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What parent doesn't have boxes full of pictures of their kids (or nowadays hard drives full). But the problem in the current state of affairs is that people are so wickedly paranoid about everything that they seek to destroy everyone else's sanity because they fear everything. A man photographing his own kids was called a "pervert" when parents started to think that he was taking pictures of other people's kids to post on the internet.

Half of what I don't understand is why people were freaking out in the way that they did. He was confronted simply for taking pictures, not that he was doing anything dodgy. The owners of the slide that his kids were on claim that "Our policy is to ask people taking photos whether they have children on the slide. If they do, then that is fine." However, what the operators don't seem to understand is that even if they don't, there isn't much of any legal action that could be taken.

People think that taking pictures of people that you don't know is a crime, especially when the subject is a child. I find this funny because in my high school photography class one of ours assignments was to take pictures of young and old people. Would you criminalize a class of photography students for taking pictures?

As with any article, the comments that follow it are often more important to read than the article itself. Depending on where you read the article, you get be surprised at people's common sense or appalled at the stupidity of mankind. Here are some from the original article:

I understand the parents concern. I see nothing wrong with the dad telling the other parents of his intent so they could keep their children out of the photo and then extending the same courtesy to the other parents. Normal parents did not create this multi billion dollar industry mess. We have to protect our children the best was we can.
- Lucy MacKay, Georgetown Ky

This poster is quite unrealistic, and leads me to ask many other questions. After her short post, I have to wonder if she herself announces to others that she is taking pictures of her own kids while the play in the park. When you do announce that you are taking pictures of your own kids, doesn't that make you seem just a touch overprotective?

I sympathise totally with Mr Crutchley [the father], I was recently in a country park with my wife and daughter. My wife had gone to buy the three of us some ice cream, and in the meantime my daughter fell over on some play equipment.

I of course picked her up in my arms to soothe her, and within moments a woman had come over to me and asked where the girl's mother was. I could see in her eyes and tone that she was suspicious of me holding a crying girl. The woman absolutely refused to leave our side until my wife returned.

Just like Mr Crutchley says, it spoiled my enjoyment of the day, and made me wary to go anywhere near my own daughter for the rest of the day - ironic in this age where fathers are so often accused of not paying attention to their children.

I cant help but wonder if anyone would have said anything at all if it had been my wife holding my daughter instead of me.
- John Thomas, England

There is an interesting dilemma where father's are being criticized for not being involved with their kids, but then when they are involved (especially in this case, for safety) the worrying parents of other kids condemn them for being near kids in public.

This is a direct result of the NSPCC's campaign over the last few years to spread the fear of abuse and paedophilia. Sadly this has had the side effect of people (i.e. men) being to scared to help if a child is in trouble and also accounts for the huge drop in male primary school teachers and role models.
- R Williams, Aylesbury, UK

It would take my a long time to find it, but there was an article about a father who volunteered his daughter to take part in a study. The girl's job was to sit on a bench in a mall a few feet from a "Missing Children" poster. Almost all people walked right by the girl. When people who walked by were questioned, many (particularly males) said that they were afraid to do anything for fear that other parents would attack for speaking to a child.

The study proved two things, that no one tried to abduct a child sitting by themself on a bench, and that had the child really been missing nothing would have been done.

On the BoingBoing mention of this article, there are general level-headed people who see what is worng in the situation, being that a father can't even take pictures of his own kids:

It is rather sad. My wife worked as a lunch supervisor at an elementary school. Being a "small town" person and having a flock of younger siblings in her youth she would give crying kids who'd bumped heads or dropped their deserts a hug or pat on the back. Her supervisor said that just wasn't done - there would be no touching whatsoever.

From this I assume that the proper thing to do if you find a child needing help is to review the situation and determine f there is a non-contact way of helping them. If not, just walk away or phone 911 to have properly trained and bonded staff initiate human to human contact - providing parental permission has been arranged.
- Woodwose

Especially in elementary aged kids, I don't see where it is beneficial to the children that the teacher is prohibited from making any contact with the child, even if the child is hurt. I would bet that most of those children feel better because of the comforting that they got from the teacher. It's not like a teacher would do anything intentionally wrong because it would ruin their career if they did inappropriately touch a child. A hand on the shoulder isn't going to kill a child.

Speaking of protocols for teachers, it is ridiculous what they have teachers doing. One of the teacher that I had wore latex gloves so that she could put on a band-aid. A gym teacher I had once told us about how a parent thanked him for not following the "correct" protocol for emergencues. An ice-skating boy slipped and cut his wrist. If the teacher had spent time to look for gloves, the boy would have likely bled to death. Instead, the teacher reacted quickly and saved the boy's life.

I am a woman, (hence the name, cranky old woman) and my grandson is on a junior soccer league. So, every Saturday morning, I go to take pictures of his game, and I am subject to a lot of evil looks as well. It's kinda difficult to take just pics of him, when there are nine other kids on the field. I took some pics of him once playing with the next door neighbors, and when I gave some copies to the parents, they were quite rude, and told me they did not want me to photograph their boys. I was hurt, stunned and insulted. But, I am trying to decide how I might have reacted were I in their shoes. Must I be constantly sizing everyone I meet with a camera as a child molester? I guess I can no longer assume others good intentions.
- Cranky old woman

Given the fact that the grandparent was the neighbor, and that it would (should?) be one of the people that you know the best, it is crazy that a parent would be so defenisive about it considering that it is perfectly acceptable to take pictures of your grandkids. When I was a kid, I would spend hours at a time at my neighbors house with her grandkids, and that was one of the few places that I felt totally comfortable. As a kid, I would think nothing of it if she was taking pictures of her grandkids and I playing together.

My friend was taking pictures of me at a park while i was wandering around looking at flowers under the influence of something or other. Some little (adoreable) demon kid ran up and started throwing grass at us. Whatever, He wasn't hurting us and we were laughing about it. So my friend starts taking pictures of the kids, and THEN the mom comes over.

Guess which aspect of the situation concerned her most? Her kid throwing shit at strangers? or photography.

As long as kids are fucking adoreable, shutterbugs will take pictures of them.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/captaintim/2644448055/
- Cpt. Tim

This is completely valid. Many kids, like my nephew, will run to the camera seeking to have their picture taken. And it's not like people don't take picture of random kids. If you see a group of kids at a park doing something completely silly, there is nothing wrong with taking a picture to remember that silliness. I have taken pictures of kids before when I was at airshows. Planes can only be interesting for so long, then the interest as a photographer is drawn to pictures of people enjoying the show, which includes kids.


As a teenager myself, I am fresh out of the age where even my own mother fit into the "unhealthy paranoia" category. I play soccer about twice a week with a drop-in group. My mom always worried about the whole child predator thing and was always warning me to be careful, and thankfully, I have never once listened to her about this. The group that I play with consists of primarily me and one of my best friends, and the rest are primarily adult males. Have I ever once felt uncomfortable around them? No.

After nearly a year with this group and nothing happening, my mom has finally calmed down. This might also have to do with the fact that she just randomly dropped in once to watch, which was rather annoying because the stare of my parents creeps me out more than anything else.

Labels: America, Kids, News, People, Rants, Stupidity

From past experiences on this blog, I have found that Google employees are best contacted through public posts. In this particular post, I must voice my distaste at the newest (9/5/07) update.



I am not a fan of wasted space. White space is acceptable in some places, but the newest update of Reader has added an intangible void. The left column has become unnecesarily wide. It must be 50-75 pixels wider than it once was. Also, the new icon to hide the sidebar was poorly implemented. The icon simply hogs space and ruins the consistency of the design (note the difference in spacing of sidebar items relative to column space).

Update (9/6/07): They finally added a search bar to Reader. At least something was done right.

Labels: Design, Google, Rants

I don't care about much about what Google does, but there has been recent coverage of a growing issue. Matt Cutts, a Google employee, has solicited the help of people to report paid links to Google. There has been quite an outrage among the internet about this, and many are pissed.

Google seems to be abusing their control of the search market. They are calling out for people to report sponsored links, and are penalizing people for writing posts/links for money. Google, more and more, is seeming like the identity that would love to control the internet.

Google is increasing approaching becoming the Microsoft of the internet. Step by step, I am pulling my out of different services simply because Google seems to focus too much on money. Blogger has gone for months without any kind of update. Google Analytics is confusingly complicated to navigate. The only product actively being improved is advertising and search- the moneymakers.

Labels: Advertising, Google, Internet, Rants

Yesterday, I mentioned that I received my laptop in a non-functioning condition. At first, my dad called them. He wasn't connected to a support rep, and the line ended up being on for 3 hours and 47 minutes and they never did answer the phone. Phone support sucks at Dell.

I was unable to get into their online chat because it said that there were too many users online already. Coming back later, I was able to connect. I was put in line. After about a fifteen minute wait, I was connected. Five seconds later, the support rep disconnected me, requiring that I reconnect to chat, which set me back further. (See transcripts posted at the end of this post.)

After the wait, I was able to talk to a support rep who stayed on the line. I went through the session with relatively no problems, but I was annoyed at the fact that the rep overlooked many of the things I said and continued to ask questions to which I already gave answers. In the end though, they were able to solve the problem.

The problem, as it turned out, was that Dell screwed up. In the week that they held my computer hostage, they messed up the memory. The problem was that they dislocated one of the memory sticks, and that prevented the computer from booting. The only people who touched the memory was Dell, and then me to fix their problem.

We bought this laptop a few months used on ebay. The guy we bought it from apparently had a three year warranty on it. So far, we have saved quite a bit of money, almost enough that I may consider the extra insurance to be worth it if it covers shipping. Dell has paid to ship my laptop four times (two repairs, sent both ways). That's not even considering how much they pay in parts.

I was going to get nasty with them, but I figured that wouldn't get me anywhere, and I knew after the first one that I would post these. The transcripts of the two chats are as follows:

---

07:24:49PM System: "Thank you for choosing Chat support. The next representative will be available to assist you shortly. While waiting, check some of our self support options above. No fear, you won't lose your place in line!"
07:24:59PM URL Shown: "<link>"
07:25:09PM URL Shown: "<link>"
07:25:19PM URL Shown: "<link>"
07:25:29PM URL Shown: "<link>"
07:25:39PM URL Shown: "<link>"
07:34:34PM Session Started with Agent (Pooja_143454)
07:34:39PM Session Ended

---

07:36:30PM System: "Thank you for choosing Chat support. The next representative will be available to assist you shortly. While waiting, check some of our self support options above. No fear, you won't lose your place in line!"
07:36:40PM URL Shown: "<link>"
07:36:50PM URL Shown: "<link>"
07:37:00PM URL Shown: "<link>"
07:37:10PM URL Shown: "<link>"
07:37:20PM URL Shown: "<link>"
08:04:29PM Session Started with Agent (R_59418)
08:04:36PM mike: "hello"
08:04:38PM Agent (R_59418): "Thank you for contacting Dell Technical Support. My name is Uma and my rep ID number is 0159418. How may I assist you today?"
08:04:42PM Agent (R_59418): "Hi mike"
08:05:30PM mike: "We just recieved our computer today, back from warranty repairs, and the computer no longer works."
08:06:07PM Agent (R_59418): "Thank you for the information. I’ll be glad to assist you. Please give me 2 to 3 minutes to pull up your account information."
08:06:11PM Agent (R_59418): "In the meantime, May I also have your telephone number, along with the area code to update our records?"
08:06:21PM Agent (R_59418): "I understand your concern and apologize for any inconvenience."
08:06:37PM Agent (R_59418): "Please let me know when what happens when you power on the laptop ?"
08:06:54PM mike: "Phone: ***-***-****"
08:07:30PM mike: "When turned on, the computer gets as far as the dell logo, then freezes. That's as far as it gets."
08:08:42PM Agent (R_59418): "mike have you removed the hard drive and shipped only the laptop to Dell ?"
08:09:35PM mike: "Yes. It was just returned today, and it no longer works. It still worked prior to sending it in."
08:10:02PM Agent (R_59418): "mike have you installed the hard drive again ?"
08:10:14PM Agent (R_59418): "and then check if windows is loading or not ?"
08:10:20PM mike: "Yes."
08:10:38PM Agent (R_59418): "Remove the Battery -- disconnect AC adapter --hold the power button for 10-12 seconds --- plug in only AC adapter ---Restart the laptop."
08:10:56PM Agent (R_59418): "Please perform the step and then let me know if it is still freezing in the Dell logo or not ."
08:11:58PM mike: "Still frozen"
08:13:56PM Agent (R_59418): "mike I request you to run diagnostics on the hard drive, this will help us to determine if hardware is working fine or not ."
08:14:01PM Agent (R_59418): "I will provide you steps ."
08:14:42PM Agent (R_59418): "Restart the system , the moment you see Dell logo press F12 and you will get option boot to utility partition, select diagnostics from the drop down. You will get list of device, select hard drive and click on custom test"
08:14:58PM Agent (R_59418): "Please perform the test and let me know if you get any error code or message on the screen ."
08:16:35PM mike: "The computer does not get far enough for F12 to work. The bar at the bottom is only about one tenth."
08:16:57PM Agent (R_59418): "You see the Dell logo right ?"
08:17:10PM mike: "yes"
08:17:17PM Agent (R_59418): "At Dell logo press F12"
08:17:59PM mike: "I do, and for as long as I hold it (up to twenty seconds), nothing happens"
08:18:39PM Agent (R_59418): "Okay, please follow this procedure then ."
08:18:43PM Agent (R_59418): "Press and hold the key, and then press the power button to power the system on. Release both buttons. The PSA diagnostics sequence begins. Follow any on-screen instructions. Record the sequence of beeps and/or make note of any error codes that may appear. "
08:21:15PM mike: "On the dell logo screen, it says "diagnostic boot selected" and freezes there. The bar at the bottom still only goes about one tenth."
08:22:30PM Agent (R_59418): "mike did you the Fn key procedure which I mentioned above to run diagnostics ?"
08:23:38PM mike: "yes, i followed the steps, but it froze at "diagnostic boot selected" other than that, it is identical to the way it was before"
08:24:12PM Agent (R_59418): "Okay, give me 2 minutes time frame."
08:26:30PM Agent (R_59418): "mike I request you to remove the memory module and reseat it once, so that if there is any connection issue, it will be rectified ."
08:26:46PM Agent (R_59418): "I will give you link which has instructions to remove the memory modules."
08:26:49PM Agent (R_59418): "Give me 2 minutes ."
08:28:52PM Agent (R_59418) sends page: "<link>"
08:29:22PM Agent (R_59418): "Please remove the memory modules wipe it with plain cloth and then put it back in and then reboot the laptop and let me know if it is working fine or not ."
08:29:28PM Agent (R_59418): "I will be online, please take your time ."
08:32:30PM Agent (R_59418): "Incase if you face any trouble in removing the memory modules, do let me know ."
08:33:20PM mike: "That seems to have been the problem. Thank you for the help"
08:33:37PM mike: "The computer works now."
08:33:42PM Agent (R_59418): "Great ."
08:33:45PM Agent (R_59418): "Is there anything else that I can assist you with ?"
08:34:09PM mike: "No, thank again."

Labels: Computer, Dell, Rants

Last Friday, March 9th, I sent my laptop to Dell for additional warranty work because it stopped charging. Today, it came back, but it won't boot. It will get as far as the boot page, where it presents you to the Dell logo, but the progress bar only goes about a tenth of the way and freezes. It won't even go far enough to get to BIOS.

At the moment, I suspect that when they "fixed" it, they must have forgotten to reconnect all the internals, or else broke something else in the process. It could it least boot prior to us sending it to them. Besides that, it took six days for them to get it back to us. My dad is currently on hold trying to talk to tech support (currently over an hour). I don't have the patience to deal with indian tech support people that I can't understand.

Update 8:41pm: The computer works now. I will post more about the ordeal tomorrow afternoon.

Labels: Computer, Dell, Rants

I just sent in my laptop for the second time. It's only been two months since I last sent it in. Last time, the charger had a bad connection and would only charge some times, but now it doesn't charge at all.

Right now I am stuck to using the family computer, which is somewhat inconvenient for me to use. I really need to get a new computer, then I can finally finish my Linux/Fedora Core review. I also want to try going to Best Buy to look, and when they ask what kind of computer I want, tell them "something without Vista" since they only carry Vista, just for shits and giggles.

Labels: Computer, Rants

I am one of many people who hates my cable/internet provider. My provider is Charter Communications because I have no other choice. Charter is the only cable provider in my area, and I would assume that this is the case in most places around the country.

The trouble lies in the fact that Charter has a gov't-granted monopoly. It is not possible for any other company to legally exist. By limiting the market to only one provider, the government puts the public services in the hands of corporations. Corporations exist to make money, which is why Charter has recently implemented dirty little tricks to make money.

Not only is there the exclusive control of corporation, but consumers have no choice at all when their service sucks. In my case, the only options for internet are: dial-up (never) or cable with Charter, which has a maximum speed of 10megs (I only have 3MB, which currently costs $55). This is the only service available in my area. If I were to desire something faster, it would require that I pay a ridiculously expensive price. If I wanted something cheaper, I would have to... cancel the account.

When I took a simple economics class this year, the original logic behind this sort of a decision was: allowing multiple companies to service the same area would be too complicated, and would require too many wires (each company has own). Now, telephone companies have proven that it is possible to have multiple carriers on the same wired network. It is within the technology's capability, but there is currently no choice until the government does something.

Labels: America, Internet, Rants

Charter, a primarily cable-based business, seems to think that the internet works in the same way as television. Charter just recently launched a controversial "service" to their customers by trying to fix what was not broken. Just the other day, I was away from the family computer, so the only way I could access email was through their webmail. I am now greeted by an irrelevant advertisement on every page.

This really annoys me for a few reasons. One, Charter is very minimal in terms of mailboxes. Accounts have a grand total of 45MB of storage; that doesn't even match hotmail (100MB). Secondly, Charter has already demonstrated that they don't care about their customers much. I actually lost my connection to the internet while I was writing this. My service has been going out everyday for the past week. I can't wait until college when I can get access to faster and more reliable connections.

Labels: Internet, Rants

Charter has initiated a dirty little tactic of redirecting all bad requests to their own error that is riddled with adverts. It has the typical domain parking site which consists of irrelevant links to "vacations" and so forth (click image for larger screenshot). Based on this and other factors, I can tell that this is surely done for profit, not because it is "handy." Plus, there is no way to get rid of it because turning it off only sets a cookie (which doesn't last long) and then redirects to Microsoft Live Search, where they likely also get money in return. This is also something that EarthLink previously did, and was highly criticized for.

I preferred my original setup, which would simply give the error page produced by FireFox. Like one of the comments from the slashdot article, I would promptly cancel my service with them and find another way to access the internet, but I cannot do that because my parents would die if they lost cable TV (which is bundled). If anything goes wrong with my internet connection, I think I will call them and give them hell about this, but until then, it often does not effect me often enough.

Previously: Charter hate Google Maps

Labels: Internet, Rants

Blogger likes being a pain in the butt, so I doubt that it bothered them that they kicked everyone out for a while to do something that very likely could have been done in the background.

Labels: Blogger, Internet, Rants

I am fairly certain of this, as it has happened to me at least a dozen times, all under the same conditions. When using Google Maps, my ISP, Charter Communications often drops my internet connection. Almost always, when browsing quickly (dragging to different areas in rapid succession), it drops.

After my connection drops, it becomes a pain to get back on the internet. I have to manually unplug my router (to reset it), plug it back in (repeat if necessary). All this work just to regain access to a connection that I should be able to hold on to in the first place.

It is not possible that it is from high traffic because it will do this even in the middle of the night, when you would expect the lowest traffic. Their service sucks. Their cable even goes out in storms- they're on a fucking landline, what could cause that other than their own incompetence?

Labels: Google, Internet, Rants

This is a commercial against net neutrality:


I am all for net neutrality, but I do see both sides of the argument. On the pro-net neutrality side, the argument is simple: ISPs and other companies should be required to treat all data the same. On the other hand, ISPs are saying that in charging websites for data transfer, they are saving the consumer money by not having to charge them.

I say that the argument against is just plain weak. For example, Charter Communications is reported to have revenue at about five and a quarter Billion dollars. How can you possibly say that you need websites like Google to pay for upkeep? Also, no ISP should ever have the right to restrict access to any website, and that is what they say they will do if companies don't pay.

The whole problem lies in the people who make the decisions: congress. The picture at right is a senator from Texas(R). Save the Internet says that she is against net neutrality. Does she look like she knows anything about the internet? Or, was she simply pressured by her friends in the corporate world?

[via digg]

Labels: Internet, Net Neutrality, Rants

Friends are those people that you enjoy being around, but can occasionally come to hate. One of the friends I played soccer with on Saturday said that he and his friend would come the next day to play outdoor (we were in a gym the first day). My friend and I, who come every week for the past x months (long time), were quite disappointed to see that neither of the two showed up like they said.

Today, I spotted said friend (skipper) in the hallway. When I was talking to him, he said that the two of them had been up all night watching movies, and he didn't get any sleep. Seeing the snow, he decided not to even show up. It's one thing to make a decision like that, but to do so after telling people the night before that you would be there is just plain annoying, and rude. I have to say that I was annoyed at what he told me to the point that I felt like hitting him. He didn't seem to care that he left others wondering why he didn't show up. He has no commitment.

Labels: Friends, Life, Rambling, Rants

First off, I would like to say that although it may sound otherwise, I am not trying to be a racist, and there are reasons for my wording if you keep reading. A black fireman was awarded $2.7M because he suffered racial harassment. From the article:

"A fire department investigation suggested the October 2004 incident was intended to be a prank to 'humble' Pierce after a station volleyball game where he had said, 'You guys keep feeding the Big Dog.'

[...]

'This ordeal has taken its toll on me and my family,' Pierce said in a statement issued by his attorney. 'I truly hope that my case will make a difference for African-Americans in the Los Angeles Fire Department.'"

I see this as stupid for one big reason: if this were to have happened to a white guy, there likely would have been no action taken, and it would have been considered a joke among coworkers. This is just outrageous and abuse of the legal system.

Labels: America, Legal, People, Rants

After quite a ruckus in the blogosphere, The stolen iPod lawsuit finally ends. The story on all of this runs back a few months, but an agreement has been made. From the article:

"Melanie McCarthy, Shannon’s mother, said she considers the used iPod offering 'an insult.' The iPod has more space for songs and a video playback capability that Shannon's iPod Nano did not have, but the screen and back were scratched and worn, compared to what she said was Shannon's new iPod.

McCarthy told French she simply did not have the time to go through with a trial, but did not consider the used iPod comparable to Shannon's loss of a brand new one. However, she said by helping to start a junior CrimeStoppers program she wants to take a bad experience and turn it into something positive."

Now we will take a moment to step back and examine the past. The girl ended up with a used iPod; she could have gotten a new iPod, case, and $50 in iTunes music, but her mother refused the anonymous donation. They could have gotten more out of all this and avoided all of the publicity if they had just accepted the offer.

I am also annoyed at the fact that the mother is "insulted" by all of this. She was the one pushing for court, she refused an anonymous donation so she could continue to harass the other girl. I guess saying that they are probably no longer friends would simply be stating the obvious.

Labels: iPod, Kids, Legal, News, People, Rants

Gay activists are doing their part in Massachusetts by rallying against the possible ban of gay marriage. In a country where the motto is: "all men are created equal," people sure don't show it. Here is a little bit I would like to point out:

"A poll this week showed most New Jersey voters support granting gay couples the benefits of marriage but do not want to call the unions 'marriage.'"

I hate when people put catches in their decisions like that. This is nearing the idea of the political cartoon I posted a little over a week ago. Marriage is marriage, no matter who it is between; stop trying to "protect" the idea of marriage.

Labels: Gay, News, People, Rants

There is an article on the ridiculousness of people in america; a coach was fired because he did not play the commissioner's son. The firing of the coach resulted in the rest of the team losing out.

This is the example of why parents are so much disliked by people. The players are perfectly fine, but the parents are always the ones that are out of control. They are the ones running out on the field causing trouble. They are the ones who are yelling at the referees.

I am appalled that that guy had the nerve to fire a coach because he did not play his son 100% of the time. They won the game and were heading to the playoffs, but he thought that the coach had no grounds to do so. The commissioner fired the coach as the team was heading to the playoffs. I think that the commissioner's son would rather go to the playoffs than to not at all because his father thought the coach was in the wrong.

Labels: America, News, Oddities, People, Rants

I was out yesterday, looking for some new shoes, and ran into the mess that is Christmas traffic. It also doesn't help that one of the roads was narrowed for construction. No matter where you went traffic was backed up beyond belief. It's not even Thanksgiving yet, but the traffic says otherwise.

On the other hand, there is my sister who has demand that all of our Christmas lists be online, which is very smart of her. She has always been that way, but it is now even more important with her almost-two year old son (who is my nephew). I'm sure the last thing she would want to do is go out with a two year old in New York craziness. Speaking of the little one, I can't wait until Thanksgiving were I will get to see him again.

Labels: Christmas, People, Rants, Shopping

I am rather annoyed at some of the ideas brought up by our local paper yesterday. They brought up that many of the area schools were celebrating a "harvest festival" instead of Halloween. They mention that it is a move to try to keep from offending anyone.

Is it just me, or are people making way too big of a deal about political correctness. People have celebrated Halloween for who knows how long, and the idea behind it (to me) is that get a bunch of kids dressed up so they can wander around getting candy and having a good time. When I was little, I remember how schools always had a parade through the school so that everyone could show off their costume.

People just need to get some thicker skin. It's not right to get rid of things because you might offend a person or two. People just need to start facing the facts that they will be offended, and they need to get over that.

Labels: People, Politics, Rants

I am very mad now. Just minutes after posting about an error with Google Groups and ads which came after problems with Google reader, I get this. This is becoming too common of a problem. Google needs to fix this.

Labels: Google, Internet, Rants