Where’s my shotgun???

…So you want to strike for 12 CONSECUATIVE DAYS – over my dead body!
My response to Len McCluskey, head of the union, is:

unless you call off this absurd strike, i am going to hunt you down and FORCE you to call off the strike unless you want to be shot by me and several other thousand people in the queue of angry people.

(Obviously, for legal reasons I must say the following: - I will in no way actually follow through with the plan/statement stated above)
So that's my anger out for this minute, but now to decide what to do…

British Airways - British Failways

… and so those stingy people (aka BA Cabin Crew) are going on strike on a vote 9-1 in favour. They get paid almost double than some airlines, e.g. Virgin Atlantic. BBC News asks if the public are going to be sympathetic towards them. I know I wont be – even if they don't affect when I’m flying.
So as I sit here waiting for the ‘official’ press conference and strike dates, I wonder why they cant accept change, because if they don't, BC might have to make even more drastic action – or go bust :(
Well, I'll just have to wait and see…

It’s Official !

… that's right folks, it really is official.

you poor students have it bad

That was said to me today by one of my fellow church choir members at St. James, Bushey – Bex ‘Arcaine’ Sherwood.
 
So there you, you here it here first, us students have it bad…

32 Rules

… and so during a lecture, I decided to contemplate on a film I finally managed to watch – Zombieland. This then inspired me to write my own list for survival for when (and if) a Zombie apocalypse happens. I based it on the one from the film, and improvised for the gaps – I think they might keep me alive:

#1 – Cardio
#2 – The Double Tap
#3 – Beware of Bathrooms
#4 – Seatbelts
#5 – Nothing is too brutal
#6 – The Skillet
#7 – Travel Light
#8 – Get A Kickass Partner
#9 – Music lures
#10 – Stay sober
#11 – Lights attract
#12 – Bounty Paper Towels
#13 – Everything's unlucky
#14 – Exhale slowly, squeeze the trigger
#15 – Bowling Ball
#16 – Swiss Army Knife
#17 – Don’t Be A Hero
#18 – Limber Up
#19 – Double-knot your shoelaces
#20 – Always carry a change of underwear
#21 – Avoid Strip Clubs
#22 – When In Doubt, Know Your Way Out
#23 – It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Unless it is a sprint, then sprint
#24 – Don't get attached
#25 – Shake Them Off
#26 – Think 4x4
#27 – Don't Count On It
#28 – GPS is your only True friend
#29 – The Buddy System
#30 – Never Give Up
#31 – Check The Back Seat
#32 – Enjoy The Little Things

So those are my “32 Rules for Survival.” I suppose that they kind of work, maybe a few tweaks are needed, and of course input is always welcome, and you also welcome to take my list and use it for yourselves – who knows, we may meet up and become each others Rule #8.
So I think I might try and tune back into the lecture “Databases: x Normal Forms”, even though its GCSE/A-Level stuff…

Oh dear…

… well, as I thought, I lost track of time and forgot to update my blog :( Don't worry though, over the next few days I hope to update it with all the happenings of the last few weeks, so watch this space…

Me 7 - Vodafone 0

... and I may have just started a couple of hours ago, but I thought I'd share a new rant that just again.

Vodafone every now and again somehow manage to add things to my bill that cost me money, and the bill for September was no different.
 Below I've put a cut from my phone bill

**Note that this came under the section for "Texts sent while in the UK" **

Date & time	Details	Cost
Mon 7 Sep 19:53	1 text	0.095
Mon 7 Sep 19:56	1 text	0.095
Mon 7 Sep 19:57	1 text	0.095
Mon 7 Sep 20:02	1 text	0.095
Mon 7 Sep 20:02	1 text	0.095
Mon 7 Sep 20:06	1 text	0.095
Mon 7 Sep 20:12	1 text	0.095
Mon 7 Sep 20:13	1 text	0.095

So my questions to Vodafraud was:

"a) How can I be charged for texts sent while in the UK when I didnt use up all my free texts that month"
"b) How did I sent texts when on a plane from Frankfurt to Heathrow, when my phone was off?"
"c) How come you are always screwing up my bill?"

They didnt have much to say (after a few minutes looking at the account). The guy dealing with my complaint was confused himself since he could see my phone was used in Germany, then in the UK only minutes apart from each other.
All they could say was "Sorry" and give me a credit for the random texts.

I probably should point out at this moment that I do know all the numbers the texts were sent to, but not even my phone had a recollection of the messages.

So thank you and off to the supermarket (Summer-Op-Co-field)...

And so the journey begins...

...As a famous computer program once said, "Hello World", so I thought I'd nick it.

So I hear you ask, "Who are you?"

That's simple. I'm Kristian Schuhmacher, 19 (at the time of this first post anyway), and am currently reading Computer Science with German (what a collaboration) at Aberystwyth University - and for those who don't know, that a place in Wales at the end of a rickety single track train line.

"OK, fine. But what makes you so special that would make me want to read your blog?"

That's not so simple.
erm... well its a good'un, so here I go.
I enjoy a good rant, both positive and negative, and I'd like to share with the world my experiences, whether it be computer related, something to do with me driving a tractor, or just a general go at day-to-day happenings. Who knows, you might find some of it interesting.

"So why 'Techie With A Tractor' as your blog name?"

That's something I can answer.
"Techie" - because I'm a computer scientist, and I also work part time as a freelance theatre and events technician: lights, sound, stage work, cameras, etc.
"Tractor" - because during the summer (and other holidays) I go to Germany to help on the family farm.

Right then, I hope that's enough to keep you all occupied for a few days while I wait for something eventful to happen in my life.

Until that time comes...