A typical day at work
Productive Geek trial
I showed some interest as being a writer on How To Geek.com recently, but they do have several writers already. But they have branched out into a few more websites to have a small network of websites. Having been in contact with the guy who runs How To Geek.com, I’ve been asked to work on a trial article for their other website, Productive Geek.
So I’m thinking of ideas of something that I can use as a trial article that can hopefully land me a part time writing gig. Which would be very interesting and a whole lot of fun. I’m hoping I can build on my experiences to write about and give people ideas about being more productive in the home and work place.
Should be fun! 
Green thumbed
After picking up some home grown tomatos from my parents recently, which were spectacular in taste and colour. I decided to make use of some of the back yard I have. Considering it’s long enough to fit a cricket pitch in, hey why not.
So a trip to Bunnings was in order for their “everyday low prices”, of which I now have an “everyday low wallet”. I’m hoping once the sun goes down, I can plant them along with the Chili’s we got. Then at some stage I’ll drop some mulch down on the front garden beds to hide some of the weeds before we have a house inspection.
8 things I’d like to have more time for
1. Reading
I’ve got books and do enjoy reading, I’ve always found I can never sit down long enough to read a lot of a book. I recently added an Amazon Wishlist to my links of books I’d like to read, finding a place where I can’t be disturbed and a comfortable big seat I think are a must for me to enjoy a book. I’ve got Dan Brown’s, The Lost Symbol which I want to read but just haven’t found the time either. Maybe turning a spare room into a home office/miniature library would be a good option to get that started.
2. Friends
I’d like to find some more time to visit friends, I really only have a select group of people that I keep in regular contact with. But barely get a chance to see them, I’d like to see them more but I think it’s something I have to work out with other aspects of life to give some more time back to myself.
3. Video Games
I’ve always been a gamer, PC or console. They’ve always been good for me to unwind and escape from daily hustle and bustle. During my christmas holidays I spent some time playing games, but it would be nice to be able to have a good solid session of games once a week and unwind. But also to be able to have some good enjoyment out of games, I rarely get that anymore. Most games are pretty much the same and we’re in dire need of something original. I’m currently playing Prototype on XBOX 360, which is great and from my point, original.
4. Have fun
I think a lot of people have forgotten how to have fun, it seems like something I’ve forgotten also. Life takes over and you have so many responsibilities to take on, you have to watch your health and continually keep an eye on some health aspects in your life. Don’t forget, laughter is the best medicine. Enjoy some of your time.
5. Organisation
Organisation is one of my down falls, I’m reasonably organised. But it’s in the areas that I need to improve that are also hitting me in the pocket. Those lazy days where I don’t feel like cooking dinner and end up getting something quick and easy, aren’t that healthy for me either. They also cost me more in the long run.
I’d also like to unclutter my house and keep to minimal items, but also comfortable ones that I’ll enjoy. The less clutter around me, the less stressful it is.
6. Personal finance
Personal finance is my worst enemy, I can’t save, I can’t spend wisely. But I have refrained a lot from spending money on useless crap, and only spent money on things that improve some of the basic comforts at home. Like a 40″ LCD TV! Before that, I had a piece of junk that I never watched and found nothing interesting. Now that I’ve got that tv I spend a little more time watching some shows and relaxing.
Of course, personal finance is something I need to fix as I’m currently in debt and it’s a constant struggle to pay off credit cards. Which is why I’ve looked into a personal loan to consolidate and have less places accumulating interest. I think this is what my new years resolution will be, get debt free. While it may not happen in the entire year, it’s something I’ll work towards, if that means downsizing the house I live in and costing me in moving, then so be it. The money I save on rent will pay that back quickly.
7. Blogging
I’d like to have more time for blogging, or at least writing some decent posts instead of crap. Much like this one, being decent I mean, not crap.
8. Time
I’d like more time, of which I think I will get some back if I do all the follow points above.
Michael Atkinson, get your shit together
I haven’t been following the whole Michael Atkinson thing closely, because I’m not really into politics. But basically from what I can see, this asshat doesn’t like video games. Especially not violent ones or ones involving sex.
I think he really does miss the point, if kids are getting games that they shouldn’t be playing. Then there are 2 parties at fault, 1. The parents for buying the thing. 2. The shops for selling games to kids under the recommended age. Maybe there is a good place to start looking as to why these kids are getting these video games. Giving Australia an R18+ classification is a GOOD thing to do, at the moment any kid can walk into a game store and pick up a copy of Playboy Mansion for XBOX Classic, and take them all of 15 minutes to have a Playboy Bunny on a bed, digital breasts in the kids face getting her brains shagged out. I know this, because it took me all of 15 minutes to do it.
But that game really doesn’t interest me, ironically. I think Prototype is a hell of a lot more entertaining.
I do wonder if Michael Atkinson has kids, do they play games? Do they go to Westminster School and realise that the person supporting their kids in the I.T. Department likes to play war games? Bet he wouldn’t like that would he! That would be ironic
Accusing Gamers4Croydon of dirty tricks and what not, well that just gives me a reason to vote for them because Michael Atkinson sounds like a right blind knob.
I’m considering writing a letter to him, not every gamer is into dirty tricks.
Robin Williams plays games, he’s a funny man. He plays Day of Defeat.
Dave Chappelle plays games, he’s a funny man. He plays World of Warcraft.
Megan Fox plays games, she’s hot! She plays console games like Mortal Kombat.
Ben Affleck, Vin Diesel, Cameron Diaz, Hulk Hogan… All World of Warcraft players. Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt all fans of getting on Wii Fit.
See, not everyones into dirty tricks Mr. Atkinson.
Dear Vodafone
This means war.
2010
I was a bit late in the “new year” post department this year, but I thought I’d post on it a bit more than just putting in “Happy New Year”
Just after the new year, I went to a friends place down the coast to catch up for a bit. He posed me the question “So what have you got planned for the year? anything big?”. It was at that point that I didn’t realise I had, people were going off to Uni, doing things in their jobs. Where it felt to me that I just seemed to end up being stuck in the same place going nowhere fast. I don’t see much of a career path where I currently am, so I guess all I can do is get as much qualifications that I can while I’m there and eventually start looking at somewhere else, in terms of career development and also earning more money.
I’ve realised I need to either look at doing something I really want to do, or just push on for a few more years and earn more money. Ideally I’d love to go back to Uni and go through a Bachelor in Design Studies.
I’m not really sure, as much as I’d like to do it. It’s not something I can take on financially. Maybe this year I should concentrate on getting my life organised before I look at changing my career?
Murphys Law
A lot of people talk about Murphys Law, I’ve become to be a believer in it.
Yesterday I’d been contemplating putting a solid state drive into my laptop, and seeing how it runs on that and boot speeds and what not. Later that day I get home and the hard drive has died. So a bit of a forced upgrade, and this was only days after a reinstall of Windows 7.
There’s always been that thing, if you wash your car, a bird will shit on it shortly after. Why? Well because you just washed it. I think Murphy has it in for me, today while washing my car, a bird crapped on it while I was still washing it. Didn’t even get it out the washing bay! Damn you Murphy.
