If you don't want to be quoted, STFU!

I can't understand morons on Twitter who get pissed off when one of my papers at paper.li, which are automated news aggregators, quote a public post of theirs and shares a link they may have shared.

It's like getting pissed off at the pavement because the highway curves to the left or the right... or goes straight when they wanted to turn!

Here's an idea! If you don't want the bots of strangers to be retweeting your tweets, then make your Twitter account PRIVATE... or just shut the fuck up! But don't come crying to me when your public tweets get rebroadcast.

I could give a fuck. I'm not the one with the mental deficiency in this relationship.

Political Correctness Vs. Respect

I suppose I'm a little old fashioned. I was reared in a time and place where everyone was entitled to a certain degree of dignity and respect. Females were "Ma'am" and males were "Sir", regardless of station in life.

No, not everyone was that way. But those were the exception and not the rule.

When a person said they would do something, they did it or had a damn good reason. An honest day's work earned one an honest day's pay. In short, people kept their word and paid their debts.

Today people rarely keep their word and pay their bills; not necessarily because they can't but because they just don't care.

Being polite or kind is viewed as weakness. However, everyone seems to demand respect when they, themselves, are not willing to return it in kind.

There is no respect for age, service, gender, experience nor anything else that remotely resembles manners, culture, or civilization. Religious fundamentalist's blame it on the lack of religion in society... as they disrespect, condemn, and even threaten anyone who doesn't believe exactly as they do.

Political correctness has become the new standard for coercing those who cannot respect others to act with a certain level of quasi acceptable behavior. Manners for those who have none.

The simple fact is that hate has infiltrated every aspect of modern life and is mirrored everywhere one looks.

And the few of us who are still willing to show respect toward others are so beaten down by all of the disrespect and abuse we receive for our troubles that we grow weary.

I hope you weren't reading this in hope of finding an answer, because I don't have one. Society is too far gone.

These times are too progressive

These times are too progressive. Everything has changed too fast. Railroads and telegraphs and kerosene and coal stoves -- they're good to have but the trouble is, folks get to depend on 'em.
~Laura Ingalls Wilder, The Long Winter (Little House, #6)

And The Difference is...

Beats the hell out of me.

Why The 2nd And Not The 1st?

I've been seeing a lot of posts on Facebook and Twitter by conservative fundamentalists proclaiming the supreme authority and untouchability of the Second Amendment:

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

In each case, they claim that this amendment protects their right as individuals to own and possess, and in many cases carry anywhere they wish, firearms.

I'm not debating the validity of their claim here. I am, however, pointing out their abject hypocrisy when those very same people post demands for ill conceived calls banning Islam and any practice associated with it.

The First Amendment reads:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

One can't help but wonder from what depth of ignorance comes the idea that number two is untouchable, not open to interpretation in any way, and taken in its most literal sense but number one is taken to mean that only that which applies to them, only Christianity is intended for protection.

These fascist minded reactionaries can't conceive in their pea brains the notion that banning any religion or their practices is the beginning of the end for the exercise of their own.

I'm not suggesting that some schools of Islamic thought don't call for banning the practice of religion's other than theirs. Indeed, some do! I'm simply suggesting that We are suppose to be better than that.

Or are we?

ICBA Encourages Consumers to Protect their Data during Cyber Security Awareness Month

Americans live in a mobile society, relying on smartphones, tablets and computers to gather news, make purchases, interact with friends and family, and connect with financial institutions. Increasingly, cybercriminals compromise the networks that support these devices. This often results in identity theft, which can also yield financial losses and safety for consumers. In fact, a recent report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) found that computer hackers have stolen the personal information of approximately 40 million U.S. residents.

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month, and the Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) is offering tips to help consumers avoid having their online financial information disrupted or stolen. ICBA, along with more than 6,000 community banks across the country, urge consumers to remain vigilant and protect themselves from potential credit card and bank fraud.

You can learn more about Cyber Security Awareness Month by visiting the Stay Safe Online website. Online resources for community banks regarding cyber and data security are available on ICBA’s Data Breach Toolkit.

ICBA offer the following tips to help consumers safeguard their online accounts:

• When sending sensitive information via the Internet, make sure “https:” appears in the address bar. This  means the information you are transmitting is encrypted.
• Ensure the wireless network you use is password-protected, and choose a strong password and update it frequently for your work and home wireless networks. Likewise, always use a passcode on your mobile phone or tablet to stop an unauthorized user from accessing your device.
• Don’t enter sensitive information into your phone when others can see what you’re entering.
• Set the privacy settings on frequented social network sites. Cybercriminals often learn about people and their families and friends via social media in an attempt to spoof or phish you and your network.
• Remain cautious of someone who isn’t who they say they are or if the name and area don’t match what appears on caller ID. This is often how spoofing occurs.
• Never respond to text messages, emails or phone calls from companies alleging to be your bank, government officials or business representatives that request your banking ID, account numbers, user name or password.
• Similarly, don’t click on links sent to you from unknown sources via text message because they are likely malware.
• Beware of “get rich quick” schemes; never voluntarily give out your bank account information or security credentials.