Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Coldplay - A Sky Full of Stars - Dropwizz Remix
I usually find remixes of songs annoying. The person who put all of that time into remixing an already popular song is only trying to piggy back of its popularity and could have instead created their own music. In most cases they don't even really change the song all that much, just adding more of a bass. And while I still find that true fairly often, in this case I find this particular remix better than the original. The original is great, one of Coldplay's best probably. It has a very full sound and has the usual artistic and vague lyrics and is just generally catchy and uplifting. This remix however takes it to the next level. The vocals become more background and haunting. The melody is focused on but with synthesizers instead of piano in a way that just works.
I'm not entirely able to describe just how good this is. But to me, music is inherently difficult to describe because its so different of an experience from person to person. Give it a listen and let me know if I did it justice.
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Holiday Shopping - A Workers Plea
Hello all! Again, its been awhile. But I come with an important message and its something I feel I need to step on a soap box for. So here goes...
Tomorrow is the Saturday before Thanksgiving which means seemingly everyone in America plus a few hundred will descend upon grocery stores across the country. Because of the crowds and the fact that the stores will likely run out of stock of various items I feel like most people need a reminder that patience is key. I work in retail, have for over two years now. I've hated just about every moment of it, and its entirely because of the customers. I'm not saying its every one of them, but there are enough bad eggs to spoil the whole day.
My first year working for this company I worked on the registers. Customers were always impatient and down right rude that they had to wait in line. My first Thanksgiving weekend on the register I went four hours straight of checking as quickly as possible to never see the end of my line because of the wall of people that made up the front end of the building. None of the cashiers got their first break and most were at least forty-five minutes late for their lunch. We all did our best to get everyone through as quickly as possible but most people treated us as though it was our fault they had chosen to shop on what had to be one of the busiest days of the year.
I know its frustrating to wait in line when all you want to do is go home and be with your family or do whatever else you had planned for the day. But please be patient and treat workers with respect. You get to leave when you are through the line. They are working and have to deal with the abuse of impatient people all day while they could be spending time with their own family for the holidays. They are there so you can get what you need and would prefer to not be.
Also, there is a chance there might be more of a product if the shelf is empty. It's also likely that it has sold out and you should just accept that when the worker tells you so. Last year we sold 350 turkeys in less than a day and we weren't going to get any more in. Workers and managers were cussed out for not "saving some" for the people who were too late. I understand you need what you need, but if you needed it that badly, maybe you shouldn't have waited till the last minute. It is usually out of the control of the people in the store (in chain stores) how much of a product they have. They are doing their best to get you the things you need, but there's only so much they can do. It's okay to be frustrated. If you want to make a complaint, do so. But do it in a polite manner. The workers are human too and deserve to be treated as such.
Be nice to other shoppers as well. They are there for the same reasons you are. They are dealing with the same crowd you are. If they are rude first, kill them with kindness. I had a fight break out at my register once and it stands out as one of the worst experiences of my time with the company. You don't want to be remembered as "that" guy.
Yes, I probably sound whiny but I really don't care. The way some customers treat workers to deplorable and if we were allowed to tell them as such we would. But we rely on the job to pay the bills and put food on the table. So please just remember the Golden Rule: Treat others the way you want to be treated. If everyone followed it this holiday shopping season things would go much more smoothly and be a more positive experience for everyone.
And yes, the workers gossip and talk about how disgusting customers are. We share who to watch out for. If you are rude to one, the rest are less likely to be helpful. The way you treat us directly affects what kind of service you get. I'll get off my soap box now and wish everyone a good holiday!!
Does anyone have any holiday shopping horror stories they wish to share? If so, leave them in the comment section!
Tomorrow is the Saturday before Thanksgiving which means seemingly everyone in America plus a few hundred will descend upon grocery stores across the country. Because of the crowds and the fact that the stores will likely run out of stock of various items I feel like most people need a reminder that patience is key. I work in retail, have for over two years now. I've hated just about every moment of it, and its entirely because of the customers. I'm not saying its every one of them, but there are enough bad eggs to spoil the whole day.
My first year working for this company I worked on the registers. Customers were always impatient and down right rude that they had to wait in line. My first Thanksgiving weekend on the register I went four hours straight of checking as quickly as possible to never see the end of my line because of the wall of people that made up the front end of the building. None of the cashiers got their first break and most were at least forty-five minutes late for their lunch. We all did our best to get everyone through as quickly as possible but most people treated us as though it was our fault they had chosen to shop on what had to be one of the busiest days of the year.
I know its frustrating to wait in line when all you want to do is go home and be with your family or do whatever else you had planned for the day. But please be patient and treat workers with respect. You get to leave when you are through the line. They are working and have to deal with the abuse of impatient people all day while they could be spending time with their own family for the holidays. They are there so you can get what you need and would prefer to not be.
Also, there is a chance there might be more of a product if the shelf is empty. It's also likely that it has sold out and you should just accept that when the worker tells you so. Last year we sold 350 turkeys in less than a day and we weren't going to get any more in. Workers and managers were cussed out for not "saving some" for the people who were too late. I understand you need what you need, but if you needed it that badly, maybe you shouldn't have waited till the last minute. It is usually out of the control of the people in the store (in chain stores) how much of a product they have. They are doing their best to get you the things you need, but there's only so much they can do. It's okay to be frustrated. If you want to make a complaint, do so. But do it in a polite manner. The workers are human too and deserve to be treated as such.
Be nice to other shoppers as well. They are there for the same reasons you are. They are dealing with the same crowd you are. If they are rude first, kill them with kindness. I had a fight break out at my register once and it stands out as one of the worst experiences of my time with the company. You don't want to be remembered as "that" guy.
Yes, I probably sound whiny but I really don't care. The way some customers treat workers to deplorable and if we were allowed to tell them as such we would. But we rely on the job to pay the bills and put food on the table. So please just remember the Golden Rule: Treat others the way you want to be treated. If everyone followed it this holiday shopping season things would go much more smoothly and be a more positive experience for everyone.
And yes, the workers gossip and talk about how disgusting customers are. We share who to watch out for. If you are rude to one, the rest are less likely to be helpful. The way you treat us directly affects what kind of service you get. I'll get off my soap box now and wish everyone a good holiday!!
Does anyone have any holiday shopping horror stories they wish to share? If so, leave them in the comment section!
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Internships
So, I feel like its been an eternity since I last posted, and in the age of technology it kind of has been. I had said I would post every Wednesday and beyond failed that one. I also failed at my senior year resolution of trying something new every week, forcing myself out of my comfort zone. I am trying new things, but not quite how I had pictured it. The biggest new thing being that I am now an intern.
One thing I have learned recently that I'm amazed I didn't know before, is how important an internship can be when job searching. Showing you have experience in your field is a huge leg up when employers are comparing resumes. Good grades just doesn't cut it any more unfortunately. If the resume builder isn't winning you over, it is a chance to work temporarily in your field and see if it is something you'd be able to do for the next 30-40 years. I've recently thrown all of my life plans in the trash because I was/am completely burnt out on school and the previous plan required a Ph.D. I'm not saying I will never go back to that, but for now I'm just not in the right place. In the meantime I've got to come up with something because I am definitely not working retail for the rest of my life.
So far the internship has been great. I don't have a lot of free time anymore but its worth it. After realizing that I really wasn't up to Graduate school I was of the mind frame that I had just wasted 4 years and roughly $80,000 on a degree that would do nothing for me. The internship has been a reminder that there is more than one use for a Political Science degree. I'm not getting paid to be there or anything but the people in the office are fun and I am definitely pushing the edges of my comfort zone in a good way. I'm making connections for future jobs and gaining experience in the catch-22 world that requires experience to be hired but you can't get experience until you are hired.
If I've convinced you to look into the whole thing but don't know where to start, here's a few tips. Ask professors in your department. If they are up to date in their field they probably know a few places in the area that are looking for people specialized in whatever your major is. Pay attention/actually read department emails. Usually they send out information on opportunities as they become aware of them and they might have running partnerships with businesses you just have to apply for. Last but not least, Google. Search engines are our friends. I spent a nice chunk of time looking around and found out there's such a thing as an online internship that is set up basically as a work from home situation. With this set up you can intern for a company that's hundreds of miles away as long as you have internet connection.
I hope this isn't seen as annoying or me just trying to post things that universities preach about. I honestly had no idea about most of this and I figured if I didn't there was probably someone else out there who just might stumble upon this post and learn from my mistakes. I hope everyone is in good health and I will post again soon.
-Erin
One thing I have learned recently that I'm amazed I didn't know before, is how important an internship can be when job searching. Showing you have experience in your field is a huge leg up when employers are comparing resumes. Good grades just doesn't cut it any more unfortunately. If the resume builder isn't winning you over, it is a chance to work temporarily in your field and see if it is something you'd be able to do for the next 30-40 years. I've recently thrown all of my life plans in the trash because I was/am completely burnt out on school and the previous plan required a Ph.D. I'm not saying I will never go back to that, but for now I'm just not in the right place. In the meantime I've got to come up with something because I am definitely not working retail for the rest of my life.
So far the internship has been great. I don't have a lot of free time anymore but its worth it. After realizing that I really wasn't up to Graduate school I was of the mind frame that I had just wasted 4 years and roughly $80,000 on a degree that would do nothing for me. The internship has been a reminder that there is more than one use for a Political Science degree. I'm not getting paid to be there or anything but the people in the office are fun and I am definitely pushing the edges of my comfort zone in a good way. I'm making connections for future jobs and gaining experience in the catch-22 world that requires experience to be hired but you can't get experience until you are hired.
If I've convinced you to look into the whole thing but don't know where to start, here's a few tips. Ask professors in your department. If they are up to date in their field they probably know a few places in the area that are looking for people specialized in whatever your major is. Pay attention/actually read department emails. Usually they send out information on opportunities as they become aware of them and they might have running partnerships with businesses you just have to apply for. Last but not least, Google. Search engines are our friends. I spent a nice chunk of time looking around and found out there's such a thing as an online internship that is set up basically as a work from home situation. With this set up you can intern for a company that's hundreds of miles away as long as you have internet connection.
I hope this isn't seen as annoying or me just trying to post things that universities preach about. I honestly had no idea about most of this and I figured if I didn't there was probably someone else out there who just might stumble upon this post and learn from my mistakes. I hope everyone is in good health and I will post again soon.
-Erin
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Senior Year and Advice on Giving it the Old College Try
I've had to keep an eye on the date, if only to keep track of my schedule for work, but apparently that doesn't mean that I really paid attention to where that put me on the calendar. Being told the fair back home, always the last week and a half of July, is next weekend forced that bit into focus. And unfortunately it also put into perspective just how close the first day of classes is. Longer story shorter, I basically have three and a half weeks left in the last actual summer of my life. Three and a half weeks until I start the last year of college, two semesters until graduation. I might be the strangest person ever because that does nothing but terrify me. Turning twenty-one kind of cut the last strings from childhood I was clinging to, but graduating college is going to sever those last remaining fibers.
I already pay rent and have a job and all of that, but I feel like graduation means that's what my life will consist of from now on. Expect the job will (hopefully) be full time and calling in will be a much bigger deal. Life is going to change dramatically even if I don't really notice it at first. Anyway, I feel like I need to make the most of random days off, weird hours, and the time I know I have left with my friends around. I propose that I find something new to do every week. It is going to range from trying new restaurants in town (I'm horrible about trying new food) to actually going in the Rec Center instead of walking past it, to anything else that I can find. I want to enjoy this last school year and be able to look back with minimal regrets. I can only encourage everyone else going into their senior year to do the same. You only get it once, sure you can have to go back if you didn't have enough credits or whathaveyou but the circumstances that make up this year will never realign again, make the most of it.
Further advice to anyone going into their freshman year:
You don't have to be friends with your roommate, you only have to get along. Trust me. I tried too hard to be friends with mine and it bit me in the butt.
Use the Rec Center! I'm assuming its free with a student ID at every school, and this is going to be the only time in your life that you will have (not really when you look at tuition and fees) free access to a gym/pool.
Join clubs, seriously. There are usually dozens upon dozens of them to choose from with all kinds of focuses. And if you can't find one you like, there is almost always the option to create one. I didn't and I'm regretting it while trying to fill in a resume. Even if it is only for the resume and not for the potential friends and the like, do it. High school quits counting sooner than you'd like.
Bring power cords/surge protectors. The first dorm I lived in had two outlets on opposite sides of the room. Don't go in expecting any more then that and prepare accordingly.
Keep in touch with friends from high school. I let myself believe I was too busy and let a lot of long time friendships die because of it. As long as they are still healthy to have in your life, keep them there. College is a lot easier with a good support system, because I can almost guarantee there will be moments you doubt why you are there and it all the money is worth it. Last semester was a long one of those moments for me and I was diagnosed with depression towards the end when my friends said I needed to get help. Hopefully for you this moment is only in the wee hours when you have pushed a paper till the last moment, which everyone does at least once.
You don't need a laptop (it certainly makes life a hell of a lot easier) but you DO need a good thumb-drive or two. Always have three places papers and projects are saved, including emailing it to yourself, maybe even someone else just in case. ---On a side note, if the school provides an email address, just use it. Don't be one of the 'too cool' kids that has to use the email they came to school with. Its annoying for the professor to be unable to get into contact with you and a lot of them won't respond to email addresses that aren't familiar.
TR means a Tuesday/Thursday class, not just Thursday. Silly freshman me believed the upper classman that told me otherwise. Don't be silly me, you look like an idiot when you tell the professor why you missed the first day of class.
Get a planner of some sort. If your school supplies one, use it! It works as a great reminder for just how long you have until something is due, and a reminder that you actually have something due. The only people I saw that didn't turn in papers, didn't use a planner.
I'll stop here, I'm sure the internet is full of all sort of helpful bits about how to succeed in college and my piece is just another voice in the mess, but I'm hoping my mistakes can help someone out there. My summer break from writing is now over as well and I hope to return to this blog with a new post every Wednesday, hopefully the first being this coming July 16th.
I already pay rent and have a job and all of that, but I feel like graduation means that's what my life will consist of from now on. Expect the job will (hopefully) be full time and calling in will be a much bigger deal. Life is going to change dramatically even if I don't really notice it at first. Anyway, I feel like I need to make the most of random days off, weird hours, and the time I know I have left with my friends around. I propose that I find something new to do every week. It is going to range from trying new restaurants in town (I'm horrible about trying new food) to actually going in the Rec Center instead of walking past it, to anything else that I can find. I want to enjoy this last school year and be able to look back with minimal regrets. I can only encourage everyone else going into their senior year to do the same. You only get it once, sure you can have to go back if you didn't have enough credits or whathaveyou but the circumstances that make up this year will never realign again, make the most of it.
Further advice to anyone going into their freshman year:
You don't have to be friends with your roommate, you only have to get along. Trust me. I tried too hard to be friends with mine and it bit me in the butt.
Use the Rec Center! I'm assuming its free with a student ID at every school, and this is going to be the only time in your life that you will have (not really when you look at tuition and fees) free access to a gym/pool.
Join clubs, seriously. There are usually dozens upon dozens of them to choose from with all kinds of focuses. And if you can't find one you like, there is almost always the option to create one. I didn't and I'm regretting it while trying to fill in a resume. Even if it is only for the resume and not for the potential friends and the like, do it. High school quits counting sooner than you'd like.
Bring power cords/surge protectors. The first dorm I lived in had two outlets on opposite sides of the room. Don't go in expecting any more then that and prepare accordingly.
Keep in touch with friends from high school. I let myself believe I was too busy and let a lot of long time friendships die because of it. As long as they are still healthy to have in your life, keep them there. College is a lot easier with a good support system, because I can almost guarantee there will be moments you doubt why you are there and it all the money is worth it. Last semester was a long one of those moments for me and I was diagnosed with depression towards the end when my friends said I needed to get help. Hopefully for you this moment is only in the wee hours when you have pushed a paper till the last moment, which everyone does at least once.
You don't need a laptop (it certainly makes life a hell of a lot easier) but you DO need a good thumb-drive or two. Always have three places papers and projects are saved, including emailing it to yourself, maybe even someone else just in case. ---On a side note, if the school provides an email address, just use it. Don't be one of the 'too cool' kids that has to use the email they came to school with. Its annoying for the professor to be unable to get into contact with you and a lot of them won't respond to email addresses that aren't familiar.
TR means a Tuesday/Thursday class, not just Thursday. Silly freshman me believed the upper classman that told me otherwise. Don't be silly me, you look like an idiot when you tell the professor why you missed the first day of class.
Get a planner of some sort. If your school supplies one, use it! It works as a great reminder for just how long you have until something is due, and a reminder that you actually have something due. The only people I saw that didn't turn in papers, didn't use a planner.
I'll stop here, I'm sure the internet is full of all sort of helpful bits about how to succeed in college and my piece is just another voice in the mess, but I'm hoping my mistakes can help someone out there. My summer break from writing is now over as well and I hope to return to this blog with a new post every Wednesday, hopefully the first being this coming July 16th.
Friday, April 25, 2014
Armor - Landon Austin
Holy Smokes!! I'm in love with this song!!! I've listened to Landon Austin's music on and off for a few months now, checking in every now and then to see if there was anything new I liked. I knew he had some original stuff, and it was good enough for me to pay for it on iTunes, which says something in this world. But it wasn't completely amazing. I have to say his newest just blew me out of the park.
The song itself is definitely very pop-ish, but not as happy go lucky as what usually attracts my attention. The lyrics are about a guy that is realizing that his significant other has the ability to hurt him, and he is ok with that. He's going to stick around for the fights and hurtful words, he's going to bare it all to her. Sticking around through it is what makes the relationship worth it. I'm probably doing the worst job imaginable describing what the meaning behind the lyrics are even though it makes perfect sense in my own head. Not to mention that lyrics mean something different to everyone. All I know for sure is that I bought the song two days ago and the play count is already in the thirties. I've basically had it on repeat every chance I've had to listen to music.
Austin himself isn't bad to look at for all those fellow young ladies out there, and from his vlog videos his personality is cute and quirky. I see him going far, he obviously has talent coming up with original songs, but his covers are just as good. He's worked with several big names in the Youtube world and he has less then a quarter million subscribers. I don't have enough positive things to say about him or his newest original. I will definitely be watching him much more closely in the future!
Austin himself isn't bad to look at for all those fellow young ladies out there, and from his vlog videos his personality is cute and quirky. I see him going far, he obviously has talent coming up with original songs, but his covers are just as good. He's worked with several big names in the Youtube world and he has less then a quarter million subscribers. I don't have enough positive things to say about him or his newest original. I will definitely be watching him much more closely in the future!
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Stars - Youngblood Hawke
The video I chose isn't the official video put out by the band, the official is a live version and it lacks a few elements that are found in the studio that I find round out the track and leave a different feeling when they are missing. The band does have a Vevo but doesn't have many videos posted. If you like this though, searching them on Youtube leads to many songs that I love just as much as this.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Hello World!
Hello to any and all that come across this page and welcome! My name is Erin and I will be your host for this blog! I'm an avid movie watcher of both good old oldies and newer stuffs. I have an extremely varied interest in music, and read more often then not. Every now and then I write a few pages of a story I never finish but keep in a drawer for years. I tend to have weird views on life and have decided to start sharing them. My plans for this blog are to post as often as possible, at least twice a week about a book I'm reading, a song I discovered, a movie review, or just to rant about something in life.
That's probably enough for tonight, expect me back in just a little while with an update on my piece of the world!
That's probably enough for tonight, expect me back in just a little while with an update on my piece of the world!
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