Afternoon people! Get comfy, you're in for a long read...

At home, we've been having a new carpet laid in the lounge over the past couple of days and after having the room painted as well, things have been a bit of a mess and it's really doing my head in. Not to mention my mum practically goes crazy whenever anyone even thinks about going in there and potentially messing it up! The worst thing is that I had to disconnect my computer for a few days and without internet (well broadband, I had slow internet on my dongle) for the last week, keeping up to date has been tough, not just on tv.com. I was able to put my computer back up last night but it'll be short lived as there's a problem with the carpet as it's got a big stain across it where they think it got wet. Unless they can get it out we'll be having it laid again which means even more inconvenience.

As Friday seems to be social networking day on my blog, I guess it won't change today. This week has been my getting to grips week for Twitter. Despite this article saying that most teenagers don't use Twitter because nobody reads them - as I have mine linked to Facebook then it makes no difference as people will read them anyway. I just think that I might as well post them on Twitter now, in the hope that in the future it'll be more mainstream where I'll already have a large back catalogue of tweets. Talking of tweets, I literally despise that term so much. It sounds so childish and not something I like to use when talking to someone else about using Twitter.

I've also been looking into which celebrities I'd like to follow but starting from scratch is hard as I can never think of anyone. Once you find one though, you can just think of people they work with, or who they're following and it builds from there. Trying to work out of they're actually the person or one of the many fake accounts is not as simple as I'd like. There's a lot of verified accounts which means they are who they say they are but it doesn't appear to be the case for everyone. Once you get one verified account though, you can pretty much safely assume whoever they're following are legitimate as well. Probably my favourite celebrity so far is Neil Patrick Harris who only joined a couple of days ago yet already has 127k followers!

In gaming, this week saw a ton of new updates for the Xbox, especially for me seeing as I couldn't download them for the last couple of weeks. First up was the integration of Sky TV on the Xbox. I had thought it was a pointless idea as it's expensive and only has a few channels. I didn't realise though that if you already have Sky multiroom or Sky broadband, then it's free. As we were in the process of changing internet companies, I wish I'd known that as I'd definitely have gone to Sky rather than taking the free router and half price cut that our current company offered us to stay. It's not worth paying for on it's own as it's not that good an offer.

This week's updates are more interesting though with Facebook, Twitter, last.fm, and Zune HD coming to Xbox. Working backwards - Zune doesn't interest me at all. From what I can tell it's just a way of renting films which I thought you could do anyway? I really like the last.fm update as it's good quality music for nothing. I had hoped that you'd be able to stream the music into games like you can if you just save it to your hard drive. As you can't, it's basically pointless as I'm not likely to have my Xbox on just to listen to music. I have a stereo and a laptop with wifi if I want music. The latter can get last.fm just fine anyway. Twitter is actually my least favourite of the new updates (not counting Zune as that's not worth mentioning) as I can tweet much quicker from my phone and I can see no other benefit. As expected, Facebook is my favourite as I like the idea of big screen photos and being able to read status updates. The latter actually seem easier to read and less cluttered than the home page on the internet version. The one big thing that the Xbox version brings is the ability to see Facebook friends on LIVE and vice versa. I've seen a few people (only a few as nobody has really combined the two yet) that I didn't know have 360s that I can now add as friends. The LIVE to Facebook friends is no big deal as I don't really have any friends on LIVE as it is.

On tv.com, with my internet back up I shall get back to moderating submissions and updating my guides this weekend. This week's tv.com UK podcast should be a good one with the Doctor Who special, the Dollhouse cancellation, and Studio 60 are the main topics for this edition. Even better, I get a mention this week! I can assume it was for my Studio 60/30 Rock comment but I don't actually know yet.

As for TV, I've watched:

Criminal Minds 'The Performer'. Yet another show jumping on the vampire bandwagon and probably my least favourite of all of them so far.
Brothers & Sisters 'The Wine Festival' proved that this season is getting pretty good again. This stories aren't anything special but none of the episodes are ever bad and they seem to have found the balance and none of the characters annoy me any more.
The Office 'Murder'. That was such a strange episode, the murder game seemed to drag on for ages and nothing really happened. Not sure what I think to this season yet.
Gossip Girl 'The Last Days of Disco Stick'. GG just seems to be doing whatever it can to get ratings - same sex kisses in two different episodes catering to very different audiences, and now Lady GaGa makes an appearance. I'm not complaining but I just wish they'd make it less obvious!
Heroes 'Brother's Keeper' and I really hope that it doesn't get cancelled. They just seem to be getting back to the overall Heroes storyline bringing, Coyote Sands back into it has really got my attention. I had though that Samuel was the guy in charge of everything but it looks like his brother has some control over him. Then there's the Sylar-Parkman-Nathan thing going on so it's just awesome at the minute.
Burn Notice 'Season Two'. After having seen two seasons now, I'm pleased to say that Sam and Fiona are now safe from my wrath as they've been far better in season two. I love the whole 'burn notice' thing, it's not the main focus of a lot of episodes but it just means there's something to tie everything together at the end.
Flashpoint 'Season Two'. Unlike Burn Notice it didn't really improve for season two but then season one was pretty good anyway. Each episode is pretty similar but it's just so intense and interesting that I just don't care how similar they are!
Curb Your Enthusiasm 'Season Three'. By far the best of the three seasons so far! Episodes 3 and 4 were just brilliant with the pubic hair stuck in his throat and the impromptu swearing fest in the restaurant that ended one of the episodes. It's still a strange show that doesn't often go anywhere, but I am finding that some of the stuff Larry comes out with makes sense rather than him just being awkward!

Good - Brothers & Sisters 'The Wine Festival', It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia 'Mac and Dennis Break Up', Gossip Girl 'The Last Days of Disco Stick', Sanctuary 'Fragments', Parks and Recreation 'The Camel', Heroes 'Brother's Keeper', Sons of Anarchy 'Service'.

Indifferent - Accidentally On Purpose 'The Third Man', The New Adventures of Old Christine 'Nuts', Ugly Betty 'Backseat Betty', The Office 'Murder', Dexter 'Roadkill', The Cleveland Show 'Ladies' Night', Family Guy 'Quagmire's Baby', Castle 'Love Me Dead', Melrose Place 'Cahuenga'.

Bad - Criminal Minds 'The Performer', Lie To Me 'Black Friday', Two and a Half Men 'Gorp. Fnark. Schmegle.', American Dad 'Shallow Vows', 90210 'To Thine Own Self Be True'.

My album for the day is Guilty Pleasure by Ashley Tisdale.

My shuffle song for the day is 'Feeling Good' by Muse.

My thing to ponder for today is: After eating, do amphibians have to wait one hour before getting out of the water?

Afternoon people! Rain on Saturday, rain on Monday, fine on Sunday= perfect...

Over the weekend I made an attempt at getting my internet sorted. I'd decided to switch companies and move onto O2 broadband as it's cheaper seeing as my phone is with them, and they were also going to give us a free wireless router which is what I wanted seeing as that appears to be the problem at the minute. After ringing up to cancel with Tiscali, they basically offered us the same package as O2 just to stay with them. It just makes me wonder why people would ever settle for the contract they originally signed. Obviously you have to wait out the contract length but once it ends, if you aren't fussed about changing provider, you might as well ring up just to get a better deal. At worst you'll have to cancel it but get a cheaper rate with the current pricing, and at best you'll get a far better deal for no reason.

Yesterday we were back to our winning ways although only slightly. We drew 4-4 on sets which was quite an achievement after being 1-3 down after the first pairings. The guy I played with is one of the best players I've ever played with but he's quite lazy and very up and down. The first set he barely got a ball in and for the first time ever I was carrying him! We ended up losing the set 7-6 on a tie break even though we should've won. The second set against them was very different as we took it 6-1. Our other pair played the stronger opposition and lost both sets which got me worried as it was my regular partner who is far better than me! We swapped over and played the other pair and easily took the first set to my surprise. The second went the other way and we lost. The other pair got both which we should've done so we got a winning draw as we won 39-36 on games.

In gaming, it's almost too hard to fit everything into a couple of paragraphs that I've done on Bully: SE over the weekend. I'm now up to 26% overall after exactly 10 hours of gaming which isn't too bad. I've also only completed 22 out of the 76 missions so it looks like I'm in for a long one! Admittedly I spent most of this weekend working through all the side mission achievements and I've only got the bike races left to do now, as well as the one remaining go kart mission that requires the whole map to be open. My one minor gripe is how easy the side missions are. The lawn mowing ones are hardly worth the time they take up and the paper route gives you too much time to complete it in.

Now that I've completed chapter one the town has opened up so that's added a whole new perspective as time management becomes even harder. I've completely finished a few of the lessons now which means I don't have to turn up and I won't get chased for truancy. The Geography classes are almost impossible not to cheat on unless you know where everything is on a map. The second lesson asks you to put flags on US states with little to no help and being from the UK I literally don't have a clue. I'm almost through chapter two I think and I read the chapter three is the long one so I'd like to be ready to tackle that next weekend. I'm hoping I can get everything out of the way apart from the main missions and a few lessons so I can really crack on with those.

On tv.com, if someone could take a look at Ugly Betty, Gary Unmarried, America's Funniest Home Video, and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition for new episodes I'd be very grateful. Without internet I'm not really able to keep these up to date as I only seem to have time to write my blog offline and then post it whenever I can get access to the web...

As for TV, I've watched:

Fringe 'Of Human Action'. After a rubbish episode last week I thought it was a lot better this week. On the whole this season is better than the last one. Walter is his usual funny self, Olivia is a lot less painful to watch, and the cases aren't half as complicated as they have been in the past.
Glee 'Wheels'. Despite the lack of many musical numbers, this was probably one of the strongest episodes so far this season. Focusing a bit more on the secondary characters was nice as there's a good array of cast members so there's no real need to pick 'stars' in Glee's case.
Gary Unmarried 'Gary and Allison's Friend'. It's been a pretty steady season so far with some average episodes that make you laugh but don't really do a lot else. This one seemed to have a good story with it as well which is a bonus.
The Cleveland Show 'Cleveland Jr.'s Cherry Bomb'. Slowly but surely the episodes seem to be getting better although it has a long way to go to match up to other animated comedies. Cleveland Jnr is by far the best character and not counting Cleveland, I don't think I really like anyone else.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia 'A Very Sunny Christmas'. My first Christmas special of the season isn't exactly the sort of show to make you feel festive and ready for Christmas! It was just brilliant though - from attacking Santa, to the Christmas 'tradition' of going round to houses and taking neighbours' presents, to my particular highlight - Frank coming out of a sofa completely naked as if to re-enact the birth of a baby. Why? Who knows but that's what makes the show so brilliant!
Rita Rocks 'Mother and Child Reunion' and 'Anchors Aweigh'. So the pregnancy hasn't taken over as much as I thought it would at this stage. It's there to get a couple of extra laughs out of but it hasn't become the central story too much. Rita's mother is a bit annoying as I'm not very fond of the actor. I didn't really like her in Pushing Daisies and the same applies here.
Community 'Debate 109'. I'm finding that at the minute I'm not fussed either way about watching the show. Sometimes I think it's really good and other times I wonder why I'm watching. This one was a little of both as not a lot seemed to happen except for another possible romance. Forgive me if I don't get excited by more sexual tension in a supposed comedy.

Good - It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia 'A Very Sunny Christmas', Fringe 'Of Human Action', Gary Unmarried 'Gary and Allison's Friend', American Dad 'Man in the Moonbounce', House 'Known Unknowns', The Mentalist 'Red Bulls', The Cleveland Show 'Cleveland Jr.'s Cherry Bomb'.

Indifferent - Community 'Debate 109', 30 Rock 'The Problem Solvers', Rita Rocks 'Mother and Child Reunion' and 'Anchors Aweigh', The Office 'Double Date'.

Bad - The Vampire Diaries 'History Repeating', Two and a Half Men 'Untainted by Filth', FlashForward 'Playing Cards with Coyote'.

My album for the day is Rated R by Rihanna.

My shuffle song for the day is 'Am I Reaching You Now' by Train.

My thing to ponder for today is: If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?

Afternoon people! Still no internet and still no time…

It's been a really frustrating week this week as I just haven't had time to do anything and I've got a lot to get done! I had tennis Monday and Tuesday nights, Wednesday we went to see some friends before they go on holiday, and then last night college was another incredibly late finish meaning by the time I got home I was basically done in. Speaking of college, I'm starting to wonder whether I should've kept my money and just walked away because I'm just not learning anything. Even worse is that one of the teachers was 15 minutes late to a lesson and then barely stayed with us for the duration of the lesson. We actually got so bored we actually went off to look for the new Call of Duty game! Plus I just really don't want to do all the assignments that come with each subject as I don't have the time like I used to. I'll see how it goes though as I've already paid for the course so I can't really back out now I wouldn't think.

Over the past week I've been trying to get into Twitter as it's something that appeals to me but seems like too much effort has to be put in. After some advice on how to use it from jekyll and some research into the best iphone apps, I've started using it the last couple of days. After working out how to connect it to Facebook so that it updates my status – using Twitter is actually a much speedier way of doing it using the right app. I do like to write a lot though so condensing it to 140 characters is a bit of a struggle. To use Twitter properly I think I'd have to unlink it to Facebook as it would involve far too many updates for a FB page. I'm just using it as a quicker way to post a status update and maybe posting a couple extra a day at most. There's no reason to not do it as I'd put it on FB anyway so might as well have it on Twitter as well.

The only problem I have with Twitter is that it seems to be like a massive expanse of people but you'll never really find your actual friends on there. It has a Bebo feel to me in that you don't need to use your real name so is hard to find friends unlike Facebook. It seems to be more about following people/celebrities to read their updates rather than doing your own. As it stands, if my Twitter wasn't linked to FB then jekyll would be the only one reading my posts and I'm not really sure how to get more followers easily.

In gaming, as my efforts to find a cheap copy of COD: MW 2 went without reward, I have continued on with Bully which is pretty damn good. As with all sandbox games it's pretty overwhelming at first to get your head round but once you get used to it, there's a wealth of options to keep you entertained. The way I've approached it is to take on the lessons first as those provide you with rewards and upgrades to help you with the missions. Some of the lessons are pretty fun and some are just downright hard and require some actual intelligence. I've spent around 6 hours I'd say on the game and have only completed 8% which I'm hoping once I crack on with the missions, that'll shoot up as I'll be playing it forever if not! I've done a few of the missions and it really is just like GTA in a school. The graphics are fairly decent but aren't proper 360 standard since they're just PS2 graphics given a makeover rather than being designed for the current gen consoles.

On tv.com, without any proper internet at home I'm not really keeping up to date like I should be. I came the closest I've come to not keeping in line with the 7 day sub moderation rule, but I just about managed it. There seems to have been a fair few chats going on this week and I've missed all of them! This week's tv.com podcast includes The Thick of It, Doctor Who and Nip/Tuck, so if you any of those shows then make sure you listen to it later today.

As for TV, I've watched:

Mad Men 'Shut the Door. Have a Seat'. Thank god that the show is over for another season. I'd stop watching it but I'm too invested in it now! Why people rave about the show I just don't know. It's boring, an uninteresting cast, and an un-likeable setting, make this a no no for me really. The final episode was better than the others as something different happened for a change with a major shake up.
Bored To Death 'Take A Dive'. Another show that I'm glad to see the back of. I'm surprised it got picked up for a second season seeing how boring it is. After an excellent pilot I just thought it got worse with every episode that aired. I still like the two guys but the supporting cast leaves a lot to be desired.
Heroes 'Shadowboxing'. Another pretty good episode, and things seem to be shaping up nicely. Samuel is finally coming into the spotlight more now that he's meeting up with the main stars, Parkman and Sylar's scenes are still the shows highlight, and although he's probably my favourite character – I'm not entirely sure what they're trying to achieve with Peter. His scenes never really seem to lead to anything and are pretty dull.
Gossip Girl 'They Shoot Humphreys, Don't They?' It really seems like they're desperate to get better ratings this season. Another same sex kiss within a couple of weeks seems like a low tactic to increase viewers. The season so far is definitely better than the last one in terms of variety, but it's not the best in terms of actually hooking me back in for the next episode.
Sons Of Anarchy 'Balm'. After seeing it was an extended episode I was expecting a big exciting episode but it was basically more of the same which isn't that much. It's been getting good reviews so far this season but I'm failing to see why.
The Big Bang Theory 'The Guitarist Amplification'. Finally back to its best I would think. Penny had a great episode, Sheldon was hilarious, and Leonard was more entertaining than usual.
Accidentally On Purpose 'The Godfather'. By far the worst new comedy I've started this season. It has its funny moments but isn't even close to the quality of the comedies that surround it on a Monday night. I think I'd go as far as saying I prefer Parks and Recreation which is saying A LOT. I don't even know the main character's name, that's how little attention I pay to it.
Family Guy 'Family Guy Presents: Seth & Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show'. Maybe you need to be American to get the most out of this but I barely understood anything that was going on. Seeing them perform as the characters live was pretty cool but some of the references I just didn't find funny.
Family Guy 'Hannah Banana'. So, has the evil monkey finally moved on or will we see more of him?! I didn't really like the whole talking monkey thing as it kinda ruins the whole effect that it had since pretty much the beginning. I did find his explanation of why he always looked angry and pointed but that's about it…
Curb Your Enthusiasm 'Season Two'. After two seasons I still don't know what to make of it! Sometimes I think it can be really good, especially when Larry gets into completely irrational arguments. His wife is one of my least favourite characters as she just grates on me and I find her completely annoying. Sometimes I wonder why he stays with her, not the other way around…

Good – Mad Men 'Shut the Door. Have a Seat', The Big Bang Theory 'The Guitarist Amplification', 90210 'Women's Intuition', Heroes 'Shadowboxing'.

Indifferent – Brothers & Sisters 'The Wig Party', Dexter 'SlackTide', Bored To Death 'Take A Dive', Family Guy 'Hannah Banana', Lie To Me 'Lack of Candor', Melrose Place 'Cahuenga'.

Bad – Family Guy 'Family Guy Presents: Seth & Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show', Accidentally On Purpose 'The Godfather', Gossip Girl 'They Shoot Humphreys, Don't They?', Sons Of Anarchy 'Balm'.

My album for the day is Against All Odds by Ndubz.

My shuffle song for the day is 'White Horse' by Taylor Swift.

My thing to ponder for today is: If a turtle loses its shell, is it naked or homeless?