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Bomb Threats

At around 9:00 am, we were told that we were to evacuate our office building due to a "called in bomb-threat" to our campus. In the room where I spend most of my time there is a conference area, and three cubicles. Two of which belong to our technical staff (which includes me), and the other belongs to the lady in charge of our assessment evaluations.

Getting back on subject, we proceed to grab what we were working on earlier and head out the door to wait out in the parking lot. After about thirty minutes of standing around in the lot we were asked to move about 150 yards away next to a huge parking lot full of cars. (not the brightest move in my opinion...)

So we waited there for about thirty more minutes, along with all of the students that were on campus at the time. While I understand the need to protect all life, there are certain parts of campus that are by far least likely to be affected by such an event. Our office being one of them, since 99% of the community does not know that our office building is part of the campus. Then there is also the fact that there are no physical classes held in our building.

As it turns out, they have a suspect or at least a possible suspect according to the news. They know where the call was made, a vague physical description of the caller and her car. Hopefully they catch this person...

Posted by jwiles on 05-07-2007 | Comments (0)

Stupidity Runs Amock

Well it appears the freeloaders are at it again...

Don't get me wrong, I love Atlanta and just about everything it offers to the typical visitor and local. Except for one thing. FREEbies!!!

As many of you know, today (April 5, 2007) Atlanta's Q100.5 FM radio station held a promotion at Six Flags over Georgia. In all of their advertising for the event the radio station never ever mentioned that there was a number limit on the number of visitors that would receive a voucher to get in free. Instead, they broadcasted that people should arrive at the park during their live broadcast (6:00 am - 9:00 am) and they'd get in free.

Well, this of course backfired when the park opened the parking lot gates at 5:30 am, and they had reached their alotted capacity by 5:55 am, with traffick backed up for miles around exit's 46 and 47 on I-20. Parents, and or non-parental drivers were letting their kids out of the cars on the interstate to walk through traffic to get to the park. While the park was turning away people who did not arrive in vehicles. So, just what were these drivers/parents thinking when they did this? Obviously they weren't.

I love the Six Flags over Georgia park and it's management, but never in my life would I have thought the park would have agreed to a promo like this one. They should have done vouchers that people would have had to pick up at the station or at the park, at least a day or two before the event. This would have cut down on the problems at the park, etc.

However, I can't fault the park in this matter, they always tell their event planners that there will be limitations on the numbers when they keep the park open for PAYING/Season Passholder guests. The station clearly knew the limit, however, they are deciding to deny that this limit was in place.

The worst part of this whole thing is that anyone who has ever lived in Atlanta, or the metro area, knows that if something is advertised as free, it means that you should steer clear of that area if at all possible while the promo is going on. I have friends that were going to go, until they found out about the promo. Now they put off the trip till tomorrow or the weekend... Smart move in my opinion...

Posted by jwiles on 04-05-2007 | Comments (0)

Spring in North GA

Well, it's spring here in North Georgia.

With that said, man it's hot out. But it's starting to look great outside, trees are blooming, flowers are blooming, birds chirping, squirrels running around, gas tanks exploding at the car crusher near work, and that darn pollen is everywhere.

So just imagine my car, a dark hunter green corolla with a good covering of yellow pollen. I call it the putrid green color.

I love this time of year tho, it refreshes me. Reminds me that it is time to meet back up with old friends and enjoy life to it's fullest. So how have I done that so far? Since March 10th, I've been spending every other weekend in Atlanta at Six Flags over Georgia, which is celebrating it's 40th Anniversary this year.

If you go, you must absolutely ride Goliath. For more info go to http://www.sixflags.com/overGeorgia/

In even better news, our extended family has a new baby on the way. Sources tell me it is a boy, and is due to arrive in June. YAY! I'm sure it will be the ultimate experience for the new parents, and grandparents. I know for a fact that the proud papa has already started getting their place ready for his arrival. And he's done a good job at it too!

My parents are moving along in their efforts to renovate the house, I'll be glad when they are done just so I can see the changes. Everybody is doing fine.

Now back to our regularly scheduled cubicle maintenance window....

Posted by jwiles on 03-26-2007 | Comments (0)

Athens - The Classic City

As many of you, well ok those who keep up with me via this website and other means, know that I started a job in Athens, GA, near the end of last year. I love the job, I enjoy the people I work with, and I enjoy the free time it gives me outside the office.

I work as a Systems Support Specialist, however my job deals with more than technical support. I am part of a team of two that comprises the technical department of our division. We spend a majority of our time programming and maintaining online instructional systems.

If you live in the Athens, Georgia area, I would greatly appreciate suggestions on things to see, do, etc. I look forward to getting out there... on the road.

P.S. come back, and come back often.

Posted by dogbert on 03-15-2007 | Comments (0)