Diary for the current month

It wasn't really a great January. I got 48 minutes in before being in tears. Not a good start to the year. I didn't really feel up to doing a whole lot and so I've just been trying to get from day to day without feeling like chucking it all in. As a result, I've not been around a lot, and work's been a lot harder than usual.

Surprisingly, a few people commented that I seemed a lot better for the break and was very smiley. I guess my work-face is far better than I give it credit for. I managed to get to the end of the month anyhow, but I've just had a week off to try to get some rest and hopefully improve my mood. I was mildly amused that when I told to both Helen and Lavender at work they independently said that it wouldn't be the same without my smile there. Maybe that's just them being nice, but it does help .

Maybe it's not surprising that I'm smiley when fed up... it's one of those things - you have to smile or you'll cry.

Anyhow, I've watched some telly and it's kept me amused for a bit. Julian suggested Suits (2011, USA Network)DramaOne of Manhattan's top corporate lawyers sets out to recruit a new hotshot associate and hires the only guy that impresses him - a brilliant but unmotivated college dropout. Though he isn't actually a lawyer, this legal prodigy has the book smarts of a Harvard law grad and the street smarts of a hustler. However, in order to serve justice and save their jobs, both these unconventional thinkers must continue the charade.Suits to me, so I tried that. It's from 'USA Network', who also produce White Collar (2009, USA Network)DramaWhite Collar is about the unlikely partnership of a con artist and an FBI agent who have been playing cat and mouse for years. Neal Caffrey, a charming criminal mastermind, is finally caught by his nemesis, FBI Agent Peter Burke. When Neal escapes from a maximum-security prison to find his lost love, Peter nabs him once again. Rather than returning to jail, Neal suggests an alternative plan: He'll provide his criminal expertise to assist the Feds in catching other elusive criminals. Initially wary, Peter quickly finds that Neal provides insight and intuition that can't be found on the right side of the law.White Collar, Covert Affairs (2010, USA Network)Action and Adventure/Drama"Covert Affairs" centers on a young CIA trainee, Annie Walker, mysteriously summoned to headquarters for duty as field operative. While Annie believes she's been promoted for her exceptional linguistic skills, there may be something or someone from her past that her CIA bosses are really after. Auggie Anderson is a CIA military intelligence agent who was blinded while on assignment and is Annie's guide in this world of bureaucracy, excitement and intrigue.Covert Affairs and Psych (2006, USA Network)Drama/ComedyPsych follows Shawn Spencer who has developed a keen eye for detail after being instructed by his police officer father to note even the most minute details of his surroundings. After Shawn calls in a tip on a crime to the police, he is actually accused of committing the crime. To try to clear his name, Shawn convinces the police that he is a psychic and he begins solving cases for the police force.Psych, so I'm not surprised that it's something I like.

Suits (2011, USA Network)DramaOne of Manhattan's top corporate lawyers sets out to recruit a new hotshot associate and hires the only guy that impresses him - a brilliant but unmotivated college dropout. Though he isn't actually a lawyer, this legal prodigy has the book smarts of a Harvard law grad and the street smarts of a hustler. However, in order to serve justice and save their jobs, both these unconventional thinkers must continue the charade.Suits is about a hot-shot lawyer who has to hire an associate to work with him, and who hires a drop-out who has an eidetic memory. The close cases, together whilst trying to hide the fact that he's not actually got a law degree. Makes it a little similar to White Collar (2009, USA Network)DramaWhite Collar is about the unlikely partnership of a con artist and an FBI agent who have been playing cat and mouse for years. Neal Caffrey, a charming criminal mastermind, is finally caught by his nemesis, FBI Agent Peter Burke. When Neal escapes from a maximum-security prison to find his lost love, Peter nabs him once again. Rather than returning to jail, Neal suggests an alternative plan: He'll provide his criminal expertise to assist the Feds in catching other elusive criminals. Initially wary, Peter quickly finds that Neal provides insight and intuition that can't be found on the right side of the law.White Collar really, which is about an con-artist who has to work with the FBI, and who has to hide the face that he's doing stuff behind their back.

Despite the similarities (and a slightly more soapy pair of romantic attachments) it's quite good, and worth watching. Louis' constant hounding and trying to trip Mike up is a bit irritating, but I can put up with that, I think. I've seen the first season now and it's still worth following, so I'll catch the second as well. As I discovered that all the shows were on the same network, I decided to try Burn Notice (2007, USA Network)Action and AdventureCovert intelligence operative Michael Westen has been punched, kicked, choked and shot. And now he's received a "burn notice", blacklisting him from the intelligence community and compromising his very identity. He must track down a faceless nemesis without getting himself killed while doubling as a private investigator on the dangerous streets of Miami in order to survive.Burn Notice as well, which is also from 'USA Network'. It's also quite fun, so far. Spy gets cut off and has to take little private jobs in Miami whilst he tries to work out why he was 'burned'. Also has an interesting first-person narrative over the top, covering the stuff that you might need to know if you were watching it as a basic training video. It can be a bit variable at times, but it is quite fun to see Gabrielle Anwar as the 'girlfriend' - otherwise known to me as 'Sam from Graphics' in Press Gang (1989, ITV1)Children/Comedy/DramaPress Gang was a teen programme that followed the trials and tribulations of a group of teens setting up and running a young people's newspaper "The Junior Gazette". Ego's clash, professional and personal feelings collide and lots of one-liners and "crazy" situations made this every teenage-plus person's top of the list viewing. Shown as a prime time children's programme it was actually ahead of it's time socially. With mature and occasionally controversial storylines it shaped a lot of it's viewers minds those few precious years.Press Gang.

Chuck (2007, NBC)Action and Adventure/Comedy/DramaChuck Bartowski, ace computer geek at Buy More, is not in his right mind. That's a good thing. Ever since he unwittingly downloaded stolen government secrets into his brain, action, excitement and a cool secret- agent girlfriend have entered his life. It's a bad thing, too. Because now Chuck is in danger 24/7.Chuck has finished, and didn't really set itself up for a great ending - albeit it was a worthwhile ending. I've certainly seen worse, and having Jeffster doing Take On Me in front of a whole concert hall was really cute. Yeah, really cute. Just hearing the first strains of that made me laugh quite a lot. Oh and the section with Devon and Chuck's Mum...

Devon: Grandma, what did we say about baby Clara seeing firearms?
Mary: It's a no-no. I'm Sorry. (to Clara) your me-me loves you!

[ Guns in front of the baby; Devon and Chuck's Mum; Chuck ]

... yeah that was fun. The whole end villian thing was really a bit poor, but as a set up for the final mission worked out pretty well.

I came across Todd and the Book of Pure Evil (2010, Space)Comedy/FantasyTODD & THE BOOK OF PURE EVIL follows a book of awesome power that makes teenagers' deepest, darkest desires come true, but at a horrifying cost. It's The Book of Pure Evil and it's loose in Crowley High. Thankfully, one horny teenager stands between the book and the end of the world as we know it. His name is Todd Smith and he will save their asses whether he wants to or not.Todd and the Book of Pure Evil somehow. Probably because I was looking for Canadian TV shows that were a little less, well, American, as they tend to have to be mass appeal or they don't make it beyond a few episodes. It's a bit different. Sort of like Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997, The WB)Action and Adventure/Comedy/Drama/FantasyIn every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer. Sarah Michelle Gellar stars as Buffy Summers, The Chosen One, the one girl in all the world with the strength and skill to fight the vampires. With the help of her close friends, Willow (Alyson Hannigan ), Xander (Nicholas Brendon), and her Watcher Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) she balances slaying, family, friendships, and relationships.Buffy the Vampire Slayer, if it had a whole lot more swearing in it, less occultness, and a lot more blood. It's a quite a bit of fun.

I tried to find a Sci-fi TV series that might be worth watching and came across a series called Threshold (2005, CBS)Science-FictionThreshold, from producers David Heyman, David Goyer, and Brannon Braga, and written by Bragi Schut, revolves around a female government contingency analyst who leads a team of scientists and military personnel who get in contact with a mysterious alien lifeform. Blade writer/director Goyer is on board to direct the Paramount Network TV pilot. He also will exec produce with Heyman, producer of the Harry Potter movies. Schut is co-exec producing with Mark Rosen.Threshold about an alien encounter. It got canned in its first season, but it wasn't too bad. As with many of these things, it's the interesting stories they bring that make or break the series. I'm not sure that it had enough to bring things in. It felt a little like Odyssey 5 (2002, Showtime)Drama/Science-Fiction"We saw the Earth destroyed, and in a heartbeat everything and everyone we knew was gone. There were five of us, the crew of the space shuttle Odyssey and we were the only survivors. A mysterious being who called himself The Seeker rescued us and sent us back in time. And now we have five years to live over, five years to discover who or what destroyed the Earth, five years to stop it from happening again..."Odyssey 5 but with less gratuitous swearing, but certainly having some of the same themes to it.

Fringe (2008, FOX)Action and Adventure/Drama/Science-FictionTeleportation. Mind control. Invisibility. Astral projection. Mutation. Reanimation. Phenomena that exist on the Fringe of science unleash their strange powers in this thrilling series, co-created by J.J. Abrams (Lost, Alias), combining the grit of the police procedural with the excitement of the unknown. The story revolves around three unlikely colleagues - a beautiful young FBI agent, a brilliant scientist who's spent the last 17 years in a mental institution and the scientist's sardonic son - who investigate a series of bizarre deaths and disasters known as "the pattern." Someone is using our world as an experimental lab. And all clues lead to Massive Dynamic, a shadowy global corporation that may be more powerful than any nation.Fringe and Nikita (2010, The CW)Action and Adventure/DramaWhen she was a deeply troubled teenager, Nikita was rescued from death row by a secret U.S. agency known only as Division, who faked her execution and told her she was being given a second chance to start a new life and serve her country. What they didn't tell her was that she was being trained as a spy and assassin. Ultimately, Nikita was betrayed and her dreams shattered by the only people she thought she could trust. Now, after three years in hiding, Nikita is seeking retribution and making it clear to her former bosses that she will stop at nothing to expose and destroy their covert operation. For the time being, however, Division continues to recruit and train other young people and turning them into cold and efficient killers. One of these new recruits, Alex, is just beginning to understand what lies ahead for her and why the legendary Nikita made the desperate decision to run.Nikita continue to be be interesting, although the former seems to be a bit odd. The worlds are in danger and yet they're concerned with 'small' things. Not that I mind too much, because I like to small stories that bring in little things and advance the general arc a little. The latter's pulled a few interesting switches recently, which changed things around, and whilst that's useful from a story point of view, you have to keep with the same theme for a while or the audience (well... me) gets tired of it.

Castle (2009, ABC)DramaRick Castle is one of the world's most successful crime authors. But when his rock star lifestyle isn't enough, this bad boy goes looking for new trouble and finds it working with smart, beautiful Detective Kate Beckett. Inspired by her professional record and intrigued by her buttoned-up personality, Castle's found the model for his bold new character whether she likes it or not. Now with the mayor's permission, Castle is on her case and in her way. Kate's initial disdain for Castle turns to grudging respect as he quickly proves that a background in plotting murders can be a valuable asset in catching killers. As they solve a new crime together each week, their partnership grows as does their love-hate relationship. These two may not always see eye to eye, but together they might just write a whole new chapter in crime-solving.Castle continues. Though it's fun for its single episodes it seems to have less memorable things in it. A few stories recently appear to have been using more gimmicks than seem plausible, such as the death at a dog show ( "An Embarassment Of Bitches"). It felt a lot like Pushing Daisies (2007, ABC)Comedy/DramaPushing Daisies centers on the life of Ned, a pie-maker gifted with the mysterious ability to bring dead things back to life by touching them. There are some conditions to this somewhat unusual talent. Ned quickly learns that if something is revived for more than exactly one minute, something of similar "life value" in the vicinity drops dead, as a form of balance. Additionally, if he touches the revived person or thing a second time, it falls dead again, this time permanently.Pushing Daisies episode "Pushing Daisies2x08
"Comfort Food"Ned brings back to life Colonel Likken, who was mysteriously deep fried to death. His world-famous original recipe has gone missing and Likken asks Ned, Emerson, and Chuck to find who stole it.Comfort Food", although that was a far more fun episode.

Which reminds me - Chi McBride appeared as Emerson Codd in Pushing Daisies (2007, ABC)Comedy/DramaPushing Daisies centers on the life of Ned, a pie-maker gifted with the mysterious ability to bring dead things back to life by touching them. There are some conditions to this somewhat unusual talent. Ned quickly learns that if something is revived for more than exactly one minute, something of similar "life value" in the vicinity drops dead, as a form of balance. Additionally, if he touches the revived person or thing a second time, it falls dead again, this time permanently.Pushing Daisies, and as a judge in Suits (2011, USA Network)DramaOne of Manhattan's top corporate lawyers sets out to recruit a new hotshot associate and hires the only guy that impresses him - a brilliant but unmotivated college dropout. Though he isn't actually a lawyer, this legal prodigy has the book smarts of a Harvard law grad and the street smarts of a hustler. However, in order to serve justice and save their jobs, both these unconventional thinkers must continue the charade.Suits (as well as a few other things, but it's the latter that reminded me).

30 Rock (2006, NBC)ComedyEmmy Award Winner Tina Fey writes, executive produces and stars as Liz Lemon, the head writer of a live variety programme in New York City. Liz's life is turned upside down when brash new network executive Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin in his Golden Globe winning role) interferes with her show, bringing the wildly unpredictable Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) into the cast. Now its up to Liz to manage the mayhem and still try to have a life. 30 Rock has got off to a pretty poor start, really. There have been some good moments in it, but aside from the passing reference to Maulik Pancholy (Jonathan in 30 Rock) being on Whitney, nothing really stands out that much. Oh, there was some odd thing with Kelsey Grammer as a fixer in a suit, which I'm not sure I get - I guess it was related to something that he'd been in that I just don't know.

Person Of Interest (2011, CBS)Action and Adventure/DramaPERSON OF INTEREST stars Jim Caviezel, Emmy Award winner Michael Emerson and Academy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson in a crime thriller about a presumed dead former-CIA agent, Reese, who teams up with a mysterious billionaire, Finch, to prevent violent crimes by using their own brand of vigilante justice. Reese's special training in covert operations appeals to Finch, a software genius who invented a program that uses pattern recognition to identify people about to be involved in violent crimes. Using state-of-the-art surveillance technology, the two work outside of the law, using Reese's adept skills and Finch's unlimited wealth to unravel the mystery of the "person of interest" and stop the crime before it happens. Reese's actions draw the attention of the NYPD, including homicide detective Carter, and Fusco, a cop whom Reese uses to his advantage. With infinite crimes to investigate, Reese and Finch find that the right person, with the right information, at the right time, can change everything.Person Of Interest doesn't seem to have got back into its stride after the cliff-hanger hiatus ending. I'm hoping it'll find its feet a bit more soon as it has potential. Sadly, it's still not Human Target (2010, FOX)Action and Adventure/DramaIt takes a brave, selfless man to make himself a "human target" in order to save the lives of those in danger. Christopher Chance is a unique private security guard hired to protect. Call him what you like, because for Chance, it's about one thing only: saving his clients' lives. He puts himself directly in the line of fire as he races against time to save his client, while unraveling the truth behind the mission. With every new danger, Chance's dark history will also unravel. Does anyone know who Christopher Chance really is, or what secrets lay buried in his past? What would make a man willingly become a human target?Human Target (which also had Chi McBride in).

Still haven't watched either Sherlock (2010, BBC One)Action and Adventure/Drama/Mini-SeriesSherlock Holmes and Dr Watson's adventures in 21st Century London. A thrilling, funny, fast-paced contemporary remake of the Arthur Conan Doyle classic. The update maintains some traditional elements of the stories, such as the Baker Street address and the evil Moriarty. Although the events of the books are transferred to the present day, existing elements are incorporated into the new characters to "ground the forthcoming tales in reality, and appease ardent fans of the classic tales"; for example, Martin Freeman's Watson has returned from military service in Afghanistan. When speaking to The Sherlock Holmes Society of London and discussing the fact that the original Watson was invalided home after serving in the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878-1880), Gatiss realised that "It is the same war now, I thought. The same unwinnable war".Sherlock or the Christmas Doctor Who (2005, BBC One)Action and Adventure/Science-FictionThe Doctor looks and seems human. He's handsome, witty, and could be mistaken for just another man in the street. But the Doctor is a Time Lord: a 900 year old alien with 2 hearts, part of a gifted civilization who mastered time travel. The Doctor saves planets for a living - more of a hobby actually, and he's very, very good at it. He's saved us from alien menaces and evil from before time began - but just who is he?Doctor Who, as they just have too many associations I'd rather not have around at the moment. I'm sure I'll get around to it, but it's certainly not things I want to try this week whilst I'm trying to relax and settle a little.

I decided to try some music that I've had for a while but haven't really listened to. Scrolling through the list, I spotted the name Conjure One and thought 'wonder what that's like'. The answer is... quite likeable. Reminds me of a few things, a little like What Goes Around, by Celtus in places, a little like Mike Oldfield in others (from various eras), a little like Ray Of Light, by Madonna, a bit of Just Another Day, by Jon Secada, a bit of Metisse as well, and something about it makes me think of Collide, too. There's a whole bunch of other bits, but it's got a lot of reasonable lyrics and singing, and instrumentation is very likeable.

Conjure One is still easier to get into than Extraordinary Ways, by Conjure One, but that's not to the detriment of the latter. I just don't think it was as easy to listen to after hearing the first album - once you're listening to something new and liking it, moving to something else new is harder, at least for me.

The number of really good tracks on the first album does make it harder to get into the second. Favourites have to be Center Of The Sun, Tears From The Moon, Manic Star, and Sleep. Although the whole album doesn't really have anything I'd say was bad.

On the other hand, I Believe, from Extraordinary Ways seems rather out of place on the second album - it stands out, and it's likeable but... it seems wrong. Extraordinary Ways, from Extraordinary Ways on the other hand could be Dido.

A few choice lyrics (as I like them and haven't done any lyrical bits for a while)...

'Cause what I have (what I have)
Means so very little to this world
A promise that I kept and a bridge that I saved before it burned
The sacrifice that I made
Brought me to my knees
A choice that cost me everything and set somebody else free
But what I have
Is the value that you see in these things.

[ Extraordinary Ways, from Extraordinary Ways, by Conjure One ]

And she sings
'They say the most horrible things
But I hear violins, when I close my eyes
I am at the center of the sun
And I cannot be hurt
By anything this wicked world has done'

[ Center Of The Sun, from Conjure One, by Conjure One ]

Sometimes when I drive my car
I feel trapped like a bee inside a jar

Grains of sand is all we are
Crawling on our manic star
One tiny person
In one shiny car
Spinning on our manic star

[ Manic Star, from Conjure One, by Conjure One ]

(although it's a little strange that Manic Star shares the same theme as the 'bonus' track Premonition)

Anyhow, that's been a good amount of music I've been listening to, and some of the telly.

I've written a bit on the rambles, and seem to be making better progress on removing the 'fixme' areas that I need to write stuff in. Still 129 to go, so ... well, we'll see.

Whilst looking at some things, I stumbled upon the google 'schema.org' metadata system and their 'Rich Snippets' tester, which can present more information in search results than might be there otherwise. I've tried adding some of that to the website, the most noticeable effect of which should be that the top of all the pages now contains links to the pages leading up to the current one - the 'breadcrumbs', as they seem to be known (Hansel and Gretel, I believe ).

If I've done things right, there should be a rich snippet if you search for me and the result for the 'about' page comes back. The test tool shows that it should have a little picture of me, and my location on it. However, it does raise the question of whether that should be a secondary page. Whether it shouldn't be reduced a little more so that the front page is more descriptive. It does look a little old in its style, although I still think that it can retain its usefulness, as it does have a reasonable structure. Just not in the way that many pages are set up now.

That's about it. I'm just trying to rest, and not feel unwell. I keep thinking that there's something up with me other than just feeling crappy, but I'm sure that's just paranoia.

It's got chillier right now - it's kind of amusing that the warmest place in the UK, according to the Met Office stations on its website, is Baltasound in the north of Shetland (at 5.8° C). It's about -6° C here. Even the server room (well closet) is cold - it's down to 20° C, whereas it usually sits around 24° C.

Anyhow... nearly time for sleep. Haven't been sleeping well, again. Oh well. But it does mean waking from some strange dreams - which I cannot remember right now.

I had thought about having some kind of New Year's Resolution, but given how New Year's Eve went I decided instead to just get through one day at a time. That seems like a good plan, for now.

Justin's Diary