It’s that time of year when you’re forced to face all of your relatives and tell them how thankful you are for them, even though you would also like to add that you literally wouldn’t be here without the Pedialyte you’ve been guzzling like water for the last month. In any case, sometimes it’s the little things, so here are five things that I probably shouldn’t be grateful for, but I am:
- The Pardoning of the Turkey
-
I feel like POTUS pardoning a turkey every year will eventually lead to everyone realizing how mediocre of a bird it is and how no holiday meal should revolve around it. We should pardon more turkeys. Bye lol, I hate turkey.
- The UC Academic Workers Strike
-
I cannot be grateful for the circumstances that have led to this strike, but the show of solidarity at UCLA and across the state has been really inspiring to see. Students should overall be better supported by the UC school system, but TA’s, graduate research assistants, postdocs, academic researchers and students whose efforts allow the school to function should be treated with so much more respect than they are being given by the school.
- 2023 Grammy Nominations
-
I can’t say I’m surprised in the slightest at this year’s Grammy noms. However, I did just read the entirety of the lyrics to “abcdefu” by GAYLE, and while they are actually pretty good if you can ignore the obnoxious, made-for-TikTok-style chorus, it’s just hilarious that that song was nominated. Award shows are better when no one takes them seriously anyway, even if the Grammy’s are still trying (and failing) to be a distinguishing mark of talent.
- The Eras Tour Chaos
-
Controversial, but true. If anyone is going to get Ticketmaster in shape, it’s the Swifties. Hopefully we can see some progress in better regulating ticket sale sites and more options in safe and trustworthy places to buy tickets.
- Tiktok Career-Fluencers
-
I do not know how many times I have to tell TikTok I am “Not Interested” in someone pretty much pyramid scheming Fiverr jobs. I still get a kick out of these videos when I see them, though, and sometimes, occasionally, rarely, maybe, I save them. Just in case. Either way, please stop telling me that I can make half a million dollars a year if I just drop out of school and take up five WFH jobs. I’m already on the verge.
If anything, I just feel grateful for the long weekend. If you see my grandma, my sister and me raiding the Jewish deli at 2am for rugelach, no you didn’t.