Virus, Spammers, & Spring

Online source - Amazon

As if humans didn't have enough issues with a virus affecting so many people worldwide. There's the lurking potential of other viruses that can seriously disrupt and affect computers and other equipment.

As we all know, in these uncertain times, more people are working from home and using a combination (or all) of their computers, tablets, cell phones.

This increases the potential for infection, it's far greater because, unlike human contact, there is no social distancing. Now, more people are in self-isolation and, being social creatures, want to share information, humor, etc.

Online free clipart

But, potential danger lurks in sharing too much online or through emails and messages. 

Yes, blogger friends, it's from those dreaded internet and trolls, called spammers, which many of us have been exposed to and intensely hate dislike.

These unscrupulous lurkers are like moths to a flame and apparently have nothing good or better to do than annoy.
This rant post could bring a sudden spam onslaught to my comments (as has happened before). It's a risk worth taking. I'm on great terms with the delete function and never hesitate to use it, as often as needed.

This week, I received a separate email and text messages from two trusted friends. These friends sent the same info to other folks. 

I know my friends' well and that their intent was to share some humor and not to infect anyone's equipment. I immediately deleted the messages and contacted my friends to ask them not to include my email/phone on any future emails/messages. I explained the reason for my request and why it was important to let them know. 

Coincidentally, before reaching my friends, I received forwarded messages from someone included in the original group email/text. Neither was opened and both were deleted on receipt. if I don't recognize the sender's name, the message goes to Trash and the trash is deleted/emptied. On my cell phone, any number not recognized is blocked.

Recently, my blog comments have been spammed numerous times by two spammers whose IDs won't be included here as all their Trash has been deleted. The most recent incident was this morning when there were numerous spams on recent posts from the same source, all deleted now. 

Many bloggers choose to moderate comments, which can be helpful in preventing any spammer comments. However, I prefer to self-moderate. All comments are checked daily and inappropriate (trash/spam) is immediately deleted.

As mentioned earlier, I'm good and unmercifully quick with the delete function. On a more upbeat train of thought . . .

Spring is here today, March 19, in the USA
Happy 1st Day of Spring in all U.S. time zones. 

That may be according to the calendar, but here in NH, we had some early a.m. light snow today.

Maybe, like me, you learned that the spring equinox, (when day and night are roughly the same length) would occur on either March 20 or March 21.

While the equinox has historically fallen on one of those dates. This is the first time in 124 years that the 1st day of spring is on March 19 nationwide, regardless of time zone. For much of the last century, it's occurred on March 20 or 21. The last time spring arrived this early was 124 years ago in 1896. 

If you're planning ahead, Summer arrives June 20, 2020.