Math for spam (4) Jul 5, 2006
I just enabled a new plugin:  Math Comment Spam Protection.  It puts a simple math problem before the comment box.  If it's not filled in, a comment can't be posted.  This should effectively eliminate all spam, seeing that it's being used in conjunction with Akismet.  Spam thankfully doesn't get through Akismet's filters, but Akismet occasionally filters out some legitimate comments, so I'm somewhat forced to go through all my spam comments every now and then to make sure there weren't any mistakes.  This should hopefully cut down on the volume of spam comments that comes in.  We'll see. #technology
What's new Jul 5, 2006
My vote for the worst question ever:  "What's new?"  How am I supposed to answer that question?  Do people really want to know the answer?  If so, how long of an answer do they want?  Five minutes?  Five seconds?  How specific should I be?  If I bought something used, does it count as being new?  Doesn't it depend on how long it's been since I've seen the person?  If I haven't seen the person in 10 years, where the heck should I start?  How inclusive should I be?  Should I mention the new white undershirts I just got from Walmart?  Or is that not important enough?  Should I say that I got my car washed the other day?  Technically, it's new ... in a sense.  Should I talk about the new emails I got today?  They're new.  Does that count?  Or should I look at the really big picture and say something along the lines of, "My interest in theoretical physics has subsided mildly as a result of my new-found love for conveyor-based plane takeoffs"? 

I guess I understand the point of the question:  "How do I get this socially inept introvert to tell me something interesting about his life?"  But I'm so unsure of how to answer it that I almost always just end up saying, "Not much." #psychology
Complain Jul 5, 2006
Some people complain a lot.  It can be argued that I complain a lot.  But I know people who complain even more than me.  Sometimes people complain just to say something.  And often times, the complaints aren't real or legitimate; they're just there to be funny.  And that's fine.  Comedy can always be appreciated.  But then some other people complain because they're literally not satisfied with anything.  "My steak has some pink in it, but I wanted more pink."  "There's not enough dressing on my salad."  "My ice is too cold." (made that one up). 

The difference between a good complaint and a bad complaint is that a good one has an action associated with it.  If you have a complaint about your food at a restaurant, do something about it.  Get the waiter to take it back to the chef so he can spit on it.  Get off your butt and get your own salad dressing.  If all you plan to do is sit there and complain about it, don't expect me to listen or care.  (I'm not nice.)

Or get a blog and complain about it to the entire world. #psychology