Westworld — Series 1 — Episode 9 and 10: The Well Tempered Clavier and The Bicameral Mind

21st August, 2018.

Right … I’m almost at the end of — get this — a day off.

Frantically realising, whilst wandering, washing up, having dinner with the family — my nephew says there’s a giant eyeball, over there … ! — that stuff’s a going on … 

I’d seen the news, today.

That Microsoft has halted a hacking attack on various Republican Party/conservative groups in the US … 

From Russia.

OK, that’s bad.

But, being honest?   I’d like to know what US cyber spies are doing.

Not that I think they’d tell the likes of me.

But I’m willing to bet that there’s a US Cyber warfare department doing something similar.

Willing to bet the UK government’s resident boffins at GCHQ are involved with the same sort of activities.

And willing to bet Microsoft love the publicity.

At ANY rate … ?

I can remember reading about an open source software project, a few years ago, called ReactOS.

A product designed to be used instead of Windows, and free of charge, but compatible with Windows software.

You could go and install ReactOS on your PC, and use exactly the same Windows apps you’d already got.

Without having to buy separate versions*.

It’s only when my ageing memory caught up, I realised I’d read about ReactOS, a while back.

About how interested Russian politicians were in the thing.

I don’t know for sure … 

But I’m guessing something like ReactOS would give malicious agents a chance to would out how to put a spanner in Microsoft’s works … 

Without have to buy anything from them.

~≈§≈~

At any rate … ?

It’s a day off.

Or, at least, has been one.

And … ?

Yes: I’ve watched more TV.   I have finally caught the last two episodes of Westworld’s first series

Yes: … that WAS rather good … !

~≈§≈~

Westworld — Series 1 — Episode 8: Trace Decay

16th August, 2018.

Yes: it’s true … 

The Queen of Pop — Madonna Louise Ciccone — officially turned sixty today.

I’m not an particular fan, I have to say.

But have to give the Material Girl credit.   She’s a good performer, she’s knocked out some very good pop tunes: my favourites get a look-in, in today’s Daily Teaser

And is possibly the savviest business woman in the industry.

Possibly one of the best business people, all round.

You don’t have a thirty-five year career in the music, without being clued up.

~≈§≈~

The day’s got a sad side, too.

The Queen of Soul died, today.

Aretha … 

There is literally nothing I can say or do to describe how her voice made the hair on the back of my arms stands on end: beyond saying she was the first of only a few singers who could make the hair on the back of my arms stand on end.



The only fit way of remember the best voice in modern popular music?

Is to play some … 

~≈§≈~

Sadness possibly doesn’t even start, now does it?

At any rate … ?   Today has been a day off: one of mixed emotions … and extreme dampness.

Yep: I went and picked up medication … 

And got rained on … !



Boy, did I ever get rained on!

I’m glad I got home, glad I got in … 

And glad, by the time I dried out?

I had something to watch.

Yep: another episode of Westworld series one … 

~≈§≈~

Westworld — Series 1 — Episode 7: Trompe L’Oeil

14th August, 2018.

It’s true: and I make no excuses for it.

I have some strange taste in music.

When I say strange, I mean strange … 

Frankly?

I wish I knew where … 

No, I think I have an idea.

I always used to get extra homework: just to make sure my handwriting was up to  snuff.

And usually have Strauss’s Blue Danube on in the background.

That’s possibly what’s given me a taste for it.

Well, that … and 2001.

At any rate … ?

It’s another night off … 

Which means?

Yes: another episode of Westworld, series one.

~≈§≈~

Westworld — Series 1 — Episode 6: The Adversary

13th August, 2018.

OK … 

I’ll admit to have a rough few days: almost — but not quite — walking away from a job I actually like.

Thankfully, I haven’t: although I have managed to wangle some time off.

Although not a pay rise: which could’ve been handy … 

At any rate?   A couple of days off … ?   Means cashing in the ticket, buying a takeaway pie and chips, listening to Jean-Michel Jarre’s Revolutionsalbum …

… as it returns, stylistically to his earlier, Oxygène.

Although with something of a French Algerian feel to it.   Possibly Arabian: as his father, Maurice, composed the music for Lawrence of Arabia.

I could go on for hours, couldn’t I … ?

I could … 

But won’t … as I wanted to tell you I’ve taken the chance to do two things.



One?   Post up today’s Teaser: I’m left handed so, given it’s Left hander’s day, a themed seemed appropriate.

And, yes, you’re right about the second thing.

I’ve caught another episode of Westworld’s first series.

Surprised … ?

Possibly not.

~≈§≈~

Westworld — Series 1 — Episode 5: Contrapasso

12th August, 2018.

You know, now I come to look at that intro … ?

I am happily sitting her, in my front room, and thinking about the idea that yawning is contagious.

And thinking there may well be something to it.

After all, any time I watch myself yawn … ?

I yawn in response.

Yeah … 

Trust me, it really has been one of those days.

Well, let’s leave that there, shall we?

And instead … ?

Concentrate on the fact I managed to catch some TV … for the first time in a while.

Yep: I’ve been at the series 1 Westworld … 

Just the one episode, mind.

~≈§≈~

Westworld — Series 1 — Episodes 3 and 4:The Stray and Dissonance Theory

7th August, 2018

That’s a bugger: and a bugger that possibly going to get me into trouble.

Although I THINK I have proof … 

Let me explain.

As originally scheduled?   I was due to have the night off, tonight.

Due … and had headed over to my mother’s for a family dinner.

’Til I get a frantic call from my Supervisor asking where I was.

Usually?   Next week’s rota are posted — in their finalised form — on the Monday before.

Which is when I usually tell co-workers when my free days are: and which ones I have free, if they’d like me to cover.

This week’s were up, last Monday, for example.

Which is when I emailed people: asking if anyone needed a shift covered.

No one did.

Well … no-one asked me about tonight, let’s put it that way.

I’ve still got the email trail that says so.

I’m hoping to NOT get in trouble: the job’s precarious enough as it is.

I’m hoping to the email trail I’ve got can show no deliberate fault.

~≈§≈~

Frankly?



I’m hoping to not get in trouble: as — as far as I could tell — tonight’s all my own.

I’m worried, certainly.

But, until tomorrow?

Not much I can do.

Beyond what I’d already had pencilled in.

Yep: catching more TV.

And yes: two more episodes of Westworld — series one — are exactly what the doctor ordered.

~≈§≈~

Westworld — Series 1 — Episodes 1 and 2: The Original and Chestnut

2nd August, 2018.

Right … 

I’ve got to admit to spending a frantic minutes, there: posting to Apple’s community support forums.

I’m having an issue.

For the past few hours, and using Safari 11.1.2, on a recent model iMac, running macOS High Sierra, 10.13.6?

Every time I go near Facebook, I get a message telling me “This webpage is using significant memory.   Closing it may improve your Mac’s responsiveness.”

Yes, before you ask: I’ve cleared both my caches and my history.

And no, it doesn’t happen when I use the ever reliable Firefox.

I’m blowed If I know what’s happening.

If there’s anyone out there who’s got at least half a clue, I’d appreciate hearing about it!



It’s mildly frustrating.

~≈§≈~

That aside?

You’ve possibly realised — or possibly haven’t — that I’ve had a day off, today.

I’ve got a few bits done around the house.

Although less than I’d like.

One disadvantage of being single?

Is there’s no-one around to help do the chores.

To be frank, I thin I’d possibly hire a cleaner … if I had the dosh.

There is always that last bit you can’t be bothered to wipe, frankly.

At ANY rate?

I will probably have a chance to do more, tomorrow: as I’ve another day off.

Tonight?

I fancied catching something that’s been tempting me for a while.

Westworld.

The first series of the HBO series, if you’re wondering, rather than the film it takes a cue from.

Going on these two episodes?

I think tempting is the right word …

~≈§≈~