Top 3 Thoughts of the Day

To the two of you who read this (hi mom): thought I’d start writing these thoughts of the day posts again! 

1. For my music and TV class, I’m writing a paper on SNL’s musical sketches. This means watching Lazy Sunday on repeat because it’s good research, ok

2. Public Service Announcement: R. Kelly’s “I’m a Flirt” is on sale for $0.69 on iTunes, so get on that.

3. I’ve heard these rumors about a Friends reunion season and I don’t like it. Yes, I am still considering them rumors even though NBC has allegedly confirmed it because no major industry news outlet has reported on it yet. Elite Daily and Starmedia.us seem a little iffy…

Disclaimer: Friends is the one show that I consider my favorite. I know every line. I’ve seen every episode many times over. I know most of the episode titles. In my life, Friends is an institution, something that has most definitely shaped who I am today (including teaching me things that I probably shouldn’t have known at the age of 10 — the perks of being a kid without cable).

And for those reasons, I am not in favor of a Friends reunion. In the later seasons, it was not nearly as witty and creative and amazing as it had been, and time would not improve that. The actors are no longer these characters, they have moved on for better or for worse. Reunion shows (and movies, I see you Growing Pains) are NEVER as good as the first time around. I challenge you to prove me wrong. 

Top 3 Thoughts of the Day: Coachella Edition

1. My mind told me no, but my body told me yes - R. Kelly playing with Phoenix was the most fantastic moment of Coachella (slash my life, the man did write a memoir entitled Soula Coaster). Not only because I believe “Ignition (Remix)” should indeed be our new national anthem (because, it’s still hot and fresh out the kitchen), but also because it encapsulated the remix culture that we are currently living in. Think about it: R. Kelly, the King of R&B, played with Phoenix, a French indie rock band (not that they are indie, but that’s the way I would categorize their sound). Doesn’t that blow your mind?! They took control of their songs and mashed the two drastically different styles up themselves. This is what live music is about: giving the audience a brand new (hopefully incredible) experience. 

2. Some bands that I thought delivered something special and unique:

  • Allen Stone (and his fantastic soul/rock outfit)
  • The Lumineers (they’re so adorable!)

3. In the words of R. Kelly (always eloquent) “it doesn’t matter where you are, good music is good music.” I spoke to a man this weekend who describes himself as half indie and half raver. He berated kids these days for being too selective when it comes to music and not keeping an open mind. While it may seem cool to be selective, good music is good music - you don’t have to make dividing lines. 

Things that bug me

1. People that use a straw in a hot drink starbucks cup. And that pursed lip thing they do before suggestively wrapping their mouth around the straw.

2. People who enter an elevator before you have a chance to exit. Especially the people that wait right in front of the doors and block you in so you’re held captive and taken away to a floor you didn’t intend on visiting. 

3. Unpaid internships. More particularly, unpaid internships in which you’re expected to get up and move your car every two hours because they don’t provide parking and the only street parking within walking distance is 2 hour parking.

4. Base faces that look snotty. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THAT 

5. Girls who wear makeup at the gym. Most of the time, you’re wearing too much makeup for real life, which is a gagillian times more makeup than necessary at the gym (I draw the line at concealer for those explosive blemishes)

Top 3 Thoughts of the Day

1. Joseph Gordon-Levitt has a thing for movies and TV shows beginning with numbers (3rd Rock From the Sun, 10 Things I Hate About You, 500 Days of Summer, 50/50) and I have a thing for JGL movies that start with numbers.

Also, of all the people who have watched 10 Things I Hate About You, am I the only one who, like JGL’s character, has a great uncle Milton? 

2. The only thing better than receiving a surprise present is to give a surprise present that you know will be adored. If Friends taught me anything, it’s that there is no selfless deed, that even the deeds that put others first still make you feel good about yourself.

3. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime ~ Mark Haddon

While the book is a fantastic look into the mind of an autistic boy, and captivates you with an intriguing mystery (who killed the dog?!) and a HUGE twist that you only slightly saw coming (no spoiler here, I wouldn’t do that to you), I only read it because I felt obligated to. As though putting the book down would make me a bad person. 

Top 3 Thoughts of the Day

Last week of class edition

1. Party finger foods are the best. They’re so small it doesn’t seem like you’re eating much but then WHAM you’ve eaten a whole block of cheese and you start to think you should reevaluate your life

2. The only acceptable day for rain is Sunday

3. Loves of the moment: fun flavors of popcorn (particularly partial to cheese), advent calendars, twinkly christmas lights, 2 day shipping from amazon prime, logos quiz app, anything with gluten, Bacaro’s Morning After Club (and the delicious Croque Madame I had for breakfast), Bloody Marys, the Beatles (always), mix CDs, bed time 

Thoughts On: Safety

USC is supposed to be this safe bubble. Sure, we’re in south central LA, but the danger has never felt that close before. I have always told people I feel safe on campus and in the surrounding areas, but now it’s different.

A man was critically shot in the heart of campus, right outside of the campus center. The campus center I work in.  The campus center I play trivia in. I was in the campus center an hour and a half before the shooting occurred.

I thank my lucky stars no one I know was hurt. And I thank my lucky stars I have wonderful friends who called and texted to check up on me. 

My biggest concern with the safety on campus is communication. The suspect(s) shot and critically wounded the victim (as well as injuring 3 bystanders) at approximately 11:30pm. The first notice that our Department of Public Safety (DPS) sent was at 12:02am. That’s half an hour in which the suspects were at large and students were not notified to stay inside and away from campus.

I work on campus. I work in the building where the party was thrown. I had three staff members working who left in between the shooting and the first DPS alert. The suspect was arrested at 1:30am. They walked home, each heading to a different place, alone. They walked on the same campus where the shooter was running from the police. I thank the universe that they all made it home safe.

At 11:35pm, there should have been a text message sent to all USC students, faculty and staff. It need not say more than “get inside and stay inside.” This would have kept all of the people walking around campus from being in danger. It would have kept my staff safe and together. 

Instead, my staff, and many others unaware that there was a shooter on the loose, faced a danger they were not aware of.

Although no further harm was caused by the mishandling of the situation, it could have. DPS prides itself on this alert system, but the most critical time for an alert is immediately after the incident. When a criminal is on the loose, time is of the essence. As students living in South Central Los Angeles, we deserve to be informed. Not half an hour later, but immediately. 

Top 5 Thoughts of the Day

1. For my internship, I’m getting retroactively paid $4.50 for each day that I came in to the office for gas. I drove to Burbank from Los Angeles, that’s 15 miles each way. $4.50 does not cover that cost

Regardless, I used some of the $103.50 that I earned for the entire semester to buy my dream backpack (see: I’m in Love)

2. I forgot how magical the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack is. Those Gibb brothers *sigh*

3. Grey’s Anatomy has some equally awesome soundtracks. Particularly volume 4. scratch: anything that involves Jamie Scott (or Graffiti6) AND Cee Lo AND Peter Bjorn and John is an A+ in my book

4. Hi, my name is Andrea, and I’m addicted to the following things

  • Cheese (tonight: Brie bites and Goat Cheese from Trader Joes)
  • Instagram (tonight: pictures of my cheese snacks and study materials)
  • The Internet (tonight: Tumblr, Facebook)
  • Music (tonight: Grey’s Anatomy Volume 4, Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack, Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac — I can never make up my mind)

5. The end of this post means the end of procrastination. READY BREAK

Top 5 Thoughts of the Day

1. Call Me Maybe: yes, I’m obsessed, and yes, i understand the consequences. but I full heartedly believe that playing this song every morning is the key to having a good day

2.Coachella: To one-up all of the coachella-goers, I’m going to halt all showering activities until the end of the second weekend. I’ll be the dirtiest hipster of them all! 

Coachella

3. If I could spend my days doing social media, I would (LISTEN UP EMPLOYERS — I’M HERE FOR YOU)

4. Which prom queen are you?

Brenda and Dylan

I am the Modern Classic Prom Queen

“Just like the unforgettable Brenda Walsh from the original Beverly Hills 90210, your flawlessly chic style is the envy of the school. Get those tongues wagging and be the undisputed belle of the ball in an ankle-grazing dress, expertly paired with an elegant clutch. Update your classic look with a jolt of hot color – think neon pumps and cool accessories to light up the dance floor.”

YES.

5. Instagram: If something happens and you didn’t instagram it, are you hipster?

instagram

Top 3 Thoughts of the Day

“I woke up at 5:30 this morning” edition

1. It’s currently 9:00. I’ve been awake for three and a half hours. It’s Monday morning. The music isn’t working properly. all bass. nothing else. HELP ME. I wish I had been an audio tech in another life…

2. the shift I’m working is the Explore USC check in for admitted students. It’s bizarre, it feels like ages since I first took a tour of USC (as an accepted student) and I can’t even imagine being that high school senior, the one who was too nervous about everything. Not confident enough to talk to new people, or ask for advice from current students. I’d like to think I’ve grown a lot since then, and I feel like I’ve finally found my groove. I have awesome friends, a fabulous job, a great committee and just a pretty swell life. Yay for hitting my stride.

3. The Voice is a magical show. The contestants are actually talented. The judges are ridiculous. Except for Cee-Lo. He’s definitely the normal one. Honorable mentions: Xtina’s boobs, purrfect the cat