January 3, 2017 (Tosh's Diary)

January 3, 2017

My favorite actress is  ZaSu Pitts.   I was fortunate enough to see the original version of “Greed,” made by Erich Von Stroheim.  Or I should mention that I saw the entire 85 hours of footage.  Of course, it took longer to watch the damn film, due to bathroom breaks, meals, sleep, and the need to get out and see the natural life.   ZaSu’s (pronounced as “Say Zoo”) intensity in that film was a marvel, and I often think of her when I think of money.  Somewhere in my house, I have the 8mm copy of “Greed.”  It’s in one of the boxes that I have stored in our storage shack in our yard.  "Greed" has been on my mind lately because I should share the footage with others.   I have been told that this film footage is very rare, and only a few has seen the complete version of “Greed.”  

An idea came to mind.  Why don’t I have a public screening of the 85 hours of “Greed,” as a fundraiser for the Trump statue?   I called all the non-profit spaces in Los Angeles to see if they would sponsor my fundraiser, but oddly enough, they all turned me down.   This is not a hinderance.  I will arrange a showing of the film at my house.  I will rent a big screen, and perhaps with the help of Sammy’s Camera, I can find an 8mm projector.  I just hope that I can find all the original 8mm films because there must be a lot of them.

My understanding is that ZaSu was a life long Republican.  Perhaps I can tie that in with the benefit.  Since the theme of ‘Greed” is about wealth, and my understanding is that many Republicans are concerned with that subject matter.   In today’s world, one has to take an idea and explore the entire area around it.  A film is not just a film.  It represents a culture.  Therefore I need to give this showing a whole spectacle, for audiences to come.  No spectacle, then no culture, which means no statue for Trump.

January 2, 2017 (Tosh's Diary)

January 2, 2017 (Tosh’s Diary)

Today feels like I have already spent this day yesterday.   For reasons that are not totally clear to me, whenever New Year’s Day falls on a Sunday, then the next day, which is Monday is New Year’s Day (observed).  This makes perfect sense when it comes to offices or banks being closed on the following Sunday holiday, but must we have the Pasadena Rose Parade on the second of January?   Millions of Americans wake up on January 1 to watch the rose parade on their TV sets.  Yet, once they turn on the right station or website, they find nothing.  One can’t imagine the severe disappointment of having their parade yanked out due that it’s on a Sunday.   I have to imagine that it is some silly Christian religion thing that this happened.  The thing is, by the time it’s the second of January I have very little interest in watching the parade.  One watches the parade on the first of January!  There are procedures, or rules in one’s life or culture, and they are followed with great passion.  I feel the same way when people open their Christmas presents on Christmas Eve.   There is a thing called Christmas morning, and that is the time when one comes to the Christmas tree to open presents - with the family all there and looking happy.  I should write to President-elect Trump about all this.   I gather that he may agree with me.  

Speaking of the devil (or angel, now that I’m going to support him), the committee to raise funds for building his statue and placing it at the Silver Lake Meadows is starting, but with very slow or none results at this time of writing.   I pretty much spent the entire New Year’s Day (on my own time of course) trying to convince people the importance of such a mission.  And yesterday would have been perfect, because it’s the first day of the new year, and doing something positive would sure bring a long cool shadow over the year.  Yet, oddly enough, people are still bitter over the stupid election.   The Clinton fan - base is pretty much drunk since the election.  So it’s hopeless to raise funds from that side of the fence.  Meanwhile, my one and only friend who is a die-hard Trump supporter refuse to give me any funds to build a statue in Trump’s honor.   I don’t want to generalize a whole movement out there, but I find Trump supporters are basically cheap.   The mean part doesn’t bother me as much as their cheapness.  They (will he, my only friend who is a Trump supporter) told me that since he’s a billionaire there is no need for us to raise funds for him.   That to me is a silly argument.  For instance, the people I know who are rich, does that mean I don’t buy them a present on their birthday or for Christmas - due that they can easily afford their own presents?   Do you see where this is leading?  

Yesterday I wrote to Peter Thiel, who is a billionaire and co-founder of Paypal.  Which by the way is a brilliant name for such a company.  A poet must have thought of that.  Pay + Pal = happiness.   Now that is a relationship I can support!  Anyway, I sent him an email yesterday, asking if he was willing to support our committee (which to be honest is basically me at this point) to have a statue built for the honor of Trump.  For sure, a man who is spending money on a man-made island to be placed in the French Polynesian lagoon would clearly be for this statue.  Sadly, I waited for twelve hours, and at this time, I have not heard a word from him.  Perhaps he’s on a holiday with his various boyfriends, but surely of all people, he must know that time is money.  Or perhaps he supports the second of January as an observed holiday?

Good grief!  Fear not, I will not give up on this dream.  Today is only the second day of the new year, and I will be working on this project, at least until the middle-aged year of say June.    After that, who knows.  

January 1, 2017 (Tosh's Diary)

January 1, 2017

My heart is not really a heart.  It’s a drone looking for a subject.  Today is the first day of the new year.  I have a lot to look forward to.  I have been thinking about our upcoming President, and as I was drinking at the wine bar in Gelson’s market (on Hyperion) late last night. I had thoughts that I was becoming too negative.  Perhaps I should be more supportive of our soon-to-be President.  I’m thinking of starting up a committee to raise funds to build a nice statue of our incoming President.   

This, of course, will be a non-profit or no profit project, which must be a strange thing to do in the Trump world.  But I think to honor him even before he enters the White House, or even say, his Trump Tower as the President would be a very nice gesture.  The fact is I voted against him, and clearly, I lost, or we lost, and we just have to get up from the bar’s floor and make a new day.  

I thought of approaching the Trump foundation to see if they could grant us funds to build the statue, but alas, I think it’s best that the funding should come from citizens than say from the Government.   I’m not clear if the Trump Foundation is now part of the Government or just a side-business type of thing - but alas, that is not really a concern of mine.  I think what I need to do this morning is think of an artist who can do the job, and it is a job. It would be great to find an artist to donate his services and vision to make this statue, but I think that is asking way too much. 

The location I’m thinking of at the moment is Silver Lake Meadow, where the reservoir is located.  There is a large amount of grass area that would be the perfect spot to build or place the Trump statue.   I can see in the future, where families can gather around the statue to have picnics and of course, enjoy the California sunshine.   Also, I think it will be a great civic thing to do for Los Angeles.  In Tokyo, there is the dog statue that is placed right outside the Shibuya station.  It is a very well known meeting place, and right now, Los Angeles doesn’t have an official meeting place.  I can see future generations or visitors to our city saying ‘oh let’s meet up at the Trump statue.  It will be such an obvious place. I’m sure it will be known around the world.   When it comes to Silver Lake I’m very civic-minded.   Must make plans now!