Therian's Daily Blog

Finally - a New Post!

2008-05-11T03:49:00.000-07:00

Well, It has been a long while since I've checked in here; hasn't it?
I'd been very busy over the December/January period, and just lost track of this until going to find an example banner link for someone.

Unfortunately, I don't exactly have a lot to say about what's new in the world.
I'm still unemployed and been hassled half to death by the Job Centre, often to the point now where it seems the only realise I get is my continued work at Willow Tree Family Farm as a volunteer.

Potentially there is possibly in the future for a few paid hours on the farm, but try telling the Job Centre that -- They still insist on giving me other jobs to apply for, including recently a Farm-Hand position 6am to 6pm.

Why is that a problem? Buses here don't start until 6:20am, and I cannot drive. To get to that location it's three buses, or two buses and a mile walk with a good few minutes between arrival times. After working it out the earliest I could get to the location would be 8:40am, and that's assuming I wouldn't miss one of the buses en-route. A pure example as to how thick they are sometimes.

Anyhow, enough of real life problems.

Over the past few months I've been involved with a project called the Regnum Journal, a newspaper like feature for the game Kapi-Regnum, linked to the left. I've been working on the project since December, and it's really done wonders for keeping me busy and boosting my knowledge of web design, not to mention tapping into my interest of medieval history.

http://www.kapi-regnum.com/zeitung.php4?UIN=&ausgabe=11

That link will take you to the most recent edition of the Journal, Edition Eleven. I've been working on the project alone until this point where two new editors have joined the team to assist with the working for Edition Twelve onwards which will greatly assist with spreading out the workload and taking off a bit of pressure, at least, that's the plan behind it all anyway! ;)

Kapi-Regnum itself is a Medieval Economy Simulation Game. Your the dictator over a small town which you must build new buildings and expand to satisfy the needs of your people, and of course your own advancement to activate new features. In the beginning you do need a bit of time to setup, but later on you can spread the work out a little so you can involve yourself just as much as you want according to the amount of time you have available.
It's certainly worth looking into, even if your only joining to read the Regnum Journal :D

A new game from the creators of Kapi-Regnum has also recently been published. Molehill Empire is a gardening style game in which you must plant a various range of flowers, fruits, herbs, and vegetables, all the while watching out for Moles, and removing herbs and rocks from your beginning garden.

You can plant your garden in any way you wish, perhaps you could try your hand at different designs whether it be for a heart or even something more complex. The possibilities are endless and with increasing ranges for colour as you advance in features, how can you resist?

Dialup = Slow

2007-11-21T11:34:00.000-08:00

Well, we're still trying to sort things out over at the new home but the majority of it is done.

The main issue is due to the phone line still not been disconnected from the business line BT are messing us around to get both the phone and Internet sorted.

I was previously connecting with an unstable wireless boardband connection from a network in the area, but it was practically impossible to get anything done.
Over the weekend we got in touch with my brother in law and he got us a number for a dialup connection to use temporarily, which is what I'm using right now.

It may be slow, but at least it's stable and allowed me to keep up with a few things, including a project for Kapi-Regnum, which will be released there as soon as possible once I can get the damn Internet sorted for a decent connection. I have been doing work on it in the mean time though so it won't take much hopefully to sort everything out.

On a good side though I actually got my wish yesterday while on this damn 13 week course. I'm on placement over at Willow Tree Family Farm in Shirebrook, Nottinghamshire - I've worked there for almost two years before, and have always enjoyed the work even now. It is hard work at times, but your virtually guaranteed a good laugh.

I've about 7 or 8 weeks left of the 13 week course, and currently will be spending Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays up at the farm.

I also managed to arrange to get a new pair of boots (or "Riggers" even) for while working there, which were desperately needed as my old ones were falling apart practically. The downside was I had already been down to where I got them once already today so had to do another hour round trip to get down to fetch them inspite fact I had already gone for an Interview with my adviser at the Job Centre, which is only about 5~10 minutes away from where I went to fetch the damn boots and it takes about ~20 minutes just to get to the JC from the training center.

At least in one particular post on Regnum it gave me reason to look up a certain video which never fails to put a smile back on my face.
Assuming it works I've embedded the video below.

Moving House

2007-11-09T12:39:00.000-08:00

No matter what any body says never believe them if they say moving is easy.
Sure it may be easy if your moving out of your parents home into a place of your own, since you won't be taking furniture and such..

Well in this case, still living with parents, we're moving to a new area tomorrow and have been packing since Wednesday night; a very quick move but unfortunately it isn't so quick to do the packing since we have so much stuff to do.

Taking an early night today to get a bright early start tomorrow to move the beds over and such; we probably won't have internet for a few weeks but hopefully I'll be able to find someone with a wireness network up there...

I'm actually connected to someone elses network now since all our computers are unplugged and ready to move tomorrow - We're getting a van from my dad's workplace and my Uncle Kev is coming with his van to help out tomorrow too so hopefully won't be too bad.

The new house looks okay - certainly hot enough!! - the only thing that gets me is the stairs since I dislike heights and these go up, turn then up again - at the top your looking down onto the stairs again which gives me the creeps. I keep threatening to hang one of my many wall rugs from the ceiling just to hide the view and will if I get chance (!!)

The house itself is actually a converted Wardens property and the electric is still connected to the complex next door - so for the moment at least we also actually have free electricity, unfortunately though with no internet it isn't much good.

Well I better get back to work; hopefully my next post won't take so long and I'll be writing it at the new home.

Today's Lesson

2007-10-20T17:31:00.000-07:00

Ahh, yet again another valuable life lesson brings itself forward.

Never get your hopes up about anything

Following my Interview at Positive Outcomes on Wednesday we were told they would be contacting the applicants by phone on Friday.

Staying in all day I never got a single call, which alone started to make me wonder if I was going to be contacted at all. I tried calling towards the end of the day and got straight through to the answer phone.

By that time I had given up and wondered if we would be contacted Monday instead given that there was a longer delay when we were originally told between the initial interview and that second one.

Just this morning (well, afternoon when the Postmen finally arrived) I received a letter through the door which basically said it was a "difficult decision" and that I hadn't been accepted for the position.

Now, it's not the fact I didn't get the position that had had me wound up most of today it's the fact they sent out a letter no doubt done using MailMerge and wasn't even personalized. I'm surprised it was even signed, but they could have at least gave each applicant a personal call to let us know directly as they originally said- It wouldn't have took any longer then writing and sending letters.

Perhaps my opinion about the place took a brick to the face after this.
I just hope the person who did get the position was as interested in working there as I was first off, and that the others who didn't get the position don't feel as rotten as I did earlier.

Nevertheless, it does now mean I have to start at yet another thirteen week course through the Job Centre this monday coming at a place called Evolve. The opinions I have heard about the place don't exactly sound encouraging, but perhaps I will still find a way to turn that around, will have to wait and see.

My initial personal opinion of Evolve isn't all that great either considering I received a second letter from them on Thursday that gave me directions to their Nottingham office when I live in Mansfield. Sure, it's only about a 40 minute bus ride, but navigating Nottingham isn't an easy task especially since I've not lived there for 4 years or so now.
I'll be going to the Mansfield office as the first letter stated, and if it is indeed the wrong address then I just won't bother showing up afterwards.

Well, I'll just have to keep looking to see what comes up in the future.
I swear they don't listen to circumstances though- They know I cannot get a drivers license due to my glaucoma (a condition in the eyes) yet still try to get me to search in areas I physically cannot get to, especially with the reliability of public transport nowadays.

After Interview Jitters

2007-10-17T15:49:00.000-07:00

Left today around 10:15 to arrive around 10:20, ten minutes early for my Interview at Positive Outcomes.

Went pretty well actually; was a small short IT Assessment just prior which took about five minutes. Seriously, all it was - was just three simple questions.

Had to visit one website then rewrite a summary of some latest news, followed by visiting two other sites to find a telephone number and directions.
Rather simple really, but I do see how it may hold a purpose.

Despite been an Apprentice Position they will be training the successful applicant towards both level 2 and level 3 NVQ's (National Vocational Qualification) in Adminstration, which would obviously need a small amount of experience prior.

The Interview itself was a simple one-on-one discussion and quite relaxed really. I was asked some simple questions, mostly what I had done since leaving school.

I do not know what my chances are as they were interviewing two, maybe three other applicants for the same position who would have had times after my own.
I do have past experience working towards an NVQ however after doing a Level-2 qualification in Animal Care after leaving school so that was a definite booster, plus my background in IT using computers at home.

They will apparently be letting us know this Friday, so fingers crossed!

My actual opinion of the place was quite high, definitely some place I could work been it was actually a rather relaxed environment and if successful would be working in several different departments to gain a wider range of experience, not something available in a lot of companies.

I look forward to Friday, despite been a little anxious.
Even if I don't get the position just to be accepted to that Second Interview was a nice surprise.

World's Funniest Joke?

2007-10-10T14:00:00.000-07:00

Been a little bored today I was looking up random Cartoon Character Quotes.
And seriously have you ever tried to find such quotes? Even Google seems to spurt out a load of random rubbish.

Infact, I found the most quotes on a forum.. Show's how useful they actually are =3
See the Source: http://forums.awn.com/showthread.php?t=5167

Daffy Duck

It's not "He doesn't have to shoot you now."
It's "He doesn't have to shoot me now."
Well, I say he does have to shoot me now!
SO SHOOT ME NOW!

Later on I decided to go a random search for the World's Funniest Joke.
Did you know a scientist actually investigated this in 2002?
The project itself was, ironically called 'LaughLab'
Check the actual site to see the details of the project - http://www.laughlab.co.uk/

Anyhow, after a little over a year they came to a result based on votes of people around the world.. and the joke deemed funniest by people young/old, of both genders and of various countries.

So, what is the World's Funniest Joke?

Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses.
He doesn't seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed.
The other guy whips out his phone and calls the emergency services.

He gasps, "My friend is dead! What can I do?".
The operator says "Calm down. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead."
There is a silence, then a shot is heard.
Back on the phone, the guy says "OK, now what?"

Now even I found this rather amusing certainly one I'd recommend to pass along.

These guys even went so far as to investigate the best time to say a joke!
Hell, I wish I was on their salary to do this.. A chuckle every 5 minutes :D

"if you want to make people laugh, tell them jokes on the 15th of the month, at 6.03 in the evening."

1on1 Results

2007-10-10T10:15:00.000-07:00

Race number. 125160 Type: 1on1 Circuit: Edinburgh
Place Team Time
1 [TbW]Wesker[ER] 0:15:10 Time
2 [RttA]Aquawolves 0:18:28 Time

Race number 125160 is completed.
Your team (0-X4-pantu/X4--edinburgh/0--X4--pantu) finished with the time of 0 hrs. 18 min. 28 sec. and an average speed of 357.40 mph on 2 place. Overall, 2 teams have participated in the race.

I was ahead of Wesker for virtually the entire race, but must have fallen into the pit on the final lap and lost a few minutes.

All well, was an interesting race regardless, just means I'm out of the running.
Hopefully the next tournament won't be far behind.

Edinburgh Circuit

Second Interview

2007-10-09T13:07:00.000-07:00

Only this morning I was complaining about not getting a call about my Interview for an Administration Apprentice position.

Give it until this afternoon, and suddenly I get a call around 4:20pm.
Despite the fact I didn't even hear the phone until the last few moments because of my dad messing with his (new) Record Player downstairs -- You know, one of those old things with the flipping HUGE disks.

I gave them a call back trying to silence the noise as best I could and it turns out to be an invitation for Interview on the 17th at 10:30am.
Hell, If I'm late then lord help me! It's only a three minute walk from my door to theirs.
Just hope I don't oversleep ;)

Aside from this I'm still waiting to see my results tomorrow at 19:00 on RumbleRace.
I'm going against [TbW]Wesker[ER] 1on1 for the Edinburgh Tournament.

Our times were extremely close for the first round.
0:12:54 of mine to 0:13:2 of his.
Both vehicles were going over 500mph to archive these times.

Edinburgh is an awful track to race on, the cars that are really suited don't have the speed to be much competition and the OCN-V12 which has both the suitability and the speed is a VIP vehicle with a fair cost under the bonnet..

Will either of us be able to sustain such speeds for the second round?
Only time will tell..

A Long time in coming..

2007-10-06T17:38:00.000-07:00

A long time in coming but the time has finally arrived.

A note of congratulations to [RttE]Greenhouse on RumbleRace for his achievement of VIP license.

VIP is a long term goal, and most would say takes at least a year of commitment to accomplish even without spending a dime on the game.

RumbleRace itself is a browser-based game...
Race against others with a wide range of cars and team members learning as you advance in license.
Later in A license you work towards a total of 28 medals before archiving VIP.

There is more to this game then meets the eye..
Certainly worth the look -- Just click the banner above.

It Works!

2007-10-06T05:04:00.000-07:00

Now, I dislike ads as much as the next person but the banner currently there will be the only banner ever to appear on this blog.

It's out of the way, yet visible. Plus with any luck the content should match similarly to the topics here to actually appeal to be clicked.

Anyhow, over the next few days I will be updating the layout a little - Suggestions are welcome, just leave a comment :P

Actual content should be added later too..

Testing Features

2007-10-04T16:38:00.000-07:00

Testing of Images

Test of Colours

Test of font types(types)