RIP This Blog (January-May 2005)

Due to the aforementioned decrease in exclusively Neurocam-related posts - partly due to my promotion, partly due to the sad decline of the Neuroblogging scene in general over recent months, partly due to the different blogging style that I've developed since initiating my other, more general-purpose blog at the end of March - I've decided to officially mothball this site.

I will continue to post about the 'Cam from time to time on aforementioned other blog. That address again is http://teigan.typepad.com. Those with links/bookmarks, please update etc.

Thank you.

Last Ever Neurocam Post?

Well, probably not. But the second half of my induction was completed earlier in the week and I really can't say anything at all about it, except that it's pretty sweet. I certainly ain't disappointed.

Hang in there, you little entry-level scamps.

As others have observed, the more you learn about the Cam the harder it becomes to talk about. But I will continue to blog about Neurocam to the extent that this is feasible. May not be all that much.

That said I have a new assignment, NIO-3001/01, which is not of itself earth-shattering in nature, and which I am not explicitly enjoined from discussing. Suffice to say it's a less diversionary equivalent of NCI-2332.

Xul Is Dead

Long live Xul.

Assignment MIA-0009/5 (Part 2)

So, at approximately 7:50 this evening, a white stretch limo pulled up outside the Belgian Beer Cafe on Moubray Street, Prahran, where two other operatives (one blogging, one not) and myself were waiting as instructed.

The driver ushered us inside. Two masked, silent Neurocam personnel sat at either end of a long seat facing a bar. The limo pulled out and we were each handed several documents (including two copies of a hefty engagement contract), a pen, and a set of headphones.

A laptop (one of those adorable baby powerbooks) had been placed on the bar, and instructions were delivered to us through it by way of a video address by a masked woman. Once she had finished speaking, an onscreen timer counted down the ten minutes we were given in which to examine the documents and complete certain tasks pertaining to them, which we did before being returned to our departure point.

Upon alighting from the limo we were each presented with an enigmatic souvenir.



We then proceeded into the Belgian Beer Cafe and had a drink.

Assignment MIA-0009/05

This long-awaited missive landed in my inbox on Thusday:

From: operations@neurocam.com
Subject: Neurocam Assignment – Monday May 16th 2005
Date: 12 May 2005 8:30:35 PM

Dear Operative [Teigan]

Please be aware that due to availability constraints you are requested to be available for an assignment relating to your offer of promotion on Monday May 16th between 7:30 and 8:30pm. This schedule is now compulsory, and any deviation will result in the retraction of your promotion offer and potential dismissal from Neurocam International.

The exact timing and location and other operational requirements will be provided via the usual email communication during the day in question. Please advise immediately if this will be a problem for you. I can say, however, that the intended location you will need to travel to will be in the vicinity of [where I live].

Regards,

Charles Hastings
Head, Operations Division
Neurocam International

As advised, that was followed this morning by this:

From: operations@neurocam.com
Subject: Neurocam International Assignment MIA – 0009/05
Date: 16 May 2005 10:06:04 AM

Dear Operative [Teigan]

This evening, Monday May 16, 2005, at 7:45 pm precisely, you are to be at the following location: [public location in the inner south of Melbourne]

Be wearing your Neurocam Identifier if it is in operational condition. If it is not in operational condition you must display evidence of your Neurocam membership.

Your attendance is compulsory and you must come alone. Any deviation will result in the retraction of your promotion offer and potential dismissal from Neurocam International.

Regarding operational security: you are permitted to publicly note the purpose of the assignment, and it impact on you as an operative of Neurocam International, and describe the events involved in the assignment, but you are not permitted to reveal the details of any messages, conversations, documents, reports, or other communications beyond the two preparatory assignment arrangement emails.

I trust you will understand and abide by the intent of these security requirements. Further security guidelines will be provided as required and relevant to the issues and eventualities arising out of this evening’s assignment.

Regards,

Charles Hastings
Head, Operations Division
Neurocam International

The Troops Are Getting Restless

Dissatisfaction abroad in the Neuroranks: Jo rants, Lady J agrees (as does Simon Blackmoore), Li flakes out, and Reanimator drops the bomb.

R's articulate points aside I wonder how much all of this really has to do with the 'Cam itself, and how much of it is down to frustration at all the timewasting, bandwagon-hijacking idiots who seem to have gravitated towards it over the last little while.

Assignment NTC-5555/01 Completed

Fischer in LA (part 2) & The Matrix @ The Astor

Mail from Madeline Khan:

I hereby confirm that Ms. Bridget Fischer is currently traveling abroad and that the west coast of the United States of America is one of her many intended destinations. Furthermore, I can confirm that I am the author of the email recently reproduced upon Operative Midnight’s web journal.

Also, Melbournites: The Matrix is screening at the Astor in St Kilda tomorrow night. Never seen it in a cinema before. Bit exciting. I'm certainly not the only Cammer who's a fan of this movie; anyone else thinking of going?

I'll be wearing my identifier..

*aaatch..* Avery, Xul & Urik; Fischer in LA; Moncrief Full Of Shit: Zelle; Vale Aliask and Assignment 5555/01 *..hoo!!*

Been very slack on the bloggage front of late; touch of flu and not much worth reporting. Apologies.

Everything looks exceptionally hazy in Camland at present. The Neurowiki (Wikicam?) appears to be coming along nicely but if its objective is to serve as a source for accurate info, I kind of wonder if it isn't a doomed project. As is the case more often than not, the line between fact and fiction's so blurry right now that the distinction seems almost irrelevant.

Avery's supposedly arrived here in Melbourne. But with his previous post he seems to have warped into the Xulosphere. (Hi Avery, if you're reading this and you really are in town. Feel free to invalidate my skepticism.)

Meanwhile I - and presumably others - have received a mail purportedly from Xul's associate Urik, advising that Mr. Solar has gone into hiding and ceased all internet communications, although he remains "in excellent physical and mental health". Which is reassuring.

I've lodged an enquiry regarding Midnight's claims about Fischer's trip to LA. His latest entry, quoting a mail from Madeline Khan, suggests that there is genuinely something going down there, even if it is just more smoke and, y'know, mirrors.

Gertrude Zelle has told tobyesterhase aka Operative Cronin that Marc Moncrief's legendary Age article, responsible for introducing many a Melbourne operative (including this one) to the 'Cam, is "a potentially slanderous fiction, complied by him from half-truths, materials of questionable veracity and blatant lies." Cronin intends to contact Moncrief about this accusation, which might prove interesting.

In other news, one of my local neuroblogging contemporaries, Aliask (Perception Assessment class of January 3rd - here's his, here's a mine.. ah, the good old days etc) has retired; apparently he couldn't be arsed with Assignment 5555/01, and I don't think he's the only one.

But, good little operative that I am, I faithfully completed the bulk of mine on Friday; hopefully I'll be able to finish it off on Tuesday.

NeuroWiki

Neuroboardie Dev has set up a Neurocam wiki. If enough people get on board this could grow into an excellent resource.

No Man Is Just A Number (Supposedly)

It's all about The Prisoner, apparently.

Not seen it myself but the premise sounds intruiging.