Jury duty postscript
The above is the seal of the county of Los Angeles. I saw it yesterday handsomely mounted at the elevator bank outside the jury pool room. My understanding of county seals is probably not all it could be, but to my reckoning, the official mascot of the county of Los Angeles is a Greek lady standing under the sun, by a riverbank, in front of some crazy-ass mountains, holding an armload of produce. But a Greek lady standing under the sun by a riverbank in front of some crazy-ass mountains with an armload of produce is not all Los Angeles County is famous for! No, many other things come from Los Angeles County. Clockwise from left, we can see that Los Angeles County is famous for its oil wells, the Hollywood Bowl (where, it appears, a Christian service is held under the stars), cows, fish, Spanish Armadas, and drafting supplies.
As it happens, the above is the old county seal. Below is the new one.
As you can see, Los Angeles County still considers itself, first and foremost, a place where a woman in loose-fitting clothes stands under the sun, by a riverbanks, in front of some crazy-ass mountains, with an armload of — something. The woman has gone from Greek to Mexican, I think, which is probably a step in the right direction. But she’s not holding sheaves of whatever-it-is anymore. To tell you the truth, I’m not sure what the new woman is holding, but there doesn’t seem very much of it. Perhaps that’s just another sign of budget cuts. What is that stuff in her bowl anyway? Olives? Rocks? Tar, from the world-famous La Brea Tarpits?
And we can see that the bounty of Los Angeles County has changed as well. No more oil wells in Los Angeles County, Charlie! They’re gone! And no more Christian services at the Hollywood Bowl either! You know what we have here instead? Spanish Missions, that’s what! They’re all over the place, now that the oil wells are gone! Cows and fish are still in plenty of abundance, thankfully, and our Spanish Armadas are still as common as ever. And no one, it appears, will ever take away Los Angeles County’s primacy in drafting supplies.
Recently spotted on a t-shirt: “What happens in the La Brea tar pits STAYS in the La Brea tar pits.”
Is this what you spotted?
Indeed. Someone wearing the same. In Houston, TX, no less.
The Los Angeles area has one of the highest concentrations of Aerospace companies in the U.S. or even in the world so those drafting supplies come in really handy now and then.
Perhaps it’s a collection plate? That would be timely.
acorns!
they’re acorns! didn’t any ya’ll take standard CA 4th grade history curriculum? no?
http://www.archives.gov/pacific/education/curriculum/4th-grade/acorn.html
she’s also likely native american 🙂 don’t know how accurate the threads are, but whatever.
Re: acorns!
It occurred to me that she was Native American, but then I figured the Native Americans of Southern California when it became a state were Mexicans. But that just shows what I know about the history of Southern California.
Super off-topic, but its been bugging me…
Who is the protagonist of the Breakfast Club? Are they multiple protagonists?
Re: Super off-topic, but its been bugging me…
The Breakfast Club is an ensemble drama, and therefore has multiple protagonists. Traditionally, ensemble dramas are less commercial than single-protagonist dramas, but The Breakfast Club is a notable exception.
(Off Subject)
Do you plan on posting your thoughts on Inglourious Basterds at any point in time?
Re: (Off Subject)
I should, but I’m a little tied up with work at the moment. I liked it — at a time when I didn’t think an American movie could surprise me any more, Tarantino managed, again, to surprise me.
Re: (Off Subject)
I’m really glad to hear that, as I enjoyed the hell out of it myself. I saw the midnight showing, was absolutely baffled (in a good way) and then I saw it again two days later. I think it’s a masterpiece. Interested to hear more of your thoughts.