>> Jaco Wiese

Final Fantasy XIV

2010-08-26T11:55:00.001+02:00

The long wait is almost over, we can expect Final Fantasy XIV Online to be released somewhere between the 22^nd till the 30^th of September 2010. For mor information please go to http://www.finalfantasyxiv.com. Will be seeing you in the world of Eorzea!

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Heli @ N1 City

2009-12-30T13:08:00.000+02:00

Interesting event happening at the office today... just thought i’d share a picture...

Astronomy Picture of the Day (python)

2009-10-16T17:01:00.000+02:00

Some code to set the astronomy picture of the day as your desktop background... have phun :-)

#!/usr/bin/env python
# Nasa's Astronomy Picture of the Day
# Desktop Background Changer (requires python 2.5)
# Written by: Jaco Wiese

# You are free to do whatever you wish with this code. Have phun!

# Save old picture to this location
# Make sure you created the directory with correct permissions

# For Windows you can add a scheduled task for each day
# and for Linux you can just dump the script in /etc/cron.daily

# Windows Location
# For Some odd reason windows requires the desktop size
SaveLocation = "apod"
width = 1024
height = 768

# Linux Location - Uncomment next line to use on linux
#SaveLocation = "/home/snowy/Apod/astropix"

# There seems to be no easy way to set the desktop background in windows
# You have to set desktop.html as your background
# If you know of a better solution, let me know!

# ---------------------------------------------------------

import urllib
import re
import os

ServerLink = "http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/"

try:
htmldata = urllib.urlopen(ServerLink + "astropix.html").read()
except:
print "Cannot access internet."
exit(0)

b = re.search("", htmldata)
a = re.search("\".*\"", htmldata[b.start():b.end()])

if (a == None or b == None):
print "No picture available today."
exit(0)

FileLink = a.group().strip("\"");
FileName = SaveLocation + "/" + FileLink.split("/")[2];

if (not os.path.exists(SaveLocation)):
print "Please create directory: " + SaveLocation
exit(0)

try:
fileurl = urllib.urlopen(ServerLink + FileLink)
f = open(FileName, "wb")
f.write(fileurl.read())
f.close()
except:
print "Cannot Download or create File. Please check folder permissions."
exit(0)

# There seems to be no easy way to set the desktop background in windows
# You have to set desktop.html as your background
# If you know of a better solution, let me know!
if (os.name == "nt"):
hf = open("desktop.html", "wt")
hf.write("")
hf.write("")
hf.write(" ")
hf.write("")
hf.write("")
hf.write("")
hf.write("")
hf.write("")
hf.write("")
hf.close()
exit(0)

# Linux - Gnome (Currently not running kde)
if (os.name == "posix"):
os.system("gconftool-2 --type string --set /desktop/gnome/background/picture_filename " + FileName)
exit(0)

CTWUG - Mars on laptop!

2009-10-14T20:56:00.000+02:00

Tonight I picked up CTWUG's Mars highsite from my house - 2km's away!
Brilliant laptop...

Baa

2009-10-14T14:46:00.000+02:00

Doing some sheepish stuph at work.

Debian on my Laptop

2009-10-06T08:29:00.001+02:00

Screenshot of my Laptop's Debian Desktop.

Fresh Theatre Production

2009-10-03T20:59:00.000+02:00

Watching another fresh theatre production : Love in cyberspace. Directed by Gavin Wright. Brilliant!!!

Hot Weather

2009-10-03T15:30:00.000+02:00

Cape Town is so hot today, even the dogs are looking for shade.

Ubuntu

2009-10-02T20:10:00.001+02:00

Finally installed Ubuntu today after a long decide with which distro I should go. Already running Debian. So far so good.

Google Wave

2009-10-01T12:17:00.001+02:00

Google has done it again, they've created the next best communication and collaboration web service. Share anything anytime with friends and colleagues. Check it out at wave d0t google d0t com

N95 - 8GB

2008-08-22T19:47:00.002+02:00

Last saturday I got a new contract with Vodacom, and received my new N95 8gb. WoW! What a great phone. Unfortunately there was only one problem, 1 dead pixel, I couldn't believe it! On Monday I took it back, the shop said that they cannot replace it for me. That was just sad...

I didn't take no for an answer, I googled and sent an email to Vodacom CEO about the problem. Tuesday I got a call from Vodacom's regional department. Then I had to explain the problem.

On Thursday morning I got a call from the shop where I got the phone from. It was the shop manager asking me to come pick up my brand new Nokia N95 8gb.

This just proves that you need to stand up for what you bought. Don't take no for an answer!

Wheel of Time

2008-07-30T21:17:00.002+02:00

I've heard great stories about the Wheel of Time Compendium by Robert Jordan. Today I bought the first book in the series - Eye of the World. I've read about 200 pages, and so far, it's been a great story. I'm totally hooked, I only wish that I started to read it sooner. But hey, beggars can't be choosers. I can't wait to read the rest of the story.

Project XI

2008-07-04T23:10:00.002+02:00

Well, I must say, since I started playing FFXI online, I've been looking for a way to play offline. Currently there is only one project that allows for this. But you still have to be subscribed to PlayOnline. This is no problem tho, as I enjoy playing the game online. This post is there to notify people about the project, and that it is still going strong.

Final Fantasy XI 2008

2008-07-04T23:05:00.002+02:00

Last month Final Fantasy XI 2008 Vana'diel collection was released in stores. Since i've never played an online game before, and really wanted to try one. And since i've played all the FF's up until 12. XI was the only one I haven't played due to monthly subscription fees.

I closed my eyes and decided to buy it. And i've been playing ever since. That's why there has been a bit of a delay in my posts! I am currently playing a lvl 15 Black Mage on the Shiva server. Character name: Mirelix. Anyone also playing, you're welcome to contact me to form a party.

Cape Town Wireless User Group

2008-03-11T21:55:00.002+02:00

On wednesday I decided to go out on a lim and join the ctwug. All the guys helped me quite a lot with which equipment I should get, and also how to setup it. Friday morning was very exciting as I went to scoop distribution to buy the things I needed. And I might as well add, that they gave me absolute great service.

Saturday morning I was up on one of the High-Sites, where all the ctwug antenna's and routers are at. I learned quite a lot from the guys about wireless communications and data transmission. Cought a nice tan aswell.

Sunday I made my setup waterproof, and just as well, as it was raining today. Thanx again to the guys on the ctwug irc channel. You made my experience so far, a great one!

Old system

2008-02-25T22:28:00.003+02:00

Today at work I've replaced an old Pentium 1's ATX power supply. The system is mainly used for the voicemail retrieval and recording system. The whole computer was a mess, it has operated for the past 15 years. And now, finally, blown a few caps, of all the dust and whatnot else. But I'm glad to announce that the system is fully functional again, and it's also cleaned up. I hope that it will run for 15 more years to come.

Weekend

2008-02-25T22:25:00.002+02:00

Another great weekend has come and gone. Didn't have much to do over the weekend, as I was more busy with my home server, that I forgot a bit about Jacolleen. Don't worry, I got the punishment already. I'm sorry Jacolleen! I just had to work on it, it's what makes me smarter than yo usual bust bearded wallstreet stuckup. I will make it up to you, thanks for being so understanding.

Studies

2008-02-25T22:21:00.002+02:00

Today I went for my second class at New Horizons in Cape Town. It's an amazing campus, I've never felt more at home in a total unfamiliar place. The A+ course itself isn't much, but its a start in my IT career. I am looking into the N+ as well, and after that, who know, Maybe Linux+, Security+, CEH :-) The sky's the limit!

Good riddance

2008-02-14T22:45:00.002+02:00

Finally! I did my IT Presentation today! And well, it was all good... everyone liked it. Thanks to Jacolleen I remembered my words, she actually sat with me last night until I got it all. I was a bit nervous about speaking infront of a crowd, haven't done that in a while.

Then there is also the fact that it is valentine's day today. I cannot even hold Jacolleen in my arms tonight, because she has to work. She got me a beautiful card, I'm so glad that she loves me so dearly.

I cannot wait for the weekend, I will try to make it special for the both of us.

To Jacolleen

2008-02-08T00:40:00.000+02:00

To live each day like it is my last,
I surely will never look back into the past.
You complete me for reasons so clear,
You give me strength for nothing to fear.

The sparkle in your eyes,
Makes me want to sing sweet lullaby's.
You make me feel complete,
So that I will never have to cheat.

My love for you is unconditional,
I never knew that I could be so emotional.
So for all days past,
I hope ours will never be the last.

Your love...

Bad luck

2008-02-08T00:28:00.000+02:00

I really cannot believe this day, this has to be the worst day in my life ever! I had a lot of work today, didn't get much time for myself. After work, I had to go pick Jacolleen up and take her to work, so I cannot see her tonight. When I dropped her off, I almost connected with the car parked next to me. At the Ice Rink later the night, I realized that I forgot my socks at home. So I had to buy 2 pairs, for R10 each. Then while I was skating, one of my skates became loose and I fell.

My arm chain that Jacolleen bought for me on christmas broke off too! I am so sad about it, but I will repair it first thing tomorrow. It really means the world to me, it was our first christmas, and I can't even look after the things she gave me. I hope that she will understand, it was afterall an accident. I know that she truly loves me, and that the worldly things won't make a difference to her feelings. I can honestly say that is the love of my life, and that I would like to marry her.

She really completes me. I feel that without her I would be lost and helpless, but she gives me the strength to go on, and face each day with a smile. She gave me a reason to live for, to start anew. I truly feel that I will never be able to let her go, she must just never give up on me, I know that I have my faults, and I cannot hide it. But she brings out the good in me, she makes me shine for all to see. Without her I'm nothing.

Jacolleen, don't ever leave me...

Netbeans

2008-02-06T11:38:00.000+02:00

I was never a Java fan, until last month that is. Sun released their Netbeans 6.0 IDE to the public to download. I decided to take a look, and to my surprise, it's quite an usable IDE. I'm a linux user, and I require something that works almost natively to linux.

I've tried eclipse. But that runs in a java environment, giving me absolute zero power to code anything usefull. But to get back to the Netbeans IDE, it works as fast under linux, as Visual Studio works under windows. I would definitely recommend it to anyone starting with Java or C++, as it uses the gnu g++ environment.

Materia Magica

2008-02-06T09:27:00.000+02:00

Recently I've been playing a MUD (multi user dungeon), Yes, I know it's old and that there is MMORPGS to play. But a true MUD will give insight into any current situation and enlighten your imagination to manifest the beauty of the games' graphics before your mind's eye.

If you would like to play with me, my character name is Sakurin.

Night Duty

2008-02-06T09:22:00.000+02:00

Jacolleen, My girlfriend is working night duty this month, I have absolutely no idea what to do with the time I have available to myself. Before I met her I didn't have this problem, but now that I have gotten so used to having her around, that my time feels absolutely wasted when she is not in my arms.

Luckily it's not that long anymore, and besides, we have all of the weekend to spend together. We'll just have to make sure that we spend most of our time on weekends together.

I love you Jacolleen!

Presentation

2008-02-06T09:19:00.000+02:00

Next week I have to present a slide show to the unit managers at our hospital. The presentation should be a portfolio of what I do at the hospital and also about technologies we use to provide patient care.

I am a bit worried, feels like I'm back in school again. I'm sure everything will go smoothly, it's just that oral jitters.

Studies

2008-02-06T09:13:00.000+02:00

Finally, I've made a point to apply for a study loan at my work. At first it was not approved, but then the Hospital Manager intervened and I got it. So from next week (12th of February) I will start my A+ Technician course. Then I won't be doing the job for nothing, then I will have the actual papers to show.