A list complied by myself and Tiana. We both found that there needed to be no explanation for these people. Also, we actually did spend quite a bit of time deciding the order.

10. Dane Cook

9. Kate Gosselin

8. Levi Johnston

7. Heidi & Spencer

6. Carrie Prejean

5. Kanye West

4. Balloon Boy’s Parents

3. Chris Brown

2. Jon Gosselin

1. Tiger Woods

If you’ve ever heard the expression ”Just spit it out!” then you know that it isn’t referring to any food or drink that someone has in their mouth. Rather, it refers to someone taking a little too long to communicate a point. If someone uses this phrase, it’s probably because they have grown quite weary of  the other person. They just want you to tell them what they want.

As kids we are taught to ask for what we want. The sooner we learn to speak, the sooner we can tell our parents what we want. However, before we can talk we attempt to get our point across through lots of pointing, crying, and whining. Sometimes it’s hard to know exactly what a young child (baby to be exact) wants. Even though they might point, we might just not get it. Now, although we think we eventually grow out of this ’stage’, in reality we don’t.

I think I know what I want at this point (in relation to a particular situation which you may, or may not hear more about). Sure…it would be easy to just say it. It would be easy to “spit it out”. But, what would my life be if it were easy, right? Yes, I have to make things just a little bit more complex. I could attempt to give myself what I want. I could be the one to make the effort. I mean, what’s the worse that can happen, I’ll have to face rejection and disappointment? Oh, right. That is the worse that could happen. That is pretty bad, to me, anyway.

Like a baby, I have tried to use methods that are less straight forward in an attempt to get what I want. Subtle things. Too subtle? Perhaps. Though, maybe they aren’t subtle at all….that’s another thought.  I try to tell myself that in this particular instance it’s not my turn to make a move. Like Chess, I must await patiently for the other person to move. That’s easier said than done.

The point, well, everything is a lot less difficult if we just verbalize what we want. If we verbalize what we feel. What we need. In some cases we even have to verbalize that we think that other people should verbalize. Should I take my own advice? Yes, yes I should. Will I, unfortunately for my sake…I probably won’t.

If you come to this blog regularly you might have noticed that I haven’t blogged in quite a while. Now, it isn’t because I forgot, not at all. I am an intense blogger. I am always thinking of what the next blog could be. What I could talk about, what I have to say. I didn’t forget. The thing is, that I have recently just felt uninspired. It isn’t writer block, it’s almost as if I’ve given you all that I had. I’ve taken all the pieces of my soul and sprinkled them on my writing. The problem seems to be that I overused my soul sprinkles. I almost feel disheartened. I have eggs, but I don’t seem to have baskets to put them in.

I’ve started to write at least three different blogs, and after about a paragraph I just stopped and deleted them. I didn’t seem like they mattered. They weren’t really up to par with my standards. I just couldn’t go on. I mean, at first I forced myself into thinking that they were good ideas. I forced myself to think that I was actually going somewhere worthwhile. When the entire time I was actually just going to end up in the middle of nowhere.

So, where is this lack of inspiration coming from? It’s probably from the fact that I don’t have much going on.  I don’t really have much life direction. I’m pretty sure my inner compass is broken. It’s almost as if there is too much uncertainty in my life. Too much left to be seen. I’m sure some of you are thinking that uncertainty is good. I’m sure you’re saying that no one wants to know everything that happens to them. While this is true, I think that you also don’t want to be swimming around blind in the middle of a shark filled ocean. (Although, I guess you probably wouldn’t want to swim in a shark filled ocean regardless, but that’s beside the point). That’s how much uncertainty I’m faced with now. While some people have at least some things figured out by now, I lack even that. I wish I could be more specific, but I honestly just can’t (you’ll just have to stay tuned).

Again, the problem isn’t that I don’t have time to write. The problem isn’t that I don’t want to blog. It isn’t that I forgot to either. The issue is that all the fire in the depths of my soul has burned out. The heart has stopped beating. The life, is gone. I’m just an empty shell of hollow body, waiting to be over taken by something bigger; a blank canvass waiting to be made beautiful, and priceless. I invite you to come paint me. Come fill me, and come re-fuel my fire.

I never realized how hard it was to write a depressing, meaning of life type blog when you are in a good state, when things aren’t falling apart. Or rather, when you aren’t letting the things that are falling apart around you affect your mood. There is a sense of serenity that comes along with letting people into your life. It’s peaceful to know that someone is in it for the ride. Someone is there next to you. They don’t necessarily help you make sense of things, but they do help by just being there. There is truly no point to this blog, at all. Other than to just say that for the first time in a long time, in ever, I feel ok. I truly do. I am okay with where I am personally. I am close to finding out who I am, and accepting that. I am ready to start exploring things in life. I am open to new challenges. New experiences. It is a more optimistic me. I feel more like things will figure themselves out when the time is right. Sure, it would be easier for them to be figured out now, but then again, life isn’t meant to be easy. Not now, not ever.

Don’t get me wrong, I want my tortured artist/writer phase back, soon, but I’m sure I can get there without having to be there personally.

Why do I do it? Why do I blog. Well, before I can even start to figure that out in writing, I will have you know that this is my one year anniversary blog. I started blogging December 22nd 2008. Initially I started my blog in hopes that I would actually follow through and not stop blogging half way through. Before I had had other blog and they died down after a few posts. I was proud to have made it to 6 months, and to 50 blogs, but to have actually made it to one year is just such a great feeling. I would, of course, like to thank those that have been loyal from the start, and also, those that trickle in here from time to time.

This all goes back to why I do it. I don’t know everything. Hell, I probably don’t about half of the things that I talk about. I blog and I write because I like doing it. I try to have a good balance of amazingly hilarious posts, like “Things I like In My Mouth” (http://joealmun.wordpress.com/2009/08/30/things-i-like-in-my-mouth/). I like taking things from popular culture and current events like “Things That Needed To Be Said About 2009 (http://joealmun.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/things-that-needed-to-be-said-about-2009/). I also like to talk about things that I notice in real life, like “The Fear In Truth” (http://joealmun.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/the-fear-in-truth/) or “Forced Labor in the Hopeless Emptiness” (http://joealmun.wordpress.com/2009/04/18/forced-labor-in-the-hopeless-emptiness/).

I  like to write about things that I am not sure about. One of the most popular blog posts (to date) that I have ever written is “Save Me, I’m Lost” (http://joealmun.wordpress.com/2009/04/28/save-me-im-lost/). Then there is my newest creation by the name of Conner Adams, our very own conservative correspondent.

Now, I know what you are all thinking, I have yet to answer the question as to why I blog, but the thing is that I don’t even think I know. I mean, on the one hand I do it to give myself a voice, but also to give others a voice, like my blog “Shame On You!” (http://joealmun.wordpress.com/2009/05/26/shame-on-you/). When I first started blogging I knew that I didn’t want this to be a journal. I didn’t want to blog about my day. What I did. I didn’t need any “Dear Diary” moments.  Or more so, I didn’t want any of those moments. Although sometimes I do write about my life, I always try to relate it to some bigger subject. Some larger topic. I do it for fun, for inspiration, for life. For me. I do it because I like when people email me (or comment) and tell me that they had never thought about something in “that way” or that they have felt the same way. I do it for the times that people come up to me in real life and start a sentence off with “You know what you should blog about…”. I do it for the people that tell me that I’ve helped them cope with something through a particular post. This all makes it worthwhile.

Thank you to all who have been reading, commenting, guest blogging, etc. You all have played a huge part in me keeping this blog alive for so long!  As I go into my second year I want to increase my readership. So, please, pass my blog along.  I included those links in the event that you can read something that you might have missed. Also in the hopes that people would pass on relevant posts to people that they know. Maybe something that you think is super funny to a friend that would appreciate it, or a post you totally disagree with to friends you know would equally despise it.

Now, for those that know that I pride myself on having tremendously relevant or whitty titles, the title to this post is in relation to the first blog I posted entitled “It’s What We Do”, and, here you all are; the first blog I ever posted here: (http://joealmun.wordpress.com/2008/12/22/its-what-we-do/)

Here are some kind words from some of my readers:

I read Jose’s blog from the beginning, I was trying to start my own successful blog and was interested in reading everyone else’s. What struck me the most was his perseverance and committal to getting his ideas out there into the world. No matter what he was talking about, the fact that Jose published his blog on facebook and twitter and encouraged his friends to comment made me want my blog to be like his! Alas, I am not that focused. Nor do I have common threads to write about like Jose, who is part of the mainstream world. My blog is mainly philosophical wanderings dipping into the abstract….but nevertheless! I appreciate Jose’s blog for what it is, and am always glad to discuss trending topics with such an open minded individual.

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In this past year, I’ve enjoyed reading your blogs, and most definitely trying to keep up with them as well. I hope to read more of your blogs, whether it be about celebs, politics, or personal stuff, because it never seizes to put a smile on my face when reading them. And it definitely makes me more in depth sometimes.

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[A] blog that I really enjoyed reading was the one about relationships. I was going through some problems and when I read your blog it helped me think and it just comforted me. It made me less hurt and more understanding. I like when you speak your mind, I find it very interesting. You don’t care what others say about your writing and what you write is honest.

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By far, I would have to say one of my most favorite blog that I’ve read from you is the Thankful Thursday blog. Sometimes, I feel like everyone forgets to be thankful for what they have and or what is in their life. Therefore, by reading that blog, I’ve reestablished a little thing to remind myself to be thankful of the wonderful people in my life, as well as the wonderful things that I have. Therefore, thank you Jose! But, this is only the 1st year of your blogging, and I know there are definitely more years to add to this year. So I’m looking forward to the upcoming years to come, as well as the blogs that comes with it. I’ll be waiting on them! Keep on strong with these blogs, because you’re a wonderful person, and a great blogger!

Michael Jackson is dead. Stop trying to make money off of him, Jackson Family. Also, am I the only that noticed that Latoya Jackson was in the audience of Dancing With The Stars every week? (I probably am), regardless of that, do you think that she would have been in the audience had her brother not died? NO! Also, Jermaine Jackson has been getting a lot of apperences, and even received an AMA on behalf of his brother. Now, that’s all good, but did he have to bring his own children on stage? Hey, Jermaine, your brother died, and you are there to receive the award on his behalf…not to whore out your own children!

Lady Gaga is amazing! Her “outlandish” fashions are innovative, and fantastic. Just because she doesn’t hold back and fit the standards of what some people think a “pop star” should be doesn’t mean that people can make fun of her. She is being herself, which is something that most people should be doing. Everyone can take a page out of the book of Gaga.

Hey, “Ke$ha”, or whoever the singer of the song Tick Tock is…just because you repeat things in a song doesn’t mean it’s good. Also, I remember that episode of The Simple Life where you throw up in Paris Hilton’s closet.

Former Miss California Carrie Prejean: Hey, you suck! How about the next time she makes a sex video, instead of it being just her, why not get her a guy so he can stick something in her mouth. Doesn’t she ever shut up? Dumb Bitch.

I know that Jon and Kate Gosslin were in the press a lot this year. I also know that they made a lot of money out of their television show, and the endevours that were brought upon by their television fame. Now, that being said, I don’t think that it should be encouraged for people to have a lot of children that they can’t take care of on their own. Kate has herself talked about how before the show they struggled with paying the bills, as anyone with sextuplets probably does. Now, those 6 kids weren’t her choice, I’m sure if she knew she’d be pregnant with 6 she would have thought twice about getting pregnant in the first place. However, women like Nadia what’s her face Octo-mom that are just artificially inseminating themselves…yeah, that is not okay. That is NOT cute. I get it, that people like watching shows about people with abnormal amounts of children, but I definitely don’t think it should be encouraged.

Twitter is the best thing to have happened to my life since, well, since ever. Please, don’t try to compare it to Facebook. Please, don’t blow it off because you “can’t handle another social networking site”. No one wants you to. If you don’t like Twitter, then us Twits, don’t like you.

E!, do you think that you can just replace Holly, Bridgette and Kendra as the girls next door? I hope you didn’t think that we would understand. We don’t. I like stability when it comes to my reality whores. Please keep that in mind for the future.

Tiger Woods deserves to get his penis cut off.

Also, another thing
[enter Kanye West]
“Yo, Jose, look, I’ma let you finish…but Perez has one of the best blogs of all time!”.

Annoying, isn’t it? See, these Kanye West parodies were funny for about a month. To be honest, they aren’t that funny anymore. We get it, he’s a douche bag. We don’t need to be reminded of this fact every chance we see an opportunity.

Is there anything you think needs to be said about 2009? Leave me thoughts, and your opinions, in the comments.

If you ask any mom what she wants for her daughter as she grows up, they would probably say that they want their daughters to become strong women. Actually, if you ask just about any parent what they want for their daughters, they might say that. I mean, who wants to raise a daughter who has to succumb to what a man wants her to do, right? Well, I have been noticing something lately that was slightly disturbing to me. It isn’t a major thing at all, but it is one of those small things that make a huge difference. It is a character definer, if you will.

I, personally, don’t like it at all when women have to rely on a man. From personal experience, I hate it that women think that their lives are completed by men. Now, most women would probably call themselves “strong”, but many of those are the same women that are worried about when they are going to get married, and such.

Working at a restaurant, one of my jobs is to take names on a sheet when we get busy. One of the things that happens a lot is that a woman comes in with her family I will ask her how many are in her party. She’ll tell me. Then, I ask for a first name. There is a moment of silence. She is clearly thinking (which actually a lot of people do…as if it’s such a hard question). During this time I am examining her; could she be a Joyce? Or a Dawn perhaps? I wait for the name, and then I am surprised when I hear “Tom” or “Bob” or some other male name. After writing down the name I realize that she has given the name of her husband. I write it down, and then I am baffled at why these women have choosen to give the names of their husbands.

Now, it isn’t all the women that come by, but, it is a vast majority. It isn’t just older women either. It’s not something that you could attribute to a particular age group or decade. It is women who look to have been married for years (or on their 2nd and 3rd husband) and women who have but a small child and look to be in their early 20’s. The non-professional side of me just wants to look that women in the eye and ask her why she can’t give her own name. Is she not worthy? Also, if your husband really wanted his name to be given, then why didn’t he bring his rude ass up here and talk to me himself?

Sure, you might be thinking that this is just some small occurrence when out to eat, but when you think about it, it says a lot about these women. I mean, these are the women that obsess over pleasing their husbands. These are the women who quit careers to stay at home so their husband could feel like he’s a “man”. These are the women with “Palin 2012″ bumper stickers on their cars.  These are the women that put up with abuse. These are the women that raise their daughters to be the same way.

Seriously, women have been fighting for way too long to give their husbands name over theirs. It starts with giving your husband’s name at a restaurant, and then it escalates to letting  Bart Stupak and Orrin Hatch decide that they will try to sell a healthcare bill at the expense of women and their abortion coverage.

Women, do everyone a favor, either give your name, or tell your lazy husbands to do it themselves. Don’t go out of your way to please the insecure men in your lives. If they feel emasculated that’s their fight, not yours. Your fight has been going on long before your husbands were born, and your fight will continue long after he cheats on you to make himself feel better.

By the pure title of this entry, I think we can all assume how I felt about the New York State senate opposing gay marriage. Where am I coming from exactly? What gives me a right to tell people what to do? Well, I don’t have any right to tell peope what to do. I’m not saying that two men cannot be together. Not at all. All I am saying is that marriage is not a right, but a privilege. A privilege bestowed upon us by God. Marriage is meant to be between a man and a woman, in the hopes of reproducing. Think of it this way: lets say that we put all of the gay men on an island. The island wouldn’t survive. Why? Well, because they wouldn’t be able to reproduce.

Why would God intend for people to be gay? If God did intend for people to be gay, then he wouldn’t have made it impossible for them to reproduce. Now, I personally don’t have anything against gays. I mean, I don’t know any, but I definitely don’t have anything against them. I just don’t want them to tarnish the sanctity of marriage. There is nothing stopping them from having a civil union. I’m not against gays being together. If they want to live in sin, that is their choice. They could easily have decided not be in a straight relationship. I’m not here to judge them. God will be the one that places judgement on them when the time comes. Now, you’re probably thinking why I focused so much on gays and men, and well that is because we all know that lesbians are either women that can’t get a man, or sluty girls that want attention that they can’t get anyother way.

Conner Adams…out!

Over the past few weeks liberal women have been up in arms about an amendment in a proposed healthcare bill that would prohibit companies from offering coverage for abortions in subsidized insurance plans. This wedge in the democratic party brought about a lot of talk about how it would be awful for women, and all this and that. I’m sorry, (no actually no I’m not) but since when is it okay for abortions to be covered by insurance? Personally, I am of the belief that it should be a crime to kill another human being, born or unborn.

Since we aren’t putting a stop to these women who kill their unborn children, the least we could do is have them pay without getting some kind of discount. Also, has it ever occurred to the loose women of the world that maybe they should just wait to become sexually active? Sex before marriage is a sin. Did it ever occur to anyone that getting pregnant out of wedlock is Gods way of punishing you for having sex out of wedlock? He also continues to punish you by giving you kids that grow up to be drug addicts and thugs.

Don’t get me wrong, I like getting my hard earned money stolen on the street as much as the next guy, but c’mon, there has to be a line. If this Obamacare is going to cost me, I don’t want it to come out of my pocket so some teenage slut can kill her kid.

Conner Adams…out!

 

Want to know what I haven’t done in a while?  Blogged. I know that sounds stupid, but I  haven’t just sat down and written about  something totally random with no meaning  behind it. Now, the reason I don’t do that is  because that is more of a journal, which I  don’t want to do. I don’t like it when people  have a blog that they just use as a journal. It  annoys me a lot. If you want a journal, then  get a fucking journal!

So, what to talk about…well, There is  something that I have noticed is a repeating  theme in my life. I enjoy watching re-runs of  shows that are either no longer in  production, or are a few seasons into production. So, yes, there are the classic sitcoms, but more recently I have some too. The summer before high school I watched re-runs of Dawson’s Creek on TBS. They showed a 2 hour block at 9 am and then at 10 am. I watched every single episode from the first season, to the last. Which, to me, was disappointing. Does anyone else remember that? I now know that it was cancelled, which probably explains it all, and just makes me believe that they settled for that as a finale. I personally didn’t enjoy the fact that Michelle Williams’ character died. I didn’t like that one bit. Also, that Pacey’s older brother ended up with Jack. His brother wasn’t even gay until that episode. It was totally out of the blue. I know this because in the first season when Pacey was sleeping with his English teacher his brother was trying to date her.  I was less than satisfied.

Now, most recently, in my lack of schooling, and lack of working I had another one of these. One day I was channel surfing at the odd time in television. It was before the news and Judge Judy, but after a lot of the mid-afternoon talk shows (like Maury!). Then I landed on Lifetime. At first it was a commercial for an upcoming movie, and I decided that I could use some drama in my life, so I stayed…hoping that I would get that one movie about the 15 year old addicted to porn. Well, turned out that they had a two hour block of Desperate Housewives. It was a few episodes (about 2 or 3) into the first season, so I decided to watch. Well, that time turned into the whole week. That whole week turned into me watching it for 2 hours every day. It got to the point where the highlight of my day was the two hour block of Desperate Housewives. Which, all things considered, is just a tad bit sad.

Well, up until the whole work thing came up, I could spend my days eating and watching re-runs on Lifetime. Well, after the job thing happened, I was about half way through season 3. How long was this you may ask? Well, when you watch 2 episodes a day for 5 days, seasons go by fast. Also, season 3 was during the writers strike, so that was a short one. Luckily every episode was online. At first I was just going to watch the episodes I missed while working, but that didn’t last. It was too addicting! I couldn’t stop. I ended up watching all of season 4 and 5 in about 4 days. Luckily season six was a few episodes in so after I was done with that ABC.com had more for me to watch. Now, unfortunately, I have to wait a whole week for new episodes. It’s okay though because I don’t think about it for a whole week, more that I remember that it’s Monday, and I can watch the new episode online.

Now, I have told you my (potentially embarrasing) story. What about you? Is there any television shows that you watch that might have people looking at you weird? Do you have any obsessive qualities? If so, how/which? Let me know in the comments.

Also, be sure to follow this blog on twitter at twitter.com/joealmunblog or @joealmunblog

P.S I am going to start an advice category…so send me an email if you have something you might want advice on, or even something you might want my opinion on.

 

P.P.S Was anyone else upset that Edie Britt died? And, if you get the apple reference, leave that in the comments! You’ll get a special shout out from me in my next blog.

It’s that time of year again. It’s the time when millions spend money on things that others will most likely end up returning. It’s the time of year when our judgement is impaired by edgy commercials, buy one get on half-off sales, and the promise of free gift with purchase.

This year I made the trek to the stores to try and find great sales, and experience the day known as”Black Friday”.  I woke up a little after 3 in the morning, and was at the first store by 4. It was busy, but it opened at 3, so I didn’t have to wait outside. For the most part it wasn’t too bad. It wasn’t chaotic. There were lots of people but nothing too bad, and the lines at the register were actually virtually non-existent. By 5 am we were at Target. They opened at 5, and so we did have to stand in their line. The wait was only a few minutes long because it was 5 to 5, and by the time the doors opened, the line went fast.

Target was where the chaos came. My sisters birthday fell two days after thanksgiving this year, and so my mom decided to try to get her an ipod nano. Target had a sale on the 8 Gigabyte nano, and I mean, she’s 12 (or something) so she doesn’t need anything more. The clerks in the electronics department decided that they had to open up the glass that contains all of their video games, and ipods and such, just because they probably wouldn’t be able to open them when people desired. Let’s just say that it was a free for all. The ipods were going fast, and I got down to take the last purple one. As I did so, this older woman, I would say in her late 40’s, decided that she has to have a purple one, and she snatches it from my hands and runs. It was honestly the most psychotic moment I’ve ever experienced in my life. We had to settle for a blue one, and made sure that this event didn’t repeat itself.

Now, as crazy as that experience was, it was awesome! Now, normally I am a pretty civilized person, but there was a certain rush. Something over powered me. I feel as if that’s part of the way that people spend their money. I mean, I think that it’s the rush that over powers them to make their purchases. To be honest, we were done with the shopping in about 5 minutes. The line at the register was what took longer. It was unlike any other shopping day. On the other days people look around, people think about what they want. They think about if they really should get it, or they think about if they can get a better deal elsewhere.

It was great! I honestly can’t wait until next year. I am totally going out again. I also can’t wait until the day after Christmas, which is also a big shopping day because people go and return a lot of things.

Did any of you go out on Black Friday? Where did you go? What did you get? Was it worth it? Are you going back out next year? What about those that didn’t go out, do you wish you had? Are you planning on going next year, or is it just not your thing? Answer in the comments!

In honor of Thanksgiving, I have decided to start a new series in my blog. I am calling it “Thankful Thursday”. This is up there with “Friday 5″. Now, even though this is coming around Thanksgivings Day, I actually thought of this a few weeks ago, around the time that I started “Friday 5″, however I decided to hold off, and I am glad that I did, because now I can have my first one be on Thanksgiving…and I honestly can’t think of a better way to start this. Here we are:

 

- Friends that you never loose touch with, even though you may have  actually lost touch over a short period of time. I like being able to  pick relationships right back up, even if it may have been a long long  time since I’ve seen them.

- The attractive people that come to my job. After standing there for  a long time, I honestly need something that makes  me genuinely smile. Not in a slutty I want to sex them up way, but in a “You are really nice looking, and I admire that” kind of way.

-People that I can joke around with at work, which make it a lot easier on crappy, crappy days.

-People who appreciate Lady Gaga as much as I do.

- The social diversity of the apple store. The geeks, old guy, random attractive guy, and the 2 token girls (one of which was just at the door, not even opening it, just standing there).

- People who understand my cynical views on life, marriage, little devils (aka small children), etc.

- Late night bowling.

-Going to Perkins super late, and staying there talking for hours on end.

- Waking up Thursday morning after working a crappy Wednesday Night, to an episode of Glee on Hulu.

- Hulu, and other online television websites.

- The comparisons to famous people that have been made by others on me. (Taylor Lautner, Zachary Quinto, [this one was a long time ago] Wilmar Valderama). Does anyone have any others? lol

- Individuals who not only read my blog, but also comment…I am most thankful for those.

What are you thankful for? What do you think about this list? Leave a comment.

If anyone would like to write a “Thankful Thursday” blog, please email me the entry, and I will run it in the next “Thankful Thursday” yours can be in list form, or if you have some great, amazing moment that has happened, or if there is ONE thing that you are extremply thankful for, then you can write a longer paragraph, or essay, or short story, or novel. You decide. If you have any questions email me (which can be found in the ‘contact’ page, or leave a comment).

** For more “Thankful Thursday” be sure to click on the category with the same name**

Jose invited me to write a blog, and I was already going to anyway, so this works out well.  I’m not sure how to decide what I want more, so I’ll just be making a list and, like Jose’s, it will be in no particular order.

1. Hourglass Coffee Maker

This thing is exactly what I need.  It would reduce my spending on coffee that I barely even want.  I’m tired of ordering the next best thing because no one near me makes halfway decent coldpress.  In fact, no one near me makes coldpress at all.  The nearest place is a train ride and a bus ride away.  I can get it at Caribou, but every time I do I have to throw it away because it is of so low quality I want to vomit.  They just double brew coffee and then chill it.  What is that?  Weak.  That’s what it is.  I could go to Starbucks, which is much better than Caribou, but not as good as I am accustomed.  Audubon Coffee is the best place to get it, but that’s quite a trip from where I am.  The Beat also has good iced coffee, but that is also too far.  I would kill to make it myself, so the Hourglass Coffee Maker is pretty much the only tool I can find to aid me in doing so, without having to brew gallons at a time.

 

 

2. HP Touchsmart tx2

This tiny computer is amazing.  After reading Jose’s blog, I advocated him getting one of these instead of a MacBook.  I currently have a MacBook, and while it is functioning at a satisfactory level, I have become increasingly frustrated with Apple from an ethical stand point.  They treat their customers like dirt and they tell their customers what they can and cannot do with the products they buy.  If you buy the OS, you have to install it on and Apple computer.  If you buy their iPod Touch, you have to be running their OS for that.  Not only must you be running their OS, you must be running their applications.  If they don’t like an application, they can just make it so it no longer exists, which, by my standards, is not okay.  But I digress.

This laptop is top of the line touchscreen technology.  It’s portable and turnable and twistable.  It’s simply amazing.  If you go for the recommended upgrade, which I would totally do, its specs are nothing to be scoffed at, especially considering that it’s a laptop.  The only problem I can imagine encountering is running Ubuntu.  I don’t know if there is a way (though there probably is) to make Ubuntu touchscreen compatible.

 

3. HTC Magic

 

 

 

Most of you probably know this as the T-Mobile MyTouch 3G.  My dream phone has two criteria.  First, it must be a touchscreen, so that is met.  Second, it must be running Android.  So, clearly this is my dream phone.  It’s an awesome phone, and you can go look at it at the website.  Basically, it kicks ass and that’s about all there is to say.  Presumably there will be more touchscreen Android phones out by next October, which is when I plan on upgrading, so I’m in no rush to get this or anything.  I’ll just get whatever’s best when I go to get a new phone when I renew my contract, but if I could switch today without any issues involving money or anything I’d get the HTC Magic.

4. A bass amp

The ol’ band could really use a bass amp.  If I could pick any, I’d probably use an Eden Time Traveler.  I really like the way they sound.  But just as I didn’t bore you with the specs for the computer and the phone, I will not bore you with the specs for the amp.  I could just really use a nice bass amp is all.  A new bass would be nice too, but that is less desirable than an amp.

 

5. A Messenger Bag of Holding

As some of you may know I will be going to Paris this winter.  This item is probably the most pressing.  I will be bringing along my computer and will always have it with me.  With my standard backpack I run the risk of someone opening it up very slowly without me noticing and taking my computer.  I cannot leave my computer in the room for two reasons.  First, my friend just went to Europe and got his computer stolen out of his hotel room.  Second, I’ll be staying a youth hostel so it’s even more likely than in a hotel to get stolen.  But why specifically this bag?  First of all, its name is a D&D reference.  Second, it has like a billion pockets.  Third, thinkgeek.com is probably the best website ever and I trust them completely to sell quality items.

Thank you, Jose, for letting me be on your blog.  This has been a great experience.  I also realize I should make a blog about coldpress in Minneapolis because I’m so opinionated about it.  If any of you would like to buy these items for me, just comment and I will provide you with my PayPal and an enormous “thank you”.

 

From Jose:
If you would like to write what your 5 things you want, then email me, and I will make it work. Or, you could also write on any of the topics I have written in the Friday 5 before. Feel free to create your own Friday 5. Thanks.

 

This question is directed to ANYONE and EVERYONE who feels that they can either a. answer this question or b. have an opinion with which to answer the question.

What do you think it means to be an active (straight) member of the fight towards equality for everyone regardless of sexual orientation (or gender identity)? Whether that be equality in the work place, marriage, acceptance overall etc.

Does it mean that you should be at rallies, you should be voting against discriminatory laws/acts, try to get others to assess their views, being  allies? What is an ally? Can you be a quiet ally? Can you simply just know that you suuport people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity? Do you have to stand up to anyone or everyone who uses the word ‘gay’ to mean stupid? What if someone uses that word, yet says they have nothing against homosexuals, but simply just used gay in whatever terms they do.

 

This may come off as being a bit of a confusing question, being that I rambbled a lot, but I think my question is in there somewhere.

 

Leave your answer in the comments, and feel free to remain anonymous (keep in mind that others might choose to be anonymous as well, so a pseudonym would probably work better in this scenario).

 

P.S. this wasn’t spell checked. Deal with it.

These are the 5 things on my “want list”. I don’t actually have a “want list”, but for the sake of this blog, I have one now. For those of you in the market for getting me a gift…here you are. ha. (actually, these are just things that I have decided that I want to buy in the near future. Be sure to let me know the 5 things that you want [lets make them tangible things, please] in the comments section).

Here are the Friday 5 Things I want (in no particular order).

1. Glee: The Music, Volume 1

The soundtrack for the first part of Season 1 of Glee. I don’t think I have to explain why I want this. Pure amazement…that’s why.

2. Glee T-Shirt

This is something that is more difficult to find. Back in May (and over the Summer) they were carried by Hot Topic, but they have since been pulled from their website, and their stores. Anyone who knows how to get a hold of one, please, enlighten me.

3. Flip Video Camera

I don’t even know if I would use it much…however, I have been obsessed with getting one of these for the longest time. Does anyone have one? Do you like it? My logic really is that when I have it, I will just use it a lot…which sounds kinda dumb, but oh well. ha.

4. MacBook

There is a story to this one. I will take you back a few months. My computer Oliver died. Right now I am on Max, my new laptop. I have, however not felt the same connection that I had with Oliver. I had pictures, and music, and files on Oliver. I haven’t even gotten Word for Max yet. I just don’t have the same emotional connection. Therefore, I have been strongly considering buying a new computer. Since I would be getting a new one, I was considering making the leap to a Mac, from a PC. I am still in the in initial stages of consideration, but I think that I will definitely be getting one(?). I haven’t gotten much feedback on what I should do, and if people think I should switch….thoughts?

5. Higher Education

I really just want to go back to school. I miss it. I feel weird, and like something is lacking. It’s weird.

 

Those are the Friday 5 Things I Want. What are some things that you want? Is there something you would like to suggest I write for a ‘Friday 5′? Let me know.