I'm thinking that technoculture is more of a techie geeky blog, and just the facts... well, is everything not as fun.
This makes a perfect place to announce the plan that myself and Dan have formulated for the next two years: break every computer rule that the University has.
I guess I'm starting small with this. Technically we're not allowed to access the internet from these computers. They merely have the OPAC browser. But we used some shortcuts and accessed the internet, so that's a small start. From there, we take it further. Dan is currently installing Firefox on his one, while I'm making a blog entry foolishly detailing our rule breaking. Oh, evil us.
I will blog the rule breaking exploits that Dan and I do during this year, unless somehow caught. Which we won't be, since I am doing this with no login. I think these no login computers are a good way to start. Bring on the anonymity. No splel check though
Wednesday, 31 August 2005
Tuesday, 30 August 2005
Waiting for Podot
That title is a reference to the fact that I want an iPod, just not yet.
I just updated just the facts, but I really felt stifled in not being able to express myself with my usual length and depth of description. Emma has decided that she doesn't want to get the internet in our house. Well, she wants the internet, just not enough to pay money for it. She says £7.50 a month is too much to pay for internet access. I willing to pay that and more for internet access, but it's how it has to be. Typical. I guess that means that I'll have to try and sell 0.5Mbit instead of 2Mbit, which is half the price and maybe I can get them to agree. But it's that damn extra £2.50 a month that throws them off (don't question my mathematics, I'm not telling you about the mandatory phone line rental).
Anyway, that's all my task for the next few days. Dan's here right now, we're just rocking out in the Southlands computer room. We're avoiding the library because Emma's slightly on edge (rightly so) about the fact that Katou is now living with us on a semi-permanent basis. Emma doesn't so much mind this, it's just the fact that shwasn't't consulted, or even asked. Come to think of it, neither was I, but I get by without being too angry at too many things. I just hope he contributes to at least some of what we have to pay. He is using our shower, television, DVD player, fridge... the list could go on, but I'll just inform you that he uses a lot of electricity, and he uses gas as well for his cooking. I don't particularly feel like paying for him. He's getting lucky in not paying rent, but a free house for three months... I hope he appreciates it like I appreciated Yoko's kindness in housing me (as in, no more sulkfests from Katou).
Yuri's leaving the country next Monday, which is another one of the Roehampton group who is departing back to Japan. It's a shame we never got to hang out more, but we got to have a nice meal before she left. She took us to her house, and offered us free roam of most things. Grabby Kaori took most things straight out, but she shared them around when we got back. The only thing I was really interested in was the Panasonic HiFi, which I got for my room. I have to say, I don't expect it was a very expensive HiFi, but it does not sound bad, Since my one became communal in the living room, the one I have now is a decent enough replacement. Yeah, it's not 5.1 and doesn't have a subwoofer, but I can hook it up to my computer and have a mini theatre with stereo sound to almost rival the downstairs one. The speakers are detachable, and they're pretty solid, with a nice bass response. They're just bookshelf speakers, but still, they do the trick for me, especially if I balance the sound right on my PC.
I have also decided to convert one of my many useless closets into a small computer closet, which I can close away until I need to use it, and then it's like a mini computer room. Oh, the plans I have for my room. It should be a technological heaven by the time I finish with it. All I need from there is an iPod.
While I wait for University to start, I have very little to actually do. I have to work for my mother this weekend, so that should help me get back with debts, and after I find a small job, I'll sort out my bank account.
I picked up my sister from the Reading festival yesterday. It meant a long, extremely hot drive for hours, waiting in traffic for hours, having my time thoroughly wasted for hours, and then finding that a tree obscured the sign for the turn off to get back to Kingston. I do hate the world sometimes. But not enough for it to fester and make me go Emo. Apparently the Emo children are like rats at Reading: everywhere. They express their sorrow and individuality by dressing and acting the same. It's not cool to be Gothic anymore, now you have to be Emo. The whole fashion of acting "individually" is sickening. Another ploy for attention, and it fits in with the times.
When I finally arrived at the designated pick up point for my sister (who would have thought there were two brands of blue and yellow self storage facilities within a few hundred metres of each other), there was another group of people waiting to be picked up. They were pretty stereotypically a group of people having just left Reading. They were a little dirty, they had the standard amount of piercings, the correct portions of dreadlocked hair, you know, they had read the Emo/Rock Chick handbooks and followed them pretty closely. Then a 30 foot black limousine pulls up, and all four of them got in. It wasn't hired, it was actually owned (I think; the chauffeur seemed to know them well). I found it hilarious that their entire "misunderstood child of rock" image was shattered by their parents getting a limousine to pick them up from a rock festival.
Anyhow, I'm boring Dan, and he wants to do something fun, like steal a water cooler refill or something. Maybe he should revise. I'm going to read Slashdot.
I just updated just the facts, but I really felt stifled in not being able to express myself with my usual length and depth of description. Emma has decided that she doesn't want to get the internet in our house. Well, she wants the internet, just not enough to pay money for it. She says £7.50 a month is too much to pay for internet access. I willing to pay that and more for internet access, but it's how it has to be. Typical. I guess that means that I'll have to try and sell 0.5Mbit instead of 2Mbit, which is half the price and maybe I can get them to agree. But it's that damn extra £2.50 a month that throws them off (don't question my mathematics, I'm not telling you about the mandatory phone line rental).
Anyway, that's all my task for the next few days. Dan's here right now, we're just rocking out in the Southlands computer room. We're avoiding the library because Emma's slightly on edge (rightly so) about the fact that Katou is now living with us on a semi-permanent basis. Emma doesn't so much mind this, it's just the fact that shwasn't't consulted, or even asked. Come to think of it, neither was I, but I get by without being too angry at too many things. I just hope he contributes to at least some of what we have to pay. He is using our shower, television, DVD player, fridge... the list could go on, but I'll just inform you that he uses a lot of electricity, and he uses gas as well for his cooking. I don't particularly feel like paying for him. He's getting lucky in not paying rent, but a free house for three months... I hope he appreciates it like I appreciated Yoko's kindness in housing me (as in, no more sulkfests from Katou).
Yuri's leaving the country next Monday, which is another one of the Roehampton group who is departing back to Japan. It's a shame we never got to hang out more, but we got to have a nice meal before she left. She took us to her house, and offered us free roam of most things. Grabby Kaori took most things straight out, but she shared them around when we got back. The only thing I was really interested in was the Panasonic HiFi, which I got for my room. I have to say, I don't expect it was a very expensive HiFi, but it does not sound bad, Since my one became communal in the living room, the one I have now is a decent enough replacement. Yeah, it's not 5.1 and doesn't have a subwoofer, but I can hook it up to my computer and have a mini theatre with stereo sound to almost rival the downstairs one. The speakers are detachable, and they're pretty solid, with a nice bass response. They're just bookshelf speakers, but still, they do the trick for me, especially if I balance the sound right on my PC.
I have also decided to convert one of my many useless closets into a small computer closet, which I can close away until I need to use it, and then it's like a mini computer room. Oh, the plans I have for my room. It should be a technological heaven by the time I finish with it. All I need from there is an iPod.
While I wait for University to start, I have very little to actually do. I have to work for my mother this weekend, so that should help me get back with debts, and after I find a small job, I'll sort out my bank account.
I picked up my sister from the Reading festival yesterday. It meant a long, extremely hot drive for hours, waiting in traffic for hours, having my time thoroughly wasted for hours, and then finding that a tree obscured the sign for the turn off to get back to Kingston. I do hate the world sometimes. But not enough for it to fester and make me go Emo. Apparently the Emo children are like rats at Reading: everywhere. They express their sorrow and individuality by dressing and acting the same. It's not cool to be Gothic anymore, now you have to be Emo. The whole fashion of acting "individually" is sickening. Another ploy for attention, and it fits in with the times.
When I finally arrived at the designated pick up point for my sister (who would have thought there were two brands of blue and yellow self storage facilities within a few hundred metres of each other), there was another group of people waiting to be picked up. They were pretty stereotypically a group of people having just left Reading. They were a little dirty, they had the standard amount of piercings, the correct portions of dreadlocked hair, you know, they had read the Emo/Rock Chick handbooks and followed them pretty closely. Then a 30 foot black limousine pulls up, and all four of them got in. It wasn't hired, it was actually owned (I think; the chauffeur seemed to know them well). I found it hilarious that their entire "misunderstood child of rock" image was shattered by their parents getting a limousine to pick them up from a rock festival.
Anyhow, I'm boring Dan, and he wants to do something fun, like steal a water cooler refill or something. Maybe he should revise. I'm going to read Slashdot.
Sunday, 28 August 2005
Delayed Reloading
Last night, after logging off, my ex phoned and talked to me about things until four AM. By that point I was very tired. That's the latest I've been to bed in a while. I hope not to top it tonight, but I'll probably be drawn into watching Futurama season three before I actually sleep.
One thing I did forget to talk about last night was the presence of the eerie guy who always seems to go past me whenever I'm at Uni. I see him almost every time, and last night in the library, he was there later than I was, only occasionally leaving for the toilet (or to kill someone; he's creepy). Emma sees him around a lot too, but I don't think he's seen us together. Anyway, that wasn't important.
Emma and I made our way to Wandsworth today, hoping to see the council about their charging us of council tax when we're exempt and followed proper exemption practice. But they were closed on a Saturday. Damnit, do those people ever work? Even banks are open on Saturdays these days. So instead we shopped around for stuff at the pound shop, bought some glue to fix the kitchen fittings and mosied on down to Argos and Boots. Emma bought some dye to get rid of some almost invisible red patches, and then we returned home. We had every intention of watching The Matrix: Reloaded today, but we were denied as Kaori and Katou were watching a tape of a Japanese TV show called Triangle until the early hours, and Emma went to bed.
So that happens tomorrow, after we make the awesome stir fry that we bought ingredients for today, and after we go skating. And probably after some more Futurama.
I got a little distracted there.
I don't have too much to say, other than I spoke to Yukina online tonight, and it was good because it had been ages, and she always cheers me up whenever we talk. I'm at my parents' house at the very minute, so there's been no creepy guy, but maybe I could start stalking him and turn the table. No, to answer your question I have no actual content, but hey, I'm giving you little bites of my thoughts to think over and enjoy.
Take care and stay happy.
One thing I did forget to talk about last night was the presence of the eerie guy who always seems to go past me whenever I'm at Uni. I see him almost every time, and last night in the library, he was there later than I was, only occasionally leaving for the toilet (or to kill someone; he's creepy). Emma sees him around a lot too, but I don't think he's seen us together. Anyway, that wasn't important.
Emma and I made our way to Wandsworth today, hoping to see the council about their charging us of council tax when we're exempt and followed proper exemption practice. But they were closed on a Saturday. Damnit, do those people ever work? Even banks are open on Saturdays these days. So instead we shopped around for stuff at the pound shop, bought some glue to fix the kitchen fittings and mosied on down to Argos and Boots. Emma bought some dye to get rid of some almost invisible red patches, and then we returned home. We had every intention of watching The Matrix: Reloaded today, but we were denied as Kaori and Katou were watching a tape of a Japanese TV show called Triangle until the early hours, and Emma went to bed.
So that happens tomorrow, after we make the awesome stir fry that we bought ingredients for today, and after we go skating. And probably after some more Futurama.
I got a little distracted there.
I don't have too much to say, other than I spoke to Yukina online tonight, and it was good because it had been ages, and she always cheers me up whenever we talk. I'm at my parents' house at the very minute, so there's been no creepy guy, but maybe I could start stalking him and turn the table. No, to answer your question I have no actual content, but hey, I'm giving you little bites of my thoughts to think over and enjoy.
Take care and stay happy.
Saturday, 27 August 2005
The Fun of Public Terminals
I have to say, the network administrators at this University have got some serious fixes to implement regarding Internet Explorer. Scratch that, regarding the whole operating system we have to use. Every time I log on, the first thing I see after the password screen (apart from the extended delay) is an error message, telling me that an "Installation failed", and that I have to agree that it is "Ok". Shortly after that, another error message about the CD writing software has something wrong with it. But back to IE, which was the reason for saying this... I'm on a public terminal, people use it daily, every computer in this university is shared, with no computers actually reserved for particular people, with no preferences saved anyway, so, no, Internet Explorer 6.0, I don't want you to remember my damn password.
I'm logged on to Blogger, I'm not going to log out and log back in before I leave my desk. Idiot.
Anyway, I'm here again because I didn't want to go home again like yesterday, and it means saving petrol. But after I left my home yesterday, I looked out and noticed it was a beautiful night, so I drove to the nearest place without street lights, the local car park where I learnt to drive, and parked there. I stuck my head out of the window, and turned off all nearby lights (but left the heater on, as it was freezing last night).
You know how it is; you look up to the dark sky, and as your eyes adjust, more and more stars appear out of the blanketing dark. I stared for a short while, seeing a greater number every few seconds, until I saw a shooting star. It wasn't my first shooting star, I've seen them before, but it was my first unsolicited shooting star. Before, I'd always been asked to go and look at them, or had read about a shower of them, and looked then. I'd never just looked in the sky and seen one. It was amazing. Very brief, very small, very short, but perfect.
I returned home and slept, waking today at eleven, despite a very odd dream that involved me returning to Japan for just a few days, and in that time, getting injured in an earthquake in Osaka while on the tube system. This injury affected my memory, so in the dream, I had no recollection of it happening. That was a strange feeling for a dream, it was a realistic feeling of memory loss, compared to a memorable dream I had about seven years ago, which had a school friend use the memory wiping thing from Men in Black on me, which felt like being pushed backwards in time. I'm hitting a very obscure tangent here, especially considering that I started this paragraph talking about returning home. But anyway, I met a rabid Ta and my dream was over.
Today I finished my coursework, printed it and handed it in on time. So unlike me! I found the dedication of the students here to be ridiculous though. Ok, the printer gets an error. What does a normal person do? Read the error message. Here? They run away. They leave the print server logged on, and they run away. Maybe in search of help, maybe just another printer. I read their error message, it told me which part of the printer to open, what tabs to pull and how to remove the jammed paper. I unclogged the printer and went on printing while all the unresolving students queued for the upstairs printer, or queued behind me. It was all good, I got it done and handed in.
While printing at the library, I saw Weiwei for the first time in a while. She didn't really say much, she just gaped and told me how skinny I was looking. She should have seen me after I got back and discovered the two for one Pepperoni Pizza Pouches at Tescos. But it was wonderful to see her, albeit brief and spent mostly waiting for her to close her mouth.
Emma and I watched the Matrix, and despite her telling me she'd seen it, apparently she hadn't. Well, she didn't know key plot details. And she hasn't seen the third one, which despite its bad reviews, I find key to the experience. Well, we have a bank holiday weekend, and if the lovers can keep the noise down, we might be able to watch in peace.
I read Maddox today. Turns out he hates blogs. I can't really fault him much on what he says, but I won't change what I do because of his opinions. I still think he's awesome. I think he makes my awesome list. If you haven't seen my awesome list, then it's because I haven't written it yet. Here it is:
Dan W
Maddox
QT
Johnny
Edward Norton
That's about it for now. And I think that's about it for the blog. I am actually getting tired. There's probably some crazy stuff I left out and will forget to add next entry and will be forever lost in memory, but you know, it probably wasn't that interesting anyway. Later.
I'm logged on to Blogger, I'm not going to log out and log back in before I leave my desk. Idiot.
Anyway, I'm here again because I didn't want to go home again like yesterday, and it means saving petrol. But after I left my home yesterday, I looked out and noticed it was a beautiful night, so I drove to the nearest place without street lights, the local car park where I learnt to drive, and parked there. I stuck my head out of the window, and turned off all nearby lights (but left the heater on, as it was freezing last night).
You know how it is; you look up to the dark sky, and as your eyes adjust, more and more stars appear out of the blanketing dark. I stared for a short while, seeing a greater number every few seconds, until I saw a shooting star. It wasn't my first shooting star, I've seen them before, but it was my first unsolicited shooting star. Before, I'd always been asked to go and look at them, or had read about a shower of them, and looked then. I'd never just looked in the sky and seen one. It was amazing. Very brief, very small, very short, but perfect.
I returned home and slept, waking today at eleven, despite a very odd dream that involved me returning to Japan for just a few days, and in that time, getting injured in an earthquake in Osaka while on the tube system. This injury affected my memory, so in the dream, I had no recollection of it happening. That was a strange feeling for a dream, it was a realistic feeling of memory loss, compared to a memorable dream I had about seven years ago, which had a school friend use the memory wiping thing from Men in Black on me, which felt like being pushed backwards in time. I'm hitting a very obscure tangent here, especially considering that I started this paragraph talking about returning home. But anyway, I met a rabid Ta and my dream was over.
Today I finished my coursework, printed it and handed it in on time. So unlike me! I found the dedication of the students here to be ridiculous though. Ok, the printer gets an error. What does a normal person do? Read the error message. Here? They run away. They leave the print server logged on, and they run away. Maybe in search of help, maybe just another printer. I read their error message, it told me which part of the printer to open, what tabs to pull and how to remove the jammed paper. I unclogged the printer and went on printing while all the unresolving students queued for the upstairs printer, or queued behind me. It was all good, I got it done and handed in.
While printing at the library, I saw Weiwei for the first time in a while. She didn't really say much, she just gaped and told me how skinny I was looking. She should have seen me after I got back and discovered the two for one Pepperoni Pizza Pouches at Tescos. But it was wonderful to see her, albeit brief and spent mostly waiting for her to close her mouth.
Emma and I watched the Matrix, and despite her telling me she'd seen it, apparently she hadn't. Well, she didn't know key plot details. And she hasn't seen the third one, which despite its bad reviews, I find key to the experience. Well, we have a bank holiday weekend, and if the lovers can keep the noise down, we might be able to watch in peace.
I read Maddox today. Turns out he hates blogs. I can't really fault him much on what he says, but I won't change what I do because of his opinions. I still think he's awesome. I think he makes my awesome list. If you haven't seen my awesome list, then it's because I haven't written it yet. Here it is:
Dan W
Maddox
QT
Johnny
Edward Norton
That's about it for now. And I think that's about it for the blog. I am actually getting tired. There's probably some crazy stuff I left out and will forget to add next entry and will be forever lost in memory, but you know, it probably wasn't that interesting anyway. Later.
Friday, 26 August 2005
Again Minor Update
I thought I'd share with you some of the fine visual memories Japan offered me. Oh, and also, I fixed my RSS feed. It's http://www.quasiblog.net/rss/atom.xml, in case you're not familiar with the Firefox RSS button, or you aren't using Firefox, and in that case you should die.
Anyway, without further ado... I give you Kishiwada Castle.
The first, and most beautiful, and highest resolution photo I took with my broken camera phone. It's the smallest castle in Japan, I think, and it is very beautiful. I didn't actually bother going inside, because that would require paying.
Atop a tower in Tokyo I took this rather beautiful image. You can just about see me and the camera in the reflection. Think of it as adding authenticity.
And the final image a I leave you is this one. A few of you may know that my nickname when I was younger, occasionally, was Ritter. On our last day, Emma and I came across this ironic shop name, and I found it was very hard to frame this image.
Anyway, that's all. If you haven't read my last entry, get to it, there's more written content.
Anyway, without further ado... I give you Kishiwada Castle.
The first, and most beautiful, and highest resolution photo I took with my broken camera phone. It's the smallest castle in Japan, I think, and it is very beautiful. I didn't actually bother going inside, because that would require paying.
Atop a tower in Tokyo I took this rather beautiful image. You can just about see me and the camera in the reflection. Think of it as adding authenticity.
And the final image a I leave you is this one. A few of you may know that my nickname when I was younger, occasionally, was Ritter. On our last day, Emma and I came across this ironic shop name, and I found it was very hard to frame this image.
Anyway, that's all. If you haven't read my last entry, get to it, there's more written content.
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