Another Passion

Vincent Kitch Heads Seattle Arts

July 12th, 2011 by rasmus

Vincent Kitch is a busy man. As the head of the Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs he oversees the city’s involvement with – and funding of – the many creative groups and subcultures. Kitch was appointed by mayor McGinn in February 2011 and started work in April, after having worked in Austin, TX for several years.

In spite of facing budget cuts and picking up after a long gap between himself and his predecessor, Kitch has been extremely active in reaching out to the community since accepting the position. I met up with him outside King Street Station during brief gap in his tight schedule, yet he did not seem stressed or in a hurry. Instead, he carries with him an air of comfortable professionalism and attentiveness. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: art, Arts & Culture, city official, culture, funding, Seattle, Vincent Kitch
Posted in Interview | No Comments »

Loss and Motivation

June 8th, 2011 by rasmus

Have you ever suffered the loss of someone close to you? On Mother’s Day 2011, my own mother passed away at the much too young age of 63, another victim of cancer. Overnight, I aged 20 years. I’ve felt sick ever since, almost like a mild but constant hangover. I’ve had my sessions of self-pity, guilt, anger and all the other emotions stirred up by this blow to the very foundation of my being. But I have also found inspiration and motivation in unexpected ways. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: death, grieving, loss, motivation, personal
Posted in Editorial | 7 Comments »

Star Wars Came to Town

April 18th, 2011 by rasmus

Like thousands of others, I grew up playing with Star Wars toys and loving the original trilogy. I would go so far as to say that Star Wars in many ways was the definitive work of fiction in my youth, and as such continues to inspire and influence me today. And again, I am not alone. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Exhibition, inspiration, Pacific Science Center, props, Star Wars
Posted in Reportage | 5 Comments »

Wile E. Coyote the Unlikely Guru

April 12th, 2011 by rasmus

Wile E. Coyote the Unlikely Guru
It dawned on me the other day. I’m a lot like Wile E. Coyote. I actually strive to be like this unfortunate creature and take pride in it.

For years I watched him as he tried to catch the road runner. That annoying little twerp. I was always rooting for the hilariously unlucky coyote. I wanted him to catch that bird and get his just reward. Even though I knew that Wile E. Coyote could never win. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: cartoons, inspiration, motivation, productivity, Wile E. Coyote
Posted in Editorial | No Comments »

Is Work Limiting Your Creativity?

April 4th, 2011 by rasmus

It’s a common misconception that you must limit yourself to a specific niche, and focus on one thing only. That “thing”, whatever it is, will become your bread and butter, your area of expertise, your key to success. It’s a misconception because it is only a half truth. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: creativity, inspiration, motivation, productivity, self-improvement
Posted in Editorial | 3 Comments »

Return of the Musical Nerds

April 2nd, 2011 by rasmus

About a year ago, I went to W00tstock 2.0, a gathering of geek royalty hosted by Wil Wheaton, Adam Savage and comedy duo Paul & Storm. I interviewed Paul & Storm back then, and in the time that has passed W00tstock has traveled across the North American continent with a host of supernerds performing in the show. Recently, Paul and Storm returned to Seattle to put on a smaller version of their show, this time under the headline “Nerds & Music”. They asked if I would like to come document the show once again, and to be honest I was thrilled to do so. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: comedy, entertainment, music, nerds, Paul & Storm, The Triple Door
Posted in Reportage | 2 Comments »

Sean Beaudoin Keeps Murder Cool

March 8th, 2011 by rasmus

I met Sean Beaudoin in his office in Fremont, a humble place in a building full of Internet startups, small businesses and other artists. The floors are plywood and the building reminds me of a storage facility. He tells me he’s been here for a while but only knows the guy right next door. It’s a place for work, but Sean has managed to make it his own. The view does add to the ambiance, looking down at the massive bronze statue of Lenin which has become a bit of a landmark in Seattle. Sean himself is friendly, funny and fast, which shows in the answers he gave to my questions.

Enjoy this interview and don’t forget to watch the trailer for Sean’s most recent book, You Killed Wesley Payne. One lucky reader will win an autographed copy of the novel, all you have to do to enter the drawing is watch the trailer and answer a simple question. Giveaway details posted below the interview. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: book, contest, giveaway, Interview, mystery, Sean Beaudoin, writers
Posted in Interview | 8 Comments »

Another Passion 2nd Print Edition

February 23rd, 2011 by rasmus

After the first six months of last year, I put out a print edition of Another Passion containing all the interviews featured on the site from January to June. Now, just into the new year, the follow up publication is out. I am proud to introduce the 2nd printed edition of Another Passion featuring all the interviews from July to December 2010.

The magazine edition is printed and shipped on-demand through MagCloud (by HP), enabling small fish like me to put out a publication in top print and binding quality. Unfortunately , print-on-demand also means a higher end price, but then there is the digital download version to help balance that out. MagCloud also has an iPad app, where you can find this and many other publications. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Another Passion, art, artists, culture, Interview, magcloud, print-on-demand
Posted in Editorial | No Comments »

Dane Kuttler Hardworking Poet

February 15th, 2011 by rasmus

It was Dane Kuttler who suggested we meet at the Seattle Public Library, one of the most original buildings in Seattle which happens to also be full of words. I would soon discover that Kuttler shares the exact same attributes. She was already there when I arrived, waiting outside the elevator with a smile and a handshake. And she had brought me a booklet from her latest performance, because not only is Dane a writer, she is a poetry slam performer.

Living as a poet is nearly impossible, yet Dane seems to have found a way to be a productive, successful artist who still pays the bills. The combination of day-job, enthusiasm, community support and performance has not only led to a faithful audience and many a friend, but also touring, speaking and now a book, “Born of Accidents” (Six Gallery Press). Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: art, artist, Dane Kuttler, Interview, poet, poetry, poetry slam, writer
Posted in Interview | No Comments »

Let Billy the Fridge Entertain You

February 8th, 2011 by rasmus

Billy the Fridge and I met up at Blue Moon Burgers in Fremont, where they sell the Code Blue burger with two paddys, peanut butter and all kinds of goodness. It’s big and potent, just like Billy himself. A local boy, Billy the Fridge has competed in wrestling and competitive eating both – he proudly wears a doughnut around his neck, a prize from a Top Pot eating contest he won, but it’s as a rapper he truly shines. At heart he is an entertainer using music as his main outlet, but without limiting himself to that one arena.

Completely befitting the rap image, Billy the Fridge arrived with a small posse of friends in tow, but if you think there was any gangsta attitude, you’d be way wrong. Though it was obvious these guys like to goof around, there was also seriousness and thoughtful answers to my questions. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Billy the Fridge, competitive eating, entertainer, music, nerdcore, rap
Posted in Interview | 2 Comments »