Remind me to look up the government’s Cold Weather payment’s, at some point.
I should be eligible, I think.
Frankly?
Any extra help that comes is welcome.
It’s bloody cold!
~≈Ê≈~
Oh, I’m listening to Radio Four’s Today programme, at the mo.
Today’s guest editor, Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin, has commissioned a number of articles about Ubuntu: the South African belief in showing humanity to others.
Frankly, I’m hoping they mention the operating system* named for it.
But I’m not getting my hopes up!
~≈Ê≈~
Oh … just as a final thought … ?
My Amazon delivery’s here.
One? I’ve been looking forward to getting those tongs!
Two? I had to give the delivery driver a password!
I think I can say I’m … if not worried … then certainly mildly concerned.
My home town of Brentwood is in Essex: which is now in Tier 4, the highest of Covid 19 restrictions.
For starters?
NHS providers in Essex, and the County Council, have declared that the county in having a Major Incident.
Quite what the implications of that are, I don’t know.
But I can’t imagine them being good.
~≈Ê≈~
Brexit … …
I can’t help but think Brexit is a … bad thing: and not goo for the UK.
I honestly believe it’s bad for the UK.
The agreement that’s due to be voted on, today, that governs the UK’s relationship with the EU? Specifically mentions ‘modern e-mail software packages,’: including Mozilla Mail and Netscape Communicator 4.x.
As far as I can see, there’s never been a Mozilla Mail: it’s always been called Thunderbird.
It’s that day of the year where I wish you a Happy Christmas Eve.
I hope it goes well for you.
But just as an observation?
If you haven’t bought the presents by now?
It’s a bit late!
~≈🎅🏻≈~
Just as a quite thought?
You remember the Warner Brothers is due to release a number of its big release films, next year: including a version of Dune I’d like to see.
Due to release them both theatrically, and via US-only streaming
According to this piece from Indie Wire, it seems Legendary, one of the films financiers, are negotiating with Warner Brothers: to try and guarantee a cinema only release.
I gather they believe that — by the film’s expected release date of October 2021 — enough social distancing measures will have been removed to allow serious moment to be earned.
Hmmm …
I …
I think that’s possibly a good thing.
After all, this version is only the first half of the story: it needs to do well, in order to guarantee the second half being made.
I can’t help but think a joint international release — as opposed to a joint release, just in the US — could be a far better option.
~≈🪱≈~
Just as a quick point?
Thank you to both Debbi and Olga for the video mentions.
And thank Edith: as she gives us a timely reminder …
Right … it’s a Saturday night: and I’m writing this introduction: in the knowledge I’ve just seen another episode of Star Trek Discovery’s third series.
And writing it towards the end of a day that’s started badly.
Go read today’s Teaser, if you’d like to know more!
At any rate … ?
Before I hit the sack, I wanted you to know I’d seen Unification III.
And that my bedtime listening … ?
Is the complete recordings of the late Robert Johnson.
If those eighty-three years songs don’t scare the life out of you … ?
It looks like either I’ve left my freezer open, over night … or it’s popped open, over night.
Either way, the contents of my freezer have defrosted.
This far from payday … ?
I’ve not exactly got food!
~≈¥≈~
So frankly?
I’m sat here, in a mood that Orwell — or, at least a fluent speaker of Newspeak — would potentially describe as doubleplusannoyed.
What has helped? Is the laptop saga!
Frankly, I’ve decided to hand the thing back in, and cancel the course for now.
I spent a lot of yesterday morning … ?
Trying to get the thing to work, with help from my landlord’ IT guy, so that I could do the opening test.
It turns out the course could happily be done with the online free version of MS Office: but the test I needed to do first, needed the desktop version of Office 2013 or 2016.
The laptop had Office 2010, which wouldn’t work with it.
And an unregistered version of 2016 that would … once it was registered!
To top that lot?
I’d signed up for a free Outlook email account: so I could access the web version of Office.
But, when I tried using it, yesterday?
I found I’d been locked out for violating the terms of service*.
How?
I don’t know!
I think I reached my limit, there!
And emailed both my tutor and my landlords: to cancel the course, and hand the laptop back.
My intention, right now?
Is to reapply for course, later in the year.
By then?
The COVID-19 situation will have died down, and I could do the course at the local adult education: the people running it.
Even if I DID still have to do it at home … ?
I’d know what I’d need to ask for, from my landlords.
On a more serious note, and for the course I’m supposed to be doing … ?
I’ve got the laptop, I’ve got the needed extensions installed, I’ve signed up for an Outlook account, and the free web version of MS Office …
But?
In order to do the one last test I need to do, before I start the course, proper … ?
I need the activation code for the copy of MS Office on the laptop.
I could pay for it. Not at £120, I’m not!
I could use the free trial: the course doesn’t need the desktop version, just the test. Frankly, handing more of my details to Microsoft for a half hour test is … objectionable.
Or I could email my landlords for the thing: which they really should have included in the first place!
You’ll know, of course, I’ve signed up for an online European Computer Driving License course: a computer literacy course.
I’ve finally managed to borrow a Windows based laptop from my landlord, and get the relevant extensions installed: and find it’s got a copy of Microsoft Office.
Only to find out that — when I tried doing the initial tests — that I need to sign up for a Microsoft Office account, in order to do them!
I …
Well, it’s not something I really want to do.
I have three email addresses, an Apple ID, signed up for lord knows how many job sites, and company career sites: along site more social media sites than I’m going to admit to!
I’ve got an engineer down to install software on the by now notorious laptop.
At ten.
And I’ve got a phone meeting with my Shaw Trust meeting.
At ten.
I’ll get the hang of this diary thing, I swear blind!
~≈Ê≈~
Just as a quick thought?
David Cornwell has died: of pneumonia, at the age of 89.
If you don’t know the name?
You’ll know him under his pen name: John Le Carré.
I’ve only read three of his works: The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy*, and The Honourable Schoolboy. But with their deeply ambiguous tone? A tone unlike Fleming or Forsyth? They are quite something to read.
Possibly now is a good time to read A Legacy of Spies, the last of Le Carré’s novels.
I think I can safely say I’m … not annoyed, as such.
But a little twitted off.
I was due a visit from an engineer: to do a gas safety check on my boiler.
Between 8 And six, so you know.
He didn’t turn up.
What makes it worse … ?
The contractors he worked for confirmed it with an SMS message … … … at ten to six.
Talk about your last minute!
~≈fl≈~
Oh, right now … ?
It’s 8:18 … and I’ve just had a phone call … from someone claiming to be from Amazon.
I did my usual thing: demanding to know where the gibbon I’d ordered had gone, and no, I didn’t have a smart phone, laptop, desktop or tablet.
They rang off.
I can’t think why.
~≈fl≈~
As a thought on the streaming fronts?
Disney have announced they’re going to release some upcoming films on their Disney+ service: in addition to additional Star Wars and Marvel material.
I know many cinema chains won’t like that.
Unfortunately?
And given the ongoing COVID-19 situation?
And, as much as I’d love to see a film in a cinema in town: or elsewhere?
I think we’re going to see more streaming only films.
~≈fl≈~
As a final though, before I move on to the action?
It looks the UK will come out of the current EU trade negotiations with no deal.
At least, that’s what Prime Minister Boris Johnson — the man who claimed to have an oven ready deal — told us yesterday.
Frankly?
I’m not surprised: having felt, over the past few years, that that’s how things could go.
Personally? I voted Remain: am deeply saddened — and incredibly bloody angry — the country voted Leave.
I don’t know about long term: but if we do get a No Deal deal, we’re going to be seeing short term prices hikes on food, utilities, and many others things.
Hikes I know I — on my money — can’t afford.
Angry? Yes.
Thank you, leave voters: you’ve ruined our lives, and will be costing us a fortune.
