Wow, it’s been a long time since I looked at the Friday Five. New design, new software, and so forth. I’m just answering these for kicks, but maybe I’ll check in on it more frequently.

1. Where do you currently work?
I presently work two jobs. My primary job is as a freelance sign language interpreter, and my secondary job is a part-time job at the Rand McNally store in my local mall.
(more…)

Mariann prefaced the current Weekly Wrapup with the following statement:

Yahoo recently implemented a new type of spyware attached to its mailing list service. Other software packages, including Turbo Tax, come with hidden spyware that sometimes cannot be uninstalled. The U.S. government has proposed a massive database of all online activity through its Total Information Awareness Act (TIA). Credit card companies sell contact information to telemarketers. The limits of personal privacy, both on- and off-line, continue to be stretched… so let’s turn to the Weekly Wrap-Up to explore this topic.

1. Does everyone have a right to privacy? Why or why not? Who doesn’t deserve a right to privacy, if anyone? Why?
All individuals have a right to privacy in certain situations. If somebody wants to be alone while going to the bathroom, that’s certainly their right. Convicts in prison have a right to privacy with their mail, I think, though that poses the question of illegal operations being run that way (think John Gotti).
(more…)

Part of the reason I’m answering this week’s Monday Mission is so I can ask Promo to put a link to the MM in the e-mail notification.

1. Have you ever bought something you were so excited about and found out later that it didn’t work? Were you able to return it? How did it go?
Just a couple of weeks ago, I bought the red Chinese outfit for my bunny. I got it home, and of course it had a hole in it! So I took that one back and didn’t exchange it for anything else. Then last Thursday I went to the other local Build-A-Bear shop, and they had plenty of that outfit. I used my frequent buyer card, and paid just 45¢ tax for it!
(more…)

Technically, this is still the current Weekly Wrapup! I’m not even a week late. Mariann prefaced this edition with this: On December 25th, one man won $315 million in a lottery. With that in mind, how would you answer these questions? (By the way, MK’s fiancé R had bought at least one ticket for this lottery. Obviously, he didn’t win.)

1. What would be the first purchase you make with your newly-won fortune? Why?
Probably the very first thing I’d buy would be something silly like clothes and shoes. I’d also want a car and a kayak, but those would require more research.
(more…)

It’s the very last Monday Mission of 2002! (For once I’m not the one who’s late, too.)

1. Which Blog post of yours was one of your favorites of 2002?
I’m sure I couldn’t choose! There were so many hundreds of posts it would be impossible to pick just one. I’d have to say my entire Blogathon series was among my best blogging/journaling experiences this year.
(more…)

Here’s the current Weekly Wrapup:

1. What is your favorite holiday-themed (i.e., specifically involving a winter holiday) movie? Why?
I guess I’ll have to go with A Christmas Story. It feels kind of like an easy answer to say that, but I don’t really enjoy holiday-themed movies because I don’t want to watch them at any other time of year. I’ve seen A Christmas Story several times by now, though; I’m not sure if it will start getting old soon.
(more…)

It’s time for another Monday Mission:

1. So, what do you want for Christmas this year that you probably won’t get?
A new laptop with all the bells and whistles. Also a PS2 with the latest Tony Hawk game.
(more…)

Better late than never, right? Here’s the current Weekly Wrapup.

1. What’s the best part about winter overall? Why? The worst? Why?
Yuck, I don’t like winter enough to come up with a best part about it. I guess snow days are okay, though I liked them a lot better when I was just a student - now, a snow day means I lose money. As for the worst part, I just hate being cold! Winter is messier and more of a hassle than other seasons - you have to carry your coat around, you have to get ready to leave rather than just getting dressed and waltzing out the door, etc.
(more…)

This week’s Monday Mission marks the one-year anniversary for the project - congratulations, Promo!

1. Suppose God (or your deity of choice) grants you one miracle. Consider the world in which we live. Consider your life and family. What would you request for this miracle? Are you sure that is the best way to use it? You only get one.
I don’t believe in God, but I’ll go with the fairy godmother concept. Part of me wants to be selfish and say I’d make myself and all my friends and family independently wealthy, but part of me thinks I’d wish for world peace. Then again, if I were wealthy, it wouldn’t matter if there were peace in the Middle East, because I could afford expensive gasoline. Still, I think it would be nice if everybody just stopped fighting.
(more…)

Here’s the current Weekly Wrapup, a little bit late.

1. What was your favorite toy as a child? Why?
I don’t remember anything specifically, but I suppose the condition of some toys could indicate my level of fondness for them. I had a stuffed monkey named - well, Monkey - who eventually lost both hands, an ear, and so on. Monkey was (is?) very real, in the Velveteen Rabbit sense. I also chewed the heck out of one of my Barbie’s feet, but I don’t think she was my favorite.
(more…)