"I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it..."

Oh man oh man oh man oh man oh man I can't believe how good I'm feeling, how confident I am in Termisoc, the projects, everything. I feel like things have the potential to go really well!

OK, brief sum up of everything that's happened in the past 6 hours:

1) Went to a tutorial on Digital Cinema, which got me really excited by the concept of owning a cinema with Chrissey, showing old films, everything we really want for a future plan,

2) Ben said 'oh the deadline is Saturday, so we haven't got much time' (in regards to the deadline for applications for the inital trials of Digital Cinema projectors), which got me thinking about Termisoc running a digital cinema (co-operated by UPSU and possibly the filmsoc),

3) Gem mentioned the concept of, instead of Skippy's nice but expensive idea of a server farm (or a Beowulf cluster), running a BOINC server which could devote processing time to anybody's projects (be it CGI rendering, mathematical problems, building a better processor, etc.),

4) Ben also mentioned the idea of him building his own distro of Linux, based on various systems he likes in various other distros, but without the annoying niggles. This developed into a concept of a Termisoc Linux, which would include a package management system based on a BZIP2-compressed x86-pre-compile with an XML installation page inside. Also, a concept for a three-tiered installation system where you can choose a fully-automatic install (for those who are new to computing and want it all done for them), a guided install (which will tell you what each setting does as you go through), and a manual install (which is for the experts and people too deep in Linux to care about what anything does anymore).

also, 5) a toaster with LDRs inside, assessing how brown your bread is, rather than how hot and long it's toasted for; and more bizarrely, a solenoid-based heating element which can write messages on your toast, even going as far as having a BHOS (a Bread Heating Operating System) and network card!

Currently, I'm piling up lots of info on Digital Cinema and BOINC in an effort to have something to present to the exec tomorrow at 12. Oh, and also do something as preparation for the filmmaking meeting I have at 1pm. Eep!

I really hope we can get in to this Cinema trial thing. If we didn't, I'd only feel a little dissapointed, as all it means is we'd (that's me and Chrissey, I mean) will have to wait until we have our cinema to dabble with :P

I can't believe that me, Ben and Gem spent a good 3 hours on the sofas just chatting through ideas, and talking about random stuff! And aaaaahhhhhhmylegjustfellasleep!

*jumps around and shakes leg wildly*

Ahh, that's better. Blimey, it's a bit nippy. I'll put a jumper on if I plan to stay up any much longer :( Ah, how handy. There's one by my chair. *pulls on jumper*. Mmm, toasty.

Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, plans. I'm still working on Mediaspace, if Dan is reading. All I have to do is finish the template and write what is required, otherwise we'll never get it done. Also, I/we will need to write a document which people can sign if they want to donate equipment. It'll generally state that Termisoc is now the owner of the piece of equipment and so the person no longer holds any rights to the usage of the box (albeit any current member privileges that they would have normally). That'll sort out any problems which may arise hopefully. Maybe we should write one for cash donations too whilst we're at it. Speaking of which, I have to take a look at all our current documents and make sure they're all up to date. I know the security policy isn't, so I'll have to take a look at them at some point.

SuSE's now back up and running on my system. I won't switch over from Windows just yet (not until I can get a new KDE so I can run later versions of AmaroK).

OK, so now I feel more depressed than I thought I would. Turns out, the 'Digital Cinema Network' is only applicable to theatrical cinemas, and if we wanted to apply for 'non-theatrical' status, we should have done it in October.... *sigh*. Guess I'll have to break the news to the guys tomorrow :( Never mind, we've still got BOINC and the Linux system we can cover.

Oh good, there's nothing that can't be done with BOINC that we can't do (theoretically). Runs on Linux, uses MySQL, PHP, etc. All good.

Anyway, I think bed is on the cards. So goodnight world.

"You only stop talking, when you're sleeping" - Kathryn Williams, Soul To Feet

Wow, this is the first time when I've tried to go as fast as I can home in order to write things down before they are forgotten, lost in the ether of the mind.

I think it may have something to do with this eclectic feel to the night that occurs on misty, late nights. The way that the warmth is still there, combined with the lightness caused by stray water molecules bouncing the amber streetlights everywhere. It makes it feel like a Mediterranian city in the middle of summer. I love nights like these. It takes the mind back to good times, makes you feel more content with the world.

Maybe it's also the post-tired feeling you get which is making me feel this way. So, you may ask, why have I only just got in the door at 4:15am? Well, I'll sum up the night in easy steps.

1. Went out at 7pm and played a few games of pool.
2. Caught the 8.50 showing of 'Man On Fire' at the cinema.
3. Had a bottle of Corona and a pint of Boddingtons at the local pub, and chatted for hours about all sorts of things.
4. Got kicked out of the bar at closing time, continued discussion until 3:45, when I decided to leave Dan's.
5. Got back here.

Argh... so many things I want to write and yet I'm already yawning...

I've really enjoyed tonight, it's been really entertaining, thought-provoking, etc. Talking to Dan, Ben and Gem makes such a good night. I feel like I've never sat down and talked trash for such a long time (excluding with Chrissey, who I could talk to for hours on the telephone, and almost did tonight if it hadn't been for the arrival at afforementioned pub). We have to do that more often.

'Man On Fire' was a fantastic film, if incredibly dark and depressing in places. The cinematography, sound, editing, story, the works were all incredible. It did lose out in the end though. Felt too much like the ending just occurred, rather than being fully led up to. Shame really, seeing as they spent good hour just getting to know the characters. I won't be suprised if the girl in it grows up to be a famous actress someday. Sorry, actor. I personally don't understand what is the point of now referring to women as 'actors' rather than 'actresses'. Actor, in my opinion, always feels too masculine to me. It's sharp. Oh well, I suppose it's the feminist's loss. Feminism is getting to be a pain in the ass nowadays, sadly. The divide between women and men (I personally believe) can possibly be no closer without destroying all senses of gender, turning us into androgynous, sexless beings. *sigh*

Recently, I have spent far too much on albums. Well, actually, that's kind of a lie. I haven't spent a lot on albums in the past 3 weeks (in fact, just £26 I recall); however, I have bought a lot of CDs with that £26. About 9 albums and 1 single I think. Which is good in a way.

The room is still a mess. Tomorrow, I will start the task of doing all the things I must do. So many things to do. I want to do them all at once, get them over with, but instead I end up not deciding what to do and doing none of them. It's the way of the world I think.

I'm missing Chrissey, as always. I tend to miss every aspect of her at the same time, which is saddening. Her eyes, her smile, her talk, her cuddles, everything. I suppose it's for the best though, otherwise I'd be doing even less than I'm doing now. Probably not, but love takes up so much of your life. Personally, I wouldn't trade this feeling for the world though.

I have to come to a conclusion about whether I should sleep and risk not getting up for my lectures, or not sleeping and risk missing my lecture.( :P )

I must admit, this album I'm listening to is *really* good: Little Black Numbers by Kathryn Williams. I belive she won the Mercury in 1999. This was post that, I believe *checks*.

Nope, my mistake. This album was shortlisted 2000, but Badly Drawn Boy's 'The Hour of Bewilderbeast' won it. I do find it interesting that 'The Streets' have been nominated twice, yet neither time have won it. The Mercury's don't *really* count for anything though, apart from showing you can make an album that's artistically different. I suppose that is right, in a way. The Mercury is designed primarily as an arts prize, unlike the Brits or the Grammys or anything like that. It's special, even though some albums can be a little 'tosh'.

Ooh, my stomach's feeling icky. I think I haven't fed it right today. Oh well, not much I can do about it now. Give my teeth a clean, nice, shiny, minty.

I must admit, that Dan, Ben, Gem and me did decide some random things:

First album bought: Dan - Travis 'The Man Who'; Me - Spin Doctors 'Pocket Full Of Kryptonite'; Ben - Ozzy Osbourne 'No More Tears'; Gem - Oasis '(What's The Story?) Morning Glory'

Worst album owned: Dan - Britney Spears 'In The Zone' (given as a present); Ben - Guns And Roses 'Appetite For Destruction' (admittedly, he doesn't buy that many CDs so his collection doesn't really have anything bad in it); Gem - First two Spice Girls Albums

Best Green Day Album: 'Dookie'

Best Green Day Track: 1st - 'Basket Case', with 'Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)' a VERY close second

Best track on RHCP's 'Californication': 'Scar Tissue', with 'Otherside' coming close.

Best Queen track: 'Killer Queen'

Best REM album: 'Automatic For The People'

Best serious Jim Carey Films: 1st 'Eternal Sunshine', 2nd 'Man On The Moon', 3rd 'Truman Show'

Best Charlie Kaufman Films: 1st 'Eternal Sunshine', 2nd 'Adaptation', 3rd 'Being John Malkovich'

Electric Six: One Hit Wonders (of a sort)
The Darkness: Vastly Overrated
Franz Ferdinand: Not Overrated, probably didn't deserve Mercury

We also got onto the subject of Red Dwarf series, but we couldn't decide the best one, so gave up.

I must admit, a few new ideas for Termisoc appeared in the pipes as well:

* Cyber Café with Termisoc computers running Web, etc.
* Increase in membership costs next year (poss. £4 members, £15-£20 clubsocs)
* All projects to be finished by end of year
* Mass club campaigning (flyers, posters, etc.) - January onwards.
* LAN party before Christmas, even if it's Wireless-only
* Pizza nights
* More movie socials...
* and many other things my brain can't cope with at this moment in time.

I need to get those parcels tomorrow/today. Otherwise, they could be shipped back, and I'd be an unhappy bunny :(

I find it ironic that the only track on my computer by Elliot Smith is 'Pictures Of Me', a song about hating being famous (ironic because that's probably what drove him to suicide).

I think I'd better stop writing, otherwise this entry will get rediculously long and 'the man' will try to put me down. Oh well.

"Contains your Recommended Daily Intake of Chunks" - Advert for Ben & Jerry's

Got back from a 12 1/2 hour train journey that should have only taken 5 hours by car. I'm not complaining though, I could easily have been on the train that took 7 lives, including 5 passengers. I shudder at the thought. Every 4 weeks, I take that train. Admittedly, I am never on it at the point where the crash happened, and yesterday, I, in all likelihood, would never have ended up on that train, but still, it does make you think. A split-second is all it takes.

The CD has stopped. The eerie silence left by the lack of Fatboy Slim's 'Better Living Through Chemistry' is making me feel odd. I don't know why. Maybe I expect to hear something which I'm not.

In any case, I think more music is required to fill this bizarre inky void which has come over the room. I think Aphex Twin's 'Come To Daddy' is in reach, so I may as well stick that on. Out comes Soulwax's 'Any Minute Now' out the CD changer, in goes bizarre electronica. Turn it down, skip Daddy Mix, lovely.

I really need to get a sensible amount of sleep. I either sleep too long or sleep too little, either way it's bad for me.

I'm suprised by the amount of time it takes me to write these mind-blargs. Already within one sentence, I'm through 1 track of the EP. Bizarre that.

Just finished 'Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency' for the nth time. It doesn't seem to be a book that sticks in my mind too well, and I always have this sense of lacking at the end of it, like it doesn't feel like you've reached the end when you do.

I might have to turn this off, it's disturbing me in my current frame of mind. Instead, flick to Computer mode on HiFi, dig out Bernard Butler's 'People Move On' (an incredibly indestinct and chilled album, I must admit) from the pile of albums I didn't bring down but are handily on MP3, and calm. Argh! I think I hear MP3 rot!

Why does MP3 rot occur (also known as drunken MP3s, only with it occuring after time, rather than due to a crummy download), I wonder? That shimmeryness that can occur when the data starts corrupting? This appears to have only started since I converted to NTFS and WindowsXP. Skip says he was having a similar problem on his collection (though his is mostly 'acquired', so I have no sympathy). Maybe a Microsoft ploy to get people on to secure WMAs :P

I need Coke. Or Dr. Pepper. That combination of caffeine and sugars which keeps me motivated. Also, the hunger is moving in. Admittedly, I haven't had that much to eat in the past day, maybe that has something to do with it. I've just noticed that Bernard Butler's 'You Just Know' has a similar chord sequence to Mull Historical Society's 'Watching Xanadu'. Hmm. I'm at least 62% certain that this came out pre-Mull Historical's first album, though. Sigh.

And that's it for this burst of installment. Tune in again sometime for more blarg from me, The MooseBlaster. God's speed, men.

"I'm getting older and older and older, and always a little further out of the way" - Counting Crows - August And Everything After

My head is hurting. I have no idea why, as I have done too little to really make it hurt. Maybe I shouldn't have tried working out Gentoo. :P

Turning the lights down improves the situation slightly. It makes it feel more secure in here, surrounded by the trash and CDs and boxes my life is currently throwing around at me. It's not as untidy as it was last time it got in a mess. It feels more like the way my mind feels. A little messy, a little chaotic, but encapsulated and homely.

My room is slowly becoming my space. As the days are passing, I'm feeling more and more like this is home. I should really have a little throwing away day though, because no matter how welcoming the gentle chaos is, there is stuff that's lying on my floor which needs to be trashed. *sigh* I'll get round to it at some point.

I'm slowly feeling like I'm getting on top of all my work, and that I can sleep a little sounder. I'm feeling good tonight. I don't know why. Maybe it's the warm lulling me into a relaxed state of mind. It's still full of words, but at least they are words that are just flowing, rather than forcing themselves out, trying to jump through my fingers and onto the printed screen.

The presidency, I feel, is going well. I do feel as if the exec team (including myself, of course) are doing a lot better a job than last year's team. Last year, it felt more like Dave and Ryan couldn't be bothered anymore. It's a shame really. This year, however, I do believe that people are pulling their weight in the team. Skippy, although I have a go at him constantly (I always feel really bad posthumously that I do that, I really must apologise to him), is doing a fantastic job arranging all these things for the society without asking.

Also, Dan is being an absolute star in the Treasury department, as well as acting as a part-secretary and co-ordinator. He did a fantastic job with the presentations, making sure that they didn't go over people's heads. Also, he's a great right-hand man. I couldn't ask for a better person to help.

Gem is a great lass, she does know her sh*t. I'm a little concerned that sometimes she thinks I'm talking down to her (occasionally, she gets this look accross her face as if she wants me to shut up, it's kind of un-nerving).

Dan Ca was a git for not EVER turning up to a meeting. I do like the way no-one has seen him since last term. I'm glad he got kicked out in a way. I have no real patience for timewasters.

Personally, I think Ben's going to have it easy this year. As we've got used to not having a secretary, he'll probably end up just being another member of the exec team. I believe these role names mean nothing anymore anyway, as we all do each other's jobs. This might all change next year, with Dan on his work placement.

I think Nat and Tamsyn will broaden our socials a little (maybe). They have some good ideas, though I'm not sure whether all their ideas are particularly relevant, as quite a few people in the society aren't clubbers really, but hey, it's a change I suppose.

I should really work out how Dave is compromising these boxes. chkrootkit is running, so maybe it'll pick up something.

The chill has come. My happiness is ebbing, possibly because the tiredness is setting in (as always).

I must admit that Chrissey sounds really optimistic about this 'opening a cinema' idea. It's making me feel a little optimistic too (shock-horror!).

Tomorrow I'll do something artistic, maybe cover my walls with more adverts and posters. Right now I'm too tired. Tomorrow, I'll finish off the video project, write it up, and it's done. Till then world, goodnight.



That was freaky.... Mixer.exe clocking up over 100MB of memory. I must check that out. (End Process). Well, nothing's happened, so it may be a lovely virii. Anyway, as I said, goodnight.