metabolism finally comes to a complete halt (any day now probably), I'm adopting this type of dress exclusively. I'll know they're "fat clothes," but everyone else will think they're interesting and chic.

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  30. Alexa, Wow, now we're talking "Bollywood Vogue". I adore the salwar kameez. I wore an authentic Saree to a halloween party last year. I was an "Indian Queen":-)

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  31. Lois : I checked it ou and saw the scarves and tunics but I didn't see any prices for matching burkhas. (The brown tunique at the bottom is gorgeous, by the way.)

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  32. Lois...I gotta say that you certainly march to the beat of your own drummer. As I ranted about the "oppressive" aspect of the burka, here you flip that around and address the "fashionable" aspect of it. That's why we all love you Lois. You are a positive, radiant orb in a sometimes dark world. Just had to let you know that! Ciao!

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  33. Tomate, Yeah, I no, Artizara's website isn't set in stone. When I placed my first order with her (and all subsequent orders), she would call me on the phone and go over everything I ordered. She gives it a personal touch. That is how we became friends. We started talking, and one thing lead to another. And before I knew it we were talking about Paris, and my boyfriends, and her two little boys, etc. All of her fashions are reasonably priced. I love her necklaces -- they are awesome -- arabic writing is so beautiful.

    Coltrane, "...radiant orb..." You make me laugh. An ORB. hahahaha Stop! stop, this is too funny!

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  34. Abstract Art - I find this very interesting, I especially like the little no smoking sign on the right. Whether or not it was intentional, I find it a nice touch.

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  35. Lois, the yellow orb in your photo caught my eye so I had to check. It's almost identical to the Chihuly piece at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

    By the way, still searching for people to meet in Chicago during the jazz festival. Lunch at the Chicago Art Institute courtyard cafe, anyone? Wine with Sonny Rollins? Where's that David guy? I'm pursuing whirled peas, here, people, and I like the atmosphere in Chicago. "Atmosphère, atmosphère, est-ce que j'ai une gueule d'atmosphère?!!

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  36. The lighting is great - have a good weekend!

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  37. You have a Chihuly exhibit in Minneapolis now? We have a Chihuly exhibit at the DeYoung museum in San Francisco right now!!

    Tomate Farcie

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  38. OK, here we go, I was looking for the link.

    Tell me this is not a BEAUTIFUL GARMENT (I like the lighter brown myself):


    http://www.artizara.com/Vinatge-Velvet-Embroidered-Jacket-p/az041013.htm

    And it's washable!

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  39. Jeff, That is a Chihuly piece in the photo. Katie took that photo at the Legion of Honor here in San Francisco. And as Tomate said, there is a Chihuly exhibit right now at the DeYoung Art Museum in San Francisco. In November there is going to be a YSL show at the DeYoung. I have free VIP guest passes to the opening for whomever wants to go. Katie for sure is going -- she already said so.

    Tomate, that is a beautiful jacket. FYI, if you will notice in the photo, not much room for your bust. So if you are a "C" or "D" -- it will not fit. The photo is exactly how it fits.

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  40. Lois, I recognized the Chihuly, I was just remarking on the similarity to ours. (We just have the one piece, Tomate). I don't remember seeing it at the Legion of Honor. I saw a really nice 'Monet at Normandy' exhibit there in 2006. I liked the museum, particularly "Le Penseur" in front and the miniature studies for the Burghers of Calais. Didn't see any Gandhi pieces, though!

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  41. Jeff, The Chihuly piece at the Legion of Honor was just put there recently. I don't know if it is staying. It might be an extension of the DeYoung exhibit. Or maybe the Legion of Honor bought it. I know that when a museum shows an artist (who is living) they are expected to purchase at least one piece. The DeYoung and the Legion of Honor are affilliated.

    I have never seen a statue or bust of Gandhi in my life. I have never seen a sculpture with glasses on (for that matter). When I first saw Eric's photo. I started laughing, and I said to myself "now what is he up to?" ;-)

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  42. Lois. Thanks for the info on the tunique's fit, good to know.

    There is a statue of Ghandi at the Ferry Building in San Francsico. It's been there for years, really! :)

    http://sanfrancisco.about.com/od/photogalleries/ig/Photo-Tour--Public-Art-SOMA/Gandhi-Statue.htm

    You should go down there when they have farmers' market (on Tuesday, I think) and then go through the Ferry Building and check it out. If you haven't seen the Ferry Building since it's reopening a couple of years ago, then you're in for a treat!

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  43. PS. Jeff: the beautiful glass piece at the Legion d'Honeur was not there a couple of months ago, I assure you!

    If you want to see some beautiful pieces from the Chihuly exhibit, go to Don Kinney's blog at

    http://aphotoaday.blogspot.com/

    and scroll down to his posts of July 10 and July 11, 2008. And go to his "Photoarrow" website at

    http://www.photoarrow.com/big/10/10chihuly.html

    I promise you, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!! The photos are magnificient, professional quality!

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  44. Tomate, Really there is a statue of Ghandi there? DAAA :s Far out. I go to the Ferry Building for lunch sometimes. I like the caviar bar there. Oh, and the Hog Island oyster bar too.

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  45. Tomate,
    "Sometimes you're the statue, sometimes your the pigeon [ostrich]." Ghandi. That was perfect!

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  46. Hmmm, interesting to come across a bust of Gandhi in a Paris restaurant!

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  47. We're used to seeing slightly more solemn faced Gandhi statues.... so I especially like his smile out here!

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  48. Wednesday, May 12, 2009

    Messages on Paris Daily Photo ~
    You could say I fell in love in Paris.

    I want to thank Eric for not deleting messages I have been leaving on his site. You may have noticed them under comments over the last ten months. These message were written for a very special man that I am in love with that visits this site. Now I know you may all get a kick out of this. Undoubtedly you will make a game of trying to guess who this mystery man is. I will tell you now he a real gentlemen . He will not be the one claiming these message were for him. Paris Daily Photo is a lovely website and wonderful place to fall in love. As we all know love is not always easy and you can not make someone stay in love with you. It is a choice that the heart makes or does not make. Having my heart broken in Paris seems oh so just and right. C'est la vie. Again, I want to thank Eric as only a true Frenchmen can understand love. Since this is my last visit to PDP, please indulge me this final message. I will love you forever S. {KOTL}
    Au revoir ~ Z

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