Looking over my shoulder Jun 5, 2008
One of my biggest pet peeves is when people look over my shoulder when I'm on the computer.  At home, I get irritated when Wendy watches what I do.  It's not that I'm doing anything bad or secretive or anything.  I just like my privacy.  I guess I feel like people are either judging what I'm doing and might feel compelled to tell me so, or they might not understand what I'm doing and might feel compelled to ask me about it. 

This is especially true at work.  My desk is set up so I'm facing into my cubicle, with my back facing the aisle.  All day long, people walk back and forth behind me because I'm in a high-traffic area.  Every once in a while, I can feel somebody looking over my shoulder, so I turn and face them, trying to hide my feelings of annoyance.  The thing is, it probably wouldn't be a big deal if people interrupted me for legitimate reasons.  But most times, someone just filled their cup at the water cooler and they think, "I wonder what Dave's doing."  Awesome.  Thanks, guys.  I appreciate your interest in my extremely exciting life, but please leave me alone. 

I especially hate when the person doesn't say anything or make a sound.  They just gradually peer over my shoulder and scare me to death.  These are usually the people that'll say something about what's on my computer screen.  "Checking personal email, huh?  Cool."  Or they'll say something about one of the many objects on my desk.  "Where was that picture taken?"  "What's that you're working on?"  "Pizza for lunch again, huh." 

Because of the layout of the cubicles at work, many people have adopted a funny little practice.  They set up their desk in such a way that there's no way for a casual passerby to see what they're doing on their computer.  I would say about 75% of the people in my building do this.  I understand the idea and I would even do it myself, but the lengths people go to in order to hide their computer screens is ridiculous.  They contort their bodies and use the far-far edge of their desk coupled with the tiny little cubicle divider.  Or they use their computer as another little wall.  I understand people like their privacy (as I do), but it really makes them look suspicious. #business
Kid punches teacher (3) Jun 5, 2008
From yesterday's headlines: 
8-year-old arrested, accused of hitting teacher
An eight-year old boy is about to get a first hand lesson in criminal justice. The second grader was arrested for allegedly punching his teacher in the face. NBC2's Patrick Flanary had a chance to speak to the young boy.

An argument over crayons in the classroom ended inside a patrol car for second grader Deshawn Williams. His wrists were in handcuffs and his teacher was badly bruised.

"He gets very upset and he loves to hit," said Deshawn's grandmother Dorothy Williams.

"If he was overpowering her that much, I feel like she shouldn't be in that line of work," said Dorothy.

"If she can't deal with him, put him in someone else's classroom. If it's a male, whatever, and let them restrain him," said Dorothy.
Commentary:
  1. An argument over crayons?  Come on kid, there are much bigger fish to fry.
  2. "He gets very upset, and he loves to hit."  Excellent.  There's no better way to account for a person's actions that with the old, "That's just what he does."  I'll concede that you can use that excuse for a truly damaged person, such as an Alzheimer's patient who calls you in the middle of the night because he forgets where he lives.  But an 8-year-old kid who just "loves to hit"?  I don't think so.
  3. "If he was overpowering her that much, I feel like she shouldn't be in that line of work."  Double excellent.  "If you can't beat up kids, you shouldn't be in charge of them."  Excellent thing to say, especially to a reporter who will tell the whole world what you said.
  4. "If it's a male, whatever, and let them restrain him."  Triple excellent.  First, my kid loves to hit.  Second, if you get beat up by my kid, you're too weak to be in charge of him.  Third, if you're a woman, perhaps you're too weak.  Get a man to do it.
(via News of the Weird) #entertainment