London Halflife

Middle-aged, do the low rise on the waist
London half-life
Middle-aged, you're the low riser
getting over myself today

And if you're compromised, Drive your car through the rain
And if you've been beaten, Drive your car through the rain 
Until you wash off the buzz
Don't pull over 'till you're sure one that wanted the floor
one that won't know the street, one that wanted to land
on the heart with his feet up
oh watch out, you're only better off with half your life
otherwise wasted
House of cards, you fall hard

-Metric

There used to be a man, Shambu, who used to comment on my blogs and give me good advice on things that were going on in my life. It was great to have someone unbiased talking to me, and it was nice to make friends. I know people read this but I always wonder why no one ever comments anymore. Not that I'm complaining, I just think it's interesting to connect with other people. So if you're out there, don't be afraid!!! 

Happiness is a Warm Gun

One of the best days to sit outside and people watch on campus is the first day back after a break. This is the optimal time because a) everyone comes to campus during the first few days of school, because everyone hopes this semester will be different than the last, and that they'll actually come to class once in a while. And b) people dress to impress. Whether it's in the new clothing they received for Christmas or just a fresh clean start to the school year-- self expression is in full swing. It's really a beautiful day.

Sooner or later, people stop coming to class, girls and boys dress in what ever they rolled out of bed wearing that morning, and are in such a routine mode that all self expression is lost.

I went and bought a few new books to read the other day. I always feel burnt out on reading textbooks and materials for class that I don't have any sort of will to read for leisure. I love reading. I was one of the huge AR nerds all through school. I can zip through books in no time, hungry for more. So I have decided to make time to read. If I spend a few hours a night reading, I'll feel intelligent again.

I've started with a collection of biographical essays by Jen Lancaster. It's called "Bright Lights, Big Ass", a book about the city life not being everything Carrie Bradshaw makes it out to be.

Something interesting she's done in the book-- she has little inserts of emails she has sent her friends. There is one in particular I like: She sends an email shitlist, of things/places/people that have reserved their own special spot on her shitlist. I thought I might try this.

Shitlist for January ( so far)

2 sorostitutes- I know that daddy pays for your every whim and fancy. So when you come into a restaurant and see a college student just like you working his or her ass off just to pay the bills, maybe a 12 cent tip isn't the best choice. Especially if the waitress kisses your ass throughout the course of your meal, simply hoping to make ends meet. You've already done her a great diservice by coming in 10 minutes before close. Just remember, these people, that serve you-- can spit in your food if they see you in the place again.

The Maintenance man- this is a small apartment complex. If I call in and request that my leaking bathtub faucet (profusely leaking!) be fixed because it's upping the bill for everyone else, please get your ass over here ASAP. I also have a job and cannot wait here all day and night wondering if today is the day you're going to grace me with your presence.

Texas Tech University Student Business Services- Since when has giving someone the money you own them become a series of beaucratic steps designed to do nothing more than charge the student more by bringing in a third party, in turn keeping their money tied up in paper work?? How does it cost less to have someone send out credit cards than it does to mail someone a fucking check? If I tried to pay my tuition with some kind of voucher or gift card, Texas Tech would throw a fit. They always want their money when they want it, how ludicrous to deny that right to all of the people keep Texas Tech in business. Shouldn't it be less obvious that it's all one big business lie? Shouldn't the students be proud of their schools?

That's it for now. Maybe I'll add to it next time.

One More Thing

As we were driving to atx, I noticed that there were a ton of empty billboards along the highway, with numbers plastered on them where one could call and buy the ad space. I've often thought about how, in an economic down, advertising is the first thing to go. Which is actually a dumbass idea, because you should continue to advertise while your competitors aren't. Buuuuut advertising is the first to make a comeback as well.

I also saw 2 billboards that I thought about during the trip.

I couldn't find a photo of this one, but it was for Starbucks. It said "Ladies and Gentlemen, start your blinkers." This is a rather old ad, I'd seen it many times before in the past several years. What I was thinking about was-- how clever this ad was when it was released, and how dated and uninterested I found it at the time. I don't think this kind of ad would fly today if it were presented to a client.

The other one I found interesting was an ad for the new McCafe
branch of McDonalds. In some of my ad classes we've discussed how McDonald's could easily break into the market that Starbucks so highly dominated. They can do it by recreating an atmosphere like the one Starbucks offered, with good coffee, only providing it at a cheaper cost to the customer. So they're trying it out here! I had heard about it happening overseas, but it's cool that it's coming around in the states.