The Assimilation Continues

borg-18527.jpgIt’s been an eventful week here at Ocular Fusion. First, I was graced with a visit by the Winged Goddess of Victory herself (I think we all know her name, don’t we?). Then I was the victim of a vicious attack of flying spam, necessitating the installation of the new and improved, all purpose, Super-Duper Askimet Anti-Spam Shield and Bug Zapper (so far, 70 pieces of fried spam in 48 hrs).

But, no matter what I do, the assimilation continues.

Here’s my latest VIP visitor:

Visitor Analysis

ReferringLink: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=zinedine zidane july 5th&btnG=Search

Host Name: tide121.microsoft.com

Entry Page Time: 17 August 2006 7:47:42

Country: United States

Region: Washington

City: Redmond

ISP: Microsoft Corp

Ok, this is starting to get serious. Bill Gates is hanging out on my blog reading about Zidane’s head butt and other World Cup posts. I didn’t even know he was a fan of the “Beautiful Game!” Maybe he’s looking for a consultant for some special cyber-soccer project that he’s cooking up. I’ve never figured out what exactly a consultant is or does, but I hear it pays well and you get to have important meetings at exotic resorts, so I’m game and all ears for any business proposals coming my way.

You hear that Bill? Yeah, I’m sure you do.

Someone pointed out on the last post that the fact that I can do a visitor analysis is further evidence of assimilation. Good point. I’m betting that every website you visit has the capability of at least logging your IP address and ISP along with the country, region and city. The stat counters haven’t evolved to the point where you get a social security number, name and driver’s license photo yet, but all in good time, my friends, all in good time.

In any case, VIP visitors are exciting and can stir up things during an otherwise boring week, but the visitors I really appreciate are the regulars who stop by to read and sometimes comment on my random, loosely-connected, mostly forgettable musings. And no, most of the time, I don’t know exactly who you are–although sometimes I have a pretty good idea!

Assimilation–grin and bear it. Bill Gates does.

17 Comments

  1. Seattlesoccermom

    There’s a bit of an arms-race quality to the whole assimilation/technology thing. If you can do it and I can’t, then you’re a threat to humanity. But if I can do it and you can’t? Well, that’s just cool.

  2. Scott

    I can say I knew you when. Interestingly enough, I’m getting a lot of hits with an NSA IP. Why do you think that is?

    Also, about the Akismet plugin: is it just me or does the amount of spam increase after you install it? I’m glad it blocks out everything but isn’t it weird that you’ve already had 70 piece blocked? Is it out there looking for spam?

  3. Brady

    I’m sure that all these guys collecting data on us are doing it for our own good.

    So don’t worry. Be happy.

  4. Mike the Eyeguy

    Ssm–

    Unlike plutonium, stat counters are available to everyone. If you had trouble installing one, I bet your 17-year-old could figure it out.

    Scott–

    NSA huh? I guess I’m not edgy enough. Of course, if you were really on one of their lists, I’m guessing they wouldn’t bother to show you their ISP name.

    I was getting a lot of spam before Askimet, so I can’t tell if it’s worse or not. But at least I don’t have to go through and delete comments anymore. Just one key stroke, and spam-b-gone!

    Brady–

    There you go, that wasn’t so hard, was it?

  5. Seattlesoccermom

    Dang. If you’re now causing Bill to stop by here I need to start watching what I say. Something like 108% of my chess team kids have parents who work at Microsoft. Guess that means I now need to tame my normally snarky self.

    (Hey, Bill! Love your gift matching program! Great work, man. And Windows? Totally awesome. xo! xo!)

  6. Seattlesoccermom

    Oh, and the first comment was more rhetorical than practical. We only distrust power when it belongs to someone else, because we, of course, would use the power Only For Good.

    Is this really the first time you’ve received a Microsoftian visitation? That surprises me. Microsoft has a huge soccer-loving employee contingent. They have at least one soccer field on campus, and they shut down our local indoor arena for several days last year for their own World Cup competition — every player playing for his or her own country of origin. So I’d be surprised if this was the first. Maybe just the first time they left tracks… Maybe they’ve decided that you are now an advanced-enough life form to make contact?

  7. DAVID u

    Bill and I usually hang out at the same blogs. Birds of a feather flock together thingy……you know. Our bank accounts are also very similar.

    DU

  8. Mike the Eyeguy

    Ssm–

    Uh, are you trying to tell me that it wasn’t Bill, but one of his employees instead? 🙁

    Doesn’t Seattle have the reputation of being one of the most physically fit cities in America? (Or was that Memphis?)

    DU–

    Ok, that’s a relief–I’m not the only one with delusions of grandeur.

  9. Seattlesoccermom

    Of course we’re one of the fittest cities. How do you sit still after a quad latte?

  10. Mike the Eyeguy

    Good point. 🙂

  11. Donna

    I am also a member of the delusional society….maybe it is our strong ties to the mighty tide of crimson…..

  12. hooteewho

    Bill was checking out your blog because word on the street is he is a huge philanthropists.
    Perhaps he will make a donation, do you have a paypal link on the eye blog?

  13. Mike the Eyeguy

    Donna–

    So what if Auburn is #4 and Bama is not in the top 25. We’re still the best team in the state.

    Ok, maybe we are a little delusional.

    Hoots–

    A slice of the Gates Foundation pie could buy a lot of college tuition (and maybe some new wallpaper for the bathroom). A Paypal button is pure genious, I’m on it.

  14. Nancy

    Other than that awful string of posts on some soccer game, your posts are not random!

    On my blog, I talk about the war, dodgeball, American Idol, and Christianity.

    THAT’s loosely connected, sir.

  15. Mike the Eyeguy

    That “awful string of posts” on soccer pulled in a wide international readership (and still is)–I guess Columbia, TN just hasn’t caught up with the rest of the world yet. 😉

    Ok, granted, you are pretty “loosely connected,” but I still think I can give you a run for your money!

  16. Nancy

    Humph. the rest of the world hasn’t caught up with us yet.

    🙂

  17. Mike the Eyeguy

    I can see the ESPN announcement now:

    The World Cup of Dodgeball

    Location: Nancy and David’s house in Columbia, TN

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