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zaphod's Journal
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zaphod's journal
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2007-10-04 16:31:46
Canberra
zaphod
Well, I managed to finally get away for almost a whole week this time. 

I left Adelaide on Wednesday night last week and got back on Tuesday night this week.

I'm still a little messed up from the flights and all the walking I did while I was there but it was well worth it.

Hmmm, let me see, what did I do in what order?

Well, thursday morning I wandered around a bit, looking at stuff, checking out shops and so forth.  Had to buy a couple of pairs of jeans.

Friday my Fiance took a day off work (gotta love flex time) and wandered around the local shopping mall, (Hyperdome, I think it's called) and bought a few things.

Saturday we mooched around the civic (for some reason that's what they call the city center there) and I bought her christmas pressie
We also checked out the film & sound archive (sadly, no Goodies stuff) which was quite enlightening.  Don't bother with the CSIRO discovery center.  It was as boring as dishwater.  Frankly I expected much better.

Sunday was really cool, because we went to the zoo and got felt-up by a snake which was pretty cool.

Monday was purely vegging out at the unit we were staying at, and Tuesday I spent packing and getting out to the airport for my flight home.

It's a very cut-down summary, but if anyone asks I can provide more detail.

Hmmm, looks like this is my 99th post. Nearly the 100 mark.  I wonder if I should stretch it out or something ....

Mood - relaxed
Music - ZZ Top - Tush
Edited - Never
2 Comments

2007-09-25 23:19:56
Vacation Time
zaphod
I'm off to Canberra for a week.  Leaving tomorrow (Wednesday) and I won't be back home til next Wednesday.

Why Canberra, I hear you ask.  Well, it's not my first choice of fun filled places to visit, but it just so happens that my better half is there on a 6 week work stint and I'm going over to see her for a week in the middle of the stint.

What is there to do in Canberra, aside from make fun of the politicians and stuff.

I'll have some kind of report when I get back, assuming anyone is actually reading my journal.

Mood - jovial
Music - None
Edited - Never
1 Comments

2007-07-27 08:39:46
Happy Sysadmin day to me
zaphod
It's that wonderful day of the year that people like my (sometimes) good self finally get some appreciation.

Yes, I've been too slack (read busy) lately to post anything here even vaguely worthwhile, but I thought I'd toss this in and see if anyone actually does read this

Mood - TGIF
Music - Friday on my mind - Gary Moore
Edited - Never
3 Comments

2007-05-12 20:59:35
Stuff on TV
zaphod
Well, I've just slipped a few cogs in the old brain-box.  I just sat down to watch the sci-fi channel and lo and behold there's some dodgy reality TV show on.  Being the lazy so-and-so that I am, I actually waited for a couple of minutes before changing the channel, I suddenly realised that this might be one reality show worth watching.

Who wants to be a SuperHero?

Yes, it's as bad as it sounds, but it's also as good as it sounds.  Think of The superchaps 3 in their Superman suits (U friend or UFO) and that is about the same level of seriousness I'm seeing in this show.

I can't wait til the next episode.

Mood - laughter recovery
Music - none
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2007-04-19 14:53:44
movies and stuff
zaphod
I've been slack lately and I felt like being even more slack and writing a journal entry instead of working.

Unlike my past couple of entires, I'm not going to complain, I'm going to review a couple of movies I've seen recently.

Meet the Robinsons: very funny, even for a kids movie.  I nearly lost it when I saw the dinosaur scene (my head is too big and my arms are too short).  Very funny stuff, I recommend it highly.

Shooter: not a bad action flick.  Very reminiscent of Bourne Identity and the original Sniper movie.  Very much edge of your seat stuff.

300: not for the faint of heart, or he squeamish. Very messy and brutal, but overall worth seeing once, on the big screen.

Mood - bored
Music - berlin - take my breath away
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2007-04-02 21:21:06
I must be getting old ...
zaphod
I'd forget my own head if it wasn't RAMSET bolted to my shoulders, and even then it's a bit dicey that it would hold.

I forgot to mention that the really crappy Thursday I had 2 weeks ago was actually my birthday.  I thought I'd actually put it into the journal entry on that day, but apparently my case of mad cow disease took hold and completely wiped it from my memory.

Also, it looks like all those years of being healthy are finally catching up with me as I now seem to have a cold.  Hopefully I can sweat it out tonight and I'll feel better tomorrow, since I'm supposed to be going out to the movies with friends (going to see Meet the Robinsons) and have dinner.  Anyone in Adelaide is welcome to join us, meeting at the Woolshed on hindley St around 6ish, movie at 7:10 at greater union.

Mood - contemplatative
Music - REM - Everybody hurts
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2007-03-28 17:42:05
Recharging batteries
zaphod

I've finally done it.  I've managed to get get 4 consecutive days off work (including weekends) since Kitten Kon in 2000.  I went to Victor Harbor  for 4 days and came back last night, only to come back to work this morning

I got windburn, sore feet and loads of photos, and yes, I certainly aim to take more of this thing called "time off work".

Depending on popular demand I may post a couple of pics to my journal, but most likely I won't becasue I'm stingy and want to keep it all to myself 

Actually, I feel a lot better.  The past 2 weeks before going away was almost more than I could take before having people reading about my exploits with a hunting rifle and a clock tower .....

More details to come later.

Mood - happy
Music - Blondie - Atomic
Edited - Never
1 Comments

2007-03-18 16:46:36
Better late than never
zaphod
I'm a couple of days late with this one, but I needed to calm down a bit first.

Firstly, this should rightly have come before the previous post, but I wanted to throw that one on the site in the few seconds I had before leaving for the show.

This entry is about the <expletive deleted> week I've had up until that point.

Monday, I spent all day from 8am til nearly 9pm upgrading and installing a server at work, unly to get home and promptly head for the loo (bathroom for US residents).  This became an hourly exercise for the next few days.  Interspersed within these bursts of activity, I also had a bunch of things on the server that I had done Monday which didn't quite work properly and had to be fixed.  This took most of Tuesday as well (for which I was physically at work for this).

Wednesday, well, I was at home being sick, doing some minor fixes to the work server and thought I'd be able to relax and stuff like my doctor told me to for the next day or so.  This was not to be, as at about 6pm on Wednesday night, my Fiance tells me she can't access the SFSA (South Australian Dr. Who Fan Club) website, and I take a look, only to find that I can't access the entire server.  This server being the same one that the GROK site is on, along with about 50 others.  As you may imagine, panic set in at about this point.

I called technical support, spending some time on hold before getting to a human (doesn't that sound typical?) who wasn't really able to tell me much except that he couldn't connect to the server either, and wasn't able to do much himself, and would need to notify level 2 support.  This was the last I heard of the matter all night. 

Thursday morning, at 7:30am I'm on the phone again, trying to get some information, and essentially decide there and then that the server has finally given up the ghost and needs to be physically replaced, not something as simple as restarting.  I can't get physical access to the datacentre until 10am that morning, which gave me time to head for the loo (again) shower, change and get up there thanks to a friend of mine who very nicely gave me a lift.  He knows who he is, so I won't mention his name.

I retrieved my old server and got a lift back to my office where the new one was waiting.  Unfortunately, I hadn't had much time recently to work on it, so it needed a lot of work before I could put it online and start using it.  This was nearly finished at around 3pm, when I got another lift (In case you haven't noticed, I don't drive) back to the datacentre with the new server, which took about half an hour to install and make sure was working, before I headed for home and finished setting it up remotely.

Friday.  I actually managed to sleep in for a bit before having to get up and finish fixing bits and pieces on the new server before getting ready to go out.  Yes, even though I was still sick, I was determined to go tho the Weird Al Yankovic concert, which i had waited 2 years for and forked over $80, which is not an amount to be sneezed at.

So, as you can see, I've had a cow of a week and I definitely never want another one like it.

Mood - tired and shagged out after a long sqawk
Music - None at the moment
Edited - Never
1 Comments

2007-03-17 00:16:53
Weirdness is as Weirdness Does
zaphod
I have just returned home after a magnificent show by the one and only Weird Al Yankovic.  I'd love to have heard the last half of the show but being seated only 6 feet from the main speaker stack has left me feeling rather depleted of auditory function.

Probably far too much excitement after a week of being sick and extremely stressed.

Having to build a server at short notice is bad enough.  Having to build a server with software you haven't tested properly can be nightmarish.

Anyhow, I'm off to bed.

Mood - happy
Music - just the ringing in my ears
Edited - Never
1 Comments

2007-03-08 09:51:26
Zen and the art of Systems Administration
zaphod
I know I shouldn't take this seriously but sometimes it's hard not to.  Let me illustrate the problem....

Yesterday, first thing I'm required to 'fix' a problem on a users computer whereby the data file for microsuck lookout (outlook for the slightly less clued up persons) decided it had had enough and corrupted itself.  Normally this would have been all fine and dandy as I know I have backups taken every day.  I go to the backup and find the offending file and try to restore it.  Hmm, zero length file. This is weird.  I take another look and realise that the entire backup for the past 2 months is corrupted as well.  This is really annoying because I have some error checking in place for exactly this reason and it didn't notify my of any problems at all. 

As you may imagine, my stress levels are rising extremely high at this point, made worse by said users ability to increase the stress levels of those around her by a factor of a couple million, just from being on the same planet.

This takes me a good few hours to recover anything at all from this particular problem, when another user comes in with an even more annoying problem.  This time the entire inbox for his email has just disappeared in front of him.  Now I have 2 stressful situations to deal with.

Somehow the whole thing has become a deliberate act of sabotage and completely and utterly my fault (I admit it's partly my fault and partly the fault of microsuck for making such a crappy email client) but that doesn't make it any better for me.

Some people just shouldn't have computers.  I'm tempted to take away their shiny new computer and replace it with some crayons and butchers paper.

Now that I've had my rant, I suddenly feel much better.

Mood - Highly Stressed
Music - Weird Al - Hardware Store
Edited - Never
2 Comments

2007-02-09 19:23:56
Remeniscing
zaphod
Let's test people's memories of 80's Afternoon TV on the ABC (Australia)

Do you remember
Star Blazers
Captain Harlock
Beans Baxter
Monkey
Doctor Who
Ulysses 31
Mysterious Cities of Gold
Inspector Gadget
Danger Mouse
and a host of others.

Can anyone add anything else to the list?

Mood - tired
Music - None
Edited - Never
9 Comments

2007-01-30 09:31:25
Do you ever ....
zaphod
Do you ever just cruise around on http://www.imdb.com trying to find stuff you saw many years ago and can only remember little bits of it?

I just did and found a movie I saw once (drive - 1997 with Mark Dacascos).  Quite a fun flick, especially with reference to a TV show which should be made.  I speak of "Walter - The Einstein Frog"  which sounds like something "The Goodies" could do if they put their minds to it.  Anyone who can come up with Bananaman and make it work can certainly do this with ease.....

Mood - puzzled
Music - Blondie - Atomic
Edited - Never
3 Comments

2007-01-15 09:01:57
Ouch ...
zaphod
I should have known better than to venture out yesterday without body armor, and some really thick mud smeared all over me. 

Sunblock doesn't work!!!!!!!

I'm annoyingly burned on my arms, face and back of my neck, from approximately half an hour in the sun yesterday while riding my bike to work and back.  Annoying because I was wearing quite a lot of sunscreen (30+) and I still got burned.  Time to bring out the long-sleeved shirts and big floppy hats (very inconvenient while wearing a helmet I might add)

Even more annoying was that I've spent nearly 20 hours at work over the weekend to upgrade some hardware in a server and I couldn't get the <expletive deleted> thing to work.  At least my office has air conditioning (in one part of the building anyhow) so I wasn't completely melting.

I still have to find a solution to the failing hardware in the server, so maybe I can scrounge enough parts to make a while new server and just do it that way, rather than trying to replace by parts alone.

Yes, I know I should be working instead of posting in my journal, but what the heck.  Nobody else is even at the office yet.  It's just about 9am on Monday morning and I'm the only one here to answer phones and do work.

Oh well.  Enough waffling for one day, or maybe just enough for the morning.  I may get bored enough to post again this afternoon.

Mood - pained
Music - Bond - Explosive
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2007-01-10 13:32:12
To Do List
zaphod
Just thought I'd put down a list of stuff I still have to finish on the site while I'm feeling energetic.  I doubt I'll ever get time to do all of it, but it's handy to have a list to work from.


  • Fix editing of journal entries
  • Add in badge displays on profiles
  • finish up the image gallery
  • update all member accounts with defaults to prevent problems with forums
  • Change the layout of the site (just a little bit)
  • fix up niggly little problems with site style sheets (IE resize text problem)


Mood - mildly energetic
Music - Kim Carnes - Voyeur
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2007-01-01 17:20:05
New Years Stuff
zaphod
It's new years day 2007.  Sometime in the late afternoon, by the looks of it, around 5pm.  I've only just gotten out of bed after the previous night's festivities.  Definitely time for coffee.

Actually, I've been awake since about 10am but I didn't want to get out of bed becasue I'm in some pain from what appears to be an infection on my foot and it's less painful to keep the foot raised.  I did take some painkillers earlier but they don't seem to be working very well.

Other than that slight problem, I had a reasonably good new-years eve.  Went to a friend's housewarming/new years party and watched my other half get drunk along with several other guests, always an amusing sight.

New years resolutions:
I don't really have any except for some jobs I need to get done before I go back to work officially next week after the first vacation time I've had since 2000.

Main project is to get my new server up and running before the end of the week.  It needs to be ready to go by the end of next week, but it makes so much noise that I can't have it running in my office or it puts everyone else off.  The fans sound like a jet aircraft taking off at short range.

I also have another couple of jobs to finish up before the end of the week, because they have been hanging over my head for several months, and I need to get back some of the valuable space they take up in my flat.

Mood - annoyed
Music - None at the moment
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2006-12-28 13:53:51
Apres Chrsitmas ...
zaphod
I'm back at work for the day, catching up on a few things and pretending to be useful while I download my last week's mail (over 2000).  I have to take down the office server and replace a couple of hard drives before they fail completely, so I'll be offline for a bit as well while I'm waiting for the data to copy over.

On another note, I'm going to spend as much time as possible tomorrow sleeping, because I'm going to a movie marathon which starts at 11:45 pm and finishes up sometime around 5am the following morning.

It should be fun.  Eragon, Deck the Halls, and A Night at the Museum followed by breakfast then home to bed, or maybe scoffing loads of coffee 

Mood - Sugar crashed
Music - Yazoo - Nobody's Diary
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2006-12-26 09:58:19
Christmas
zaphod
Well, Christmas has come and gone for another year.  Food eaten, Liquids drunk, gifts exchanged, relatives/friends passed out on the floor from too much alcohol.

I must admit, I didn't do too badly out of it.  I got a copy of the "Tasty Box" which is good, but leaves me with the dilemma, I already had the first disk, and it's signed by TBT and GG, but the tasty box includes the same disk and I dont' want to break up the set.

Surely this is a connundrum which is difficult to solve.

Maybe I should be a greedy and keep both 

I managed to find something nice for my Fiance, and she seemed happy with it as well, which is a major bonus.

Thinking about getting some breakfast, so I'll leave this for a bit and come back to it later.  Maybe I'll just poast a whole new entry after today's escapades.

Today involves, lunch with friends in the city, going to see Casino Royale after lunch, then going to dinner with the same friends to celebrate a 50th birthday.

All should be good.

Mood - Happy
Music - dodgy 80s music in the background
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2006-12-20 10:26:40
zaphod
I've just made some quick changes to the journals module to see if I can make it work with the new site.  This is a test more than anything.

Anyhow, it's the end of another year. I've been employed for 6 months with a regular paycheck (YAY!!!  ).  I've got cash in my pocket to buy my Fiance a nice Xmas pressie, and maybe even a nice pressie for me.

I hope everyone has a great Christmas and a Happy New Year

Mood -
Music -
Edited - Never
2 Comments

2006-12-07 09:33:14
Weirdness is relative ...
zaphod
I'm feeling rather elated at the moment, especially since I've just managed to book in 3 tickets to see Weird Al Yankovic next year.  I know he isn't anywhere near as good as The Goodies, but it's all I have to look forward to until the  lads wing their way back to Australia, and particularly Adelaide. 

For those who haven't heard of Weird Al, Click Here

Anyone else from Adelaide going to the show?

Mood - amused and mildly happy
Music - Louis Armstrong - What a Wonderful World
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2006-12-04 11:01:24
What a weekend ....
zaphod
I have to say, that was one of the busiest weekends I've had in ages.  Most of it was social so I can't blame work for it

Friday night, we went to the Night Train.  It's a theater restaurant with a focus on comedy, with just a little horror thrown in for good measure.  I might throw a couple of photos up on the site just to show how much fun we had 

After we left the restaurant at about 11:30pm we headed off to the Pancake kitchen (24/7 pancakes & coffee ) to add a little grease to the diets of those in our group who chose to drink too much during the 4 hour drinks package that went with dinner.

Needless to say, we then spent over an hour and a half waiting for a taxi.

On Saturday however, I had to be up at 6am to get ready to go to a friends martial arts grading at 7:30.  Lots of fun, but no chance to sit down all day, and we finished around 3pm.  My legs are still killing me after that one. 

Then on Saturday night, we went out to dinner for SFSA (Formerly the South Australian Dr Who Fan Club) at the Earl of Leicester hotel bistro.  Food was rather nice, and large servings too .

Sunday however was much more sedate.  Ended up doing almost nothing, except the usual chores we save for a sunday.  Laundry, and stuff.  Then we took off for a bike ride to work out the kinks and stopped at blockbuster to see if there was anything worth renting/buying.  We bought a couple of DVD's. including Down Periscope, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Fantastic 4, and Constantine.  I admit, I was disgusted that there were no Goodies DVDs to be had, for rent or sale so I complained to the management, and I bet he's happy I didn't have a black pudding with me.

Mood - Tired but happy
Music - ZZ Top - sharp dressed man
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2006-11-04 10:05:19
Reading material
zaphod
I was on my way into work this morning (yes I know it's Saturday) and spotted a big sign on the side of the road "Garage Sale"  and I'm a sucker for these things, so I check it out.  Turns out it's a fairly largish one, being run by the Rotary club, and to my delight has a rather large stack of books.  After spending 10 minutes or so rummaging around in the rather daunting pile, I come accross an intereting title. 
The Action Hero's Handbook.
The title may not grab you, but how about some of the sections containe therein?
Subtitles like:
How to catch a Great White Shark.
Perform the Vulcan Nerve Pinch.
Track a Fugitive.
How to evade a MiG
and so on and so forth.

The only downside is, printed at the top of the front cover is the line
From the Bestselling author of "The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook".  Now I have another book to hunt for in vain for many years ....

In case anyone else is looking, the authors are
David Borgenicht
and
Joe Borgenicht

Mood - mildy amused
Music - Heart - Barracuda
Edited - Never
1 Comments

2006-10-13 13:13:55
Friday the 13th
zaphod
What a day.  It started casually enough with me getting woken up around 6ish by my Fiance to go have a shower, breakfast, get dressed, not necessarily in that order.  All was going as per usual when I gel halfway down the first street leading away from my flat to my office and I get a flat tyre.  No biggie, I'll just walk it home and fix it before continuing on my merry way to work. 

What a simplistic view that was.

An hour and a half later, I manage to get to work.  Late but not in trouble for it since I'm usually very early and bec asue I called in saying what happened.

What was really annoying was that I put 3 patches on the innertube of my bike, and each time it went flat again as I was putting it on the bike and pumping it up to full pressure.  Very time consuming.  Luckily I managed to dig up a spare tube (yes I got fed up with that one), fitted it and managed to get to work, only half an hour late.  Normally I would be an hour and a half early.

Next, I get to work, read through the mountain of email backing up my system and get stuck in to do some work.  I should be thankful that nearly everything was working the way it should today.  No power surges.  No power failures.  No broken equipment.  No headless corpses. No grim reaper leaning on my desk saysing "I've been waiting for you".  All in all, not too bad really.  Although the day isn't over yet.  I'm putting this down on my journal for the simple reason, I want to make sure it gets up there before the universe folds in on itself.

Actually, it isn't such a bad day out there, unlike the past 2 days it's quite a pleasant temperature.

Maybe I'll feel more motivated to put something else up here later.

Mood - blowing off steam
Music - Corey Hart - Sunglasses at night
Edited - Never
2 Comments

2006-10-01 19:32:53
typo city
zaphod
I just read through my last journal entry.  Man, I must have been really out of it to type so badly.

Normally, my typing isn't too bad, or at the very least I proof-read my stuff before hitting submit.

Oh well, at least people got the general gist of what I was waffling about.

More to come soon

Mood - annoyed at self
Music - Bananarama - Wow (album)
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2006-09-30 17:58:35
News Aplenty
zaphod
It's Saturday evening, and I'm sitting down in front of my computer to throw another entry at my journal.

This particular one has a little bit of good news in it as well.

No I haven't completed Evil Genius (although I am getting close), but as of yesterday I finished my probation period at my new job and I'm happy to say, I'm now a permanent member of staff (yay!!!).

Not only do I now have a regular income, it's more than I was getting working for myself and has a lot more potential for advancement.

Also, I heard from an old (she isn't old, that's just a saying) friend today, and yes, it's our very own Janice, who it's always a pleasure to hear from

Hada small amount of excitment this afternoon after I went into the city, as no sooner did we get there, than I had a call from the alarm monitoring company saying we'd had an alarm go off in the flat.  So it's back home via taxi, only to find that the place is completely intact and nothing was disturbed, except maybe my computer putting out a little more heat than is really necessary.  Might have to dial back the sensitivity on the heat sensors.

Other than that, I've had a reasonably quiet day.  Went back to the city, did some mooching around in Rundle Mall.  Had a really good laugh at all the Paris Hilton wannabes, sipped a rather nice mocha (Gloria Jeans) and munched on a piece of Lemon Cheesecake.

Now that I'm home, I'm about to start organising dinner, probably the leftover pizza from last night, with a garlic bread and maybe some beans on toast.  Yes, I'm feeling rather lazy, and besides what's wrong with leftover pizza?

Anyhow, after digressing a little, back to the whole point of this journal entry which is to say Yes, I finally have a real job.

Mindyou, this also means that I realistically have a little more time on my hands (from not having to work late hours and weekends just to start making ends meet) to actually do some improvements on the site.  Including the dreaded Forum Lockout problem which unfortunately is onyl happening becasue of the overwhelming number of people posting on the forums.

This is not a bad thing, but it does show haw short sighted I was was when I installed the forum part of the site.

More to come soon

Mood - quite happy
Music - Weird Al - Straight Outta Lynwood
Edited - Never
3 Comments

2006-09-17 21:59:39
Evil Genius
zaphod
No, I'm not really, however, it is a very interesting game I've suddenly become addicted to.  I've also spent the past 5 hours solid playing it and my neck is out.  It's also 10pm here and I have a very early start in the morning

Mood - tired
Music - None at the moment
Edited - Never
2 Comments

2006-09-11 12:16:19
It's been a while ......
zaphod
Honestly, I'm still alive

Actually, I've just been getting used to the idea of regular eg: paid) work with a 9-5 job andI'm finally settling down into a routine.  This also means that I'm now finalyl starting to catch up on all the things I've been putting off for lack of time.  Things like, the half dozen websites I'm supposed to have completed (or at least started) the servers I'm supposed to have re-built and the million and one other things I'm supposed to have done and haven't quite gotten around to lately.  Of course, instead of actually doing the things I haven't done, I'm procrastinating and writing in my journal instead

I was watching cable TV over the weekend, and in particular the channel VH1.  This is good becasue they had a marathon top 200 80's ultimate hits (or something like that) where I let my brain drain away through my ears for a few hours of nostalgia and really bad hair (Can anyone say Mullet?!!!!!)

personally I believe that there was far too much showing of michael jackson (I don't think he deserves capital letters) and madonna (ditto for this one).  There should have been more Bananarama and Pet Shop Boys (YaY!!!) but that's my personal opinion.

On the other hand, I was at a friend's wedding on Saturday.  The weather even seemed to brighten up for the occasion.

Mood - Lazy and unmotivated
Music - Underworld - Underneath the radar
Edited - Never
3 Comments

2006-08-19 11:12:03
Men in White
zaphod
An here's me thinking that the Men in White would be comin to take me away (HA HA).  Actually, it is a brit show, a little like Mythbusters, which I have to admit is extremely interesting and entertaining.  Especially Adam.  Anyone who can keep a straight face and proudly exclaim "They're eating their own Poo" (training goldfish reference), and who can come up with likes such as "I reject your reality, and substitute my own" can't be all bad

I can't think straight today, having too much fun digesting eggs, bacon, tomatoes, chippolatas and coffee to think clearly.  Need a nap now

Mood - happy
Music - None at the moment
Edited - Never
2 Comments

2006-07-30 18:30:07
Winking!!
zaphod
No, that's not a typo, but it's also not the whole line either, but it sounded funny, so I'm not changing it.

I went to a chartiy screening of Hoodwinked this afternoon, and saw it for the second time (I'm not admitting anything about the firs time though, as I may incriminate myself and several others).  Two words, Absolutely Fabulous.  I know that is totally the wrong show, but what the heck, it was great.  I laughed myself silly, and so did everyone else who got the jokes. 

Being a reasonably regular movie goer, I tend to want to know what I'm dealing with in a movie, before I shell out hard earned moolah to go see it.  Sometimes it just isn't worth seeing a movie, no matter how cheap it is.  For example, Hoodwinked was superb, well worth the $6 I paid (special Charity Screening) and I would have happily paid $20 for a ticket to see this one, maybe even $30 (Gold Class Cinemas) but there are plenty of other movies I had free tickets, and still felt ripped off.  Take my all time favourite bagging movie, Gangs of New York.  I love to bag this movie because it was so terrible.  It went for nearly 3 hours and I very nearly demanded compesation for that lost time which I'll never get back, I wanted compensation for the trauma and distress of actually sitting through it.  The strange thing was, there isn't anything I could point at in the movies and say "this is utter shite" becasue overall the movie probably wasn't that bad.  The overall effect it had on me was to make me hate it.

I've come to the conclusion that it isn't wether a movie is any good, or good acting, directing, special effects, or whatever that make a good movie, it's how you feel after watching it that makes a good movie.

After Hoodwinked, I felt like I was floating on air, had pains in my sides from laughing so much, and I was deaf in my left ear for about half an hour (my wonderful Fiance also found them ovie hillariously funny and procceded to laugh loudly in my ear most ofthe session).

However, quite the opposite effect was noticed after watching Gangs of New York.  I walked out of the cinema thinking that I'd just wasted my entire life and should slit my wrists and just get it over with.  It was really that bad.

Yes, I'm feeling quite amused and happy at the moment, and I have a huge smile on my face while I critically bag GoNY, because I think of how well it could have been done if it was animated and had Patrick Warburton doing the voices. 

I'm probably waffling at this point, but I think it needs to be said.  Go see Hoodwinked when it gets released, and enjoy yourself.

Mood - Jovial/Amused
Music - Weird Al Yankovic - You're pitiful
Edited - Never
5 Comments

2006-07-24 02:06:05
Stuffed!!!!
zaphod
Yup, I'm completelystuffed, to the point where it probably isn't worth my time ot go to bed.  I've been sitting in front of my computer, frantically trying to get soemthing working (which I must admit that I broke) and now that it's working, and it's 2am, I'm contemplating just getting on with some other stuff before I have to get u pin 4 hours to go to work.

I thought I'd put these late nights behind me when I started my new job, bu alas, t'werent meant to be..

Mood - tired
Music - dodgy 80s music in the background
Edited - Never
2 Comments

2006-07-16 21:27:28
Sick Man Blues!!!
zaphod
Yup, I'm out of it for a few days.  Feeling pretty crap overall, and wishing I didn't have to go to work tomorrow.

Actually, I'm feeling a little better than I was yesterday and Friday, but I'm hoping that there's a flash flood or some other reason that I can stay home instead of going to work.  Don't get me wrong, I am actually enjoying my new job, but I'm still recovering from overworking myself to death in my last job.  At least I didn't have to work 18 hour days this weekend, in fact, I didnt' do any work at all this weekend, although I did go out last night (Dr. Who Fan Club Meeting) and had dinner with a few mates, but overall, I stayed at home and did absolutely nothing.

Actually, I didn't do absolutely nothing, I did managed to get a few games of "Command & Conquer" in while relaxing.  To me that is a great way to relax, especially since I'm such a big fan of the whole series of games, and the fact that my Fiance managed to get all of them on one DVD was fantastic.  Even better was that she got it for %20 off retail as well.

Another thing is, now that I actually have a regular income (albeit not a very large one) the timing couldn't be better for having my main computer die a horrible and gruesome death at the hands of a failed mainboard.  Admittedly, another couple of weeks later would have been better as I now have to scrimp and save to cover bills as well as buy new mainboard, CPU, RAM, etc to build another computer.

I suppose, I should really be getting some sleep, need my strength for tomorrow, especially if the weather is as nasty as it has been most of the weekend (cold, wet and windy) because I only have my pushbike to get around, and it tends to leak a bit

Mood - kinda sick
Music - Run DMC - Walk this way
Edited - Never
2 Comments

2006-07-07 08:58:26
The end of week one
zaphod
I have now been at my new job for a whole week.  Well, almost a whole week, it's Friday morning.

So far my blood pressure has dropped, my stress levels have gone down, my enthusiasm is up and it's Friday so the weekend starts the second I get out of here this afternoon.

Once I get the preliminaries out of the way over the next couple of weeks, I'll see how much time I can spend on the site making the long promised updates.

Mood - jovial
Music - Toto Coelo - I eat cannibals
Edited - Never
3 Comments

2006-06-26 13:05:15
Vague good news
zaphod
This morning, I was told by one of my clients that they'd like me to work for them full-time.  I've accepted this and as of next week, I'll be happily employed at a weekly wage (instead of whenever my clients get around to paying me)

This does not mean that I will be letting the site go, but it does mean I'll actually have some time to spend on it, so beware of upgrades, coming soon.

Mood - relieved & happy
Music - Opportunities - Pet Shop Boys
Edited - Never
3 Comments

2006-06-21 03:31:31
late night
zaphod
IT's somewhere around 3:30am on a wednesday and I'm still at work.  That <expletive deleted> project has gotten so far out of hand it isn't funny.  The prototype has to be in Brisbane tthis afternoon, ready for a demonstration tomrrow morning (thursday).  Consequently, this means I've been awake nearly 24 hours, am in dessperate need of some semblance of sleep and running on a pure caffeine rush, and on the downward spiral.

Right at this moment, there's very little I wouldn't give for a decent night's sleep.

Mood - tired beyond exhaustion
Music - what music?
Edited - Never
1 Comments

2006-06-12 21:40:21
Temperature related
zaphod
Ever heard the expression "It's cold enough to freeze the walls off a grass humpy"?  Well thats' what it's been like the past week here.  Almost like winter decided to show up early and hang around a bit. 

Actually, it's nice and warm in my flat at the moment, but that's only because we did laundry today and it needed to be dried (tumble dryer) which warmed the place up nicely.  Saves putting on the heater.

We also scored an electric blanket, courtesy of my Fiance's mother (it was supposed to be faulty my fiance just plugged it in properly and it worked fine).  That's going to make this winter just a little more bearable.  Speaking of bears, I muct be part one, becasue all I want to do in winter (or any cold weather for that matter) is sleep.  I'm happy to go to sleep at night and wake up in three months feeling a little hungry, and deperate for a potty break.

Surely this attitude towards cold isn't just me.

Mood - no mood - just cold
Music - You're pitiful - Weird Al Yankovic
Edited - Never
2 Comments

2006-05-26 13:37:17
Keeping up with the others
zaphod
I've just finished reading jodievdw's journal about previous work experience, and thought I'd throw a little more info about my background here as well.

Not very original I know, but what the heck, I'm bored, it's Friday afternoon, I'm totally unmotivated to do any kind of actual work and I haven't done an entry for a while.

Now, where to begin....

My very first job was collecting empty beer cans around the township of Alice Springs at the tender age of 9 (or thereabouts).  This worked ok for a couple of years, but then my parents decided to move back to South Australia, where I didn't have much in the way of marketable skills, until we moved again (about 10 minutes further away from the last place) and ended up helping out on a farm.  Plenty to do, mainly involving sheep (and before oyu ask, I'm in Australia, not New Zealand ).  Most of the jobs involving sheep are not exactly pleasant for me, or the sheep involved, thinge like Mulesing (trimming a layer of skin off the back legs to prevent flystrike), tailing (cutting off the tail for the same reason), shearing (pretty obvious), drenching (like giving a cat a pille, only harder), and so forth.  Hard work but the pay isn't bad when you get it.

That worked ok, until after I left High School for the first time.  I've worked for a lazer skirmish place (Zone 3 in Whyalla), Fujitsu Bell-Atlantic, The Attourney General's Dept. (Crime Prevention Unit), an Antenna Installer in Narracorte, and various IT related jobs before becoming self-employed in the field of web-design and network support.  There's a few other things in there that I haven't bothered to mention since they were very short term (a couple of days here and there).

I've bored myself again, time to stop.  Maybe I'll elaborate on some of this stuff in another entry.

Mood - Bored
Music - Skyhooks - Jukebox in Siberia
Edited - Never
2 Comments

2006-04-30 10:25:52
Sick Man Blues....
zaphod
Yup, I've caught the dreaded lurgie.  I've been sniffing snd coughing along with lots of aches and pains, and I'm really wishing that the"Elixir" from "The Goodies Travelling Medicine Show" was real and I had some.

There's nothing worse than being fit and healthy most of the time and then something as small and annoying as the Flu can knock you around like this.  It isn't that I'm not physically up to doing anything, it's that my brain tells my body that it's sick and can't do anything.

I suppose it could be worse, I could have ebola or something I could really complain about, but I just felt like having a good old-fashoined whinge.

Incidentally, since I work with computers all the time anyhow, it hasn't stopped me from doing actual work, since I have a better internet connection at home than I do at work, it's actually easier for me to work at home, except for the fact that I have too many other distractions here (a couple thousand books, a TV, games, fridge containing food, etc).

I just need to discipline myself to do work when I'm on my computer instead of trolling around the net looking for interesting stuff to waste my time.

Actually, I'm really waiting for my brother to turn up with the trailer so I can move my small bookshels out of here, and move in the large one.  At least the large one managed to fit most of my books on it, instead of less than half.

I do have quite a collection, but mostly it's older sci-fi and a few other odds and sods.

I have a first edition hardcover by Paul French (Isaac Asimov's nom de plume)  which I'm rather proud of.

Mood - Sick
Music - None
Edited - Never
6 Comments

2006-04-19 21:32:17
Toys for Boys
zaphod
I've just been playing around with a friend's PDA, which happens ot have a GPS unit built in.  Could be quite a bit fo fun, but you need to be outside and it's too cold/wet/miserable out there to bother.

I'm actually contemplating buying it off him, although it will probably take me a while to get the cash together.

Unfortunately, I can't make it talk to my notebook (Apple Powerbook-G4 for those who want to know) so it's really useless to me except as a toy unless I can make it play nice with my notebook.

On a slightly different note, I think it's high time I had an early night

Mood - sleepy
Music - Bette Midler - Otto Titsling
Edited - Never
8 Comments

2006-04-13 21:24:31
I'm baaaack!
zaphod
After being on hiatus, I've finally decided to catch up on all the stuff I've been too slack (read busy) to be doing for the past 3 weeks.

Firstly, I've been house sitting for my future-in-laws, who have a place out in the sticks (Hope Valley) where public transport sucks and there's no broadband.  Heck there was no internet of any kind....for 3 whole weeks!!!!!!!    AAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!

I'm finally catching up on the literally thousands of emails I've had backing up and haven't read/looked at/deleted/etc.

I'm massively behind in work, but what else is new.  I think I'm another couple of years behind thanks to that hiatus, which wasn't really a hiatus, it was just so tedious getting to and from work that by the time I got there and started, it was time to head back.

This week has been a real pain in the behind as well.  Firstly, on Monday my mobile phone died and I had to get another one ($200 later).  My backpack which I must admit is getting a bit long in the tooth decided to break the zip on the main compartment and drop my laptop & assorted other items on the ground, necessitating me getting a new backpack (a further $80 later) and I'm worried about what's next, as my income isn't really enough to cover all of it and I've had to borrow the cash from my Fiance, but at least she knows she will get it back soon enough, I just hate doing it.

Incidentally, at least my new phone has a camera and bluetooth and stuff, so it's probably worth the upgrade, maybe I'll post some pics......

Mood - Happy to be Home
Music - Yazoo - Dont Go
Edited - Never
3 Comments

2006-03-28 21:35:30
Addictions......
zaphod
You know you are addiceted to something when you start going crazy in attempts to obtain whatever it is.  In my case, it's internet access.  I'm technically on holidays at the moment, house sitting for my in-laws-to-be.  Thye have a phone line which is almost too noisy to use, no broadband (apparnetly it's something that goes around your hat here) and I'm going stir-crazy.  Just thinking about checking my email makes me cringe, especially sicne I get several hundred emails per day.

I'm also missing my espresso machine.  There is a drip filter here, but it just isn't the same.

At least I have my laptop, and part of my MP3 collection, and a largish stack of DVD's, including my Goodies ones.

It's my fiance's birthday tomorrow (in about an hour and a half) so if she's still awake, I'll give her her pressie then.  I got her some Haighs chocolate, a small plush frog, a DVD (Batman Begins) and an MP3 player.  Hopefully she doesn't attempt to read my journal before tomorrow

Mood - desperately seeking caffeine
Music - Weird Al Yankovic - dare to be stupid
Edited - Never
2 Comments

2006-03-15 12:52:51
Happy birfdy to me
zaphod
Yup.  Today is my birthday, and I'm officially 21 with 12 years experience

I've just finished lunch, I'm feeling very unmotivated and I'm going home early.  Actually, I might be going home early, but that's just to drop the bike off, and get changed since I'm going to a martial arts training session (no, not Ecky Thump) and a little on-site work for a school.  Lots of fun, frivolity and fractured bones

At least I should be able to get home reasonably early tonight and get in some serious sleep.

Mood - Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy
Music - Kim Carnes - Crazy in the Night
Edited - Never
4 Comments

2006-03-14 17:55:29
I'm bored
zaphod
There's a phrase to strike terror into the hearts of anyone from my generation.  Surely, I'm not the only one to utter than seemingly insignificant phrase, only to be told to do some really boring job by one parent or the other.

Yes, I'm bored, but it's a good kind of bored, as in I don't feel like doing anything that involves my participation.  I am tired, unmotivated and essentially bored. I'll probably eat some food (leftover lasagne) and hit the hay early.

Mood - Bored
Music - None
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2006-03-03 12:50:04
Looking Up
zaphod
Things are looking up the past couple of days. 

I got my new bike under my insurance, but I'm still out $100 for the excess, but at least I'm mobile again.

Some of my older clients are calling up asking to have work done (paid), things in general are running smoothly and I'm getting work done.

Too bad that will all be over in just over a week.  The slavedriver who was getting me to do the R&D on the black box (mentioned in previous entries) will be back on deck Monday week and I'll have to tolerate his BS again.

At least I have another week to clear some of the real work on my plate.

Mood - De-stressed
Music - Pet Shop Boys - Its a Sin
Edited - Never
2 Comments

2006-02-23 21:51:48
the dreaded threes
zaphod
You all know how bad things happen in threes?  Well, they do, and I'm really dreading the third one. 

First, the prototype I've been putting together for a multi-million dollar tender has failed and I'm too late to fix it and send it where it needs to go.

Secondly, my bike was stolen this morning from behind my office where I had it locked up. 

I'm really worried about what the third thing is going to be.....

Mood - Extremely cheesed off
Music - none- too cheesed off
Edited - Never
3 Comments

2006-02-13 23:24:30
Still Slacking off
zaphod
Yup, I'm writing another entry in my journal instead of working on this <expletive deleted> prototype, but I really needed a break.

I'ts somewhere around 11pm on a monday night, when I should be sleeping, but instead I'm working (that's dedication for ya).  I'm banging my head against a brick wall and I have less than 24 hours to finish all the assorted problems associated with this POS.

Incidentally, I fully intend to embarass my Fiance by stashing her her V-day pressie on the bedside table next to her and watching the look on her face when she gets up in the morning.  Mind you, I'll probably be only just getting to bed about that time, and I won't be able to enjoy it as much as I normally would.

I got her yet another teddy bear with chocolate attached (courtesy of Haigs), so she should enjoy it.

Oh well, back to the howling pack.....

Mood - Beyond Stressed
Music - Cliff Richard & Young ones - Livin Doll
Edited - Never
3 Comments

2006-02-09 09:21:34
Kept in the dark....
zaphod
What an annoying turn of events last night.  I was happily working on the aforementioned project (R&D video stuff)  when just as I'm making some serious headway, we have a power failure.

Normally I would not have minded too much, but since I have a very rapidly approachind deadline to have this thing completed, something like this annoys the crap out of me.

What I don't understand is why 3 surrounding suburbs were blacked out.  It isn't like it was a high demand time, although I suspect that it is a problem that could have been prevented.  The first thing that could have been done to prevent it, is to not have privatised it a few years back.  Ever since ETSA was sold off into the private sector, levels of service have gone down, and prices have skyrocketed.  In the last 5 years, my electricity bill has gone from less than $50 per quarter, to over $200.  The next one will probably be somewhere around the $500+ mark.  Time to install that portable nuclear generator I've been dreaming of......

The other thing that annoys me is that now ETSA is privately owned, the powers that be couldn't give a toss about equipment maintenance, or even bothering to employ people who know what they are doing.

The whole thing is beyond a joke, and unfrotunately nobody is going to do a damned thing about it.

Mood - Brassed Off
Music - Weird Al Yankovic - Ode to a Superhero
Edited - Never
4 Comments

2006-02-05 11:00:13
home renovators....
zaphod
There's nothing like coming home after a pleasant evening out to hear some moron bashing away upstairs with a hammer and a nailgun, from at least midnight until about 6am this morning.  Unfortunately I was too lazy (stuffed) to go outside and cut the power to the upstairs flat (apartment).  Some people have no concern for others.

Realistically, they should at least have warned us what they were going to be doing, or even better, actually doen it during the day, rather than all <expletive deleted> night.

Personally, I'd have preferred to take the nailgun to his head, or other parts of his anatomy.  At least then I would have got some sleep.

Mood - tired & annoyed
Music - none
Edited - Never
4 Comments

2006-01-26 14:58:04
Thursday I've got Saturday on my mind....
zaphod
It's Thursday , I could never get the hang of thursdays.  Even though today is a public holiday (Australia Day for those who don't know) and I'm not actually at work, I'm still working anyway.

I spent until 2am this morning on-site for one job and most of that was waiting for someone else to finish what they were doing, so we could get on with the rest of it.

It's also rather hot again today, and slightly overcast too, so it's quite humid and horrible.

Maybe it's worth taking the day off and heading for the beach.....

Mood - hot & bothered
Music - None
Edited - Never
1 Comments

2006-01-20 14:40:47
Back to work
zaphod
Ho Hum, I'm back at work after my short hiatus of being sickat home for a week.  Did anyone miss me?

Actually, sick as I was, the rest must have done me some good becasue I'm feeling like I'm getting on top of things now.  I'm only 10 years behind in work, as opposed to 12 that I thought I was.

Mood - Spaced out
Music - Genesis - I can't dance
Edited - Never
4 Comments

2005-12-26 16:22:24
Not so Happy Christmas
zaphod
Actually, for me it was a great Christmas until Yesterday when I went to my parent's place for Dinner.  The Cat was looking a bit grotty so we gave him a bath. Unfortunately, unfer all the grot, we could see some rather nasty abces' (sp?) around his jaw, and it was pretty obvious the little guy was in pain.

We managed to get some pet antiseptic on it, but it was actually worse today.  We managed to get a vet to see him today, but when we took him, the vet didn't think much of his chances, and Mum said that he'd suffered enough and to go ahead and put him to sleep.

He was already a real mess, and Mum couldn't hold him down so my Dad and I had to do it.  The vet was really quite gentle about it, however he still had to sedate the cat before he could give the other injection.

It isn't the sort of thing you want to have happen at any time, but it seems to hit harder at this time of year.

At least he isn't suffering anymore.

Mood - A bit upset
Music - None
Edited - Never
9 Comments

2005-12-23 12:08:15
My Mind is Going, I can Feel It....
zaphod
I firmly believe that my brain has leaked out of my ears, and dribbled down my shoulders, making a complete mess of my shirt.

I've just been listening to Rolf Harris doing a Reggae version of Wild Thing.

I went on a wild rampage of finding every version of Wild Thing I could get my hands on, and it was rather surprising how many there were,

The Goodies
The Animals
Jjimi Hendrix
Jjoan Jett
The Kinks
Kermit the Frog & Animal
Sam Kinison
Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty
Suzi Quatro
T-Rex
The Troggs
ZZ Top

And there's probably more.  Of course, the definitive version is naturally, The Goodies, who could resist TBT showing off his sock suspenders

Mood - Alarmed
Music - Wild thing (multiple versions)
Edited - Never
5 Comments

2005-12-14 11:45:00
zaphod
Just thought I'd upload a couple of pics from after the Adelaide Goodies Show, since I've been very slack and haven't done it yet, I thought it was high time I did.

Here's one of Tim, Graeme and lil' ol' me


And one of a friend of Tim, Tammy and myself, taken by our very own Janice


and lastly, another one of a friend of mine, James with TBT & GG


I'll put up more later, once I get the personal galleries working on the site.

Mood - Tired and stressed
Music - Paula Abdul - Opposites Attract
Edited - 2005-12-14 11:45:50
9 Comments

2005-12-13 18:24:24
Picnicing in the park
zaphod
Had a lovely day on Sunday.  Went for a picnic in the botanic park with some friends, ate nice food, drank nice apple juice (I was the designated decoy for the event, so no booze for me, even if I did drink) and relaxed in the shade of a morton bay fig tree.  There was much fun, frivolity and friendliness in effect and considerable sunburns all around since it was so bleedin hot.

Mood - Relaxed
Music - Gregorian - MAsters of Chant
Edited - Never
3 Comments

2005-12-08 10:29:28
Timezone Trauma
zaphod
I've finally gotten some help on this project I've been slaving over for over a year now, and it turns out he's on the opposite side of the world, so there's this time difference problem.  Not only am I net seeing this person face-to-face, but I'm having to wait around on IRC for hours not knowing what time he's going to turn up.

At least he seems to know what he's doing, which is more than I can say about myself on this....

Mood - getting fed up
Music - Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2005-12-05 11:41:19
weekend stuff
zaphod
Saturday night was great fun.  Went out with a bunch of friends for dinner and conversation. 

The only drawback to the night was all the cigarette smoke accumulating in the pub we went to.  The really annoying thing about it is I get migraines from exposure to cigarette smoke after a while, so I ended up going outside for a bit and breathing that fresh smog you get near a main road

Had a phone call from Janice saying she couldn't make it becasue she wasn't feeling well, so I hope she's feeling better now.  Hayfever is a real downer on this nice weather we've been having.

On a completely different note, I'm at work, bashing my head against a brick wall, trying to troubleshoot a project I'm developing, and having nothing but trouble getting it right.

What I wouldn't give for proper documentation, and a guiding light.  A couple of miracles and a holiday wouldn't go astray either.....

Mood - tired & frustrated
Music - Rolf Harris - I touch myself
Edited - Never
5 Comments

2005-11-26 07:41:16
Apres Goodies
zaphod
What can I say.  I'm still shell-shockled at seeing the Goodies Show last night.  My sides and face still hurt from laughing so hard. 

Unfortunately, due to running slightly overtime, the guys didn't come out to see the fans after the first show of the evening, but when they made their appearance after the second show, it was worth the wait.

I really hope they liked the pressies Tammy & Myself got for them.

More later when I come back to earth....

Mood - Bouncy & Happy
Music - Wild Thing - Goody version
Edited - Never
10 Comments

2005-11-25 07:54:37
It's G-Day
zaphod
Yup, today is the day I get to see that Superchaps 3 (well, 2 really)

I'm off to do a little shopping first then I'm heading down to Glenelg for a spot of lunch at Wildfire (all you can eat buffet) which hopefully some other Goody fans will meet me for.  If not, then I'll be seeing them at the signing at Dymocks.

Hope to see lots of people there.

Mood - Excited
Music - Last Chance Dance
Edited - Never
1 Comments

2005-11-18 16:00:05
Friday I've got Friday on my mind....
zaphod
It's Friday, but not the one I'm waiting for.  I'm starting to get really excited about next Friday (the 25th of November) when I not only get a day off, but I also get to see "The Goodies" not once, but twice in one day.  I'm going to the signing in the afternoon at Dymocks, and I'm going to the 7pm show as well.

Oh well, enough procrastinating, time to get back to work so I can afford the day off next week

Mood - Excitement building....
Music - Adam & the Ants - Puss n boots
Edited - Never
5 Comments

2005-10-28 08:25:14
2001 & a bit....
zaphod
I've just finished re-reading the entire 2001 series.  Do you have any idea how boring most of it is?  Sure there's some interesting stuff, especially in the first and last books (yes, there's 4 of them now, where will it ever end....) but overall, I'm not entirely thrilled by it.  On the other hand, I'm also now re-reading Footfall (Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle)  which I am finding quite riveting.

I must admit, that I have read some real trash in my time, plenty of pulp as well.  Everything from Douglas to John Wyndham, and then some.

My personal favourite authors are Douglas Adams, Robert Heinlein, HG Wells, and Isaac Asimov.  With a few interspersed individual works from some other authors.  A few gems from E.E. Smith and the occasional bit from A.C. Clarke.

As you can imagine, I read a lot.  I currently have about 500 Books on my shelf at home, all but 3 I've read, several more than once.  Surely you know what I mean, you read something a couple of years ago, you can remember one scene from it but forget the context that scene was in, so you read it again, only to find that it wasn't the same as you remembered it to be.

Which leads me to my main problem.  I've read several books when I was in high school (yeah, I know, it's totally unheard of, a high school student who can read) but I've mixed up what I remember a book being like, and what it is like when I get hold of it again.  My guess is that my memory is failing me, especially since I'm remembering very clearly certain sequences from a book, and when I go to re-read it, these sequences aren't there.

Needless to say, this can be quite disconcerting.

Mood - Dazed & Confused
Music - Europe - The Final Countdown
Edited - Never
6 Comments

2005-10-19 08:07:54
It's Raining, It's pouring....
zaphod
I'm beginning to suspect that winter has finally arrived in Adelaide.  It's cold(ish), wet(ish) and rather unpleasant to be outside. 

To honor the occasion I'm not going to work, unless the rain lets off.  Considering I ride a pushbike I would rather not arrive to work looking like the proverbial drowned rat. 

At least I can do some work from home, and it's probably a good thing too since I have less distractions at home.  There's too many people wandering in & out at work and I don't get anything done.

Maybe I can scrounge soem time to work on the site today?  That would be good since I don't get to mess with it at work and I'm usually too tired when I get home to do much.

Anyhow, I can hear breakfast calling me, or is it my stomach?

Mood - Morose
Music - Jo Jo Zepp - Taxi Mary
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2005-10-07 13:41:07
Spam!!!
zaphod
Don't you just love being told that you need drugs to function properly?  Or about how cool a new (fake) rolex would make you appear to be?  Or how about the huge number of loose women available in your area? 

My solution is to implement a 1-click  spam deterrent.  1 click on the firing button of an ICBM should do the trick nicely.

Personally, I'd rather be mugged than Spammed.  At least I can claim my insurance for a mugging.

Anyone else feel this way? or is it just me?

Mood - Annoyed
Music - None
Edited - Never
6 Comments

2005-09-23 10:01:52
Stuff Happens
zaphod
Well, it's the end of yet another week.  This one has been very strange in that I haven't been to work all week.  Not much point really when I had better internet access at home and what I do relies on me having reasonable internet access.

Incidentally, the tickets for the New "Still Alive on Stage" tour arrived yesterday, so I'm happy.

I decided to put an appearance in at work today to grab some stuff for the weekend, but since I'm trying to share a single 56k modem with half a dozen other people, I might just leave very early and go home.  At least I won't have to wait an hour for a web page to download.

Mood - relaxed & happy
Music - ZZ Top - Sharp Dressed Man
Edited - Never
2 Comments

2005-09-08 09:08:02
Party on dudes!!!!
zaphod
This saturday (the 10th September) a bunch of mates and myself are hitting the Royal Adelaide Show (dunno why it's Royal, but that's what they call it) for fun, frivolity and other things beginning with F.  Anyone in the Adelaide area wishing to join in the fetivities (and additional mayhem) will be most welcome.  Maybe we can start some kind of petition about bringing "The Goodies" here by holding large numbers of people hostage .....

Mood - happy happy, joy joy
Music - Always look on the bright side of life (MP)
Edited - Never
5 Comments

2005-08-22 23:08:15
Depressing Stuff
zaphod
It always amazes me that modern families only get together for weddings & funerals.  This struck me particularly today as we laid my Grandfather to rest after his 81 year innings.

Don't misunderstand me, I'm not going to harp on about how sad I am that he's gone, or how much we will all miss him, that isn't really the point of what I'm trying to say.  The point is, that I saw relatives I haven't seen in nearly 20 years, and it took the death of a loved one to bring us back together, and will probably be another 20 years before I see them again.

It's something we should be doing while we are all in the land of the living, not when our numbers are diminishing.

Maybe I'm feeling guilty that I haven't made the effort to see these people, or maybe it's the I think that they should have made the effort to see me.  Who knows? Its just one of those things that can't really be answered, at least not by me. 

What I do know is that it was fascinating to see my younger cousins who I used to play with when I was much younger, all grown up with children of their own.  Do I really have the right to intrude on their lives?  Maybe I should just see them at weddings & funerals?  Maybe I should go to bed because it's late and I'm totally exhausted after a long day?  or maybe I should take up drinking again

Probably not, but it's a nice thought.

Sleep is probably what I need right now, especially since I need to get up early for work tomorrow.

Mood - melancholy
Music - None
Edited - Never
3 Comments

2005-08-15 14:36:20
Dink Dink
zaphod
I was watching my new DVD of Spaceballs last night (which Tammy bought for me, isn't she lovely) and noticed among the special features, a 'dink' audio commentary and 'dink' subtitles.  Now being the masochist that I am, I turned both of these settings on, and waited for my brain to go numb.  Needless to say, this didn't take very dink.

Actually, I dink to dink, that dink think dink going slightly dink.....

Mood - Dink
Music - Dink Dink & the Dinks
Edited - Never
6 Comments

2005-07-28 08:46:00
Slacking Off...
zaphod
I should be working (since when am I not supposed to be working) but I've had enough.  IT's 8:30 in the morning, and I've been at work around an hour already.  I've read all my email, and responded to a couple of the work related ones, and shortly I'll get to the others that are so pressing on my attention.

Actually, things are starting to settle down again into more of a routine, so at least I'm not expecting anything too far out of the ordinary to crop up at the last minute and bite me in the nether regions.....

I've just worked out why I feel so lethargic this morning.  Too much blood in my caffeine supply.  Or maybe sugar. 

At least I managed to finish updating the spam/virus filters at the school I do some casual work for last night, even if it did take updating the entire system to do it, and I didn't get home until after 10pm last night.  Maybe that's why I feel so tired.  Oh well, time for coffee.  Maybe I'll try and write something else a bit later.

Mood - slack and uninterested
Music - Men at Work - Who can it be now
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2005-07-16 08:59:08
Saturday At last....
zaphod
It's that time of week, when I staggewr out of bed at the ungodly hour of around 8:00 am, take a quick look out the window and the word Yellow crosses my mind looking for something to connect with.....

Actually, it's cold, wt and raining outside, and I'm glad that Tammy has decided against going to the markets this morning.  Our normal routine involves going to the central markets in Adelaide for supplies for the coming week.  Lunch meats, cheeses, smallgoods, that kind of thing. 

I'm seriously contemplating going back to bed, but my stomach is telling me that it needs food and caffeine.

Yup, definitely too much blood in my caffeine supply.

Back later.

Mood - Relaxed but hungry
Music - raindrops keep falling on my head....
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2005-06-30 08:21:23
Ouch!
zaphod
Well, I've come to the conclusion that I'm getting old.  I was at my weekly Martial (not Marital) arts class last night when we had a change of pace and did a little rock climbing. 

Unfortunately for me, I managed to embarass myself by telling the instructor that I've done this before.  Mind you it was over 15 years ago and I've gotten considerably heavier and rounder since then.  I managed to survive the ordeal with only a sprained elbow and a pulled calf muscle.

At least I didn't do any permanaent damage to myself (or anyone else for that matter) and I'll try and keep my big mouth shut next time

Went to see Madagascar the other night with my Fiance and we were supposed to meet up with another group of friends who decided at the last minute to see BAtman Begins instead.  Personally, I think they got the raw end of the deal.  Madagascar was brilliant.  My only complaint is that I still have that stupid song going through my head (I like to move it, move it!) nearly 3 days later.  Its almost as bad as the "So Long And Thanks For All The Fish!" song from H2G2.  Anyhow, if you want a good no-brainer kind of fun movie, Madagascar is a good one to see.

Heading off to the Pub on Saturday for my monthly social outing.  For those interested we will be at the Buckingham Arms hotel (Adelaidians should know where it is) around 6 for dinner, then on to a nice cafe somewhere for some form of caffinated beverage and sugared confectionary.

Mood - Slightly Pained
Music - Neils Heavy Concept Album
Edited - Never
6 Comments

2005-06-17 12:37:54
Another week ends...
zaphod
I can't believe it.  I'm almost up to date with work, I've spent the past 3 days onsite rebuilding a network for a client who desperately needed a network upgrade, and I'll be back there on Monday, bright and early to finish it up.  After that, I don't have anything urgent in the pipeline, so I might take it easy for a couple of days.

Tomorrow, I'm planning to sleep in, get up around lunch time, then get ready to go to the SFSA Meeting (Doctor Who Fan Club) where I believe we are checking out some Batman stuff (plus the new Dr who episode screening on the night) in preparation for the movie next weekend.  Anyone else in Adelaide is welcome to join us on Saturday the 25th of June at Tea Tree Plaza Megaplex for copious quantities of Batman entertainment.  Afterwards, most likely some form of food/caffinated beverage may be consumed.....

Also, if anyone else is interested in attending the SFSA meeting with me tomorrow (Saturday 18th June) you are most welcome.

Mood - Kinda Relaxed
Music - The Voice of Enigma - Enigma
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2005-06-09 11:38:26
If it ain't broke...
zaphod
I should have known better than to try and upgrade a working system, now its borked (techinical term) and I have to try and fix it. 

What I don't understand is if LDAP is so wonderful, why do they have to make it so (expletive deleted) difficult to get set up.  Actually, I guess the fault is all mine anyhow, simply because I didn't bother doing all the research, just the minimum to actually understand what the acronym means and pretend I know what I'm talking about.

At least there's a lot of websites devoted to producing large quantities of barely digestible information about this topic.

One of these days I need to go through all the things I don't know very well and really learn them.  I'll start with LDAP and work my way up to experimental brain surgery on small animals (BBC Execs), but until then, I continue with the hard slog of plodding along aimlessley like I tend to do anyway.  Maybe I just need motivation, or at least a vacation of some description.

Mood - Frustrated
Music - Bananarama - WOW
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2005-05-25 18:59:18
Smarter than the average bear...
zaphod
Actually, today has nothing to do with bears, I just had that stupid phrase running through my mind all day.  Must be one of those weird flashbacks that people et when they come off drugs.

What is (or rather, isn't) happening tonight is that I'm not onsite as I normally am on a Wednesday night.  Normally at this time I'm consuming pizza with a colleague who works at a private school here in Adelaide, and where I go on Wednesday evenings for a martial arts training course, pizza consumption and development work on an accounting system to keep track of student & staff internet usage.  Sounds boring, and in all honesty, it is boring.  However it does have the potential to make a little extra money for me if I can get anyone else interested in it.  So if anyone readin this has a need to see what everyone else on their network is doing on the internet, feel free to contact me.  Be warned it isn't for the faint of heart or the thin of wallet.

Friday night should be fun this week though.  I'm planning ot go and see the new Star Wars movie with some friends.  I'm expecting the movie to be crap, but we are only going to make fun of it and chuck popcorn at the screen.

Mood - Veggin out
Music - Bob Seger - Old time Rock 'n' Roll
Edited - Never
4 Comments

2005-05-19 21:13:18
If it wasn't boring and hard, it wouldn't be work...
zaphod
It's 9pm on a thursday evening, and I'm working.  How surprising

Actually, it isn't too bad this time, because I actually have some idea of what I'm doing now.  I've been desperately trying to teach myself C (a programming language) for the past couple of months, and it's finally starting to click into place.  The reason I'm desperately trying to teach myself is that I'm in the middle of a project that is waaaaaay overdue, and requires more speed than I can get out of it with my usual choice of programming language (Perl).  So here's me, bumbling my way through what looks (and for all intents and purposes) like complete gibberish.  It makes about as much sense as Bill on a Lemon Sherbert Trip, but finally, a faint ray of order comes from the mountain of chaos.

Needless to say, I got desperate enough to make a call to an aquaintance of mine who is heavily into software development and thi project would be right up his alley too.  I called his mobile number only to find out that it was 6am in Norway (don't ask what he was doing there) and he wasn't at home (in my timezone) at all.  Needless to say, I still feel rather embarassed about the whole thing, but he was amicable enough about it.  Too bad he's too far away to help me on this project, and he won't be back until Monday.  Oh well, looks like I'm on my own, and this really needs to be finished by the weekend.

Oh well, enough procrastinating, and time to get back to work.

Mood - Reasonably Relaxed
Music - Skyhooks - Women in uniform
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2005-05-14 23:22:14
Nothing to see here .....
zaphod
For a change I did absolutely no work at all today.  I got up, had breakfast, got on my bike anmd went into town for a little shopping.  Went to the central markets (Adeladians will know where I mean) and hit the food courts for some pork dumplings and a kebab.  Went to my office on the way home again to pick up a couple of CD's I had there, and went home. 

Got changed, jumped on a bus and went back into town to catch another bus to go to my in-laws-to-be for dinner.  After I got home, I started the operation of replacing the mainboard in my Fiance's computer, only to find that the case just isn't big enough to cope with the new board.  Looks like another trip to work tomorrow ot get a different case, luckily I have a couple of spares.

Tomorrow it's time for the routine cleaning of the flat, plus after lunch I'll be in my office working on a project I need to have done by Tuesday morning, so I'll be working the public holiday Monday as well.

Went to see 3 dollars the other night.  It was a waste of my time.  The acting was superb, the photography was great, the basic plotline was ok, but the ending completely messed up the film.  It still ranks above "Gangs of New York" but only by a small margin.  Maybe if it had a different ending, I might have been happier about it.

Oh well, enough waffling, time for sleepy bo-bo's.

Mood - Bored & Sleepy
Music - Gud - bootleg
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2005-05-11 12:17:13
What is the sound of one atom splitting?????
zaphod
Totally stressed out this week.  Far to much to do and nowhere enarenough time to do it.  How is this any different from any other week I hear you ask?  I'm falling behind schedule in a development project I'm working on.  Nothing unusual about that but in this case, the finished product has to be shipped to Darwin by the end of the week.  I still have no idea how I'm going to finish this thing.

I know I should be working on it instead of writing in my journal, but I've had brain freeze, and don't have the foggiest idea of which direction to go on this thing.  Maybe after lunch I'll be able to concentrate better on it.

Still on the topic of work, I had a late one last night.  I went onsite to a client's office and was there from about 5:00pm til about 10:30pm.  They upgraded to a PIX firewall and we spent most of the night trying to track down some very annoying bugs with it.  At least I managed to get out of having to go there again tonight as some of the other hardware going in isn't ready yet and probably won't be until Friday.  Of course, Friday being the 13th, I fully expect everything to go completely wrong and we will have to start the whole upgrade again next week, when the universe re-asserts itself......

Mood - overworked
Music - Gregorian - Masters of Chant
Edited - Never
1 Comments

2005-05-02 08:45:05
Do you remember......
zaphod
I was feeling rather nostalgic this morning and decided to spend (waste) some time checking out all the old TV shows I used to watch as a kid.  Some classics that sprang to mind were:

The Goodies (Of Course)
Metal Mikey
Bananaman
Danger Mouse
Dr Who
Monkey
Ghosts of Motley Hall
Beans Baxter
Mysterious cities of gold
Ulysses 31
Inspector Gadget
Captain Planet
Voltron (both versions)

I can't think of any more offhand, but I'm sure others can.

What's really sad, is that most of these shows just aren't available anywhere.  I've managed to get my greedy little mitts on a couple of them, but the rest are nearly impossible to track down.

It's such a waste of really good TV.  Lets face it, what do we have now?  We have crap.  Mostly cartoons based around tournament gaming of one form or another.  Shows like "Dragonball Z", "Pokemon" and so forth.  Almost no plot to speak of.  No real challenges to the thought process, and absolutely no entertainment value whatsoever.

Maybe one day these classics that I've missed will come back to bring a little joy to the next generation.

Mood - Nostalgic
Music - Fifth Element Soundtrack
Edited - Never
11 Comments

2005-04-30 11:34:42
Not what I expected...
zaphod
Well, I did it.  Last night I went and saw the new Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy with a group of friends, including our very own Janice .  I went expecting it to be complete and utter (expletive deleted),and instead I was rather disappointed with my initial decision. It wasn't bad at all.  Some things were a little out of whack, like the thing about the dolphins in the opening sequence. 

A few small gripes, but overall a reasonably well done adaptation of the greatest literary work ever.

Like I said, a few small peeves, Marvin was a little disappointing in design, but lets face it, nobody can complain like Alan Rickman (See Galaxy Quest for proof).

Keep an eye open for the original Marvin costume, t's in there if you look hard enough....

I won't spoil the movie, we all know the basic plot which was kept rather well, if a little strangely interpreted.

All in all, it will never be as good as the original, but it's not a bad adaptation for a more modern audience.

My only complaint about the whole night was that the 24hour Bakery we went to after the movie was all sold out of bee-stings.....

Mood - Relaxed
Music - Moving Pictures - What about me
Edited - Never
2 Comments

2005-04-28 08:53:43
How annoying
zaphod
I dug out my old copies of "Command & Conquer" and "Red Alert" the other day wanting to play these classics again, only to discover that "Red Alert" won't play on windows 2000.  It won't even install on anything other than Windows 95.  Very annoying.  Apparently there's some way to get it working, but I don't want to mess with my system that much.  I might just drag out my old version of VMWare and install windows 95 on that instead.  Either that or I put the game back on the shelf and cry a bit....

I also spent good money on a copy of "Deus Ex - Invisible war" only to find out that my video card doesn't support it.

Oh well, at least "No One Lives Forever" 1 & 2 both work nicely on my computer.  If you like games and cheesy humor, these are a couple of games you should have on your list.  Imagine "Austin Powers" as a game, but with a female lead

Mood - Lazy at work
Music - Spitting Image - Chicken Song
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2005-04-21 09:01:35
Star Trekking, across the universe ...
zaphod
This weekend there is a Star Trek convention here in Adelaide which my Fiance will be attending, dressed up as a Romulan (as opposed to a Klingon) along with several other people determined to make fools of themselves.  Maybe I should take pictures for blackmail purposes.....

Personally, I'll probably be playing my new copy of Command & Conquer - Generals.  I know it's an older game but it's a style of game I can happily work with, and unfortunately there don't seem to be many of this style of game done properly.  It's a real shame that Westwood got bought out by Electronic Arts.  They have gone downhill since then.  I just don't have the hand-eye co-ordination to play FPS (First Person Shooters) very well, so the TDS (Top Down Strategy) ones work better for me.

Anyone in Adelaide up for a LAN party in the near future?

Mood - Bored at work
Music - Skyhooks - Women in uniform
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2005-04-17 10:08:32
Sunday Smegging Sunday
zaphod
Well, it's around 9:30 on Sunday morning, I'm awake (sort of) and killing a few minutes before I have to hang out the laundry since it's such a nice day outside.  Mind oyu, I'd rather still be sleeping, but I'm one of those people who, once I've woken up, can't get back to sleep. 

Went to SFSA meeting last night.  Wasn't bad.  We awatched the mini-series "Peacekeeper War", the follow-up/final of Farscape.  It was highly watchable, if a little cliched.  Lots and lots of references to other movies/TV shows.  The 2001 reference was really obvious.

Today looks like an interesting day.  trying to set up an older computer to give to a local child-care center who have ben shafted as far as government funding is concerned.  I'll probably be trying to get them noticed by IT-share as well, and see if they can help out.

Isn't it amazing how large corporate-style organisations can get all the government funding they like, and the smaller groups get nothing but a few hand-me-downs from the locals.  Whatever happened to supporting your locals?  I'm just waiting until they start sticking bar codes to the kid's foreheads and regimenting their every move.      I can just imagine it now

  • 8:30am - all kids arrived and dropped off by parents.
  • 8:45am - all kids re-clothed in prison garb.
  • 9:00am - storytime with Mr Hitler.
  • 9:30am - unarmed combat.
  • 10:30am - weapon familiarisation.
  • 12:00pm - lunch, all kids issued with MRE packs.


Need I continue?  Sound familiar? Doesn't this remind people of  "Way Outward Bound"?

Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but I'd rather see my kids (I don't have any yet) looked after by someone local who cares more about the kids, than about their profit margins.

Mood - waking up
Music - none
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2005-04-10 20:28:32
All Vegged Out
zaphod
Just got home from going ot town and watching a movie.  Not a bad flick, called "Maria Full of Grace".  I was expecting to be bored out of my skull, but I found it most intriguing. 
Spoiler alert......

It's about a young girl in Columbia, you know the place, they make coffee, and other substances starting with "C". 

It's very human, almost like a documentrary about the main character, played by herself.

If you like a movie that makes you step back and think "Whoah, so that's what it's like!" this is for you.  It isn't full of special effects, or cheap laughs, or even a sex scene, but all in all a very good film.

Also stopped off at Cafe Bonjoirno's in town for a quick coffee before heading home. 

Now to find the packed of Nurofen so I can attack this headache that's been nagging me fore the past few hours because my neck is out.

Mood - Shocked
Music - None
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2005-04-08 20:38:03
Home at last
zaphod
After spending the past week and a half house sitting for my in-laws (out-laws maybe) I'm finally home.  I can sit in my chair, at my desk, in front of my computer and play games (YAY!!!).  Either that or I can spend a little time on my journal. 

At least I don't have to worry about spending nearly an 2 hours on the bus every day.  I admit I get a lot of readong done that way, but I'd rather get home in 15 minutes by pushbike, than around an hour by crowded, stuffy bus.

So far, nothing planned for this weekend, except spend tomorrow morning at work, I'll probably just end up doing some more work on websites I'm behind on updates to.  Including this one.  I'm still running way behind schedule on the new merchandise page (working on a new online ordering system, it'll be great when I finally finish it). 

I'll probably end up sitting in front of the TV, watching the new Babylon 5 DVD's my Fiance bought (no Goodies ones yet unfortunately) so I can finally get to see the rest of the series.

My Fiance has just finished 2 weeks holidays and spent most of it painting the flat.  It looks great now.  The walls used to be a horrible battleship grey colour, but now it's a slightly yellow off-white colour called "Camomile Cream" which works rather well.  Makes the place look huge now.  Still smells slightly of paint, but now that we are moved back in, we can leave a few windows opened while we are here to air it out a bit.

Good news about the ABC getting the new Who series starting in may.  I've already seen the first episode, and I thought it wasn't too bad.  Will need to see another couple to make a formal decision though.

Anyhow, just thought I'd make my 20th entry in this strange journey through the backwaters of my mind so I can score another badge (Yippee!!!!).

Mood - Relieved
Music - Jim Steinman - Pandoras Box
Edited - Never
2 Comments

2005-04-04 10:03:16
Mondayitis
zaphod
Not only is it Monday, but it's cold, windy and ver nearly wet.  YAY!!!!  My kind of weather.  I can't stand the heat, so this is a refreshing change for me.

I had a rather nice weekend.  I went out for the evening on Saturday with friends from SFSA ( http://www.sfsa.org.au ) and we were joined by Janice, and I have it on good authority that we didn't scare her at all.

I spent all day yesterday catching up on season 4 of Babylon 5, and yes, I know I'm nearly 10 years late for it, but I've never seen them before.  Also saw the final episode of Firefly, rather impressive work from Joss Whedon, much better than Angel or Buffy although not as easily parodied ( http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=990510 )

Anyhow, must pretend to be working so I can pretend ot get paid.

Mood - Relaxed
Music - Martha Davis - Don't tell me the time
Edited - Never
1 Comments

2005-03-31 16:26:55
And now for something completely the same...
zaphod
I'm bored.  Officially and definitely bored.  I'm running behind on about 4 projects at the moment and not one of them is making my life easy by having the solution to the current problems leap out from behind the sofa and scream "Boo!!!!!".

I've been racking my brains for nearly an hour on one problem that should have been blissfully obvious and isn't.  Don't you just hate that.  What I wouldn't give for a simple, straight-forward, honest and reasonably easy job for once.

I went home for lunch today, riding my bike in 35 degree heat.  Kinda sucks, but couldn't be helped.  More later

Mood - vaguely enthused
Music - Sky - Tocatta
Edited - Never
1 Comments

2005-03-22 12:14:18
Stuff
zaphod
Just sitting here minding my own bsuiness this morning when I get a phone call from a client.  Apparently the hard drive in their server is making the infamous 'Seagate Tick of Death' meaning it's just about F'shnickered (sp?).  I get on my bike (yes I ride a treadly, only 1 seat though) and head off the 5 k's to the site. 

After nearly being cleaned up by a couple of UAV's (urban assault vehicles) and some moron in a 4 wheeled penis extension, I get to the site only to find that the front door is locked and I have no way to get in to fix the server. 
Oh Joy!!!

At least I was only waiting a couple of minutes before someone came back and unlocked it. 

The job took aboput half an hour, and then back on my bike and heading back to the office.  By this time, my caffeine levels are so low I'm liable to fall into a permanent state of normality that I stop for a coffee with a client who was nice enough offer to buy me one.

Caffeine is taking hold and my mental state is improving to the point where I can string 2 or more words together and form a cognitive sentence.  This is good, it means I might be able to get some work done today after all.

Ah what the heck.  It's nearly lunch time so I might just go a little early and consume the roast pork sandwich my Fiance made for me this morning (isn't she lovely) and pretend to be working for a while.

Mood - reflective
Music - Skyhooks - Jukebox in Siberia
Edited - Never
2 Comments

2005-03-18 08:54:14
Thank God it's F F F Friday!!!
zaphod
Yippeeeeee!!!!!!!
Friday at last.  Now I only have to survive the next 8 hours and I have the whole weekend in front of me to catch up on sleep

Actually, I'm still working tomorrow, but only in the morning, while my Fiance is doing some overtime at work to boost the pay packet a little, (mortgage repayments suck).  At least tomorrow afternoon, I'll be doing something fun.  This month's SFSA Meeting (DR. Who Fan Club) starts at 3 at Adelaide High School.  There is some possibility of catching the first episode of the new Dr. Who Series, although I won't substantiate the claim.  Deny everything, Believe nothing and blame it all on the dog

Must remember to take my laptop home today as well, need to do some updates to some websites, including this one.

Mood - Slightly less stressed
Music - Morris Minor - Stutter Rap
Edited - Never
3 Comments

2005-03-05 15:39:13
Slackness...
zaphod
OK, so I'm being slack and writing another entry in my journal.  I know I should be working, but stuff it, I feel like being totally slack and doing nothing for a change.

I suppose I should probably be doing work since I'm due to go out tonight (committee meeting for SFSA) and I'll pretend to be having fun while I slowly disappear behind a veil of smoke (not mine, it's a pub/bar where smoking is still allowed) and begin to wonder if I brought enough painkillers for the massive headache I'll have by the end of the night.

On a totally different subject, would anyone be willing to abduct "The Goodies" from Sydney, along with their whole entourage, stage sets and so forth and dump them in Adelaide so that those of us not fortunate enough to go interstate can get a chance to see them?

Mood - don't ask
Music - Genesis - I Can't Dance
Edited - Never
1 Comments

2005-02-25 22:17:57
Wouldn't it be nice...
zaphod
For a change I had a reasonably good day at work.  I got heaps done, I didn't kill anyone, and I didn't have a psychotic episode. 

Just watched what would have to be the dodgiest movie ever made (with exception to gangs of new york) called Webs.  A supposed sci-fi thriller with giant spiders, mutant spider people and most importantly, parallel universes. 

I have to admit, I was mildly amused by the idea that someone thought it was good enough to actually have a budget, probably a big enough one to run a good couple of years worth of Goodies episodes, not to mention the merchandising.  T-shirts, sun hats, orthopedic sandals in a huge range of black.....

Mood - Relaxed
Music - D-Generation - Five in a Row
Edited - Never
2 Comments

2005-02-22 11:33:40
Not happy!
zaphod
Don't you hate Hobson's choices.  Damned if you do, and completely stuffed if you don't.

I've just found out that I'll be working all next week on a major project so I'll be missing out on going to Sydney and seeing the Fab Three.

It doesn't help that I'm almost completely flat broke this month either and the market demand for internal organs has dropped off significantly.

Mood - Depressed
Music - Neil's heavy concept album
Edited - Never
7 Comments

2005-02-17 12:20:11
Ouch!!!
zaphod
For all those of you thinking about renovating, in particular, having nice polished timber floors, a word of advice.  Don't ask me to help

I spent all day Tuesday (from around 8am to midnight) pushing a sanding machine around the floors of a friend's new house.  I feel like I've been run through the mill, not to mention being dragged backwards through a hedge, which is being simultaneously dragged backwards through a combine harvester.

If anyone elver tells you it's easy, don't believe a word of it.  The good news is, I think I lost about 10 kilos

Mood - Complaining
Music - Pet Shop Boys - Bilingual
Edited - Never
1 Comments

2005-02-07 14:13:28
Recent reading
zaphod
Just finished reading Michael Chrichton's "Prey".  Not bad.  Typical Crichton though.  Slow to start, but the pace picks up around the middle of the book and you can't put it down for the last 50 pages.

Well worth the read.

While I'm on the subject of a good read, I've been going over my really dodgy collection of reading material and I've come across a few gems that others may want to track down.

Harry Harrison - Stainles Steel Rat.  Find it, buy it, read it, kill any and all who get on your way.

E.E. "Doc" Smith - buy them, read them, palm it off on some poor, unsuspecting schmuck. It's trashy, pulp, space-opera stuff but good for taking the brain off the hook.  A bit like watching American Comedy (there's an oxymoron if I ever heard one). 

Tom Clancy - Only read his stuff if you are a hardcore fruitloop and don't have anything better to do for a month.

Isaac Asimov - Depends on your tastes.  I didn't like foundation, but rather enjoyed the "Tales of the Black Widowers".  Only suggestion is get some and try reading it.

Anyhow, enough crud. Back to the howling pack....

Mood - slightly out-of-it
Music - ZZ-top - Afterburner
Edited - Never
4 Comments

2005-01-25 18:35:51
It's hot, Damn hot!
zaphod
Wowiee!!!  40 degrees in the shade and I'm not liking it one bit.  I never could stand the hot weather.

What I really need is a couple of hundred ice packs, that should see me through for a good hour or so

Actually, it's too hot even to complain, that just uses up energy.  I'll just think about Ice cream instead.  Or maybe even head for the fridge to get some.

Actually, I'm just bored and wanted to see if I could get my Journal badge (first 10 entries).

Mood - hot & sweaty
Music - Goodies - Yum Yum.
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2005-01-21 09:53:23
Looking forward to the weekend
zaphod
I've just been told that I'm going to see "The Mikado" tomorrow on stage.  Should be a good show, but not as good as the one I'm going to on the 3rd of March

Depending on how things go in the near future, I'm planning another Goodies video night in Adelaide.  Venue and date are yet to be decided, but I'm hoping to get one happening shortly after I get back from Sydney for those fans who can't make it to the shows in the eastern states.

I'll post more info when I have it on the forums under events.

I'm a little disappointed that "The Goodies" won't be coming to Adelaide.  Actually, disappointed isn't a strong enough word, but if I say what I really think then my own site will censor me 

Mood - taking it easy
Music - Enya - memory of trees
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2005-01-19 10:42:21
Starting to panic
zaphod
I've only just realised that it's nearing the end of January and I have less than 6 weeks to organise my trip to Sydney.  I have to sort out accomodation, flights and most of all, spending money. 

Currently I'm looking at going on the 2nd or 3rd, and coming back on the 6th.

Hopefully I'll meet up with some old friends from Kitten Kon 2000.

Mood - relaxed
Music - on hold
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2005-01-14 20:12:28
Another week over
zaphod
Ok, now that its friday, I can think about doing stuff over the weekend.  Tomorrow I\'m going to my monthly Dr. Who fan club meeting http://www.sfsa.org.au which is no longer a Dr. Who fan club, but is more a general sci-fi fan club. 

For anyone in Adleaide who feels like coming along, its at Adelaide High School Biology lab (how appropriate) starting at 3pm.


Mood - relaxing
Music - Gregorian - masters of chant
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2005-01-10 09:30:21
Wouldn't you know it...
zaphod
I get to work this morning only to find that half the websites on my server aren't working, and the email is offline.  Turns out that one of the hard drives on the server filled up, without triggering the monitoring software. 

(swear, curse, mutter, expletive deleted computers, rant, rave, etc)


At least it was simple enough to fix and didn't require me having to go and physically reboot the server (size 12's come in handy sometimes) like I had to a couple of months back.

I've now got myself an old 486 full tower computer which I kick frequently.  It doesn't work anyway, but it does make me feel better 

Oh well, back to work, maybe I'll even get something done today.

Mood - relieved
Music - Right said Fred - I'm too sexy
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2005-01-09 20:14:45
Back to work
zaphod
Oh well, back to work tomorrow, not that I've been off work, but I like to delude myself that I had some semblance of time off over Christmas/New Years. 

What would be nice is some time to actually do some of the things I put on my resume as my hobbies & interests.  Although, reading the past entries in this journal, maybe I should put whinging and whining as my favourite pasttimes 

Spent most of today playing Red Alert 2 (personal favourite RTS game), finally, I've found a skirmish map that I like, now if I could only get my fiance interested in playing multiplayer....

Mood - sleepy
Music - 80's girl bands
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2005-01-06 19:41:55
Weekly Rant
zaphod
I really shouldn't be jotting stuff down in my journal, but what they heck, I'm bored and couldn't be rat-bottomed doing anything else.

Going through my rather meagre music collection and found some classic stuff.  For example, how many people remember "Morris Minor & The Majors"?  The only 2 hit wonders I ever heard of.  100% strike rate which is pretty damned impressive.  For those who haven't heard of them, try "Stutter Rap" and "This is the Chorus".

How about The Firm's "Star Trekking"?

Enough whining about the distinct lack of musical talen in the past few years, I just felt like ranting about something other than <expletive deleted> website development for a change. 

Mood - Highly stressed
Music - "Team America" soundtrack
Edited - Never
2 Comments

2005-01-05 11:04:04
I'm not totally shocked...
zaphod
Why can't people just give up and not expect that I've fixed everything while they have been away on holidays and generally relaxing.  Sometimes I'm so tempted to disappear for a few weeks and get some of that relaxation stuff myself instead of letting everyone else use it all up. It's a non-renewable resource you know!!

Incidentally, I'm still working on some of the new additions to the site, and fixing some of the myriad of bugs which have reared their ugly heads.

Mood - frustrated
Music - Tubular Bells
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2005-01-03 17:42:13
Mucho relief
zaphod
I actually feel like I've been on holdays for the first time in ages, I slacked off most of last week, I slacked off a fair bit today and I'll probably slack off again tomorrow.  Too bad slacking off doesn't pay the bills.

Mood - relaxed
Music - movie/TV themes
Edited - Never
0 Comments

2005-01-02 16:41:39
What a day....
zaphod
I wish someone would remind me not to do major website overhauls on a Sunday.  Oh well, it could have been a lot worse, at least I didn't have any major explosions.

Mood - Tired
Music - 80's Collection
Edited - 2005-01-02 16:42:11
1 Comments

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