That’s obscure … unless you’re a Terry Pratchett fan* … !
~≈🍤≈~
Right …
I have — with a lot of help! — cured the overheating that’s been plaguing my Mac, every morning.
There’s was a lot of overheating caused by caused by processes called corespotlightd and spotlightknowledge.updater: and solved by deleting the contents of ~/Library/Metadata/CoreSpotlight/.
As far as I can tell?
The processes are where Spotlight is having trouble indexing my system: and seem to be triggered by Pages documents interact with iCloud drives access through a desktop Mac.
In my case?
It first seemed to be caused by updating to macOS 26.2,
Which is when I reset things, the first time.
It did it again: after I updated to macOS 26.5.1.
I can’t help but think Spotlight updates its index, as a result of an update: and — in some cases — going wrong as a result.
I’ve repeatedly mentioned how helpful the Essential Living Fund run by Southend-on-Sea City Council was: especially for those of us on Universal Credits, or receiving other benefits, and living in Southend, Thurrock or in Essex.
But that the fund had now closed to those outside Southend.
Thankfully?
And due to the current government reworking the source of funds?
Southend Council’s now running the Crisis and Resilience fund for people in Southend, Thurrock and Essex.
That’s all to the good: and yes, I spent time, yesterday, applying for a grant from this new — rebranded? — fund.
Hopefully?
I’ll get something: the prepaid cards the Essential Living Fund handed out were handy, especially for paying off utility bills.
But I’m also aware the Government’s been tightening rules on some benefits: as well as cutting others.
Or, at least, the slider that lowers the bread into the slots has gone.
The clicky little mechanism that holds the thing in place has gone, I should say.
Drat, double drat, and dang.
That means I’m going to have to use the oven to make toast: until I can afford a new one.
Ho … hum … !
~≈🍞≈~
One thing I DID manage to do, yesterday … ?
Was order various repeat medications.
Although there may be an issue with 75mg aspirin I take for my heart.
My chemists, Brentwood’s ever reliable PharmChoice, have told me they will be putting in for That repeat: but there is a problem with the aspirin, as there’s a national shortage of the stuff.
However?
I’ve just enough — I hope! — to last me until my next doctor’s appointment.
Hopefully, we should be able to arrange alternatives, if needed.
In between writing quizzes, jobhunting, worrying about my health, shopping, thinking about Christmas presents, watching deliveries being delivered, wondering where I put my most recent set of stamps …
Which reminds me, I need to get stamps …
At any rate … ?
I have a loose, quiet, evening: and plenty of things I could be watching.
Including the Ralph Bakshi animated fantasy, Wizards.
Considering I caught his version of The Lord of The Rings, many years ago, watching Wizards seemed like a good idea.
So … ?
I’ll be watching it … then telling you about it on Monday night!
But, if you’re on certain benefits in the UK, you qualify for the Government’s Warm Home discount: a £150 payment that goes onto your electricity bill.
Mine … ?
Went onto my meter, on Saturday afternoon.
I’m grateful.
It means that — on my next payday — I can put the money I spend on electricity, onto my gas bill.
The older I get, the worse my circulation feels, so the warmer I prefer it.
Either way, that payment’s welcome.
The fact the batteries had run out on my thermostat, this morning … ?
Yep: my last review of a Star Trek: Star New Worlds episode — or, at least, of a third season episode — will be being worked on, today.
It has to be said, Anson Mount put in one hell of a performance … !
~≈👨✈️≈~
There’s a teacher in Southend called Jude Nzemeke: who teaches computer science to primary school children.
In a recent BBC News article, Mr Nzemeke has gone on the record to say he feels teaching computer games — or, at least, how to play computer games — would be a good way of interesting children in computer science.
Is he right … ?
I don’t know.
But playing a lot of Tetris could have made lessons fun … !
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!
And the fact Wednesdays used to be called Hump Day on Twitter?
Is possibly irrelevant … !
The fact today’s themed question set is about the film, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, probably is.
I can still remember seeing for the first time: on an extremely dodgy VHS that fell off the back of a van.
I may just have to rewatch it, at some point.
The quality of that copy definitely left me wondering what all the fuss was about …
~≈👽≈~
The US president’s actions in sending in the Marines to LA, and authorising the use of rubber bullets leaving me with an earworm … I’m also aware there’s trouble at the proverbial mill.
There’s riots happening in Ballymena: baton rounds are being fired at rioters using fireworks, cobbles and petrol bombs*.
After what we’re told is an alleged sexual assault.
Growing up in the 1970s and ’80s?
This sort of thing always reminds me of the Troubles.
~≈💣≈~
Did you ever see a show called The Prisoner: an 1960s series about a spy who resigns his high security job, only to find himself trapped in a mysterious village from which there’s no escape … ?
To this day, it’s still worth watching, I think.
It turns out Inverlair Lodge, one of the places that inspired the series, is now up for sale.
I suspect the was a Family Stone tune for everyone: something he would’ve written.
The man will be missed.
~≈🎹≈~
The fact, in all this, that the US President has sent the Marines into Los Angeles?
Is less relevant: although it reinforces my personal belief that the current US president is a twerp.
It’s less relevant to my day than the fact I’m expecting a phone, early: a call from a lung-checking NHS service.
Hopefully?
I won’t need a hospital appointment, as a result.
~≈🫁≈~
As a last point?
It’s the time of year when Apple holds its World Wide Developers Conference: and makes a slew of announcements.
This year?
They’ve made several announcements, already.
Including an announcement that the next versions of their main operating systems will be macOS/iOS/iPhoneOS/tvOS/watchOS 26: a unified numbering system, in other words.
Will feature in the upcoming version on macOS — macOS 26 Tahoe — when it’s released later this year.
That version … ?
As well as the new interface, Tahoe will be the last to support Intel Macs.
I can only hope two things.
One?
That Tahoe’s replacement, a replacement that will only support Apple Silicon and presumably remove a lot of Intel code, will use less hard drive space as a result.
I’ve got to confess to feeling mightily fecked off!
I had a 4k copy of Aliens turn up, yesterday.
And was looking forward to ripping it: then watching it.
But … ?
Trying to copy it with MakeMKV, seemed to give the app issues: regardless of which optical drive I used.
So … ?
I thought, as dinner was done, I’d eat: and be in a better mood when trying again.
Oh, and while I was at it … ?
I thought, I know: I’ll update my Mac to the latest version of the operating system, and see if that helps.
Which is when it really went pear shaped!
It seems that the current version of macOS — Sequoia 15.4 — is flawed: and has broken MakeMKV.
So badly that the developers behind it are working on emergency updates, to get the app working, again.
I’m fuming: and angry, and annoyed, and very frustrated!
Mostly at Apple!
I’ve public raved about Apple products for year: and they manage to wreck one of the best bits of software going.
I’m also very aware of the irony.
Especially as — going by MakeMKV’s forums — the version on Windows and Linux is working perfectly.
To paragraph a throwaway line in the original The Italian Job?
Get your wheels in line, Apple!
~≈🍏≈~
On other fronts?
The US president has introduced a pile of trade tariffs: in a move he claims will ‘Make America Great, Again.’
I can’t help but think he’s shot America in the foot.
And can’t help but think of one of Margaret Thatcher’s policies: allowing council house tenants to buy their rented homes …
Which was partially responsible, years later, for a shortage of social housing: as councils didn’t plough the profits from the sales, back into more affordable housing.
I think the president’s started something similar.
~≈🏠≈~
Just as a last thought … ?
The Trailer for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has dropped: making this series look interesting!
I just have one question.
How much did Melissa Navia, Lieutenant Ortegas, to wear that fright wig???????
