Rudolf Henning

This last week of the year is usually a very quiet and reserved time of the year. Time to spend time with the family and friends. This year for the first time in many years I still have to work these last couple of days (not that much will happen but....).

This year (2004) was a relatively good year. No actually it was a great year! I got involved with sadeveloper.net, got to go to tech-ed, made loads of new friends, family is happy (with the usual reservations ;) ) etc.

I considder the rest of u at dotnet.org as friends so I wish u all and at sadeveloper.net a good new year. 2005 will be one of those years we start off good. Its up to all of us to make sure it stays that way!

Guys, I'm probably signing off for this year (2004) so U all should take care and come back posting next year. U all rock!

Playing the dark throne game has started making me thinking that maybe, perhaps, just perhaps an online gaming sci-fi game could also work. I've seen some of those years ago.

Anyone else interested?

Since I was introduced to this online game I've been spending more (perhaps too) time online playing. It is a slow yet fun way to interact with faceless 'others' and attack and rob them of their gold...

I suppose it could be very serious for some but I enjoy it simply for what it is.

I u wish to support me in my question (or just to help me out) u can simple follow this link:

http://www.darkthrone.com/recruit.dt?uid=V30277I30328Y30260W30328G30277V30260

Just click on the link and then click on the word that is duplicated...

I must say these guys have gone to some lengths to avoid scrip kiddies to misuse the site and create super players.

Why not have a go at it urself and join my allegions!?!

and oh yes, we're gona wax the Jhb team!

Yesterday my wifes (my previous) PC motherboard decided to end it days. Well, it could be the CPU or powersupply (perhaps) but the main suspect is the mobo. The machine is due for an upgrade anyway (I'm just waiting for some NForce 4 mobo's to come out) but that is only planned for early next year. In the mean while we'll have to revert back to my prior machine (A PII 350) that was acting as a server.

Why do these things happen just before cristmas?

So if anyone has a PIII mobo that can be donated or sold cheaply I might be interested.

Then I've got a headacke as well...

Now I'm also part of the IMate/Pocket PC world. Since yesterday afternoon late I've been playing with my new IMate (QTec 2020) PDA phone. Like any good geek I did'nt even read the manual yet - will eventually get to it...

Expect some pictures soon of it (just to brag!)

Just an update to the 'bring back sci fi channel' petition.

We reached 300!

It would seem things r going slow now. Its holiday season and people r away for the holiday or simply too busy. Hopefully next year the pace will pick up a bit.

Rudolf

Sometimes it takes something bad that happened to some other people for u to realize again how thankful u must be just to be alive. A few minutes ago I heard about a family in our church that was wiped out in a car accident, father, mother and a 3 month old baby. The only survivor a 3 1/2 year old boy. He escaped with only broken arms/legs.

Perhaps u can reason it was their time(parents) but why... why is the little boy spared just to grow up without parents?

I think I'll just go give my wife and daughter a big hug now.

Today I was again remindewd why so many people are complaining about the level of quality of service in our country. Let me tell the story (names have been changed to protect the not so inocent)...

My cell phone contract is due for an upgrade and thus I've been looking around for a while for a replacement handset for my aging (but very trusting Nokia 6310). Since that over guy mr P (for Plint but ur not suppose to know) got his IMate 2020 I've been thinging of getting something along the phone/PDA line as well. Ok, so much for the background.

I phoned my service provider (the guys through which my current contract is) and after some hassles of getting response back got the message that the IMate 2020 has been discontinued and thus they cannot get it for me anymore. Ok, so I thought give them another chance to get me something else that is 'worth while'. I decided to pay their Tygervalley branch a visit and try to have a look first hand what they have available (kind of being in their faces so they cannot bulshit me). That idea did not work so well as the girl (good looking but still useless...) just told me that even the smaller IMate SP3 is not in stock and they cannot get stock for 3 weeks. So I thought - stuff that. I'm gona continue looking around to see if I can at least get the SP3 for 1st hand inspection.

Off I went to Tygervalley sentrum itself to the MTN shop. They did not have the SP3 BUT.... they still had the IMate 2020 in stock! Wow Cool! I chatted to the girl helping me about the possibilities around the phone. Soon It became apparent it is possible to obtain this phone/PDA without any major problems. All that is needed is to upgrade my wife's pay as u go contract to a full business contract and wholla! (must add that it was with permission...kinda).

So I will be getting the phone I'm looking for and won't loose my number (for now).

So the moral of the story? Don't always just accept what ur service providers tell u. Look for alternatives!

SU (short for Story Universe from now on)

I started creating some 'classes' for the different entities (ok I managed to create one...) yesterday eve. What is taking the most time is the 'constant' planning and rethinking of what needs to be done. In a way this will be a classical development project with requirements, spec and coding.

The aim now is to keep it very simple and flexible. Nothing too specific that will cause it to be hard to change later (lets hope)

There is a very interesting review about the pros and cons of using firefox. The author list and discusses a number of things - good and bad about the browser.

http://www.scotsnewsletter.com/64.htm

Hope the IE development team gets to read it!

In the laas while lots of people have been complaining about bad service at various places all over the country. Imagine my surprise when I had to replace my car's windscreen after it cracked and discovered how 'good' service can be!

I phoned the PGglass toll free number earlier the day and the gentleman quickly helped me explaining how 'easy' things r to fix it. He took my details and said the closes fitment centre will phone 'me'. And surely enough, only a minute or so later the guy phoned giving me a quote. I had gathered the insurance details and then I phoned him again. It was just one two three and he explained where they r and I should just bring in the car.

Arriving there (PGglass Bellville) after I pulled in it was not more than two minutes and the old windscreen was out. I was still filling in the insurance claim form. The people - esspecially Jerome was very friendly and explained everything. Less than fifteen minutes after I pulled in there I drove out with the new windscreen. Everything done and all sorted out. All I can say is WOW!

This one is on PGGlass Bellville! May other businesses learn from them!