It’s a sweltering hot day: my thermostat’s telling me my flat’s at twenty-seven degrees, and there’s not a breath of air coming through the wide open windows.
Although the neighbours will possibly be enjoying the Communards cover of “Don’t Leave Me This Way”, blaring out at them.
I heard a loud banging from my front door, at around 11.30.
I thought it was kids, playing about: even though it seemed a lot louder than it should have been.
It turns out it wasn’t.
According to a lot of different news sites, it was a couple of Typhoon jets from RAF Coningsby: reacting to a civilian plane that had lost contact with Air Traffic Control.
Right … I watched a little TV, last night: the first two episodes of a new series called Alien: Earth.
Yes, you’re right: it’s the latest entry in the successful Alien franchise, and set a couple of years before the original film.
To try and summarise?
The first episodes see a child called Marcy, a cancer patient, being transferred in to a new, android, body: and helping others through the same process: whilst yearning for contact with her only brother.
The episodes also see a spaceship crash on Earth, a spaceship that’s been investigating various alien lifeforms: including the franchise’s signature Xenomorph.
Yes: a Xenomorph is loose on Earth … and its brought its friends.
I’ve felt for years that expanding the Alien franchise — by properly exploring its background universe — would be a good thing.
And this series looks capable of doing that.
~≈👽≈~
Talking of TV shows … ?
I’ve going to be watching the next episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, tonight.
And going to try And catch the next episode of Foundation, later in the week.
One thing I have noticed?
Is that Strange New Worlds seems to have plenty of merchandise — books, t-shirts, props, what-have-you — but that Apple’s Foundation doesn’t.
That’s a shame: a reproduction Prime Radiant would be nice!
~≈🧊≈~
As a final thought … ?
I was in Romford, yesterday: trading in my old phone at the Romford branch of CeX.
They were offering a better range of prices than the equivalent places in Brentwood.
I walked away from the trip, having sold the phone for thirty-one pounds.
Which therefore meant the new one, effectively, cost me some sixty-eight pounds*.
13th August, 2025: International Left Handers Day.
Hmmm …
I’ve used my phone to record the raw footage for today’s introductory video.
And … ?
I think putting it through my usual post-production process … has made a dog’s dinner of it!
With both Da Vinci Resolve, and iMovie.
If anyone’s got three hundred quid, spare, for a copy of Final Cut Pro, I can have a go with that … !
~≈💻≈~
Lurking around, out there, is a web browser called Google Chrome.
Yes: that Google Chrome.
You’ve got a copy of it, if you’ve got a Chromebook, or an Android mobile device: and may have a copy on your Mac, PC or iOS device.
I have a copy, myself: for the (thankfully rare) websites that only work with it, or Microsoft Edge*.
Well …
It seems that a company called Perplexity has put in a bid to buy Google Chrome.
Something that could be seen as a good thing: given that Google are having legal wrangles, over their dominance of the search engine market.
It could be a wise thing to do: just as Microsoft’s investing money into Apple many years ago, was. (Microsoft was having similar legal issues: Apple, serious financial ones.)
But … ?
I can’t see Google agreeing to the purchase: especially if it means losing control over their browser.
Granted, the volume buttons are on the wrong side: they’re used to take screen shots, as well as control the volume, so that makes taking screenshots awkward.
I’ve posted my review of the recent episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Watching it, commenting, or just hitting the ‘Like’ button would be appreciated.
Two … ?
I’m off to my weight management meeting.
Hopefully, I’ll lost some: and carried on the proverbial run from last week.
Third … ?
My new phone’s due, today.
And … ?
I’ll admit to being anxious about its delivery.
Granted, one neighbour has offered to take it in: as they’re working from home, today.
So, of course, I’ve left a sign on my door.
Even with that … ?
I’m still a touch anxious: as I’ve still not been able to contact them, to tell them when I’m going to out, or that a different neighbour has agreed to help.
Right … it’s official: my review of the latest episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has been delayed.
As I had my nephew, Jude, around, yesterday.
On the upside?
He’s released his latest video … !
If you could hit the like button … ?
~≈🚘≈~
I’ve got a phone being delivered, tomorrow: on the same day as my Weight Management group.
Normally?
I’d rearrange the delivery date after I’d spoken to the delivery firm — DHL, in this case, who are usually very good about these things — about the time of delivery, OR arranged for a neighbour to take things in.
Except … ?
The neighbours who usually do this for me are on holiday: and others may or may not be able to help.
I can’t talk to someone in person, at either O2 or the couriers, until tomorrow: the day of delivery.
Emails — and phone calls! — don’t get answered until then, either!
Right … I’ve finally managed to catch … a TV show!
Yes: I’ve finished watching Max Headroom, the US series.
Granted: the series could get a little over-blown, at times, a little melodramatic.
And granted, it was cheap.
But … ?
The thing was very entertaining to watch.
And saw Max, and Blank Reg, (Matt Frewer and W. Morgan Sheppard) bagging some of the funnier lines: and Theora Jones (Amanda Pays) reminding me of Princess Diana.
About the only disappointing thing about the show … ?
Was that I could only find a DVD version, rather than a blu-ray copy.
I’d love to rewatch the thing: once the video had been cleaned up, and remastered, for modern TVs.
Especially if it helps control illegal immigration.
I think the idea is basically sound.
But … ?
Very aware that you need a digital device for any digital scheme: a smart phone, a tablet, a laptop.
I’m also aware that if you’re an asylum seeker, or an illegal migrant, you won’t necessarily have one: like many of the elderly, and many of us on benefits.
Who’s going to provide the devices? Especially ones that come programmed with languages uncommon in the UK?
Who’s going to help non-English speakers use these devices? The old? The dyslexic?
Where are the devices coming from?
A charity? A local authority?
The government?
Where will the government get them, if it provides them?
Britain? China? Korea? God help us, somewhere else?
It’s a good idea … but the practicalities need addressing.
