Stupid Entry

I've noticed that in other blogs, some people write about random things that are going on in their lives. Since I can't seem to think of a specific topic to write about, I think I will do the same.

Academically, this year has not been going that well. I feel like I'm doing mediocre work in all my classes when I could and should be doing a lot better. This semester is a little different in that I'm working two jobs, but I don't really think that it's interfering with my schoolwork. I just never got into the groove of things after summer ended, and I've kind of been winging it the whole semester. I was really encouraged when my favorite professor praised my writing and called me a "bright student." But he also added that I'm pretty lazy and that I need to manage my time better.

I love to learn, but I feel like there's not enough application in what's being taught. That's why I was really looking forward to taking the the model U.N. course, but it has been cancelled because Danopolous is taking a sabbatical (darn). Am I making excusing for my laziness? Most likely yes. I just need some kind of inspiration to get me to work my butt off.

Radiohead - pay what you want

Radiohead just released their seventh Album, In Rainbows, and they're letting people decide how much they want to pay for it. The album is up on their website, and if you chose to pay nothing it's perfectly legal. I love the idea of artists getting their music directly to their fans, and reaping all the profits for their work and talent instead of greedy-ass record companies. Having such a huge name in the music industry cutting out the record label is very new and innovative, and it really shows how the interwebz is changing things up.

For those who aren't familiar with Radiohead, they're one of the most popular, creative, experimental alternative rock bands of our time. They're most popular songs are undoubtedly Creep and Paranoid Android, and here's a video of one my personal favorite songs, Talk Show Host.

Starbucks

I've been working at Starbucks for the past four months, and shoot me, I kind of like it. I like whipping up drinks for nice customers, making my own (mostly nasty) drink creations, joking around with my awesome coworkers, and learning about coffee. I don't feel that Starbucks is too bad as a multi-national corporation either.

The company is always charged with unfair trade practices, homogenization/unoriginality of their coffee shops, and driving out small businesses. But isn't it the same way for other corporations? I feel like all capitalistic businesses have the same practices - they drive out smaller business, they use overseas child labor, and they have standardized stores. But at least Starbucks treats their employees well, sells some fair trade coffee, and helps out in the communities they're in. I feel that people are more repulsed by the coffee culture Starbucks has created (Iced quad half-calf venti nonfat vanilla latte anyone?), and maybe just the sheer amount of stores they have. But I think it's just easy to criticize Starbucks itself rather than the system of capitalism, in which some people are going to be stepped-on on the way to the top.

I just got a second job on-campus as an office assistant, and it's probably the worst job I've ever had. It's one of the most easy and convenient jobs I've had, but the tasks they assign me is so mind numbingly boring, it's kind of driving me crazy. I basically file the whole time and it's really tedious. (I really hate getting paper cuts too.) I just feel that so many jobs set you to up to be a mindless drone, but I don't feel like Starbucks does. Am I being niave?

(Image source: class v)