Thursday 12/10/09
Just got out of an interview at The Center for Justice & Democracy. Seems it was founded by the ED I interviewed and who interviewed me with seed money from Michael Moore. Veddy interesting. I was there for an hour–a good sign. Asked to send references, another good sign and also I had a sheet with my references on it so just handed it over. Just call my peeps, hire me and let’s be done with it. I am actually interested in this organization and the David v. Goliath nature of the fight against tort reform. Yeah, I’m a bit of a law geek. At least my legal training gets me in the door even though I’m going to have to default on over $100,000 in student loans in February if something drastic doesn’t happen in the financial arena of my life.
I was barricaded in the BTW program the past two days (Tuesday and Wednesday) assisting others participants with their resumes. It’s amazing the range of skills, experience and education levels. From nothing to high level IT engineers. Oh, and we finally had the mock interviews between our case worker, Mr. Anderson, and the folks who said they could ace any interview. None of them make it past the first question without stumbling all over themselves. They didn’t get the hypothetical job. I know I can always brush up on my interviewing skills–what were people thinking? So to close that class, Mr. Anderson called on some random woman and took her through a mock interview. She was “hired.”
If you’ve been reading the comments on this blog, you’ll see that someone called me a pseudo-intellectual hipster. Whadaya think? Am I? I don’t think so. I looked up “hipster” in the online Urban Dictionary and here’s the definition I think is closest to what I personally think of as a hipster:
Hipsters are a subculture of men and women typically in their 20’s and 30’s that value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter. The greatest concentrations of hipsters can be found living in the Williamsburg, Wicker Park, and Mission District neighborhoods of major cosmopolitan centers such as New York, Chicago, and San Francisco respectively. Although “hipsterism” is really a state of mind,it is also often intertwined with distinct fashion sensibilities. Hipsters reject the culturally-ignorant attitudes of mainstream consumers, and are often be seen wearing vintage and thrift store inspired fashions, tight-fitting jeans, old-school sneakers, and sometimes thick rimmed glasses. Both hipster men and women sport similar androgynous hair styles that include combinations of messy shag cuts and asymmetric side-swept bangs. Such styles are often associated with the work of creative stylists at urban salons, and are usually too “edgy” for the culturally-sheltered mainstream consumer. The “effortless cool” urban bohemian look of a hipster is exemplified in Urban Outfitters and American Apparel ads which cater towards the hipster demographic. Despite misconceptions based on their aesthetic tastes, hipsters tend to be well educated and often have liberal arts degrees, or degrees in maths and sciences, which also require certain creative analytical thinking abilities
I’m 46, I don’t have bangs or shop at Urban Outfitters (can’t afford it, don’t like the faux trendiness of the apparel and the sizes are too small anyhow). I live in Flatbush, NOT Williamsburg, listen to alternative music: classic country, that is! Am anti-consumerist and anti-establishment, believe in economic and social justice and try to work toward it. I have a liberal arts degree and think analytically. And, I’m very demanding: I WANT A REVOLUTION, DAMMIT. And NOW!
Gotta go clock in at BTW. Hey, if you have any thoughts, I’m interested in reading them–please comment.
I have always considered hipsters as rich kids playing poor – that would make you far from being a hipster… unless you’re hiding a trust fund from your reading audience. As for being “pseudo-intellectual” – well, how do you define that? You’re clearly literate, but I have never seen you cite a book that you didn’t seem to have read. I don’t think there is any evidence for your being a “pseudo-intellectual’ at all – it’s not like you claimed to be this centuries Susan Sontag. My brother and his family, many, many years ago had to go on food stamps despite both of them having college degrees – if the jobs and family money aren’t there, they aren’t there.