Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16-9-2024 — Malaysia

16th September, 2024: Malaysia.

Right … 

It’s officially a Monday morning.

And?

As ever, I’m up early: as I have a weight management meeting, today.

Hopefully?

I’ll’ve lost more weight: which would carry on the trend from last week.

Here’s hoping!

~≈🏋️‍♂️≈~

It’s also official: there’s a bit of a fuss in the United States.

Yes: someone’s tried assassinating Donald Trump … again!

They missed, I should add.

But have been arrested.

Which is a good thing: at least the suspect can be questioned about his motives.

But … ?

I have to ask a couple of things.

One … ?

For all the USA’s vaunted Right to Bear Arms, how is it assassins cant seem to shoot straight?

Second, and more seriously?

How is it Trump’s managed to annoy people enough, that people think shooting him is a good idea?

He should lose the election, by losing votes.

Not get shot, before the election.

~≈🗳️≈~

Just as a last thought … ?

We know Keir Starmer’s premiership is in trouble: in between the Winter Fuel payment, and a potential donation scandal, already.

That does put me in mind of an old Terry Pratchett quote: from Small Gods.

“[At every election] someone was elected to be Tyrant, provided he could prove that he was honest, intelligent, sensible, and trustworthy.   Immediately after he was elected, of course, it was obvious to everyone that he was a criminal madman and totally out of touch with the view of the ordinary [person] in the streets”

That quote’s probably got a lot of applications: especially if you can included the word ‘corrupt’, somewhere!

~≈🗳️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16-9-2023 — Marc Bolan

16th September, 2023: Marc Bolan.

Right then … 

It’s Saturday!

So … ?

Well, I’ll be finishing off a review, I know that!

And … ?

Doing MORE stuff for my court case.

Do you get the feeling that, despite being out of a job, that I’m going to be busy … ?

~≈Ê≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16-9-2022 — Sir Clive Sinclair.

16th September, 2022.

Yep: I think today is going to be quiet.

Well … 

Quiet … for me.

I don’t have to head for Chelmsford, Brentwood Job Centre, shopping, or anywhere else.

Frankly?   I’ve a perfect opportunity to catch some TV.

~≈¥≈~

JUST as a thought … ?

19th September — Monday, so you know — is Talk Like a Pirate Day.

And, as always?

I’ve done my usual Pirate Day set.

But … ?   The actual video — I think it’s a well made one — for the day is something I’ve had to alter.

It can’t ignore the simple fact the day is the Queen’s state funeral.

So I spent ten minutes, yesterday, adding a few, hopefully respectful, inserts.

I can only hope they go down well.

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16th September, 2021

16th September, 2021.

You know, I could be kicking myself.

Possibly.

Except I’d possibly miss!

You see, I didn’t pick my medications up, yesterday: having headed into Romford, to cash out some bits at Romford CeX.

On the upside … ?

I have enough cash to get shopping: I can get the meds at the same time.

~≈fl≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16-9-2020: Di Lauro

16th September, 2020

Right … I’m officially baby sitting my nephew, this afternoon.

Which will be fun and games!

Or, at least, see a hell of a lot of videos by Jelly, being watched.

It should be an interesting afternoon.

~≈§≈~

I can’t help but notice — the UK’s Justice Secretary is getting interviewed on Radio 4’s Today programme as we speak — that the Government’s announced it will be toughening prison sentences.

Violent offenders will have to serve more of their sentence.

Younger offenders will be given longer sentences.

What have you.

From where I’m sitting?

That means more offenders in prison … alongside no announcements about building more prisons.

What am I not surprised?

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16-9-2019: Dolores de Grito

16th September, 2019.

Yes: time off … 

It is sort of nice, isn’t it … ?

And have to confess I had an email back, after the recent interview.

You know, the one for the bookies?

It seems — accord to the email I got — that I spoke to the relevant managers … 

Hmmm … 

All I know is simply this.

The person I was supposed to speak to, wasn’t called Zoe … 

~≈§≈~

As for what’s going on … ?

I note that the BBC’s released an article showing how universities in the UK are having trouble dealing with students’ mental health issues.

The impression I picked up from it — and the Today programme’s reports on the subject — is that Universities seem to have no formalised duty of care: in the same way schools do.

That surprised me.

If students are having mental health issues at your university, and you’re not helping them deal with this?

That means they’re not necessarily in a fit state to learn whatever you’re trying to teach them.

And you job’s directly affected as a result.

~≈§≈~

I know I’ve mentioned this, a time or two.

But I’m a fan of the Frank Herbert novel, Dune.

One plot thread?

Sees the Fremen — a group of desert dwelling religious fanatics — ‘fighting for their freedom’ by destroying the thing that keeps the transport system going.

I mention this?

Because of recent news that two Saudi Arabian oil plants have been destroyed: with the knock effect that oil prices have risen.

The oil plants?   Plants processing a substance that keeps the transport system going?

Have been destroyed by drones flown by Houthi rebels.

The Houthi?

Are a religiously inspired movement fighting for freedom in Yemen, and fighting their Harko Saudi oppressors, by destroying the thing that keeps the transport system going.

The thing that annoys me, sometimes?

Is how people will tell you science fiction’s either for kids … 

Or nothing to do with the real world …

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16th September, 2018

16th September, 2018.

OK, I think … 

No, I know … !

I’m getting too old for this sort of early morning.

Frankly?

I could do with … well, maybe being ten years younger.

Although, saying that … ?

I didn’t have a web cam on the computer.

You’re possibly thankful.

~≈§≈~

Did I mention I’m not especially religious?

Although I will admit to happily praying, when appropriate.   Making the assumption that someone’s listening, and — if nothing else — can just nod sympathetically, is something I often find helpful.

A vaguely religious piece of news has got me thinking, though.

You’ve possibly heard of Wonga: the loan company famous for loaning to anyone at high interest rates, regardless of whether they could afford the loan.

The company recently collapsed.

And, inevitably, there’s been all sorts of speculation about what will happen to it.

Including this piece.

It seems a senior member of the Labour Party has suggested the Church of England buy out the company’s loan book: in order to prevent further potentially exploitation of those debtors.

Personally?

I think it’s a nice idea.

Think it’s a nice idea.

I’m not necessarily convinced it’s a good idea.

I’m no economist, no theologian.

But I know that the Vatican has also had problems with the Institutum pro Operibus Religionis, the Institute for Religious Works.

The Vatican’s bank has been surrounded by controversy for many years, with a series of investments that don’t match it’s principles: and a series of Mafia-linked customers.

That’s one reason for not liking the idea.

The other?

Passages in all four Gospels of the Bible — Matthew 21:12-17, Mark 11:15-19, Luke 19:45-48 and John 2:13-16 — tell us how Jesus kicked the moneychangers and assorted others out of the temple.

Personally, I’m looking at the possible Wonga deal, and asking “What would Jesus do*?”

I think he’d avoid it like the plague.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16-8-2017

Oh, that’s sad.

I think anyone my age?

Will have seen the original Alien, many years ago.

The thing was a huge.

A small part of that success?

Was actor, Harry Dean Stanton: his portrayal of the laconic Brett, helped make the film.

Sadly?

Harry Dean Stanton died, last night.

After a sixty year career that included Alien, Paris, Texas, Pretty in Pink, Repo Man and Cool Hand Luke.   And the recent revival of Twin Peaks.

He’ll be missed.

~≈Ç≈~

What makes it even more relevant?

And sadder?

Is that I managed to spend my first Friday off for a while, watching a film.

You can possibly work out which film, can’t you … ?

I have to admit, Alien Covenant is better than Prometheus.

And not a horror.

There’s possibly a lot about stealing fire from the gods, possibly a lot about assuming we’re god’s chosen people.

But more probably?

More probably makes the the point we make our own devils.

They’re in us … 

~≈Ç≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16-9-2016

Well … 

Today is a day without an interview.

Which, frankly?   Isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

It means I’ve got the day to do some online job-hunting.

But it ALSO means I get to spend the last of my wages — not a lot — on bills.

And get to go to Brentwood Jobcentre.

Technically?   I’ve got to start my benefits claim, today.   The one thing that IS worrying me?

Is that I’ve got another interview, pencilled in for tomorrow.

One that’s in Billericay, and thus, one I need help with: for train fares!

Here’s hoping they don’t refuse to help.

The job is one I feel I’d be competent at: and I’d hate to lose out on the chance of an interview, on a technicality!

~≈ß≈~