Well, it’s Sunday evening and this is another installment of the Esoterik News Of The Weekâ„¢!

Really, there wasn’t much breaking in the world of offbeat news and downright silly things. However, I will make do with what I have. Hey, someone has to get people off the “Anna Nicole and Britney Spears” news kick that’s permeated the body of media like the smell of a raunchy Pepé LePeu! These things can’t be forced and it’s not a good post if it’s not spontaneous, y’know what I mean? So, without further ado, I bring you:

Now, there’s several different ways I can go from here. It serves the guy right for having chugged “two big beers” right before getting on a plane. At the same time, to be fair to him, the airline policy and safety procedures need to lightened for cases like this. Not allowed to go to the commode… because of a light being out?! Come on!

Hey! Everyone that knows me knows how big of a Trekkie I am. I may not go to the conventions like a good little tribble, but I can recite some episodes like they’re chapter and verse. But I sure as heck am not going to expect anyone visiting this blog to know orthodox Klingon! Or Bajoran, for that matter (the other favorite Trek race of mine).

Next thing you know, he’ll be asking for donations… in gold-pressed latinum!!

I love the “unexpected surprise” stories…

Good morning, sir… It’s the police with your wake-up call! Like others, if I’m at someone else’s house for a sleepover, I can’t sleep all that well. Nice to know that some people find it easier if it’s a complete stranger’s house. What a creep!

And finally, the award for “Most Uptight State” goes to Utah for this story:

Hello, Utah! That’s why they call them “vanity plates”. I’m sure it’s just a personal statement, not an ad for drunk driving!

Well that’s all I have for now! Tune in next time as I tell the sad, sad tale of a bunny with a pancake on it’s head.

Cheers!

Here I go again, mucking around with Perl scripts!

I made a new contact page. The reason is two-fold. One, if spambots happen on any of the pages and look at the header.php file, they’ll see my email and possibly make a meal out of it. So far it hasn’t happened (to the best of my knowledge) yet, but as some people have said, an ounce of prevention cures a pound of headaches. Two, I also have my Instant Messenger handles for AIM, Yahoo and Google on there as well. What can I say? I’m a regular chat-whore!

The only problem with the page is editing. I can’t edit it without having to redo the submit button. For some odd reason, the HTML code for the submit button keeps breaking the edit page for WordPress. If anyone knows what I may be doing wrong or if there’s an easier way to implement a HTML form in a WP page, please let me know immediately.

Another small problem is that I was trying to figure out how to change the background and text of the success page that the Perl script spits out after using the Submit button. I want it to look like a natural extension of the blog, but all I can do now is leave it at the default white page with black text. Again, if anyone reading this has experience with Perl, please help me figure this out.

Thanks, and cheers!

Technorati Tags: Esoterik, Perl, HTML forms, WordPress, Email forms, Messenger

Back in the beginning of December 2006, I wrote a few posts detailing my job change. In my last post on the subject, I stated that I’d keep this blog informed. Now it’s March, and I feel that a update is long overdue.

Well, as to be expected, I had some rough-and-tumble spots. These were ironed out in time, since really all I had to learn was what comes from simple experience. I even went to another facility for a week for “brush-up” training. The Claims associate that was training me, after working with me for a day, actually wondered why I was sent over. I already knew much of the job! Good to know, since I felt I was lacking in a few things anyways.

It actually takes two people for Claims to run effectively, no matter how corporate feels about manpower and payroll. Last time I talked about it, I was the only one in the area, besides my supervisor who had to help me out. It took much doing, but about a month ago I got a partner to be my co-Claims associate. So far, her and I work very well together. We’re starting to make some headway in the mess that we inherited. The only problem I see is that we both come from a supervisory background. Thus, we’re constantly double-checking and second-guessing each other. In a way, it’s good; especially when we’re learning from each other. It’s bad though when it may get on our nerves in the future. Thank goodness we’re also on the silly side with each other! She’s awesome to work with; we’re almost cut from the same mold, both in work ethic and good humour. It’s actually rare to find that kind of interaction with two co-workers who have little history in working with each other!

This week, we actually made some major strides towards improvement and productivity. Amazing, considering that this week my partner got called back to her old duties for more than half the week!! Just imagine what my work is going to be like in three months if everything goes a little more smoothly. That’s me… the hopeless optimist!

Cheers!

Technorati Tags: Esoterik, Work, Claims

I have to tip my hat to the author of 10 Daily Things. He always has some interesting posts that come seemingly from left field. Today, I saw an interesting post on his blog concerning that which I’m always a sucker for. Puzzles. Specifically, it was about room escape puzzles. I’ve heard a little about these, but I’ve never tried them. Needless to say, I clicked the link to…

[ Sphere ]

This is the scenario. You’re in a room and there’s seemingly no way out. Most “room escape” puzzles are like this. Most I’ve seen today have a locked door leading to the exit. Sphere is different in that there is only one door, and that is to the bathroom. Also, most of these scenarios rely on you acquiring items for clues to uncover the secret of escape. Sphere is so named because, in addition to other items and clues, you have to collect little spheres that are integral to solving the final riddle to acquire freedom.

This was a hard puzzle for me to solve! After an hour of “Now what do I do with all these items!!?”, I ended up searching the ‘net for hints. I must’ve gotten rusty from not playing around with my copies of Myst III and IV. That’s what these “room escapes” really resemble, in theory and feel and application. All in all, this was a satistfying puzzle!

I did some searches for more like this and there are some really good online games like this one. One I came across, Il Destino, is much easier than Sphere; I solved it with no hints or walkthroughs. It’s also got a hot looking car in it!

A great place to try these puzzle games is at Freegamesnews.com. If you like exploring strange surroundings and exercising your noodle, these puzzles are for you!

Have fun, and cheers!

Technorati Tags: Room Escape, Puzzles, Myst, Brainteasers, Flash Games, djstelios

Well, here I am now with the second installment of Esoterik News Of The Weekâ„¢! I enjoyed putting this batch o’ links together. Not only is it a bit wackier and just as informative, it’s even using more sources than last week’s post; that one was just using ABC.com. It’s also fortified with 21 essential vitamins and minerals… but I digress! Let’s kick this off with…

Man, those moose can be scary when you call them Bullwinkle, huh?

According to his lawsuit, the farmer claims that fireworks set off by the boys made the previously lustful Gustav both apathetic and depressed, and thus unable to perform for a half-a-year with his two female breeding partners.

I think I should take a cue from this and sue anyone who blares rap music around my vicinity. It has the same effect on me.

What they didn’t report was that, around the country, thousands of atheists went on shopping sprees. (ba-dum-bump!)

Here’s one from CNN for a change…

I have few words for this one; just too surreal! For me, it would be like payback for all those burgers chosen over chicken sandwiches in my lifetime.

And finally, an invention with a link to a video:

The big suprise here is that he didn’t become a millionaire in, like, 10 freakin’ minutes! If I were more of the beer swigging, football watching type, I’d pay good money for this. Watch the video!

Well, that’s about wraps it up for me tonight. Tune in next week, as… well… ehhh… erm… heck, you’ll find out anyways. Just come back for more!

Cheers!

Technorati Tags: Esoterik, News, Moose, Ostrich, US Currency, Cows, Beer Fridge