Thursday 2 November 2017
People queueing outside Apple Stores to buy an iPhone X
I must admit that I love it's features and may get one, but not now... I'll let the masses field test it first!
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| Sad bastards... |
Monday 30 October 2017
Today is a GOOD day to want to live on this planet :)
Apparently the BBC's new Blue Planet II series got more viewers - half-a-million more - than Strictly Come Dancing...
An beautifully filmed, well-researched documentary, narrated by our National Treasure - Sir David Attenborough beat a piece of brainless reality-TV rubbish... my faith in humankind has risen a few points.
An beautifully filmed, well-researched documentary, narrated by our National Treasure - Sir David Attenborough beat a piece of brainless reality-TV rubbish... my faith in humankind has risen a few points.
Saturday 21 October 2017
Drag me to Hell
Just watched Drag me to Hell... have to say I'm fucking glad Alison Lohman's character got it in the end, she killed a little kitty, in my book that's an eternity of torment in hell.
Saturday 14 October 2017
Subnautica - Reaper Leviathan... comfortably viewed in it's natural habitat :)
I really wanted to view one up close but got fed-up with getting owned, so I spent a great deal of time building a base near where one spawned... this Youtube vid is the end result:
Friday 13 October 2017
Ryan Gosling
Why does Ryan Gosling go around with an almost perpetual wry smile that says "I know a world shattering secret... and I'm not going to tell you what it is"?
Wednesday 11 October 2017
Star Wars - The Last Jedi Scramble
Wow, lots of people pre-ordering tickets for the latest Star Wars film?? Don't get me wrong I love the franchise and I will be going to see it, but not when it comes out. I can't stand sharing a packed out cinema full of idiots making small-talk or on their phones (a least one person forgets to put their's on silent), constant sounds of rustling as they tuck into their overpriced Popcorn/Doritos or bags of M&M's... and I invariably get the 8ft twat with a bouffant sat in front of me so I have to suffer a silhouetted 'hump' jutting up from the bottom of the screen for the entirety of the film.
No, better to go in the New Year when the number of interested parties has thinned out some, then we (me and my brother) get a nice nearly-empty theatre of like-minded individuals who want to enjoy a good Star Wars flick with no twat-ish behaviour.
No, better to go in the New Year when the number of interested parties has thinned out some, then we (me and my brother) get a nice nearly-empty theatre of like-minded individuals who want to enjoy a good Star Wars flick with no twat-ish behaviour.
One Call Insurance - Retards
All it took was one call, an agonising three-quarters of an hour long call during which I was passed between six separate operators possibly spanning three different departments... and all I wanted to do was cancel and existing insurance policy. In the end, I was advised to use their live chat on the website to coordinate with and upload some paperwork! Yes, you heard it, I had to get what I need to get done not by speaking to humans, I had to use computers instead, WTF!!
Anything that goes 'off-script' with these organisations and they just lose their shit, I swear I was merely being passed off to a colleague each time because what I was requesting was just too hard for them to deal with.
I most certainly won't be using them for any insurance, not because they are prohibitively expensive or anything like that but because having to do anything else seems to be an utter nightmare-fest to get done!
Anything that goes 'off-script' with these organisations and they just lose their shit, I swear I was merely being passed off to a colleague each time because what I was requesting was just too hard for them to deal with.
I most certainly won't be using them for any insurance, not because they are prohibitively expensive or anything like that but because having to do anything else seems to be an utter nightmare-fest to get done!
World Cup 2018
The 'script' for next year's World Cup continues unabated
England qualified comfortably, as usual... then, at the tournament they will then be frustratingly bland, scrape through the second round, then go out, either to inferior opposition (who are fired-up and know how to get in our lads' heads) or on penalties to superior opposition. The usual England 'bogey teams' are there - Argentina (more on them in a bit), Portugal, Germany and, more recently, Iceland... all these teams stand in the way of England spectacularly snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. I'll be in a pub somewhere watching their games because me and millions of other England fans are gluttons for punishment.
Argentina managed to scrape through qualification with a 3-1 victory over Ecuador, prior to the game the odds were stacked against them - small point margins between 2nd and 5th in their group, Messi not firing, poor performances overall in past games, poor record against Ecuador, playing high altitude etc etc, yet somehow they pulled out the stops and got the victory they need and not only that, a Messi hat-trick too.
Now what will happen is, at the tournament, they will play the most sublime football ever, and reach the semis or the final... this being the polar opposite of England's fortunes... very, very frustrating.
Of course we can't discount the possibility of us being disqualified because of Russian machinations in the guise of inciting football hooliganism... and with FIFA being to weak to accept the truth, we'll get disqualified and Russia will get a collective hug.
Every four years we go through this stress, I sometimes wish we never qualify because I've thoroughly enjoyed watching these tournaments as a neutral.
England qualified comfortably, as usual... then, at the tournament they will then be frustratingly bland, scrape through the second round, then go out, either to inferior opposition (who are fired-up and know how to get in our lads' heads) or on penalties to superior opposition. The usual England 'bogey teams' are there - Argentina (more on them in a bit), Portugal, Germany and, more recently, Iceland... all these teams stand in the way of England spectacularly snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. I'll be in a pub somewhere watching their games because me and millions of other England fans are gluttons for punishment.
Argentina managed to scrape through qualification with a 3-1 victory over Ecuador, prior to the game the odds were stacked against them - small point margins between 2nd and 5th in their group, Messi not firing, poor performances overall in past games, poor record against Ecuador, playing high altitude etc etc, yet somehow they pulled out the stops and got the victory they need and not only that, a Messi hat-trick too.
Now what will happen is, at the tournament, they will play the most sublime football ever, and reach the semis or the final... this being the polar opposite of England's fortunes... very, very frustrating.
Of course we can't discount the possibility of us being disqualified because of Russian machinations in the guise of inciting football hooliganism... and with FIFA being to weak to accept the truth, we'll get disqualified and Russia will get a collective hug.
Every four years we go through this stress, I sometimes wish we never qualify because I've thoroughly enjoyed watching these tournaments as a neutral.
Stanislav Petrov - A Tribute
He is the man who single-handedly saved us from the brink of nuclear annihalation back in the Eighties... so as a tribute to him (and his family) I thought I'd immortalise him as an oil painting...
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| Produced using the oil paint feature in Photoshop CC... |
Tuesday 10 October 2017
SNES Mini
So bloody fed-up of these opportunist 'tards reselling SNES Minis at twice the recommended retail price... and all because Nintendo can't pull their finger out and mass manufacture enough of them to go round...
Thursday 22 June 2017
Pokemon GO Cheaters... you have been warned
"Niantic’s warning to cheaters and hackers remains clear: Don’t do the thing, unless you want your Pokémon to suffer the consequences."
I'm all for it if it stops lazy-ass 'tards from cheating, forces them to get off their fat greasy arses get outside and play the game properly because I've walked every inch of the 1300-odd kilometres I've done in-game and busted my hump to get a pretty average battle roster so far (1400cp Lapras out of a 10k egg yesterday, I mean WTF!)... fucking annoys me that I have to battle 3000cp Dragonites in gyms that weren't earned fair and square.
I'm all for it if it stops lazy-ass 'tards from cheating, forces them to get off their fat greasy arses get outside and play the game properly because I've walked every inch of the 1300-odd kilometres I've done in-game and busted my hump to get a pretty average battle roster so far (1400cp Lapras out of a 10k egg yesterday, I mean WTF!)... fucking annoys me that I have to battle 3000cp Dragonites in gyms that weren't earned fair and square.
Tuesday 20 June 2017
More 3D Messin'
I've been playing with Adobe's Project Felix some more... decided to model a pocket watch, why? Because I've been dying to draw a precision watch face, which, to be honest, doesn't require any kind of 3D modelling whatsoever! But, what the heck, I drew it then surrounded it with 3D afterwards!
All profiling and the watch face drawn in Adobe Illustrator, modelling done in Photoshop, then textures and rendering done in Felix.
All profiling and the watch face drawn in Adobe Illustrator, modelling done in Photoshop, then textures and rendering done in Felix.
Monday 19 June 2017
Parks & Recreation
This TV series has, literally, helped stave off my depression... Amy Poehler's character - Leslie Knope - is soo positive all the time that she massively lifts my spirits, plus the rest of the cast are such a good comedy mix too.
So to all the cast and crew of Parks & Recreation: thank you! :)
So to all the cast and crew of Parks & Recreation: thank you! :)
Friday 16 June 2017
Niantic are preparing for a major change to Pokemon GO gyms...
Rumour has it that a multiplayer element is possibly being added... great, so now instead of having to wade through stacks of hacked Dragonites and Blisseys offline I'll have to live-battle against and get owned by some snotty fourteen-year-old's 3000cp Dragonite that the spawny little git got from a 10k egg that he/she walked off by strapping their phone to a turntable.
"The capture mechanic is fun, but you’re a lone wolf, you’re going out there on your own.." says Niantic. "Maybe you’re with friends, but there’s not that, kind of, connected experience. We think there is an opportunity for collaboration in that area, but more to come on that.”
"FUCK OFF!" I like being a 'Lone Wolf'!! I realise Pokemon GO puts you out and about in public but this game is my me time and I don't want it to involve other people. So I really really hope Niantic aren't going to nerf Pokemon GO to such an extent that I'll be forced to have to speak to people!
Aah well... to cheer myself up I drew a Snorlax... and here it is...
"The capture mechanic is fun, but you’re a lone wolf, you’re going out there on your own.." says Niantic. "Maybe you’re with friends, but there’s not that, kind of, connected experience. We think there is an opportunity for collaboration in that area, but more to come on that.”
"FUCK OFF!" I like being a 'Lone Wolf'!! I realise Pokemon GO puts you out and about in public but this game is my me time and I don't want it to involve other people. So I really really hope Niantic aren't going to nerf Pokemon GO to such an extent that I'll be forced to have to speak to people!
Aah well... to cheer myself up I drew a Snorlax... and here it is...
Monday 5 June 2017
Adobe Felix
I've spent some time recently with Adobe's latest 3D app, called Felix... what I like about it is that it's being made for graphic designers, not engineers... which means it has a simpler, more intuitive interface for creative professionals.
I've used plenty of 3D software over the years, Strata3D being my most favourite and recently Photoshop CC's built-in 3D tools however I've found Felix very easy to use. So far my testing has been limited to importing models made from Photoshop, apply materials and rendering as Felix doesn't have modelling built-in (and may not have in future builds) but it is, very, very good. So good that I find it's rendering engine much better than Photoshop's. So now I transfer projects to Felix for rendering, freeing up Photoshop for other projects (a render job in Photoshop locks the entire app until it is finished).
The pic below is a rendering of a marble, it's a combination of a revolved object that's been twisted and distorted, then placed inside a sphere. I didn't bother adding materials, I just exported the 3D objects (in .obj format which is what Felix requires), once imported successfully I did some camera controls tweaking then applying Felix's built-in materials (glass mainly) and hey-presto! A rendered 3D marble... which, I have to say, I loved collecting when I was a kid!
I've used plenty of 3D software over the years, Strata3D being my most favourite and recently Photoshop CC's built-in 3D tools however I've found Felix very easy to use. So far my testing has been limited to importing models made from Photoshop, apply materials and rendering as Felix doesn't have modelling built-in (and may not have in future builds) but it is, very, very good. So good that I find it's rendering engine much better than Photoshop's. So now I transfer projects to Felix for rendering, freeing up Photoshop for other projects (a render job in Photoshop locks the entire app until it is finished).
The pic below is a rendering of a marble, it's a combination of a revolved object that's been twisted and distorted, then placed inside a sphere. I didn't bother adding materials, I just exported the 3D objects (in .obj format which is what Felix requires), once imported successfully I did some camera controls tweaking then applying Felix's built-in materials (glass mainly) and hey-presto! A rendered 3D marble... which, I have to say, I loved collecting when I was a kid!
Saturday 3 June 2017
Pokemon GO T-Shirt
I made myself this t-shirt recently to celebrate walking a 1000km in-game... I took a screenshot of the gold medal award graphic from the game, uploaded it to my Mac then re-traced it in Illustrator, saved it as a PDF then uploaded it to my favourite online t-shirt service - spreadshirt... they did a cracking job of re-producing it :)
My life so far...
Haven't posted much recently... my father passed away over Easter, been too depressed to do anything, certainly not been inspired enough to update my blog.
Anyway, recently, as an exercise to try to haul myself out of this deep funk I took my contributions to social media up a notch, by joining Twitter and Instagram.
I didn't join Facebook... Facebook can go fuck itself.
My Twitter feed is now bolted to this blog's sidebar, so that I can tie the two together... Instagram is mainly for my nature photography... a place for all my creative outpouring, such that it is at the moment.
Anyhoo, here's my latest abstract drawing, called 'Faded Tartan'...
Anyway, recently, as an exercise to try to haul myself out of this deep funk I took my contributions to social media up a notch, by joining Twitter and Instagram.
I didn't join Facebook... Facebook can go fuck itself.
My Twitter feed is now bolted to this blog's sidebar, so that I can tie the two together... Instagram is mainly for my nature photography... a place for all my creative outpouring, such that it is at the moment.
Anyhoo, here's my latest abstract drawing, called 'Faded Tartan'...
Sunday 9 April 2017
Lego Technic #3
My excavator is coming along... I know, I know, I should have built it already but what the heck, I'm taking my time!
This stage is, without a doubt, full of cogs...
This stage is, without a doubt, full of cogs...
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| Cogcentric baby! |
Tuesday 4 April 2017
Wednesday 22 March 2017
A Pokemon GO Milestone :)
1000 km walked! And in getting there I got lost in a swamp, avoided getting run over multiple times, got rained on, snowed on, worn my walking shoes soles down to almost nothing and caught God-know's how many Pokemon but heck it was all worth it!
Pokemon GO is awesome and long may it continue :)
Pokemon GO is awesome and long may it continue :)
Sunday 19 March 2017
Observing Stalkers in Subnautica
Anyone who has played Subnautica will have had a chunk bitten out of them by a Stalker, it's pretty difficult not to when you need to get Kelp Seeds... so I decided to build an observation platform for getting up close to them safely:
Thursday 16 March 2017
Wasps Rugby 150th Anniversary Year
In celebration of Wasps 150th anniversary I have produced this version of their new logo - gold stitching on denim :)
Saturday 11 March 2017
A great day for English sport...
We've equalled New Zealand's unbeaten run, won the Cacutta Cup AND won the Six Nations!
Not a bad day's work :)
Not a bad day's work :)
Friday 3 March 2017
Nintendo Switch
Yipee, I've got mine :)
I open the Zelda box, aaaannd... really Nintendo?! All that real estate for a tiny SD card?!!
Now for some Nintendo fun!!
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| Full of Nintendo goodness! |
I open the Zelda box, aaaannd... really Nintendo?! All that real estate for a tiny SD card?!!
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| Blink and I'll miss it... |
Now for some Nintendo fun!!
Monday 27 February 2017
Game over man!!
RIP Bill Paxton, one of my favourite 'journeymen' actors.
Your sleazy cheesy film roles were pure entertainment, and I mean that in a happy positive way.
As Hudson in my favourite film of all time - Aliens, I always wanted him to survive or, at least go out with a bang rather than become an alien incubator. Plus how can we forget your sleazy car salesman from True Lies? "I'm naval liiinnnt...!", brilliant! And as the obnoxious big brother in Weird Science: "How about a greazzy pork sandwich... served in an ashtray!" Each of those roles defined your on-screen characters and because of them I was never able to see you as the strong, reserved, silent type.
My thoughts are with the family, the world has lost a great guy.
Your sleazy cheesy film roles were pure entertainment, and I mean that in a happy positive way.
As Hudson in my favourite film of all time - Aliens, I always wanted him to survive or, at least go out with a bang rather than become an alien incubator. Plus how can we forget your sleazy car salesman from True Lies? "I'm naval liiinnnt...!", brilliant! And as the obnoxious big brother in Weird Science: "How about a greazzy pork sandwich... served in an ashtray!" Each of those roles defined your on-screen characters and because of them I was never able to see you as the strong, reserved, silent type.
My thoughts are with the family, the world has lost a great guy.
To Ruck, or not to Ruck?
Everyone has been weighing in on what Italy did during yesterday's 6-nations game against England and every observation from every angle and pretty much every opinion possible has been aired.
But I make this observation, based on everyone's response:
Italy were lauded as 'brave', 'clever' and 'a bit cheeky' for doing it, if Wales had done it they'd have been applauded with 'clever, dynamic Welsh Rugby'. If Scotland had done it it would be 'Brave tactics in the face of English oppression', Ireland? 'Ahh those cheeky Irish are at it again with their close gain-line tactics' and France? 'The mighty Les Blues add a twist to their passion and creativity...' and England? If we'd have done it we'd just be branded as a bunch of tossers for ruining the game.
The fact that England got a win bonus despite some creative Italian use of the rulebook was glossed over because, yet again, we're in the realm of England-bashing small-island-mentalities.
Note to the Scotland team: Please don't use that tactic, you're good enough to NOT need it, especially based on the way you've been in this year's Six Nations. I can see you sneaking a win at Twickenham if you play YOUR way.
But I make this observation, based on everyone's response:
Italy were lauded as 'brave', 'clever' and 'a bit cheeky' for doing it, if Wales had done it they'd have been applauded with 'clever, dynamic Welsh Rugby'. If Scotland had done it it would be 'Brave tactics in the face of English oppression', Ireland? 'Ahh those cheeky Irish are at it again with their close gain-line tactics' and France? 'The mighty Les Blues add a twist to their passion and creativity...' and England? If we'd have done it we'd just be branded as a bunch of tossers for ruining the game.
The fact that England got a win bonus despite some creative Italian use of the rulebook was glossed over because, yet again, we're in the realm of England-bashing small-island-mentalities.
Note to the Scotland team: Please don't use that tactic, you're good enough to NOT need it, especially based on the way you've been in this year's Six Nations. I can see you sneaking a win at Twickenham if you play YOUR way.
Saturday 25 February 2017
Lego Technic #2
Latest update on my construction of the big ass excavator I got...
This evening it's the two tracks:
As usual I was so into the building that I forgot to take picture so the next one is with them mostly complete!
After building the track support structures for both sides, the tracks themselves needed putting together... that's x44 individual pieces... each.
Fitting the tracks...
...and here's the base completed :)
So much fun!
This evening it's the two tracks:
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| Pretty basic to start with... |
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| Really, really must remember to take the damned photos! |
After building the track support structures for both sides, the tracks themselves needed putting together... that's x44 individual pieces... each.
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| A bit tedious... but necessary |
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| I found it easier to drape them over first then turn over the entire base and click the two joining pieces together |
...and here's the base completed :)
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| I'm such a Lego geek! |
So much fun!
Pidgey's in their natural habitat :)
I went out Pokemon hunting today, plenty of Pidgey's about...
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| Sod the seed, feed me CANDIES! |
Friday 24 February 2017
The Pokemon GO FADs have left...
A week ago the all new Pokemon GO update was release which included the Gen 2 Pokemon.
So it was no surprise to see the game busy again, practically every Pokestop I saw had been baited and the app continuously crashed because of server outtages. This is because all the FAD dickheads with short attention spans who gave up in the game a few weeks after it came out last summer, thought 'wow, new Pokemon to catch' then collectively flooded onto the servers to go get them.
Now, one week later... and the Pokestop landscape tells another story - hardly any with bait modules running, back to normal then.
That's because the FADs all got bored and went back to scoping/wall hacking in COD, because those don't require any exercise... tossers.
Wednesday 22 February 2017
Photography #101
Here's a slow motion video I took of the sea wake behind my dad's boat... it's incredibly relaxing to watch!
Lego Technic
I've gotten into Lego Technic... after recently ditching Sky TV I've been after other avenues of entertainment. Something more 'hands-on' rather than staring at the TV all the time...
I've had it for a few weeks now and haven't made much progress... this is because, like a fine wine, I've been 'relishing' it, taking my time, building it bit by bit... and thoroughly enjoying it I have too!
The set is a Bucket Wheel Excavator, and it's huge! The manual alone is 500-pages long but it's a challenge enough to enable me to engage my brain on a 'non-digital' craft after spending a day staring at a computer screen!
Once the loader truck is finished the manual moves on to the excavator - the base section from the looks of it:
That's as far as I've got... next up - the excavator's tracks!
I've had it for a few weeks now and haven't made much progress... this is because, like a fine wine, I've been 'relishing' it, taking my time, building it bit by bit... and thoroughly enjoying it I have too!
The set is a Bucket Wheel Excavator, and it's huge! The manual alone is 500-pages long but it's a challenge enough to enable me to engage my brain on a 'non-digital' craft after spending a day staring at a computer screen!
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| The box... |
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| A manual that you can chock a 747 with! |
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| Making a start - the excavator loader truck |
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| Loader truck step 2 |
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| Loader truck - more pieces |
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| Loader truck, chassis almost complete :) |
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| Loader truck - steering added |
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| Loader truck... just need wheels :) |
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| Loader truck complete! |
Once the loader truck is finished the manual moves on to the excavator - the base section from the looks of it:
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| From small steps... |
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| Okay that's a heck of a big jump between this pic and the previous one, but I was concentrating so much I forgot to take pictures! |
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| Here's the base completed, alongside the truck... |
That's as far as I've got... next up - the excavator's tracks!
Photography #101
Spent some time on my dad's boat last weekend, we went out into Poole harbour... took the opportunity to take some pics using my phone (really wished I'd taken my camera though...)
I love photographs of the sun reflecting off the sea, it always gives the image a sense of depth.
I love photographs of the sun reflecting off the sea, it always gives the image a sense of depth.
Tuesday 21 February 2017
Reasons why I don't want to live on this planet anymore #11
I'm just going to weight in on this #piegate malarky...
How the fuck can a man lose his job over eating a fucking pie for fucks sake?! When Joey Barton, who put thousands of bets on football matches get's a slap on the wrist?
Wayne Shaw, has worked his ass off for Sutton United and he get's treated like that, it's not criminal what he did, it's criminal that he got fired for it. The FA and gambling commission, yet gain, have their priorities completely out of whack... but hey, provided it get's them column inches portraying them as white knights who cares right?! Bunch of middle-management suit-wearing fucktards.
I hope Wayne get's a new job involving pies, makes loads of money and, as others have said, buys Sutton FC, THEN, whilst they're playing, eats several pies whilst sitting on the bench.
I just thought I'd add my indignation with many others over this.
How the fuck can a man lose his job over eating a fucking pie for fucks sake?! When Joey Barton, who put thousands of bets on football matches get's a slap on the wrist?
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| Wayne Shaw - a pie-eating legend |
I hope Wayne get's a new job involving pies, makes loads of money and, as others have said, buys Sutton FC, THEN, whilst they're playing, eats several pies whilst sitting on the bench.
I just thought I'd add my indignation with many others over this.
Apple's new headquarters - 'Campus 2'
I realised today just what Apple are up to with their new $3 billion headquarters.
A bit of Photoshopping by me reveals that, yes indeed, they're constructing a Stargate!!
Probably going to use it to connect to an empty, uninhabited world so they can bin negative reviews, OSX crash reports, the new Mac Pro blueprints and any hope humanity has left for legacy data ports.
My life update so far...
Haven't posted in my blog much recently... although I do have things to report.
I've been skiing, to Ischgl in Austria, after a ten-year absence on the slopes... and I am happy to say it was, literally, as they say, 'like riding a bike' :) We had glorious weather in plenty of sun and well bashed pistes, Ischgl is a fantastic skiing resort and I recommend it to anyone, I may post some pics if I can get around to it.
My health is a bit better after speaking with various medical consultants... to any Meniere's sufferers out there - drink plenty of water, stay hydrated and it helps a lot! :)
I've been skiing, to Ischgl in Austria, after a ten-year absence on the slopes... and I am happy to say it was, literally, as they say, 'like riding a bike' :) We had glorious weather in plenty of sun and well bashed pistes, Ischgl is a fantastic skiing resort and I recommend it to anyone, I may post some pics if I can get around to it.
My health is a bit better after speaking with various medical consultants... to any Meniere's sufferers out there - drink plenty of water, stay hydrated and it helps a lot! :)
Thursday 19 January 2017
Epson's support is useless...
They may make the best large format printheads in the industry but their support is bass-ackwards!
I discovered the other day that one of the colours wasn't firing on our GS6000 printer after doing a nozzle-test... so I do all the usual front-end operator-level troubleshooting - restarting, cleaning, flushing etc to see if it was a blocked nozzles problem, which it wasn't.
This prompted me (with a small amount of trepidation) to contact Epson Support despite the fact that I had seen this problem before and knew that, back then, it resulted in a new printhead! I guess part of me wanted this problem to just go away and, as such, believed that by getting an Epson Support Rep to 'wiggle it' some, said problem would indeed, go away.
I was wrong... so, so wrong.
I decided to use the online chat feature so I could multitask...
Got connected with a Rep, explained the problem, sent him/her/it (could've been a bot) all the required info, answered questions - yes I've cleaned it, yes I've flushed, yes I've visually inspected the printhead and confirmed no blockages... yes I've ran several nozzle tests etc etc. Eventually it came down to an attempt to update the firmware because, apparently, the version my printer has is not the latest one and doing a firmware update seems to be the standard Epson 'Fuck it, try it anyway" fixall solution, even if it's already the latest version.
So anyway the Rep gives me a download link to some software - called LFP Remote - for me to install and run so I can do the update, he also gives me a link to the supposed 'latest' firmware. I try to install it and it doesn't run because it's a PowerPC version and my Mac is running OSX10.10. Now, this really fucking annoys me, because it clearly lists OSX10.10 in the supported OS list next to the download link!
As I had disconnected the chat session I had re-connect and start the chat again, fortunately I was re-connected to the same Rep (at least, it appeared that way, I could have been talking fucking Sanjay in New Delhi for all I knew). I explained the problem, saying that I'm getting an error stating it's a PowerPC version and he asks if I could restart the Mac and try again as it IS compatible. 'Fucks sake' I think to myself, 'It's fucking MacOS, restarting to install software went out with OS's at the turn of the fucking Century!' I didn't want to restart for two reasons: 1. No amount of rebooting will fix a PowerPC compatible app attempting to be ran on a system higher than OSX10.5 and, 2. Restarting would've meant that we'd have lost the chat session (which, in hindsight, probably meant that he was fed-up with me and it seemed like a cool way to fuck off the conversation).
So I tell him that I'd already tried that and it still doesn't work... I then ask him to send me download link for a version of LFP monitor that works with Windows 7, which he does with an additional comment of: "Don't worry about it being listed for another model of printer, it works with them all...". So I go to my Windows 7 PC and use the URL he sent me... nothing happens, just a blank page. I try it on another PC AND my Mac, same problem. Fortunately the chat window is still open so I tell him this, after 5 minutes he comes back and says that he is having the same problem so it must be a problem with the server at Epson's end... cue another sigh and "FFS" audible statement from me! Rep then says: "Send me your e-mail address, then bear with me and I'll find a working server you can download LFP monitor from and I forward the link for it to you", "Great" I say in response... we then end the chat.
The Rep sends me nothing.
Bollocks.
"Okay" I think, "Fuck you Epson, I'll do it myself"... so I start doing some browsing, looking for a version of LFP monitor that will work with Windows 7. As we have another model of Epson printer - a SureColor 70600 - I download the one listed under that model, and hey, it downloads AND installs!... But then NOOO! It only lists the 70600 and not the GS6000 printers... bugger! So much for the Rep stating earlier that LFP monitor works with ALL Epson printers!
After more browsing I end up on another Epson site (that's working) and find a page (that's working) for GS6000 downloads... listed on that page is a Windows XP version of LFP monitor.
I install it on a Windows XP PC, configure the comms driver, point it at the printer's IP address, launch LFP monitor and pray. Initially my prayer is answered, LFP monitor connects to the printer and shows it's status, "Finally" I say to myself. So I then go get the firmware file...
LFP Monitor lists the printer's firmware as: T003C2, it lists the file version as: T004B3 and says it is too old to install! Cue my umpteenth "FFS!" audible statement of the day. This is the firmware file the Rep swears is the MOST up-to-date version... I even had him repeat that statement to confirm it!
I go back to Epson's chat support... surprisingly I get the same guy (that he's talking from Telford in Shropshire is still questionable) I explain that LFP monitor is stating the downloaded firmware file is older in comparison to the one currently in the printer. I state that "I really, really don't like updating firmware unless it is absolutely necessary and when I see a red flag like this I get nervous".
Rep responds: "I would advise you go ahead anyway, it'll be okay..." So I reply: "Well it's coming up to the end of the day and I don't want to deal with a potentially bricked printer..." we end the chat session.
Cue the next day, I come in, bright and early and after getting settled I load LFP monitor, check I'm connected to the right printer, load the firmware and, oh! The 'Update' button is greyed out! Which is something I failed to notice the previous afternoon. Although it kinda makes sense as the software is detecting that the version in the printer is more recent so it prevents you from writing over a good firmware with an inferior version. However, in this situation it really doesn't help me!
I wait until 9am-ish then go to Epson Support Chat... I connect with a different Rep so I have to explain it all again... cue another sigh then audible "FFS!" I give him the printer model, operating system etc... Then after what seems like an age, where, probably, the Rep went off and made himself his first coffee of the day he responds with an apology and that he 'is looking into this issue for me'.
I go do other stuff as it seems like he's off round the world looking for answers... roughly 20 minutes later he comes back, again, apologises and states that 'I can confirm your printer already has the latest firmware installed' and that 'he was sorry for the confusion caused by the firmware version numbers' and finally 'it's not necessary but an engineer can manually install it for you if you wish'.
I lose my shit.
So I'm given firmware to replace one that is the same version but with a different filename, using software that doesn't work on my Mac, despite it saying it does... I'm given conflicting information from different reps and sent on a jolly through various sections of Epson's domain parts of which didn't work or looked like a throwback to nineties chic websites.
After a tirade of rants I prematurely ended the chat session, signing it off with a statement of "looks like I'm on my own with this problem" ... I came close to swearing but managed to hold onto my professionalism.
I don't know which is worse - either Epson don't care because, in their eyes the GS6000 is an old, obsolete model so, because of that, any information they give is scratchy and outdated. Or are too stupid despite that fact that the GS6000 has been around long enough for them to accumulate plenty of experience that they should use to help.
...and I'm stuck with a broken GS6000.
Epson, you fail.
I discovered the other day that one of the colours wasn't firing on our GS6000 printer after doing a nozzle-test... so I do all the usual front-end operator-level troubleshooting - restarting, cleaning, flushing etc to see if it was a blocked nozzles problem, which it wasn't.
This prompted me (with a small amount of trepidation) to contact Epson Support despite the fact that I had seen this problem before and knew that, back then, it resulted in a new printhead! I guess part of me wanted this problem to just go away and, as such, believed that by getting an Epson Support Rep to 'wiggle it' some, said problem would indeed, go away.
I was wrong... so, so wrong.
I decided to use the online chat feature so I could multitask...
Got connected with a Rep, explained the problem, sent him/her/it (could've been a bot) all the required info, answered questions - yes I've cleaned it, yes I've flushed, yes I've visually inspected the printhead and confirmed no blockages... yes I've ran several nozzle tests etc etc. Eventually it came down to an attempt to update the firmware because, apparently, the version my printer has is not the latest one and doing a firmware update seems to be the standard Epson 'Fuck it, try it anyway" fixall solution, even if it's already the latest version.
So anyway the Rep gives me a download link to some software - called LFP Remote - for me to install and run so I can do the update, he also gives me a link to the supposed 'latest' firmware. I try to install it and it doesn't run because it's a PowerPC version and my Mac is running OSX10.10. Now, this really fucking annoys me, because it clearly lists OSX10.10 in the supported OS list next to the download link!
As I had disconnected the chat session I had re-connect and start the chat again, fortunately I was re-connected to the same Rep (at least, it appeared that way, I could have been talking fucking Sanjay in New Delhi for all I knew). I explained the problem, saying that I'm getting an error stating it's a PowerPC version and he asks if I could restart the Mac and try again as it IS compatible. 'Fucks sake' I think to myself, 'It's fucking MacOS, restarting to install software went out with OS's at the turn of the fucking Century!' I didn't want to restart for two reasons: 1. No amount of rebooting will fix a PowerPC compatible app attempting to be ran on a system higher than OSX10.5 and, 2. Restarting would've meant that we'd have lost the chat session (which, in hindsight, probably meant that he was fed-up with me and it seemed like a cool way to fuck off the conversation).
So I tell him that I'd already tried that and it still doesn't work... I then ask him to send me download link for a version of LFP monitor that works with Windows 7, which he does with an additional comment of: "Don't worry about it being listed for another model of printer, it works with them all...". So I go to my Windows 7 PC and use the URL he sent me... nothing happens, just a blank page. I try it on another PC AND my Mac, same problem. Fortunately the chat window is still open so I tell him this, after 5 minutes he comes back and says that he is having the same problem so it must be a problem with the server at Epson's end... cue another sigh and "FFS" audible statement from me! Rep then says: "Send me your e-mail address, then bear with me and I'll find a working server you can download LFP monitor from and I forward the link for it to you", "Great" I say in response... we then end the chat.
The Rep sends me nothing.
Bollocks.
"Okay" I think, "Fuck you Epson, I'll do it myself"... so I start doing some browsing, looking for a version of LFP monitor that will work with Windows 7. As we have another model of Epson printer - a SureColor 70600 - I download the one listed under that model, and hey, it downloads AND installs!... But then NOOO! It only lists the 70600 and not the GS6000 printers... bugger! So much for the Rep stating earlier that LFP monitor works with ALL Epson printers!
After more browsing I end up on another Epson site (that's working) and find a page (that's working) for GS6000 downloads... listed on that page is a Windows XP version of LFP monitor.
I install it on a Windows XP PC, configure the comms driver, point it at the printer's IP address, launch LFP monitor and pray. Initially my prayer is answered, LFP monitor connects to the printer and shows it's status, "Finally" I say to myself. So I then go get the firmware file...
LFP Monitor lists the printer's firmware as: T003C2, it lists the file version as: T004B3 and says it is too old to install! Cue my umpteenth "FFS!" audible statement of the day. This is the firmware file the Rep swears is the MOST up-to-date version... I even had him repeat that statement to confirm it!
I go back to Epson's chat support... surprisingly I get the same guy (that he's talking from Telford in Shropshire is still questionable) I explain that LFP monitor is stating the downloaded firmware file is older in comparison to the one currently in the printer. I state that "I really, really don't like updating firmware unless it is absolutely necessary and when I see a red flag like this I get nervous".
Rep responds: "I would advise you go ahead anyway, it'll be okay..." So I reply: "Well it's coming up to the end of the day and I don't want to deal with a potentially bricked printer..." we end the chat session.
Cue the next day, I come in, bright and early and after getting settled I load LFP monitor, check I'm connected to the right printer, load the firmware and, oh! The 'Update' button is greyed out! Which is something I failed to notice the previous afternoon. Although it kinda makes sense as the software is detecting that the version in the printer is more recent so it prevents you from writing over a good firmware with an inferior version. However, in this situation it really doesn't help me!
I wait until 9am-ish then go to Epson Support Chat... I connect with a different Rep so I have to explain it all again... cue another sigh then audible "FFS!" I give him the printer model, operating system etc... Then after what seems like an age, where, probably, the Rep went off and made himself his first coffee of the day he responds with an apology and that he 'is looking into this issue for me'.
I go do other stuff as it seems like he's off round the world looking for answers... roughly 20 minutes later he comes back, again, apologises and states that 'I can confirm your printer already has the latest firmware installed' and that 'he was sorry for the confusion caused by the firmware version numbers' and finally 'it's not necessary but an engineer can manually install it for you if you wish'.
I lose my shit.
So I'm given firmware to replace one that is the same version but with a different filename, using software that doesn't work on my Mac, despite it saying it does... I'm given conflicting information from different reps and sent on a jolly through various sections of Epson's domain parts of which didn't work or looked like a throwback to nineties chic websites.
After a tirade of rants I prematurely ended the chat session, signing it off with a statement of "looks like I'm on my own with this problem" ... I came close to swearing but managed to hold onto my professionalism.
I don't know which is worse - either Epson don't care because, in their eyes the GS6000 is an old, obsolete model so, because of that, any information they give is scratchy and outdated. Or are too stupid despite that fact that the GS6000 has been around long enough for them to accumulate plenty of experience that they should use to help.
...and I'm stuck with a broken GS6000.
Epson, you fail.
Thursday 12 January 2017
Anamorphic Images
I've been playing with anamorphic images recently, for the uninitiated it's a technique that 'distorts' a 2D image to make it look more realistic in 3D when viewed from a certain angle of perspective. Street artists have been doing it for years and the overall principle has been experimented with amongst artists for centuries.
Probably the most obvious examples are the sponsor logos that are seen on sports grass pitches on TV, they're distorted in such a way that when the camera points at them they look like they're 'standing-up'.
So now it's arrived at my little corner of the web... for this test I decided to use the Wasps Rugby logo and, basing it on the popular Rubic's Cube image example, I distorted it using grid templates I drew in Adobe Illustrator, printed it from a laser printer, and then cut part of it out on our Zund plotter, the result is this video:
It's not great, the problem is the Wasp graphic's antenna created a shadow that almost ruins the effect and the paper I used is too thin and light to stay down against the Zund's bed vacuum suction but, despite that, the effect does work! Placing a shadow effect below the logo helps enhance it...
The OCD graphic designer in me wants to improve this video because the angle at which I filmed it makes the Wasps logo look too fat on the height, the original logo is much thinner.
Probably the most obvious examples are the sponsor logos that are seen on sports grass pitches on TV, they're distorted in such a way that when the camera points at them they look like they're 'standing-up'.
So now it's arrived at my little corner of the web... for this test I decided to use the Wasps Rugby logo and, basing it on the popular Rubic's Cube image example, I distorted it using grid templates I drew in Adobe Illustrator, printed it from a laser printer, and then cut part of it out on our Zund plotter, the result is this video:
It's not great, the problem is the Wasp graphic's antenna created a shadow that almost ruins the effect and the paper I used is too thin and light to stay down against the Zund's bed vacuum suction but, despite that, the effect does work! Placing a shadow effect below the logo helps enhance it...
The OCD graphic designer in me wants to improve this video because the angle at which I filmed it makes the Wasps logo look too fat on the height, the original logo is much thinner.
Photography #101
Haven't posted any pics from my photography collection for a while, these two are from my trip to the Scilly Isles last autumn...
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| I love doing heavily silhouetted landscapes |
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| This was taken using macro-mode and zoomed in. Great detail of the grains of sand around the shell :) |
Hot damn I'm awesome at photography :p
Wednesday 4 January 2017
Note to self... and others
Note to self - never, whilst sitting at home alone and on the evening of your birthday, watch two episodes of Black Mirror.
A superb series but it's depressing enough celebrating a birthday on your own at this time of the year without adding to it!
A superb series but it's depressing enough celebrating a birthday on your own at this time of the year without adding to it!
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