Time to get airborne

29 07 2008

Today was awesome.

I started the day off early with studies in preparation for a looming exam. I even canceled a day class for a subject that I had already done at night so that I could make time for these all essential studies. Nothing was getting in the way. It’s all about the books!

Then my phone rang.

Everything changed. It was the school calling me asking what I was up to and to find out if I wanted to go flying with another fellow student who was doing a cross country. Books closed and my car was in gear before I could say Captain Hoox.

It was an awesome flight. We took off from Grand Central Airport in an almost brand new Cessna 172 Skyhawk. Incredible machine. We flew out past Hartebeespoort Dam and out towards Mafikeng. The whole flight took about 3 hours and it was just so good to be airborne again. We returned coming in past Johannesburg CBD in the distance and flew directly over Sandton City. Everything looks so peaceful and clean from 2000ft.

So much for the studying but I think today was exchanged for an incredible experience and so worth while.

Back to studies tomorrow.

Check out some of the photos I took. Click on them to see the larger image:

(Click for more to load photos)

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Comments : 4 Comments »

Categories : CPL, South Africa, Technology, Transport

Hoox Needs Toys

28 07 2008

Now we will see how the universe plays this out. After all the generosity I have shown my fellow human beings during times of plenty, things are getting a little tight now and I hope the universe agrees it’s time for a wee bit of payback.

Check out this kewl piece of business. Its the Garmin 296 GPS. Aviation, Marine and Land global positioning device. Since I am now a pilot, all I really care about is the aviation side of it but you cant strip the other two out so it’s just a bonus. Every pilot that has one of these says they will NEVER be airborne without it ever again. It has literally saved many lives directing aircraft perfectly and safely even in times of zero visibility! Leave the dog on the ground. This is man’s new best friend (at 20 000ft).

Life saving navigational equipment like this is simply not negotiable! Universe… GO!!!

gpsmap296

The only problem is that there are 3 different built in regions for these things (Americas, Pacific, Atlantic) and I would specifically need the Atlantic region which covers Africa, Europe etc. Check out the details: (Click Here)

No harm in dreaming!


Comments : 7 Comments »

Categories : Africa, CPL, Europe, Technology, Wishlist

What ball??

25 07 2008

Have a look at this picture. It seems to be a normal football / soccer scene but only if you look closer you will notice that the ball is missing. I used to love playing these games at arcades when I was younger. I can’t say that I was any good at them however!

This could be a bit of Friday fun. Help me out. Help Hoox find his balls! Open the bigger image (Click on it), then download it (Right Click, Save As), then by using MS Paint or any other means possible, mark the drawing where you think the ball is situated. Save this image again and send it back to me on offthehoox@gmail.com with subject “The ball”. I will modify a master copy and post all the results later (if I get any response). Simple yeah? Come on! Give it a shot.

Whaddaya think huh? Sound like fun? Kewl… Let’s see.

(Click for larger image)

missing ball

Leave a comment or drop me an email to the above address if you need any help and I can contact you directly. I’m going to be somewhat busy today so please forgive me if I don’t respond immediately.


Comments : 13 Comments »

Categories : Hmmm, L & J, Sports, Wishlist

Rise Above It!

24 07 2008

Lately people say I have been a little too aggressive or highly strung or allow myself to get too frustrated with crap around me. You reckon? I say, “LATELY”? Christ I have always been like this. But ok, I will see what I can do about it. When things piss you off to the extreme just try and rise above it!

Mind you, since getting back to South Africa I have come across some incredible South African music. You know how I love my music! In the past South African music just used to piss me off cos it was crap. Ok, I’m sorry if I offended the Oppikoppie hippie wannabe’s who used to love that shit but I suspect you were there more for the drugs anyway. Again I digress. Since moving home I was introduced to an awesome band who although started out South African, only made it big when they went to the USA. Check them out: Seether

On the album I bought I found a great song that really gets one (me) in a great spirit and ready to take on the world (in a good way). Call it a hard rock pick-me-up!

Rise Above This

SEETHER


Comments : 9 Comments »

Categories : Party!, Rant 'n Rave, South Africa, USA

Email Manners

23 07 2008

It really drives me nuts when you send someone an email listing a handful of very pertinent questions and they reply with one or two and simply ignore the rest. Not only is it annoying, it is also extremely unprofessional. If a potential client has responded to you with interest then at least give them the courtesy of a full response.

Read the email chain below. It is a job offer I received a few days ago. There’s no need to read the full job description that I have put into italics, I just left that there so show that none of what I was asking was mentioned in the original email making my questions very valid ones based on the industry he is recruiting for.

After his “extremely detailed” reply I never responded again.

Good day Mr Hoox

Is the following role of interest?

Main activities will include (but not be limited to):

Procurement

Specifying hardware & software solutions according to Client standards

IP Compliance

Assist in ensuring Information Protection compliance by adhering to Client IP standards at all times.

System Administration

Working with Aberdeen Help Desk on all aspects including:
User and group administration
Password Resets & User account management – Active Directory
2nd / 3rd line phone, email and desktop support for approx 200 users and 150 active PCs
Documentation
Software Licensing
IT Billing maintenance
Remote Access (ISDN/RAS/ADSL) configuration & demos
Voicemail Administration
Broadcast voicemails and emails

Hardware & Software Support

Hardware/software installations according to Client standards
Voice & Data Patching
Support of printers/faxes – including changing of toner
CD Burns
Video Conferencing and projector support for all meeting rooms
File Restores
Printer Queue management
Remedy call logging
Fault Research & Diagnosis
SecurID Cards
Citrix/Netgil Support
IPTelephony
Office Moves
Drill Rig setups

Infrastructure Support

Windows Server Support (e.g. server builds, restarting services, restores etc)
Server maintenance
Meridian configuration and limited administration for BT Exchange
Basic Network Management

Application Support

Routine application support

Advice & Consultancy

IT advice and consultancy

Projects

Assisting Aberdeen and local staff with their ongoing projects

Best regards,

[Insert Name Here]

Technical Recruitment Consultant

======================

[Company Name] Europe B.V.

Providing Global Solutions

[Address Line 1]
[Address Line 2]
the Netherlands

————————————————————————

Hi [Insert Name Here]

Thank you for the kind consideration. 4 months ago I would have jumped at it. I am still interested but I just need a short time to plan accordingly. When are you looking at filling the position? What is the rate for this position? Is it an hourly, daily, weekly or monthly rate? Is it full time or regular on/off rotations? If it is rotational can you please advise the rotation schedule and terms and conditions. You mention rig support. Is this an onshore or offshore position? Aberdeen or Netherlands?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Many thanks

Regards

Hoox

————————————————————————

Hi Hoox

Its an onshore role in NL.

Best Regards

[Insert Name Here]


Comments : 8 Comments »

Categories : Europe, Interesting, Project, Rant 'n Rave, World in 80 ways

Titillating Tuesday - I Kissed A Girl

22 07 2008

So back by popular demand, and when I say popular demand I really only do mean 1 request. You see how damn accommodating I can be when I feel like it? Here you go Spoonz! This brief little encore was brought about by a pretty kewl song that seems to be making it’s way from chart to chart around the world and even seemingly into the Middle East which does surprise me a little. It is a cheeky little number by an artist who I have never heard of before (but that’s not saying much) named Katy Perry with the song, “I kissed a girl”.

How can one resist???

500x333_katy-perry-2[1]

Enjoy!

(Click for more - Definitely NSFW)

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Comments : 7 Comments »

Categories : Boob, Breast, Cleavage, Female, NSFW, Nude, Photography, Titillating Tuesday, Wishlist

Gym

22 07 2008

To cut to the chase, yeah I signed up at gym. No not Jim, the CEO of the massively fattening fast food chain, I mean GYM.. of the run for an hour and get nowhere variety. Check it out on Wiki:

I will wait 5 minutes for all those that know me to get their breath back and get up off the floor. I hope you never hurt yourself.

I signed up at the gym in 4-ways, Johannesburg with a national membership since as everyone knows, I’m not a fan of staying still for very long. Already I have moved house during the week so I use the one in Centurion now. It started out great. Not bad for someone who doesn’t have a clue really. Or any will to go to the gym.

I was supposed to have school class last night but it was canceled due to unforeseen circumstances so instead of wasting that time I decided to go to the gym. It was really good. Late night gym is much better. The chicks certainly are nicer. I digress. So it’s a little busier but I still preferred it.

When I was done and walking out I suddenly encountered what is arguably the cruelest thing ever conceived. I find it difficult to discuss in writing so I will attempt to depict it in pictures.

This is what I saw when I walked out the front doors of the gym:

Primi Door

And to all those not particularly familiar with the sign, here is a close up. I know all you Capetonians know what I’m talking about. Yeah, Primi Piatti

Primi Sign

How can you possibly put the entrance of the world’s best pizza / pasta place opposite the entrance to a frikkin gym people? You walk up the stairs and your mind is going, “Turn left or turn right? Turn left or turn right?” And even for people like me who did manage to turn left and hit the gym and are now ravenous, resistance is futile on the way out.

This should go down in history as a modern day example of true good vs evil!


Comments : 9 Comments »

Categories : L & J, Life, South Africa, Transport

Respect the "glorified bus driver"

17 07 2008

Unless you are in the industry or somehow affiliated with it, you will never truly understand what it takes to be part of aviation as a whole. There is just so much to it on so many different levels. I am only just now scratching in the dust on the peaks of Everest.

In the past I always used to refer to pilots as "glorified bus drivers" but then I quite obviously never understood a 100th of what it takes to actually become a pilot. By pilot in this context I am referring to a commercial (professional) pilot and higher. Even after I got my private pilot’s license I still kinda thought "oh this isn’t as bad as everyone makes out" and thought I was quite something. Let me tell you, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Naïve bordering on stupidity to the maximum extreme!

I have learned a whole new respect for the guys and gals taking care of our skies and everything associated with it on the ground. It’s not easy. It’s scientific, precise, so strict, and on so many levels, wrought with inherent dangers. All this put together makes it so much safer for you (and me still) the traveler, getting to where we want to or need to be in one piece. Every aspect is covered and drilled into you. If a flight is slightly delayed there’s usually been an issue that had to cleared for our safety. If the flight is a little bumpy, chill. The pilots are not God (even though some might act differently) and have no control over the weather. And if you land a bit hard on the odd occasion then just accept that out of the 100s of landing that each of these guys do monthly, they cannot predict every single circumstance 50 feet off the ground traveling at 300kph aiming at a runway that, to draw a comparison, is like you driving at 200kph into your driveway.

The past two weeks has been an absolute eye opener. I’m using the term "eye opener" extremely loosely. I really mean "sheer terror"! I am only a 1/4 of the way through the ground school lectures and already I’m battling for air. It was supposed to be 4 hours a day (9-1) for 8 weeks and I thought I was mentally prepared for it. The information came at me with such force that almost equates to a baseball bat swung full tilt in the gob which made me feel completely overwhelmed, bruised and scarred and I just wanted to crawl up and die. On completion of day two I was so shaky I must admit my mind was jumping back to projects in shitty places like Angola because that’s where I am comfortable as that’s what I know. Comfort zone / Security blanket.

Day 3 I woke up with a vengeance. To hell with all this doubt. If I had tried to study everything I know about IT that I learned over the last 10 years in a short 8 weeks I would be just as flabbergasted to say the least. Get a grip dammit! What are you going to do? Wimp out now at the first little hurdle? HELL NO!!! To quote the famous words of NASA, "Failure is NOT an option!" So now I have jumped in head first and am hitting it with everything I have.

The school was kind enough to let me sit night school as well so with the exception of two lectures I missed because night school started 2 weeks earlier, I get to sit every lecture twice and it’s not the same course material at night as during the day which makes for some variation which is nice. Different subject, different lecturer, different people. Yes that also makes for an extremely long day though starting at 9am and finishing at 10pm but it’s worth it and it’s only for 2 months and besides, I get a double whammy of 1st class lecturing. I have to keep reminding myself that A/ No one said this would be easy and B/ This is what I want and if it were easy I would get bored and would walk away looking for another challenge. I’m demented like that. What ever happened to "following the path of least resistance"?

Next time I see those chaps (and chipettes) with 3 stripes and most especially those chaps (and chipettes) with 4 stripes, they will most certainly get the respect they deserve from me. No more snide bus driver comments. And if there are any bus drivers reading this, I think you are kewl too! Respect bruv!

It’s late, I have school tomorrow, goodnight.

X


Comments : 10 Comments »

Categories : Angola, CPL, Life, PPL, Technology, Wishlist

MTN makes Vodacom look great(er)

14 07 2008

Just when I thought it couldn’t get much worse, cue MTN, the provider of a shitter wireless service than Vodacom.

Right, remember the other day I was bitching about cost versus service and was using my Vodacom connection as a benchmark? Well this is now a cost versus a sheer lack of service. At least with Vodacom there was connectivity albeit drastically slow. That was on 3G. Now I’m not saying I am changing my stance on what I said previously, I am just saying lets compare notes and take a look at this happy little MTN connection monitor:

image

Let me explain real quick:

HSDPA is meant to be faster than 3G. Check the Send and Receive Current. 0.0kbps. All pages are showing as Page Cannot Be Displayed and not even MSN will log on. FASTER? Try non-existent.

I think their name is extremely misleading too, “F@stlink” which is really just a corny play with the @ sign trying to be clever spelling “fast”. Rather get your service faster and then you can get cocky.


Comments : No Comments »

Categories : Rant 'n Rave, South Africa, Technology

LANES!!!

11 07 2008

You stupid simplistic idiotic drivers. Do you have NO clue as to what lanes on a road / highway are for? If it has been that long since you bought your drivers license then allow me to help you!

Lanes are to assist the flow of traffic. The more lanes there are the more it was deemed necessary based on studies recording specific flows of traffic at certain times of the day. Now I’m not sure if you were told by the guy selling you your license, but lanes are generally split into regulated categories from left to right, “slow, medium and fast” flowing vehicles respectively. If there are only two lanes then use your brains and try to figure out on your own that the left lane is still the slow lane and the right lane is still for faster and overtaking traffic.

44956_resized_freewayimprovementproject_duane

You get where I am heading here? There is sweet F-All point on sitting in the fast lane going the same speed or slower than the vehicles to your left. You are a hazard to yourself and others and here’s why: Now think a little more. If you are used to driving on the left and overtaking on the right then surely you are more inclined to check carefully on your right before shifting over. Same applies to the left asshole. Look before you meander over to the left at your leisure because chances are that 100 cars behind you are now pissed that you are hogging the fast lane and are now overtaking you on the left.

I’m not sure if you are simply stupid or grossly inconsiderate and dwell in your delusions of grandeur.

God I don’t even know why I bother.


Comments : 5 Comments »

Categories : Hmmm, Ideas, Rant 'n Rave, Road Trip, South Africa, Transport, Uncategorized

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