November 12, 2007
lithium? more like Jiffium!
11/12/07
Oh my god, this is too good not to share. I hope Jiffer doesn't mind me copying from her email, but I'm going to beg forgiveness rather than ask permission. In her own words:
***
A week ago I got an email from my Peace Corps friend Moya, that read, "Um, this might seem a bit strange but I guess it's published so... um, are you on the cover of this book?"
To which I replied, "No - not to my knowledge..." and then I remembered...
Three-and-a-half years ago, my college friend Jim was visiting Hamburg and Berlin. He works for National Geographic online and does a bit of amateur photography. He took several photos on his trip, including a few of me, and told me he planned to put them in the National Geographic photo image bank/database. He explained that people could go image shopping and buy his photos if they choose. Thinking I was helping a friend and his fledgling career as a photographer, I agreed to sign the release form and let him put the photos of me in the bank....
So when Moya sent me the link to the book that she saw ..... sure enough, it was ME, staring out from the cover of THIS book:
[removed by request - but I promise, it was AWESOME! - ed.]
Oh yeah. That's right.
Now you know what my mom is getting for Christmas!
I mean, it could be worse... the photo could have ended up in an ad for herpes or erectile disfunction, right? So, just a little lesson... probably best NOT to sign that release form...
Love from your favorite bipolar poster girl,
jif x
***
.jpg)
i hate you. no wait, i love you. shit maybe i really am bipolar. while i am on here.. would anyone care to tell me why YOU think they chose this photo of poor innocent me for the cover? seriously, i need to get in touch with the publisher and find out... i`m going to go bipolar on his ass....
My guess would be the over-the-top symbolism of half your face being lit and the other half in shadow.
That is what I was thinking...the shadow thing.
Having this book photo as your claim to fame is at least one step up from being caught on Girls Gone Wild or something like that.
Maybe you can have a fundraiser to buy up all remaining copies!
Wow, that is a freaky feeling, huh! Gorgeous photo, Ms. "New Face of Bipolar Disorder." ;-)
That Jiffer...she so crazy...
The shadow thing probably has something to do with it, but you also look "reassuring," in keeping with the subtitle. BTW, that cover is horrifically designed. Your photo is by far the best part of it.
That is a gorgeous photo. You're right, Jif, it could have been worse....
As to why, besides the symbolism, if I needed "reassuring advice to help me cope", that photo looks like the kind of person who I'd want to get the advice from.
Rock on, Jiffer!
I think its great we should all lend ourselves to the free press. We could all become heroes to some, and not even know it.
Oh my gosh - this reminds me of the "Friends" episode in which Joey ends up in an STD ad. That shows up in the subway, if I remember correctly.
It really is a gorgeous photo!
That is hiarious!!!!
From an objective perspective, Ms. Jiffer (since I don't know you, I can't just call you Jif)...your face looks kind of sympathetic and winsome, so that's probably why - it makes us readers realize that the person suffering from bipolar disorder might just be your best friend, the girl next door, your sister, your mom. You are everywoman. Now, bipolar disorder has a name, and its name is Jif.
I always wondered who agreed to be in photos for things like that. Now I know they probably didn't REALLY agree.
The nature of this cover, and the use of the photo, suggests to me that the photo could only identify the author of the book. This leads me to believe that Jon P. Bloch, Ph.D. himself suffers from bipolar disorder, and thinks he is Jiffer.
I do think it somewhat ironic that, in the context of our discussing a possibly unauthorized use of Jiffer's photo, Ian has now without Jiffer's authorization re-posted her email.
Seth,This should be your lucky day. You can write two cease and desist letters on behalf of Jiffer. How fitting, given that she's bipolar.
Hilarious!
Oh my god, Chip. I love you. I can't stop giggling.
You're right Monica, the WORST part of that book design is the font on the word Everything, it's the font you might use on a book called "Everything You Need To Know About Your First Baby", not a book about bi-polar disorders.
At least the release doesn't authorize them to have Jif committed. Might be worth checking the fine print on that one, I guess.