Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 21-3-2026 — “A House Divided”

21st March, 2026: “A House, Divided”.

Right, then … it’s Saturday morning: and I’ve officially got enough money to get a haircut.

I can only hope my usual barber’s open: and not got much of a cue.

Hey … … … ho!

~≈Ú≈~

I mentioned, at the start of the week, that I feel anxious when I don’t have backups: don’t have an unopened box of meds, say, ready to use when the open one is finished.

Or another bottle of ketchup, or salt, or frozen veg, what-have-you … !

At the end of last week, the buttons on my TV remote, went: as has the cable on my expensive webcam.

The remote was worrying: as using the spare as the main remote now means I had no spare.

Thankfully?

I was able to replace it, yesterday: and now have two spare remotes, a cable, and a box set, due, today.

Here’s hoping they get here, nice and quick.

~≈Ú≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20-3-2026 — Red Nose Day.

20th March, 2026: Red Nose Day.

OK, it’s officially official: it’s pay day … !

Which, frankly, means I can put some money on the meter, get some shopping … and possibly buy an ice cream.

Yes, I know I’m diabetic, and really shouldn’t.

But the occasional treat doesn’t hurt!

~≈🍦≈~

Talking of the diabetes situation … ?

I have a blood glucose monitor: a monitor whose battery died, on Wednesday,

So, of course, I requested new ones, on Wednesday: and was told they’d be here within one to two working days.

The things got here, yesterday: within one day.

Dave the Postman can move, when he needs to.

~≈🔋≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 19-3-2026 — Punting Nevada.

19th March, 2026: Puntin’ Nevada.

Right, then … 

It’s the day before pay day: or one of them, at least.

So … ?

Frankly, I’m looking forward to it.

If for no other reason than this: I need a haircut … !

~≈💈≈~

I also need batteries.

I have a monitor to help me keep track of my blood glucose levels.

The batteries died, a few days ago.

Which for me looking up how to change them, as well as where to get more.

My GP surgery suggested my pharmacy.

My pharmacy told me to check with the device’s manufacturers.

The manufacturer … is sending me some for free!

Hopefully?

The things will be here, by Saturday.

All I have to do then … ?

Is change the batteries.

I’m going to need a ball point pen … … 

~≈💈≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18th March 2026.

18th March, 2026.

I think I’m going to need to wosname … thingie … phone my surgery!

I’m diabetic: and have to check my blood sugar levels with a glucose monitor.

Daily.

And … ?

Am having issues, at the moment.

It’s two days until payday: and of course, the batteries in the monitor choose yesterday, a day when I’m skint, to go and die on me.

So?

Unless my GP does replacement batteries, I’m going to have to wait until payday to order some from Amazon.

Ho hum?

“Ho hum” doesn’t even start!

~≈🪫≈~

I’ve officially managed to watch the first episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, last night.

I don’t think I’ll be reviewing it: with For All Mankind, things are going to get busy!

But … ?

I did come away impressed with this opening episode: with Robert Picardo as the returning Doctor, with Holly Hunter as Captain Ake … and with comedian, YouTuber, and fellow left hander, Gina Yashere as all ’round drill sergeant, Lura Thok.

Trust me, she’s hysterical … !

~≈🖖≈~

Just as a last thought … ?

I’ve finally published my written and video review of the most recent episode of Stranger Things I’ve caught.

Feel free to leave me a comment … 

~≈📽️≈~

Stranger Things — Series 5: Chapter 6 — Escape From Camazotz — A Review

13th March, 2026.

“Escape From Camazotz”.

An Introduction.

It’s Friday.

And, as I start this review?

I’ve got dinner cooking: as I’d rather start it sooner, than latter.

I have music, playing: Jarre’s Oxygène, in case you’re wondering.

And, once those are done with … ?

I’ll be watching “Escape From Camazotz”: the next episode of Stranger Things’ fifth series.

Remind me to look ‘Camazotz’ up by the end of this post.

~≈🐙≈~

As an ongoing thought, for those who’ve been following me for a while … ?

I’m in receipt of various welfare benefits: I get Universal Credit, and Personal Independence Payments if you’re curious.

Here in the UK, house-holders are liable to pay council tax: a tax on property, owed to the relevant local council, that pays for local services.

Last year, the first year I was on PIP?

I was pleasantly surprised: as I was getting that specific benefit, I was exempt from paying the tax.

My bill for this year has just come through: and confirmed I’m exempt from paying, this year.

I’m grateful: it’s one less thing to worry about.

~≈🐙≈~

To get back to my original point … ?

It’s Friday: which means it’s TV night.

So I’ll be watching “Escape From Camazotz”: then writing my review.

Hopefully?

You’ll be reading this by Tuesday, 17th March, 2026.

Hopefully, it’ll make sense!

~≈🐙≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 17th March 2026. (Six Questions.)

17th March, 2026: six questions.

It’s officially official … things have happened!

I’m diabetic, so you know.

Which, the way my condition’s gone, means I have to inject myself with a dose of Mounjaro, once a week.

And have to check my blood sugar levels at least once a day.

All that … ?

This, obviously, means I have a sharps bin, a bin — a bucket, strictly — to store the used needles.

A bin that Brentwood Council picks up and disposes of.

I filled the last one, last week, contacted the council about it, last week, and followed that up, on Friday, just gone.

The contractors Brentwood Council use to do the job?

Phoned me, yesterday, and told me to leave the bucket out, last night: with the bucket in question being picked up, this morning.

I’m grateful!

I’m always worried that something could happen to it, overnight!

~≈♻️≈~

Just as a side question about the introductory video?

Did you see Jamie sneaking across the screen?

I’ve been experiment with the magnetic mask feature, and wanted to know if the figure was noticeable … 

I’m also very aware that the transitions I’d used, would affect the sound, as well as the video: something that, in iMovie, I could prevent by detaching, separating, the audio from the video.

Adding a wipe wouldn’t affect the audio of a clip, if I separated the sound and video elements of a clip.

It was something I couldn’t work out how to do … until my nephew, Jude, spotted the command in a pop-up menu, the last time he was over!

He’s got sharp eyes, my nephew … 

~≈👀≈~

As a last thought … ?

I’ve got the soundtrack of Sinners on in the background.

The film is very good.

And it’s very easy to forget quite how good the music is … !

~≈♬≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16th March 2026.

16th March, 2026.

Right, then: it’s officially Monday morning.

And I have to ask: have you seen a vampire film called Sinners?

It’s slow, I think: but well worth watching.

The reason I mention it … ?

Is that Michael B. Jordan has won the Best Actor gong for his performance in it, at last night’s Oscars.

Well done, him!

~≈🧛🏿‍♂️≈~

A while back, I told anyone who was interested, that — as far as I knew — there was no way to install a BitTorrent client onto a Chromebook.

And thus — again, as far as I know — no way to download things via torrent.

Legal things: or illegal ones.

I was wrong.

It turns out some Android clients are available, useable on ChromeOS, and available from the ChromeOS version of Google Play.

It also turns out that a version of TorBrower is available for the platform.

Should you choose to use a Chromebook to download copyrighted material from sites like Pirate Bay?

You could.

It wouldn’t necessarily be entirely legal: but, given how expensive streaming services and movies rentals are?

It would be understandable.

~≈🏴‍☠️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 15th March 2026

15th March, 2026.

Yes: it’s official: my nephew was over, yesterday.

And yes: he’s made a video.

Using my copy of Final Cut Pro, I should add, as he can’t access it using his user account.

I’m assuming is because I’m using the rental version of the app, rather than the purchased version.

At any rate, Jude’s made that FC ’26 video using Final Cut, rather than iMovie, found some interesting sound effects … and helped me find the pitch altering effects in the process.

Can you hit the like button, on that video, please?

That would be a nice way of saying ‘Thank You’!

~≈⚽️≈~

As an additional thought … ?

I tell you — in today’s introduction video — that I’d had a realisation … !

One that’s a lot less exciting than an enthusiastic marketer would have you believe.

I got a webcam, late last year: one that cost a fortune, at the time, one I couldn’t afford again, and one that — in theory —could record in 4k.

Yes: I still have to figure that out!

But … ?

One that worked well enough.

My only problem … ?

Was the fact the cable was wearing a bit thing.

Which had me worried: my (limited) experience of webcams told me I’d need to replace the whole unit: something I couldn’t afford to do.

It wasn’t until I did a little reading up on the model concerned, that I realised the thing had a separate, connecting cable: one that could be easily replaced.

And cheaply replaced, at that.

I was thankful!

As, while I’m aware I’m be spending money, I’ll be spending less than I was expecting.

~≈🚡≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 14th March 2026.

14th March, 2026.

Right … 

I am definitely looking forward to pay day … !

Because … ?

I’ve got a bad — possibly bad — habit of getting anxious: if I don’t have backups.

The Mac, enough money to buy domestic appliances, at least two boxes of various medications, lancets, test strips, unopened bags of frozen vegetables, what have you!

Backups, in other words.

Or plan ß, if you want to put it that way.

At ANY rate … I like spares.

So … ?

Was grateful, when the buttons finally went on the remote control* for my TV, that I’d bought two of them, back in the day.

And still had an extra one: that I could use, straight away.

The problem, there?

Is that I now, don’t have a spare!

It’s like having an itch that’s just out of reach … 

~≈📺≈~

I thought viral videos couldn’t get any sillier.

They have.

A few years ago, Baby Metal’s “Gimme Chocolate” — a song about chocolate by the world’s only Japanese heavy metal girl band — was everywhere.

Except it get’s sillier.

As YouTube, Facebook, et al, have now started throwing “Gimme Chocolate” shorts at me!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BABYMETAL (@babymetal_official)

You couldn’t make it up.

Well … you could: but no-one would believe you …

~≈🍫≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 13th March 2026

13th March, 2026.

Nope: I don’t speak German, in case you were wondering.

So … ?

I have no idea of the English translations of the lyrics at the start of the introduction video are.

All I can tell you is it’s from this video … 

Any guess at a translation … would be appreciated … !

~≈🦭≈~

Something for the Doctor Who fans is the news that two episodes of the lost William Hartnell story, The Daleks’ Masterplan, have been found in Leicestershire.

They’re due to be restored: and aired via the BBC iPlayer, at Easter.

That’s good to hear: and something I wouldn’t mind catching.

Especially as it means three of the twelve episode story are now in the BBC’s custody.

My only hope … ?

Is that other episodes can be recovered: apparently, though, the story wasn’t sold overseas so there’s little chance of the episodes being found, abroad.

But, given there’s fan-made audio recording of every episode, I would love to see the story done as an animated reconstruction.

Given the last reanimated story was The Savages, in 2025?

I think we’re going to have a long wait …

~≈🎬≈~

As a point of trivia?

Most of the recent series — series — of Dr Who have been eight to twelve episodes in length.

Given The Daleks’ Masterplan is twelve episodes long, and includes what is arguably the show’s first Christmas episodes, means two things.

One?

The show’s first Christmas episode is part of the story.

Two?

One Hartnell story is longer than some of the show’s either of Ncuti Gatwa’s two series.

That’s just a little mind boggling, isn’t it … ?

~≈🎬≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 12-3-2026 — 71

12th March, 2026: Number 71.

It’s officially official: it’s Thursday.

So … ?

It’s officially the day after I was supposed to have a hygienist’s appointment.

Which fell through.

The hygienist was ill, it seems.

I found this out, as my dentist phoned me, yesterday morning: just as I was going for a stroll around the block.

I’m thankful it didn’t long to walk back to the flat, switch on the Mac, and re-arrange the diary.

That’s all sorted … but lord, the dentists know how to time things!

~≈🦷≈~

It’s that time of year when prices — rent, utilities, what have you — go up.

But also when, for those of us who get benefits, get whatever increases we’re due.

There’s possibly a sarcastic comment, there.

At any rate … I, like so many others, are due an increase in April.

So, of course, I’ve looked up the potential increases: and dound I’m due a ~£3 a week increase in Personal Independence Payments, and a £24 a month increase in Universal Credit.

Which will be useful.

A little lower down, there was an entry that said people like me, on Universal Credit with Limited Capability for Work, could expect a payment of £158·76p.

My morning started looking interesting: potential extra money is always promising.

But is always worth double checking.

So I did: leaving a message for my case officer on the Universal Credit website.

Only to be told that the £158·76p payment was for those who’d been transferred from Employment Support Allowance, to Universal Credit with Limited Capability for Work.

I wasn’t surprised, as I wasn’t expecting to get any extra money: it’s nice to get it confirmed.

But equally?

It would’ve been nice to get an extra payment.

Heigh … ho!

~≈£≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 11th March 2026.

11th March, 2026.

Right … it’s officially Wednesday … and … ?

YouTube seems to be behaving itself, and uploading today’s Teaser video: and has already finished uploading today’s intro video.

The version of that introduction I’ve uploaded to the blog post … ?

Is getting deleted: as, going by the preview I’ve looked at, it’s going to be ‘Unavailable’.

Why this is happening?

I don’t know.

But if you have an ideas?

Please post them here.

~≈🧑🏻‍💻≈~

All that said?

I think I’m getting the hang of Final Cut Pro’s Magnetic Mask option: it’s used in that same introduction video, to remove my flat.

If you understand what I mean!

At any rate … ?

It means I can do some experimenting, at some point.

~≈🧪≈~

One final thing about Final Cut … ?

Is that it can import projects from the iOS version go iMovie.

Which is handy: if you’ve got an iOS device with an iMovie project on it.

However, the Mac version of Final Cut can’t import projects from the macOS version of iMovie.

That strikes me as a flaw.

~≈🎬≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 10th March 2026

10th March, 2026.

 

 

Right, then: I had a late night, last night.

Posting the latest in a series of reviews!

As I think that review — and today’s intro — show, I’m gradually getting the hand of Final Cut Pro: although a better camera may help.

Either way … ?

I’m just grateful that — in today’s introduction video — I manage to use the Magnetic masking effect: to remove the background in a few seconds of video that needed it.

Hopefully?

Both it and the review, do well.

~≈$≈~

Hmmm … 

Right at the moment, I’m feeling slightly stressed.

As … ?

I have a dentist appointment at 12·30.

So I’d like to get out sharpish.

But … ?

The video version of today’s Teaser is taking a devil of a time to upload and process.

Why … ?

I don’t know.

But it’s a little worrying … !

~≈🚇≈~

Stranger Things — Series 5: Chapter 5 — Shock Jock — A Review

6th March, 2026: “Shock Jock”.

An Introduction.

If I’m being completely honest?

I’ll admit to a certain amount of glumness.

I suffer with depression, so you know: and, usually, the fluoxetine I take is a big help.

But Wednesday, just gone, was my birthday: and it’s … … 

Well, getting older has bitten: and left me feeling miserable.

More so than usual.

No: before you ask.

It’s not bad enough to want to do anything stupid!

But?

I’m very aware of some things:

Playing some of the sillier games on my computer keeps me busy, and helps lift my mood.

Buying unhealthy snacks does likewise: although I’m equally aware that’s not a good option, as I struggle with my weight.

That I should possibly make another appointment with my GP: and talk about upping the dosage.

Heigh … ho!

~≈🐙≈~

Something else that should keep me busy?

Or, at least, has, recently?

Is simply watching TV.

As you’re aware, I’ve recently been watching the last series of Stranger Things fifth season.

Last week?

I caught “Sorcerer”.

Tonight?

I’ll be settling in with Chapter five, “Shock Jock”: then finishing this review by this coming Monday, 9th March.

I hope you’ll be reading it!

~≈🐙≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 9th March 2026

9th March, 2026.

Right … 

I think I’ve sorted out an issue: where my browser was refusing to upload videos to a given blog post.

The little I could find online told me that I needed to clear my browser’s caches and cookies.

So … ?

I’ve uploaded a second version: in case the first doesn’t work.

~≈📺≈~

I’ve also got to admit: I did a little tweaking with that video.

At about the fourteen to seventeen seconds mark, I’ve managed to use some phone footage: but, as my phone can’t record with a green background, I’ve had to use Final Cut Pro’s Magnetic Mask to remove the background.

After finally realising that I had to press the ‘Done’ button to get the thing working … 

Which means … not a lot, right now.

But if I ever get a better quality camera, one that can’t be connect to QuickTime, I can possibly do all sorts of stuff.

Once I’ve learnt how to turn down the volume … 

~≈📺≈~

As a last thought … ?

My family treated me to a takeaway fish supper, yesterday: from what has to be Brentwood’s best.

About my only problem, one I’ve had with cod and chips from other places … ?

Is that I’ve ended up with a case of the farts.

What’s happening there … ?

I don’t know … !

~≈🍟≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 8th March 2026.

8th March, 2026.

 

It’s officially Sunday … and … ?

A few days after my birthday.

Which means I’ll be having dinner with my family: hopefully, the chip shop’s cod will be on form!

~≈🍟≈~

The Kursaal, over in Southend, is a noted amusement park: there’s even a band named after the place.

The place has have troubles for years: as funding issues have meant it’s been repeatedly opened and shut for years.

So … ?

The fact it’s reopening, after issues with the lease, is nice to hear.

I’d been a few times, when I was younger: it’d be nice to re-visit.

~≈🎟️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7th March 2026.

7th March, 2026.

Right … I hope that video shows up!

The introductory one, that is: I had to upload yesterday’s to Youtube, and embed it in to the post.

Quite why, when Blogger’s been happy to embed into the post, I don’t know.

At any rate … ?

After yesterday’s problems with Final Cut Pro — my music libraries weren’t showing up in the app — I and the agent managed to work out that it was due to lag: as I have my music on an external hard drive.

Lag.

Lag … !

Considering it wasn’t much of an issue under Sequoia, I’m vaguely annoyed!

~≈🌲≈~

One thing I was fond of, growing up?

Was a role playing game called Tunnels and Trolls.

Indeed, I think I still have my copy of the fifth edition: complete with the Liz Danforth artwork.

So … ?

I was interested to hear that Rebellion — the people behind 2000AD, amongst other things — are to produce a new version: via crowdfunding site, Kickstarter.

I don’t know if I’ve got the hang of Kickstarter, or sites like it: there seems a hell of a wait before a project comes to pass.

But … ?

I was interested to hear about it.

~≈🧌≈~

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!

~≈🎹≈~