Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 13-8-2026 — International Left-handers Day

13th August, 2026: International Left Handers Day.

Right: did I mention I was at the dentist, yesterday?

I was at the dentist, yesterday.

For an appointment with the dental hygienists, rather than the dentist.

It went well enough.

My only complaint?

I used my dentists student hygienists: who’ve always come across as competent.

And who, up until now, have been free to those of us on benefits.

Until yesterday: which was the first appointment I had to pay for.

OK, it was half price: and I’d been able to budget for it as I made sure the appointment was not long after pay-day.

But it was still a cost I objected to.

~≈💷≈~

It’s Thursday: and the day of the Clacton by-election.

Good luck to Count Binface!

More importantly?

It’s International Left Handers Day.

Which, as I’m a lefty?

Is important to me.

As I’m also a fan of William Gibson’s, and long suspected he’s a lefty, as well?

Finally finding proof today, has made my morning.

~≈◀️≈~

Just as a last thought … ?

My nephew, Jude, was over, last night.

And … ?

I think we missed most of the Eclipse Excitement.

Still … ?

One: it darkened, noticeably.

Two?

We got a video, done!

~≈🚘≈~

As a definite last thought … ?

Jude and I had pizza, last night.

Normally, we’d order from out local Dominos.

But, for the last few weeks?

Their site’s refused to take my cards.

Why?

I don’t know.

So?

As we have for the last few weeks, we’ve ended up ordering from Pizza Hut.

Why hasn’t Dominos site taken my card?

When Pizza Hut’s happily will?

I don’t know.

I suspect I may need to clear my caches, and history.

But will only know for sure, if I can get through with another browser: given the timing, I’ll have to try that, next week.

~≈🍕≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 12th August 2026.

12th August, 2026.

OK: I’m going to have to double check things, before I make introductory videos.

Yes: I’m off to the dentists, today.

But, no: that’s not when the eclipse is.

My appointment’s two.

And the eclipse starts around 18·20.

Ho … … …  hum!

~≈☾≈~

I had a newspiece float across my time line, a day or two ago.

This one.

It’s a piece that tells us how an unnamed user had bought a copy of the extended version of the Lord of the Rings movies.

Then found they’d been removed from their media library: as “no longer available in our catalog.”

Google refused to refund the customers money.

I know that removing digital media from a user’s media library is perfectly when a company can no longer supply it to us, is legal.

That doesn’t make it right.

We buy these things in the belief we’re buying these things permanently: when, sadly, it’s not.

~≈🛒≈~

Personally?

I think a media supplier withdrawing a service like that is immoral.

And a very good argument for buying versions of whatever on physical media.

And — possibly — for outright video piracy.

So?

I’m going to suggest a method.

Download and install Tor Browser: it let’s you access the Dark Web.

Download and install a BitTorrent client: I’m told Transmission is popular.

Once those are done, visit a torrent tracking site — I’m told Pirate Bay, KAT, 1337 and TorrentGalaxy are good — with TorBrowser.

Pick a torrent … 

Copy and paste the magnet link into your chosen Torrent client.

Wait for it to finish: and enjoy the results.

~≈🏴‍☠️≈~

As a final thought, there?

I’m not going to encourage you to illegally download copyrighted content like that.

Doing so is a civil offence in most countries, and can lead to both arrest and fines: and the downloading of spiked content what can damage you computer, or leave you exposed to malware or identity theft*.

Be aware of the risks.

However risky?

In removing media we thought we owned permanently?

And refusing a refund when doing so?

Companies are encouraging us to not give them our cash: especially given there’s other ways of buying … 

~≈🏴‍☠️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 11-8-2026 — World Steelpan Day (Ten Questions)

11th August, 2026: World Steel Pan Day.

Right: I am officially up, early: for the second day in a row!

Yes: I have a video meeting with my new Job Centre case worker.

Hopefully?

The software works: and my case worker has my phone numbers.

They way, there’s still a method of contact if the software fails.

~≈📱≈~

I had my weight management meeting, yesterday: and … ?

Yep: as I was worrying, my weight’s gone up, rather than down.

I left feeling decidedly depressed.

But was able to take some positive action, given my GP’s surgery isn’t far from where weight management meetings take place.

One step … ?

Is to make sure I lay off the crisps.

Another?

Something that the advisers have been suggesting for a while, is to see if I can increase the anti-obesity medication I’m on.

I don’t know.

But have booked up an appointment with my GP, to see what can be done.

Here’s hoping.

~≈💊≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 10th August 2026

10th August, 2026.

Right … it’s officially official: it’s Monday.

Which you’d noticed.

So … ?

It means that, once again, I’m off to the weekly weigh-in.

And hoping like hell that — like last week — I’ve lost some weight.

I’m hoping for the best: but expecting the worst, given the crisps I’ve eaten!

~≈⚖️≈~

Yesterday, I told you about the issues I’ve had with Amazon deliveries.

I finally got the non-cola items, yesterday.

Although, it has to be said, I’d rather have had all four items: the vitamins, air duster and Marmite, and the colas.

But at least the undamaged goods are now here.

And the refund for the box of colas is on route.

That said … ?

I still have a few complaints.

The main one?

Is that Amazon told me I’d be getting a refund on the diet cokes, rather than the goods, themselves.

But left the box in the list of stuff I was expecting, in the delivery notifications.

I’ll be honest: they could have tidied that up.

The other complaint?

Given the three items that were delivered, were in a small box, why did they not leave them here, Saturday?

There’s an old saying that God works in mysterious ways.

So, it seems, does Amazon … !

At least God’s a good communicator.

~≈📦≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 9th August 2026.

8th August, 2026.

Ddi I mention I’ve ordered a few things from Amazon?   On Friday, just gone?

I ordered a few things from Amazon, on Friday, just gone.

So you know.

Including a couple of multipack boxes of Diet Coke.

You’d think I’d’ve learnt, by now, wouldn’t you?

The packs — along side a graphic novel, and a few other bits — were due, yesterday.

I got one box, and the graphic novel, at 14:25, going by the clock on my computer.

I also got an apologetic update from Amazon’s automated systems: to tell me they’d tried delivering the rest of the goodies, yesterday.

At 14:24!

But couldn’t, for unspecified “technical reasons”.

As you can imagine, I sent an annoyed email to Jeff Bezos.

They’ve now given me a refund on the undelivered box of colas: and a list of reasons why the thing couldn’t be delivered.

Although that seems to be as a matter of course, rather than any action I’ve taken.

They have also given me a list of reason why somethings hasn’t been delivered.

The one possible reason that leapt out at me … ?

Was the one that says “The package was damaged in transit.”

Right now?

I’m convinced that the delivery driver dropped the second box, the one with a box of Diet Cokes, some Marmite, and an air duster, damaged them in the process, and had to take them back to the warehouse as a result.

I don’t know, though.

I do know this.

I’ve got a refund for the colas due.

But — as of the time of writing — don’t know when the rest of the goods will turn in up.

Which got me sending another annoyed email.

As you can imagine … ?

I’m having a bad weekend … !

~≈📦≈~