Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 31st January, 2019.

31st January, 2019.

Yes: I’ve got an eye test, today.

Relatively early, as well: which is why I’m up comparatively early.

Happily?

From what I gather, I qualify for a voucher that covers most of the cost.

Although, if I don’t … ?

I’ve just enough in savings to help pay for new pairs.

I hope I do get the help.

It means I can make my money go further.

~≈§≈~

Talking of money?   Or of earning it, at any rate … ?

I’m job hunting at the moment: as you may or may not know.

I got a call, last night: from British Telecom.

I’d put in for a job with them, a couple of months ago: and had endless trouble trying to log on to their recruitment pages.

So much trouble?

That I ended up emailing my CV, and the application for the specific job, over to BT’s Human Resources department.

They finally actually called at 19:34, last night.

Gave me the basics of the job, agreed I and my CV sounded suitably impressive … 

Then told me I’d need to do an online test: just so they could, you know, dot the i’s and cross the t’s.

And that they’d email over the link: so I could get working on the test as quickly as possible.

I told the chap about the problems I’d had, logging onto their system, originally: and was concerned I’d not be able to do the test, as I was on a Mac, and had issues logging on to their recruitment system.

(That system’s run by an Oracle-owned* company called Taleo: it’s a Software-as-a-Service business that hires out web recruitment services to various companies.)

His reply … ?

Was that I’d need to access the system on a Windows based PC, running Windows 7 or higher.

You can possibly imagine my anger.

I politely told the chap I would withdraw my application: none of my neighbours — or, at least, the ones I know — have PCs: they’re all using Macs or various shades of tablets.

Nor could I get to any of my PC-owning friends, easily.

NOR — as the chap seemed to be concerned to get me doing the test, quickly — would using the library’s computer be an option.

It would hold up the process.

That’s ignoring the fact that — in my original application — I could get as far as the BT’s recruitment’s login page: and have to try and reset my password.     I’d tried that, many times, and re-registering my account.   And NEVER got any emails from BT’s recruitment system to reset my password.

He was saddened … 

But made no mention of how this could be countered, or remedied.

~≈§≈~

As you can possibly imagine?

I’m angry about that.

I’ve lost out on a potential job.

They’ve lost a potential recruit.

Yes: it could well have been remedied, if I’d owned a PC in the first place.

Why should I?

You see, BT — and whoever BT uses to run their recruitment services — could have made resetting a password is easy.

And made sure their recruitment webpages work with whatever browser, on whatever operating system — macOS, Windows, Android, Linux — and whatever device — tablet, desktop, laptop, phone — a potential recruit uses.

Just like their customer facing ones do.

~≈§≈~

Let’s move on, shall we?

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Badwolf†,Olga‡, Trevor^ and Debbiª putting in their answers: with all four scoring five out of five.

Let’s see how everyone does with today’s questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the How To, License and video … 

Q1) 31st January, 2018, was the night of a Blue Moon.   In other words, the second full moon of the what: week, month or season?

Q2) 31st January, 2018, was also the date of a total … what?

Q3) 31st January, 1938, saw the birth of Beatrix: former queen of where … ?

Q4) 31st January, 1983, saw the people of the UK start having to use … what?

Q5) Finally … 31st January, 1968, become Nauru independent: of where?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1) The Second Temple was completed on 30th January, 516 BC.   It was in which Middle-Eastern city?

A1) Jerusalem.

Q2) It was built by Zerubbabel, after the Jewish people were released from captivity, where: Egypt, Babylon or Assyria?

A2) Babylon.

Q3) As with Solomon’s original temple, the Second Temple’s Holy of Holy was supposed to house … what?

A3) The Ark of the Covenant.

Q4) The Second Temple was renovated and expanded … by which Jewish king?

A4) Herod the Great, also called Herod 1st.

Q5) Finally?   The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70AD.   What’s the only part of Temple still standing?

A5) The Western Wall: also known as the Wailing Wall, or Buraq Wall.

Here’s a thought …

“The horror of the Twentieth Century was the size of each new event, and the paucity of its reverberation.”

Norman Mailer, January 31, 1923 – November 10, 2007.

And a composition by Phillip Glass …

Today’s questions will be answered in tomorrow’s Teaser.

Have a good day.

*        I’d expect Oracle — of all people — to provide accessible on many different platforms.

†        Here’s hoping we can persuade him, @Badwolf!

‡        I think it, and the rest of the Wailing Wall, are in that warehouse, Olga!   As for the loo … ?   I hope you can find someone!   I’m just amazed — and grateful — how fast the repair was: apparently, the mechanism housing the flush has come off the cistern.

^        There we go, Trevor: @Badwolf has just politely said ‘Hello!’   Leave her a message!   :D

ª        Here’s hoping, Debbi!   I do know she was interested in finding out a little more about dystonia.   I’m hopeless at explaining these things … !