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Tech Stories Archives - September 2005
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1.
Just Eerie....
I was working the tech lab at my new job when my alert software starts crying out. (I work for a tractor-trailor scale company and the scales are automated so they can call in if something breaks.) Every scale in Lower LA and MS were crying for help about their flood indicators were maxxing out and communication from the load-cells were failing. Then all of them start blinking out on our board in Katrina's path except for one just outside of New Orleans. No external power, no landlines working for it to call home; but im getting alert after alert that the float cells are under 5 feet of water. Somehow this computer is still functional and sending a signal. I found out tonight that it had a UPS with a satellite connection. It was eerie that night though just seeing that lone blinking light staring back at me knowing it should be impossible to be running, much less kicking alerts out; while 20+ other scales within the path were out the instant the first band of the hurricane hit them.[By: TalensToys / 2005-09-01]
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Forget the California mountains, that one's where Skynet's gonna start up. - Jay911
I bet that's the only one that a real tech setup... the others were probably setup by outsourced contractors..... -kryliss
So how much negative pressure might have been registered before a scale drowned? -TieDyedDinosaur
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2.
Learn to read, first
A little background : I and my ex-girlfriend (sigh!) run a RPG forum, with, approximately 150~200 active members. It has run for nearby two years now, but recently we had a big problem with our host and the database went completely down. My backups didn't work 'cause their server hadn't generated an appropriate SQL dump, and my old save was one year ago. So we restored it and mass mailed every user (we keep their eMails in a textfile plus on the DB) that they had to resend us their character's name, for us to register them back. PLUS we created a topic on top of the forum saying the same thing exactly. And this B!TCH whines and rants in her mail that her characters have been deleted, that we HAVE to register them back, blah blah blah. IcePanther's LART mode triggered. My reply : "First, Hello." (what se didnt bother to say) "As you could have seen in (link) ths topic of the forum or the mail we sent you yesterday (see below), we had a server crash, and we requested users to resend us their info for us to register. If you don't follow the procedure and instead talk to us admin crew like that, I can tell your character will be the last to be restored, but that's just a guess." My ex-girlfriend would have just replied by "STFU".... (sorry for the rant but I cant bear with these a$$hats)[By: IcePanther / 2005-09-01]
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Let me guess - her character gets re-registered as a first-level asshat? -namor
I've spent the past eight years or so running online irc-based RPGs, and I've encountered many kinds of assmonkey - but the very worst are the sort that feel that any slight to their character is a slight to them. They're the ones who freak out when the character sheet gets erased, and demand that you have it back up now...Now...NOW! Objections like 'no, I've got homework' or 'no, there's 500 people in line ahead of you' are immaterial. The best thing to do is to ban them the moment they rear their little pinheads. </rant> -Parilla
And $DEITY help you if you don't restore my Vorpal Sword of Sharpness +1 IMMEDIATELY.... -Diptera
I probably would have given one warning, and then banned them. -Warrick
Tell them to be glad that their character didn't get deleted in REAL LIFE. Move on and evjoy what you have (I have a problem with people who don't know where reality it). -STJ
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3.
What kind of ID10T....(nt/ot)
What kind of ID10T lets their unholy spawn play in the puddles in a parking lot at midnight with adults in attendance, and absolutely no regard for whom they may awaken?
Oh, yeah, that's right.....a starfish.
Backstory: Last night, Halfie was getting her beauty sleep (ha!), when her dreams were intruded upon by the sounds of children playing.
At first our heroine thought she might have drastically overslept, but behold! Upon looking at the alarm clock, it was 12:28 Eastern.
Upon hearing an adult talking outside her window, our favorite halfish appeared at same, saying something creative like "What in the world is going on?"
Behold, the fish were actually embarrased! There were profuse apologies! The fish had merely (merely!) been allowing it's spawn to play loudly in the puddles.
Again, what kind of ID10T? *shakes head* Billy, where's my BFG3000 LART Rifle? [By: halfstarfish / 2005-09-01]
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Damn kids...and whatever demon that spawned them... -RandalGraves
release the hounds! -NOFXfan
Could have been worse - I SWEAR the starfish upstairs is teaching her six spawn clogging lessons at 3 AM. In her living room. Wich is right above my bedroom. Good for me she's been skating on thin ice on her rent, and might be evicted come the 1st anyway. -ralphp1024
At least she quit, when I lived nextdoor to the ghetto hellspawn in the city, they were totally unapologetic about the raucous brouhaha they forced upon my tender eardrums at 2 and 3 in the morning even on schooldays -mugglemage
Go outside in your nighty with a golf club and your bunny slippers. Start chasing said little rugrat around the parking lot. With any lick you'll catch him/her and you can work out your frustrations. IF you can't catch it, at least you'll have gotten some exercise. I hear exercise helps you sleep. -scooby111
Reminds me of a joke like this. At a party, two guys are chatting. They've had a great deal to drink. They're standing next to a large decorative gong on the porch. The first guy asks what it is; the second says it's a talking clock. The first doesn't believe him, so the second guy grabs the mallet and hammers the gong. Windows are rattling from the reverberations. A few seconds later this voice comes from the neighbour's house, yelling, "You a$$hole, it's three in the f**king morning!" -teivrann
ROFLMAO @ teivrann -Jax
It's usually the adults in my neighborhood that make the noise at 12am. -squatchie666
Usually by the time I go to bed whatever it may be I'm so farking tired I don't notice noise till I wake up again. Or, my cat's meowing at me to get in that's about the only annoying noise I might get.
-Warrick
Ugh, I feel your pain. The neighbors to the north had hellspawn like that. Running up and down other people's driveways, screaming at o'dark thirty, random vandalism, the works. Fortunately, they too were behind on their rent and mysteriously vanished into the night before the landlord came a-knocking with the cops. Wrecked the house too, said landlord had to move in with his landlady and completely gut and renovate the place before it was saleable. I wish you mugh luck with the (hopefully) impending vermin eviction. -Cybersaurus
A friend calls such tenants "Cockroaches". They come out at night in the warmer months. I have a Generation-whiner couple living above me, and they're on welfare as well. Just about everyone in my building, and most in the neighbouring buildings have had enough. After the flooding incident, they've had the fear of god, their landlord, and the strata management put unto them. -Wraith556
Pantball market + silencer ( yes they make em) + single shot in the Kids ass (150 FPS should do) = no more puddling around. -Harm
Man I remembered when I was a kid, if we had a late night visiting relatives, or getting back from vacation or whatever, mom would read us the riot act before we got out of the car... now you have to be quiet, everyone's sleeping, you dont want to wake anyone in the neighborhood up, etc. -battybeyond
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4.
NT waaayyy OT, but sooooo nice
http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13426796,00.html
[By: Jax / 2005-09-01]
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oh BTW its a news article, so should be sfw -Jax
Wow, why do they never come to the festivals I attend? -touchedTech
*prrr prrr prrr* -smellystudent
wearing too little... no such thing. Wearing too much in fact! -NOFXfan
mmmm, more pictures, story....erm where -Armakuni
I don't see a problem. Women wear less than that at the beach! (Hmmm, why can't WE have parades like that???) -ecoli
ecoli.. we do have parades like that. They're called Gasparilla and Guavaween -KalAshlar
It's a fair cop (OI!) if it was a bit of a stunt. I'm more interested to know what the group holding the event had to say about it. (Yeah, I'm not drooling over them, saddly.) -ShujinTribble
KalAshlar, sorry I was referring to the little burg that I live in. Have been to both of those and you are right! Of course, the later the night gets during those celebrations, the more the puppies run free! -ecoli
Dozy fucking copper with an overinflated sense of self-importance. -lineswine
So, Seargent Westwood was "supervising" the event, was he? <bfeg> -missourimule
Meh, I can see more than that at the beach or at any local mall. Of course, they're usually 12-14 years ols, but hey. Skin is skin. I'm all for standards of public decency. The only problem is that it'd put hundreds of clothing manufacturers out of business. -scooby111
I think that Sergeant Andy Westwood of Sussex Police should be put on immediate suspension pending a rather in depth investigation on the matter. -twinkie
Huh! Worthing - I might have known. It used to be a one-horse town but the horse died of stultifying boredom. One of these days I'm going to tip them off that Mafeking and Ladysmith have been relieved....on second thoughts, no-one there will ever believe me. -Gromit
I'll second that motion; it's no wonder if it was Worthing. Gromit, praise where it's due; they might be a zero horse town, but Spices is the best Thai resturant outside Thailand. -rurwin
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5.
Sheeesh!! And the day is still young!
Here are the notes I just put on a ticket I closed a moment ago:
Customer said connection returned. She said the lights in home blinked off for a moment and wondered if that had anything to do with the modem losing its connection. I advised it could be a possibility. Closed TT.
And I haven't been here for 2 hours yet.(crawls into a corner and starts whimpering) [By: rokitt / 2005-09-01]
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The matrix was being reset! -TieDyedDinosaur
<passes rokitt the jumbo pack of E-Z-Kalm sedatives> here, just go easy on them, after around thirty or forty you tend to get a little spaced out... OOOH! LooK aT ThE pREtTy ColOurS... -Diptera
People call over this crap? WTF? I wouldn't have believed it but people that stupid live near you too. Here I was hoping it was a local pheon... -scooby111
My TV has been shutting off and starting back up and random times over the past couple weeks. I haven't bothered to call RCA or Comcast though, because I know exactly what's causing it. My kitten is playing with the power cord. -thx1138
Scooby, as a technician who supports small ISPs throughout America, I can definitely say that the stupidity of the average users extends to power systems. "Lightning struck right next to my house last night. Is that why my unprotected DSL modem is smoking?" -thain
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6.
Not sure what catagory this is -
Was going through our knowledge base, looking for an issue a client called in on and came across this gem (our setup lists the issue, potential causes, and the fix) - "Problem - PC smells funny, and smoke is pouring out of it"
Who in the name of all that's holy calls the helpdesk when their PC is on fire?!?!? To make it worse, the fix - "Warm transfer to remote desktop" - these are the people who remote into the client's PC - wtf is remoting into a pc gonna do?!?!? Wow, this much idiocy this early in the day really does not bode well <curls up in a corner, cringeing at the beep of the phone>[By: PCRaevyn / 2005-09-01]
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Well, they did say "WARM transfer." I bet it's pretty warm if it's on FIRE! ((giggles maniacally )) -VaultVixen
VV - now that's a HOT comment! -TieDyedDinosaur
You're having one of those days already, too PCR? You have my sincere sympathies. -rokitt
Mmh... maybe the tech was trying to access NOSMOKE.EXE ? </Bad Urban Myth><run for LART shelter> -IcePanther
They obviously just need a Hotfix. -torch
Was acessing my pron file and Whhhoooffff! up in flames it went.. I'm thinking my computer got all hot and bothered. Who can I speak to about getting my pron files back? -StarFishHearder
This gets filed in the same category as the Microsoft KB entry "My computer is playing classical music" and Compaq's KB entry "Where is the Any key?" They're there because someone DID call, or MIGHT. -Mushroom
<Remote In>[Start]->[Run]->CMD[Enter]
- wait for command prompt - type 'NOSMOKE.EXE' - get message Command not found - Tell use PC is beond help as NOSMOKE.EXE will not work {Teleport 1 to Pond Life LART shelter NOW} -Wonko The Sane
thats some damned good pr0n.... -Harm
One smoking computer!!! -STJ
If they have someone remote into the computer, they can use admin rights to reverse the direction of the fan that blows out the magic smoke. :P -AmazingKreskin
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7.
NT/OT F$#$g idiots in N.O.
People are firing on the resuce copters? WTF???
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,168112,00.html[By: KalAshlar / 2005-09-01]
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yeah I justread that, so the guards are pulling out for now, the muppets have to wait even longer for help... -Jax
I just cannot believe this! What kind of people ARE these? -Nazreel
From what I understand Martial law was already declared. In my humble opinion, anyone caught looting, or pulling shit like this, should be shot on site. -Bobsentme
this truly is stupidity at a disgusting level. -wwonka
Quick somebody call the cops <roll eyes> http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001051261 -Digital Dogcow
DD went to your link, and the advert I got showing to the side was for nikon with the slogan "Give us your best shot" ...advertising works :p -Jax
You know the sad part. Those same F*cktwits looting and stealing will get aid money to rebuild. Would like to see a looter that found a house with a gator in it >:) Captain hook anyone? -StarFishHearder
People who are stupid enough to live in N.O., not evacuate when orderd to, try to steal equpment right in front of cameras, and still want to stay after the entire city's been destroyed and you're surprised that they would fire on rescue workers? Hmm? Now who's being stupid? The depths of human stupidity never surprise me. I'v looked into the face of stupidity and it was a hurricane survivor trying to ride a surfboard while in the edge of the eye... -scooby111
FEMA just stopped the rescue boats too, citing danger to rescuers as the reason. -JH
Scooby, I can see people looting because they do it for personal gain, whereas shooting at rescue choppers would give them absolutely nothing. Am I stupid for this assumption? -ShiftedBeef
kill anyone looting something other than basic supplies, beat the crap out of those looting basic supplies and refusing to share. Kill anyone carjacking, shooting at rescue workers or helicopters, kill idiots starting fires in the stadium, beat the crap out of anyone trying to start a fight for no good reason, etc... -squatchie666
Martial law was declared. The troops should be allowed to defend themselves if attacked first - or make the point to rescue those fucktards last. -MattN
One of the local AM talk show hosts said the helecopters should return fire and that the looters should be shot in the head and left until the cleanup phase. Shooting at the rescuers is just stupid beyond belief. -Starfury
At the end of WWII, looting by U.S. soldiers was becoming a problem. The brass annnounced that anyone found looting --- or even possessing obviously looted items --- would be hung. It only took one guy dangling for everyone else to get the message. (IIRC, K. Vonnegut discussed this in 'Slaughterhouse Five'.) The same gig would work quite well in LA right now: you steal, you die, and with the gov't.'s blessing. A couple guys lined against a wall at the Superdome and shot for hijacking a rescue vehicle would get the point across. -MeanDean
So they're evacuating people to the Astrodome, eh? My less-noble side says that if I was a resident of Houston, TX, I would be at home right now loading every gun I owned. -MeanDean
And that's Texas, so they've got 'em! Alrady loaded, I'll bet! -BobP
This is farking SICK...
-Warrick
And just what good is the flat sceen TV when there will be no power for MONTHS?!! *blink* -sajwaite
Can't help the backwood bayou people... and stupid asses who wouldn't know help if it dropped a loaf of bread on their heads. -Mushroom
They're also talking about bussing them to Dallas, and rumors about Sandy Eggo volunteering to take some of them... Ohhhkkayy,, then.... -MadJack
On the radio this morning I heard that medical staff came under fire from a 'sniper' while evacuating patients from a hospital. Even in Australia we are hearing what is going on. I agree fully, Martial Law, with looters (at least non-food and water) shot on sight. -Wraith556
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9.
We only want $DIETY
Job description:
_________________________________________________
Title: Advanced Database Administrator
_________________________________________________
Salary: $65,000.00 (negotiable; plus benefits)
_________________________________________________
Hours: Monday thru Friday 8-4pm
_________________________________________________
Locations: 3 work-sites in Newark, Montclair and East Orange, NJ
_________________________________________________
SUMMARY:
This person will be responsible for the hardware and network services that include maintenance and upgrades for our local and wide-area network systems as well as interface with the State of NJ computer networks, including maintenance of security and back-up systems.
_________________________________________________
RESPONSIBILITES INCLUDE:
Maintenance 60 computers, 8 servers, 5 local areas network and a wide-area network connecting 5 locations. On site and remote desktop support, 3 local back-up systems, virus protection, printer connectivity, user profiles, email accounts and web access. Administration and maintenance of content in PFP enterprise databases including data maintenance in Dbase, MS SQL, and MS Excel formats as well as ESRI Mapping. Maintenance of code in Goldmine Management, Microsoft Access, Visual Basic, .Net and ASP. Net. Creation and mod custom reports created in Crystal Reports and Crystal Enterprise versions 8.5 and 10. Support for accounting system MAS 90, General Ledger and Monarch. [By: kelemit / 2005-09-01]
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Okay. Is this a legit job? I wonder what the cost of living in NJ is? That's $10K more than I make now doing pretty much what I do now. -scooby111
65k a year isn't enough to supply me with the neccessary body and vehicle armor required for a trip to East Orange, NJ. Makes Beirut look like a nice small town! -torgo
Bedroom Community for NYC - slightly cheaper than the SF Bay area, but not by much. It is, however, close to most of my relatives.... I wouldn't take it for twice the stated pay! -Divinar
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10.
We only want $DIETY Part X=X+1
EXPERTISE REQUIRED: ---------------------------------
Hardware and Network: ---------------
Intermediate knowledge of computer hardware and networking. -----------Advanced knowledge/experience in wide-area networks and terminal services. --------Knowledge of Veritas Back-up Exec and Symantec Anti-Virus Corporate Edition.
Knowledge of Ipswich I-Mail and MS SQL
__________________________________________________
Knowledge of Databases in: ---------Dbase, MS Access and MS SQL ---------------ESRI Geographic Information System Software -----------Coding in ArcView Avenue script and ESRI utilities.----------------Front Range Goldmine Contact Management Software Programming MS Access, Visual
Basic, Visual Basic.Net, .Net Remoting, Visual Studio, ASP.Net and SQL ------------Web development in Front Page, HTML and ASP.Net proficient in Network Security
Systems.
__________________________________________________
QUALIFICATIONS: -------Provides technical supervision of other system programmers. (Maybe one more) -------Possess a MCSE Certification. [By: kelemit / 2005-09-01]
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dude you need a star badly <G> -Jax
and having re-read that, you were doing fine till the last , very last part <eg> -Jax
Yeah, I know.. i'm sry.
I just finished my Graduate degree and trying to find a job now.. sigh. Thus why I came across the beaut. But, hopefully I might have cash soon :D -kelemit
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11.
We only want $DIETY Part X=X+2
Yeah... I could do ALL that for only 65k. Right, Security, Network, Database, Tech support, Desktop Support, Phone Support, on THREE locations, while CODING for the database, TROUBLEshooting proprietary database code, making NEW reports for said databases, AND supervising.. MAYBE!!! maybe supervising one more, we don't know yet if we'll have to hire another person.... we'll see how $DIETY like you are.----------------------------sigh--------------------[By: kelemit / 2005-09-01]
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Funny thing is: this almost describes my position here with my company except: 1. only 3 sites. 2. I don't have to do the programming and interface items. Other than that, I handle everything from Network to desktop to database to backups! : ) -JoeLugian
Sounds like someone fought the powers that be telling them that they were worth more than $65k/year and they did not beleive him. -wwonka
JL, this is a company looking for someone for 3 sites as well, in the Northern NJ area. You sure they aren't hiring someone to replace you? :( -kelemit
Meh. I don't really see the problem here. I don't have some of the coding experience, but I bet I could negotiate that. It's $10K more than I make now, but the cost of living in NJ probably makes up for that. So it'd be a wash money-wise. I bet that anyone who had all of it could negotiate $70K or so. -scooby111
Dude, I would SOOOOO do that job for $65k. I'm going most of that, along with 1 other guy, at 2 locations, but looking to expand. I make about 60% of that salary :( <curls up in corner and cries for the rest of the day> -squatchie666
would you do tech support for 25k? http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?IPath=PSR&job_did=J8H6QC6WHNXWBP3LXGY&dv=dv&jrdid=JR1C5D85VPC3RK5C6WF7&lpage=1&strcrit=QID%3dA3848729537242%3bst%3dA%3buse%3dALL%3bTID%3d88668%3bCTY%3dALEXANDER%3bSID%3dAR%3bCID%3dUS%3bENR%3dNO%3bDTP%3dDR3211%3bYDI%3dYES%3bIND%3dALL%3bPDQ%3dAll%3bJN%3dJN008%3bPAYL%3d10%3bPAYH%3d40%3bPOY%3dNO%3bETD%3dJTFT%3bRE%3dALL%3bMGT%3dDC%3bSUP%3dDC%3bFRE%3d30%3bCHL%3dAL%3bQS%3dRUNSRCH%3bSS%3dYES%3bsearchname%3dINFORMATION+TECHNOLOGY...ALEXANDER%3bTITL%3d0%3bJQT%3dRAD&sfascc=&CiBookMark=1&jobcount=17&sname=INFORMATION+TECHNOLOGY...ALEXANDER&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=82031f96685840858e6636ca4c30bc62-178907302-xr-2
-SGTARKyTEK
http://swz.salary.com/CostOfLivingWizard/layouthtmls/coll_metrodetail_156.html#moving -TechMama
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12.
Ow, my head
Cow-orker: Hey Vixen, I put a disc in my floppy drive and now I can't get it out.
VV: Umm, you don't have a floppy drive.
CW: But I've got this little slot here...
VV: Yeah, but there's no drive behind it. Isn't there a little plastic barrier sealing off the slot?
CW: Oh yeah, I took that off.
VV: Well, the manufacturer put that on there so you would know that there's no floppy drive.
CW: Ohhh. I thought it was to keep dust out of the drive.
VV: That floppy you put in there--was it work related?
CW: Ummm, no.
VV: So, you want me to get your non-sanctioned, non-work-related floppy out of your non-existent floppy drive?
CW: Is that your way of saying "no"?
VV: In a nutshell...[By: VaultVixen / 2005-09-01]
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You aren't going to help them do a floppy-ectomy? -TieDyedDinosaur
O.O .....BAWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH -Jax
This is me in a nutshell .. oh no I'm in a nutshell </Mike Myers> -wwonka
No. It's my way of saying that I'll stop by while you're away and confiscate your pr0n floppy at my leisure. -scooby111
after reteival, oops where did I put that magnet? Oh there it is on the said floppy... -StarFishHearder
<Jimmy Pop>Like a scrotum here it is in a nutshell...</Jimmy Pop> -NOFXfan
You pulled off the cover to put a floppy in a non-existent slot??? Why didn't you just put the floppy in it's correct slot, the "slot" in your ar$e!!! -squatchie666
why do you think he said it's not work related squatchi666? wear rubber gloves vixen! -mugglemage
<Barenaked Ladies> Her life, in a Nutchell....</BNL> -StylinTechie
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14.
ntlworld
too long for me to format, cuz im lazy, so i posted it in the forum...
http://www.techcomedy.com/members/message_board/viewtopic.php?p=56751#56751[By: putahtek / 2005-09-01]
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15.
Note on the soap box
I'm glad to see that someone mentioned the Red Cross. My father works for them. They do alot of good work. No matter whether its for people in need like in New Orleans or the military. Clara Barton had the right idea when she created the Red Cross. I think she would be happy with what her creation has become.
Have a good day everyone. Well atleast try to.[By: StarFishHearder / 2005-09-01]
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For those who don't know who Clara Barton was: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clara_Barton -LaserGuru
My Dad was a fireman for 30 years. He taught me all about the value of the red-cross and I have never forgot it. They definatly get a piece of my income. -phsspok
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16.
Checking in
Just letting you know that your favorite borg (no, not Seven of Nine, your other favorite borg) is still here. This is the first time I've been able to access the internet since Monday.
Oddly enough, my power didn't even go out, although I did loose phones and cable. This despite the fact that, less than a mile from my apartment, some traffic lights were torn from their poles and sent smashing through the windows of a nearby convenience store. Still, it could have been worse. My brother in law lives in New Orleans, and he still doesn't know if he has a home to go back to.
Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I was alive.
[By: ThirdOfFive / 2005-09-01]
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Glad to hear you're still okay. -teivrann
It takwes more than Katrina to kill the Borg! Glad to hear you're still with us. -Gromit
Glad to hear you're ok man. :)
-Warrick
*hugs*, One of my best friends is in the same scenario. Doesn't know what she has left to go home to. -BunnieTechBabe
Thanks for the check-in, we do appreciate it. Best of luck to you and especially your extended family.
-Mushroom
Hey, 3of5, glad to hear you're OK. Hope you family comes up as good. -Tekkie
Glad to hear your ok. One of my co-workers just got a call that one of her relatives is in poor shape. She had to leave work right away and head to Shreveport, LA. I hope everyone in the damage zones are ok. -rokitt
Good to hear you're OK. How is the rest of the collective doing? -lineswine
Glad you're Ok. Here's hoping any other TSCers in the Katrina struck area are doing fine too. -Nazreel
Rokitt - I gather an evacuee that has trouble in Shreveport? Because all we've seen of Katrina is TV shots and evacuees ... Spent six hours rebuilding the OS on a Stinkpad for one, because he had the only computer at the local KOA, and he's been "If it weren't for bad luck" this week. Good news for him - his roof blew off. Considering that means the walls are still up, that's good news. -ralphp1024
Good news that you're OK! -Grue
Update 9/2: BIL finally managed to contact some of his neighbors that stayed behind. According to them, while his neighborhood escaped flooding, the winds were strong enough to rip the chimney off of his house. The good news is that, if true, most of his possessions could be saved (assuming looters haven't made off with them). The bad news is that the house would be a complete loss. -ThirdOfFive
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17.
recent events
I didnt want to bump the link of the day. This reflects todays times. http://toccionline.kizash.com/films/1001/178/index.php[By: Servo / 2005-09-01]
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While I'm not at all supprised to see gas prices (and heating oil, etc) skyrocket, I do think that Oil companies and *cough* 'others' need to reexamine their priorities. Gouging on gas would seem to take away from the other sectors of the economy. But again, This isn't supprising, just dang annoying. -ThreeBucks
I'm looking forward to one of the great, ah, "enterpreneurial" activities from the mid '70s to start up again: tanker-truck hijackings! -MeanDean
MeanDean, you have no idea how much I was thinking of that yesterday. Freakin Tanker truck cut me off on the highway yesterday. I could have gotten even, AND a few hundred gallons cheap!
-Bobsentme
What I don't understand is how the prices go up the moment a shortage is announced but the stations haven't had to buy at the new/higher price yet. Even with this disaster I expect record profits (again) from all the oil companies. -Starfury
it's pre-emptive profiteering, that's all. -Bynar
Prices go up immediately because we listen to the news and the news is only too happy to fearmonger. Isn't it funny how the prices didn't go up anywhere until the media started reporting that there were going to be shortages. Suddenly, the gas stations got swamped and there were shortages. It's the same with the oil companies. The media reports on high oil prices and the oil companies know that Americans equate oil prices with gas prices. They then are free to raise gas prices immediately. They can then get a few million dollars extra from the consumer before they have to buy the gas themselves. When the prices go down, they just drag their heels a bit and lower the price slowly and never to what it was. In that way, they can keep profits incredibly high and the US consumer can pay the bill. -scooby111
Didn't we invade a country to get cheap gas? How can the price go UP?! -Mushroom
Reminds me of my Uncle Solly. He told me once that during the war (second world) the local grocer told him "Buy your oatmeal now, Sol. There's going to be a shortage soon...don't tell anyone" Of course, Uncle Solly bought all the oatmeal he could, even though no one in the house liked the stuff, and passed it on to a few neighbors, too....it was awfully funny after that how that grocer had a shortage on whatever item wasn't moving fast enough to suit him. Or that's what my Aunt Portia always said. -halfstarfish
(Brits, Aussies, and NZers will only get this one) Does anyone remember a show called "Open All Hours" starring Ronnie Barker (of The Two Ronnies fame) and how he had try to sell a massive overstock of ginger cake by resticting sales to one per person, and promoting it as an aphrodisiac? (and maybe Canadians as well) -Wraith556
You think it is expensive? Here we pay 1,38 EUR for a liter. That is $6,47 per gallon! And you keep complaining? -B2382F29
wraith you mean this :)http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/o/video_clips/openallhours_66600470_3.shtml -Jax
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18.
The Big Sleazy
From FOX News (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,168001,00.html) (excerpt): 'Managers at a nursing home were prepared to cope with the power outages and had enough food for days, but then the looting began. The home's bus driver was forced to surrender the vehicle to carjackers. >>>>> Bands of people drove by the nursing home, shouting to residents, "Get out!" Eighty residents, most of them in wheelchairs, were being evacuated to other nursing homes in the state. >>>>> "We had enough food for 10 days," said Peggy Hoffman, the home's executive director. "Now we'll have to equip our department heads with guns and teach them how to shoot."' >>>>> And people wonder why Californians wish the South would secede again... Really, go ahead, no one will stop you this time...[By: MeanDean / 2005-09-01]
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fixed link http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,168001,00.html
-drachen
My god this is insane..
-Warrick
I can see stealing food, water, batteries, and gas, after that your just being an asshole.
-drachen
Thank you Drach. -MeanDean
with fellow citizens like that, who needs terrorists? -Bynar
ppl are shooting at aid helicopters. thats beyond fear and survival, thats bloody minded stuff. i have no issue with those swine being taken on by security forces. -timelady
Somone is Sniping people comming out of the hospital. People are just using the disaster to wreak havoc and indulge in their own petty desires. I say shoot on sight. Send in SWAT, the National Guard, and the farking Army rangers/seals to restore order. -scooby111
Two Words: Martial Law. I'm a pacifist by nature but these <Explitive Deleted> need to be wiped the <Explitive Dleted> Out. -StylinTechie
Taken from the same article:-"The New Orleans police chief ran off looters while city officials themselves were commandeering equipment from a looted Office Depot. During a state of emergency, authorities have broad powers to take private supplies and buildings for their use." Is official looting in some way better than the private kind? -lineswine
Apparently, LineSwine, the way the law is written, if the police take it for official use, it's OK, while if they take it for personal use, it is not. I can't actually argue, that sounds like a reasonable law... but in cases like this it certainly sounds like it will leave things very open for abuse. -chazz
Chazz - Being part of an emergency response agency, I can confirm the 'official use' clause, but you can damn well be sure the oft-repeated story of cops snagging 32" flatscreens and DVD players from Walmart ain't for keeping tabs on the disaster. -Jay911
i was listening to fox on xm and one female reporter sounded like she was complaining that people were leaving trash behind at the superdome. said it twice. I WAS SCREAM: YOU FUCKWIT THERE ARE WORSE PROBLEMS THERE THAN LEAVING SOME TRASH!!!! -SGTARKyTEK
Updates from the fields - Police officers and Guardsmen being sent to New Orleans are being fitted with bullet proof vests and told "Don't open fire, but if fired on, shot to kill. Period." I'm of the belief that all rescue 'copters should have a sniper on board - if you shoot at the 'copter, the sniper puts a dose of lead into the cranium and you're left for the later cleanup. My take as a "cowboy American". I'd call them spammers, but I think we've finally found a lower form of life than spammers. Sigh. -ralphp1024
I can fully understand taking food and water, or any basic necessity. Taking TVs and such is way beyond reasonable, what are they going to do, watch the news on it at home? Those who are sniping at hospitals and shooting at the helicopters bringing aid are beyond scum, they need to be dealt with swiftly and severely: shoot first and forget the questions, just add them to the body count. -AgentV3
With regards to the last few comments - I've long wondered why police helicopters aren't armed. This just serves to reinforce my opinion (that they should be). -Jay911
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19.
Sending Help
Whenever there is a natural disaster anywhere in the world the good'ol USofA is the first to send helpers and relief aid like food, water and medical supplies. How come I don't hear of any other country offering to help us now in the Katrina damage areas?Please someone tell me why. I seem to remember the same situation a few years ago when the Mississippi overflowed and did many billions of damage. No one helped us then either. May be we should stop "helping" others and take of our own first. [By: atomicbill / 2005-09-01]
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it's dejavu all over again.
-drachen
Damn... internet here keeps forgetting what I've done... I *HATE* proxy servers run by starfish pretenting to be techs! -TrueTenacity
Damn... internet here keeps forgetting what I've done... I *HATE* proxy servers run by starfish pretenting to be techs! -TrueTenacity
I get the news releases for our province, saying they were interested in sending part of the aid I believe Canada is building - quick google, here's an article: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050831.waid0831/BNStory/Front -namor
Possibly because by being seen to be (and acting like one) a "super power" folks assume (rightly or wrongly) that you can take care of yourselves? -NightRain
yup, our prime minister was scheduled to talk w/ pres. bush on the softwood lumber dispute, but instead took that time to offer any and all assistance necessary. (Ironically, they'll probably need much of our softwood lumber in the rebuilding effort) -Bynar
I had to stop and bit my tongue for that first comment, btw. Little attitude? -namor
Apparently two countries have tried and been rejected by our lovely government: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20050831_katrina_template_050831?s_name=&no_ads= and http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050901/wl_nm/weather_katrina_chavez_dc_1;_ylt=Aoa4SALwWikRVMnriNnaQE_7NhkF;_ylu=X3oDMTA2ZGZwam4yBHNlYwNmYw-- -redfaery
Sorry the second link details the offer from Venezuelan government that was rejected not the canadian help. -redfaery
Because if you did hear about it, the Propaganda Machine that is used by our gov would obviously have failed. While the American Red Cross does indeed help folks all over the world, So do the British, Canadian, Austrailian and many other branches of the Red Cross. And those branches do work together to help each other out. It's there, you jsut have to look outside the US media's purview to get a glimpse of it. Our own gov't is lying to us, giving the people the impression we are the greatest and no one else cares about us. Propaganda. We have massive debt on a loca, national and international level, many insurance and banking institutions will be filing for federal relief at tax time because of this, dare I say even more than on 9/11, but Bush REFUSED financial assistance from several countries to at least offset the initial disaster relief costs. Why do you think that is if not either stupidity or propaganda? -GargoyleTS
actually dude, here in oz, our gvt has offered aid, and is mobilising it. so has canada, france, and many other european & asian nations. the recent ones we have all offered aid too, such as tsunami struck regions, are still rebuilding, and are still needy. so off high horsemate, check ot facts first!!! -timelady
oh, and the us aid in the tsunami disaster was a slow response from your president, and after international comdemnation, was upped to more than a token gesture. not blaming folks, just the silly gvt response there. -timelady
AtomicBill, please stop thinking like a brainwashed American. There are lots of countries who have offered to help America with LOTS of things. Venezuala recently offered to send gasoline, but was refused because our government wants oil companies to make LOTS of money. You can only be told NO so many times before you stop offereing help. -Bobsentme
On a unrelated note, I must add that there is a great misconception in Israel that the Jews don't help the Arabs which is completely untrue. There are many Arabs that live in Israel that are completely happy with it and participating in its democracy. I never hear stories about this and about the mixed neighborhoods where Jew and Gentile are living in harmony. I'll get off my soapbox now... -Alternatech
WTF? We don't really need the help. We're the USA. We have the money in droves and the manpower to take care of it ourselves. It would be nice for other countries to offer some symapthy and maybe some things that we can't produce for ourselves, but monetary aid or manpower aid is just not needed. I am profoundly grateful to Canada and Venezula for offering what aid we really need. I'm sad that the governmnet choose to refuse the help of Venezula, but we would have probably refused help from Iran or Cuba too. -scooby111
^^^what that lot said. Aid is being sent. It's a little hard to catapault helicopters over when they're going to get shot at though... On that note, how many helicopters are currently flying around the damn place holding a news crew instead of food and water? -smellystudent
Usually, when aid is sent, it is greeted with a reasonable amount of gratitude by the recipients. However, in the present disaster, it is more likely to be greeted with small-arms rounds. BTW, many countries have offered help, just because it wasn't on CNN doesn't mean it never happened. -lineswine
...and people wonder why the world has a hate on for the States. It's comments like this that give people a distorted view of the American society. Not all Americans are uninformed cannon-mouths, but it's hard not to stereotype after reading something like this. -HadEnough
I think the media plays a big part in it. I believe the american media hates america. Therefore they report with glee the really mean stuff the prime minister of the neatherlands said, and all the people that blame america and bush for hurricanes, global warming and the extinction of the dinosaurs. People get angry and jaded when they hear that stuff. I spent all morning being bitter about some of the things people in the world has said. No, we DONT hear about the good things going on in the world, nor do we hear from the people who actually have sympathy for us, because our own media hates the United States and therefore filters the news as such. Trust me, we have help being bitter. -battybeyond
Oh, I so should not get started on this...speaking of cannon-mouths, I wonder what Chavez would have done for an evac plan? Probably nothing. And besides was there not a "mandatory evacuation" ordered? I suppose people would have been happy if the National Guard had gone in and dragged people out of their houses beforehand. As for aid, I think Bill's comment here is aimed at foreign aid in general. I think we should seriously consider cutting all foreign aid, it's more then justified considering the money we'll need to clean up and repair this mess. -redevil34
Thanks for the comments but I need to clarify one thing. I have never heard of any offers for help. That does not mean it hasn't happened as I have found out. I had voted for Bush but I am discusted to hear that he refused "FREE" gasoline from Venesuala. I think I will switch to another political party. The problem is that they all suck. -atomicbill
This is the second complaint I've seen about no one helping in as many days. I have to wonder what the complainers think it takes to mobilize a humanitarian aid operation of this magnitude. You can't just parachute it in and set things up overnight. It's been not quite four days since the disaster happened. FEMA and the associated EMAs are demanding that disaster response teams NOT mobilize until asked for. And frankly, with the attitude being shown by the folks who are unhappy that the situation isn't back to normal already (how do you repair power/comms infrastructure with everything under 27 feet of water?), you might just make us think twice about the help that we ARE ALREADY SENDING. Shape up and hang in there - we're frickin' coming already. Oh, and stop shooting at us please? KTHXBYE. -Jay911
Another thought - as one of the top countries in the world, scoob's got it partially right, I think - most others are in a worse financial position, so not quite as able to offer up aid on the scale that would be required. The fact that some will still be attempting should be good enough. Most of this will, and probably should be handled within your own country; an event that helps to focus the media's eye on internal, less political affairs than foreign policy probably couldn't hurt, either. -namor
WHY ARE WE STILL SENDING BILLIONS TO AFRICA FOR AIDS, AND THEY ARE STILL BITCHING TODAY ABOUT US BEING RACIST!!!!! DONT SEND THE MONEY USE IT FOR DISASTER RELIEF HERE!!!!!FUCKING LIBERAL BULLSHIT!!!!!!! -SGTARKyTEK
pardon me.. but I have been poking around. Where does it say that Bush refused the gas offered? -KalAshlar
Hmm, a rant without factual basis? NZ Red Cross is collecting aid money and they state "All donations will be passed on to the American Red Cross to provide life-saving relief efforts to the millions of people affected, including the provision of food, water and shelter". We're not big but we're trying to help. -K1W1
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/02092005/325/foreign-governments-line-help-katrina.html
... Quote: "the United States initially seemed reticent about accepting foreign aid, but later said it would take up any offers." Quote:"President George W. Bush said in a television interview that the United States could take care of itself." End Of Argument. -Criptonite
Yeah, what Criptonite said. our chancellor Schröder (actually not brilliant himself) offered help but got this `we take care of ourselves` answer. OK, Bush does not want to be in someone`s debt. But I don`t like the timing. -Datura
OK. I read the UK Yahoo news link and your quote of Bush is out of context. He said that we didn't expect aid because we hadn't asked for it and that this nation was capable of rising up to this challenge. These are reassuring words from the nation's leader to it's citizens. These were not said in arrogance, but rather to give confidence. Also the official stance of the governement in this is to receive aid, we were hesitant at first because this is new to us. Please stop trying to stir crap up just to do it. -KalAshlar
Both Danish and Finnish goverment have said that if US asks for help, they'll send it in. Head Office for Intl Red Cross has contacted US Red Cross enquiring if they need help, and European RCs are on stand-by. So far no request for help from US Goverment nor from US RC. -NordicPT
Actually, one of the first things I read in the news on Monday was of Russia's offer to help. You're just not reading the right news. Since then, I've seen offers from many other countries, including stories about citizens from the "non-industrial" nations wishing there was some way they could help. Of course, there are also the bozos saying "we deserve it" and "we're the biggest cause of global warming and are reaping what we sow", but that's not exactly news. :P -TechMama
Ok, here: http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news/?p=katrina+country+help&c= -TechMama
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20.
Correct pronunciation not optional.
Went to Best Buy the other day, was picking up a part for friends that visited today. I know, I know - there are better places to shop...wasn't MY dime! I'm in the computer area, and am looking for where the parts have been moved to THIS week, when I overhear a conversation between a "Geek Squad" member, and the customer he's TRYING to help: C: I don't need to worry about websites loading, I want to know if I can run SKIPPY on it! GS: Sir, as I've mentioned before, I have NO idea what "skippy" is, and we couldn't find it on the rack. NOBODY else knows what it is. C: Then what good are you! I'm gonna go to somewhere that knows this stuff. At this point, I'd figured out what the guy was talking about, and jumped in with a simple question: Me: Hi there - are you talking about a program spelled S-K-Y-P-E? C: At LAST, someone that knows this stuff! Me, to GS: Sell him whatever broadband, he's talking about chatting on Skype. Me, to C: It's pronounced SKYPE (pronouncing it correctly yet again). C: Oh. GS: Oh. Thanks. Me: Walks away, shaking head, thinking: "...and I'm the one that's unemployed!" [By: Grue
/ 2005-09-01 ]
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Whats that skippy, one of the boys is trapped down the old well?? -Armakuni
*facepalms* YEouch..
-Warrick
If I were the GS member working for Best Buy (and that's unlikely given my current circumsances), I would not let on to the customer that I could decipher their gibberish. If they insisted that it was Skippy, I would send 'em to the grocery store. -ThreeBucks
That program runs just skippy (skype?) on my 50k dialup. :) -Mushroom
long as its not CLIPPY! -neuman1812
I don't think I would have decoded that - well done! -namor
Damn skippy. -NightSteel
well i bet gs doesnt pay well and its not the geeks fault, you probably had more interaction with the starfish. Most of my experience is with "users" not "customers". Thats what my co-worker clearified to me, we dont have customers, they do what we say or they get no network. they can demand all they want but if its not in our policy we dont do it. -SGTARKyTEK
I think in the two years we've been using the "wonderful" Aegis client and 802.1x authentication in the dorms, I've had a total of six students who can pronounce AYEJIS and possibly two students who can pronounce "unauthenticated." It's not unauthentificated. or they just mumble and sutter over it and say 'whatever that is.' I can't believe we let functional illiterates that can't sound out words of more than two syllables into college. -battybeyond
I can't pronounce authenticated either without thinking about it first... -NOFXfan
Yes - Skippy - that well known Aussie VOIP -macbeth
i wouldve pronounced it e-jis -SGTARKyTEK
anyone pronounce it "I Jizz", that would be funny -NOFXfan
NOFX: you can't do that ppl will see it cumming :) -Armakuni
I definately couldn't decode that either. Skype.. boooooo! :P -ShiftedBeef
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