Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5th March, 2022.

5th March, 2022.

Yes: it’s officially official.

I woke up to an earworm.

Fleetwood Mac’s Tusk.

If I’m going to have the dratted thing banging around my head, I’m going to spread the proverbial joy … 

~≈Ÿ≈~

Your following the news about Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine, aren’t you?

Me being me, I’ve got half an eye on the technology front.

Apple’s stopped selling services in Russia: alongside other company.

Yesterday?

Besides telling providing extra cyber-security services to Ukraine, Microsoft stopped selling products and services to Russia, yesterday.

I don’t know for sure: but I imagine that one of the products they’ll stop selling, will be the various versions of Windows available.

I imagine that won’t slow Russia down, for now: although it could make it easier for Western cyber-security agencies to to attack older, unpatched, versions of the OS that Russia’s armed forces are using.

We’ll have to see about that.

I also think the Russian people could start shopping around for Russian made Linux distributions.

I can’t see the Russian people not being able to deal with a Microsoft boycott.

I can’t see the Russian government not being able to deal with a Microsoft boycott.

Hmmm … 

Did you ever hear of an experiment OS called ReactOS?

It’s still at the very experimental Alpha stage of development: but is supposed to be a drop in replacement for Windows.   You can, in theory, install it on a machine, and still use your Windows apps.

Russia’s taken an interest in it, according to some reports.

I’m no IT expert … 

But wouldn’t be surprised if the Russian government can get around the Microsoft boycott, using ReactOS.

~≈Ÿ≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 4-3-2022: Vermont

4th March, 2022.

Right … I’m now, officially, a year older.

It’s my birthday.

I’m another year old, another year — Ha! — wiser … 

And definitely creaking.

Oh … and I share my birthday with Vermont, and Patsy Kensit.

Heigh ho!

~≈Ÿ≈~

Oh, JUST as a thought … ?

My nephew, Jude, was over, yesterday.

Would you mind hitting like on the resulting videos … ?   He’s managed three … … 

~≈Ÿ≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 3-2-2022: World Wildlife Day

3rd March, 2022.

Yes: it’s a Thursday.

And?

I’m going to be going to going to going to my Thursday Weight Zoom Meeting.

It’s a drone fest, but helpful: it’s got me talking to people.

I’ve also double checked on my weight for it.

The reason I was worrying up, last week?   Was because I didn’t check if my scales had been zeroed.

I reset it, this morning: and got a result more in line with more recent results.

Phew!

~≈⚖️≈~

You’ll possibly have guessed I’m a fan of Dr Who.

One who’s just caught this scene from Genesis of the Daleks, on YouTube.

I’m just wondering about a plot point.

Did Davros make up the word, ‘Dalek’?

Or did he find it in the Doctor’s interrogation record … ?

Just a thought … 

~≈🐙≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 2-3-2022: Lou Reed.

2nd March, 2022.

Right … 

Bugger is possibly the word.

I was supposed to have a GP’s appointment, yesterday … which didn’t go ahead.

As my GP … ?   Phoned my mobile.

You know my mobile?

That one that’s fine … but doesn’t get a signal in my area because the local mast got taken down?

The one that sends people to my voice mail, when it can’t pick up a signal?

The one that I always miss calls on, when I’m out?   Because it’s in a coat pocket?

That one?

That’s the one she called on.   I got a text message about it!

I’m annoyed: partly at myself — I’m sure I reminded Reception to ask her to phone my landline, but possibly didn’t! — and partly at the surgery.

My landline, and the reason for using it, has been on the record for a couple of years.

Back to reception it is, then!

~≈🤖≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1st March, 2022.

1st March, 2022.

Right … I’m on a weight loss programme or two.

And … ?   I’m having mixed results: my weight’s slowing going down, seemingly … but my weight does seem to be yo-yoing.

So … ?   I’ve booked an appointment with my GP: to discuss weight loss injections that have been recently approved.

We’ll have to see what happens.

~≈⚖️≈~

I’m job-hunting: but you knew that.

I’m job-hunting: ands on a Job Centre mandated course — called Restart — that’s supposed to help me find work.

At my last face to face meeting?   My case worker put me up for a position with Direct Line.

I had to fill the online form in, at their office.

Direct Line emailed me: to ask me to complete an assessment.

On their website.

When I clicked the link, this happened;

I got a message that my default browser, Safari, was unsupported.

And I got a list of recommended browsers: Firefox, Edge, Google Chrome … and Safari.

I got told things.

Mostly that I should install and use Chrome: as it had a video player.   Safari’s supported most video formats since its introduction in 2003.

I point blank refused to: and said that to both Direct Line and my case worker.

It’s something of a point of principle for me.

If you’re not going to make your website work in my default browser, I’m not going to use your website.   I don’t see why I should have to waste time and hard drive space, installing more software than I usually need*.

Especially if it’s just one site causing problems.

I eventually used Firefox: which I’ve had for a while, and use for several things I know Safari can’t do.   Its got uses, beyond accessing sites I can’t open in Safari.

Despite being told to use Chrome because it had a video player†?

The actual assessment was a text based one that used radio buttons to pick options.

Something that Safari handles well enough.

I failed the assessment.   I’m grateful I did so.   And will only re-take it, if Direct Line updates their site.

~≈⚡️≈~