Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 2nd January 2025.

2nd January, 2026.

Right: I wrote, yesterday, that I was having issues with my Mac.

It was overheating, and freezing, when I had a lot of apps open: specifically, a lot of apps, when used with Pages, Apple’s word-processing software.

Or when I have a lot of Pages documents open, some thirty odd, when trying to record a QuickTime video: which normally isn’t an issue.

All I knew for sure … ?

Was Activity Monitor was telling me that processes called corespotlightd and kernel_task were going into overdrive: using up a lot of RAM, and CPU resources, in the processes.

I did a lot of asking around.

Apple’s support line wasn’t especially helpful.

Apple Communities were more useful.

They, and a confirmatory Google search, told me that corespotlightd is the part of Spotlight, the Mac’s onboard search software, that corespotlightd is part of that … 

And that, if the files in corespotlightd’s cache folders go bad … ?

You end up with a look of overheating.

There were — or are, I should say — several solutions.

Most of which involve getting Spotlight to re-index — re-organise — the hard drives.

In my particular case?

That involved opening up the relevant cache folder, ~/Library/Metadata/Corespotlight, then emptying the contents of the folders within it.

Then restarting my machine.

So far … ?

That seems to have solved the problem: although I’ve not used my machine at full pelt.

We’re going to have to see what happens, there.

~≈🍏≈~

Let’s move on.


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


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

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

Q1)        The fourth state to ratify the US Constitution, did so on 2nd January.   Of which year of the 1780s?

Q2)        The Stardust probe collected material from Wild 2: on 2nd January, 2004.   Wild 2 (pronounced ‘vilt’) is a what: comet, meteor or black hole … ?

Q3)        In the UK, 2nd January, 1980, saw who go on strike: coal miners, Marchant sailors or steel workers?

Q4)        Charlie Davies was born on 2nd January, 1944.   He played cricket, internationally, for whom: Australia, England or the West Indies?

Q5)        Finally … ?   Christy Turlington was born on 2nd January, 1969.   She’s one of a handful of women known as what: supermodels, wonder-bras or power ponies?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        The first episode of The Archers was nationally broadcast on 1st January.   Of which year of the 1950s?

A1)        1951.

Q2)        The pilot episode of the show aired a years earlier.   On which station: BBC Thames Valley FM, BBC Southern Counties Radio or BBC Midlands Home Service?

A2)        BBC Midlands Home Service.

Q3)        It originally aired on which radio station: the BBC Light Programme, the BBC World Service or the BBC Home Service?

A3)        BBC Light Programme.

Q4)        The show now airs on which station: BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3 or BBC Radio 4?

A4)        BBC Radio 4.

Q5)        The series is setting in a fictional village called what: Ambridge, Trowbridge or Little Bottom?

A5)        Ambridge.

Q6)        It’s set in a fictional county called what: Barsetshire, Borsetshire or Mummerset?

A6)        Borsetshire.

Q7)        The Archer family live in what: Brookfield, Dunroamin’ or Manor Farm?

A7)        Brookfield.

Q8)        Grace Archer burnt to death in a fire: in an episode that aired in 1955.   The character’s death is said to be the BBC’s attempt to steal viewers from what: ITV’s opening night, the first episode of Dr Who or the World Cup Final?

A8)        ITV’s opening night.

Q9)        Hayley Jordan is a minor character in The Archers: and played by Lucy Davis.   Lucy is the daughter of which British comedian?

A9)        Jasper Carrott.

Q10)        Finally?   The show’s theme tune called “Barwick Green”.   According to Wikipedia, the tune is a what: waltz, maypole dance or Twist?

A10)        Maypole dance.

Here’s a thought …

“My mom says don’t open the door to the devil.   Surround yourself with positive people.”

Cuba Gooding Jr, born January 2, 1968.

And a composition by Eric Whitacre …

The next ten question set is on 10th January: it’s about TinTin.

Your comments, and today’s answers, will be published in tomorrow’s Teaser.

AI is avoided when writing these questions.

Answers are as accurate as possible: at the time of writing.

Decisions about scores are final.

Thank you for coming: have a good day.

*        Umbrellas and scarves might be helpful, there, Olga.   You know, Tom Baker’s old scarf could be useful: it would keep three or four kids warm … !

†        Hello, Mum!

‡        You know, Irene, it’s handy I’ve got some of the software I’ve got.   I can make something up.   Does the video I’ve attached, help … ?

§        Oh, well, the spelling’s a result, Debbi … !

        It’s possibly worth keeping an eye peeled on the Pages/corespotlightd front, Debbi: it was a little worrying, having a Mac I could use to keep my tea hot.   Well, I say worrying: ‘panic inducing’ is the better term!