Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser 1-4-2026 — Passover

1st April, 2026: Passover.

Yes: it’s true.

It’s Wednesday … !

Which means I’ve finally finished reviewing Stranger Things: the last written and videos ones dropped, last night!

I have to say, that took some doing.

I have a Mac mini with a one terabyte, one thousand gigabyte, hard drive: as I’d been told making videos with some apps could chew up a look of space.

That wasn’t wrong: last night’s review chewed up ~680 gigabytes: mostly — from what I could see — from where I’d applied some colour layers.

Remind me to try and point Final Cut at an external drive, would you … ?

~≈🎬≈~

Mama’s gonna take you to the moon, tomorrow.

Actually, that’s slightly inaccurate.

NASA is planning to launch the Artemis 2 mission to the Moon, today: a moon mission that’s the first for some five decades.

It’s a first, and inspirational … and possibly the only sort of mission that really sums up the American Dream.

Personally?

I’m going to wish the crew good luck.

But am very aware of something.

Yes: this mission is going to be inspirational.

Yes: the crew will be lauded as heroes on their return.

But, yes: at launch, the crew are going to be sat on top of a missile, a missile that could so easily go the way of the Challenger.

Here’s hoping the crew return as heroes: rather than cinders … 

~≈🌖≈~

I am very aware marks the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of Apple: on 1st April, 1976.

If you’d like to mark it by buying me a Mac Studio with a huge hard drive, you’d be welcome!

Which I missed the anniversary, writing today’s Passover-themed quiz.

At any rate, if you’re marking the latter?

Have a good one.

~≈🕎≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1-4-2025 — A Fool and His Money

1st April, 2025: A Fool and His Money …

It’s got to be said: I feel slightly silly!

As I was up at 3:15, this morning.

Literally, I was up — and awake-ish! — at 3:15.

Utterly convinced my alarm had gone off.

It was wasn’t until my computer — on over night, to do some transcoding — announced the time that I realised two things.

• I was up, way too early.
• I’d wasted a tea bag.

Ho-hum!

~≈🕒≈~

As an extra thought … ?

I was at my weight management meeting, yesterday.

You know that: you know I’ve been going to them, first thing on a Monday morning, for some time.

This week … ?

I’ve officially lost one and a half kilos: about three pounds.

That — considering I was up seven hundred grams, last week? — was good going.

~≈⚖️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1-4-2024 — Nunavut

1st April, 2024: Nunavut.

It’s Monday!

And I think I’ve — partially — solved a problem.

I have a new Mac — thanks, once again, to a lot of helpful friends and family! — that I’m slowly getting used to using.

And that — wouldn’t you know it? — has run out of main drive space, already!

I’m thankful I know how to get around that: by moving a large media library — one where I store large video files — from the main drive, to an external one.

Hopefully, that will help*.

If not … ?

I could be looking at re-setting the operating system … three months after being bought the thing!

~≈💻≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1-4-2023 — April Fool’s Day!

1st April, 2023: April Fool’s Day.

Yep: it’s officially Saturday.

And … ?

Stuff will no doubt be occurring.

One thing I know I have to do?

Is try not to worry!

I was at a Tribunal, on Thursday: appealing a decision that had gone against me.

And told — at the time — I’d be notified by post, within a week, what would happen, what, if anything, I would be awarded.

Then I got the official email … telling I’d get the letter by Saturday, 7th April!

A couple of days, longer, in other words!

Frankly?

That isn’t exactly reassuring … 

~≈Ç≈~

Rent … 

That’s the other thing I have to do.

My rent, goes up from today.

And, frankly?

I’ve just let the benefits people know: online.

If things need doing, especially things like this … ?

It’s best to do them quickly.

~≈Ç≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1st April, 2022: The Month of April.

1st April, 2022.

Right … 

It’s April 1st: and technically, the start of a new month.

It’s also the day utility prices start to rise.

Frankly?   I’m looking at rises that are difficult: but could offset, were I working.

I’d be out of the flat, part of the day: so heating, lighting and optional appliances — the TV, the computer — wouldn’t be on.

Right now?   Things are going to be difficult: I’m in for a longer part of the day, so using more resources.

So?   I’m trying to write this with radiators turned down, and extraneous lights turned off.

I’m very aware there’s only so much a body can do.   My bathroom, for example?   Has no external windows: so I need to turn the light off and on, as and when.

There’s a cold snap on: so I’m not saving money by having the heating off, regardless of radiator settings.

~≈🥶≈~

There’s stuff I can do: although I don’t know how much help that will be.

I’m … 

Well … 

Not panicking.

But certainly concerned.

I’m also — wouldn’t you know it — wondering who to blame.

Or be annoyed at.

Remember me mentioning the twenty pound uplift Universal Credit claimants like me got, at the height of the COVID 19 pandemic?

That was very useful: it gave me enough money to cover my bills, and eat.

And, occasionally, a treat: a DVD, a blu-ray, a book.

Then it got removed.   It should have been made permanent: when it was removed, people were predicting a rise in the cost of living.

At it’s removal, things got tougher.   And with the expectation that things will get rougher.

The cost of living trends, and the Government’s removal of the cap on energy prices over the past few months?   A cost the Government has been aware of for months, that’s been known about for months, that’s been predicted to be bad even without the Ukrainian War factored in, for months?

And the Government’s refusal to increase benefits in line with current inflation, will leave me, and many like me, with serious issues.

As will their refusal to freeze the National Insurance raise, in last week’s Budget.   That will leave many working families with issues.

The Governmentº may be saving money with these things.

But it’s is not helping.

~≈☹️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1-4-2021: Anne McCaffrey

1st March, 2021.

Officially?

I have now stopped shielding!

Yay!

Although, to be honest … ?

Not much has actually changed.

Saying that?   The easing of lockdown means I can now met people in my back garden.

It’s a shame it’s not much of a back garden … 

~≈🌼≈~

I’ve got Radio Four, at the moment.

The Today Programme, so you know: listening too something always seems easier, whilst I’m writing a post, than having the TV on.

They’ve announced that Saturday’s Archive on Four is called A Writer and His Country, and about the late John Le Carré: the man behind Smiley.

One little titbit they’ve revealed?

Is that — before his death, and extremely angry? — he applied for, and successfully got, Irish citizenship.

Good for him.

~≈🕵🏻‍♂️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1-4-2020: April Fool’s Day.

1st April, 2020.

I’ve usually got the news on: day to day.

And, as you can imagine, it’s been day to day corona-coverage.

Then, yesterday?

This piece cropped up on many news site.

Telling us that thirteen year old Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab — a boy with no apparent underlying health conditions — had died as a result of complications.

Thirteen … that’s only a few years older than my nephew, Jude.

That’s … well … 

That’s a tragedy … 

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1-4-2019: April Fool’s Day.

1st April, 2019.

Yes: it’s a Monday.

It’s another new week.

It’s feeling … chilly … at the moment.

AND I watched a film, last night: Bill Nighy in The Limehouse Golem.

Which … won’t win an Oscar.

But IS a very entertaining movie.

~≈§≈~

Oh, on another quick personal front?

I got told, a few days ago, that I was Vitamin D deficient.

And that there was a prescription waiting for me at the surgery.

I started to course — one pill, twice a week for the next seven weeks — yesterday.

It does seem to have helped.

But we’ll have to see.

~≈§≈~

Just as a final quicker point?

One thing I did manage in last night’s intro video — AND in today’s — was tinker with some of the audio: detaching the audio track, copying and pasting it back into the video, then adding effects to each copy.

If you can let me know what you think of the last two seconds, I’d appreciate it … 

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1/4/2018 — April Fool’s Day!

1st April, 2018.

Yes, we do … just a bit … 

Feel silly, that is … 

Well … 

Especially when you consider that’s it’s ALSO Easter Sunday … and, as ever, I’ve done nothing especially special — Teaser wise — for it.

Still … it could’ve bee worse.

I could’ve worn a silly hat!

~≈§≈~

On other fronts … ?

On other fronts, you’ll remember I mentioned — yesterday — that I’d updated to macOS 10·13·4.

Apparently, one of the things built into that update?

Was the ability to plug in an external graphics card.

Hmmm … 

I know that’s something that’s aimed at high games designers: but it’s ALSO something I’d not mind.

I can possibly find a use for that: being able to plug a seriously BIG extra monitor could come in handy … 

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Foolish Teaser — 1-4-2017: April Fool’s Day

I know this will sound like a joke … but it’s serious.

And something I meant to mention a day or two ago.

I — like others — have occasion troubles sleeping.   And just as often, use the loo over night.

And like my food, rather salty.

What grabbed my attention, a couple of days ago?

Was news that Japanese research had shown there’s a link between lot’s of salt: and using the loo a lot at nights.

I think cutting down my salt intake might help!

~≈Ü≈~

In other news?

We’re all very well aware that there’s to be a new companion in the upcoming tenth series of Dr Who: Bill Potts, played by Pearl Mackie.

And it turns out Bill is to be the show’s first, openly gay, full time companion,

Great: that’ll help the show’s diversity, I think.

Although I’m very aware that some countries are going to complain.

Personally?

I welcome it.

And, given the new versions of the show’s occasionally had touches of romantic interest between the main characters?

Keep thinking Tilda Swinton should get a phone call from the BBC … 

~≈Ü≈~

The Brentwood Gazette’s Weekly Teaser — 1-4-2015: April Fool’s … !

Right, well, that’s THAT done.

“Wha … ?” I hear you say.

Well, I’ve taken a book back to the library.

I have to Admit to having started reading Robin Hobb’s Farseer.

Now I have to admit, all three books are well written.

But the third in the series, Assassin’s Quest … ?

Frankly, and at 742 pages, Assassin’s Quest was starting to be a bit of a drag … !

~≈Â≈~

The Daily Teaser — 1-4-2015: April Fool’s …

Right, that’s Gotham caught … !

I have to admit, it’s nice to know that Gotham’s back on Channel 5.

Although, it has to be said, that mid season Break is STILL a thing of major annoyance to me.

I’m still debating whether to keep on watching it.  The series is fantastic, I should add, and only looking to improve, in series 2: as this clip shows.

But … ?

Well, I have to admit, once Season 1’s over, I usually don’t watch THAT much Channel 5 to guarantee I’ll be catching any ‘Coming Soon’ type trailer.

I guess we’ll have to see.

The thing that does bother me?

Is the simple fact that — on Monday, the initial airing for episode 14 — the USB stick I was recording to … only caught about the first ten minutes or so.

Frustrating, that.

I’m just thankful Channel 5 have a +24 service … 

~≈Ê≈~