I’m going to give a more detailed account of our Italian vacation when I have more time, but we wanted to share a few photos in the mean time. Can’t wait to share all the photos with you over a carafe of vino when we return.
lunch in Grosetta
beers in Livorno
Livorno City
City Centre Pisa. A couple of icons.
us, and Romulus and Remus sucking on the teet of Mother Wolf
top of Leaning Tower of Pisa
the interior of some beautifully old church. built 1137.
I think I could live here.
For work this past weekend, some colleagues and I traveled to Culpeper, Va to tour the Library of Congress’ image, film and audio archives in Culpeper, Virginia. It’s kind of geeky, but for us film preservationists and archivists, it’s truly awesome. If you think you were impressed with some of the shots I’ve posted of NFL Films, prepare to be overwhelmed with dorky overload.
This is the exterior front door. The building was built partially out of the remains of a secret bunker that housed currency for the federal reserve during the Cold War. This is part of the new construction.
The first stop on our tour were the nitrate vaults. Nitrate film, manufactured in the early days and for the first half of the last century, is extremely hazardous. It spontaneously combusts, and burns quickly, even when completely submerged in water.
As a result, many of the gems of history have perished in huge warehouses on the lots of film production houses. At the Library of Congress, all nitrate films are stored in sealed, concrete vaults, isolated from one another, and closely guarded with fire suppression systems. At NFL Films, when we find nitrate film, we ship it the hell out, right to this place.
This is a mish mash of audio recording gear. I suppose they sometimes use this stuff, but it's really just to showcase some of the historic audio equipment that they've acquired.
This is the black and white processor. This is particularly interesting for me. Its very informative to see how other labs navigate the delicate problems that can arise with these machines. There is a no-error necessity, and half the work is done in the dark.
in the center of the complex, they have a sort of museum that showcases some old projectors from the early days of film.
I'm thinking that they don't use this one to project images so much anymore.
A shot of the underground stacks. This vault is part of the old bunkers that were built under a hill. It's all concrete. This room was huge and kind of looked like the final shot of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
film that is not nitrate (usually safety film) is stored here. We only got to go into one of them, but there were literally at least 60. This is the main hallway.
a shot not unlike the one I took of our own vault back in Mt Laurel. Very organized and unending.
remember, this is the inside of one vault...one of many. The temperature hovers just above freezing, so you better know exactly what you're going in for and where it is. Not a place to browse too long.
The building was built by David Woodley Packard of Hewlett-Packard fame. It was then donated to the government as the largest ever private gift to the Legislature. Ivy has begun to cover the building and it will eventually stealth the campus into the hillside, much like the secret bunkers hid themselves earlier.
out in the center, there is a fountain (not working in this picture). Being pretty close to Washington D.C., and having underground, concrete bunkers makes this fountain look suspiciously similar to an emergency helicopter pad.
They have a beautiful theater and actually showcase some of their treasures regularly to the general public.
I imagine it's quite relaxing to work here everyday. The building is very serene and laid back. It looked pretty damn stress free, with great benefits courtesy of tax payers.
Culpeper, Virginia! My future home if the NFL Labor dispute lasts a long time.
This is about the best thing you can wish to win at the Berlin Mart. Seriously, you can try those damn scratch offs, but seriously, you chances are better right here.
perhaps Bill's TV repair shop might want to stop by Bob's Custom signs. I hope Bill is a little steadier with his hand when his fixin' the televisions.
Sometimes, very rarely, my life is boring. This is inside the film vault at NFL Films.
Back at work for another glorious week.
Monika was sick and Kat was at work. Kreg and I started a fire and had a cigar in the afternoon
later, I had errands to run, including donating a huge bag of all the clothes Monika and I never wore anymore.
later, for the Eagles game, Kreg and I headed to the local sports bar. There was someone who used to play for the Eagles signing crap. Have no idea who he is. But they sold me a forty of bud lite in a bucket of ice for 4 bucks! And, the Eagles promptly sucked. Hurray!
it was a pretty boring day. at work all day. cleaning. needing a beer.
I originally thought this said "Welcome Fail," and I was like, wtf is that supposed to mean. Turns out, it was my reading fail, probably due to a lack of beer.
My friend Eva makes and sells awesome glass jewelry. For the next week, hit up Marla if you want to see any of it and get some for yourself or as a gift. This is just a portion of what's available.
I'm trying this whole minimalist thing. I was using a point and shoot, sooo, you get the idea. Maybe I'll have time to actually shoot this like I want it to look. And, probably black and white.
another fine example of the luxurious clothing you can find at the Berlin Mall (pssst, it's just like, it's just like, a Mini....Mall)
then I hung out with friends and watched the original "Let the Right One In." Pretty damn good I must say. Watch it.
I know it’s a few days late, and I try to post photos the day after the events, so it’s kind of current, but I got behind. These are from the weekend.
I'm an organizer. I wish I had a before and after, but this is just the after. It's bar and tap supplies at my newest retail job. I'm such a nerd. A nerd on a lot of caffeine. And, yes, I actually like to do this kind of crap.
every weekend I will be taking pictures that I think define what the Berlin Mart is all about. Here is a clothing store across the hallway from my store. They specialize in camouflage in case you need to blend into a black 70's disco club.
My new camera, with external flash. I even have film for this dinosaur, but I still need to track down the 3V batteries.
Berlin Mar
We usually are in Wildwood for the Irish Fall Festival. This year, we couldn’t make it because we were busy being responsible adults. But we headed to Rob’s for a makeshift Irish Festival and got drunk anyway.
Irish Carbombs are a must in any Irish themed party.
any drink that curdles is a drink for me
okay, the crows wasn't as big as in Wildwood
but we had a hell of a time anyway.
until Kat turned into a Zombie!!!
On The Verge of Tears 