distractable

I need all sorts of distractions lately.

Work is pretty chaotic right now, with new procedures implemented almost daily, seemingly in an attempt to get everyone to quit. It's working. I've lost three pretty close co-workers over the last month, all figuring there are better options elsewhere instead of losing their jobs with less than two week's notice. Today was the first day that I actually hated work for no other reason than I don't know who's going to show up for work on a daily basis; no one is particularly happy.

In light of this, I've taken to listening to CBC Radio 3 for a distraction at work, often without headphones because I keep forgetting to put them back into my bag. Today while listening one of the supervisors (the only one, now that I think of it, since we're so short-staffed) asked if I wanted earphones because I was distracting someone who was doing translations. I took offence to this because I've been alone for most of the day and I listened at a low volume so I wouldn't distract people, and it wasn't even loud enough to hear where the person was (I tested it). But now it's probably OK because I can't listen to people complaining and get a better sound direct to my ears.

The podcast for this week has a repeat of my friend Rachel's story on bands selling out. It's even better than the first time it played, and it sort of makes me laugh that indie bands selling songs for ads are even an issue anymore. Granted, when I was younger and more idealistic about this sort of thing I thought bands weren't worth listening to if they played outdoor festivals sponsored by beer companies and terrible radio stations. Now, though, I think bands I like should be making something off their skills, especially if they've managed to resist/avoid major label horrors. As my friend Tony said after his band sold a song to Telus, "A brother's gotta eat."

I just wish, like in Japan, the ads would feature an info mark like video channels used to add to videos (back when they actually played videos). I feel little shame about liking a song on a commercial. That doesn't mean I've lost my indie cred, does it?