Yard Sign

DOT.GOV

I decided to droop all pretense of being a productive human being and apply for a government job. They finally got back to me. As part of the process I had to sign onto a government website to do a test. Here is what greeted me:

• You are accessing a U.S. Government information system, which includes (1) this computer, (2) this computer network, (3) all computers connected to this network, and (4) all devices and storage media attached to this network or to a computer on this network. This information system is provided for U.S. Government-authorized use only.
• Unauthorized or improper use or access of this system may result in disciplinary action, as well as civil and criminal penalties.
• By using this information system, you understand and consent to the following:
• You have no reasonable expectation of privacy when you use this information system; this includes any communications or data transiting or stored on this information system. At any time, and for any lawful government purpose, the government may, without notice, monitor, intercept, search and seize any communication or data transiting or stored on this information system.
• The government may disclose or use any communications or data transiting or stored on this information system for any lawful government purpose, including but not limited to law enforcement purposes.
• You are NOT authorized to process classified information on this information system

Scary. Here I foolishly thought that 1. my home computer was "mine". 2. Whatever info might be on it was "mine" and 3. It takes a warrant for the .gov to search "my" property or papers. If you want a job with the .gov, you must give up all those foolish notions and agree that "At any time" they may (apparently for all time) have the right to search my computer to satisfy their curiosity. Having 2 kids a wife and a mortgage and a dwindling savings account makes a man sacrifice that which he holds dear. So I clicked "I agree".

Maybe if I would have taken unemployment I could have held out longer.

I discovered that as part of signing onto the system, I foolishly followed a link (that I thought would take me to the test) and filled out the on line forum and clicked "submit". This was not authorized. Nothing was stated on the site that you shouldn't do this, just a forum to enter your SS# and answer password and identity questions. Apparently I just broke a law by trying to enter an unauthorized section of the website as part of my job application. I can only hope this type of dumb blundering is exactly what they are looking for in potential federal employees.

How about that?

It just occurred to me that the picture of Archie's house on my header, could have been taken from the Jefferson's front porch. How do you like those apples?

Claim to Fame

Mrs. Ipsa set a record for a track event 30 years ago when she was in school. Her cousins now have kids that attend that same school and play sports. It was a surprise to them that their cousin had a record posted on the wall. They went home and asked their mom if Mrs. Ipsa really was the same person that won that honor so many years ago. Of course she was. Every so often over the last couple of years they would let us know that the record was still unbroken.

Yesterday Mrs. Ipsa got a call from home. You guessed it. They took her name down off the high school trophy/record wall. I asked the wife what the record was and what the event was. She couldn't remember. Apparently old timers is setting in. She isn't going to take this laying down though, right this very minute she is out jogging around the neighborhood. Some poor girl that probably isn't old enough to drive yet is going to have heck to pay if the school district will let my wife re enroll.