Wednesday, June 30, 2004 
Currently Unemployed
Today was my last day at my current job, and now its off to London for employment!
The following is the email I sent to all staff.
Well its been a blast! And I mean that.
I've been with here for basically 5 years and can't even put together all of the fantastic experiences I've had with everyone here, but I'm going to try tell you some of them.....
I was interviewed late one afternoon, and was told by the powers that be that my web sites i showed them were no good
I crashed a major clients PC on my first day
I saw Y2K testing begin on New Years Eve 1999
I was here when [our product] was a Java applet and the tea room was full of developers
I remember when Tech Services was a meeting room and Professional Services was training rooms
I've seen the business grow from 15 to 50/60
I've seen bad ties, bad shirts and white socks
I've ran, walked and played basketball with people from here
I've only had an official title in the last 9 months and you should try reading my job description
I've been to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane and worked with multiple clients who some I've become good friends with and see when I visit
I've seen nearly half a dozen receptionists come through
I've had two people here who I'd call mentors
I've always sat next to the same guy
I've had a deep and meaningful conversation with someone from management
I've been to three work weddings and seen way too many work babies
I've donated my videos to whomever could answer my silly questions
I've shot paintballs at some of you
I've drunk way too much with way too many of you
I've danced in one of Adelaide's notorious bars with two of you
I feel I've left my mark with the company and hopefully also with some of my colleagues
I've always tried to make you laugh
I'm leaving two of my best friends and too many close friends to mention here at ECS and will miss you all
Posted by Nick @ 3:40 pm
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Tuesday, June 22, 2004 Information vs Design
I had a quick discussion with a mate at work today after a $hitty meeting that had me repeating - glad I'm going soon. We were looking at web sites and I was pushing foward how newer sites are looking one way and not the the other - and he says - Gimme information, I don't give a toss what it looks like, just give me the information I want to read and not all these pretty pictures. I disregarded it as his bad mood and sat back down happy with my current views on aesthetically pleasing web sites.
But time lets you think - is it design or information that I like? Do my interests stem only from the aesthetics of something and not what I can learn from it? Four points to look at:
One: I watched Black Hawk Down tonight, and orginally bought it because of the whole DVD package on offer and special effects. But tonight I sat and really looked at the $hit those soldiers went through and also acknowledged the view of the Somalians. Yes it looked great and sounded fabulous, but its based on a real event that I can't even fathom being involved in. Tick for information.
Two: I look at a large number of web sites each morning to warm up for the day. But I've noticed of late its blogs I read, not Flash-y sites or uber-design sites; just fuel for extra knowledge to keep or share around the office. Such as the more knowledge on CSS that I get at the moment, the happier I am. Tick two for information.
Three: Anyone who really knows me, knows that I've said that intelligence is the sexiest attribute someone of the finer sex can have. You can hold deep conversations and learn from them everyday; I'm not saying that first views aren't what gets you in the first place, but its the intelligence that keeps me there. Again, information wins.
Four: And finally to tie this in with my trip - I'm going to London and Europe in just over two weeks, which I believe is the capital of design and all things aesthetic. Where maybe the US, or possibly even here at home, I can surely get the information point of view I am obviously a fan of. So Design wins here.
So is it design or information that I crave at the moment? Am I heading in the right direction by adding some more design into my life? I'm hoping so.
Songs on iPOD: 4040.
Posted by Nick @ 2:24 pm
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Thursday, June 17, 2004 Lost in Translation and Preaching CSS
OK, no beers or ports were digested to post this. Re-reading last nights post just proves that I was on my last legs when I got to post it all up - can anyone please translate the last two sentences...
I've fixed the CSS bugs for the layout, which obviously appeared around beer 6 or 7, as they were pretty minor. A good few spelling mistakes and a few more little changes to correct some layouts. So its complete and I'm happy with it.
As my poor neighbour at work can attest, I have been loving the challenge of web standards and CSS of late and have been preaching them throughout the office to anyone who's willing to listen - its given a little excitement when putting together new sites. The fact that I'm also running a project which heavily involves these two helps my plight. So during a stage of research at work, I read up on how Blogger has gone all standards, I thought I'd join in on the fun. Mix in a need for an online diary for my up-and-coming travels and the fact that you can edit the template yourself, and I have some little g33k fun. The photo on the top is also mine. Its Middleton Beach in South Australia, taken from the carpark looking out to the east. So now I can say I have a more personalised experience writing this blog. CSS Zengarden next!
I have 9 days left at work and 3 weeks left in the country. Its all catching up with me a bit, but I'm getting a little keener to go, and am reasonably confident I'll get everything done before I go. Getting someone in my unit is priority at the moment - 3 groups thru yesterday so thats positive - then its selling my car and television. Car worries me a little, the tv doesn't - but its going to be hard to let her go....
Posted by Nick @ 4:09 pm
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Wednesday, June 16, 2004 New Style Sheet
6 beers and 5 ports later we have a new design for this blog. Too many conversations with people at ungodly hours of the morning, and way too many alcoholic beverages to seek the right creative-ness. But all in all, you get this -- there's some bugs, but its 430am and I need some sleep. I'll fix the probs as soon as possible.
Its 17th June -- Happy Birthday Dad!
iPOD is finished with my collection: 3982 songs.
Whoever lends me CDs for the next 3 weeeks.....
Its al getting fuzzy.....
Posted by Nick @ 8:02 pm
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Monday, June 07, 2004 Too much time to think
A little daydreaming at work, a thought of some one rugged up on a bench in a park in London, and out comes this. Its not User Interface or CSS work, which I probably should have been doing, but some prose. Enjoy.
Winter's Day
shape the leaves at your feet
build an unbroken heart
big and bold to reminisce
splash of the tear
that rolls off your cheek
the time passes
the wind blows
mend your broken heart
Song on iPOD: 3454.
Posted by Nick @ 2:01 pm
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Thursday, June 03, 2004 Unclassifiable
Today I got my last eBAY purchase today that I'll make for a while - The Mars Volta's Inertiatic ESP UK single. Moving this onto my iPOD, it chucks it under the genre of Unclassifiable. I've been trying for months to think up a genre for TMV, I recommend it to everyone, and the usual reply is -- "What type of music is it?" So now I have an explanation.
Unclassifiable. Love it.
And no one dances like Omar.
Songs on iPOD: 3060.
Posted by Nick @ 3:17 pm
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Wednesday, June 02, 2004 Words I wish I wrote
fool enough to almost be it
cool enough to not quite see it
doomed
pick your pockets full of sorrow
and run away with me tomorrow
june
we'll try and ease the pain
but somehow we'll feel the same
well, no one knows
where our secrets go
i send a heart to all my dearies
when your life is so, so dreary
dream
i'm rumored to the straight and narrow
while the harlots of my perils
scream
and i fail
but when i can, i will
try to understand
that when i can, i will
mother weep the years i'm missing
all our time can't be given
back
shut my mouth and strike the demons
that cursed you and your reasons
out of hand and out of season
out of love and out of feeling
so bad
when i can, i will
words defy the plans
when i can, i will
fool enough to almost be it
and cool enough to not quite see it
and old enough to always feel this
always old, i'll always feel this
no more promise no more sorrow
no longer will i follow
can anybody hear me
i just want to be me
when i can, i will
try to understand
that when i can, i will
Mayonnaise, Smashing Pumpkins
Posted by Nick @ 6:37 am
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