Category: Interests

Strangely enough, this is could be a combination of Academic and Professional with a bit of wood working, motorcycle riding and miscellaneous commentary threw in.

Categories
Interests

FaceBook, the “new” news channel

There was a plane crash in the area last night.  I found out about it on FaceBook…  Great news and media outlet this FaceBook right?  Well, yes, I guess it is, as a way to keep up with friends and family and find out what’s happening in their lives that you might not normally know.

But the way I found out about this was by the status of a FaceBook Friend, it read “OMG i think there has been a plane crash n Albany“.  That’s news enough right?  Lets you know what’s going on.  There are couple of comments and then this person says “I am gonna go check it out I will report back” (first outlined comment).

Okay, now this is where I have the problem.  See, I left my Cub Reporter badge in the drawer when I realized that in cases where there are accidents, unless you are a trained professional or asked to help, chance are you are going to be in the road and more of a hindrance than a help.  [Subtitle Road Rage Part II cause you all know those people that practically *stop* as they go by an accident so they can, what? hopefully see blood?]  At any rate, this person who was safe and secure at home decides it is their duty to go and find out what’s going on.

Which leads to “Ok just got back…if you go out Washington Rd just past Albany that is where it happened…pretty much across from the airport. I couldn’t get close enough to see anything they closed the road and you had to turn around. I will listen to the scalnner for any updates” (the second outlined comment).  Now this comment just more or less proves my point really.  They had closed the road down, probably for safety reasons, something about aviation fuel and flammable perhaps?  So what did they manage to do?  Add to the congestion, cause potential blockage for emergency vehicles AND put yourself in danger.  But they got some great news right?  Some pictures?  Got a name?  Oh no, they didn’t because they “couldn’t get close enough to see anything”.  So what did they do?  They went back home to listen to the scanner and report any updates.  Now we know why most major cities have stared scrambling/coding the emergency radio traffic so they don’t have this problem in the first place.

I can understand human curiosity, and quite frankly, if the plan had crashed next to my house I would have been outside seeing what I could do the help.  But to leave my house, drive to another location just to see a wreck… not me, no thanks, and I’m sure the emergency responders thank me too, cause that’s one less person they have to watch out for.

Categories
Interests

Ah, spam chat box, how I want to chat with you…

Ok, so I’ve occasionally gotten this and generally I ignore them…  This time I decided to respond.  Notice how the spam chat box responds so eloquently to my answers.

(2:07:38 PM) jenbabie258 has buzzed you!
(2:07:38 PM) jenbabie258: hey..r u online?
(3:26:36 PM) jenbabie258 has buzzed you!
(3:26:36 PM) jenbabie258: hey 🙂 u around??
(3:26:55 PM) me: nope

Ok, at this point, I’m thinking, sarcastic comment.  If it’s someone I know they’ll respond in kind.

(3:27:09 PM) jenbabie258: hey, u r francesca’s friend right?

Nope, no sarcasm, just asking a question.  Now I don’t know a Francesca that I know of, but sometimes you meet people and you never really know their names.  Sometimes it’s because they go by their middle name instead of their first name.  I’m quite certain there are people that have no clue what my mom’s real name is.  Regardless, it *could* be someone I know or a friend of someone I know.  I’ve helped people out and I wouldn’t put it past someone to pass on my name if someone needed help, I’m just that kinda guy!

(3:27:53 PM) me: I don’t believe I know a francesca.
(3:28:07 PM) jenbabie258: what?? she gave me your chat name LOL, i’m sorry, anways im bored,what r u up to?

yep, always have people that think they know me, then find out they don’t then want to chat anyhow.  And they are *always* bored!  At this point it’s obvious that it’s a spam chat box, but they’re getting better, almost seemed like a real person there for a split second.

(3:28:29 PM) me: nice – but I’m working, thanks.
(3:28:43 PM) jenbabie258: oh yea? im just doing a cam chat right now, u wanna come chat with me on there?

Yep, definitely a spam chat box….  so, I quickly search for this comic that made me laugh and send it as a link.. last chance to prove any trace of humanity or programming skills.  Hmm, that makes me wonder, do they trace the conversations and build that into the programming?  That would be *FANTASTIC*!  The next time someone sends this link they respond with something slightly human.

(3:31:23 PM) me: nope http://xkcd.com/632/
(3:31:34 PM) jenbabie258:cool, yea its pretty fun, it can get pretty hot in there sometimes! so many wild people. lemme get the info k?

Oh, epic fail on being human.  Yet another account to block.  Not that the name itself wouldn’t be a give away.  Well that was fun, now back to work….

Categories
Interests

Road Rage part 1

Also known as “how to get yourself on a hit list by not knowing how to drive”

So, I found out something interesting today. Traffic lights, or at least the one I was at, will cycle whether or not someone is over the trigger (you know that space that will activate the light, usually a weight or magnetic sensor). I also found out that if said someone is not over the trigger the light will automatically change (cycle) because the sensor senses that there are no vehicles waiting to go through said light.

And just how do I know that? No, it wasn’t me, I wasn’t screwing with the person behind me, it was the person in front of me that decided it would be a good idea to stop a *FULL* car length back from the light. Last I checked, you were supposed to pull up so that the front bumper was at the line, not stop so you could still *see* the line out of your windshield.

And, to make matters worse the *idiot* that was in the other lane must have thought there was an invisible car in front of them as well because they pulled up even with the car in front of me, not up to the line, even, bumper to bumper. I mean, come on, what were they gonna do “drag race”?

So anyhow, the light changes and as the person in front of me moves forward (at least they did know that green means *GO*) the light is already changing to yellow and then back to red.  I have to admit, I’m actually surprised they didn’t slam on the brakes to stop at the yellow light.  They would have been surprised and dumb founded as to why it took two or three tries to get through a light.  And of course, *idiot* 2 would have had to stop with them, because heaven forbid you should pull past the car in the lane next to you.  I wonder what they would do at a light where they had a green light and the lane next to them was waiting for an arrow?  Probably sit there waiting ’cause they wouldn’t want to risk going past the car in the next lane!

Ok, I’m done now, end of rant, but if you see some guy sitting behind you shaking uncontrollably as you site *ONE FULL CAR LENGTH* away from the light, just save everyone the trouble of wanting to kill you and move forward.  That or *STOP DRIVING*, return your Drivers License to the BMV and take a cab.  At least you’ll be providing someone with a means of living.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering, it’s part 1 because I am quite certain there will be others out there.  In fact I know it because I’ve seen it.  Maybe next time I’ll post it with a picture so you’ll know who to keep an eye out for.

–server goon