h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I was thinking the OU was a bit academic. Nothing wrong with that but I'm after a short course to a recognised qualification based on the skills I already have. It's a good idea though so I'll check it out later.

It's been a long time since I could run five or six miles at all, never mind in less than half an hour, so my estimate probably was a bit on the high side. Three miles is a great achievement from where I'm sitting so well done you!

F

I thought the OU had a variety of stuff, could also try here: http://www.hotcourses.com/

Do you know what you want to learn yet?

No, I'm not sure what I want to concentrate on. I was hoping to work that out from some of the replies to my question on 'Ask'. But no-one's replied.

The obvious candidates are web design because it is easy to do from home and as an own business, computer analyst because it is also possible to do as an own business (and pays well) and programming because it also pays well and has a wide jobs market (I think). There is of course a whole host of systems support type jobs available if I can get the right qualifications. These lack the freedom (and stress, probably) of being self-employed but then working for an employer has its advantages too.

F

I just posted some info about web-design on your Ask thread, Fathom, thinking it might be useful to others as well.

So, it's gone all quiet here. Wassup?


az

Dunno, I posted last. Maybe no-one had much to say?

I need to do some more research into possible courses and qualifications but from what I can see they all seem to take a long time and I'll like to do things a little quicker if I can. Perhaps it will be enough if I can prove what I can do instead of showing a sheaf of certificates. Or perhaps I should just design and print up my own certificates?

Anyway I expect I'll be able to tell you more about what I'm planning to do when I've found out a little more and had some time to actually plan it. If Noggin is doing the same we might be able to help each other. "Noggin, Noggin and Fathom Webmasters est. 2005"

F

Fathom, if you'd like to contact Noggin then leave a message on my hootoo email: azaharh2g2 (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Then he will give you his email address.

Did you check out http://www.webmonkey.com ?

This looks like a great place to start out. To even find out if you would enjoy doing this sort of thing. Without having to pay a penny.

<>

Well, this is exactly what my friend David has done. And he seems to have done quite well. He started his own website and has got work by doing so.

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Well, yet another option, I guess . . .

Personally, I can see possibly great things happening here - after all, two heads are better than one, or so they say.


az

Perhaps I should sign up for a hat making course.

This time next year I could be a milliner.


F

I've checked out Webmonkey and it is superb.

I've sent you an e-mail.

F

Email received and replied to.

Bank holiday tomorrow so we are enjoying a nice long weekend. Went to see a weird film yesterday called Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. It was okay but quite uneven and patchy in parts. It had been raining off and on all day but just as we were leaving the skies suddenly opened up and it totally P*SSED DOWN for exactly twenty minutes - the time it took us to walk to the cinema. Then the rain stopped as suddenly as it had started just as we got there.

Today we might go to see the new Woody Allen film called Melinda and Melinda.

Anyhow, must go make more now.

Glad you are enjoying Webmonkey!


az

Hi,

Just passing through briefly while the rice cooks. I received your reply so I'll be in touch shortly.

F

Just back from a massive shopping expedition this morning. Lots of fun. New shoes and quite a lot of new clothes for Noggin - he's all set for winter now. I got a new briefcase thingy for carrying books to classes. Couldn't afford the gorgeous red leather one I first saw (180 euros! ) but bought a tasteful black number instead made out of functional waterproof fabric.

Meanwhile, it's the first of November and we are still wearing sandals and feeling quite comfy in light cotton sweaters.

Let us know here if you send Noggin an email because we still haven't got the router sorted for his laptop, so he only gets onto his 'user thingy' on my computer whenever I stop hogging it.

It'll be great with the router though as then we can both be online at the same time on our own computers.


az

Hi az,



I know that in computer terms a router is pronounced to rhyme with 'hooter' but I do a fair bit of DIY and the router I have is a versatile powertool and rhymes with 'shouter'. Each time I see the word written I have to mentally adjust the pronunciation.

We're going onto broadband (ADSL 512kbs) shortly so that will be a big improvement (we hope).

I spent the weekend cleaning out the garage so we can park the car in there during the winter nights. Did you do anything interesting?

It sounds like you don't need a lot of winter clothing if you're still in sandals now. Although it is quite mild here today so I can't complain. My wife would enjoy a massive shopping expedition. A local bike shop is advertising a 'massive bike sale'. I'd go and have a look but I'd be worried I'd fall off a massive bike. It might be quite impressive in traffic though.

F

Pssst - the bikes aren't massive, the sale is!

Funny guy.

I have ADSL now (going up to 512kbs shortly, apparently), which is great. It's just been a bit complicated to get the router thing sorted with my server. We might be able to get a better deal with another server, but that would mean having to change all my email addresses again, which I am loathe to do.

Meanwhile, when I'm not hogging the computer Noggin can use it on his own 'user thingy' or he can plug the ADSL modem into his laptop and use that. But it will be great when we can both be online. First I have to install an 'ethernet' card into my computer and then do the router thing. Well, should be up and running before too long.

Just enjoying the last day of the long weekend here. Going to make an 'az paella' soon. Have modified the original paella recipe I have and am now using basmati rice and basically 'winging it' with whatever ingredients we have at hand. The last one turned out FAB.


az

Yes the e-mail address issue almost guarantees loyalty to your ISP. Ours has just introduced a new cheap rate package for broadband so that's what we're doing. We should get our new modem and line filters next week and the new service a couple of days after that.

We'll probably get our first hacker a half an hour later...

Early finish today so going home. Catch you later.

F

I use the free version of Zone Alarm (firewall) to prevent a lot of hacker sh*t. Apparently it works very well. And I also use Ad-aware which eliminates 'trackers' from web pages I visit. I can send you the links if you're interested.

And I am using Panda anti-virus, though might change that soon.

Just chatting on msn with one of my many 'little brothers'. For about eight years, when I was living next door, I always had to have a flatmate to help with expenses (couldn't afford the place on my own). And it turned out that after more than forty different people coming and going over the years I only had one or two duds (people who were very annoying and stress-making). The rest were lovely! I think I was very lucky. Anyhow, most were young students, or younger people stopping off here for awhile. So I have ended up with this whole bunch of 'little brothers and sisters' who still stay in touch with me. And with older flatmates, when I started getting historians and professionals staying with me, I also maintain quite lovely friendships with them.

So even though I am soooooo relieved not having to have flatmates anymore, since I moved next door two years ago and now rent out my extra flat to help support me here, I recognize how much my life was actually enriched by having all those people living with me.

But eight years of that was enough. Now I just have Noggin to cope with! . But (and this will come as no surprise) he is always so reasonable and understanding. Which is not to say it is always a bed of roses, but it is working out *very* well for both of us.


az

We've got Symantec which came with the computer so that should be competent enough. I might download Spybot though because I think the version of Symantec I have doesn't deal with all spyware. I must get around to installing XP Service Pack II as well. I've been putting it off because I've heard it can cause driver problems with certain older products. It does improve security though.

It's nice that you have stayed friends with many of your previous flatmates - you must have been a good landlady. Are any of them Hootooers?

F

fathom you can order the xp2 up date on cd rom if you want,handier if you have more than one hard drive, or need to reformat hard drive ,
Az re keeping email add surely if you just change your present acess package to pay as you go you can then continue to use email add ad infinitam,then you can use forwarding ,+ handy for those site suspect of spam producers.

Hi logicus,

I already have XP SP2 on CD ROM; I got it free with a magazine. I'm just a bit concerned about what it might do to some device drivers and how to avoid the clash with the existing firewall and anti-virus stuff. I don't want to install it only to find I can't use my scanner or joystick or something. Have you insstalled SP2? If you have, what happened?

F

Hi all,
az - I now have an image of you and Noggin sitting in different rooms conversing via hootoo

It is a miserable day here today, oh how I wish it was still sandal weather here!

k

Hi Kelli,



"az - I now have an image of you and Noggin sitting in different rooms conversing via hootoo."



There'll be a thread somewhere then full of 'did you feed the cats?', 'yes, did you wash my shirts?', 'yes, they're in Lua's room, did you iron my blouse?', 'I'm doing it now, do you want to go for a tapas tonight?' stuff.

It'd be fun to watch, unless it started to get a bit intimate.

It appears to be drizzling here and it is already getting dark.

F