Mr Robot — Series 4: Episodes 13 — Series Finale Pt 2/Hello Elliot — A review

24th December, 2019.

Yes: it’s Christmas Eve.

And … ?

Frankly, I’m indoors.

Partly thought lack of cash.

Partly through choice.

The enforced merriment of the season can be … 

… 

Mildly depressing, let’s put it that way.

On the up side … ?

On the upside, tomorrow is the big day.

Where we got to find out exactly what Jude thinks of his present … !

~≈◊≈~

Tonight, though … ?

Tonight, as I have a free evening … ?

I have the chance to finally finish watching Mr Robot, Series 4.

We have a finale to finish.

~≈◊≈~

Mr Robot — Series 4: Episodes 12 — Series Finale Pt 1/whoami — A review

23rd December, 2019.

Hmmm … 

I’ve got paid, today.

Ot, at least, received my benefits payment for the month.

Which — as always — never really lasts.

On top of that … ?

I’ve got a pre-pay electricity meter.

It’s a bit like a prepay mobile phone.

You head for a shop with the relevant payment machine, they put your payment key into their machine, put the money on, you go home, shove the key in the meter … and, by the power of technology, the money’s put on your meter.

Except, of course, for today.

When none of the machines in the shop in the High Street, recognised my key.

So … ?

I’ve spent an hour on the phone, today: getting in touch with my suppler, in order to get another key.

It’ll get here by Friday.

I’m just glad I’ve enough money on the meter to be going on with … 

~≈¥≈~

At any rate … ?

It’s a Monday … 

Which — if you’ve been paying attention, recently — means one thing.

Yes.

I’ve caught another episode of Mr Robot’s Series 4.

~≈¥≈~

Mr Robot — Series 4: Episodes 11 — eXit — A Review

16th December, 2019.

You know, being out of a job can be …  depressing, at times.

It can also have it’s upsides.

One very simple one … ?

Is that you get the occasional bit of help.

In my case?   I’ve been put on a course that’s supposed to help with CV writing and interview technique.

Whether it will?

Is something else.

The real upside?

Is that, with a little hard work, we should get to finish a day or two early.

Tomorrow, in other words.

Which certainly appeals.

At any rate, I had no actual homework, to do, tonight.

Which is good.

It meant I could actually watch some TV.

Yes: I’m almost done with Series 4 of Mr Robot

~≈†≈~

Mr Robot — Series 4: Episodes 10 — 410 Gone — A review

10th December, 2019

Yes: it’s officially official.

I’ve actually watched a TV show, tonight.

But … 

I’m thankful for emails.

I’ve been on a course, today.

Part of the work?

Part of the work was to draw up a poster: stating our theoretical company’s diversity.

The version I did?

Was bloody awful: at least that’s what I felt.

So I did another, when I got home: that I felt was better.

OK, still not perfect … 

But better, I felt.

~≈†≈~

At any rate … ?

About TV … ?

Yes: I’ve been watching TV shows, again.

And if you hadn’t guessed?

Yes: I’ve seen another episode in Mr Robot’s fourth series.

~≈†≈~

Mr Robot — Series 4: Episodes 9 — 409 Conflict — A review

3rd December, 2019.

Yeah … 

A day off … 

I’m job hunting, at the moment: but occasionally?

Get help.

Right at the moment … ?

That help consist of a course designed to help us with interview technique, customer services and CV writing.

Saying that?   We have a day off, tomorrow: the tutor has a meeting in Stevenage, it seems.

That day off?

Means we have a day off.

I got daring: and decided to stay up and watch TV.

The excitement is killing you, isn’t it … ?

Yes: I’ve managed to catch up with the ninth episode of Series 4 Mr Robot.

It’s got tense again … 

~≈$≈~

Mr Robot — Series 4: Episodes 8 — 408 Request Timeout — A review

25th November, 2019.

You know … I’m amazed … mildly.

I had an interview, last week.

And … ?

I had the phone call, this morning, to tell me I’d not got the job.

Which amazed me: it doesn’t often happen.

I’m grateful for it, thought: they were able to outline my strengths, as well as the weaknesses that didn’t get me the job.

It’s something I can work on.

Unfortunately?

The interview I went for, today, in Billericay?

Told me I would be contacted this afternoon.

And hasn’t bothered.

I’m assuming it’s a non-starter.

At any rate … ?

At any rate, I’m home … 

And … ?   Just seen another episode of Mr Robot’s Series 4.

~≈†≈~

Mr Robot — Series 4: Episodes 6 — 406 Not Acceptable — A review

11th November, 2019.

Yep: it’s been a quiet day, today.

Quiet … 

Bar the inevitable job hunting, and stuff … 

On that front?

I have to admit, I am not getting my hopes up.

I seem to be NOT getting vacancies that appeal, or can do: or get to, if I can do them.

I’m due another meeting at the Job centre in about a week and a half’s time: to review what’s called my commitments.

The things I have to do to keep claiming, in other words.

I suspect that’s going to be a long chat … 

At ANY rate … ?

It’s a Monday night in: and I fancied a TV show … 

Yes: you’re right … I fancied another episode from Mr Robot’s fourth season … 

~≈𝐀≈~

Mr Robot — Series 4: Episodes 5 — 405 Method Not Allowed — A Review

4th November, 2019.

You know … I’m job hunting, at the moment.

I’ve possibly mentioned it, once or twice.

It’s got implications.

One of those?

Is that I have to have an interview, every so often.

Like the one I had, today.

Or possibly not like the one today.

The restaurant the job’s for?

Is still being finished, so the actual interview was in a local Costa Coffee.

The interview … ?   Was the shortest I think I’ve ever had.

About five minutes long: and mostly consisted of filling in the application form … and being asked if I was local and thought the high street was busy … 

Oh … 

The lad being interviewed before me, and the lad who was after me … ?

Both looked about fifteen.

You can imagine what I think about my chances … 

~≈®≈~

At any rate … ?

At any rate, it’s a night off: where worrying about an interview seemed pointless.

But settling down on an easy chair seemed the thing.

With a TV show.

With — as I’ve been following it for a few weeks, now — another episode of Mr Robot, Series 4*.

I think tonight’s episode was something of a feat … !

~≈®≈~

Mr Robot — Series 4: Episodes 4 — 404 Not Found — A Review

28th October, 2019.

Hmm …

Yeah …

It’s been a long, quiet day.

Well, bar jobhunting, and and picking up a decongestant inhaler.

And putting stuff together for Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar.

With the telly on.

According to the news?



Boris’s planned election on 12th December will now not go ahead: as it didn’t the parliamentary support it needed, today.

So they’re planning to do it again, tomorrow.

The arguments were STILL going on, on the BBC’s news channel, at gone 6, today.



Which got me changing channel to watch the News at Six.

And then settling in for an episode of Series 4 of Mr Robot

ANYTHING to get away from Brexit … !

~≈§≈~

Mr Robot — Series 4: Episodes 3 — 403 Forbidden — A Review

21st October, 2019.

You know, you can tell a body’s got a quiet life style.

No, really!

The most exciting thing I’ve done this week?

Is got some shopping!



Or, and browsed around my channel, on YouTube.


I haven’t actually made much … 



But, at least, managed to post up a (brief) pair of videos about movies, over the past few days.



Something I think I should do with the TV shows I write about … but not just yet: as I’m onto the third episode of Series 4 of Mr Robot.



It would be like starting a book halfway through!



~≈®≈~

Mr Robot — Series 4: Episodes 2 — 402 Payment Required — A Review

14th October, 2019.

It has to be said, that’s a thing … 



Possibly good, possibly bad … but none the less … a thing.

Being a job hunter, that is.

It means I have time on my hand.



Absolutely no cash: but plenty of time.

Plenty of time to at least experiment.



It seems Apple’s new Music app — one of the company’s replacements for the now gone Mac version of iTunes — includes the ability to embed a song in one of your playlist.



I’m writing this piece with Pages, I should add: and will paste it into the New Post form on the Old Peculiar, once it’s done.

So I won’t know how that Vangelis tune will look, until I hit publish.



At any rate … ?

To have time, at the moment, to experiment

To complain about some of the glitches in Catalina.



And frankly?



To watch TV.

Yes: I’ve watched another episode of Mr Robot, Series 4 … 

~≈Ω≈~

Mr Robot — Series 4: Episodes 1 — 401 Unauthorized

8th October, 2019.

Yes: it’s officially official.

I’ve lost my job.



After, I’m told, not completing my probationary period, successfully.



There’s a few reasons: mostly to do with me.

My gob will get me into trouble, sometimes.



About the only things in my favour?

That at least one customer, today, said it’s nice to have someone friendly on the till.

And that the manager told me I was one of the best up-sellers she’d seen.

All that … ?



And it took the area manager to give me the heave-ho: rather than the store manager, herself.

Ho … hum … !

At any rate … ?

There’s not much that I can do, right here and now.

Except do what I’ve done, today.



Job hunt … fill in a change of circumstances form … update my Mac to Catalina* … 



Oh … and catch up with some TV.

Oh, yes: Series 4 of Mr Robot is sneaking it’s way into my life … 

~≈Ç≈~

Mr Robot — Series 3 — Episodes 9 and 10: eps3.8_stage3.torrent and shutdown -r

9th March, 2018.

Yep: it’s been one of those.

Days, that is.

Frankly?

I’ve taken the day off ill: where my guts have played up.

And I’m blowed if I know what’s triggered that.

At any rate … ?

I’ve had a day at home where I can catch up with something resembling housework.

And possibly?

Catching up with some TV.

Yep: you’re right.

The last two episodes of Mr Robot’s third season.

~≈§≈~

Mr Robot — Series 3 — Episodes 8: eps3.7 dont-delete-me.ko

25th February, 2018.

No, really … 

I’d lost … the … 

Lot … !

As you’re possibly aware of several things, by now.

One of those things?

Will be the simple fact I write the Daily Teaser for your entertainment: and — for the past few years — made little slide shows to go with them.

Complete with all this introductions: made up of me saying “Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser,” followed an appropriate — if not exactly legal — line from a movie.

I’m … 

Well, gutted is one way of looking at it.

Especially when I realised it was partially my fault: in NOT checking the relevant files had made the transfer correctly

On the OTHER hand?

I’m starting off on a free machine, learning about the newer software on it, learning how the audio manipulation aspects of QuickTime work … AND how to do transfers better. 

Building something similar shouldn’t be hard.

~≈§≈~

Mr Robot — Series 3 — Episodes 7: eps3.6_fredrick+tanya.chk

23rd February, 2018.

OK … 

OK … 

Right now, I’ll confess to having had better days … and less weird experiences.

Right now?

I’m the owner of a new phone.

And I’m in the middle of waiting for my old number to be transferred over to a new SIM card.

On a pay as you go deal, so you know.

While the old phone is still active?

I’ve LITERALLY just answered a call from a withheld number.

Which promptly turned out to be a woman who introduced herself as Augustine.

I put the phone down.

Old phone or new phone, answering calls from withheld numbers is not necessarily sensible.

Even if I’m wondering what the hell she wanted.

~≈§≈~

The other thing to mention … ?

Is that I’ve had to take the day off, ill, today.

I hate letting the side down.

But am VERY aware that I was in no fit state: and could possibly left myself in a worse way, for tomorrow’s shift.

I’m losing enough money, this week, as it is.

At any rate?

Making sure I got an early night, tonight?

Meant just one thing.

In between copying stuff from old versions of media libraries to new versions?

And putting new numbers onto my new phone?

And ripping stuff I possibly shouldn’t be?

I only had time for one episode of Series 3 of 

Mr Robot.

Frankly?

I’d almost lost the plot.

~≈§≈~

Mr Robot — Series 3: Episodes 5 & 6 — eps3.4_runtime-err0r.r00 and eps3.5_kill-pr0cess.inc

11th February, 2018.

That is — if you’ve watched the little introductory video — a very true observation to make.

Even if I do say so myself.

Yes … 

It’s been snowing.

And, frankly?

I’m just glad I’ve not been out in it.

Or, at least … more than I had to be.

Yeah: it’s been a day off.

And yes: I’ve done some shopping.

Actually?

I’ve ALSO helped my mother do some shopping.

Bless, she’s decided she can — with a little help from me — afford to buy me a new computer, for my birthday, in March: for which I’m eternally grateful.

You can probably tell what brand, can’t you … ?

And what model … !

I think I’ve solved the three monitor problem!

~≈§≈~

At any rate, that’s not what I was … 

I was going to say that wasn’t what I intended to tell you.

But you can’t not expect a boy to blab excitedly, can you?

At ANY rate … ?

I’ve had a good day.

And rounded it off with more episodes from the third season of Mr Robot.

Yes, hotting up is accurate … 

~≈§≈~

Mr Robot — Series 3: Episodes 3 and 4 — eps3.2_legacy.so and eps3.3_m3tadata.par2*

1st February, 2018.

Yes, exactly … 

Games CAN be disconcertingly distracting.

EXTREMELY disconcertingly distracting.

Especially the two games featured in that introductory video: Armagetron Advanced and Pac the Man X.

That’s not what’s got me concerned, right now, though.

Nope.

The remote control on my TV set’s gone home!

Yes, I have changed batteries.

Yes, I’ve got work arounds.

But?

Bugger!

That’s distracting … 

And frustrating.

~≈§≈~

Frustrating … because I think I know what’s happened.

I know I spilt some tea, earlier.   And think I’ve spilt it onto the remote.

Which is possibly what’s knackered the thing.

I’ll get by, for now.

Like I saw, workarounds: and I can always see if another, fresher, set of batteries will work†.

But … ?

Well, I have to admit: frustration isn’t something I cope well with.

Looking back at my history?

That possibly explains a few things.

~≈§≈~

At ANY rate … ?

At any rate, distractions and frustrations aside, tonight was a night off.

A night off where I was determined to catch up with an old friend … 

Series three of an old friend.

Series 3 of … 

Mr Robot

~≈§≈~

Mr Robot — Series 3: Episodes 1 and 2 — eps3.0_power-saver-mode.h and eps3.1_undo.gz*

28th January, 2018.

Yeah, I’m right, aren’t I … ?

Really.

Choosing which TV box set to watch next is … tricky.

I mean …

American Horror Story?

Something of a favourite, but I’ve plenty of time to catch the blessed thing.

The Man in the High Castle … ?

Tempting.

Very tempting, in fact.

Both were: as is — possibly — checking out Black Mirror, or the vintage Space: 1999.

The possibility of a movie?   As Bladerunner 2049 seems to be out and about?

Tempting … but pricey, and intimidatingly long, at two hours and forty-nine minutes.

Complaining about Sainsbury’s milk bottles?

Definitely an option.

The handles on the the two and four pint bottles are canted to the left: as the picture will show you.

Which is possibly leaving you saying “Big deal: it’s only going to slightly to pour milk from those bottles, if you’re left handed.   Most of us are right-handed.”

Exactly.

Most of us are.

I’m willing to bet you are.

I’m not.

I’m a left-hander, happy to be so … 

But always annoyed by design — like the design — that ignores ten percent of the planet.

~≈§≈~

But I’m going sideways, here, aren’t I … ?

Yes: because I was telling you about what I was going to watch.

I’m returning to a series whose hero, Elliot, is a hacker with a mission, associative identity disorder†, an alter ego based on his father … 

And a group of friends plotting to hold do C.A.R.

A Computer Aided Revolution.

Yep.

You’re right … 

Series 3 of Mr Robot

~≈§≈~

Mr Robot — Series 2: Episodes 11 and 12 — eps2.9_pyth0n-pt1.p7z and eps2.9_pyth0n-pt2.p7z

31st May, 2017.

Right … 

That’s that done … 

Hmmm …

I supposed I’d better tell you what I’m talking about, hadn’t I … ?

Jus in case you’re not one of my regular readers, my name’s Paul, I work in a call centre in Chelmsford — we take calls for social landlord tenants who need emergency repairs — and live in Brentwood.

I’m an ex-pub-quiz-master who writes the hopefully entertainingly Daily Teaser.

I’m someone getting annoyed by the amount of calls from the kind of call centres telling me I’m entitled to a PPI compensation, or compensation for an accident I had, or that I’ve won a Morrison’s voucher.

I’ve had about five, already, today.

With one or two?   I’ve answered the phone, but just not talked to them.   They get bored and hang up.

But I’m thinking I should get a football referee’s whistle.   I’ve had half a dozen calls like that: one of them is going to get a headache …

At ANY rate … ?

At any rate, one thing I do, when I have time off — along with sweeping, laundry and washing up — is catching a film, or a TV show.

Tonight?

Tonight was a TV show.

Tonight was the last two episodes of series two of Mr Robot.

And yes: the techno-geeky that’s my current fave?

And ended on another tense note.

~≈Ê≈~

Mr Robot — Series 2: Episodes 9 and 10 — eps2.7_init_5.fve and eps2.8_h1dden-pr0cess.axx

21st May, 2017.

Arrgh … !  I’m officially back to work, tomorrow … !

Arrgh … Arrghity ARGH ARGH … ARGH … 

Not that I mind.

After all, being able to pay my own rent, and buy my food … ?

Is both good, and confidence building.

But, with this week’s hours going back up to something approaching normal?

It means I’ll be spending a lot of time at work.

Which means … ?

Well, right now, these two episodes of Mr Robot will be the last couple I see, until next week!

Arrgh … !

~≈Â≈~