Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 13th May, 2019

13th May, 2019.

Yes, it’s true.

It’s a quiet day, today: where I’ll be thumb twiddling and tidying up … 

Oh, and making videos.

Talking of which … ?   If you watch the Intro Video, you’ll hear Jude, my nephew, leaving us all a comment.

I’ll have to have a word with Ruth: to see if that’s OK … 

~≈§≈~

Hmmm … 

The BBC’s news pages remind us that Sweden dropped rape charges against Julian Assange, a few years ago.

But is now considering reviving the charges.

I think the merits of the case are … not for me to speculate on.

Although, when Assange originally hid in the Ecuadorian Embassy, I felt he had a certain amount of justification.

At the time, the UK wouldn’t extradite someone to the US, if they would face a death sentence — as Assange did for the various documents he had publicised on Wikileaks — but Sweden would.

That’s something I still feel is possibly the case: although ten years is a long time, a time that can change a lot.  I still think the US associated extradition case?   Is in retaliation for the Wikileaks’ publication of US documents.

Rather than the interests of justice.

Either way?

I’m aware of one thing.

Assange has gone on the record as saying he “does not consent” too being extradited to the US.

Does not consent.

My personally thinking?   Reaction … ?   What have you?

Is Tough.

If you’ve done anything that looks like a crime, facing a court case isn’t a choice: it’s something you have to do.

Consent — about facing court — doesn’t enter into it.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 3-7-2016

Dear me … 

They’s dropping like flies, from the flies … 

If you’re a film fan in the UK, you’ll have awoken to the news that Michael Cimino — the man who directed The Deer Hunter — has died at the age of seventy-seven.

Not that I’d ever seen it: I should maybe point it on my bucket list.

One film I HAVE seen … ?   Is Robin Hardy’s The Wicker Man.   It’s an utter classic: and one, I feel, would be hard to re-make today.    In spite of efforts to do so.

Robin Hardy … ?   Died yesterday … 

When you realise comedian, writer and actress,Caroline Ahearne died, yesterday?

You, like me, are probably wondering who’s next … 

~≈È≈~

The Daily Teaser: 2-7-11

Hmmm …

You know, I’ve got to admit, I’ve got the BBC News channel on in the background, at the moment.

And the presenter’s have just done the morning paper review: something that I occasionally find interesting to watch.

The thing dominant piece in some of the papers … ?

Seems to be the various legal proceedings against former IMF chief, Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

Hmmm …

Now, personally … ?

I personally think rape charges are some of the more serious on the books: and personally believe that those against Wikileaks head, Julian Assange, were somewhat iffy, given the situation.

Those against Strauss-Kahn, though … ?

I really couldn’t tell you.

The fact that the case seems to be so widely reported … ?

To me, personally, that seems very odd: don’t forget, here in the UK, there’s a legal concept called sub judice: which seriously restricts the reporting of an active case.

So the amount of coverage it’s getting, even given the fame of the defendant … ?

Lets just say that’s slightly strange, and disturbing to me.

Lets get moving on, shall we … ?

BEFORE I start on Andy Murray … !

»»·««

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi — who I think may have a thing or two to say about sub judice — putting in her answers. Along with bagging 7 out of 7, she also wished me well on the smoking front, and managed to offer us a translation of Hong Kong.

Lets see how she — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we? Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video …

Q1) 2nd July saw Amelia Earhart and her navigator disappear: in which year … ?

Q2) What was the name of her (male) navigator?

Q3) Over which ocean were they, when their last message was heard?

Q4) Moving on … 2nd July, 1993 saw the death of actor, Fred Gwynne: which member of the Munster family did he play … ?

Q5) July 2nd, 2005, was the day of the Live8 series of global charity concerts: who — along with Bono — opened the London gig?

Q6) 2nd July, 1698, saw Thomas Savery granted a patent for an early form of what … ?

Q7) And finally … 2nd July, 1777, saw Vermont become the first US state to abolish … what … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) At midnight on the 1st of July, Britain handed what back to China … ?

A1) Hong Kong.

Q2) More to the point, in which year was this … ?

Q2) 1997.

Q3) What does this region’s name translate into English as … ?

A3) Fragrant Harbour.

Q4) Name either of the official languages in that part of China.

A4) English and Cantonese Chinese.

Q5) Moving on … 1st July, 1908, saw SOS internationally adopted as a Distress signal: what French phrase was adopted as its spoken equivalent in 1927 … ?

A5) Mayday: or M’aidez in the original French.

Q6) 1st July, 2004, saw the Cassini-Huygens probe arrive at which planet … ?

A6) Saturn.

Q7) 1st July, 1991, saw the official dissolving of which pact … ?

A7) The Warsaw Pact.

Q8) And finally … 1st July, 2007, saw what banned in indoor public spaces in England … ?

A8) Smoking.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll catch you later …

Night Watch and Wikileaks: Blood, Black Magic and an ongoing new-media story …

You know, it’s not that often I do a double posting.

After all, I generally stick some good advice I once received.

In other words, stick to one subject, per post: it’s makes that post a lot easier to find by search engines.

Well …

That …

And adding relevant tags …

And back-links, front links, what-have-you …

But the one about one subject per post is the main one I had in mind: mostly because I try not to break it, these days …

First off … ?

I’ve got to admit, I saw a couple of articles about WikiLeaks float past.

Firstly … ?

Well, the first one concerns a piece I noticed a couple of days ago, and have been meaning to show you: this one.

Seems that three of WikiLeaks’ supporters on Twitter now will have their details examined in serious detail by a US Court.

The other piece … ?

Is that Bradley Manning, the US marine accused of passing the recent batch of government documents to WikiLeaks has had comments made: by P. J. Crowley, a US State Department spokesman, no less, who’s described Manning’s arrest and confinement as is ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid.”. “None the less Bradley Manning is in the right place”.

Which sounds, frankly, contradictory …

Almost as bad as WikiLeak’s treatment of Private Manning …

»»•««

Let’s move on, shall we … ?

Yes, lets …

Now, I’ve got to admit, I have left this a little late, but I’m also very aware that Kevin D, Movie Night Adrian and I were all at my place, last night.

And watching something of an old friend.

Well …

Me and Kevin, at any rate, any way.

The film in question … ?

Was one I know I’ve watched, before, the 2004 Russian film, Ночной дозор: Nochnoy Dozor, or Night Watch if you’d like it in English.

Now, I’ve written about Night Watch, before now.

So I’ll point you at the my previous post about it, and its sequel, Day Watch: I think they’re good reading.

But I also know the one thing I can add to those, here and now.

Is that Movie Night Adrian, Kevin D and I all agreed on this …

Adrian: Keeper ★★★☆

Paul: Keeper ★★★☆

Kevin: Keeper ★★★☆

The Daily Teaser …

Hmmm …

There’s a thing …

I’ll be honest, a couple of news items have floated past me.

First off … ?

Seems today’s the day that Julian Assange is to begin his extradition battle, today: and something I didn’t know is that he — as yet — hasn’t been charged by the Swedish authorities.

Which sounds wrong, but that’s me …

The other …

Is simply the sad news that yesterday saw the death of guitarist, Gary Moore.

I’ll be honest, I was never a huge fan: but Parisian Walkways is something of a classic …

Lets get moving on, shall we … ?

Yes, lets …

|»»•««|

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi, all on her ownsome, putting in her answers, and scoring 7 out of 7: lets see how she — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we … ?

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

Q1) 7th February, 1907, saw the Mud March, from Hyde Park to Exeter Hall: this was Britain’s first march in support of what … ?

Q2) 7th February, 1974, saw the birth of drummer, Danny Goffey: with which Britpop band did he come to prominence … ?

Q3) 7th February, 1984, saw Bruce McCandless II and Robert L. Stewart make the world’s first untethered space-walk using a … what … ?

Q4) 7th February, 1991, saw Jean-Bertrand Aristide sworn in as the first democratically elected president of where … ?

Q5) And finally … 7th February, 1992, saw the singing of the Maastricht Treaty on European Union: in which country is Maastricht … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 6th February, 1819, saw Sir Stamford Raffles found Singapore: is the modern city-state a republic, monarchy or theocracy … ?

A1) A republic: the Republic of Singapore, to be exact.

Q2) 6th February, 2001, saw who elected as PM of Israel … ?

Q2) Ariel Sharon.

Q3) More to the point, what was the name of the party he lead?

A3) Likud.

Q4) 6th February, 1820, saw freed Afro-American slaves — sponsored by a group called the American Colonization Society — start a small settlement in what’s now which African nation … ?

A4) Liberia.

Q5) 6th February, 1838, saw the birth of English actor, John Henry Brodribb: how was he better known … ?

A5) Sir Henry Irving.

Q6) That actor, during his peak, co-owned the Lyceum Theatre in London: which famous Irish author managed the Lyceum, during this time … ?

A6) Bram Stoker.

Q7) And finally … 6th February, 1998, saw the death of Carl Wilson: with which US band did he come to prominence … ?

A7) The Beach Boys.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll catch you later … !

WikiLeaks: Julian Assange Get’s Out of Jail Card … Kick’s In …

Hmmm …

And if that collection of photos doesn’t look odd, I don’t know what does.

At any rate, news has just come through that Julian Assange has been freed on bail.

All to the good, I believe.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I believe the chap’s been falsely accused: and let’s leave that there, shall we … ?

««•»»

At any rate, I’ve got to admit, I was in town, today: mostly doing a little food and Christmas shopping.

I ended up in Somerfields.

Mostly because they happen to be near work — where I was oggling a few bits and bobs — and on the way home.

As it were …

At any rate, the one thing I did notice, in the front area of the shop, was a trio of reps from the Brentwood Gazette, handing out goody bags with silly Santa hats.

The trio included the Gazette’s new editor, Neville Wilson.

Nice chap, actually: this is despite me mentioning he was the first Neville I’d met. Even managed to get his card off him him, as well.

So, just in case you need to get in touch with him, directly … ?

His email address is neville.wilson@gazettenews.co.uk

Just in case you ever need it …

WikiLeaks: Julian Assange Get’s Out of Jail … sometime …

Well, that’s something …

Just in case you’ve not seen the news, it seems that Julian Assange — head of the WikiLeaks site —has been bailed by courts in London.

Complete with guarantees of £240,000.

He still has to stay in HMP Wandsworth for a few more days, whilst the Swedish authorities appeal the decision.

Personally, though … ?

I’m hoping this signals the start of the end of the travesty of his gaoling.