Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Big Brother is Watching

Last week an email went around at work. Apparently, the company has issues with people streaming non-work related audio and video. The email said that the high volume of non-work related Internet streaming is impacting business related applications...increased costs...blah blah blah...starting February 3rd non-business related site access will be restricted...blah blah blah.

I know I'm guilty of recreational Internet browsing at work (cough - Inauguration - cough). Who isn't, really? I scan a few blogs in the morning while drinking my coffee, maybe add a few touches to a blog post during my lunch break, and often check what is new in the world at CNN. I can honestly say that I try to limit my personal browsing (except for the occasional really lazy Friday).

I didn't pay much attention to the new restrictions because I didn't think that it would affect me too much.

This morning, I went to get my daily dose of celebrity gossip. Perez Hilton has been blocked! Ok. I'll survive. I've got the celeb gossip app on my iPhone to give me my fix.

A little while later, I went to do a little commenting at Attack of the Redneck Mommy. Access Denied. OMG. NNNNOOOO! I can't even give y'all a proper link to her blog!

I'm too scared to do a little searching of anything else that might have been blocked.

God bless the loophole that is my google reader. It's my only connection to Perez and Tanis now.

Pray with me that the corporate bigwigs that analyze Internet traffic volumes never find out about the wonderful gift of google reader.

5 comments:

TUWABVB said...

That sucks! But it is scary - I think everyone often forgets that companies have a right to restrict and review your internet time. I can't even remember what work was like before the internet! :)

Astarte said...

Oh, snap!

At my last job, traffic was limited somewhat after this creepy old guy was fired for porn. Seriously, he was WAY too old to have been looking at that crap, like in his 60s. Ugh.

Sara said...

No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Big brother is watching. Did you know that some employers are using a system to go through their employees facebook profiles?

Chantal said...

Oh man, I don't know what I would do if my work blocked my blog reading. I often listen to music using You Tube... I would just cry.

Anonymous said...

google reader??

you must share this secret with me

the government blocks everything but the NEWS

what is interesting, however, is that although several sites are blocked, i think its related to the traffic said sites generate. which must be how, one night, whilst walking behind the charge nurse desk (charge nurse = nurse in charge, shift supervisor, head lifesaver) i saw my charge nurse and other coworkers looking at Adam & Eve! we can buy sex toys at work!?

i nearly fell out

then i commented on how that site was so much more economical than the local store.