Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20th November 2025.

20th November, 2025.

I have to say: I was feeling fairly chipper, for most of yesterday.

I’d found out Disney will be releasing the original, theatrical, cut of Star Wars in 4k: at least they will, going by this article.

The theatrical cut: rather than the updated ones released under George Lucas.

I’d found out that the Geldof-penned “I Don’t Like Mondays” had been released on 13th July, 1979.

Six years, to the day, before the Geldof-organised Live Aid was staged: on 13th July, 1985.

Yes: there’ll be a Teaser about the song.

I think the co-incidence will inspired a question or two.

But I also — towards the end of the day — learnt some sad news: after being contacted by Gill Veail, yesterday.

Gill … ?

Is the sister of Trevor Veail: who, famously, has commented on Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar for many years.

Has?

I should correct myself, there, and say ‘had commented’.

As Gill contacted me, yesterday, to tell me Trevor had died, yesterday evening.

I’m saddened.

~≈🪽≈~

I got to know Trevor, many years ago: when I worked at what’s now the Hutton Junction in Shenfield.

And was one of the first punters I’d served, there.

You could pretty much guarantee Trevor would be in, most lunchtimes, and ordering at least two pints of Courage Best: as he tended to favour bitters.

And managed to catch my attention, as he was impressively knowledge about Dr Who, and Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels.

And about various vintage computers: from what I knew, he’d worked on some of the first business mainframes, back in the day.

He was also one of the first people to take part in the quizzes I ran at the Hutton.

And one of the first to comment here, on Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar.

Yes.

Trevor could be a right, royal, pain in the bum, sometimes.

He got barred from the Hutton, at least once

And there’s certainly a few comments, here, that were less than polite: and got firmly deleted.

But generally?

Trevor was a warm, caring human being: which is why I tried to keep in touch with him, in his last days.

He’d had a fall, at home, a few months ago: and had some hard to treat leg ulcers, and cataracts, as a result of diabetes.

I’m also reminded Trevor told me, many years ago, that he’d been diagnosed with some form of autism.

Which possibly added to his struggles.

I couldn’t even tell you if he was able to read those letters, at the end.

But … ?

They were sent: which is possibly the point.

I tried to make sure I kept in touch with someone I saw as a friend.

I’m very aware the world’s a worse place for his loss.

RIP, Trevor.

~≈🪽≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 19-11-2025 — O Milésimo

19th November, 2025: O Milésimo.

Hmmm … 

I was online, yesterday.

Which you’d possibly guessed.

I was online, after posting the day’s Teaser: trying to answer a question on Quora.

When I got this message;

Quite what happened there?

I didn’t know.

But I was getting the same sort of message from X, DownDetector, and a few other sites.

I was getting those messages from those sites in every browser on my computer.

And getting them after restarting my computer, twice, and restarting my router.

What I did find, after checking with the BBC’s news site?

Was that Cloudflare, the infrastructure provider the sites used to connect to the ’net, was having issues.

Something known as a configuration file had stopped working correctly: and was causing problems with Cloudflare’s security checks.

And refusing to connect people as a result.

The panic is now officially over.

Until the next time this happens … … 

~≈🗂️≈~

Just as a thought … ?

You’re probably very aware the opening episodes of The War Between the Land and the Sea is due to start airing on the 7th December: at least, start airing in the UK, on 7th December.

The BBC have since announced that an edited version of The Sea Devils — the Dr Who story that introduced the creatures — will also air on the 7th.

Yes, I am going to watch that.

But it’ll probably go on the back burner.

December’s looking busy … 

~≈🗂️≈~

Just as a last thought … ?

Can I persuade you an AI-generated, football playing Dalek is something you want … ?

OK, maybe not … 

~≈🗂️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18th November 2025 (Six Questions)

18th November, 2025: Six Questions.

I’ve noticed a news piece from the BBC’s news site.

One that tells us car thieves are using expensive bits of kit to steal cars.

You’d possibly guessed something like that was happening, hadn’t you?

Me, too.

According to the article?

The devices work by hi-jacking the signal from the car’s electronic keys — at longer ranger than you’d expect — then using it to open the cars doors.

And, apparently?

The things are being sold on the dark web for at least £20, 000.

No: I don’t want one, before you ask.

For starters, I don’t drive: so stealing a car is a bit stupid!

And?

The piece tells us the government is planning to outlaw these things.

Which probably won’t stop sales of the things: just put the price up.

The reason I mention it?

Is a personal belief.

That the devices were originally sold for legal purposes.

To allow mechanics to get you into your car if you lost the key: or for the engineers or sales staff, to set the car up for a new buyer.

I’m guessing it’s only later that a clever criminal has thought “That’s handy, Harry.   Stick it in the oven!”

Am I right … ?

I don’t know.

But if I am, it’s a very good example of an old line of William Gibson’s.

“… the street finds its own uses for things.”

“Burning Chrome”.

~≈🔑≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 17th November 2025.

17th November, 2025.

It’s official: it’s Monday morning.

And … ?

It’s off to my weight management class I go.

And, given the weather forecast’s told me it’s going to be cold?

I had a look at the weather forecast for today.

I think I’m going to need a jumper … 

~≈🥶≈~

I have to admit, I watch stuff on Youtube.

Granted, there’s only so many talking heads I can watch … but one video caught my eye, last night.

This one.

That tells how many people have taken to video piracy in the wake of a splintered streaming market.

How — given streaming services are becoming ever more fractured, and expensive — people are turning to other ways of watching content.

And how, given how streaming sites are removing content, many pirates see themselves are archivists, as a result.

Personally?

I can’t say I was surprised by what the video was telling me: especially the bit that says many pirates see themselves as archivists.

Given that An Unearthly Child, the first Doctor Who story, is still not available on iPlayer?

That there’s few other ways of watching these shows, other than pirate copies?

Are you surprised?

~≈🏴‍☠️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16th December 2025.

16th November, 2025.

Right then … I am expecting to have a quiet day, today: happily making videos.

And — possibly — getting some sleep: I was up, late, babysitting my nephew.

Who was interested to that games company, Valve, has introduced its own games console: one that doubles up as a regular PC.

Albeit one running SteamOS, rather than Windows.

We’ll have to see if that catches his attention … 

~≈🚂≈~