Links to collages of beer ads &
photos of the Wall:
On the morning of June 16th, 2011 the plywood sheets covering
the smashed windows of the Bay were covered with quotes from
ordinary citizens of Vancouver. Among numerous references to
'drunken idiots' and 'drunken losers' was this observation:
"The most dangerous thing in the world
is young men with alcohol. Why?"
In the words of the immortal Frank Zappa:
"Maybe there's a chemical in beer that stimulates the [male]
brain to do violence while moving in the same direction as
other guys who smell like them [marching] "
Another quote from off the plywood:
"100,000 stoners would never have done this".
Frank again, on marijuana: "It gave me a sore throat and made me
sleepy. I couldn't understand why people liked it so much."
Though the rioters, most of them fueled by Molson Canadian and Labatt
Blue, have to some degree tarnished the reputation of the city, there is
some consolation in knowing Vancouver remains the most enlightened
city in North America with regard to the use of marijuana. I'm sure
that in future years we'll be acknowledged as being ahead of our time
in realizing that people being given criminal records for the possession
of pot is idiotic.
In the meantime Marc Emery continues to be imprisoned in Mississippi
state, our government continues to do nothing about it, and beer
company executives here continue giving themselves exorbitant salaries
and fat bonuses with no feeling of regret over the damage done in the
Stanley Cup Riot of 2011.
One last comment from Zappa:
"Beer seems to produce behavioral results which are psycho-chemically
different from those produced by other alcoholic beverages.
Go ahead and laugh. One day you're going to read about some scientist
discovering that hops, in conjunction with certain strains of 'yeast
creatures,' has a mysterious effect on some newly discovered region of
the brain, making people want to kill - but only in groups ."
In contrast to Mr. Beer Guy , picture a guy who is religiously devoted
to Chateau Latour . Is he marching? He ain't marching."
23rd (Wednesday)
Videomatica, Granville Island Market, & Opus
with Vesna. Gusty winds on Granville Bridge
Met Ady at Burrard & Georgia. Cheeseburger &
fries with her at McD's. She had a book with
her. I pointed out her child would be about
two inches large. With her at the library
checking out books on nutrition. After strata
meeting, watching a documentary video at
Vesna's
24th (Thursday) [Marc Emery Pastel]
Overcast, dull. The way I felt. But I did come
up with a concept for the drawing, that I
started just after noon. Another idea for a
large drawing. A pin-up model, with an
intellectual twist
25th (Friday) [Marc Emery Pastel]
Myle in pink t-shirt & jeans. Brought her mango
smoothie from Joyeaux. 'When My Father was away
on Business' tonight at Vesna's. Both of us
pissed about it being over-dubbed rather than
subtitled
26th (Saturday)
Sunny, warm day in Abbotsford
27th (Sunday) [Marc Emery Pastel]
Glimpse of Minori coming out of the lane, in a
drizzle of rain. Talking to Yajing, who told me
the Deli has a new owner, Ady at Subway, who
gave me a couple of cookies, & Belraj, who
described how difficult one of her exams was
Dinner at Vesna's, on her Orthodox Easter
Asked me about 'the girl with the glasses' on
the website, & thought I would look good next
to her
28th (Monday) [Marc Emery Pastel]
Walking along Haro this afternoon, a sudden
heavy shower of hail that turned to rain
Down the Rabbit Hole this evening...
29th (Tuesday) [Marc Emery Pastel]
Myle telling me she's down to 112 lbs, &
then asked me to bring her 3 shrimp salad
rolls from Joyeaux. Mild, mostly sunny. The
trees along the West End streets full of pink
blossoms, in every direction. 'Celebrity'
tonight at Vesna's. Talked till nearly 1am,
about someone she once loved on Cyprus, &
her ex-husband, who she referred to as 'that
guy'
30th (Wednesday) [Marc Emery Pastel]
May
1st (Thursday) [Marc Emery Pastel]
Developing an idea for a large drawing
title 'Reefer Girl'. Idea started with Myle's
description of her pool gear. This morning
the cover art & title of a 50's pulp
paperback inspired an idea, taking the image
to another level
2nd (Friday) [Marc Emery Pastel]
Myle describing all the work she would have
done if she won the lottery, including making
her eyes larger, liposuction, a more pointed
nose, etc. 'I want it all fake. I don't want
anything real.' Brought her a couple of
hotdogs from a stand on Burrard. A charming
girl there from Nagoya
3rd (Saturday) [Marc Emery Pastel]
A lovely warm day, pleasantly cool in the
shade
4th (Sunday) [Marc Emery Pastel]
White shirt & jacket Sunday. Ady called first
thing this morning. Enjoyable little chat
with Belraj this morning. Later in the morning,
Myle was charming. Telling her what finally
happened with [ ]. She asked me, 'Is
it true, "Once a cheat, always a cheat"?'
Later on, brought her an h/dog from the stand
on Burrard. Talking to Ady at Subway, telling
her about the message Vesna left on the
answering machine. She told me that the
Oriental guy at 7-Eleven was Belraj's
boyfriend. 'Are they speaking again?' she
asked. 'They haven't talked for a week.'
5th (Monday) [Marc Emery Pastel]
A lovely day, not too warm in the sun, not
too cool in the shade. Talking to Ady, &
Heather on the phone
6th (Tuesday) [Marc Emery Pastel]
Under an overcast sky, girl playing a cello
near the bottom of the Bay staircase,
Granville, & further down the street a girl
playing an acoustic guitar. Crossing Georgia,
a glimpse of Shangrai-La nearly touching the
clouds. Long talk with Vesna, on the phone,
late this evening
7th (Wednesday) [Marc Emery Pastel]
Pink blossoms carpeting Granville Street, &
sweet smell of spring in the air. Myle calls
just before three, telling me that she
bought a dozen hotdogs at Superstore, & no
and no more smoothies, salad rolls, or beef
weiners for her... and, by the way, can I
make a small donation to the boys & girls
club? Why not, it WAS fun talking to her
8th (Thursday) [Marc Emery Pastel]
Pleasantly warm
9th (Friday) [Marc Emery Pastel]
Pleasant chat with Myle this morning, who
was tired but charming, after a bad day
with migraines yesterday. Ady came over
around noon. Phoned Hedy Frey's office &
than printed documents for her, e-mailed
from her lawyer. After that, turkey
sandwich & tea across the street. Watching
'Manhatten' with Vesna this evening
10th (Saturday) [Marc Emery Pastel]
'Superburgers' at Slocan's for lunch, &
then spent the rest of the afternoon at
Hastings Park with Heather. Heavy overcast
threatened rain, & it was cold; but the
mists drifting across the slopes of the
mountains were quite beautiful. 'Annie Hall'
at Vesna's this evening, stayed until
nearly 2am
11th (Sunday)
Mothers Day in Abbotsford
12th (Monday) [Marc Emery Pastel]
Brought Myle a beef hotdog from stand on
Burrard. Two charming Japanese girls working
there. One of them is an art student who
majored in the work of Hokusai. Told them
I'd bring some of my work around. Vesna came
over for tea, stayed until 1:30am
13th (Tuesday) [Marc Emery Pastel]
A glimpse of Minori this morning at the
crosswalk, with a light green umbrella. Myle
giving me a box of almond cake from Macao
Cold, with steady rain
14th (Wednesday) [Marc Emery Pastel]
Baeta returned from Korea. Has a new computer
she told me, & that she'd check up on the
website when it was set up. Talking to
Heather, who was busy the last few days
rescuing her nephew's cat at the SPCA
hospital. Discussing what happened in
'Survivor', Eva Braun, & Hitler's bunker
15th (Thursday) [Marc Emery]
Sunny, warm afternoon. Myle looking good in
jeans & a black top. Sick of hotdogs, she
told me. Brought her a mango smoothie from
Joyeaux. Showed the Japanese girls the Fuji
pastels. They insisted I sign a couple of
them as 'souvenirs'. They were both quite
charming. Met Victoria in the basement. She
had me come over, gave me a large bowl of
nnoodles which I had for dinner
16th (Friday) [Marc Emery Pastel]
Sunny, fairly hot. Richmond this evening,
with Vesna. The park, the old school, &
walking along the south arm of the Fraser
east of Six Road. Lovely evening sun, the
image of the slough, shaded & serene,
childhood mountains in the distance, the
most memorable. White Spot, Marine Drive
17th (Saturday)
Myle describing her latest 'program' that
includes running once around the race track
in Hong Kong. Bought her a mango/strawberry
Wedding cruise this evening, with Heather,
& Holly who was charming. Salmon, roast
potatoes, with 3 bottles of wine shared
between the three of us, at one table. The
city lights were lovely
18th (Sunday)
Talking to Belraj this morning, who's
started her philsophy/literature course at
UBC. Is not looking forward to reading
'Macbeth'
