Things that have yet to be marked yet.
“So we’ll meet in the morning then?”
“Yea, get together early. Maybe eight or so.”
“Eight… Eight AM is your idea of early?”
“Well, early for a weekend… When I could sleep in.”
“Your parents never dragged you to church?”
“Well, they tried once, but you know… Burst into flames and all that.”
“Whatever vampire boy.”
“Not me, the church.”
“Oh.”
“Wasn’t really my fault though.”
“Do I believe that?”
While listening to a podcast the other day, I heard something that amused me. A conversation about early wearable computing, a guy who’d taken a washable keyboard, cut into into a split keyboard, then attached them to a pair of cargo pants, with a USB tail coming out of the back pocket. This reminded me of the cultist robes and wrists keyboard for the techmages that I’d joked about.
Included for those who weren’t around back then, the idea was that a group of hackers/coders could put together a set of robes with keyboards mounted on the underside of their wrists, hidden by the robes, so they could cross they arms, and then type on the underside of the opposite arm. With a small projector and screen mounted inside the hood, they’d have a HUD to work with. Done right, this could provide them with eyeless vision, as they could use a body camera broadcasting a feed to the hood, as well as having the benefit of being able to pick up the feeds from other members of the organization and from cameras mounted in other places. Wouldn’t be hard to craft various mystical objects with cameras hidden inside, to be placed as appropriate. Or familiars with cameras attached, to serve as extra sources of vision. A modified/disguised Lighter-than-Air Drone would be great as the floating eye, ala the eye of Kilrog.
The more I think about this idea, the more I realize it’s doable, and would perhaps work well for an Escape Room or a short film.
So, the Campo Santo game Firewatch was released the other day and I finished it in a pair of sittings. Overall, I enjoyed it, and I’m going to discuss it. Warning, there will be spoilers.
Today I did my first day on a main unit for a TV series. Previously, I’d done two shifts of second unit. It’s been a hell of a learning experience. I would like to write more, but my fingers aren’t actually working right now. I’m hitting a typo every second word.
So, a friend of mine arranged for me to work as a PA. I did that Thursday. It was a long day, but I enjoyed it. I left my place at around 12:30, got home around 4:30 the next day. And I’m going to do it again.
So I’ve lost over 40 lbs in the last few months, since my doctor told me I was diabetic. My blood sugars have been stable with the daily metformin. I’ve been eating simpler meals and turning down sweets and extra meals. I’ve been getting in at least a twenty minute walk every day, plus usually another if I can. It’s been working, my body is in better shape.
My mind, I’m less clear on. I’ve been getting a little more sleep, I think. I’ve not had much time with friends recently. I’m still having issues with work. I’ve not been providing good customer service lately. We are short-handed and our order volume has increased. It doesn’t feel like I’m able to get everything done that needs to be done. And with the postal strike, things are probably going to get worse.
I’m feeling lonely, I’m still disconnected from people and I’m wondering if I’m over my ex. I don’t seem able to flirt or communicate romantically.
Back in an unpublished entry, I explained that I feel like my connections to people were like mooring lines. Solid and thick, but easily detached. They aren’t rooted in the same way. There are people in my life I’ll go out of my way for, but for the most part I assume things are asynchronous. Perhaps that’s just my perception, but I feel that I’m assumed to be fine, and therefore need not be a priority for anyone.
I’m writing this as I walk. It’s gotten dark and typing this while walking through the unlit forest is likely a bad idea. I had intended to take a walk earlier, but instead I spent an hour or so working on that free code camp thing. I managed to get through the basics and the HTML 5 / CSS section. It’s been twenty years since I learned it at that summer camp at BCIT, but I picked it up again fairly quickly. The next section will likely be harder, as it’s stuff I’m less familiar with. I’ve never really managed to learn any real languages. Then again, I seem to be at a point in my life where I’m committing to things and then following through.
I should probably be in bed by now, instead I’m down by Crab Town, blindly putting one foot in front of the other, vaguely listening to a podcast and putting my thoughts down here.
I don’t currently have anything that I’m specifically looking forward to. No shadowrun, no board game nights, no cons, no parties, no hardware releases, no games… nothing.
A vague goal of getting my weight down by twice what I’ve already lost. That’s about it.
Chat Transcript
10:32:33 PM [Ma] Hi, my name is Ma from Rogers Montreal, Quebec. How are you today?
10:32:43 PM [Ashton] Not bad. Yourself?
10:33:17 PM [Ma] Great! I’m fine, thanks for asking.
10:33:21 PM [Ma] How may I help you today?
10:33:23 PM [Ashton] Simple question. The Rogers One Number web based interface isn’t updating text messages. Known issue?
10:35:55 PM [Ma] I do understand how important it is to manage your account. You mentioned you would like to know regarding the Rogers One number interface is not updating text messages. I can definitely assist you with this today.
10:35:57 PM [Ma] In order to access your account, I will require some information from you. Please click on the following secure link to enter your personal information. You will notice a request for a 4-digit PIN. If you do not have one associated to your account, please leave this field blank.
10:36:13 PM [Ma]
If a form requesting your personal information does not appear, please click here to open it in a new tab.
10:38:19 PM [Ma] Thanks for completing that information, I have received it and it will be a moment for me to retrieve and verify your account with it. Please allow me a few moments to access your account information.
10:38:21 PM [Ma] May I have the phone number associated to your account please?
10:38:28 PM [Ashton] 604-###-###
10:38:42 PM [Ma] Thank you.
10:40:49 PM [Ma] Thanks a lot for your patience. I would like to confirm your Email Address is [obfuscatedforsecurityreasons]@gmail.com , is that correct?
10:40:53 PM [Ashton] yes
10:41:48 PM [Ma] Thank you.
10:42:11 PM [Ma] As we are updating our system, may I ask what is your current Cable/Internet service provider?
10:42:28 PM [Ashton] Lightspeed Communications, DSL wholesaler.
10:42:49 PM [Ma] Thank you for that.
10:43:28 PM [Ma] While reviewing your account, may I remind you that with your MyRogers account you can access yourr account 24/7 to view your bill, make a payment, monitor usage, and make account changes.
10:44:50 PM [Ashton] Ha!
10:45:14 PM [Ashton] you mean you’ve stopped doing 5 hour maintence windows from 11pm to 4am pst on a semi-regular basis?
10:45:51 PM [Ma] For your question, regarding the Rogers One number. No,there is no issue with that.
10:46:03 PM [Ma] May I know what browser you are using?
10:46:11 PM [Ashton] I’m getting a yellow triangle on messages.
10:46:45 PM [Ashton] Chrome Version 50.0.2661.102 m, on windows 10, currently up to date on all packages.
10:47:41 PM [Ma] I see. Maybe, you could clear the cokies first.
10:49:20 PM [Ashton] Tested via incognito session, which has no cookies, issue persists.
10:51:44 PM [Ma] Could you please refresh you computer then open the Rogers One number again?
10:52:04 PM [Ashton] Yes, that’s what I did.
10:53:52 PM [Ma] May I know what device are you using? Is it a computer, tablet or cellphone?
10:54:31 PM [Ashton] Windows 10 desktop.
10:55:21 PM [Ashton] This is the part where I ask about a shiboleet, since you’re clearly using a tier 1 script.
10:58:42 PM [Ma] I am so sorry for the inconvenience. Since you’re using the windows 10 desktop, then u tried to clear the cookies and refresh it. Maybe there is a problem with the system.
10:59:07 PM [Ashton] There is a Yellow Triangle. What does the Yellow Triangle indicate?
10:59:24 PM [Ashton] Do you have someone who can check the server logs for the error message for you?
11:01:38 PM [Ashton] same issue present on chromebook. issue is not system specific.
11:01:54 PM [Ashton] Shall I load a different IP or different network to verify that issue isn’t IP related?
11:02:58 PM [Ma] Maybe we are having a system error now to Rogers one number. I suggest that you will check it tomorrow if the issue is still there. And if it is the same thing, kindly contact us so that we will make a case for it.
11:03:38 PM [Ashton] What is your procedure regarding requested escalations?
11:04:33 PM [Ma] You will just contact us then we will make a case for it.
11:05:27 PM [Ma] But as of the moment, we will just Wait for tomorrow,maybe the system is okay.
11:05:34 PM [Ashton] If this wasn’t merely a method of letting my phone charge faster, I’d be extremely annoyed with your inability to locate this issue or escalate it properly.
11:06:56 PM [Ashton] I work in a very similar job, though at a higher level, and your performance was lacking.
A few weeks back, the lovely folks over at the Arcology Podcast ran a pair on the reddit community of Runnerhub. It’s basically play-by-skype Shadowrun. Dimestore was interested and we did up some characters. He had a run earlier in the week, and I’ve got one line up for today, starting roughly 5 minutes from now. (or less by the time I actually post it.)
I’ll be putting up an After Action Report here on the blog, and also over on Reddit.
I’m currently questioning how much of myself still exists. It doesn’t seem like much, most of the time. An automated framework handling the day to day functions. Subroutines that trigger when specific topics are raised. Rote protocols for dealing with the majority of the tasks that could be considered interactions. I question if they are actually interactions, but a better term isn’t available at the moment. Well, a mechanical interface, without a consciousness behind it.
Hell, that’s what the world seems to prefer.
I’ve been unwilling to share my writing lately, mainly because it has not been very readable. Gibberish about random things, lacking structure.
Also in part because I’ve felt under the weather. Weary and unconnected.
With the exception of some brainstorming last Friday night, the parts of my brain that create interesting things have mostly been hibernating.
A few weeks back, I missed seeing the Final Girls at the Rio. Tonight, I corrected that. Damn its a good movie. Similar in ways to Behind the Mask and to Cabin in the Woods; an intelligent deconstruction of a horror movie.
The Horror Show Hot Dog guys have a great podcast about it.
I also read Bluescreen by Dan Wells, and really enjoyed that. I recommend it for anyone who enjoys near futurism and cyberpunk. Or Shadowrun, Netrunner, etc.
And I’ve been trying to get back into KoL, with mixed results.