Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16th October 2025

16th October, 2025.

That was a first.

Or, at least, a first … for a while … !

I visited the Job Centre, yesterday: as my next scheduled meeting with my work coach — on 29th October — had been cancelled.

I panicked: anything like that carries the potential of a sanction, and a reduction in benefit.

Phoning the place revealed nothing.

So … ?

I actually went into the office, for the first time in months: to ask what on Earth was going on in person … !

Apparently?

It got cancelled, so it could be reassigned to a new, trainee, case officer.

I’ve little problem with that … but … ?

As I said to the administrator who dealt with me, it would have been reassuring if I — alongside others affected by this — were messaged about it.

That way, we know what’s going on, and have something on the record about it: in case of any issues.

Civil servants, eh?

~≈👔≈~

Oh … 

Hello … !

It seems Apple have released new devices — a MacBook Pro, iPadPro and Apple Vision — powered with their new M5 chip: rather than the older M4, the chip that’s in my machine.

Has anyone got a few grand going begging … ?

Bar the size of the screen, the new MacBook looks good* … 

~≈👔≈~

Oh, did I mention the image at the top of the page was altered with Apple’s Image Playground app?

Taking advantage of its ability to connect with ChatGPT?

The image at the top of the page was altered with Apple’s Image Playground app: in a way that took advantage of its ability to connect with ChatGPT.

Ahem!

I also modified a photo of myself: 

Which makes me look like a startled haddock.

Adding a crown really doesn’t help.

Artificial intelligence is obviously onto something.

I just don’t know what …

~≈🤖≈~

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 four.



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

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

Q1)        16th October saw Margaret Sanger open America’s first what: cancer clinic, rehabilitation centre or family planning clinic?

Q2)        She opened it in which year 1916, 1918 or 1920?

Q3)        The Royalton Raid too place: on 16th October, 1780.   It was a British led raid on territory then part of which US state: Vermont, New Jersey or Virginia?

Q4)        The new General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union was named on 16th October, 1964.   Who was that General Secretary?

Q5)        Finally … ?   16th October is World Food Day.   Food usually supplies which ‘N’: nutrients, numismatics or New Zealand?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        According to the UN General Assembly, 15th October is the International Day of Rural whoms: men, woman or children?

A1)        The International Day of Rural Women.

Q2)        16th October, 1888, saw George Lusk receive the “From Hell” letter.   The letter was postmarked 15th October, 1888: and supposed to be from whom?

A2)        Jack the Ripper.   (The letter’s inspired an Alan Moore graphic novel: and a Johnny Depp film.   It’s also one of the few letters considered potentially genuine.)

Q3)        Mario Puzo was born on 15th October, 1920.   He, famously, wrote crime novels about who: the Yakuza, the Mafia or the Polish Mob?

A3)        The Mafia.

Q4)        15th October is Shwmae Sumae Day.   It’s marked in which country of the UK?

A4)        Wales.   (It celebrates the Welsh language.)

Q5)        Finally … ?   Until sunset, 15th October, 2025, is Simchat Torah.   Simchat Torah is being marked by members of which religion: Christianity, Islam or Judaism?

A5)        Judaism.   (It marks the end of the yearly cycle of Torah readings: in Israel, it ends a day earlier.)

Here’s a thought …

“Be warned in time, James, and remain, as I do, incomprehensible: to be great is to be misunderstood.”

From a letter to James McNeill Whistler by Oscar Wilde, 16 October 1854 – 30 November 1900.

And a song …

The next ten question set is on 24th October: it’s about Zambia.

Your comments will be published, tomorrow morning.

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

Where possible, we avoid writing these questions with AI.

Decisions about scores are final.

Thank you for coming: have a good day.

*        Given the money, I’d prefer to go for the MacBook Pro, rather than the cheaper MacBook Air.   The pro has more ports: including ones on the right hand side of the machine.   I’m left handed.   And, were I to use a mouse with the thing, would want to use one port with a charging cable: positioned out of the way of my left hand.   It’s not often Apple get’s design wrong … but the port positioning strikes me as bad …

†        Hello, Mum!   (It was Wales, rather the Scotland, Mum!)

‡        The recycling issue’s is going too be around for a while, Olga.   As, frankly, are sweatshops.   The stuff I can afford is usually made in sweatshops in wherever.   The stuff that lasts, and isn’t cheap, isn’t.   However much we complain about sweatshops, there’s always going to be a market for what they make.   I know I’ve mentioned them a few times … but the Boot Theory, and one particular episode of Star Trek, spring to mind.

        As does “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas”: if LeGuin’s finest story isn’t a metaphor for child labour, I don’t know what is.

§        Based on the spelling, Debbi … ?   I’m not surprised!   :D   I think it’s the last time I’ll use it, though.   Pronouncing it in the video was a bit of a git … !

        The song’s by a band called Public Service Broadcasting: and it’s the only one of their’s I know.   Their use of samples was very good, though.   I’ve a friend working on something similar: although I don’t know where he publishes it.