The Useless Critic 2.0

It’s that time of year again when MacDonald’s McCafe is putting out their holiday Peppermint Mocha. As March gets the Shamrock Shake, the cold month of December (and presently end of November) get the hot holiday promotion. The MacDonalds near by has a special for Peppermint Mocha *Any Size $2.00 and yes, I got the Large.* Starbucks can suck that! So how is it? At first impression, there is not much of a peppermint aroma. I’m more accustomed to taking the first sip of any latte and getting just a touch of flavoring in the scent, but this one had almost none at all. The first sip was fine, and it definitely tastes sweet, which is excellent for a holiday mocha. Mine was topped with whipped cream and chocolate syrup as well. Overall, there is just not enough of the peppermint flavor. It’s very faint, and it is a tease more than anything. Now allow me to include the corniest euphemism possible; there was no holiday cheer! The whipped cream and chocolate syrup were almost an essential for t...

I know it's been a while. Life and such. On George W. Bush's book, Decision Points: If you can make it through 3/4 of this book, you will have a new understanding of the political mind, and you’ll have done awfully well considering how boring the last two chapters are. No one can really make it through a whole chapter on the Freedom Agenda or the financial crisis. I would suggest trying to read as much as possible (or at least not discourage it). It’s not a book you just sit down and enjoy reading. In fact, it took me more than two months to get through the whole thing. It’s not written in a way that I could grab a venti and lose myself all afternoon. Nevertheless, read it. You just might gain a new understanding of the mind of W. On Quitting: I think we all know W used to drink, and I believe it’s possible W was never an alcoholic. On some level it’s plausible that W acted foolishly when he drank but never drank excessively or alone. Having rather ineloquently over-ex...

As Rebecca waxed earlier, the first signs of fall are upon us. The cloudscapes are gloomier; the air is colder; STARBUCKS UNVEILS THEIR NEW FALL LINE-UP. TV shows begin again, streets are quiet in the afternoon, so forth. there are certain kinds of music that put me in the mood for the fall season. I like relaxing music; I like the sort of music you could study or take a nap to. well maybe not like, a full nap, but an afternoon siesta deal. and why Starbucks has not jumped on Sam and Ruby, I will never know completely! they're this acoustic soul duo straight out of the American south (Nashville, to be specific!). and they were perfect for long, lazy summer days but now they're great for doing whatever it is we do in the fall. pick pumpkins? get ready to hibernate? IDK. their voices gently coincide and work off each other in an easygoing way. it's just some of the most beautiful, peaceful, real music I've fallen upon lately. If you like (shudder) John Mayer or Jack Johns...

Hipster question number one: Do you know what today is? It's the opening of Pumpkin Spice Latte season at Starbucks! I wait all year for this day. Bring on the sweaters and scarves. Side note: I got a wool cup sleeve. It's actually better than those cardboard ones. Hipster question number two: Do you know what Saturday was? It was the opening of the Apple store in the Ross Park Mall. The grand opening shirts were sub-par. However, the architecture isn't bad. I'm dreaming that this store will be less busy than the Shadyside store. (I'm bound to be wrong.) Hipster question number three: What are your hipster vices?

I've been listening to a lot of Tori Amos lately. Should I be proud of the fact I'm admitting this at 1:27 AM on a Sunday morning when I'm stuck doing homework? No. Tori, my old bitch, was my go-to fix for probably ... 2003 to 2006, I think? those years her music was, God. it was sick how stuck on her I was! like, one of dozens of angst-filled young girls across this planet ("little blue world" o HAY). that was, hmm . I have gone through the following musical phases in my short, unadventurous life: No Doubt (7 th grade to about 9 th ) - Radiohead (9 th grade) - Tori Amos (9 th to 12 th grade) - Fiona Apple (12 th grade to college) - Feist ???? but not really. I don't think that's possible to get THAT into Feist . like, enough to try to find yourself (and potential thesis topics!) in her near-cryptic lyrics involving sacred womanhood, Jesus, cumming not equating Jesus, etc. Anyway, I had a schism from the HOLY CHURCH OF TORI after I just got sick of ...