Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1st August 2026 Teaser

1st August, 2026.

It’s officially Saturday: and … ?

We’re allowed to run ’round, screaming our heads off, and making excited ‘Yay’ noises!

That’s assuming we’re not bored out of our skulls, of course.

If we are … ?

A certain amount of thumb twiddling might be just the thing … !

~≈🥱≈~

Did I mention I’m in south-east England?

I’m in south-east England: and very aware that it’s hot out there.

And that parts of the country are suffering from drought.

Seeing the news about it, didn’t necessarily make it sink in.

Until I got an email, yesterday: from Essex and Suffolk Water.

Yep: my part of the world is now under a hosepipe ban!

Not that it directly affects me: I’m in a ground floor flat, have no garden, and don’t own a hosepipe!

Heigh … ho … !

~≈💧≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1-8-2025 — Benin.

1st August, 2025: Benin.

Right, I’m up and about.

Obviously!

And … ?

I’m very aware that it’s Friday, so I’ll be having a phone appointment with my surgery’s nurse practitioner.

To talk about how I’m doing with the blood sugar monitor: and the larger lancets I’ve been given.

To be honest with you … ?

I’ve managed to successfully do three tests over the past week: tests that showed results of 6·3, 8·6 and 5·8, for an average of 6·9: just inside the safe range.

That’s more, and better, results than I had with the original lancets: they did diddly squat!

Quote where we go from here, I don’t know!

~≈🪡≈~

Here in the UK … ?

Here in the UK, the government has introduced new regulations: designed to make sure adult websites do age-verification checks on users.

That seems to have worked!

For starters, many iPhone users have installed VPNs, virtual private networks software, that lets them get around the UK restrictions by routing traffic through other countries.

For another?

You can reach these sites on the desktop by using the Tor browser*: which routes things through various layers.

There’s a version on the Google Play store, if you’re on an Android phone.

And finally … ?

It seems Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulators, are investigating thirty-four sites that haven’t introduced the checks.

That makes me conclude a few things.

Restrictions can be avoided.

And regulations can be ignored.

That’s assuming we can work out how.

Working out how is easier than it looks.

~≈🧅≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1-8-2024 — Switzerland.

1st August 2024: Switzerland.

Well, well, well … it’s Thursday!

Which means … ?

I’m expecting my nephew at some point!

Hopefully?

I won’t be spending too much time in the loo!

~≈∑≈~

Children were killed in Southport, on Monday.

After a seventeen-year-old went on what I can only call a rampage.

Legal proceedings against him are due to start, today.

Given the reports of riots organised by right wing extremists?

I can only hope that court session is peaceful.

~≈∑≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1-8-2023 — Colorado!

1st August, 2023: Colorado.

Yay!

It’s officially Tuesday!

And, yes: it does mean my nephew is heading over.

Hopefully?

We’ll be able to do something videographic!

~≈🎱≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1st August, 2022.

1st August, 2022.

An icon died on Saturday: in case you didn’t know.

30th July saw the very sad death of Nichelle Nichols: best remembered as Lieutenant Uhuru in the original version of Star Trek.

She’d be suffering with dementia for some time: and died at the age of 89*.

She’s … 

I’ll be frank, I’m at something of a loss for words: knowing a women that was that influential, that I know inspired many — including Whoopi Goldberg† and scientist, Mae Jamison† — to be who are are.

Nichelle Nichols will be much missed.

~≈ß≈~

Léon: The Professional — A Review

1st August, 2021.

Right … as it says in the introductory video … ?

It’s a Sunday night.

Although you’re not reading this on the Sunday night that I’ve started writing this.

And it’s a Sunday night where I’ve done something I’ve not seen in a while.

I’ve started a post I’m going to finish the next day: a post about a movie that I last saw many years ago, and felt I should see again.

Yep: you’re right … 

I saw Léon: The Professional.

And going to carry on telling you about it, tomorrow …

~≈Á≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1-8-2021: August

1st August, 2021.

Right … 

That’s the update done.

I mentioned, yesterday, that a security update had cropped up: a security one that sounded serious.

That’s officially done, and dusted.

I will admit, though … ?   I’m grateful a couple of games on the AppleTV work with the new and improved Siri remote.

I had something to do, while I waited … 

~≈Ê≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1-8-2020: Love is Like Oxygen

1st August, 2020

Right … it’s official … 

I now have one less tooth than I did, at lunchtime, yesterday.

After have a wisdom tooth out!

Which was fun.

Ish.

In all honesty?

The actually removal went well enough.

The four — four — injections I had, to numb the area?

Definitely left me feeling odd.

~≈¥≈~

Just as a thought … ?

I now know — thanks to Old Peculiar regular, Trevor — that I’ve been mentioned in the local papers: as the story about the phone masts has gone live.

Here … 

What I find annoying, but unsurprising, is the fact that Brentwood Council’s planning committee refused permission to plans for extra masts: on Masefield Court and the Coptfold Road carpark.

Due to the ‘visual impact on residents.’

Visual impact on residents?

Visual impact on residents?

Visual impact be damned.

Visual impact is less important than the ability to phone someone … 

~≈¥≈~

JUST as a final thought!

I’ve caught another episode of The Mandalorian.

It’s arguably light weight … but also very enjoyable.

~≈¥≈~

Just as a seriously final thought … ?

Miniseries, Chernobyl, has done well at this years BAFTAs.   Winning Best Miniseries and Beast Leading actor, for Jared Harris role.

Good.

I’ve seen it, myself.

It’s truly fantastic.

And nice to know something I’ve raved about has done well!

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1-8-2019:Yorkshire Day

1st August, 2019.

Yes: it’s officially official.

I now have a job.

Granted, it’s nothing fancy?

And granted, it’s going to involve walking up Warley Hill, to get to work.

And, yes, I’ll possibly be sick of it after six months.

But, still … ?

It’s better than a poke in the eye with a blunt stick*.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1st August, 2018.

1st August, 2018.

Yes: it’s true.

I’ve just heard — courtesy of BBC Radio Four’s Today Programme — that software researchers have designed an Artificial Intelligence software that can write Shakespearean-style sonnets.

OK, it’s amazing what you can do with technology, it really is.

But that was … probably inevitable … 

But had me raising an eyebrow.

It was, after all, only a few decades ago when William Gibson wrote Neuromancer: and, in a throw-away line from a character called Dixie, mentions the idea.

“But I ain’t likely to write you no poem, if you follow me. Your AI, it just might. But it ain’t no way human.”

Back then, computers writing poetry … ?   Was a rather racey SF idea … 

~≈§≈~

Making your own guns was racey … 

Once.

But, some time back, a group called Defence Distributed released plans for a gun you can make with a 3-d printer.

And what they call a milling machine: to make various parts for the gun.

You can get that, here.

That’s frightening.

Only slightly less frightening than the fact the group re-released the design files for their 3d printed guns, last Friday.

Which got downloaded about 1000 times.

However?

A US court has blocked distribution of the plans.

I’m thankful.

I’m British: and the ease of access to guns in the US is always shocking.

Guns have, after all, only got one job: killing things.

But I’m ALSO thankful that — for the most part — the freedom to own a gun, and the ability to own a gun, is one that’s heavily restricted outside the US.

I’m glad the US courts have blocked this.

That helps keep them restricted.

I’m ALSO aware one thousand people have already downloaded the designs, and the instructions.

I’ve not been able to find those plans after a quick search on Hidden Wiki, using Tor.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t find them.

Personally?

That’s the frightening part.

Someone’s uploaded them …

~≈§≈~

Superman v Batman: Dawn of Justice — Oooh …

1st August, 2016.

You know, I have to confess, I like a film, now and again.

Really.

And, while I don’t have a Netflix account?

I DO have an iTunes store account: with a little credit in it.

AND a series of movies, backed up from the DVDs I used to own and stored on an extra hard drive.

Tonight?

Tonight, I had a spare evening.   One I wanted to spend with a good film.

I don’t know if I got that.

When you consider I rented Superman v Batman: Dawn of Justice

That’s a gobful of a title: for a long film.

One I’m STILL not sure about.

~≈†≈~