creative riff

I buy a lot of trivial things

Ruth Loose88 — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:58:16 +0000

This is what greeted me yesterday when I opened my computer after napping all afternoon (hangovers are fun).

It is crazy to believe that I have been an eBay member since July 14, 2003. Back then everything had to come in my mom's name since I did not have a debit or credit card.

To recap here are the items that pushed me over to the 100 feedback milestone this Christmas break:

-7 For All Mankind "Dojo" Women's Jeans (sister wanted them)

-Armani Code by Georgio Armani Mens 2.5 Oz. Tester Bottle

-Burberry London for Men Spray 3 Oz.

-American Ninja

My New Year’s Resolutions

Ruth Loose88 — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 04:00:26 +0000

As follows (thought I would put them in writing this year): -Floss more (figure it out for yourself) -Move my lard-ass self off of the couch -Find love -Learn some new bass scales Future Resolutions -Host/guest on a podcast before I die -Actually read books again -Buy a new pair of in-line skates and not look like a sordid mess wearing them (impossible) -Learn how to bake pies better Continue reading

Why is it that I long for NBA Jam?

Ruth Loose88 — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 03:35:00 +0000

It has been a long time coming. Hi, I am back in the saddle again. The first semester at the VCU Brandcenter is long over and I am beginning to take back the physical detriment it caused my body. Weight gain aside, I am becoming so much more involved in the advertising process.

So where does that leave me for the second semester? Longing for some NBA Jam. Yes, the game franchise that began on SEGA Genesis has had more staying power than anything else I have encountered over the past month. Fans of Saturday Night Live will remember Andy Samburg’s turn as a victim of ADD ("Automatic Death Disease") fulfilling his wish to commentate a professional basketball or football

Oliver Stone to begin shooting “Wall Street” sequel

Ruth Loose88 — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 07:18:01 +0000

Aptly titled "Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps," Oliver Stone is set to shoot the sequel to his movie that glorified excessive greed to some, Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas). To others it was a warning of the toll trading can take on an unwitting stock broker Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen).

Stone laments how the first film resonated

Out of the office

Ruth Loose88 — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 01:17:37 +0000

It sure has been awhile since I last checked into the office. Basically half a month to be exact. My excuse: stealing a wireless signal in muggy Richmond makes one look more than a little suspicious. Now that I have had working Internet (I like how I think of it like running water) for over a week now, I have had no excuse for abandoning my infant. Or is this thing a toddler now (the website is 5 months old now)? I thought I would upload some pictures of my blog's analytics.

So here is my built-in blog stats generator:

Man, September

IRS saves money by making advertising push in Second Life instead of with NASCAR(?)

Ruth Loose88 — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:32:40 +0000

They say there are two constants in life: death and taxes, so when the Internal Revenue Service decides to invade the virtual computer massively multiplayer online [MMO] game known as Second Life a few heads should turn (as well as a few eyes start rolling).

Virtual Worlds & Social Networking Project Manager Frank Stripe said, "In 2008, the IRS project team established a presence in the Second Life virtual world with the goal of exploring the potential use of this environment for recruitment and training purposes. The team has created the IRS Careers Island and constructed a sky platform with an IRS Careers Center and an IRS Education Center. A number of building

Just how effective is Cash for Clunkers?

Ruth Loose88 — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:04:23 +0000

So I was standing in the grocery store the other day with my mother. Somehow the topic of Cash for Clunkers got brought up. I was thinking to myself, "I wonder how many folks have taken part in the program thus far." Looks like I have a number. 240,000. That's a metric shit ton of cars that have to be completely destroyed. I hate to link to anything related to Time.com but they have a decent article explaining some of the numbers involved and how this program is likely to have little to no real world benefits. I can't wait to see more people on their Sunday drives... to the nearest three Walmarts to do price comparisons on Pillsbury crescent rolls. Source: Cash for Clunkers: How big Continue reading

Hiroshima 64 years ago

Ruth Loose88 — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:35:59 +0000

Today marks the 64th Anniversary of the dropping of the first atomic bomb. Occurring at 8:15 AM a blinding white light surrounded the city. People were thrown about, eyes melted onto faces, babies were instantly aborted within womens' stomachs and hundreds of thousands of victims would suffer the specter that is leukemia until their premature death.

Not the most pleasant day to remember but a critical day in the forging of our future. View the images here and check out my review of John Hersey's Hiroshima here.

Sources: Boston.com

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it.

For a good time, make it a Suntory time – Celebrity ads in Japan

Ruth Loose88 — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 03:50:26 +0000

The reference in the title is from the sublime film Lost In Translation. Not only does the film depict the creepiness of Tokyo it also does a great job of examining how the city is both foreign and inviting at the same time. Simultaneously, it also features the best use of Scarlett Johansson's butt in film yet.

Caught up on a few photography blogs, and I found an article everyone should check out. I thought I would link the two Tommy Lee Jones television spots because they are too awesome to miss out on.

Oh, and this... Source: Michael John Continue reading

Tubed

Ruth Loose88 — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 03:15:09 +0000

So my diploma showed up in our mailbox, sealed in a white canister yesterday. The shipping was $1.90. I presume that shipping to the lower 48 is the same. Assuming the bulk of the class of 2009 is around 3,200 that puts the total for shipping those parchments at $6,100. It really is fascinating to take a closer look at the costs involved with sending one semester's worth of graduates their diplomas (couldn't they curb costs by giving it to us directly on the stage?).

Physically seeing the document has also stirred a few emotions within me. I am officially an alumni. Am I okay with that? Sure, but can I keep some of my now-vintage Duke-Carolina t-shirts, pretty