Downtime

A fun day at work today.  Loads to do, and our programming environment was down most of the day.  So couldn't and didn't get anything done.  Do we get any leeway in our timelines for a delay that was out of our hands?  Of course not. 

Nostalgia

I've just been watching a new episode of Scrubs.  I didn't think I'd be saying that in 2026.  And as far as reboots go - if it's even called a reboot when most of the original cast have returned - it's pretty good.  But it feels out of place - apart from the cast looking a bit older, it seems almost exactly like an episode that would have aired 20 years ago or whenever it was.  Not something that belongs to the America of today.  In the same vein, we've got new episodes of Malcolm in the Middle being released next month - again with most of the original cast returning.  It just goes to show that there are hardly any original ideas in Hollywood any more.  But I don't mind these kind of reboots if the original was good and the reboot is also good and does justice to the original.

Cold

I was wondering why I was so cold in my home today.  So later in the day I checked my thermostat, and realized that I had never turned on my heating this morning.  Despite me doing that every single other day.  A worrying lapse.  And perhaps a reason why I should program the thermostat to turn the heating on and off automatically without me having to manually turn it on every day.  But for some reason I like the control of doing it myself - particularly because the times I get up and go to bed have been all over the shop recently.  I've noticed I've done the same thing a couple of times with the heating in my bedroom - but what I've also discovered is that I sleep a bit better when the temperature is lower.  So I will happily sacrifice waking up cold if it means I got a better night's sleep.  I guess I should be thankful I live alone in this respect - because all of these little quirks (and this is probably just the tip of the iceberg)  would probably drive someone else crazy.  

Pancakes

Dangnamit, I missed Pancake Day this year.  It's not really a thing in the US and so I keep on forgetting it's on Shrove Tuesday.  And even then, I don't know when Shrove Tuesday is.  Apart from it being on a Tuesday, obviously.  I think what is also confusing me is that tomorrow - a different Tuesday - is National Pancake Day here.  Why that isn't also on Shrove Tuesday is a mystery.  And nonsensical.   

Sport vs Entertainment

I've just been on the ESPN website, and the headlines and highlights feature the usual assortment of popular US sports.  But it also includes features on WWE - simply because ESPN recently bought the rights to air some of the WWE pay per view events.  Wrestling is not a sport, and someone needs to let the people in charge of ESPN know that.  The clue is in the name - World Wrestling Entertainment.  It is entertainment and not sport - and it should be treated as such.  It is closer to pantomime than it is to sport.  Don't pretend otherwise.  But then it has just dawned on me, what does ESPN stand for?  Entertainment and Sports Programming Network.  Hmmm, maybe I'm the one in the wrong here.  They are only delivering on the "Entertainment" part of their name.  Still, don't try to treat professional wrestling like it's a real sport - it just comes across as stupid and naive.

Deserving Winner

Launching an illicit and unnecessary attack against Iran seems like the perfect opportunity to once again congratulate FIFA on awarding Trump its inaugural FIFA Peace Prize.  That's not embarrassing.  At all.  And if Trump really thinks he deserves a Nobel Peace Prize after this, then his grasp on reality is even worse than we could ever imagine.  I don't think anyone in America wants this, not even MAGA, so the decision to go ahead with "Operation Epic Fury" seems nonsensical and unpopular.  Iran is scheduled to play one of its World Cup matches in Seattle.  I bet I won't need to pay $600 to get a ticket for that game.  If it even takes place.  The cynical part of me thinks this might even be a distraction from the administration's main aim to "nationalize" voting and steal the mid-term elections, plus every other election going forward.  Of all the despicable things this administration has already done, the threat to American democracy is very real, very alarming and perhaps worst of all.    

Veridis Quo

A small tribute to my favo(u)rite show currently on, whose season finale airs this weekend and which has been renewed for a fifth and final season.  The rare show that makes me feel stupid (I sometimes have to put on subtitles to make sure I get everything).  I'm not going to explicitly name the show, if you know you know.  A major hint - it airs on Monday nights on BBC One (though I think it's more of a Channel 4 type show).