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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

Categories
Interests

Political Correctness

This post started from this simple thought “at what point does being Politically Correct infringe on Free Speech”.  That thought has grown considerably and this day before Thanksgiving and I begin to wonder at what point to being Politically Correct, for fear of offending someone, begin to infringe on other rights?  Please feel free to read on and please, feel free to be offended.

So I get the usual range of emails from folk that I pretty much consider spam.  The topics vary but here’s a sampling:

  1. If you love Jesus you will forward this email to everyone you know and Jesus will love you back!  – Now this one was sent by a cousin.  She happened to catch me in a particular mood and I responded to her email explaining how my personal belief system (I do believe in God BTW, just in case you want to know) has nothing to do with forwarding an email.  Wouldn’t you know it, I haven’t got another email from that cousin *ever*.  I guess Jesus still loves me, but she doesn’t.
  2. Pictures of Obama at a service of some sort where the National Anthem was being played and he didn’t have his hand over his heart.  So I have mixed feelings about this, it goes against how I was raised.  However, he showed more respect by standing, hands clasp in front of him, than most people at ball games who take the time to order a beer, don’t remove their hats and chat with their follow fans.  I’m just saying, don’t throw the stone if you don’t follow the rules.  Even then, “land of the free” carries a lot of meaning…which is where this general entry is going.
  3. And then there’s the one’s about gun control and how we are going to wake up one morning and the president is going to have signed some treaty that requires all US citizens to hand over their guns (based off of this article).  OK, sounds ludicrous, but I suppose it could happen, don’t see how (think Appalachia here folks — I’m from Appalachia, I can use the stereotype!) not to mention Montana and Texas, how about Louisiana and let’s not forget New York…)  I hope you see where I’m going here.  Besides, my idea of gun control is hitting what you aim for and, as my Daddy always said, “make sure you know your target, and never pull a gun on someone unless you intend to use it”.  Following those simple rules, I’ve never shot something I didn’t intend to (yeah, this is a call to those hunters that “accidentally” — not saying accidents don’t happen — shot someone, you didn’t make sure you knew your target didn’t ya?  You were excited and fired blindly at some noise) and I’ve NEVER pulled a gun on a person.

The most recent one I got, which got me on this topic (I know long winded way to get here wasn’t it?) was about Professor Wichman from Michigan University, this was from 2006 and it’s still going around the internet.  The story from Snopes is here http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/wichman.asp.

Basically, there was a cartoon that depicted Muhammad as a terrorist and the Muslim student center was in protest over it.  In response, Prof. Wichman sent a letter saying he was offended by the fact they were offended.  He further went on to say that if they didn’t like the values of the west (1st Amendment) that they should feel free to return to their Ancestral homelands.

I’ve got to say, I agree with him.  I remember the cartoon and I remember the outrage caused by the cartoon.  So, here’s my thing, I will defend your rights to believe how you want to believe (or not believe), but if you don’t return those rights the systems falls apart.  This is a *great* country, not without flaws mind you, but a great country.  You have a right to freedom of speech, a right to freedom of religion (and by definition, freedom *from* religion), however, as a friend pointed out you do NOT have a constitutional right to NOT be offended.

Now, the way I see it, you can stay in this country, enjoy those rights.  But, if you don’t like this country, if you don’t want to extend those same rights to your fellow country(wo)men, then I’m sure you can find another place to live.

Wow, that felt good to say.  Understand, I don’t have a problem with your religion, believe how you want, but when you start being offended because of a cartoon and justify killing based on your religion, I have a problem with that.

And, for the record, I have a problem with an individual joining the military then going on a shooting spree because they don’t want to be deployed (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33678801/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/).  Regardless of religion, if you don’t believe in the military, DON’T JOIN! Now, here’s the real kicker, and there is no way to know if this is the case or not.  But, if this individual wasn’t investigated because of Political Correctness, as many journalist have claimed (http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.smith13nov13,0,2728617.column) then being Politically Correct is overrated.  If this person wasn’t investigated further due to a fear of offending someone by racial or religious profiling, then Political Correctness is at fault in the deaths at Fort Hood.

So, I pose to you, at what point does being Politically Correct infringe on not only the rights to Free Speech, but other rights as well?  I hope someone has the answer because I know I don’t.

–ServerGoon