a redheaded posterous

25 Jun 2010

Words of Wisdom

This is an important lesson to remember when you're having a bad day, a bad month, or a shitty year. Things will change: you won't feel this way forever. And anyway, sometimes the hardest lessons to learn are the ones your soul needs the most. I believe you can't feel real joy unless you've felt heartache. You can't have a sense of victory unless you knew what it means to fail. You can't know what it's like to feel holy until you know what it's like to feel really fucking evil. And you can't be birthed again until you've died. - Kelly Cutrone

29 May 2010

Read This: What They Don't Teach You in College

For myself and the thousands of other recent college grads across the country, the real world has started unfolding over the past few weeks. I was smacked in the face with it: here's a job, benefits, an apartment and some bills. I found myself in an extremely lucky situation but also a extremely overwhelming one. I mean, where do you start? Budgeting? Health care? 401k? What?

Then Amazon introduced me to James Kramon's book, "What They Don't Teach You in College: A Graduate's Guide to Life on Your Own." And it's actually amazing. It's 300 pages of useful "real life" help. It explains everything from benefits and healthcare to cars and buying homes (although I won't need this one for awhile). It gives examples of monthly budgets, W2 forms, legal letters and more. Another thing I liked about this book was that it also gives you checklists for each section. For example, for managing your finances they give a step-by-step checklist of things you should be sure to do.

It sounds simple, but it's exactly what I (and I'm sure many other grads) need to see right in front of me. It spells it out for you in an easy-to-understand way. It's a book that I will look to even a few years from now. It's well worth the $10.

13 May 2010

Facebook's Taking Over the World

Facebook has been all over the news lately. Some say it's stripping privacy away. Others say users don't care. It's expanding. It's taking over. People are leaving. There's so many sides to it, so here's mine:

For me and most users that I know (which is a lot. I'm a senior in college. We live by this thing), Facebook is our primary "personal" social network of choice. What I mean by this is that this is where we go to write witty things on friends' walls and post pictures of them doing keg stands, etc. For the most part, we keep it to people we know. There are a few who still have those people-you-never-really-met-but-added-before-freshman-year who linger on lists, and there's still some people who just accept anyone's friend request. But for the most part it's our little community (for lack of a better overused word) for friends and family.

So do I like the new Facebook changes? The new open graph API where our information is no longer as private as we want it? Where we can't hide our profile pictures? Where it took me 2 months to figure out how to edit my friends lists and create events after they redesigned it? Where you have a sneaky multi-step process to make sure your page is actually private? And how they're going to want me to post my location places?

It's true: Facebook is stripping away privacy and making things more 'social' and 'public.' I don't necessarily think they listened to users when they made these changes. I think they made them because that's the direction the web seems to be going: more social, more sharing. And you can't say this isn't true when millions are publicly broadcasting their thoughts and locations through Twitter, FourSquare, etc. It's happening, and Facebook did not want to be left behind.

And Facebook has a point when they bring up the fact that people aren't really caring about the new changes. All the blogs I read are non-stop talking about it and denouncing it, but my friends and family who use it regularly haven't said a word about it. Could it be they don't realize how much of their info is out there? Absolutely. But who's fault is that? Facebook says as little as it has to, users glance at it, say 'eh, whatever' and carry on as usual. So at this point, if I were Facebook, I would say - hey, if you don't like it, flip the off switch (which isn't really 'off' until you go through and disable a ton of things) or get off the site. It's not going to hurt them. At least not while so many regular users are unaware. You have to remember, not every Facebook user is a huge social media 'guru.' They don't know what the heck an 'Open Graph API' is. They're just in it for the socializing and stalking (you know you do it all the time).

What Facebook didn't realize is that we all kind of like it the way it was. I welcomed the start of fan pages/community pages. I welcomed the original 'like' button. But it all just seems to be getting too big. Now I can search on Facebook. Great, but I'm fine with using Google & Bing for that. Now you can like ANYTHING on the web. Great, but I was fine with liking the fan pages that already existed for just about everything on the web. Now everything has a 'page' with info fed in through Wikipedia. Great, but again, that's what Wikipedia is for. I just like things a little more simple and cleaner on Facebook. I don't need the whole web at my fingertips on one site. I know that sounds crazy, because why NOT have everything there? I would barely have to move away from Facebook. But I want to. Because Facebook is for socializing, not for living my everyday web experiences there. It's just become too much. Too big.

So no, I don't particuarly like all these new 'bigger and more open' changes. But it's like $8 beers at sporting events. Everyone thinks it's crazy, but they keep buying. Including myself.

5 May 2010

Ridin' Solo

Currently obsessed and wanting to learn every dance move.

30 Apr 2010

Friday Night Fun: Kelly Rowland 'Commander'

New super fun song by Kelly Rowland to get your weekend started off right!

15 Apr 2010

Glam: Valentino - Shiny Petale Tote

via neimanmarcus.com

12 Apr 2010

Quote Me

I love love love this quote. Thanks to Penelope Trunk for including it in her blog post today:

When you love something, you want to write about it. But you never know enough about it to write it in an interesting way until you know it closely enough to hate it as well.

5 Apr 2010

This Is What Love Looks Like (Sighhh) Christian Louboutin - Knotted Pump - Bergdorf Goodman

via bergdorfgoodman.com

5 Apr 2010

Unpaid Internships: Not SO Bad

My name is Amanda, and I've had unpaid internships.

In fact, my first three (out of five) were unpaid. Heck, I've even done some freelance work for free.

And I'm okay with it.

The 'unpaid internship' talk has erupted after the New York Times and Time Magazine both wrote pieces on it - questioning legality and what not. I just received a PROpenMic e-mail with the subject header: Unpaid Internships, Finally National Coverage Outs the Scandal.

I'm not a lawyer, so I don't know the legality side of it. If you're not getting school credit, maybe they are illegal. But what I do know is that what I got out of my unpaid internships outweighed bringing in some dough.

Don't get me wrong. Getting paid is awesome. No one is going to be like, 'Ew. I wish I didn't get paid for my internships.' I'm very grateful for my paycheck.

Now if you end up in an internship where you're walking the bosses dog (this does happen) or doing non-stop coffee runs and that's it, then I can see being pissed off about not getting paid. But when you're going into a place that's truly giving you the opportunity to learn and try new things, I think that pays out in itself. I don't feel taken advantage of or used for free labor. I feel like I'm contributing.

I probably sound like a goody-two-shoes here, but that's how I see it.

25 Mar 2010

What's Eating Idol?

I am a self-proclaimed American Idol junkie. I'm not joking. When Idol premiere night comes around every January, it's like a second coming of Christmas. Just plain joyous. I don't know what it is - the competition factor, Simon Cowell, the music, picking my favorites and defending them to no end ... I don't know. I just love it all. I've watched since the very first season, and it hasn't gotten old at all.

But wow. This seasons blows.

After watching Hollywood Week, I was like, 'Wow this could be a really great season.' The top 24 appeared to have some measure of talent. Then we all found out they a) are mediocre b) can't perform and c) cannot for the life of them pick the right song.

They pick boring songs. Really boring songs that don't allow them to do much at all. No 'wow' factors. Nothing that sets them apart from each other. People have been saying it's all karaoke. They're right, and they might as well just get drunk beforehand because at least it would be entertaining. And then there's Kara DioGuardi. The most annoying judge in Idol history. You love to hear yourself talk, we get it. You love Simon, we get it. You are really good at song-writing. Stick to that.

Let's break down the contestants:

Aaron Kelly: Justin Bieber comes to mind when I see him. Obviously he's not as cool as Justin Bieber because he has yet to do a song with Ludacris, but there's time yet. He's only 16; I tend to have biases against 16 year-old contestants, but this kid is alright. He has a good voice. He's from close to my hometown. Upside: Justin Bieber is huge right now. He can tap into that demographic. Downside: He's like 12.

Andrew Garcia: a.k.a the guy who did an awesome version of Paula Abdul's 'Straight Up.' Since then? Nothing much at all. I love this guy's voice, don't get me wrong. He just hasn't been very entertaining. That said, he's likeable. Why wouldn't you like this guy? I mean his dad cries everytime he talks about him. He's got a hot wife and an adorable kid. Upside: He's just plain cool. Downside: I'm bored.

Casey James: Lord have mercy. By far the season's best looking candidate. Those blue eyes. His blonde hair. I don't even like long hair on guys, but I like his long hair. The bottom line is, he won't win this competition. He reminds me of an Ace Young (except he can play a mean guitar so that's a one-up on Ace) -- dreamy guy without really strong vocals. I love his voice. He's my favorite. But I don't think this is the place for him. Prove me wrong please. Upside: He's hot and plays guitar. Downside: He won't wow you too often.

Crystal Bowersox: This chick is going to win, and I'm going to be pissed. Actually I dont' know if she'll win, but she's the only one left who is an 'artist.' The judges kiss her ass just about every week. She's not bad. She knows who she is as a musician ... and she seems really nice. But she is NOT the American Idol. She just isn't. Yeah, I'm shallow when it comes to this show. I admit it. But when I see her (and listen to her song choices) I think: old. Adult contemporary. Not Idol. Upside: She's probably the only legit one on the show. Downside: Old. Can't be made over. (Sorry that's mean)

Didi Benami: Ah whatever. I don't hate her. I don't love her. She was probably in the top two most boring people until Rolling Stones week when she rocked it. I like her voice, but nowadays it's not really that original. We have the Duffy's, the Adele's, the Ingrid's. She's cool, but I wouldn't buy her album unless she has a killer single. I already have the other sound-alikes' music. Upside: None. Downside: None.

Katie Stevens: She has one of my favorite voices. But she is so annoying. I think it's the 16 year-old thing. She's kind of like a Miley Cyrus but with an actual singing voice. Anyway compared to everyone else, I kind of like her. She's a younger version of Katharine McPhee. Upside: Chances are she can sing 'Over the Rainbow' acapella whille sitting in a gown on the floor. Downside: Don't speak.

Lee Dewyze: I like this kid. I like his voice. When he sang Hinder he sounded identical to Austin Winkler. His problem? NO PERSONALITY. None. Who are you??? He sings, he stands here, gives a half smile, then goes and sits down. I mean, you can tell he's genuine. He's not trying to be something he's not. But you have so much potential buddy!! Get some personality. It will help your performances so, so much. Upside: Unique. Downside: Zero personality will hurt him in the end.

Michael Lynche: Maybe the most likeable person in the competition this year. Big loveable Teddy Bear. Feels like we know him - considering we saw the birth of his child and all. The only problem I have with him is that it's nothing we haven't heard before. I don't see him being extremely popular post-Idol, should he win. Upside: Likeability. Downside: He can sing, but so can a lot of people.

Siobhan Magnus: The best remaining girl. I like her voice a lot. It's clear, and she can definitely belt a note (see her rendition of 'Think') -- then again her 'belting' gets a little too screamy for me sometimes. I can see her sticking around for awhile because she's quite a bit more talented than some of the other contestants. Upside: True talent. Downside: She is so weird.

Tim Urban: Umm ... he has a nice smile? He could be the fourth Jonas brother? Have you seen him talk? He's like a Disney character. He's gotta be next to go. I don't hate the kid, but I'm pretty sure everyone is officially better than him. Upside: Plays into the hearts of teenage girls. Downside: He's not that great at all.

The eliminated: Lacey Brown should have went about four weeks ago after she butchered Stevie Nicks. That was the last straw for me. I do think Paige Miles deserved to stay there longer than she did. She had a solid voice -- not to mention even when she had laryngitis.

I honestly cannot even predict a winner because I don't think any of them should win. As much as it pains me to say it, I'm ready to focus on Simon's X Factor. I just have some requests: take Ryan Seacrest with you. He's brilliant at what he does. I wouldn't even be opposed to taking Randy. I'd be interested to see how he mentors. And whatever you do please leave Kara at home.