The Man in the High Castle — Series 4 Episodes 10: Episode 10 Fire from the Gods — A Review

14th December, 2019.

Yes: it’s officially Saturday night.

With little in the way of cash.

Which, unfortunately?   Is the perils of unemployment.

You have plenty of time to do whatever you want … 

But no actual cash to do it with.

Frankly?

That means a cheap night in, watching TV.

Yes: you’re right: I watched the last episode of The Man in the High Castle.

Hmmm … 

~≈¥≈~

The Man in the High Castle — Series 4 Episodes 9: Episode 9 For Want of a Nail — A Review

8th December, 2019.

Yes: it’s officially official: I am back at the course, tomorrow.

I’m job hunting, at the moment: and, if you’ve been following me for a while?

You’ll know I’m on a short course designed to improve my employment prospects.

I’m back there, tomorrow: and looking forward to it: as it gets me out of the house.

The real killer?

We have laptops … and our tutor’s decided to get mice for them.

Little things mean a lot.

~≈Î≈~

At any rate … ?

It’s the Sunday night before I go back.

And frankly?

I want to go to bed early … but want to tell you about a TV show.

Yep: you’re right … I’ve seen the ninth episode of The Man in the High Castle’s fourth season.

~≈Î≈~

The Man in the High Castle — Series 4 Episodes 8: Hitler Has Only Got One Ball — A Review

7th December, 2019.

Yep: it’s Saturday evening!

And, if you read today’s Daily Teaser?

You’ll realise I had a few things planned.

Which I managed to get done.

Including sending the first batch of this year’s Christmas cards.

What it didn’t include … ?   Was the old fashioned green double decker that I managed to get on, to get to town.

A double decker bus complete with a driver, and a conductor: with one of those old fashioned ticket machines.

With the buttons and the handle?   Lord knows what they’re called … !

Either way?

It was nice to see.

~≈¥≈~

Either way … ?

Either way, I have to make a confession … ?

With nothing else to do, I made sure I watched a TV show.

Yes: you guessed it … The eighth episode of The Man in the High Castle fourth season … 

~≈¥≈~

The Man in the High Castle — Series 4 Episodes 7: No Masters But Ourselves — A Review

4th December, 2019.

*Spoilers*

Yes: it’s official.

My left shoulder aches!

And I think I know why.

I’m jobhunting at the moment: and doing a course that’s supposed to help us with interview technique, CV writing, what have you.

I’m left handed, so you know … and haven’t done this much handwriting in ages.

Which is what I think’s causing the issue … 

Writing in European scripts isn’t exactly what you call painless, if you’re a southpaw … 

At any rate … ?

It’s a Wednesday: one that, for various reasons, I’ve had off.

And I wanted to watch TV … 

To be more specific?

The next episode of series four of The Man in the High Castle … 

~≈Î≈~

The Man in the High Castle — Series 4 Episodes 6: All Serious Daring — A Review

1st December, 2019.

Right … 

I’ve a confession to make: I’ve finally cleaned my armchair.

It was getting a bit mucky.   To the point of serious comment …

Still … 

The cover’s been put through the wash: and looking better than it was.

But Lord … it took some time to wrestle that cover back on.

I’m grateful I did, though.

It meant I had something to sit on, watching more of The Man in the High Castle, season four … 

~≈¥≈~

The Man in the High Castle — Series 4 Episodes 5: Mauvaise Foi* — A Review

30th November, 2019.

I’m assuming — assuming, mind — that you’ve been following the news in the UK.

If you haven’t?

You’re possibly not aware of the attack that took place on London Bridge, yesterday.

A young man — and convicted terrorist — called Usman Khan murdered two people, and injured three others.

His actions?   And motives?   Have been discussed, since yesterday.

And radical Jihadi terrorism has been blamed.

I had the news on, earlier.

According to Khan’s lawyer?   He asked for help being de-radicalised, whilst in prison.

And was refused.

Refused help that could have prevented two people’s deaths.

Granted?   The man got out, and committed two murders whilst wearing the (fake) bomb vest that got him shot.

But … ?

A decision maker in the prison service made the wrong decision: and shares  some of the responsibility for those deaths.

~≈Ü≈~

At any rate?

It’s a quiet Saturday night.

And, with little else to do … ?

I watched TV … 

And, yes: you’re right: it’s another episode from The Man in the High Castle’s fourth season … 

~≈Ü≈~

The Man in the High Castle — Series 4 Episodes 3: The Box — A Review

23rd November, 2019.

OK … 

It’s true: I’ve caught some TV, tonight.

In possibly more ways than one.

Firstly?

The officially official trailer for Dr Who’s twelfth series is now out.

And it looks rather good.

Especially if you saw that Cyberman, too!

~≈†≈~

I also have to admit … I’ve signed up for Apple’s Apple Arcade: its game streaming service.

It seems cheap enough: and there’s a lot of games on there that seem the sort of thing I’d go for.

I have to say, thought: there’s one game on there: called Marble It Up: Mayhem!

You have to roll a marble around a 3d obstacle course.

It’s fantastic looking: and very enjoyable to play.

But?

The controls for the desktop — Mac — version are like this.

For a START?

Whoever ported the game across to the Apple Arcade, obviously didn’t know about the Mac’s one button mouse.

And W, S, A and D are fine keys for up, down, left and right.

If you’re right handed: and using the mouse in your right hand.

Guess which left hander tried it on the Mac, first … ?

Yep: Juggins, here … 

At least the version on the Apple TV … benefits from the game controller.

~≈†≈~

Talking to TV … ?

Talking of TV, I managed to catch some, tonight.

Yes: I’ve managed to catch episode 3, of The Man in the High Castle’s fourth season.

This is looking good.

~≈†≈~

The Man in the High Castle — Series 4 Episodes 2: Every Door Out… — A Review

21st November, 2019

Hmmm … 

I have to admit, I’m … 

Well, thinking all sorts of things.

I notice — for example — that Jeremy Corbyn’s announced that — should Labour get into government — they will scrap the Universal Credit benefit I’m on.

I’m thinking I couldn’t vote for them, giving that.

Partly?   Because they haven’t said what they’ll replace it with.

And partly because the change from Universal Credit to its replacement will come with the same sort of delays that happened with the change from Job Seeker’s Allowance to Universal Credit.

And from the old Unemployment Benefit to Jobseekers Allowance.

All of which saw delayed payments: at least to me.

And, I’m assuming, to others.

I’m ALSO very aware the Greens are planning what they call a Universal Basic Income of some £89 a week.

One that seemingly doesn’t include housing costs.

As someone planning to vote Green in this election … ?

That’s a concern … and also why I contacted the local Green candidate.

I’ll hear back from them, another time: but I’m … 

Well … 

Concerned … 

~≈¥≈~

At any rate … ?

It’s a Thursday … 

A Thursday where, frankly?

I felt I could go another episode of the fourth season of The Man in the High Castle.

I’m on the second episode … 

~≈¥≈~

The Man in the High Castle — Series 4 Episodes 1: Hexgram 64 — A Review

20th November, 2019

Right … I think I’ve had something of an almost close shave.

I’m off to an interview on Monday.

And need to apply for the price of a ticket.

Except, of course, I needed needed to wait for the email confirmation that I had an interview to turn up.

So I could show it to my contact at the Job Centre, tomorrow.

Hmmm … 

Here’s hoping it gets through … 

~≈¥≈~

At any rate … ?

It’s a Wednesday.

It’s a Wednesday and I fancied some TV.

Yes: I’ve started watching fourth season of The Man in the High Castle … 

~≈¥≈~

The Man in the High Castle — Series 3 — Episodes 10: Jahr Null

29th October, 2018.

Yes: it’s official.

I’ve got a copy of David Bowie’s Blackstar album in my iTunes library.

I’ve a few, since you ask.

But that one, released literally days before The man’s death?

Well, it’s powerful … 

~≈§≈~

But that’s possibly a distraction …

Possibly … 

Given that I’ve had both a day off, plenty of Brian Eno playing away on the Apple TV, as we speak … 

And enough time to have watched the last episode of The Man in the High Castle third season.

And, yes: I think that’s a cracker … 

~≈§≈~

The Man in the High Castle — Series 3 — Episodes 6 and 7: History Ends and Excess Animus

18th October, 2018

No, I’m right, aren’t I … ?

Stuff doesn’t get built to last!

I only changed the bulb in the lamp — the one in the lamp shade right next to my desk — a couple of days ago.

And … ?

And, JUST when I want to record an intro video, and want half way decent lighting … ?

‘Click,’ goes the bulb … 

And out goes the light.

I think I’m going to have to visit Poundland in the morning!

Or possibly Wilko’s, going by the web site!

At ANY rate … ?

It’s been a quiet day off … 

That’s seen me catching more TV.

You can tell I’m going to mention the third season of The Man in the High Castle, again, can’t you … ?

~≈§≈~

The Man in the High Castle — Series 3 — Episodes 4 and 5: Sabra and The New Colossus.

16th October, 2018.

Yes, OK … I’m getting old.

But … ?

Frankly … there’s a couple of things.

First off … ?

I’m in a Facebook group: for Dr Who fans.

This year’s celebrity gimmick?

Get J. K. Rowling to do a script for Dr Who.

Personally?



I read the first of the Harry Potter books, a long time ago: I can see the appeal, but felt the series wasn’t for me.

Although, yes: it’s got kids into reading.

Which is a big achievement.

But … ?

The fact EVERYONE keeps going on about Ms Rowling, AND the Harry Potter franchise, as if it were the only thing on the bookshop’s shelves?

Is just a little bit off-putting.

The more I hear … ?

The more annoyed I get about it.

And secondly … ?

Yes: I got some cheap Sainsbury drinking chocolate.

OK, twenty years ago, that possibly would’ve been a beer.

Frankly?

I’m glad I’ve replaced it with cocoa … 

And a TV show.

Yes, you’ve guessed it: I’m catching up with The Man in the High Castle, season three, again … 

~≈§≈~

The Man in the High Castle — Series 3 — Episodes 3: Sensô Kôi

9th October, 2018.

Yes … 

There’s officially a story behind every post.

Ones with heat, passion, love, hate, rhubarb, big dinners …

And almighty cocks up, SOMEWHERE along the line.

Apparently?   I’m supposed to be at work.

Today, tomorrow, and Thursday, as well as on Saturday and Sunday.

Which ISN’T on the copy of the rota I got, lets put it that way.

Basically?

I’ve work tomorrow, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday … 

Instead of the unpaid few days off I was expecting.

Frankly?

That means an early night tonight, and emergency train ticket collection, tomorrow.

Oh, and whilst Architecture and Morality plays in the background?

Telling you about the one episode of The Man in the High Castle third season I saw, tonight … 

~≈§≈~

The Man in the High Castle — Series 2 — Episodes 9 and 10: Detonation and Fallout

30th March, 2018.

Yes … 

I think ‘satisfying’ is possibly the word, here.

Can I make a slight confession?

I’m — at the moment — off ill.

A case of Bell’s Palsy: a — temporary, I’m told — trapped facial nerve which makes me look and sound slightly odd.

Which you’s possibly worked out.   Especially if you’ve seen the intro video for this morning’s Daily Teaser, and started wondering if I look like J. W. Pepper … !

At ANY rate: I’m trying to say I’ve had time off.

And time to catch up with both Teaser videos: AND a box set.

As you may also have worked out?

Is that the box set of the month is season two of The Man in the High Castle.

Yes: I think satisfying is the word … 

~≈§≈~

The Man in the High Castle — Series 2 — Episode 8: Loose Lips

29th March, 2018.

Yes: I’m officially off ill.

Which I don’t like.

The’s job centre doesn’t necessarily cover it: at least … as regular sick pay, it won’t: just pay me extra Universal Credit … toward’s the end of the month.

Which I still don’t like … 

I’m ill.



Which I like even less.

With the bailiffs (metaphorically) banging at the door?

I’m worried … but have at least been able to make arrangements.

Or, at least, start to make arrangements: to get everything in place, and fend off SOME forms of starvation.

Right now?



I’m worried … 

But can’t do much more.

Bar try to relax.

And catch up with a TV I’ve missed …

~≈§≈~



It’s at times like this … ?

That, frankly, I’m grateful I’ve a box set or two, in hand: have sone for some time.

And, as you’re possibly aware?   I’ve been happily catching up with The Man in the High Castle over the past few weeks.

Season two, if you must know.

And yes: episode eight — out of a potential ten — is building to a big climax.

~≈§≈~

The Man in the High Castle — Series 2 — Episode 6 and 7: Kintsugi and Land o’ Smiles

26th March, 2018.

It’s a bit of a … you know … conundrum … !

I am actually missing a series from my otherwise flawless Dr Who collection: and  I don’t know where it’s gone!

The Creature from The Pit, wouldn’t you know?

If anyone’s got a spare copy I could beg borrow, I would LOVE to hear from you!

It’s going to bother me for minutes!

Ahem!

At ANY rate … ?

~≈§≈~

At ANY rate, and as you’d possibly guessed?

I’ve not been without a favourite piece of TV.

Oh, no.

No, tonight?

On my last day off of the week?

I got to do two things.

1).  Check in with my GP.   You HAVE to, after the sort of weekend I’ve had.

And …

2).  Watch more of the second season of The Man in the High Castle.

Because you have to … !

~≈§≈~

The Man in the High Castle — Series 2 — Episode 5: Duck and Cover

25th March, 2018.

No, really … 

I have with my normal breakfast — usually a bowl of cornflakes — for something else.

As you might know, if you’ve read this morning’s Daily Teaser, I’ve come down with what’s called Bell’s Palsy: a type of facial paralysis caused by a trapped nerve, after an infection.

One I think I caught, after having a tooth out, a while back.

At any rate?   I’ve a course of steroids to take: and some eyepatches to wear over night: to stop my left eye drying out.

Although I had to buy my own surgical tape to stick them on.

Which possibly says a lot about the hospital, or the mood I was in, when I got this lot.

At any rate?   I’m going to have to try and have a word with my GP, I think.

I think something like that could well be … … 

Useful.

~≈§≈~

There’s something else I meant To tell you, as well.

I mentioned — the last time I wrote about a TV show — that’s I’d been half lucking: when installing popular DVD transcoding, HandBrake onto my new iMac: the current version of the operating system, High Sierra, doesn’t allow you too.

I’ve done a little experimenting: and found a workaround for this.

The original one I found?   Was to install MakeMKV: which will turn the contents of a DVD or bluray into a series of .mkv files: which you can then rip as normal with HandBrake.

The OTHER workaround?

Out there— very much not on Apple’s App Store — is an app called RipIt which can copy a DVD: and store the contents where you want to put them … 

MINUS the copy protection.

The resulting DVD media … ?

Can be transcoded with HandBrake, as per normal.

~≈§≈~

The Man in the High Castle — Series 2 — Episode 4: Escalation

19th March, 2018.

Which is decidedly odd.

I’ve had most to the relevant files for quite a few years: and some for a lot less time.

All of which have happily shown up on my AppleTV: when they’ve been dragged into whatever my current version of iTunes is.

All I’m getting from them … ?

Is a very strange dialogue: telling there’s an unknown error.

And giving me the error code, 1718449215.

Quite what’s happening there … ?

I really couldn’t tell say.

~≈§≈~

On other fronts … ?

On other fronts, I’m now the proud owner of a new blu-ray drive: now happily hooked up to my new iMac.

Granted, I can’t seemingly get HandBrake to work on DVDs, under High Sierra: despite there being a hack for that.

But I can still use MakeMKV to turn the contents of a DVD into MKV files.

Which can then be converted, as per usual, into mp4 files I can stream straight over to my TV.

~≈§≈~

Actually … ?

I’ll make a confession, here: if I may?

I’ve just done a test rip — with HandBrake —  of one of the problem children in my media library.

Some of them?   Have an extra layer of audio file.

Commentary, mono mix of the show’s audio, what have you.

Re-ripping them, minus that extra audio track?

Seems to help.

~≈§≈~

At any rate … ?

It’s Monday night: a Monday I’ve had off.

And, with all this talk of TV?

You can bet I’ve been watching some, can’t you … ?

You’d be right.

It’s another episode of The Man in the High Castle second season.

Because I’m worth it … 

~≈§≈~

The Man in the High Castle — Series 2 — Episode 3: Travelers

18th March, 2018.

Yes, I know … the simple fact I can smell cocoa?

Is possibly not something to write home about.

Or a post about.

But … ?

As I know Debbi and her husband, Rick, will know — after their visit, back in the day — I gave up smoking some seven years ago: not long after my nephew, Jude, was born.

So … ?

Being able to smell any thing — tea, cocoa, someone’s perfume, me own rather sweaty armpits* — is sort of amazing.

With the possible exception of the armpits …

~≈§≈~

At ANY rate … ?

Today is, officially?   The day of the Mini/Small/Lesser† beast from the East.

In other words?   A second batch of bad weather: coming in after last week’s Beast From the East.

Frankly?

I stayed indoors for most of it.

Venturing out with the intention of getting some milk from the local shop: but coming home with some washing up liquid, and some incense.   And a lighter: to light the incense.

Sense of smell, remember?

Frankly?   I wanted indoor to smell nice, as well as — ha! — clean.

At ANY rate … ?

I’ve been at home: laundering, making videos, editing metadata on my video library …

And wanting to catch up with something.

More episodes of Series 2 of Man in the High Castle.

It’s intriguing.

~≈§≈~

The Man in the High Castle — Series 2 — Episode 2: The Road Less Traveled

15th March, 2018.

OK, OK … I’ll put a shirt on* … 

As long as you never mention the fact I’m at home, on my own … and aren’t expecting visitors!

OK, I’ll confess: today’s been a day off: one I should have had a CT scan on.

But, for various reasons, didn’t.

Mostly, where I didn’t read the relevant letter, informing me of the basic procedure until the last minute.   Only realising, yesterday afternoon, I was supposed to have a blood test, last week: a week before the test.

Kick me, would you?

I try and do it, I’ll miss.

~≈§≈~

At any rate … ?

I had time off.

Time off to do stuff around the house.   Make a few videos … have some tea …

And, just as importantly … ?

Watch more TV.

Yep, you got it: more of The Man in the High Castle second season.

It’s just starting to warm up … 

~≈§≈~

Episode 2 — The Road Less Travelled — shows us Inspector Kids (Joel de la Fuente) investigates the apparent shooting of Juliana Crain (Alexa Davalos): apparently shot trying to escape.

In the meantime … ?   The Inspector has a problem.

Frank Frink (Rupert Evans) has seriously impressed the local Yakuza boss.

There’s a price for working for him, though … 

Releasing Ed McCarthy (DJ Qualls) from the Kempetai gaol he’s held in … 

Juliana, meanwhile?   Is having issues.   The films that she’s been show tell her one thing.

That the Empire?

Is going to bomb San Francisco.

Getting out seems to be just the thing.

Finding someone she can trust, like — ooh — double agent and spy, Joe Blake (Luke Kleintank)?

Is going to be tricky …

~≈§≈~

Now, I have to confess that yes: series two of The Man in the High Castle does still seem to be drifting from The original novel.

But?

I’m not sure I’m worried.

We’re getting hints of n interesting story, one headily influxnced by Dick’s book, striving to keep that sense of ambiguous realities, and identities … 

And stilll being an interesting watch.

Personally?

I’m off, again, on Sunday.

I’ll be cueing up more episodes of The Man in the High Castle.

*        I want cocoa.   Cocoa, dammit!   It’s too cold in here!