Star Trek Discovery — Series 2 Episode 2: New Eden — A Review

25th January, 2019.

Yes: I’ve officially had my lower jaws done.

Jaws?

JAW!

Cleaned, if you must know.

What made things … interesting … ?

Was the fact I thought I’d made the appointment for 11AM.

Turns out I was wrong.

Turns out it was for 2PM: which meant going into Brentwood High Street, twice!

Boy, I was embarrassed.

Still … 

I did managed to get to have a natter with one of the hygienists about the shiny new MacBookPro she was using … 

~≈§≈~

As I was able to let her know I’d got a notification, this morning, via MacWorld: turned out there were some quite serious security updates.

You can find the details, here.

Now, while I’m not sure or all the exact details … I’m fairly sure of something.

For starters, the updates have caused issues.

I know I’ve just rendered the intro for this piece: and had to shut down my Mac, a couple of times.

As rendering it in 1080p slowed iMovie down to a crawl, and made using switching between alternative desktops VERY crappy.

On the other hand … ?

I noticed that a number of the security updates listed on that page?

Were aimed at macOS’s kernel.

The underlying code that forms the operating system’s heart.

One was aimed at the hypervisor.   Which, if I’ve understood it correctly?   Is some of the heavyweight hardware control software that’s part of a modern operating system.

It is — if I’ve understood the Wikipedia entry correctly — controls a lot of a computer’s hardware.

On top of that … !

On top of that, Apple’s page thanked workers from Google’s Project Zero a lot of help on the kernel updates.

Project Zero are the Google researchers who find zero-day exploits: previously unknown security flaws.

And that, therefore, need treating rather urgently.

Frankly?



I’m grateful: that means my machine’s better protected.

I’m just going to have to wait for Apple to update iMovie, and Mojave.

I’m grateful for the protection.

But would like the rendering speed back.

~≈§≈~

Now, I have to admit: that’s NOT why I started this post.

Yes, you guessed it: it’s Friday.

And yes: right at the mo, that means it’s time for the new episode of … 

second series … 

~≈§≈~

Updated Librarians ...

Yes, I know, I know: I'm using a Windoze based PC for this post.

But play fair: I AM, if nothing else, listening to some seriously intent Muddy Waters on the iPod: 'Got My Mojo Working,' if you must know.

At ANY rate ... ?

At any rate, I thought I should let you know that Brentwood's library has updated its IT system.

Currently, I'm using a Dell box - an Optiplex3010, apparently - with Windoze 7.

I'm not actually complaining, TOO much: although I think that Essex County Council could well have taken a punt on getting a Dell box with Ubuntu.

The reason I'm not partly complaining ... ?

Is that whoever's done the actual upgrade has made sure that this installation has included a copy of Google Chrome: and of OpenOffice.org.

All good!

The Word Is …

Here’s a pointless bit of trivia for you; today’s the anniversary of Doctor Johnson’s publishing his English Dictionary, today?

Totally pointless, but it does mean I can theme today’s questions — here, give this lot a go …

Q1) Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary of English was 1st published toady, in 1755.   In which comedy series did Robbie Coltrane play Dr Johnson?

Q2) Today also saw the birth of Leonardi da Vinci, in 1452; which direction did he write his journals; left to right, or right to left? 

Q3) What’s the name of the Sikh holy book; the Koran, the Adi Granth, or the Tripitaka?

Q4) Today in 1993 saw the death in 1993 saw the death of Leslie Charteris; which famous fictional spy did he create; Harry Palmer, James Bond, or The Saint?

Q5) Who’s the patron saint of writers; St Francis de Sales, St Francis of Assisi, or St Frances of Medina? 

Q6) Which thriller writer coined the term, ‘mole’?

Q7) What’s the collective name for a group of clams?

Q8) Which professor of medieval languages wrote “The Lord of the Rings”?

Q9) Famously controversial writer, Jeffrey Archer was allegedly involved with a 2004 coup attempt in which North African country?

Q10) Murder is the collective word for a group of which bird?

And here’s yesterday’s question’s and answers …

Q1) Which famous ship hit an iceberg, on April the 14th, 1912?

A1) The RMS Titanic.

Q2) Today in 1907 saw the birth of Dr François Duvalier, dictator of Haiti; what was his nickname?

A2) Papa Doc.

Q3) April the 14th also the death of Pete Farndon, the only English member of which US band?

A3) The Pretenders.

Q4) A death, again; today, in 1972, saw the death of Maximilian Hell, an astromomer from which East European country; Hungary, Romania, or Bulgaria?

A4) Hungary.   (He’s got a crater named after him on the moon, so if anyone tells you to go to hell …)

Q5) Today also saw the birthday of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” star, Sarah Michelle Geller; but in which year of the 1970’s?

A5) 1977.

Like I say, there’d’ve been more, but I was a little rushed, yesterday …

Ooh, just as a minor point for those of us using NeoOffice; they’ve released the first patch for  NeoOffice 3.0.   It’s here, for when you need it.