Well, now. The IM system I’ve used the longest, ICQ, has locked me out of my account. Apparently there’s an ongoing (and officially unacknowledged) problem with hackers getting into their database, resetting passwords and removing associated email addresses, especially on older accounts (like mine, a seven-digit account number). I’ve only ever had a small handful of email addresses over the years, and none of them are working to do password recovery.

ICQ’s support stance on this problem is, basically, “You’re screwed. Here, have a new ICQ number!” Thanks, but no thanks. It’s not like I was using the thing all that much. I’m just annoyed, not horribly inconvenienced. I suppose I could start using that Microsoft system a bit more, if necessary. (I know. I wasn’t going to create an account there, but it sort of came in really handy for my new job. My shame runs deep, I assure you.)

So, any of you who might still have had me on your ICQ buddy lists… take me off and block that user ID. I can’t use that account anymore, and anyone who can is a hacker.

(Before anyone chimes in with the snark: I don’t use the official ICQ client, my computer is squeaky clean, and there’s a history of this sort of thing happening at the server side. My geek cred is fine, thankyouverymuch.)

Adding to the joys (ha ha) of Friday the 13th, I’m also home sick today. Either I caught a bug somewhere, or the mongolian grill did something to my innards. Whee.