Dec

30

The F in FTP

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Congratulations to my ISP, TM Net, for being the one of the first ISPs in the world to offer phone sex to customers of its ADSL service. They don’t market this service as such but it’s effectively the same thing.

This is how it works: you have a problem with the company’s ADSL service, Streamyx, and call the customer care hotline at which point the company’s customer representatives will proceed to jerk you off over the telephone.

Okay, perhaps not literally.

I’ve been experiencing severely reduced upload rates for the past few weeks. I usually have a maximum upload rate of about 40KB/s but right now I’m restricted to between 3 to 6KB/s. Curiously, my download speeds have not been affected at all. However, downloading via Bittorrent is much slower than usual since download speeds generally commensurate with upload speeds.

My biggest problem, though, is I’m having tremendous trouble uploading to my sites. To update the Tripod mirror of my blog, I have to upload three simple HTML files. Thanks to the sluggish upload rate, this is taking me up to 18 minutes on average because I keep timing out during the FTP process.

I’ve been in contact with four other Streamyx users from Banting and they’ve confirmed they’re experiencing the same thing. I would complain to the TM Net customer hotline but apparently the standard line being fed to customers is that the problem is on the customers’ end. If you insist it isn’t, they’ll send over a technician who’ll admit after a while that the problem is on TM Net’s end — they might even mumble it might have something to do with ports — and then claim it will be resolved.

In two weeks.

Memo to myself: search eBay for needles and voodoo doll likenesses of TM Net personnel.

This might be the last update to the Tripod site until the problem resolves itself. In the meantime, feel free to check out the fuyoh.net mirror since updating it is much less frustrating at the moment.

Dec

30

Elsewhere on the web

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FoundryDX.
Lego mecha made from a collection of 30-35,000 Lego pieces. The First Gundam and Zaku are especially impressive.

About Iraq in 2005. [via]
A sobering if not dispiriting roundup.

Another Windows security problem.
There’s a pretty bad Windows exploit being spread around quickly. There’s currently no fix from Microsoft but there’s a workaround.

Dec

29

Elsewhere on the web

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Takara’s Ryukendo.
The main line features simplified gimmicky designs suitable for a younger audience. The Microman versions of the designs will presumably be aimed at older collectors.

Mugenworld.
Mugenbine’s new official site features annoying Flash and pop-ups but there are some nice additions to compensate. I especially like the fact the product catalog now features some suggested custom combinations.

The physics of superheroes. [via]
The MP3 version of the 23-minute show is 9.1MB in size. I’ve put Kakalios’ book on my reading list.

Dec

27

Elsewhere on the web

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Electronic Kong Arm.
Make your child look like a total dork for 4725 yen. Price excludes hospital fees resulting from severe beatdown by neighbourhood bullies.

Gransazer ver. Microman.
A fan-creation by ankoku.

BrickJournal.
E-mag for adults fans of Lego. The second issue (PDF, 5.89MB) has some very cool mecha designs.

CBOT 2000.
Required materials for this robot: ginger, molasses, flour, sugar, icing, food colouring, love and inspiration.

Bad side.
That is quite possibly the most demented expression I’ve seen on a senior citizen this year.

Strike a pose. [via]
Classic rock guitarist poses. Also see product endorsements for minor rock gods.

Dec

27

Robolinks

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Revell Robotech Robolinks a.k.a Takara Blockman
A photo of a Revell Robotech Robolinks figure.

Robolinks was the US-marketed version of Takara’s Blockman, my favourite robot action figure construction line and about once a year I wistfully hope that Takara re-releases the line. It hasn’t happened yet but who knows?

As I always say, these Blockman figures would be perfect as trading kit figures. Pack each 500 yen blind package with a single Blockman figure along with a few 5mm accessories with the promise that a full carton of 12 packages will contain enough Blockman figures and parts to build a cool-looking robot or vehicle. Since having more Blockman figures would provide greater construction options, this will give fans an incentive to purchase even more packages.

Market the line through hobby magazines and an official site in the same way Plex has been doing with the Mugenbine line. And then sit back as fans help promote the line by setting up fan-sites devoted to custom creations.

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