celebrity [non]sightings

I have yet to see any celebrities in person, but I read about them everyday in The Bible. Don't get the wrong idea, I'm not obsessed with celebrity. I couldn't care less about them. Seeing them in person is a novelty since they're supposed to be everywhere, but why haven't I seen them in all this time here?! I read The Bible's news as a joke--it's very easy, fast, and keeps me up to date on various things so I can fill my blog with profound insights, like these:

Gerard Depardieu is retiring! He has made 170 films (most of them French). While his American films aren't the best, go watch his French ones. This is a sad day for film.

Sarah Jessica Parker, miss nauseating princess herself, tore some tendons in her foot running down the street in 50" heels. Boo hoo. But she swears she will never stop wearing heels. Way to empower yourself!

Sylvester Stallone is completely off his rocker. First, news that he is going to make yet another Rocky film. Now, he's making another Rambo film. Someone must be out of money.

my enthusiasm has been curbed

I was too tired to post this right after it occurred (and besides, since I was watching the east coast feed, I might have spoiled it for some of you loyal readers):

What the hell happened to Larry David's Prius on Curb Your Enthusiasm? Why does he have a fucking SUV now?!?!?!

These little details matter. Unbelievable. The offending vehicle was shown only briefly when Larry locked himself out of the evil machine at a Jack in the Box. Actually, quite a significant portion of the show took place in the parking lot of the Jack in the Box talking about the food.

Sure I've seen them (and heard about them before moving here), but I'd only really come in close contact the night before when Anna and Mark went through the drive-thru (open 24 hours everyday) on our way back from Mr. T's Bowl (where I saw The 88 for the second time in one day due to a secret appearance and briefly napped during Artichoke because I was just too tired).

Point is, Larry, I'm so disappointed. I thought we were kindred spirits.

[ridiculously] authentic madison

This article is what ridiculous authenticity is all about [remember, a phrase comprised of my favorite and most hated words, respectively]. This article also identifies one of the major tenents of American historic preservation that makes me loathe it so and vow to never use my preservation training for economic gain unless I'm desperate: authenticity. But read it closely. These conservators, preservers, whatever-they-want-to-call-themselves, are not maintaining the "authentic" as they claim, but instead revisioning the past, through a contemporary lens, and claiming authenticity to a reconstruction.

I believe in preserving the past, but don't fool ourselves and act like our memories or interpretations (otherwise known as history) are actually the past. We can never see the past as it was, or the present as it is for that matter, except in the narrow frame of our own experience and the limited sources we choose to use to support the claims of history. Preserving the past doesn't mean freezing (or returning) in time our built heritage. Stories are the most powerful tools we have for preserving the past, and while buildings make a nice backdrop for lots of stories, they are not the soul of them. Too frequently the people--especially those traditionally underrepresented in historical accounts, who make up the bulk of the past--are lost in all the "authenticity" of the stone, brick, and mortar.

This ridiculous return to authenticity is a lie that no one seems to acknowledge in the process. Buildings have a life of their own, and sometimes that means someone uses, changes, and enriches them once the dead, white, wealthy men are well, dead. Deal with it. Realize there is a story, a merit, a significance to life after the dead white men that should not be erased because of contemporary conservative (well, down right, reactionary) attitudes about our built heritage and the people who give it meaning.

A whole other rant can ensue based on these merits of "authenticity" that uphold certain values and attitudes about what should even be preserved or remembered. I'll give you a hint: it has something to do with the supremacy of dead white men at the expense of others.

"it would be a superdrag"

I am compelled to finally make a statement about Superdrag, because I am listening to the archive of Allie's radio show via my MP3 player via my VCR and TV (god I love that chain of technology: radio, internet, MP3, VCR, TV). I was sure she was going to mention my renewed obsession with Superdrag since I asked her what she did with my poster that was hanging on my wall since Head Trip in Every Key (their best work, but of course I love it all) debuted--oh, she didn't. [It's in my former closet, but I'm going to send for it. I think it'll look good in my room between The Bonapartes and The 88.]

Point is, I desperately miss Superdrag. John Davis found god and that killed Superdrag. He still makes music--and I must say the musical component is quite good, very Superdrag--but I can't listen to him sing about Jesus; we all know I love housing but I don't want to hear about Jesus building him a house (I'm sure it's some sort of biblical metaphor completely lost on this atheist). I think it's great that he found a way to kick the drugs and booze, but my god, do we have to be punished for it? So this is my plea to John Davis...please, tone down Jesus and you'll get your fanbase back (I'm sure he has a whole new one considering the kind of pull this music has nowadays, but still). I know I'm not the only one who loved Superdrag that can't handle this stuff.

that damn (geico) gecko

If you don't know, you must have a sense from my ramblings, that I am less than a fan of capitalism (yes, I'm a socialist). So it's great fun taking an economics and finance class from a card-carrying Republican who thinks global warming is bunk. And he thinks everyone in the School of Policy, Planning, and Development is far left (I assure you, they aren't--this IS USC afterall).

I actually refer to this class as being taught by Walter Gecko. On the first day, I thought he looked oddly familiar. It's because he looks like a shorter, stockier blend of Richard Gere and Michael Douglas. Seriously. He looks like a Wall Street Republican, complete with matching shoes and belt and shirts with white collars and cuffs.

It's mildly amusing that any of my fellow classmates that I mention this to have no clue who Walter Gecko is, nor have they heard of Wall Street. What's even funnier is that in the first class the professor made some remark about Oliver Stone-like conspiracies.

Oh fuck, I looked it up and it's Gordon Gekko. I still don't think that's why no one knows what I'm talking about. Walter sounds better anyway. And yes, I spelled it inconsistently to further emphasize my mistake. I'm not afraid to embarrass myself--remember?

SACRPH...yeah, SACRPH

I'm long overdue for a good blogging, I know. I apologize.

I spent the weekend in Coral Gables, Florida, where I presented at the Society for American City and Regional Planning History (SACRPH) Conference. It was a great time. Though about half of the conference failed to show due to the pending landfall of hurricane Wilma. Of course Wilma didn't hit until Monday morning when we were all out of there, so those who didn't show were just pussies! Though, as I remarked to the organizers, this demonstrated that planning historians (who aren't planners, mind you) can plan in the face of a crisis. Everything had been planned so well before the weather threw a curve ball--and they really adapted it well. The conference was great despite the challenges, and I'm glad I went even if it's going to take days to shake the fatigue of traveling across the country twice in four days.

I don't have any photos to share because my camera--for some unknown reason--appears to take the photos but they fail to show up on the memory card. What the hell is happening?

who wants to teach me how to sow?

I'm so fed up. For years, the only pants that fit me perfectly were from Gap in their ankle length. Now, "ankle" is too long for me unless I wear heels--something I refuse to do! This is unbelievably frustrating. Why have they all of a sudden decided to make ankle longer? Who told them short people were getting taller? Who are these ankle pants on anyway? Cameron Diaz?

Of course this has bothered me for a couple of months now. But since I am the queen of procrastination (I should be writing a paper right now; I will, don't worry), and I did my laundry for the week and considered packing what I need for my trip to Coral Gables, Florida (this coming Thursday-Sunday). So I pulled out two brand new pairs of pants that I plan to wear at the conference to be sure they fit lengthwise. They're great with these kitten heels I was planning to wear anyway, but they don't fit with shoes I wear on a regular basis (they just touch the ground and are too "puffy" at the foot only because they are too long).

What the fuck am I going to do? I can't imagine paying $10 per pair to have an inch shaved off, but I might have to do it unless someone wants to show me how to do it myself and promise it won't take me more than ten minutes. Who knows if it's even as cheap as $10 in these parts--I had to pay $28 to have my blazer's arms shortened. Really, I'm in need of a good, cheap seamstress. I can't grow and it appears pants won't come in my inseam for now.

Oh, and while I'm seeking advice for services in the vicinity of Silver Lake...anyone got any recommendations on tattoo parlors?

This is all very serious, as goofy as it sounds.

what anand tucker loves about l.a.

So Allie pointed me to an article written by Anand Tucker, who directed Steve Martin's Shopgirl. [Incidentally, I've been waiting years to see this movie, and of course would have loved to go on opening day in L.A., but alas I will be in Coral Gables, Florida!] She told me that the things he loves I would probably love about L.A. If you haven't heard, I'm far from in love with anything in L.A. apart from the weather and architecture. Well, I don't quite agree with Allie about the list of loves. There are some interesting things about his list, though.

9) Silver Lake. We shot large parts of Shopgirl here, and it's cool. It's old. You can walk down the steps where Laurel and Hardy dropped the piano. They have a fantastic street festival at Sunset Junction, which was happening on my first very jet-lagged visit here on a recce in 2003. I saw Sonic Youth play majestically and hauntingly live. I have never seen so much black leather, black hair, black makeup and just generally gothy black stuff in such a confined space ever before or since.

No shit Silver Lake is cool and old. Hence my attraction to it. I don't see many goths though. Perhaps the goths were imported for Sunset Junction.

10) Downtown. There is a stretch of disused theatres in downtown which are so grand and majestic and, well, European, that it was one of the first things that made me see L.A. in a different light. It harked back to golden days of elegiac elegance which I am not sure today's modern, informal (which I also quite like) world of the glitzy Hollywood showbiz life can match. But this is also one of the poorest, most run-down areas of L.A. To fully understand why, you need to read...[City of Quartz]

Ok, where are these European streets in downtown? I need to find them and soak it in. IKEA has been my European haven while here. Seriously.

And I'll pass on a popular book about the development of Los Angeles in favor of my advisor (Greg Hise)'s Magnetic Los Angeles.

So this didn't give me really anything to get excited over apart from those downtown streets. I'm still waiting.

I should probably rent L.A. Story again though.

90210

So you may not know, unless perhaps you listened to Allie's radio show where she outed me as a Beverly Hills, 90210 fanatic, but yes, I was one. Big time. It was my introduction to Los Angeles all those years ago. Look, that show was as exciting as it got for me because I was seven when it premiered. High school was so far away so this was a peek into my future, or so I thought. But somehow I think even at seven I knew what I saw on the screen was not what I would really experience. Yeah, really.

The really sick thing is that I dropped off watching it once they left college--it really became a soap opera then--but then I became actually obsessed with watching reruns on FX in my early college years. That was my nesting. Some people bake, I watch the glory and not-so-glory days of 90210. So at this rate I've seen all the episodes multiple times--the high school years many times over. And yeah I met Jason Priestly when I was eleven. I have the autographed poster to prove it.

Anyway, so when the Bible sticks an article on its hit list about 90210 I go running. My jaw dropped when I saw Brian Austin Green (he can do whatever he wants with that middle name, but I'll never drop it in my mind) in a commercial for Freddie (an aside: Freddie Prince, Jr. has gotten a little fat in his married life I see). So this link is to a pretty short and pretty lame interview (if you can call it that) with Brian Austin Green and Ian Ziering (Steve was also the best, most "real" character). It's more like an excuse to embarrass myself. I love those.

Oh you think I'm pathetic? My whole family watched the damn show. My dad kept watching a season or two past me!

google earth is incredible; this is where i live!

hollywood calls it quits

Click the link above for a hilarious article from The Onion. Sure, most stuff in The Onion is hilarious. But when they spoof Hollywood, it's different now that I actually live here. I think it would be "funny" to do a serious piece on what would happen to Los Angeles--hell, California--should this actually happen. Really, everything here revolves around the entertainment industry, especially movies. It's disgusting really. And remember, the Oscars are handed out in a mall!!!!!

in her shoes

Today was a very long day. I woke up at 7, left the house before 9, and then I didn't return until after 11 p.m. I've felt so sluggish as of late, but I'm quite awake now. I guess actually having stuff keep you busy that doesn't totally numb your mind with boredom can amaze you with the amount of energy you really have. Or it's the B-12 I started this morning, thinking I needed an extra kick in the pants.

But what do you care?

Tonight I went to see a free, early screening of In Her Shoes (click the link above for The Bible's entry) at Mann's Chinese 6 at Hollywood and Highland (perhaps the most touristy spot in all of Los Angeles...yes, the Oscars are held in what is effectively a mall, seriously). I scored the tickets via an LA Weekly contest. My friend Dora and I trekked over from school, and we found an amazing parking spot on Hollywood a couple meters east of Highland. I had to be patient, because that SUV didn't want to leave for awhile and I was harassed by people behind me, but when the situation calls for it, I CAN be remarkably patient. Have I told you how much I really hate parking in L.A.? Driving is a disaster, but parking is worse.

The movie was great. Sure, it's formulaic, it's got a feel-good vibe (ending), but it's done well. And, honestly, I needed it. Plus, the whole thing takes place on the east coast. Just that made me want to cry. Oh my god how I want to move to Philly right now. Hell, I'd even go to Miami. Oh, wait, I am, in a couple of weeks.

And can I tell you that Mark Feuerstein was sexy as hell in the movie. Really, I never thought he was ugly, but he never really did anything for me before. Damn, the glasses and the Prius got me all excited. And let's face it, you can't help but love his character.

hollywood responsible for STDs & pregnancies?

The Bible's news reports:

Bond Blamed For Rise In Unsafe Sex
Fictional superspy James Bond's spontaneous bedroom antics have failed to impress the medical world, as the character appears to champion unsafe sex. The Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine has slammed movies including 2002's Die Another Day for their contraception-free antics between the sheets, and blames Hollywood for the rise in sexually transmitted diseases and accidental pregnancies. Raunchy movie Basic Instinct, which thrilled audiences in 1991, is also under fire for a reported six scenes of unsafe love-making, although none of the movies refer to the potential dangers. Dr Hasantha Gunasekera, the author of the research paper, says, "The social norm being presented in movies is concerning, given the Hiv and illicit drug pandemics in developing and industrialized countries. The motion picture industry should be encouraged to depict safer sex practices and to depict the real consequences of unprotected sex."

Are they serious? If you're going to burden films--crap Hollywood ones at that--with this kind of moral responsibility, I've got a huge laundry list of other things they should preach too. You can't honestly expect entertainment to bear such burdens. Sure, it wouldn't be bad if we saw someone pull out a condom or two, but let's get real. The responsibility to use contraception lies with the real people having real sex.

Seeing unsafe sex on the screen is not the culprit for the rise in STDs and unwanted pregnancies. It couldn't possibly have to do with the fact that people are stupid or that there is no quality sex education in this country? What little we have is being replaced with abstinence only. The philosophy being not to arm people with information you think is going to hurt them--but of course, in such an ironic twist (not really), that is exactly what hurts them. You want to preach that they shouldn't have sex, fine, they're not going to listen, and that's why you tell them how to protect themselves. But this is all obvious to you, I know.

Don't even get me started with the overseas part of the argument. These people are off their rockers.