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 7 — 407 Proxy Authentication Required — A review

18th November, 2019.

Right … I’ve had an interview, today.

Which you’d know about: if you’d read this morning’s Teaser.

To be frank?

It seemed to go well.   Although, looking back, I think that — during the role-play section — I could have mentioned extended warranties, rather than the case I did mention … 

If that makes sense … ?

At any rate … ?

It’s a Monday night.

And I fancied some TV.

You, you’ve guessed it … 

Episode 7 of Mr Robot, 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 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≈~

Jurassic World: A Review

15th November, 2018.

Yep: I’m right, aren’t I … ?

It’s another day: and another dollar …

And yet another post.

Unemployment is … 

Not starting to frustrate me, just yet.

After all, I’ve a little cash for the moment, and something to keep myself occupied.

Were it not for the fact it’s coming up to Christmas?

I’d be using some of the last bit of pay I’m due — tomorrow’s, so you know — to buy some paint: and take the time to redecorate.

As it is … ?

Well.

At any rate … ?

It’s another night off in the hopefully soon to be over rough patch.

I’ve a couple of options.

Stare at a screen saver.

Stare at another screen saver …

Watch a movie.

Yes: I went for watching a movie, in the end.

There’s only so much sitting in front of a screen a body can take!

~≈§≈~

At any rate … ?

At any rate, yes: I managed a movie, tonight.

And, yes: another movie in a franchise: Jurassic World.

You wondering what I thought, aren’t you … ?

~≈§≈~

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 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

~≈§≈~