Keeping in touch and all that....

Just another funny cat picture....

I am not hiding from monsters but it sometimes feel like I am. This is the longest break from EVE-ONLINE ever and it has turned out to be quite healthy actually. The reasons for the enforced break has been discussed before but my wife is still without a permanent job, my own roles have been cut back and job prospects are looking a little bleaker each month. We both agreed to cut back on 'stuff' in order to save money. Dropping from a double-income to a single one - with the outgoings still being the same was a jolt, I can tell you! We're not pleading poverty but wanted to see if we had the will and discipline to do it when things were hard but not impossible, before circumstances deteriorated to the point where we would be having trouble servicing the mortgage and the weekly shopping becomes an exercise in pain. So, sort of dipping one's toe in the water before the full cold-water submersion.

Why was EVE-ONLINE on the chopping block? Well, EVE isn't a game, it is a lifestyle, an obsession and a very fickle mistress. I have played EVE longer than I have known my wife and since she had more time now at home, it was only right that she wanted to spend it with me and I with her. I mean, she's my wife! Also, just having a conversation over a cup of tea with the cats bouncing around us is nice. I have learnt to say 'yes, dear' a lot of late!

It wasn't just EVE that was on the chopping block but also the cable TV subscription, regular outings to restaurants (though I love to cook at home - which I am doing more of, hurray!) and cinema outings to name a few.

My subscription is still active however, I paid for it with my credit card and it has a couple of months left. I left a long training session running so nothing lost I hope. I do feel a bit guilty when I try to log in, however, as the temptation to play is still there but I there's plenty to do around the house and garden and I still need to help my wife with job hunting. So, each time my mouse hovers over the login button - something else pulls me away.

My client has been regularly patched and I see some excitement from the FanFest in the form of blogs and videos. Also, the special edition - CCP please take my money! Looks delicious and I am due a small bonus so why not? Split it with the wife - she get's a manicure and a massage and I get the special edition DVD on pre-order AND may be some blag from the store too - I love the starmap t-shirt and the Gurista bag too.

Keeping in touch with friends and foes alike.

So, a keeping in touch post to friends and foes alike. I know when I do get back, a lot of things will have changed but that fills me with excitement. Just hope my missus gets successful in her job hunt!

Fingers crossed.

Hi all just an update

This is my morning mantra

Hi all,

You know, I always chuckled at the 'I am not dead yet' blog posts thinking that even if I cut back on my play time, that I would still be involved enough to say something noteworthy. Alas, the last two months has seen nothing of the sort. Complete break from most of, well, everthing.

My free time has been spent reading on my kindle, spending more quality time with my wife and friends and family.

The three-month storm from August to October appears to have finally blown past me. It involved the Olympics, Paralympics, death of a friend, notification of a terminal illness of another, two of my guys being headhunted and leaving the business and the straw that broken the camel's back: the death of my beloved cat.

My wife took it the hardest but I am happy to say that we went to a rescue centre and had our hearts stolen by not one, but two kittens who were simply adorable. It was wonderful to see my wife smile again though we do miss our cat and nothing can replace her. Now with two kittens, we just get distracted!

The two on the left from a family of four kittens.

Also, I have decided on accepting a challenge and run a marathon in early 2013! I normally run 10 km and cross-country so a marathon is a big deal for me. In fact, if there are any keen runners out there I would be very interested in tips and hints on training plans, equipment and diet suitable for a person of my build and fitness (medium build, regular exercise, regular football and running)?

Now, back to New Eden - what about it? I see that the countdown to Retribution is ticking down. Looking at my calendar, the day it hits the server is most likely the day that I log back in. Been so busy with stuff that I need to plan ahead for game time but the 4th Dec is but weeks away. What am I to expect?
A fix to Bounty Hunting?  - looks interesting and I might even consider improving my sec status...
Crimewatch? - hmmm, I like the kill-rights idea but the flags look a bit confusing
New destroyers? - yes please.
New Tactical GUI update? - oh, really like the tooltips idea but a good pilot should already know the most pertinent facts about their weapons! However, thumbs up for some awesome looking changes

See you all very soon. I can't wait. I just hope I can remember where the undock button is and you know what, I am very excited about it. Almost recapturing the thrill of the first time I logged into Eve, almost 7 years ago...

I will be there when it comes out!

Edit: Realised I used the wrong screen grab!

Sad (OOC)

I better not walk off a cliff...

I had a post already made up for today but I deleted it and replaced it with this one that follows. My original post had me updating people on my enforced absence with a plethora of events taking up my time and what I intended to do on my imminent return etc. However, it was scrapped and I re-wrote it as it seemed like a brain dump.

So many things took hold of my precious time these last three months:

Stress, I think

Olympics, Paralympics, a holiday-break-forced by wife and my own work with two of my team leaving the business, one death of a friend, terminal cancer for another friend, some of my friends now going through the dreaded mid-life crisis (including two divorces, one affair and one chap trying to 're-invent' himself in most hilarious fashion) - all assaulting my time.

Anyway, life certainly takes funny turns for me - the last three months therefore has had more events, good and bad than the last three years combined.

To top it all, my beloved cat died this a couple of days ago and this has hit me the hardest.

She was hit by a car and left on the road and was found by wife while I was at work. The cat, a surrogate child for us both was stiff and bloody and really, my wife shouldn't have been the one to find her, to bag her up and carry the small body back home. It should have been my job.

I couldn't make any initial sense of my wife blubbering at me, but managed to catch enough to realise something was wrong but after a few more calls; it all became chillingly clear. The silly cat who we had raised from kitten to cat is no longer with us. Last thing I remember was her dozing on top of the settee last night after sneaking around the house looking for 'things'. It's the memory that I am adamant will keep. Just wish I ended the night with a cat-hug as it would have been the last hug ever.

So why is losing this cat taken all the wind out of my sails?

I guess I will miss her walking over my keyboard when I am about to hit F1 (and she steps onto F8 and sets off a smartbomb instead...); I will also miss her crying out for food each morning as well as trying to smother me when my wife and I are in bed, fast asleep. So, a hard hit and I need to be there for my wife who is absolutely devastated. I think we're both going through the familiar and agonising ritual of second guessing ourselves on what we could have done, should we have kept her in that night? Checked on her earlier in the morning? Gave her an even bigger, reflective collar?

So many questions and you know what, spaceships and flying them isn't one of them.

Give me a couple of weeks people, was so looking forward to coming back but right now, the real world is important.

Bye bye sweetie. Missing you already.

My baby girl when we first saw her two years ago...

End of Olympics and RIP VR

My first post in about a two-month's of inactivity starts off with my deepest and sincerest condolences to the family of Sean Smith (aka Vile Rat) - the story has been reported in numerous organs around the world. A senseless loss of life that included the US Ambassador, three US consular staff and local staff. All over a film, or so we're told. The attack didn't seem spontaneous.


Vile Rat has indeed played a long-term and very strategic role in the crazy world of New Eden. On a personal note, I understand 100% the work he does, the commitment he had to make and the dangers he has been facing. I have on many an occasion worked in similar environments and countries; though my role differ from Sean's. I work for a NGO, he was contracted to the US Government. We're both in IT and no doubt, would have had stories to swap about some of the crazy shit one had to do to get internet access.  Situations can suddenly balloon out of what looked like insignificant sparks into a fatal firestorm of injury and death. A friend of mine was caught up in the Marriott Hotel bombing in Pakistan two years ago, another was in Libya before the Gaddaffi over-through, yet another was in Kabul UN compound when it was stormed by the Taliban last year. I was nearly caught up in friendly fire in Pakistan last year. Yet more reasons why I need to rethink my own position. My wife certainly wants me home more often that's for sure.

Once again as a fellow New Eden resident and as a human being, my thoughts with his family and friends.

My sad theme continues however, I was away from the game initially due to the start of the London 2012 Olympics; what a set of games! However, a friend of mine, fighting cancer finally lost the battle, at 42. He was diagnosed about five years ago and it was in remission after his first fight back. We all thought he was in the clear and then all of sudden, it came back with a vengeance and killed him.

His funeral was just after the Olympics had ended. So a bitter sweet event for sure, after Team GB's superb showing. My friend was a keen sportsman himself and would have loved all the events.

So along came the London 2012 Paralympics, I was again involved in a support capacity and what an event! Loved it and cheered myself hoarse when I could attend the events. Was there to see the Paralympic flame get passed on.

Then came more news: another friend had to retire early at 39; due to cancer. He hasn't got long and decided to spend as much time with his two young kids and wife. The shock hasn't yet receded from anyone.

Before anyone asks me, no - in our youth, we did not grow up or play anywhere near a nuclear facility nor subject ourselves to unnecessary x-rays. However, at my age it is getting more likely that diseases and illnesses like this starts to afflict my peers (though late 30s is scary for me). Not to mention divorce, parenthood and mid-life crisis.

So, my planned return (I had no intention of dropping out of New Eden by the way) was delayed and then delayed again by real life. Right now, I am in a location that prevents me from using the Eve client (and anything useful for that matter), though I am going to sneakily install a VPN client and tunnel my out to at least enable me to download an update to the client!

Good karma to everyone, RIP to Vile Rat, RIP to my mate, MS and peace and good will to everyone.

Testing from Android

Testing from Android

Back

Back from leave - wanted to post an update to this blog via my new HTC 'phone but bah - my mobile kung fu failed big time. Now where's my spaceship?

Back

OOC: got from the mess that is the Philippines, I had the misfortune of experiencing the second super-typhoon (Parma or local name: Ondoy) over the weekend of the 6/7th October.

Some places will remain flooded until christmas!

380,000 people have been displaced and in shelters and there's another depression forming with a high risk of a third typhoon. There was an earthquake in Pedang, Indonesia and we sent some of our guys there. We were too stretched to go to Samoa.

Thank you all for the words of support and emails. Am back now, catching up with things and started to organise roams. Last night we went out on a successful roam of which I will happily recount and regale to you all in the next post.

Philippine Flood Relief 2009

Hi all

Some of you may be aware that I volunteer for a humanitarian charity and have doen for the past several years. We've been requested to deploy to Manila, Philippines to assist in the aftermath of Typhoon Ketsana; it has devastated the country and 80% of the capital is affected (i.e. been flooded) and help is urgently needed.

Me and my team are going off to assist and I am leaving tonight for Manila. Will be gone for a week or so assisting in the relief effort.

So no New Eden Yarring for me; it's back to the real world.

Love and hugs,

FF

Just away for a ten-days and more on the RansomBoard

Just out for a week - taking in the beautiful Emerald Isle for a week. Peace to everyone, have set some long skill and the corp will be managed expertly by z0de and Ard. Ronin and Silvestrys occasionally have a look in too.

Back around the 26th August.

However, I wish to delight everyone's senses by showing you the latest update to our ransom board available here. The interface is clean and easy to look at though the work is still in progress. Currently, we've made just under 500million isk in ransoms and August is only 50% complete! Happy San, the designed of the ransom board, is leading the way with nine ransoms.

Of course, if you click on one of the ransoms, it drills down to show you exactly which pilots were involved. Here's an example of a ransom for Ulysses Meta in his Pilgrim. Happy and Bandy (ex-Bastard x2) managed to net a 100million isk ransom. It took some patience by Bandy and Happy to track Ulysses down as he is a tricky customer and wily. So much satisfaction was had when he was finally pointed.

Want more information? Click on the 'Stats' link and it jumps you to a more detailed breakdown for the month of August 2009. Like I said, it has been a good month so far, lucrative for those involved in The Bastards. A total of 13 ransoms, with an average of 36.57million isk paid for release. Since we derive much of our income from ransoms, it is a point of honour and honesty that we keep our word and let people go if they pay promptly. Our ransom demands are perfectly reasonable.

Now the all-time stats, makes for some very interesting reading with our previous CEO (RoninData) leading the way with an all-time high of 46 ransoms and he is, not surprisingly, the all-time isk earner with 1.46Billion isk earned through ransoms. The biggest single ransom we ever hard was 1billion (x2); I think that was a freighter for one and a mistake by the other?

Anyway, I ask my readers (all three of you) to check out and use the board. We need feedback as it is an active project. Areas we are working on include:

1. A one-page public ransom policy. For the benefit of the public and will deal with how we do it, what we expect from people and what happens if we break said ransom. Basically, it will boil down to:

All bastards must honour ransoms, if they don't they are kicked from corp. The ransom conditions should be confirmed before isk changes hands. If there is a problem evemail the ceo or a director.
Click here for a list of successful ransoms (links to ransom board)
Click here for more details.

2. We have an innovative loot split / share policy and the payouts can be quite substantial. This particular loot split, made up of items we have collected from the wrecks of our victims, came to 4.5billion isk. The next payout will be even higher. The regular payouts, coupled with ransoms does ensure that our pirates should be able to keep themselves in ships. It is our intention to add this total to this board to give everyone a more complete picture of the isk flow from piracy.

3. There is no intention to release this board out in it's current form to the New Eden population, after all, The Bastards hold IPR on this and we want to give ourselves something unique to our organisation in order to distinquish ourselves from amongst the plethora of bigger and more (in)famous groups like VETO, The Tuskers, Python Cartel (MK2) to name three. More importantly, we're keen to get this board just right before we even consider making it available to others as a service, so people please bear with us. To get this right, we need comments so send them in via evemail (to Flashfresh of Happy San), or comment on this blog. There is a shared ransonboard resource run by The Python Cartel; it's a free beta and well worth a look if you want something right now.

4. Same goes for our loot programme; I will put more details about how it works and what one gets out of it at a later date but the programme is still not ready (if ever) to be shared out to anyone at this moment in time. Once again, The Bastards own the IPR on it and we're keen to maintain the organisations unique selling points. Once again, we're keen to get it right, indeed, get it perfect before we consider anything more widespread.

5. On the theme of isk earned through piracy, I blogged about if too much isk was a problem to piracy and the comments I recieved were interesting. At the risk of linking my older posts to new one (an easy way to recycle content!) I wanted to publish something that Raelyf posted. Rather than summarise it, I will repost verbatim:


Raelyf said:

I think you're absolutely right Flash. I've come to a point in my life where free time is at a much higher premium than money, and I've considered going the GTC route. It makes sense - I could stop worrying about what I fly and the isk I might lose and just enjoy what play time I can get. Still, I haven't because even though it would grant me more freedom, I think it would take the fun and feeling of risk out of piracy.. losses would become meaningless, and it would cheapen the excitement of ransoms and loot.

When I started piracy last December, I had my vaga, 50m isk and only about half a clue. The vaga quickly died, of course, and I've since spent the last 7 or 8 months building up my hangar and my wallet. Piracy is my exclusive source of income, and I now have a respectable hanger including hundreds of frigs, dozens of cruisers, a handful of battlecruisers and BS, 5 or 6 t2 frigs and a few t2 cruisers. I have fittings for everything, and hundreds of spare t2 mods since I never sell anything I collect solo. My wallet is up to 450m. It's been the hardest isk I've ever made, but the most fun, and I'm PROUD of what I've accomplished.*

Still, while losses aren't so troubling I still cringe when I lose even a t2 fitted rifter. It's not that significant, but I still have goals from which I'm a long way from achieving - snakes, a carrier, blackops, marauder, a second line of racial t2 cruisers, ect. There's plenty of room to grow and plenty of motivation for aggressively pursuing ransoms - I won't cheapen what I've accomplished and what I've set out to do by buying a shortcut through it all.

@BillyBob - Piracy is absolutely viable! My own experiences and those of my corp mates, like Flash, have proven that beyond doubt. It is, however, quite possibly the most difficult way of earning a living. Unlike most professions, like mining, mission running or 0.0 ratting, isk/hour in piracy is completely dependent on pilot skill and, perhaps more importantly, Motivation. It takes dedication, commitment and, most of all, team work to make piracy viable.
For piracy, it's something like isk/hr = motivation * pilot skill + Luck

*I added the emphasis myself.

I am very confident that with our ransom board, and continous improvement in our loot handling and sales; that we can show New Eden's population that piracy is viable, not as a side-job but as a full time career.

Anyway, a long ramble and I need to pack for Ireland. I can't wait.

See you all later.

FF