Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28th February, 2018

28th February, 2018.

And when I say ‘Morning’ … ?

I mean ‘Good Morning’.

Of course I do … !

The fact I’m up this early, to get to work for nine?

Only adds to the whatever it is I think needs adding to at this time of the morning!

*Yawn.*

The fact we now have snow, out there … ?

Only adds to the whatever factor.

As well as to my trip to work …

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 27th February, 2018

27th February, 2018.

OK, the Beast from the East … ?

Right now … ?

Right, my street has a light dusting of very light frost.

That’s lightly sticking around in the very light snow.

That’s not to say there’s not going to be problems.

Right now, parts of Kent are snowed under, Lincolnshire’s looking bad, and there’s sub-zero temperatures predicted for tonight, here in Essex.

Frankly?

The sooner this weather eases, the happier I’ll be.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 26th February, 2018.

26th February, 2018.

Hmmm … 

Did anyone else see this piece go past, on the news?

Four people have been in an explosion above a shop: in Hinkley Road in Leicester.

Quite why that explosion happened?

I don’t know.

But, just before watching another episode of Mr Robot, it was something that grabbed my attention.

I can only hope the cause is found, and found quickly.

That might well be the only consolation for the families of those killed.

~≈§≈~

Mr Robot — Series 3 — Episodes 8: eps3.7 dont-delete-me.ko

25th February, 2018.

No, really … 

I’d lost … the … 

Lot … !

As you’re possibly aware of several things, by now.

One of those things?

Will be the simple fact I write the Daily Teaser for your entertainment: and — for the past few years — made little slide shows to go with them.

Complete with all this introductions: made up of me saying “Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser,” followed an appropriate — if not exactly legal — line from a movie.

I’m … 

Well, gutted is one way of looking at it.

Especially when I realised it was partially my fault: in NOT checking the relevant files had made the transfer correctly

On the OTHER hand?

I’m starting off on a free machine, learning about the newer software on it, learning how the audio manipulation aspects of QuickTime work … AND how to do transfers better. 

Building something similar shouldn’t be hard.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 25th February, 2018

25th February, 2018.

Yep … I’m still feeling rough.

To the point where 69p on a bag of really powerful cough sweets helped: and was possibly the only thing that got me through work, yesterday.

I’m also VERY aware of blot spam: or comment spam, as it’s sometimes called.

I’ve had two or three bits of it try and get past the moderation.

I’m just glad I managed to switch the thing on, all those years ago … !

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 24th February, 2018

24th February, 2018.

Yep … 

I can officially say I’ve got as couple of things to offer you, as thoughts.

Or maybe more.

For starters?   I literally had to take the day off, yesterday.

I don’t think ‘Rough’ even starts … 

At ANY rate … ?

I DID manage to get myself a new phone: I’m still waiting for the number to transfer to a new SIM card.

I ALSO am very aware that, in the run-up to the transfer?   I’d got a call with a withheld answer: which I — in a brief moment of technopanic — answered.

Apparently, it was a woman call Augustine.

I don’t know who she was, but I put the phone down.

Still, to this day, wondering what happened, there.

The fact that, in all that … ?

The fact I managed to catch an episode of Mr Robot had nothing to do with it.

~≈§≈~

Mr Robot — Series 3 — Episodes 7: eps3.6_fredrick+tanya.chk

23rd February, 2018.

OK … 

OK … 

Right now, I’ll confess to having had better days … and less weird experiences.

Right now?

I’m the owner of a new phone.

And I’m in the middle of waiting for my old number to be transferred over to a new SIM card.

On a pay as you go deal, so you know.

While the old phone is still active?

I’ve LITERALLY just answered a call from a withheld number.

Which promptly turned out to be a woman who introduced herself as Augustine.

I put the phone down.

Old phone or new phone, answering calls from withheld numbers is not necessarily sensible.

Even if I’m wondering what the hell she wanted.

~≈§≈~

The other thing to mention … ?

Is that I’ve had to take the day off, ill, today.

I hate letting the side down.

But am VERY aware that I was in no fit state: and could possibly left myself in a worse way, for tomorrow’s shift.

I’m losing enough money, this week, as it is.

At any rate?

Making sure I got an early night, tonight?

Meant just one thing.

In between copying stuff from old versions of media libraries to new versions?

And putting new numbers onto my new phone?

And ripping stuff I possibly shouldn’t be?

I only had time for one episode of Series 3 of 

Mr Robot.

Frankly?

I’d almost lost the plot.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 23-2-2018: The Hagia Sophia

23rd February, 2018.

Yes … 

Yesterday was one of those days.

After all, I had to to get at four — as I have, today — to go to work.   

But ended up, convinced my alarm had gone off, at two.

Which meant I ended up in one hell of a state, finishing work early.

Which ALSO meant I posted yesterday’s Teaser answers up a day early: sorry folks!

I don’t think it helps:that I seem to be going down with a touch of flu, and a temperature over the past few days.

Which meant grabbing the window seat, at work yesterday, helped.

The 1º temperatures we had, didn’t half help.

~≈§≈~

Can I add a brief thought, here?

As we know, last week saw seventeen people killed in a school shooting in Florida: sparking yet more discussion of the USA’s gun control laws.

I think for many outside the US?

The easy availability of serious weaponry, weaponry usually reserved for the military, is something shocking: especially when that country allows someone to buy those weapons … to tragic ends.

I’ve always had the impression the US Constitution is one of the world’s finest pieces of legal writing: but the Second Amendment, that allows for that?

Might need revision.

At any rate?

It seems President Trump’s position is that arming teachers would be a good way to defend pupils.   Which some teasers oppose.

One thing I do know?   That I’ve seen on the news?

Is that, like many schools in the US, the school where the shooting took place had an armed deputy onsite: in order to deal with exactly this sort of situation.

He respond to the shooter: didn’t see him, didn’t go into the building, what have you.

Why, I don’t know.

Although I think I, armed or otherwise, would be hesitant to deal with an armed and active shooter.

But?

There was an armed person on site, to deal with this sort of situation, who didn’t.

Which, to me?

Undermines the President’s argument.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 22-2-2018: A Bruce Bonus

22nd February, 2018.

No, really … 

On a day when I have to be up at four — blog, shower, shave, commute into work for nine — I managed — convinced my alarm had gone off — at two in the morning.

Two … in … the … morning … !

It was only when the new iMac announced the time I realised … that it was two o’clock!

Oy … 

Vey … 

~≈§≈~

NikNak’s Daily Teaser — 21st February, 2018.

21st February, 2018.

Yep … 

I — quite definitely — need to get a smaller chair.

Or, at least, a shorter one.

One that — basically — lets me … you know … 

Get my rear a little bit nearer the floor!

It’s not uncomfortable.

On the other hand?

It is uncomfortable.

Hmmm … 

I’m a mass of contradictions …

~≈§≈~

One thing I’ve found ?

Lurking about on screen, this morning, I’ve found I can go into a split screen mode in High Sierra.

Personally?

I want a third monitor, so I can write for the blog a lot more easily: one set of webpages on my left, another on the right, with what’s being written on the main display.

Right now, though?

I think that’s going to be a useful feature in time to come.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20-2-2018: A Mir Fancy.

20th February, 2018.

Yep, you’re right … 

The trains got delayed, last night!

Not that I, a seriously knackered commuter wanting to go home, minded a basic delay.

Please note, I say basic delay.

Last night’s wasn’t basic.

It was full on ‘one hour delay caused by points failure’ type delay, or nothing.

With the net result?

There’s a very tired blogger sitting in front of a posh computer, this morning!

~≈§≈~

Talking of which … ?

And just in case you’re interested?

So far, it’s day two of using my nice shiny new iMac, and I have to admit to a couple of minor disappointments.

It turns out that HandBrake needs work: the DVD decryption library it relies on to circumvent copy protection needs to be installed via Terminal.   Which I’ve tried … only to be asked for a password I don’t recognise.

There’s workarounds: mostly involving things like RipIt, which let you copy DVDs minus the digital rights management protection.

So it’s not the total lose you’d’ve thought.

Still … it’s a little disappointing.

The only other disappointment?

Is that long time favourite games, Pac the Man X and Connect M no longer work under High Sierra.

That’s a real disappointment.

Granted, it means less distraction, but even so … 

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 19th February, 2018

19th February, 2018.

Yep: it’s a official.

I owe my family a great big thank you.

They’ve gone and treated me to a new computer.

You can possible guess the brand, can’t you … ?

Right now … ?

Right now, I’ve got to confess I’m still transferring stuff over from my old machine: when setting up this Mac, I made the decision to try and import everything from my Time Machine Backup.

Which didn’t take.

So, instead, I decided to import everything from my old Mac over my local network: rather than directly connect the things.

The slow and fiddly way, in other words.

I’m ALSO still getting used to the interface.

It’a familiar enough that I can start using using it, yesterday.

But different enough to confuse me.

And automatically capitalises the letter ‘I’: which is awkward if you’re trying to write a post with raw HTML tags.

Still … 

I’d possibly only get bored if things stay the same … !

~≈§≈~

The New Toy

18th February, 2018.

No, really … 

Read On … !

Although I suspect I’ve not got much to say.

APART … from thanking my family: they have, bless them, managed to buy me quite a lot of iMac.

Which is taking a lot longer to set up, than I thought.

To be thoroughly honest?

I think I made something of a hash of the initial use of Migration Assistant.

I initially chose to import a lot of my settings and files over my local network: rather than connect the two machines together, via ethernet.

I might just have to get one of those really LONG … !

Hmmm … 

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18th February, 2018

18th February, 2018.

Well, yes: it’s going to be interesting!

For starters?

My birthday present turns up early.

Which means I’m going to have some über-geeky fun, setting the thing up …

It’ll possible take a while.

But I’m re-assured that I can at least migrate stuff over from my Time Machine backup drive.

Hopefully?

I’ll ALSO be able to transfer the two spare internal drives.

I’d HATE to lose my media library, after all!

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 17th February, 2018.

17th February, 2018.

Things first … ?

Let me gently yawn: it’s an early start, as I have to get to work.

And confess that yes:  could WELL be an interesting weekend.

My birthday present could be turning up.

Early!

Frankly, I’d be grateful if it did: transferring over accounts usually takes a while!

Ahem!

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16-2-2018: Dead and Buried*.

16th February, 2018.

No, really … my phone’s a right royal pain in the proverbial bum … !

Right at the moment?

My phone’s dead time, yesterday?

Seems to be down to an ageing battery: and a dodgy cable: one I hadn’t noticed was damaged.

Replacing the battery looks cheap enough: at least, going by the prices on Amazon.

Replacing the cable?

Will, for now, be  cheaper.   I can get that in my local CeX: as they do a range of reasonable replacement cables.

On the other hand … ?

I spent an instructive hour or so in Brentwood High Street: going from mobile shop to mobile shop, double checking on their offerings.

Carphone Warehouse are offering a good deal: and O2 are offering to — effectively — match their price, AND transfer over my contacts, number and remaining balance.

What IS a boy to do?!

~≈§≈~

Star Trek Discovery — Episode 15: Will You Take My Hand?

15th February, 2018.

Flat … is possibly the word … 

Especially if you’ve read this morning’s Teaser: you’de rrealise my phone is giving me a problem or two.

The root of it, at the moment?

Is looking like an ageing battery … combined with another knackered charging cable!

I’ve got a few options, there: but at the moment?   At the moment, replacing the cable, until I’ve enough cash to buy a replacement.

Hopefully?

That should be within the next week or two.

~≈§≈~

At any rate … ?

At any rate, today is a Thursday: and the first chance I’ve had to catch up with some TV.

If you hadn’t guessed I’ve been watching Star Trek: Discovery, by now?

You’ve not been paying attention … 

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 15th February, 2018

15th February, 2018.

Where on EARTH, do I start … ?

No, really, where … ?

Well, for starters?

My phone’s gone and bloody well died!

Which is bloody annoying.

Frankly, I really don’t need the expense of buying a new one: whether I get it from CeX, or somewhere pricier.

It’s all … 

Well … 

Annoying!

~≈§≈~

On the OTHER hand … 

On the other hand, I’ve got a secret admirer … !

Someone at work, it seems.

I’ve even got half an idea of whom: and bless, it’s a nice gesture from someone who’s happily spoken for!

Half my age, very attractive, bright as a button … and happily spoken for!

Either way, I can’t complain too much!

It is a nice gesture …

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 14-2-2018: Saint Valentine’s Day

14th February, 2018.

*Yawn*

No, really, it’s really … 

Early … 

Or, at least, earlier than I’m usually up … 

Frankly?

I’ve got up at six, today: in order to get to work for an eleven o’clock start, and after getting home at eleven.

Yawn?

Possibly doesn’t even start!

~≈†≈~

In technology news?

In technology news, I see that the government of the UK have introduced software to allow websites to flag up videos of an extremist nature: allowing moderators to delete ones that genuinely are a problem.

Which is fair enough, I suppose.

My only real concern?

Is that, while I can see why both government and creators, are keen to keep it both closed source and under wraps, I also think making it open source would be a way to improve the thing.

AND to increase uptake.

After all, I can’t see firms putting government sponsored software one their IT kit … without know how the underlying code works.

~≈†≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 13-2-2018: Glen Coe …

13th February, 2018.

Bloody Twitter … !

They are — at the moment — telling me that the Tweets I post — with each day’s Daily Teaser on them — are automated and spam.

And stopped me doing them, however temporarily!

I’ve reported it, of course.

But lord knows how it’ll take to rectify the issue.

Can I ask you a favour?

Can you complain?   To @TwitterSupport, on Twitter?

Ta … !

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 12-2-2018: In Exile

12th February, 2018

And … 

Shiver!

It is, after all, rather cold!

Much as it was, yesterday!

There’s an upside!

Yep: I’m incredibly grateful.

I’ve seen what may family’s getting me for my birthday.

I can’t wait until March*!

~≈§≈~

All this … ?

All this on the same night as catching some fantastic episodes of Mr Robot?

Well … 

~≈§≈~

Mr Robot — Series 3: Episodes 5 & 6 — eps3.4_runtime-err0r.r00 and eps3.5_kill-pr0cess.inc

11th February, 2018.

That is — if you’ve watched the little introductory video — a very true observation to make.

Even if I do say so myself.

Yes … 

It’s been snowing.

And, frankly?

I’m just glad I’ve not been out in it.

Or, at least … more than I had to be.

Yeah: it’s been a day off.

And yes: I’ve done some shopping.

Actually?

I’ve ALSO helped my mother do some shopping.

Bless, she’s decided she can — with a little help from me — afford to buy me a new computer, for my birthday, in March: for which I’m eternally grateful.

You can probably tell what brand, can’t you … ?

And what model … !

I think I’ve solved the three monitor problem!

~≈§≈~

At any rate, that’s not what I was … 

I was going to say that wasn’t what I intended to tell you.

But you can’t not expect a boy to blab excitedly, can you?

At ANY rate … ?

I’ve had a good day.

And rounded it off with more episodes from the third season of Mr Robot.

Yes, hotting up is accurate … 

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 11th February, 2018

11th February, 2018.

Hmm … It’s morning … 

And?

As ever on a Sunday morning, I’ve got the radio on.

Radio 3*, if you must know.

Usually, I’ve got no problem Radio 4’s Sunday Service.

Except this morning’s seemed just a little bit too happy clappy.

It’s just a little bit too enthusiastic, first thing on a Sunday morning!

~≈§≈~

One thing I did catch, though?   Before I turned over?

Was the Radio 4 appeal, for this week: on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Society.

Speaking as both a Terry Pratchett fan, and as the grandson of someone lost to it?

It’s a VERY good cause.   If you wanted to make a donation, you can do via the Radio 4 donation page, here: or through the Alzheimer’s Society donation page, here.

Sir Terry Pratchett put it like this, once.

Demons need naming … in order for us to be able to fight them.

Unfortunately, they also need cash.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 10-2-2018: How to Make an Exhibition of Yourself and Other Stories

10th February, 2018.

Hmmm … 

I didn’t know that … 

Apparently?

Apparently, I can do a channel trailer for my channel on Youtube!

Which is possibly a good idea.

Once I’ve … you know … 

Got dressed … !

Ahem … !

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 9th February, 2018

9th February, 2018.

No, really … 

I seriously want to go back to bed.

Frankly?

I am knackered: and blaming the trains for that.

Last night … ?

The 22:26 from Chelmsford was delayed by roughly five minutes.

Which had a knock on effect: I missed the 22:44 from Shenfield.

By about two minutes: wouldn’t you know it?

Which meant next train was — theoretically? — was the  22:59.

Which got altered at the very last minutes: as a driver went AWOL.

Which meant I ended up getting the 22 whatever it was … 

And getting home by half eleven: getting to bed about half an later than usual.

Right now … 

Well, needs must, and all … 

But, BOY, that duvet looks comfy!

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 8th February

8th February, 2018.

Arrrggghhh!

I’ve got an earworm … !

I know I’ve mentioned the idea, before now.

But, just in case you didn’t know what an earworm is, it’s a song: it’s, more specifically, the song that — sometimes for no apparently reason — is currently, and repetitively, going through your head.

I usually get the beggars first thing in the morning.

And this morning?

It’s Madame Butterfly.

By Malcolm McLaren.

Blowed if I know why!

~≈§≈~

Just so you know … ?

And just in case you were reading me, yesterday?

Yes: I’ve had the hospital appointment: the one checking out the chest pains I’ve been getting.

Hmmm … 

In the nurse’s opinion — after a whole series of questions, a stethoscope to the chest and another ECG — I’m not looking at angina … 

Yet.

But she is concerned enough to want to book me up for a CT scan: to check on my coronary arteries.

It’s long and drawn out.

But all good.

~≈§≈~

Star Trek Discovery — Episode 14: The War Without, The War Within

7th February, 2018.

OK … The tumble dryer is decidedly on.

But ut’s OK, I can give up using the tumble dryer, anytime I want.

I’ve just got some socks to dry, OK?

Well, I say some … 

~≈ß≈~

OK … 

This post is starting to wander, a little bit, isn’t it?

It wasn’t meant to.

I meant to tell you … 

Well, possibly a lot of things*.

One of which is (possibly) obvious.

I got up seriously early, this morning: for a hospital appointment in Basildon.

I really wish I had, to be frank.

But … ?

Frankly, I’m not getting any younger.

And, equally as frankly?

Chest pains, at my age, and at my sort of weight?

Aren’t something to take lightly.

Up at 5·30am, and off to Basildon it was.

~≈ß≈~

I’m — sort of — glad I did, though.

The actual appointment, with the hospital’s specialist cardiology nurse, went quicker than I expected: even with another ECG examination and a stethoscope.

From what the nurse told me?

I don’t have Angina.

Yet.

But does want me to have a CT scan: to have a seriously good look at my coronary arteries, so we can see if I need a course of statins.

We’ll have to see what happens when I get the appointment.

~≈ß≈~

At any rate … ?

At any rate, I’ve actually had tonight, free.

At least, free to do a few things.

Wash my socks.

Makes some more Teaser videos.

Do some housework.

Eat.

Email my mother.

And?

And catching up on this week’s episode of Star Trek: Discovery.

Twisty is possibly the word.

Especially when you see the look on ‘Captain’ Georgiou’s face … 

~≈ß≈~

Nik Nak’s daily Teaser — 7th February 2018

7th February, 2018.

‘Slightly’ is possibly putting it mildly.

Possibly.

I’m actually up early, in order to catch the first of two buses to Basildon Hospital.

To the Cardiology unit: to check on some chest pains.

That … 

Well, yeah: you don’t get to my sort of age — indeed, my sort of body mass index — with out a few … 

Well, bad habits.

 

 

Here’s hoping this leads to some sort of improvement.

~≈§≈~

Moving rapidly on, to a bit of, less personal, news?

I didn’t get a chance to see the news of the launch of Elon Musk’s Falcon Heavy rocket.

But, seemingly?

It went well.

Personally, though?   I happen to know Musk is something of a fan of Iain M. Banks: coming up with his own version of a neural lace, and naming his two landing pads after Banks ships.

Which is sort of my point.

I’m just a little disappointed he didn’t call it the GSV Serious Lack of Gravitas.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 6-2-2018: Votes For Women … !

6th February, 2018.

Right … 

It’s a day when I’m working.

Which … well, you’d possibly figured it was a fifty/fifty chance of it.

At any rate … ?

I’m working today: very much in the awareness that I’ve a hospital appointment, tomorrow.

On practical fronts?

I’ve not managed to book up a bus ticket in advance.

But have got the cash for the tickets.

So the simple practical job of getting there is not something I’ll be worrying about.

When I get to Basildon Hospital’s Chest Pain Unit?

I suspect that’s when the real nerves will start …

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5th February, 2018

5th February, 2018.

No, really, it’s true.

I’ve actually managed to see the Denis Villeneuve directed, Blade Runner 2049.

Last night, so you know.

Frankly, and for all it’s glorious imagery?

It’s just a bit too long: by about forty-five minutes.

There’s more: it occurred to me, while I was in bed — after I’d written my post, wouldn’t you know it? — that the focus of the plot was wrong.

It focuses on K — Ryan Gosling — in his attempt to find the impossible child of a replicant, in a quest to find his own identity.

When maybe it should have focused on Niander Wallace’s (Jared Leto) search for the same child.

Two hours and forty five minutes of Ryan Gosling wandering around looking bloody miserable … 

Could’ve had a lot more plot.

And a lot more villain.

~≈§≈~

Just as an extra thought: I’ve got the radio on: as ever.

Set to Radio 4’s Today programme.

Who’ve just announced there’s snow warnings for the southeast: something I’ve double checked with my weather app.

It’s true, there’s warnings.

I’ve looked out of the window.

It’s looking bleak … 

~≈§≈~