Interweb Finds: Houses filled with sand, traveling solo & more

November 24, 2013 by Cassie

black and white DTLA

Happy Sunday, y’all! How was everyone’s weekend? Mine got off to an early start with a party of sorts at the Brewery Art Complex I blogged about a few weeks ago, upping my cool factor a notch. The rest of the weekend was spent sleeping entirely too late and getting oddly psyched about cleaning. Today, we’ll be giving our garden some much-needed love with some pebbles and plants. It was such a sad little garden when we moved in, so I can’t WAIT to do a before and after blog post when it’s done.


And now, for the interweb finds!

Take a look at these amazing self-portraits by a shy photographer. Such originality.

Stick it to the man! The Occupy Wall Street movement spent just $400,000 to eliminate $14 million of a bunch of Americans’ debts. Here’s how.

Erika has a great roundup of handmade Etsy holiday cards. Support small businesses!

To avoid the high cost of renting in New York City, some people are opting to live in RVs parked on the city streets.

This house tour of a converted church is incredible.

These sand-filled homes in Africa are like something out of a dream or surrealist painting.

Bob Dylan’s interactive music video for “Like a Rolling Stone” and Pharrell Williams’ music video for “Happy” are both incredibly addictive, innovative, interactive, and just plain fun.

Finally, Rachel’s post on solo adventures resonated with me SO MUCH. I might just have to drive up into the mountains alone one of these days.

 

And that’s all for your Thanksgiving week web finds! I just have one class on Monday, and then I have the next six glorious days to spend in my PJs, get work done, make a Thanksgiving dinner for two, and relax.

What are YOU looking forward to this week? Leave a comment telling me what you’re most thankful for, and I’ll include it in a Thanksgiving-themed post later this week.

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Filed Under: Interweb Finds Tagged With: apartment therapy, Bob Dylan, converted church, debt, Etsy, handmade, Happy, holiday cards, house tour, Interweb Finds, Like a Rolling Stone, music video, Occupy Wall Street, Pharrell, photography, RVs in New York, sand-filled homes in Africa, self-portraits, small business, solo adventure

Interweb Finds: Pups to make you smile, advice from Hunter S. Thompson & more

November 10, 2013 by Cassie

Oh, how quickly the weekends fly by. Isn’t that always the way? Still, I’ve had a pretty good one so far. I commiserated with lady classmates at happy hour, basked in the warm temperatures (it’s November?), and made some progress on a big story due for my broadcast class this week. The photo above is from beach camping last weekend. Yes, I slept right where that photo was taken! And I woke up to seals frolicking in the ocean. It’s a good life.

Here are a few of my favorite web finds:

A scientific explanation of why we often don’t like pictures of ourselves. (I can finally stop obsessing over how weird I look when my hair is parted to the opposite side in pictures—it’s normal!)

Weiner dog GIFs to get you through your day.

Bonus puppy find! Dogs saying “I love you.”

Would you like to be Facebook friends with your favorite TV character and get updates on their lives when you’re not watching? Here’s a cool read on the future of storytelling.

A powerful essay: When this man’s wife was battling breast cancer, friends and neighbors kept them well-fed. But, as the family learned later, no one brings dinner when your daughter is an addict.

20-year-old Hunter S. Thompson’s advice on how to lead a meaningful, purposeful life:

And it seems almost ridiculous to say that a man MUST function in a pattern of his own choosing; for to let another man define your own goals is to give up one of the most meaningful aspects of life — the definitive act of will which makes a man an individual.

Part mini-documentary, part music video: Celebrities (including Kanye West, Lindsay Lohan, Olivia Wilde, and Shaun White) explain what they love about L.A.—flaws and all.

 

That’s all for this week. The next few days will be insanity as I work on school stuff, but luckily, I’ve got margarita mix handy for the end of each long day. What are you up to this week?

Why don't you stick around?

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Filed Under: Interweb Finds Tagged With: 30 Seconds to Mars, addiction, brain pickings, City of Angels, Death and Taxes, dogs saying I love you, Facebook, future of storytelling, Hunter S. Thompson, Interweb Finds, io9, Jezebel, los angeles, Mashable, Slate, weiner dog GIFs, why we don't like pictures of ourselves

Interweb Finds: Spooky Island of the Dolls, controversial “art” & more

October 27, 2013 by Cassie

Griffith Park Amir's Garden

 Happy Hallo-week! It’s been one of those weeks where I’ve spent more time on the computer than off—I wish I could say I was kidding. I did, however, manage to pry my carpal-tunneled hands away from the laptop long enough to grab drinks with a blogger-turned-real-life friend, catch a free show at the El Rey Theatre, and hike up around Griffith Park (pictured above). I’m surprising myself with everything I’m capable of accomplishing. (I just can’t let only four hours of sleep become a regular thing.)

Web finds time!

This writer lost a husband and got a (long-lost) daughter in the same year.

Banksy’s latest creation is funny, weird, and mobile.

NSFW: A photographer takes pictures of his mother having sex with young men. (And in this article, The Guardian tries to make sense of it.) It seriously begs the question: is this “art”?

I’m on a Guardian kick: Japan has a population crisis. Young people there aren’t having sex (and, subsequently, they’re not having babies), and the population is projected to decrease by a third by 2060. What’s going on?

The incredibly spooky “Island of the Dolls” will put you in the mood for Halloween. Read the fascinating and sad story about a mourning father who decorated an entire island with mutilated dolls.

This will make you very happy. Just click the link.

Again, dunno whether this classifies as “art,” but who cares—“Lavatory Self-Portraits in the Flemish Style” is funny as hell.

 

That’s all for this week’s finds. I’m still looking for something to do on Halloween, but I’m sure there’s plenty around L.A. What do you guys have planned? And what are you dressing up as?

Why don't you stick around?

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Filed Under: Interweb Finds Tagged With: art, Banksy, costume, Gothamist, Guardian, Halloween, Interweb Finds, Island of the Dolls, Japan population crisis, Jezebel, lavatory self-portraits, New York Times, Nina Katchadourian, NSFW, penguins wearing sweaters, photography, Web Urbanist

Interweb Finds: Dogs are people too, the voice of Siri & more

October 13, 2013 by Cassie

Is anyone else shocked—shocked!—that it’s mid-October already? A year always seems to fly by to me, but this one has been especially whirlwindy. (New word; feel free to use.) Let me revise that thought: The first few months of the year actually dragged. Waiting to hear back from all the graduate schools I applied to felt torturous and drawn-out. Then once I found out, I had to wait even longer before I could tell my then-employers (and subsequently, everyone on the Internet). But once the news was out and the cross-country move was real and impending, time sped up real fast. John and I moved to L.A. in late-July, and it still feels like we just got here. So how is it that we’re almost a month into fall and I’m about to enter my mid-20s?

That’s right, I’ve got a birthday coming up. I’ll turn 24 on Thursday. I’ve got a lot of school work—and a new part-time copy editing job!—this week, but I’m determined to get in a bit of party time. And lots of blog posts. The ideas are a-flowin’ lately. The trick is finding the time to get them all down.

Lots more to come soon, but in the meantime—interweb finds!

These vintage photos are so cool. Except they’re not vintage, and they’re actually miniature scenes.

How do the blind see race?

In case you didn’t already know, dogs are people too.

Love this: teachers who got the last laugh. (Weren’t those funny teachers back in grade school the best?)

Here are the most commonly used words in rap over the years. “Twerk” has seen a huge resurgence as of late, but “crunk” has dropped off significantly.

The voice of Siri is actually this very nice lady—so if you’ve ever said mean things to her, you should probably feel bad.

A scary reason why we need to put the damn phones down.

And if you don’t click anything else, watch this: 16-year-old Malala Yousafzai (who was shot in the head by Taliban gunmen and lived to tell the tale) leaves Jon Stewart speechless with her intelligence, compassion, and maturity. We could all learn something from this remarkable young woman.

 

In case I haven’t told you lately, dear readers, I adore and appreciate each and every one of you. Thanks for giving me the motivation to keep writing and documenting throughout this whirlwindy (no really, it’s a word now) time of my life. Let me know what you’re up to in the comments, and be sure to visit the blerg in the next couple of days. So many plans!

Why don't you stick around?

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Filed Under: Interweb Finds Tagged With: dogs are people too, how the blind see race, Interweb Finds, jon stewart, Malala Yousafzai, miniature vintage scenes, most commonly used words in rap, teachers who got the last laugh, voice of Siri

Interweb Finds: My interview with Slash, the cost of L.A. & more

September 29, 2013 by Cassie
Slash & Cassie

So this happened. Remember how just a few days ago I mentioned how hard this journalism thing is? Well, turns it out has its perks, too. I got to interview SLASH. As in, the legendary guitarist from Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver. And guys, I kept my cool. One of my questions even made him say, “That’s a good fucking question.” Damn straight, Slash. Damn straight. (I didn’t even notice Jon Bon Jovi jealously scowling at us in the background until after this picture was taken. If you’ve known me awhile, you know I once had a major Bon Jovi addiction. I feel like it means something that he’s in this picture.)

That was the highlight of my week. Because a journalist’s job is never done, I’m otherwise busy stressing out over deadlines. And trying to squeeze in Breaking Bad episodes. Y’all better not ruin tonight’s series finale for me. #stayingofftwitter

 

And now, for the web stuff!

There’s plenty of female nudity on HBO. These women aren’t asking for less of it—just more male nudity to even the score. Hilarious.

Some tips on back to (grad) school fashion—written by me!

Another victim of an Internet meme gone wrong. Here’s how one sincere “hipster” became hated online for his art—and what he’s saying about it.

An eye-opening infographic on the average cost of living in L.A., broken down by neighborhood. (I’m happy to say we’re well below Silver Lake’s average. Sheesh!)

In the misleading headlines category, “How to get flat abs, have amazing sex, and rule the world in 8 easy steps.” It’s a great read.

Ladies—important information! The Affordable Care Act’s new rules on birth control and insurance explained simply by Bitch magazine. Know your rights!

The web is never at a loss for amazingly talented photographers. Check out these almost spooky split-face portraits of family members.

 

That’s all for today. New posts to look forward to soon, including some photography, another “Lucky” Ones interview, and more. What are you looking forward to this week?

Filed Under: Interweb Finds Tagged With: Affordable Care Act, birth control, Breaking Bad, Guns N' Roses, Huffington Post, Interweb Finds, living in Los Angeles, photography, Slash, Velvet Revolver
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