The Chronicles of Jon

You know there's something wrong when you wake up to snow on Easter Sunday.

To who it may concern,
World's broke - plz fix.
K thx bai.
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Before it's too late I'd like to post to a petition that was emailed to me earlier.
This one is similar to the govt. petition that was up before concerning Cars having to have trackers fitted for tax purposes. This time, however, ministers are attempting to put through a complete ban on swords.

"The proposed ban on the import, sale and manufacture of swords will have an adverse effect on legitimate practitioners, collectors and manufacturers. Actual sword related crime is very rare and does not warrant a ban that affects the cultural activities of thousands of legitimate martial artists, collectors and smiths. Current legislation is quite adequate to deal with violent crime connected with bladed weapons. New legislation is merely for show. Enforcing such a ban will also affect cultural events such as Scottish Sword Dancing and many Sikh festivals. We urge the PM to reconsider this knee jerk reaction to media influenced scaremongering."

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/swords/

The deadline is the 15th of May.

I got a call this morning from an "Unknown Number" that brought good news. I've been short-listsed for the summer job at Uni and have an interview on Tuesday afternoon.

The deal is pretty simple. I'll get a standard hourly wage to do one of a variety of jobs in halls to cater and care for the foreign students on campus during the summer months On top of that, I'll also get free board until september!

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed and hope to be alert and fresh on the day (if possible, I'll be taking my interview in between a mass of lectures :S).
2"
On a different subject, I've been hankering for "old-gen" games for a welcome distraction to my studies. Nothing brought yet, just lusting. For the KoF group that Nia wanted to have ready for Amecon, I've been wanting to purchase a King of Fighters game for a while. I did a look into the, 3D, Maximum Impact games and it looks like Maximum Impact 2 (which fixes the issues of the first and promises to have a boatload of bonuses) will be coming out at the end of the month - a post-exam reward maybe?

( 'Jon Gone Crazy' Cut )

Anyhow, all this means I have alot of reading up to do over summer. One of my lectuerers has already told me I can make use of existing engines or shells for my build/implementation so I won't need to build up and entire game from scratch- but I still have *alot* of work ahead of me.
For now, I have 4 weeks will exams and 3 papers that need to go in too.

As a last note, and penace for my verbal diahorrea, I'll leave you with this today.Today's Penny Arcade strip covered an unexpected gem of a game they came across by accident: Odin Spehere
http://uk.gamespot.com/ps2/rpg/odinsphere/video_player.html?id=ISBhwTL-5b4OvjDd

And a cheesy yet cool trailer for Spiderman 3 for Wii
http://kotaku.com/gaming/spiderman-3/new-corny-spidey-3-trailer-254713.php

Today I also happened to stumble across this new show called SPECTER. Imagine if the Power Rangers were run by the MiB.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0sGjLtQSj0&eurl=
http://www.elite-justice.com/?p=9

Happy St George's Day everyone.
Let us remember the Knight of Golden Legend - The warrior that slew a dragon and rescued a princess.

I'm not sure exactly what we are supposed to do today but right now I'm going to finish my tea and Creme-Egg and get back to my paper.

I forgot to mention;

on Saturday, I managed to earn £100 for designing and installing a home network for a friend of the family. When he heard I was aiming to upgrade my machinery, he wanted to pay me 50% more but it didn't seem right to take that. Instead, I will be required to update the network further in the next following weekend or so.

At the moment, I'm feeling like I need to upgrade my computer a fair bit but I'm stuck. I've got a fairly decent P4 but the motherboard uses AGP, so the best gfx-card I can get will be on APGx8.
I keep getting told that PCI-E is the way to go but to get that I'd need a whole new motherboard and compatible processor.
When the costs total up, I might as well get an Alienware and that's most likely outside of any budget I might have.

But for now, yey!, £100!

The American dub and subsequent western fanbase nearly completely destroyed my happy, if not rose-tinted, memory of one of my favorite childhood shows. Fortunately, clips of the remastered Japanese dvds have rekindled my nostalgia.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtSiqZBrNNc
Note the last Unknown Malaysian Dub! [5:30 onwards]
This christmas, me and Matt have agreed we *have* to make a definitive compilation of the best of my old Malay DBZ dub soundbites.

Who knows, it become greater than Nine Thousand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBtpyeLxVkI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cS18yG8DJI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgJRmdnSnWA
Ah, Master Roshi. You gotta admire his dedication. He knew that he was at the end of his life and had nothing else to loose.

Just as I've come close to finishing my research journal on the influence of internet blogs and comments on public opinion, I come across this little story.

It seems that Sony, in their infinite wisdom, hired a viral marketing company to place employees onto internet communities like YouTube.com. Their express mission, to try and create desire for the PSP product by pretending to be "one of the kids" and exploiting that trust for commercial gains.

Almost scarily, the collective of the internet were able to pick away and see through the facade. Eventually, the facts about the who actually owned the website and a mass of little details lead to the complete exposing of the deceit. The website AllIWantForXmasIsAPSP.com was flooded with comments and messages and the website was eventually shut down.
-but not before a full confession was posted on the site.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=21702
http://www.penny-arcade.com/2006/12/13
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3155931

Other fake blog sites include the "character" Bee, aka "Lonelygirl15"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonelygirl15

The videos still remain, resurrected by YouTube users. The Internet does not forget so easily:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwdhg_whoKw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G0LlXv-nyI

[edit] It seems that even though the site has been taken down, a spoof site called http://www.alliwantforxmasisaps3.com/ has been created. It uses the same style and format but openly critizes the hardware for being expensive and flawed.
-Thanks to popfulmail for the link.

http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.showTodaysArticle&art_type=39

Just finished all of my online tests for Human computer Interaction [HCI].
Judging from my results I must've averaged over 90%.


RIGHT! Now for a fukkin' cup of tea.
I've still got some blogs to do and courseworks to turn in before its the season to be jolly.

[edit]
Oh shit!
http://www.songbirdocarina.com/
I WANT ONE!

brrrr
Doing research blogs and online tests has given me a headache.
My flatmate, Tom, asked me to send him some photos for a flat collage of some description.
I decided to upload them to my poorly, neglected, flickr account.
I've taken so many photos this semester and I still haven't uploaded them.
I'll do it all this Christmas I'm sure!

http://flickr.com/photos/25836267@N00/323550581/

Phew, doing extra units in this third year isn't easy. I've got a whole shed load of work to get in before Christmas break and another lot to do before we return in the new year. And yes, I mean I actually have 2 sheds to store all of my work.
Okay, I lied on the last part.

I've been letting alot of things like this livejournal slip alot and have even been missing out on shows like Lost and Dr.Who spin-off Torchwood, not to mention animes. But what I have been keeping up with is the new western animation series Avatar: The Last Air Bender.

It's a a very well animated show, to the point which puts a lot of recent Japanese animations to shame, about the 4 lands of Water, Earth, Fire and Air and the Avatar. Each land has it's own style of martial arts which gives them the power to bend the elements, thus they are called Benders. The Avatar is reincarnated every generation and is supposed to be able to bend all 4 elements. And before you ask, no they do combine to form Captain Planet :)
In this story, the Avatar vanished one day for 100 years. During this time, the Fire Nation grew into a significantly powerful military force and has slowly started to conquer the 4 lands and the Air Nomads have disappeared.
Two siblings form the Water Tribe discover a young boy, named Ang, encased in a meditative state inside a glacier in the South Pole. He seems to be the only Air Bender left - and this is where our story begins.

Here are a couple of amv links, nothing spectacular as amvs go but a good showcase of the epicness of the story and the beautiful animation quality:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dlBP9woK-M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPC2a9hsyU0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHAtG243lhk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeQkgdtu5qo
*Suprisingly some of them seem to be from the "I'M THE JUGGERNAUGHT BITCH!" guy



I also found this site for some official wallpapers and stunning backdrops:
http://wheredreamsfly.com/Wallpapers.html

Because recently people have started posting some related stuffs [and because I've wanted to make proper a post but find myself crunching on with deadlines] I'm going to post some 80s/90s nostalgia from youtube:
MONTAGE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJBsuDfqQ50
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnUfYEn506I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdCT8_BDAgc

The one show that seems to have stood the test of time, with it's beautifully animated intro and fantastic soundtrack is Thundercats
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzXEC7IIbiA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Qd_IsxgAf8
"Thundercats ho!"

This week I found out, much to my suprise, that The Mysterious Cities of Gold was in fact originally animated by Studio Perriot in Japan. This is the same animation studio responsible for the likes of Naruto, Bleach and even Hikaru no Go.
The site can be found here: http://pierrot.jp/title/esteban/
The japanese dvds are still available and a quick google search found that one fan has a small ebay enterprise in putting the old english dub track onto the japanese dvd video. Sounds like good stuff.
The old intro for linkspam's sake: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGMIgbkimtI



And finally, I am happy that one of my favorate webcomics, Sinfest, is still running.
Each strip is immediately punchy and humourous and his rants about having a stomach ache and finding heaven in a bluberry muffin are a joy to read.
If you haven't already, check it out: http://www.sinfest.net/

Looking for a brief distraction from my studies today, I stumbled across this quartet of DJ's called C2C.
They seem to be the reigning champions for the team competition @ DMC 2003/4 and 5.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP-86de-oUA

A fun little act, even if individually they may not be as great as DJ Yoda. I must remember to pick up the newest album :)

DJ Yoda vs the duelling banjos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph3sRX9SViM

Meme stolen from rachelmei and _jinjin_.
I'm worried by the concept of a "Prickly Power Ranger" and impressed by "lvl1 fighter". Knowing this party, "Bear" would always be "Pedobear" O_o'
The Special prize goes to the cojoined-twins Chris, Jon was very lovely as Madonna and it turns out that Choco was my grandfather all along.

jonathanli's Halloween party:

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Yep, its another one of those personality test questionaires memes.
linked to me by gothicmaidchii @ http://similarminds.com/global-adv.html
( Read more... )

For all those who feel like a hug and even those who don't realise they need one
- I for one, welcome more hugs -
then maybe this will be of some relevance to you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4

I do warn now. Anyone who replies to this will be eligable for a free hug
and you may get one even if you don't.
Reach out and touch another person today, tomorrow and the day after that.

gothicmaidchii has explained the concept of being "Pretentious" to me.
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Pretentious

Now I can understand the earlier responses better. My lacking writing skills gave the appearence of self-importance or an itellectual claim. That was not my intention. I meant to query instead of assert.

There was something that was troubling me and through the things which were stuck in my mind I was looking to find the answer. I posted to LJ as a means to find help in that.
Clearly, I need to learn how to ask for help properly :D

With enough thought, I think I have figured it out.
My enrolment process at uni had complications and left me in a limbo for the first few weeks, not knowning where I stood.
Eventually, it was decided that I'd be taking this year but with extra units.
The added work load shouldn't have been a problem but due to the earlier complications I've started late and have been struggling alot to catch up.
Unfortunetly, the biggest complication of all has been my student loan. The processing has become so confused and convoluted that I still haven't received it and probably won't for another 3 weeks or so.

This has been the back-breaking straw. My finances have been highly restrictive on my lifestyle to the point of affecting my diet and impacted on my health.
And even though I have the best flatmates I've ever had sofar [of which I need to post about later] I feel as though I can't go out and socialise properly because of these ties.

At the moment, a friend of mine has been looking into a testing job at Sega and I've been seriously considering taking a placement year so that I can save up and concentrate on my extra units.
Or maybe I will feel different once my loan comes in and I'll carry on with all my units [possibly doing a part-time job in retail].

Either way, my choices hinge on whether I get accepted for this job or if my loan comes through before then.
For the time being, I'm just going to have to though it out.

My student loan still hasn't come through. I could be waiting up to 3 more weeks for it.
I have 0 left on my overdraft. Thankfully, I have about £50 in my pocket to eat with (Thanks Mum, Dad!).

The last couple of days, I haven't been sleeping much [or at all]. I've had a coursework on Soft Systems Methods very early on in the course whose deadline I've been struggling to meet. I think I have a fever now :P

I did, however, take a series of micro-naps and meditation periods to sort out my thoughts.
Some pretty random ones which stuck with me and I decided to write down.
I never claimed to be a philosphical genius, I merely had a set of words and images that I'm trying to make sense of.
The negative feedback is interesting as I never expected anyone to pay much attention. I'm sure there are conclusions that could be drawn from that alone.
I don't take myself too seriously and don't expect other people too either. Some of replies have been genuinely funny and I'm even flattered by the amount of effort some people have put in.

I also sense some serious vitriol from one or two people, which leads me to beleive that there is something in their life which is upsetting them. If a person is going to experience "rage" by the mere midnight ramblings of a humble computing student, I think they need some more joy in their life. Turn your frown upside down.
Might I suggest a hug
or Anger Management
starring Jack Nicholson and Adam Sandler :)

-Purple
-Monkey
-Dishwasher

Whilst meditating tonight, some words appeared to me. Words with I have been trying to make sense of.

There are 4 points of energy:

1. The Center
2. The Root
3. The Earth
4. The Heavens

The Root extends from the Center and can be thought of as the physical layer of the body. Without the mediating extension, energy is trapped in the Center or even coccooned.

The Earth brings stability. It is where you stand and without the right footing even a tree with fall.

The Heavens are your Space, the world around you. You are as much a part of it as you are a part of the world.

But most important of all is the Center. "Everything starts with the Center" and it is only when you address things from within first that harmony is found.

Earlier today, I got an invitation to see this Art Exhibition tomorrow. Mei-Yee Man is something of a casual friend of mine and a genuinely nice person, so I'm honored to get to see some of her work. The exhibition will be running until the 27th, so I see no reason why you don't go down to see if you can :)

Good News:- A Twelth Night/Taming of the Shrew double will be showing at The Old Vic next to my halls until feb, judging from a bill-board I passed.

Bad News:- Richard Hammond, presenter of Top Gear and Brainiacs has had a near-fatal car crash [during a land-speed record attempt] and is fighting for his life right now.
The full story is already covered in my friend matt_marshall's journal entry here: http://matt-marshall.livejournal.com/7049.html
I hope that he pulls through.