Caffeine Caffeine Caffeine Caffeine!
I've decided...
the only way I am going to be able to make it through this damn grad school essay by the end of this afternoon is with caffeine at my side. I hate to plug Starbucks drinks, especially after working for them and learning all the inner-corruption and corporate bull shit, but I can't deny the fact that I still have a profound weakness for double tall iced vanilla lattes. I know, I know. I always try to go to small, independent, local coffee shops but down here in Copley Square there isn't much to choose from besides Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts. Plus, like I said, I still get that employee discount so I've GOT to take advantage of that as long as I can.
Anyway. I should get back to work.
One more thing I wanted to mention was my surprise at the number of commercials on CNN paid for by various countries' tourism industries, like commercials for India, Mongolia, and Jamaica. Because I now spend 40 hours a week, essentially watching CNN, I see A LOT of commercials. It's always interesting to see which demographics they target on which channels. For instance, CNN has a lot of "old people" commercials, for things like denture glue, robotic wheel chairs, and performance enhancement drugs. I guess it makes sense that a person watching CNN is interested in world news and perhaps wealthier and would therefore have an interest in travel, but some of these country commercials are just plain *wierd*. They play the Jamaica one nearly every commercial break, but the wierdest one of all is the one for Australia. In looking for a link to post it here, I think I've partially unravelled the mystery. The commercial is directed by Baz Luhrmann. Now it all makes sense. Anyway, watch it and imagine that you did NOT know this and let me know if you think it's as wierd as I did.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQGMuxJ0vCc
The concept of an ethereal, aboriginal child summoning members of the modern world from their high-powered, stressful, urban lives to discover themselves in the natural splendor of Australia? It just seems sort of... pre-colonial and self-serving to me. The idea that places untouched by contemporary development exist only as exotic getaway locations for the 21st century working man. I'm not articulating this very well, but it just feels off to me. Then again, it is Baz Luhrmann, and typically with his work you have to suspend all preconceptions and just allow yourself to be taken away with the romanticism and poetry of his images and the bigger scope of what he's trying to acheive. He's just old fashioned like that, and tends to take big risks. And something about it is oddly beautiful and haunting.
What do you guys think??
I haven't seen Australia the movie yet, but I really want to. I imagine the child from the commercial is maybe in the movie? Speaking of movies, hopefully I'm going with Anna and Ryan to see The Reader tonight. So excited! I've been meaning to see this movie for a while now. Kate Winslet is so lovely and so fucking talented.
I'll let you know what I think.
the only way I am going to be able to make it through this damn grad school essay by the end of this afternoon is with caffeine at my side. I hate to plug Starbucks drinks, especially after working for them and learning all the inner-corruption and corporate bull shit, but I can't deny the fact that I still have a profound weakness for double tall iced vanilla lattes. I know, I know. I always try to go to small, independent, local coffee shops but down here in Copley Square there isn't much to choose from besides Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts. Plus, like I said, I still get that employee discount so I've GOT to take advantage of that as long as I can.
Anyway. I should get back to work.
One more thing I wanted to mention was my surprise at the number of commercials on CNN paid for by various countries' tourism industries, like commercials for India, Mongolia, and Jamaica. Because I now spend 40 hours a week, essentially watching CNN, I see A LOT of commercials. It's always interesting to see which demographics they target on which channels. For instance, CNN has a lot of "old people" commercials, for things like denture glue, robotic wheel chairs, and performance enhancement drugs. I guess it makes sense that a person watching CNN is interested in world news and perhaps wealthier and would therefore have an interest in travel, but some of these country commercials are just plain *wierd*. They play the Jamaica one nearly every commercial break, but the wierdest one of all is the one for Australia. In looking for a link to post it here, I think I've partially unravelled the mystery. The commercial is directed by Baz Luhrmann. Now it all makes sense. Anyway, watch it and imagine that you did NOT know this and let me know if you think it's as wierd as I did.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQGMuxJ0vCc
The concept of an ethereal, aboriginal child summoning members of the modern world from their high-powered, stressful, urban lives to discover themselves in the natural splendor of Australia? It just seems sort of... pre-colonial and self-serving to me. The idea that places untouched by contemporary development exist only as exotic getaway locations for the 21st century working man. I'm not articulating this very well, but it just feels off to me. Then again, it is Baz Luhrmann, and typically with his work you have to suspend all preconceptions and just allow yourself to be taken away with the romanticism and poetry of his images and the bigger scope of what he's trying to acheive. He's just old fashioned like that, and tends to take big risks. And something about it is oddly beautiful and haunting.
What do you guys think??
I haven't seen Australia the movie yet, but I really want to. I imagine the child from the commercial is maybe in the movie? Speaking of movies, hopefully I'm going with Anna and Ryan to see The Reader tonight. So excited! I've been meaning to see this movie for a while now. Kate Winslet is so lovely and so fucking talented.
I'll let you know what I think.