Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 14th January, 2019

14th January, 2019.

Yes: it’s officially official … I’ve taken a brief few sneak moments, this morning, to quickly watch the video — or one of them — for the Bangles hit, Walk Like an Egyptian.

All well and good.

But saw the poses, there: the one that try and reproduce the ones on Egyptian tomb paints … ?

And immediately wondered where Wilson, Keppel and Betty, where … 

~≈§≈~

Just as a quick thought … ?

If you, like me, are in the UK, and listening to the news … ?

You probably can’t escape Brexit.

I voted remain, to be honest: and still believe that leaving will be bad for the UK.

There is, thought, still talk of several things.

A second referendum being one of them.

Personally, I’d like one: and hope it would get a remain result.

As, right at the moment?

Leaving seems to be causing a good, old fashioned riot.

I do know one speculated form for any second referendum would take the form of two referenda.

The first would be a rerun of the 2016 vote.

Should we remain, or leave the EU?

If the result is leave, a second referendum would ask people what form of Brexit they want: hard Brexit, No Deal, the May plan, what have you.

Right now?

I think there’s no time to arrange this.

But it’s possibly the form the thing should’ve taken in 2016.

David Cameron and company should have said what sort of Brexit they’d push for, if they lost.

That way?   People would have more information to make a decision.

~≈§≈~

House of Cards — Series 6: Episode 8/Chapter 73/Finale — The Review

13th January, 2019.

OK … you’ve possibly guessed that I like showing off, haven’t you … ?

You haven’t … ?

Well, OK, here’s a statement …

I like looking more capable than I am.

Which can be nightmarish: especially playing backgammon.

I’m OK at the game.

But do try and show off, playing what’s called a back game … is where I usually trip up … 

I’ve long since learnt to shut up about computers: there’s WAY more knowledgeable people out there than me.

Although, saying that … ?

I’ve long like showing off what I CAN do with my favourite operating system.

Granted, I’m not going to developing, or compile — build — software.

But, if nothing else?

I know how to use the Terminal to erase awkward files.

AND know how to hook two Macs up to the same router, logging into, and operating, one from the other.

I’ll be damend if I could explain the technology behind it … but at least I can do it.

So that, in this case?

I can wipe an external hard drive, with my MacPro: the older model the observant will see behind me.

And get on with doing what I’m doing on my main iMac.

Thankfully?   I’ve enough on my electricity meter to keep this lot going, for now.



And plenty of ventilation.

Otherwise, police helicopters, the oh-so-wonderful ones with infrared sensors would be sending officers to ask what I’m growing in a one bedroom flat!

~≈¥≈~

At any rate, that’s not what I was going to tell you about.

No.

Nope.



I’ve been watching telly, again … 

And, yes: I’ve caught the last episode of series six of House of Cards.

The last one of the entire series.

That’s something of a git … 

I want to see how Claire Hale-Underwood gets out of this … 

~≈¥≈~

Episode 8 — Chapter 73 — opens with President Hale (Robin Wright) — as the former President Underwood is now styling herself — announcing a new era of government transparency … 

Whilst siblings Bill and Annette Shepherd (Greg Kinnear and Diane Lane) vie with each other for control of the family fortune, they both agree that Doug Stamper (Michael Kelly) … is their man in the White House.



The pair hope the unstable former Chief of Staff could do anything: especially as it seems he killed Frank Underwood.

To a vulnerable President, several months pregnant, little realising this President has a nasty side … 

A nasty side that sees Claire Hale-Underwood fatally stabbing Doug Stamper to death: in the Oval Office, itself, and, right at the end of the episode … ?

Staring at the camera — at us — as the camera fades to black on quite an episode.

~≈¥≈~

Now … 

I’ll make a confession, if I may?

Chapter 73 was a very good conclusion to both this last ever season of House of Cards … and to the show itself.

About my only complaint?

Is possibly the obvious: that the show would have ended very differently, had Kevin Spacey not ended up in a sexual scandal.

I get the impression that it would’ve been Frank Underwood on the floor of the Oval Office, rather than Doug Stamper.

Which is what happens in the original UK version of the show: Frances Urquhart kills Stamper, then gets killed by his wife, Elizabeth: at least on her orders.

That’s what annoys me about the Spacey affair: he’s ruined a good TV show, being involved in a scandal*.

Combine that?   With one or two patchy episodes, this season … ?

And the show has gone out sparkling: rather than being the full-on fireworks display it could have been.

Equally, though … ?



The cast, crew and writers have done a very good job, over all.

And, although I know the US version of the series is following — very broadly! — the UK version, I have to admit, I’d like to see more.

I’d like to see how Claire Underwood gets out of this …

*        Although, obviously, my sympathies are with those who he’s assaulted.

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 13th January, 2019.

13th January, 2019

Yes, it’s a nice quiet, Sunday morning: and, frankly?

I’ll be having dinner with my family, later.

But, for the rest of it … ?

It’s probably going to be nicely quiet.

~≈§≈~

Of course, I’ve got Radio 4 on, while I’m writing this.

As I do most mornings.

One thing that got a mention in the news?

Was simply that — after meetings with President Vladimir Putin, over the past few years — President Trump has had records of those meetings either not made, not held … or destroyed.

Contrary to a practise of the preceding presidents.

At least, according to the Washington Post.

If true … ?

I’d have to ask why he’s done that.

As I’m assuming that the various branches of the USA’s many layered government are like the government here in the UK.

That anything said or done by key federal officials, like anything said or done by ministers here in the UK, has to be recorded.

If true, that fact the President hasn’t … is … 

Iffy, at best … 

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 12th January, 2019

12th January, 2019

Yes: it’s official.

The Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency has sent my application for back … again.

As, apparently, they need more information about my various addresses.

I wouldn’t mind except:

This is the third time I’ve sent the details in.

The details were included in the original cover letter I sent in: twice!

Yes, I’m annoyed.

Yes, I’m feeling sarcastic.

Yes … 

This is taking a while … 

~≈§≈~

House of Cards — Series 6: Episode 7/Chapter 71 — The Review

11th January, 2019.

Yep: for once I’m actually listening — late at night — to something that’s not on Spotify.

Karlheinz Stockhausen’s Momente.

I think I was having a weird patch, when I got it from iTunes: exploring strange and uncanny musical areas unknown to humanity, with unruly edges that invite the listener to contemplate the infinite in new ways their mind’s eye — hitherto — hadn’t dare perceive.

Yeah … 

Odd, in other words … 

~≈§≈~

At any rate … ?   And not wanting to rush?

I want to go to bed, tonight: as I have a long day, tomorrow.

Remember that I’d put in for a provisional driving license?   To help prove my ID at job interviews … ?

I’d sent the form off: and had it sent back, as I’d forgotten to sign it.

Then got it back, again, today … 

As they wanted my most recent addresses … 

Ridiculous … ?

Yes.

It leaves me asking what on EARTH I’m bothering for … !

~≈§≈~

At any rate …

It’s enough to turn you to drink, to be honest.

Or more Stockhausen, in my case …

Or, just to be different … ?

Another episode of series six of House of Cards … 

~≈§≈~