Monday, February 28, 2005
Sorry for the lack of updates. On Friday, well quite frankly I couldn't be arsed. It was a Friday! As for the weekend, well I was far to busy for posting. Rather sadly this wasn't because I was out socialising and living it up at parties and nights on the town. No. I donned my virtual spandex, put on my mask, made sure my pants were on the outside (clean ones too) and took to the streets of Paragon City to defend the helpless citizens from crime in my first venture into the world of MMORPGs. But I get a little ahead of myself.....Going back to Friday, my new game and some new case fans arrived in the post. As much as I wanted to go straight home and start playing I decided that would be far too sad for a friday so agreed to go for a couple of drinks after work. That was probably a bad idea becuase when I did get home the first thing I wanted to do was to fit my new case fans. Now it's not (and it's not like I didn't already know this) such a great idea to start mucking about with the inner workings of your computer after no food and a couple of pints. What should have been an easy task turned into 45 minutes of swearing as I fiddled with screws that didn't quite fit and used sticky tape to attach dust filters that were a little too big.
Finally I was done and eagerly I switched on my computer, smiling because it no longer sounded like a small biplane taking off (and because it was now glowing blue due to the LEDs in one of the fans). Then I noticed it wasn't actually booting.... For some reason it wasn't recognising the hard disks.
Again common sense would dictate that I'd go away, have some food, sober up a little and then try and fix it. Bah, who needs common sense?! So more swearing, unplugging of wires, some pleading to the universe to explain what I'd done to warrant such poor treatment and finally I got it working (tho I still don't know why).
Side note: I would also suggest that when playing with your computer it is not a good idea to put it on its side with a CD still in the drive. I know this now after some horrible grinding noises and a deep circular groove cut into the top of one of my CDs.
So with my PC finally fixed I decided to cut my loses and go to bed ready for a fresh game playing start the next day. Yeah, like the universe would let me off that easily!
I awake early and turn on the computer (at any moment expecting more CD grinding noises) and find that I have a lovely psychedelic ring of colour on the screen. Pretty much like when you wave a big magnet near a monitor. The only part of the screen where all the colours are normal is a 2 inch circle in the middle. At this point I'm about to cry as I didn't even touch the monitor the night before!
Well to cut a long story short I fiddled and found it was the monitor that was the problem and not the PC. So I carefully checked the cables, went through the menu settings etc.. with no success. Then I started using the time honoured male method for fixing something - hitting it and trying to hold it upside down and shake it. In the end I gave up and after 4 hours, the problem had receeded to two small discoloured areas in the bottom corners of the screen. Thats when I started playing.
And what did I learn from all this. You would think it would be a lesson about drunken computer maintenance. No, what I learnt is that the Universe hates me... # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 7:47 AM
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Sometimes it pays to read what it says before clicking the 'I accept' button when installing software....
# posted by
The BlogMonkey @ 4:17 PM
(link via BingBangBosh) # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 4:14 PM
Wantt o burn up the road (literally)? Then why not get a cheap exhaust flame thrower kit. # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 12:19 PM
Tee-hee
Also in the news, an award for the best off licence. And it's just a 15 minute walk from my house. Must go buy some more beer from there soon. # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 12:13 PM
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
I think the universe knows I was trying to turn over a new leaf this week. After a couple of months of doing no exercise at all to speak of, I got up at 7am and went for a run on Monday. "A new start" I thought. I woke up Tuesday to find snow outside and that I had a sore neck - thus preventing me from doing any exercising (no really, it is a good excuse). Same today (except the snow was deeper).Okay, new start next week...... # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 3:30 PM
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Turn away now if you are easily offended.Still here?
Okay. The Book of Sick comic section contains some nicely sick and twisted humour.
For those that want to ruin thier childhood memories of a classic cartoon, why not take a look at the erotic adventures of Lion-o and chums. Tis in a funny foreign language but I'm sure you'll be able to follow the storyline. Artworks good too. # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 11:32 AM
I also awoke to find snow. It's melted now. And I didn't even get to make a snowman. # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 10:57 AM
Monday, February 21, 2005
This jacket is just shocking. No, literally.
# posted by
The BlogMonkey @ 4:27 PM
Saturday, February 19, 2005
Three hours! Bored now. Surviving on butter crunch crinkle biscuits. Don't know where workmen have gone. Send help.
# posted by
The BlogMonkey @ 11:44 AM
I can see why fox numbers must be controlled. I understand what pro hunts people are saying about how foxes will still be killed but by other means. I can understand the arguments saying should fishing be banned as well then. And to be honest with so many other important issues in the world this seems like such an insignificant waste of time. But the important thing to remember is that it's not about the killing of the fox, it's the way its done.
It is barbaric. They are setting out to kill an animal and they enjoy it. There is an alternative in drag hunting and if fox hunters claim it's not the same they are simply admitting that the reason they hunt is for the joy of the kill. They are admitting thier own bloodlust.
Foxes will still be killed - and that is probably right as there numbers should be controlled - but it will be done in a clinical way, such as shooting. As I heard one person say on the TV the other day, this is not about saving foxes, it's about stopping the ritualistic torture and execution of an animal for sport. # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 9:22 AM
Ho hum, more random net surfing whilst I wait anyway.... # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 9:11 AM
Friday, February 18, 2005
China closes 22 power stations in a bid to be more green. Actually, China is the sort of country I can see going all out and ending more environmentally friendly than most. They don't do things by halves....And should all our attempts fail and global warming increase, we can always make more clouds. # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 5:01 PM
*sniff* # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 4:22 PM
If the acting and special effects for this movie short were not worse than those you'd find on your average episode of Power Rangers (no, course I don't still watch it... *ahem*) then this would be an extremely cool live action Thundercats movie. And where was Snarf btw!?
Finally, this animation is just trippy. It's about animals and farting and eggs and... no I have no idea what it's about. # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 1:48 PM
Thursday, February 17, 2005
We are currently attempting to write some offical web pages to try and help 'educate' our slightly less than computer literate users on how not to infest their home computers with spyware, not catch viruses, install a firewall, use a proper browser like Firefox etc..One of my minions was given the job of covering viruses and managed to get a line in about "If you get an email from your mum supposedly containing an attached video featuring hot coed action, it's best not to open it".
*Sigh* # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 1:52 PM
Personally I was never a great fan of the series and always thought going down the whole prequel road was a bad idea. Maybe the fact that it was canceled cos no one is watching it should be a hint to the fans that it's a bit crap (just listen to the opening music for gods sake). Maybe they should be campaigning for a new (and better) show......? # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 1:45 PM
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
An incredibly lovely Flash adventure called The Polyphonic Spree- Quest For the Rest. Click and stuff happens. The more stuff that happens the more stuff you can click....
# posted by
The BlogMonkey @ 6:01 PM
So I'm left scrabbling around in the darkness of my head trying to find all the peices to see if I can put them together into something that ressembles an answer so that I don't have to feel as bad as I do now.
Cryptic huh!
But no, expect the posting of more mindless interwebnet junk later today! # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 8:04 AM
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
... but then there's always next year.
# posted by
The BlogMonkey @ 4:14 PM
Monday, February 14, 2005
It's always nice when your best friend comes to visit you. You have a laugh, you tell them your problems, sometimes you even get to explore the delights of Heanor. You also have a lot to drink (that's where the wine comes in) and wake up with a bad head the next day. They make the world seem better tho.Then as if to balance out the nice, the universe throws Valentines day at you. I swear that day means more to single people then it does couples. For those in love it's just a day that is far too commercialized, when they have to make some romantic gesture (something that you should not need to be prompted to do in my opinion). For those without anyone, it seems to be a time when everywhere you look there is something to remind you of that fact.
Hmmmm, I know I'm rambling. To be honest I struggled to find any sort of motivation to post anything today. Too busy trying to figure out how to do something that I really don't want to do after putting off making the decision for far too long....
Normal service will resume shortly... # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 12:00 PM
Friday, February 11, 2005
The song from that cool bunny animation I posted the other day got stuck in my head so I went off to find out a little more. It's by a band called TISM and the lyrics are well worth a listen. I shall not quote them for fear of what sort of searches that will direct towards this site....I would say tho that this is a prime example of how a viral animation can get a band a lot of attention and yet you can't get hold of any of thier stuff (unless you live in Australia). # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 10:48 AM
"What did you say was wrong with your inbox again?" I finally asked. # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 10:25 AM
And thinking about it, should a company really be trying to give the impression that if you phone them for support you are likely to be spending a great deal of time on hold? # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 8:48 AM
Thursday, February 10, 2005
As long term readers (or anyone that knows me personally) knows, I have no real interest in politics. I do however like mischief and admire Manics desire to change things. Actually, it was his plan to rent a mobile billboard and drive around broadcasting stuff like
"Eat more sausages. Sausages are an inexpensive source of protein."
that really won me over. So link to is new campaign Backing Blair duly added to my sidebar and below.
Wonder how much I'd get for blogmonkey.co.uk? # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 8:55 AM
So that left me about 5 minutes to get organised for work. Keys, check. MP3 player, check. Money, check. Wallet, ....errr?
Now I often misplace things. Get home from work and empty my pockets and just dump the contents on the nearest surface. However there are a limited number of places I can put stuff, so I usually find lost items quite quickly. Not the case this morning.
After ten minutes of searching (and a liberal amount of swearing and kicking things) I was no closer to finding my wallet. Not that there is much in it that I need except my access card for work, without which I'm left standing outside for about and hour and a half until someone else arives to let me in. The only place left that it can be is in the pocket of the jeans I wore yesterday. And where are those jeans now? In the washing machine of course! Shit...
I debate waiting an hour for the washing cycle to finish but quickly dismiss that idea. I turn the settings knob, trying to get it to stop. Not happening and it just carries on quite happily, mocking me with the incredibly slow 'two turns of the drum and stop' washing program. I turn it off and wait a few minutes, hoping that the door will release on it's own. It does!!
Out come my jeans (along with a fair amount of hot water) and sure enough one rather soapy, steaming and soggy leather wallet. And I was only fifteen minutes late for work.
Anyone know how well chip and pin bank cards hold up in the washing machine? # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 8:06 AM
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Found some good stuff today.
Good song, cool video - Futureshock: Late at Night. I could move like that if I wanted to, honest...
With the utterly depressing valentines day appraoching quickly and me once again planning on spending a cosy romantic night alone with my friend Jack Daniels, this song seems to strike a cord for some reason.... Everyone Else Has Had More Sex Than Me. I like the bunny too.
And Finally a black and white Flash short called War. # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 11:41 AM
Anyway, the problem is that the flaw can be exploited so that it appears you are on a legitimate webpage when you are actually directed somewhere else. Examples can be seen here. Of course this leaves people wide open to new phishing scams.
The workaround for Firefox can be found here. # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 8:21 AM
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Now I'm not sure what bothers me more about this story. The fact that this woman thought it would be a good idea to teach her 4 year old to drive or that the kid is so damn lazy already that he can't be arsed to walk 400m........
# posted by
The BlogMonkey @ 7:05 PM
Now most of the times I've seen sake being drunk (okay, in movies generally) it seems to be out of a shot glass so I always assumed the stuff was quite strong. Turns out it's not much stronger than a bottle of wine. So here's me thinking I'll be drinking this stuff by the wine glass full. Then I tasted it.....
Think it must be an aquired taste. God knows how I'm going to drink a whole bottle over the next few days... # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 2:25 PM
Monday, February 07, 2005
A married couple in Jordan who had seperated and were living apart, both joined an online dating agency and ended up finding each other. They got on so well they agreed to get married.
Lets just say things didn't go so well when they found out they already were.... # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 5:01 PM
My motivation levels were so low that even basketball on Saturday failed to inspire me, mustering only enough energy to walk around the court rather than the usual charging around that I do. I blame that partly on the lack of any physical exercise in the last month or so, although the addition to the opposing team of a loud mouthed, over enthusiastic, thought he was better than he was bloke who went by the name 'Jazz' did nothing to help. As evil as I feel, I still have to admit to secretly smiling and muttering "Yes!!" under my breath when one particularly energetic tackle attempt caused him to fall in a heap, twisting his ankle and removing him from the rest of the game. The sly smirks on my teammates faces makes me think they shared my feelings.
Hopefully I shall perk up again soon. Maybe it's being alone in the house whilst my housemate is in New Zealand? Or maybe it's the approach of that most hated day of the year for all single people, when regrets previously hinted at start to again enter my thoughts during those quiet moments. Or maybe I just need a cool sounding basketball nickname? We'll see I guess.... # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 8:18 AM
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Been in a kind of lazy mood today - not helped by the pint I had at lunchtime. So with limited brain power at my disposal I though I should post about something that needs limited brain power. Cartoons.Like I said yesterday, I like cartoons. Think for me it has something to do with escapism. You can watch most cartoons and because they are so seperated from the real world, you are not reminded that you need a new job, girlfriend, could do with some new clothes, need a holiday or any of those other mundane 'life' things. On top of that you get to enter a world of superpowers and impossible goings on. What more could you want?
So for your reading pleasure I've listed some of my all time favourites. No particular order other than what my muddled brain throws at me. And I've probably forgotten some but as I tend to watch every cartoon I come across, you loose track after a while...
Whilst Animaniacs was good, the spinoff show Pinky and the Brain was in another league entirely. So many pop culture references and jokes that only adults could get. Loved it.
Maybe not so good when you start watching it again years later, Dangermouse was still a classic of it's time. I prefered Victor and Hugo to be honest but again I've not seen that in years (soon to be remedied tho!!). David Jason just did the best cartoon voice overs.
Spongebob Squarepants - nuff said!
Same can be said of Ren and Stimpy. I'm sure Bunni will agree with me on this one - Invader Zim.
In terms of slightly more adult orientated stuff, Spiderman and Batman were top notch as well as Justice League more recently.
Finally, whilst it does stretch things out far too much in places, my anime nomination goes to Dragonball Z.
Honarary mention goes to Reboot. Whilst not strictly a cartoon (it was computer animation) it was a very good show. The X-Files episode (with Fax Modem and Data Nully) was very good I seem to remember. Must see if I can hunt down a DVD of that actually... # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 4:34 PM
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Thats my current mood. Sometimes full of optimism and hope, ready to get stuck into life, cause mischief with a smile on my face and have a good time. Other times lethargic, down, wanting to hide away with a glass of wine and watch the world go by outside the window. I switch so quickly and so often that I'm not sure exactly what mood I'm in half the time at the moment. It's the reason I've not been posting much.
But for the moment I'm in the mood to post so a quick update.
I seem to have recently developed a craving for brocolli. Covered in olive oil and lightly roasted to brown and crispy (ok, burnt). Something introduced to me by my last girlfriend (not the burnt bit) which I suppose is one of the few things worth taking away from that relationship.
Today I have also purchased a genga. No, not some weird vegetable that I will also try roasting or some new kids toy. It's a peice of anime art. Wanted to collect some of this a few years back but never got around to it due to problems paying for things that come from Japan. I've actually put off buying this for about a week because I'm still not entirely sure I can pay for it with Paypal or how much the international shipping will set me back. I'll just call this a test purchase....
Did I ever mention I like cartoons? # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 9:57 PM
Then we have the very tough but very amusing Gonzo Stunt Game. # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 3:09 PM
A German inventor is producing long life mobile phones that will allow you to call and 'chat' to the recently deceased. Then when the battery runs out a year later you can dig it up and get some money back too!
What happens when people passing by hear voices coming from the grave is not mentioned... # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 1:06 PM
"Ooops..." just doesn't seem to cover it..... # posted by The BlogMonkey @ 11:39 AM
