Several weeks ago, ex-boyfriend and future Pulitzer Prize winner, Todd Ruiz emailed me asking if he could use an image I took of him for The Pasadena Weekly. The feature, written by Aaron Proctor (formal Pasadena mayoral candidate, current pain in the ass) is titled “5 Questions” and literally, that’s all it is. I agreed (via 3rd party) to let the paper use my image noting that I should be given photo credit. Todd sent in his 5 answers with a caveat on my behalf. I bet you can guess where this is headed…

A day or so later, Aaron (via Todd) asked if it would be alright if he asked me 5 Questions as well. I thought about it and even though Aaron and I are no longer friends, I couldn’t see the harm in doing a silly feature for a silly paper. It might mean some local exposure and I’d get my picture in the paper. I’d been wanting some new photos of myself (for posterity and promotion), so I got in touch with an old pal at Hot Topic and asked if he’d take some quick photos. Done. I sent in my questions and my photo and figured I’d see it printed in a few weeks. No big whoop.

Yesterday, Todd emailed to inform me that his feature (with the photograph I took) had been printed, but that not only was it Aaron’s final 5 Questions (as he’d been canned on Monday), but that the paper neglected to give me photo credit. It was only a matter of time before the less than stellar Pasadena Weekly would grow tired of Proctor’s shenanigans, but I was hoping at the very least MY feature would get the print. It also sucks that Mike (the guy who took my picture below) also lost out on his own photo credit.

Here’s the picture I would have used.
Photo by Mike McDougal.

Somehow I realized that I should have made more of an effort to ensure my name was printed with the photo of Todd; like perhaps writing to the paper myself. But I didn’t. So many times in life we’re faced with “live and learn” lessons and there are many more times we tell ourselves “I should have…”. At the same time, if the photo was sent with a caveat, I imagine it’s up to the paper to see that it’s done. At the same time, the photo obviously isn’t from a casual photographer at a shindig. It’s clearly professionally done (if I do say so myself). The fact that the paper didn’t follow up – and as far as I’m concerned, leaves them liable for…for…something. All I know is, I feel like I’ve been ripped off. I will, naturally, write to the paper and convey my displeasure with them. Not that they can make it up to me in any way, but at the very least, I’ll get it off my chest. Don’t worry, it’ll be a nice, professional letter…’cause that’s how I roll.

Dear Pasadena Weekly, please die in a fire. Sincerely, Kristen Simental.

Or something to that effect, but you know…with flowery words and shit. Live and learn, my ass. When confronted with these annoying life lessons, I do what any normal person would do: I seek the authoritative advice from my peers on a message board. Sadly, they all agree that I’m shit out of luck. I’m still mad about it though.

Once again, however, the wit and intelligent humor of Todd Ruiz turns a half-rate paper into more than the usual bird cage liner – at least for one week. I don’t even have a bird. As far as the Pasadena Weekly is concerned, even before they gypped me on my 2 seconds of glory, I wasn’t their biggest fan. In fact, just a week before this all went down, I was reading the paper at Peet’s on Lake and telling my brother what a two bit paper it is. So there! I don’t particularly care about the feature on me, but photo credit gives you street cred. I wouldn’t wipe my ass with the Pasadena Weekly now. Ok, maybe I would. In a pinch…like if I was trapped out in the forest and all I had was a bran muffin and The Pasadena Weekly. I’m certainly not going to wipe my patoot with a bran muffin.

Click for the big one:

My photo, Todd's answers. Clever, on both counts.

UPDATE: Todd was nice enough to mention the missing photo credit mishap on his blog. His blogging partner Monica also gave me some props (where you can see the original photo in question). Thanks guys.