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Latest News and Blog Posts from Wayne “Pendragon” Owens.
Joining a new Lodge (Wrexhamian 6715)
I have finally decided on my new Lodge.
I have been visiting multiple lodges in the Wrexham area, trying to decide which will be my new Masonic Lodge. I have finally selected the right one, and this evening I became a member. The Lodge is Wrexhamian 6815. And the reason I selected this lodge?
- Well firstly it meets on a Friday night, which means no work the following morning so it makes staying back and having a few drinks easier.
- Secondly staying back, is another reason to pick Wrexhamian. After the festive board, the members and visitors (There is always dozens of visitors) all sit in the bar drinking and chatting until the early hours.
- Thirdly, the ritual is excellent, the members friendly, and it’s meetings are the most fun I have had in a Lodge for many years.
I am looking forward to my time in Wrexhamian Lodge.
The 11 Questions Meme
I got tagged in one of those blog-meme type things…
And since I always try to be as helpful as I can, I have decided to complete it.
So here goes nothing!
1. Are you a cat or dog or bird person?
Dog person. Dog’s are cool, loyal, a man’s best friend. They go for walks with you, play fetch, and can do loads of fun things. Cats just sit and watch you, waiting for you to show the slightest sign of weakness and then they will pounce and eat your eyes!!!. And Birds? what use is a pet in a cage? Are Bird people just people with secret zoo owner fetishes? So defiantly Dogs…
(This answer was written of my own free will, and my dog in no means forced me into my answer)
2. What was your favorite food as a kid? Is it the same, or has it changed as an adult?
I can not remember?
Chips, Burger? No my mothers home made butterscotch flan thing.
And yes, it is still my favourite. I have a very sweet tooth.
3. What is your favourite hobby?
Reading, I love nothing more than setting into a good book.
Although I do love playing Games (I am a self-confessed gamer) so maybe I should have two answers Reading & Gaming.
Although I do like watching TV/Films, but not as much as Reading/Gaming. But then there is writing.
NO!!! I am decided my favourite hobby is Reading/Gaming.
4. If you HAD to move to a different state (or country) where would it be?
Well If I had to move to a different country I think I would pick the States, they have all the best Conventions, and some places have decent weather. I am not sure which state I would pick? Since I have never yet been to the States so have nothing much to base my choices on. Maybe I should play safe and stay in the UK, somewhere like Scotland or Ireland?
I think my answer would have to be based on the reason I had to move. If I am running from the Government I may need to move to a country without an extradition treaty with the UK.
5. Are you a winter or summer person?
That is a very hard question to answer.
There is nothing better than being indoors in front of a roaring fire either reading a good book, or enjoying good company while the outside is blanketed under thick snow. And you have to admit a blanket of snow makes even the most run-down environment look wonderful. So my answer should be Winter.
But… In the summer you have the warmth, the light, women wear a hell of a lot less *eyebrow wiggle*. So summer has its advantages, so….
If you were to threaten me at gunpoint to pick just one answer, I would probably stab you in the eye with a pencil, and then move to one of the places I mentioned in question 4. Nothing personal you understand but I do not like being threatened at gunpoint!. err oh the question. I will have to go Winter.
6. What makes you happy?
To crush my enemies — See them driven before me, and to hear the lamentation of their women!
7. What is the weirdest question you’ve ever been asked?
I was once asked by a stranger “Hi, are you the person I promised a chocolate covered dog treat too?”
That is a true story. A large group of us were going out for drinks on the eve of Christmas Eve, and someone I had never met came up to me holding a wrapped Christmas gift and asked that question.
8. If you had to go on an adventure, with elves, dwarves, or hobbits, who would you take and why?
Since there does not seem to be a limit on the number of people I can take with me in my party.
For wisdom and magical backup :-
Gandalf, Dumbledore, Vanyel, Dr Strange, Ged, Merlin, Raistlin Majere & Harry Dresden.
For muscle and fighting :-
Achilles, Lancelot, Elric, Geralt, Conan, Aragon, The Hulk, Superman, & Batman.
And I guess for research, stores, and improvised equipment :-
McGyvur, The Mythbusters, Sherlock, Hermione & R2D2.
Oh and you always need the one comic relief person :-
Deadpool!
9. You are at a rural retreat lodge somewhere deep in Wisconsin or Canada. You are approached by a taxidermist who hands you a stuffed badger and asks you to put it in your lap. What do you do next?
I would start by wondering just what kind of retreat I was in where random taxidermists wander about with stuffed badgers.
If the taxidermist was a man I would probably ask him what he was up to and depending on his answer comply or not.
BUT if said taxidermist was female I would wink and say “of course you can rest your stuffed beaver on my lap but what shall we do with the badger?”
10. What was your first job?
Apprentice Electrician, I went from school to training to become an Electrician.
11. What is your favorite utensil?
I take back my answer for Question 7. This is possibly the weirdest question I have even been asked, with that stuffed badger one coming in at second place.
Ok favourite utensil…
I guess I would have to go with…
The Dragon Throne!!!! Ha, did not see that one coming did you? Now before you start protesting the Dragon Throne which was the rhetorical seat of power in the Empire of China is also called the divine utensil. “Boom, headshot“
The Year That Was – 2013
Its that time of year again.
Where I look back over the previous year and answer the same 40 questions.
1. What did you do in 2013 that you’d never done before?
OK, New things :-
- Joined Rose Croix, and all things associated.
- Installed my Successor into the chair of King Solomon, and became an IPM.
- Saw a good friend get put into the Chair of KS.
- Arranged to meet up with an Author for private book singing.
- Became a Committee Member for a Charity Event.
- Missed a Lodge Committee meeting for the 1st time since I joined the committee (7 Years ago).
- Got a Shout out on Planet Rock Radio!!
2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I Have stopped setting Resolutions for myself as I have discovered that I am really crap at sticking to them. But I have discovered over the last few years I am better at completing challenges, so that is what I do instead.
Last year was the 23 in 13. And in 2014 I will set myself another challenge for the Year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
I do not think so. I do not recall anyone going on about babies, or any really big women suddenly becoming slim again. SO I will have to answer NO to this one.
Although, my eldest Nephews partner is pregnant So it is just a matter of time.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No one close, but a few Lodge Brothers passed to the Grand Lodge Above.
5. What countries did you visit?
Just England, But I did go to Bala and I think that should be counted as its own country.
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
Tricky Question. Err Enthusiasm, True Love 
Or a Long term relationship with an Intelligent Woman, A plan, Enthusiasm, Pay Rise, An easy year in Lodge, A Presented Paper, Enthusiasm. Oh and an Intern/PA.
7. What dates from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
- Jun 19th – Joining Rose Croix.
- Nov 7th – Finally leaving the chair of KS.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finally escaping the Chair of KS. It was a very close thing.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not getting more stuff of my ToDo List done.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
ManFlu, that most deadly and fatal of all known illnesses.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Hard one. Nothing really stands out.
Damn this means I did not get myself a new Toy in 2013!
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My JW, for stepping forward and volunteering to take over Mastership of my Lodge even though he knew he was not ready for the responsibility.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
I can not think of any off hand, So will say bigoted people in general.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Toys (Gadgets & Games) And Petrol for commuting.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Getting a break from being WM, as you can probably tell from previous answers.
16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
“The Loophole” By Garfunkel and Oates.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
- a) happier or sadder? Happier.
- b) thinner or fatter? Fatter (6 Christmas Dinners).
- c) richer or poorer? Richer.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Falling in Love, Writing, Following my Dreams, Conquering the World, Finding a cure for the common cold and blackmailing people for the cure,
You know, the simple pleasures in life.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? .
Putting things off, In 2014 I plan to do things when I think of it, as apposed to putting it off till later.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With the Family. Family Christmas Dinner at my Parents place on Christmas Day, Then Boxing day its a free for all there, with dozens of extended family turning up to eat, drink and play games!
21. What was your favourite month of 2013?
I may as well continue the current trend.
November for finally leaving the Chair of KS.
22. Did you fall in love in 2013?
Alas No. I am high functioning Sociopath.
23. How many one-night stands?
One night stands? None (I’m a gentleman! And a gentleman never sleeps & tells).
24. What was your favourite TV programme?
- Dracula.
- Haven.
- How I Met Your Mother.
- Mentalist.
- Arrow.
- Agents of Shield.
To name but a few.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
You know what? NO! I do not believe I hate anyone this year that I did not hate previously. Maybe I am growing as a person, becoming more enlightened?
Or is everyone already on THE LIST.
26. What was the best book you read?
The Third Kingdom by Terry Goodkind.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
It was more of a rediscover, But I would say Garfunkel and Oates.
28. What did you want and get?
To become IPM, To have more Published books, To Join Rose Croix.
29. What did you want and not get?
Enthusiasm, Love, Slaves A PA/Intern, A new House.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Hard one to pick, 2013 had loads of good films. But At this moment I would have to say, The Wolverine.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I celebrated it with my family, and I was the answer to Life the Universe and Everything.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not being the only Full time Inmate at the Asylum, A long lasting Relationship, More enthusiasm, Warmth, The Sun.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
It has been the coldest year on Record (My Own Records) So mostly Cargo Pants (I like the extra pockets) Jumpers, and in work Coats.
Oh and suits, because suits are awesome…… True story.
34. What kept you sane?
Well I still have the magic stone from the other year that I purchased off a traveling merchant that keeps away tigers & insanity.
On a serious note, Friends bother the Real Life variety and the Net (Twitter/G+/Facebook) varieties.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I have had to re-add Kaylee from FireFly as I have just completed a Firefly & Serenity re-watch.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
None, I don’t do politics.
37. Who did you miss?
No one. “ high functioning Sociopath” Remember? Remember? from Question 22?.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I do not recall actually meeting any new people this year, Well none that have stood apart from the crowd. So I shall just say New Interesting Twitter People!
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013?.
The rat race is mainly for rats, so make sure you are the person in the white coat. Its a lot less stressful.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
We’re laughing and talking and the drinks are flowing
And I’m liking the direction this night is going
But then I look up and something has changed
Everyone around us looks fucking deranged
Conversations with Customers
Wayne Owens: “Hello!”
Customer: “Hi, I am on holiday…..”
WO: *interrupting* “You phoned up to tell us you’re on holiday? that’s a bit of a Dick move isn’t it?”
C: “What?? No I’m on Holiday at the minute……”
WO: *Interrupting again* “So you thought you would phone us to rub it in, thanks…”
C: “but…”
WO: *Interrupting and speaking to DemonPengu who was in the room* “Hey, this is great, he’s phoned up just to boast he is on holiday the git!!”
C: “No i didn’t….”
DP: “Who is it?”
WO: *To DP* “X from X”
C: “hello???? I’m still here”
DP: *speaking loudly at the phone* “GIT!!!”
C: “hey, I’m on holiday but customers keep phoning”
WO: “They do that.”
C: “Yes, it’s annoying”
WO: “Yes it is, you are trying to do something and they keep phoning you, and they are always whining about some trivial thing or another”
C: “exactly. it’s very annoying…….” *Pauses as he realises in this conversation he is the whining customer* “err, anyway they have broke their emails, can you disable SPF checks for them for now”
WO: “Not a problem, just drop the request to us on an email, we need a paper trail”
C: “But I’m on holiday? everything’s shut down for xmas, can’t you just do it.”
WO: “Yes, as soon as I get an email request I can do it.”
C: “Come on, don’t be an arse”
WO: “says the guy who phoned us to boast he was on holiday”
*INSERT 10 minutes general grumbling as he goes to turn on his home computer, logs into his work account to send the request all the time insulting me*
C: “Right, I sent the bloody request, when will you be able to do the change?”
WO: “Oh that, I did it 15 minutes ago when you first asked.”
C: “AAAAARRRRRSEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!”
CN: “Happy Holidays!”
Dear Constant Reader I should point out that the customer in this conversation is one who often laughs and jokes around with us here, and often phones me for advice/help with his personal engineering/electronic/computing projects.
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.