2010 Photo-A-Day: Day Three

After a long day of helping Matt and his Dad work on the garage, cleaning the kitchen, and then watching the Chargers beat the Redskins, I sat back and enjoyed a couple of beers and played some Xbox 360.

2010 Photo-A-Day: Day Two

Day 2 of the Photo-a-day experiment. I felt like shit for most of the day today, mixture of too much drinking and trying to get back into shape. It's really amazing how fast it goes when you let yourself be lazy for a long time. Went for a walk yesterday and helped dig up a trench the other day, and I felt 20 years older then I really am. Only cure for that is to keep being active again. Part of the reason I was digging a trench was helping Matt and his Dad retrofit our garage into more a room so that Matt can have an office that is not 2 degrees away from freezing and has it's own power run out there. This picture is Matt and Jack putting in a ceiling on the garage at the Arnold House. Men at Work.

2010 Photo-A-Day: Day One

Welcome to a new experiment I am trying. First of all shout out to my friend Shea for this idea. Last year Shea started taking pictures of himself on New Years and continued for weeks. He was experimenting with taking a photo a day. Then later in the year my buddy Hula started doing the same thing, but not pictures of himself, just a picture a day. So here is the first day of my 2010 exploration/journey and Photo-A-Day. These may be photos of me, places I am at, things I like, but they will all be photos taken by me. I may miss a day of uploading or blogging, but this will be the place I post the photos and at the end of 2010 on 12/31/2010 I will be posting a massive photo montage through Flickr or something. Maybe I will do retrospectives for each month. Should be fun. To kick off 2010 I went for a walk this morning and took a shot of my neighborhood. This is on the corner of Hamilton St. and Myrtle Ave. behind my house.

Top 5 Video Games of the 2000's

Wrapping up my Top lists for the 2000's is video games. While this decade had many great games, these are the Top 5 that held my time over the last 10 years. In some cases they are a franchise of games, like Madden, but otherwise I got the most mileage out of these games.

#5 City Of Heroes - I finally had to cancel my subscription because I had played this game for almost 4 straight years.






#4 Dragon Age Origins - This was a tough call for me because this game came out in November of 2009, but this game is awesome. I have played through at least 5 times now. Cannot wait for more DLC on this one.






#3 Madden - This series is solid year in and year out, and you always have a new Madden to look forward to every Aug just in time for Football season. Happy Maddenoliday!






#2 Rainbow Six Las Vegas 2 - While the first RS games were fun, Vegas took it to a new level. And the sequel Vegas 2 just refined everything the game needed to be one of the most fun shooters on the Xbox 360 game console. My roommates would make fun of me wearing my headset and shooting enemies online, and I did not care.




#1 Mass Effect - From the same people that put out Dragon Age Origins, BioWare, this game rocked. The sequel comes out in just a few short weeks and I cannot wait. I played this game a lot in 2007 and then again this year when DLC came out for it. I am very excited for ME2 and cannot wait to see where they take this RPG Shooter next.

Top 5 Movies of the 2000's

Yay movies! The 2000's were really good to us at the movie theaters. Especially if your into fantasy novels, boy wizards, comic book superheroes, and charming geek movies. In no particular order here are my Top 5 Movies of the 2000's.

#5 Old School - While there are many other movies in this category of man-child comedies, I think Old School does it best for me. Plus I could only choose one, and still make room for my other favorites. Movies like Wedding Crashers, Step Brothers, Knocked Up, Superbad, The Hangover and 40 Year Old Virgin. In fact you are really falling into one camp or another when picking because you have the Will Ferrell/Vince Vaughn/John C Reilly/Wilson Bros camp and then the Judd Apatow and crew camp. All great movies. But for me Old School had everything I needed to laugh, cringe, cry, and ultimately laugh again. There is still talk of them making a sequel, but really I don't need one. Plus this movie introduced us to The Dan Band.

#4 The Incredibles - Unlike the big screen version of the Fantastic Four which ultimately disappointed, Pixar brought us yet another charming, funny, endearing, and action packed animated adventure when introducing us to Bob Incredible and his family. The thing that Pixar does well, is never sacrificing character. Because of that The Incredibles gave you everything you needed in a satisfying adventure. This is one movie that Pixar should definitely franchise into another picture.

#3 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - I choose this third Harry movie because I feel like this was one of the best in series if not the best. It creates an amazing movie while not sacrificing much from the source material. It was also a darker Potter movie then the two that came before it. Between books and movies, the Harry Potter franchise has dominated the last 10 years. To think in 2000 I laughed at my girlfriends roommate for waiting in line to buy this book. 10 years later I have read them all, own them all, and cannot wait for the last 2 movies to come out.

#2 Spider Man 2 - I never would have thought 10 years ago that so many Marvel characters would make it to the big screen, and in some of the best movies of the decade. The X-Men were good, Fantastic Four was okay, The Hulk struck twice, Daredevil, Iron Man, and even little Peter Parker, Spider Man. While the first movie was awesome, the sequel is even better. To some it is one of the best movies of all time, not just a comic book movie. And ultimately I chose SP2 over The Dark Knight or Batman Begins, because emotionally I connected more with SP2. The scene on the subway when he saves the train and the New Yorkers lift him up was inspiring. Plus Doc Ock was done well. Really well.

#1 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings - Hey another movie franchise adapted from a book or comic. Go figure. LOTR smashed it's way into America this last decade with three EPIC movies. Seriously try watching all three extended DVD's in a day. You can't. It's like 16 hours of movie. And I chose the first movie of the trilogy because it was the one that most blew me away. While Two Towers and Return of the King are awesome as well, the first one really took it for me. Plus it reminded me of some of my fun D&D sessions as a kid. Playing dice and paper adventures with my friends. It was like seeing my adventures on the big screen.

Top 5 Albums of the Aughts

Here is my list for Top 5 Albums of the Aughts. These albums affected me in that they are basically the albums that had the most songs I liked. Simple as that.

#5 Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head 2002
Politik
Clocks
In My Place
The Scientist



#4 Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory 2000
Papercut
One Step Closer
With You
Points of Authority
Crawling
Runaway
In the End (most played song of 2001)
Cure for the Itch
Pushing Me Away


#3 Augustana - All the Stars and Boulevards
Bullets
Boston
Feel Fine
Wasteland
Stars and Boulevards



#2 Black Eyed Peas - Elephunk
Hands Up
Where is the Love
Smells like Funk
Let's Get It Started




#1 Kanye West - Late Registration
Heard Em Say
Touch the Sky
Gold Digger
Drive Slow
Diamonds from Sierra Leone
Gone

Top 5 TV Shows of the 2000's

Kicking off my Top 5 lists for the Aughts or the 2000's. Funny that it took all the way until the end of 2009 for this decade to even have some sort of a name. And yet this decade is not really marked for any significance. Although technologically we have made leaps in all facets of our life, I think this decade did more to rehash everything good and bad we did in every other decade of the 20th Century. In other words the first decade of the 21st Century was definitely one of transition. With that in mind I tell you that you could easily argue with any and all of my picks for Top 5 TV, Video Games, Movies, and Albums, but I would also tell you to leave a comment and share or start your own blog. This is my list for the Top 5 television shows of the 2000's. These are the shows that I watch with a passion. I cannot wait to see the latest episode of these series and this is why they are my Top 5. And these are not ordered per se, they are just numbered so you know I have 5.

#5 Justice League Unlimited - for the first time on television I not only got to enjoy my favorite DC characters, but they were done in the Dinistyle, with lots of action, great characterization and an over arching story that tied the entire series together. Once you saw the entire plot laid out it was fun to go back and rewatch episodes to see the clues that were laid out along the way. The show was a continuation of the Batman, Superman, Batman Beyond, and Justice League shows that had helped define and shape the modern DC universe since the early 90's. Also the show had to expand in this expanded direction because of corporate concerns over Batman, Teen Titans, Aquaman, and other characters being used in other Warner Bros properties at the time. I'm just glad I got to see Superman and Shazam throw down.

#4 CSI Las Vegas - The originator of the CSI shows. Obviously procedural crime drama had been done before with shows like Law & Order but this one was done by movie producer Jerry Bruckheimer. The show revolved around crime solvers that use the evidence alone to solve the crimes. From the camera inserting into the body to empathize the action, to the low cut tops and hot chicks, this show helped rewrite the standard for crime dramas that you can still see spoofed to this day. The show also takes place in Las Vegas and the city itself becomes a character in this long running show. I cannot believe I have been watching this show for almost 10 years now.

#3 The Office - whether you are a fan of the British original for this show or not, The Office and the employees of Dunder Mifflin have become staples in my life for the last 6 years. From Jim's pranks on Dwight, Micheal's vapid insistence to be liked, Creed's constant stealing, and Dwight's over the top antics this show has never ceased to make me laugh and sometimes squirm. To think the first season of The Office I just could not find funny. Everyone told me it was funny, but it really took me awhile to warm up to this show.

#2 LOST - Another show that I was slow to warm up to. My buddy Haze used to call me on Wednesday nights and tell me how much I reminded him of this character Hurley. An overweight character on LOST. I resented that highly. And I had missed the first few weeks of episodes. But before Season 2 came out my roommate Tyler and I sat down and watched Season 1 on DVD for an entire week in September. I have been hooked ever since, and Hurley has become one of my favorite characters on television. Also no other show has brought me such amazing hours of television with episodes like Through the Looking Glass, or the fake commercials during the broadcast that hid secret messages and an out of television game that you could play by following clues on websites. Really cool.

#1 The Venture Bros - Wow did I ever come late to this show. Originally airing in 2004 on Adult Swim, I just discovered this awesome show in 2009 and now own the first three seasons. And with 5 years of life the show is just now half way through it's 4th season. This show spoofs 60's culture and mocks everything from Johnny Quest, Scooby Doo, 70's rock bands, Star Wars, Firefly, Superman and Batman, and everything in between. Characters like The Monarch, Sgt. Hatred, Brock Sampson, Dr. Venture, Dr. Mrs The Monarch, Twenty One, Twenty Four and more are really not even the two title characters. In which we have Dean and Hank Venture, children of former boy adventurer Dr. Venture. Venture is really an allegory for shows like Johnny Quest with action, adventure, super spies, and intrigue. And yet the best shows of the series are those featuring heavy dialogue and comedy zingers then the one's with adventure. Almost like a Kevin Smith movie, just with more interesting characters. And I love Smith. Go figure.

Top 5 Cover Songs

Someone recently reminded me that opinions are like assholes, everyone has one. With that in mind I put forth my Top 5 Cover Songs knowing that I am leaving a lot of great songs off my list and even personal favorites. This list is not based on album sales, popularity or even coolness. This is simply my favorite cover songs. But what makes a song a cover? If it was originally song and released by another artist and someone knew sings it, it's a cover. What makes a good cover song? Anything that not only captures the essence of the original but also adds to it and makes it something that can stand on it's own. Left off my list are some of my notable favorites such as The Beatles - Twist and Shout, The Beachboys - Sloop John B, Guns and Roses - Knockin on Heavens Door, UB40 - Red Red Wine, Greg Laswell - Girls Just Want To Have Fun, and Social Distortions - Ring of Fire.

#5 The Fugees - Killing Me Softly. What a great song. You have Lauren Hill singing vocals better then Roberta Flack's original and Wyclef and Pras backing up with the Hip Hop flair. The video is a classic as well. One time...

#4 Van Halen - You Really Got Me. Eddie Van Halen bringing screaming rifts on his guitar with David Lee Roth on vocals do justice to this Kinks song and really bring it to a new and younger audience.

#3 Ray Charles - America the Beautiful. You only have to watch the 4th of July scene in the movie the Sandlot to fall in love with this cover and the imagery it invokes. My favorite part is when Ray brings his own flair and claims "Now waitaminute"

#2 Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah. Such a haunting and spiritual cover of Leonard Cohen's classic song. The sadness comes in the story of Jeff Buckley and his tragically cut short career and life. Oddly both the #2 and #1 songs were covered by Jason Castro on American Idol last year.

#1 Iz - Somewhere Over the Rainbow. I guess #1 and #2 have something else in common as well. They both feature singers whose lives were cut short. Iz, a hawaiian singer known for his folksy island sound gives this song a modern sound while keeping the charm and innoncence of the original.

Top 5 American Idols Season 8 - "It's the Final Countdown!"

Okay so this week on American Idol they finally got down to just 5 contestants. Anoop Desai and Lil Rounds were finally voted off. Honestly at this point it feels like everyone is going through the motions because Ad-Lam, Adam Lambert could take a shit on stage and throw it at the judges to applause. In other words that kid is a lock to be this seasons American Idol. With that in mind, here is how I rank the final 5 for American Idol this season.

#5 - Matt Giraud - This Justin Timberlake wannabe should have gone home last week or even the week before but the judges saved him. Garbage. How can you criticize Lil Rounds for appearing as everyone except herself and let this lame imitation strut each and every week as a poor mans JT.

#4 - Allison Iraheta - This poor kid has the pipes and the chops but the females are the ones that vote on this show and America is just not gonna pick her over their boy toys.

#3 - Kris Allen - This spot is a toss up for me between Danny and Kris, but I think that Kris might wear thin before the last 5 weeks are up.

#2 - Danny Gokey - You made it this far Go Go Gokey. But with the final two coming down to you and Ad-Lam you don't stand a chance in hell. Even if your dead wife votes from beyond the grave. The love Wicked in the afterlife, studies have shown.

#1 - Adam Lambert - And this will be your big winner. Honestly the only person that stands a chance in hell against Adam is Allison and America is not voting for that girl. But I could actually see music careers for this Top 4....yeah your done Matt. Even Lil shows more originality at this point.

Top 5 Baseball Movies

Spring Training is just wrapping up and opening day is just around the corner. Spring is officially here and we are starting to get warm weather days (more then usual) in San Diego. Turned on the TV the other day and one of my favorite sports movies and favorite movies of all time was on, The Sandlot. So I thought I would put down my Top 5 Baseball Movies. I guess America really loves their baseball movies, because there are a lot of classics that do not make my list, and some really good ones just got left off. Heck this is my list anyways, go make your own.

#5 Major League - With Greg "Wild Thing" Vaughn and Willy Beaman this movie about a bunch of ragtag, washed up baseball players has just the right amount of charm and love of the game to always require repeat viewing. Wild Thing, I think I love you.

#4 Bull Durham - Another movie with a young wild pitcher and a wily veteran catcher, see a trend here? If for nothing else I love this movie for the behind the scenes peek at what goes on during a pitchers huddle on the mound. When is a good time for men to talk about wedding gifts anyways?

#3 Stealing Home - The core of this movie is a father/son relationship and how baseball tied the two together. As the movie moves on and the father dies, the son gets away from his love of the game with life and grief and growing up. But it all comes back to the end when he decides to get his stuff together and steal home one more time. Mark Harmon, Harold Ramis, and Jodie Foster bring a story together that spans a generation. This movie is one of my favorites, the music brings it home for me, and it does not even show up on most Baseball movie list.

#2 A League of Their Own - "Theirs no crying in Baseball!" Tom Hanks plays Jimmy Duggan, a washed up drunk ex ball player who is pegged to coach a women's baseball team when the men go off to war in World War II. Geena Davis, Madonna, Rosie O'Donnell and others round out the cast of this charming movie that shows that women can indeed play baseball, and Tom Hanks is at his absolute best the drunker he gets in the movie.

#1 The Sandlot - What can I say? I'm a sucker for kids movies that are good and they came out when I was growing up. Bad News Bears is just as good, but this one sticks with me. From the classic one liners "Your killing me smalls", to the reverance the boys show for the game, the pickling of the beast, to the music of the early 1960's in America; this movie has it all for me. And I gotta tell you, a special treat for me is the 4th of July scene with Ray Charles singing "America the Beautiful". Tell me that scene does not spark up nostalgia for you everytime.

Top 5 Crews on America's Best Dance Crew

So I am loving what is going down on ABDC in Season 3. As I write this, SPOILERS, Quest Crew and Beat Freaks are the last two crews and will be battling it out next week in the finale. Sadly I read online that MTV might not be picking up ABDC for a 4th season. High ratings, but it might be too expensive to produce anymore. I thought I would celebrate the show's first 3 seasons in the last year with a Top 5 Crews list.

#5 - First up is Kaba Modern. I got love for the kids in Kaba Modern because they are from Southern California, and originated at the University of California Irvine. Which my cousin happens to attend right now, and I went to cheer camp there in 1994. Wow, time flies. Great crew representing Filipino culture in a big way.

#4 - Beat Freaks. I love these girls. I think that on Season 3 they came a long way being themselves and rocking the challenges. The floating ball trick was real magic but I feel like the girls have stayed the same while Quest Crew took it to another level this last week.

#3 - Super Cr3w. These guys were AWESOME in Season 2. Season 2 Champions and I am a huge fan. But what have you done for me lately? For more on these guys, check out the DVD Planet B-Boy where the early version of Super Cr3w represented America in Battle of the Year.

#2 - Quest Crew. These guys are amazing. On Season 3 it has only been Quest Crew and Beat Freaks since the second week, but when it counted QC stepped up their game and they are my personal pick to win Season 3. That flip push they did to close out their performance on the Thursday 2/26/09 show was ridiculous.

#1 - Jabbawockeez. The original America's Best Dance Crew. Out of my town of San Diego, and blowing up huge everywhere. Turn on the tv and you will see Jabba in Gatorade commercials or hanging out with Shaq at the NBA All-Star game. Funny how all of my favorites are West Coast crews.

Top 5 Ways to Save Money in this Recession

These are in no particular order

#5 - Buy TV Shows with full seasons and watch those night after night. Some good ones to try: LOST (5 Seasons on DVD), Entourage (4 Seasons on DVD), The Office UK (2 Seasons on DVD), The Office America (4 Seasons on DVD), and many more.

#4 - Skip buying DVD's and download them illegally! Um this blog does not advocate nor encourage you to break the law, just pointing out that option. ;)
Of course you could always just stream shows live over their websites or on www.hulu.com.

#3 - Read a book. Read many books. Books are relatively inexpensive and you can always share them with friends or borrow your friends books.

#2 - Have a game night instead of going out to the clubs.

#1 - Walk to a local bar that is having a drink special night instead of taking a cab somewhere further away. You save money on not cabbing, you get some mild exercise, and you save money by picking the right night to go!

Top 5 Deaths on LOST

So last night while watching the LOST repeat from 2/11/09 I realized that the show has had some really memorable deaths. In the episode "This Place is Death" the trips through time finally catch up to Charlotte and we learn that she was not only born on the island but that Daniel was around during her youth and warned her to never come back for fear of death. Guess that came true huh? So without further ado here is my list for the Top 5 deaths on LOST. These all made some sort of impact on the story. Although when making the list I found that over 23 people had been killed in some sort of memorable fashion.


#5 Gary Troup aka "Guy sucked into the Engine" - Blink and you missed it. This poor guy who wrote the novel "Bad Twin" and was dating one of the flight attendents is sucked into the still running engine turbine on the first episode of LOST. It set the stage for an awesome show and really upped the ante on the danger factor.

#4 Seth Norris aka The Pilot - Poor Matt Grunberg. Guest stars as the pilot of the ill fated Oceanic Flight 815 that was supposed to be flown by Frank Lupidus. Seth is sucked out of the cockpit by the Island Black Fog Monster. Setting the stage for the islands security system and killing yet another one of the cast early on.

#3 Mr. Arzt - Poor poor school teacher Mr. Arzt. We barely knew you. But what a memorable impression you made. Mr. Arzt was the one who helped the Losties get dynamite off the Black Rock, the crashed pirate ship in the middle of the jungle. He explained many times just how volatile the dripping dynamite was, only to explode in a fiery death, proving just how dangerous that stuff was.

#2 Ana-Lucia and Libby - Oh! We get a two-fer. Ana-Lucia and Libby, survivors of the tail section. They survive being infiltrated and chased by the others only to be shot in cold blood by Michael. Michael takes his turn as a "heel" in his desperate attempt to find and save his son. He shoots Ana and Libby while they are guarding Ben Linus in the Hatch. It was one of those moments in the show that you just said "What the fuck?!"

#1 Charlie Pace - Sweet sweet Charlie Pace. You kicked your addiction to heroin, became someone that could be trusted and loved, and then died. As great shows do, LOST shows us that no one is safe and anyone one of our heros may die. Well Charlie goes out in style, saving Desmond, getting word out the Penny, and warning Desmond that the freighter is not Penny's boat. Which of course sets up that Kearny and his mercenaries in the next season as hired goons sent by Charles Widmore, but Charlie's drowning was a redeeming and touching scene that almost brings this viewer to tears every time I see it. One of the highlights of this amazing show.

Top 5 Idols from Season 8 Group One

Okay so last night we saw the first 12 of the Final 36 or Group One perform. Here is my Top 5 from last night. Let's see how America voted tonight.

#5 Anoop Desai. Anoop "Dog" was okay. The judges said he reminded them of a Brian McKnight. I like Anoop, but I'm not sure his performance was strong enough to resonate over some of the other performers from last night.

#4 Anne-Marie Boskovich. She did okay. She sang Aretha Franklin - Natural Woman, but it felt like I was at the Karaoke Bar on a Friday night and the hot secretary at my work got up in her work clothes after a few Mai Tais and belted this bitch out. It was nice, but not Idol worthy. Still she is smoking hot and her smile is amazing.

#3 Alexis Grace. I did not remember who this was until they showed her transformation from auditions to now. Again I did not really like her performance but compared to some of the trainwrecks these poor kids committed last night, she did an okay job. Alexis sang Aretha Franklin - Never Loved a Woman. Aretha got more love last night than that ribbon she wore at Obama's Inaugaration. #2 and #1 won me over on pure performance alone.

#2 Tatianna Del Toro. I really do not like drama queens. Which Tatianna is. With her hamming it up for camera time, scary smile and laugh, twisted two face personality, and over obsessive desire to be loved. Her narcissism is choking to watch. But last night Tatianna was Single White Female scary in her awesome delivery of Whitney Houston - Saving All My Love For You. I'll tell you what, this girl ALWAYS knows where the camera is.

#1 Danny Gokey. And finally the inspiration of the night, Danny lost his wife less then a year ago and we have seen him on his journey with his best friend Jamer since auditions. Danny is VERY likeable and showed last night that he has got the talent and the brass to move on. It was sad seeing nice kids just blow it last night, but I think that Danny might earn the #1 spot for boys from this group of kids. We shall see the results tonight.

Top 5 Reasons 2009 is better then 2008...so far

#5 - At this time last year I was working full time at ProFlowers during the Valentines Day rush....only to be laid off two days from now. On my birthday. Awesome.

#4 - I am working at the Fairgrounds NOW, instead of at the end of March like in 2008.

#3 - I seem to be a hit with multiple ladies right now. Even just a little attention is always a good thing.

#2 - I am turning 31 on Thursday and not 30. Turning 30 and feeling like I have failed to accomplish things I wanted was SO depressing last year.

#1 - I am a year closer to earning my Bachelors in Advertising. How sweet it is.

Top 5 Reasons that Shopping Online is Ideal

This morning I was heading to work and found that my ear buds for my iPod had lost an ear piece in my car. In other words I needed new headphones. So I knew that after work I would be headed to Best Buy and thus knowing this started to pre-shop in my mind all the things I wanted or just wanted to buy because I currently can. So with my birthday just days away and having no idea what my loved ones may or may not be getting for me, I was thinking outside my normal "wants" and looking for things I don't normally tell people I want. But what I also found was that I could NOT find the things I actually wanted. Which leads me to this. My list of the Top 5 Reasons that Shopping Online is Ideal.

5. The price of gas and the price of mail delivery are pretty close.

4. I can ALWAYS find what I am looking for. When was the last time you looked for something online and it was sold out?

3. You can shop in your boxer shorts....kinda like the way I am writing this. natch.

2. The prices online are typically way cheaper then what you will find in stores, couple that with low shipping prices makes it very nice.

1. On websites like Amazon you can create wishlists that allow you to shop now, and buy later. I like that.

5 Reasons I want an Amazon Kindle (2)

So over a year ago Amazon debuted the Kindle, an ereader that can be used to read books, newspapers and magazines, download them, and other cool stuff. While I thought this was cool I did not really think it was worth the high cost of the original. Also knowing that when something is extremely popular like the iPhone, the Kindle, etc that there will always be upgrades and lowers prices down the road. So I like to wait. But now with the announcement of the Kindle 2 I thought I would chime in with the 5 reasons I would want an Amazon Kindle. p.s. my Birthday is next week.

5. All the Harry Potter Books in one place!

although I love the artwork of the books and would still want those for keepsakes.

4. All the Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, Dark Sun, Souljammer, Battletech, Star Wars and more novels that I grew up with and love but have packed away in some box somewhere.

3. Reading magazines and newspapers
Let's be real. Newspaper ink is disgusting after you have not read a paper for awhile. And having the paper on an e-reader still means you have to pay for it.

2. Always having the ability to read something on the toilet.
I'm not fronting, I get some good reading done in the bathroom.

1. Comics on demand!
It's not a reality yet, but many in the comics industry are accepting the fact that comic shops are not the only distribution out there, and so many people are downloading comics illegally each week it is creating it's own business. So once they fucking figure it out, it's only a matter of time before you can read comics on the Kindle.
2.

Top 5 Things I would like to see go away

Okay so my first post on this new blog starts off with a little negative slant to it. These are the Top 5 stories I would like to see go away as soon as possible.

5. Michael Phelps caught smoking weed
Who cares? I found a few years ago that my parents still smoke weed and that shit blew my mind. But my roommates and friends all do it, and they are functioning adults in society. It's such a mainstream thing these days that I think this story needs to just stop.

4. Valentines Day
I don't hate Valentines Day. I don't love it either. I just want this fabricated holiday to go away. I feel like it's such a cash grab for retailers. Although buying flowers for a girl without a Valentine and seeing her face light up is a reward worth paying for.

3. Annoying American Idol contestants
I have to admit. In all my time working in Top 40 radio for years I never got sucked into this vapid soulless show. And then last year some girlfriends of mine had some viewing parties for a few weeks and I was hooked. Watching this year I find myself rooting for San Diegan Arianna Afsar who performed in the SD Fair Superstar contest that I ran last year. But I have been seeing less and less of this adorable talent and more of the top most annoying people to ever grace television. Nathanial Marshall who is an emo bitch douchebag and Tatiana Del Toro who is this side of talented enough to be tolerated by the AI judges. Vote that bitch off already!

2. Birthday's blown out of porportion
My 30th birthday was a sad and depressing affair and I would like to soon forget it. But I am sick and tired of people rallying up to celebrate this birthday or that and no one puts shit together for me. My problem is that most people look to me as a leader/planner and want to know what I want to do. You know what I want? Get drunk. Get laid. Watch cartoons. That's really it.

1. People losing jobs
I have been living with a poor job economy for the last 2 plus years so I can only imagine what it must be like right now for people out of work. I am working three jobs and want something new, but where would I go? Anyways I cannot wait for the economy to recover and people to start working again.