If you’re in or around Los Angeles this week, you’re quite aware of the storm that’s been pummeling us. There were actually tornado warnings today in Long Beach, South Central LA, and Whittier.

Tornado warnings, Auntie Em???

Anyway, as a bonus to my semi-flooded garage, I woke up this morning to see that the crawling ivy I’d planted several years ago — which had done exceedingly well over the years — has finally outdone itself. The storm was the final straw, pulling my lush ivy wall from my neighbor’s garage like a thick blanket.

Growl. Time to break out the machete.

*UPDATE 01.23.2010: No machete needed after all. The guys rung up some hooks and wire, making it better than new.

My favorite proofreader looking over Under Angels Chapter X while waiting for grub at Diana’s, Carson CA, November 2009.

The Man
by Jace Daniel (b. 1969)

Cannot do this day another, too much work, it does me smother,
Peace not mine, I cannot rest, it’s been this way since it began,
Clock strikes six, sun is rising, dread I feel is unsurprising,
Dress myself with no disguising, ‘guising though I wish I can,
Job is mine, I do it well, doing it the best I can,
For I’m working for the Man.

Kiss the wife, kids are sleeping, lock the door for their safekeeping,
Job is torture, Hell on Earth, there’s no pain that’s greater than,
Hours too long, way too many, reasons right, can’t think of any,
Know I’ll pay a pretty penny, penny for the business plan,
Guilt I kill, or be killed, through it all, that is my plan,
For I’m working for the Man.

Owns my body, mind he’s renting, will of his in mine cementing,
Lifting, moving, pushing, shoving, sweep the oven, clean the pan,
Opportunity he’s luring, false accomplishments are curing,
Smell the wrath that I’ll be touring, touring through the best I can,
Dog eat dog, solution final, must convince myself I can,
For I’m working for the Man.

Business, pleasure, not for mixing, things awry, beyond fixing,
Easier said than done I say, no matter all the stories ran,
Love my work, what I’m learning, doesn’t matter what I’m earning,
Guilty pleasure I am burning, burning per the business plan,
Swastika on uniform, to cleanse the world, that is my plan,
For I’m working for the Man.

For EAP.

Brewery Artwalk, Los Angeles CA, 10.25.2009. Photo by Milena.

Griffith Park, 10.11.2009. Milena, Paulie, Vive, Ginger, Footsie. (Kona and the Squoise Factor sat that one out.)

Photo by Gina.

More info on Jonah here.

Royal Palms, San Pedro CA. Photo by Steve Fuchs.

Here’s a quick psychological test that I’ve been discussing with people these past few days. It’s awesomely accurate, and gets even more fascinating as people close to you do it.

You’ll first answer four simple yes/no personality questions about yourself. It will then tell you, with visuals, which typeface (font) shares your traits. It’s a fascinating exercise, especially if you love typography and have studied its psychological aspects.

Try it yourself! (password: character)

I’m New Alphabet:

Rational, Assertive, Progressive, Disciplined

With no curves of any kind, New Alphabet is an uncompromising Dutch font designed by Crouwel in 1967. Based on early computer screens, it is strictly limited to horizontal and vertical strokes, and is exceptionally striking while being almost totally illegible.

If you are a statement maker, and if when that statement makes sense to you it is immaterial if it makes sense to anyone else, then New Alphabet is your type.

What’s striking — pun intended — to me is that this typeface shares lots of the qualities of the ambigram I designed a few years ago.

PF Chang’s bar, Long Beach CA, 01.10.2010, 24 hours after he hosted SNL.

RELATED: If you’ve never shaken the hand of an NBA power forward before, just imagine shaking a catcher’s mitt.

Another photo taken by Milena from behind the bar, wearing black. Chuck said he got thrown off; for a moment he thought she was gonna offer him one of those little shot glass dessert thingies: