Boiling Over

April 29, 1998

I don't know what's wrong with me today; I'm in a really sour mood. Part of it, I know, is still being downright ticked off at the response from a message I sent to an ISP that was (probably unknowingly) relaying spam. I suggested they configure their mail server not to relay messages from outside sources, and the response was something stupid like, "Then no one could get any mail but from other users. Kinda defeats the purpose of the Internet, doesn't it?" Then the jerk went on to tell me that I "Probably requested to be added to this person's mailing list, or they found my address out some other way." No $---, sherlock! Sure, I signed up for "Free 800 number / Mass Mailer Program". I forwarded the damned message to the idiot, does he think I'd subscribe to something like that? And as if that wasn't enough, he gives me the number -- no area code -- for their office and says if I need further help, write or call. Um, hello stupid, I don't use your ISP. I'm in Missouri for crying out loud, not Florida!

Anyway, needless to say, I'm still irritated. I wasted my time trying to help only to get blown off by some idiot who probably knows less than I do about SMTP and mail servers (which I really don't know much about, to be honest) and spam, which I've had enough of for a dozen lifetimes. Geeze. Why do I bother?

This morning, it occurred to me to ask Jev if SMTP had password ability. He said no, but ESMTP does. Unfortunately, he said, most mail readers don't support ESMTP. Why not? It may not stop spam, but if someone had to log in to send mail, they'd be a heck of a lot easier to track down! Would it really be that hard to make changes in the technical aspect of the system to help prevent spam? I think it'd be a far cry easier than getting legislation pushed through and passed into law, and then trying to enforce it when half the time it's next to impossible to track down where the spam came from in the first place.

Okay, end previous rant, start next rant

I don't know what my mom's problem is today. Yesterday she was nice and polite and friendly; this morning, she's been a real witch. I half suspect she's gone off her meds again, but until she says something to that effect, or until she really starts getting nasty, I'm just going to keep my mouth shut. Maybe she's just having as bad a day as I am. It happens.

Anyway, she got up this morning, took a bath, then came out and announced for the second time in as many days, "I've washed all my cavities, inside and out..." and I said "I really wanted to hear that." She asked what was wrong with it and I said it just sounded so stupid. Her response? "Everything I do is stupid." Point in case as far as my suspecting she's gone off her meds.

I figured it was better to let it drop than try to start a conversation at that point; I was in a bad mood already thanks to the spam response from last night, and Jev's comment about my suggestion that making a password required to *send* mail might help curb spam a bit. He was only trying to be funny, but his sarcasm really wasn't appreciated.

Okay, enough with the rants and complaints. Mom's gone to god only knows where, so I have the house to myself, and it's nice and quiet right now. It's been cold and rainy the past three days, after a very nice weekend, and I suspect that may be having an effect on my mood, as well. Not to mention the disaster area my room has become in the past couple weeks.

I finally got around to putting away clean clothes this morning, and tidying up my bed a bit. I still have to clean out the TV stand so I can make space for my CD player (it used to sit where I now have my new VCR), and there is still stuff strewn across the floor, not to mention my desk, which is a perpetual mess.

I was good and finally updated my Norton Utils rescue disks this morning, so they're up to date, and maybe I'll get around to doing a little more cleaning up today. Tomorrow, I really should pack, as I'm going to Connie's parents' Friday afternoon, and down to Connie's for a few days on Saturday. I think getting away from here will do me good, but the bad thing is, I'll probably still be gone when Jev moves back home. We'll have to figure out how we're going to communicate while he's in transit.

I did ask him last night when classes ended, when he was going home, and when he'd be moving to Maryland, so at least I have an idea. It sounds like he doesn't plan on getting internet access at all while he's co-oping, and I'm starting to wonder if I can live without it for a month. I don't know... it was nice to be online while he was gone during the day last year. And what to do about my journal, and other things that need upkeep? *sigh* Still lots to figure out, I guess. I suppose we could be bad and do the AOL free trial thing while I'm there, but it would still depend on him having a phone jack in his room (which there probably is) and if the guy he's renting from doesn't mind me using it to make a local call. *sigh* Hmmm... I just thought of something, though I'm not sure if Jev would want to do it, or how much it would cost. There's a wireless modem service -- I think it's called Ricochet but I don't remember -- that serves a few big metropoli, including the DC area. I wonder... I guess maybe it's something to look into.

Ouch! I just looked. The modem itself is $329 -- at least it was when C|Net reviewed it. Service is $29.95 a month for unlimited access, e-mailbox, newsgroups, etc. Aha! Found their website and they do cover at least part of the area where Jev will be. Still, $329 for a 28.8 modem? And that's 28.8 with a clear signal. *chuckle* Oh well... I can see us getting something like that sometime down the line, when I have a new laptop to use. Hmm, just looked at one of the dealers' sites... seems C|Net neglected to mention the $45 activation fee. Ah, well... like I said, someday. :) When the technology has grown up a little more.

I guess if worst came to worst, I could have Jev upload pages for me from work. On his breaks, of course. :)

I think I'm going to take advantage of the peace and quiet and get back to work on my stitching. Take care...

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