The Life Cycle of a College Logo Sweater

May 31, 2007 | 3 Comments

I grew up in a small college town. There was a significant cultural clash between the university students, most of whom were wealthy and temporary, and the young locals, who were in high school or community college.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqgN0T6f1kg

(sweater vid link)

My friend found a sweater with the college logo at a thrift store. We shopped at thrift stores mostly because we were poor but also because recycling used clothing is good for the environment and used clothing is a step removed from sweat shops and the like. Used clothing is someone else’s trash put to good use, someone else’s conspicuous consumption, someone else’s decision to favor a cute tee over worker’s rights. It’s cool because it’s used, not because it’s vintage.

But since the sweater in question had a university logo, she wouldn’t wear it. So she bought it for 25 cents at the thrift store and sold it to a vintage clothing store for $10. They stuck a price tag on it for $25 and put it on the rack. The very next day we saw a university student wearing it. Shopping in thrift stores takes time and effort. Shopping in vintage clothing stores just takes money. So that’s what you do to make a little extra cash: if it doesn’t fit or not your style, but it’s good quality and /or rare you buy it from Goodwill and sell it to Buffalo Exchange.

We hated those university students. They would whine about having to work for spending money, taking for granted that their dorm rooms and meal cards were paid for by someone else. They didn’t have to work to pay their rent, their college tuition, their living expenses. Sure, we thought those kids were losers because they bought used clothing for prices higher than new clothing. But we were also jealous that they could afford to copy our styles without doing the work. And we were mad they misinterpreted our styles. We were trying to be anti-establishment, anti-consumerist, anti-waste and they were doing the exact opposite.

Story inspired by Ghetto Chic.

Posted by Elaine Vigneault | Filed Under Lifestyle, Memories, Philosophy and Guidance, Stuff & Excess
3 Comments to "The Life Cycle of a College Logo Sweater"

Brave New Films Is Recruiting

May 31, 2007 | 1 Comment

The makers of OutFoxed and Iraq for Sale are looking for people to interview for new projects.

Project #1:

We are currently in pre-production on a web series about the effect of the war on military families. We are looking for a wife, fiancé, or girlfriend of a soldier who is currently serving in Iraq. Candidates should live in Southern California and be comfortable in front of a camera. If you have any leads (including potential candidates or groups), please email Story Producer, Paris Marron at paris@bravenewfoundation.org.

Project #2:

We are looking for compelling high school kids who are currently being actively pursued by military recruiters. We would like kids who can share with us their stories of what recruiters are saying to them in an effort to have the kids sign up to join the military. Also, we are looking for people who signed up after being successfully recruited while in high school and then served, but now wish they never had. If you have any leads, please email Story Producer Christopher Sprinkle at csprinkle@bravenewfoundation.org.

Our Farm Sanctuary Visit: Part 3

May 31, 2007 | 1 Comment

We visited the Farm Sanctuary the week before last. The huge sanctuary is in upstate New York near Ithaca and the finger lakes. It’s about a six hour drive from Manhattan. The Farm Sanctuary is an animal shelter dedicated to farm animals. They rescue animals that have fallen off trucks, animals that were abandoned, animals that farmers relinquished, animals that survived the odds. The sanctuary is set on rolling hills of green pastures with lots of red barns. There are red barns for cows, red barns for pigs, red barns for goats, red barns for chickens, red barns for rabbits, red barns for sheep, and red barns for turkeys:
turkey

Every year the Farm Sanctuary has an Adopt a Turkey program around Thanksgiving. It’s become a family tradition for us and each year we adopt one for us and one for someone else. Last year we adopted Laila.

Here is a picture of one of their rescued sheep. Sheep are rescued from the wool industry or the food industry. Most of the sheep were out to pasture when we came by but this one was in the barn ready for a glamor shot.
sheep

Posted by Elaine Vigneault | Filed Under Animals, Travel & Adventure
1 Comment to "Our Farm Sanctuary Visit: Part 3"

Milo the Yorkie Needs a Home

May 30, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Milo This Milo. He is so cute, isn’t he? One ear stays up all the time and the other ear is floppy and stays down. He’s a little Yorkshire Terrier who is about 11 pounds and 6 years old. The adorable pooch has his own MySpace page! Milo is available for adoption in the New York area. Contact Waggytail Rescue for more information about Milo or any other pet. What they say about Milo:

“I have been to the vet and am perfectly healthy, housebroken and I love kids. I’m a great little guy! I love going for long walks, picnics in the park and taking afternoon naps. I get along just fine with the female lab I’m living with…”

Posted by Elaine Vigneault | Filed Under Animals, Homeless Pets, Miscellaneous, Pictures
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Dear Webmaster…

May 30, 2007 | 2 Comments

Dear Webmaster,

We are contacting you, to see if you are interested in trading links with our website ( www.random-stranger-who-does-not-read.com ), for free! We like to use the word “we” even though we are only one person.

As you may, or may not know, having links, on other sites, pointing to your website, is the most effective and powerful way, to increase your Search Engine Rankings! Furthermore, if you link, using Text, with your keywords included, you will improve your Search Engine Rankings, among those Keywords! We didn’t spend any time actually looking at your website, so we can’t suggest any keywords, but trust us, we’re somebody you’ve never heard of before.

We prefer a link on your homepage, and will trade, for a link, on our homepage. You first! If you have a Link Page, or would like to put it somewhere other than your homepage, we will gladly trade you, for a link, on our “Link Partner” page. Either way, we both win! Hurray! Google will love this.

We look forward to collaborating with you, and the great thing is, we don’t have to spend any money to get results! We look forward to sharing this opportunity, with you! Have a Great Day!

Insincerely,

Random Stranger

www.random-stranger-who-does-not-read.com

Posted by Elaine Vigneault | Filed Under Blogging, Internet & Technology
2 Comments to "Dear Webmaster…"