Some Popular Things to Hate

*The Starbucks at Sheridan Square. Yes, everyone hates Starbucks, and everyone continues to visit. Just a reminder, here, that I despise, despise, despise Starbucks, which eats around five of my dollars every day. I despise the meaningless corporate lingo. I especially despise the Starbucks near my work, which has a mural with the inane words: "One Person, One Cup, One Community." What can that mean? I hate that it has a cheap aura of faux-profundity: how the repetition of the word "one" might lead you to believe that the words are actually conveying something. I also hate the "e pluribus unum" vibe. We are a community because we all shop at Starbucks? Really?

*The Ariana Grande trick. This is the trick: "You think that I loathe adversity, but in fact, I welcome it, because it gives me new strength." This was interesting with "No Tears Left to Cry," but it was less interesting with "Thank U, Next." Ariana--who says she never repeats an artistic strategy--is here repeating an artistic strategy. Also, the message seems dishonest. I don't fully buy it.

*The song "Manic Monday." I become irritated whenever I hear this in a CVS, and it's because the speaker claims Sunday is her "fun" day. But: Seriously? Who likes *Sunday*--? Sunday is a day when you are *anticipating* Monday. Sunday/fun day seems dishonest--and I can't get behind it.

*Sunshine. Sun gets a great deal of unearned praise. It's fine in small doses, but...having to carry prescription sunglasses around? Having to shield yourself from the glare? Nice weather is overrated. Ugh!

That's all for today.

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