TroubleZone.Net

..DOWN TO THE DEVIL, STRIKING OUT FOR PARADISE
TO BEDLAM BELOW – DOWN TO THE DEVIL
MAD PARADE IS COMING HOOOOOME

OOOOOH WE’RE GOING DOWN..
DOWN TO THE DEVIL, STRIKING OUT FOR PARADISE!1

My last post here at my private trouble area is dated December 5^th, 2009.
Quite some time has passed since then and major things happened — so, let’s get straight to it:
— turned into quite an Edguy-fan \m/
— got a Samsung Galaxy S, love it for what it’s able to do and handle <3
— was on holiday, afterwards went separate ways with my now ex-girlfriend
— fell into a deep hole because of her loss2
— fought through trouble at work, but managed to address and deal with personal issues
— started work on Firefox V4

Yes, you read that one right! I’m working on Firefox V4, because V3 never made it beyond the drawing board3.
There are a couple of good themes out there, but none of them a) features Mozilla’s great fox and b) has all the features and the gimmicks I want in a single theme.

Since a teammate is a genius at Photoshop, I gave him a couple of Ideas and suggestions and the very first preview was already jaw-dropping.
Right now, he does some last corrections and I will start cutting it into pieces afterwards.

As soon as I’ve finished that, writing the needed code will start.
But although Firefox V2 is quite “widget-ready”, I’ve already read the instructions for theme-authors, so that the new version will support widgets within the sidebar at the maximum level.

Though, one thing is sure: I will only support compliant browser, so every browser below Internet Explorer 8’s level4 will either render the pages well or shall die.
Chrome and, of course, Firefox render perfectly and therefore will be supported.

Stay tuned for more soon,
Martin

1. Edguy — Down To The Devil [↩]
2. Boy, she meant so much to me, but I got deceived so rude when she said that she only loved me “emotionally”; whatever that means.. [↩]
3. Literally! [↩]
4. Without compatibility lists! [↩]

So, long time, no read, huh?
Well, there has been _a lot_ of trouble in my life1, but also one of the highest heights a man can achieve! Though, let’s do this step by step:

Since my last post on February 1st, 2009 the first “main event” that occurred was Eleanor2, finally arriving at my local dealer..
Guys, although almost nine months have passed since then, I still can’t find probable words to describe how much I kinda love “her”..
I mean, there were so many people in my past, especially back in school/at the college, who claimed and predicted that I would end up as a loser.. But I didn’t listen to ’em and instead fought as hard as I could and in the end, this car proved and still proves ’em all wrong!
You know, washing Eleanor for the very first time was an intense feeling — maybe a bit like polishing that old trophy in your showcase that makes you so proud..

So, I began modifying Eleanor in order to give her what _every_ girl in the world wants to be: just a “special and unique” touch..
That said, there’s a trunk tray3, entrance bars4 were also mounted..
Also, the default plastic gear shift was replaced with the massive aluminum-part from the GTI “Edition 30”.
The glovebox’ handle was exchanged in favor of an aluminum-looking one and then there’s an alteration for the stacker in front of the gearshift — up to some days after my guide was released, there was not a single Scirocco out there, having this modification which makes me kinda proud..

To get a better impression on how it actually looks, please visit the follow link which is a guide written by myself for doing the modification on your own: www.motor-talk.de/blogs/schwer-zu-widerstehen/volkswagen-viva-la-revoluci-n-t2249270.html

Unfortunately, the guide is all German — but since I took _lots_ of photos, it should already be enough to do the modification.. If not, just drop me a line or a comment to this post..
For those of you which are curious: the listed parts will fit _any_ Golf V (called “Rabbit V” in the USA, AFAIK) and all VW models based on its platform, e.g. Eos..
Though, it will set you back at about 40 to 120 Euros, depending on which parts you might already have and/or want..

Anyway, enough about Eleanor for this post — let’s move on to the next one, my (ex-) job..

On March 26th, 2009, I finally set myself into my new car and the next day5, I drove to my employer at an unusual time: 05:30 in the morning!
Yes, I was totally out of my mind, but have you _ever_ driven your car at that time of the day? If not, I suggest you to try it, because it’s just awesome! All that silence and all that very fresh air.. Absolutely amazing!
Now, the main reason was actually different: I just wanted to make sure that I could pull into a spot with enough space and that those of my colleagues who shared the “thrill” with me could easily notice the car when they arrived..

About 8 hours later, my work for that week was done and the weekend was calling — a call I easily followed without any question..

It was the following Monday, when my head of department came into the test-lab, talked to me and requested my attendance at a meeting between him, the staff manager and myself a couple of minutes later..
Right after he finished his sentence, I felt thunderstruck.. Although I didn’t know why they wanted to have a talk with me, I knew that it wasn’t a good sign and that my job was at stake..

About 30 minutes later, I heard the staff manager saying those words that caused my eyes to turn black and my ears to go (almost) deaf.. Honestly, I could neither see him properly nor hear what he was saying and almost keel over and fell from the chair..

Now, I know there’s/was this “global economy crisis” as they call it and that it costs some jobs..
Also, going on with blaming my ex-employer and all that stuff would be an option, because I’ve got a legal expenses insurance in case they would sue me for publishing details of my lay-off.. But I won’t!
“Why?”, you’re asking? Because it’s not my style to let out all my frustration on them — the fact that some of my ex-colleagues quit at their own request just some days/weeks afterwards should speak for itself..

And there’s also that one motto, I’m living true to and which was coined by Jedi Master Yoda: “Do… or do not. There is no try.” — though, I broke with that habit a couple of days ago..
I never wrote about it, but my last relationship didn’t go that well and so I followed the path of being a single — at least, I thought so..

Because after struggling with the “hunt” for a new job6, I finally found one in Lower Saxony..
And with the new job, a new girl came into my life — but this time, she didn’t fit into my normal “scheme”: she’s was older7 and even more interestingly, she shared an _unbelievable_ mount of point of views regarding several important things in life with me!
In addition, she took that little boy8 to a _whole_ new level, to the man I am starting to be..

There’s just not enough time and space to even try to describe all the feelings, the knowledge and the warmth Anne9 she gave me within the past three months we’re with each other.. And for all this, I truly and unconditionally love her — from the deepest depth of my soul.

Now, most people would think of my life as being “just fine” up to now, but no: since exactly four days, we broke up — err, no, _she_ broke up!
Reasons? My faults: probably being too understanding10 and I didn’t bear in mind that Anne might not be as fast as I am when it comes to getting used to somebody and include him/her into your own life.

Of course, I feel like my heart got ripped out in the blink of an eye, but I won’t blame her for choosing the way she did.
And I also won’t quit and go back to Saxony, even if this means that I see her beautiful face11 each day again and again and again.
Why? Because I am not a human being who quits — others do this, not me.

Sure, I (will) cry. Sure, I fell. But here I am, rebound and still following life’s path until I maybe fall again — and, of course, rebound just once more.

If you want to know where such a fool like me gets his energy and strength from for living this way, the answer is pretty simple.. Well, I make no secret of it: music! Plain as that, just music!
If you like to listen to an example, here it is: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL6HmY8EbtA (Especially that a-cappella-part at the end..)

Now, that song doesn’t include this blog post’s title in its lyrics.. So, to keep to my old “tradition”, the title for this post comes straight from the awesome pianist called Yiruma and you can listen to it over here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xms7l8il0A

Just like Ludwig van Beethoven once did12, Yiruma doesn’t need lyrics to express his feelings and thoughts with his music — but for those of you who want lyrics, he also wrote a version which has lyrics13: www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIdBiV1UDDM

All that said, have a good night, a happy Saint Nicholas’ Day and bye for now,
Martin

1. What a coincidence, considering my blog’s domain-name! [↩]
2. That’s the name I gave _her_ after watching “Gone in 60 Seconds (2000 film)” approximately the fifth time.. [↩]
3. Which is both, gas- and oil-resistant! [↩]
4. Of course, both feature a “Scirocco” lettering which makes each entrance into Eleanor a pretty cool, but also kinda classy, moment! [↩]
5. Which was actually a Friday, but not Friday, the 13^th! [↩]
6. Which at first seemed to be successful, but then turned into a three months run without money to pay the rent.. [↩]
7. About half a year, to be precise.. [↩]
8. Who knew his little world, but not the big one.. [↩]
9. Yes, that’s her beautiful name.. [↩]
10. Don’t get this wrong: after consulting many people, it turns out that most girls want an understanding guy, but also his cold shoulder at the same time.. [↩]
11. With these deep green-brown eyes which make me mesmerized.. [↩]
12. Excluding his great “Ode To ‘To Joy’”.. [↩]
13. Only the chorus is English and the rest remains Korean, but you can switch on English subtitles.. [↩]

.. And all the stars fall around the world tonight
Silent forces from a past life return
Pray for the silence in a world so alone
Till we touch the horizon beyond
Fly through the storm!

Tonight.. falling like the rain, insanity lives on
Feel the shattered dreams, one thousand voices crying
Raging endlessly, they come — whoooaaa!
And the morning light will hide the darker days gone by
And the sun will shine again across the blazing skies
Glorious, eternally we’ll rise above the world
Marching on, till victory we fight
The fire still burns…1

Well, I’m back from my trip to Cologne2, although it took me a day longer than initially planned3..

Anyway, the trip was great, mainly because it was my first time at an airport4 and I couldn’t resists to heavily watch those planes taking off or landing..

The job was pretty easy, although I had only about 4 hours of sleep in the first night5, but I had the missed sleep a day later..

Now, I’m still fighting the “usual trouble” which basically means that some problems occurred and I’ve got to fixed or solve them, regardless if I’m able to do so or not.. — And that’s quite hard, because the “usual self-pushing” through such situations doesn’t really help and I _really_ have to step up and fight with every grain of power that’s left after so many fights in just a bunch of months..

Gosh, if I’d knew that being 226 would be that hard, I had prepared myself much better.. — But as far as I can remember, I always got thrown in at the deep end, so I’m neither complaining nor wondering.. Instead, I’m still standing, still fighting and I still won’t give up7..

Recently, I received word that there are guys out there, playing Voyage Century Online8 and enjoying Soul1980’s “CraftingMenu MOD” which enables a cleaner and more efficient menu for crafting several items.. Though, it seems that the modification doesn’t work anymore since some updates to their game which were published lately.. — That’s where I, the creator of an interface-modification who included Soul1980’s mod, jumped in and now, I’m trying to get the mod working again for them..

Regarding my personal life, I’m still out of luck since no female single with a brain and something on their hips9 seems to be out there, because most men nowadays prefer either dumbasses, solarium-junkies, smokers or simply skinny women — but I don’t like any of these, especially when it comes to mate selection..
So for now, it seems that I have to stay single — at least until I find such a woman..

Firefox V3 is still in production, but because of much work and other non-pc related activities, I can’t promise to finish the theme in 2008.. Nevertheless, I’ll do my very best to complete it in time..

Feel free to comment on this post, but something tells me that this post will remain without any comments as it might be written for nobody except me..

Take care,
Martin..

1. DragonForce — The Fire Still Burns [↩]
2. Had to do a rollout for a customer of the company I’m working for.. [↩]
3. A workmate of mine became ill just a night before he had to catch his flight.. [↩]
4. Except one visit at Berlin-Schönefeld airport when I was about 5 or 6 years old.. [↩]
5. In the Holiday Inn-hotel which was just awesome! [↩]
6. Or shall I say “Almost 23”? [↩]
7. I guess you notice the relation to the quoted lyrics above, huh? [↩]
8. A very similar variation of a MMORPG called “Bounty Bay Online” that I’m used to play.. [↩]
9. I rather like to have something in my hands when it comes to “close combat” than grasping at nothing.. [↩]

.. Take my hand, this one last time
Face the world before us, the warrior inside
In a lifetime of disaster, it’s a battle to the end,
Final stand, my life must carry on,
And forever, this time..1

So, this is it, guys! I’m blogging once again, putting some letters together in an attempt to build so called “words” which might make sense and form kinda “sentence”? — No, it’s _a lot_ more complicated this time..

You guys must know that I had a car accident on 2007-11-05 while I drove to my training center back then.. No, no, I was ok, no broken legs or something like that — just fender blender, but that’s where the problems raised..

The cops came and took photos, asked questions about how the accident happened, etc. But although I called my insurance company2 at the same day, it ought to took about t-h-r-e-e months for the police to finally complete their investigation.. — Meanwhile my insurance company was “kind” enough to issue a company-internal investigation which resulted in the company to pay the other guy while his company refused to do so3..

After my insurance company had paid the other guy and the police told me that I’m the one who had to bear the blame, I was pretty shocked.. — I mean, being able to look about 1-2 km at 06:45 in the morning and getting rammed by someone whose side mirror had kinda “touchdown” on your fender4 just while you were overtaking cars5 is pretty easy to judge, huh?6

But no, the police didn’t see it like that, my insurance company didn’t see it like that and a whole bunch of other people, including my grandma, my mom (!) and my mom’s friend, didn’t see it like that — except my grandpa7, Axel, Sebastian and of course my attorney..

And it took long.. Days passed by.. Weeks.. — Even months! I had to lodge an opposition for this and for that.. But I kept my head high and took all those setbacks, because I knew I was _completely_ right and my faith in justice was too strong to get broken..

Finally, on 2008-06-108 the appropriate county court arrested judgment on my case, freeing me from the fine and also from getting points on my demerit point system’s account.. — But that’s only half the battle, because the lawsuit against the other guy and his insurance company is still going on9 and will hopefully finish until the end of September..

So, now we’re at the point why I picked that quote of DragonForce’s newest song called “The Warrior Inside”10..
Always remember: justice may take its time and that may be a long run, but in the end there will be justice — and for as long as I’m going to breathe, I will stand my ground and I will serve justice every single day with everything I can afford!

Take care,
Martin..

1. DragonForce — The Warrior Inside [↩]
2. And the other guy’s one, too! [↩]
3. Although, rules force insurance companies to pay the opposing party first, then clarify who has to pay how much — AFAIK at least.. [↩]
4. Right before your windshield! [↩]
5. Which didn’t start or tried to start something similar.. [↩]
6. Especially when there’s a law forcing drivers to look over their shoulder before attempting to start overtaking cars.. [↩]
7. Who means almost more than my mother to me! [↩]
8. Almost nine months after the actual accident! [↩]
9. Germany law distinguishes between civil and penal law.. [↩]
10. Only available via YouTube.com ATM.. [↩]

.. the hiding amaranth
In a land of the daybreak

Apart from the wandering pack
In this brief flight of time we reach
For the ones, whoever dare1

Hey guys,

this is just a very quick update about Firefox V3 and some stuff related to its “merchandising” after it will be released2.. — So here it goes:

There was a mail in my inbox some days ago, asking me about Firefox V3’s licence and restrictions I might put upon its usage.. Yes, I do know that the current restrictions are quite, well, kinda “hard”.. That’s why I reconsider(ed) my way of dealing with licence(s) and limitations..

You’re asking for my conclusion? Much less restrictions — definitely!
For now, I’m thinking about abandoning my Creative Commons-driven “licence model” and instead selecting something like GNU’s GPL V23 or so..

So, as you can see, Firefox V3 will be an “all-new version”, since there will be much more than just a “refreshed” theme..

Take care,
Martin..

1. Well, no DragonForce or HammerFall song this time, but one from Nightwish’s latest album Dark Passion Play called “Amaranth”.. [↩]
2. Yes, I’m working hard on it and managed to build about 33% of the digital layout! [↩]
3. Maybe V3, I don’t know that for sure right now.. [↩]