Mid Year of 2010
We’ve hit the middle of the year in 2010, tax time begins. Once again, I’ll see mine paying off my debts. But maybe it will be a good thing this year, and I can cross that Commonwealth credit card off shortly after. A lotto win would be nice to clear my debts and buy some things.
I’m a bit stuck at work lately, I find it rather boring. It’s almost like a production line with the same thing every day and nothing stimulating, and I can’t see much in career progression other than getting more certification. But I find that hard when I don’t have the time to do it.
I’m trying to give Tumblr a bash, I’m not sure why. It seems like a good blogging platform, but knowing me. I can never find a theme or platform that I like. WordPress has been close, the only reason I really use it is to continue using it and see if it gets somewhere to be used more like a portal for a site rather than a blogging platform, and it’s damn well close to that now. It would just be nice if some of the plugins you got were basic out of the box features, or at least able to be enabled in the dashboard. Tumblr seems a little easier, or integrated into the various social platforms as well. Like posting pictures, or video or other stuff.
Apple iOS4 came out… that’s about all I’ve got to say on that. That and the iPad is a fucking waste of time and money in my opinion. Oversized iPod touch really.
Some interesting games are coming out, I’ve been playing Crysis but it looks like hammered shit on my desktop. It’s just not up to scratch of playing good games. I did see there is a Vietnam expansion pack for Battlefield Bad Company 2, which is a wet dream. I loved playing BF:V, it’s possibly the last game I enjoyed playing. Everyone wants realism in their games, even to the extent where some first person shooters are looking more like a simulator these days. Only need a case and power supply and I’ll be up and running, the smaller bits I can get later on as I need them, like extra hard drives. I’m interested in tinkering with some hardware for performance reasons, RAID and overclocking. The C2D E6850 is known for being good for overclocking, some reports have been for the PC to go at 4.0ghz passively. So that could be interesting, or I could blow the whole thing up!
I had my endoscopy a few weeks ago, hiatus hernia! No coffee or spicy food. Still can have beer though but probably not recommended! At least I know whats going on and can stop it, back to the medication soon but I think I need something stronger.
Sick of the house we live in, I’d like something smaller to live in. Mainly because the lawns and gardens are too much work, I’m not lazy. It just means having to find time to do it and I just can’t. It seems the only time I ever get for that is when I’ve booked time off at work; and that isn’t much of a holiday.
Oh well, here’s to 2 days off next week and back to work for me.
South Australian Election 2010
Well, Saturday I voted in the South Australian Election.
I voted for Patrick Conlon locally, looking at the stats from the previous election he had double what Liberal did. So I went with that.
I looked at who to vote for when it came to the MP, I looked at Isabell Redmond and though “wasn’t that the silly bitch that got herself tasered? Well, pics or it didn’t happen”. She also looks creepy, and a bit like a lying bitch. So I crossed her off.
Mike Rann keeps fucking things up, so I ignored him. Everyone else wasn’t that interesting so I sent my vote for Games 4 Cryodon, I figure if they’ve got something that can pass now that Attorney-Dumbass has resigned, it’ll be done and dusted.
I have 2 problems with the country, or I guess the planet. But then I’d say it’s more the Australian Government.
Firstly, If we’re in such “great economical times”, why are we paying to much rent, not earning enough in careers that people are highly sought after? It doesn’t matter what we do, we’re getting the highly coveted “touch your toes” deal from the government. We’re also being over run by other cultures and I’m sick of it. I’m not racist, but… there’s just to many of them now and it’s creating problems.
Secondly, Centerlink. Now there’s a blackhole of usefulness… NOT. Speaking of the deaf bitch at the local office in Marion, who happens to be there still as a Customer Service rep after god knows how many years, she was there when I was unemployed in 2006.
Dear Centerlink, why employ someone who can’t speak English properly in a workplace that requires people to speak English? How can I listen to your terms and conditions from someone who mumbles? It’s not rocket science. What shit’s me about Centerlink is when you get an Australian who was born here wants to go to university, they have to do the hard yards. They can only work so much before they get money taken away from them, but low and behold if you’re born in another country and can’t speak English, JACKPOT! You get a bonus!
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.
