March Update

It's more than late for another update... *sigh* In anycase, things sure have been changing a lot since last time!

PMD-E is still flowing as smoothly, I've been doing the 5th Mission writing entry and am about to start working on the Epilogue. Otherwise, I have the saved draft of the new app version which was released. I admit I'm not too enthusiastic about this new app in some ways. First, the app is supposed to give information about your team: the name, members, natures, moves and so on. Unfortunately, the new version of the app displays by default an interview with a rather difficult character, known as Callahan, the Ninetales. Well, I do understand that it's a way for the writers to showcase their writing skills, that's a good thing.

What I'd suggest rather, is that every writer should have one app, similar to the previous version and should have a link to the interview with Callahan, which then will be compulsory. Does anything change? Yes, when you are linked to an app, you get the app and not see a huge interview (which for some are, if they have so much to say and show for this brief interview). Want to see the interview? Fine, click the link in the app! Easy? I say yes.

Well, enough of ranting now ^^; PK's epilogue are all posted, the prologue for M6 has even started! Seems at first sight that the mission will be to find and help with the cooking, but we'll see later on. Another thing, I'm a little ashamed I had overlooked Shade, the Zoroark. Well, maybe Darkrai is still the mastermind behind this, only the future will tell. It's a bit sad that Sorbet became once again the rock that he was, unable to move, unable to know what's going on... but I guess it's for everyone's safety that no one can control him like a puppet.

With the release of that new app, I also started another project related to PMD-E. I've been keeping records of every new team and it's going on smoothly up to now. The only problem is that I've been busy at work and haven't been able to update the 29 art apps which are currently in the group's folder. I've been customising my bot too on irc.veekun.com and it's working good so far. I need to do some other tweaks for better search of pokemon. Searches such as 'paras' would, for instance, also bring 'parasect'. So, I'm not sure if I'm going to change the database itself or radically change the search function.

Also, I managed to find the last few movies of Pokemon and I've been watching them one after the other lately XD. I watched Pokemon 2000 The Power of One again, as well as The Spell of the Unown, then watched the ones I didn't watch. Only two more to go, then I'll get into the Unova arc.

As of PU, things are quite slow if I may say so. We got some new people to help with the pixel art, and one person for the map editor. I was promoted as global moderator, the wikia is slowly but surely growing, some members have returned as some have left... yea, the usual in a way. The beta is still being delayed to an unspecified time since there's a lot of things to be (re)done. Augh, the battle vector sprites are missing too! :( Though I did some vector logos for the factions which will be present. And I hope I'll get some time to work on them once more in the near future. I have a logo to animate, a logo to design, then I have my own PMD-E team logo to design, maybe make it a stamp as well.

I've also got a few apps I wanted to get; Adobe FlashPro and Sai Paint Tool. They're so cool I cannot describe it X3. I'll certainly be playing with them when I get the occasion, not that I get much time though. =/ Maybe I could use Flash to make my app? =P

Yeah, things on the other hand have been busy. I didn't know about the 'Early entry' for ACCA and I'm stuck with the fees of 80 pounds/paper instead of 69 pounds if I paid for before the 8th of March. I do hope the company's gonna refund that too. Because ultimately, it's still a loan, and I'm still going to refund from my salary later on.

Things are getting bulky otherwise for the ACCA papers. Law is hard to remember... I really need to find a solution for that... Management accounting is going pretty well I should say. And I really don't understand how you can call something a 'demand curve' if price is the subject of the formula. This costed me a whole 8 marks in an assignment. Tax has a flood of rules. CGT... Income Tax... so many seemingly 'random' values in there. Annual Exemption is 10,600, rates on CGT are 18% and 28%, Personal Allowance is up to 7,475 and so on. Why do they not have things like 10,000, 20%, 30% or the like? Much easier to remember and a lot less decimals to deal with!

Oh yes, speaking of driving license... I FINALLY GOT IT! WOOOOO! It was a surprise really. I did some mistakes (ugh) but turned out the policeman I got was nice. The engine didn't stop, but I forgot to turn on the flasher once in a deserted lane, I forgot to put on to the first gear at a corner and lastly, I had gone into some branches (which supposedly, I shouldn't have as these could have damaged the car, even though I'm sure they weren't hard or anything like that). There was a van on the other side, and the lane being as small as can be, I couldn't do otherwise. Only maybe wait for the driver of the van!? But yea, that was not going to happen since he was nowhere to be seen >.>

We had a hectic week two weeks ago. There was in internal audit simulation which required us to do a complete internal audit of 3 weeks into 3 days. It was a real race against time, and there was a lot of frustrating moments. My team (out of three) managed to come up second. Well, it wasn't that bad seeing that we didn't really put much effort after all. You see, the way it was, as soon as you submit a deliverable, the senior manager player would send us the 'better' files. In the end, it was easier to just send something simple and get new 'good' data to work with in the following steps and end the thing faster. Of course, that NEVER happens in real life internal audits. Oh well, if everyone around the globe is having that same training...

Lastly, I'll be working in the Data Analytics department until the end of April (sob). Oh well, I'm happy too, to be able to get to various places around the (tiny) country I live in. Maybe I could go to another hotel? =D I sure will miss the tight feasible deadlines, full chargeable hours and working fully with Excel, Access and Monarch.

Okay, that was long x3 enough for tonight I guess. I'll watch a bit of Arceus and the Jewel of Life and then, another day of work!

2012 Post

Oh woops! I really forgot about leaving a post here. I really meant to post one earlier but turned out I got involved in more stuff and got busy. Oh well, now I remembered! ^^;

Soo yea, let's start with ACCA. I got my pass on level 1! ^_^ Well... actually, I'm not too satisfied with the results though, such as for F2, I expected something better. Oh well, they say the good thing is to pass and that's about it, no need to procrastinate over it anymore but focus on the next ones. Because yes, I'm taking level 2 this semester with F4 (ugh), F5 and F6. So far, it's more or less okay, which means I have to start getting serious into those if I want to get the pass this time.

On the other hand, I've 'changed' department at work... of some sort. I won't do any internal audit for some time now, but will instead do Data Analytics. Apparently, it's the activity which brings the most money to the branch of the firm right now and I won't say it's very hard. I like the job very much. There are a lot of deadlines, for sure, there are lots of work, we have to take overtimes to make sure we don't go past the deadlines, we have many issues concerning the work itself as a lot of things we require are most of the time missing and incomplete... but I like it nonetheless. Through this, I've been able to learn a great deal more about how to use Excel and a little more Access with some SQL statements.

Surprisingly, I was able to use the things I learned in Tcl to do some of the tedious tasks given to us =P. Though I'd really like to know how to make Tcl go and edit excel/access files for at times, notepad literally gets busted by the sheer volume of data we handle.

PMD-E is going on smoothly, I didn't get a ranking, but I'm quite in the line of the winners so I am not losing hope that soon. Been trying to change my style of writing and not use so much apposition in my sentences. Apparently they make them sound weird .-. . Been otherwise doing some animations today and working little by little on the PU wikia. If you want to see it, here's the link: http://pokemonuniverseinfo.wikia.com/.

And for the resolutions for the year... get to know more Tcl and try to learn and get a better grasp of SQL and Golang. I really dunno how far this will go, but I'll try to incorporate some AS2/AS3 as well for flash.

Oh gosh... time goes fast! I also learned that there are elements associated to the chinese calendar, and this year is the year of the water dragon. Apparently, I'm a water monkey and this would be the last year which is 'beneficial' for me. I really don't care about those superstitions, but we'll see how this goes. And... driver's test this Tuesday... I really want to get this pass now after all the money they drain from us D:<

Jerry out!

Exams coming...

Well, it's been some time, but yea, the ACCA exams are coming now. And I had to reschedule my leaves so that my exams fall within the range. Yes, so much for being able to take the computer based exams 'anytime' >.> Boah! I'm worn out from those crash courses! But they sure did me well, besides falling asleep once or twice in class because of fatigue ^^; But yea, they were good in general, though I didn't quite like that teacher who did F3... So... 1 week and 3 days to go! Gosh, it's so close :o

Otherwise... oh well, I've been into more games because of my sister -_- Got into playing Digimon World DS, which has not that good graphics, okay playthrough and slow as can be dialogues. The mechanics are a little weird though and I was able to exploit something, which practically gave me a rookie digimon which could pawn Ultimate digimons with a couple of hits and without taking significant damage. No need to say how much it ruled when it became Champion and Ultimate...

And yet otherwise, I've finished with M4 of #PMD-Explorers on deviantart. Been around even making a tumblr account (unknown008.tumblr.com) and am taking on the next part, which is Event 4. I'm not sure if I'll be able to pull up a collaboration on this one but if I do, I'm sure it'll turn out great! ^_^

And... driving test scheduled to 31st of January, Christmas coming, I'm trying to learn some flash, getting used a little more to Inkscape, what more? Oh, I need to get Victini soon before the event ends. Oh and the release of PU Beta is near, so stay tuned!

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon - Explorers

So yea, I joined this group on Deviant Art and loved it to pieces as soon as I got my way in. Got into learning a lot of things, getting to know who the artist of my so used Mudkip avatar was, getting to know people with great writing skills and art skills same and oh, not enough words to express what I can say. I have immediately worked on my characters for the group and picked a Pikachu and a Mudkip (Peter and Marston respectively). Unfortunately, I have missed Missions 1 to 3 and 3 events which come in between each mission. I have started with my writing application (drawing needs a LOT of work before it can compete with the others ^^;) and I feel more expressive in writing that drawing... for the time being. I already have planned out the pictures, if I ever get to draw as good as the artists, in my mind. Can't wait to finish my missions and actually try to start on drawing.

PurpleKecleon (or PapayaKitty) is my favourite artist so far. Her drawings are amazing and breathtaking! Yes, I know that some of them way back from now maybe have been into... um... not very appropriate... stuff... but it seems she's over that now, and seems happy to be out of it. And yes, she's the one who have drawn the Mudkip I used the first time on Pokemon Universe and edited it for it to move. And then... woah, I meet her there, on deviant art. I felt a little ashamed that I have used her art and that I didn't pay much attention when I made the icon. Yea, I resized the .gif I made on Pokemon Universe and it was all blurry and ugly. So yea, I made a complete revamp out of it!

Other than that, there's Riiko (Or Luvaci or Shroomsworth), Marl (MarlKitty), Eevee (LexyEevee) who, latiass (Gunpowder), Michael (Mike) wrote great stories and which PK illustrated with her marvelous pieces of art. I didn't feel so keen to write since... since... that competition thingy for Commonwealth where they said that they didn't receive my application -_-. So much effort and then nothing. And I was so sure that I'll get at least the third place... anyway, I'm going astray and I simply love the group I just discovered.

On another side... time is really running fast. With driver's test in only 5 days, ACCA exams being conducted from 12 to 28 Dec... and oh, I passed in the F1 paper mock exam lol. Really didn't expect that since I didn't revise at all. Well, I won't be telling the mark, but I think that's a good start. Plus there were uncovered chapters in the mock exam too... so...

And yea, I'm also re-launching myself into pixel art. Been doing a fisherman in two different positions so far and still need to work the other 15 or so other positions for Pokemon Universe. The balance server on PO is up and been practicing a little with the balanced team. Not too bad, but I really miss my powerful pokemon :(. The Black and White Winter Tournament is over too and got a friend ranking in the ~3500. Pity I couldn't get in there... and I wonder what rank I would have got XD.

Also, more depression from AMHD. Really now, they made rating completely anonymous, you no more even see who rated you in your profile and the reasons for giving +ve or -ve ratings have been removed; the older skin have been removed, where I still could give reasons; I can no more close threads, nor open them, nor move them, nor merge posts, nothing at all!!! After all this time... seriously now, I really want to leave that behind, though it would mean to lose some of the friends who are still there. But most left it either way, to find other QA sites, but still like nomads looking for the right oasis to settle down. After all, not all oases contain the required amount of land or volume of water to cater for the needs of a particular person, and AMHD's oasis is now a dry, withered one. The only thing that grows are thorns and fungus, really. /rant

Exams coming... soon!

Well, with everything happening, I'm having less and less time and the deadlines are approaching. Got on my 21st driving course, getting there, slowly but surely. Almost hit a dog last Saturday! Fortunately, my tutor braked in time and avoided any accident. Otherwise, getting very well with parking, rear drive and driving on the mains. Only thing now is that he told me that the traffic is much more difficult during weekdays, what is, on the day of my test. So, I'm going to use the day I have my ACCA mock exam, which will be on the 24th, Monday next week. So... driving course in the morning, then mock exam in the evening. Talk about a day off work...

Otherwise, I've been playing Frozen Synapse a little, got maybe halfway through the campaign, not bad, not 'extraordinary' either, but sure takes a lot of power from my laptop.

Something else which happened is that I made my first vectors. Electrode and Shinx. They're both on my deviant art account and I would gladly like some feedback on them. I've been doing Luxio in the meantime, but it's not working as well lol. In other news, I joined the group of #PMD-Explorers on DA. I was looking for a group where I could get some drawing techniques and get better at vectors, and stumbled on that group. And me having liked the PMD series, I started reading through it, seeing the nice drawings and the ~3000 members. Well, it was interesting and after seeing here and there, finally decided to join. I hope that I will be able to participate soon and get better at drawing too XD.

And last thing, touhoumon. Yes, I completed the game story wise, or so I believe. I have beaten the league, but it won't save the file, so I'm stuck 'pre-league' and made my way to the other part of that world to get some more tomes, got 2 in the process, not too hard, except for the Bamboo Forest one. Those 'blind mazes' get so confusing... So, I'm stuck there and I don't know where to get the last HM, Waterfall, which prevents me from going to an area I am pretty sure must be accessible; because the others don't seem to be.

Forum wise, I gave a last chance to AMHD. The activity sure has risen, but the issue remains the same. They treat volunteers as if they are employees and that is not acceptable. But as long as they don't come to me and say do this and that, I'll be fine. And I've been to another QA site since; answerbag.com. It's not 'that' bad, but it's not as good as AMHD used to be either. Oh well, I still have MHF, PHF and CHF where there are the options I like, besides the missing LaTeX in PHF and CHF. And I joined freemathhelp.com too. Not bad either, but they sure could do better!

Okay, I think that that's it for now. It's been quite long and... the IRC client has been blinking a lot now x3.

Pokemon Universe Community Tournament

Well, as planned, there was this tournament going on since Saturday, and unlike all expectations, I found myself enrolled into the tournament, and won a blazing 6-0 on the first round. Viper (or Jarodel) won his first match with 6-4, a close one and Gammal, my other teammate won on 6-3 (I think) giving us a perfect score of 3-0. Anyway, we moved onto the next round and it was getting late for me, so I went to bed, but today when I wake up, I learned that our team lost to another team; Gammal lost 2 matches out of 3 and was automatically disqualified... I'm sort of disappointed that I wasn't able to be there at that time to have a match, especially since I've been working on my teams quite a lot, trying to make up some synergy... Probably another time then.

On another note, the ACCA exams are coming and I finally decided to take the computer based one. I can pay for the exams in November and then take part in it in December to get my first level qualification. On the 3rd, I'll probably be in another hotel for auditing; this time, Long Beach Hotel, for Sun Resorts again. This'll be quite far and I know I'll have to wake up early, but hey, I hear it's one of the best hotels around. So, I'm looking forward to it. I just hope that there'll be some transport so I don't have to take so many buses. I completed my Annual plan for the company (quite some work, and a lot of importance is put into that...) and am awaiting for 2 ERs from an Assistant Manager, one having the deadline already passed... I wonder what will happen...

Anyway, driving tutoring is going okay-ish, knowing that the tutor has quite of a difficult temperament and am on my 16th lesson. Been driving okay on the roads and the rear gear seems to be good. The last thing this remains is the parking part of the test. It doesn't seem too hard, but hey, better not shout out victory before getting the pass in the test.

Scripting is slow but surely coming. I just finished a level up script and started to work on the stats-up part, together with how items work and I started with the unleashes of weapons. There is something else too that I changed to make it work better in the Psynergy script, which I'll have to duplicate in the Djinn script. Well, it won't be ready that soon =P.

On a final note, I started playing touhoumon a little; a hacked version of Pokemon FireRed with touhous replacing the pokemon. The typing and stats are a little weird, but it's okay. I just got my 5th badge the previous day and my bonekas (touhous) are low-average level for that part of the game. Bah, it doesn't matter, I can still go on strongly!

Second Thought about AMHD

Okay, yesterday some of the rules of the site were changed and we apparently are no more allowed to put in personnal feelings in our posts. Many of my friends are considering leaving the forum, so, I too will probably leave. I'll just be standing a little aback, watching how things will eventually turn out to be. I'm sad that the owners of AMHD are putting such things up. My hope right now is that the forum will not lose its members and become deserted.

Otherwise, I'm still at Grays Inc, got a new laptop because of the problems I was having with the previous one. This one has its problem too: it doesn't load the desktop sometimes when I turn it on. But overall, I think it's better than the previous one I had. I also got some new apps installed on my PC too and I'm planning to get some more stuff for Golden Sun script up for this week.

As for driving, I took my appointment for the 14th of November and I don't know if it'll be a first try-first pass or not. So many people fail the first time because of those mean policemen who only think about making money out of people. Oh well, we'll see how it goes.

On the gaming side, I played Ninja Gaiden (yes, I know it's a bit late) and finished the normal mode in about 5 hours. I'm now in the 'Head Ninja' mode and I'm in the Frost Area. It's a lot harder (that's a good thing) and  I'm waiting to get the last few useful items to get those hard levels. It's short though and the extras are somehow wrongly hidden. I mean, they are well hidden yes, but once one miss it, you cannot get back to get the extras, which sort of bugs me. Oh well, after that I'll be picking up Golden Sun again to get the other things I wanted to get for the script.