Yes, it has been a while since I’ve updated, hasn’t it?  I don’t have anything to blog about in particular but figured it’s always good to at least check in.  Most recently, I’ve managed to get my desktop back up and running, so I’m rather happy about that although on the flipside, my laptop has a problem with a URL filter, which I didn’t install!  Additionally, I seem to have issues with my router crashing occasionally, which leads me to believe someone has been DOSing my router and has hacked my laptop somehow!  Additionally, I have hadmy WoW account hacked, and thus I’m locked out from it.  Granted, I’ve not touched it in ages, but it’s the principle of the thing!  Not only that, someone hacked one of my GMail accounts!  I feel quite violated actually and becuase of this, I’m tightening up my security across the board.  Seems like a good opportunity to install Windows 7 while I’m at it as well.  Other than that, I’ve built myself a new computer (for the first time ever I did it all by myself!), which I’m proud of.  This now means I can save myself a few quid by building my own PCs instead.

All that’s missing on this new PC is an internal speaker and a couple of hard drives; my system has always been to have a smaller drive for the OS, then at least one larger drive to install games, put downloads on, etc.  I have some spare drives for the job, but one which was connected to the board I’m using in the “new” system has a corrupted partition, which is a bugger.  I’m working on fixing it and downloaded a utility to help me recover the bad sectors, if possible.  The worst thing is that I might have to just give up on the drive and get a new one, which isn’t cheap, especially as it’s an IDE drive.  And when I went looking on the Maxtor site (it’s a Maxtor drive), I found out that Maxtor and Seagate have merged!  That one completely passed me by!  Anyway, another problem with my laptop, coincidentally is that the speaker wire’s become loosened while it was bieng fixed, so I no longer get sound from it, apart from the sub.  However, this issue is easily repaired by the tech, but I figured I should add it as it’s leading to something and related to PC issues.  My laptop also now has a fly lead in place of the DC jack (though the DC jack is a part of it), which makes it a lot more resiliant and robust (do they mean the same?).  I was told that not everyone likes it as it doesn’t look as good (costs the same price as a replacement, which are rare for Acers I might add!), but as I value function over looks, it was perfect for me.

Oddly enough, it seems that the DJ jack gets the most strain of laptops and I can see why!  I was told my DC jack was cracked and that luckily I nipped it in the bud… even though I had to be creative till I could afford to get the repair and even then the contacts were a bugger, I smelt burning and the unit heated up round the DC jack.  It sucks when you can just about afford to do it… fact is, it needed to be done, so I did it.  Anyway, I hope to get all my PCs up and running properly again soon, so I can finally start on my websites.  I have a new idea for the radio site I want to implement and my Gamed Up project now has a look, but I can’t afford it, and need sections to come up with.  I’ll mention some stuff I’ve done in a later blog entry and where possible, even without the layout, I’ll be adding in a games blog to write to, so as always watch this space.

And lastly, before I forget, I’m gonna be using Google AdSense on this site.  I’m hoping to make sure it doesn’t get in the way, but I’ll have to see.  I also plan on opening up 2 more Zazzle stores as well; one is for the Radio site(s) and another is most likely for the paranormal group I’m setting up.  I may actually set one up for Gamed Up as well, but we’ll see what happens.  I have somany ideas, I find it hard to focus on just one, lest I forget about the others.  I’ll get something sorted eventually, but I’ll take things slowly.  I hope to have things mostly run themselves eventually, which is why the DiggerCast is being moved back to the Radio site, as it cuts down on multiple logins.  One day soon though, I plan to sit myself down and dedicate a whole page to each site and domain so I know what is going where, as frankly I need it!

Anyway, I’m just rambling now, so I’ll stop.  I’ll try to have an update on my sites for the next post, though it depends on what else comes up between now and then.

I haven’t updated in over a month, but I have been pretty busy, that said!  First of all, I’ve been setting up Google Apps with my domains and working on a few backends for other sites.  Additionally, I’ll be starting a definitive layout for each of my sites; I plan to merge Stormkeeper dot Net into my personal domain and do it as a subdomain with the domain redirecting there.  Unfortunately, it means that the links to the post I’ve made in the past will probably be broken, but I’m willing to take that in exchange for less logins to remember!  That said though, if anyone knows how to slot a domain on top of a subdomain (i.e.: stormkeeper.net/post123 going to stormkeeper.domain.com/post123), I’d be very appriciative for any assistance.  Additionally, I plan to put AdSense on every one of my sites and blogs where possible now, as I frankly need to generate an income of sorts from the sites so I can achieve my ultimate aim of having the sites pay for themselves.  While I won’t indicate it in this post as I still have a few things I need to sort, I do plan on showing rough layouts of how the sites will be in the future, though I’m also doing some experimentation.

First of all, I’ll be trying to see if I can get subdomains working with WordPress MU and if that’s successful, I’d be deploying it out to a few other sites as well.  Secondly, I’ll also be experimenting with a simple(ish) multi-wiki setup.  I plan on using at least 3 wikis as well, but all this is just a bunch of incomplete ideas in my head at present.  As I said before, I’ll explain better in a future entry but for now this is just an update to say I’m stillabout, just that I’m busy and haven’t been focused enough to blog about anything.

I will soon though!

From Monday afternoon, it’ll be about a week since I’ve moved from my flat in Bexleyheath to a terraced house in nearby Erith, nearly at the edge of the Kent fringe; despite where I live being a London Borough, it still is considered Kent. In some ways, it’s the end of an era, given I may no longer just walk down to Bexleyheath’s Broadway and do shopping; though I do have 24 hour access to the place by bus which somewhat makes up for the lack of instant access. Needless to say, I had better not be in a hurry to be there! I do have easy access to the pier however, which can’t be a bad thing though I had learnt something about terraced houses in that the stairs are rather tight, so it’s likely that the next place I look for will have a lot more thought put into it. Additionally, at present I’ve not got the space for everything or so it seems; everything is a bit tight at the moment, though I’ve yet to unpack everything. Things are slowly slotting into place now though. My arm’s starting to heal up nicely now as well, which is a good thing although it’s not 100% of the way there.

To take a departure from what I was talking about, seeing as I have no idea how to contiue the above, one of the reasons that made me start this entry (yesterday) was that I was reminded of Bloomsday and that I was attending college at that time. I even got to hear some readings of Ulysses while sitting on Sandymount Green, which was nice. Of course, I got in trouble for being late back to college, but hey… 100 years since Ulysses was written was more important than a day in class… or so I’d like to think. Well, it’s my excuse so I’m sticking to it! Anyway, it’s amazing what can be learnt sometimes just by doing something what seems so minor at the time.

Heh, I did think I had more to say than this, although I’m realising that once everything round here is sorted out better, I’ll be able to take better advantage of things. My finances aren’t gonna be healthy for another few months, although as far as the Thame Cycle trip goes, by moving to where I am now I’ve made it easier to do the cycle a bit, because this town was on the itinerary. Of course, I do need to get a bike as well as a shed. I’m still trying to get this place sorted, but I’m beginning to think that it’s likely I’ll either have to have 3 bookcases in the dining room (study) or 2 in my main bedroom. It is a pain really, but I’ll need to give it more thought. Luckily, I do have space to move about, which is good. My computer desk is a bit screwed though unfortunately, meaning I might need to get a new one at some point soon… unless I can fix it. I’ll have to see what I can do, given I don’t have much space in the new place as I did in the old, which frustrated me. At least it’s warmer and cheaper which means I’ll have more money to do stuff.

I should really look at my 50 Things list to see what I can do in the near future. My finances percentage most likely can do with being put up a few notches…

Oh and before I forget, I added a FormSpring widget thing to my blog and also to my FB, so people can ask me questions >.> I also plan to completely redevelop FSIRC over the next few months, now I am in a position to be able to.

I figured now was a good time for me to update my blog, although really I should look at giving my LiveJournal some attention at some point.  As many of you already know, I’m a subscriber of Star Trek Online, only right now I can’t play it because the server’s full, which is rather amusing.  At the time I was player number 719/719 wanting to play but I exited the game.  Upon further reflection, this perhaps wasn’t such a hot idea.  I did get in eventually, so it’s all good.  Anyway, I’ve been playing it for about a week now and I’m rather surprised about the game to be honest… I do like it although admittedly, the ground sections are a bit dodgy… but the starship bits are pretty nice!  So far, I’ve been to Earth, Risa, DS9 and K7 which as many of you who watch Star Trek know are some of the more major areas in the universe itself.  I’ve also played the Command & Conquer 4 multiplayer beta, although quite frankly I don’t get it at all.  It doesn’t feel much like C&C and even the music, which at present I barely remember what the music sounds like, although it’s rather Star Trek sounding, ironically.

Unfortunately, I can’t take screenshots of C&C4, though I can of STO, and expect some in my Flickr gallery soon.  And just to talk a little bit more about C&C4, I’m honestly not sure if I like it, but it’ll be released next month, so we’ll have to see what happens then.  There’s noconventional bases in it and it sems rather remensicent of Dawn of War without the building options… actually, those of you who remember the game Z, it’s more like that.  Other than that, I’m having to wait for stuff regarding my new house and I’m hoping to record a DiggerCast pilot episode either tomorrow or next week.  I also plan on going to see Assemblage 23, which are pretty damn good.  I recently managed to properly listen to all their music and I do quite like them, so I’ll be seeing them next week.  I’ll post some more here later, although I think my LJ needs to be updated some more, seeing as it’s swamped with Tweets.  Realistically though, unless something significant happens between now and my next post on here, it’s likely that the aforementioned next post will be a better opinion on STO, which should really be put onto a games blog, but at present I have none so here will have to do.  I really need to give Guild Wars some attention too; although in a way I’m glad there’s no monthly fees as like I said in the past, it doesn’t feel like a chore in that I have to play it.  It also means I can save money.  Either way though, I’m going to start balancing it out.  Heh, I might even consider playing WoW again, just to use the trial time I have.

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I figured that I’d do something different than just talk about something to do with technology or gaming or the like.  I’m essentially just musing somewhat, but for some bizarre reason, I thought this would make a good blog post.  Granted, the life being talked about is mine, but I’m sure everyone can appriciate these.  Anyway, on with the show…

Certainties in life

• Life itself – Kinda self-explanitory.  Life, we live it…. it’s the beginning of a cycle.
• Death – We all gotta go sometime… the end of a cycle, but not the end of this post.
• Taxes – They’re everywhere and you can’t escape them… VAT, car tax, Council Tax… you’re bound to have at least one of those, if not all 3.  And there’s not just those.
• The Sun & The Rain – Sometimes together, sometimes apart, but always there.  According to Madness, it’s what life is about; they’re cycles, and life is a cycle.
• Things are always further away than you think. – Oh, I learnt this the hard way.  You think something is just up the road… then you forget how long the road actually is!
• They’re even further with a heavy load. -  Dragging something a mile up the road is not my idea of a good time…
• It is possible to get lost on a straight road – If you don’t know what you’re looking for, you’ll never find it.
• You’ll find things when you don’t need them. – I know I have.
• You lose them again soon after. – “Oh yeah, I do actually need it… crap, where’d it go?!”
• You can’t find something you really need. – I know it’s here somewhere, I remember seeing it here yesterday!
• You can never have too many kettle leads. - You always seem to have less than you think.
• Upturned plugs are bound to be stepped on. – They’re gonna hurt like hell too!
• If it seems too good to be true, it usually is. – Something’s broken, you’re not eligable, you can’t afford it, it’s too far… and they’re just the main ones.
• They’re not out to get you. – You’re not that important, get over it.
• Computers – Yes, they’re here… yes, they’re annoying… but we need them.
• Some of the best, closest friends you have you may never have met – The internet… it’s more important than you realise.
• A really good friend is someone you can talk to again after weeks, months or even years and it was like you just talked to them yesterday. – Treasure them. (I know it’s not in the usual format, but it’s damn hard to word that right!)
• Time isn’t always that straightforward – Just because time can be measured, it doesn’t mean it can be valued.
• Days can go by as fast as hours, minutes as slow as hours. – Perception of time is different for all… days can meld together; hours can separate and feel like days… minutes and seconds can pause.
• The infinity of human stupidity – This one is kinda obvious.  Just when you think something is the height of stupidity, something raises the bar, sometimes a little but often a lot.

I plan on adding to these gradually, but if you want to suggest your own, then please do so in the comments.

I recieved a rather interesting request in my LiveJournal not too long ago:

Need to download XRumer 5.0 for free!
Huh… I want to get software pack XRumer 5.07 PALLADIUM for free. Have you any url?
I’m so need this magic program! It’s can break captchas automatically! Activate accounts via email automatically too! Absolutely great software! Help me!
And did you hear news – price for XRumer 5.0 Palladium will grow up to $540 after 15 may 2009… And XRumer 2.9 and 3.0 – too old versions, it’s cant break modern catpchas and cant break modern anti-bot protections. But XRumer 5.0 Palladium CAN!!!!
So help me for download this great soft for free! Thanks!

Whoever that person is must have assumed that I know my way around my computer, or rather more than that and to be honest, they got it right.  However, there’s no way in hell I’ll be accommodating such a request.  First of all, I don’t officially* condone not paying for software and secondly, why the hell would I accommodate someone wanting to break a captcha?  It’s bad enough that I have to use them so my sites get spammed, so why would I go and help someone break something I have to use?  For all I know, he could eventually use it on my website!  Anyway, the fact a piece of software can break captchas automatically concerns me.  Granted, not all of them are easily broken, but if this has been proven to break them, does this mean that the spammers are catching up?  It always seems to be a game of cat and mouse with spammers to be honest.

I’m very much anti-spam because it screws up things for me, and others.  My forums get spammed a lot, as do my blogs.  Either way, I won’t be responding to him, and if he sees this, my response is a big, fat NO.

*I accept the use of not paying for software for educational purposes, only if it’s hideously expensive.  If someone intends to make a profit using the software, then they should purchase it.