today i had an internship interview with penguin putnam book publishing company, the second largest (only below bertelsmann's random house). that's probably meaningless gibberish to you, but just think roald dahl, judy blume, tom clancy, and even homer's odyssey.

its obviously a very well-respected company and anybody would love to have that name on their resume. but man... the price to pay. or should i say, the lack of pay? while most other internships with large companies in new york city offer only small stipends to cover transportation or offer only school credit, this one pays an hourly wage. an hourly MINIMUM wage. did i forget to say that part?

in new york city, minimum wage is $5.15/hour. i heard that and my jaw dropped. that can't be legal. who the hell can live on $5.15 an HOUR? as i'd learned from my grocery trip today, one hour of that measily wage wouldn't even pay for FOUR ruby red grapefruits (imported from cali, of course.)

RIDICULOUS. absolutely, positively ridiculous.