Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 23rd July 2025.

23rd July, 2025.

Sadly, I have a habit: of buying albums in sad circumstances.

I bought Bowie’s Blackstar, when I heard about his death.

I bought Prince’s Purple Rain, when he died.

You can see what’s coming, can’t you?

I bought a copy of Black Sabbath, last night.

Because?

The band’s lead singer, Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness himself, died.

I’ve got to admit, I was never a huge fan.

But he, and the band he fronted, were — like Bowie, Prince, Madonna, Springsteen, Elvis, the Beatles and a handful of others — made at least one song that you’re doing to love.

In my case, the Madonna one is “Dear Jessie”: no one else could’ve got away with that.

Ozzy?

Was one of those acts.

He died, yesterday: after doing his final concert only a few weeks ago.

The man was a legend*.

~≈✝️≈~

Hmmm … 

The other thing the Today programme’s been discussing?

For less time than Ozzy’s death?

Is the old idea of a digital identity.

I’m not sure quite what the government’s planning on that front: but know it’s been discussed for some time.

My one concern?

Is simply this: will people need a smart-phone to use aspects of any planned scheme?

I think that will be an issue: as many will be unable to afford one, let alone able to use one.

Indeed there’s going to be people unable to afford one, unable to use one … or unable, for various reasons, even to read the on-screen text.

I think any proposed digital ID scheme will need to address this, right from the start.

~≈📱≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 23rd July 2024.

23rd July, 2024.

Right … 

It’s both Tuesday, and pay day!

And the day I’m due at Basildon Hospital for some blood tests.

This afternoon.

I’m going to have to be quick, in Brentwood High Street.

I want to make sure I catch the transport to Basildon!

~≈É≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 23rd July, 2023.

23rd July, 2023.

Yet: it’s Sunday.

The day after I’ve released a review of “Lost in Translation”, the most recent episode of Star Trek Strange New Worlds.

Happily thinking the next episode — “Those Old Scientists” — would be on Thursday.

It’s not.

It got released, yesterday.

Paramount DOES like to surprise people … !

~≈🖖≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 23-7-2022 — Egypt

23rd July, 2022

I got paid, yesterday: for which I am truly thankful.

I seriously need food shopping!

Including fruit, loo roll … and milk.

I’m onto my last bottle: as the one I was getting to the end of … went off.

I thought it tasted iffy.   But the last mug of tea I got out off it?   Had lumps.

Frankly?

I’m blaming Tuesday!

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 23rd July, 2021.

23rd July, 2021.

It’s officially official: I’ve more meetings, today.

Well, I say meetings: one’s the training course I’ve been on, the othe, a phone meeting with my new — and Basildon based — Work Coach.

My Job Centre case worker, in other words.

That, and the fact it’s payday … ?

Means I’m due to be running about a lot.

Running about: with earworms.   I woke up to The Quartermasters Stores, which shifted to If I Were a Rich Man … 

And then transformed into the background music to Tetris.

Oy … vey … 

~≈Ê≈~

JUST as a final thought thought … ?

You’ve possibly realised I’m something of a Dune fan.

The novel’s been on my bookshelves for much of my life.

So the upcoming film … ?   Is definitely of interest.

The main trailer?   Got released in the UK, yesterday.

OK: I don’t know it makes the film look as texturally authentic as I’d like.

But it does make it look good.

~≈Ê≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 23-7-2020: Other Worlds

23rd July, 2020

Yes … 

Stuff is — to coin a phrase — happening … 

Ish … 

Um … 

Right at the moment?

It’s a sweaty Thursday morning, and the interview the local station did with me, gets broadcast just after nine: you can listen live, here.

You can also listen to it, here: I owe PhoenixFM a big thank, and Olga, as well!

Whilst hoping that I don’t sound like a gibbering idiot.   Whilst wondering why I was going to write gibbering elephant.

~≈®≈~

There’s something else … 

I’ve been signed up for a Work and Health programme by the Job Centre: run by a charity called the Shaw Trust.

My case worker’s a youngish chap who sounds keen to do well for me.

I’ve only got one minor complaint, so far.

They’ve asked if I’d like to sign up for one of a customer accounts: so I can access various resources.

The problem with that … ?

Is that you can only sign in with a Microsoft email: Microsoft’s equivalent to a Gmail account.

I don’t have one: as they only get handed out, these day … to people who buy a PC.

I’ve got three Macs, and an Android phone.

My case worker’s already admitted others have the same sort of issue: as many of their clients only have smart phones — Android or iOS — which also don’t have MS email accounts.

They’d not be able to use this.

I’m able to use it … if I sign up for a Hotmail account.

I’m not planning to.

I’m juggling three email addresses as it is, so having an extra one, purely for this one use?

When so many other digital services let you sign in with a pre-existing Gmail, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, hell, even your AppleID?

Granted, I know most charities are on a budget.

But?

Just because a charity can’t offer multiple options, means having to get an extra email account, just for this one use.

That’s pointless.

Understandably?

I’ve complained to my case worker.

If that doesn’t help, we’ll have to see what happens.

~≈®≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 23-7-2019: The Emperor

23rd July, 2019.

Yes: it’s officially pay day, today.

Or, at least, the day I get my benefit payment should wind up in my bank account.

Which basically means one thing.

Good old fashioned bill paying and food shopping.

Frankly?

Nectar points come in handy, there.

~≈§≈~

Do you mind me wurbling on about technology?

There’s — famously — a lot of controversy about Chinese tech firm, Huawei making equipment for the county’s 5g phone network.

Theresa May’s government?   Had provisionally suggested allowing the company’s investment: whilst UK phone companies asked for clarity on the subject.

Yesterday?

The government announced it was postponing any decision about Huawei’s involvement in UK infrastructure: as the company is still blacklisted by the US.

The reason I mention it?

Is simple this.

I think the government is lying to us.

I think the real reason they’s postponed it?

Is so that whoever takes over as Conservative party leader — and therefore as Prime Minister, and as a PM with a different position on the subject — can take over today.

And then decide what to do with it.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 23rd July, 2018

23rd July, 2018

Yep, I’ve got today off: and frankly?

House work beckons.

As does ironing shirts, washing pants, panicking about money, sending emails, putting teatowels on soak, and possibly a few other things.

Taking out my bin bags may be needed … 

Or possibly needful.

I don’t know, quite yet.

Either way?

I may just have to catch a movie or something.

But what’s frustrating?

I’m a bit of a fan of a few TV shows.

Dr Who, Mr Robot, American Horror Story, Stranger Things, Star Trek, Merlin … 

Quite a few.

The fact most of them don’t have new episodes dropping?

Well … 

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 23-7-2017

Hmmm … 

Have you been following the news?

If you have, you’ll know about the sad case of Charlie Gard.

Charlie has an incurable genetic condition: that means he is unlikely to live long, or well.

His parents are taking the hospital — Great Ormond Street — to court in order to keep him alive.

Great Ormond Street, on the other hand?   Feel he should be allowed to die with dignity.

It’s contentious, it’s raising passions — understandable passions — and is a legal mess with very few in the way of popular solutions.

One thing I know I’ve seen reported in the press, though?

Is that the case has drawn protests.

Which is understandable.

But it seems that hospital staff have been receiving threats: including death threats.

Personally?

I can understand the protests: although I’m not sure if I totally condone them.

I feel they’re bringing in a certain element of emotional blackmail into an already fraught situation.

Saying that … ?   I ALSO think there’s a level of behaviour in these situations that isn’t condonable.

Threatening behaviour towards hospital staff?

Is one such behaviour.

One I found on a par with the behaviour of some US anti-abortionists: who feel killing doctors who perform abortions to be a good thing.

One wrong does not necessarily make a right.

These threats?

Are a good example of exactly the sort of wrongs I mean.

~≈Ê≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 23-7-2016

Good lord … 

What HAS happened to München?

I got home, last night, to the news that a lone gunman … was active in the German city of Munich.

Germany!

The last place I’d’ve expected to hear about a wandering gunman!

Quite what was going on, there?

I really couldn’t tell you.

My sympathies are going to the families of those killed.

My thoughts … ?

Are wondering about the man’s motives … 

~≈Â≈~