Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18th November 2025 (Six Questions)

18th November, 2025: Six Questions.

I’ve noticed a news piece from the BBC’s news site.

One that tells us car thieves are using expensive bits of kit to steal cars.

You’d possibly guessed something like that was happening, hadn’t you?

Me, too.

According to the article?

The devices work by hi-jacking the signal from the car’s electronic keys — at longer ranger than you’d expect — then using it to open the cars doors.

And, apparently?

The things are being sold on the dark web for at least £20, 000.

No: I don’t want one, before you ask.

For starters, I don’t drive: so stealing a car is a bit stupid!

And?

The piece tells us the government is planning to outlaw these things.

Which probably won’t stop sales of the things: just put the price up.

The reason I mention it?

Is a personal belief.

That the devices were originally sold for legal purposes.

To allow mechanics to get you into your car if you lost the key: or for the engineers or sales staff, to set the car up for a new buyer.

I’m guessing it’s only later that a clever criminal has thought “That’s handy, Harry.   Stick it in the oven!”

Am I right … ?

I don’t know.

But if I am, it’s a very good example of an old line of William Gibson’s.

“… the street finds its own uses for things.”

“Burning Chrome”.

~≈🔑≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18-11-2024 — Alan Moore

18th November, 2024: Alan Moore.

Right then … 

It’s Monday: and I’m officially up, early.

I’m off to my weekly weight management class: and hoping two things.

One?

I’ve lost more weight.

Two … ?

I don’t get too wet.

There’s rain happening in Brentwood.

~≈💧≈~

Ask for Angela.

Ask for Angela …

It’s the name — if you didn’t know — of a scheme operated in London pubs: that allows women who feel unsafe to discreetly be moved to a safe space.

Except, of course, that there’s problems with it.

Many venues aren’t implementing it properly: or even training their staff to run it.

That’s a shame.

I know of at least one friend who had her drink spiked: and could have benefited from this.

It’s a good idea: but needs following through …

~≈🙋‍♀️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18th November 2024

18th October, 2024.

Right … I’m having a bad morning!

I’ve set up an new, larger external drive, transferred everything over … 

And, of course, my iTunes library is now a mess!

It’s a lot harder to organise than my Photos, and iMovie, libraries!

Arrrggghhh!

I hate messy iTunes libraries!

It doesn’t help that I forgot this happens … … specifically when you change external drives*¶!

~≈🎵≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18-11-2023 — The Somme.

18th November, 2023: The Somme.

It’s now, officially, Saturday.

In other words … ?

The day I’m going to be doing stuff.

And the day after Friday: when I had a consultant’s appointment.

I’ve a stomach hernia: and the consultation was to see if anything could be done.

Unfortunately not.

In a repeat of a consultation, many years ago?

The surgeon told me that — as the hernia seemed not to be strangulated — he’d be comfier going ahead with an operation after I’ve lost more weight.

Or, at least, got my BMI, my Body Mass Index, down a little further than it is.

The upside?

Is that he’ll be writing to my GP, and recommending weight loss surgery.

That’s something to hope for!

~≈❎≈~

About the only BIG disappointment for the day … ?

Apparently … ?

Those of us receiving benefits can claim our ticket money back, for hospital visits: so long as we can show  we are receiving benefit, and have out appointment letter.

I had the lot!

Unfortunately, by the time I finished my appointment, at 14:00, and got to the cashiers desk at 14:10?

The cashier was out of the office: and had left left a sign up to say she’d be back … at 15:00 … 

I wasn’t planning on staying in Basildon for THAT long: and went home, by a seventy minute bus trip.

I wasn’t wasn’t exactly pleased!

~≈❎≈~

You realise I’m a Dr Who fan?

If you are, as well, you’ll be aware that last night saw the release of a special skit for the BBC’s Children in Need telethon.

It’s nice to see Julian Bleach reprising his role as Davros.

But?

In that piece for Dr Who Unleashed, we see Russell T. Davies explaining that he — and the rest of the production team — felt uncomfortable presenting the character as a wheelchair using, evil person.

I can agree with him about that.

However, I think I’d’ve preferred that change to not have been done.

The design of his chair* is supposed to have inspired the design of the Daleks, after all.

~≈❎≈~

Star Trek Strange New Worlds — Episode 9 — All Those Who Wander — A Review

18th November, 2022.

As I write … ?

A civilised man is sitting in a chair, waiting for vegetables to boil.

Rather than trying to kill me!

Yes: it’s Friday.

And?   I’m cooking dinner.

And, once I’ve had that?

I’m going to be watching another episode of the very enjoyable Star Trek Strange New Worlds.

And will have this written review done, late on the 19th November.

I’m looking forward hearing what you think of what I thought.

~≈🖖≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18-11-2022 — Latvia.

18th November, 2022: Latvia.

Right: it’s Friday.

So, personally … ?

I’ll be doing stuff: mostly a little shopping.

But I’ll probably also need to check with my GP: to see if my blood test results are through.

We’ll have to see how that goes.

~≈Ω≈~

If you’re not in the UK … ?

You possibly hadn’t realised that Jeremy Hunt — Britain’s Chancellor — has announced various things: in yesterday’s Autumn Statement.

The bits that caught my eye?

Is that Universal Credit — and pensions — are due to go up in line with inflation: by roughly ten percent.

For me as a single man on UC?   That’s a very welcome eighty pounds or so.

It’s due in April.

There’s also talk of a nine hundred pound cost of living payment.

Although where that’s money in the bank, or energy vouchers?   Doesn’t seem clear, at the moment.

There’s also the price cap on energy: which will be going up from an average of £2500, to £3000.

AND a projected rise in council tax.

It goes in one pocket, and out the other!

~≈Ω≈~

I have to say: I’ve posted a few times on Mastodon.

Which is nice.

Mostly because of the troubles with Twitter.

Which seems to be having more.

Apparently?   Staff have been locked out of Twitter’s offices: until Monday.

After reports of a lot of resignations.

I think that whatever Elon’s got planned?

He’s possibly going a bit too fast … 

~≈Ω≈~

As a final point?

I’ve got Desert Island Discs on, in the background: and used the term ‘ arachis oil.’

With arachis pronounced in the same way as Arrakis.

Dune fan that I am?

I want to run up and down a sand dune … !

~≈Ω≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18th November, 2021

18th November, 2021.

I’ve got To admit: I’ve been following Star Trek — in it’s various forms — for some years.

Recently?   That’s included Star Trek Discovery and Star Trek Picard.

Today?   Was due to see the US release of Star Trek Discovery’s fourth season.

Internationally: both inside and outside the US?   It was due to be released, tomorrow.

Except that release has been cancelled: as Netflix, the international distributer, has lost the rights to the series.

The series will be aired internationally, next year.

Personally … ?

I’m not happy: as, from what I can tell, many others.

Can I make a suggestion?

What I think’s going to happen is the Paramount+ are going to lose money.

Why?

Because a lot of annoyed fans will download TorBrowser, so they can visit torrent tracking sites like Pirate Bay, LimeTorrent or KAT*.

Then install torrent clients, to download any torrent files they’ve got from the sites.

Including the first episode of Discovery, which is on Pirate Bay as we speak.

Not that I’m encouraging it.

But I can understandably perfectly why annoyed fans would go for that.

In allowing this … ?

Paramount and CBS will loss cash.

~≈💷≈~

Watchmen — Series 1 Episode 9 — See How They Fly — A Review

17th November, 2020.

I think I can safely say I’m feeling a touch better.

I was at the GP’s, earlier: for various reasons: as I mention in today’s Teaser.

And frankly?

I’ve got a course of antibiotics, let’s put it that way!

Hopefully, they’ll have an effect.

If they don’t, I have to phone back in a fortnight.

Keep your fingers crossed.

However, and as is traditional, by now?

I’m starting my review of the climactic episode of Watchmen, on the night I’ve seen it.

Partly?   I’ve got some bedtime reading I want to do: a short story collection by Arthur Machen, if you must know*.

Partly?   To get my brain in order.

And partly?   Because I want some sort of sleep, thank you!

~≈Á≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18-11-2020: Oman

18th November, 2020

Right … 

It’s Wednesday: which means … ?

Well, a lot of things.

The main one … ?

Is that the surgery appointment went well.

There’s a course of antibiotics involved, at least!

Hey … ho!

~≈Ï≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18-11-2019: Morocco.

18th November, 2019.

Right … 

I now have an official interview … for a job … !

I’m … 

Mildly nervous, to be brutally honest.

And having the usual problem: the sneaky little voice at the back of my brain telling me there’s no point in going, as I won’t get the job.

Quite I how I deal with that, I don’t know.

~≈†≈~

Are you in the UK, as a thought … ?

JUST as a reminder, I’ve had my poll card through.

Which means I’m managed to guarantee that I can vote.

And found out my polling station is still where it was.

But, just in case you DIDN’T realise … ?

You have until the 26th November — next Tuesday — to register to vote.

Where you go in person, I don’t know.

This link tells you how to vote by post.

This is the link to do so, on line.

Please think about registering: I think this election’s going to be important.

~≈†≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18th November, 2018

18th November, 2018.

Yep: in amongst everything else?

It’s bin emptying day, today.

I’ve ALSO got a couple emails to do, job-hunting to be done … 

And confess I dropped of a couple of CVs, in Romford, yesterday.

Partly, I wanted the day out.

And partly?   I wanted to see how the Oyster I’ve got, works.

Seemingly?

Quite well.

So that’s that sorted … 

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18th november, 2017

You know, I can’t help but think the government is incompetent.

Or, at least, capable of inspiring incompetence in others.

The reason I mention this?

I saw a news report, yesterday: that told us many on various illness related welfare payments had been underpaid.

This was being corrected: albeit slowly.

In other news: and going by news on the BBC’s Moneybox programme, those of us claiming Universal Credit, and on weekly pay, could lose their money: and have to reapply, in January.

Apparently?   It’s — in part — where some months have five Fridays: and others had four.   Friday is payday, so you know.   In other words, I’d not get Universal Credit because I have too many paydays, rather than the amount of hours I’m actually working.

I’m weekly paid and on Universal Credit.   And worried.

Up until now?   Up until now, occasionally, I’ve not been paid by the Benefits in some months because of this.

But then had payments restored, automatically, a month later.

I’m worried: especially if I have to reapply for the thing … 

~≈Ÿ≈~

Nik Nak’s Friday Question Set — 18-11-2016

Right … 

I have to admit to feeling rushed, right now.

As I’m off to work, later, whilst trying to sort out a friend’s iPhone.

So … ?

With THAT said … ?

~≈Â≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18-11-2016

Well … it’s Friday morning … 

Which means it’s pay day, and time to pay off the bills.

But it’s also a morning where — as ever — I’ve got Radio Four’s Today programme on.

The programme’s discussing a case where a now Dead 14-year-old cancer patent who wanted to be cryogenically preserved … has had her wish respected.

A judged has decide in the girl’s favour: and she is to be preserved at a facility in the United States.

Personally?   I’m very aware the legal decision is about the girl’s wishes for the disposal of her body, after death.

Which is fair enough.

But the idea of cryogenically preserving a body, in the belief that it can be healed at some very distant point in the future?

To me, seems very odd … !

~≈Â≈~