Sunday 31 May 2009
Hamsters!
So yesterday we went to the pet shop and came back with two Russian Dwarf hamsters. Both are very white with grey markings. The whitest, called Bianca, is also the smallest and Sams. Mine, the larger and slightly more grey one is mine and called Marishka. She's not as friendly yet compared to Bianca. They seemed to have settled in and have found the joy of having a hamster wheel. Pictures to come soon.
Tuesday 26 May 2009
The Diamond Age
So I have just finished reading 'The Diamond Age' by Neal Stephenson. I got this as a present from Tofu a year and a half back and have been reading it since after Xmas. It's an excellent book that sets a vision fo a world where technology revolves around the Feed, a means by which all items, even food, are compiled atom by atom. The world is in the grasp of nanotechnology and nations and races have fractured and form about a common set of beliefs and not on which family they were born into and which country.
I think some of the things that I loved most about the book was the idea that through the right form of education, an education tailored for the individual, that a person could surpass their cultural connections. The teaching of complex computational ideas through simple fairy stories (and so possibly all complex ideas). Also the book emphasises that no matter how much technology we have, no matter how good our AIs that we develope, we will never be able to replace the need for a human teacher for a child, and the need for a single primary teacher to act as the sole teacher of the child.
I have to recommend this book to both those with a scifi bent and to those who do not as it presents questions and concepts valid to all and in fact allows us to look at todays society and see the flaws that are present.
The Diamond Age
I think some of the things that I loved most about the book was the idea that through the right form of education, an education tailored for the individual, that a person could surpass their cultural connections. The teaching of complex computational ideas through simple fairy stories (and so possibly all complex ideas). Also the book emphasises that no matter how much technology we have, no matter how good our AIs that we develope, we will never be able to replace the need for a human teacher for a child, and the need for a single primary teacher to act as the sole teacher of the child.
I have to recommend this book to both those with a scifi bent and to those who do not as it presents questions and concepts valid to all and in fact allows us to look at todays society and see the flaws that are present.
The Diamond Age
Saturday 23 May 2009
So about this time 4 years ago I was finishing my last exams and my future was not so certain. It had been the best part of a year since my relationship with my girfriend of 3 years (and of course through most of uni) ended, and well as far as my final year of uni was concerned it was not great. Since I was the only person sitting my specialization, Chemical Physics, I was not able to sit the course that would have suited me. No I had to make do with typical normal chemistry. This of course was the reason why my grades were dropping and I came out of my degree with a 2.i. It coud have been better but alas no. But of course my old supervisor could see my aptitude for the computational side which he was fully aware was not being taught. So of course my project work was fine.
The end of uni was good though. I had learnt I had friends where I had least expected. To be honest then end of my 3 year relationship was not easy. I had to remove myself from certain circles of friends which I found left me quite alone. However, to my surprise, the people who I knew in my year at uni held me in high regard, and so I found that I had more friends then I initially thought. Together we all stood the the edge of the future as none of us were convinced we would be getting the courses we wanted. However, nearly all of us had been offered a PhD in the uni, and mine had the clause that I just had to get a 2.i. Thus the next 2 months were quite nail biting and I was already making preparations for the worst. Of course this was made all the worst because no matter how much there wasn't competition I felt that I had to for the sake of my parents. My sister had straight A's at A-Level and a 1st at uni. Myself, well I was more the rebel it seemed. I had only an A and two B's at A-Level and well I was doing so well at uni.
July though was to determine my future. After a nervous walk into uni and a double take at the results I found that I got my 2.i. I was congratulated by the my class mates as it meant we were all still together in the coming three years. About a month later or so I quit Games Workshop. My manager was beign an ass, incompetent and well I had no reason to be there. I was being nice. I was clear that I was starting my research early. But no. He crossed a line and I quit.
Now of course doing a PhD, having a lot more money and meant I had new freedoms, and found many new friends as I discovered the goth scene of Manchester. It was music had liked or a while but for the first time I felt myself. It was good as many of the people I met at Sin City soon became some of my best friends and friends that I respect and in time would be people who would make the effort.
Now almost 3 years ago I went down to UCL with my old supervisor and some people from the old group to apply for hours on a super computer. It was a farce as I remember and well it didn't amount to much. It was also about this time that I was about to move house to live in Withington.
2 years ago around about this time myself and Sam, now a fairy new item, headed off to see Pirates of the Caribbean 3. This was still early into our reationship and it was intoxicating as I had not felt this way about someone for so long. Also about this time I was was the filming of the zombie short film. This was the film that myself and Dan had spent some time writing and now was the chance to use expensive BBC equipment.
1 year ago was not so good though. It was half way through the final year of my PhD. We had got back from Venice about amonth ago which was the best thing ever in my whole life. I was engaged to Sam, but then it all seemed to have nearly fallen apart. I don't need to go through the gory details but lets just say things were on a cord ready to snap, and Sam was hurt and it has now taken a year for her to now be fuly better. But it still means that there is some pain that will never go. We had just started getting a new flat together in order to ground us and repair ourselves, rather more apart. But the worry, pain and unease I had caused now put both my life with Sam and my PhD in danger. I was a wreck, and it seemed that I couldn't turn to some friends as they were being so nonchalant, or because of their own incorrect opinions, or in fact that they seemed to not see it from Sam's perspective and yet understand how I felt her pain. I was angry because I seemed to not be able to turn to anyone because it seemed to me that they thought I would be fine and that Sam was just someone passing by, an unimportant plaything, or a little melodramatic girl. Or that we were both over reacting. Well it's funny how it all turns out in the end. I'm glad that I can say all that is now over, but over the following year, and of course during my final few months in Manchester and my wedding gathering there, you come to realize who you can depend on.
So thats whats kinda come to pass. Ups and downs yes. Plus a number of papers and here I am now with a official piece of paper with saying I am a Dr of Chemistry. I now have a nice new set of friends down here who also form my new roleplay group. Also we now have more of a chance to see Dan and Stacey and others in London. This last six months have really shown me that I have been right to stick to my guns, and that I have made the right sacrifices. And in some ways I am now happy to have left Manchester behind me, after 7 years of being there I think I am glad to leave it and fine and forge my life with Sam.
So this week has seen my fourth and third paper get accepted/published on the web. Also today we went for a long walk, almost into Warwick as I got us lost, to the pet shop to look at Dwarf Hamsters. So looks like we are going to get some and fuck what the landlords say. Hopefully won't be long before we can move out. Sam got a job interview at Warwick this week which is also good news.
In the end it all kinda works out, regardless of what some people may think.
Back this time 2008 I had black hair!
Back in June 2007 me and Sam outside Manchester student union waiting to see Mechanical Cabaret
I think in 2006 my hair was red.
The end of uni was good though. I had learnt I had friends where I had least expected. To be honest then end of my 3 year relationship was not easy. I had to remove myself from certain circles of friends which I found left me quite alone. However, to my surprise, the people who I knew in my year at uni held me in high regard, and so I found that I had more friends then I initially thought. Together we all stood the the edge of the future as none of us were convinced we would be getting the courses we wanted. However, nearly all of us had been offered a PhD in the uni, and mine had the clause that I just had to get a 2.i. Thus the next 2 months were quite nail biting and I was already making preparations for the worst. Of course this was made all the worst because no matter how much there wasn't competition I felt that I had to for the sake of my parents. My sister had straight A's at A-Level and a 1st at uni. Myself, well I was more the rebel it seemed. I had only an A and two B's at A-Level and well I was doing so well at uni.
July though was to determine my future. After a nervous walk into uni and a double take at the results I found that I got my 2.i. I was congratulated by the my class mates as it meant we were all still together in the coming three years. About a month later or so I quit Games Workshop. My manager was beign an ass, incompetent and well I had no reason to be there. I was being nice. I was clear that I was starting my research early. But no. He crossed a line and I quit.
Now of course doing a PhD, having a lot more money and meant I had new freedoms, and found many new friends as I discovered the goth scene of Manchester. It was music had liked or a while but for the first time I felt myself. It was good as many of the people I met at Sin City soon became some of my best friends and friends that I respect and in time would be people who would make the effort.
Now almost 3 years ago I went down to UCL with my old supervisor and some people from the old group to apply for hours on a super computer. It was a farce as I remember and well it didn't amount to much. It was also about this time that I was about to move house to live in Withington.
2 years ago around about this time myself and Sam, now a fairy new item, headed off to see Pirates of the Caribbean 3. This was still early into our reationship and it was intoxicating as I had not felt this way about someone for so long. Also about this time I was was the filming of the zombie short film. This was the film that myself and Dan had spent some time writing and now was the chance to use expensive BBC equipment.
1 year ago was not so good though. It was half way through the final year of my PhD. We had got back from Venice about amonth ago which was the best thing ever in my whole life. I was engaged to Sam, but then it all seemed to have nearly fallen apart. I don't need to go through the gory details but lets just say things were on a cord ready to snap, and Sam was hurt and it has now taken a year for her to now be fuly better. But it still means that there is some pain that will never go. We had just started getting a new flat together in order to ground us and repair ourselves, rather more apart. But the worry, pain and unease I had caused now put both my life with Sam and my PhD in danger. I was a wreck, and it seemed that I couldn't turn to some friends as they were being so nonchalant, or because of their own incorrect opinions, or in fact that they seemed to not see it from Sam's perspective and yet understand how I felt her pain. I was angry because I seemed to not be able to turn to anyone because it seemed to me that they thought I would be fine and that Sam was just someone passing by, an unimportant plaything, or a little melodramatic girl. Or that we were both over reacting. Well it's funny how it all turns out in the end. I'm glad that I can say all that is now over, but over the following year, and of course during my final few months in Manchester and my wedding gathering there, you come to realize who you can depend on.
So thats whats kinda come to pass. Ups and downs yes. Plus a number of papers and here I am now with a official piece of paper with saying I am a Dr of Chemistry. I now have a nice new set of friends down here who also form my new roleplay group. Also we now have more of a chance to see Dan and Stacey and others in London. This last six months have really shown me that I have been right to stick to my guns, and that I have made the right sacrifices. And in some ways I am now happy to have left Manchester behind me, after 7 years of being there I think I am glad to leave it and fine and forge my life with Sam.
So this week has seen my fourth and third paper get accepted/published on the web. Also today we went for a long walk, almost into Warwick as I got us lost, to the pet shop to look at Dwarf Hamsters. So looks like we are going to get some and fuck what the landlords say. Hopefully won't be long before we can move out. Sam got a job interview at Warwick this week which is also good news.
In the end it all kinda works out, regardless of what some people may think.
Back this time 2008 I had black hair!
Back in June 2007 me and Sam outside Manchester student union waiting to see Mechanical Cabaret
I think in 2006 my hair was red.
Thursday 21 May 2009
First session of Unhallowed Metropolis
So tonight was session one of Unhallowed Metropolis. Was really good to be back running a game. As far as a first session goes for some player new to roleplay it was really great and I think the total gothic horror gas mask chic went down well, with the system showing off how fucking nasty it can be in combat (I fear a character may die very soon). A write up of the session will be on very soon.
Otherwise today I got the proof of my fourth paper, so tomorrow morning I need to read it and ok it.
Otherwise today I got the proof of my fourth paper, so tomorrow morning I need to read it and ok it.
A Secret Transmission within the Guild
- 16:40 Learning how the NSGA-II optimizer works in fortran, rather than C++, and then porting it over. Oh god my mind is turning to mush! #
- 11:02 Now has proofs of my fourth paper. Hurrah. Plus getting my head aorund Genetic Algorithms. Hopefully will be coding it up in SVL next week. #
Wednesday 20 May 2009
A Secret Transmission within the Guild
- 12:48 Is now venturing into the world of C++ #
Tuesday 19 May 2009
Good Weekend, Great New Friends
So last week on Thursday saw the first gathering of my new roleplay group, which was really great. I feel finally that I am back out of the shadows of PhD write up. Kate, Mark and James joined myself and Sam at Chateaux d'Handley where we began the process of making Unhallowed Metropolis Characters and talking about the up coming Vampire: the Requiem game and what people want to play. It was fun to see Mark and James in their element (as geeky guys tabletop roleplay games are a second nature) while Kate soon got the gist and was caught up in the idea of a opium smoking Mourner (think ninja gothic lolita zombie killer). This Thursday we all meet again for the first game!!
On Friday I went up to Manchester and headed to the MIB to drop off my corrected thesis. Hurrah. I am glad to see that it all over. THe paperwork is in the post. I am now 100% Dr Handley, that's Dr Ether to you lot! The journey up wasn't great though as I was sat opposite the most obnoxious man who was addicted to the internets (he had a half dozen mobile internet dongles!).
Coming back I needed to walk swiftly from New St station to the Moor St station. I got there in time to grab the next train back to Leamington
Getting back myself and Sam went for pizza (finding pizza express filled we were asked if we would like to wait for and hour for a table... um no we'll go to Prezzo).
Later that eveing we then joined Sam's new friends Lisa, Lizzi and Fiona and went for drinks at WIldes and then at the White Horse.
Saturday was a trip out with James to Birmingham to go shopping (picking up some new dice and a book for Changeling: the Lost) and then a walk about the Sea Life Centre. It was great to look at all the strange and beautiful and creepy fish, especially the UV glowing jelly fish and the sea turtles, that were massive, one of which the was called Molokai. ALL HAIL MOLOKAI! Seriously though the start of the turtle exhibit had a huge sculpture of a turtle coming out of an egg. It was obviously a temple of madness since it led to a corridor of mirrors to get lost in.
Finally that evening we subjected James to [REC]. He was sufficiently creeped out!
Today is me starting something new, learning C++.
ALL HAIL MOLOKAI
On Friday I went up to Manchester and headed to the MIB to drop off my corrected thesis. Hurrah. I am glad to see that it all over. THe paperwork is in the post. I am now 100% Dr Handley, that's Dr Ether to you lot! The journey up wasn't great though as I was sat opposite the most obnoxious man who was addicted to the internets (he had a half dozen mobile internet dongles!).
Coming back I needed to walk swiftly from New St station to the Moor St station. I got there in time to grab the next train back to Leamington
Getting back myself and Sam went for pizza (finding pizza express filled we were asked if we would like to wait for and hour for a table... um no we'll go to Prezzo).
Later that eveing we then joined Sam's new friends Lisa, Lizzi and Fiona and went for drinks at WIldes and then at the White Horse.
Saturday was a trip out with James to Birmingham to go shopping (picking up some new dice and a book for Changeling: the Lost) and then a walk about the Sea Life Centre. It was great to look at all the strange and beautiful and creepy fish, especially the UV glowing jelly fish and the sea turtles, that were massive, one of which the was called Molokai. ALL HAIL MOLOKAI! Seriously though the start of the turtle exhibit had a huge sculpture of a turtle coming out of an egg. It was obviously a temple of madness since it led to a corridor of mirrors to get lost in.
Finally that evening we subjected James to [REC]. He was sufficiently creeped out!
Today is me starting something new, learning C++.
ALL HAIL MOLOKAI
A Secret Transmission within the Guild
- 14:19 @kitty_napalm sorry :( #
Monday 18 May 2009
Thursday 14 May 2009
Land Mark paper
So today I got the email containing the proof of my 3rd paper from my PhD. This paper is *it*. THe big one. The giant killer. It pretty much cements my work and my old groups research in the field of AI based molecular simulation. So it's really good to see this with all the images looking really nice and in colour. Especially as this is the whole point of my PhD.
The next bit of fun starts tomorrow. I have to pick up my corrected thesis, which is now hard bound, ready to take back to Manchester so that I can hand it in so I can receive my official letter say that I am a Dr of Chemistry. Then the rest of the day is working out paper 5. This paper was started by me and now has been finished in my absence by others in the Popelier group. It continues paper 3 but no applies what was developed and introduces even more machine learning AI methods. Plus the rest of today I am writing paper 6, my literature review on the very small field that my work is beginning to dominate.
Right back to work for me.
The next bit of fun starts tomorrow. I have to pick up my corrected thesis, which is now hard bound, ready to take back to Manchester so that I can hand it in so I can receive my official letter say that I am a Dr of Chemistry. Then the rest of the day is working out paper 5. This paper was started by me and now has been finished in my absence by others in the Popelier group. It continues paper 3 but no applies what was developed and introduces even more machine learning AI methods. Plus the rest of today I am writing paper 6, my literature review on the very small field that my work is beginning to dominate.
Right back to work for me.
Tuesday 12 May 2009
A Secret Transmission within the Guild
- 12:17 @Wossy You may want to ask EMINEM about his nerve/guts to write a song about drugs that references Heath Ledger. It's distasteful. #
- 14:28 @Sunburn_ use AVG or AntiVir. Both are free and very good! #
Saturday 9 May 2009
London and stuff!
So as you may or may not be aware myself and Sam took a trip down to London to see Alec Empire and Modulate on the Friday. Arriving in the afternoon we made our way to Dan's work in the BBC offices near Euston and dopped off our bags before going for a walk about London. Later we then headed up to Camden and found Stacey and made our way to the venue, Underworld. As we lurked about there we met some of Stacey's friends from the big electronic pooch (Cyberdog) and soon enough were joined by Geoff and Rhys after their own journey down from the 'norf'.
The gig was really great, with this being the first I had seen Modulate live since Geoff played in TV21 about 2 years ago. I wasn't too bothered by the band up first, but Modulate really did get the night going, or course 'Skullfuck' being the song that just energised the crowd. Following them, Alec Empire was as expected and still excellent live, playing a large amount of new material, adding a new twist to 'On Fire' to make it very funky, and ending the night with some old ATR since it was the 1st of May. Of course myself and Sam are not really built for being amongst the pile of punks there flipping out to the ATR tracks. However, it was great to hear it live since I never had the chance to see ATR live and had been a fan since 1998.
After the gig, and with Dan now with us, we went for a walk about Soho, and ended up in Leicester square at the Hagan Daas ice cream palor (epic!)
The next day. after a good nights sleep at Dan's place we went looking for food and got shown Muswell Hill. I have to say it seemed like a great area to live in. We had a vey nice brunch and then headed into the city centre, ending up in Covent Garden after a good walk up and down fleet street and a walk round a few shops, and trading in Sam's empty makeup for some listicks, visiting Coco de Mer, and then goign for cake with Dan and Stacey.
The rest of the afternoon was something more of stroll about the centre of London and ending up in Hamley's (the giant toy store of doom!!!).
The afternoon turned to evening and we then headed in the direction of Shoreditch where we had dinner, wine and sat outside under some heaters in the evening air. The food was quite great, including chicken wings and roasted sweet potatoes. THe next stop on the list was The Last Days of Decadence, a great cocktail bar themed around the days of prohibition. A good time was had here as we order drinks that either took ages to make or the bar staff didn't remember how to make.
This weekened was a rather quieter affair with myself and Sam meeting up for drinks with James and his friends and then going out for a meal at Prezzo on Saturday and playing Zertz some more (I am just about getting my eye in with this game).
The gig was really great, with this being the first I had seen Modulate live since Geoff played in TV21 about 2 years ago. I wasn't too bothered by the band up first, but Modulate really did get the night going, or course 'Skullfuck' being the song that just energised the crowd. Following them, Alec Empire was as expected and still excellent live, playing a large amount of new material, adding a new twist to 'On Fire' to make it very funky, and ending the night with some old ATR since it was the 1st of May. Of course myself and Sam are not really built for being amongst the pile of punks there flipping out to the ATR tracks. However, it was great to hear it live since I never had the chance to see ATR live and had been a fan since 1998.
After the gig, and with Dan now with us, we went for a walk about Soho, and ended up in Leicester square at the Hagan Daas ice cream palor (epic!)
The next day. after a good nights sleep at Dan's place we went looking for food and got shown Muswell Hill. I have to say it seemed like a great area to live in. We had a vey nice brunch and then headed into the city centre, ending up in Covent Garden after a good walk up and down fleet street and a walk round a few shops, and trading in Sam's empty makeup for some listicks, visiting Coco de Mer, and then goign for cake with Dan and Stacey.
The rest of the afternoon was something more of stroll about the centre of London and ending up in Hamley's (the giant toy store of doom!!!).
The afternoon turned to evening and we then headed in the direction of Shoreditch where we had dinner, wine and sat outside under some heaters in the evening air. The food was quite great, including chicken wings and roasted sweet potatoes. THe next stop on the list was The Last Days of Decadence, a great cocktail bar themed around the days of prohibition. A good time was had here as we order drinks that either took ages to make or the bar staff didn't remember how to make.
This weekened was a rather quieter affair with myself and Sam meeting up for drinks with James and his friends and then going out for a meal at Prezzo on Saturday and playing Zertz some more (I am just about getting my eye in with this game).
Friday 8 May 2009
Friday 1 May 2009
A Secret Transmission within the Guild
- 12:59 Is in London tomorrow and Saturday, so if you're about contact me! #
- 13:25 @jimmycarr if you want to stay 'swine flu' free, don't go moonpigging tinyurl.com/cqsv33 #
- 14:23 @mnemonia Ah sorry. Will be there on Friday from about 3pm, gig is at 6:30pm, then Saturday is pretty much a free for all. #
- 14:34 @mnemonia will Facebook you my mobile number #
- 10:36 @Wossy Which paper are you reading? Also I think you should address the nation adn warn them of the dangers of moonpigging #
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)