http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/jasonsperber/35383 Okay, a few things... First, we rolled out a software upgrade late last night that primarily had to do with improvements to our Inside Guide interactive business directory, where many of you post reviews.&nbsp; Please check out the new review page designs and new business listings and categories, and start reviewing!&nbsp; Here's a post on the BdotCom blog explaining the changes.&nbsp; If you find anything acting buggy on the Inside Guide, please contact the folks in charge of it at insideguide@bakersfield.com. Second, regarding the page load slowdown problems that have been oft-reported recently, all we can say at this point is that the problem is complicated and multifaceted and that our team of developers is continuing to investigate.&nbsp; Trust me, I like it as little as you do--especially when it occurs in the middle of me trying to suspend an account!&nbsp; Heh.&nbsp; If you encounter any site issues or buggy things, feel free to leave comments on this thread and they'll get seen. Now, why am I telling you to leave those kind of issues on this thread instead of telling you to email me as I usually do?&nbsp; That leads us to... Third, I'm going on vacation.&nbsp; Now, I've NEVER ever announced to you beforehand that I'd be going on vacation.&nbsp; But recent site activity leads me to believe that it's prudent at this time. Here's the important, take-away point for you.&nbsp; Some of my colleagues, including my boss, the Vice-President for Interactive Media, are going to be monitoring violation reports in my absence.&nbsp; This is in addition to the more-than-full plates they have in front of them for their regular jobs.&nbsp; Some of you, when I've been away before, have gotten deleted or suspended by them before.&nbsp; They have neither the time, inclination, or patience to investigate the context around a violation report.&nbsp; If they think something needs deleting, or someone needs suspending, they'll just do it.&nbsp; I know some of you think that I manage the disciplinary side of things here unfairly, but you also, grudgingly, know that I read as much as I can, that I know you, know backgrounds and histories, that I keep records of interactions and disciplinary actions.&nbsp; They don't care about all that--they don't have time to, and that's not their job. So instead of seeing this as a chance to wreak (more) havoc while the teacher's away and the subs are in, I'd advise that this be seen as a chance to practice following the rules and disagreeing with opinions without resorting to profanity, namecalling, slurs or personal attacks.&nbsp; By all means, use the &quot;report a violation&quot; button when you see something worth reporting.&nbsp; Be specific, copy the offending comment into your report, and explain your position.&nbsp; And don't assume, in your language and tone, that because the offending comment is there that we obviously are cosigning on its sentiments. Before I go, let me address one thing that's come up recently in discussions about the comings and goings of certain individuals.&nbsp; Nobody &quot;makes&quot; me suspend someone.&nbsp; No one &quot;gets&quot; someone else suspended.&nbsp; They do that all on their own.&nbsp; And no one gets permanently suspended for a first-time infraction--that always happens only after outreach and contact by me and attempts to avoiding getting to that point.&nbsp; Warnings happen, then temporary suspensions that are lifted after the person in question gives me a promise in writing to follow the rules upon return.&nbsp; If I don't get such a promise, or if they come back and break it, or if they respond to my offer by freaking out and cursing me out, or if they try to circumvent a temporary suspension by creating new aliases, then they themselves have, by their actions, converted their temporary suspension into a permanent one.&nbsp; Some of you, by your comments, get that, and I thank you.&nbsp; Others of you continue to cling to the belief that I have it out for you personally or for a group you think I think you belong to, or that I'm coddling or protecting chosen &quot;pet&quot; users.&nbsp; Funny thing is, I get those accusations from individuals on opposite sides of the political and cultural spectrum, each saying I'm obviously in the pocket of the other.&nbsp; Obviously, neither is true. Okay, folks, I'm going on vacation.&nbsp; Try to be nice to each other. &nbsp; Okay, a few things... First, we rolled out a software upgrade late last night that primarily had to do with improvements to our Inside Guide interactive business directory, where many of you post reviews.&nbsp; Please check out the new review page designs and new business listings and categories, and start reviewing!&nbsp; Here's a post on the BdotCom blog explaining the changes.&nbsp; If you find anything acting buggy on the Inside Guide, please contact the folks in charge of it at insideguide@bakersfield.com. Second, regarding the page load slowdown problems that have been oft-reported recently, all we can say at this point is that the problem is complicated and multifaceted and that our team of developers is continuing to investigate.&nbsp; Trust me, I like it as little as you do--especially when it occurs in the middle of me trying to suspend an account!&nbsp; Heh.&nbsp; If you encounter any site issues or buggy things, feel free to leave comments on this thread and they'll get seen. Now, why am I telling you to leave those kind of issues on this thread instead of telling you to email me as I usually do?&nbsp; That leads us to... Third, I'm going on vacation.&nbsp; Now, I've NEVER ever announced to you beforehand that I'd be going on vacation.&nbsp; But recent site activity leads me to believe that it's prudent at this time. Here's the important, take-away point for you.&nbsp; Some of my colleagues, including my boss, the Vice-President for Interactive Media, are going to be monitoring violation reports in my absence.&nbsp; This is in addition to the more-than-full plates they have in front of them for their regular jobs.&nbsp; Some of you, when I've been away before, have gotten deleted or suspended by them before.&nbsp; They have neither the time, inclination, or patience to investigate the context around a violation report.&nbsp; If they think something needs deleting, or someone needs suspending, they'll just do it.&nbsp; I know some of you think that I manage the disciplinary side of things here unfairly, but you also, grudgingly, know that I read as much as I can, that I know you, know backgrounds and histories, that I keep records of interactions and disciplinary actions.&nbsp; They don't care about all that--they don't have time to, and that's not their job. So instead of seeing this as a chance to wreak (more) havoc while the teacher's away and the subs are in, I'd advise that this be seen as a chance to practice following the rules and disagreeing with opinions without resorting to profanity, namecalling, slurs or personal attacks.&nbsp; By all means, use the &quot;report a violation&quot; button when you see something worth reporting.&nbsp; Be specific, copy the offending comment into your report, and explain your position.&nbsp; And don't assume, in your language and tone, that because the offending comment is there that we obviously are cosigning on its sentiments. Before I go, let me address one thing that's come up recently in discussions about the comings and goings of certain individuals.&nbsp; Nobody &quot;makes&quot; me suspend someone.&nbsp; No one &quot;gets&quot; someone else suspended.&nbsp; They do that all on their own.&nbsp; And no one gets permanently suspended for a first-time infraction--that always happens only after outreach and contact by me and attempts to avoiding getting to that point.&nbsp; Warnings happen, then temporary suspensions that are lifted after the person in question gives me a promise in writing to follow the rules upon return.&nbsp; If I don't get such a promise, or if they come back and break it, or if they respond to my offer by freaking out and cursing me out, or if they try to circumvent a temporary suspension by creating new aliases, then they themselves have, by their actions, converted their temporary suspension into a permanent one.&nbsp; Some of you, by your comments, get that, and I thank you.&nbsp; Others of you continue to cling to the belief that I have it out for you personally or for a group you think I think you belong to, or that I'm coddling or protecting chosen &quot;pet&quot; users.&nbsp; Funny thing is, I get those accusations from individuals on opposite sides of the political and cultural spectrum, each saying I'm obviously in the pocket of the other.&nbsp; Obviously, neither is true. Okay, folks, I'm going on vacation.&nbsp; Try to be nice to each other. &nbsp; en-us Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:13:07 PDT <p>Have a good time and I am sure we will all behave...right folks !!</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/jasonsperber/35383/#c_327088 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/jasonsperber/35383/#c_327088 <p>Have a good time and I am sure we will all behave...right folks !!</p> <p><span style="color: #ff0000"><strong><span style="font-size: small">WELL, THIS SHOULD BE INTERESTING TO SAY THE LEAST.</span></strong></span></p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/jasonsperber/35383/#c_327092 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/jasonsperber/35383/#c_327092 <p><span style="color: #ff0000"><strong><span style="font-size: small">WELL, THIS SHOULD BE INTERESTING TO SAY THE LEAST.</span></strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">have a wonderful vacation Jason.</span></p> <br /> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/jasonsperber/35383/#c_327095 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/jasonsperber/35383/#c_327095 <p><span style="font-size: medium;">have a wonderful vacation Jason.</span></p> <br /> <p>It's a trick!&nbsp; He's not really going!</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/jasonsperber/35383/#c_327096 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/jasonsperber/35383/#c_327096 <p>It's a trick!&nbsp; He's not really going!</p> <p><span style="font-size: medium">Have a&nbsp;good one;)</span>&nbsp;</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/jasonsperber/35383/#c_327097 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/jasonsperber/35383/#c_327097 <p><span style="font-size: medium">Have a&nbsp;good one;)</span>&nbsp;</p> <p>Have a good one!!!&nbsp;Thanks for the warning ;)</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/jasonsperber/35383/#c_327098 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/jasonsperber/35383/#c_327098 <p>Have a good one!!!&nbsp;Thanks for the warning ;)</p> <p>Enjoy your vacation, Jason!</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/jasonsperber/35383/#c_327106 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/jasonsperber/35383/#c_327106 <p>Enjoy your vacation, Jason!</p> <p>I'm going to take this opportunity to post a poem my daughter wrote to me many years ago.&nbsp;&nbsp; Wishing Jason a great vacation and apologizing ahead of time for infractions, I&nbsp;dedicate this to Jason.</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa34/nancyjg/Debspoem.jpg" /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>(Debbie McGowan copyright)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/jasonsperber/35383/#c_327114 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/jasonsperber/35383/#c_327114 <p>I'm going to take this opportunity to post a poem my daughter wrote to me many years ago.&nbsp;&nbsp; Wishing Jason a great vacation and apologizing ahead of time for infractions, I&nbsp;dedicate this to Jason.</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa34/nancyjg/Debspoem.jpg" /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>(Debbie McGowan copyright)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Nancy-that poem was great and should hang on every familys fridge.&nbsp;</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/jasonsperber/35383/#c_327116 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/jasonsperber/35383/#c_327116 <p>Nancy-that poem was great and should hang on every familys fridge.&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="font-size: small">Well as usual, I'm an hour (day) late and a dollar short!!!&nbsp; Have a great vaca Jason! Don't even take a laptop with ya! Give a hoot 'N holler when ya get back :-)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small">To the back up folks...........I will be good, I will be good, I will be good </span><span style="color: #ff0000"><em><strong><span style="font-size: small">*has fingers crossed behind back*!!!!&nbsp; </span><span style="font-size: large"><span style="">:-)</span></span></strong></em></span></p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/jasonsperber/35383/#c_327217 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/jasonsperber/35383/#c_327217 <p><span style="font-size: small">Well as usual, I'm an hour (day) late and a dollar short!!!&nbsp; Have a great vaca Jason! Don't even take a laptop with ya! Give a hoot 'N holler when ya get back :-)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small">To the back up folks...........I will be good, I will be good, I will be good </span><span style="color: #ff0000"><em><strong><span style="font-size: small">*has fingers crossed behind back*!!!!&nbsp; </span><span style="font-size: large"><span style="">:-)</span></span></strong></em></span></p> <p>Thanks Michele..I&nbsp;just now saw your reply.&nbsp; When she sent it to me I got all misty eyed,&nbsp; When I told her my reaction she said &quot;Oh mom, I didn't mean to make you cry.&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; LOL</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/jasonsperber/35383/#c_333335 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/jasonsperber/35383/#c_333335 <p>Thanks Michele..I&nbsp;just now saw your reply.&nbsp; When she sent it to me I got all misty eyed,&nbsp; When I told her my reaction she said &quot;Oh mom, I didn't mean to make you cry.&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; LOL</p>