Category: Fourre-tout

Last Sunday night, like millions of people, I watched the Oscars. While sipping on Champagne and tugging on my bow tie, I could not help but notice the abundance of “extreme” cleavages on the Red Carpet.

I am not opposed to cleavage, au contraire, but a neck to navel “décolleté” does not look or feel right. Especially in the middle of a passionate crusade against exploitation and objectification of women.

Women sometimes can be their worst enemy. I understand that on this significant occasion every actress is vying for attention, but showing too much skin is not the best way to do it.

A kamikaze décolleté, like a miniskirt or yoga pants, is not for everybody. To pull such a stunt successfully, you need the right equipment and the right garment. When showing cleavage, the V-line of the dress should stop right below the boobs.

If you look like Kate Upton, showing cleavage is a charitable obligation, but if you are a Twiggy lookalike, please abstain. There is absolutely nothing attractive or sexy about a boyish-looking woman baring her chest.

Flat chested women particularly look silly and over-endowed women look equally foolish. Showing extreme cleavage is a precarious balancing act between the sublime and the ridiculous. Don’t attempt this without supervision.

I am far from being a prig and I have always been on extremely friendly terms with the twins; but cleavage is an “amuse-gueule“, not the “piece de resistance.”

A woman likes to showcase her goods, but her wares have to be above average to be displayed. And when teasing, less is always more effective than more. When in doubt, show restraint and forget the navel.

Of course, if you have a wart on your nose or some facial hair on your upper lip it might not be a bad idea:

“I’m gonna try showing a little cleavage with the hopes that it will draw attention away from my face.”

In this case, I would understand, but generally speaking, extreme cleavage is to be avoided.

“Free the twins” sounds good, but is your equipment up to the task?

Alain

Your pitch is what you are!

The way you cast your pétanque boule tells a lot about your personality. We all have a  characteristic pitch, but some of us show more style than others.

This does not necessarily mean that an awkward pitcher is a lesser player than a more elegant individual. While always pleasing, flash is not everything. Some less graceful contenders don’t look cool, but never fail to deliver the goods.

As a photographer, I would lie if I told you that it does not make any difference to me. To be candid, I favor elegant shots where a player stretches his physical ability and when his face reflects his effort. Everybody likes drama, isn’t it?

But your personal style is programmed by your genes and there is very little you can do about it. Ultimately though, results are what counts, and an awkward win is always better than a flashy loss.

The nice thing about the game of pétanque is that there is practically no age limit. You can almost play from crib to grave and I have witnessed players over 90 who are still energetically tossing the boule.

“Age is no barrier. It’s a limitation you put on your mind.” — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

I have put together a small collection of pictures that I took over the last 10 years and I challenge you to select the player(s) with the most eye-catching appeal.

I will personally deliver a Golden Cochonnet and a warm “abrazo” to the lucky winner.

Alain

Click on the “My Photos” link located on the right side of this page to see the pictures. For best viewing, go Full Screen.

I must be feeble-minded. Despite abstaining from drinking and vaping, I cannot understand why, as planes are getting bigger, seating arrangements are getting smaller. Is it my imagination, or could airlines be hornswoggling us? I am definitely leaning toward the latter.

Naked greed is the reason why the average fellow is not benefitting from new planes’ spaciousness. Logically, as planes are getting bigger, passengers should be getting more legroom.

But when greed rears its ugly head, instead of spreading the wealth, executives will pack Coach passengers like sardines. “Squeeze them, they say, and extract as much juice as you can.”
And it is usually a guy who always travels First Class who decides this.

On a 3 to 5 hour flight, I will reluctantly book a Coach seat, but above 5 hours I want a more comfortable accommodation. I want to be able to lie down and get some sleep.

The only way I can do this is by booking a Business or a First Class seat. But there is a huge price difference between Coach and Business and I am not a plutocrat. So, is it really worth to do it?

Lately, the inner-me has been whispering “you only go around once…” Why don’t you experience flying with unreserved attention at least once before you take the last train to glory?

“If you continue to treat yourself like a 3rd class citizen, you’ll stay a 3rd class citizen.” ― Richie Norton

I don’t want to remain a 3rd class citizen; so I flew Business to Europe once… and it was nice… Very nice. That’s the way airlines should treat all their patrons… in a Business class manner instead of their contemptuous steerage way.
The problem though is that flying this way is expensive… and addictive. Once you have tasted Champagne, it is very difficult to go back to Ginger Ale.

I am waiting for a shrewd entrepreneur to create a level field, and I am counting on the likes of Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos to do this.
After all, who would ever have thought that you could make an RLS (reusable launch system) practical and economical? Nobody but Elon.

But greed is difficult to shake off.

“Greed is a fat demon with a small mouth and whatever you feed it is never enough.” Janwillem Van De Wetering

It will take an innovative maverick to solve this flying aberration, and this man (or woman) won’t be an old fashion capitalist. It will be an enlightened young entrepreneur who will find a clever way to pamper his followers and still manage to make a nice profit.

Alain