After a long day of pushing papers and filing TPS Reports, what is the only thing that can raise your broken spirits? If you said, kicking back and basking in the misery of your favorite TV desk jockeys, give yourself a pat on the back! In NBC’s The Office, the only difference between their 9-5 and yours, is that their misery only lasts for 23 minutes, strategically centered around satirical jokes and quirky situations.

The Office’s popularity is undeniable, but what is it about the series that gives it such a mass appeal? The atmosphere is a place that we are all familiar with — coffee maker down the hall, water cooler to the right. But in all actuality, the success of The Office can be attributed to two main factors:

1. First Time Watchability - Honestly, if you miss the first episode of some shows, you’re absolutely screwed and you’re better off waiting until the summer reruns if you ever plan on having any idea of what the hell is going on. On the other hand, The Office is extremely easy for absolutely anybody to start watching, in any season, whether or not they have ever seen a single episode. The quirky situations that the Steve Carell and the other characters find themselves in require no background knowledge whatsoever. Each episode, individually, has the ability to be watched and enjoyed with zero dependence of the rest of the shows in the season.
2. Intricate Character Development - Here’s where The Office really shines. If you did start watching from season 1, you will receive a special treat over periodic Office watchers. This treat is that you will begin to notice intricate - yet subtle - character development that evolves from one episode to the next. This character development brings an element of drama to the series that leaves you craving more. For example, in the earlier seasons, we are given very very subtle hints throughout a couple episodes that one of the secondary characters might be gay. These were hints that the periodic watcher would most likely miss entirely, but still enjoy the comedy of the show. By contrast, the regular viewer is able to put the puzzle pieces together and understand the character even better. Even though I’ve seen all the episodes multiple times, I still catch new things in the DVD box sets that I failed to pick up on the first time around.

The Office is an amazing show with a fantastic cast of characters. Non-regular viewers will love the comedy of the show, and the ability to immediately relate to many of the office situations that have likely happened in their own cubicle. Die hard fans will recognize this same love for comedy, but stay on board for the drama that ties all the episodes together, as well as the intricate character development that comes with it. If you’re behind on the past seasons, or if you just can’t get enough, now is a great time to catch up. Seasons 1, 2, and most recently 3 are now available on DVD in all their original glory, plus tons of bonus features. Season 4 has recently started to air, and runs on on NBC at 9PM EST. » Get Yours: Seasons 1 & 2 - Season 3

I love bringing my digital media on the road with me. Kicking back to some music or watching a funny movie can really take the pain out of those long plane rides. The iPod is great, but what if you find yourself doing a lot more movie watching than music listening? Fear not, because Creative Labs has the solution for all the videophiles out there. The Creative Zen Vision W is a portable media player with a surprisingly large screen. Just to give you an idea of how big this screen is, it is exactly the same size as Sony’s PSP gaming unit, and much larget than that of the iPod Classic. Unlike the iPod Classic, the Zen Vision W can display your movies in all their widescreen glory, boasting a generous 16:9 display format. Of course, it should go without saying that with 30GB and 60GB storage versions available, you’ll have plenty of space for all your favorite photos and music as well. The Zen Vision W is a great all-in-one media player that plays videos beautifully. If you can’t live without your Hogan’s Heroes collection, this baby is for you. »Get Yours: 30GB - 60GB

For many people, getting an iPhone just isn’t an option. Maybe they are stuck in a crappy contract with another carrier (we’ve all been there, right?), or maybe they just can’t justify the hefty price tag. Well fellow geeks, fear not, because Apple’s latest offering might be just what you’ve been looking for to satisfy that void on your pocket. Ladies and gentlemen, behold the iPod Touch. Looks like an iPhone you say? Well, it is, sort of. The Touch is essentially the iPhone, without the phone and camera. Whoah there, put that knife down! What if we told you that removing these two components allowed Apple to slim down the iPod Touch so much, that it is now even smaller than the iPhone. Naturally, this will free up immense amounts of space in your pocket for important things like that 5th USB flash drive you’ve been eying for your collection. Not to mention, the iPod touch can be had at a pretty slick price as well. According to the Unofficial Apple Weblog, you’ll be saving about $100 bucks, in addition to the absence of that pesky monthly cell service payment. The iPod Touch touts the same trendy touch-screen interface as the iPhone, and its built in Wi-Fi adapter will get you surfing your questionably ethical sites in no time. In summary, the iPod Touch is a great substitute for people that can’t or don’t want to succumb to the pressures of the iPhone. Spend less money, get a lot of the same features, and never stop adding to your USB flash drive collection. »Get Yours

Unless your internet connection has been on vacation for the past week, you are well aware of Halo 3’s recent appearance to the Xbox 360. Now, I love a good multiplayer ass whooping just as much as the next guy, but the press surrounding this game has been unreal! I wanted to see what the general consensus had to say about it before plunking down my hard earned green backs. Ok, so they’re not so hard earned but that’s beside the point. Anyways, I headed out to the interwebs on a virtual journey of information discovery. So is Halo 3 a boom or bust? Well, judging by many online reports, boom is a severe understatement. Many gamers are even calling this puppy the most influential release of the year. Apparently, the third installment to this long awaited trilogy finally brings some closure to the series. Oh, and not to mention slicker graphics, polished multiplayer mode, and a load of goodies that will make any geek’s jaw drop. For instance, how would you like the ability to replay videos your favorite fight sequences, capture that perfect decapitating frame, and show it off to your e-friends? Halo 3 can do, and it’s all built right in, taking advantage of the Xbox 360’s big ol’ hard drive. We’re off to play, but also to wonder — any chance of a Halo 4? Please? »Get Yours

Popularized by the likes of MTV reality show stars Rob Dyrdek and Ryan Sheckler, Rogue Status has snuck onto the scene in recent months. Based out of Venice, California, their most recognized design features an array of guns, simply called “Gun Show.” In fact, many of their designs seem to follow the same militia theme. Maybe all this gun toting is explained with their self proclaimed “DTA” philosophy (don’t trust anyone). As described by one of the founders:

Don’t trust anyone. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Live every day as if it is your last.

Solid advice - and it certainly appears that these guys have been doing a good job of following their own. By the looks of their most recent offering, the gun show tee is only the tip of the iceberg. Another goodie worth mentioning is the AWOL-Babe section on the Rogue Status website. This page features a collection of photos submitted by RS fans (who just happen to be attractive women), posing in their gun totin’ skivvies. Vairy Nice!