Roadside Memorial

By Justin

Please, please do me a favor.  If by some stroke of fate I end up dieing in a tragic roadside accident, please don't erect a memorial in my honor.  I figure I have annoyed enough people in my life than to keep on annoying the guys who have to mow around my memorial long after I depart from earth.

This random thought brought to you by 23 hours alone in a car back and forth between El Paso and Lubbock, twice...

Gay Divorce

By Justin

Story from Associated Press

Yes I am going to go there.  Currently circulating around our great State is two cases where gay people who were married in other states, where gay marriage is legal, are requesting divorces from Texas courts.  Problem is the voters of this State in 2005 approved by 76 percent an amendment to our State’s constitution that defines marriage as between one man and one woman.  Now we can argue all day on this amendment and get nowhere.  But frankly I am annoyed.

Most people want to make this a case of equal rights.  In my head it has nothing to do with equal rights.  It has to do with a basic understanding of law.  In these United States of America marriage is defined and governed by the states.  Each state creates its own set of laws and rules on how that is to occur.  In Nevada you can get married on a whim.  In some states blood tests are required.  In Texas you need 24 hours.  Also in Texas, you must be a man and woman.  Like it or not it is the rule of the land in these parts as decided by 76 percent of that balloting cycle’s voters. 

This case is not unlike other rules we abide by.  Seat belts are mandatory on a state level in 49 states.  As you drive across this great Union, you are required to abide by the laws of that state, not the state you are from.  The same is true for homeowner’s associations.  In Texas, you are required by law to be told of an HOA upon signing an offer on a home.  You agree to live by those covenants when you buy the house.  If you didn’t read them, that isn’t the HOA’s fault that is yours.

So this case is simple to me.  You chose to leave the State in which your marriage was valid and legal and opted to move to a State in which it is not.  Please save our (yours and mine) tax dollars and stop pressing the courts to do something they should have to in the first place. 

Now if we want to discuss gay rights….

Corporate America

For this installment of Justin's "Catch This" we will laugh at Holly's employer. Holly works for the quintessential corporate America company. Really, you should ask her. They send out memos detailing what is acceptable for your "holiday season celebration". She attends hours of training built around a fictitious family on their journey through "insurance land" or something equally as quirky. They have a lady who gets really mad if you unplug your phone to move it on your desk. She WILL call you. If you want to move your monitor you need to call the central support desk and they will send a guy to do it.

However...

Today's installment takes the cake. Holly has recently started working from home. As part of this we were going to get a second line so that she could keep her "business" calls separate. I'll spare you the details, but the monthly cost of the phone line was not worth it compared to the ONE phone call she receives a month. The best part is that she received an email today confirming her sign up for a two hour training class on how to use her new phone that they shipped to our house.

TWO HOURS FRIENDS...
To learn how to use a phone. Seriously? This brings to mind several questions. First, how on earth could you not know how to use a phone. This isn't rocket science. It isn't the most up-to-date, solve the world's problems type of phone. It doesn't even ring if Batman calls. Second, who teaches this class and how do they have any sense of value whatsoever?

"What do you do you do for a living?"
"Oh I teach people how to use their office phones."
"Is that a difficult concept to grasp."
"Well you have to go over what to do in case Batman calls. After that it is pretty easy."
"Oh, thanks."

Besides the phone thing, it gets better. As part of coming home they shipped Holly a docking station for her laptop. They shipped a very expensive wide screen monitor. They shipped a new keyboard. Do you know what they didn't ship? A mouse. When she inquired of tech support why they didn't ship a mouse, they informed her that they didn't ship mice. She would have to drive to Richardson to pick it up.

Now wait. They would ship a $300+ monitor, a new docking station, even a keyboard but not a mouse? I was dumb founded. Of all the assets you want to ensure that a real person receives you care about a $10 mouse. I laughed for days.

So ship your TPS reports to Holly. Just be sure to use the correct cover page, lest you didn't get the memo...

Okay I will get you another copy of the memo.

Catch This

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.

Catch This #1

I am starting a new irregular blog posting entitled "Catch This". My goal is to bring you interesting things that happen or are seen throughout my days.

In this first episode you need a little background. The City of Dallas is debating an ordinance that would require all non-breeders to have their pets spayed or neutered. The Dallas Morning News has a blog that tracks city hall happenings. The headline for the blog caught my attention and this is the story:

"King among all advocates of removing animals' genitalia is Bob Barker, venerable former host of the game show The Price is Right, who for years ended broadcasts with the sign-off: "Help control the pet population. Have your pet spayed or neutered."

Now I love Price is Right, but the best part was the headline that read: "City to Install Plenko Board at City Hall".

Pure hilarity for my otherwise bland day.