Blog Posts:
Latest News and Blog Posts from Wayne “Pendragon” Owens.
The Swiss Army CodeNinja
Its been a while since I have vented my spleen on here about the things that go on at the Asylum. So I thought I would take some time out and have a little “Vent“.
I was originally hired at the Asylum as a Developer, and advanced my way up the ranks to Head of Development, then after an asylum wide reshuffle I relocated to the Systems Department as a Linux Sys.Admin.
Now I occasionally get thrown small development jobs are are complicated or in a rush, which is fine as we all like to help each other out. Only now its getting a bit silly.
I’m thrown Dev job after Dev job and told theres more coming in (am I a dev again?)
Then “Oh can you just make some android apps for layar?” (I know nothing about phone dev, and not done any programing in many many years)
Followed by “I’ve ordered a Mac Mini, so you can start on making some layar based iPhone apps now” (Ignoring the facts 1)I’ve never used a mac 2)I know nothing about using mac’s or mac software & 3) I know nothing about programing iPhones)
Now I’ve been asked to take part in a conference call to deal with a customer who’s website is bringing down the windows server its hosted on to discuss best ways of resolving these issues. (err I barley use Windows as a user unless I really have to, and that’s normal windows, I know nothing about Windows servers. I think our Windows Server guy would have been a better choice for this call)
And that’s just this week.
So here I am, your friendly neighbourhood Swiss-army CodeNinja
Modern Warfare Camping V Running
Modern Warfare2 (MW2) is the sixth instalment in the Call of Duty (COD) Series. And its a game I’ve been playing a bit of recently, since it is the lowest common denominator among the group of :- PlanetPete, CampyPhil, MIAdave, StabbyJason & Myself. And since we’ve been playing private matches a lot, I’ve been plying TDM online to unlock better weapons/perks.
Playing online I have noticed the voice channel is now mostly filled with insults, threats, and abuse (a lot more than it ever used to be). And its all aimed in the same direction. Against anyone staying in one spot (Camping) or using sniper rifles, or scopes, thermal, claymores, or any tactic or action that is not just running around with a high unlocked gun and shooting (Run N’ Gun)
Now the main contention seems to be, that if you do anything other than Run N’ Gun you are 1)Cheating, 2)Not playing the Game correctly, 3)Scum, 4)A noob, 5)INSERT ANY DEROGATORY TERM, 6)Not worth playing with, 7)etc. And you should just quit playing the game since your cheating is ruining it for everyone else. All this with more filth and swear words than I ever heard working on building sites.
This abuse has got me thinking. If snipers, scopes, thermal, are cheating and are not to be used then why does the game have these weapons, accessories, & perks? Why in the default class list you are given is there a sniper? since you can not Run N’ Gun with a sniper rifle?
Also why is anyone not doing the Run N’ Gun wrong? the game is set up to handle multiple types of game play. Some people like running about and shooting when they see people mindlessly, where as other people prefer the more stealthy killing of snipers, knives, etc. Why is either one wrong? the games Modern Warfare, and warfare has many ways?
So can we please just accept everyone plays games in different ways, and just get along, If you keep getting killed by a Camper when you run into one building, stop running in, try throwing a grenade, or run about another part of the map.
The one that gets me is I’ve seen some of these people who verbally abuse campers until they quit the game, hide in a corner and shoot people then a bit later run to a different corner and hide to shoot people, well is that not “Camping“?
So people, we are all gamers, lets learn to play nice together, and if it really bugs you people using the weapons, perks, & tactics the game providers, then maybe you should find a different FPS that does not have those weapons and go play there, and let those of us who don’t mind what tactics people use to be able to play the game without listening to the abuse.
Footnote:
I’m adding this out of fairness, I do like the sniper in COD, I like sneaky, stealthy, clever kills. I like using my brain, and I remember my ACF training, “see without being seen, kill without being killed“. But saying that, I have 1of5 classes set up as a sniper, the other 4 are run n’ gun classes, so I play both, and I don’t mind what other people do.
Hell, maybe we should start accusing those with huge HD TV’s as cheating as they can see better than those with small old TV’s?
From The Bookshelf: Blacklands
‘Dear Mr Avery,
I am looking for WP. Can you help me?
Sincerely,
SL, 111 Barnstaple Road, Shipcott, Somerset.’
He was only twelve, he reasoned; he couldn’t be expected to get stuff like writing to serial killers right first time.
Belinda Bauer
Blacklands is the début novel by Belinda Bauer, and as first books go you cant do better then having it become an International Bestseller, and winning the The Crime Writers Association Gold Dagger award for Best Crime Novel of the Year.
But what about the story itself?The story is from the point of twelve year old Steven, who lives with his younger brother, downtrodden mother, and obsessed grandmother in an old mouldy, damp house. He’s bulled in school, and only has one friend (Who really isn’t that good a friend at the start of the book). Basically his life sucks!
The reason he ascribes to this suck-age is that his uncle disappeared as a very young child, believed to be the victim of a serial child molester, and burred somewhere on the Exeter moors. Every day his Grandmother just sits looking out the window hoping for the child’s return.
So he decides to get closure for his family by finding the body of his uncle (Who’s room is untouched, with even a half built lego space station on the floor). To this end Steven spends all his out of school time, digging on the moor’s in the hope of finding the body. That is until he hits on the great idea of writing to the imprisoned Avery and ask him where the bodies burred.
This leads to a psychological cat and mouse game played out in coded letters between the twelve year old child and the child molester. This game ends when Avery finds out the age of Steven and stages a break out to go get one last thrill.
That is the basic outline of the book, without giving away any of the plot details. I have to say that its well written, you find yourself drawn into the story at a fast rate, even to the point of creating emotional attachments to the characters. You find yourself hating some of the honest characters, feeling sorry for one of the inmates at the prison, and then having your belief in human nature returned and rebuilt at the end of the book.
Hell any book that gives you a tug of the heart strings over someone knitting a pair of socks is one you know is well written, and defiantly worth a read. I will say its the first book I have read in years that got me actually involved and invested in what happens to the people in the story. And I am looking forward to reading Belinda’s next book.
If you wake up in the morning with your body drained dry of blood, you’ll be afraid of the dark
This morning I had a “Quick” 9am appointment at the local hospital for a cursory check that my recent Vampiric eye illness was fully cleared and all doing ok.
That was the plan, but we all know what they say of the best laid plans, and how they often “Gang aft agley,”
So here I sit, drained dry of blood, with a bruised arm, after hours of tests. I believe they have decided to run every test they could think off, including some I think they made up on the spot to try and track down the actual cause of my Vampiric Eye Syndrome.
Ah, your probably now sitting there thinking . o {Come on? drained of blood? Don’t be so melodramatic!}. Well I was sat in the blood letting chair for quite a while, and every other time in my life I have had blood tests they have taken two tubes of blood. Today they took what looked to be a dozen, Even the blood letter was shocked at the amount of tests being run. Put it this way, when they finally found a vein and started the blood collecting it was squirting quite strongly into the tube, by the time they got to the last tube it was barley a trickle coming out, and she had to keep forcing needle in deeper, and moving it about.
After I was drained of blood I was passed on to the X-ray department, Which was an interesting experience since my last x-ray was on my knee when I was about nine months old. I’m not sure I will be allowed back after I caused slight upset amongst the staff by suggesting they use the machines to peak into Xmas gifts to see what they are. There was also a case of roving hands, but I was polite and endured it.
So now, I get two weeks to recover from these tests before going back and getting the results.
After a certain age you should be banned from new technology
Does anyone remember the old TV series (Or the book it was based on) called “Logan’s Run?” You know the one set in the future where every person has a small jewel in the palm of their hands that starts flashing when they reach a set age. I think we need something similar today, not to “put to sleep” those who reach thirty, but have a cut off age when people are no longer allowed to get new technology.
Let me tell you know why I have decided that this is the course we should follow. This morning before going to work, I popped over to see my parents as I’m looking after their dog for the weekend. Now my Mother has just got herself a new mobile phone, and decided to go for a “smart phone“. So just as I was leaving she asks me “I’ve got a weird shape thing on my phone, what’s it mean?“, I enquire to what it looks like “its a sort of thing, with a bit, and another thing” *turns phone at different angle* “It kind of looks like old video tapes”
I took the phone off her to check and informed her she had a voicemail, and if she clicked on it she could hear the message. So she clicked on it and started listening to the first time use recording, you know the one that tells you how to set a pin, and use the voicemail system. Only my mother removed the phone from her ear as the recording explained what to do “There’s a woman talking about pin’s and hash and stuff, I don’t know what she’s on about”
I sighed and explained you had to listen to the whole message to understand what she was saying, but not to worry as I’ll set it all up later for her. It was then that the voicemail started playing. I know this from my Mothers half of the conversation. “Oh HI, I was just going to call you.” “hello?”, “oh, you’ll be arriving then, do you need a lift” I interjected here “Its a voicemail” I was shusshed with “The woman said I had a message“. “right see you there then“. For my sanity I tried again “Its a voicemail, a recording!”
I then left the house laughing my head off as my mother was saying goodbye to the recording. Old people should not be allowed technology!
I’m not going to lie to you fellas, I’ve been drinking.
The other night a group of us were discussing where and when we first started drinking, who was involved, and trading stories. Its amazing how the practically harmless under-age drinking that happened when we were young, has been replaced with the more serious situation it is today. I wonder if the youth of today got to drink responsibly at a young age, we would have less binge drinking cases as they get older? “Sorry, off on a tangent there! Normal service will now resume“.
During the conversation I was reminded of the first time I was kicked out of a drinking establishment. I’ve not done bad really, just Three times in total. Once for under-age drinking, once for making a mess in an almost derelict pub, and one other. I thought I would share the story with you dear reader, so sit back, grab a pint and begin.
I was about fifteen years old (possibly sixteen, but I think it was fifteen) and I had been taken to the Wheelwrights Arms in Pen-y-Cae by my sisters boyfriend & friends (It was handy having a much older sister). Now in those days as long as you sat quietly out the way, and made no trouble you tended to get away with drinking as long as no one pointed it out. Unfortunately this day one of the people I was with had recently annoyed the Barmaid (which is never a good idea people, for they supply the holy nectar of booze). So there I was minding my own business when she came over to our group, and informed me I had to finish my drink and leave as I was under-age. Now this was not a problem since I had prepared for this eventuality by calculating a date of birth that made me eighteen (Legal age then).
Me: “What you mean? I’m eighteen!”
Barmaid: “No your not! what’s your birthdate?”
Me: *gave valid birthdate*
Barmaid: “HA! your wrong, that makes you seventeen. You said your birthday was November, its only March so your not eighteen yet! try better next time”
Me: *sigh* “I know my birthdays not til November, at which time I will be nineteen.”
I then made her count up from the year I had given till she got to the current year to prove I was eighteen as i claimed.
Barmaid: “Oh. Sorry, I was sure that was a made up date of birth”
She then walked away. Now all would have been well if she had made it to the bar and got distracted by peoples orders. Only she never made it that far.
Barmaid: *one step* *two steps* *three steps* *pause* *turns angrily* “OI! your fifteen! get out of here now.”
Me: “Come on we’ve already done this”
Barmaid: “Wayne! Your my brothers best friend, your in his class in school, Hell you were at my house watching films with him last night, tell me your eighteen” *there then followed a stream of very interesting language*
And that’s how I first got kicked out of a drinking establishment, and learnt the important lesson that if you wish to drink while under the legal age then pick a pub where the staff do not know you.
FAQ: Spod? Spod? What the Frak is a Spod?
I often refer to myself as a SPOD. due to my years Spodding on different telnet talkers and the like, Unfortunately I now often get asked “What is a Spod?” from the uninitiated youngsters that litter the Interwebs these days. So since its a semi-FAQ I hunted out the old description of Spod from the help files on some Talkers that are still floating about if you know where to look.
Spod (n)
– A person who is nearly always found slumped over a keyboard, usually from the minute they awaken (if they even slept at all) to the minute they pass-out on their keyboard.
Classic examples of spods are : Athanasius, Psmith, Pendragon and Sparky.
Generally you can tell a spod from a room full of ppl as he/she will be the one having a conversation with another person in the room using the computer.
Note: A spod can always type faster than he/she can write:)
A spod is easily distinguished by the following characteristics:
1. Extraordinarily long login times to talkers and/or Muds
2. Knows a dangerous amount of info about the internet – more than any person should.
3. Often known to break into computer labs after hours just to telnet.
4. Sometimes name their favorite terminals
5. Often witness beautiful sunrises and/or sunsets… from a computer terminal.
6. Spod Eyes syndrome – Eyes feel as if they will not budge after long hours spent at a terminal.
Assassins Creed Brotherhood AKA You can’t Run but You can Hide!
Last night I was sitting with my feet up watching an episode of Babylon 5 as part of #TheGreatBab5Watch, following on from #TheGreatTNGReWatch (These are matters for a different post). Anyway, there I was just finishing the episode that was on, and considering if I should start the next episode or make a trip to the fridge for a cold beer when *ding ding* My mobile goes off with a message from PlanetPete “Internet playing up still? I’m on acb“. Well that made my decision for me, I’d not played on online for a while, and had only had one game of Assassins Creed Brotherhood online, so it seemed a great Idea.
It was suggested since I was unfamiliar with the game that we would play a couple of rounds in a private match, before playing on open games online with groups of people. I must say the private matches first was needed to get into the needed mindset. Now we were playing Hunted(I think the game types called) *EDIT: “I Have been reminded the name was ‘Manhunt’” Basically ‘Hide & Seek’ with a death thrown in at the end. There are two groups, One are assassins with the job of finding and killing the other group, who are trying their best to hide. You then switch half way through.
I have to say it was a good nights gaming, and AC Brotherhood is a very fun game to play. As can be shown by some of the comments of the evening.
“Ha! take that, I kill you!”
“That wasn’t me you just killed?”
“I know, but he got in my way and had to die!”
* * * * *
“You realise that was a normal woman you killed? and not the kind we’re hunting?”
“Yes but she ran!”
“Just because they run does not mean its the target”
“BUT SHE RAN! she had to die!”
* * * * *
“You Ok?”
“Yes. I’m just running around killing pretty ladies! That doesn’t make me a bad person”
“err No”
* * * * *
“ARGGGH!!! I just been killed by an evil monk!”
“Yes. I am Rasputin!”
* * * * *
“The Doctors rubbish, I dont like him”
“Why?”
“My skirt gets in the way climbing buildings!”
“yes but you looked like the Batman when you jumped off”
* * * * *
“Ha, I’m the king of the castle!”
“You up on the roofs?”
“Yes! They’ll never find me where I’m hiding… ARSE!!! I just got killed”
.
FAQ: Will you Marry me?
OK, the title of this post looks wrong. I do not mean that “Will you marry me?” is becoming a FAQ, In fact I think it’s only been asked once by a semi-anonymous person on Formspring. What is becoming a FAQ is the question “Why would you want to be asked `Will you marry me?`” so I figured to save me having to answer the question more than once (and twitter has a 140 character limit) I’d answer it here.
I should explain for anyone who missed the origin of this, that it all begins with a Formspring Question I was asked.
What is the one questions you would most like to be asked on here? Only the questions, not the answer or reason
To which I answered :-
“Would you like this iPad for free?” or “Will you marry me”
Now, since the original question said only the question, not the answer or reason, I left it at that. Or I would have if people were not confused by the “Will you marry me” part of the answer, and started asking why I would like to be asked that.
So I will point out now to quieten the questioners, I would like that question on formspring from someone I was in a long term serious relationship with. Since it would mean I was in a long term serious relationship :). That is all it’s about. So my Answer is more about the person who would ask the question, rather than the question itself.
See, there is no big conspiracy, or mystery. So can normal service now resume?
Review – Butterfly Tai Chi – Feel healthier & Calmer in 20 mins a day
I got back to the Ninja Temple last night to find an envelope waiting for me containing a copy of “Butterfly Tai Chi“. I had been wanting to watch this since I first saw the clips/info about it when it was being filmed. I should point out I have a slight background in BaGua, and have been interested in the concept of TaiChi for a while now. Since I have been meaning to get into it for a while, I was interested in the Butterfly TaiChi with its advertised “Take just twenty minutes out of your day to practice the seven simple elegant movements of Butterfly Tai Chi you will feel healthier happier and more energised“. Twenty minutes a day? I can find time for that, especially it it does not require much floor space.
I watched the DVD last night, It comes in three parts 1)A Warm-up, 2)The Basic Set, & 3) Advanced set. The techniques are simple to follow, and the instructor explains the moves well including any health benefits. Unlike some other DVD’s I have seen in this area the moves were explained simply for people without any previous training, and instructions were given on how to adapt the moves while you are learning, and that its better to get the feeling right than exactly mimic the instructor on the screen. Overall the feeling from watching the DVD was almost like having a one on one session with a trainer in a friendly atmosphere than a more technical manual of what you should be doing.
I did not try out the moves (err something to do with beer in the temple fridge) but I am looking forward to planning to set aside some time to start following the system. And I’ll post a practitioners review after I’ve spent a while trying the moves.
For those interested in more information on Butterfly Tai Chi, you can visit the website at http://butterflytaichi.co.uk/