Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 14th July 2025

14th July, 2025.

At the moment … ?

I have a high definition, commercially-produced, blu-ray: in an optical drive just to my immediate right.

Copying, before you ask, with MakeMKV: so that, later on, I can re-code the copy with HandBrake.

When I first tried ripping this particular disc?

I got extremely noisy whining from the drive: whining that told me that the mix of hardware and software was having issues reading the disc.

It’s a very distinct noise: similar to, but quieter than, a dentist drill going through a tooth.

Thankfully?

The old trick — washing the disc in war, soapy, water — seems to have helped.

The disc is copying as we speak.

We’re going to have to see how this goes … 

~≈📀≈~

The fact I’m doing that?

Is possibly going to raise questions: especially for newer readers.

“Can I do that?” is going to be the main one.

Yes you can: given the right mix of software and hardware.

The other is “Am I allowed to do that?”

That’s a grey area.

If I’ve understood things correctly, the answer is “No”.

But also “Yes: given the right circumstances”.

I believe there was an old bit of UK law — or possibly regulation — that allowed you to copy a vinyl record you owned to cassette, purely for personal use.

You wanted to listen to the LP on the car stereo, or on a personal cassette player: but you couldn’t sell copies, or give them away.

I believe that could apply here, as a precedent: I’m making a copy purely for personal use.

But I don’t know if that would hold up in a court of law.

So long as the disc copies?

I’m not going to worry too much … !

~≈👮🏼≈~

Let’s move on.


Yesterday’s Teaser saw Mum*, Olga† and Debbi‡ putting in their answers: with everyone scoring five out of five.


Let’s see how everyone does with today’s questions, shall we?

Here it is, along with the How To, License and video.

Q1)        14th July is Bastille Day.   Where: France, the USA or Germany?

Q2)        14th July is International what day: International Non-Binary People’s Day, International Transexual People’s Day or International Transgendered People’s Day?

Q3)        14th July is the feast day of Saint Deusdedit of Canterbury.   The Diocese of Canterbury is in which English county: Essex, Kent or Surrey?

Q4)        John Keble will be marked with a Lesser Festival on 14th July.   By which church: the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of England or the Church of the Tin Vagabond?

Q5)        Finally … ?   The George Washington Carver National Monument opens on 14th July, 1943.   The park it’s part of is in which US state?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1)        The original Live Aid concert took place: on 13th July, 1985.   On which day of the week: Friday, Saturday or Sunday?
A1)        Saturday.

Q2)        The concert raised money: to aid which African nation?
A2)        Ethiopia.

Q3)        The concert was set up after the release of a charity single by Band Aid: a single that raised money for the same cause.   What was the single called: “We Are The World”, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” or “The Stonk”?
< A3)        “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”.   (“The Stonk” was the fair better single.)

Q4)        Which band re-united for the concert: the Beatles, the Rolling Stones or Led Zeppelin?
A4)        Led Zeppelin.   (The band’s performance was criticised as the worst on the day: and has never been released on the Live Aid DVDs.   The surviving members blamed Phil Collins, who replaced Jon Bonham, the band’s original drummer.   Collins blamed Robert Plant and Jimmy Page.)

Q5)        Finally … ?   The British end of the concert finished at 21:57.   With which song: “We Are The World”, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” or “The Stonk”?
A5)        “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”.

Here’s a thought …

“If I like the role, I'll just do it. I don’t care how small it is.   There are no small parts.   You know that old saying, right?   There are only small actors.”
Harry Dean Stanton. July 14, 1926 – September 15, 2017.

And a song by Bastille …

The next ten question set takes place tomorrow: it’s about the Northwest Territories.

Comments will be published, tomorrow morning.

Today’s questions will be answered in tomorrow’s Teaser.

Decisions about scores are final.

Thank you for coming: have a good day.

*        Hello, Mum!

†        I take your point, Olga.   I think Thomas Edison was another like Elon, and Steve Jobs, as well: the three have a knack for recognising good ideas, rather than having them, themselves.   And both Jobs and Edison, had a knack for getting their names on the patents.

        But, yeah: there’s a lot of differing ideas, around, about what can be induced, isn’t there?   But, now you’ve mentioned subliminal messages?   This is possibly a good time to remind you of the Judas Priest case … … 

        I’d imagine you’re right about the colour of umbrellas: I have the impression white clothes are considered good summer colours, as they reflect more light …

‡        The Ooo … ?   That’s possibly an excuse for a tea advert, Debbi …