Tag: Los Angeles

Other

If Los Angeles were a vodka…

Becca

what would it taste like? Very fruity, according to the ABSOLUT gurus who have created a limited-edition vodka to represent the city.

It’s some mixing of Acia, blueberry, and pomegranate, as a “nod to the city’s trendy, environmentally forward, and health-conscious ideals.” So we not only taste like a purple smoothie, but provide anti-oxidants too!

ABSOLUT is donating $250,000 to Green Way LA, an enviromental group trying to help make this city green friendly, so at least there’s that.

There’s drink recipes on the website, if you really need MORE Los Angeles in your system.

politics

Ticket Ticket Ticket

Becca

In March, I contested a red light ticket I had received in the mail. You know, those ones where a camera took your picture and a few weeks later you get a ticket in the mail. I filled out the paper work, wrote a check, and dropped it all off at the Beverly Hills Court House in a drop box.

Today, I realized I hadn’t heard from them yet, so I went online to check the status of the ticket only to find my case had been forwarded to a collections office. I called, and apparently they never received my paper work or check. Well, clearly, someone lost it from the time I dropped it in the drop box. I explained to her that I turned it in on time, and that someone at the court must have lost it, and her response was,

“Well, sometimes we have to pay for someone else’s mistake.”

And by paying she means $700. She means that I have to pay $700 because THEY lost my paperwork.

Oh, and by the way, she says they are suspending my license. (I then called the DMV and they said my license is completely fine, so I’m thinking that was just a fun little threat she threw in for kicks.)

My choices are: A. Pay the $700 or B. Wait for my court day in about two weeks to try and prove to the judge that I did in fact turn the paperwork in on time.

As enraged as I was, I almost paid, just to get it over with. BUT my principles got the better of me. Why should I pay for someone else’s mistake? Why am I the one to be punished?

I’m sure the traffic division and the city make a WHOLE lot of money from people who just don’t have the time or energy to fight this kind of injustice… but I am both poor and still young enough to be convinced that the world is a fair place.

So, I’ll take that court date, no matter what you threaten me with.

I’ve always thought bad things come in three. If that’s so, I’m pretty much done here, but I still find it amazing that it all happened in a week. I don’t really want to get into it, so let’s jsut leave it all behind like the sunset….

sunset

news, Other

Why working at clubs is like the end of the world

Becca

I have worked at nightclubs for the past couple years. It pays the bills. However, I’ve always known I need to get out of this business ASAP. It’s a little dangerous, especially when the night is over. There are so many drunk people wandering the streets, and sometimes people are of a “rougher” crowd if you will.

 Last night, as I walked to my car at about 2:30 am after work, I found a CRIME SCENE blocking my entrance (and exit) to the parking lot. Yellow tape. Police. And ambulance.

A CRIME SCENE.

A shooting crime scene with a BODY blocking the driveway.

One drunk guy crossed the tape while I was there, and was promptly arrested as a cop screamed, “There is no way I am letting you contaminate my crime scene.” That’s all I needed to hear.

Needless to say, the police didn’t give a damn about our cars stuck in the lot, and so I have to go pick up my car the next day.

I wasn’t alone in witnessing this mess. A TMZ camera man was walking back to his car when he saw the shooting. His report is here.

politics, travel

Update on cell phone law

Becca

Driving in Santa Monica yesterday, I forgot–for about 30 seconds– about the new hands-free phone law. At a stoplight, I picked up my phone, dialed, and after one ring hung up when I remembered. It was only then that I noticed the taxi driver in the car next to me screaming at the top of his lungs for me to get off the phone.

I also have yet to see ONE person breaking this law, although I’ve heard about a few people getting tickets. It amazes me that people are following this law so religiously. Maybe it’s the novelty of it. If only people were as careful to follow the rest of the laws.
In the same day, I saw a car run a redlight, cut me off on the freeway (without a turnsignal) and one person not wearing their seatbelt.

technology, travel

Terminology of Traffic

Becca

traffic

Today is the day: the first day of the cell-phone ban. I never thought this day would come.

I was raised not to use my cell phone while driving. When I was pulling into my driveway once at the age of 16, my dad caught me talking on the cell phone and threatened to take away my car… ever since then I’ve pretty much avoided the drive-and-chat. Besides, I drive a stick and I lack the hand-hand coordination to drive and shift and talk.

So, I am often annoyed by careless cell phone drivers. And today’s law is OK with me. I took a random poll on my way to work this morning, wondering how many drivers would break the law on day one. On my 45 minute drive, I saw not one “hands-occupied” talker. And I only noticed about 7 blue tooth talkers. Maybe those little ear clips are too hard for me to see. Or maybe they are too cyborg-ish to wear.

My dad has a “hang up and drive” bumper sticker. That’s how important it is to him. I almost called him on my drive to work to celebrate…. but then I remembered… ah, the humor of the world.

So, to celebrate, I thought I would finally introduce my traffic terminology. It is often said that eskimos have hundreds of words for snow… well, I think there are probably about that many for the causes of traffic in LA. So here are a few I’ve come up with during my spare time in the car.

1. Ebb-and-flow: the mysterious slow and speed of the freeways. There’s no reason to it, but you can see the cars ahead of you breaking but the ones ahead of them speeding up. It’s like a slinky, but not as fun.

2. Accidental: There’s an accident. Whether a crane falls on the 405, or it is a fender bender, this really can be the end of the beginning of a good day for anyone.

3. Rubberneck: There’s an accident on the other side of the freeway, which has NOTHING to do with your side, but still causes painful traffic.

4. Rush hour: 7-10 am or 5-8 pm. Really big chunks of your day when EVERYONE is trying to get somewhere.

5. Event-based: Lakers game, Dodgers game, concert at the Hollywood Bowl. I once spent an extra hour in traffic because of a Jay-Z concert. Thanks for that.

6. Construction: Not only is your road closed, but the detour is jam packed. Like the night they closed the 5 when I was trying to get home from the airport at midnight. Not cool.

 

That’s all for now- gotta save some for my book!

travel

Expert Traveler? Heck yes!

Becca

I’ve always dreamt of a world where efficient people like myself were given their own lines. Too often, I am stuck behind the slow, older woman at the grocery store counting out 77 plastic gift bags, and then paying with a check. Or the guy paying in pennies. Or, in the line of all lines, the airport, those strange individuals who seem to have never been to an airport before. They leave their belts on, they leave their shoes on, and they do not remove their laptops from their backpacks. You see, I am a generally efficient person. I don’t have kids, I carry one bag, and I follow rules. I’ve always thought that should be rewarded.

Thank you very much, LAX. Today, on my way to New Mexico to do some reporting, I discovered a new, glamorous invention called the “Expert Traveler” line. It is heaven on earth. No kids. No slow. No penny counting.

I tried to hold onto this amazing experience, because I am sure in no time the inefficient people of the world will discover this treasure (which only uses the honor system to qualify you as an “expert”) and it will become just as snail-like as the rest of the lines.

But for today, I thank LAX for its validation of my lifestyle.

Other

An Ode to Los Angeles

Becca

I have started interviews for my next job (any suggestions welcome!), and today someone asked me why I like Los Angeles. Although I know why, I’ve never really had to explain it to anyone else. On the drive home, I took the picture above, and then I thought about all the reasons I love this big, sprawling city.

Sure, LA gets a bad reputation–too much smog and traffic and superficiality. But if you really invest time here, you learn that even if Los Angeles is called the city of “too much,” it is only because anything you could possibly dream of is at your fingertips.

In Los Angeles you can:
surf in the Pacific Ocean, ski in the mountains of big bear, attend a red carpet movie opening, run in the mountains, go to an art gallery opening, soar on a rollercoaster, get a tour of a movie studio, spy on celebrities as they film their next blockbuster, watch a giant fire, go to Disneyland, walk your dog in Beverly Hills, sleep on the beach, climb the Santa Monica stairs, cruise in a convertible, meet 9 million of your neighbors, be an extra in a movie, ride the eco-friendly ferris wheel, eat fondue, see a Jay Leno taping, buy fresh groceries at a farmer’s market, look at the stars at the Griffith Observatory, ride a motorcycle through Malibu, attend a film festival, get a view of the city lights, do a wine tasting, audition for a play, go to a political rally, march in a parade, run into a star at the mall, ride a horse to the Hollywood sign, see WICKED, lounge in a nightclub, write a novel, buy a map of stars’ homes, walk to the grocery store, drive to Vegas, cruise downtown, live in a loft, live in a mansion, and watch history be made.

Basically, it never stops. Anything you could dream of seeing or doing, you can find it here. The city is endless, and so are the possibilities.

Other

My Job has Closed, and My Paycheck Has Bounced

Becca

On Friday, I got a call from one of the other waitresses at my club who told me a strange, convuluted story about the nightclub I have been working at for the past year. Apparently, the Mexican owners of the club have not been paying rent for the past couple of months, so the landloard swooped in, changed the locks and kicked everyone out. Meaning, just like that, the club has closed and my cushy money job is gone.

I should have seen it coming. My last two paychecks have bounced due to insufficient funds. They actually held the last one from us because there was no money. And they haven’t been reordering supplies.

The only reason I have loved working at nightclubs is the money is ridiculously good compared to the amount of work I actually do. Sure, I’ve had to deal with corrupt owners, bad hours, illegal activity and annoying customers, but overall, it has been worth it.

Soon, if the club doesn’t reopen, which I doubt it will, I have to embark on a journey to hunt down those unpaid paychecks. It could mean a serious man hunt since the owners have dissapeared back into their Mexican haven. Wish me luck…

Other

A Little Rage About the Road

Becca

Today, on my way home, I hopped onto the 5 freeway like any other day. Except today, the cars weren’t moving.

“Must be an accident,” was of course the first thing I said outloud to the invisible people in my car.

Half an hour later, I found the culprit. It WAS an accident—on the other side of the freeway. There was absolutely no reason for my side of the freeway to be stopped. Except that all those nosey people wanted to get a look at some other person’s misery.

Sure, it’s tempting. I understand. But I think rubbernecking is one of the most obnoxious acts that a human participates in.

And it’s not so safe either. A study found that rubbernecking causes 16 percent of accidents on the road. That was followed by driver fatigue, looking at scenery and changing your radio.

In a city like Los Angeles, with 8 million people clustered together in this cesspool, I would have to suggest that we all just mind our own business and keep our eyes on the uneven pavement.