Numbers stations are shortwave radio stations of uncertain origin. They generally broadcast people reading streams of numbers, words, or letters. Evidence supports popular assumptions that the broadcasts are channels of communication used to send messages to spies. So, in that tradition…. here are some numbers: 03B1 03C0 03BF 03C3 03C4 03B1 03C3 03AF 03B1

First one to work it all out gets bonus points….

This was a technology that was introduced to stop people ripping audio to other digital formats (I use and promote ogg vorbis). I only have one “CD” (because using this tech makes it no longer a CD) that use this technology, but it seems that the latest version of CDex in combo with my DVD burner makes the annoying technology disappear. Yay!

My studentlife.org.au email address is no longer valid, so you can’t use it to reach me. If you don’t know any other way of reaching me, then either; I don’t really care about you contacting me, or you’re not trying hard enough.

In other news, I’m unemployed, officially broke (my credit card balance is higher than all my cash), my bike is still off the road and my legs hurt from playing MX vs ATV Unleashed while on the exercise bike.

They said it was fixed.

It wasn’t.

Still no motorbike :-(

I think my new toy breaks it.

Yes, its an exercise bike

It is in front of my PS2

77:36 minutes

33.33km

500 kcal

I’ll be riding every time I play ps2, or when I watch DVDs…. after being inspired by an article I read on digg about a dude using a bike will playing WoW

And it feels right this timeOn his crash course with the big timePay no mind to the distant thunderNew day fills his head with wonder, boy

Says it feels right this timeTurned it 'round and found the right line“Good day to be alive, sirGood day to be alive,” he says

Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnelWas just a freight train coming your wayThen it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnelWas just a freight train coming your way

See part 1 – the not working option here

So, I’ve been doing some thinking an considering I ranted at length aboot not working, I though I might share my views on the working option (or non-option)

1. Retail/Sales: I’ve been turned by almost every company that I’ve applied for jobs with in this area. I think it is a combination of a number of smaller factors that leads to such failure. Firstly, no retail experience; Secondly, I have a degree – so it could be assumed that I’d only be working until I got a real job; Thirdly, my unique personality probably isn’t seen as suited for standing around smiling all day. Since even the reject shop have rejected me, this isn’t a likely option.
2. Computing: Well…. if you’ve seen my uni transcript you’ll know that my skills don’t lie in programming, or systems design, or databases, or anything really. There are probably jobs that I could get, but wouldn’t be able to perform adequately in, which really isn’t something I feel is a good thing to do from an ethical point of view. The only jobs I could do are either sales (but every major retailer has rejected me) or tech support (but I don’t live in India, or have 1337 phone skillz). So another unlikely option.
3. Something Else: There are other options that don’t include more study first, something like being a Direct Entry Officer in the ADF; this has its own problems – my lack of physical fitness, my anti-authoritarian nature, but it could work. The poilce are a similar option, but they have even higher standards for physical fitness and such. Maybe there is something else…. I don’t know….

So…. thoughts, comments, opinions, insults, job offers, cash handouts and the like can be directed to the usual places.

A quote:

Michael Einziger, the 30-year-old guitarist for the hard-rock band Incubus, says he was “shocked at how hard it was” to play the videogame’s version of his song “Stellar.” He admits he was handily beaten by his then-14-year-old sister, Ruby Aldridge, when the two of them squared off earlier this year. “It doesn’t have anything to do with playing guitar,” Mr. Einziger says. “It’s all rhythmic.”

When the four members of the punk-pop band the Donnas got together to play Guitar Hero last week, guitarist Allison Robertson took some good-natured ribbing from her bandmates, says drummer Torry Castellano. That’s because Ms. Robertson had a hard time playing along with the band’s own song “Take It Off.” “Expectations for her are pretty high because she’s the guitar player and because she’s so good at videogames in general,” says Ms. Castellano.

From this article in the Wall Street Journal

(see here for part 2)

Well…. I’ve been thinking, and my thoughts lead me in an interesting direction. The impetus is the abject failure that finding employment has been. My thoughts being that rather than finding employment, or just being a regular dole bludger…. I could once again enrol in some kind of educational institution to be educated, rather than my current “work” as an educator….

So I’ve been browsing the interweb, looking for something that might be interesting to learn – and may even provide a better route to employment than my current Bachelor of Arts in Computing.

This browsing has led me to a few options, which I will list for your amusement (and possibly even your informed analysis)

1. Education (Secondary) – This is the usual “default option” for people with useless degrees. I’m not a huge fan of being a teacher, mainly because I know that I can have a short fuse when it comes to teens (I dropped the f-bomb at youth group once). Plus, there is the whole teacher student inappropriate relationship thing that I’d also be likely to fall prey to. It is the best option when it comes to gaining employment though.
2. Theology – This could be interesting, although the fact that I’ve been AWOL from church for the past few months might count against me. It would be easier for me than education, and I did do a couple of subjects in my other degree that show I could do the academic work. Employment is also likely, especially with that group that I used to work for. I’m just not sure whether it would be the best option for me in my current spiritual “dry spell”.
3. Music Technology – This would be simple for me from an academic point of view, having essentially done a minor in music in my BA; and Newcastle Uni does offer it as distance course. Whether sitting in my room “studying music” would be a good thing or not…. who knows…. it also doesn’t provide any easy employment options…. although I could end up as the next ultra famous record producer (like Rick Rubin, or Bob Rock or…. someone else). Could also lead me into some kinda work within the Christian Music scene, or just allow me to spin my wheels and do nothing for a few years.

So…. I know asking for intelligent informed opinion on a blog is usually as productive as trying to find intelligent life on other planets, but I’m going to ask anyway…. comment at the bottom, or contact me in any of the usual ways (although we have prac exams in class this week, so you can’t just come in and tell me)