25

25

Adele's new album will be released an hour after this blog post goes up.  25 is her junior album and will almost certainly be a multi-platinum hit.  Her two leading singles, "Hello" and "When We Were Young" are moving pieces that remind us why Adele is the greatest vocalist of our generation. Adele is only 25 years old, yet she has accomplished more than many people could hope to accomplish in their entire lifetimes.

At 19, she released her freshman album, 19.  By this point, Adele was known mostly for her Myspace posts.  In the mid-2000s, Myspace was one of the premier social networks.  She used this to her advantage by posting videos to her page.  These blew up, and she was soon recognized by XL Recordings, a United Kingdom-based label.  The most notable single off of 19 is "Chasing Pavements". It is a moving track that describes her inner conflict over a man that she is pursuing. "Should [she] give up, or should she just keep chasing pavements?"

At 21, she released her sophomore album, 21.  This is her critically-acclaimed album.  Every song on this album is a hit.  "Rolling in the Deep" shows her strength in forcing her cheating ex-boyfriend out of her life.  It makes you wonder why he would betray her.  "[They] could have had it all."  "Someone Like You" describes the opposite situation.  It is a reflection of a failed relationship with an ex-boyfriend.  She wants him back, but she must come to terms with the fact that he has settled down.  "Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead."

Since 21, Adele has gone through throat surgery and recovered, recorded the theme for the James Bond film Skyfall, and gave birth to a son.  She is a true inspiration, and her album will only add to her list of great accomplishments.  

Socks

Socks

Socks.  Everyone wears them, but nobody seems to care about the quality.  Most people cheap out on socks, and it is typical for consumers to buy multiple packs of them each year.  Why must we buy so many socks?  People complain about the evil machine that is capitalism, yet they spend hundreds of dollars on socks that won't last long.  How can someone argue that socialism is a superior economic system when they spend so much on socks?  Can we really trust our country with people that overspend on stockings?  The answer is no, and here's why:

Quality is more important than quantity when it comes to clothes.  Cheap purchases are easier on your wallet in the short run; however, the costs add up over time.  A $10 shirt that lasts you six months is not as economically efficient as a $50 shirt that lasts you three years.  By purchasing a higher quality shirt, you save 20% over the course of its lifetime.

This same principle applies to socks.  Now I'm not saying that you should buy these $1188 vicuña socks from Falke, but I am saying that you should spend $1 more per sock for higher quality and greater economic efficiency.

Take these Gold Toe athletic socks, for example.  For $12.60, you get three pairs of socks that are 78% cotton, 19% nylon, 2% spandex, and 1% polyester.  The high cotton-to-polyester ratio makes these socks breathable.  You don't need to worry about sweaty feet, because these socks allow for heat to diffuse from your feet to the surrounding environment, keeping them dry and odorless.  The nylon and spandex gives the socks great elasticity, allowing them to fit a large range of shoe sizes.  These socks make the perfect gift for a child with growing feet.  These socks have the potential to last someone from elementary school until the end of high school.

These Hanes socks, on the other hand, are an awful purchase.  For $2.60 less, you can buy yourself ten pairs of socks that will ruin your feet.  With their 16% polyester and 3% rubber content, these socks are sure to trap the heat in, causing a swamp to form in your shoes.  They are also less elastic, resulting in a slightly smaller range of sizes.  These are socks that are viable for winter wear, but they will be obsolete during the rest of the year due to their lack of breath-ability.

The difference in quality between these two socks is insane.  The Gold Toe socks come out to $2.10 per sock vs the $1 per Hanes sock, yet the pros greatly outnumber this con.  Compared to the Hanes socks, they seem to last a lifetime.  The Hanes socks can be worn for three months out of the year, whereas the Gold Toe socks can be worn year-round.  They offer breath-ability and comfort, while the Hanes socks offer moistness and general unpleasantness.

The evidence is clear; quality is much more important than quantity when it comes to socks.  Why buy cheap socks once per year when you can buy reasonably-priced, high quality socks that will last for multiple years?  The right choice is clear.  Next time you go socks shopping, make sure to make the right choice.  Over the span of your lifetime, you can save thousands of dollars and increase your quality of life by making this simple switch.

Postmodernism in 90's Films

Modernism is cool, but postmodernism is cooler.  Modernism takes itself too seriously.  Modernists in art, literature, and film are pretentious.  They think that they're all that, but they're not.  Postmodernism is like modernism, but without all of the high-and-mighty malarkey.  Postmodernism is self-aware modernism.  While modernists relish in their inventiveness and mystique, postmodernists do the opposite.  They take an ironic approach to the modernist principles that defined the art, literature, and movies of the early-to-mid 1900's.  Postmodernism is edgy.  It refutes the ideas and principles defined by modernism.  It represents the new generation of art -- it criticizes the predecessors that gave birth to it.

Many popular films in the 1990's are considered part of the postmodernism movement, such as The Matrix, Fight Club, and Pulp Fiction.  These films are critically acclaimed, and were considered revolutionary at the time of their release.  In fact, most postmodernist films are now considered to be cinematic masterpieces.  

In contrast, many 1990's slasher films are also considered works of postmodernism.  This trend began with Wes Craven's New Nightmare.  This movie took a more ironic and sarcastic approach to comedic elements than previous films in the franchise, even criticizing how the series was declining.  Many more movies joined in this trend, such as Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives, the critically-acclaimed Scream series, and I Know What You Did Last Summer.  These movies, despite being released after the peak of the slasher drama, were all smash box office hits and were well-received by audiences.  It goes to show that postmodernism is the best literary style.  Newer movies should adapt this style, because it is far superior to any other style.