Showing posts with label history. Show all posts
Showing posts with label history. Show all posts

Sunday, 13 September 2026

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 13-9-2026 — The Famine

13th September, 2026: The Famine/An Gorta Mór.

You know, the 47th US president is an [Insert Insult, Here].

And one I think is an insufferable, interfering twit, who’s only in it for the votes.

The Irish American ones, specifically.

Yesterday, and today, he’s been visited the Irish Republic: and gone on the record to say he thinks a united Ireland would be a good thing.

In an attempt, I believe, to grab the Irish-American vote in the up-coming mid-term elections.

I’m no Unionist: but would prefer to die in the country I was born in.

So see it as blatant interference with decisions that are none of his business: nor the business of the USA.

It’s for the people of Northern Ireland, if not everyone on the island of Ireland, to decide that.

~≈🤡≈~

In slightly cheerier news … ?

I’ve finally finished season five of For All Mankind: and post my reviews of the last episode.


Feel free to head for Youtube and hit the like button … !

~≈▶️≈~

Sunday, 23 August 2026

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 23-8-2026 — The Battle of Stalingrad

23rd August, 2026.

Right … one of those things is going back!

I had a delivery turn up from Amazon, yesterday.

With, believe it or not, no actual problems.

Remind me to send Jeff Bezos a ‘Thank You’ note.

But one item — the DVD I’d ordered — didn’t have the extra I was expecting.

So back it goes.

I’ll be complaining about that, though.

As … ?

I’ve two post offices near me: one in the local Londis, another in Brentwood High Street.

Both of which I can drop a return to for free … 

Neither of which are on Amazon’s list of acceptable drop-off zones.

The other post offices are too far away to use.

Like the branches of Asda Amazon I suggests I use.

Frankly … ?

I think Amazon really need to offer a bit more of a choice … 

~≈🛒≈~

Tuesday, 3 February 2026

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 3-2-2026 — Tulip Mania!

3rd February, 2026: Tulip Mania.


It’s Tuesday: and the day after my most recent weight management class.

Or meeting.

Or group … 

I’ve never actually worked out what the damn thing’s called: I’ll ask a volunteer, next time I go.

At any rate … ?

At the most recent one, I found I’d lost half a kilo.

Which is good: last week I’d gained a kilo!

Heigh-ho!

~≈⚖️≈~

Right … I’m getting further along in a movie review: which is good.

I’ll hopefully have the written version done by tomorrow.

Once I’ve got that done, I can make the video … !

~≈🎥≈~

I’ve mentioned that I was having overheating issues: trying to record videos, whilst I had multiple Pages documents open.

And posted to Apple’s Community forums about the issue.

I also mentioned I’d had my doubts about the updates versions of Pages, Numbers and Keynote, Apple’s iWork suite, as I was unsure about the associated subscription model: the one that allowed you to access premium content.

I’m not too worried about that, right now.

As the premium content is clearly marked: and there’s a window that opens up, reminding you you need to pay for whatever it you’ve clicked on.

That’s one less worry.

But, before updating to recent versions of the suite?

I’d also noticed that:

I’d get overheating whilst recording footage using Quicktime, whilst multiple Pages documents, open

I’d get overheating with at least two Pages documents open, and at least one Safari Window open: specifically the tab that let me post to Nik Nak Nak’s Old Peculiar.


I’d had a workaround for when I was recording: having two Pages files open — rather than the usual thirty or so! — and storing the files on my Mac, rather than in iCloud, seemed to prevent over heating.

But was still getting mild, but noticeable, overheating with the mix of Safari and Pages.

Thankfully?

The update to Pages 15.1 seems to have put a stop to the latter problem.

I’ll have to see what happens with the recording issue, later … 

~≈🍎≈~

Just as a last point … ?

It seems there’s going to be an auction of Dr Who props in the not too distant future.

It’s also my birthday on 4th March.

Anyone who want’s to buy me a Dalek, would be welcome … !

~≈🧾≈~

Monday, 15 December 2025

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 15-12-2025 — The Bill of Rights.


15th December, 2025: the Bill of Rights.


Right … it’s official: it’s Monday.

And?

I’m up late!

I’m usually up early on a Monday: as that’s the usual day for my weight management meetings.

However, it’s off until January 5th: over the Christmas holiday.

I won’t know how my weight’s going for the festivities … but at least I get to sleep in!

~≈🥱≈~

Ever since a recent update, I’ve been having problems with Safari: my default browser.

Due to the updated version logging me out of everything — and I do mean everything! — after I’ve started my Mac, up.

It’s a frustrating thing to have happen: as it adds about half an hour’s work to my morning.

And seemed to be something that the usual solution — clearing caches, history, cookies, or all three! — seemed not to solve.

I didn’t think of re-trying in Safe Mode: although I doubt that would have worked.

But did think of checking on Apple’s Community Support forums.

With not a lot of luck!

Such a lack or luck that I eventually gave in … and contacted Apple’s web-chat based support system.

It turned out that I needed to untick the ‘Prevent cross-site tracking’ options in Safari>Settings>Privacy.


Cross site tracking, so you know, involves a website leaving what’s called a cookie on your system: so that frequently used information can be reloaded, easily, when you re-visit a website.

It allows third parties to track what you’re doing: which can lead to privacy concerns.

But it also allows you to sign into sites more easily, speed up web-browsing and … well, not have a mess when trying to write a blog post!

What sort of badness could come of this?

I don’t know.

But the problem’s solved for now.

~≈!≈~

Monday, 8 December 2025

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 8-12-2025 — How To Abolish the Monarchy

8th December, 2025: Abolition.


















Right … it’s officially Monday.

And the day of my last weight management meeting.

Or, at least, the last one of 2025.

The meeting’s restart in January.

Either way … ?

I want to find out what’s happening!

~≈𐄷≈~

I caught the first — first — episode of The War Between the Land and the Sea, last night.

And have come away mildly impressed!

But … ?

I’m thinking timing is a thing.

Two episodes were aired on BBC 1, last night: and now available on iPlayer.

The next two … ?

Will be aired on the 14th December, and the last on the 21st.

Which means I’ll be juggling my timings, in getting the reviews written!

At any rate … ?

I’m very aware that Disney+ will be airing the episodes in January.

And that that time difference will prompt people to VPNs, Virtual Private Networks, to access them.

Or just head for torrent tracking sites to access them.

Those episodes are on at least one, already …


~≈🧜🏼‍♂️≈~

Sunday, 7 December 2025

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7-12-2025 — The Death of Cicero.


7th December, 2025: Cicero.


OK, he says, brightly … !

It’s officially Sunday: and I’m going to be review a TV show, tonight.

Yes: The War Between the Land and The Sea starts on BBC1 at 8·30GMT.

I’ll caught the first episode, tonight, and the second, later in the week.

I’ll tell you what, though … it’s the first time I’ve started two posts on the trot … !


~≈🧜🏼‍♂️≈~

Tuesday, 2 September 2025

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 2-9-2025 — VJ Day

2nd September, 2025: VJ Day.


Right … it’s officially Tuesday.

And … ?

Frankly, I’m going to be having a quiet day.

After all, it’s not until tomorrow I have a meeting with my Job Centre case worker, and Thursday until I have my quarterly blood tests.

I think putting my feet up could be good.

~≈🦶≈~

As I write … ?

The radio is off.

Just so I’m not distracted.

At the time I did so, Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, was being interviewed on the Today programme: about the many immigrants trying to get to the UK, illegally, over the English Channel.

As I recall, in the last election, one member of Reform called for illegal migrants to be shot, when they landed.

Which, unfortunately, is an idea I find appealing: and may be a deterrent.

I find it appealing: as, I suspect, will many others.

However, I also think it’s an idea that’s very unethical.

I’m also reminded of a scene in a Dr Who story called Genesis of the Daleks.

One where the Doctor asks Davros, the creator of the Daleks, if he, Davors, could launch a plague and kill all life.


The key question I’ve always remembered from the scene?

But would you do it?

It’s one I feel applies to the “Shoot a Migrant” question.

Could you — or me, or them — put a bullet in a gun, point it at a migrant coming off a small boat, and pull the trigger?

Could you?

Cold-bloodedly?

I couldn’t.

But I suspect some could.

That’s not a reassuring idea … 

~≈🚄≈~

Sunday, 31 August 2025

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 31-8-2025 — The Return of Caligula

31st August, 2025: Caligula.


Did I mention I went to Romford, yesterday?

Via Brentwood Station … ?

I was going to sell on a recently bought, 4k, import copy of V for Vendetta: having ripped it over the week.

But … ?

The Romford branch of CeX wouldn’t take it.

As it had no UK age classification on it!

I used to work at the Brentwood branch, who had a similar policy.

And … ?

I wish I’d remembered that, when I bought the thing.

It would’ve made the trip worth the time!

~≈📀≈~

Just as a related thought … ?

I use MakeMKV to copy discs, and Handbrake to recode those into something I can play on my Apple TV 4k.

One of these days, I’ll try and write about the process, I really will!

At any rate?

The two apps are available for macOS, Windows and GNU/Linux.

But not, going by the websites, for ChromeOS.

Something I was able to confirm with my ChromeBook owning nephew.

At least, Jude was able to tell me the two apps aren’t on the Chrome Web Store.

I believe they’re not available for various reasons: but suspect the developer terms for ChromeOS are partly responsible.

I believe Google wants to keep piracy to a minimum, so words its Terms and Conditions to prevent apps like these on its Store.

Personally … ?

I think that’s a shame.

Those of us who use these apps for legitimate purposes should have a choice of what platform to use.

~≈📀≈~

As a last thought … ?

My written and video reviews of “Four-and-a-Half Vulcans” are out: enjoy them, and the episode!



~≈🖖≈~

Monday, 19 May 2025

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 19-5-2025 — The Commonwealth

19th May, 2025: the Commonwealth.


It’s officially official: I’m knackered.

But that’s what you get, when you’re up early on a Monday morning!

At any rate … ?

I’m off to my weight management group, today.

Hopefully, I’d’ve lost weight.

~≈🏋️≈~

As an up side … ?

I’ve finally manage to get my video review of “The Interstellar Song Contest” finished.


Granted: I think my whole chain of thought — on the poppy front —  could well be wrong: I’ve been reminded that the little girl seen in “The Story and the Engine” was a version of Captain Poppy, from “Space Babies”.

And … ?

Well … 

Feel free to leave me a comment!

~≈⚘≈~

Monday, 13 March 2023

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 13-3-2023 — Siege!

13th March, 2023: Siege!


It’s officially Monday … and the day after this year’s Oscars.

Congratulations to everyone: and well done to Everything Everywhere, All At Once, and to Michelle Yeoh.

I have have to admit to a little disappointment, though.

If you recall, Yeoh was a key member of the Star Trek Discovery cast: as various versions of Captain/Empress Philippa Georgiou.

Arguably?   She was the best thing in it: there was even talk of a spin-off, focused on her character.

Something I know I wouldn’t mind seeing!

Something I feel is now unlikely to happen.

As an Oscar winner, Ms Yeoh is going to be able to command a higher fee.

I can’t say I blame her: that Best Actress Oscar is one hell of an endorsement.

But?

I get the feeling that fee may be too much for Star Trek’s producers.

Which is a shame: they’ll be losing out on a talent.

~≈🎬≈~

Thursday, 29 December 2022

Prey — A Review

28th December, 2023: Prey.

It’s officially official.

It’s Wednesday.

But you knew that.

Especially if you’ve;
  • Read today’s Teaser.
  • Looked at a calendar.
  • Or looked at anything with today’s date on it.
I’m possibly waffling.

It’s Wednesday.

And?

With little else to do, I’m going to be watching a film: and letting you know what I’ve seen, and what I thought of it, tomorrow night.

Hopefully?

I’ll’ve picked something interesting.

~≈📽️≈~

Friday, 15 July 2011

Bletchley Park: Getting A Gong From The Queen … 

Oh, well, now THERE’S a thing …

Seriously …

You know, you’ve probably worked out, by now, that I’m a bit of a technology fan.

Admittedly, rather a skint one who rather have more tech than he’s got, but none the less a tech fan.

And over the years … ?

One that’s taken something of an interest in the history of these things.

Now, in the UK, you can’t actually do that, without mentioning two names.

One of those, of course, is the late Alan Turing, the man whose On Computable Numbers paper defined computers, back in 1936, and who went on to build them.

The other … ?

The other name was the place honoured by the Queen, today.

Bletchley Park, in Buckinghamshire.

Now, in case you didn’t know, Bletchley Park was the site of Britain’s code breakers, during World War 2: including Alan Turing, I should add.

The code breakers based there worked on cracking the German Enigma code, along with the Lorenz ciphers, and assorted others. And are generally agreed to have shortened the war by a number of years.

So seeing the news, today, that the Queen has unveiled a statue, and paid tribute to the Bletchley Park codebreakers … ? Was something I know that I, certainly, felt was nice to see.

Now …

I wonder if that posthumous medal for Dr Turing’s on its way …



Saturday, 28 May 2011

Code-cracking machine returned to life: Tunny’s BACK … !




Well, now THAT’S a thing … !

I’ve got to admit, I’ve long taken an interest in history, I really have.

And the history of computing — while I’ve no particular academic qualifications to show for it — is something that’s fascinated me for almost as long.

Now, I’ll be frank …

I’m British …

So, given computer history’s so fascinating, you’ll probably not be surprised that me, and some friends visited Bletchley Park, in 2009, home of both the National Computer Museum …

And Britain’s World War 2 code cracking centre.

»»•««

Which is why that link at the top of the page grabbed me when I open my RSS reader.

The fact that the reconstruction of the Tunny machine — that Sue, Andy and I saw, on that visit — is now finished … !

And I’ve got to admit … I’m curious enough to want another visit …

Wednesday, 24 February 2010

An Interesting Point to Ponder.

You know, I’ve got to admit, there’s times when second guessing a writer, or a TV shows producers, can be fun.

It’s a bit like flirting, out of sight of a partner: fun when it happens, but not something to do on regular basis.

But definitely fun.

•••••

Says I, in the hope that Allison doesn’t read that, she’ll get the wrong impression!

•••••

At any rate, I do know that one service Blogger provides is the ability to follow other blogs on the service that grab your attention.

One of the ones I follow which is Life, Dr Who & Combom.

And — bless ’im — Combom does get the odd bit of hot Dr Who and Torchwood shaped scoops.

On a regular basis!

Bless!!

Bless ’im!

One thing that caught his eye, this morning, was something that also caught mine.

News the the British Government — through Prime Minister Gordon Brown — issued an apology to those who had, as children, been — effectively — deported to various colonies.

NOT one of the old Empire’s brighter moments.

Maybe not up there with slavery, but certainly not good!

But what Combom was wondering was whether this rather nasty little incident — incidents, maybe’s the word, I understand it covered a long period — provided some of the inspiration for Torchwood: Children of Earth.

I don’t know: it sounds plausible, though, doesn’t it?

Mind you, saying that, it wasn’t the first piece of British imperial history I thought of, on watching the series.

Remember, in Day 5, Colonel Oduya of UNIT, asks the 456 representative, why they are stealing ten percent of Earth’s children: and is informed that the 456 are drug addicts, whose drug of choice …

Are children.

Human children.

The idea, now, is as revolting to me as it was on watching the show, then.

But not as revolting as what those who ruled the Empire did to its own, either to those forced to emigrate to the colonies in as part of the Child Migration Programme.

Or to those we sold opium to.

The Empire — through the East India Company — were dealers.

Which, when Oduya learns 456 why the 456 are stealing human children — and told by the 456 they are shooting up on them — I was revolted …

And thinking of the Opium Wars, and the reasons for them.

•••••

After all, Torchwood: Children of Earth, makes it perfectly clear what’s happening, and that the British Government approved.

Indeed, actively cooperated.

You know, now I come to think of it, I’m thinking Combom has a point.

The same applies to both the Child Migration Programme, to Torchwood: Children of Earth, and to the British East India Company’s sale of opium to China.

You know, this could be an interesting area to debate.

Feel free to comment … !



Sunday, 15 November 2009

A Grand Day Out …

Phew!

I think I’m going to be saying a big ‘Thank You’ to Sue and her Partner, Andy; they asked me along to the Bletchley Park Heritage site, near Milton Keynes, today!

Fascinating place to actually visit, after all this time!

Especially for a rabid geek boy, like me!!

It’s just a shame we missed out on the National Computing Museum part of the complex, but there you go …

What we could get to was great to see; ranging from the original Enigma machines, themselves, and the Turing designed Bombes used to decrypt the messages. And the British TypeX machines, used to encrypt our coded messages; something I know I’d only heard of.

On top of that, there’s a reconstruction of the Lorenz machines, that the Germans used for their seriously top level communication; which lead to the real star of the show.

The Colossus …

The panoramic shot at the bottom?

That’s Colossus.

The worlds’ first modern, programmable computer.

And, my word, it’s amazing to see it in action …

Mostly because, according to the guide it’s as fast as a modern PC, at decoding the messages.

Feel free to imagine my response …

But, on a serious note, that’s because the Colossus we saw — which is a reconstruction, as the originals were destroyed after the war — was what’s known in the business as a dedicated computer.

It’s like a DVD player, or mobile phone; it’s just doing one thing!

Which is what gives it the comparative speed!

Now, before I settle in to watch Waters Of Mars, there’s one quick thing.

Bletchley Park needs help.

They had a collection, which I think everyone put into.

But, if you’ve got any spare valves, they need ’em.

Do they ever … !