Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 26-1-2025 — Australia Day.

26th January, 2025: Australia Day.

Hmmm … 

It’s Sunday … and … ?

Frankly, I’m expecting it to be a quiet day.

Well, unless I get a sudden attack of visitors!

At any rate … ?

I’m not expecting mush to happen: bar finishing off a film review.

I caught Star Trek: Section 31, last night.

And it’s a lot of fun!

~≈🖖≈~

Hmmm … again … 

It looks like Sony — who did a lot of the work to develop the concept — are to stop producing recordable Blu-ray discs.

I don’t use many of them, myself.

But … ?

I’m a little concerned about the potential knock-on effects: less films, games and TV shows being published to physical media.

That’s a concern because of the licensing situation.

Basically?

You buy a film on bluray — I’ve got a copy of the original Bladerunner coming, for example — and it’s yours for the life of that disc.

However long that is: yes, that life is limited, but I’ve had CDs for some twenty/thirty years that are still as useable as when I first bought them.

They last.

They’re yours.

If you ‘buy’ a digital copy from a streaming service?

It’s yours: but for the time the streaming service has licensed it*.

You could buy a film from Amazon Prime, today: and ‘own’ it for life … until Amazon takes it down from their service, tomorrow morning …

When their license runs out.

Sony stopping production of recordable Blu-ray discs … ?

Only encourages this.

~≈📀≈~

Relic — A Review

6th August, 2020.

Right … I have to confess to being in a funny mood, last night.

Which, frankly?

Is when I filmed that video.

Frankly?   I wanted to watch a movie: and had one lined up.

Courtesy of a Facebook group I belong to, called Horror Movie Maniacs.

They were having a watch party.

And, while the technology would work on my set up, it wasn’t exactly what you call perfect.

So I managed to get a copy through other sources.

I have to confess, though I was in a funny mood, last night: so only actually got through half of the film.

I do know this, though.

For starters … ?   I’ve boiled vegetables on both nights.

Secondly?   I’ve seen the rest of the film.

Thirdly?

Yes: Relic is interesting.

~≈®≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 13-5-2018: The First Fleet.

13th May, 2018.

Yep: yesterday’s Teaser saw me giving Israeli Eurovision entry — Toy, by Netta — a mention.

Mostly because it was cheerfully upbeat … and featured Netta’s chicken impression.

I have to admit, I thought it might well.    As well as the LAST surprise oddity I saw on the contest: the Finnish winer from a few years ago, Lordi.

If you’re going to go over the top?   Chicken impressions, or dressing up as orcs, seems to be a winner.

The UK could possibly do with a hint, there.

Hairy protestors getting involved does NOT seem to help: although you have to give SuRie credit for grace under glitter covered fire. … !

We ended up 24th: out of 26 …

Thinking about it?

He might have helped … 

~≈†≈~

Just as a minor point?

I don’t know about you, but series killer always used to fascinate me, when I was younger.

I think that was probably a result of interest in Jack the Ripper.

One that caught my eye was Dennis Nilsen: by his own admission, and up unto then?   Britain’s most prolific serial killer.

He died yesterday, at the age of seventy-two.

Quite how I feel about it, I don’t know.

But think the families of his victims will be glad to hear it.

Frankly?

I can’t say I blame them.

~≈†≈~

The Daily Teaser — 11-6-2015: Down Under …

Well … 

That’s something … 

If you recall, I’d run into trouble with Amazon, when they took quite a BIT of money from my account: without my realising they would do so.

They’ve since refunded it: which has allowed me to buy the stuff I was going to buy in the first place: a week after it was going to get here.

I was expecting tomorrow.

But it looks like it’ll be turning up, today.

I hope so.   I’d like to start rebuilding my collection of TV shows and photos from the few online resources I have.

Which is going to take a while … 

~≈Ò≈~

The Babadook: Wow!

2nd March, 2015.

OK …  

Do you believe the hype?

No, that’s a fairly honest question, there.

Do you believe that, if you hear something getting talked about — very favourably — that it’s something you should have a look at?

Or are you, like me, who’s prepared to take the hype with a pinch or two of salt?

I think that, at my age, a pinch of salt is usually worth having.

Sometimes, though … ?

Sometimes, it turns out favourable hype — or favourable word-of-mouth — turns out to be justified.

The film I’ve just sat and watched, tonight?

Was the 2014, Jennifer Kent directed film, The Babadook.

And yes … 

‘Wow’ is justified.   I think we can believe the hype about The Babadook.

~≈Ç≈~

The Brentwood Gazette’s Weekly Teaser — 11-6-2014: Down Under

Hmmm … 

Right … 

That’s THAT sorted … 

~≈Ç≈~

As you’ve possibly worked out from this morning’s Teaser, I’m not EXACTLY a happy bunny.

Mostly where I’ve been given the proverbial heave ho from a work placement: unsatisfactory references!

I’m STILL not a happy bunny.

But?

Well, at least I’ve been able to organise a better class of references.

I’ve been able to do something, in other words.

Right … with the rant out of the way … ?

Let’s get a shift on.

~≈Ç≈~

The Daily Teaser — 26-1-2014: Australia Day

Hang on … 

What … ?

I have to admit, I’ve got the Radio Four News on, at the moment: and something’s just caught my ear.

Seemingly … ?   It’s now illegal to buy tobacco cigarettes for under-age children: bringing the law into line with that on alcohol sales.

Which is all good.

Here’s where I’m curious.   I used to work in an off-license: a liquor store, for my US readers.

Which, as many places, ALSO sold tobacco.   As with every other shop that sold alcohol and tobacco, there were big signs around, warning both staff and customers about buying alcohol and tobacco for underage people.   (And mentioning the fines for doing so.)

Which always got me thinking that such things were already legislated against.

So hearing that … ?

Gets me, at least, wondering what’s going on … !

~≈Ì≈~

Moving on … yesterday’s teaser saw  Debbi† and the Duke* putting in their answers: with the Duke bagging sic out of six and Debbi scoring four‡.

Let’s see how they — and you — do with today’s Teaser, shall we?   Here’s the very Australian questions, along with the How To, License and video …

Q1) 26th January is Australia Day.   What’s the capital city of Australia … ?

Q2) What’s Australia’s largest city … ?

Q3) What name do Indigenous Australians give Australia Day … ?

Q4) Australia has six states, and two territories.   Name either of the territories.

Q5) Name any of the six states … 

Q6) Which Australian marsupial famously eats a heck of a lot of eucalyptus leaves … ?

Q7) The monotremes are an order of egg laying Australian mammals that include four species of Echidna, or spiny anteaters.   The only other monotreme in Australia is the duck-billed what … ?

Q8) The Hunter Valley, Margaret River and Barossa Valley are noted producers of Australian … what … ?

Q9) The (very) Australian pie floater consists of a meat pie — with a named meat, if you’re feeling posh — upside down in a bowl of soup made from what vegetable … ?

Q10) Finally … which Oscar winning Australian is also a current artistic director of the Sydney Theatre Company … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 25th January is Burns Night: celebrating the life and work of Robert Burns.   What pudding is traditionally eaten at a Burns night supper … ?

A1) Haggis.

Q2) What vegetables traditionally go with that … ?

A2) Mashed turnips and potatoes. (Also known as Neeps and tatties.)

Q3) 25th January is also the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, The Apostle.   Paul famously had his conversion on the road to which Syrian city … ?

A3) Damascus.

Q4) 25th January saw the opening of the first Winter Olympics: in Chamonix, France.   In which year of the 1920s … ?

A4) 1924.

Q5) 25th January, 1993, saw five CIA agents shot, near the CIA’s head-quarters.   In which US state is that HQ … ?

A5) Virginia.

Q6) Finally … 25th January, 2006, saw three different observation teams announce the discover of a rocky, extra-solar, what … ?

A6) An extra-solar Planet, or exoplanet: called OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb, I should add.

I’ll leave you with these lines …

“In joyful strains then let us sing,
‘Advance Australia fair!’”

From Advance, Australia Fair, the National Anthem …

And with this tune … 

Enjoy the day … 

*        Paul O, I know that’s you … !!!!!!!!!!!

†        Debbi, I read your post, saying about how some photos and hadn’t transferred: if you’ve still got the old PC, you should be able to use Migration Assistant to transfer the last ones.   If all else fails, you can stick the loose ones onto a flash memory stick and drag and drop them into your iPhoto library.

‡        I’d not worry too much, Debbi: haggis is fairly obscure, until you first come across it … !

The Daily Teaser — 11-6-2013: In AUSTRALIA … !

Well, FINALLY … !

It looks like Apple’s finally managed to announce its updated MacBook Air — which I frankly wouldn’t say no to, in case anyone’s got some spare cash for an enthusiastically hard working blogger* — and its MacPro tower.

Which Apple† are saying is it will be it’s fastest ever product: but we’ll have to wait and see, I think.

Although, personally … ?

I’m not saying no to one of THOSE, either … !   Welcome to the Cult of Mac.

Ahem … !

‹‹~››

Moving on, yesterday’s Teaser: along with admitting she’s thinking of buying a Mac‡, she also bagged six out of six.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with todays questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video … 

Q1) 11th June, 1770, saw Captain Cook run aground: on which Australian landmark … ?

Q2) More to the point, off the coast of which Australian state … ?

Q3) Name any of the other seven Australian states … 

Q4) What’s the landmark made of … ?

Q5) In what year was it declared a World Heritage Landmark: 1981, 1983 or 1985 … ?

Q6) Finally … What naval rank did Cook hold, during this expedition … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 10th June, 1935 makes the founding of AA, when one founder had his last drink.   Name either of the founder members.

A1) Dr Robert Smith or stockbroker, Bill Wilson.

Q2) More to the point, what does AA stand for … ?

A2) Alcoholics Anonymous.

Q3) In which US city was it founded … ?

A3) Akron, Ohio.

Q4) How many steps does AA famously have … ?

A4) 12.

Q5) What’s the name of the second such self help group to be founded, back in 1953 … ?

A5) NA: or Narcotics Anonymous.

Q6) Finally … what’s the title of AA’s Big Book … ?

A6) Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism.

I’ll leave you with this thought from Captain JAmes Cook, himself …

“Ambition leads me not only farther than any other man has been before me, but as far as I think it possible for man to go”

Captain James Cook.

Although I suspect I suspect that, on actually running aground, his words were simpler: “Oh, BLAST!”

I’ll ALSO leave you with THIS tune: although what @BudgetDude will make of this, I really couldn’t tell you … !

Have a good day … !

*        That’s what we call a Big Hint, just in case the Money Fairy’s listening!

†        As I recall … ?   At the time of the second generation’s release, Apple made a big of one fact: that the stock machine — with none of the build to order options — was the fastest thing capable of running Windows on the market.

‡        You might want to hold on, a month or two, Debbi: along with the various upgrades to some of their product line — we’re in the midst of Apple’s World Wide Developers Conference, which is WHY they’re making the big announcements — they’ve ALSO previewed OS X 10•9 Mavericks, the latest version of the operating system.   Which I wouldn’t mind a look at, to be frank: one feature they’ve apparently introduced to the Finderº, is Tabs.   Which is a VERY handy feature, and should save on screen space!

º        That’s the default OS X File Manager: Windows Explorer, and Nautilus are the default Windows and Linux equivalents.   It’s been used, in one form or another, since System 1.

Wolf Creek: Blood, Guts … And the Flip-side of Crocodile Dundee

7th November, 2011.

I’ve REALLY got to start having company over at some point, I really have.

Because I’m THINKING an old friend would definitely enjoyed the movie I caught, tonight …

‹‹•››

Although I think we possibly would’ve caught ourselves arguing the proverbial toss about genres, I’m thinking, here.

You see, the film I saw was the 2005 independent, Australian film, Wolf Creek.

And … ?

And much like The Silence of the Lambs, it’s a film I’m thinking will be very hard to define.

Wolf Creek sees Nathan Phillips, Kerstie Morassi and Cassandra Magrath as backpackers Ben, Kristy and Liz.

A trio of backpackers who — when their car breaks down in the wilds of Wolf Creek National Park — are happy to accept help from the seemingly friendly ocker, Mikey, played by John Jarrett.

Seemingly friendly …

Appearances … can be very deceptive …

‹‹•››

I’ll happily admit, Wolf Creek is going to be one of those films that, much like Silence of the Lambs, will be casually branded as a horror for years to come.

And for pretty much the same reasons, I feel: the central character is one who terrifies us.

But — even more so than either the Hopkins or Cox take on Hannibal Lecter — is eminently human.

And without the using the usual horror touches of a gruesome childhood backstory, a virulent signature weapon and a hideously deformed Captain Kirk maskº.

I’m ALSO thinking Wolf Creek going to be even more of a Marmite* movie than most: it’s going to be either loved or hated by all and sundry.

Personally … ?

Personally, I came away very impressed with Wolf Creek.

I think you might be, as well …

Wolf Creek

★★★☆

* Just for the benefit of my regular international readers, Marmite is a savoury spread that usually gets put on toast: and, according to the adverts, it’s something you either love or hate. (I personally love it. Preferably on toast, made from crusty white bread: the slices of which have to be VERY thick, so that both butter — or margarine — and the Marmite itself, are melting VERY deeply into the slice. Anything else is just a HEATHEN monstrosity …)

º Or even a leather one …