Apple iPhone... Apple iPod... the Internet (thank God for DSL!)... e-mail... watching DVDs (i.e., Netflix)... my Apple MacBook Pro... iced tea... Jamba Juice (oh, how I miss thee!)... my Apple G5 editing system... defeating spam... travel... talk radio... road trips... graphic design... hangin' with my kinfolk now that I'm back in Ohio... playing junior psychologist to people...
First of all, there's a big difference between "friends" and "acquaintances". I think most people use the word "friend" when they really mean "acquaintance" (look in the dictonary if you don't know the difference). I have a close circle of real friends, but you can never have too many acquaintances, so say hello and let's see what happens! I'm a bit of a social retard in real life but I'm more apt to make new pals in the safety of cyberworld.
In no particular order: Wall of Voodoo (including Stan Ridgway and Andy Prieboy), Johnny Cash, Timbuk 3 (and Pat MacDonald solo), Men Without Hats (and Ivan solo), Prince, Billy Idol, Fleetwood Mac (including Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks solo), Alanis Morissette, Jim Croce, Talking Heads (and Tom Tom Club), R.E.M., Adam Ant (or Adam & The Ants), Madness, The Police (and most Sting or Stewart Copeland solo), Michael Jackson (it takes a big man to admit that these days!), The Cars, The B-52's, Wang Chung, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Sheena Easton, Elton John, John Denver, The Statler Brothers, The Doors, Nirvana, Eurythmics (and most Annie Lennox solo), The Carpenters, The Bee Gees, KC & The Sunshine Band, Blondie, Eddy Grant, Thomas Dolby, Naked Eyes, The Thompson Twins, Howard Jones, The Go-Go's (and Jane Wiedlan solo), Men at Work, Queen, Hole, Portishead, Concrete Blonde, Tori Amos, David Bowie, The Breeders, Pearl Jam, Green Day, The Offspring, John Carpenter, Madonna, Vanity 6 (and even Appolonia 6!), The Time, Goblin, Spinal Tap...my fingers are too tired to keep typing.
After a lifetime of being a horror geek, it's mostly comedy and drama for this kid now, but the classics still rule (DAWN OF THE DEAD, THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, DEEP RED). These days I prefer to laugh... some of my favorite comedies include OFFICE SPACE, THE 'BURBS, PLANES TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES and RAISING ARIZONA. I still believe the 1970's were the last great decade for movies. I also dig documentaries and movies based on real-life people & events. I'll watch any of those.
THE OFFICE, THE COLBERT REPORT and THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE are current faves, and LAW & ORDER: SVU is a staple. Otherwise it's all old stuff on DVD, like DARK SHADOWS, THE BOB NEWHART SHOW, SEINFELD, SANFORD & SON, THE JEFFERSONS, etc.
Who has time for books?
We can be heroes, just for one day...