Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 31-12-2024 — The Big Fat Review of 2024.

31st December, 2024: the Big Fat Review of 2024.

Right … it’s 31st December, 2024: and the last day of the year.

And … ?

Well, for a start, I’m going to say “Happy New Year” to anyone reading this.

In the exception that it’ll be 2025 by the time you read it!

~≈📅≈~

On top of that … ?

I’m very aware that I’ve had my most recent set of blood tests: and thankful I had lots of water to drink.

I hadn’t had enough, the last time I went in for testing: so the phlebotomist couldn’t get any blood out of me.

I have an appointment with my GP in a couple of weeks: hopefully, those all important sugar levels are down!

~≈🍩≈~

Just as a final thought … ?

I’ve long advocated ripping — copying and transcoding —  DVD and Blu-ray Discs.

For a variety of reasons.

You get a digital copy of the disc you can stream to streaming boxes, one that’s not going to vanish from Netflix/iTunes/Amazon Prime, and you’ve backed up your property.

And — if need be — you can sell that disc to offset the cost of purchase.

I’ve also long told friends that you can use a mix of MakeMKV and HandBrake to do this.

I also use MetaZ: to add thumbnails and metadata.

Yes: the legal situation on this is iffy … 

But it’s both doable, and shouldn’t cause problems: if done purely for personal use.

And also nice to see no less a person than tech blogger, Linus Sebastian, advocating the same process.

I’m just a little disappointed the channel’s taken my comment down.

Maybe mentioning how you can stream the results of the process to an AppleTV 4k wasn’t a good idea … 

~≈📺≈~

Let’s move on.


Yesterday’s Teaser saw Mum*, Olga† and Debbi‡ putting in their answers: with Olga and Debbi scoring five out of five and Mum on three.

This twelve question set was written in November, 2024.

It’s accurate — and topical — for the time of writing.

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

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

Q1)        Margrethe 2nd abdicated in January of 2024.   As queen of which European country?

Q2)        February 2024, saw the Nova-C lander became the first commercial lander to land where: Mars, the Moon or Mercury?

Q3)        March 2024 saw the Artificial Intelligence Act, passed.   By whom: the European Union, the United States or the Arab League?

Q4)        April of this year saw the G7 group agree to phase out power plants powered by what: coal, gas or nuclear energy?

Q5)        The 2024 Eurovision Song Contest was held in May of 2024.   Which country won: Austria, Sweden or Switzerland?

Q6)        The 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup was held in June of 2024.   T20 matches are a version of which sport: soccer, cricket or rugby?

Q7)        The UK held the 2024 General Election in July of 2024.   Which party gained the most seats in the House of Commons as a result: Labour, the Conservatives, or the Reform Party?

Q8)        Russia exchanged prisoners in August of 2024.   Which which other country: Ukraine, China, the USA or the UK?

Q9)        Dame Maggie Smith died in September of 2024.   She was made a Companion of Honour, when: 2013, 2014 or 2015?

Q10)        The Europa Clipper was launched: in October of 2024.   It’s heading for a moon of which planet?

Q11)        November saw Archbishop Justin Welby resign: as Archbishop of where?

Q12)        Finally … ?   Late December saw which country hold a presidential election: the USA, Iceland or Croatia?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        The Ginza Line opened on 30th December.   Of which year of the 1920s?

A1)        1927.

Q2)        In which Japanese city?

A2)        Tokyo.

Q3)        The trains on the Ginza Line are Metro 1000 series EMUs.   EMU stands for Electric Multiple what?

A3)        Electric Multiple Units.

Q4)        How many stations are on the Ginza line: nineteen, twenty-one or twenty-three?

A4)        Nineteen.   (Shibuya, station number one, is at one end: Asakusa, the nineteenth, at the other.)

Q5)        Finally … ?   How long is the Ginza Line, in miles: 6.7 miles, 7.8 miles, or 8.9 miles?

A5)        8.9 miles.

Here’s a thought …

“I’ve got Attention Deficit Disorder.   To other people it’s a disability.   To me, it’s a career.”

RIP Janey Godley§, 20 January 1961 – 2 November 2024.

And the song that — at the time of writing — was Spotify’s most played song of 2024 …

The next large question set is on 2nd January, 2025.


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



Decisions about scores are final.

Thank you for coming: have a good day.

*        Hello, Mum!   (You got four and five were the wrong way around, yesterday!)

†        Hopefully, Olga, the tests will have good results.   I’ll be happy if my HbA1c levels are stable: but I’d prefer to see them down a point or two.

        Yeah … I can remember making a similar mistake, when I worked at Stratford VAT office, many years ago.   I put a client down as a Mrs, instead of a Miss.   She had the quickest divorce, ever!

‡        I hope today’s are just as short, Debbi!   (I don’t know if you and Olga saw the Linus Tech Tips video I posted: but I’m aware he’s right about it being legally shaky.)

§        Godley famously welcomed Trump to Scotland …