An emoji is a picture ... a small digital icon or other image which expresses some idea or emotional construct — and is used in electronic communication modalities such as email and SMS (texting and chat) applications.

Having never been a real 'fan' of emojis I'm afraid that I've always viewed them as one of those cutesy manifestations of pop culture and have typically excluded them from my e-communications for that very reason.

The emoji is said to be the "brainchild" (sic) of one Jeremy Burge who obviously embraces these tidbits of feelings ... and I would likely feel like planting my foot up his trivial ass if I ever met the guy — but also, to each their own.

Today has been declared "World Emoji Day" and is an observance celebrated today. The orignators call this day "a global celebration of emoji" with that being held in the various forums and social media outlets rather than 'in the streets' as it were ...

Oh well, I suppose there's enough room for all the whimsy we can stand in our electronic life.

meh
 

Reuters had a thought provoking article by Angela Moon regarding the number of persons harassed online at (a fairly shocking) 41% with the bulk of those happening as the result of social media.

I felt that the base events qualifying as "harassment" to be somewhat wimpy with 'offensive name calling' and 'embarrassment' with those more serious forms such as 'physical threats', sexual harrassment, and stalking holding at about 20%.

Personally, I'm somewhat at a loss as to why someone would "go there" in any social media venue for the purposes stated in the online harrassment data in the presence of superior tracking mechanisms opposed to typically low tech hothead approaches to this type of behavior.

In the presence of perceived danger the authorities should be in the loop but most of what I've seen is some troll venting agitation over specific incidents of expressed opinion more or less.

In any case I note that there are few who will engage me in comments here and I attribute this to my ability to back myself against the wall and engage all who would approach.

These harassing incidents would be farther and fewer between in the presence of granular control at the recipients end ... such as that I have at my disposal.

Then there are the notions of engaging someone likely to embarass you back and the proverbial 'bringing a stick to a gun fight' which come to mind when I'm in the mood to let someone know where to get off in no uncertain terms.

Yes, my harassment is primarily hack attempts and exploits but at this fourth iteration of the blog and those servers which go with it I have amassed some fairly effective scripting and control files to throw into the mix.

Needless to say, if you're so inclined to come here and harass me by all means go for it as long as you understand the nature of consequences, countermeasures, and retaliation.
 

We have become a nation of obeasts.

Well ... I've always been one — but too many of you others have joined the ranks and now those thunder thighs go boom boom boom down the sidewalk or rub panty hose going switch switch switch together to the point that Ive started walking in an attempt to leave this company yet again ...

Last time I shaped up was just outside of the navy when I went crazy for the heat and sweat of the roadwork.

Now I just walk around in an attempt not to stroke out or go into cardiac arrest from the exertion.

Suffice it to say I likely have less weight to loose, per se and more shaping up to do in the spirit of that "big ugly bag of mostly water" I must have become yet again.

I hope you do well in your pursuits be they something you construe as improvement ... or maintenance of the status quo if that floats your boat.

I think my alarm stems from the profuse sweating I've been doing at the drop of a hat since the weather turned so hot and humid round about the end of May.

Hopefully I'll lose this alarmed state soon.