Any excuse...

To post. I mean, I don't really need one - I need time though. Heh.
So what's new? With me? Not a lot. I'm busy as hell with work, and general life. Gemma starts her end of course exams this next week so I won't be spending a huge amount of time talking to her since she (brutally honest mode) has more important things to think about than me missing her (/brutally honest mode). And I'm okay with that. Hell, this isn't the first time and I doubt it'll be the last.

Next week is PV (Performance Vauxhall). Held at Santa Pod each year it's a great time to meet up with fellow Vauxhall owners and enjoy watching a variety of cars attack the 1/4 mile with hopes and dreams of hitting that low quarter time. 12s would be nice. This show may mark the end (or nearly) of the Calibra Turbo that you can see on this site.

If not, it'll be Billing. Held at the Billing Aquadrome it's a proper two day event and is a chance for all thing Vauxhall, Opel, and it's relatives to get together and generally look pretty. I may take the Calibra.. or the Monaro. Dunno yet. The Calibra has a better load area for tents and the like - the Monaro is just more comfortable, quicker... sounds better. Lol.. I dunno.

As for the Calibra. Well her insurance has been renewed - but on a very limited mileage policy as she's never used. I cannot afford to keep her going being still technically a project, and the Monaro being just an expensive car. I would love to just sell the Calibra to an enthusiast and hopefully still see her at shows. The reality is, the first person to get it would strip it and make twice the money. So I have the choice there.. strip it, make the money and be done. Except it's never that simple. Firstly the stripping involves a lot of work and storage. Neither of which I have in abundance. Secondly you have to actually sell the bits. That also isn't a given. With stock LETs making too much cash that they simply aren't selling, and with so many Turbos being broken that the rest of parts aren't worth most people's time and fuss.
So I'd end up with half a car on my drive and probably be no better off.

Ah better the devil you know, eh?

Watch this space. I know I have to do something. And the Monaro really fancies a new exhaust and a free-flow air filter too. :p

Quick vid

Of us V8s having a play :)

Halo 3

Here's the trailer. Watch it. Love it. Sit moody and wait with me.

Game news

Ahead of E3 is this Joystiq.com article on upcoming MMOs. Lots going on so there has to be at least one or two good ones in that bunch! Of course ST and SG both rate with me (Sci-fi!). :D

Also, Blizzard posted this:
"Scheduled to go live this summer, this feature will allow players to move their characters, within certain restrictions, to a realm of their choosing. This means that player's will now be able to join their friends on other realms without the need to wait for a pre-set mass realm transfer. In addition, this will also contribute to a balancing of the player load from realm to realm, which again is a specific way for us to reduce realm queues and lag. We know that many player's are eager for this service to be implemented, so we'll share further details as soon as more information becomes available. "

Hmm.

So...

..Nintendo has a new name for the Revolution. Wii. Jokes aside, I believe it's simply because it'll sound right in every language. Officially it's because "Wii" sounds like "We" as in - the world. It brings us together. We puke.. yada yada. Who thinks up this stuff? Seriously.

It's big news on SG-1 too! RDA is returning to the fold for 4 episodes. 1 on SG-1 and 3 on Atlantis. Personally I think the man is brilliant to watch - and he only left so he could spend more time with his daughter. Love it. More please!

Battlestar Galactica is getting a spin-off series. Set 50 years before the current show it'll follow two families and the creation of the first Cylon. Cool eh? The more the merrier I say :D

Did I mention Star Trek XI?. Not much to go on just yet... but I like Star Trek so I'll likely enjoy whatever comes of it. :)

Sneaky insurance company...

Just got the renewal through for the Calibra. It's a bit of a bummer as if I don't renew I can bring it to PV or Billing - if I do, I'm possibly throwing money away if I can sell/break it... anyway...

On the front page (HIC) is the renewal cost (£449) and the instructions on how to pay up. Then underneath in tiny text is the following:

"..we have found a cheaper alternative premium of £328.."

Eh? How many Joe Bloggses would just go ahead and pay up without reading the tiny print?!

Really boils my blood!

Blogtastic

I've taken up doodling at work. Cityscapes, robots, cars and stupid things that start from a line or a circle. Boredom perhaps, or maybe it's my lack of creativity in my day to life. I need to get back in to Maya and the like or I'll go mad. Mad I tell thee.

A couple of awesome links for you.
First is for CellFactor. At the moment it's a tech demo for a physics card (yeah I know) but hopefully it'll mature in to a full game next year. Watch the video. It's really cool.

I also stopped reading Wil Wheaton's site. Not knowingly of course, just life got in the way and my daily routine changed. Well I popped over there today (on a whim) and his site is down. However he has a temporary site up, here. Worth a looksee.

Gemma went back to Exeter at the weekend. This is her final term (blimey) there and I'm not visiting. The idea doesn't sit well within my head, but needs must and hopefully I'll be busy enough that the next 6/8 weeks will sort of fly by. We'll see. :(

I really need a camera.

Monaro page UP

It's down on the right under .site or here

Monaro pics - 1 through 40-odd

Yeah I'll get a page up soon.. for now, all I've taken so far. :p

http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro01.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro02.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro03.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro04.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro05.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro06.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro07.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro08.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro09.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro10.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro11.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro12.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro13.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro14.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro15.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro16.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro17.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro18.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro19.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro20.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro21.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro22.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro23.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro/monaro24.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro/monaro25.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro/monaro26.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro/monaro27.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro/monaro28.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro/monaro29.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro/monaro30.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro/monaro31.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro/monaro32.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro/monaro33.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro/monaro34.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro/monaro35.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro/monaro36.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro/monaro37.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro/monaro38.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro/monaro39.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro/monaro40.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro/monaro41.jpg
http://www.modica.co.uk/resource/monaro/monaro42.jpg

The usual

Um. What the hell is a "quite quote"? I wrote it below on my last entry, but I'll be buggered if I know what the hell it means. :)

Anyhoo. How are you chaps? Great. Me? I'm okay. Slugging the good slug and my new job and keeping the world revolving in my spare time. All 3.75 minutes of it.

So the car is cool. I've still not let rip with those horsies, but I'm getting used to the grunt. It'll happily wheel spin in the dry at very low RPM (since I wasn't trying) and in the wet it'll do it in 3rd from rest. Crazy. To think these engines are easily tunable to over 800bhp. Christ knows where the power is put - the road isn't it.

Work is fine too. Peeps are great; job is "okay". I can't get excited. I try but I have this nagging feeling I'd rather be on a sandy beach enjoying a beer instead. Odd that. Maybe a lottery win will enable me to live my dreams... who knows the numbers? You? ;)

Easter weekend is almost upon us. Rest and a third consecutive attempt and washing the car (without rain) is in order. Otherwise I give up. I fancy a drink or two too. :D

Ooh.. I found (by pure accident) a cool blog site. It has gaming/Apple/coms etc (like the Register or Slashdot) and is a good read with regular updates. It's called QJ.NET. Go have a read. It's cool. ;)

Quite quote on Windows Vista

The following quote really sums Windows up for me. I like Windows, don't misundertand me, but I also like Linux and Mac OS. I like smaller OS footprints, and quicker boot up/run times. So Windows Vista is looking like a bit of a pig. Anyway, from the NYTimes:

"...each new version of Windows carries the baggage of its past. As Windows has grown, the technical challenge has become increasingly daunting. Several thousand engineers have labored to build and test Windows Vista, a sprawling, complex software construction project with 50 million lines of code, or more than 40 percent larger than Windows XP.

"Windows is now so big and onerous because of the size of its code base, the size of its ecosystem and its insistence on compatibility with the legacy hardware and software, that it just slows everything down," observed David B. Yoffie, a professor at the Harvard Business School. "That's why a company like Apple has such an easier time of innovation.""

Check out the full article here.

More pics of the car! :D

Again, not a lot to say really.. except. LOOK AT IT! :D
6.0 LS2
404bhp
2900 miles :p

New car!!

Monaro VXR... need I say more?

Hi all and chaps and stuff

There was a time when I'd post 10, 12 times a day. Now, I can't manage that many posts a month. It's not for the want of trying, I assure you!
So I'll post now as I can. Relaxed on my bed watching an SG-1.. :P

So, first off, I've now watched pretty much every episode of SG-1 back to back - season one through seven (at the moment). I was already up with eight and nine... but I'll rewatch them as I go. Why? Well, every week they refer to something in the past, and it was annoying me. SG-1 has become one of my favourite shows and I'd owed it to myself to catch up. Yes. Yes I did.

Both SG-1 and Battlestar Galactica are over now for another season. I was impressed at how they both bowed out - and look forward to seasons ten and three respectively. Although, BG being put back until October is a little annoying. :(

There is a new car on the horizon - I'll post up when it arrives and I think you'll like it :D

Work is work BTW. Long days have come/gone and are coming - I don't much mind, but then again, I don't much enjoy it either. Probably. Or not. Lol. It's work and the people are great. Nuff said.

If you don't already enjoy CTRL ALT DELETE then get involved and start reading. Yes, it's a comic - so shhh and read it.

Oh.. Gemma is online.. I'll post more later :D

A reason for my absence

Well it's been a busy couple of weeks!
Firstly, I have a job. I work for Fat Face - check out the link to see what they do. I'm a 2nd/3rd line technician, engineer.. person. Thing. It's interesting. It's actually an awful lot to take in and I'm a bit lost, but I expect to find my legs soon and get stuck in. People keep asking me if I'm "enjoying it" - well, I'm no longer 18 and don't feel the need to say "Yes" to that. It's a good job, with good people doing something I know I'm good at. Enjoy wise? Well, sitting on a beach, climbing a mountain, drifting a muscle car, seeing Gemma - those are enjoyable things :) But yeah, I guess it's "enjoyable" ;)

I spent a good couple of weeks in and out of interviews trying to get that job (although it was the last, and quickest 1st and 2nd interviews I went through) and then I spent last week trying to fit in and learn everything. That'll continue for the next couple of weeks/months I expect!

The upshot is, I don't have access to the internet like I did - nor e-mail. At AT&T I had a pretty free reign of the interweb and it's secrets, so I could blog on my lunch or if I saw a cool link. Now I cannot - so I'll have to find time at home - and that ain't easy.
So, I've cut back on my forum use; Club Calibra and so on are a "one-visit" a day (if that) now and I don't post. I used to a lot. Now, well.. maybe 3 in the last fortnight. Funnily enough I'm now in the habit of not checking it and I'm happy with that. Probably more healthy too. :)

Next up? A car. I had hoped to have one sorted by now, but I can't get a loan. I suspect my change of job has something to do with that, but I'll report back soon on my progress and what I'm hoping to buy!

Laters.

The art of Star Trek Online

Here is a semi-interesting article on the upcoming STO game, and some of the work involved in bringing the Galaxy class starship to life. It's nice to see such things so early on in the game's development. Hopefully it'll carry on. :)

More PS3 delays?

Ah so the curse of the Blue Ray could mean further (and expected) delays for Sony's PS3. Until certain standards are met, accepted, agreed and published, the PS3 has to wait. It's hardly surprising is it?
Read about it here.

Top 10 Sci-Fi films never made

This is interesting, not because it's a geeky article, but because it has details on the original Alien 3 and a StarCraft movie (that will never happen).

Well, I liked it anyway!

New 911 Turbo!

Is here. Oh my. Seriously.

Update quickie

I've added the specs of the turbo I have on the Calibra. I've also added links to where it, and the manifold I have, can be bought (both US). :)

It's February!

Ok so I'm a bit late on the news.. so sue me.

Any "hooo". What's new with you? Oh, right, I don't care :P - kidding! But seriously, you can't tell me can you - not unless you comment. :D

Well I'd love to say how busy I've been with my new job. Except I don't have one so I can't. Hmm. There might be news on that front come the weekend (well.. we shall see!). I'll report back.

There's the car(s). The Rover sucks bumhole and should be shot at dawn; but it still runs (just) so I need to keep it going for now.
The Calibra is running great, but I'm trying to avoid using it as it's not the most economical car in the world, especially as I have no income!

February 16th marks the 5th year I've lived here in my humble abode. Shockingly long time and I never expected to still be here after this time - but it's mine and, why not eh. I expect my time here won't last another 5 years; maybe 2, but I'm in no hurry to leave just yet.

2 days prior to the big day is, of course, Valentines day. To me, that means nothing. Sad really! But it's true. In the time Gemma and I have been together, we've never spent that day together. I hope next year is different - but for now, it's just another day. I hope you guys enjoy it with your partners though! Sexy!

And finally, a date for the old diary, March 1st. 3 years since Gemma and I first started dating. I still remember it too (well I bloody well should). Ah... memories. Of course, I won't be spending it with her (bloody Uni) but we'll celebrate it when we do meet up.

Ooh, while on the subject of Gemma (it's a good subject). She passed her driving test a few weeks back (did I mention that?). Great little driver she is too!

Okay.. MMOs. :D
I'm still in WoW. Now on the UK server "The Maelstrom". I hit level 30 yesterday too (which was nice) on my Tauren Warrior. I'm still enjoying the process - but miss being 60.. and a druid. Oh well, I'll do that all again soon!

Dean (my brother) is about to start on RF Online. I'll let the site do the talking, but basically it's a Manga/Anime style MMO that's been out about a year in Japan. It's coming here courtesy of Codemasters (the Toca guys) and looks.. pretty good. It's certainly pretty in the videos but I'm not too sure whether it'll appeal the way WoW does.
There's also a crapload more coming out this year.. check out MMORPG.COM and just look at them all. Tons. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Everquest 2 and LOTRs.. and maybe even Star Trek: Online (I'll leave you to find the links!).

See ya'll soon!

www.pipelinecard.org

Would you like to save between 5p and 10p per litre on petrol (in the UK)? If so, you could do worse than visiting Pipeline. At the moment it's just a sign up - a list of names. But the more that sign up, the more likely it could happen.

Visit and have a read. It won't cost you anything but time. :)

No PS3 for us until 2007

Kinda pointless if you ask me.. but here is the story. I wasn't much fussed anyway!

Lucky sod..

This chap:

has asked the lovely:




to marry him.. and she only bloody said yes!

Who'da thunk it? :p

Less Friends?

TV bosses are denying the stories. So Friends won't be back after all.

Or will it?

Who knows. If they know what's good for them, they'll do it. But not one of the cast members needs to, not really. :(

Star Trek "Supermovie"

In, what I can only think is a super-attempt at bringing back Star Trek to our screens, is this news story. Picard, Spock.. and the Kirk-meister together? Could it work?
Personally, if I see Picard back I'm happy. Shatner is a god and is best when being funny (or taking the piss out of himself) in Boston Legal.. not sure bringing him back from the dead (Kirk) is a good idea myself. But.. needs must :p

Spidey 3!

May 2007 is the date. Anything else? Sure, get over to either E! Online or Aint it cool news to read about Parker's new love interest :)
Though it may not interest you, she's the original love interest from the comics that died in the scene that Mary-Jane did not from Spidey 1 (the bridge at the end). So I'm not entirely sure how that works.. lol.

More Friends?

Hollywood.com is reporting that Friends may (well, will) be returning in 2007 for four hour-long specials with all six of our favourites back for more!
This comes off the back of the news that Joey isn't doing well and may be cancelled (damn!). Not only that, but there may be a show called "It's a guy thing" featuring Ross, Chandler and Joey (no idea where the girls got to) too.. odd? Sure, but why not :)

Added some more pics...

...to the Calibra page. Just a recent MIG meets I attended. Thanks to Dan1 and JamieF for taking them. :)

Calibra page updated...

"Slack bastard" is phrase that springs to mind quite nicely here. Almost a YEAR since my last update. How sad is that? Christ, what a prat. God even knows where my other pics are (I'm sure I have more to add!).

Anyway - check out the two pics I've uploaded. :)

Switching to Windows? Not as easy as you'd think!

Here's a great article on moving from Linux to Windows. . Who'd do that?!

So...

..what will this new year bring?
Hopefully, for me, a new job and maybe a holiday/car/etc :p

But what has captured my attention this last week?

How about the 2009 Camaro? Yup - that'll do for a start. :)
Or the Dodge Challenger concept? Well, sure why not? This is everything the Charger should have been, but wasn't (in my eyes).

Also, the CES show is on over in the US. Get over to CES Uncovered to see the best in upcoming electronic fun for the next year or so (including MS announcing a HD DVD drive for the 360!).

I'll be sure to find something else cool soon :)

PS. Anyone want a dead Rover 214Si? Hateful things.

Happy New Year!

Here's to 2006. And. Stuff.

I hope you all have a great year. I hope mine is even better :D

The intrawebnet is all interesting and stuff

Righto.

First off, in 10 days (according to SciFi.com) we get SG-1, Atlantis and Battlestar Galactica back on US TV screens. I cannot wait for BG, it's just been announced as best show of 2005. Hardly surprising really eh! Oh the joy!

Second, get over to Apple.com and check out next years new movies. The likes of X3, MI:3 and Miami Vice. 2006 looks to be a lot of fun at the movies!

Finally, for now, don't forget the likes of CTRLALTDEL-ONLINE, Streaptease comics and Red Vs Blue. :)

Ah it's been weeks

I have an excuse. I really do. Um.
Well, you see, I've been made redundant. Not a surprise really but it's happened. Adding to that that I've also had to take holiday (yeah end stuff) and the little factoid of Gemma being home means I haven't really been at the computer all that much. Since I don't need to go in to work any more either I don't have that need to type bollocks instead of working. Yet. I still have to find a job though of course but I'm kinda hoping I'll be busy in the next one. Who knows though, eh?

There has been loads going on though of course! My Birthday came and passed (and I blogged that little event) and now Christmas just slid by without anyone noticing at all.
How did I do? Well I got a nice Maya DVD which I intend to use to learn about the software (because I know squat at the moment). A nice shirt (both from Gemma.. ) and one of those Tassimo coffee/tea/choco machines too. Nice. :)

I also picked up a UK copy of World of Warcraft. Why? Well the reason is two-fold. One; I'm online when the rest of the "World" is and Two; everyone I know as moved over too. Hmm.
My character name is "Garrak", a Tauren Warrior and I'm "The Maelstrom". So if you see me about, say "Hi".

It's been nice to relax over the holiday period and I will go in to January with new gusto to find a job and sort myself out. :)

So... I'll post before year end, but to all those who read this: Happy New Year to you all and good luck in whatever comes your way. :)

2nd part of John Smedley interview (SWG)

You can read it here Interesting fellow.
Will SWG "beat the crap out of World of Warcraft"? I doubt it.

Introducing Spartan 458

Get a 360 and then DOA 4... and meet her.
"How can we say that with a straight face? Shut up is how!" :D

The internet is for porn...

Damn funny

A few bits for you

Have a look at this. It's an article about effects being used with the Source graphic engine (Half Life 2). It shows how the eye works (not literally) and how games will, and are, beginning to show 'real life' effects within the graphics engine.
To that effect, you will see varying focus, motion blur and even special "film" effects like ageing and colour correction very soon. Quite cool. There are some videos there (that I haven't gotten round to downloading) that demo the effects too.

An interview with John Smedly on SWG and what is happening to this particular MMO. Sounds like 2006 may be interesting after all :)

Anyone see Top Gear last night? That's what it's all about - fantasy. I love it.

Firstly...

...I've not been online much in the last week as I've been at home (taking holiday) and really didn't surf the net all that much. So there wasn't much to post!
Secondly, it was Gemma's 21st yesterday (Happy Birthday honey!). We had a really nice day too :)

Hopefully I'll be back to normal this week. But then again, it's busy here at work - so you never know.