Black Friday and Orc Blood
Posted by Sam at 10:21 AM | tags: life, dark

Today is Black Friday, a day that revolves around the fine American tradition known as: consumerism. Personally, I'm a bit dissapointed in us as a culture. This day is called Black Friday! Come on people. Really. A name like that has so much potential. Black Friday could be about demonic undertakings or... oh, I don't know, Danzig (I'll bet you never saw that one coming, did you?.

Anyway, I'm still in Ohio. Tomorrow, I will be embarking on a backpacking excursion into the depths of the Red River Gorge. They call it that because the river flows red with blood... probably orc blood. Don't worry about me though. I've packed my elvin sword, just in case. Yep, it's right next to my twenty-sided die.

Comments: 0 | Post a Comment | Permalink

Mmm... Bird Carcass
Posted by Sam at 12:19 AM | tags: life

Umm... I'm in Ohio right now. Saturday, I'll be in Kentucky. Yep.

And that's all I've got.

Oh right... happy Thanksgiving. I hope you've all had enough bird carcass to tide you over till next year... you filthy carnivors. And yes, my Tofurkey was absolutely spendid, thanks for asking.

Comments: 0 | Post a Comment | Permalink

For the Love of God, ReviewMe!
Posted by Sam at 3:04 PM | tags: blogging

So there's this thing on the internet (the internet!? No way...) called ReviewMe. It's this website (a website!? On the internet!? No way...) that enables us bloggers to "get paid to review products and services on [our] site." The first thing they ask you to review in exchange for some cash (they claim) is the ReviewMe service itself. So, consider this it:

The review of the ReviewMe service (a.k.a. my first review)

Actually, this ReviewMe thing is a pretty interesting concept. Here's the lowdown: You, as a well-established and highly influential blogger, submit your site to ReviewMe for review. Not all blogs will be allowed to participate. Apparently, they have to make sure the blog in question has enough traffic to make it worth their while. But I wouldn't be too worried about it. After all, they accepted sam bot dot com with open arms, and I've got like what... three readers? Anyway, sam bot dot com fits into the "2 out 5" category. This ranking is based on Alexa, Technorati, and RSS subscriptions statistics. My ranking makes my payout a whopping $30 per review.

If you, as a product marketer, wanted to have your product reviewed on sam bot dot com, you pay ReviewMe $60, they let me know about it, I'd say sure (or nah), I review and post and send ReviewMe the URL, and then, presumably, they send me a check. Seems fairly straightforward. (But honestly, if you really want your stuff reviewed on this blog, I'd rather you just send me the $60 and I'll write you the most glowing review that your boneheaded product will ever receive. Umm... just kidding? I'm fair and balanced and full to the brim with integrity... like Fox News.)

The bottom-line is that this ReviewMe thingy seems like a pretty solid deal. However, I'll reserve my final judgement for the triumphant moment when I'm actually holding that $30 check in my grubby li'l paws. That $30 is, by the way, already spent.

(Oh... and I'm required to tell you that this is a paid review. But we just went over all of that didn't we? Geez... pay attention!)

Comments: 3 | Post a Comment | Permalink

What more needs to be said?
Posted by Sam at 6:54 PM | tags: life

Comments: 1 | Post a Comment | Permalink

OMG!
Posted by Sam at 12:18 PM | tags: life

Two of my favorite people in the whole entire world are getting hitched. No, not Glenn and Steve... although they would produce some mighty attractive offspring (*shiver*). Nope, it's my peeps from the north, Mike and Colleen! They're getting married! And that's awesome! (I am going to get so hammered at their wedding.)

Congratulations, my friends. And Colleen, I hope you know what you're getting yourself into...

Comments: 1 | Post a Comment | Permalink

A Newer, More Rectangular, Quinnipiac U.
Posted by Sam at 6:39 PM | tags: college, design

Yea! Quinnipiac just updated their website! And it's about goddamn time too. That piece was showing signs of age. But now... it's all modern, and colorful, and rectangular. But is it better? Sure is. Didn't you hear me? It's rectangular now.

(Honestly, the site is looking pretty slick... especially by comparison. Way to go, QU designers!)

Comments: 0 | Post a Comment | Permalink

Interactive What Now!?
Posted by Sam at 11:59 PM | tags: college, life

Despite my complaints, I wholeheartedly enjoy life as a graduate student in my particular program of study... which is called Interactive Communications... which is exactly what I tell people when I'm asked what it is that I study... which is typically reciprocated with a furrowed brow, a frown, and a slowly nodding head that nods, not in acquiescence, but more as a means of signifying that the inquirer is busily processing what I have told them and is outputting a total cumulation of data resembling the quantity zilch. Wait for it. It's inevitable. Ready? Here it comes: "So... what exactly is Interactive Communications?" they say. "Well, it's a whole bunch of internet stuff," I reply, hopefully satisfying/confusing them to the point where we can smoothly transition the line of conversation into something a bit more palatable... like the weather or Paris Hilton... which coincidentally, are similarly obnoxious. Oftentimes however, my vague answer just doesn't cut it and my conversational sparring partner wants more. It is at this precise point that I find myself wishing I had chosen to study something a bit more cut and dry, like math. "What do you study?" someone might ask. "Math," I would reply. "Oh. Isn't that nice for you," they would say without hint of any further interest in their voice. And I'd be off the hook.

But no, Interactive Communications isn't easy to explain. And honestly, quoting the brochure isn't much help either:

"The Quinnipiac University School of Communications' Master's of Science program in Interactive Communications is based on the study of interactive media content and the practical techniques of creating, distributing and managing information and ideas for interactive news, strategic communications, entertainment and information services. Through a balance of courses in theory, criticism, and content development, students learn how to understand, plan and create non-linear content in several forms and to think strategically across media platforms."

Yeah. That's not as concise as it ought to be. So, without pushing this entry any further, let's take a moment to define what it is that I spend every iota of free time wrapping my brain around:

Interactive communications is... well, it's a whole bunch of internet stuff.

I hope that helps.

Comments: 2 | Post a Comment | Permalink