Starbucks vs Espresso Royale

So normally I spend my life at Espresso Royale "studying"..aka people watching and surfing facebook (I admitted it, so should you). But lately my wireless hasn't been working very well at Espresso, so I had to find a new place to go for the time being. My roommate Norma suggested we go to Starbucks, which I was very against, but the alternative was walking to Fair Trade. While I don't like the idea of Starbucks, that hate was overcome by my feeling of laziness so we went to Starbucks. So now I am here at 8 am trying to study for my Poli Sci midterm and having no luck, as usual. I don't think I was wired for studying. Anyway there are some really crazy differences between the inhabitants of Starbucks and the inhabitants of Espresso:
Espresso:

• Really loud, Indie music playing- which I am grateful for because that is the reason I stumbled upon some of my now favorite artists (Grace Potter, Rilo Kiley, Beirut, Yelle)
• Baristas pretty much wearing whatever they want
• I don't know if anyone else notices this, it might just be me because I worked at a coffee shop but they don't measure their flavor shots, they just magically now how much to put in to make a white mocha delicious
  
• They don't write on their cups, they just magically remember what every cup is that's lined up on the table
• Everyone in the building is smiling/chilling out and are go with the flow type people (How do I notice this stuff??)
• Baristas refuse to acknowledge that they in fact DO know what a Tall-Grande- and Venti mean in relation to a drink size
• Few older people there. Mostly college kids and younger TAs/Professors
  

Starbucks:

• Music is playing but there are rules set by corporate as to what kind of music and how loud it is to be played (I worked at a Starbucks over the summer... I know..sad)
• Baristas have a dress code
• Flavor shots are measured
• Cups must be written on with funky lingo that non-Starbucks employees feel privileged to understand. Bragging rights for people in conversation at country clubs
• Starbucks goers are either wearing Jeans and nice shirts and appropriate additional accessories such as hats, nice color coordinated scarves, etc. Or really big sweatshirts with tights and brown boots.
• It's quiet on the top floor of Starbucks in the mornings, and if you have a foghorn voice like someone I know.... people actually turn around and look at you. Not the case at E-Royale
• Baristas accept either "Tall" or "Small" but tend to correct you if you use the latter
  
• There are very few middle aged people here. Usually College kids, and the occasional old man with the daily paper.

I'm not sure why the difference exists. Maybe people who dress well/fashionably like sweet lingo? Maybe people who wear whatever clothes they feel like wearing like loud indie music. Personally I wear whatever I want and also love loud atmospheres and crazy music, which is why my vote is Espresso Royale. What do you think?

The Primaries come to Madison

Everyone who knows me knows I'm really into politics. But I am so sick of this election already and it's only February. Picking the next leader of our country is a big deal and I am aware of that, but since when did people start thinking that if you post the most posters of ___ candidate then the the campus will magically be persuaded to vote for them? Personally, I could care less who you vote for so stop telling me. Your reasons are fine and I respect your decision but don't try to make it mine. Did you think that maybe other people are just as educated on the matter as you and they still have a different opinion than you? I know, hard to believe. You can have all the facts but what a person chooses to do with those facts is their business. Yes I am aware that Barack said he was going to take troops out of Iraq ASAP, and yes I am aware that Hillary has had an insane amount of experience in politics. In truth, I don't really care which one of them wins the primary, because I'm not really a fan of either of them. Although watching them battle it out during every democratic debate was certainly entertaining. It reminded me of watching my mom and dad fight over who ate the last slice of pizza. They go back and forth trying to prove their point, bringing up things that have absolutely nothing to do with the subject at hand to prove their point, and when that doesn't work they try to attack each other personally. Not saying hurtful things, but just sort of little jabs at who ate what two days ago. It's hard enough to make a decision about this when you are an international studies major and know so much about both candidates because your professor demands it, and it doesn't help that John Doe and his party of picketers tries to mull me on the street telling me to vote for the "right candidate". Hmm maybe I want the wrong candidate. Isn't that who you are supposed to vote for? Oh I must be mistaken, well now that that's cleared up my decision is soooo much easier.