10 Things that make me mad, in no particular order

• That guy at the gym who runs really fast while you're jogging and laps you three times, then leaves. You've ran 10 laps and he's only run 3, but it still makes you feel like crap.
• People who answer their cell phones at the movies.
• Automated phone things when you call customer service. Google perfected it with 1-800-Goog411, but no one else seems to be catching on yet...
• Learning that humidity can ruin Motorola phones and void the warranty on a muggy day.
• Coming up with a great idea in the car, but then forgetting it when you get home.
• Remembering that idea, and realizing that it wasn't that great after all.
• Grocery shopping.
• When old people can't figure out how to use a touch-screen checkout pad.
• Having one item at Wal*mart but getting stuck behind long lines of people shopping for families of 12.
• Politics.

Sorry that was so random. Had to get that one out....

~jw

Four Misnomers about Windows Vista

There's no denying that Windows Vista has a bad rap. When my old laptop died, I was kind of worried when I found that every new computer came pre-packaged with Vista. I ended up replacing it with a very suave HP Pavilion dv6815 Entertainment Notebook featuring Windows Vista, and I have to admit -- it's not bad.

The Expectations

Like most users of the Internet, I have heard the horrible things said about Windows Vista, and that is what I expected when I first booted up my new laptop. Throughout high school, I experimented with various Linux distributions and shell edits to the Windows platform -- I know my way around a good operating system. These are the things I've heard said about Vista:

1. It's slow
2. It isn't backwards-compatible
3. It's asks too many questions
4. It converts people to Mac computers

Strangely, I happen to disagree with all four of these concepts. Lets start at the top of the list...


1. It's slow

There's no denying that Vista tries really hard at being pretty, and unfortunately, this can take away from performance. What many people don't seem to realize is that these settings can all be turned off from the control panel.

Still, I will confess that Vista does use considerably more system resources than XP, but that is to be expected as we move toward newer technologies. Now-a-days you can't even buy the newest PC video games unless you also poses a brand-name , top-of-the-line, I-really-like-hyphens computer. Even then, the darn thing will be too slow for Crisis 2. While XP should definitely stick around, it won't be necessary for long as computers get more and more powerful. Computers from 1995 are now laughable by today's standards, so the resource issue is no issue at all -- Microsoft is just trying to step ahead of the market.


2. It isn't backwards-compatible

That's the silliest rubbish I've ever heard. When you launch a program, you can right click on the icon to launch it in "XP mode" or any other previous Windows operating system. In the months that I've owned Vista, the only program I couldn't get to work was Peer Guardian 2, and that's probably because I didn't try hard enough.


3. It asks too many questions

Sometimes it does seem a little excessive on security to ask before launching a program from my desktop that I clicked on, but honestly its not any different than the "sudo" admin method used in Ubuntu. The only difference is that in Vista you don't have to retype your password each time. Security is nice. Stop complaining.

4. It converts people to Mac computers

Don't you hate those commercials with the lame Windows guy in a suit and the "cool" Mac college kid making fun of the suit guy? Me too. Mac marketing people are smart. They know their audience, and they know what people have been saying about Windows. Their advertisements only perpetuate the misnomers about Windows.

Macintosh computers are built with one concept in mind -- ease of use. Everything about a Mac is designed to just work, and it does just that. Windows, on the other hand, has traditionally been designed to be flexible. The new Windows Vista seems to be Microsoft's attempt at a compromise between the two. I love some of the new features in Windows, even if they seem overly simplified, but it's no Mac.

Macintosh marketing is working to convert people to their brand by leaching on to Microsoft's scarred reputation and sucking on it like the media sucks on Obama's preacher.

In conclusion...

Vista isn't bad. While it's still stupid to upgrade from XP to Vista, it still doesn't deserve the bad rap that its been given. So come on, guys... Lets try to love, OK?

~Jw

7 Cures for Cancer

~~~~~~~~~~~~
UPDATE: For those of you who are accessing this blog for the first time via this article, I would like to clarify that this blog is NOT a news blog or a science blog, but the personal blog of a college student. All cures listed below have their sources linked beneath their descriptions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~

As medical technology becomes more and more advanced, its a wonder human life expectancy has yet to reach 100. Today, we find ourselves one step closer to living in the triple digits with these seven, yes SEVEN cures for cancer!

1. Kanzius Machine

This machine was invented by a former businessman and radio technician named John Kanzius. The concept behind this machine seems pretty complicated, but apparently its pretty successful. Here's the formula: Gold + Radio waves = no more cancer. Apparently, by injecting nanoparticles of gold into the blood system, the metal would then bond with the cancer cells while ignoring healthy cells. After this bond has occurred, shooting radio waves at the patient would destroy anything with gold nanoparticles in it. Goodbye, cancer! Non-invasive and successful!

Sources: 1, 2, 3

2. HACE 1 - The Cancer Curing Gene

This one is still relatively new, and research is still in the works, but the concept is pretty amazing. It seems a research group in Canada called the B.C. Cancer Agency has found a gene that can stop cancer, called HACE 1. The Washington Post writes, "Cancerous cells form tumors when HACE 1 is inactive and tumor growth is extensive due to additional stress such as radiation. But activating HACE 1 prevented the formation of tumors, the researchers said." By simply activating this gene in the human body, our own body could turn on the cancer cells.

Sources: 1

3. Modified Rabies - The Anti-Cancer Virus

It may sound like a concept stolen from I am Legend, but this one is for real! Scientists from Yale University have found a way to inject mice inoperable brain tumors with a modified version of the Rabies virus that attacks the cancer instead of the mice. Other scientists from the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have been researching a similar cure with the same virus.

Sources: 1, 2

4. Hot Peppers

Researchers from the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in collaboration with colleagues from UCLA have found that the same component used to make peppers hot can also turn prostate cancer against itself. Go figure!

Sources: 1

5. Dichloroacetate (DCA)

This drug is actually already on the market, but companies simply aren't selling it to cure cancer because it would not be profitable! Because the drug has no patent, anyone could produce it for almost nothing. No profit means no interest from drug companies. NewScience.com writes,

"Evangelos Michelakis of the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, and his colleagues tested DCA on human cells cultured outside the body and found that it killed lung, breast and brain cancer cells, but not healthy cells. Tumours in rats deliberately infected with human cancer also shrank drastically when they were fed DCA-laced water for several weeks."

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

6. Cancer stopping bacteria (Streptococcus pyogenes)

In 1890, a doctor named William B. Coley accidentally infected one of his patients with a common bacteria named Streptococcus pyogenes. DamnInteresting.com writer Matt Castle writes,

"The records showed that after the wound became infected with a commonplace bacterium, Streptococcus pyogenes, the patient went through several bouts of fever. With each attack of fever the tumor shrank until eventually it disappeared entirely, leaving only a large scar under the left ear. Coley surmised that the infection had stimulated the German’s immune system– as evidenced by the repeated fevers– and that it was this immune response that had caused the eradication of the cancer."

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4

7. Synthetic Cancer Suicide Pills

A medicine being researched by Seoul National University and the National center for Toxicological Research have found a synthetic material called "procaspase activating compound one" (PAC-1), that causes cancer to destroy itself.

EurekaAltert.org writes, "Most living cells contain a protein called procaspase-3, which, when activated, changes into the executioner enzyme caspase-3 and initiates programmed cell death, called apoptosis. In cancer cells, however, the signaling pathway to procaspase-3 is broken. As a result, cancer cells escape destruction and grow into tumors."

This research was funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the University of Illinois.

Sources: 1,

UPDATE:

I found one more!

8. Masturbation

BBC News has recently written an article stating that regular masterbation for men could significantly reduce the risk of prostate cancer! Now that's science.

Sources: 1

4 reasons Chain Letters Suck

Chain letters, in all forms, are one of my biggest pet peeves, and for 4 reasons.

4. They're immature

It seems to me that most people who send chain letters, chain comments, or chain e-mails are simply trying to get attention. People have an innate desire to have an impact on the world, and someone, somewhere is immature enough to derive some sort of pleasure from seeing their letter being posted all over the internet.

3. Who is idiotic enough to think they are real?

It is sad to me that someone out there really believes that if they send an email to 10 people and then hit "Ctrl+Alt+del" two times real fast that the name of their lover will appear on their computer screen. I know computers are amazing, but they're not freaking magic. Stop being retarded.

Example from a You-tube comment:

"In 1997 a girl called lauren was walking in a forest and then a she just dissapeared no one ever found her untill 2000 when a yoing girl called Mary found her body and markings on her chest saying: I wasnt pretty enough" and now you have read this she will appear in your mirrorrsaying your not pretty enough and kill you. by the way the girl called mary died shortly after. To be saved paste this to 5 other videos. THIS IS TRUE Now uv started readin dis dunt stop. This is so scary. Send this to 5 ova videos in 143 minutes. When ur done press F6 and ur crushes name will appear on the screen in big letters. This is scary cause it actually works."

Seriously. I swear I didn't make this up. The sad thing is, this comment was posted on the video over the first 10 comments. That means that 10 people felt their lives were in danger, but if they managed to save themselves, then their "crushes name will appear on the screen in big letters." If you did believe this, it's online harassment. If you don't believe it, then you can now graduate from Middle School.

When I ask people why they pass on chain letters, I seem to get the same response over and over again. "Hey, it doesn't hurt to try it! It might have worked." Well, guess what? It didn't. And it never will. Just give up.

2. It is guerrilla junk mail

It's easy to block junk mail from "getabiggerpenis@generic.com," but its not so easy to ignore an email from your friends and family. Perhaps the worst spell of chain emails I ever received were from my Aunt. My Dad told her my email address and she sent me an average of two chain letters a day. It doesn't sound so bad, but it got old fast. Her email address is blocked in my Gmail account now...

1. Stupid threats just piss me off.


For the love of God, this is a big one. If you threaten me with something, don't make it as FREAKING DUMB as a dramatic, dead girl named Mary. The thing is, even though I know its just a big pile of crap, it still infuriates me to be threatened by a freaking You-tube comment. I know it's not a big deal, but it gets annoying. It's kind of like having someone drive by in a car while you're walking down the street, and they yell out the window, "I'M GOING TO EVERYONE YOU LOVE IF YOU DON'T THREATEN 5 PEOPLE TODAY!" You know it's a lie, but it still makes you mad.



So guys, please. Just stop sending those letters and hit the "delete" button. Thanks.

~jw

10 ways to tell when its time to buy more food

I've been putting off shopping for about a week now because I've been so busy, and I've noticed a change in my living habits. So here are the Top 10 Ways to tell when its time to buy more food!

10. You start "dieting" non-voluntarily

When you start eating so little that it is just easier to call it a "diet" than to fess up and shop, you know its time to spend the 1.50 in gas to go to Wal*Mart.

9. There is more sauce packets in your place than food

Eating at Fast Food restaurants instead of buying groceries at a store can leave you with more sauces that you know what to do with! In fact, right now I'm sitting next to a bag of Chick-fil-a's Polynesian Sauce and four packs of Arby's Sauce. Oh, and some mini A1 packets. Yummy!

8. Your friends get mad because you only visit to eat their food

My girlfriend got mad at me for this one yesterday. In her dorm they have a bowl of candy in the living room. Every time I go over there, I practically empty the thing. Now I'm banned from eating there anymore...

7. Your food becomes more "creative"

Bread in the Microwave? Almost as good as toast!

6. You have to eat from vending machines for a meal

Why go to the grocery store when you can just get a bag of chips to tide you through the day?

5. Expiration dates become "suggestions"

I love it when my roommates clean out the fridge. I just have to eat all the food I can before they throw things out!

4. You have to eat the same thing every day

Diversity is for rich kids. I will always have my 50 cent can of Spagettios and my 87 cent pizzas from Wal*Mart.

3. Those things are Ramen and Bread

Well, no more Spagettios and Pizza... :-(

2. Putting off shopping becomes a contest instead of a necessity

Its been 37 days since I last shopped! And I only spent 80 dollars when I did go...

1. When you're loosing the contest

Ok, I'll admit it. I'm freaking hungry. I guess it's time to go to the store now...

~jw

P.S. HELP BUY ME FOOD! Donate a dollar to get me some Ramen! PayPal link on the right!

Why is it so hard to find original content on Stumbleupon?

I'll tell you why.

People want to gain traffic to make money, and they seem to all use the same 5 things to get said traffic.

5. Generic Lists

I know. I'm doing it right now. Still, its crude but effective. I'm not hating on the list... I love the lists. Still, it doesn't provide for a lot of variety.

4. Online flash-games

I'll admit it; I LOVE online flash games. Remember fishy? The point is, you start to see the same material over and over again. If a game gets popular, someone will post it again on their own site to get a slice of the pie. Even worse is when a website just links to it and then places a frame around the original website. Thats just low...

3. Articles about other already popular articles

Now we're getting into the dirty tricks. Saw a funny video? Read an interesting news article? Well, post a blog about that funny video or crazy news article you just saw and link to it! Instant traffic, no work. Thats just lazy.
2. Funny pictures, lolcats, or boobs

The occasional lolcat or "un-inspirational" poster is fine. It's seeing the same picture 20 times in a row that makes it lame. Simply put, funny pictures on the internet get recycled and slapped with new logos in the corner ever five minutes. Its just lame.

1. Viral Videos

I love me some You-tube. I hate me some REALLY FREAKING OLD viral videos that cycle around like a bazillion times. Again, the only way to make this worse is to put a frame around a You-tube or Google Video page and then resubmit it. We as a community need to encourage ORIGINAL and innovative content, or they will simply keep recycling the old. It's just like ever sitcom to ever come on the air after Seinfeld.

~jw

5 reasons spell check sucks, but I need it.

Spell check. Many would lay their life down for it. I, on the other hand, hate it. Spell check sucks for 5 reasons, but it's too late because now I'm dependent on it.

This is why it sucks:

5. I feel like a failure

When I'm just typing away and not really watching the screen, it makes me sad to look up and see almost EVERY WORD underlined with that freaking red squiggly line. Its like my computer is making fun of me... :-(

4. Homonyms suck

"I have 27 cents! Since yesterday, I've been sad. I can sense the force!" Why do words have to sound alike? Spell check never picks up on that... (Ok, I know MS Word has grammar check, but I'm talking about SPELL check, like that in Firefox or the Google search engine.)

3. From, form, and for

Miss a letter, swap a letter, or accidentally add a letter and its over. Too often, short words that are messed up are actually some other word spelled correctly! It is a dead giveaway to the reader that you didn't proof read or that you're a Spell Check addict (and now-a-days, who isn't).

2. LIES UPON LIES!

Ok, I'll admit it. Spell check makes me look smarter than I really am. Today I had a written exam in my History class, but I don't think I spelled even 50% of the words right. I've become so dependent on that red squiggly line that I just can't hack writing in real life!

1. I don't learn from my mistakes

Auto-correct in MS Word is the biggest culprit for this one. If you accidentally misspell a word (Entrepreneurship) and Word fixes it without telling you, then how can you learn from your mistake? Because of auto-correct, I still spell "future" as "futur," "wrong" as "wronge," and a variety of other words in dumb ways.


In the end, I need spell check. I wish I had grown up without it, but now I am utterly dependent upon it's power. Unfortunately, that means its weaknesses are my weaknesses and its strengths are my strengths.

I'm sorry for hating on you, Word, but I must. :-(

~jw

5 reasons the new X-play SUCKS

I used to love X-play. In fact, I would never buy a game without first checking to see how Morgan and Adam rated it on a scale from 1-5. I'd even TiVo the thing everyday so I wouldn't miss the newest reviews. That was.... before.

Today, we live in a post-x-play world of hate. And it sucks (for 5 reasons).


5. They be disrespecting their fans

Remember the stupid skits with the interns? Yea, I didn't like them that much either. But thats not the point! The point is, those stupid sketches between reviews where what made the show X-play. The new X-play has taken the characters of Adam and Morgan and just made them into announcers. I loved X-play because its hosts loved video games, too!

Still, occasionally Adam and Morgan's passion for games comes out in their monologues between segments, but the show has still been robbed of its very essence. I miss you, X-play...

4. Interviews suck

Ok, so not everyone will agree with me on this one, but I think interviews suck. Why would I want to hear about how a game was created before I've even had time to play it and appreciate it? I say this to the interviews done with creators of games that haven't been released yet (cof cof SPORE cof coff).

Now, I'll admit that the segment on joining the video game Industry is pretty interesting, but again, thats not why I watch X-play. I love me some video games, but I don't want to create them -- I just want to play them.

3. I never liked "Cheat"

Now that "Cheat" has been combined into the show, I have even less respect for X-play. For one, "Cheat" doesn't actually show cheats anymore. Instead, its more like tips. Here's a good example...



I own Super Mario Galaxy. I've gotten about 103 stars of the 120. The game isn't all that hard, but its a ton of fun. On yesterday's X-play, they showed a "cheat" for Mario Galaxy, but the cheat was actually a tutorial on how to beat the SECOND BOSS in the game. Honestly, if you can't beat the mole man level, then its not going to do you much good to get past this level. It only goes uphill from there.

2. It has become "Attack of the Show II"

Let me first say that I like Attack of the Show. But I also liked the first "Land Before Time." My point is, we don't need another "Attack of the Show." I realize that X-play is still more gaming focused that AotS, but it doesn't change the fact that it is very suddenly merging toward the same goal. I actually now like AotS MORE than X-play, because at least it has Gadget Pr0n and more realistic hosts. X-play makes me sad now. :-(

1. They don't review video games anymore

This is my biggest complaint. Each show has maybe one game preview and one review. Once again, I'm not a big fan of game previews, but for a video game reviewing show, I've seen a couple of the new episodes with out a SINGLE REVIEW. That is just wrong.

Now, I hear that they have recently decided to start pre-releasing Zero Punctuation's reviews on the show, but thats kind of cheap. I went to Zero Punctuation after I lost all hope in X-play. In fact, X-play sucking made me a huge fan of Zero Punctuation. I just hope X-play doesn't drag ZP down with them....

So...

As much as I criticize the new X-play, I would like to give kudos to their new website design. Its simply easier to navigate and I can find reviews quicker. Also, Zero Punctuation has stolen my heart, so it's too late, X-play.... I just can't believe you're having an affair with ZP... I'm not quite sure how to feel about that.

~jw

4 reasons stumblecards suck

Stumblecards. The site description claims "Its the latest sensation sweeping the web!" Everyone else claims it sucks. So here are four reasons that Stumblecards SUCK.


4. They're pointless

If I wanted trading cards, I'd get trading cards. The whole point of "trading cards" is to try to obtain the hard-to-find ones, but with stumblecards, the most wanted cards are at the top of a Google search. Oh, and you can type "stumblecard" in the stumbleupon search engine and find all of them in about 2 seconds.


3. It's a viral marketing trick

Really, its just a way to get traffic for websites and advertisements for things like the Batman movie (I'm talking to YOU, Joker card) or Nintendo (your turn, Link card).

Oh, and the Link card makes him look like a girl. As if being an elf wasn't gay enough...


2. They're boring

I use stumbleupon to keep me entertained... Like Television, Youtube, or Wii. I don't want to go to some boring picture of a dude and then get told to Thumbs it up just because its the "in" thing. Who gets to decide that this is the "in" thing? Stumble cards suck. You can bite me if you think I'm going to give a thumbs up to that.



1. They ruin the point of Stumbleupon

Any site that tells its viewers to give it a thumbs up in stumbleupon kind of pisses me off. I just can't help it. For one thing, Stumbleupon is about letting the USER decide what is good and what is bad. In a sense, stumblecards are attempting to take the power of user review AWAY from the user.

Also, stumblecards just plain seem lazy. I use stumbleupon to find the latest, most innovative (or just most interesting)sites on the web. Anybody can copy and paste a new card on top of the old card and call it a stumblecard. Come on, guys. At least try...


In conclusion...

I will always give a thumbs down to stumblecards. They suck now, and they will suck forever. The worst part is that they have succeeded so much already. If I wanted to play "stumblecards," I would buy some damn Pokemon cards. You suck, stumblecards.



~jw

P.S. You know what also sucks? Stumble Upon experiments. Click here to see why


UPDATE -- I've gotten some responses from stumblers on ideas how to stop em!

The first idea can be found here... It basically says to block the people who first stumble the cards.

The second idea is just stumbling ONE PAGE instead of stumbling a bunch of cards all day long.

Check it out, yo's! Stumblecard = sad

If game consoles were cars

Wii

The Wii would be a Volkswagen Bug. It may not be the fastest car in the world, but it’s cheap, fun, and does what you want it to do. It handles great and looks interesting, but if you're a guy and have one then someone is eventually going to make a sexual joke at your expense.

Playstation 3 (PS3)

The PS3 would be a top-of-the-line Ferrari. It is way out of the ordinary person's price range, so it has a smaller market, but if you have enough money to get it, it has the most high-tech engine available under the hood.

Xbox 360

The Xbox 360 would be a Jeep Wrangler. The biggest market it appeals to are people in their teens and twenties. It is considered cooler than the Volkswagen by many but is cheaper than the Ferrari, making it a good middle-of-the-road vehicle. Upon the decision to purchase the Jeep, the future owner has the option of getting either a skimmed down version or a tricked-out off-roading version.

Unfortunately, the Jeep is notorious for easily breaking. It is top heavy, easy to flip, and the motor dies quicker than other cars.

Playstation 2 (PS2)

The Playstation 2 would be an old (but well kept) Toyota Camry. They still make new ones, but they are not the car of choice. Many of them are still on the road, and most of them look and run just fine. By far the weakest of the current cars, it is also the most affordable. Although it is a dying breed, its availability makes it more attractive to the common driver.

Nintendo DS

The Nintendo DS would be a Go-Kart. Not technically a car, but still a blast to drive around in! People love to race around in these things, but no was meant to use this as a regular car. It’s affordable and fun, and because of this it is popular.

Playstation Portable (PSP)

The PSP would be a Harley Davidson Motorcycle. It is more powerful than a Go-Kart, but a lot more intimidating to drive. Steering can be tricky, but once you get the hang of it, it can be pretty fun. You look cool driving it, but it is less fun than riding a Go-Kart. It can be used as an everyday car, but it was more designed for joyriding than transportation. As a bonus, there is a large fan-base of riders who love tricking out their Harley’s, and they would be more than willing to help you tweak yours too.

~jw

P.S. I tried to stay semi-non-biased, but if you disagree let me know in the comments. Thanks for reading!

Top 5 Tips on how to survive a crappy job

Congratulations! You are now employed! What’s that you say? Your job sucks? How so? Low pay? Long hours? Well, let me let you in a little something… A job that makes money is an awesome job. More money means more awesome, but even at the bottom of the chain, you’re still better off than those unemployed hobos under the interstate.

Ok, so I bet you still think your job sucks. Even though your job may be crappy, it doesn’t mean you can be a bad worker. Here are the top five tips to surviving your crappy job. Heck, if you follow all of them, you might even get a promotion and have a slightly less crappy job. At the very least, you will make someone else’s job less crappy.

5. Always be available

Finally! It’s the weekend. Time to sleep in, sit back, and play some Wii. What’s that yonder sound? *Ring Ring!* It’s your boss! What does he ask? Can you come in today and work, she says?

The answer is yes, and for two reasons.

First off, you are going to get more money. That means you will be able to afford more Wii games.

Secondly, it makes you look good. A very important part of making your job less crappy for you and for those around you is simply to make yourself likable. The more people enjoy your presence, the more they will want you to work. That means more hours and, eventually, better pay. Showing up whenever they need you makes you a very desirable employee. That means they will pay more to keep you.

4. Be nice to EVERYONE

You know that one guy who everyone hates? The guy that works next to you and NEVER does any of his work and you end up having to do it for him? Well, you can’t be mean to him. You can’t even talk behind his back about him.

Why? Because the worse you treat him, the worse you look. No one likes a bully. Even if someone is just witnessing someone else getting bullied, no one feels sympathetic to the one dealing out the blows and stealing the lunch money. Sure, maybe he or she deserves it. Does that matter? No. If he or she is a crappy employee, he or she will be fired. At the very least, you will look awesome in comparison.

Also, go out of your way for people! If someone asks you to do something for them and you have the time, do it. Don’t be their slave, but lend a helping hand every once in a while. It will make everyone’s life easier in the long run.

3. People expect you to suck

Now-a-days, getting a crappy minimum wage job is easy. So easy, in fact, that most of the people who work at those jobs are people who deserve minimum wage or lower. By that, I mean high-schoolers, druggies, and insane people will all want your job.

By default, when you walk into your job for the first time, people will expect you to suck. While this may sound like a bad thing, it really works in your favor. Use this to your advantage! Many lazy people would say, “If I just live up to their low expectations, I’ll get paid the same as working my butt off. Why bother?”

Because if you work far beyond what the employer expects, people will notice. I guarantee it. People will start to like you, which means that employers will pay more to keep you. Hello, higher pay, more hours, and promotions!

On top of that, everyone who works with you will have an easier job. Everyone wins!

2. Don’t burn your bridges

This is perhaps the hardest one of all. Ready to leave for college? Tired of working at that crappy fast food restaurant? Well, before you grab the intercom microphone and curse out everyone in the store, STOP and think. What happens if someone you work with gets a promotion? One day, you might be applying for an internship with McDonald’s HQ in Washington, when suddenly the guy hiring remembers you from the incident four years ago. Goodbye, sweet job.

Most everyone has worked a crappy job at least once in their life, and you only get first impressions once. As tempting as it is to leave with a bang, don’t.

1. You are dispensable

The store is packed. There is a line going out the front door and down the street. And you are the only one working the registers. Yikes. But hey, look at the bright side! There is no way they would fire you tonight, right?

WRONG. Every pot addict and their brother wants your job. It’s pretty easy, it makes money, and they hire and fire people every five minutes. No matter how much you think they need you, you are replaceable. Your pay will reflect how much you mean to them. Higher pay means that you have more job security, but it also means your job is less crappy. If you think your job is crappy, there is still someone else in this world who wants it.

By remembering that you can ALWAYS be replaced, you will automatically find yourself working harder, being nicer, and generally making everyone’s lives easier. You’re not the one, Neo. Not yet.

~jw

P.S. Like usual, I took many of the pictures above from Google Images. If you feel that I have stolen your pictures or content in any way, tell me so in a comment and leave your email address. I will return contact and not publish your personal info. Thanks!

Top 10 vintage theme songs from when you were a kid

Remember back in the day when all you'd do on Saturday mornings is watch Cartoons and eat Frosted Flakes? Well, prepare for a walk down memory lane with...

THE Top Vintage Theme songs from when you were a kid!

Of course, this is all based on my opinion and if you disagree, please say so in the comments! Did I miss one? Let me know! Here goes...

10. Animaniacs




Strangely, this show is the only reason I can name most of the presidents. The Animaniacs were known for their surprisingly catchy tunes that often appeared during episodes.

9. Spiderman




Who doesn't know this theme song? This is the song that inspired Homer Simpson to create the ever-so-popular Spider Pig song with the same tune. Catchy and slightly hilarious!


8. Rugrats




While this theme song has no words, you'll find yourself humming this tune for days. One thing always bothered me, though... Cynthia wipes dust off of her skirt at the end of the intro, but there was no dirt there before she wipes it! Whatever... I'll let it slide this one time.

7. Darkwing Duck



During the late 80s and early 90s, it seems that the Disney company went through some kind of strange "duck obsessed" phase. Still, the theme to Darkwing duck was almost better than the show. Gotta love it!

6. Duck Tales



Scrooge McDuck changed my life. Well, he made me want to swim in a lake of gold coins, anyway.

5. Chip and Dale; Rescue Rangers



This show meant a lot to me as a kid. When I went to Disney World for the first time with my family, I gave Chip a chocolate "chip" cookie, 'cause I liked him. OK, so I was four and it was just a dude dressed up like Chip, but leave me alone.

4. Salute your Shorts



This show is probably the reason I loved going to camp so much as a kid. I mean, how could it not be fun? It makes me wanna fart... Ha ha! Hilarious!

3. Captain Planet



He's our hero. Gonna bring pollution down to Zero. The rapping part is the best.

2. Fraggle Rock



Of all the horrible things that came out of the 70s drug fad, this was what made it all worth while. This show was intense. And awesome. And the theme song rocked. It Fraggle rocked.

1. Reading Rainbow




I seriously get excited about reading when I watch this intro. I wish reading was really this exciting... At least we have video games now!


Comments? Let me know if I left one off!

~jw

Top 5 things inherently wrong with online dating

Before I begin this list, I would like to say one thing... online dating can and DOES work for some people. Sadly, these people tend to be the minority. For the rest of society, I would like to examine the following things inherently wrong with the concept of online dating.

5. Online dating is an oxymoron

Well, kind of. According to Wikipedia, dating is "any social activity performed as a pair or even a group with the aim of each assessing the other's suitability as their partner in a intimate relationship or as a spouse. The word refers to the act of agreeing on a time and 'date' when a pair can meet and engage in some social activity."

Many would argue that the Internet is, in itself, a social activity. This logic works until you take into consideration that several factors keep the couple from being able to accurately assert each other's "suitability as [a potential] partner." What kind of factors am I talking about? Why, the factors that make up the rest of this list! Let's continue.

4. Impersonal

Unfortunately, even the longest text chat or cam session can not make the Internet that much less impersonal. Arguably the most important part of dating is simply growing closer to the person you are with, and, unfortunately, that is rather difficult through the Internet. When communicating via the Internet, there is almost an invisible filter always present. Take, for example, the ability to re-read and spell check important emails. In a way, we are able to hide our flaws and imperfections with the veil that is technology. What it comes down to is that, on the Internet, other people can only you as you want them to see you.

Perhaps this helps explain why studies have shown that many people choose to break up with their loved ones by way of text messaging now a days. It is simply less painful because its so impersonal.

3. Different goals

Unfortunately, for as many people trying to find their soul mate on the Internet, there are about twice as many trying to find a one night stand. Often times, people (usually women, not to be sexist) tend to confuse lust with love. If the "guy of your dreams" asks to see naked pictures of you, then its time to move on. Its really a no-brainer.

2. Anonymity

The ability to be anonymous is a double edged sword. On the one hand, it give us as individuals the freedom to be ourselves without expectation of judgment. On the other hand, it gives others the ability to be themselves without recoil or punishment. Long story short, you can be a jerk and there is not much anyone can do to stop you. I'd expand on this, but I believe that this girl (who ironically posts anonymously) does a good job of explaining why.

In terms of how this affects online dating, it simply makes trust a bigger issue than it already is. How do you know that this person that you are chatting with is really the dream girl she says she is? Well, you don't. And that can be a problem. Pictures and voices can be fabricated more easily than you'd think.

1. Risky

Internet dating is risky in two ways.

First, it's risky for your heart. Many of those who rely on dating via the Internet tend to be both fickle in their relationships and (lets face it) comparatively immature. If you need companionship and have turned to the Internet, expect to be hurt at least a couple of times. Going back to anonymity, being rude is easier through an email. If you're slightly ugly, people on the Internet will have no problem telling you so. If you're over weight, some jerks might throw that right back at you.

Second, it's risky for you as an individual. With identity theft rates on the rise, perhaps the easiest way to lure information from an individual is by pretending to desire an intimate relationship with him or her -- not to mention all those scary pedophiles on myspace.

In conclusion...

Online dating might work for some, but if you are going to try it, be smart. Don't get carried away by romantic talk, and don't put yourself in a dangerous position. Love is hard. If it wasn't, it wouldn't be so worth it in the end.


Best wishes finding that special someone!

~jw

P.S. All images used where found using Google Images. If you feel your content was stolen or misused, you may contact me by leaving a comment with an appropriate return email address listed. Thanks!

Top 10 gameshow moments, from smartest to dumbest

Yes, and in that order.

10. Smartest

At the top of our list is the first guy to ever win $1,000,000 on the show Who wants to be a Millionaire?



9. Smart

Well, I can't really make fun of this guy because he not only was technically correct, but he also was winning by a butt load of points!



8. Not so smart

This guy just plain didn't know the rules of the game. He might not be dumb, but he should have at least watched an episode or something before he came on!



7. Maybe bad luck?

I know he says he hasn't slept in a while, but this is beyond easy. Come on, dude!



6. Dumb

So she solved the puzzle, but she missed a VERY easy clue! This is now officially in the Dumb range of our list.



5. Dumber

Technically, its the host who has problems in this video. Still, can you blame her? After all, a monkey could do better.



4. Even Dumber

While spelling isn't one of my strong points, this still qualifies as dumb. the dumb club is non-ekclusive.



3. Yes, even more dumber

This is how people view America. Sad now...



2. Most dumber

I know, its another dumb blond. This is where those jokes come from.



1. Dumbest

This one takes the cake simply because it makes the whole country of France look dumb as well. Seriously, %56 of the audience thinks the sun revolves around the Earth? Really?



Wow. Just wow.

~jw

P.S. All videos where found on Youtube. If you have a video that you think should have made the list, leave it in the comments and I might amend!

5 reasons "The Hills" MUST be fake!

If you've ever seen an episode of "The Hills" and not instantly fallen in love with it, you have probably assumed the same thing that most people people eventually come to terms with... THE SHOW IS FAKE! Not reality!

Now it is time for...

5 reasons "The Hills" MUST be fake!

5. Awesome camera angles

Tell me... How is that during the middle of a conversation, the camera can suddenly change angles without catching a glimpse of the other cameras? A good example of this would be over the shoulder shots. Even if a camera man is hiding in the bushes, you would think that we would catch a glimpse of the guy every once in a while!

Also, when a character storms off, there seems to be a camera from the perfect angle so that the actor (or actress) will not be hindered in his or her storming. Hmm... I smell a rat.


4. Season ended in December?

Does anyone else think its odd that the series would have a sudden series finale that the writers strike has left the directors high and dry? I guess when the scripts run out, the season is over. At least they try to disguise it by claiming its a season finale.


3. Omnipotent camera?

So one of the girls is getting into bed and turns off the light... Then suddenly the phone rings and there is a camera man there to catch her picking it up! On top of that, there is another camera man with the caller on the other line! Is this just luck? Fate? Chance?

No. How could this not be scripted?


2. The interns NEVER get fired!

You know those two girls who claim to work at "Teen Vogue?" How is it that in the first episode that they intern there, they manage to get caught sneaking in their friends into a private party, then get off SCOTT FREE??? In another episode, one girl is suppose to go to Paris for the summer to work with the company over there. But still, they let it slide. SHE SKIPS WORK FOR 3 MONTHS!

Wtf, Hills? W? t? f?



1. Heidi only goes to work on filming days

This is the most shameful one of all. Heidi doesn't even really work at Bolthouse Productions. Its a complete lie! Don't believe me? Here's the story.



Still don't believe me? Well, you are only lying yourself now...



~jw