Thursday, November 29, 2007

We are not dead yet

As has been pointed out in private communications, I have been somewhat silent on this blog as of late. This is mainly due to the fact that the 18th of November was the last day that I resided in an abode that had an internet connection, and before then I was somewhat busy with plans for moving country and visiting family and what not.

There are many matters that have arisen in the intervening days that I wish to pontificate upon through this medium, and shall do so once I have an internet connection in my new somewhat small home (This should be the 4th of December). Until then I shall be making a written record of some of the things I shall end up posting, and when I do post I shall probably write up one or two a day so as not to create a sudden surge of content.

Until then, chilax.

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Writing time: 6 minutes
Time since last post: 16 days
Current media: the noises of a Korean internet cafe

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Shaved

Today I shaved for the first time since October 25th. That was the last day I actually worked, as opposed to intended to work, since NOVA closed all branches the following day. I had grown somewhat of a beard, although I can't really grow much of one, and it was getting itchy. I had stopped shaving mainly because I didn't want to pay for razor blades. However today I had cause to look presentable. Today I got my visa number for a new job in Korea and intended to visit the embassy to collect my visa. The process involved submitting a passport sized photo, so I didn't want to go in looking like a deadbeat.

Anyway, it looks like I wasn't meant to get the visa today, as I had a few mishaps on the way. First I had to go in to print out the application form. As I was filling in the form, I realized I had left my passport at home. Then once I reached the station near the embassy with my passport and other documents, I got lost and wandered around Namba. When I finally got to the embassy it was about 45 minutes after they stopped accepting applications for the day.

Anyway, I shall probably wait until I the day I start my new job before I shave again.

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Writing time: 23 minutes
Time since last post: 1 day
Current media: Harvey Birdman

Jesus and Mo

Today I found an interesting comic entitled Jesus and Mo. The formula is essentially Jesus and Muhammad (and sometimes an atheist barmaid that is only ever heard) discussing something about religion that sets up a joke. I've liked what I've read so far, although in my case it is somewhat preaching to the choir. Anyway, check it out.

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Writing time: 8 minutes
Time since last post: 11ish hours
Current media: Harvey Birdman

Monday, November 12, 2007

There is a lesson to be learnt here

Over the past week or so I've noticed a toy coming up in the news a lot. Unfortunately it has not been for a good reason. Bindeez, or Aquadots as the seppos call them were until recently the toy to have. As a one use item I can see there appeal to retailers and manufacturers, but I think lego beats them hands down.

The reason these things are in the news is because of what they're made of. These things are coated in a chemical that when digested turns into a rather nasty drug that has some rather nasty effects and is known colloquially as Grievious Bodily Harm (the actual name has the initials GHB, which in my glossing over of articles had always read as GBH).

The lesson here is don't make toys that are essentially a collection of small dots out of chemicals that will react in an adverse way with the human body when ingested. Ideally, pick something that is either completely non-toxic or completely inert.

And another lesson. If you are going to build a business that involves customers paying a large amount of cash upfront for a service that may last many months, do not spend all that money straight away. Have some sort of investment fund that provides a moderate return, and invest a part of the money they pay. That way, if customers do dry up for a while, you won't be completely fucked trying to pay for everything your still obliged to provide.

I'm sure I could come up with numerous other quite obvious ideas that a business should use if they do not desire to become a synonym for disaster, but I will save them for another time

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Writing time: 15 minutes
Time since last post: 5 days
Current media: None

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Cold

It's starting to get cold. Last night I busted out the heater for the first time. Of course it seems likely I won't have to endure much of the Japanese winter (although it looks like I still might get to enjoy the delights of a Korean winter). So far the cool has been mostly felt in the extremities (I have cold feet, so I'm thinking it's not really that cold, but a combination of the cold and me not eating too much (in my experience on the days that I haven't eaten a lot, I feel the cold a lot more).

The reason I'm not eating so much is not a fad diet or a desire to have cold feet. It's the result of a rather limited food budget, and indeed a rather limited budget on the whole. Which is the result of the whole cluster-fuck that NOVA has become. The company is almost down the tubes, hopefully liquidation and government payouts for unpaid wages come soon, and if anyone ever finds the former CEO (he was deposed at a board meeting which he failed to attend, and no-one has seen him for months) it looks like he's going to be in a lot of legal trouble.

Times are looking to be lean for a while yet. I have a job in the works in Korea but even then my first paycheck won't be until the middle of January, so I'm going to have to last a while longer on what I've got. Hopefully Korea isn't too cold. I'm also looking forward to being able to afford some more variety in my diet.

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Writing time: 33 minutes
Time since last post: 6 days
Current media: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, season 7 episode 21 - End of Days

Thursday, November 01, 2007

November is here again

November is here again. Which means National Novel Writing Month is here again. Which means I with my now copious amount of free time and going to again attempt to produce 50,000 words of fiction (proudly displayed here). I have no ideas for a story yet, but like the idea of using site swap notation as a linking element and or chapter titles (as events in the story got more complicated, so too would the patterns used). We'll see if I can make this work.

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Writing time: 1 minute
Time since last post: 1 day
Current media: None