I OWE HOW MUCH?

Jesus Christ. I knew I needed a job. But it only truly sunk in a moment ago.

The reason for this revelatation?

Do you see that? I have been attending AUT for a little over one semester now, and I am already over eight thousand dollars in debt. Now that is a sober relisation, let me tell you.

The problem isn't the course fees. It isn't the text books, it isn't the stationary. It's bloody bureaucracy. No, you see, the problem is my Living Costs.

I am not eligible for a Student Allowance. Regardless of the fact I don't see a cent from them, the fact that my parents make a nice buck living in Thailand disqualifies me. I could get the money, if I were slightly more corrupt - it would be as easy as getting an NZ tax statement saying that my parents make no money and claiming that they are retired. However, I am unwilling to lie to get this money, regardless of how many other people in my exact situation do so.

So, I am living off what is known as Student Living Costs. This is money that StudyLink give to students on a weekly basis to get them through. I have been livivng off the $160 a week this provides for a semester now. The catch is - all of the money awarded for Living Costs goes onto the loan, and must be paid back some day.

As you can see, it stacks up fairly quickly. In fact, at this rate, given my planned 4 years of study, I'll be looking at a loan in excess of sixty five thousand dollars. I can't accept that.

I thought that I was going to be fine with that. But seeing that figure sitting there, it makes me realise that I am going to be in some serious shit if it continues for any longer.

So, I have two options. First is to get in touch with Work and Income and go on the dole. I don't really want to do this, you know - I can't help but think it wouldn't be a nice feeling. Realistically, it is no different to what I am doing now, but the critical difference is I wouldn't have to pay it back. But at the same time, this is taking government money, money that I'd rather see to go people who need it more desperatley than I.

Secondly, I could try harder to find a job. I have been trying thus far, but it has been somewhat half-hearted - I've been firing my CV at tech retailers and anywhere I think I might enjoy working, but no luck. So, I need to cast my net a little wider. As much as I have been trying to avoid it, I would even stoop to fast food, having seen this. A no holds barred, full on, crazed job search.

A month from now, I'll either have a job, or I'll be going on the dole. Because this, as it stands, can't go on.

Dear Ms. Eevee,

Now that the thread has locked, I think I am going to post my final thoughts here. After all, this blog serves as my sword, when the original media is denied.

Congratulations. You value honesty above all else. That's cute. That is noble. It really is.

I hate to break it to you hun, but life doesn't work like that. It really doesn't. If everyone knew what everyone else thought about them, our society would collapse. If everyone aired their little griefs to the world, we would never get anything done. We would be too busy arguing, fighting, and waging war.

I understand why you like to know. Truth be told, I like to know what people think of me as well. But you see, the way I solve this, is by simply asking people. Sure, some lie, giving me the sugar coated version. But there will always be someone who will tell me straight, and will tell me what is said about me behind closed doors. Its an elegant solution, I think - I find out what I want to know, and it keeps the garbage dump that is public opinion from fouling up the smell of the whole neighbourhood.

In truth, it doesn't matter what you prefer. It doesn't matter what you say, what you do, or how much you protest against it - people will talk behind eachothers backs. And you know what? That's fine. It been happening for hundreds upon hundreds of years all over the world, and I'd say it's worked out pretty well so far.

Now, you have said that a few people have left the forums as a result of this. Now, I am going to go out on a limb here and assume that these were CCC people, as I have not seen any people whom I note disappear recently. I am guessing that for them, these 'chinese whispers' amount to cyber bullying right? Well, to be callous about it, they should harden up, or the real world is going to catch them by surprise and knock them on their asses.

As I said in an earlier thread post, office politics is the same effect, but multiplied by a magnitude of ten, and can actually affect your employment status. You said that you don't understad why anyone would get angry with someone for telling the truth. Reality Check - the truth is very often hurtful to the person you are telling it to. If you tell your boss you think he is a micromanaging prick, he will fire you. And he will be totally justified in doing so. That's life.

At any rate, I consider this to be an internal CCC matter - talk to them about it. I may be Just Another Fucking Aucklander, but at least us Aucklanders don't drive people away with our closed doors chats.

Now, to address a major point.

"i have condescended to no one". This statement here was what really did my head in. I don't know if you realised, but your tone throughout this entire thread has been naught but condecending. Regardless of your intent, you gave the appearance of looking down on this country, and its inhabitants. It wasn't the pointing out of these flaws that you see, it was the manner in which you did it. Whether or not you intended it, your air of superiority had many people grinding their teeth.

Added to the fact that I have lived in many places in the world, and my observations run directly counter to yours, the effect was that the thread was simply unbearable.

Your ideas are nice, cute, idillic and noble. They are also completly and utterly unrealistic, and they do not work in the real world.

One day, you will actually get out into the real world and live as an adult. It is on that day the world itself will prove me right.

Signed,
Creature124

P.S. Kiki-chan - I don't know, and I don't care. Her history has no bearing on how offensive she is being.

The Founding Fathers had it wrong

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Internetz and the pursuit of Epic Lulz.

Utter RAGE.

Note: This entry began it's life as a post on CNZ, but I am copy/pasting it here (the thread has since been moderated due to the sheer amoutn of rage against this douche). It just seems fitting.

This is all in response to the blog entry of this douche here: http://www.astrobunny.net/2009/07/26/doujin-overload-2009/

Your pictures, they are good.

Your commentary...well.

You sir, are a great many things, the words for which are wordfiltered. But believe me that are all short, mostly four letters and all very vulgar. And all of which I would call you, straight to your face.

The stop for the shortbus was right up the street from the hotel. You should have caught one all the way to the idiot plantation - the perfect place for you to put down roots.

This is not an anime convention. It is a chance for our up and coming arists to strut their stuff, and hopefully make a profit. And I'll candidly admit - not all of it was brilliant. However, each person put forth their best effort, and I assure you that each an every artist in there made a sale. That, in itself, justifies the event.

But where exactly do you get off in insulting cosplayers, THEN POSTING YOUR sugar honey iced tea ON THE FORUM WHERE THEY RESIDE.

Frakk off, and take your elitism with you, loser.

UPDATE:
The link now 404's, the offending content has been removed >_<
UPDATE:
Link is back up - silly prick was just waiting for shit to cool down.

DO Weekend

So, this was the weekend of Doujin Overload. For those of you not in the know, Doujin Overload is a yearly event held in Auckland where independant artists and other select merchants set up a table and sell their work.

This year, as every year, the quality was varied. Works ranged from terrible (or should I say abstract? I'm not much of an art critic) lineart to beatifully done full colour character portraits and scenes. In addition to the artist, Graphic Novel Cafe had a small stall and large figurine display, and there were a few other vendors whos names I forget selling a limited selection of DVDs, manga, graphic novels and figurines.

It was a good day. Wandering around the room looking at whats available is interesting. Some of the highlights for me were a K-ON poster (which I sadly forgot to pickup), a Rider poster and a Suigintou poster, the latter of the two drawn by members of the AUT Anime club. But most interesting was an artbook + OST bundle called Superscenic.

The art in the A5 artbook is stunning - some original characters, some existing, but all very good stuff. But for me it was the OST that truly stood out. It was filled with original music, the better part of which (accompanied by artist notes) told a story of a happy couple fraught by tragedy. Mostly violin and piano instumental peices (with only one peice with lyrics), all very beautiful stuff.

Then there was ACB, the Auckland Cosplay Ball, as organized by CNZ's own Duckeh. The event went off without a hitch. It started off a little stiff, but once everyone got comfortable it was riotus fun. Many thanks to Duckeh for all that.

Met and/or caught up with a whole ton of new people from other cities, most notably Pyro, Kotone, Pura and Zorlich. Not all what I was expecting (after all, who really shows the real them on the internet?), but all great, fun people. I thoughrly enjoyed spending time with you. Thank you all for coming up 8D

Sunday, I decided not to go to the zoo. Too tired, no desire. Went to Duckeh's instead and hung with her freeloaders, shit was so cash.

A good weekend!

This is the scenario:

So here I am. I am sitting at our tower, waiting for a very large enemy fleet to arrive and attack said tower. Then the order comes down through ventrilo - "warp to top station, warp to top station, dock up, do it NOW."

So I warp to top station. And when I arrive...my screen is a wall of red. The enemy fleet was there, and they were waiting.

Then there came a sound, distant at first, it grew to a castrophony that could be heard throughout the system.

There were no screams. There was no time. The mountain of angry, flashing red battleships had spoken. There was only turret fire and drone engines firing, and then, nothing.


---

Later, I found out that the order to warp had come down three times prior to that, and I had missed them all. Half the fleet made it on time, and docked up. Half the fleet never heard the order at all, and stayed at the POS. I was unlucky enough to hear the order come down, but too late.

Bloody ventrilo chatter.

My Current Hiatus

IS OVER. Probably.

My computer is fixed, my internet is back, my mum has gone back to Thailand and my couchsquatter has found an apartment. All is good and right with the world. Expect more random crap here soon.