I saw him walking by, and I said, “John Fund!” He came over, said Hi and proceeded to check his e-mail on an open laptop beside me. I was thrilled and having fun, but now there’s a mini blog swarm going on. It turns out that Fund often checks his e-mail at these things on any available computer without asking.
There are public computer terminals in the lobby, but I wasn’t going to tell Wall Street Journal writer John Fund that he couldn’t use the laptop and to go back to the lobby and check his e-mail out there. Starstruck? I think not!
Anyway, so Kevin McCullough, once again, is stirring up trouble (He dragged Michelle Malkin and RedState into it!). He writes:
John Fund highly respected Wall Street Journal columnist did the strangest thing today. He walked right into blogger’s corner (he is not a credentialed blogger). He sat right down at a machine that wasn’t his…it in fact belonged instead to Adam Doverspike of RedState.He began typing away and when Adam returned — and in fact needed to return to his blogging duties was told by Fund:
“I’ll only be a minute…”
20 minutes later, Adam gave up and left to go get something to drink…as of this typing – as you can see in the picture above — Fund was still using Doverspike’s machine.
Laptop owner Adam Doverspike returned, and Fund said he’d be done in a minute. Well, the minute turned into 10 (20 minutes? I think not!). But so what? I don’t care what Kevin or the other bloggers say. I’m still glad John Fund sat beside me and checked his e-mail. 
Update (4:38 p.m.): I need to clarify something in the post. There’s a level of trust at this conference that I haven’t seen in a long time. Laptop computers left in vendor areas, at least in bloggers corner, were safe. Every vendor except one or two is a conservative organization promoting its message. That’s not to say that right-leaning folks haven’t been known to steal. But at least one blogger is always present in bloggers corner with our equipment, and it’s perfectly safe to leave laptops behind while grabbing lunch or interviews. Password-protecting your computer is always wise no matter where you are, however.
By the way, Fund did it again (pictured with Ace), but this time it had nothing to do with me.
Important Update II (6:04 p.m.): It’s comedy! This post is all in fun(d), OK???
Oh…all (most?) of the blogger boys gushed over conservative Indian actress, Namrata Singh Gujral. I suppose she’s somewhat attractive.
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Thank you for blogging the event and taking photos. I’m very concerned about what is going on with the income tax situation here in America.
Unless The People Rise Up, Here’s What’s Coming: Federal Consumption Taxes PLUS The Income Tax
Conflicts of Interest Apparent In President’s Tax Panel
Presidents Bush’s Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform held their first public meeting in Washington on Wednesday.
http://www.givemeliberty.org/
La Shawn,
I’m inclined to think your take on this is correct.
It would appear that Fund may think that all or most of the computers at these things are public access machines provided by the event, and not individually owned.
A simple correction is in order for Mr. Fund, but we hardly need to take his head over a minor and probably unintentional breach of etiquette.
That is…
Unless he would have used your machine to check his email, unleashed a virus, and crippled you for the remainder of CPAC.
I am not saying you are right or wrong on this, but a person’s machine is a very valuable possession. I wouldn’t want someone borrowing my car or house without my permission, and I wouldn’t want them borrowing my machine either.
I hope you are having a good time at CPAC. Please know the rest of the blogging world is jealous because we are unable to attend…
Baron
It’s unbelievable to me that someone who runs a blog or website would walk away from their computer in a crowded room without turning on some kind of password protection.
It’s far worse than leaving your car unlocked. If your car is stolen, you only lose your car. When someone vandalizes your blog or sends out a “post of disaster” in your name, you lose your reputation.
Imagine what could have happened if a tech-savvy version of Michael Moore had sat at that computer for 10 minutes. “Personal responsibility” is a conservative catch phrase – time to put it into practice.
Neal – You’re right about password-protect, so I updated the post. There was no need to fear a stolen computer, however. Do I trust these conservatives more than the average person? Wholeheartedly.
Amendment III
No Hot-Shot shall, in time of peace be quartered at any laptop, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by common sense.
La Shawn, I love your website. I love your snarky take on identity politics, so SHUT UP
because you definitely do sound starstruck. Doverspike has been very gracious about the whole thing and I haven’t read a blogger yet that hasn’t offered John (sigh) Fund the benefit of the doubt.
You are taking way too much offense and the fact that you do not care that John used someone else’s equipment is not germane.
I do love you, though.
Mike, this is all in fun. You do understand that, right? Must I be so explicit? Perhaps I’m misunderstanding your comment.
Glad you love the site.
I was being light hearted too, but no, I took seriously your “stirring up trouble” remark, especially since you made the point about time exaggeration.
I’m sorry, but what John Fund done was wrong!
Rudeness is best left to lefties.
Oh yea, by the way, Namrata Singh Gujral is HOT!!!!!! (And so are you!!!!!!)
Steven, he was just clueless. The fact that there was a variety of laptops should have been a clue that they weren’t courtsey computers
At one of the places my husband has worked people would leave their keys in their cars. There wasn’t enough parking so if you blocked someone in you had to leave your keys. It *was* a secure complex, but it was still weird to see a beemer or Lexus with keys in the ignition.
It’s a *good* thing if people trust each other and just like distrust, it builds on itself.
PS: I love the way my : and ) automatically came up as a smiley face icon. Made me feel like I actually know how to use a computer.
Yesterday I couldn’t even spell computer literate, now I are.
If I had a dollar for every smart person I’ve known, an expert in their field, was clueless about social graces or related issues….
I really think I could retire.
Give Mr. Fund a break. The guy who owned the ‘offended’ laptop did?? Mr. Fund must have thought these unattended computers were pooled for conference attendees.
I mean, who would leave their personal laptop unattended? Well…maybe conservative bloggers at a conservative event? Is this guy a conservative?
Let’s be careful and considerate about a person’s reputation here folks. But for the grace of God…..
You really need to get a life. Get out of the house once in awhile. It’s good for you. – Admin
I forgot a smile
at the end of my last comment. Maybe this parody on poor John is getting out of hand.
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