A Gallery

Since this entry is photo-heavy, I decided to give you the option to ignore it.

That being said, you should come in to see some pretty amazing

The Library of Congress has just released a huge set of color photographs from the American 1940’s. Apparently, there was a propaganda effort with color transparancies, and only now do we get the full treatment.

It’s strange seeing this era in color. I have only had access to the 40’s in black-and-white until now, with the rare Life Magazine special giving me a glimpse of a colorful window into the pre-war effort. I have difficulty seeing the pictures as photographs, as opposed to staged, with actors. The clothing isn’t costume; the buildings aren’t sets. These are real people, and the scenery is gorgeous.

Also strange is the timelessness of some of the pictures. This last one could be taken at a modern state fair in Wisconsin. I mean, if those girls gained twenty pounds each. And their parents were fighting over Xbox 360s.

There are over 160,000 color photos at the Library of Congress in this collection. Going to the website is overwhelming. I want to change my desktop wallpaper, but I don’t even know where to begin.

For more images, visit the exhibition home page here. Or you can go to the library of congress pages here and here.

I think they’re so beautiful. I wonder if there’s any similar collection of photographs taken during WW2 in Europe.

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I’m tired of paying dutch bills! My ABNAMRO account is still getting charges from various Dutch Companies, like “UPC Nederland” and “Phone Huis!” I can’t get my money back because I’m not THERE anymore, but I’m certainly not BUYING ANYTHING. I don’t need a lifeline on a phone that I don’t have anymore! Damn you, Holland!

T I T A N I C

There are few films that make me consider my life as much as the mother of all melodramas, Titanic. I am an unapologetic fan of the movie, and I hope that it isn’t Cameron’s last picture. Titanic makes me think more than any truly deep film ever does, and perhaps it’s because it leaves room for reflection in its broad, sweeping strokes. Titanic makes me wonder if I’m living my life right.

And it doesn’t take the entire film, either. I’ve just watched the special edition, and I went straight to the deleted scenes — one of which is the alternate ending. In it, Brock (the deep-dive captain) gets to hold the Heart of the Ocean in his hands before old Rose tosses it into the depths. Interesting, but I’m glad it wasn’t in the theatrical release. After the alternate ending, the film continues with Rose’s death, and it is here that I am launched into an existential swoon. The most brilliant shot in the entire movie may be the simple pan over Rose’s photographs. Rose as horse-back-rider, Rose as airplane pilot. Rose in Santa Monica, I think. It’s such a simple shot, but it’s the perfect epilogue to a movie that is so … big.

When I was young, I wanted a pilot’s lisence more than anything. I flew a plane once, for about 4 minutes, and couldn’t wait till I got to put in hour after hour after hour of flight time in order to get my degree in Flying. It’s simple, and romantic, and amazing. Think about it. For 300 dollars or so, you can be a lisenced Flyer. That’s pretty damn cool, and pretty easy. I think that’s why the shot hits me in the stomach; the fictional Rose was an airplane pilot, too.

Of course, there are other things I’d love to do with my life. Some of them I’ve already accomplished. Some I’m just too scared to tackle. I lived in Europe for years, I’ve driven my car all over the US… I’ve sat in the grass at ancient monuments. And now, casually, I’ll talk about moving to Japan for a year or two and teaching English (and doing comedy), but I wonder if I’m too anchored to really take the leap. It’s not something I want to do as an Old Person - I want to take it on while I’m still young enough to be Young.

Sometimes I wish my apartment would burn down, taking all of my things with it. I’m tethered to this stuff; it both convieniences me, and keeps me from really being free. Whether it be journals or computers or diplomas or my grandmother’s bracelets - I can’t just get up and leave it all. It would be irresponsible, and deeply ungrateful. But I wish it didn’t exist, sometimes. Do my old notebooks provide comfort, or are they like extra skin that I can’t shed?

Rose gets to get rid of all her riches, and start over. I don’t think I have the strength to lose my laptop (not to mention, it’s Romantic to live without a car, but would it really be smart? On the other hand, wait, I just lived for two years without a car …). I guess the point I’m trying to make is, I wish I had more time to be young, so that I could do a greater variety of things, without the fear of squandering my opportunities. I can’t move to Japan until I’ve tried to Make It In LA One More Time. Until I’ve sent in writing packets to The Daily Show and SNL, until I’ve auditioned for some Sitcom or MadTV. Until I’ve done X-Boom shows and The Jim and Heather Show again, and a one-person show about World War Two.

But can I do all of that before I hit 30? Will I still be young enough to try out Japan? And will I realize the true luxury I have to be able to consider these questions?

Oh happy day!

My first job back in LA is Transcribing. I heard about it through Lauren and Scott, and on the surface it seems like a pretty incredible job. You get a movie, you write down what they say so that foreign dub companies have a script to work from.

For my first film, which clocks in at 1 hour and 23 minutes, I’ve now spent more than 11 hours on the script.

It wouldn’t be a bummer if the film wasn’t so depressing. But I’m watching and re-watching a slice-of-life movie about Los Angeles and the crazy people who live here. I’m writing a movie (that’s already been written) about movie people who aren’t doing very well.

It’s like the first time you play SIMS and your little character sits down at a computer while you’re sitting down at a computer. It’s an existential crisis movie. And I’ve watched it so many times I’ve got it memorized. Ugh.

Today I turned 27. Josh and I went to the LA convention center, and got some coffee and visited Jim at his first day at work (Banana Republic).

And then I finally watched Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. And it wasn’t bad! I’m shocked.

Honestly.

I mean, c’mon.

God of War, Eggs and Bacon

Tonight I finished my article for The Gamer’s Quarter. It’s a piece on heroism and the PS2 title, God of War. I haven’t been promised a slot in the next issue, but they liked my pitch and if they like my article, they’ll put it in. It’s unpaid freelance.

A thought: When parents encourage you to “be yourself,” what they don’t tell you is that the rest of humanity is doing the opposite. They’re being each other, and they’re more social for it. I have carved out a very specific set of likes and loves, and am proud of the way I live. But damn if it hasn’t left me with like 15 friends on this whole planet. It’s not self-pity, just an observation on self-induced lonliness.

Finally, after being told by my doctor that I was heavier than she’d ever seen me, (at an astonishing 7 pounds more …. seriously, what was she thinking she’d do to my psyche when she told me that I was “heavy.” She’s a Doctor. She’s not supposed to tell someone who’s thin that they’re getting fat. She might as well have added, “And you’re less attractive than ever, too”) … ahem, I joined Jim and Suzi on the Atkins Diet. It rules. I fit into all of my clothes again, and feel h e a l t h y. It’s not often that you look down in the shower and are okay with what you see. And I am, thanks to this constant diet of Bacon and Eggs and Broccoli.

But do I ever dream of peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwhiches made with sliced donuts.

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Conservative/Off

A sketch that I wrote at Boom in April ends with a Right Wing FBI guy agreeing with a Muslim Extremist on the topic of targets. Together, they decide to attack San Fransisco, as they both hate gays.

Read that goddamned link. Then shake my hand. And Suzi’s hand, and Pep’s hand, because they helped me write it, and we’re all geniuses.

thank you

Do you know what The Last 40 Images Posted to Livejournal are? I do. For weeks now, I’ve been addicted to Fuzzy Squid’s Live Journal Sampler. It’s the last 40 images that anyone, anywhere, has put up on a journal. The site allows for a lazy voyerism - almost like wandering past ground floor apartments with no fear of discovery, and no guilt. These are, after all, public journals.

You can watch trends develop, and once-in-a-while, find something very unique. Or explicit.

Today, while refreshing, I found this jem:

The Jim and Heather Show

It’s officially Thursday morning, somewhere near two am. I’m tired, but not nearly enough to sleep.

For the last few months, Jim and I have been working non-stop on “the jim and heather show,” a collection of new sketches showcasing our dark comedy. It’s a half hour long, and will be going up at Improv Olympic West this Friday, next Tuesday, and the following … Tuesday.

Again. This Friday: Previews. Tuesday the 8th, and the 15th: The Real Shiz.

If you can read this, you’re invited. Please, god, come. We need 40 heads in that house each night, or it comes out of our pocket. You can get in for free! We can comp you, but we need 40 people. Bring your friends and come laugh.

Oh, and enjoy the exaggeration of “featured in Time and Entertainment Weekly.” We need agents.