Cest-la-vie!
Posted by Stevieb | Filed under News, Tech, Web Links
Well about a year ago, a setup a new site to take over the function of running the firewall bypass.
However this was not to be. The proxy scripts worked well, the user management scripts worked well, however they didn’t work well together. I was out of my depth and couldn’t resolve the problem. Unfortunately neither could the script developers solve the issue. So rather than run a half assed service I decided to give iunctio.org the boot.
So, I will take on new proxy connections on a request basis. So if you want one, drop me an e-mail via the contact me link above and I’ll hook you up.
Firewall bypass update
Posted by Stevieb | Filed under News, Site News, Tech, Web Links
Well after several year, the firewall bypass is finally going to retire; well kind of.
I will no longer be accepting new registrations for the system. The people that currently have access can keep it, however if you want access to the firewall bypass now I have something new for you.
The firewall bypass was always a very popular part of the site, so popular in fact it cost me hundreds of pounds in extra server costs. So I have decided to setup a site dedicated to helping you get where you need to!
iunctio is the new home of the firewall bypass. It’s also much improved. It’s fully automated user setup and subscription. You can manage your own setup and subscription giving you full control. There is also a dedicated helpdesk for any problems or suggestions you have.
I will keep the firewall bypass page up and running with a link to the new site. So fear not! The bypass has not gone forever, it’s only moved house!
Mid-career crisis?
Posted by Stevieb | Filed under General, News
Firstly I think I need a wee disclaimer. I love my job, I really do. What makes my job so good, is the freedom that the partners allow me. I remember on my first day, I mentioned to one of the partners that I had a few ideas for the website, and he said to me “Run the business as if it were your own.”
There aren’t many places that will allow someone the freedom to make decisions that actually alter the direction that the company will go in, and I don’t mean somewhat fake “empowerment” type freedom, I mean actual real live freedom to grow.
The company like all firms is going through a slow patch just now, but were sailing steady. I have a few new revenue streams I want to try and grow and build on, so over the next few months I’ll be presenting new ideas and suggestions to the partners, and as long as I can prove to them my ideas have value, I can run with it.
So why all this “mid-career crisis” mumbo jumbo?
Well it’s like this. I grew up in a wee place called Rothes right in the heart of Speyside, Whisky Country. When I was a kid I was fascinated by all these distilleries, these massive imposing structures, I had no idea what was going on. But as I grew up I learned more about the operations and the industry as a whole. So at about the age of 12, I decided I wanted to work in the industry, or at least learn more so I could make an informed decision.
When I left school I moved into the IT sector, however the lure of the Whisky industry was still strong, so I researched a little more into employment in the industry. The problem being, at the time getting a job in a distillery was very difficult, a very “dead man’s shoes” kind of scenario. Distilleries were staffed by local family members, or friends of current staff, so unless you knew someone who was working there you had little chance of securing something. So a few years into my IT career, I decided to take a stab at getting into the industry I had longed for. My first attempt was a warehouse position at Macallan. I’m lucky enough to have a friend work and live there, so we sat down one night and gave me some cracking information. So I drafted my application and CV and popped it off. Unfortunately I was unsuccessful. The feedback I was given, was that my CV didn’t meet the profile of a person working in a warehouse position. I can fully understand and appreciate that, my at the time revolved around IT and management. So I decided to try a speculative application at Glenfarclas, this time I had a man on the inside; my brother. He has worked there as a Still man for many years now, however I received the same feedback.
It seems I had perhaps moved my career in a direction that would now be very difficult for me to attempt to move into the industry at the level I had wanted, so at that point I decided to take a bit of a sabbatical from my assault on the Whisky industry and focus my efforts on building my current skill set.
Roll on a “few” years and were back in the present day. What has re-ignited my interest in the industry again is actually being in contact on a daily basis with these guys. Our company supplies staff to several big hitters in the industry, and when I go to client site my heart skips a beat. I LOVE going into the warehouses to see the guys, or into the Still House to catch up. Everything about distilleries for me just really re-invigorates me. I dare say there are other people out there who feel the same way, there is something almost magical about being in a distillery, knowing the heritage and the history that’s stored in their four walls provides a rich environment to work in. But I’d rather not work for a massive corporate machine, I would rather work for a smaller traditional distillery. A distillery that isn’t driven my profit margins and turnover, but one that stays true to it’s heritage, one that produces a product for the love of it, not because it can make that vast sums of money. Don’t get me wrong, at the end of the day, it’s a business and as such returns on investment need to be made, it would be nice however to work for a distillery that saw the money almost as a by product as opposed to a main motivation! I’m not saying that distilleries run by large companies aren’t true to their heritage, it all boils down to the people running the site, the values that they hold and the attitudes they have, this is another discussion for another day!
Anyway, getting back on track!
And now I find myself thinking of ways I could move into the industry again. I’m at a point in my life that I think the next few years in my career are fairly pivotal, I’d like to find something that will see me through to retirement!
There are several routes I can now see, it’s clear that I need to try and promote my current skill set, as opposed to attempting to make a drastic career change. After all, I’d rather be working in an office based job in the industry, that not working in the industry at all. I need to try and discuss my options and get some ideas from those already in the know. So if anyone is already in the industry and doesn’t mind trying to point me in the right direction, or giving me any advice I’ll gladly take it!
Finally, if you have never been into a distillery; find one and do it. Even if it’s a ‘touristy’ guided tour; just do it. If you can’t, let me know and I’ll see if any of my clients would oblige. Because you haven’t lived until you have soaked up the distillery atmosphere!
Help me out people!
Posted by Stevieb | Filed under Gaming, News, Photography
Right then, I am in dire need of some new photography kit. A new battery grip, a new lens or two and a decent flash. I have a wedding coming up at the end of the month so I’d quite like to be as tooled up as I can be.
So, I am looking to do some freelance stuff, all the details can be found on my services page up near the top of the page. I’m not looking for money, but I will trade off certain items for specific pieces of work. Hell, even if you yourself have any old kit lying around, as long as it’s in good nick and generic/able to fit a Canon 400D then I’m game. 
I’m open to suggestions, so if you know anyone that could use help, point em in my direction.
Creation of life?
Posted by Stevieb | Filed under News, Tech
I know most of you won’t consider this to be “life”, but as far as I am concerned, it has the ability to detect water, detect storms and move independently on stored energy, all without the need of electronics.
I think it’s cool anyway, it’s a 10 minute clip so settle down and enjoy.
This is me, Steve Bremner. I’m a 29 year old recruitment consultant in the North East of Scotland. I’m happily married to Becky and have been together for 10 years. When I’m not busy being awesome at work, I’m generally being awesome at home doing awesome stuff. Check out the