"What was my second grade teacher's name again?!?"

The digital age is upon us now, and with all of the technology comes protection. Protection from counterfeiters, theifs, and the occasional bored human being. Numerous accounts are activated with different purposes and passwords, like email addresses and bank accounts. Not only does one receive a password or number, but a question to go along with it in case you forget the password to a very important account. These are usually known questions and are quite random, but what if you forget your password along with the question that is used to jog your memory? Remembering a teacher or first telephone number can be hard to recall. Is there another question? Does the company have a picture of you? Without a password log kept with a lock and key, how is one expected to remember an advanced, top secret code?

You would think the people who make these questions are more careful with the wording of their "security questions". The common questions of "what is the name of your dog?" or "what is your favorite color?" are a little too common for comfort. The first thing one tells another upon meeting them is perhaps their favorite color, or that their dog Shelby has gotten ticks from a recent hike along their favorite trail. Who knows, the person who hacks your account may well be your best friend or someone who knows a lot about you. It makes sense after all. Your friend that you've known since kindergarten knows who your teacher is too, did they ever think of that? Security questions should be secret, but they must also remind one of their own password, that is the challenge. However, a password such as redShelby is not so clever as one would assume.

Another misconception is using one password for every account and anything in need of being secured. Although we might think that no one will be able to crack the code, it can be done, and it has many times. Break through one code and they have access to your entire cyber world.

Security precautions are also found regularly on smartphones. Plug in the code and again, you have access to a small computer. What I don't get however, is why the phone practically begs you to try the password again after you have failed the first time to acess the phone. My phone says "try again" like it's antagonizing the person at its keypad to give it another try, after all you know they want to. This makes me feel a tad unsafe, so I think I'll change my password now.

That is all

-"M"

Nicknames

There comes a time in a person's life when they are known for something, good or bad, and it sticks with them for the rest of their life. Some nicknames are harmless, but most serve as an excuse to humiliate one in the future. All because your name was hard to pronounce or you did something when you were seven, you are mocked by a pet-like name for the rest of your existence.

The thing that really irritates me the most, is when people think they have grown up, but are clearly still attached to their childhood; when they go by their real name, but smack in the middle of their birthname, in quotations, is their nickname. Always lingering. What happens to these people when they decide to get a job, or go to a class reunion? Are they forever chastised about their other name? When they walk into a room does everyone say, "why hello, Sparky or is it Steve now?" making fun of what used to be a cool thing. How are employers dealing with this? I can only imagine what people put on job applications. Bosses everywhere must be taking advantage of these embarrasments by saying, "Oh it's Big Dog's shift this afternoon? Well tell him to punch out on time today, or else I'm going to have to put him in the kennel." or things of the like. Maybe it was funny in high school, but in the real world do you really want to be named like you are a Persian cat?

When I think back on it, I don't think I've ever taken anyone who has quotations in the middle of their name seriously. Are they trying to hide the fact that they have a weird name, by jazzing it up a bit and naming themselves after something they've done. The type that completely disregard their first name by saying, "I'm Joe, but you can call me thunderbolt." as if a rumble in the sky had anything to do with the person. Do they know that their newfound nickname will result in even more explanation than just giving their real name? Obviously not.

I guess nicknames make one feel wanted and special, but that novelty wears off and all that's left is a name. An embarrassing addition to oneself. Think about it, whenever these fake names are said about a person they don't scream for joy, rather they hide their face that is turning pink as a rose by the minute. But could you blame them? How would you like to be called lightening if your real name was Kevin?

That is all

-"M" or should I say, Mollie