Monday, May 21, 2007

I can sit here for hours and not be accused of loitering. I am Starbucks.

From the now-why-didn't-I-think-of-that department: A brilliant blog post that mocks Starbucks's new "I am Starbucks" ad campaign. My favorites include:

"I am an unemployed freelance designer. I've checked my email 78 times today. I'm on my third cup of coffee. I am Starbucks."

"I'm homeless. It's warm in here. I am Starbucks."

"I had to go to the bathroom. I am Starbucks."
Hahahaha!

Is it bad that this makes me want a venti iced coffee real bad?

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Dreams + Student Loans = Misery

There was an interesting article in the New York Times yesterday about graduates from expensive culinary schools not being able to earn enough working as cooks to pay off their student loan debt. The title of piece is: "‘Top Chef’ Dreams Crushed by Student Loan Debt." I think the saddest part of this is that you could replace "Top Chef" with just about any job and the headline would still hold true. For example, "Journalism Dreams Crushed by Student Loan Debt," or "Vet School Dreams Crushed by Student Loan Debt from Journalism School."

"Investing" in your education is not always a sure thing. Lenders should be required to put disclaimers on promissory notes, just like how in some countries packs of cigarettes say "THIS WILL KILL YOU." The loans, especially from private lenders, should say, "THIS WILL MAKE YOU VERY POOR, YOU PROBABLY WON'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD A HOUSE, YOUR LIFE WILL BECOME A MONTHLY STRUGGLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET, AND GOOD LUCK PAYING THIS OFF BEFORE YOU DIE."