Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16-2-2026 — The BBS

16th February, 2026: BBSes.

Right … it’s Monday morning.

Which obviously means I’m up early: to get to my weight management class.

I’m worried — as ever! — that I’ve put weight on.

When am I never?

I’m going to keep my fingers crossed though.

~≈⚖️≈~

It’s still Monday.

Which means it’s the day after my nephew was last here: putting a new video together.

Feel free to hit the like button!

~≈🕹️≈~

And finally … ?

It’s still Monday … !

And I’ve finally managed to make toast, in the new toaster.

The one that comes complete with a warming rack for heating croissants.

It’s … 

Well … 

How do I put this … ?

Like this: the warming rack is the most extraneous bit of kit I’ve ever received from Amazon.

I’m diabetic.

The last thing I need is a croissant!

~≈🥐≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16th February 2025.

16th February, 2025.

The US government is in trouble.

They, and their President, are attempting to cut costs.

And laid off a large number of staff, recently: with that cost cutting process in mind.

That’s no bad thing, done well.

But … ?

According to at least one news report I’ve seen, they are desperately trying to rehire some staff: in particular, some of the staff in the agency that oversees nuclear safety.

But having trouble finding them.

“You couldn’t make it up” is an over-used phrase.

So, instead, I’ll say this: 

“You twerps!”

~≈☢️≈~

Elon Musk is heavily involved with the current US government.

And — famously — takes his kids to work.

Why?

I don’t know.

But it’s speculated he does so to try and improve his image.

However?

And I wish I’d bookmarked the relevant answer: but an answer I saw on Quora, yesterday, introduced an interesting piece of speculation.

In the wake of the shooting of a health company CEO in the US, he’s doing it not to improve his image … but so he has a human shield, in case someone tries shooting him.

I don’t think he’s that callous.

But … ?

That was an answer that made a lot of sense … 

~≈🧑‍🧒≈~

It seems that US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, is off to Russia: to try and negotiate an end to the Ukraine War with Vladimir Putin.

With very little input from President Zelensky, or Ukraine: and with a lot of unwanted territorial concessions.

I’m a very amateur historian: very amateur.

So … ?

I automatically thought about World War Two.

And the German annexation of the Sudetenland, in what was then Czechoslovakia.

A move that was supposed to appease Hitler, and persuade him to stop invading places.

It didn’t work.

I really don’t know if it will work now: we don’t need World War Three.

But?

If Rubio comes back home, and talks of “peace in our time”, we could have problems … 

~≈⚔️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16th February 2024.

16th February 2024.

It has to be said: my copy of the Cost of Living payment is going fast.

But … ?

A few bits are very needed: including some new shoes.

I’ll possibly have to keep an eye out for some cheap t-shirts, too, I think.

At any rate … ?

I treated myself to a set of seriously odd dice.

The three-sided dice — the cube with the Roman numerals — is nice: although the opposite sides don’t seem to add up to four*.

The five-sided one?   Looks roughly prism shaped.

The seven-sided dice one … ?

Is a very odd shape: and seems to be weighted so the numbers have an equal chance of cropping up.

That — I believe — is why most dice have an even number of sides†: it’s to make sure that each number has an equal chance of being rolled.

At any rate … ?

This one dice makes the set it’s in, an interesting purchase.

~≈🎲≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16th February 2023.

16th February, 2023.

I’m right, aren’t I … ?

If it’s not one thing, it’s another!

After the Great Disc Problem of a couple of days ago?   Where my external optical drive stopped working?   And was fixed by a further update?

Yesterday, I started having issues with Safari, my default browser.

It started refusing to open, when needed: bouncing up and down in a way that told me there was issues.

When opening, most Mac apps — if they’re on the Dock at the bottom of the screen — will bounce up and down to tell you they’re opening.

If they stay bouncing, without opening?

You know you’ve got issues.

I had an issue: one I didn’t figure out … until I had a look at the other account on my Mac.

Which had a perfectly working version of Safari.

Which meant the problem was one I had encountered, before.

My Safari .plist file was causing problems.

In Windows, there’s a thing called the Registry: which is where Windows operating systems store users settings on a given machine.

It’s one great big file: way down deep.

.plist files are the nearest Mac equivalent: there your settings for each app you use.

Except there’s multiple ones.   One for each app, each user’s using on a machine.   I’ve got one for Safari, another for Firefox, a third for iMovie, and one for each of the other apps I use.

There’s separate ones for Safari, Firefox,  iMovie, and the other apps … in the other account on this machine.

Diagnosing problems with a .plist file is relative easy.   You log out of your account, and into another: if the app in question works in the latter account, the .plist file in your account has gone wrong.

Your copy of the file only needs deleting, for the app to work.

I logged out of my user account, into the other … to find the other Safari was working perfectly.

My .plist file had gone wrong.

It was a relatively trivial job to delete the thing: it took longer to find it, than to get rid of it.

But once that was done, and Safari working properly?

I heaved a sigh of relief.

~≈🆘≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16-2-2022: Iain Banks

16th January, 2022.

Yes: I’m expecting a phone call, this morning.

From my physiotherapist.

I’m — sort of — looking forward to it.

There’s one set of exercises I really don’t like!

~≈Á≈~

Then, this afternoon … ?

I’ve got a face to face meeting with my Restart case worker: in Chelmsford.

I’m not looking forward to the trip: but at least have the ticket.

I picked it up from Brentwood station, yesterday.

That, despite my doubts about the process, went through OK.

They bought and paid for it, and emailed me a reference number: I fed that into the ticket machine, at my end, put my bank card in … and shoved the ticket in my wallet.

That bit went well.

I’m just not sure how well the meeting will go.

~≈Á≈~

You’ll have realised I’m not working, by now.

I, like others in my shoes?

Am on Universal Credit: the bog standard unemployment benefit, here in the UK.

For many years, though?

There’s been discussion of what’s called a Basic Income, or Universal Basic income.

A set amount payed to everyone, and enough to live on.

I’m not necessary sure I understand it: nor, necessarily approve of it.   I think there’s flaws, in other words.

Today?

The Welsh government’s announced it’s starting a pilot scheme.

Care leavers in Wales will be given £1, 600 per month: taxed.

And will affect people’s eligibility for benefits.

That’s worries me, some-what.

If you’re on Universal Credit, there’s a wealth of other benefits you can claim.

Not least, free prescriptions, glasses and dental care: up to a certain amount, any way.

What concerns me?   Anyone on this scheme won’t be able to claim those: if it means they can’t claim benefits.

We’ll have to see what happens, I think.

~≈Á≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16-2-2021: Mardi Gras

16th February, 2021

Yes!   It’s officially a warm day, today: reaching of 11°C.

According to the BBC’s site, anyway.

It’s so warm … ?

It’s so warm that:

• The bin men have been able to empty the bins.
• And there’s snow in Texas.

I’m blaming global warming!

~≈🌠≈~

As another thought?

I’m gently rushing, as I’ve a phone meeting with the Shaw Trust: the people behind the Work And Health Programme I’m on.

Quite weather they’ll have anything for me, after References situation, last weekend?

I don’t know.

We’ll have to see.

~≈Á≈~

Doctor Who — Series 12: Episode 8 — The Haunting of Villa Diodati — A Review

*Spoilers*

16th February, 2020.

Yes: it’s definitively the case.

My tumble dryer, the one that isn’t audible to you, but that I could hear whilst recording that video … 

Is a loud b*gger!

It’s noisy enough that I think I should replace it.

Except, of course, that it’s something I only bought last year!

Ho … 

Hum!

~≈Ÿ≈~

One thing I’m aware of … ?

Is simply that there’s a possibility I’ll be getting a cheap laptop, soon.

On my birthday, at the start of March.

The 4th, if you wanted to buy me a card.

At ANY rate … ?

There’s a possibility of a cheap laptop.

Me being me?

I’d rather not have Windows on the thing.

Just on general principles.

I’d far rather use an open source operating system like Ubuntu.

Usually?

I’d use an app called balenaEtcher to turn a USB memory stick into what’s called a live disc: a kind of installer, in other words.

Except, of course, balenaEtcher is having some sort of spasm … and refusing to work!

There’s a possibility, though, that I can get the same result by fiddling around in Terminal: the macOS equivalent to the Windows command line.

Old fashioned typed commands, in other words.

On top of that … ?

I may have to enable my root account — a sort of extremely powerful user account on a computer — to get that to work.

It’s not something I’m used to, or confident about: I’m very aware the root account is not something to play around with, lightly.

Although I can, in theory, activate the one on my old machine: and try the job on there.

We are going to have to see, aren’t we?

~≈Ÿ≈~

At any rate, it’s a Sunday night.

A Sunday night when Doctor Who

 is on.

Yes: you’re right, another episode of series 12.

I’ve been glued to it.

And, yes … 

The Haunting of Villa Diodati is fantastic.

~≈Ÿ≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16-2-2020: Lithuania

16th February, 2020.

I’ve got Radio Four on in the background.

As ever.

OK, the Sunday Service on: which, this week, is a little bit too happy-clappy for my taste, but there you go.

But pone thing I noticed on the news?

Are apparent discussions in the Cabinet: on cancelling the TV license: and replacing it with subscription fees for the BC.

Personally?

I’m thinking that’s really not a good idea.

I think many of us — those of us who could never afford Sky, Netflix, what have you — would never be able to afford a subscriber based BBC.

Would never want the adverts the idea — to me — implies.

Would miss out on the one source of news that would get turned off if they don’t pay for it.

In all honesty?   I think the idea is rooted in our current Tory government’s dislike for the BBC.

I can’t help but notice many of them seem to prefer to NOT be interviewed by Aunty.

~≈¥≈~

I don’t know about you … ?

But I saw the sad news of Caroline Flack’s death, yesterday.

My thoughts are with, and condolences go to, her family.

One thing I notice, though?

Is that Ms Flack had been charged with assaulting her partner.

Something I’ve learnt, very personally, over the years?

Is that — in between being arrested, charged and convicted — those facing criminal charges will feel suicidal.

Some?   Will kill themselves, during the process.

My opinion?   Is that these people need as much support as possibly: in order to survive the process, to serve their sentence and for justice to be done.

It sound like Ms Flack got charged, and got the legal help … but not necessarily the psychological help anyone in her shoes should get.

Justice — and Ms Flack’s family — lose out.

~≈¥≈~

As one final thought, there?

Ms Flack’s agency, Money Talent Management, have described the legal proceedings against her as a ‘show trial.’

And as putting ‘huge pressure’ on a vulnerable person.

Hmmm … 

I’m … 

I can understand them saying that: they are trying to defend their client, after all.

But?

I feel vaguely insulted.

How do they feel about other women — or men — caught up in the same situation?

Not a lot, I suspect.

They may be keen to be seen to be doing the right thing.

But they are no help to anyone else who’s been charged.

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16-2-2019: Nylon

16th February, 2019.

It’s official: I’m convinced some of the the third part sellers on Amazon … ?

Wouldn’t know their rears from their elbows … !

With the last of my savings, I managed to order a couple of books, and a couple of DVDs.

The books?

So far, have been delivered on time.

The blu-ray I got … ?

Let’s just say I couldn’t access the subtitles, shall we?

The DVD version of Der Golem, wie er in die Welt kam, was due last Tuesday … and didn’t turn up.

Me being me?   I kicked up a stink, and demanded a refund.

That’s going through, as we speak.

The actually DVD … ?

Turned up, yesterday … 

You can imagine my reaction …

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16-2-2018: Dead and Buried*.

16th February, 2018.

No, really … my phone’s a right royal pain in the proverbial bum … !

Right at the moment?

My phone’s dead time, yesterday?

Seems to be down to an ageing battery: and a dodgy cable: one I hadn’t noticed was damaged.

Replacing the battery looks cheap enough: at least, going by the prices on Amazon.

Replacing the cable?

Will, for now, be  cheaper.   I can get that in my local CeX: as they do a range of reasonable replacement cables.

On the other hand … ?

I spent an instructive hour or so in Brentwood High Street: going from mobile shop to mobile shop, double checking on their offerings.

Carphone Warehouse are offering a good deal: and O2 are offering to — effectively — match their price, AND transfer over my contacts, number and remaining balance.

What IS a boy to do?!

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 6-2-2018: Votes For Women … !

6th February, 2018.

Right … 

It’s a day when I’m working.

Which … well, you’d possibly figured it was a fifty/fifty chance of it.

At any rate … ?

I’m working today: very much in the awareness that I’ve a hospital appointment, tomorrow.

On practical fronts?

I’ve not managed to book up a bus ticket in advance.

But have got the cash for the tickets.

So the simple practical job of getting there is not something I’ll be worrying about.

When I get to Basildon Hospital’s Chest Pain Unit?

I suspect that’s when the real nerves will start …

~≈§≈~

The Cabinet of Dr Caligari: or Das Cabinet des Dr Caligari.

16th February, 2017.

Have you ever heard of an actor called Conrad Veidt?

German chap, so you know.

Who’d done well for himself in German cinema and theatre: until he fled Germany before World War 2, as his wife was Jewish.

I had: but, in all honesty, couldn’t claim to have seen a film he’s in.

Oh, I know he crops up in Casablanca.

I’ve not actually seen it, though: yes, I know that’s possibly a hanging offence.

But there you go.

Sue me … !

~≈Ü≈~

At any rate?

At any rate, and just to re-iterate?

I’ve never actually seen a film with Conrad Veidt in it.

Not for lack of interest, either: more a lack of time, money … 

And possibly motivation, as well.

Tonight, though?

Tonight, though, I had a night off.

A desire to see a film.

And a copy of a film — with Conrad Veidt in a key role — that I’d been interested in for some time.

The film … ?

The Cabinet of Dr Caligari: or Das Cabinet des Dr Caligari, in the original German.

I wanted to catch it, not because Veidt’s appeared in the key role of Cesare.

But because the film has something of a reputation … 

~≈Ü≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16-2-2017

*Yawn* … 

I think I can safely say I’m knackered.

Which will probably turn around … once I either get more sleep, or get more to eat … 

The good thing … ?

The good thing is that today is a day off.

I’ll be able to get some Teaser videos done, and maybe todd a coin.

After all … 

I’ve more episodes of Mr Robot to catch up with … 

Oh, and a copy of The Cabinet of Dr Caligari.

I’ll probably end up tossing a coin … 

~≈⬧≈~

The Daily Teaser — 16-2-2016

You know, there’s not THAT much on TV I like watching, at the mo: beyond the odd documentary.

Which means I’ve been catching a lot of box sets, over the past few weeks: as an alternative to a movie.   AND to broadcast TV.

Most of the shows on free to air terrestrial TV aren’t grabbing my interest.

However, The X-Files is something I‘ve been enjoying.

And … ?   I’ve got last night’s episode of Gotham on, ion the background.

Series 2?

Is looking damn good.

~≈§≈~