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
Mooning accident Jun 4, 2008
I read a lot of weird news headlines throughout the day.  Weird news is one of my hobbies.  I don't know why.  This one in particular is just too good to pass up: 
Dutch man injures posterior in mooning accident
UTRECHT, Netherlands - Utrecht police say a 21-year-old Dutch man is recovering after a "mooning" that went horribly wrong.

A police statement says the man and two others had run down a street in Utrecht with their pants pulled down in the back "for a joke."

It says that at one point the 21-year-old "pushed his behind against the window of a restaurant" that broke and resulted in "deep wounds to his derriere."

The statement released Tuesday says police detained the three men after the incident Sunday morning. But the cafe owner decided not to press charges after the men agreed to pay for the broken window.

The injured man was treated for his injuries at a nearby hospital.
There are just so many interesting facets to this story.  One is the fact that it's even a story at all.  It shows a little about the state of our society when stories like this make the news.  Then there's the use of quotes.  No reporter is low enough to know what "mooning" means, so everything is in quotes, to cover his/her "derriere".  There's also the fact that this may be the first ever recorded instance of a mooning accident.  This is groundbreaking stuff here.  And that restaurant owner is pretty cool to let the guy go as long as he pays for the window.  The punishment could've been a lot worse, say, if the restaurant owner decided to call the local newspaper.  Oh wait, that's what he did. 

I tend to put myself in this guy's shoes because I've done a few stupid things in my lifetime that could've easily ended up going horribly wrong.  I wonder how long he waited as he sat impaled on shards of glass before he agreed to call an ambulance?  He was likely losing a huge amount of blood, but I would imagine the thought crossed his mind that there'd be a better way out of the situation.  Then when he was at the police station, who did he call to get picked up?  His parents?  "Hi mom, yeah it's me.  I'm at the police station.  I stuck my butt through a window and wound up in the hospital and then got arrested.  Can you come pick me up?"  As if it wasn't enough that this guys friends, the restaurant's patrons, the doctors and nurses at the hospital, and law enforcement officials were given the privilege of witnessing this momentous event, he likely had to tell his family about it.  And then when all his friends, acquaintances, and relatives read about it in the newspaper, I bet it made him swear off using his butt that way ever again. #entertainment
Schwing (1) Jun 3, 2008
I was driving back into work after my lunch break today, when I saw a truck at the entrance with this logo on the side: 
[Image: schwing.png]
Schwing!
[Image: schwing.gif]
#entertainment
Old person name change (4) Jun 3, 2008
I know of a person (let's call her Gertrude) who decided around the age of 60 to stop referring to herself as Gertrude and instead opt for Gerty.  (Sorry to anyone who knows this person and/or is related in some way; I mean no offense.)  I find this incredibly odd.  While I agree that Gertrude is an awkward name and that perhaps Gerty has a more modern-sounding or more easily-pronounceable ring to it, I don't think it's acceptable to decide to change your name later in life.  My simple argument is this:  How did you cope for the first 60 years?  Surely you can find a way to cope for the next 40 or so. 

It would be one thing if you just recently moved and started a new job where no one knew you.  You could finally get rid of that outdated name and adopt a nickname you've always wanted.  Such is not the case with the aforementioned Gerty.  She's been living in the same town for quite some time, has attended the same church for a while, and has many friends, family, and acquaintances in the area.  From what I understand (and I could be gravely mistaken, though I don't think I am), she woke up one day and thought, "Ya know what?  I'm sick of my name.  From now on, people will call me Gerty." 

It's like if I suddenly decided to be referred to as "D".  It probably wouldn't go over well.  And most likely, instead of people complying with my new nickname, they'd probably assign me alternate ones, like "Dork" or "Dumb" or "David H. Hosier, formerly known as Dave, eater of baby flesh and destroyer of souls".  Family members and friends would forever ask me, "Changed your name recently? *stupid chuckle*," to which I would sheepishly reply, "Nope, still going for D."  Perhaps if I was 60 and/or had the unfailing respect of my peers, I could pull something like that off.  But as it is, I'll probably just stick to Dave. 

Name changes are a very teenager-centric thing.  That's when you're finding your identity and rebelling against everything.  The best way to express your feelings is to rebel against your identity by creating a new name.  Or a new spelling.  Instead of Jennifer, go for Xeni (pronounced "Jenny").  Instead of Tom, go for Thom (pronounced "Tom").  You're young enough that it'll probably catch on before you stop caring about it not catching on.  But if you wait until you're 60 to change your name, don't expect it to catch on.  It's too late.  You missed the boat.  The name you were given is the name you're stuck with.  Sorry, Gertrude. #sociology