Michelle Obama in 2016

This t-shirt's in the front window of a little boutique on Clark Street. I love it.

Bryan's Last Performance as DADA Vichyssoises

DADA Vichyssoises
Originally uploaded by Fuzzy Gerdes

Doesn't he look sort of dangerous? A bit Joker-y? There's definitely an unpredictable quality to that face - or maybe it's the googly girlfriend eyes I see him through.

The interesting thing with the DADA show is seeing friends turn into entirely different people when the white makeup goes on. I would never have thought of Erica Reid or Amanda Roundtree as anything but sweet, for example, and their characters are very rich and complex - and definitely dark.

My Videos From Come Out For Change Gay-La For Equality Illinois

Incredibly strong sets from everyone - and why not? The room was packed full of happy fans ready for a great night. Nellie raised almost $1000 for Equality Illinois. Check out my fancy new editing moves, courtesy of Final Cut.

Cameron Esposito:


Ben Lerman:


Allison Leber:


Bill Cruz:


James Fritz:


Seth Dodson:

Merry Christmas!

Bryan Bowden Test Test Reel (You Read That Right)

Ha ha. Poor Bryan is off performing in the last night of Soiree Dada's Schmuck Der Hallen and he has no idea I'm making him my Final Cut guinea pig. Here's a test I did of pulling clips from different projects, using new transitions, etc.

James Fritz Nov 2008 at ChUC - Barack and the Gays

James Fritz' generational Southern white guilt makes him uncomfortable with a website called "MyBarackObama," and he has parsed every bit of stupidity from the most popular arguments against the gays. Video, music, and editing by me.

Las Vegas, 1965

Las Vegas, 1965
Originally uploaded by Roadsidepictures

Such a cool picture.

Ho Ho Ho, Where Are My Sugar Cubes?

Bryan Christmased up this picture of my niece's horse. Aw. Merry Christmas, Limo.

My Pix From Come Out For Change Charity Gay-La

All pix by me, full set here. Nellie's Come Out For Change blog here.

Less than an hour after I uploaded my photos to Flickr, Time Out Chicago was putting them on their web site. Awesome.

Allison Leber:


The Alliance:


Ben Lerman:


James Fritz:



Cameron Esposito, Eliot Rahal, Adam Guerino:


Happy audience members:


Bill Cruz:


Cameron Esposito:


Seth Dodson:

Conan O'Brien and Co. on New Media's Effect On Comedy

Conan O'Brien's Writers Talk About Creating Sketches

Wow, so pretty much what my friends and I are doing right now is the way these guys work, too. Awesome.

Samsung Doesn't Care Where It Puts Commas

I recently observed that as the economy has gotten worse, I've seen WAY more typos and misspellings all over the place - print media, online media, even chyrons on television. My writer friends agree they're seeing more of it, too. I suppose it's part of the overall downturn - companies have less money to pay copyeditors, etc. And it's one thing to see stuff on a web page that eventually gets corrected...but what about stuff like this?

"See how our...camera phone let's you snap and share..."

Whatever. It's so egregious that it's not worth tallying, but this slick little ad in particular I found annoying.

(EDIT: As has been gently pointed out to me, Samsung misused an apostrophe, and not a comma. Somehow neither I nor any of my equally language-obsessed friends noticed my error. Awesome.)

Scotty Got an Office Job, I Did Voiceover

My amazing friend Scotty Iseri, who is a musician, sound designer, filmmaker, and all-around hilarious and magical human being, has just completed Episode 26 of his inventive and awesome DIY "Scotty Got an Office Job" video project. And the cranky supervisor warning him at the end of this episode? Me.

Scotty Got an Office Job: The Season Finale from Scotty Iseri on Vimeo.

James Fritz at Chicago Underground Comedy - Chicago is #1!

My first effort with Final Cut! Just got it today, that means all I've figured out so far is basic functionality and animated titles. Also, FRITZ IS HILARIOUS in this clip, all about Chicago.

Calpurnia Heals; Chills

Space Princess Calpurnia as a Lolcat

Look what my friend Fuzzy did with my picture of Calpurnia!

Really? Because I'm Pretty Sure The Person Who Copyedited This Ad is the Idiot

Calpurnia's New Ear (and Elizabethan Collar)

She is all about me and burrowing into my arms right now. Note the bent ear and the wary look in her eye. Tonight I am retiring early because healing requires lots of snuggling and hugging.

Happiness is Contagious

"Dinner: Mole in Hole and Diet Coke With a Side of Happiness," by Elizabeth McQuern, on Flickr.

As you can see on the computer screen in the photo, I'm spending my dinnertime researching the contagious nature of happiness, based on a re-examination of data from the Framingham Heart Study. Someone else re-examined the data, I mean. Not me. Heh.

So the Framingham (Massachusetts) Heart Study is this incredibly detailed and very close study of thousands of individuals that was begun in 1948, a project of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, in collaboration with Boston University. Data gathered from it has been used in countless eye-opening studies.

Here's what I found out, courtesy of the BMJ:

"Clusters of happy and unhappy people are visible in the network, and the relationship between people’s happiness extends up to three degrees of separation (for example, to the friends of one’s friends’ friends). People who are surrounded by many happy people and those who are central in the network are more likely to become happy in the future."

I think it makes perfect sense that people who don't know each other directly affect each other's lives. I have seen that, especially in cases of people with dense social networks and frequent interaction, like me, we affect the lives of people two and three degrees out.

Also, this is really interesting: "Effects are not seen between coworkers." Maybe businesses are measurably full of crap when they say "We're all one big happy family here at Spacely Spork Inc!"

And this part is extra awesome: "Happiness is a fundamental object of human existence,¹ so much so that the World Health Organization is increasingly emphasising happiness as a component of health."

So, essentially, you're only as happy as your friends. So cheer up, you sad sacks of crap! Ha ha. Just kidding.

Calpurnia the Space Princess

A very dramatic day today. My roommate's crazy cat came into my room (my cats' only safe zone), attacked my baby, Calpurnia, and ripped her ear apart. After freaking out and crying (and throwing up while putting her in her carrier, because I was upset that she was so upset), I took her to my vet, who put her under for surgery, stitched her ear back together, and gave me antibiotics and pain medications for her. When we got home and I went to take a photo of her with her permanently bent ear and her much-hated Elizabethan collar, I got this shot, where I think she looks like Space Princess Kittycat from the 44th Century.

Also, even though I got her to the vet as soon as I could, and they began surgery on her right away, by the time she was ready to be taken home it was 6:00, which is when Bryan's teenage stand-up students' show at Second City was starting. They were all excited because they knew I was going to film them and take photos. Bryan is really proud of the kids and the 12 weeks they put into polishing and workshopping their jokes, and I was super psyched to see them in action and write a little story about them for Gapers Block. Oh, well. Maybe next time.

Edit: here's what she reminds me of - Federation starship Captain Kathryn Janeway as Queen Arachnia in a special episode of Star Trek: Voyager.

"Derelict Lot" by David Schalliol

Derelict Lot, View from the Ground
Originally uploaded by metroblossom

David Schalliol, who I know through Gapers Block, takes some lovely and very evocative photos. I really like this one, of an abandoned lot in Chicago. I don't know what kind of camera or software he uses, but this one is just so cinematic and full of depth and untold stories.

Monte's Photo of Governor Blagojevich's House

dark days for the governor of illinois
Originally uploaded by montography

My friend Monte took this picture of Blago's house the day of his early morning arrest by the FBI. He captioned it "his home the day of his arrest, a lone umbrella stands." Somehow I pictured his house differently, perhaps gilded, or bedazzled?

Cool

Amanda Rountree (DADA Alvi) and Bryan Bowden (DADA Vichyssoise)

DADA Alvi and DADA Vichyssoise
Originally uploaded by Fuzzy Gerdes

I think the DaDa makeup is cool. Look, Bryan even accented his little beauty mark. And Amanda looks much sassier than usual with that slight smirk.

My Pix From Chicago Underground Comedy Dec. 9, 2008

All pix by me, full set here.

Brendan McGowan:



Mike Wiley:



Mike Sheehan:



Paul Thomas:



Mike and Duane (with whom I'll be doing two music videos soon!):



Duane:



Adam Burke, who wears a suit and tie so well the rest of us can't help but look like slobs in comparison:



Nick Vatterott, who told great stories based on adventures on the Second City tour boat:

My Sweet Diaries

My dear friends Kristy Mangel AKA K-Rock and Angelica Busque (AKA Geli Girl) have been working hard to digitize the embarrassing childhood journals of their own and their friends, transforming terribly teenage angst into adult internet humiliation (hey, I'll bet there's a fetish site for that). ANYWAY, the old journals are heartbreaking and hilarious and I invite you to enjoy My Sweet Diaries.

A special excerpt, from Michelle's Unsent Letters Part 3:

Age: unknown?

Julie,

This has been going on long enough. I’ve always kept my mouth shut before, but now I have to speak out. I feel like I’m being ignored by you! I feel like your purposely trying to make me jealous! You knew I was in your group, but you didn’t even walk with me! Or talk with me! It was always Danielle, Danielle, Danielle!!! “Danielle sit here! Danielle come here!” Why? Just because she’s super pretty & super popular? Just trying to make me jealous with that? But I don’t think you would do something like that! I know you better! So why don’t you ever pay any attention to me in school? Outside of school, we’re best of friends! But inside school you act like I’m not even there! See, that’s what this letter’s about! It’s about why you seem to hate me all of a sudden! Not that I think you shouldn’t have any other friends. See what I’m getting at? I’m willing to forget this whole thing if you’ll talk it out or write it out with me, OK? Understand? Understood!

P.S. Pleeeeeeeeeeeease, feed that poor, starving turtle of your’s? Actually, I’ve had my headbrace for 9 weeks, and I know I haven’t slept over anybody’s since I got it including yours, so, if the only time it ever gets fed is when I’m over, well, it hasn’t been fed in 9 weeks! Jeeeeeeeeeeezzzz!!!!!

Write back!!!

Today's Tweets - December 8, 2008

can't figure how how to change settings on Facebook so messages doesn't also come through my email (and therefore phone). WTF? 11 minutes ago from web
thinks her comedy acquaintances Eugene, Ben, and Drew should tour together: Mirman, Lerman, and Zerman. Heyyyoo! about 4 hours ago from web
uh...might have just gotten an offer for a project that's a little over her head...but she still kinda wants to go for it. about 5 hours ago from web
is already getting interested replies to her creative services announcement. Bring it! We're ready! about 5 hours ago from web
and Melissa are officially offering their combined web design, copywriting, photo and video services! Deets here - http://tinyurl.com/5mf5tb about 6 hours ago from web
Whoa, the Trib (and LA Times) declared bankruptcy, with $13 billion in debt - http://tinyurl.com/5c3lth about 8 hours ago from web
@qrw I'm sure you're right. He's not a sexually harassing pest. He's a marketing and message genius! about 9 hours ago from web in reply to QRW
thanks you for repeating that, sir. Truly, the reason I didn't respond the 1st time you yelled "YES, MAMA!" was because I had not heard you. about 10 hours ago from web
Nellie and Teresa may not know it yet but I just wrote our next Bucket of Nerds sketch and they are going to be my hilarious and cute stars. about 11 hours ago from TwitterBerry
just watched her Prop 8 video on video Gchat with her brother. Of course they both cried at the end. http://tinyurl.com/6rl2s3 Of course. about 12 hours ago from web
is video Gchatting with her oldest brother in D.C. Fun! about 12 hours ago from web
S.A.D. - was there ever a more succinct acronym? Ah, therapeutic light box, with your weird ionized air. Do your magic. about 14 hours ago from web
is watching Lonely Island's new music video - http://tinyurl.com/5cymxf - thanks to Bryan I know the joy of "J*** in My Pants." about 14 hours ago from web
starts off every day with a Neti pot, some coffee, and a gentle stretching of her front legs. about 15 hours ago from web

Recession Dinner

Scraping the bottom of the barrel: garlic cottage cheese on toasted Brownberry Health Nut bread, half a sweet potato, and a spinach and apple salad with seriously good bleu cheese dressing and a sproonkle of cheese. Yes, "sproonkle."

Announcing a la carte creative design from me and Melissa!

Just wanted to give one quick little heads up about Melissa's and my new creative venture:

As some of you may know, Melissa Tipton and I (who are friends as well as family) have been combining our creative skills and doing lots of design projects together. Well, today we'd like to formally announce our creative partnership under the umbrella of her business, known as EcoMonster.

We can design and create any kind of media - custom websites for businesses and individuals, business cards, flyers, posters, postcards, letterhead, folders, promotional cds and dvds, and more.

But while we offer a wide range of creative services, everything is a la carte. People come to us with various media needs - some just want a poster, or some photos, some want the works.

Want to see what we're talking about? Here's a website Melissa custom-designed and built from scratch for comedian Mike Lebovitz, another one she did for Carrie Callahan (both with copyediting help from me). And here's Melissa's latest big solo project, the web site for pet-sitting business Bow Wow Meow.

Just need photography? I have been contracted for head shots, cast photos, live performances, and more. My photos have been published most recently in Time Out Chicago, and grace professional websites and promotional materials of all kinds. Take a peek at my photo portfolio here.

Need some video clips put together for online distribution and/or as a promo dvd? We can do that, too. Check out some samples here.

The point is, we can do almost anything, we're full of cool ideas, and we do great work, so if you or anyone you know needs design help, keep us in mind!

Testimonials from happy clients:

"I want to express how pleased I am with all the work Melissa has done on the site. I really appreciate both her craft and attention to detail, and I think it really shows in the final product. Also, I couldn't be more satisfied with the head shots and promotional photos Elizabeth took of me. She has a unique gift for capturing images that are dynamic and alive and a comforting demeanor that puts her subject completely at ease. She allowed me to relax and really open myself up to the camera. What resulted were some fantastic pictures! Hire these two today while you can still afford their services!"

- Mike Lebovitz, writer, comedian, and producer

"The website Melissa constructed for me is magnificent. She is enormously talented, and I love my new site!"

- Carrie Callahan, writer and comedian

"Countless other comedians and actors would agree with this -- I always feel comfortable when I know Elizabeth is behind the camera. She has a keen eye for composition knows the particulars of all her subjects such that whether she's doing photography, video, or editing, she will show you at your very best."

- Dan Telfer, writer, comedian, playwright, producer

"Elizabeth McQuern is a consummate professional, whether it be producing videos, photography or work-shopping projects, she is 100% committed to the task at hand and offers a unique and varied skill set."

- Andrew DeWitt, writer, comedian, actor, and illustrator

"Elizabeth's attention to detail exhibits a genuine concern for her client and a relentless quest for a first-rate product."

- Prescott Tolk, writer, producer and comedian, Comedy Central, Blerds

"Elizabeth has been filming my performances for over a year now. She is uniquely supportive, in my experience. She knows how to make the cameras disappear, as it were, so everyone's comfortable. She has a wonderfully light touch. And her editing skills are top-notch -- she's fast, clever, and really gifted. I'd use her again any time."

- Robert Buscemi, comedian, actor and writer

Bigger, Better, Faster ElizabethMcQuern.com

Updated my professional website over the weekend. Added new writing, photo, and video clips, new testimonials, and a denser front page. Check it out!

"Laura Bush killed a guy 23 minutes ago"

"Laura Bush killed a guy 23 minutes ago?" Well, not literally. But this sort of thing always cracks me up.

Hello, Baby Dragon

Baby dragon
Originally uploaded by Nissk

Yes, normally I draw a very crisp line between science fiction and fantasy, and I stay on the side with laser guns, three-breasted aliens and generational ships, but AWWW CUTE little dragon.

EDIT: This is my 2,000th post!

Monte's Don't Spit the Water Bowling Pic

people i kinda know. sorta.
Originally uploaded by montography

I love how they're all wearing bowling shows, even Timekeeper Willis. These guys will be at the Lodge's Chucklebowl if any of you are still figuring out your New Year's plans.

Merry Christmas 1966! From My Mom's Giant Beehive

Check out my parents and my oldest siblings in their 1966 Christmas card. Check out that towering, poofy Mom Bouffant. My sister was so, so pretty at that age, and here she looks sort of intensely cheerful. And my brothers were just so adorable. Look at what a sweet little baby J. was. Mom says he was always a super content little toddler and would play quietly for hours with his little trains and airplanes. Maybe that's why he grew up to be a pilot like Dad?

It blows my mind that my mom was actually five years YOUNGER in this picture than I am now. And this was just the first wave of kids, the ones born in the 50's and early 60's. Man, oh man - reproduce much?

My Pix From Chicago Underground Comedy Dec. 2, 2008

All pix by me, full set here.

Me! Winter's just begun and I'm already the color of death, recoiling from light.


Matt Ruby visits us from New York here and there and our audience always enjoys him.



Jeb Cadwell is playful, funny and one of the nicest guys in Chicago.



Chad Briggs is one of our new cast members and an incredibly talented dude. Bryan and I stuffed ourselves with pie and turkey with Chad and a bunch of other awesome comedy friends on Thanksgiving.



John Roy is from Chicago and stops in to polish up new bits for Jay Leno appearances and sweet road gigs. He's super chill and he's one of those guys who feel like you learn from just by watching him work.



CJ Sullivan. What can you say about CJ? He's a brilliant comedian, and absolutely one of a kind. I adore him, as does everyone else.

DADA Vichyssoise

DADA Vichyssoise
Originally uploaded by Fuzzy Gerdes

Also known as Bryan Bowden. Photo by Fuzzy Gerdes!