Journal Entries
Hell. This is too much. I think I need help.
Posted May 28, 2004
I've been playing about with Macromedia Flash for a year or so now, and have just re-learnt (or really, am in the process of re-learning) Flash MX 2004 Professional.
And here's what I came up with.
Help. 
http://82.42.97.52/pigeon/pigeon
http://82.42.97.52/pigeon/bomb
http://82.42.97.52/pigeon/surreality
Discuss this Journal entry [7]
Latest reply: May 28, 2004
I'll give it a few months...
Posted May 25, 2004
...and if things don't start getting better around here, I'll be pushed to at least take an extended break.
I'm not going to rant. That's all I have to say.
Discuss this Journal entry [12]
Latest reply: May 25, 2004
Beep-beep!
Posted May 13, 2004
So, this in the latest installment of my progress on learning to drive features one of the most hectic road systems in the area. I started off on a simple (!) main road, which I could handle reasonably well at 30mph in 4th, and then just around the side streets for a block or so.
Then, instructed to park the car and turn off the engine, I was given a theory introduction to crossings. And dammit. Why do Pelican and Puffin crossings have to be so similar? They could at least have redesigned them. But anyway. It doesn't make all that much difference.
Don't ever let anybody tell you driving on dual-carriageways and the like is better because you're at a faster speed and everything you do is a smooth action (changing lanes, etc). It's uber-stressful. On the way, we must've encountered a helluva lot of traffic lights (one set about five seconds in front of another for chrissake), an accident scene, all the types of crossing in the theory introduction, a few necessary lane changes and the rest. It was like it was planned in a learner centre, *everything* was going on. 
A Police Ambulance came up the road as I was parked in my own street, but I didn't get a chance to give way to it, being parked and all. I imagine as long as you don't get all panicky about the emergency vehicles, just hold back, let it overtake you and give it room before picking your speed up again, it's probably quite easy. But anyway. We come to my next issue: stalling.
I'm fine getting myself back into first at traffic lights, handbrake on and everything, revs up, handbrake off, clutch up, gas, go. But I keep coming up from the clutch too quickly. O, how n00bish that I start the engine again at every set of lights.
Well almost. Hopefully I have it sorted for my next lesson (Seems to be the way with me. Make mistkaes for 1hr 45 minutes, then get over them in the last 15 minutes.) but as long as I don't rush moving off again, I should make it fine.
Next issue. Keeping a steady speed over 20.
If I'm in a 30 zone, I tend to stick to about 20-25, and lapse back into about 20 again. Because I'm conscious of the fact that I actually *do* that though, next lesson should help me fix it.
So, take time moving off, and get to 30 and keep the foot still. Should be ok. I think the reason I do that though, is because when I just glance at the speedometer, it's a glance too long, and I end up crossing lanes a bit, so I think I find comfort in going at 20.
Although, when the traffic went down a bit I was definitely a more efficient driver. I reckon it's all the psychology of it. So maybe if I tell my brain not to worry I'll be fine.
I guess.
Discuss this Journal entry [35]
Latest reply: May 13, 2004
Anyone with a blog, read this.
Posted Apr 29, 2004
There has been an issue with rendering this post, please contact the editors.
Discuss this Journal entry [1]
Latest reply: Apr 29, 2004
Spam, Spim, and .. Spext. :-/
Posted Apr 27, 2004
So we all know what Spam is. Unsolicited e-mail which tends to offer all kinds of things like enlargement of certain anatomical areas, credit reports, software (or rather, in a vain attempt to beat my spam filters, 'stf0wrae'), and the obvious, porn. Spam comes by e-mail.
Now, a lesser-known annoyance is known as Spim, and sent via Instant Messaging networks such as ICQ, or AIM. This will often come in the form of some bloke who is as butch as they come by day, but put him in front of a computer keyboard and he becomes 'Sandra the dirty webcam chick', giving out messages to random people which contain little more than a URL to, supposedly, a webcam. Spim is mostly porn-based. At least on ICQ. That's why I originally gave up my account.
Now, I'm not even sure if Spext exists in the Glossary of the Interweb. Or whether it should actually be 'Spxt'. I think I just made it up. This is Spam by Text (Text is a crap name for what the rest of the world calls SMS Messaging). I know 2legs has had this problem, going by his recent Journal Entry on it - But anyway, I shall retype, word for 'wrd', one of the two duplicate messages I received when I turned my phone on the other day (And I wouldn't have even done that had I not needed a calculator, which is built in to my phone. Very handy. The Messaging part is also useful to store little notes to myself. Who needs a PDA?):
From:
WINNER
Message Centre:
+111111111111
Time:
25-Apr-2004, 13:30:20
Message:
URGENT! We are trying to contact U. Todays draw shows that you have won a £800 prize GUARANTEED. Call 090 500 **** from land line. Claim A26. Valid 12hrs only
Now first off. It's 'We have been trying to contact you'. It's also bad to guarantee something you can't promise. I starred ou the last four digits of the phone number because I'm not going to give the number out (for one thing, I've given you my prize claim code. 
) Landline has been amalgamated into one word in modern English, now, too. And there should have been a full-stop (period) after 'only'.
Honestly. And they wonder why nobody can write properly.
By the way, that message centre was probably forged and fake, so there's no need to . They usually have a valid phone number for the SMS centre. Forging it to a fake one covers their tracks, much in the same way as forging the headers in e-mail to 'forget' which server it was sent from (And I'm not even sure that's possible; that header is added just before the message is sent- You'd have to hack Postfix for that)
Discuss this Journal entry [1]
Latest reply: Apr 27, 2004
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