Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 3rd January 2026

3rd January, 2026.

I took photos, earlier: just so I could show you something.

Yes: my street’s had official snow!

Which looked nice, but felt cold!

On the upside … ?

I — like others — have been officially told I’m to receive a twenty-five pound Cole Weather Payment: one that will take five working days to go through.

The sooner it does, the happier I’ll be … !

~≈🥶≈~

I’ve mentioned, over the past couple of days, the issues I’ve had with my Mac.

An issue with Spotlight seemed to be causing overheating: especially with any number of Pages documents, open.

I attempted to death with it by emptying the caches in the ~/Library/Metadata/Corespotlightfolder.

So far?

That seems to have worked: although I’ve not tried recording video with many Pages documents open.

The one remaining time I’ve had an issue?

Is when using Finder to access my external drives.

Although that only seemed to cause issues, once.

So far?

So good.

But I have a workaround, if needed: and a rough idea — moving my Pages documents from iCloud — of more things I could try.

If needed.

~≈📄≈~

On a related theme?

When diagnosing the corespotlightd issue, I had to restart my Mac in Safe Mode: the mode that turns off extraneous extensions, and disables third-party apps.

To do that on an Apple Silicon Mac, you need to:

• Turn off your Mac.
• Press and hold the power button until the options screen comes up.
• Select your start up disc.
• Press Shift (⇧) to display the ‘Continue in Safe Mode’ button.

Bear in mind I have a Mac keyboard with two Shift keys, one at each end of the relevant row: and that I’m left-handed.

But, like everyone else, I use my off-hand to press Shift.

My right hand, in my case.

So … ?

Pressing the Shift key, the right Shift key, did nothing.

It wasn’t until I thought to try the left Shift key, that I got the ‘Continue in Safe Mode’ message, and was able to proceed.

I swore, a lot.

And am still a touch annoyed about that.

Yes: I know the regular, shorter, Mac keyboards have one Shift key, and that it’s placed on the left to make it accessible to the right handed majority.

But not everyone’s a north paw.

Apple could possibly re-think that bit of design: or update the Logic board!

~≈👎≈~

As I write … ?

Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, is being bombed.

No-one had said why: although CBS News tells us that the 47th President of the USA has ordered it.

It wouldn’t surprise me: given the actions the President has ordered on Venezuelan shipping.

There’s possibly a lot we can say, there.

For a start?

The President is a blatant, two-faced, hypocrite.

Taking military action, military action of possibly dubious legality, whilst trying to broker peace deals between Ukraine and Russia, and between Israel and Hamas.

I know we expect lies and hypocrisy from world leaders.

But … ?

The 47th President is pushing the boat out, along side dropping bombs.

~≈💣≈~

Let’s move on.


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


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

Here they are, along with the How To, License and video.

Q1)        The state of Alaska joins the USA on the 3rd January.   Of which year of the 1950s?

Q2)        J. R. R. Tolkien was born on 3rd January.   Of which year of the 1890s?

Q3)        Pope Leo 10th authorised the publication of Decet Romanum Pontificem: on 3rd January, 1521.   It saw the excommunication of whom: Martin Luther, Martin Luther King or Elizabeth 1st?

Q4)        3rd January, 1962, saw Pope John 23rd excommunicate a famous communist.   Which communist: Che Guevara, Fidel Castro or Joseph Stalin?

Q5)        Finally … ?   The Battle of Núi Bop started on 3rd January, 1885.   The battle formed part of a war between France and where: China, Indochina or Japan?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        The fourth state to ratify the US Constitution, did so on 2nd January.   Of which year of the 1780s?

A1)        1788.

Q2)        The Stardust probe collected material from Wild 2: on 2nd January, 2004.   Wild 2 (pronounced ‘vilt’) is a what: comet, meteor or black hole … ?

A2)        Comet.

Q3)        In the UK, 2nd January, 1980, saw who go on strike: coal miners, Marchant sailors or steel workers?

A3)        Steel workers.

Q4)        Charlie Davies was born on 2nd January, 1944.   He played cricket, internationally, for whom: Australia, England or the West Indies?

A4)        The West Indies.

Q5)        Finally … ?   Christy Turlington was born on 2nd January, 1969.   She’s one of a handful of women known as what: supermodels, wonder-bras or power ponies?

A5)        Supermodels.

Here’s a thought …

“You will be judged by what you succeed at gentlemen, not by what you attempt.”

Clement Attlee, 3 January 1883 – 8 October 1967.

And a comedy sketch from Victor Borge …

The next ten question set is on 10th January: it’s about TinTin.

Your comments, and today’s answers, will be published in tomorrow’s Teaser.

AI is avoided when writing these questions.

Answers are as accurate as possible: at the time of writing.

Decisions about scores are final.

Thank you for coming: have a good day.

*        Hello, Mum!   (It was a comet, and the Windies, Mum: rather than a meteor and Australia!)

†        So far, it’s holding out, Olga.   But I think force clearing those cache folders when an update’s installed, could be useful!

        Yep: I could access the photo, Olga: on Twitter, that is.   I’m not sure I could access the full-fat site, though … 

        We’ll see you when we see you … !

‡        Well … it’s holding up, Debbi: but I have an alternative to try, if nothing else.

        Oh, how’s The War Between the Land and the Sea looking … ?   (And did I mention I have the Season thirteen bluray?   Tom Baker’s second season?   There’s an impressive amount of extras …)