I Speak of Dreams

Stop Cyberbullying

Andy Carvin has responded to l'affaire MeanKids/UncleBobism by starting a website/social network and declaring Friday, March 30, 2007 as "Stop Cyberbullying Day".  As Weinberger says,

Let me save you writing the first comment: Of course every day should be Stop CyberBullying Day.

Cool Cat and Beth are on board.  Won't you participate?

 

Misogyny Online: The Importance of Witness

L'affaire MeanKids-Sierra is really troubling, but I find that a post made at MeanKids about Maryam Scoble equally troubling and vile.

Again: if you are part of a conversation (in this case, a group blog) and a party to a conversation says things that are objectionable (racist or sexist or otherwise offensive) what is your responsibility?

Anonymous, Hate-filled, Threatening Speech and Images on the Internet

Updated

I try to follow the rule, "Don't Feed the Trolls".

I stayed away from MeanKids when I read about the site at Frank's--who has the time to keep up?  What's this adding to my life?  Nada.  I stayed away. 

But on a group blog, who is responsible for the posts?  The individual posters?  What if some postings and comments go beyond "transgressive"?  Who then is responsible?

I Lead a Sheltered Life

Link: Movin' Meat: Delicate Situation.

Yes, that's a pistol completely stuffed into the vaginal vault. All of a sudden her agitation and thrashing about seemed a lot more important than it had a few minutes before. How the hell were we to get the gun out without the damn thing discharging?

I go entire years without worrying about loaded weapons concealed inside somebody's body.

 

A Faux Blogger and her predecessors

I found Medical Pathetical through Flea.  As did Moof.  I wrote about A Call for Healing.

And Moof felt very close to TNT, Medical Pathetical's author.

This sweet, bubbly, humorous, intelligent, irrepressible little lady had become the front and center of my everything over this last week … adopted daughter, worry focus - because she’d been sick since the 22nd, and I was so worried for her health, and center of my courage … a position in which we should probably never put another human being. I’m sorry that I was so selfish.

It turns out that TNT was not who she said she was.

Judge Thompson On Trial

I forget why I started writing about this -- the jaw-dropping stupidity, I suppose.  At any rate, my coverage accounts for a lot of my Google hits. 

June 27 2004 -- the overview with squicky details
August 19 2004 --The Judge Retires
January 2005--The Judge Charged With Felony Indecency
September 25 2005 The Trial Starts

The trial was moved and delayed several times (details at Bubbaworld) and is finally opening.  I'd suggest the coverage at the Sapulpa Daily.

I Almost Fell for This One

This looked almost legit -- so I decided to Google the telephone number.

    From:       [email protected]
    Subject:     Seeking a reputable private school.. please read
    Date:     October 25, 2005 12:01:31 PM PDT
    To:       ponytrax_at_batnet_dot_com
    Reply-To:       [email protected]
    Return-Path:     <[email protected]>

Hello,

Some of my clients are searching online for private schools. My job is to
find one place to work with for specific markets. I'd like to discuss an
arrangement with you.

Please contact me at your earliest convenience. I will be in today
(Tuesday) from 8:00 AM PST to 5:00 PM PST. I am also available tomorrow from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST. You'll need to be at your computer when you call me. Please call when you have a few minutes and I will a> demonstrate how you would benefit from what we do and b> answer any and all questions you have.

Best Regards,

Kathleen Daigle
Business Segment Analyst, Star Position

Phone (US): 877.732.5128 ext 2009
Outside US: 951.750.3113

PS: It is my job to send my clients looking from the search
engines to one place at the exact moment they are looking.
We have over 18,400,000 people on our network, and growing.

Some kind of trolling for something....getting you to pay for placement, maybe?

Judge Thompson's Trial Starts

Judge Thompson's trial is starting.  This is so weird.  Bob Sherrill says the trial will be graphic.

The start of the story.  June 2004.   And then August 2004.  Then the felony indecency charges in January 2005.

Security Theater

Do-It-Yourself Inspection:

"Research has shown that people need to be inspected to feel secure, even if the actual  inspection is a complete farce."

New Teacher's Voice

New blog to read:  A Series of Inconsequential Events

Forget the soccer moms and the security moms, now it is the cupcake moms.

Most schools have to call cops to deal with unruly students. In the suburbs? It's those Keepin' Up With the Joneses parents you gotta worry about.