Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18th October 2025.

18th October, 2025.

It’s got to be said, I’ve seen silly gonks come and go.

Troll dolls, Cabbage Patch Kids, Furbies, what have you.

The latest … ?

Are the Labubus!

One … ?

I’m grateful my nephew’s not a niece: we’d possibly never hear the last of them.

Two?

Heavyweight tech blogger, Justine Ezarik, is obsessed by the things.

And three?

Tim Cook, the Chief Executive Officer of Apple, has been given a custom Labubu.

What is the world coming to … ??

~≈🪆≈~

You possibly very aware that Britain’s PM, Keir Starmer, has proposed a digital ID scheme for those of us receiving state benefits.

I object: mostly on the grounds of cost.

Others have objected, as well.

There’s more news on a similar theme.

There’s plans to consult on a version of digital IDs: for thirteen to sixteen year-olds.

That also strikes me as potentially bad.

That age groups could well be more vulnerable to all sorts of things: and, again, seems to include no planned, physical, alternative.

Nor any funding.

If a thirteen year old can’t afford a smart phone, who’s going to buy one for them?

It won’t be the Job Centre!

There’s a similar story doing the rounds.

It seems the Government have introduced a digital ID card for military veterans.

The big difference between it, and the one Keir Starmer’s proposing?

One: the digital card runs along side a physical Veterans ID card.

Two: the digital ID is optional.

Were the digital ID Sir Keir is proposing, optional?

Were there a (cheap) physical card one could use instead?

People would be a lot happier.

~≈🪆≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18th October 2023.

18th October, 2023.

Right … 

It’s now officially, Wednesday.

Normally?

I’d’ve had my nephew over, yesterday: except, of course, he’s gone down with a cold!

Bless him!

~≈Ω≈~

If you’re a Dr Who fan in the UK … ?

You’ll know that the BBC’s going to make the entire Dr Who back catalogue to UK viewers from 1st November: through its iPlayer catchup service.

Classic Dr Who, Torchwood, Class, The Sarah Jane Adventures, the works.

With one exception: the first story, “An Unearthly Child”.

Rights issues: Stef Coburn, son of the episode’s writer, Anthony Coburn, has refused permission for it’s inclusion.

I am tempted to swear.

Granted: writers and their families should be fairly compensated.

But Mr Coburn had few to no issues when he raised this issue in 2013.

I think he’s being … extremely unreasonable: and very irrational.

And — in some of his posts — delusional.   Slightly less rational than Donald Trump!

He said it earlier this year. pic.twitter.com/WjyQhhq9fn

— The Brittas Empire Fanpage (@BrittasFan) October 17, 2023

At ANY rate … ?

At any rate, I felt telling you where you can watch the story: or, at least, passing on the article that gives you the directions.

It’s here.

~≈Ω≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18-10-2022 — The BBC.

18th October, 2022.

Right … 

I’m up early.

Because?

I’ve got a hygienist’s appoint, today: one that’s comparatively early.

So, if I sound rushed?

That’s why!

~≈Û≈~

Rushed?

Doesn’t necessarily mean I don’t read the news: nor unaware of things I’ve written.

Including the piece I did for Phoenix FM, about digital poverty.

I’m also aware I’ve taken advantage of the BT Home Basics tariff: the one they make available to those of us on benefits.

Which was something I’ve highlighted in the article.

So?

This piece from the BBC’s site caught my eye.

It tells us the telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has criticised the industry: for not promoting the social tariffs it requires companies to have.

Given I found no companies — bar BT — with these tariffs?   Tariffs they could sell to those of us in need?

The fact they’re not promoting ones they have — if they have any, at all? — isn’t surprising.

The more things change?   The more they stay the same …

~≈Û≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18th October, 2021.

18th October, 2021. 

It’s a Monday morning.

You’ve possibly noticed, haven’t you?

And frankly, the start of a new week.

Which means … ?

Not much.

My benefit’s gone down: it’s frightening to see by exactly how much.

Wondering how I and others managed, prior to the Pandemic?

Is depressing.

To say the least.

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18th October, 2020

18th October, 2020.

I’m wondering what on Earth happened, there.

I’m online.

You can tell, can’t you?

I was online, yesterday, as well.

Except, and just on the desktop computers I use?

I couldn’t get through to Facebook, yesterday.

View this post on Instagram

Desktop version of Facebook's down

A post shared by Paul Nikolas Nak Downie (@mrcuddy2977) on Oct 17, 2020 at 5:32am PDT

It’s back to normal, today, I should add.

Nope: I don’t know what happened, either!

~≈†≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18-10-2019: The Return of the BBC …

18th October, 2019.

Right … 

I’ve now had my boiler fixed.

No, wait: let me re-phrase that.

I’ve now had my boiler looked at.

Unfortunately?

The engineer couldn’t do anything, as he felt that the boiler was too old to be repaired.

Something he would be highlighted to his managers: with a warning that his recommendation could well be … overlooked …

He did offer me a work-round: that would give me access to hotter water when needed.

But I came away with the distinct impression he’d be happier if the boiler was newer.

I think I need to phone my landlord …

~≈§≈~

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

18th October, 2018.

Hmmm … 

I was going to do my usual thing.

Tell you about the earworm that’s wondering around my head.

Except it seems to have wondered off: without actually telling me what it is.

Shame, that … 

~≈§≈~

In other news?

Apparently, Google are to shut down their Google+ social network.

Party because it gets comparatively little use compared to other such networks.

But partly because of a big data breach.

I’m … 

Hmmm … 

I’m not sure how I feel about that.

As far as I can tell, my data’s safe.

But I can appreciate people will not be happy.

I’m worried, though: as — as far as I can tell — clicking that G+ button has a small but noticeable effect on the amount of hits this blog gets.

We’ll have to see what happens, won’t we?

~≈§≈~

Just as a couple of points?

Can someone tell me to lay of the massive, multiplayer online roleplaying games?

Oh, and Michael Caine’s written a memoir … 

Ho hum … 

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18-10-2016

Well, blimey … !

There’s a thing!

As you know, I’ve recently started a new job.

At a call centre over in Chelmsford.

It’s the past few days?

I’ve been in training: so that I can handles those calls, myself.

Last night … ?

Saw me handling my first call.

Which — going by the co-worker I’d been buddied up with, last night — I’d handled rather well.

Hopefully?   That’s a good sign.

~≈Ê≈~

I have to admit, though?   I was really nervous handling those calls.

But one thing that — sort of — put a smile on my face?   Was the PC I and my partner were using, crashing.

Turns out one of us had kicked the thing: which meant both the power cord, and mouse had been disconnected.

And also meant I spent about five minutes on my hands and knees, reconnecting everything.

Well … 

It got a cheap laugh, if nothing else.

Now … what am I always saying about getting a Mac … ?

~≈Ê≈~