Sunday, 6 April 2025

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 6th April 2025.

6th April, 2025.


Right … 

I’ve had issues, over the past few days, with the blu-ray ripper, MakeMKV.

After it had issues ripping a 4k disc, it then got thrown further off-piste … by an update from Apple!

Not something I was expecting!

But it was something I was expecting to do what it did: generate a lot of discussion on the relevant MakeMKV forum.

However?

An updated version of MakeMKV has been issued: hopefully, it will work.

~≈📀≈~

Just as a last thought … ?

My nephew, Jude, was over, yesterday.

Yep: there’s another video done!

 
Feel free to hit the ‘Like’ button … !

~≈📀≈~

Saturday, 5 April 2025

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5-4-2025 — First Contact Day.

5th April, 2025: First Contact Day.


It’s officially official: I am not complaining … 

Yet.

As you know, I've — and many others — have had issues with blu-ray copying app, MakeMKV: after Apple issued an iffy update.

The makers have now issued an update.

An update that will hopefully resolve the issues.

Although I am very aware there’s been at least one report on the relevant forum thread: saying they are still having issues.

We will have to see.

~≈👩🏽‍💻≈~

That update tells me a few things,

My more panicky side … ?

Tells me that buying a refurbished Windows laptop as an extra, back-up, machine — ha! — would be helpful.

Something that I could do … except that my less panicky side has told me that a little patience would be cheaper.

What will I do, if this update doesn’t help?

Bar reminding myself patience is a virtue?

I have no idea … !

~≈🃏≈~

One minor thing I know?

Is that — from what I had seen of affordable laptops? — was that eBay did or do plenty of refurbished ones.

At around the £75 mark: about €88, or $96.

That — to me — seems a reasonable price on the money I have.

I also know — courtesy of a news report from the BBC, today — that Nintendo have released their new Switch 2 console for pre-order.

Along side the newly updated version Super Mario Kart.

Which — in the UK, at any rate — they’re offering at £74·99.

To me?

That seems a hell of a lot!

Especially as you can get a refurbished laptop for that money.

You can get the various limited-edition, classic Dr Who boxsets for a lot less.

Even some of the games for my nephew’s PlayStation 5 are less!

I’ll be honest, if that were a movie on blu-ray?

For £75, I’d be expecting all the versions available in 4k, please a shed-load of extras … and a signed photo of Terry Pratchett!*

~≈🃏≈~

Friday, 4 April 2025

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 4-4-2025 — NATO Day.

4th April, 2025: NATO Day.


Right … it’s Friday … 

And I’m a little anxious.

Frankly?

There’s been no news on the MakeMKV front.

I’m still getting the Fatal Error message: as no known update has been issued.

I’m … 

Well, let’s just say I’m feeling anxious!

~≈📀≈~

On the upside … ?

I’ve finished another review!

Yep: I’ve reviewed episode two of Classic Dr Who series, The Savages: fell free to leave me a comment … !


~≈📺≈~

Thursday, 3 April 2025

Doctor Who — The Savages — Episode 2 — A Review

2nd April, 2025: Doctor WhoThe Savages.

Right then.

It’s officially Wednesday.

In case you didn’t know!

Which means … I am as bored as wosname.

And waiting for a blu-ray to turn up.

It struck me, the other day, that I haven’t seen Aliens — the sequel to Ridley Scott’s Alien — in many years.

So I felt it’s something I should correct.

There may be a review: you never know … 

~≈👨🏼‍⚕️≈~

Ah … the things just got here … 

And … ?

I bought the 4k version of Alien, recently.

And … ?

It has to be said for roughly the same price as the 4k Aliens box, Alien just had 2k and 4k versions of the film: with very little in the way of extras, beyond some audio commentaries.

The 4k box set of Aliens?   Includes a whole extra disc-full of extras.

At £19.99 for either?   Aliens seems far better value than Aliens.

~≈👨🏼‍⚕️≈~

At any rate … ?

It is — as I’ve already said! — Wednesday!

So, tonight … ?

I’ll be doing what I promised I’d do.

I’m going to be watching episode two of classic Dr Who story, The Savages.

Then — hopefully — tell you about it, by tomorrow night.

By the time you finish reading this … ?

You’ll know what I think.

~≈👨🏼‍⚕️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 3-4-2025 — 2001: A Space Odyssey

3rd April, 2025: 2001: A Space Odyssey.


I’ve got to confess to feeling mightily fecked off!

I had a 4k copy of Aliens turn up, yesterday.

And was looking forward to ripping it: then watching it.

But … ?

Trying to copy it with MakeMKV, seemed to give the app issues: regardless of which optical drive I used.

So … ?

I thought, as dinner was done, I’d eat: and be in a better mood when trying again.

Oh, and while I was at it … ?

I thought, I know: I’ll update my Mac to the latest version of the operating system, and see if that helps.

Which is when it really went pear shaped!

It seems that the current version of macOS — Sequoia 15.4 — is flawed: and has broken MakeMKV.

So badly that the developers behind it are working on emergency updates, to get the app working, again.

I’m fuming: and angry, and annoyed, and very frustrated!

Mostly at Apple!

I’ve public raved about Apple products for year: and they manage to wreck one of the best bits of software going.

I’m also very aware of the irony.

Especially as — going by MakeMKV’s forums — the version on Windows and Linux is working perfectly.

To paragraph a throwaway line in the original The Italian Job?

Get your wheels in line, Apple!


~≈🍏≈~

On other fronts?

The US president has introduced a pile of trade tariffs: in a move he claims will ‘Make America Great, Again.’

I can’t help but think he’s shot America in the foot.

And can’t help but think of one of Margaret Thatcher’s policies: allowing council house tenants to buy their rented homes … 

Which was partially responsible, years later, for a shortage of social housing: as councils didn’t plough the profits from the sales, back into more affordable housing.

I think the president’s started something similar.

~≈🏠≈~

Just as a last thought … ?

The Trailer for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has dropped: making this series look interesting!


I just have one question.

How much did Melissa Navia, Lieutenant Ortegas, to wear that fright wig???????


She and Jess Bush, Nurse Chapel?

It looks like they’re wearing dead tribbles!

~≈💇‍♀️≈~