Blog Love: Wendy MacNaughton is an artist. I am a fan.

Most of the time, the people who find me on Facebook are crazies. They live in Chile and they've found me through a friend who I don't even know that well. And they want to befriend me so that they may subsequently ask me to be their fan and buy their music and support them at their comedy shows and care about what they're eating for breakfast.

Occasionally fate steps in and Wendy MacNaughton from San Francisco finds me on Facebook. And then I find her blog. And I become a huge, huge fan.

Visit Wendy MacNaughton's blog here and check out her amazing, smart art.

[Painting by Wendy MacNaughton]

If a tree falls and no one tweets about it...

I know exactly where hundreds of my friends, acquaintances and ex-boyfriends are right now. I know what my coworker is listening to several cubes over. And I know what you ate last night for dinner...with whom...and what celebrity was sitting next to you. You likely know even more about me.

Because when something funny (or sad, or thrilling, or quite possibly mundane) happens these days, we are all rushing to our desktops and mobile phones to let the rest of our thousand person networks know about it.

It is human nature to seek acknowledgment. Even before computers, how many of us would wish our good deeds to go unnoticed, our funny stories to go untold, and so on? But with the rise of Facebook and Twitter and all the systems that interconnect these multiple social networks, it seems that a feeling is not valid, an action not significant, a sick family member not really disheartening, unless we can gain the feedback and cheers and sympathies of our peers.

This realization is not a new one. Many have already commented on the direct relationship between increasing use of social media and our increasing levels of narcissism. But what I really want to know is...

If you feel something in the forest...and no one's around to tweet about it...does it warrant feeling at all?

Laugh Track: Upright Citizens Brigade

Sure, I started going to shows at the Upright Citizens Brigade (founded by Amy Poehler and other funny human beings) because I had to (classes at the theatre require two visits per term). But some of the best places I've ever visited would have gone unearthed had someone not forced me to go. Take the dentist, for example. Or jail.

The line to get in is a complete and utter hassle, yes. But the entertainment inside is good. And it's cheap. And there aren't many good, cheap entertainment options left in Los Angeles. Aside from dog-walking and gender guessing games on the corner of Santa Monica and Vine, going out in this city's expensive.

I can only speak to two of the theatre's shows so far--'Facebook' (featuring cutie Ron Huebel of The Office and Human Giant) and 'The Smokes' (featuring no one I know but dudes who were funny all the same). And both are worth the $5 to get in. They are especially worth the free admission for UCB students.

Tip No. 1 - Arrive early to wait in the block-long lines that form before popular shows.

Tip No. 2 - Arrive with entertainment for the wait--be it a deck of cards, a bottle of wine in a paper bag with a straw, or another human being.

Tip No. 3 - Sitting on the stage looks like it would be fun--being part of the spotlight and the action and all. But, in fact, you end up unable to see half the cast's faces. Which is not that fun after all.

Tip No. 4 - Apparently 'ASSSSCAT' is one of the better shows. I haven't seen it. But I would like to give it a 3rd party recommendation anyway.

ASSSSCAT - Medicinal Marijuana

www.comedycentral.com

Joke of the Day Stand-Up Comedy Free Online Games

Dos Equis: beermaster and spiritual advisor.

He has his very own academy.

At last count, he has 44,522 fans on Facebook.

He is The most Interesting Man in the World (the italics are intentional and effective), according to Dos Equis' ad men, and he's got one of the best ad campaigns I've seen in a while.

Driving through Los Angeles this week, I spotted a recent Dos Equis billboard. 'You only live once. Make sure it's enough,' The most Interesting Man forewarns us. And because this elusive figure in recent commercial fiction has been built up as a worldly and wise man, I take heed.

Since passing the billboard, the larger-than-life ad at the corner of Santa Monica and Virgil, I have indeed begun to question the extent to which I'm living my life. The office has begun to feel slightly like a prison--the sound of tapping on keyboards an increasingly dismal symbol of my worklife. The confines of my studio apartment seem to be growing smaller--the musical loop from the ice cream truck outside, louder every day.

I consider the options. I think of donning a smoking jacket, surrounding myself with beautiful women, and taking up cigars and beers. But I really dislike beer and quickly abandon that idea. I contemplate new careers--floral design?--but the Los Angeles community colleges are slashing budgets and I can't seem to find any interesting summer courses. I debate a trip. The Grand Canyon sounds nice, but my budget won't get me much farther than Palm Springs at present.

And so, with only the vague instruction of a completely fictitious character [and absolutely no ideas of my own], I begin a misguided journey toward a life of fulfillment...

Easter: bonnets and bunnies.

After expressing on Facebook last Friday that I wished I was home 'celebrating' Good Friday, it was explained to my by my dear colleague that one doesn't celebrate Good Friday. One observes it. Because Good Friday is the day that Jesus was killed. And one just doesn't celebrate such things. Got it.

I also learned that Easter, marking the day of Jesus' resurrection, is the day we do celebrate. Why we celebrate with eggs and bunnies and bonnets, I'm still not sure I understand in full. Jesus rose from his grave and I, in turn, search for painted eggs in my backyard, donning a large, decorated hat, new baby bunny in tow, eatting jelly beans and chocolate. Hmm. I just don't know that the plight of an egg hunt pays full homage to--oh, ya know--rising from the dead. But I do like the chocolate part and so I'm off to my first ever Easter brunch. Jews for Jesus! [Or at least for wearing fun hats.]

Highlights from a week gone by: McLovin, Gordon Ramsay, Home Silverlake

Tuesday night, my lovely friend at Paramount invited me to the premiere of 'I Love You, Man,' the new Paul Rudd/Jason Segel comedy (Rashida Jones, though I love her, is hardly worth mentioning) that takes jabs at bro-dating. Among the motley crew of stars on the red carpet were Ron Jeremy, Jerry Stiller and Jack Black. Then there was actor Christopher Mintz-Plasse--better known as McLovin--skinnier than a manorexic on dexetrin, who took 10 minutes to make it past 40 feet of fans. I believe that one man, who was creepily old for such fan antics, actually said 'I love your work.' I did not realize that one role in a college-humor film constituted 'work.'

At least three people asked why I wasn't wearing green. Who the fu*k knew it was St. Patrick's Day. Jews don't celebrate saints. Ridiculous.

On Wednesday I stayed with my visiting bestie at The London Hotel. If I were to get nitpicky, the digs are too contemporary-slick for my taste. But in general--gorgeous. The beds are like clouds. The baths have triple shower heads--enough said. And Gordon Ramsay at the London has a separate Vegetarian Menu upon request. A secret worth spreading.

I spent my Friday night at Home Silverlake. Scott T. Sterling DJ'ed. Scott Sterling hosted. It might have been confusing but for the differentiating middle initial. Cydney Robinson may be the Janis Joplin of this generation. The voices could make them sisters. But I am pretty sure this one wasn't on crack.



All in a week gone by. Cheers to the next seven days.

Parting thoughts: Facebook has been showing multiple maternity-related ad units on my account. Does it know something I don't? Are my pschographics showing signs of a baby bump only Facebook knows I have?

Web 2.0 addiction.

Dear World Wide Web:

I'm officially a Web 2.0 addict. In the last week I have joined Twitter, FriendFeed, and now I am blogging from my car. In traffic. On the freeway.

Yours (forever or until the next big thing is out),
Jessie

p.s.-Can't get enough of me? Find me on myspace, facebook, twitter, friendfeed. And 'follow' me here at www.jessiebr.blogspot.com.