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

View from the top

September 25, 2013 by Cassie

Los Angeles mural

I’ll admit it: I’m a wimp in a lot of ways.

I have a low tolerance for pain and temperatures outside the range of 65 and 85 degrees. I’m sensitive to critical comments and fluorescent lighting. I fear making the wrong choice about everything—all the way down to whether I should bring a light sweater or not. But an aversion to anything that’s difficult can be limiting, and in the past, it’s allowed me to be more passive than I’d like. I’d rather think of myself as a Cheryl Strayed-style badass—without the heroin and missing toenails.

But I should give myself more credit. Before I moved across the country, a lot of people told me how brave I was for making the change. At the time, I accepted the flattering remarks without fully realizing the gravity of what I was doing. Yes, it was bold, but the hardest part seemed to be making the decision and sticking to it. The logistics, however tough they would undoubtedly be, would work themselves out.

Oh, how I underestimated the complexity of logistics.

Now that I look back on everything I’ve done in just a few short months, I’m glad I was ever-so-slightly deluded about the challenges ahead. Had I known it would be this hard, I very well might’ve chickened out. But because I didn’t, I’m that much stronger for it.

I don’t think I quite knew what I was capable of before. I’ll go out on a limb and say I still don’t. Literally every assignment I’m given in grad school seems impossible at first, but I always somehow manage to pull it off… usually right before the deadline. Of course, it’s only the beginning of the semester, and shit’s bound to get really real soon enough. But hopefully by then I’ll have built up an even greater tolerance to the pain and suffering that is journalism. (Just kidding, it’s not really like that. Actually, just kidding, it is.) Until then, I’m forcing myself to take a breath every now and then and remember my recent mantra: One day at a time.

And that seems to work for me, at least most of the time. When it doesn’t, though, a good run through the hills does my body good. Hilly runs used to kill me, and they’re still not easy now. But when I reach the reward at the top and take in the view of the hills, the city, and the Hollywood sign in the distance, I’m reminded of why I came here. I can feel the good those runs do for me every day. And I don’t know if it’s the vitamin D from the sun or all those avocados I’ve been eating, but my skin has never looked better. I must be doing something right.

So what’s the point of all this? Well, if you’ve ever felt anything like I have—wimpy, uncertain, scared shitless—let this be a lesson: If I can do it, anyone can. I’m not anywhere close to having my shit figured out, but since I’m guessing that will never happen, I can learn to live with that. Though the future is so uncertain, I hope and believe that it’s bright. And maybe I’ll bring a light sweater—just in case.

Filed Under: Life in Los Angeles Tagged With: change, grad school, moving to Los Angeles

Endless summer soundtrack

September 18, 2013 by Cassie

dusk

It’s mid-September in Los Angeles, but I’d be oblivious to the impending official end of summer if it weren’t for the sky that darkens just a little earlier each day and the Facebook posts from everyone back home about the fall-like weather (and subsequent pumpkin spice lattes). Usually by this time of year, my tan has already faded, and I’m wishing for just a few extra weeks of a sweaty Maryland summer. I always did have just a touch of seasonal depression, no matter how much I enjoyed football, beef stew, and fall fashion.

But this September, I’m not putting away the sundresses. I’m as tan as I would be if I spent a solid week at the beach. And even being very much in back-to-school mode, I don’t have the same blues I’ve always associated with it. It truly feels like the Endless Summer.

That’s not to say that life is perfect in Los Angeles. Every day has its own struggles. Being away from family isn’t easy, but at least I got to watch my sister open presents on her 12th birthday via FaceTime. The continuous search for employment can be a serious source of anxiety at times, but I know we’ll find work eventually; in the meantime, I’m just happy to be spending so much time with John. Whenever petty worries about cars, phones, or bills arise, some tragic news story pops up and gives us a heavy dose of perspective. By comparison, we’re living the dream. And in a lot of ways, we really are.

The following playlist is a culmination of memories and feelings associated with this summer of anticipation, exploration, and arrival. Most of these songs played through the car speakers more than once as we leisurely made our way across the country, and they’ll forever be ingrained in my mind as the soundtrack of an epic, endless summer.

So here’s to bathing suits, gas money, sunglasses, water jugs, pit stops, motel sheets, coffee shops, photo ops, Google maps, guitar pics, campfires, bike rides, time zones, calls home, L.A. traffic, and living to tell the tale. And wherever you are, may your summer be as endless as mine.

Tracklist: John Mancini Band – Shangri-la | Allah Las – Busman’s Holiday | The Band – Don’t Do It |Charles Bradley – Why Is It So Hard | Neil Young – Cinnamon Girl | Sam Phillips – Signal | White Denim – Burnished | Dire Straits – Wild West End

Why don't you stick around?

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Filed Under: Thoughts on Life Tagged With: endless summer, john mancini band, life in Los Angeles, music, summer 2013 playlist

Interweb Finds: Plastic islands, a Burning Man photo essay & more

September 15, 2013 by Cassie
Santa Monica

Can we all raise our margarita glasses to another weekend? (This weekend might’ve had a Jose Cuervo theme going on in our apartment. I’m so thankful for the blender.) The third week of graduate school definitely kicked my butt, but since the last day to drop out with a 100 percent tuition refund has officially passed, I guess I’m sticking it out. (Ha!) In all seriousness, though, it’s been an eye-opening week with a fairly even mix of (school) work and play, including a trip to the beach, pictured above. Despite our lack of funds, we’ve had plenty of opportunities to explore L.A. on the cheap.

Without further ado, here’s what I’ve been browsing on the webz:

I wrote my first opinion piece for grad school! But it’s a grim topic. Here’s why the Montana judge who sentenced a teacher to 30 days of jail after raping his 14-year-old student needs to step down. Now.

Actor Hugh Laurie—who is British—tells us why he loves L.A. (Can’t you just hear this essay being read with a charming accent?)

The greater your wealth, the less compassion you feel for others with less. Recent studies prove it.

Rachel’s post about feeling homesick really hit…well, home. Her writing is just one of the many reasons I adore this gal.

Have you heard of Burning Man, but don’t really know what it is? This fascinating photo essay gives you a good idea of what all those “hippies” are doing out in the desert for a week.

Did you know there are plastic islands that pollute our oceans? Yeah. Those actually exist. Here’s one 19-year-old’s ingenious idea to clean up the oceans.

Erika’s Grad-itude series has sparked a lot of inspiration in the blogosphere, and in my attempt to play catch-up, I happened across her post on being grateful even when it’s hard. This girl knows how to lift spirits through her writing.

And that’s all for this week! I’ll be watching today’s Raven’s game with the West Wing (a group of Baltimore Ravens fans living in SoCal—so awesome), and then it’s writing, writing, filming, and more writing. How about you? What are your plans this week?

Why don't you stick around?

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Filed Under: Interweb Finds Tagged With: Burning Man photo essay, Hugh Laurie, los angeles, plastic islands

The great American road trip in film photos

September 9, 2013 by Cassie

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As many of you know, I’m kind of into film photography. There’s nothing practical about it, and I’ve had my fair share of mishaps which, unfortunately, are expensive lessons to learn. I’m living on a tight budget these days, but I couldn’t wait any longer to get my film photos from the road trip developed. While you’re a lot more hard pressed to find a store dedicated solely to cameras and photo developing in other places, Los Angeles boasts plenty. I figured I’d show you a few of the highlights from the trip (already almost two months ago!), plus some pictures I’ve taken in my new city.

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Exploring abandoned houses off of Route 66:

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Yep, I use up exposures at close to a dollar a pop on things like handmade natural wood fences. Why? Combine the texture of the wood with the graininess of the film, and you’ve got a pretty cool image. Or at least a decent desktop background.

Below, explorations in Malibu, Venice, Runyon Canyon, and my very own neighborhood, Silver Lake:

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Incredibly enough, I took this last photo just a couple of streets over from my own. I love walking through these hills and checking out all the homes of people much wealthier than I am.

So why do I love film photography if it costs so much—especially if I’m paying for pictures that aren’t guaranteed to come out well? Aside from the anticipation of getting the photos back and finding a gem or two, I love how it forces me to take each shot with care. I love how it makes me consider things like texture, as mentioned above, and color. I even love it when I make a mistake (sometimes). Sometimes I’m pleasantly surprised with the results of a mishap, like with this photo I took just before we left home:

double exposure

Though costs may dictate how many film photos I take, and how often, it’s worth it for an image I’ll always be proud of. In the meantime, our walls are still pretty bare in the new place, and I’m contemplating which photos to blow up and frame. If I don’t find a job soon, I might just have to open up an Etsy shop and start selling prints. (You guys will totally buy some, right?)

Filed Under: Film photography, Photography Tagged With: film photography, los angeles, mt. zion, photography, puppies, road trip, santa fe

The “Lucky” Ones – an interview with bestselling author and journalist Julian Guthrie

September 4, 2013 by Cassie

After a long hiatus, I’m excited to finally bring back The “Lucky” Ones series, which—incredibly—began around this time last year. In case you’re new to Witty Title Here, The “Lucky” Ones is an interview series featuring words from creative types who are lucky enough to be doing something they love. Though their backgrounds vary, the interviewees all share one thing in common—hard work. Which is why it actually has very little to do with luck. These interviews shed light on what makes people tick and reveal the story behind each unique individual.

Julian Guthrie

Photo by Chris Hardy

 Julian Guthrie has had the kind of journalism career that most budding writers dream of. A journalist with the San Francisco Chronicle, she’s won several awards, including the Best of the West Award and the Society of Professional Journalists’ Public Service Award. Julian’s writing has even been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize on multiple occasions.

Julian’s more than 15-year career boasts stories published by the Huffington Post, Salon.com, The Wall Street Journal and more. She’s the author of two books—most recently, The Billionaire and the Mechanic: How Larry Ellison and a Car Mechanic Teamed Up to Win Sailing’s Greatest Race, The America’s Cup. The national bestseller was published this summer and tells a story of devastating setbacks, lessons learned, and an unlikely partnership between two men. The book is available on IndieBound and Amazon, and you can follow Julian on Twitter.

 

Welcome, Julian!

Tell us a bit about your start in journalism. When and how did the bug get you?

I always loved reading, which drew me into writing. I loved journalism because you get to ask any question that comes to mind.

How did you not only gain access to but also earn the trust of an incredibly wealthy man who once refused to speak to the press all together? 

I had a great story to tell, and he saw that. It has lot of different elements to it, from business to sports. Larry loves sailing, and he spent a decade going after the America’s Cup. He lost twice before winning it, so there are a lot of mistakes made and lessons learned. It took a lot to convince Larry to talk with me, but in the end, he saw that this story was a great story, and that it would benefit from his input.

What about the relationship between these two men intrigued you to tell their story? What is it about anyone who motivates you to learn more about them? 

The title says it all: The Billionaire and the Mechanic. I loved the idea of their unlikely partnership, but I also really liked it that they end up having a great deal in common.

I’m interested in ordinary people who do extraordinary things. That’s Norbert [the mechanic]. And I’m interested in how a kid from the south side of Chicago grows up and finds a way to change the business world. That’s Larry [the billionaire].

Billionaire and the Mechanic

Aside from your most recent book’s subjects, which interviewees have been your favorite to profile/feature?

It’s always the one I did last. So in this case, it’s a profile on George Gascon, the district attorney of San Francisco, who has a remarkable story of fleeing Cuba to find a better life in America.

As a San Francisco writer, what edge do you have on getting a good story? How do you think it compares to being a writer in other major cities? 

I’m a journalist with the San Francisco Chronicle, so I’m up on who’s doing really interesting things. And San Francisco is an epicenter of innovation, so that helps.

Journalism is still very much in an awkward place. What is the best piece of advice you could give a fledgling journalist (ahem, me) about navigating the ever-changing territory where pageview journalism is so rampant?

I would say that it’s very important to diversify as a writer. Write fiction, nonfiction, magazine pieces, newspaper pieces, and—to a lesser extent—use Twitter and other social media.

To be a writer, you not only have to be an expert at your craft, but an expert on your topic as well. How do you manage that with deadlines putting on the pressure? And what are some of the coolest things you’ve learned about in your research?

I learn something very cool with every story, which is the beauty of being a journalist. I only operate on deadlines, and they do get easier to manage. Now I can only operate under deadlines.

What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your profession?

Keeping print journalism alive. So much content has gone to the web. I still think there’s great impact to be had in the tangible written word.

You’ve been on the receiving end of a lot of praise and accolades. What would be the ultimate milestone of success for you?

I have achieved success and accolades, which is fantastic. I love being a writer. Now, though, I’m most interested in just finding incredible stories to tell, stories that are original and have themes that transcend place and time.

 

Julian, thanks so much for your thoughtful responses. They’re inspiring, to say the least, as someone who’s forging her own path in the world of journalism. If you enjoyed Julian’s interview, let her know in the comments!
Filed Under: Interviews, People, The "Lucky" Ones Tagged With: interview series, Julian Guthrie, Larry Ellison, The "Lucky" Ones, The Billionaire and the Mechanic
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