Time's Up, Pencils Down

My name is Rachael. I teach sketch writing at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in Los Angeles. I act in things sometimes. I also write some things here and there and make some videos for the internet and that general malarkey. I go to the movies...

[rachaelisawriter]

So This is the Place Episode 1

Cast: Rachael Mason, Ben Rameaka, Josh Eakright

[letsreadsomegoddamnedbooks]

Book #8 

Washington Square - Henry James

I enjoyed this book. A quick read, very dry humor and well drawn characters. Period pieces can really fray on my nerves sometimes, as I don’t have the patience to get through the tedious manners and decorum that the era requires, but this was well-paced and enjoyable.

[letsreadsomegoddamnedbooks]

Book #7

The Girl on the Train - Paula Hawkins

If this book had been 150 pages shorter I would have liked it. I figured out the “mystery” pretty early on and then found I had two thirds of the book left to go. Also, the end turns into a very “murderer saying cliche evil things and explaining the whole plot and the whole back story in a way that is not realistic and feels like this author has seen too many Murder She Wrote’s” way.

[letsreadsomegoddamnedbooks]

Book #6

The Receptionist - Janet Groth

Hoo boy, this book. I was hoping for an insight into the workings of the New Yorker, or an insight into being a working woman in largely male institution, or a collection of witticisms by arcane writers. Instead, this book reads like a tedious diary: lists of lunched had, dresses worn, famous people met (but with no interesting stories or anecdotes attached). I would have stopped reading this a quarter way through if it were not for this challenge. 

[letsreadsomegoddamnedbooks]

Book #4 

Super Sad True Love Story - Gary Shteyngart

I love a dystopian future setting as much as the next person but I started zoning out about half way through this book and it took me over a week to finish it. The characters are all sad and confused and some of it felt clever for the sake of being clever. In conclusion: meh.

[letsreadsomegoddamnedbooks]

Book #5 

Of Mice & Men - John Steinbeck

Holy Jesus, this is maybe the most depressing book I have ever read in my life. We all know how this ends, but the whole thing is one long miserable look at the futility of life. East of Eden is probably my favorite book of all time and you see a lot of the groundwork for that book in this one which was interesting. It also deals with issues of race in a very head on way that surprised me and I found both touching and sad. For a book that clock in at 107 pages, it sure packs a wallop. 

[improvnonsense]

Be A Great Straight Man

The “straight man” is the person (woman or man, despite the probably soon-to-be-insanely-dated term straight ‘man’) who is not in on the joke and who is therefore confused by it.

Someone says to you “Honey, we’ve talked about how our marriage is getting a little, well, stagnant. So starting this evening, in order to spice things up, I am going to hunt you.”

And you say “I do not want to be hunted, sweetheart. That’s dangerous!”

Aha! You are taking the “straight man” role. You’re pushing back against the funny idea in order to call attention to how weird it is. That’s called “framing” the unusual thing or else “calling it out.”

PROBLEM: if straight men get too forceful or dominant or fussy they can ruin a scene.

Luckily for you I am the greatest straight man on the face of the planet. For real. It’s my jam. I’m not as charismatic or as clever or as fun as almost anyone I’ve been on stage with. But there is no one — NO ONE – who can stare a silly idea in the face with as much delightful befuddlement as yours truly. I crush it as the straight man.

So here’s how to be a good one.

Be Curious: The straight man should always want to know more. “Why do you want to hunt me?” And if the other person is stuck for a reason, you have enough empathy to suggest one. “Sweetheart, is this because the guys at work say you’re not manly enough?”

Be Almost Convinced: The funniest posture for a straight man is to sit right on the brink of being convinced.  No matter how insane the idea, you are almost ready to give it a shot. Better than a hard “NO” is a careful “I don’t THINK so….” I did a two-person improv team with a friend who like me was often a straight man in scenes and we called ourselves “The Furrowed Brows” because that was such a common expression when dealing with an insane idea.

Point Out The Funniest Dumb Consequences: Writers and analytical people make great straight men because they quickly see the funniest consequences of a funny idea. The ones that are true, but that we the audience have not yet considered. In response to the above “I’m going to hunt you” you could say “You don’t want to do that, you would be such a terrible widower.” Or “And you’ll clean up my body? I doubt it.” Or “You couldn’t defend yourself against a murder charge, you’re a terrible liar.”

Challenge Them: This is a more aggressive version of the previous tip: you challenge the silliness of the idea. “You want to murder me? Then what will do you when you’re charged? Won’t you be lonely?” Gauge the responses. If the other person isn’t coming up with great reasons, back off. In fact, let’s make that a tip on its own.

If You’re Ever “Winning,” Back Off: Generally speaking, if the voices of reason win, the scene feels smug and boring. We don’t want you to “win” the scene. We just want you to explore and challenge the idea to get more fun out of it. So be ready to take your foot off the brakes and let the other person get their way in order for the scene to continue.

One of three basic tones you want to strike as a straight man:

Be As Dry As Toast: Just adopt a reasonable, moderate tone and engage the insanity with a disarming voice of reason, OR

Have Just A Small Stick Up Your Rear: Be perturbed, prissy and put off by the crazy person. OR

Be Insanely Freaked Out: Be completely taken apart by the craziness! Scream! This is the nuttiest idea you have ever heard of! This will ruin everything!

Regardless of your tone, you will STILL be ALMOST CONVINCED, you will still be CURIOUS, you will REMAIN ENGAGED and CHANGEABLE.

Being a good straight man is so much fun. Get good at it and enjoy it.

[rachaelmason]

Will Hines FTW, as usual.

[letsreadsomegoddamnedbooks]

Book #3

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

I am pretty sure I read this in high school, but didn’t remember much about it. I often have a problem with these books of old where everyone seems to lounge around drinking cocktails and going from party to party, but this eventually becomes engaging. The thing that annoyed me initially, that Gatsby is sort of a non-person that everyone seems to think is so great, eventually pays off by the end. 

[letsreadsomegoddamnedbooks]

Book #2

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

I loved this book. This easily could have been a self-indulgent piece of garbage, but she is a great writer and really taps into why people feel the need to make these pilgrimages. I cried at least five times while reading it.

[letsreadsomegoddamnedbooks]

Book #1

The Ocean at the End of the Lane - Neil Gaiman

I am fan of the magical realism of Neil Gaiman. Quick, fun and engaging. Makes you think a bit about the nature of reality and after I read his books I always have a few days afterwards where I wonder if magic exists, which I think is a good thing.

[rachaelmason]

I started this other blog to chronicle my attempt to read 100 books this year. Follow along. Or don’t! Whatever! #100books

[brettgelman]

ANYONE IN L.A: PLEASE HELP HUDSON THE IRISH WOLFHOUND FIND A HOME. HIS OWNER DIED AND HE’S ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD, HIS EUTHANASIA DATE IS SET BUT HE REALLY DESERVES A LONGER LIFE. REF: ADRIANA #427 / LOS ANGELES COUNTY ANIMAL CARE & CONTROL. TEL: 562 - 940 - 6898 / REF: A469-0282 County of Los Angeles - Downey Animal Care Center

[the-uterus]

#WomenBetrayed is trending, so I thought I’d post this in response.

[vixyish]

Planned Parenthood was there for me during a gap of time where I had no health insurance. I have a recurring monthly donation to them set up on my credit card, marked for use as “wherever most needed”.

[weloveshortvideos]

[demonsexcure]

Feminists United Club Member Grace Mann Murdered After Months of Threats of Sexual Assault and Violence

After University of Mary Washington Feminists United Club president Paige McKinsey spoke up at a student senate meeting about the culture of sexual hostility among the university’s fraternities and the university’s unwillingness to do anything about it, the anonymous social media app Yik Yak exploded with insults and threats of physical and sexual violence toward McKinsey and other campus feminists.

After the rugby team was recorded singing a song about raping dead whores, prompting FUC members to report the incident to the school administration, the threats got even worse. 

Then, on April 17th, Grace Mann was murdered by her roommate, a former rugby player.

You can literally be murdered for being a feminist.

[1asymmetrical2mars3horizon-deac]

Omg my god, this is horrifying.

[podencos]

Jesus christ

[tastefullyoffensive]

Floor Plans of Famous TV Apartments [nikneuk]

[meddmadraev]

And now, to recreate these on the Sims.

[thatsthat24]

This ruined my standards for apartment living.

[rachaelmason]

AKA Impossible NYC Apartments

[sweetpaulmagazine]

Beet & Goat Cheese Terrine

It not only looks amazing but tastes divine!

Serves 4

12 beets, in as many different colors as you can find.

1 lb soft goat cheese

salt and pepper, to taste

glug of olive oil

basil leaves

pistachios

edible flower for garnish,

any kind flaky salt, for finishing

Get the full recipe HERE

[f525252-blog]

The prettiest terrine I’ve ever seen.

[rachaelmason]

Repost for my own future ref.

[micdotcom]

A mysterious flash of light in Russia is raising a lot of questions

Russia, known throughout history as a land of unique music, art and literature, is increasingly becoming known for another distinction: unexplained nighttime phenomena. Residents up late in the southern city of Stavropol were treated to a bizarre blue and white burst that lit up the sky at roughly 12:49 a.m. local time Tuesday, RT reported.

Scientists say it wasn’t natural nor from power lines

[uhohitsthecops]

This is some Night Vale shit right here

[micdotcom]