Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 6th March, 2026

6th Marc, 2026.

 

Currently … ?

I am swearing … a lot … !

As … ?

It’s turning into a frustrating morning.

Usually, in making my introduction video, Final Cut Pro and iMovie have no issue finding, and using, my Music library.

Today, they didn’t: for an unknown reason.

So … ?

Wanting something to listen to, while I wrote … ?

I switched on my copy of Apple Music.

Which also refused to load up my music library.

Until I held down the Option (⌥) key, whilst opening the app: which allowed me to point the thing at my media library.

So that’s that issue solved: after a certain amount of panicking!

However … ?

Final Cut — and iMovie, as it turned out — couldn’t access the Music library.

Why … ?

I don’t know.

I can only hope posting this to the Apple Communities forum will help!

~≈🎹≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5th March 2026.

5th March, 2026.

Right … it’s officially the day after my birthday: thanking you, if you wished me well, and/or got me a present.

Both are much appreciated!

Appreciated or otherwise?

Life goes on: and I’m now a year older.

But not necessarily wiser.

~≈🦉≈~

One thing I did notice, yesterday?

Bar the fact I’m a year older?

Is that Apple have now released their new range of MacBook, the MacBook Neo.

It’s a machine that comes with just eight gigabytes of RAM, up to 512 gigabytes of SSD, and powered by an A-series chip: rather than the M-series chips other Macs use.

Yes: I would like one.

But … ?

I have my doubts.

I’m very aware it’s seen as Apple’s affordable option: as a less expensive way of entering the Apple ecosystem.

But also aware that similar-specced machines — usually running ChromeOS or Windows — are available on Amazon for a lot less: there’s plenty of Chromebooks for less, for example.

I’m also thinking that eight gigabytes of RAM, and 256 to 512 gigabytes of hard drive wouldn’t necessarily means it’s going to be something to make music or videos with.

Especially not with Final Cut: my limited experience tells me an M-series iPads may be a better option, there.

But … ?

As an on-the-go machine, used to keep in touch?

It could be useful: that’s why I’d be wanting something like this.

~≈🧑🏻‍💻≈~

Just as a last thought … ?

I few weeks ago, I was recording the footage for a recent batch of Teaser videos: and having problems, as my Mac was overheating as a result.

I was advised to clear out various caches, and restart my Mac, to solve the issue.

That didn’t seem to help much.

But?

Having cleaned the relevant caches, made sure the Pages files that seemed to be causing the issues were set to ‘Keep Downloaded’, and that my machine was updated to macOS Tahoe 26.3.x, seemed to work.

I’ve been able to film with no problem.

Here’s hoping … 

~≈♨️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 4th March 2026

4th March, 2026.

It’s officially my birthday!

Yay!

‘Yay’?

Yes, yay … although, to be frank … ?

It’s just another day: although, admittedly, one with presents.

Given today sees Apple announce more of its latest releases … ?

Yes: I would like one … !

~≈🎂≈~

Hmmm … 

Are you on Facebook … ?

I am.

Although, last night, the site seemed to have issues.

At least, it did on the desktop: I had no problem accessing the site through the Android app.

What happened?

I don’t know.

But I’d love to find out … !

~≈🛜≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 3rd March 2026

3rd March, 2026.

Right … I’ve published reviews: of the most recent episode I caught, of Stranger Things.

The written one’s here.

It’s video equivalent?

Is here: 

And … ?

I made the video version in Final Cut Pro.

Which was educational, I know that.

I’m still trying to figure out how to use transitions in a way that means the video transitions: but not the audio portion of a clip.

I’m thinking I need to get the hang of magnetic masks, masks that track whatever they’re masking, and let you apply effects.

I learnt those were things that would come in handy.

And also learnt something else.

They tell you — you know they: them that tells you stuff! — ha!

They tell you that — if you’re going to use a computer to edit video, and use pro-level video editors like Final Cut, or Premiere Pro, or DaVinci Resolve Studio — will use a lot of hard drive space.

A lot of hard drive space!

I knew that.

But also, having no direct experience, didn’t know that.

That 15 minute video review?

Making and rendering that video review chewed up some four hundred gigabytes of hard drive space.

I’m glad, when I bought my current machine, I got one with a one terabyte, a one thousand gigabyte, internal drive.

But, had I released I’d be using Final Cut Pro, and that it would use quite that much space?

I’d’ve got a two terabyte drive.

Heigh-ho!

~≈💽≈~

Stranger Things — Series 5: Chapter 4 — Sorcerer — A Review

2nd March, 2026: “Sorcerer”.

An Introduction.

It’s Friday.

Which means several things.

Mostly that I’ll be eating dinner, soon: it’s that time on a Friday.

I also have something of a confession.

I’ve downloaded Apple’s Creator Studio: as a cheap way to get hold of Final Cut Pro, Apple’s pro level video editing suite.

So, hopefully, I’ll be using it to edit and export my reviews.

The one thing that HAS surprised me?

Is that the suite comes with an app called Compressor, that lets you scale videos up or down.

Including up to 8k resolution.

I don’t think I’ll be using it on a regular basis: I’ve just upscaled a two and a half test video — dummy footage in a dummy project, that’s the basis of my Daily Teaser videos — and it’s taken some ten minutes … 

And left my sixteen gigabyte, M4 Mac mini hot enough to boil tea!

I’ll probably make more use of it … when I get a new machine, with more RAM … !

~≈🐙≈~

At any rate, it’s still Friday, and dinner is still cooking.

Once that’s done?

I’ll wash up: then watch the fourth episode of Stranger Things 5: “Sorcerer” will hopefully maintain the quality of the series, thus far.

And let us know what’s happening with Max!

~≈🐙≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 2nd March 2026.

2nd February, 2026.

Right … I am officially in a rush: to get to both my Monday morning weight management meeting, and to this afternoon’s blood tests!

The reason for the rush … ?

Is simply the fact today’s introduction video took a dog’s age to upload!

Why, I don’t know.

But I suspect taking time, adjusting the various tweaks in Final Cut Pro, didn’t help!

~≈🎬≈~

As a quick thought … ?

Having Avantgarde’s “OKP Cipher” on in the background, helps.

It’s nicely upbeat: which I find helps me to type, rapidly.

Hey … ho!

~≈🆗≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1/3/2026 — Nebraska (Ten Questions)

1st March, 2026: Nebraska.

I like somethings: and dislike others.

But you’ve possibly worked that out.

I don’t like the current, 47th, US President.

And make it a point of honour to not use the man’s name.

I don’t know if I’ve managed there, but I can at least try.

I don’t like unnecessary military action: at least, action I feel is unjustified.

So … ?

USA military action in Iran, taken in conjunction with Israel, is what I regard as unjustified.

I grant the Islamic republic’s unpleasant, and has violated the rights, and taken the lives of, protestors.

Furthermore?

The action taken has seen the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

If that doesn’t start a war?

I’ll be both grateful, and very surprised.

~≈🇮🇷≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28/2/2026 — Andalusia

28th February, 2026: Andalucia.

Hmmm … 

That seems to work … 

I’ve subscribed to Apple’s Creator Studio, just recently: and found out that I could use a mix of Final Cut Pro, and Compressor, to make 8k video.

So … ?

I used the stock footage I keep for the quiz videos to make a dummy 8k video I could share via YouTube.

The results told me a few things.

Firstly?

When I upload an 8k video to the site, YouTube reduces the resolution to 4k.

The copy I’ve just downloaded?

Is some forty megabytes: compared to the approximately two gigabytes I uploaded.

I’m assuming the reductions are made, to allow YouTube to keep storage space and bandwidth — and thus costs — to a minimum.

Secondly?

It took ten minutes to render some three minutes of 8k footage.

I’d say that’s acceptable: but know longer videos will take longer to render.

I’m also aware the process had my machine running extremely hot to the touch: something I’m aware would happen, given my machine’s specs.

It’s got an M4 processor, and sixteen gigabytes of RAM, so you know.

The suggested, minimum, RAM is exactly that: sixteen gigabytes,

But the recommended minimum is thirty-two.

I can only tell you this, as a result.

Recording, and rendering, in 8k is something I’d love to do.

But would need machinery, and money, I don’t have.

That’s a shame: but that’s life.

~≈8️⃣≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 27-2-2026 — Gotta Catch ’Em All (Ten Questions)

27th February, 2026: Pokémon is spelt with an ‘é’ … !

OK … I’ve officially not got Radio Four’s today programme on.

It was just a touch distracting.

Instead … ?

I’ve got Dave Brubeck’s Time Out album playing.

It’s exactly the right pace, and no-one is either talking … or singing.

Which is nice … 

~≈🎵≈~

I’m not usually one for politics.

But … ?

I noticed that yesterday’s Gorton and Denton by-election was won by the Greens: which grabbed my attention, as I’ve been voting Green for a few years, now.

Hopefully?

They’ll do well at my home town’s upcoming local elections.

But I suspect Brentwood-based voters, ones who don’t want to vote for a mainstream party, will be disgruntled Conservatives: who’ll vote for Reform, rather than Green.

Reform aren’t a party I’d vote for, myself.

I’d rather spoil my vote, than vote Reform!

~≈🗳️≈~

Did I mention my nephew, Jude, was here, yesterday … ?

My nephew, Jude, was here, yesterday.

Yes: that means there’s a new JPDecember video up and running.

One thing we did discuss, last night?

Is whether Jude would be happy to give my rental copy of Final Cut Pro a go.

We’ll have to see: it would mean either using my user account for the job, then transferring it to his account, so he can upload the resulting video.

Or signing into my Apple ID … on his user account.

Which I’ll have to think about.

Either way?

Something did catch Jude’s attention … was something I’d noticed about Final Cut.

In theory, and if I’ve got it right … ?

You can use it, and Compressor, to export a video as an 8k video, an extremely high definition video.

As you can possibly imagine, Jude’s eyes lit up.

So did mine!

~≈🎞️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 26th February 2026

26th February, 2026.

I don’t know if you knew … but I have phone appointments with my Job Centre case worker, every-so-often.

So … ?

The latest one is today: at 11·45, by phone.

I have to admit, it’s with a new case officer: so I’m concerned about how well it will go, whether they’ll phone on time, if they have access to my phone numbers.

Yadda, yadda, yadda … !

I’m … well … 

Anxious: as I always am … 

~≈👩🏾‍💼≈~

On other fronts?

I’m slowly getting used to Final Cut Pro, the video editing software I’ve been renting.

That said?

I don’t think I’ve quite got the hang of transitions, as it.

I’ve been a little clumsy with the ones in today’s introduction video.

It’s new to me, more complex than iMovie, and has a different way of laying out projects and events.

I’ll have to see how it goes … 

~≈🎬≈~

Just as a last thought … ?

I’ve got a bluray disc in an external bluray drive: one that’s quietly being copied, as we speak.

I’m using software called MakeMKV to do so.

It’s an app that’s free to use, whilst in beta: so comes in handy,  for when you need to back up movies.

I mention this, because when I put the disc in the drive … ?

It immediately started making a whining noise.

That meant that the disc was either faulty — it wasn’t — or that it was dirty: and that washing the thing in warm, soapy, water, would help.

It turns out the disc was dirty.

Thankfully, washing the disc, worked.

The reason I mention it … ?

Is simply that I wanted to make a point: it shows us high tech issues can be sometimes be solved in the simplest of ways.

~≈📀≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 25th February 2026.

25th February, 2026.

Boy … but that introduction video is very … ahh … umm … 

Yes: umm seems to be the way to put it.

I’ve used Final Cut Pro, Apple’s rentable, professional video editing suite, to make it.

Which is possibly like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

I’m very aware I’m still learning my way around the app: so … ?

Sledgehammery nut crack is going to be inevitable!

Hey … ho … !

~≈🎬≈~

I have an anonymous benefactor!

I had a letter, yesterday: one I think was prompted by the recent Lunar New Year.

One that consisted of an envelope with three lucky Chinese coins, tied together with the traditional red string.

I have no idea who sent it, as:

• I didn’t recognise the handwriting,
• There was no accompanying letter.

But whoever they — whoever you — are … ?

Thank you very much: the thought’s appreciated!

~≈🧧≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 24th February 2026.

24th February, 2026.

Right … it’s officially official.

I’ve lost weight!

As long term readers will know, I’m overweight: and on a weight management programme that’s designed to help me lose weight.

I was at my most recent meeting, yesterday, in fact.

Usually, I’d join the Warm space hub, next door to the weigh-in room: but it was a bit noisy, yesterday!

At any rate: and after the wait?

I had myself checked by the volunteers who run the service: to find I’d gone from 100·1 kilos, last week, to 98·5, this week.

A loss of some 1·6 kilos, in other words.

Considering I’d done up, last week?

And had a cheeky fish supper, on Friday?

I was pleasantly surprised … !

~≈⚖️≈~

It’s also official: that I’ve had a delivery from Amazon.

One that’s turned up when they said it would.

Which is nice.

Part of the delivery?

Is a bluray copy of The War Between the Land and the Sea, being copied as we speak, some leather cord for my waistcoat, and a leather cutting blade for the cord.

The blade?

Was advertised as a skiving knife, I should add.

I’ve not heard the word, ‘skiving’, for a long time: and it’s the first time I’ve heard it in that contest.

The last time I heard it?

It was getting used very differently!

~≈🚸≈~

Oh, just in case you’ve seen today’s introduction video, at the top of this post?

I made it with the rentable version of Final Cut Pro, Apple’s pro-level video editor.

It’s not as good as the ones I’ve made with DaVinci Resolve, or iMovie.

But, in my defence?

I’ve a lot of experience with iMovie: and, despite its steeper learning curve, plenty with DaVinci.

At the moment?

And right now?

I have some learning to do: especially about Final Cut’s transitions, and colour-correction.

~≈📽️≈~

As a last thought, before moving on … ?

Yes: I have seen another episode of Stranger Things: episode three, “The Turnbow Trap”.

And, yes: I’ve finished reviewing it.

Feel free to hit the YouTube version’s ‘Like’ button!

~≈🐙≈~

Stranger Things — Series 5: Chapter 3 — The Turnbow Trap — A Review

20th February, 2026.

“The Turnbow Trap”.

An Introduction.

Right at the moment … ?

I’m contemplating dinner.

I actually have enough to get a take out: and eat it in front of … 

Well, practically anything that’s on TV, to be honest.

My building’s communal aerial got fixed, this morning.

So watching TV’s something of a delight.

That said … ?

I’ll probably be watching something on YouTube, rather than the usual news channels.

There’s only so much about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor a body can put up with … !

~≈🐙≈~

At any rate … ?

I’ve a busy weekend, this weekend: I’ve got my nephew, tomorrow, hopefully, and be having dinner at my mothers on Sunday … 

So … ?

I’ll be watching the next episode of Stranger Things 5, “The Turnbow Trap”, tonight: then … ?

Given some luck, patience and a halfway decent meal, I’ll have this review posted by Monday, 23rd February.

That’s we both of us will find out how good the episode was … 

~≈🐙≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 23rd February 2026.

23rd February, 2026.

Right … it’s Monday.

So?

You’ve possibly realised that I’m off to my weight management class, off shopping, off bill paying: which you’d realised, if you’d read yesterday’s Teaser!

On top of that … ?

I’ve got a few bits coming from Amazon.

Something I suspect I may have to sign for: as it includes a leatherworking knife I’m going to use to repair my favourite waistcoat.

Or, at least, cut some leather cord I need to repair my favourite waistcoat.

At any rate, I think I’m going to be in Brentwood High Street for a while.

And my legs will end up, aching!

~≈🦿≈~

A few days ago, the old Dr Who TV movie was made available for pre-order: on Amazon, and other sites.

In glorious 4k, I should add.

That could be a wise purchase, I think.

It’s also a wise move.

I think transferring as much to the higher definition format is a good move: especially as there’s only so much that’s been made available in that resolution.

One Peter Capaldi story, and the Peter Cushing movies, thus far.

So the TV movie is a welcome addition …

~≈🎦≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 22nd February 2026

22nd February, 2026.

Hmmm … 

It’s officially Sunday.

Which means … ?

It’s the day before I get paid, again, and officially go shopping and bill paying!

And the day before I’m off to my weight management class; and the day before I’m expecting a tub of Marmite to turn up.

Do you get the feeling I’m going to be busy … ?

~≈❖≈~

The BAFTAs, Britain’s film awards, are being aired, tonight.

Frankly, I don’t know if I’ll be watching: I’ve a review to finish.

Bur … ?

I know that Sinners, which I reviewed last year, has been heavily nominated.

I don’t know if it’s going to win Best Picture.

But … ?

I hope it does.

It’s rare for science fiction or fantasy to do well at award ceremonies: horror films doing so is even rarer.

It would be nice if one did, for once!

~≈🧛🏿‍♂️≈~

As a final thought … ?

My YouTube feed has just fed me a trailer for an upcoming film called The Yeti.

No, I’m not going to show you the trailer.

Because?

Yes: it’s nice to know someone’s picked up on the Yeti myth, and turned it into a movie.

But the producers have set the film in Alaska … when the ‘real’ Yeti is from the Himalayas.

In Asia.

Asia.

A couple of continents away from Alaska.

If you can phone the producers and sarcastically mention Bigfoot, I’d be grateful!

~≈👣≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 21st February 2026.

21st February, 2026.

Right: for those of you who didn’t know … ?

My building’s communal TV aerial was fixed, yesterday: after yours truly — me, in other words — phoned in the repair.

Just so you know?

I got told the engineers would be hear between 8·00 and 13·00.

And … ?

Got a little panicky, by about 9·30/10·00: when no-one had contacted me about the repair.

I was just talking to the contact-centre person, when there was a knock at the door.

From the engineers, telling me that the fault was a loose connection, that the repair had been done … and that I could turn my TV back on.

Remind me to keep it together, would you … ?

~≈📺≈~

I’m on Facebook.

Which you probably knew.

And, like anyone else who uses the service?

I play some of the sillier games: and, inevitably, have tons of adverts thrown at me.

Recently?

I’ve had quite a few thrown at me: for various forms of tai-chi exercise.

From the little I can see?

The exercises are aimed at men my age, promote health, strength, inner calmness, energy, muscle building, weight loss, unlimited bowls of rice pudding and will, apparently, ‘surprise my wife’.

I’ll let you work that one out for yourself.

At any rate … the things are usually presented by someone who looks like a professional body builder.

Or, at least, works out at the gym for eight hours a day, seven days a week.

So … ?

Given the presenters seem just a touch inappropriate?

I’m going to pass on the offers.

I’d need major surgery to get a stomach likes those: not a dubious scheme … 

~≈🏋️‍♂️≈~

Just as a last thought … ?

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor — the artist formerly known as Prince Andrew — is in trouble.

To the point where he’s been stripped of his titles, there’s talk of taking him out of the Line of Succession … and his former Royal Protection officers are being asked serious questions.

In all this … ?

I noted the mentions he’s had in the Epstein Files … and remember the tabloids called him Randy Andy, back in the day.

I’m showing my age, there.

But not as much as he is …

~≈😵‍💫≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20th February 2026

20th February, 2026.

It’s officially official: it’s pay day, today.

Or, at least, the day I receive my PIP, my Personal Independence Payment.

I would love to go get some shopping.

But … ?

I’m expecting an engineer to turn up, today, between eight and one.

He’s the chap who’s here to see to the communal aerial.

Hopefully, he’ll be here, soon: and able to do something, quickly.

Given what I think the issue is, he should just have to change a cable.

But I could be wrong.

~≈📺≈~

Right or wrong … ?

It’s annoying: for a couple of reasons.

One … ?

Under normal circumstances, I occasionally have to re-tune my TV, if the signal goes funny.

Under normal circumstances, I only need to do that, once every, what?

Every three or four weeks, or so.

At the moment?

I have to do it, every time I switch on the TV: or switch from the AppleTV signal, to the aerial signal.

A dozen times or more, since reporting the problem.

It’s frustrating.

More so, than you think, actually.

Usually, when writing these posts, I have the TV turned off.

It’s intrusive.

But, at the moment, I’ve got Radio Four on: and the TV on mute: because I don’t want to retune it, again..

That’s still loud enough to be distracting, however quiet it may be and however mild a distraction others may find it.

Frustrating?

You bet: it’s an itch I can’t scratch.

~≈📺≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 19th February, 2026.

19th February, 2026.

Yay!

Money’s turned up!

OK: ten pounds (£10) has turned up.

I bought a new toast, last week: ending up with a free one, as a result of Amazon not telling me there was a backlog on the cheaper one I’d ordered.

I’m not complaining, too much: Amazon’s good will gesture — a £10 gift card — turned into two gift cards.

Which, along side the refunded £4·99 gift from the last mistake Amazon made, meant I got a toaster worth £19·99 for free.

Complete with a warming rack, I should add.

All I had to do, after that … ?

Was wait for the associated cash refund.

That turned up, yesterday.

Which is handy timing.

I could do with a loaf.

Prices in Brentwood are ridiculous … !

~≈£≈~

On the down side … ?

I noticed, on Tuesday, that there seemed to be some minor issues with my TV.

Stuttering sounds and signal cutout, listening to Radio Four, for the most part.

It got worse, yesterday: more cutting out, and serious pixelation, watching the BBC News channel.

I’ve also had to retune my TV about half a dozen times: more, in the last day, than in the last year.

So … ?

I sent a WhatsApp message to the neighbour, to ask if anyone else was affected.

There’s at least one.

So I was able to phone my landlords, and report it as a communal repair: an urgent one, as there’s vulnerable adults in the building.

That, I’m told, is going to be some twenty-four hours from the time of my call.

I think I know what’s happened: I believe rain water, from the past few weeks worth of bad weather has got into the cabling that goes into the Junction box on the top floor.

Hopefully, the engineer will be able to diagnose the problem, and repair it, quickly.

This is as frustrating as it ever was.

~≈📡≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18-2-2026 — Ramadan

18th February, 2026: Ramadan.

Right … I’ve officially got to pick some forms up!

I’m diabetic, if you didn’t know: so have to have quarterly blood tests, to check my blood sugar levels.

Hopefully?

Hopefully, when the test results come in, they will have gone better than my recent weigh-in … !

~≈🩸≈~

I’m something of a Mac fan: you’ve probably already worked that out, haven’t you … ?

So … ?

I am very aware there’s rumours about up-and-coming Apple products.

Including rumours of a lightweight MacBook, one with 8gb of RAM, a 256gb SSD, an A-series chip, and a funky case.

I’m … 

Yes: of course I’m interested to see if the rumoured machine will turn up.

And yes, I think it will be a very good on-the-go machine.

But I can’t help but think it’s a little underpowered for the current version of the operating system.

And also remember that Steve Jobs, when he rejoined Apple in the late 1990s, immediately cut a lot of poorly selling product lines.

Would this machine be one of the ones he cut?

~≈🍏≈~