For those who have not heard of it, The Six Nations is an international Rugby Championship between Wales, England, Scotland, Ireland, France & Italy.

We here at the Ninja Towers are supporting Wales (For Obvious Reasons) and have decided that should Wales win, then we will either give away a prize to someone who comments on any of the 6nations posts on the three-ninjas, or be donating a gift or money to a charity.

So Come on Wales.

Related posts:

1. The 6 Nations 2011
2. 6Nations Recap
3. Friday 13th on 2012? The End of Days
4. 6Nations Recap
5. 6Nations Update: Wales v Scotland

GN: “OK, maybe “Chair of DOOM!” is a bit of an over-exaggeration, but it does have a much better ring than “Chair of Nerves“. Oh, Now i think of it “Chair of Terror” would be a much better title.”

CR: “Then Why dont you change it?“

GN: “Couldn’t be buggered, So just had this imaginary conversation with you to explain how the title could be better!“

CR: “So you just wrote NINTY ONE words to save replacing ONE work in the Title?“

GN: “Yes…. Yes I did!“

Last night was my first meeting as master of a Freemasons Lodge, and we decided to start off with the biggest ceremony we could (A Third for those that know), Nothing like starting big  to settle into our new roles easy. In fact a large number of people actually asked me last night “Why did you not start with an easier night? We’d never do a third in our first meeting” And I had no reasonable answer for them, Insanity is not really a reasonable answer or so I am told.

Now I am a naturally shy person (No matter what PlanetPete says) so I find it uncomfortable being the center of attention, so was uneasy in the run up to last night thinking about being in the spotlight, but as we were lining up to walk into the room I was surprised at just how nervous I was. I’m telling you “Chair of Terror” is a good name for it, I’m sure I’ll get used to it, probably just as soon as its my turn to step down and hand the care of it to my successor.

But even with the nerves, the most predominant thought in my head was “When are these guys going to realise I don’t have a clue what I’m doing!“. In my years as a member I’ve always assumed the Master knows whats going on, has the answers, and so on. But me? I am sat there looking around at people asking me questions, wanting my opinion, all the while as the voices in my head scream “Why are you looking at me?” or “SHIT!!!! they are going to suss me out soon“. I have to say its a very odd feeling sitting there on the big chair.

I should end by saying it all worked out and it was a good night, and no one seemed to suspect I was clueless. So By Bingo I have survived for another time.

No related posts.

Whatever your Path/Religion/Non-Religion views are, I wish you well at this time of year.

Thig an nathair as an toll
Là donn Brìde,
Ged robh trì troighean dhen t-sneachd
Air leac an làir.
“The serpent will come from the hole
On the brown Day of Bride,
Though there should be three feet of snow
On the flat surface of the ground.”

Related posts:

1. CELEBRATION: Happy * (Insert Name Here)
2. CELEBRATION: Happy * (Insert Name Here)
3. CELEBRATION: Happy * (Insert Name Here)
4. Happy [*Insert Name Here]
5. Happy Halloween

The List. (More details given below the list).

1. Blog Post’s: Write at least one post a week for the whole year.
2. New Car: Get a new Car.
3. Hosting: Move all my hosting, email & DNS to my virtual machine.
4. Published: Get myself Published.
5. A House: Own my own Home.
6. Revenue Stream: Get extra revenue stream.
7. Weight Loss: Lose some weight.
8. Data Management: Sort out all my electronic data.
9. Self Improvement: Learn a new Skill.
10. Paper: Write a Sensible Paper.
11. Laziness: Complete 12 Projects/Tasks from the Unfinished/ToDo Lists.
12. New Things: Do/Try at least one new thing every month.

Blog Posts:

Due to a recent lack of enthusiasm I have not been posting anywhere near as often as I should, or that I would like. This needs to be rectified.

Challenge: Write at least one post a week for the whole year.

Target: At least one post a week.

New Car:

I have been putting off getting a new car for “a while” now, and my current one is getting a bit expensive to run with the current exuberant UK prices of  £1Trillion/Gallon. So its time to get something more economical that a 2litre 4×4.

Challenge: Get a new car.

Target: Have a new car.

Hosting:

I have been moving my Domains/Hosting/Email/DNS away from their current place for roughly four years. I know four years is a long time, but I keep putting it off or getting distracted. Well enough is enough, its time to get organised.

Challenge: Move all my hosting, email & DNS to my virtual machine.

Target: Have everything moved to my own hosting.

Published:

I know some of you (Naming no names) have been hassling me almost since first knowing me to actually get around to writing and finishing a book. And believe my, my parents have been doing it for even longer (Stupid fortune teller). So This is the year of acting not talking.

Challenge: Get myself Published.

Target: At least one eBook on sale on Amazon (and other places)

A House:

Simple one. I wish a nice house with a small garden and off-road parking.

Challenge: To get my own House.

Target: Own my own Home.

Revenue Stream:

I like money, Money funds my computer game habit, not to mention my love (or need) of new toys. So I would like extra incoming money seperate to my day to day job. Especially with things like houses & car’s on my 12in12 list. So I need new ways of making money.

Challenge: Get extra revenue stream.

Target: Have the framework in place to make money, and earn a token £10 to show the process is in place.

Weight Loss:

All these three course meals when away visiting, combined with my current lazynes and lack of enthusiasm have added a few unwanted pounds. So Its time to loose a bit of this excess weight.

Challenge: Lose some weight.

Target: Drop a jeans size.

Data Management:

I have over the years dumped data on my machines into “To Sort” folders to be dealt with at a later time, Or backed up dying machines for later recovery. I currently have over 500Gig of data scattered about waiting “to be sorted”. And I can no longer find things I need easily. Not to mention the three personal document shares I have. I think its time to get ORGANISED.

Challenge: Sort out all my electronic data.

Target: Have ZERO files waiting to be sorted out.

Self Improvement:

I am not improving myself, and have not for a while. I honestly can not remember the last time I learned any new skills. Brain the size of a planet and I do nothing with it. Time to improve myself.

Challenge: Learn a new Skill.

Target: Learn a new skill.

Paper:

I have been considering joining a group, the main reason I will probably not join it for many years is that it only meets in London or Leeds, and you must attend several times a year. Which may be impossible with work commitments, but I am still considering it. Now one of the main admission requirements is to write a several thousand (I forget the exact number) word paper, which will be read out at one of their meetings, and your admission is voted on based on your paper. I am curious if I could write one, So decided to try.

Challenge: Write a sensible paper.

Target: To write a none fiction paper of several thousand words.

Laziness:

Laziness is an illness, along with lack of motivation and enthusiasm. Well it’s not good for me, and I plan to fight back slowly, not with guns and knives (mainly as the doctors do not let me have them any more) But by doing. So I will grab things of the long lists of projects to finish, or start and try and get a load complete this year.

Challenge: Complete 12 Projects/Tasks from the Unfinished/ToDo Lists.

Target: To complete 12 projects.

New Things:

its 2012. The end of times, the start of times. So just in case the world does end this year (Hey cover all bases), I shall Try/Do some new things.

Challenge: Do/Try at least one new thing every month.

Target: Do/Try at least one new thing every month.

Related posts:

1. I want you to add me to your Chistmas card list!
2. 100 Day Challenge
3. NaNoWriMo – The Challange Begins

We must all do our bits no matter how small to stop this insanity becoming law!

The Three-Ninjas Staff,

No related posts.

So if you survive the day, why not show it proud with a “I survived” T-shirt, or keychain/sticker.

I Survived Friday 13th 2012

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I Survived Friday 13th 2012

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Related posts:

1. Happy Friday 13th
2. RWP: Thank F*** its Friday
3. The Guild – Why You should be Looking forward to July 13th
4. T-3 Days
5. T-2 days

I should point out, the start of the dream could have been inspired by the fact I recently watched the whole 1st Season of  “Game of Thrones“, And am working my way through the “Wheel of Time” series of Books.

So the dream started with me in a typical fantasy world, of Swords, Knights, horses, normal Medieval technology level. I was in a small land that was being attacked by a bigger neighbor, I have no idea why, the politics of the conflict did not interest me, as much as offering my services as an “adviser”, which helped turn the tide and allow the smaller land to win.

On a side note, its amazing the weapons and traps you can make with just basic technology and modern knowledge. Also charging cavalry get really confused when they come across my medieval version of landmines. Hey it was some fantasy world, there probably wasn’t even a Geneva let alone a Geneva Convention.

Well on the high from our small victory, we went on the offensive to claim damages from the aggressors and increase the size of the country. Alas that’s when bad fortune hit our plucky country, our beloved King died while examining my rudimentary gunpowder grenades. Luckily I had just left the room moments before the accident which also had the misfortune to take out the direct line of airs to the throne. Since we were at war, and needed strong leadership to keep us safe I volunteered my own services as military leader while the lords of the land worked out who should become the new king.

Now I think on it, they never did come up with who should rule the country. I guess they were too busy on the front lines as part of the forced military conscription that we needed to help fight the wars on all fronts. By the time I woke up I had unified three quarters of the land, and given an extra half hour of sleep I’m sure my steam cannons would have made short work of the mountain fortresses of the free people.

I think this dream shows two points.

1. Knowledge is Power
2. I should not be allowed to rule any country, no matter how small.

No related posts.

Its a brand new year, a new beginning, and many people around the world are making Resolutions for the new year.

This year I will not be making any, for a very good reason. I am crap at sticking to them! I will admit it, I make some at the start of every year, and most of the time I do not take them further than making them, or at the very best I will stick to them for a month.

You have to agree this is a bit “pointless” So while I am crap at sticking to resolutions, I have noticed I am more steadfast when it comes to challenges. So this year instead of making any “New Years Resolutions ” I am setting myself a “12 in 12″ Challenge. That’s 12 things I must complete/achieve/do in the 12 months of 2011.

As of this moment in time I only have a few picked, and there are spaces for more. So feel free to comment any suggestions.

Related posts:

1. Happy New Year
2. Happy New Year
3. Happy New Year
4. Happy New Year
5. Update: New Year Resolutions

MEME: The Year That Was 2011

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before? Stayed in the room during an Installation, Became an Installed Master, Took part in the 100 day challenge, Chaired a committee meeting.

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year? No! I do not even remember what they were. I have discovered that I am basically Crap at keeping resolutions, but am a lot better at sticking to challenges. So for next year I am thinking of doing a set of challenges for the year, a friend suggested 12 or 52 for the months/weeks of the year. I just need to think of some things I would like to achieve next year and sort out the challenge.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? I was going to answer Yes, PlanetPete to this question. Then I realised he only gave birth by proxie. So instead I shall adjust my answer slightly to be, Yes, Mrs PlanetPete AKA H, gave birth to the mini magoo foretold in legend, Henry (And yes, he does have a cat).

4. Did anyone close to you die? Luckily No.

5. What countries did you visit? None really, apart from the normal Wales/England. But I did spend some time with some Americans which should count as something.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011? Enthusiasm,  Love, Joy of Work, A warm office, A published book.

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Nov 3rd. When I got to meet Bingo, and was placed in the Chair of King Solomon by my Father.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Attaining the Chair of Solomon (Are we noticing a trend yet?)

9. What was your biggest failure? Only getting one of the items off the list from last years answer to question 6.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nope, Apart from the recovering from Vampire Eye which I got Dec 24th of 2010, and was dealt with at the beginning of 2011. But actual injury/Illness gotten in 2011, there is nothing.

11. What was the best thing you bought? A Tablet device, Great toy. Or my Galaxy S2 phone, which is much more superior to my old iPhone, or SkyRim as I am currently an addict.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration? My IPM for standing down part of the night to allow my father to put me into the chair (That trend again), & H for H.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed? Those who made picking officers awkward. Work people who left to secretly set up a company in competition.

14. Where did most of your money go? Diesel for commuting, and fix’s for my Video Game Addiction.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Going into the Chair of Solomon, Skyrim, and because I’m a sad geek William Fucking Shatner friending me on G+, and Robert Lomas following me on Twitter.

16. What song will always remind you of 2011? “G33k & G4m3r Girls” By Team Unicorn.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier, Because I have plans afoot.
b) thinner or fatter? Possibly fatter due to all the visiting as Master, and the multi-course meals.
c) richer or poorer? Poorer, Rising fuel prices, Global economic collapse, etc.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Falling in Love, Writing, Following my Dreams, Conquering the World, Finding a cure for the common cold and blackmailing people for the cure, You know, the simple pleasures in life.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Wasting time, and suffering from lack of enthusiasm.

20. How will you be spending Christmas? Christmas day will be spent with the family, My Parents like their children, grandchildren all together at Christmas. SO meal with them, then few drinks and Gameplay with my nephews, then more drinks and a movie.

21. What was your favourite month of 2011? Lets keep the trend going, November because I entered the Chair of Solomon. 

22. Did you fall in love in 2011? Alas No. I am high functioning Sociopath.

23. How many one-night stands? One night stands? None (I’m a gentleman! And a gentleman never sleeps & tells)

24. What was your favourite TV programme? I’ll go for best New Show “Breaking In”, since there are way to many old favourites to mention. And in the words of Oz “I’ll allow it!”

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Hate leads to suffering. which leads to the Dark side. So Hate is a strong word, and one that should not be thrown about casually, ot haphazardly. But the short answer is YES.

26. What was the best book you read? I am going to go for a Trilogy instead of a single book, since i read all three back to back, as one long story. This is also the last three fiction books I have read, but I am going for Brent Weeks The Night-Angle Trilogy

27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Team Unicorn. Even if they do only have one song out ATM.

28. What did you want and get? A Tablet. The Secrets of an Installed Master.

29. What did you want and not get? World Domination, True Love, Slaves,

30. What was your favourite film of this year? Thor

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I went to rehearsals on my actual birthday, then two days later (Or one depending when I was actually born) I was placed into the Chair of Solomon, then celebrated with friends drinking and enjoying a three course meal, and more drinks. I also had a joint birthday celebration in the wilds of Wales with some old Spod Friends.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? A better Job, A long lasting Relationship, More enthusiasm, less TFB.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011? Casual (Jeans & Sweatshirt/T-Shirt) Or Smart (Suit).

34. What kept you sane? Me Sane? Interesting theory you have there. Well I still have the magic stone from last year that I purchased off a traveling merchant that keeps away tigers & insanity. On a serious note, Friends bother the Real Life variety and the Net (Twitter/G+/Facebook) varieties.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Same as last year. “Felica Day. Well she’s attractive, Intelligent (Has a mathematics degree), Talented (She’s a singer, Actress, Writer, Director), She’s a Gamer/geek and grew up with a subscription to 2600 magazine. Whats not to like, she’s my ideal woman.” But also Michelle Boyd from Team Unicorn.

36. What political issue stirred you the most? None, I don’t do politics

37. Who did you miss? Old friends.

38. Who was the best new person you met? Several New friends on Twitter. Who are all special in their own ways. And so I don’t get “another” entry on the list Henry.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011. Oderint, Dum Metuant

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. Lets keep the trend going. :-

Should we talk about the governments that I control?
Should we talk about the hands of fate, the dice they roll?
The secret things you’ll never see?
The secret man you’ll never be?

I’m a Mason now by Jonathan Coultron

Related posts:

1. MEME: The Year That Was 2005
2. MEME: The Year That Was 2007
3. MEME: The Year That Was 2010
4. MEME: The Year That Was 2006
5. MEME: The year that was 1996

Related posts:

1. Merry Christmas/Yule/Winter Festive Event
2. Merry Christmas/Yule/Winter Festive Event
3. Sorry Kids, Christmas is Cancelled
4. Merry Midsummer
5. Merry Midsummer