Things have been going well, as I my previous post says, I’ve gotten a job in Glasgow. I’ve now also moved into my new flat and have, finally*, got an internet connection again. (Photos to follow sometime in the near future)

Everything is going pretty well, the work is interesting and the people I’m working with are a good bunch**. For the first time in a long while I actually have money, the most of which is currently gone, and I’m getting back in touch with all the folks I know in Glasgow.

Anyway this is more of an I’m back post to say: “I’m Back!”.
- Chris

* After some very troubling times with BT Broadband
** One of whom recently had a haircut!

Being four out of four questions, I was a bit dubious about some of the course material that I was less clued-up-on coming up. The spread, however, was quite pleasing; covering all the main points of the course – none in too much detail!

Question 1

• A – Definition of statelessness wrt HTTP, naming an advantage and disadvantage[3]
• B – Outlining DNS resolution[5]
• C – Comparison of UDP to TCP [3]
• D – Discussion of IPv6 improvements on IPv4 [7]
• E – Public key algorithms, use for encryption and integrity verification [7]

Question 2

• A – Passing parameters to middleware applications [2]
• B – Scripting for DB update (I used PHP) [12]
• C – Justification of technology used in B and comparsion with other technology [5]
• D – Benefits challenges of using JavaScript, example solution to earlier problem [6]

Question 3

• A – Define valid and well-formed wrt XML documents [2]
• B – Writing DTD for specified XML document [7]
• C – Schemas question, advantage and disadvantage of use [3]
• D – XPATH question [3]
• E – Main differences between SAX and DOM [4]
• F – SAX or DOM pseudo-program [6]

Question 4

• A – E-commerce effects on offline shopping [5]
• B – Increasing search engine exposure [4]
• C – Desirable features of DB for web content [5]
• D – Web service advertisement and location [6]
• E – CORBA expansion and explination of how a request is demultiplexed [5]

Although most of the paper went fine, I forgot how to update a DB using PHP! Also I just didn’t know the CORBA expansion and didn’t have a clue about the demultiplexing (didn’t read it). I did however draw a COBRA in the exam, labeled it and gave it red eyes.

Here’s hoping tomorrow goes as well,
- Chris

I was just getting to the end of this list when I came across an e-mail entitled “Re: your web site needs something like this…” from katief@mail2katie.com on 30th October 2004, which I had replied to.

When I wrote the reply I was midway through writing my DAS4 assessed exercise and therefore tired and very pissed off. Here is a copy of the reply I sent:

This is not spam!

The thing is, I’m sitting trying to write a distributed program which is perhaps beyond your comprehension (Ed: it certainly was beyond mine). I am pissed off as it is and getting shitty emails which are RE things which I haven’t mailed out is making my rage even more!

Bernadine Williamson (“katief” ???), you can suck my balls!

Please remove me from your mailing list as I no longer wish to be subject to your inane babbling, if you send me anymore spam I will be tempted to visit your house and shit on the driveway… have a nice day

I can’t remember writing it, but think it has all the qualities of a good e-mai. I realise that it probably didn’t reach anyone, but it probably made me feel better.
- Chris

World of Warcraft is an amazing game! Having played Warcraft all those years ago, then Warcraft II, and more recently Warcraft III, I am a huge fan of the genre.

This game, although costing £8 a month to play and can only be played online, is still an instant hit with me, I have managed to rack up more hours playing this in the last few days than I have studying (no great feat some will be saying!).

Anyway, the game is amazing, you should definitely buy it, here are some screens from it:

Later, I’m off to slay something,
- Chris