This is the first entry of my first blog. I feel this might be one of many (both blogs, and entries). I will openly admit that the blog bandwagon has been chugging along for quite some time, so the fact that I’m starting one now is completely uninnovative and borderline repetitive. Since “blogging” is becoming more popular, I believe the most successful blogs have a specific purpose. As much as I’d like to harness my natural inclination to judge everyone and everything around me, I feel as though that blog would quickly morph itself into the typical “bitch and moan” blog. When a blog suffers the symptoms of the “bitch and moan”, creative intentions turn themselves into a series of unoriginal insights about what everyone already knows, and doesn’t care to read about again.
That being said… I lack a purpose. As much as I’d like to publicly sort through the many cynical, witty and borderline offensive observations I make about the world on a daily basis, I see them treading on the fine line that lies between entertaining and the “bitch and moan” syndrome.
So with the inspiration of the popular blog, “Stuff White People Like” (http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/), I will begin with stuff Corrin likes. People develop a fondness for things for interesting reasons, usually best described by a story or experience. Hopefully this simple- and more importantly, optimistic- concept will develop into something valid.
Thing Corrin likes #1: CHUTZPAH
chutz·pa 
[khoot-spuh, hoot-]
This summer I am working as a production librarian for MTV Networks. As much as I’d like to go into the many tasks involved in this job, I will spare you. All I can say is that before, during and most likely after I complete my 10 week love affair with beta, digibeta and Alias Database… this is not the career I will be pursuing post-grad. I have worked at three other MTVN libraries scattered throughout the city, but my default location is the mother ship building at 1515 Broadway in Times Square. During these days, I have the misfortune of weaving and elbowing my way through business-people, tourists, solicitors, homeless and the naked cowboy whenever I travel between the subway and the building. Within my first week at MTVN, Times Square reinvented itself from a famous New Years Eve destination and/or where my family stops to buy theater tickets to the most aggravating three blocks I have to travel during my work day.
But I digress…
My first week at 1515, I spent my lunch hours in the company cafeteria known as “The Lodge”. The Lodge closely resembles the typical collegiate cafeteria, combined with an outdoor patio for sitting with a view overlooking the heart of Times Square. One afternoon, shortly after selecting a table against the window, I am promptly joined by a teenage Asian boy who opens with:
“So, what is in this building exactly?”
I sit there for a few moments… brow furrowed, not quite sure how to respond.
He continues with, “Is BET in here or something?”
My confusion was born from the fact that the Times Square Viacom building is heavily secured, as any major media office building would be. You need a company I.D. or an official visitors pass to enter the building, where then you need to swipe an I.D. in order to enter most floors. This boy explains that he is from Washington, visiting his older sister who lives in midtown East. In an effort to thoroughly explore New York City, he recognized 1515 as the MTV building. Unable to coax his touring partner to enter with him, he comes into the building, enters through the security turnstile unnoticed despite the alarm sounds and moseys his way up to the cafeteria (fortunately one of the few floors you can explore without an I.D. swipe).
After hearing this story, I was impressed by his chutzpah. I recall the millions of times my mother (appropriately a Jewish mother) would suggest the exact, unconventional course of action this boy took. She is a firm believer in having the chutzpah to risk breaking and entering in order make the necessary social connections, geared towards ones success in any industry. The idea that this kid Indiana Jones’ed himself into MTV Networks headquarters, simply out of curiosity, was admirable.
Cheers for chutzpah. And the mockery of Asian tourism.
Your blog is interesting!
Keep up the good work!