Whenever I get a goofy idea for a post, I try to write it down as quick as I can because if I don’t, I forget it. After about, oh, 10 or 15 seconds. As usual most of my ideas fall under roughly three categories.
1 – What was I thinking?
2 – Good God, what was I thinking?
3 – Wow, I was really stoned.
With that in mind, I took a look at some of my recent “Notes.”
Here’s one.
“The ISIS IT tech support hotline.”
My first thought was “What the hell is that about?” Then Ellin reminded me we saw a news report about how ISIS has a very extensive and modern computer network. I realized if that’s true, they must have an IT department. If they have an IT department, they must have a tech support hotline.
What must an average day be like for the guy who manages
the ISIS tech support hotline?
ISIS TECH SUPPORT: Hello, you have reached the ISIS tech support line. How can I help you?
ISIS GUY: Hello, I’m having trouble with my suicide vest. It won’t explode.
ISIS TECH SUPPORT: OK, I am opening up a ticket. Have you tried taking it off and putting it back on?
ISIS GUY: No, let me try that. Hang on. (pause)
BOOM!!!
ISIS TECH SUPPORT: Hello? Hello? OK, I am closing this ticket. This is the ISIS Tech support line. How can I help you?
ANOTHER ISIS GUY: My suicide vest isn’t working.
ISIS TECH SUPPORT: Hold on, I am opening a ticket. Have you tried taking it off and putting it back on?
ANOTHER ISIS GUY: Yes. It still doesn’t work.
ISIS TECH SUPPORT: Hmmm, that usually works. Have you tried jiggling it?
ANOTHER ISIS GUY: No, hang on, let me take it off. OK, I’m jiggling it.
BOOM!!!!!
I think that’s pretty much how his average day goes.
Here’s another note. This one was an interesting question.
“How do you go on vacation when you’re retired?”
Good question. It reminded me of an old joke by George Carlin. He asked, “What does a dog do on his day off? He can’t just lay around on the couch. That’s his job.”
That got me thinking.
Do I get days off? Well, yes. All my days are off. Not doing anything is my job. I’m always on vacation. So, being on vacation is my full-time job. That sort of depressed me because I’m always working!
I can never take time off!
So, to take my mind off this existential Catch-22, I spent a week doing nothing but play a video game. Red Dead Redemption 2.
The video quality of the game is breathtaking. It’s the most realistic game on the market. In it, you are a cowboy. Sort of a bad guy who is running with a gang. You get various missions. Most entail going somewhere and shooting somebody. Or shooting a lot of some-bodies.
But along with that, you have to do other things. Like, find food, cook food. Eat food.
Feed your horse. Brush your horse. Go fishing. Clean the fish. Go hunting. Bring what you catch back home and skin it. (Sorry, I drew the line on that one). (Note to self: Does that mean I’d starve?)
And to get anywhere you have to ride your horse. And all the towns are a long way from each other. After a week of this, it hit me.
This isn’t a game. This is work!
A lot of work. I didn’t do this much work when I was working! So, I’m giving up on this game. Well, after I collect the money the O’Driscoll gang owes me, and I finish cooking the stew.
After that, I need some time off.