Got street art? North Beach galleries and Ron Swanson

Conversation: "This feather is really aerodynamic..."

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This exchange of words really happened. Ben and I have funny conversations.


Ben: [swooshing a feather around] Wow, this thing is really aerodynamic.

Me: Yeah. It's a feather.

Ben: [continues to swoosh feather] But this is like, especially aerodynamic.

Me: Because birds fly and all.

Ben: [swooshing]

Me: Well, Sookie really likes it.


We bought the feather from a stand at the Alameda Antique Flea Market with Sookie in mind.

Whenever we go to the pet store to pick up Sookie's green tea leaves kitty litter (it's environmentally friendly, Sookie likes it, it clumps, and it absorbs all odor) and tuna treats, we usually end up buying a toy or two, a peacock feather, toy mouse. Sookie likes feathers because they move around fast, and I guess they satisfy that urge that makes cats want to go after birds.

This feather that we were speaking about was large and white and grey in color. It was a remarkable specimen in that it made this great whip-like sound when you twirled it around. I'm speaking in the past-tense because Sookie really did like playing with it and destroyed most of it with her claws. Because the feather was so aerodynamic it made a good prey for Sookie to stalk and pounce. She got some pretty high jumps with that feather.





Check out more funny convos here.

Indie hip-hopper, interview by Middle Class Musician

Word em up!

I was interviewed last week, over some delicious mojitos at Tunnel Top, by my friend and colleague, Middle Class Musician. MCM is awesome and has given me invaluable advice about the music industry.

Please enjoy the interview, but be warned that it gets very silly. All it takes is one strawberry mojito to get me talking about microphone condoms and getting rickrolled when trying to watch a video about Nicki Minaj's fake butt.




Random photo of the day: Give a hoot! Don't pollute! Actually, the plaque reads: "Weaving spiders come not here," which is cool and seems like a take on the Shakespearean webs of deceit metaphor, but I also urge you not to litter. Remember: a litterbug is a stupid, lazy bug.

Tsaritsa & Hip-Hop Part 2: Lady MCs who inspire me

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Welcome to my Tsaritsa & Hip-Hop series, a look into my musical dreams, aspirations, and inspirations.


For part one of the series click here, and don't forget to check out and download (for free!) my two new songs "Baloney" (which I need your help in filming my music video) and "Modern Day Hustla."


MC (noun) - abbreviation for "master of ceremonies," a person who toasts over music and moves the crowd.


Yeah, I wrote that definition myself.


I love lady MCs-- they inspire me and remind me that there is room for real women in hip-hop.


I am not talking about Miss Pink Friday or the leader of the so-called "White Girl Mafia" (I just stifled a rising chunk) because I do not like their music as it is asinine and tired, nor do I look at them as if they are role models for myself or other lady MCs.

Smoking strawberry flavored Phillies in Rittenhouse Square. Photo courtesy of Hexopod.


They lack substance, in my opinion anyway, and I want to make music that I think matters and that I'm proud to play for friends and family.


Though those two famous ladies don't fit the bill, there are many who do. Here is a list, complete with videos of some sick tunes, of some of the lady melody-makers, MC or otherwise, who have molded my musical mind.


Missy Elliott


Missy is amazing-- she's a singer, dancer, songwriter, producer, actress, and oh yeah she's a dope rapper. I feel like Missy's sound is always on the cutting edge. Other artists see what she does and then try to copy it, that and her five Grammys means she's doing something right. Always an innovator, and for sure a vital inspiration for me.




M.I.A.


Even if you disagree with her politics (or the way she delivers her message), you can't deny that M.I.A. has skills. She is very poetic and uses graphic imagery in her words to convey a side of humanity that many of us may not encounter on a daily basis, but many others do. Again, criticize her if you must, but she is raising awareness about the plight of the underrepresented in her own way, and I do believe that her heart is in the right place. And she writes the catchiest hooks that get stuck in my head for days. I love that. I want to learn how to do that.




Gwen Stefani


The leader of No Doubt has been an idol of mine since I was in the sixth grade. I know every lyric on Tragic Kingdom, and emulated Gwen's effortlessly chic tomboy style into my everyday look (I would even wear loose leaf reinforcements on my forehead . Going to the Y-100 Fez-tival in the summer of 2000 was my first major music festival, and seeing No Doubt perform live around the time of Return of Saturn was my first time seeing a band that was so important to me growing up.



Jean Grae

This woman is a genius. I'm not sure why she hasn't had more commercial success, but she's every real hip-hop critic's favorite lady MC. Her lyrics are deep and personal and talk about the many struggles young women face today. She is also proof that no matter how skilled you are as a lady MC, you will not sell mass quantities of records unless you sex yourself up. Jean Grae is miles above the Nickis and Iggys of the music world, but she doesn't have the same pull because she won't compromise her integrity. The music industry is screwed up.





Karen O


Yeah Yeah Yeahs were huge for me in high-school-- I rocked out at a number of their shows when they came to perform at the First Unitarian Church in Philly. Karen is the lead singer of the group and she has this amazing presence when she's in her zone. I love her rock-and-roll carefree sensibility and her unique fashions. I still get down to Master and Fever To Tell.




Karmin


Damn. Normally, I DVR SNL and skip through the commercials and musical performances, unless I feel like the featured performer is worth watching. I knew about Karmin from her rendition of "Look At Me Now" that took the interwebz by storm, and my curiosity as to what she would do on stage was piqued. I saw Karmin perform two of her own (?) songs on Saturday Night Live a few weeks ago and was pretty blown away. Girl has skill. Soul? Not necessarily, but she makes me want to perfect my speed rap game.




Keys


I've written about Keys before because she's an up-and-coming artist who I admire and want to promote. Her punchlines are smart and have a lot of attitude. What's not to like?



There are so many other ladies in music who have helped guide me through my songwriting journey and who to this day continue to make me want to improve my craft (Aaliyah, Azealia Banks, Lauryn Hill, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Peaches, Left Eye, et cetera ad nauseam).

I didn't mention everyone in this post, because if I did it would be a very very long post, but I wanted to show a few who are in the front of my mind right now. Hats off to all lady MCs out there, including some very good friends of mine who are working their way through the industry.

Let's stick together, ladies, and show those boys who's boss!

Does your office entertain you with live music?

Mine does.

One of the many cool things about working downtown in a swanky Union Square hotel are the live musicians who play in the lobby every evening.

In the afternoon, some time around 4 PM, the music of various Russian composers played on the piano starts wafting through the stairwell and up to my office and I know that it's almost time to clock out. By the time the pianist is joined by the guitarist I'm pulling on my coat and heading out the door.



One song that the pianist plays quite frequently (which I absolutely love because it's so spooky sounding) I can only describe as the closing theme of Are You Afraid of The Dark? I heard her playing it the first time and I picked my brain trying to remember from where I recognized it, and a few minutes later went down to ask her about it. I hummed the bars but I guess I'm more out of tune than I'd like to imagine because a completely puzzled look fell over her face.


Imagine this played on the piano, with more mood and melancholy and fewer 90s sound effects.

I'm sure I can figure out what the song is and who wrote it by doing a little research, but I'm hoping one of my dear readers will know what I'm talking about and give me the answer.

A one-sided, all-male hearing on contraception...

I had to. This story pissed me off too much.

The "Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 2012," introduced by Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), would allow any company or institution of any kind to refuse coverage of contraceptives on the basis of religious beliefs.

By the way, this discussion was not about religious freedom-- that's only what the Republicans want you to think so you'll be scared into voting for them. This ruling is not about religious freedom or religious anything, it's about barring women equal access to healthcare coverage. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this is the twenty-first century.

Did you know that a lot of women take birth control pills for reasons unrelated to sexual intercourse? For instance, when I was 16 (and a virgin) I was prescribed birth control pills *just* to get a regular period. Other women take them to treat their severe menstrual cramps, ovarian cysts, and other medical issues unrelated to birth control.

I wonder if these same people who are hellbent on restricting access to birth control are as hellbent on restricting men's access to Viagra. Methinks not.

I just can't believe that this happened-- a conversation over a ruling that will only affect women, yet not even one woman was allowed to tell her side of the story. What the hell? Women who vote Republican-- you are extremely confusing to me. Why stick with the side that's continuously giving us the shaft?

UPDATE: I received an email this morning from a gentleman from Newsy.com named Greg who somehow stumbled upon this post. Here's what he wrote:

Alexandra,

I enjoyed your post about the contraceptives hearing by Issa. I agree that it is pretty disconcerting that there were NO women at a hearing about women's contraceptives rights. I think that you did a great job using your insight and experience to bring an important perspective to this issue. That being said, I think you'd find the following Newsy video interesting:



The above Newsy video uses a variety of different sources to help break down the problems with Issa's hearing, including a detailed description of why he didn't allow Ms. Fluke to testify. It also features an interview with DC Representative Elizabeth Holmes-Norton, who walked out of the hearing in protest. I hope that you embed the video in your post, as I think it'll add a detailed multimedia perspective to your post.

Thanks,
Greg

Style doppleganger on The Big Bang Theory

This is the outfit I wear on a daily basis: jeans, Vans sneakers, a tee shirt, a hoodie, and my green, sun-bleached military surplus jacket.





I wear a version of this outfit pretty much every day of the working week, unless I have plans to go somewhere special after work. The jeans are cute, but also easy to wear. The hoodie is practical for San Francisco's ever-changing weather, as is the surplus jacket. I walk home from work and at the beginning I'm a little chilly so I'm zipped up, but as the walk continues I can unbutton and unzip as my body temperature increases from all the exertion from walking up those hills. And the sneakers are because I clearly don't give a crap what people think, otherwise I'd be wearing high heels every day.

It wasn't until recently that I started watching The Big Bang Theory, recommended to me by my friend, Kenny. We were at a party over the summer and he asked me if I had ever seen the show. I looked at him like he had three heads, "What is that?" He told me it was hilarious, but I waited four or five months before deciding to check it out for myself.

The show really is hilarious, and imagine my surprise when I realized that I dress exactly like one of the main characters.





Leonard is also a fan of the military surplus jacket and hoodie combination, and is most often seen wearing jeans and sneakers to complete this ensemble. We're totally twins.

"Hospital" by the Modern Lovers; deconstructing a love song

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I've got a special Valentine's Day treat for you! I'm going to deconstruct one of my favorite heart-wrenching love songs.

The Modern Lovers was a band from Boston, Massachusetts led by Jonathan Richman.The group formed in 1970 and disbanded in 1973; making recordings but never able to land a record deal.

[If you've never heard of The Modern Lovers, I'm sure you know Jonathan. He was the guy singing the songs in There's Something About Mary.]

Their work has been said to be the link between the Velvet Underground and the punk rock movement that was yet to emerge. I own their first self-titled album, The Modern Lovers. It is at times sarcastic ("Pablo Picasso"), energetic ("Road Runner"), assertive ("I'm Straight"), and pensive and melancholy ("Hospital").

I listened to this album for the first time eight years ago. At that point in my life many things were changing. I had just started college, a group of my friends just moved into their own apartment and a friend I had secretly loved for two years had just confessed to me that he felt the same. It was a time of new beginnings and everything was quite hectic.

Although Greg (not his real name) and I thought we were in love with each other, we weren't sure of what to do. We didn't know if it was a good idea to date, seeing as we were friends first, and we were members in the same circle of friends, which was our world. It was a very confusing era.

On my visits to see Greg, via SEPTA bus, I would listen to the Modern Lovers song, "Hospital." My friend, Dave, gave me a copy of the CD and I became obsessed with it upon first listen. I loved their sound- the raw guitars, the flowing keyboards, and Richman's sometimes-creepy, sometimes-romantic songs of woe and wanting.

I don't know what this song has that made (and continues to make) me love it so much. At the time it was both comforting and saddening to hear, but I would play it repeatedly as I sat on the bus. This song serves as a marker for that period of my life. Whenever I hear it, I get immediately transported back to that time.




The Tsaritsa as a young buck. I was 19 when this photo was taken, by my good friend Josh Baker.

The song begins with organ music in a minor key, basically setting the tone for the entire piece. Jonathan begins his tale "When you get out of the hospital... let me back into your life. I can't stand what you do; I'm in love with your eyes..." At this point, the drums kick in, un-abrasive, quietly keeping the slow and gloomy beat that resides through each verse.

The chorus that comes in after each verse "I can't stand what you do, sometimes I can't stand you..." is faster and more manic, giving me the feeling that the speaker of this tale is as confused as he is passionate about this subject- the girl from the hospital whose eyes he loves. "But I'm in love with this power that shows through in your eyes," is a great line, further proving this conflict he has within himself over this girl who doesn't love him, but he can't resist her.

I love the gentle guitars in this song that provide the melody over the deep and mournful organ- his bodily organ (heart) and the musical organ. The bass also adds a special sadness to the piece- it is slow and provides texture to the rhythm, going over the drums with a more complex progression.

My favorite thing about this song is its ability to convey Richman's feelings of anger, love, and longing. Sure, some lines are a bit stalker-ish (like when he describes walking around outside the girl's apartment with tears in his eyes), but it's nothing I haven't done before (probably you, too) when I was in love, plus they truly give the listener an image of his emotions- he sings them with a great passion in his voice.

The best line is when Richman says he sometimes goes to the girl's suburban childhood home to "seek out the things that must have been magic to your little-girl-mind."

Throughout the song one can hear a warbling in Richman's voice, as if he's having a hard time singing about this topic. He's not just singing another cheesy love song; his words are honest, maybe embarrassing, but heart-wrenching, nonetheless.

The song ends with the same line with which it began, creating a circle of confused and powerful emotions over a girl who probably could have cared less. There is some finality musically- "I can't stand what you do; I'm in love with your eyes," is sung with the voice alone, a closed-chord on the guitar completing the line, and the organ music drifting and carrying out.




For your listening pleasure. Not sure why I didn't originally include this video in the post. Duh.

This song is really spooky-sounding to me, and I love it. I have always found myslef attracted to pieces played in the minor key. When I play this song at home on my stereo, I always have the volume turned up with full bass- so I can feel the notes reverberating through me. Although this song reminds me of a very confusing time in my life, I still enjoy listening to it over and over again. To me, this is the Modern Lovers most complete song.

Tsaritsa & Hip-Hop Part 1: How it all began

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Under the advice of Middle Class Musician, my guide to the music industry, I am going to do a series on this blog about hip-hop music and my relationship with it.

Don't forget to check out and download (for free!) my two new songs "Baloney" (which I need your help in filming my music video) and "Modern Day Hustla."

If you like what you hear, pass it along to a friend :)

Last Friday, I met up with MCM for an interview, which will be featured on their site this week. Check back here later in the week for a link to that post.

I have always had a deep love for music. I remember standing around in the outfield during softball practice when I was nine years old, picking Mexican hat weeds and making up my own songs.

Even earlier, at age four, I was putting on shows for my family, singing and dancing and even signing in American Sign Language. My dad converted our old home movies onto DVDs and looking back on these moments now is pretty funny, but it's interesting to see that not much has changed. Once a ham, always a ham.

My parents did their best in sheltering me and my sister when we were younger. We weren't allowed to watch MTV or listen to gangsta rap, but we were allowed to watch VH1 music videos (at the time, VH1 played mostly R&B and pop videos from the present day and the past, while MTV's content was a little too raw for my folks). My parents were big fans of rock and roll and in the car and at home we listened to a lot of The Beatles, Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, and even the Sex Pistols (road trips were always packed with homemade mixed tapes).

My dad was always giving me new music to listen to, as well. I got the En Vogue cassette when I was 8 and rocked out to The Shangri-las and The Supremes even before that on my Fisher Price record player.

In high-school, I listened to mostly indie rock, like Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Built To Spill, Rainer Maria, Sleater-Kinney, and anything else I could get my hands on. I went to as many shows at the First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia, the base of R5 Productions who were always bringing great bands to Philly, as my curfew would allow, and spent a good part of my paychecks from my menial jobs buying CDs at Spaceboy and Repo Records on South Street.

I would, and still do, devour music albums at a time, listening to them again and again from start to finish, picking out my favorites with continuous play. Once you listen to a song a few times you begin to notice the little intricacies and subtleties buried within. Unlocking these musical secrets and figuring out what was going on and how it was accomplished was, and still is, one of my favorite things about listening to music.

Eminem's The Slim Shady LP was my first hip-hop CD, which I borrowed from a friend and dubbed onto a tape when I was 13. My parents did not approve, but then again they didn't know that I owned it.

I didn't start broadening my hip-hop horizons until my last year of high-school when I "discovered" Power 99 radio and the hip-hop freestyle battles they had on weekend evenings. One particularly memorable battle, one that really bit me with the bug, featured a lady MC named Sheisty, I was captivated, and soon began writing my own rhymes.

In college, I was a hip-hop fiend and dedicated a lot of time buying new mixtapes off the street on Temple University's campus in North Philly and challenging my friends to friendly rap battles. I schooled myself on the classics, from DJ Kool Herc to the Fat Boys to Golden Age game changers like Wu-Tang Clan and Public Enemy, and more. I was seriously hooked, and I wanted more. So when a friend of mine suggested that we start a hip-hop group together, how could I resist?

Stay tuned for Part 2 of Tsaritsa & Hip-Hop: Lady MCs Who Inspire Me

What's in a name? On being Alexandra

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I like my name: Alexandra. I think it sounds regal and elegant-- two things which I am not, but hey a girl can have aspirations, right?

My mom told me that she named me after a character in a book she was reading. She doesn't remember which book, but I guess she liked the sound of the name and the meaning behind it.

From Wikipedia, which is always reliable: "Etymologically, the name is a compound of the Greek verb ἀλέξειν (alexein) 'to defend' and the noun ἀνδρός (andros), genitive of ἀνήρ (anēr) 'man.' Thus it may be roughly translated as 'protector of man.' The name was one of the titles given to the Greek goddess Hera and as such is usually taken to mean 'one who comes to save warriors'."

That's pretty badass, right? Yeah, I know it's a few syllables to spit out every time you want to address me, but it's only four. "Big Mac with fries" is as many syllables, and most people have no problem with that.

Some people call me "Alexandria," which is an entirely different name, and more suited to a physical location. I am not a city, I am not Alexandria. When you call me that you're only making it harder on yourself by adding that extra syllable. Just stop it.

Growing up my nickname was "Allie." In high-school, to sound more grown-up, I would introduce myself as "Alexandra," but would drop the airs with friends because they already knew that I wasn't an adult (though I was the one who everyone turned to when an important call needed to be made because I could sound the most professional over the phone).

I like Allie as a nickname because it's cute (it was also the name of Holden Caulfield's little brother), and definitely prefer it over Alex (which is a boy's name) and Al (who drives a taxi cab and smokes a cigar, as my dad would say).

In college, when I was using Alexandra exclusively (but still being called by my nickname by friends), a friend told me that Allie sounds like a girl who passes out at frat parties. I thought that was gross, and untrue (the only frat party I ever went to I was there for ten minutes, long enough to walk through the house and decide I had better things to do), and made me want to stay away from my nickname even more if it had that type of negative connotation.




Defender of men? How about Destroyer of men? hehe My favorite booth at MacWorld was the second floor display of original South Park cells and South Park fan art, like this sweet painting of Cartman.

The reason I wanted to write this post is because almost every time I introduce myself to someone here at this new job I get asked about my name.

"Oh, Alexandra... Are you Russian?"

"Alexandra, huh? Are you Greek?"

"Alexandra, interesting. You know in Spanish it's 'Alejandra.'"

"Alexander? Were you named after Alexander the Great?"

I'm not complaining, it's just funny to me. I guess chatting about the origin or meaning of your name is safe grounds for small talk. I am often asked where my name comes from, as the questions above will show you, and I sometimes tell the real story, and other times I say that I like to think I was named after the last Empress of Russia, even though I know this isn't true. It's a fantasy, and the inspiration behind this blog title. Let me continue dreaming about being elegant and refined and draped in velvet, like George Costanza.

What does your name mean? What does it mean to you?

VIP: Infected Mushroom at The (legendary) Fillmore

Ben is friends with Erez of Infected Mushroom. Last time we saw him in Los Angeles he invited us to come see him perform the next time he was in San Francisco. The day before Christmas Eve happened to be that time and we were given four VIP passes for the Infected Mushroom concert.

I have to say that I'm not crazy about trance music-- it's Ben's thing. I have my hip-hop, he has his electronica. I can appreciate it for what it is, I just have a hard time dancing to it, and I love dancing.

Well, the latest Infected Mushroom album kind of puts a different spin on trance music. It still has that electronic feel, but it also has the dancey/fun qualities of a rock and roll album. I really like it, and I can definitely dance to it.

We had a blast at the show and took advantage of the VIP treatment we received by raiding the cooler in the Infected Mushroom dressing room (Infected Dressing Room?) and being able to sprawl out and relax and stare down at the groundlings from our balcony view. Check out the video Ben's friend Niko made, and the photos I took over a month ago at the show.

Modern Day Hustla & more #TsaritsaEP

Today I am proud to offer to you a new song that I wrote, over the Rick Ross "Hustlin" beat, called "Modern Day Hustla." This little ditty embodies what I, and many others, have been going through during these tough economic times.

Click here to read about my goals for being an MC, and to hear my song "Baloney"

As I've written about on this blog, I was unemployed for eighteen months after being laid off from my job as a personal assistant, and in the interim spent my time applying for writing jobs and internships and basically anything else that I was qualified for.

I took some odd jobs, including working the busy phone lines at a nursery and spending my days at home building an online community for Monster's BeKnown.

It was tough, and for a while I was living strictly hand to mouth. I've always been frugal and this experience really put that skill to the test. Creativity proved to be a saving grace for me during this time, working on projects I created for myself (publishing zines, making music, writing and reading as much as I could) kept me motivated while I was looking for work.

I probably should have released "Modern Day Hustla" before I released "Baloney." The latter is more of a B-side, according to my friend Middle Class Musician, and I totally agree. "Baloney" is very goofy, while "Modern Day Hustla" has a more serious message. "Modern Day Hustla" is a motivator for me (and hopefully for others) but it is also playful, with lyrics like:

"I'm a go-getter, and you should know better / Fall back like a granny, knit a sweater"

Let me know what you think of the tune!

If you like, send out a tweet about it and use the hashtag #TsaritsaEP. Also, I got a few inquiries about appearing in the video for "Baloney." I'll post some more information about recording your own video to be used in my project. Yay! I'm psyched! Hopefully, I'll be able to release the EP in its entirety this month :)

How the Occupy Wall Street Movement is Impacting Students

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A little while ago I received an email from a lady named Alicia wanting to know if she could write a guest post for my blog. 


She is a writer as well, and she told me that when she read my posts about the Occupy Movement she felt inspired to write an article of her own, with a focus on students. Please enjoy!


The Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement has made a significant impact on students across the country. 


In particular, issues of student debt, lack of job opportunities, and general income disparity have resonated strongly within the student community. As a result there have been a host of cases of student activism across the nation.


Since the beginning of the Occupy movement, student loans have been a centerpiece in the campaign’s arguments and one of its main focal points.


The increasing cost of college, combined with the lack of jobs available to college graduates, have led to a growing number of students defaulting on their loans.


Similarly, many students find the new student loan policies to be problematic. They cite large slashes in federal student and large grant cuts, and the handing over of student aid programs to private lenders (who might privatize the industry for profit) as major sources of contention.


In order to protest these loans, the students involved in OWS have banned them altogether. Additionally, they have begun an Occupy Student Debt campaign. According to Inside Higher Ed, the campaign urges students to default on their student loan payments as soon as one million students have pledged to do the same.


Some universities have gone as far as to integrate protesting into the college curriculum, such as  Columbia University. In order to receive credit for the course, students must attend both seminars and do field work in the Occupy Wall Street protests. Interestingly, Columbia isn't then only school incorporating OWS into its classrooms, as New York University and The New School are now also offering similar courses.


However, student involvement in OWS has not always mild. In UC Berkeley, a group of students were beat with batons as they attempted to set up tents in the local Sproul Plaza. Six students and an assistant professor were arrested in the ordeal. Similarly, another student protest in UC Davis turned violent after police pepper sprayed a line of handcuffed student protestors.


Such hardships have only thrust the issues of the growing disparity of income distributions, high default rates on student loans and a narrow set of available jobs into the spotlight. This type of national attention, along with education and reform, are precisely the goal of students involved with the movement.


Tuition raises, along with other hitches in the price of college education, have caused many students to join the Occupy movement in order to express their dissatisfaction with the current system. Tuition hikes upwards of 16 percent have been rumored across the country, effectively creating dissatisfied students everywhere.


In addition, many college students are beginning to question whether or not the government should completely subsidize education. Many Occupy protesters believe education should be a right, and as a result this belief has permeated unto many students not involved with the protests.


However not all students support OWS. For instance, when one NYU senior was asked to join the local Occupy movement, the student emailed the president of the university, describing the Wall Street movement as being filled with “criminals, drug addicts, [and] mentally ill people.” While this is a fairly isolated opinion, many students don’t approve of the ambiguous and unclear goals of the Occupy movement.


Despite some indifference to OWS, many students cling dearly onto the principals and ideals the movement pushes over education. The need for a cheaper, federally funded higher education system resonates strongly with many students, particularly those stuck with years of paying back staggering students loans and those struggling to become employed.


The OWS movement has undoubtedly made a large impact upon the country’s student body. A number of Occupy’s stances deal with major issues in education pertinent to students involved with higher-level education.


Many students have joined the movement, and many students have adamantly rejected it. Yet regardless of students’ stances, the movement has drawn national and international attention to the overwhelming student debt, income disparity and narrow job options for college graduates.

Haters are like crickets, crabs. Philosophizing Mob Wives/Wu-Tang Clan

Drita's not my favorite character on Mob Wives. Renee is my fave, she's kooky and acts like a badass, even though she's completely neurotic. Drita, on the other hand, is mean spirited and controlling, but she did drop some truth on a recent episode which I would like to share with you.

She compared haters to crickets:





I agree. People who are overly critical of others who are trying to do something with their lives tend to only really voice their true feelings when you're not within earshot. But the moment you walk by it's all hunky-dory.

Wu-Tang Clan calls this type of person a "crab." You ever hear the expression about crabs in a barrel? If one crab tries to escape his fate of being cooked alive for dinner, the moment he starts climbing up the side of the barrel to freedom the other crabs will start pulling him down. "If I can't succeed, neither can you," is the mentality of a crab.

What do you think?

Get To Know Your Fellow Blogger vlog swap (the first, like, ever!)

survey question (Photo credit: roboppy)

Remember those old Livejournal surveys we used to fill out when we were bored and pubescent?

Or perhaps you're like me and remember the old email surveys my friends and I would fill out and forward back in high-school, or the MySpace surveys that were plastered all over my feed (is that what that little box was called? it's been so long, I can't recall) my early college years.

Today, may I present to you a throwback vlog swap brought to us by Jas of Smile Big and Pretty. She rounded all of us up together to videotape ourselves answering some silly questionnaire questions.

Silly questionnaires-- what is the point of filling them out? Because they're silly, of course.

I guess maybe part of us thinks that we learn something about ourselves every time we ponder the notion of the proper way to eat spaghetti, or maybe we really do learn something deep about one another by going through a laundry list of nonsense?

Maybe we just like to hear the sound of our own voices-- we're Gen-Y after all, baby, and we tend to act like we're the generation who invented self-promotion. Well, we perfected it anyway.

Enough of my ruminations, here's Jas! Don't forget to check out my half of the swap on Smile Big and Pretty!

My sweet new office (and title of Office Manager)

Quick photodump of views of my new office. I finally broke my unemployment streak a few weeks ago when I began working as the Office Manager for the San Francisco Elks Lodge, the oldest continuous Lodge in Elkdom.

The Elks are a social club for people who want to "invest in their communities through programs that help children grow up healthy and drug-free, by undertaking projects that address unmet need, and by honoring the service and sacrifice of our veterans."

It's a great organization and I'm very happy to be working for them. My duties include managing membership, helping to organize events, keeping track of the funds that we receive, and addressing any issues that the members have. The Lodge itself is historic (it was the third Lodge in the country to be established, just after New York City and Philadelphia) and beautiful with intricately carved wood paneling and heavily adorned ceilings. The Lodge is located in a hotel, which was formerly the Elks Hotel, and I've heard from numerous sources that it's haunted. I'm so excited to be working here!