disliking and/or hating music/art/people/clothes/subcultures

There is no risk involved in disliking something. It's fast, it's easy, and in most cases, it makes you feel like you are smarter than the people that like that thing. It's easy to say "oh, how pedantic," or "oh what trash," "what a lack of creativity." It takes no talent, no creativity, and no originality to hate something. There's nothing easier. 

Lots of people love to be this first to hate something. This is especially prevalent among high-end alt-people. Noncommittal approval of bands, abandonment of trends and music as soon as it becomes "mainstream," and an air of nonchalance all contribute to the vacuous idea that liking stuff is uncool. 

What's ironic about all this is that in disliking things, people are simply showing how terrified they are of taking any stance at all, how badly they themselves don't want to be disliked. It showcases an inability to defend personal taste. The idea that you're better because you find something "below you" just shows how much you care that people think that you are above something. 

I love the song "Toxic" by Britney Spears. 

let freedom bling

I woke up in a bit of a panic, my alarm had gone off much earlier and I thought that I had missed the parade. Looking out the window, I saw that the majority of the grass covered by cheap white lawn chairs, occupied in odd patterns of two or three here and there. There was still plenty of space, so I laid back on the couch and fell asleep once again. An hour or so later, I woke up afraid again. Many more chairs were full, and the remaining lawn space was taken up by blankets both occupied and unoccupied. 

What I'm trying to say here is that the fourth of July was really great. We saw a lot of awesome floats and tanks and stuff. And a lot of fireworks. And rode our bikes. And went swimming. And rode our bikes. And grilled. And smiled. 

Keep on loving summer, it'll love you back.