Adventures in the World of Mobile Knowledge Workers

LA and Chicago: An Essential Difference

I went out with girlfriends lately, to the Edison. Great drinks and atmosphere. 

This outing gave me the chance to experience one of the differences between WestCoasters and Midwesterners. It's all about the Photo. It was a hilarious, but instructive experience. Thanks to the wonders of digital photography, we could see the results immediately. 

The first four times pictures were taken of me, my eyes were closed and my mouth was wide open. One of the LA friends said, kindly, "Well, you do look joyful."  This brought up a topic: why do I (and my compatriots) take such shitty pictures? As one of the Chicagoans explained, "I learned how to take pictures in lower school, and stopped there." 

The Santa Monica Public Library- Main Library

I love this place. Spending time at the Main Library is like going to a beach resort. 

First of all, there is ample, cheap, subterranean parking. Coming up from the parking lot, you do feel as though you have entered Heaven, having just left the bowels of Hell. It's breezy, there's sun: it's fantastic. You see the lovely courtyard on your way into the library building. The garden is sleek, composed of attractive plants that are most likely drought resistant. A pool of water winds its way around the space. It's really restful and lovely. People chat on cell phones but it's not disruptive.