Five Current Obsessions

So the Modern Gal tagged me on this really interesting meme that she did the other day, so I thought that I would give it a go. Check out the Modern Gal's obsessions here too. And as for mine, here we go:

1. Technology - and I am not even talking in the small scale. I am talking the large and ever-progressing technological world that we live in. Things like integrating your Tivo to be recorded wirelessly on your computer so that you can download your favorite TV shows to your Ipod in order to watch them on it or hook it up to a TV where ever you decide to watch it. Things like integrating your twitter (or twitter on it's own), Google Extras, reference programs, notes, hard drives, computers, pictures, and the like all together so that it can be accessed from anywhere and always available. All technology and the ever expansive knowledge and integration that is possible and becoming ever more assessable on an everyday basis.....I am addicted!!!!

2. Promoting the Local - In everything that I do, buy, want to visit, promote, and search for I try to find the local first. It has taken a while to change perspective and focus, but searching out local food, local restaurants, local bars, and local businesses puts more money back in one's own community and betters the area as a whole. For this reason I am absolutely obsessed with seeking out what is local or where I can buy it from somewhere locally owned and continue to help spread the word in hopes of keeping these locals alive and keep big box as far from my grasp as possible.

3. Information - I know, I know, this one is extremely broad, but I needed it to be that way. I am obsessed with being informed in enough areas to be able to hold conversation and be up on current events. I watch news every morning, listen to NPR every single time I am in the car, read blogs like they are going out of style, read journals in areas ranging from finance to forensic science, and listen to NPR's Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, This American Life, and Studio 360 as if they aren't going to be there tomorrow. I am on a mission to stay on top of the issues and make sure my opinion is an informed one.

4. Genius Application on Itunes - I just downloaded ITunes 8.0 and as an addition you get this new application: Genius. It is an web integration into your music library that does song suggestions, album completion suggestions, and even suggestions for new music. The thing that I really like is that if you have a song selected in your library, you can click a button on the bottom of the screen and the Genius App will compile a new playlist for you from your existing library based around the one key song you selected. I have already made a dozen and am addicted to doing this over and over again.

5. My Family - I have never been one to say that I focus a lot on family. I also never thought that I would make decisions based on time spent with my family during the week. Well that all changed when I got married. I know this isn't where you wanted me to go with this I am sure, but this is something that I am obsessed with. I really do make decisions on when I schedule meetings, when I sign up for special events, and when I try to cram in more studying as to maximize the amount of time I get to spend with my wife and our children (dogs).

Ok, so those are my obsessions. Those little things that plague my thoughts throughout the day and that I don't go without incorporating into everyone.

I need to tag two people to keep this going, so let us see what Mental 360 and Mel Does Grad School are obsessed with these days.