My mysterious absence from my previously near-daily blogging endeavors can best be explained in two words: journalism thesis.
I had to scramble in the last weeks to get my quantitative analysis done (that I should have gotten done during my winter break when I was, you know, NOT IN SCHOOL). And that involved counting thousands of pages of magazines to figure out how many were content-only, advertising-only, mixed content and advertising, advertorials, complementary content, and on and on and on.
For the record, I didn't get any paper cuts. But my pinky and thumb were raw from my hand constantly dragging across pieces of paper, writing and flipping.
And I now shudder at the site of women's magazines. My latest issue of Elle came in the mail last week and I wanted to gag. Ugh, the thought of a 60+ to 4o ratio of advertising to content just makes me sick.
And Vogue is by far the worst. No matter how much I love runway fashion, I can't seem to understand why a magazine needs to be 840 pages if 638 of those pages are pure advertising. It makes no sense. It's stupid. It hurt my hand and my brain. And my intelligence.
I've come to a conclusion: women's magazines are (1) not journalism and (2) advertising machines. Don't read them. Marie Claire's OK. But don't read them.
28.2.08
15.2.08
An interesting concept
If you haven't heard yet, fashion designers are lobbying Congress to make a law saying they can copyright their fashions--down to the cut of a bag or skirt, the very minute details.
They want to do this because the designers claim the people who make cheap knock-offs are raping the fashion industry of millions of dollars, though I find that hard to believe when you can make a purse and charge $1,198 for it (like the Coach purse below), and plenty of people will buy it.
I heard a story on NPR's Marketplace about this last night, and one interesting thing one of the sources said was that trends fuel the fashion industry, and knock-offs create trends. Therefore, allowing knock-offs to go on the market makes it easier for the big-time designers to be creative and come out with something ever newer and more fabulous.
This struck me as interesting, and it struck one of the industry's lawyers, Alain Coblence, as preposterous. He said "...it's like saying that robbery is a wonderful thing in the economy because by way of replacing the stolen goods, it encourages industrial production."
Personally, I think trends are stupid--or rather, people who try to be trendy are stupid. My philosophy is to buy basic pieces that aren't going out of style for a while, build a wardrobe with those things, and occasionally buy something that's "in" at the moment. But why would you want to spend tons of money on trendy things that will be "out" next month (in this case, just because it looks like a Louis Vuitton purse or Chanel sunglasses).
Such is the consumeristic money wasting that Americans adore engaging in, I guess.
They want to do this because the designers claim the people who make cheap knock-offs are raping the fashion industry of millions of dollars, though I find that hard to believe when you can make a purse and charge $1,198 for it (like the Coach purse below), and plenty of people will buy it.
I heard a story on NPR's Marketplace about this last night, and one interesting thing one of the sources said was that trends fuel the fashion industry, and knock-offs create trends. Therefore, allowing knock-offs to go on the market makes it easier for the big-time designers to be creative and come out with something ever newer and more fabulous.
This struck me as interesting, and it struck one of the industry's lawyers, Alain Coblence, as preposterous. He said "...it's like saying that robbery is a wonderful thing in the economy because by way of replacing the stolen goods, it encourages industrial production."
Personally, I think trends are stupid--or rather, people who try to be trendy are stupid. My philosophy is to buy basic pieces that aren't going out of style for a while, build a wardrobe with those things, and occasionally buy something that's "in" at the moment. But why would you want to spend tons of money on trendy things that will be "out" next month (in this case, just because it looks like a Louis Vuitton purse or Chanel sunglasses).
Such is the consumeristic money wasting that Americans adore engaging in, I guess.
13.2.08
Offending Catholics one eyeliner at a time
I'm going to preface this by saying that I'm Catholic and I find this hilarious.
So I read an article from MSNBC (courtesy of Mom) about a British cosmetics line by Topshop that got kicked out of stores in Singapore because it offended Catholics, who make up 15 percent of the population.
The line is called Jesus cosmetics (I can't help but laugh every time I say it aloud) and "extolled the virtues of 'Looking Good for Jesus'".
The photo is an example of something you'd have found on the shelves in Singapore before the line got banned. It just looks so goofy.
I don't know who comes up with this stuff, but it's great.
So I read an article from MSNBC (courtesy of Mom) about a British cosmetics line by Topshop that got kicked out of stores in Singapore because it offended Catholics, who make up 15 percent of the population.
The line is called Jesus cosmetics (I can't help but laugh every time I say it aloud) and "extolled the virtues of 'Looking Good for Jesus'".
The photo is an example of something you'd have found on the shelves in Singapore before the line got banned. It just looks so goofy.
I don't know who comes up with this stuff, but it's great.
12.2.08
The Agony
I've decided that a modern form of torture (that's torture in the medieval sense) is applying for things.
When you've received someone's application for a job or, in my case, graduate school, you have a lot of power.
You can twist someone into cardiac arrest by making them wait for weeks. The waiting is the worst part, of course.
Then you can call the applicant for a friendly chat and get his or her hopes up, and make him wait some more!
I'm not sure if it's just the workings of democracy or an intentional playing-hard-to-get tactic graduate schools (and some companies) use, but it sure does wreak havoc on the applicant.
So as my anxiety grows because the graduate schools are keeping me waiting and waiting and waiting (except U of Oregon, who said two weeks ago they'd love to have me), wish me luck.
When you've received someone's application for a job or, in my case, graduate school, you have a lot of power.
You can twist someone into cardiac arrest by making them wait for weeks. The waiting is the worst part, of course.
Then you can call the applicant for a friendly chat and get his or her hopes up, and make him wait some more!
I'm not sure if it's just the workings of democracy or an intentional playing-hard-to-get tactic graduate schools (and some companies) use, but it sure does wreak havoc on the applicant.
So as my anxiety grows because the graduate schools are keeping me waiting and waiting and waiting (except U of Oregon, who said two weeks ago they'd love to have me), wish me luck.
10.2.08
Thoughts on Housing
The terrifying thought of having to move again has been on my mind lately.
It's not terrifying because moving scares me.
It's terrifying because I have to find somewhere to live and move in to by the end of May.
That seems like a long enough time for most people, but some of us just need closure, reassurance and a good amount of time to plan.
Although I'm not sure whether I'm going to stay in Tucson or move to far off and exotic locations like Chicago or Urbana, Illinois, or Eugene, Oregon, I feel like I need to start looking at housing already. Doing so is, unfortunately, depressing.
I started by looking at Tucson. Not because I want to move out of my current apartment, which I love. But because there might be the opportunity to find a just-as-nice place closer to campus, which would mean I could waste less gas driving around Tucson 5+ days a week.
But everything worth looking at is available NOW. Not in three months, not in four. But immediately.
Nobody else seems to think ahead and say, hey, I'm moving out in May. Maybe someone looking to move in a few months would be currently looking for a place like mine. No, the housing market close to campus seems to be such that you up "For Rent" signs and ads after you've moved out and hope somebody snatches the property up immediately.
Why is this particularly terrifying?
Because last year we looked and looked in February for a place to live. And all the landlords said, "You have to wait until after spring break." So we did. And the first week of school after spring break, EVERYTHING WAS ALREADY RENTED!
If only everyone else was a plans-in-advance person like me. Things would be so much easier.
It's not terrifying because moving scares me.
It's terrifying because I have to find somewhere to live and move in to by the end of May.
That seems like a long enough time for most people, but some of us just need closure, reassurance and a good amount of time to plan.
Although I'm not sure whether I'm going to stay in Tucson or move to far off and exotic locations like Chicago or Urbana, Illinois, or Eugene, Oregon, I feel like I need to start looking at housing already. Doing so is, unfortunately, depressing.
I started by looking at Tucson. Not because I want to move out of my current apartment, which I love. But because there might be the opportunity to find a just-as-nice place closer to campus, which would mean I could waste less gas driving around Tucson 5+ days a week.
But everything worth looking at is available NOW. Not in three months, not in four. But immediately.
Nobody else seems to think ahead and say, hey, I'm moving out in May. Maybe someone looking to move in a few months would be currently looking for a place like mine. No, the housing market close to campus seems to be such that you up "For Rent" signs and ads after you've moved out and hope somebody snatches the property up immediately.
Why is this particularly terrifying?
Because last year we looked and looked in February for a place to live. And all the landlords said, "You have to wait until after spring break." So we did. And the first week of school after spring break, EVERYTHING WAS ALREADY RENTED!
If only everyone else was a plans-in-advance person like me. Things would be so much easier.
6.2.08
More Complicated Than Necessary
Most upper-division coursework is time-consuming. It' s not all hard, challenging, difficult, etc. But it's time consuming. Working on a thesis is an added time-eater. But working on two theses is even worse.
It's been a joy to do a thesis in the UA German studies department. It's very relaxed, deadlines are flexible, and I have a lot of freedom in the topic I can use and type of research I can do. Even though it's a lot of work, it doesn't feel stressful.
The Honors College was pretty mellow about theses. When I spoke to an adviser there, she said I could write a poem for my senior thesis as long as it was relevant, and that would be fantastic. She did say some departments have their own requirements you have to adhere to, though.
The journalism department is one of those with it's own requirements. And let me tell you, it sucks.
It makes the most sense to me that, on a two-semester project, you spend one semester doing research and one writing, editing and turning in the thesis. Not so in the UA journalism department.
Instead, you spend one semester writing a proposal. A proposal about the thesis you're going to do. You can't do research until you've finished the proposal, which takes the whole semester.
Then, you're expected to start your research over winter break. You know, during the time you spend with family and friends you haven't really spent time with since the summer. Time you should be spending unwinding, especially after a semester of 22 credits. But no, the journalism department doesn't allow rest.
So coming into the spring semester, I hadn't done much research for the journalism thesis. Honestly, it just wasn't feasible during my busy (and partially sickly) winter break. And I don't think it should have been required.
I met with my adviser this week, three weeks into the semester. I basically got in trouble because my research isn't done yet. She asked how much my grade and the thesis really meant to me, and suggested I take another semester to do it. Why? Because she doesn't think I have the time to produce anything remotely good.
Gee, it's not my fault I have less than one semester to do a shit-ton of research AND write a 50-page thesis.
I mean, who comes up with these rules? Why do you have to write a stupid proposal for something when you're supposed to be working on that something? Today, I feel writing a proposal was a complete and utter waste of my time when I could have been doing research that was meaningful to my work.
If the department wants students to write a proposal so badly, they should make it a pre-requirement for the thesis--something you do the spring of your junior year. That would make so much more sense and would be a far better use of time. That way you really know you want to work on your project before you get started, and you have plenty of time to do the necessary research. But I don't make the rules.
So for all those honors students out there considering a thesis in journalism, write it for your minor or your other major, but NOT for journalism!
It's been a joy to do a thesis in the UA German studies department. It's very relaxed, deadlines are flexible, and I have a lot of freedom in the topic I can use and type of research I can do. Even though it's a lot of work, it doesn't feel stressful.
The Honors College was pretty mellow about theses. When I spoke to an adviser there, she said I could write a poem for my senior thesis as long as it was relevant, and that would be fantastic. She did say some departments have their own requirements you have to adhere to, though.
The journalism department is one of those with it's own requirements. And let me tell you, it sucks.
It makes the most sense to me that, on a two-semester project, you spend one semester doing research and one writing, editing and turning in the thesis. Not so in the UA journalism department.
Instead, you spend one semester writing a proposal. A proposal about the thesis you're going to do. You can't do research until you've finished the proposal, which takes the whole semester.
Then, you're expected to start your research over winter break. You know, during the time you spend with family and friends you haven't really spent time with since the summer. Time you should be spending unwinding, especially after a semester of 22 credits. But no, the journalism department doesn't allow rest.
So coming into the spring semester, I hadn't done much research for the journalism thesis. Honestly, it just wasn't feasible during my busy (and partially sickly) winter break. And I don't think it should have been required.
I met with my adviser this week, three weeks into the semester. I basically got in trouble because my research isn't done yet. She asked how much my grade and the thesis really meant to me, and suggested I take another semester to do it. Why? Because she doesn't think I have the time to produce anything remotely good.
Gee, it's not my fault I have less than one semester to do a shit-ton of research AND write a 50-page thesis.
I mean, who comes up with these rules? Why do you have to write a stupid proposal for something when you're supposed to be working on that something? Today, I feel writing a proposal was a complete and utter waste of my time when I could have been doing research that was meaningful to my work.
If the department wants students to write a proposal so badly, they should make it a pre-requirement for the thesis--something you do the spring of your junior year. That would make so much more sense and would be a far better use of time. That way you really know you want to work on your project before you get started, and you have plenty of time to do the necessary research. But I don't make the rules.
So for all those honors students out there considering a thesis in journalism, write it for your minor or your other major, but NOT for journalism!
5.2.08
SNOW!!!
Ok, so it's not snow. Not really. Not all of it, anyway.
I woke up this morning to discover my car was white. Not with frost as Ian insisted, but chunky, cold, white, glorious, gleaming snow.
Granted, it was gone by 8:30 am, but I was super excited anyway.
Based on my previous calculations, it should be 70 degrees this week. But it was cold enough to snow last night, it's been rainy and chilly. And you know what? The forecast calls for "bermuda shorts weather" this weekend.
PROOF! Proof that the weather in Tucson really is on acid.
I woke up this morning to discover my car was white. Not with frost as Ian insisted, but chunky, cold, white, glorious, gleaming snow.Granted, it was gone by 8:30 am, but I was super excited anyway.
Based on my previous calculations, it should be 70 degrees this week. But it was cold enough to snow last night, it's been rainy and chilly. And you know what? The forecast calls for "bermuda shorts weather" this weekend.
PROOF! Proof that the weather in Tucson really is on acid.
1.2.08
Cruel, cruel weather
January and February in Arizona: schizophrenic.
Anyone from anywhere else would wonder how I can possibly compare the first months of the year with a mental illness. It's really quite simple.
First week of January: 60s
Second week of January: 70s
Third week of January: 65
Fourth week of January: 40s
First week of February: 55
Second week of February: 70s (my prediction)
That's the temperature, rising up and down, back and forth, all over the place.
Not only is the temperature wild and crazy, but so is the weather. Rain, sun, rain, sun, clouds, clouds, sun, rain, sun, clouds, Snow. You can never be prepared for anything--you never know what the day will end with.
And what's worse, is if you go shopping, store displays are just there to rub it in. Going shopping the second week of January, all the winter stuff is on clearance. Blah, you think, too hot for this stuff.
Going shopping the next week, there are shorts and t-shirts everywhere. Geez, you think, shivering in a sweater, jacket and three shirts, isn't it a bit cold for shorts?
And the worst part? It doesn't get any better after February--the weather's loony here 12 months a year.
That's what I hate about Arizona. The weather's unstable and I never know what to wear. If I complain that it's too cold, it's because it was 90 degrees yesterday and I'm wearing a t-shirt--and it's 55 degrees today. If I complain it's too hot, it's probably because it was 32 degrees and rainy this morning, so I decided to wear a sweater and rain jacket to work. And it's after work, sunny and a humid 85 degrees.
If you want reliable weather...if you always want to be prepared by wearing the right thing...Arizona is not the place for you.
Anyone from anywhere else would wonder how I can possibly compare the first months of the year with a mental illness. It's really quite simple.
First week of January: 60s
Second week of January: 70s
Third week of January: 65
Fourth week of January: 40s
First week of February: 55
Second week of February: 70s (my prediction)
That's the temperature, rising up and down, back and forth, all over the place.
Not only is the temperature wild and crazy, but so is the weather. Rain, sun, rain, sun, clouds, clouds, sun, rain, sun, clouds, Snow. You can never be prepared for anything--you never know what the day will end with.
And what's worse, is if you go shopping, store displays are just there to rub it in. Going shopping the second week of January, all the winter stuff is on clearance. Blah, you think, too hot for this stuff.
Going shopping the next week, there are shorts and t-shirts everywhere. Geez, you think, shivering in a sweater, jacket and three shirts, isn't it a bit cold for shorts?
And the worst part? It doesn't get any better after February--the weather's loony here 12 months a year.
That's what I hate about Arizona. The weather's unstable and I never know what to wear. If I complain that it's too cold, it's because it was 90 degrees yesterday and I'm wearing a t-shirt--and it's 55 degrees today. If I complain it's too hot, it's probably because it was 32 degrees and rainy this morning, so I decided to wear a sweater and rain jacket to work. And it's after work, sunny and a humid 85 degrees.
If you want reliable weather...if you always want to be prepared by wearing the right thing...Arizona is not the place for you.
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