Let’s get right to it.

If you are an artist and are interested in submitting a logo, there are two simple elements I am seeking to incorporate:

• The name JOpinionated
• The inclusion of both TV and film related icons; bonus points for music

Style-wise, I am fairly open to almost anything (as long as it is an obvious visual nod to pop culture).

I will be posting all submissions, so please let me know if you would prefer to keep your name private.

The deadline is August 31, 2008.

What is the reward for the winner, my favorite new logo? Your name and a permanent link to your site here (if you have one), and, oh, 3 seasons of one of the following shows on DVD:

I was happy to discover that this particular post happens to be my 400th. In just under 3 years, that is far more than I ever thought I would write or share.

So I had to share. Here are some suggestions for your own contemplative road trip or hike:

1. The Blower’s Daughter – Damien Rice (O)
2. City of Blinding Lights – U2 (How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb)
3. Chocolate – Snow Patrol (The Last Kiss: Original Soundtrack)
4. Cold Wind – Arcade Fire (Six Feet Under: Everything Ends, Vol. 2)
5. Heartbreak World – Matt Nathanson (Some Mad Hope)
6. I Will Possess Your Heart – Death Cab for Cutie (Narrow Stairs)
7. Private Universe – Crowded House (Afterglow)
8. Read My Mind [Like Rebel Diamonds Mix] – The Killers (Read My Mind – EP)
9. Remember Me As a Time of Day – Explosions in the Sky (How Strange, Innocence)
10. Scared – Liz Phair (Liz Phair)
11. Walking After You – Foo Fighters (The X-Files: The Album)
12. Weird Fishes/Arpeggi – Radiohead (In Rainbows)
13. When Your Mind’s Made Up – Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova (Once soundtrack)

See you next week. Time to pack up the laptop (a cold mist is moving in quickly) and enjoy the scenery instead.

On occasion, I feel particularly uninspired…which is very disconcerting and depressing. Most of the time I can’t wait to get home from work and write about the pop culture world at large. But the well is empty. I have nothing for you.

Perhaps I’m wasting too much time and energy on Twitter. It could also be that I’ve been staying up too late every night, watching a variety of shows online.  Or perhaps it has been the lack of quality films released during the last few months, ostensibly removing one of my favorite activities/pastimes from the menu and quelling my overall enthusiasm for going to the movies.

I know I’ve hit a serious wall because I can’t even muster up a new Lost entry for my other blog, which I’ve been trying to do for days in anticipation of tomorrow night’s return.  I believe that I have blog block, an updated twist on traditional writer’s block.

There isn’t a real explanation or excuse. I just don’t want to bore you, so I’ll be back when something finally ignites and excites.

[update: My mom called to see if I was okay after reading this. I'm fine. I simply hit a rough creative patch and shared too much, as usual. But I appreciate those of you who expressed concern.]

Psst…take a look.

What do you think? Feel free to leave comments either here or there. That’s right, I’m asking you to take sides in my virtual divorce.

My friend, The Ex (her nickname; not someone I used to make mix tapes for), has a great blog which I have bookmarked and read every day. She is damn funny, and I appreciate both her writing style and her anal-retentive attention to spelling and grammar. Have I mentioned that we don’t actually know each other? We are virtual blog buddies. It’s fun.

I’ve been thinking about her site because I want to make improvements to this one. I am openly jealous about the amount of comments she receives for almost every single post. Granted, she writes and shares more frequently than I do. But obviously her following is dedicated. And chatty. Mine consists of frequent lingerers with responses from only a select few (which make my day every time). Don’t get me wrong, I am also grateful for those who do return often, the fairly decent number of daily hits, and my beloved 14 subscribers!

So, taking a page from her, I have some questions for my readers and for fellow bloggers:

• Am I covering pop culture topics that you’re interested in? If not, suggestions?
  
• Did you know that you don’t have to give your real or full name when you leave comments? Are you more likely to do so knowing that it can be done anonymously?
• How do you build upon readership and encourage comments?
• Do you prefer reading shorter, more frequent blog entries or lengthier, more detailed posts every other day or so?
  
• What are your favorite blogs, and why? Please feel free to plug your bookmarks here!
  

Frankly, I am just as curious to find out why you disagree with something I’ve written as I am to find out we are on the same page. Seriously.

- Jo

Between my company retreat, holiday party and an early preview of Juno tomorrow night, my evenings have been filled and I have neglected this blog.