It seems ever since Al Gore invented the Internets, these little surveys have floated around. You know, the ones where there is a completely random set of questions and folks provide their answers. They then post in on MySpace for all their buddies to see.

In the early days of the Internets it was e-mail. But somehow things like MySpace and facebook have become the more popular means of communication for youngsters.

Nevertheless, I generally hate them. But that doesn't mean I don't read them. I find them highly annoying and then waste 10 minutes of my life reading one.

Well, tonight, I read one and some of the questions intrigued me. So, I'm going to provide answers to selected questions of an Internet survey, only I'm going to elaborate on the answers and actually tell a little story, rather than just giving a one or two word answer and leaving you to wonder.

Here we go:

1. Thing you spend a lot of money on?
Bills. Being a responsible adult is not fun. Especially since I just went to college for four years on someone else's dime. Now I start adulthood deeply in debt. Not to mention I live in Northwest Arkansas where rent ain't exactly cheap if you don't want to live in the ghetto.

Oh, and how 'bout purchasing a car? That will cost you some cash. Woo.

2. Where do you live?
Springdale. Which is an exciting city to live in. You get to experience several cultures all in a city not much bigger than Conway. But it's spread out something wicked. Nothing like driving 20 minutes to get across town.

And there's nothing like the smell of chicken feces and the beautiful blanket of chicken feathers you get to see while taking a drive.

3. Cell phone service provider:
Cingular. I enjoy the rollover minutes. It comes in handy when you forget you own a cell phone for a month and then make up for your forgetfulness the next month.

And since there are millions of people who have Cingular as well, that's a bunch of people you can call for free.

4. Longest job ever had:
My current one. Which is good, since it's my first real grown-up job. Prior to this gig though, I was afraid I'd work a month at every job. I was an intern at the Pine Bluff Commercial in May, a sports reporter/page designer at the Log Cabin Democrat in June and got this job in July.

Prior to my newspaper work, I was custodial help at Glen Rose High School one summer. And my first stint at a newspaper was the summer of 2003 at the Malvern Daily Record.

5. What car do you drive?
Mine. Hah. There's a good smart ass answer, huh? I bought a 2005 Kia Spectra back in September. It's surprisingly roomy for a big guy like me. It's also got some pretty good pep in it for being a little car. And cheaper than a Civic.

6. Longest shift you have worked at a job?
I believe I pulled a couple of 12-hour shifts at The Morning News when we were putting together the football preview section. Half of the day was football, half of it was working on the next day's paper. Exhausting, but the paychecks were nice.

7. Last movie in the theater
Running With Scissors. I'm an interesting cat. I generally love comedies and sports-related movies. But I dig the artsy independent films too. I believe it all started when my folks got DirecTV and I started watching a lot of the Independent Film Channel. They're usually off the wall crazy, but you can't turn away. Running With Scissors is the same way. Not a bad flick.

8. Thing you never leave home without?
Pants. Don't really have much else to say about this, but I thought about it, and that's the one thing I have never left home without.

9. Laptop or desktop computer?
I don't really care. I've got two laptops and a desktop computer. I never use the desktop computer. But it is nice to have a computer you can take with you. Especially with the wireless Internets being available more and more all over the place.

10. How many times have you been pulled over by the police?
Myself I've only been pulled over twice. Got a warning once and a ticket for running a red light trying to get home after covering the Sugar Bears in the NCAA Regional Tournament. I believe I was pulled over twice more with Josh en route to UCA sporting events.

Once on the way to Henderson State we got stopped by some cat who enjoyed "hugging up" on Josh's truck. And I'm fairly certain the next year on the way to one of the Arkadelphia schools we got stopped on the interstate by a cat who for some reason wanted to talk to me, but I failed to pay attention, which forced him to scream, "Sir! Sir! Sir!" several times, until Josh finally got my attention.

Well, I think 10 questions is good.

That was a great way to kill about 20 minutes. Now if everyone else put that kind of an effort into these pointless Internet surveys I think we would have something worth reading.

Or maybe we would just know way to much about folks.