Heck, I forgot to think up a title (Jan 6, 2010)
Nigh on two years later. That prediction was pretty much bang on!

Hello to those who may read this. I hope you're all well and haven't given the BBC too much grief. Things can't be too bad, as I gather h2g2's getting ready for an update of some sort. It takes a little while to get one's bearings here after a long absence; DNA is so very different to everything else on the Web!

Let's see, what have I been up to? Everything's really come together in the last year or so. My PhD plans have been put on hold, I can't say for how long. I'm just enjoying the process of earning money! My job (still at the same company) has moved away from testing and into more development, which gives me the chance to be creative that I often crave. I'm developing the management software for our frontline hardware product. Single-handedly, I might add, but as we all know the company will get the credit.

Web development has halted almost entirely. As ever I have a long list of projects I should tackle, but sadly can't find the motivation any more (that and my computer's been broken for months. The company laptop I use at home at the moment isn't exactly ideal for graphical work and it doesn't have my resources). If I ever glance in the direction of Web development it's related to The Matrix Online, which sadly closed a few months ago. I had planned to create a site to follow the community post-MxO, kind of a hybrid forum/fan-fiction archive, but I'm not sure if I'll ever finish it.

I finally learnt to drive a few months ago, so I'm tackling my first winter on the roads! Last night was certainly an experience, spending two hours on a slip road trying to get off the M27 on a trip which usually takes twenty minutes but yesterday took a total of four hours! I also have a nice new flat now in Southampton (renting; heavens, I won't be able to buy anything for years yet) in which I've been enjoying my freedom for the past nine months.

Best of all, my arthritis is getting better. Infinitely better! They put me on a drug called adalimumab as soon as I moved back to Hampshire. I was at the front of the waiting list when I left Hampshire for Wiltshire when my parents moved house a while back, and as it turns out Wiltshire are useless when it comes to paying for medication so nothing happened while I was there. Now that I'm on it though, it's working wonders. I don't ache in the mornings (it used to be quite debilitating on occasion), all my movements have improved and I've been told my walking looks much better. I'm always going to have some swollen joints, but they won't restrict my movement much any longer.

Anyway, that's enough from me. I'll see if I can stick around for a while. I have far fewer online commitments now, so it's seems likely!
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(2 replies, Latest reply: Jan 12, 2010)

Alive Still (Feb 10, 2008)
Uh, well, that failed. Good grief! My last post was over two years ago!? *Smacks forehead.* Time flies, and it's clear that I'll never be able to return properly. Ah well, I'll at least reassure those few of you who might chance upon this page that I'm still alive and still up to no good.

I've finished my first degree at the University of Durham (which now insists on calling itself Durham University for some asinine reason). Henceforth, if you're so inclined, you may refer to me as:

Mr Chris Tonks MSci(Dunelm) AMInstP

Or Chris. Or Tonks. Or That Shifty Looking Guy With The Beard.

Utterly exhausted by university, I'm taking a two year break before trying my hand at a PhD, ideally in something to do with computers, cosmology and simulations. (Not that I'm picky or anything...) But no, I won't be embarking on a round-the-world trip or anything as clichéd as that. :P At the moment I'm working at a company specialising in telecomms systems (network timing equipment to be specific), testing their latest inventions. I've previously worked there helping to develop firmware for one of their older devices, and even designed the Web site for that division; which was promptly ignored by their HQ in the US in favour of one that offered little more but for which they paid umpteen thousands. *Shrugs.* Their loss. Heh, I got paid, so I don't particularly care!

I've been doing a fair bit of Web development in the past few years, which should come as no surprise to anyone. Haven't tried making money out of it before (barring the aforementioned exception), so I'm going to try to launch my own business within the next year. Not just a Web development house, of course - no, I've got something a little more unique planned. We'll see how that turns out.

Healthwise, things aren't particularly groovy. Arthritis is a pain (literally, most of the time), but at least I'm through the outer layers of NHS bureaucracy now, so things are happening to slowly change that.

I hope you're all doing well. And I apologise for all the events I've missed, the highs and lows. You probably won't hear from me again for... eh, two years going on previous experience. So I wish you all the best. Keep it real, kids!

PS: h2g2 really needs updating. Discussion forums that don't let me add italics? Good heavens.
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(3 replies, Latest reply: Feb 11, 2008)

And You Thought I was Gone for Good (Nov 6, 2005)
Yup, sorry guys, I'm back. And no, I don't intend to disappear tomorrow. So you'll just have to get used to it. I am, however, still lazy, so the below paragraphs are taken from my, uh, comeback post in Lil's Atelier.

I see the last time I posted was before the start of my first year in university. I'm now a few weeks into my third! I'm still in charge of the Web site belonging to my college's student body (known as a Junior Common Room, oddly enough), and am aiming for my third year as Editor this December. You may see the fruits of my labours over at http://www.st-aidans.com.

The course itself is getting a lot harder, but is still manageable. I've finally been given the option to stop doing laboratory work and take more maths modules instead, so the course title 'Theoretical Physics' is quite accurate now. Thus far I've been averaging a 1st (70%), which is exactly what I'm after. I've also decided on my career path: I want to enter the world of computational cosmology. Durham just so happens to have the Institute for Computational Cosmology which, along with the Max Planck Institute in Germany, is the world centre for the subject. In particular, I've got my eye on the large office on the top floor.

Last year I was living in a house I rented with five fellow students. Quite an experience! The house was nasty (not to mention frightfully expensive), but we got by. This year I'm back in college again where they've renovated the rooms - very nice indeed.

Not much to speak of about home - everything pretty much the same there. Dad's still working on the extension, but the bottom floor's done now and the top floor's coming along nicely. I'm still having to paint and plaster things whenever I'm home, but my brother's taken over responsibility for the lawn.

Internet-wise, my network has been totally inactive while I've worked on the JCR site. I have, however, joined a faction in The Matrix Online, so I manage their site and participate in the roleplaying events in the game. Very fun indeed. I've even been offered a DJ'ing position for one of the Net radio stations that caters for the game, which I'd be only too happy to accept if it weren't for this university firewall I'm stuck behind. Can't get into the game or broadcast radio while I'm in college, so I'll have to wait until the Christmas holidays.

As for my intentions now, I aim to get back into h2g2 a bit - hopefully with more luck than my last two attempts, brief as they were. I'm not sure where RP (VR, I should say here) is going to take me, but it's definitely going to change. As Lil so nicely put it, my position was 'lacking in prospects': creating an almost God-like character isn't as fun as you might think.
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(3 replies, Latest reply: Nov 11, 2005)

I'm heading up North (Aug 14, 2003)
Well then, time to add my contribution to the growing number of A-Level results-related journal posts out there.

I got the perfect grades. Couldn't've asked for better. An A in each of my main subjects (computing, maths and physics), and a U in General Studies, a totally useless (to me at least) exam that I was forced into against my will.

My first choice of university was Durham, which needed a tough AAB - so I'm off there at the end of the holidays! Off to study physics.

However, I'm a little annoyed about other people's results. Mine are fine, so I'm not going to lodge any complaints, but the results of certain intelligent friends of mine are proving that, once again, foul play is afoot on the exam board front. Especially in physics, it seems. The first exam we did in that subject last term went really well for just about all of us and consisted entirely of simple questions. However, a great many people, myself including, have received terrible scores for them, and a lot of people have lost entire grades because of this.

I'm not sure what's going on this year. Probably an attempt to make it look like it's the fault of the people who do the actual marking, rather than the management like it was last year. I hope it gets resolved for everybody.
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(5 replies, Latest reply: Aug 15, 2003)

No Holiday for Tonxey (Jul 15, 2003)
Grr. Bl**dy extension. Bl**dy money problems.

Well, looks like yours truly is going without any holiday this year. At all. My parents' insistence that we have the extension built onto our house has now, finally, led to serious money problems, which are now affecting me!

Apparently, I'm not going to survive at university if I don't spend about 40 hours a week (yup, full-time) this 'holiday' earning money. So then: no programming, no more going out, no leisure time at all - it's working all week, and then getting on with house work at the weekends, no doubt. I finish college and my A-Level exams, and /this/ is how I'm rewarded!

It's all their bl**dy fault!


Please direct all complaints about my prolonged and frequent absences to my parents.
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(3 replies, Latest reply: Aug 14, 2003)

All Hail to the Tonx! (Jun 26, 2003)
I'm back (‘Yippee,’ says someone in the background). Yeah, it's true. Aren't you all happy now, eh?

OK, so I need to gather my thoughts before I can say anything worth listening to. Or type anything worth reading, for that matter.

Back in a snap.
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(13 replies, Latest reply: Aug 14, 2003)

AS Results (Aug 15, 2002)
Oooh boy, here they are! I didn't hold my breath for them, as I was resigned to get whatever I got, shrugging off wishes of good luck (politely ), knowing that I couldn't do anything about these results. I could retake some modules, sure, but they would affect later grades, not the exact ones I received today.

Anyway, worries need not be heeded, as the results are looking good.

Computing - B
> Unit 1 - 88 marks
> Unit 2 - 92 marks
> Unit 3 - 45 marks

German - A
> Unit 1 - 90 marks
> Unit 2 - 120 marks
> Unit 3 - 83 marks

Maths - A
> Mechanics - 78/100 marks (B)
> Pure - 99/100 marks (A)
> Statistics - 100/100 marks (A)

Physics - A
> 'Physics in Action' - 90 marks (A)
> 'Physics in Practice' - 66 (B)
> 'Understanding Processes' - 104 (A)

I only know what the marks were out of for maths, just so's you know. Also note that Unit 3 for computing was the smallest, and didn't have as high a total score as the others. (It was also the coursew*rk module...)

I think we can safely say, looking at my physics scores, that I'm more of a theoretical physicist. Physics in practice? Pah!
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(24 replies, Latest reply: Aug 31, 2002)

Possible Absence (Jul 6, 2002)
Just a note of warning.

I may lose Internet access from home sometime soon. As some people may know, my dad's renovating the master bedroom in our house, the problem now being that he apparently needs to move the phone and power sockets.

I don't have much faith for his success. He's already ruined one end of the ADSL cable by trying to hammer it through the wall (quite a while ago), so I worry when anyone touches the cable. But this is really disturbing.

I'll be able to get on from college, but losing access from home would be apalling...
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(124 replies, Latest reply: Jun 26, 2003)

Change Is Inevitable (Jun 25, 2002)
I've always thought so. Ever do I see people trying to keep things the way they are, or even trying to change backwards, viz. change things back to the way they were. Always nice to have something to strive for, of course, but I think they should give up on this one.

Anyway, what I actually wanted to say was that I realised this afternoon that I've reached a pivotal point in my life. I'll be choosing a university soon, and that's obviously going to affect later life in a big way. However, my choice of subject is also going to affect things, and it's that I'm worried about.

It's basically a toss-up between something to do with physics (notably astrophysics or theoretical physics, or even theoretical astrophysics) and something to do with computing. I've always been interested in physics and the Universe, hence my enjoyment of science fiction and my ambition to bring a lot of it into reality, but my computing skills and interests have shot upwards at a remarkable rate these past few months. I've recently completed my first publicly released program, however simple, and that got me thinking.

Some people may know that I own a company. Well, it's a tiny little sole-ownership affair, but I like to call it a company. The Domain Group Network's aim is to provde a range of services to people for free, without ever resorting to ads and nonsense like that. I like the idea of breaking the dot com mould, as it were. Now, I have great aspirations for this company, and if I continue computing I could really make it succeed.

So here I am: choose physics and follow a life-long dream, or choose computing and do something I currently enjoy and recently acquired a dream for. Believe it or not, the decision isn't as easy as it might look.

Just thought I'd write that. I'm sure there was something else as well, but I can't remember what it was...

Oh yes, that's what it was: I'm changing my ways on h2g2. I'm giving up adventuring and will gradually resign from my numerous positions as a Muse, Minister/Ambassador and all that stuff. No time for any of that now, I'm afraid.
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(114 replies, Latest reply: Jun 26, 2003)

Space Station Log : 81001ET (Oct 8, 2001)
Date : 8th of October 2001, 16:00, Earth Time
Personnel : Prof. C. Tonks

Research into the new Space Between Dimensions technology is going well. The data left to me by the unknown entity serves no end of purposes in my search for ultimate technological superiority.

I now make frequent trips to the SBD itself in order to test conditions. I have created a device which, when placed within the SBD, can link together all my technology created since the invention of the Dimensional byPasser. Thus, communications are possible through any medium and on any scale.

Instant transportation has also been on my agenda as of late. It should, theoretically at least, be possible to use the SBD to access a pan-Universal existence state, similar to the Alpha Wavelength used for teleportation in this Universe. If this were indeed possible, I could create a device to shift matter or anything else into this state, and move them to any part of the Omniverse I wish. Shields will be no problem. Teleportation blockers will trouble me no more!

One thing I have finished working on, however, is the pan-Universal shield, the only thing that could block my theorised travel device. Powered directly from the unlimited energy resources of the SBD, this shield spans the entire Omniverse, fixed on the relative point in space (or its equivalent) in each Universe. Infinite energy means no penetration, and infinite Universes means no tampering with time, space or otherwise.

Everything still needs a little touching up, but I'm confident that by the end of the year, I will be able to do anything I like in any Universe.
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I Am Goo!! (Sep 7, 2001)
It's true!

It should be well known that I was once thought to have arthritis. However, this matter has been cleared up at last, and in actuality I have something called 'metachromatosis'.

Now then, the good d'Elaphant has done a little bit of work into this, and came up with the following meanings:

meta = beyond
chroma = blend of hue and saturation
osis = abnormal condition, or increase

Taking this into account, having metachromatosis means that I have increased beyong normal hue and saturation levels.

To put that in other words, I'm goo!

But fiddlesticks, I use Alabaster!
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(78 replies, Latest reply: Apr 15, 2002)

Space Station Log : 150601ET [Transmitted] (Jun 15, 2001)
Date : 15th of July 2001, 22:00, Earth Time
Personnel : Prof. C. Tonks
Position : In orbit around San Beta planet

The GalaGroup Elections have just finished, and the counting's been done. Well, what should I say? I'm in again!
The votes formed an enourmous majority for me, though not as much as in the last Elections. This is attributable to the fact that many more planets within the San Beta catchment area have aligned themselves with the Government during this term, adding a number of voters who didn't really know what I'd previously done for the GalaGroup. This meant they'd vote for other candidates for Overseer status.

While I retained my position, many members of the Governmental Committee didn't. My most trusted Head of Trade was replaced by a slightly drunk (or so he appears to me) candidate, and a number of other people have vanished altogether. Some of the people in to replace them are known to me, but a couple aren't, so I'll be getting to know them shortly. Still, all in all a good Election.

I've just been through the main Election Ceremony of being seated at the head of the outdoor Committee Table (though I always use the indoor one for actual work), and am preparing to leave the planet to attend the various other festivities which I'm obliged to visit. I'm sure I'll enjoy most of them (food and drink all round, you bet!), but a number of them are a little... alien for me, being comprised of many a strange custom. Still, there it is, all in the life of a GalaGroup Overseer, eh?

I'll be back around the start of July, as I said.
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Space Station Log : 250501ET (May 25, 2001)
Date : 25th of May 2001, 20:00, Earth Time
Personnel : Prof. C. Tonks

The Space Station will move back to San Beta now, for the GalaGroup Elections. I am of course running to keep my place as Overseer to the Government, and have no doubts about my winning. That's why I haven't actually been in San Beta for the duration of the Election run-up. Still, I can't avoid it now, as the big day itself is the 15th of June, when the ceremonies will be held.

My new CompliGram - PCT3 - who has been helping with organising my Election campaign will arrive here in a couple of days just to keep my affairs on h2g2 in check. He won't be stopping by to do anything more than leave a calling card or other bookmark though.
As the Space Station itself will not be here, he will reside inside the Ministry for Science & Technology complex within the space-rift, and all communications from me (though there won't be many) will be received through there.

I myself will return around the start of July, after all legalities have been finished over at Governmental House.

Until then, I bid you farewell.
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DNA...gone but not forgotten (May 12, 2001)
The day Douglas Adams, the greatest and most original writer on the planet, died.

What can I say?

Our feelings are with his family and his spirit. You may now wander the galaxy at will...have fun.


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Love is in the Air...(sorry, I couldn't think of another song) (Oct 15, 2000)
Holy Whotsit!
The things that've been going on this weekend...my goodness!

First off, my book's finally being read by people! I've popped over to Lil's Atelier (ain't been there in ages), and got a few people interested.

But you'll never guess what I heard as soon as I got there...
Mike A come szooming in, and then calmly announces that we should go and see one of his threads...
And what did I find there?
I found that Mike A and Persephone are getting hitched!!
Truly excellent news!

Then, I popped onto ICQ for the first time in ages, and had a chat with Peregrin about a few things...one thing that come up was Demon Drawer and Fashion Cat.
Yes, after their visits in London, they're getting hitched too!
I wish one of my greatest friends on h2g2, and his now best 'friend', all the best, and hope to be hosting their virtual wedding on the Space Station.
Can't wait for the real wedding though!

And another note. After reading a few of DD's posts and journal entries, I found out that Eomando is also going through similar stages!
Now being at Uni in Londn, she was able to meet with Demon Drawer, Fashion Cat, and Paul Prefect all the way down from Germany!
You guessed it: Eomando and Paul Prefect are also in lurve...
Not getting hitched yet, but still...
I wish her and PP all the best in their future lives...

Well, what an exasperating weekend. Who knows what the *week* has in stall!
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(9 replies, Latest reply: Oct 15, 2000)

Space Station page could be SHUT DOWN!!!! (Sep 6, 2000)
!!!!
I hate it!!! I hate, hate, HATE it when people fail to keep to very simple rules!!!
Ok, here's the rundown:
I created the Space Station page so people could go in the Labs and perform experiments and make inventions. People could have such fun in doing that, and it was an original idea to h2g2...
But it all went wrong! I set out a few simple rules, the main one that no one was allowed to make any modifications to the Space Station.
The people in the Labs wouldn't hear of it, and deliberatly tried to install things on the Computer and such. Then, when I warned the not to do it again, politly as always of course, they turned at me! They began to get sarcastic, and made sart-arse (and false) comments all the time.
I have hence closed the Secondary Labs threads, and no one is allowed to post in them because that would violate the Disclaimer, and I'd have to report them.
But now I fear for the whole 'station's existance on h2g2... we're getting a very sall audience, and most (I say most, because there are still some good people, who I'd really hate to have to dissappoint) of them just spoil things by not adhering to the simple structure of matters...
I'm going to have to think about it, but this is a warning!!!

- Pr. C. Tonks
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The return of Pr. C. Tonks... (Sep 5, 2000)
Oh yes! I'm back people!
I can't tell you what the eetings over in San Beta were about, but I can say they were very successful, and I shouldn't have to leave for SB again for quite a while...

A note for RL: I'm writing this essage at 12:30 BST...which is odd because I'm not allowed on at that time...
Well, I'm writing this from my computer in my office at W*** Experience...I'm being evil and wasting my boss's time...
Well, who wouldn't want to if he's had to install Publisher 2000 two times, once failing, and the other taking 1/2 and hour because I don't have enough space on this 'puter, so I need to network and send it to another...? Eh?
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Gone away... (Aug 29, 2000)
[Beep. Attemting login to h2g2 servers. Acomplished. Transfering presence...]
[I, the Space Station Computer, have been ordered by Pr. C. Tonks to transfere to you all this message;]
Ah, hello everyone!
I just thought I'd tell you all that I'm on San Beta right now, on some political hooh-hah or other.
I'll be back some time next week, and until then, my Computer will take care of any responsibilities I have to h2g2 forums.

Till I get back...

Toodlepip!

- The Big C

[...message ends. Thankyou. Have a nice day...]
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The h2g2 Realisation Project... (Aug 23, 2000)
Hey there all budding Half-Life mappers!
I'm soon to be starting the h2g2 Realisation Project!
See the base page at
http://www.h2g2.com/A422128

- The Big C
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(No replies)

[Beep, beep. Space Station Page Status: Overhaul Complete. ACCESS GRANTED.] (Aug 4, 2000)
Yes, that's right folks!! The Space Station Big C page has been given a complete overhaul!
It should be easier to download now, because I've got rid of those large graphics that were getting in the way all the time. I've instead made then even larger, and given you the choice of seeing them. They are good - now that you can see them big, you may be able to understand what they are!
Hope everyone likes the new look! And if you could tell your friends about the 'station, that would be a great help! We're never full on customers you know!
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(4 replies, Latest reply: Aug 7, 2000)

Ah. OK. Fine. Sorry... (Jul 30, 2000)
Right, yes, I'm slightly behind with my journal entries because I've been using the top of my page as a message box...
So, some things to note then...
1. I'm going to start writing journal entries...
2. I'm going to edit my Space Station page...I unfortunatly neglected the Alabaster users with having my pictures in blue background (for Classic Goo) and leaving the text as it is...in my resolution he text isn't legible!
3. I'm now running in the Virtual Prez elections...see my campaign page at http://www.h2g2.com/A402742 .
There...as said, I'll start to use my journal more from now on...
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Underway. Hurray! (May 1, 2000)
Finally, my Space Station page is underway! Several people are visiting it now, and everyone is complementing its lovely layout (the 'station itself, not the page).
This is going just fine! Oh, just one note: they readily suceeded to activate the tea machine, with a flooding outcome!

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(2 replies, Latest reply: Jun 20, 2000)

C'mon man! Part 2 (Apr 24, 2000)
Great! All's well on the application side of things, I've had, oh, 8 people interested, and at least 4 of them are quite serious.
This is going to go just fine! Admitedly, 2 of the applicants won't be doing to much, on account of them being , but I'll find something for them to do, no doubt.
So, please respond to my postings wanting for applicants if you *really* are interested - or else I won't be in control of my own 'station!
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(No replies)

C'mon man! (Apr 22, 2000)
I've recently been desperatly trying to get some people to help me on the space station. I've only got one person interested at the moment, but at least I'm now in co-operation with the h2g2 Space Centre!
If anyone reads this: PLEASE, I NEED ALL THE HELP I CAN GET TO KEEP THIS THING RUNNING! IF YOU, OR SOMEBODY YOU KNOW WOULD BE WILLING TO KEEP THE FORUMS IN OPERATION, PLEASE REPORT TO ME, PREFERABLY IN THE "Hi there!!" FORUM ON MY PAGE.
THANKYOU.
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