Technology & Guns

I’ve been thinking about a couple things that were news worthy items this week and wanted to share my two cents, not that it will change anything.

First – The kid who used ChatGPT to commit suicide. I heard on a tech podcast that this kid wasn’t the first person who consulted a computer regarding suicide and in fact this was the 3^rd case. Technology like anything can be weaponized and destructive or deadly. I get that some people don’t have anyone to talk to. Look at me I am pretty much all alone. I also get that folks might think that others won’t understand what they are dealing with. Suicide is a drastic thing and as I learned in therapy when I was much younger, it’s a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

We are all dealing with something. It might be work, school, sexuality, the death of a family member or friend, a sick pet or a pet that has passed, a traffic accident or ticket, some other legal issue and the list goes on. No matter what you are dealing with you are not alone there are help lines in every single country that you can call and talk with a human being. You can find resources for your country at https://www.suicidestop.com/call_a_hotline.html

I speak from experience from having wanted to commit suicide a couple times in my adult life and also in my teenage years. The worst times in my life were the death of my spouse and then when I lost Gator my long-time cat that had been with me for 18 years. Once she passed away that ignited former feelings of being all alone and it was kind of like my spouse died all over again. I honestly didn’t think that things would ever get better or see a clear path. All I wanted to do was die because it just didn’t seem to me that life mattered that much or that anyone would truly miss me if I was gone. I didn’t bottle things up; I took someone up on their offer that they would listen to me and I sought them out and opened right up telling my life story to them. It was hours of time we spent. I did a lot of crying. I also went to the pet store and looked at cats but that just made me cry. I managed to go a month without a cat and then I started looking that’s how I wound up with Rudy and Mora. They are my lifesavers, seriously. They are so attached to me and since I am their 3^rd owner I told them that this was their home and they are here to stay. I mean that is unless I drop dead or get killed in a car accident or some other hazard.

I’ve had some low points and at times even with these two cats’ life can be overwhelming and I have had some thoughts of calling life quits. Deep down I don’t want to die, I just want my circumstances to change so the pain would stop. I know how I felt back when Gator passed and then nothing mattered. That was the closest that I came to actually going through with it. I had a lot of people scared even my own doctor. With some of the things I told him he should have had me locked up for my own well being but he trusted me when I told him that I wouldn’t do anything. How many people say that and then the next thing you know they are gone?

I’ve said all of that to say this. Reach out for help to solve your problems, talking honestly deep down feels really good especially when you’re talking to the right person that you can trust.

A former friend of mine told me think about what if you try something and you wind up hurting yourself and you live and don’t die but are handicapped or permanently injured. Also think about whom ever would find your body, that’s something that they will never be able to unsee. Regardless if it’s a seasoned professional like a police officer or fire fighter. They are human. It’s much worse if that person is a family member or friend.

I do think that ChatGPT and other AI chat bots should have restrictions placed on them so they don’t discuss mental health issues and/or assist with how to form a plan to end your life. I think that should have been obvious from the day AI started but obviously it was overlooked.

Second - The shooting at the Catholic School in Minnesota. I looked using AI for what country school shootings occur in. I was surprised to find that the US is not the only place but sadly we are the leading country where this happens. It’s to the point where it’s at epidemic levels.

I know that the 2^nd amendment gives the rights to bear arms and you have the right to defend yourself if you are being attacked or in imminent danger. It’s odd that each time this happens all we do is send thoughts and prayers. Well, those don’t do a whole lot to solve this problem that is continuing to occur. One child shot is one too many and this is something that never should have occurred.

I do think there should be stronger gun laws, I do think that all firearm owners should be responsible and lock/secure their weapons from children or those that might have mental health issues. I think that perhaps raising the cost of ammo would also be another action that could be taken. Look the world is filled with a bunch of intelligent people and brilliant minds, surely if we had some dialog and discussions on this a plan could be formulated that would solve this issue once and for all.

However, it’s not until the problem affects you or someone you know that people really focus much attention on this issue. These are innocent children who are trying to get an education and they are not out to harm anyone. I think it’s wrong to steal a child’s innocence regardless of how it’s done. Because once they are robbed of that it’s something they will never ever get back and it will stick with them through out their lives.

I grew up Catholic and started off in Catholic grade school. We had to go to mass every day we were at school. We said the pledge of allegiance to start the day. It was all very much a routine but times were way different and we had no school shootings then. We also had no technology then. However, we did have firearms but they were reserved mostly for hunters and those that wanted self-protection. Sure, we had criminals who had them to rob and steal. I also went to public grade school from 5^th grade forward and then on to public high school.

Kids can be cruel there is no doubt about it. I can think of a few kids that I grew up with that I wished I had never met. We were all free though in that we went to school each day and there was no worry or concern that someone would come in guns blazing. Being a kid today is radically different from when I grew up and honestly if I was a kid today, I would be scared out of my mind. I can’t imagine having to walk through a metal detector and using a swipe card to gain access to school. I can’t imagine hearing gun shots while I was trying to learn and then having to take cover. What if I was just walking to or from a class and was in the wrong place at the wrong time? My childhood wasn’t perfect but no way would I trade my school experience for what exists today.

I think that this problem is going to continue and it’s going to get much, much, much worse before it ever gets better. It won’t be until someone important like a politician’s kid gets injured or killed before things change in the US. There is never a time where I’d love to be proven wrong than now and from today forward never ever hear about another school shooting for as long as I live.

I can’t imagine being a parent to get the call that their child was injured or killed while at school. I feel sad for the kids as well as the parents.

Please someone find a way to solve this problem and the sooner the better before another life is lost.

Sextortion

I commented on a blog a short time ago giving some advice regarding Sextortion.  I am posting an edited version of my comment here in the hopes the advice will be of help and/or can maybe prevent someone from falling into this trap. 

1. It’s best not to pay any ransom and to involve law enforcement. There is no real assurance or guarantee the threat actor won’t publish your information, presuming they have it. 

2. Block the person’s screen name in the app your using and if you have exchange phone numbers, block their phone number so you aren’t continued to be bothered. If your using an app to communicate, report the person on the app.  If they did this to you, chances are good they did it to someone else as well. 

3. If you want to cruise/date I would suggest getting a second phone number just for that purpose and not to ever give out your real phone number and perhaps withholding his last name. Similarly I’d get a second email account for cruising/dating purposes.  There are still a lot of good and honest people in the world, the problem is it's really challenging to find them.

One rule of thumb I have is not to take nudes ever. Because once it's out there it lives forever and you never know when that might come back to bite you. I realize the thrill of sending nudes but if your going to send them at least wait to get to know the person and be certain that you can trust them.  You might not care about it but if you think about it that nude can be weaponized and used against you, that’s why no matter what I just don’t take them.  It’s your body and totally up to you, just keep in mind that it can come back to haunt you.  

It's really sad when some folks fall into this "trap" especially teenagers.  Some teenagers have not seen a way out and sadly have wound up taking their own life.  Parents are people and some like others are more understanding.  Only you know your situation best.  I think that if it comes down to your personal safety versus coming out/being exposed.  Better that you tell your loved ones that your gay than take your own life.  It’s not worth that and so many parents wished that their child / family member would have just told them.  That said, I realize that some folks don't accept gay people but at the end of the day you have to live your life for you!  After all it's your life and you deserve to be happy and your authentic self.  It’s all about being comfortable in the skin your in.  Once you are, it’s the best feeling in the world! 

Best tip ever … if your gut is telling you something isn’t right, listen to that and do not ignore it!!  Better safe than sorry.  Also, always operate with caution in mind.  I realize hormones get carried away and you want to drop your guard or forget about common sense.  I’ve been there and know first hand it’s not as easy as it sounds.  

A huge tip off that something is wrong is often Threat actors (aka that person you’ve been communicating with) will start on an app but then put on pressure to move off the app for "convenience sake" or provide some other excuse. This is so the app has no knowledge of what they are doing and when/if you choose to report them they have either moved on to a different screen name or there is very little data that shows any kind of violation of the TOS (Terms Of Service) of the app. Always stay on the app for safety sake. 

An additional step you can take is to use a service to get your personal information off the web.  Data brokers post your personal information to the web and it's next to impossible to combat this alone. It's like a game of whack-a-mole as soon as you get your information deleted from one site, it pops up on another. There are several services that will scour the web for you and do this on your behalf. You of course have to pay them for this service. Personally, I use several companies as I find that one just isn't enough unless you go for top tier service plans but the cost that I have seen is typically thousands of dollars.  Yearly or monthly affordable options are offered by most companies and some suggestions on services are... Delete Me, Incogni, Aura, Optery and Easy Opt Out.

A recent development, Google will also help for free by removing some search results, check out this link for more info…https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/12719076?hl=en
Understand that while the search result won’t appear in Google it can appear in other search engines and/or it’s still available on the web just not readily linked for easy access. 

Disclaimer … This is just personal advice that I have come across over the years.  None of the companies mentioned are sponsors.  I am not an expert in this field but have had one bad experience that I could see was going south quicker than anything.  Another tip off is if you get long emails that drone on and on.  It’s probably a scam and the person will eventually wind up asking you for money.  Believe it or not there are kits the threat actors buy that have those emails scripted out, so they just copy and paste. 

The last laugh

Friday afternoon was not a whole lot of fun.  Things were calm and boring at work.  I decided that I would have some fun on Only Fans and check out a former porn star.  I subscribed to his OF and then my internet went down.  This was 3p and it didn’t come back up until 7a on Saturday. 

I had to get connected for work never mind porn.  Thankfully I turned on the hotspot on my phone and was able to login with my laptop to work.  I also connected my Roku player and was able to stream content so I wasn’t stuck bored with absolutely nothing to do. 

That pretty much took care of Friday night.  I couldn’t sleep very well because I was concerned about the internet but I had no control over that.  I woke up a couple times during the night and it was still down. 

Woke up at my normal time and decided to just get up and get ready.  I showered and just waited for my haircut time and left.  As I looked out my front yard I saw something sticking out of the snow but couldn’t identify what it was.  When I left for my haircut I got a closer look.  Those kids that cleared my driveway left one of their shovels.  They actually buried it with the snow they were clearing.  Looks like I got the last laugh there because it’s a nice shovel, not that I will ever use it.  I kind of felt like calling the guy up and holding the shovel for ransom but I know that wouldn’t go anywhere so I am just telling you about it and keeping the shovel.  I thought it was quite funny. 

After my haircut I went for Blueberry Pancakes that I had been craving.  It was damn cold outside but wasn’t a whole lot warmer inside of the restaurant I went to.  A hot young blonde stud came in with a small family.  Of course he sat facing me so I never got to look at his rear end but damn I just imagined that he was probably hung because he was super skinny and had the deepest voice.  He probably was somewhere between 18 and 20 if I had to guess.  I enjoyed breakfast and behaved myself. 

Next stop was the post office and wow there was a lot of mail.  Of course I get home and got an email that a package of medicine was just delivered.  I debated if I should go back.  However, I was in my nice warm home and there was no way I was going right back out. 

I loafed with the cats as we waited for the Amazon person to arrive.  I got immersed in a new series on Amazon called Cross.  It’s a mini series based about homicides that play out in the cast of characters.  It does get pretty sick and twisted but I was roped in and just finished it this morning.  Lots of plot twists and turns that kept me wanting more.  I hope they make a second season of this show. 

Went out for BBQ in the afternoon.  The meal it’s self was horrible but I didn’t leave hungry but didn’t exactly enjoy my meal.  An older guy walked in and my little voice spoke to me to buy his meal.  I haven’t done that kind deed in several months.  I got his waitresses attention about the time I was wrapping up with my meal and paid his bill.  She asked me why I was paying and I told her it was a random act of kindness.  I told her my line about the magic trick and about all of the crazy ass responses I’ve gotten.  Nothing could prepare me for the response I was going to get from this guy.  Once I paid my bill I got up and walked over and threw my line on him.  He told me that he doesn’t like magic.  I told him that I made his bill disappear and he just looked at me and said okay.  He acted like he didn’t believe me.  I said I really paid your bill. He just said yeah, okay whatever.  I told his waitress that she would have to explain it to him.  That is the first time I didn’t get a thank you.  That bothered me but I know I did the right thing.  My little voice doesn’t typically lead me in the wrong direction.  His bill was peanuts so it’s not like it’s going to break me. 

After doing that kind deed you’d think the universe would be kind to me.  Nope I went back to grab my medicine from the post office and damn if I didn’t step in chewing gum.  I didn’t figure that out until I got inside of the house and my shoes were sticking to the carpet.  Why do people not use trash cans. 

I worked on laundry and got on Only Fans.  Damn it was late when I was done like 10p and I came down around 5p. I did break to pass out cat treats and throw the laundry into the dryer.  I was just determined to make my way to the end of the page.  There was lots of good content but most of it was solo.  I was all horned up but damn tired.  I gathered the laundry headed up and the cats followed me.  It was time for bed.  I had zero energy left.  Just watched a little TV and I was out. 

Rudy woke me this morning and I hit snooze on him. He gave me 15 additional minutes before he began his biscuit making routine.  I got up and passed out breakfast for them.  I got dressed, took my pills and headed out for breakfast.  The car said the outside temp was 11.  I was damn cold and after I ate and was on my way to the grocery store the outside temp was 10.  It’s supposed to just get colder all day long.  Although right now it’s 13 and windy.  The high for today is 22 but I don’t think we are going to see it and the low is 5. 

Silly me decided that I would go to a favorite chain Mexican place.  The problem is that this place is not terribly far from work so it’s about 40 miles from home.  The food is good but I don’t know that it’s worth the trip but my taste buds are telling me to go, but my body says stay home.  I am going to venture out for a bite to eat just not sure that today is the day I am going to that Mexican place.  Might just go to a place that is closer to home. 

I’ve had my nap after the grocery store and gotten my medicine out as well as cleaned the house.  Came down to do more laundry and play on the computer.  I found a podcast called Out ‘N Proud on YouTube.  The hosts are two hot blond kids and of course they have Only Fans accounts.  One of them said that he was really super hung and well I got curious.  I signed up for his OF and turns out he’s a total tease.  He never shows the goods just photos of him hard in underwear.  I didn’t pay that much for joining but damn I did feel like a sucker.  I was afraid he would have all PPV content but he doesn’t.  Everything he has is just a tease to get you worked up and of course take your money.  That and apparently PPV content is the new thing that younger generation is using to make their wealth.  I felt like a sucker for giving into my hormones and joining but you do get what you pay for. 

Oh yeah, the Amazon person did come yesterday.  I got a new heater for my office in the basement.  It’s Chinese made and while it works it’s nothing like the USA brands that I have seen before nor does it work exactly the same, close but not the same.  It was also a disaster to get the base on the thing but after much trial and error I succeeded.  The one thing that I do like about it is there is what I call a dead man switch.  As long as the switch is in contact with the floor the until will operate but the second it loose contact with the ground the unit grounds to a halt.  This thing seems to think that it’s 68 degrees in the basement and I’ve got a thermometer here that says different.  Not sure if this thing is in Fahrenheit or Celsius and there doesn’t seem to be a way to tell or change that.  Nevertheless it does put out some decent heat.  Once again it goes back to you get what you pay for. 

I want to make it to Sam’s Club tomorrow that’s my only goal for the day.  Thought about trying to grab lunch with a friend but talked myself out of that.  I may dine out tomorrow as well just because I can and it’s more enjoyable than eating at home.  Although it’s not going to be any warmer tomorrow than it is today.  Were not going to break out of the serious cold until Wednesday and even then the high is only 30.  Not sure about you but I am over winter already. 

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope that you are warm and well.  Take care!

Not again

Yesterday was quite a busy Monday.  Things were going really well in the morning.  After lunch is when things really picked up.  I saw yet another long time co-worker get let go.  We had a few interactions but I wasn’t terribly close with this person.  It is a surprise but it also reminds me of what I heard when I was a kid.  That is no matter who you are, everyone is replaceable.  That’s a tough fact to swallow.  I’ve found that usually when people loose sight of the fact they are replaceable is when they are replaced.  As much as I complain about certain aspects of my job, when the end comes for me I want it to be because I quit or retired.  I want it to be of my doing and not because I was staring down a barrel of being given an ultimatum of quit or be fired.  Seeing long time people either be fired or abruptly quit is very sobering for me and causes some anxiety.  I just have to remind myself that I am okay and to keep on moving forward. 

Last night we had a stink bug on the living room ceiling.  I’ve got cathedral ceilings.  Mora happened to notice it and she just jumped up on the couch and looked up.  She watched it even as I set out supper for the cats and went onto get food for me.  She was quite diligent.  Of course the moment she took her eyes off of it the damn thing disappeared.  It did resurface and I got it.  Wouldn’t you know it happened while I was holding her and it just popped out next to us.  Her eyes got real big and that’s how I knew she found it, I just followed her eyes and presto.  Finally it’s gone.  Good to know that Mora is so attentive to notice something small as a bug.  I’m quite sure if I wasn’t there to supervise she would have eaten it but not before playing with it. 

My dinner last night was a Holiday Meal for one from the grocery store.  Ham with a pineapple glaze, Cheesy Potatoes, Green Beans and a roll.  They put in Cranberry’s but I can’t stand them so out they went.  Rudy was my new best friend and didn’t want to leave myside.  He begged and begged.  I honestly thought about giving in for a brief second but then I reconsidered and chased him away.  It was a damn good meal.  The pineapple glaze is what makes it for me.  I’ll be getting another one of those when I go back over the weekend.  They usually have them until the New Year starts.  I don’t like hot ham though.  What I did was warm the glaze up and dip the ham in it. 

I was saddened to learn of yet another school shooting, this time in Madison WI.  What shocked me was that the shooter was a girl.  I can’t ever recall hearing about a girl shooting anything up, but maybe I’m wrong on that.  Anyway the whole thing is a tragedy.  Every time one of these events takes place everyone says we have to do more.  However, the issue looses focus and we go on with our lives until the next one happens.  Actions speak louder than words.  I honestly don’t know that this problem is ever going to go away or that there will be a solution put in place that solves the problem.  I feel like most of it comes down to education getting parents to lock up their guns and to never give put a firearm in the hands of a child unless they are supervised.  However I think never putting a gun in a kids hands is probably the best solution.  Educate them when they are older like in their 20’s.  Meanwhile let them live their lives as kids should and grow up. 

There is never a good time to loose a loved one, especially a child but so close to Christmas just puts extra suck on it.  That forever changes the holiday for all that were affected by this.  They will remember it for years to come and I’m sure for at least one or more of them it ruined the holiday for them. 

On a different note I spent my evening watching YouTube videos mostly about the making of movies like Home Alone and Planes, Trains & Automobiles.  Didn’t know that Planes, Trains & Automobiles had a bunch of footage cut from it, so much so that the cut footage I heard is longer than the abridged version of the movie that was released.  It would be quite interesting to see the whole thing unedited.  I’m sure if we saw all movies without editing that would change our opinions about them. 

Well here we go with Tuesday.  Thus far it’s starting off calm but that can all change in the blink of an eye.  Here’s hoping it’s a good day for all of us.  Wouldn’t it be nice to turn on the TV and listen to the news just once to hear nothing but good news.  I think that would have a profound affect on the world. 

Take care, stay warm and be well!

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