Alright, rather than neglect anything further, I have been consumed by what is important infrastructure work. One of our companies, in particular, has blown up, at least by my standards. We were doing 20K-plus every 24 hours, and since I had to integrate what is called Cloudflare while also blocking China and the Philippines, we were seeing closer to 30K.
However, again, many of those thousands of views were not only bots, fake people, or crawlers. Some form of Chinese and other bots were being counted as views, which is stupid. So now our average is around 12K on Sundays, which tend to have the least amount of press releases, RSS feeds, and other announcements. I noticed that even when we had zero viewers.
If you consider that we put Cloudflare in place on 08/23, it has honestly been very difficult to deal with. My goal is to somehow stop these bots. As of that date, they cannot hit the site. Moreover, I had to fight to get everything working properly because Cloudflare was also blocking me from doing my own work.
Last Friday was the first day I had not been on an SSH terminal for THREE (3) full weeks. I had been on that thing day and night until it took over on every level.
When we first started using Cloudflare, before we had everything set up properly, the views jumped to 30K. It happened twice: once before the settings were in place and then again a few days later, after I temporarily took the protection off to see for myself. I have not lifted the protection since, but we are currently managing around 15K people over the last 24 hours, as of right now, 8:30 AM my time.
Anyway, that’s why I have been lame with the posts, and it has affected every post—not just this one. It has been hell, but in such a great way. I’ll be honest: in that world of adding actual code, seven hours can go by and feel like two.
Lioness (TV Series 2023)
This was one of the first times since I started this whole hellhole, Sunset, and it was by far the most intense work I have ever done here. The last year, or even the last several years, have not been like this. If you set aside that Kevin Hart’s I’m a Grown Little Man CD blew up at the drop of a dime seven years after its initial release, this was by far the first time I ever saw and had to deal with something going from 1 to 100 at the drop of a dime.
I never had to play catch-up like this. And remember, things simmered down after stopping all of those blocks and crawlers from getting to the server.
But other things started happening too. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia began, and we are four episodes deep right now, even though three were released during the first week. Reacher is deep into its series. Lioness hit Episode 4. Big Brother is running on all four cylinders.
What else?
Speaking of Lioness, I saw the home video with LaMonica Garrett, who is in this movie called Man of War. That movie has more gunfight than every Strike Back episode from every season all together. There was no dialogue and all bullets flying. Setting that aside, he is bad ass’ed soldier. We are now done Episode 6. I still can’t figure out of we are in current time or rahashing Zoe Saldaña’s Joe McNamara getting another piece of torture thrown at her. This week, there went her pinky toe.
The latest Reacher episode is a major cliffhanger. Just before the credits, Reacher p-layed by Alan Ritchson gives some words of wisdom to Detective Green whom is played by Sydelle Noel about life and death. It’s one of those philosophical ideas that make Reacher such a perfect hero of crime because he is so smart. The ficticious, the excitement, coupled with being so accessible that he always logical and relatable to most people they enounter.
But who is the so called ‘friend’ Reacher speaks about with regard to that quote? When did he first say this? Do you need to go back to a previous season to catch what he’s talking about? I just referenced a line from another episode in an articvle I wrote tday. Regardless, the original quote about how to live and how to die, is a deep cut from an unfilmed Reacher adventure.
Reacher Season 4, Episode 6, Ending Quote, Explained as Reacher and Green await their execution in the back of a van, in the middle of nowhere, Reacher says to Green:
“I once told a friend: We live, and then we die. As long as we do both properly, we don’t have much to regret.” Reacher then encourages Green to stay proud and defiant in the face of their impending deaths and to, in essence, die properly.
Who would expect anything more and ;less depending on how you look at it, from and by Reracher. Of course he lives and dies like a real men. He is Reacher. He’s pretty damn perfect. All of the Reacher chacters are near perfect. Well, not exactly I suppose but for the sake of scene, there is a slight variation of this quote actually comes from the third Lee Child Reacher book ever published, 1999’s Tripwire. Reacher is attending the funeral of his commanding officer, Leon Garber. In that book, he’s with Jodie, Garber’s daughter, who Reacher has known since she was a teen. This all happens early on, in Chapter 4, but Reacher doesn’t actually say these words out loud to Jodie. Instead, this quote is basically Reacher’s inner thoughts, and the actual lines in the book reads this way, exactly:
“There was nothing she had neglected to tell him, nothing he had neglected to tell her. People live and then they die, and as long as they do both things properly, there’s nothing much to regret.”
So, in the book version of Tripwire, Reacher never actually says that verbally.
Reacher could still adapt Tripwire because Leon Garber played by Andreas Apergis has only appeared in the TV series only, back during the Season 3, but again, only as flashbacks that help Reacher’s investigation to be brought in current time. Jodie Garber-Jacob still has never been in the series, though she is a big part of Reacher’s life. The fact that Reacher says “I once told a friend” implies that we’re meant to think that he said these words to Jodie.
Each season, Reacher is part of a book. For instanet, we’re in the middle of Gone Tomorrow this season. The chronology order is way different this season vs the actual book.
The next book set for Season 5 is the 2015 Make Me, but it’s been a while since Reacher has used the early books, and Tripwire is definitely one of the top ones from that era.
Plus, if Reacher somehow dies in the van, the future of the show will be all flashbacks or they can only release earlier stories much like they do with the James Bond franchise. However, I think he will live.
There are two more episodes left, including the finale on September 16.
Gen learns Luke sent Joy a gift on Below Deck Med season 11 episode 14 and we have a new deck hand that started in yesterday episode. Oh and the Police came because of loud music playing on the deck. That was funny. They were almost dicks about it but they did hold back from issueing any citation. Unless one of the guests were wanted by international police which would be a big deal, I had a feeling it would easily with them just leasving them along. I also think those police were expecting a rager and the music was all done by the time they arrived.
The Croatian police wanted to issue a ticket for the DJ on the yacht playing after hours, 23:00, and Captain Sandy sprung into action stating, “I promise.” The police also showed up an hour after the music was already done and the DJ was long gone from the boast. However, the subtitles said, “we hear music” which was not true.
Gen and the new deckhand Massi, faced the police at first before Captain Sandy came down with the requested paperwork. Massi is good by the way. He no doubt has experience as a deckhand. “Joe and Nathan have big issues,” Massi said, saying they should leave it on the dock and then, later, “beat the shit out of each other, I don’t care.”
Joe’s actions with regard to Kayley on the anniversary of her brother’s death was great. But this is his “show her I’m here for her” and just reminds me of what Joe did last season. The difference is that when you watch Hayley in real life, she has full contol of her situation. She seems pretty great too. Now that Nathan is back, Joe is still talking shit which he has to know or have known that Sandy was not making that type of change unless its drastic. She is just fair that way and so Joe needed to be cool, and get set for the next gig. Captain samdy would easily add him as a boatswain, but not now. Its way too premature and its uncalled for this season unless again, Nathan gets really hurt. “He’s got a vendetta against me now,” said Joe, Captain Vendetta himself. Joe told us he’s “gettin’ worried” because Massi, uh, working and talking to Nathan, his boss? At the same time, I do get where Joe is at but from seat, its too soon to make that drastic change.
Massi seems pretty cool. He is also pretty funny saying that he’s made up of “espresso, cigarettes, and stress,” and then tried lighting up a cigarette during that interview. “You can’t smoke in here,” a producer said. He replied really?!? So when he was talking about his attraction to Joy, Massi said, “Somebody light me a cigarette because you told me I cannot light my own.”
The actual love affair on board, Coop and Kat, was never hidden mind yoiu and was only set up by Cooper so he could have the best of bnoth worlds. It was cringeworthy how much Kat thought it was real. That won’t last. Aesha of course can’t keep a secret so telling her anything is futile. Also, Kayley caught them flirting with each other a few times, and he tried to blame Kat, which was more cringworthy actions by the two. I am sick of them to be honest.
Coop said being secretive added “a layer of fun” and “no pressure, just light and casual.” I say bullshit and again, a way for him to potentially hook up with any random, while keeping Kat at bay but then again, they are always together. He cannot be galavanting and flirting out every night. Plus, the so called sexual tension between him and Gen is also cringeworthy. Why is she touching his nips is beyond me and just odd behavior, and more of the same with him allowing to happen constantly.
Kat was not keeping that secret, either. “Do I have to watch out for you?” Kat asked Gen. And the answer: YES you do. At the crew’s mandatory dinner out for Fun Crew Times, Coop got grumpy about the name Bravo used for him and his parents gave him (“I’m so tired of hearing Cooper”), so Gen calls him “massive cock Coop.”
That was after he wore sunglasses, flexed his biceps, and flirted, so Kat broke down in tears, which Coop told her to stop. “I struggle to say no, too. I’m a yes man,” Coop told Kat. Yeah. Thats why you dont say to stop. Kat confronted Gen finally, “I’m done being disrespected and stepped on. I don’t respect someone who treats me poorly,” Kat said. It was Gen who cried after the delivery of flowers from the dock, signed only “Ma Reine.” “All crew, all crew, does anyone have a mystery love affair?” Aesha radioed. They were for Joy of course and to make things worsem It was Luke that sent her the flowers. Gen’s look on her face to camera could have ended this episode perfectly. Instead, she stormed off saying, “fuck this charter season.”
She’ deals with the Luke and her situation by getting at Joy;. Putting Joy’s clothes in the wash with the used rags and labeling it with one of her sticky notes.
Oh and last, Max, his dad and the dog seem to be in Tunisia, creating content by filming himself driving, while panning over showing his dad, and his dad’s tiny dog which got me. I was like OK, lets get the hell out of danger. I must admit that I had no clue what to expct here. I hope that scenario is done. I feel like we got closure.
Anything else? Aesha did her drunk dance in front of and even behind the DJ, bumping into his laptop. She ended up being totally out of it in the van. She woke up to eat her ramen noodles throughout the night. I wonder when that will all catch up to her because eating Ramen Pride before falling asleep let alone waking up to eat more while it lies on her pillow is something else to watch. I marvel at her lifestyle. But then again, she is Aesha.
Ted Lasso: Season 4 (2026)
In Big Brother, We have a huge crises on hand and I am not sure how the vets will get around it now. Barrett won Head of Household (HOH) over the Labor Day weekend. He executed his plan to target the “Icons” alliance, Angela, Devens and Dee. Someone will have to go this week. One of them will win the Power of Veto Competition this week.
Angela will by far be the first to buckle by speaking against the other two vets. She will beg, cry and lie many times this week while denouncing her play saying that she sucks and thats why you should keep her. Its very odd. Thats her play. She tells everyone she is so bad at the game and they should keep her because of it.
For me, the only real way for overall success is to somehow get whomever to place up someone like Yash or anyone else with the hope they can talk the entire house into voting against a non vet. I just do not see that happening now that the damage is done and Barrett will get all of the heat after the week ends on Thursday. The best scenario for the non vets after that would be for Dee and Devons to get through it and then they need to attack together until they have to have to face each other. I saw crevices between them, but if they can reconcile that, they should continue their way.
Rememeber what I say all of the time, two people alliances are what wins.
You can only have more in intervals to get you through the week. However and again, you should only have one ride or die partner like Will and Boogie. That is it! That was as close to perfect anyone could be in a gioven season. Its still poetry and motion. They kept that play literally till the last vote. These 7 people and 6 and 5 person alliances are futile in the broad scheme of life. Sometimes, they get one into trouble.
Anyway, I have to “whip in and whip out”’ like going in and out of Wisconsin to honestly, get it done. Thanks and have fun this week!
