Internet at Arrow is Still Slightly Erratic

As you should already knjow, I stated earlier that the Internet at Arrow on Swanston was a little erratic and I thought that it wouldn't be fixed until a lot later, like about a week after I made that post. They have managed to come up with a temporary fix for the problem: block BitTorrent and block certain routers in the system. However, this does not make it foolproof. It is still possible to easily overwhelm their network server and it still crashes and reboots every once in a while, resulting in a temporary disconnection of every one in the building who then has to wait for it to reboot. Or at the very least, that's my theory. I am, of course, willing to admit that I might be wrong - but I think Arrow probably isn't. Considering that it can't stand the load without BT and without certain routers operating, the server they are using should be pretty much useless. I mean: how many people could there be in the buildling?

And are they telling me that people hammering the server with viruses and worms will cause it to crash? What kind of half-assed firewall are you guys using? I'm certain it can't take the normal load of people at Arrow, let alone bringing in the problems with worms and what nots. On a second note, I am just speculating. I haven't seen their network setup and I have no idea what they are doing. For all I know, they are just using this small office router to attempt to connect the entire building to the Internet (although this should be unlikely, I don't know how anybody would think this would work since this for one isn't an office (meaning loads and loads of not-so-wanted traffic, far more than any typical office can generate) and Arrow ain't small)

I don't know what to attribute the problem to, but I think it was probably just sheer underestimation of how much load Arrow residents and hammering from outside worms could put on the server. I'll just keep on having fun using BitTorrent on this crappy network anyway. Oh yeah, and by the way, this post is being made from uni from an iMac G5 in Union House Computing Centre. I forgot to bring my laptop. I'm just cleaning up bits and pieces of my program so that it is nice and clean. :D

I'm just being really bored and decided to rant. Please do note that this post will eventually be deleted and consolidated into a new post later when I feel like giving you the whole story. :D

Why I Haven't Posted in a While

I haven't posted in a while because my Internet access at Arrow has been erroneous the past few days. I believe I know what the problem actually is, but since I can't do anything and I don't actually have access to the network room at Arrow, I won't speculate on this site. However, I am suffering from the lack of Internet. Where is this post being made you ask? From a WiFi point in uni. It's highly fortunate that Melbourne Uni has a wireless access point nearly everywhere it needs to be. My PowerBook is, of course, being drained of it's battery as we speak, but it has been about 2.5 hours of use and we're still looking at 58%. Pretty good battery life, I would have to say. :D

If I'm right, don't expect me to be online for a while. (A while being about a week, maybe.) See you later. :D

Having a Good Laugh on the Internet

Where can you get a good laugh on the Internet? All I've been doing these few days is reading a few sites where you can find good, hilarious things to read. Here are those among my favourites (in no particular order):

Things People Said Things People Said just lists all the crazy things people say or write in every day normal things. I believe most of them are real and actually did happen.

Computer Stupidities Computer Stupidities lists tech support calls and events that are sure to outstrip your worst experience. That is, unless you are actually in one of them. Of course, we have crazy computer things too!

The Best Page in the Universe Whether or not this is the best page in the universe has yet to be proven, but he gives his own interpretation of things people make noise about in the real world, reviews some services and stuff in his own unique way which is sure to interest you. Some things are not funny or entertaining, but what the feedback hedecides to display publicly most definitely is.

kennysia.com Well, this is Kenny Sia's blog. He shows you what funny things happen in his life and sometimes purely insights into his own life. He also shares his view on the light side of things and shows off his photographing and photoshopping skills to great hilarity.

bash.org bash.org is a legendary archive of entertaining quotes from IRC chats. 'nuff said.

Darwin Awards Some of you have seen the book. Some of you have seen them happening. This lists some real stories and some urban legends of how 'clever' some members of the human race are. Be prepared.

cockeyed cockeyed is like Mythbusters. They try what you won't try yourself and don't have the time to try yourself, and document every bit of it. The result is obviously very entertaining.

Note: If your site is listed and you wish to have it removed, comment and tell me. If any of the links don't work, comment and tell me also. :D If you have anything to add, tell me, I'll happily laugh over a new site. XD

Chapter 1 - 01: The Year is 3031

The year is 3031. This year is of no significance in history. It is of no significance to any normal person, any average person. Nothing has happened and nothing is going to happen this year that will concern the normal citizen on any of the Terran colonized planets. But for a few people, it will be the first day of a step in the direction of a new life. However, only one of them will cause the shift of events that will alter destinies and fates forever. This one, at this point in time, cannot remember his name. He is among those who have chosen or been chosen to have their memories wiped.

All he will remember when he awakens will be the room he woke up in. This room will be a simple room in a space vessel known as the Medical Vessel Number 2904. It is currently travelling through Dekaten System to Remote Station 29.

***

The room is unfamiliar to him. He remembered seeing this room before. It was darker before. His eyes blinked a few times to adjust. "Where am I?", he thought. He saw a green light flashing at the door. He got up and walked to the door. He knew it was supposed to open, but it didn't. Seconds later, it opened. He knew it wasn't him who activated the door.

On the other side, there was another man. "I see that you are awake. Come with me, we have much to talk about." In his hand was a large file. It was labelled "Subject 3002 - Kanya Methodius". "Oh yeah, and by the way, I'm Harrison. I see you've already taken interest in this file I'm holding. Yes, your name is Kanya."

Harrison led Kanya down a long series of doors. As he looked back, he could no longer tell which was the room he was in. He had forgotten to take note of his room number. They finally came to a door which led to another hall of doors. Harrison just went into the closest unoccupied room. Kanya had no idea how he knew, but he knew the configuration of lights above the door meant it was unoccupied.

Convert into Algorithm

How do you convert a simple looking formula and turn it into an algorithm? It's simple. Break stuff down into steps. That's what you're always told. There are actually a few more things to do.

1. If there are any constants in your program, declare them as such. This will make your life easier when you want to alter it slightly to produce different output.

2. If you can put together an operation on one line, chances are that you should. A single line operation is usually easier to debug also, since you don't have to go hunting for what does what in the long chain of operations.

3. If you can't seem to find a way to do what you want to do, it means your algorithm isn't simple enough.