January 2004
Hello, New Year
1st January 2004 at 13:053 comments
Well, hello 2004.
In 2003 I did a lot of cool stuff - a quick skim through the archives reminds me of how I kept play in business, made cake, had a surprise birthday party, did a whole bunch of work, taught the holiday courses, had the occasional sip or two of alcohol, discovered Balamory, got sidetracked (and did I mention play?), finally bought my Risc PC, met a girl called Kate, re-did tonbschl again, and loads of other cool stuff that I didn't find archived entries about, like helping out at the Bath HCI conference.
I guess I should now make some predictions for 2004, so here are a a few off the top of my head...
In 2003 I did a lot of cool stuff - a quick skim through the archives reminds me of how I kept play in business, made cake, had a surprise birthday party, did a whole bunch of work, taught the holiday courses, had the occasional sip or two of alcohol, discovered Balamory, got sidetracked (and did I mention play?), finally bought my Risc PC, met a girl called Kate, re-did tonbschl again, and loads of other cool stuff that I didn't find archived entries about, like helping out at the Bath HCI conference.
I guess I should now make some predictions for 2004, so here are a a few off the top of my head...
- Scientists will invent worm hole transporters, allowing instant travel from anywhere in the galaxy to anywhere else, and they'll give one to me
- Sadam Hussein will be found innocent of all crimes, Blair will still be prime minister this time next year, and Bush won't invade any more countries
- I will pass my degree, and win the lottery, a BAFTA and the nobel peace prize, as well as finish USML and the websites that depend on it
I watched LOTR!
3rd January 2004 at 01:312 comments
I return from watching the last installment of the Lord of the Rings! I didn't think I was going to see it in a cinema, since none of my friends here wanted to see it and when I get back to uni people will have already seen it and none of the cinemas in Bath are great anyway.
I bought tickets online from the odeon website. I didn't think it was going to work, but not only did it work, not only did we get tickets at about the same time as they announced that all the decent seats were sold out, but the computer allocated us the best seats in the cinema! Right in the middle, and it was even at the perfect height! Fantastic :)
Oh, right, yes, the film. It was also fantastic :)
As many of you know, I had not read the books, and I had religeously avoided all of the adverts, so I came to the last film completely fresh. Well, apart from a couple of things - in particular, after seeing the advert for the crappy ROTK game that they showed 5 minutes before the film started, I discovered that the title of the film was not referring Elvis. Boy, was that a disappointment - I nearly got up and walked out then and there. But by the end of the film I was glad I hadn't, it's a fantastic film to end a fantastic set of films. All 3 and a half hours of it, didn't get bored once...
I'm looking forward to getting the special edition dvd box set spread across 20 DVDs or something equally rediculous. Oh, and I hope he gets to do The Hobbit too, then I can look forward to that as well!
I bought tickets online from the odeon website. I didn't think it was going to work, but not only did it work, not only did we get tickets at about the same time as they announced that all the decent seats were sold out, but the computer allocated us the best seats in the cinema! Right in the middle, and it was even at the perfect height! Fantastic :)
Oh, right, yes, the film. It was also fantastic :)
As many of you know, I had not read the books, and I had religeously avoided all of the adverts, so I came to the last film completely fresh. Well, apart from a couple of things - in particular, after seeing the advert for the crappy ROTK game that they showed 5 minutes before the film started, I discovered that the title of the film was not referring Elvis. Boy, was that a disappointment - I nearly got up and walked out then and there. But by the end of the film I was glad I hadn't, it's a fantastic film to end a fantastic set of films. All 3 and a half hours of it, didn't get bored once...
I'm looking forward to getting the special edition dvd box set spread across 20 DVDs or something equally rediculous. Oh, and I hope he gets to do The Hobbit too, then I can look forward to that as well!
The term, it goes well?
6th January 2004 at 23:361 comment
Two days in, no work done, deadlines and exams looming... so most of us went to the pub last night and drank cider. Yay!
So anyway, some more DVDs arrived today, thanks to the play January sale - Hunt for Red October, 28 Days Later, and Grease, complete with song book :p
So anyway, some more DVDs arrived today, thanks to the play January sale - Hunt for Red October, 28 Days Later, and Grease, complete with song book :p
Bath Boots Rocks
7th January 2004 at 20:232 comments
I can't believe I didnt make a diary entry about how I experienced the true meaning of incompetence at the Sevenoaks Boots over the holiday. I went in and asked them to adjust my nice new glasses, and she brought them back bent, out of shape, and fitting even worse than they did before. Realising my mistake, I changed the subject before they could break them even more, and asked them why I was only given a trial pack of contact lense solution when I should have got a 3 month supply. She said "Oh, we don't have any of the 3 month packs, so just come back when you run out and we'll hopefully have some more by then." Smiling and nodding, I slowly backed towards the door and ran off to the safety of the Dorset Arms, planning how to solve these problems without having to go anywhere near that den of moronity again. And I don't even care if that's not a word, because I believe the plan that I formulated was impressive, even for me, one of my best.
So, I waited until I got back to Bath, and I went into Boots today. The guy at the desk was the person who had helped me get my glasses last term. He recognised me, so got someone else to deal with me this time. The nice lady measured the distance to my ears (something that the incompetent woman in Sevenoaks didn't) and fixed them so they fit - yay! Then I mentioned my contact lense solution predicament, and she just walked over to the boxes and gave me one, didn't make me wait while she rang Sevenoaks or anything.
Bath Boots rocks.
So, I waited until I got back to Bath, and I went into Boots today. The guy at the desk was the person who had helped me get my glasses last term. He recognised me, so got someone else to deal with me this time. The nice lady measured the distance to my ears (something that the incompetent woman in Sevenoaks didn't) and fixed them so they fit - yay! Then I mentioned my contact lense solution predicament, and she just walked over to the boxes and gave me one, didn't make me wait while she rang Sevenoaks or anything.
Bath Boots rocks.
A Laptop, A Coursework Deadline, A Weekend, And A Question
10th January 2004 at 23:541 comment
On Thursday, Leela brought her laptop round. It's not working, because it's running windows ME, so I offered to upgrade it to windows XP. After trying for far too long (and failing) to get it onto the network to copy vital files off, I ran the XP upgrade thinger, and after about an hour it said 'Cyclic redundancy error' or something - didn't like the CD. So I burnt it another couple of times, and it still gave the same error. Ho hum. That'll teach me to download an operating system... Luckily Microsoft are a forgiving bunch, and seeing this problem may occur they added a 'remove XP and return the computer to how it was' function, which worked and got me out of trouble very nicely.
I've been trying to start my agents coursework for about a month now, and I've finally got to it. Miracle. Having said that, I've only written about 10 lines... Still, it's only halfway through the weekend now, isn't it :)
And finally, here's the question - did the Holy Spirit commit adultery with the virgin Mary?
I've been trying to start my agents coursework for about a month now, and I've finally got to it. Miracle. Having said that, I've only written about 10 lines... Still, it's only halfway through the weekend now, isn't it :)
And finally, here's the question - did the Holy Spirit commit adultery with the virgin Mary?
Oh dear
13th January 2004 at 04:09Comment
Well, it's 4.20, neither of my agents work properly, so I have given up and started the writeup.
In other news:
In other news:
Never Give Up, Never Surrender!
13th January 2004 at 04:524 comments
After some serious documentating, I went back to my code and fixed it! Fantastic! I now have a fully functional scenario A, which will make my report look a lot better.
Sure, it's about a month later than I'd planned to get it done by, and I won't have done scenario B, but hey, nobody's perfect, eh?
And a prize to the first person to tell me that the title of this entry is a quote from Galaxy Quest, which is a very good film.
Sure, it's about a month later than I'd planned to get it done by, and I won't have done scenario B, but hey, nobody's perfect, eh?
And a prize to the first person to tell me that the title of this entry is a quote from Galaxy Quest, which is a very good film.
Ooh look, another entry
15th January 2004 at 17:542 comments
Last Tuesday was Peter's birthday. Some of us met up after handing in the coursework, and then went down into town with him for a birthday milkshake in Shakeaway (mmm twix milkshakes) and a meal in the pizza place at the top of the town. Which was nice. Then in the evening, he came over here and Tristan and I went down to the pub with him, where we had arranged a surprise party thing with lots of people and it was fun.
Day after (ie yesterday) I don't think I did a lot? Oh, had a lecture where Professor ffitch re-taught us most of JAP's half of the course, which was cool. Then in the evening I went to Sainsburys and bought some stuff, including a 6 pack of volvic. That was a mistake. First the handle fell off, so I tried carrying it under my arm, but that didnt work, so I tried carrying it by a bit of the plastic... but that broke off and the bottles fell out. So I put them in a bag and carried the 4 remaining bottles in the volvic plastic, and then I got home and that broke again when I was going up the stairs. Ridiculous.
Anyway, today I slept till about 12, paid my gas and electricity bill, then went up to university to hand in the floppy disk which I had forgotten about on Tuesday, and came home again. Just had some food, and am about to go back up to BUFS.
So there you have it, my past 3 days. See, I do make diary entries :p
Day after (ie yesterday) I don't think I did a lot? Oh, had a lecture where Professor ffitch re-taught us most of JAP's half of the course, which was cool. Then in the evening I went to Sainsburys and bought some stuff, including a 6 pack of volvic. That was a mistake. First the handle fell off, so I tried carrying it under my arm, but that didnt work, so I tried carrying it by a bit of the plastic... but that broke off and the bottles fell out. So I put them in a bag and carried the 4 remaining bottles in the volvic plastic, and then I got home and that broke again when I was going up the stairs. Ridiculous.
Anyway, today I slept till about 12, paid my gas and electricity bill, then went up to university to hand in the floppy disk which I had forgotten about on Tuesday, and came home again. Just had some food, and am about to go back up to BUFS.
So there you have it, my past 3 days. See, I do make diary entries :p
Tada!
19th January 2004 at 11:331 comment
I have started getting spam comments, I feel so loved! Although they're a bit annoying, so I'll be doing stuff to stop them, you get to look forward to that in the future.
Today, however, I give you the new improved links section (a permanent link to which you will find over on the bar on the left). Improved in that not only does it have up to date links, but it has this funky weird little link bar along the top to help you surf (in IE at least). It is also available at http://links.radiac.net. Still quite a bit of tweaking left to do, apart from the stuff on the development roadmap - any suggestions will be welcome.
Anyway, as some people have pointed out, I have not been making many diary entries recently; I keep forgetting. Sorry. So what have I been doing? I went to see Lost in Translation with Leela on Friday, it was very good. Not quite sure it deserved all the rave reviews it had, some bits seemed a little empty, but it was still a very good film, and Bill Murray was shockingly brilliant. And yesterday I did some revision! Before the day before the exam! What's up with that?! Oh, and I have been watching far too many films in the evenings - on Saturday it was The Faculty, The Unforgiven, Wing Commander and Police in Action (although the last one wasn't really a film, so I guess it doesnt count), and yesterday I was revising when Leela told me that 'Dude, Where's my car?' was on, so I had to go watch that. Then it was Trainspotting which we were going to watch, but I flicked over to Broken Arrow and forgot to go back to Trainspotting in time, so we ended up watching that. Then it was Rollerball which I hadn't seen either, I thought it was weird.
I had better go have a shower now, because my webcams should FINALLY be arriving later today - I ordered them on the 15th of December, they didn't post them till last week, and then when they tried to deliver them, I was up on campus. Typical. So I have arranged re-delivery for today, they should be arriving shortly. After that, I'm up to campus to hand in my graphics coursework (DOH), and then it's revision time again. Possibly with a little visit to Shakeaway and Sainsburys on the way home...
Today, however, I give you the new improved links section (a permanent link to which you will find over on the bar on the left). Improved in that not only does it have up to date links, but it has this funky weird little link bar along the top to help you surf (in IE at least). It is also available at http://links.radiac.net. Still quite a bit of tweaking left to do, apart from the stuff on the development roadmap - any suggestions will be welcome.
Anyway, as some people have pointed out, I have not been making many diary entries recently; I keep forgetting. Sorry. So what have I been doing? I went to see Lost in Translation with Leela on Friday, it was very good. Not quite sure it deserved all the rave reviews it had, some bits seemed a little empty, but it was still a very good film, and Bill Murray was shockingly brilliant. And yesterday I did some revision! Before the day before the exam! What's up with that?! Oh, and I have been watching far too many films in the evenings - on Saturday it was The Faculty, The Unforgiven, Wing Commander and Police in Action (although the last one wasn't really a film, so I guess it doesnt count), and yesterday I was revising when Leela told me that 'Dude, Where's my car?' was on, so I had to go watch that. Then it was Trainspotting which we were going to watch, but I flicked over to Broken Arrow and forgot to go back to Trainspotting in time, so we ended up watching that. Then it was Rollerball which I hadn't seen either, I thought it was weird.
I had better go have a shower now, because my webcams should FINALLY be arriving later today - I ordered them on the 15th of December, they didn't post them till last week, and then when they tried to deliver them, I was up on campus. Typical. So I have arranged re-delivery for today, they should be arriving shortly. After that, I'm up to campus to hand in my graphics coursework (DOH), and then it's revision time again. Possibly with a little visit to Shakeaway and Sainsburys on the way home...
Webcams Arrived
20th January 2004 at 13:384 comments
My webcams arrived yesterday, which was good. Unfortunately it's clear why they only cost £20 - the cable is heavier than the webcam, so unless you're careful and cunning, it just pulls the webcam over. Haven't plugged them in to play with them yet though, revision is more important. Not that I got a lot of that done yesterday either; went up to campus to hand back my graphics coursework, went to shakeaway on the way home, then went to the coop and bought stuff for tacos, which Tristan and I ate while watching Alias. In between that, revision didn't get as far as I had hoped it would... So I guess now it's time for breakfast and some serious revisioning.
One Down, Three To Go!
23rd January 2004 at 11:58Comment
Well, just finished my graphics exam, it was fun. I had actually answered the last question before I realised that I had completely misunderstood and gone off on some completely unrelated and irrelevant subject, and that I couldn't answer it properly anyway. So I crossed it out and started another one, with half an hour to go. Yay! Oh, and when I got out of the exam room, I overheard some people talking about it, and I think I must have done a totally different paper. Oh well, I don't think I did too badly :)
Revisiony Goodness Strikes Again
24th January 2004 at 11:566 comments
Yep, so I have exams next week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and therefore need to do some serious revision, which I have started before the day before, once again. Although, to be honest, only just.
Yesterday I had my exam in the morning, as already documented, and in the evening I went for food and watched Bend it like Beckham with Leela, which was fun. Tristan then got home extremely drunk from the pub, which was not. He sprayed me and my room with water while yelling things, before swaying violently, sliding down the wall, and passing out on my floor. I had no choice but to drag him out by his feet.
Today I woke up late, had breakfast, started revision, went to the coop to buy food, came back and ate the food while watching something on TV about the miner strikes in 84, and then did some more revision. Tomorrow will have to be solid revision, methinks, no time for food... it's Music and DSP on Monday, and it's a nasty one. Wish me luck!
Oh, and where are all the comments?! I know people read my diary, so leave me some comments so I can show everyone how popular I am!
Yesterday I had my exam in the morning, as already documented, and in the evening I went for food and watched Bend it like Beckham with Leela, which was fun. Tristan then got home extremely drunk from the pub, which was not. He sprayed me and my room with water while yelling things, before swaying violently, sliding down the wall, and passing out on my floor. I had no choice but to drag him out by his feet.
Today I woke up late, had breakfast, started revision, went to the coop to buy food, came back and ate the food while watching something on TV about the miner strikes in 84, and then did some more revision. Tomorrow will have to be solid revision, methinks, no time for food... it's Music and DSP on Monday, and it's a nasty one. Wish me luck!
Oh, and where are all the comments?! I know people read my diary, so leave me some comments so I can show everyone how popular I am!
Apologies!
29th January 2004 at 00:419 comments
I have not made any posts here for ages. Apologies. I have actually managed to stay away from the computer most of the week and do some revision! Go me :)
So since my previous diary entry, this week I have revised efficiently and failed some exams flawlessly. I helped Leela celebrate her birthday by taking her somewhere for food, and we watched ER tonight. And I think thats pretty much it. Ooh, no, it snowed and all the roads are now really icy and slippery. Ok, that's it. Now people can stop complaining that I don't keep my diary updated any more :)
And thank you for the six comments on the last one! Yay!
So since my previous diary entry, this week I have revised efficiently and failed some exams flawlessly. I helped Leela celebrate her birthday by taking her somewhere for food, and we watched ER tonight. And I think thats pretty much it. Ooh, no, it snowed and all the roads are now really icy and slippery. Ok, that's it. Now people can stop complaining that I don't keep my diary updated any more :)
And thank you for the six comments on the last one! Yay!
So that's what carnage looks like...
31st January 2004 at 11:534 comments
Yesterday was the last day of exams, so yay! That's the end of those, for a while at least. In the evening it was Leela's birthday party, which was shared with Jen since it was her birthday on Thursday. We went to Revolution, the vodka bar at the top of Bath, and then on to Caddies. It was a bit empty when we arrived, but when they heard we were there (see second photo below), it filled up quite quickly.
There are some good photos floating about, but since I only have a few which I won't get into trouble for putting on here, you may have to look elsewhere. However, since I haven't added any photos to my website for months, thought I might as well add a few here... most notably when we were in Revolution:
All the important people
and when I showed everyone else up with my l33t dancing moves, and they had to leave the dance floor:
Available for barmitzvas and birthday parties
If you have any more photos, please let me know so I can add them. After the entertainment was over, we all went home, where I watched television until 5 am. How silly.
This afternoon we had visitors, interested in renting the house next year. I should have made the "I still can't believe rats can get all the way up there" comment to the landlady, that would have been funny. Although it would have probably cost me my deposit, so never mind. After that I went to Starbucks with Peter, and have just watched Equilibrium again, that film is so cool.
In other news, good luck to anyone off to America tomorrow, amid terrorist-inspired cancellations. And I have finally plugged in my webcams, and they rock.
There are some good photos floating about, but since I only have a few which I won't get into trouble for putting on here, you may have to look elsewhere. However, since I haven't added any photos to my website for months, thought I might as well add a few here... most notably when we were in Revolution:
All the important people
and when I showed everyone else up with my l33t dancing moves, and they had to leave the dance floor:
Available for barmitzvas and birthday parties
If you have any more photos, please let me know so I can add them. After the entertainment was over, we all went home, where I watched television until 5 am. How silly.
This afternoon we had visitors, interested in renting the house next year. I should have made the "I still can't believe rats can get all the way up there" comment to the landlady, that would have been funny. Although it would have probably cost me my deposit, so never mind. After that I went to Starbucks with Peter, and have just watched Equilibrium again, that film is so cool.
In other news, good luck to anyone off to America tomorrow, amid terrorist-inspired cancellations. And I have finally plugged in my webcams, and they rock.