Sure, we closed down the site months ago, but where else are we supposed to put our annual list of the songs we listened to the most in the past year?

So, without further ado, here are the 25 songs we listened to the most in 2011 (according to Last.fm):

1. “Part of Your World” by Skye Sweetnam
2. “Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster The People
3. “Raise Your Glass” by P!nk
4. “Please Ask for Help” by Telekinesis
5. “Maps” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
6. “Map of Tasmania” by Amanda Palmer (featuring The Young Punx)
7. “Playing God” by Paramore
8. “Brick by Boring Brick” by Paramore
9. “Private Eyes” by The Bird and The Bee
10. “Great Lakes” by Telekinesis
11. “Tokyo” by Telekinesis
12. “Careful” by Paramore
13. “Meet The Future Downlow” by Palmdale
14. “Young Blood” by The Naked and The Famous
15. “West Coast Serenade” by Palmdale
16. “The Problem With Saints” by 8in8
17. “All the Money I Had Is Gone” by The Deep Dark Woods
18. “I Saw Lightning” by Telekinesis
19. “What The Hell” by Avril Lavigne
20. “Blow” by Ke$ha
21. “Here Comes The Summer” by Palmdale
22. “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains” by Arcade Fire
23. We Used To Wait” by Arcade Fire
24. “Maneater” by The Bird and The Bee
25. “Pick Up The Phone” by Palmdale

Okay, so right off the bat, those of you who follow my Last.fm page closely — and I know you’re out there, so don’t deny it — will notice that I’ve manipulated the list a bit more than in past years. Why’s that? Well, first, my daughter Kaylee found the Repeat button on her iPod and toggled it on this summer, so there were a good half-dozen songs that got 40+ plays this year only because they played over and over and over until the iPod’s battery died.

Second, I used my Most Listened To in 2010 list a lot when running this summer, which artificially inflated the numbers for some of the songs from last year. And seeing as I play these lists a lot, and I don’t want a list that looks the same as the last year’s, I omitted anything that appeared on last year’s list.

Third, and last, I think I have a better memory of what went through my ears this year (at least in some cases) than Last.fm does. The human element must be introduced here, at least a little bit.

So, with all that aside, what trends do I notice? Well, the trend of listening to whole albums that I noted on last year’s list continued into 2011. Albums by Telekinesis, The Bird and The Bee, and Palmdale were played constantly throughout the year. So were albums by Arcade Fire, a band I was late in latching onto, but that I embraced with a passion on the advice of many friends this year. If I am surprised by anything on this list, it’s that there isn’t more Arcade Fire.

The number one song, “Part of Your World” by Skye Sweetnam, was, like much of the 2009 list inspired by my old pal Andy Hicks, who posted a video of Sweetnam’s cover of this fantastic song from the soundtrack to The Little Mermaid over on Facebook. And the presence of “Part of Your World” at the top of this year’s list is a reminder of one other trend in 2011: Despite spending a great deal of time away from my family working on projects, I still spent quality time listening to music with my girls whenever I could (not that I didn’t listen to this song on my own, too).

For the fiftieth and final installment of Five Second Critic E. Christopher Clark criticizes… well… he criticizes himself.

Here are 3 things I want you to know before GF5 ends the show:

1. Listen to Josh Ritter. Josh Ritter is the last and next great American Singer/Songwriter. NPR says “Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen aren’t ready to pass the torch to anyone just yet, but when they do, it could well go to Josh Ritter.”
2. Listen to WFNX. This Boston station is always playing the next best thing in the only music worth listening to.
3. I’m not getting paid to say this. I honestly think that Josh Ritter and WFNX are the best things going in music right now.

Rock on, Geeks!

Jon Frazier is a writer, filmmaker and student currently living in Boston, MA.

In which, as he waves goodbye to his daily commitment to Geek Force Five, ECC explains how the site will continue (if you want it to).

In the penultimate episode of Five Second Critic, E. Christopher Clark takes a swipe at Seth Rogen.

Part one of a two-part FiveCast about the future of Geek Force Five, in which ECC talks about his decision to kill GF5, about his four-point rationale for doing so, and then hints that there might be life for it after death.

Dear Glee,

We need to talk. This isn’t working anymore. I need some space. I tried to fight it, I tried to hide it, but actually it started around last December. I tried to feel the way I used to when we were together, but the magic is just not there. I tried to care…to get into the drama, the break-ups, the make-ups and I know you tried too. Honestly, our time with Gwyneth Paltrow — but I think that we were both ignoring the real issue, and that we both know by now that getting other people involved is not good for either of us. Flashy new looks and characters only stay flashy for so long. There’s only so much musical theater a man, even a gay man, can take. I’m just not that into you anymore.

It’s not you, it’s me…or maybe it is you. You don’t recognize the best in yourself and until you work that out I don’t see how we can be together. Stop ignoring the parts that matter. You keep looking to other people to find your voice — Madonna, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, and Bieber to name a few. (Bieber alone is reason enough for us to break up, Glee, you know that.) Do something unique, for Streisand’s Sake! You have talent but you ignore it! I know this is going to hurt but it has to be said: You don’t deserve Jane and Chris, Glee.

And you have to admit that you come on a little strong. I mean, 6 DVD releases, 7 Albums, 2 tours, a video game, a movie and a series of, frankly, pretty lame books…come on, Glee, it’s not what you have, but what you do with it. And you’re not doing much, Glee. Don’t take it personal; I think you have a lot of potential. But you’re not trying hard enough…or maybe you are just afraid to try.

Like I said, I need some space. I need to go one day without seeing your face everywhere I go. Until then I won’t know if this will really work…I need to know how much I’ll miss you. If it means anything, I still love you. I’ll always remember our first season together. And once you work out your issues, and I’ve got some space, maybe we can try again. Maybe we don’t have to break-up, maybe we can just be on a break.

With Love-
Jon

Oh, P.S. Could you text me Gwyneth’s number? I misplaced it. Thanks.

Jon Frazier is a writer and filmmaker studying in Boston, MA.

I’ve been a vegetarian on and off for years, and have just made the switch back to vegetarianism for personal health reasons. Vegetarianism can seem daunting, especially in the beginning! So, I’ve come up with a few basic pieces of advice that will help ease the transition.

1. Know why you are choosing vegetarianism.
   As a vegetarian, you will often be confronted with questions concerning why you’ve chosen vegetarianism and to what extent you follow it. Many people are curious, so be prepared for their questions and really examine your own personal reasons for your choice, whether it be animal cruelty-related, ecological-based, or otherwise.
2. Understand how to get your daily nutritional needs
   When you cut meat out of your diet, you will need to find other ways to reach your nutritional goals for the day. Find other sources of protein, like tofu and veggie burgers (I really love Morning Star!). Also, keep an eye on your iron levels, as well as your B vitamins. Always take a multivitamin every day and research non-meat alternatives that will contribute to a nutrient-dense diet.
3. Don’t hate vegetables.
   This is somewhat of an extension for advice on nutritional needs. If you don’t like vegetables, then you might want to rethink vegetarianism. Vegetables will become a huge staple in your diet, as they provide healthy and nutrient-dense alternatives to meat. You cannot substitute meat with French fries and candy bars. You will need vegetables in your diet!
4. Plan, plan and plan some more.
   Plan out your grocery trips with fresh produce and again, nutrient-rich foods in mind. Stock up on vegetarian cookbooks if you’re not familiar with vegetarian fare. If you’re traveling or you’re meeting friends for dinner at an unfamiliar restaurant, always have a backup. Bring food with you or research the menu ahead of time so you don’t find yourself in an uncomfortable situation later on.
5. Build a network.
   Network and build friendships with those around you who share the same dietary needs and beliefs. This will help you exist in a meat-obsessed world, and it is always nice to share tips, recipes insight, etc. Don’t despair. There are plenty of resources available for non-meat eaters. Happycow.net is an awesome online vegetarian/vegan restaurant guide and has always steered me in the right direction. The Internet is a great way to research your area for vegetarian options.

Last week, a plane crashed off the island off of Robinson Crusoe in Chile, in which rescuers are currently searching for the 17 missing victims. Although this is a devastating event, what’s interesting about it is that one of the victims’ relatives managed to locate the plane with his Find My iPhone application, which allows users to locate their iPhones using GPS. The plane ended up blowing off course before eventually crashing, and the last coordinates discovered on the Find My iPhone application were sent to the Navy in order to coordinate the rescue.

I’m interested in this story because we hear so often about the availability of such technology being used in a detrimental or invasive way. Even when intricate GPS technology becomes available to the public in a well-intentioned way (for instance, lost pets or locating kidnapped children), there always seems to be a catch-22. GPS technology in the hands of everyday civilians is often questionable, but in this case, technology has made it capable for a person to take a dire situation into their own hands and assist authorities in making a speedy and appropriate response. I’ll say, you don’t get to read about that every day!

Smaller staff and better efficiency have lately been driving many restaurant owners to do away with wait staff in favor of tablet computers that enable guests to easily order and pay for their food. I first noticed this at a restaurant I dined at on Martha’s Vineyard, except that the process was more integrated. A server approached our table with an iPhone in hand and asked us what we wanted to drink. It seemed as though she was texting while we were giving her our order, and operating the device did not allow her to make the usual eye contact one would expect from a server. At the time, the experience made me feel confused and uncomfortable, and I can’t imagine that tablet computers are a much better idea.

Many restaurants now feature iPads that offer guests touchpad abilities in ordering their food and paying via credit card. This will supposedly save restaurant owners money and give guests better control over the ordering process.

There are so many reasons why I think this is a bad idea.

For one, it upsets me that guests would prefer ordering through a computer than from a legitimate human being. In a world where we write on someone’s Facebook wall instead of calling them on their birthday, can we not even tolerate the face time that occurs between a table and their server? To me, this is a solid part of one’s experience at a restaurant. A computer cannot offer me the personal care and attention to detail that a genuine human being can offer. The experience just doesn’t compare. Also, if a server does their job well, then there should be no reason for mistakes with the order. Sometimes errors do occur, but not any more than they would by ordering through a computer.

In addition, I do not think this is a good idea for the economy. Many people make their money in restaurants. It’s how I survived college, for one. Replacing people with computers is not a good way to help expand the job market. Plus, I can’t see how cutting wait staff saves all that much money, when servers make the majority of their money from tips left by guests.

Perhaps I am biased, but I really do detest the idea of tablet computers at tables. I fear that all face to face contact will eventually be replaced by computers. What does everyone think of this? Do you prefer interacting with a wait staff employee, or do you feel as though computers would be more beneficial for your dining experience?