Polygamists Taking it to the Extreme?

This blog that I wrote on Austin 360 blogs (and picked up by the Austin American Statesman) is a disturbing one as a result of an article I read that was posted this morning on MSNBC.com. Please don't be offended about the polygamy. I can't really condon the polygamy acts because it goes against the grain of my own psyche and being. However, the crux of the matter is the whole issues that stem from it which can included cultish behaviors, some degree of physical/mental/emotional abuse, human trafficking, and other crimes (such as murder) as you will see from the posting and the FBI most wanted postings.

See my posting "Polygamists Taking it to the Extreme?" as posted in the Austin 360 blog pages. I chose not to repost it here because of the fear of losing all the links in the process.

Feel free to offer your comments below....

Right to Privacy?

Earlier this week I get an note on my door from the complex's office managers' office stating that they would be coming sometime between Tuesday and Wednesday to our apartments to do an asset check of our apartments and that no appointments can be made.

Well, for most people, it is half a dozen one or another as they normally work during they day and who are they to care if they come into the apartment;

however,

I work at nights and I sleep during the day.

I hear a faint knock at the door, waking me up from my sleep. Then the knocking got louder and louder as they realized that they couldn't use the key to get into my apartment because I bolted both locks shut as per normal (because I really don't like having people walk in while I am asleep).

I finally get to the door and there were 3 people ready to come into my apartment. One of them was from the office; the other two were inspectors. All they said to me was, "Didn't you get our note?" Well, yeah! I got that note, but I thought they would have enough consideration for someone sleeping.

It really irked me that they couldn't have come back later in the day when I was awake; instead they insisted on coming in right then and there. Lucky for them I had slept in my comfies and was clothed!!

Am I wrong for thinking that they should have come back in the afternoon?

Am I wrong to think that I should have been given some consideration for being a night worker who sleeps during the day?

What do you think? Do you feel that my right to privacy was invaded upon? I certainly do, but I want your opinion on the matter.....

Just curious.

Consuming Over Computers Over -- Hopefully!!

I am keeping my fingers crossed that I don't have to go down that road again - ever! Ha ha... well, ever would be not accurate because I am sure eventually this new computer will become antiqudated and I will be determined to fix it once again; however, hopefully, never to the level that I did this year.

I have always had hand-me-down computers or custom built computers that seem great to start off with but can be a royal pain on down the road. Part of that sheer determinability stems from my Dad's influence into electronics/computers while growing up, although some of it stems from a mix of desiring to be frugal (and not just replace the computer with a new computer just for the sake of not desiring to fix the old one), a bit of my own stubborness, and wanting to have conquered yet something else that can seem insurmountable to most other people. Every now and then, one must give in and say, "I cannot do this."

This past week, I did just that. I have tried to fight the battles of the viruses that cloaked my computer with illnesses to no end. The new hard drive was a quick fix; listening to Frys about the old drive was a mistake. Lesson learned.

I now have a new computer so that I can work on it and catch up on school projects and assignments, as well as load up books and things to sell on Amazon.com and continue forthwith all my other projects to declutter and simplify my life. The old computer? Well, I haven't given up on it totally. I am going to reformat those harddrives with a different OS altogether - LINUX for a backup. Actually, I am thinking that the 300GB Harddrive that wouldn't be recognized by Microsoft's OS babies, might actually be recognized by LINUX's red hat systems; that, would be a welcomed change indeed. We'll see...

I know that, from my blogs of late, it might seem that I all I do is be consumed into computers. While I am fascinated by their complexities, I do not wish to be consumed by them. I am looking forward to being able to catch up on projects and have time for more enjoyable things -- time with friends, drives to the country (if I can still afford the gas), restart some of my creative writing projects, take photography walks, make a souflee, and soooo very much more -- maybe even a few dates here and there... hee hee.

Today, I was the one dancing in my red SUV on 620 as I was bringing my new computer home. I got the computer set up (after being talked through it by Compaq on the computer and it self diagnosing and initiating software programs), I took a "nap" that lasted from 2pm this afternoon until close to 11pm tonight. I should have attended a meeting at 6p, but I guess my mind could finally relax after not being able to sleep too much in trying to desperately find a solution for my computer.

At any rate, you all should be seeing more of me and my work on the computer during the upcoming weeks (as soon as I more fully get caught up on my school work) -- or, maybe not (as I have more free time to conquer more things in this world)!!! :D Who knows!?!???

LOL...

At least, I now have a working computer now! The world can now rest from my grumbles and complaints -- for now, anyways!!

LOL....

Laters!

If I could have a world without computers,

I most certainly would at this point in time.

As you know, I have been struggling with my home computer which has had some sort of a virus right now, which most of the anti-virus programs are now finally identifying it as "JavaByteVerify" but offering no real solutions as of yet. I had put a new 300 GB hard drive in the computer and it has restarted. I am so sick of computers....

If only I didnt' rely on it for my:

* school online forensic psychology classes,

* online finances,

* online shopping,

* blogging,

* emailing,

* researching issues,

etc., etc., I would be taking an anvil and letting it come solidly on top of the computer for once and for all. The horrific side of all of this, just as this world is so vividly reliant on money to make the world economies move throughout, we are so very reliant upon the computers for our communication, education, research, business, finance, etc. needs. One can hardly function in this world now without some use or forms of computers because, not only are they on our desktop/offices in the traditional sense, but also in our automotives, cellular phones, and variety of other technologies.

Auuugughghgghghghgh!!!

Had a "conferring" call with my Dad. He found a re-furbished desktop computer for $199 (a Dell :( as much as I don't like them); of course, to add a modem (and a few other essentials to have it functioning with quality) it comes to $319. Still not too bad of a deal though... Hopefully, this might be a viable solution that can be shipped to me quickly. I am hoping and praying because I certainly don't want to get too far into my studies.

Right now, I can only access a portion of the school's platform through work (and not all the areas that are essential) and the library is no longer a viable option as they have just imposed restrictions on how long one can be on their computer systems. The school asks, "Do you have a friend's house you can go to?"... yeah, right! It would have to be some friend for me to be able to go to their home 3-4 days a week and spend 4-5 hours minimally on their computers to do my school work. I certainly couldn't impose on them like that!!

In the meantime though, if I try to work on my home computer, I am taking the chance that my computer doesn't freak out and I have to shut it down suddenly -- losing everything that I have worked upon during the last time frame.

Augghghghghghghghghg....

I am hoping that the comptuer issues will soon be resolved. There are so many more things that I would love to spend my time with rather than a focus on resolving the perplexing issues of my dang home computer -- ie, a social life would be nice!! :D

At any rate, I should, as long as God's willing and the creek's water doesn't rise, be on the upside of my computer issues soon from my homebase, which will enable me to catch folks once and for all with my life, etc.

Stay tuned..... :D