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Latest News and Blog Posts from Wayne “Pendragon” Owens.
Friday 13th – triple bad look score Part 2
Today is Friday 13Th.
Don’t Panic.
It is just a stupid superstition right? In this modern technological world we have no need for ancient superstitions right? Or in this impersonal online world are we more in need of reminders of things beyond our comprehension?
Did you also realise we are in the 13th year of this century? SO that makes :-
Today is Friday 13th 2013.
DON’T PANIC!!
Here is a fun fact for you. Did you know that this 13th year of this century will have two Friday 13th’s in it? and that they will be 13 weeks apart?
FRAK IT, PANIC!!!
Doctor Who?
Doctor Who is a Timelord, and as it’s been stated many times over the years TimeLords can regenerate 12 times. It is a fixed number! Now counting the original Form + 12 Regenerations A time lord basically has 13 Lives. After that he is no more, Unless like the Master he steals other people bodies, or other such things to keep living. This is set in stone Doctor Who cannon “Twelve Regeneration”
Some people were starting to worry that with Matt Smith stepping down we were running out of the number of regenerations left to the Doctor, which would then lead to major problems when future actors step down.
Then to make matters more interesting Moffat Slipped in a New Regeneration. We never saw Paul McGann (8th) regenerate into Christopher Eccleston (9th). Now we find out that there was a regeneration between them “The War Doctor” the incarnation the Doctor hides even from himself. So from 9 upwards we now have to add 1. Mr Smith goes from 11th Doctor to 12th. We are still ok for the Xmas regeneration since there can be 13!
BUT. Tennant used up a regeneration to save off death after being shot by a Dalek. Which makes Mr Smith the 13th and final Doctor. (A lot of people were saying the Tennant extra regeneration did not count, since he did not change form. Moffat has now admitted that it does count and Mr Smith is the 13th)
Doctors:
| 1st Doctor | William Hartnell | |
| 2nd Doctor | Patrick Troughton | 1st Regeneration |
| 3rd Doctor | Jon Pertwee | 2nd Regeneration |
| 4th Doctor | Tom Baker | 3rd Regeneration |
| 5th Doctor | Peter Davison | 4th Regeneration |
| 6th Doctor | Colin Baker | 5th Regeneration |
| 7th Doctor | Sylvester McCoy | 6th Regeneration |
| 8th Doctor | Paul McGann | 7th Regeneration |
| War Doctor | John Hurt | 8th Regeneration |
| 9th Doctor | Christopher Eccleston | 9th Regeneration |
| 10th Doctor | David Tennant | 10th & 11th Regeneration |
| 11th Doctor | Matt Smith | 12th Regeneration |
| 12th Doctor | Peter Capaldi | ???????? |
So how are they going to fix it?
First off lets remind ourselves why there is a limit to the number of times a Timelord can regenerate. It has been stated that a Timelord has a fixed amount of regeneration energy inside them, enough for 12 regenerations. Although it can be used for other stuff, like The Doctor using a small part of it to repair rivers broken hand in the Daleks take Manhattan.
1: Sisterhood of Karn
The writers could have claimed the “War Doctor” did not use up a regeneration since the Sisterhood of Karn held off his death and gave him a choice of what he wanted to be. And they are the keepers of the Flame of Eternity. This would only give them one extra regeneration, so not a good long term solution. +1 Regerneration.
3: Bad Wolf
Another option they could pick (And we know how they like going back to Rose/Bad Wolf). When Rose took the Time Vortex inside herself and became the Bad Wolf Girl she had silly amounts of power (Technical Term). She ended the timewar by turning all the surviving Dalek’s to dust (Even though they returned several more times since) And she brought Captain Jack Harkness back from the dead so well she made him immortal. It would have been very easy for her to have topped up the Doc’s energy store, reset it to full. Or even make it never run out. Unlimited Regenerations.
4: River Song
This would be my preferred solution, and the one I would pick myself if i was the writer. In the episode “Let’s Kill Hitler” She poisons the Doctor with a kiss. The poision not only kills within an hour but DNA locks out his ability to regenerate. She then relents and kisses him again, using up all of her future regenerations to save the Doctor. Now it has been revealed in past episodes a Timelord can give up their regeneration energy to other people, but it will leave them basically human and no longer a Timelord (Which happens to River). If I was writing it, I would have the poison have wiped out all the Doctors remaining regenerations, but Rivers energy being available to him. We know she regenerated at least twice, plus power needed to save the Doctor means a possible nine left. +9 Regenerations.
I am not a fan of the idea of giving the doctor unlimited regenerations, it would make him reckless and take out and risks from future episodes. But 9 more? That is a nice number. And it allows for the possible future Valeyard (The Dark future incarnation believed to be between his 12th and final regeneration) And also from the hints given by the Curator (Tom Baker) that in the future the Doctor may look again at old favourite faces. And his implication that he is a future version of the Doctor.
Whatever the writers decide. The Xmas special should be interesting!
Customers are Special
So the other day the Support Guys were a bit confused over a request in the Ticketing system.
Subject: Website URL’s
Please could you set the following websites to point to IP 192.168.123.2
www.******.co.uk
www.******.co.uk
www.******..co.uk
www.******..co.uk
www.******..co.uk
www.******..co.uk******= to protect identity.
The more observant amongst you will have noticed that is a Local IP address, and if Websites are pointed at it they will not work for anyone else in the world. So We queried the IP, and asked them to double check.
Imagine our surprise when they responded telling us that was what their IT company was saying needed to be done, or they would not be able to create email accounts on the exchange server.
Yes. Apparently an IT form needed websites pointing to a 192.168. Local address before they could create new accounts on an Exchange server on a different IP range/network.
This leads us to a conflict of interest.
Professionalism V “The Customer is always Right”
Friday 13th – triple bad look score Part 1
Today is Friday 13Th.
Don’t Panic.
It is just a stupid superstition right? In this modern technological world we have no need for ancient superstitions right? Or in this impersonal online world are we more in need of reminders of things beyond our comprehension?
Did you also realise we are in the 13th year of this century? SO that makes :-
Today is Friday 13th 2013.
DON’T PANIC!!
Here is a fun fact for you. Did you know that this 13th year of this century will have two Friday 13th’s in it? and that they will be 13 weeks apart?
FRAK IT, PANIC!!!
Wrexham Gets Super Prison
So it’s been announced today that Wrexham has “WON” and we are to get the UK’s first Massive Super Prison. This is a similar “Winning” to when you go to get checked out at the VD clinic and “WIN” a course of treatment.
Wrexham as a town has been declining for a while, there are almost as many closed shops as there are open ones, and there are barley enough stalls in the three Indoor markets to actually fill one.
On top of all this, with a spate of bad press and none flattering headlines, several campaigns have started to try and change Wrexham for the better, and improve public opinion.
All of this is now Pointless, since with the Super Prison coming to Wrexham, public opinion will just associate the Name Wrexham with Prison. So Wrexham is doomed. UNLESS
I heard a rumour that because Wrexham is already mostly closing down, and has a poor public reputation, that they were just going to build a big wall around Wrexham. I believe the Prison architects cited Case studies of “NewYork” “L.A.” “Arkham Asylum” as good examples of a cheap easy way to build a super Prison.
In related news Paramount Pictures to start work on a new Snake Plissken film.
When is a Troll not a Troll?
When its a Bully.
The Internet is full of terms and names that date way back into the mists of Internet-Time, when all these sites were tree’s and the Internet Denizens roamed and grazed in peace. A Time when you could use a term like “Hacker” or “Spod” or “Newbie” and people would know exactly what it meant.
But alas, we now live in a time where the Net has been bulldozed down to make way for cheap malls, and playgrounds, The Denizens have scattered and hide in reservations trying to maintain and uphold the rich history of their land.
But keeping hold of the True meaning of Net-Speak, Terms and names is getting harder and harder as the general media keep doing poorly researched articles misusing Net-Terms. And then the newer Net-Denizens think that’s the real meaning of the terms, and Ignorance of the poorly researched articles is propagated.
Reporters, stop jumping on terms for the wow factor to increase the affect of your poor articles. Take for instance the term “Hacker” it used to mean something, a badge of respect implying a certain level of knowledge or skill, but now? All the press have been on about for the last year or so is the “Phone Hacking Scandals” Hacking? Some people dialled the voice-mail phone number and listened to recorded messages, something anyone can do because no one ever sets their password. Really you think someone who can’t use a computer but who can make a phone call is a Hacker?
Learn the meaning of the words you use….
Now we have loads and loads about “Trolls” Now the Denizens will tell you something along the lines of someone posting a comment/message/etc in the attempt to catch someone into a fight, flame war, or to simply hijack a legitimate thread/conversation. (Based on the term “Trolling”: Trolling may describe the fishing technique of slowly dragging a lure or baited hook from a moving boat”), the best way to deal with these people is to ignore them because without attention the go away, hence the oft used phrase “do not feed the trolls”
But, the popular press has decided the name Troll relates to anyone bullying others on-line. So if someone gets a death threat they are being trolled, Err. No, they are being bullied and threatened and the person doing the threats should be hit with the full force of the law for bullying or threatening behaviour!
There are calls for new laws to be made to deal with “trolls” but WHY? we already have laws against people making threats? ignore the fact its online, deal with the base crime as if the person had sent them a note with the threat. Giving the Bullies the name Troll is making it seem like a lesser crime, as if “Oh they only threatened them online”
Its like stealing a car and driving it around really fast damaging the car, we call it “Joy Riding”? that makes it sound fun and ok. It should be called “theft, vandalism, etc”
WORDS HAVE POWER
So can we please start referring to things and people for what they really are, and stop trying to mutate existing net-terms because it makes better print in a newspaper story?
They are not Trolls.
They are Cowards, Bully’s.
They are guilty of threatening behaviour.
Lets stop giving them a badge of honour. I have heard people boast “Oh I trolled X good”
Lets call them what they are, Lets hold them up to the light of day and say “you are a bully” and deal with them accordingly.
P.S.
DO NOT FEED THE TROLLS.
Article: The Road Magazine – 3 Day Tour of Wales
I had a very small article published in the MAG (Motorcycle Action Group) Magazine “The Road” Issue #48. The article is on the Combat Stress Charity 3 day Bike tour of Wales we ran this year.
For those of you unaware, we organised a 3 day circuit of Wales on motorcycles in aid of the charity Combat Stress. Basically it was a no-brainer. Get a large group of people who love Motorcycles, ride around Wales stopping off at various places, and having a few drinks overnight. Then get those people to gather sponsorship, and to pay a fee to come along, and you end up raising thousands for charity.
Ride for Combat Stress
On the 3rd May 2013 a group of bikers from all over the UK met up in Connah’s Quay, North Wales for a three day sponsored tour of Wales for the benefit of the military charity Combat Stress.
While the event was organised by Freemasons who are bikers, it ‘was open to all, and about 40 bikes made the run,
The tour started off from the Masonic Lodge at Connah’s Quay where they were waved off by Lord and Lady Barry Jones.
The Bikers followed the coastline of North Wales, with a quick stop over in Anglesey, before continuing down the coast to Aberystwyth where they spent the night, also throwing an impromptu live music concert in the nearest pub to where they were staying.
The second day saw them continuing along the coast of Wales, visiting Swansea and Cardiff where they met Falklands veteran Simon Weston. Then it was on to Brecon where they stopped for the second night, before heading north through Wales on the final leg of their tour, ending up where they started in Connah’s Quay, after a trip of 550 miles spread over three Days.
Between sponsorship, Lodge donations and the end of tour entertainment evening, over £15,500 was raised all of which went to Combat Stress since everyone taking part paid for their own petrol, food, and accommodation.
Combat Stress is the leading UK charity specialising in the care of veterans’ mental health ‘They are currently supporting just over 5,000 ex- Service men and women. This includes 637 who served in Iraq and 284 who served in Afghanistan.
Funny Support Emails – Apple Sucks”
Dear Constant Reader,
I got into the Insane Asylum this morning to find the following email on your support system, and it was too amusing not to share 😉
Enjoy!
F*cking iPhones. His iPad has exactly the same settings as his iPhone. iPad connects and retrieves email. iPhone does not. Have advised him to test it against a brick wall.
iShit really is the spawn of the Devil. You would NOT believe the problems I have with them (or perhaps you might). Wi-fi connection seems a favourite one. Happy to connect to one AP but not another (same manuf, same encrypt etc…).
They are as shi**y as a very shi**y thing.
You can tell I’m not happy.
Ps. Until a few months ago I had a mac. Just for testing purposes. I need blood pressure medication and I had to get rid of it for medical reasons. The day some dork won the eBay bid was one of the happiest of my life…
50 Questions
Last weekend I found a Questionnaire Meme thing. Basically it was 50 Random Questions which I answered over the two days of the weekend, and I thought I would share it here.
1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
UG!… Need coffee. Also I should Shave.
2. How much cash do you have on you?
On my person?
Zero. I emptied my pockets when I got back from the Supermarket, and I have no cash on me, since it is all over there *POINTS*…
3. What’s a word that rhymes with DOOR?
Whore!
Don’t judge me!!!!
4. Favorite planet?
I am going to say Pluto. Because Pluto will always be a planet to me, and you other Hipster planets who won’t let Pluto into your group can kiss Pluto’s rocky arse!
5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone?
My Office Phone. I believe I was testing some forwarding rules.
6. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone?
Well My ring tone is currently “Nerds are King by SFO” But I fancy changing it to Dance Macabre.
7. What shirt are you wearing?
2600, HOPE t-shirt
8. Do you label yourself?
I tried to label myself once, but the labels kept falling off and then my boss shouted I was wasting all the labels from the label maker. ;-(
9. Name the brand of the shoes you’re currently wearing?
I have no idea.
10. Bright or Dark Room?
Depends on what I am doing. But I would go more for the Dark room, I am a Goth you know.
11. What do you think about the person who took this survey before you?
What? You mean I am not the first?
12. What does your watch look like?
Which one? I have a silver pocket watch for formal wear, 3 fancy wrist watches, and even an Android watch that controls my phone (Geeky!!)
13. What were you doing at midnight last night?
Watching Criminal Minds. And wanting the computer set-up the analyst has.
14. What did your last text message you received on your cell say?
“She lending Georgia money lol. I can pick it up later if u got it? I need her jar money too!! chocking on nut! Dad told g she was drunk x”
15. Where is your nearest 7-11?
No idea, Do not think we have 7-11′s in Wales. Nearest convenience store is in Rhosllanerchrugog, which is about a mile that way *POINTS*.
16. What’s a word that you say a lot?
the
17. Who told you he/she loved you last?
I have no idea. I honestly can not remember.
And now I haz all the feels.
18. Last furry thing you touched?
My Dog Max.
19. How many drugs have you done in the last three days?
Caffeine (LOTS) Alcohol (Moderate)
20. How many rolls of film do you need developed?
One that I recently found in a draw that must be 11+ years old. I tend to use digital cameras.
21. Favorite age you have been so far?
25. Well mid 20′s really.
22. Your worst enemy?
All those people who are stopping me from fulfilling my primary goal in life. The total domination of the world. They are my enemies and they will all fail, once my orbiting space laser is complete they shall all bow down before me!!!!!
23. What is your current desktop picture?
Well Since I am typing this on my laptop, I guess we will go with that its a yellow cross and bones hackers wall paper.
24. What was the last thing you said to someone?
“wooo, hold up, you phoned the wrong Wayne again.”
25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be?
A million pounds please. Flying would grow old, and how far could you travel really? and carry stuff? A million pound would make me much happier!
26. Do you like someone?
I do not like anyone.
I am a grump old man, and you people can get off my Internet now!!!
27. The last song you listened to?
“your friend Wil” By MC Frontalot
28. What time of day were you born?
LOL. Are you taking the piss or what? Narrow the time of my birth to an actual time? or part of the day?
I know I was born sometime between the start of October 31st and the end of November 2nd. I am not sure of the actual day I was born on, let alone time of day. ;-(
29. What’s your favorite number?
42
30. Where did you live in 1987?
Maes Teg, Pen-Y-Cae, Rhosllanerchrugog
31. Are you jealous of anyone?
Yes. Wil Wheaton whose job is to play games with cool people. That is his job people, HIS JOB!!!
32. Is anyone jealous of you?
I do not know. Maybe people are Jealous of my extremely high IQ, or my total awesomeness, or maybe my fantastic Modesty? I do not know, Some have claimed Jealousy over my flirting with celebrities on Twitter, but..
I doubt anyone is jealous of me.
33. Where were you when 9/11 happened?
I was on a training course, I got a text saying “GET NEWS ON NOW” and I was able to get online and watch what was happening.
34. What do you do when vending machines steal your money?
Cry Havok and let loose the hounds of war!
Or, calmly look at the machine, and use secret Ninja-Hacker ways of getting my money back, or the item I was trying to purchase.
35. Do you consider yourself kind?
Yes, but at the same time No!
36. If you had to get a tattoo, where would it be?
A cool dragon on my shoulder. Since I’ve been using Dragons as online Avatars since the very early 90′s.
37. If you could be fluent in any other language, what would it be?
Japanese.
38. Would you move for the person you loved?
Yes.
39. Are you touchy feely?
Not normally, but when in love, Yes.
40. What’s your life motto?
I have many. In fact there used to be a Website of “Pen’s Laws”
-
-
- It aint easy being an egomaniac with an inferiority complex
- If you are not living life on the edge, you are taking up to much space.
- Do unto others as they would do unto you. But do it first!
- Rules are made to be broken.
- If they are under 16 they are protected by law, Over 60 by Nature, anything in between is fair game.
- The rat race is mainly for rats, so make sure you are the person in the white coat. Its a lot less stressful.
- Try anything at least once..
- Don’t get Mad. Get Even!!
- When Threatened do the opposite of what they want.
-
41. Name three things that you have on you at all times?
Phone, Swiss-army Key, Glasses
42. What’s your favourite town/city?
Birmingham?
43. What was the last thing you paid for with cash?
Cornish Pasty & a coffee (Just got back from the Ponderosa)
44. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it?
Write? Paper & Pen? Sheesh? That would be, 1997/98 Ish and it was a letter to a friend in Staff’s Uni.
We are in the email era now!
45. Can you change the oil on a car?
Yes. I have a Degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering, I am a highly Qualified Electrician, I once stripped and rebuilt a Motorbike, after a fire based incident!
I can do the Engineering things when I have to. But normally get a mechanic to do the work for me.
46. Your first love: what is the last thing you heard about him/her?
She got married.
47. How far back do you know about your ancestry?
A long way back. My ancestors come from a small part of Wales that was thrice cursed by Monks, and is described in a papal decree as the most unholiest place on earth.
48. The last time you dressed fancy, what did you wear and why did you dress fancy?
Err, Last Monday I was in full suit & waistcoat, etc at the Installation meeting of the Holy Royal Arch Chapter I am a member of.
49. Does anything hurt on your body right now?
Nope. Not a thing.
50. Have you been burned by love?
Yes, Both emotionally, and Physically (there was a candle based incident!)
This Article was originally from the 100 Days Blog
One for sorrow, Two for Joy
One for sorrow,
Two for joy,
Three for a girl,
Four for a boy,
Five for silver,
Six for gold,
Seven for a secret never to be told.
OK, So we are all aware of the Magpie fortune telling poem. “What do you mean you have no idea what I am on about?” Right for a primer go read this “Greetings Mr Magpie. One for Sorrow…” I will wait here for you while you do.
***Time Passes***
OK, So we are NOW all aware of the Magpie fortune telling poem, But I have some Questions relating to it.
1) How do you count the Magpies?
You see a magpie by itself and you go “ONE”, Then you see another one and go “TWO” but? Is it two or is it two single Magpies?
2) Is there a set area in which to count the Magpies?
If there are two or more Magpies standing next to each other then the counting is obvious. But what if there are say two Magpies together and a third three foot away, does it count?
3) Do you count based on the Photograph affect?
If when you saw the first Magpie and in your mind took a photograph do you count all the Magpie’s you can see at that minute. So if a second or two later you see another Magpie does that count to the total score or do you start recounting.
4) Do you count based on a time frame?
So after the first Magpie is spotted does a timer start, and you count every Magpie you see in the follow few seconds? Does it go by blinking?
Hopefully its blinking, because I can go a long time between blinks. This would allow me to cheat and not blink until I hit a score that is beneficial to me.
5) How does multiples count?
OK. so you have your counting rules fixed in your mind. And you see a Magpie (ONE) then a short while again you see another Magpie (ONE) now, which of the three options does this count as?
a) Fortune is confirming that you are in for Sorrow
b) You are going to have two lots of sorrow
c) Your sorrow is now going to be twice as bad
This may seem a bit of an odd thing to contemplate, but its for a very very good reason. “Three for a Girl” If we can get the rules agreed on (go for blinking) I could fix it so I always get to count Magpies as being three, then if I can get two lots of three Then according to (5b) I would get a threesome, more than two lots of three and we are in for an orgy!