Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20th November 2024.

20th November, 2024.

Right … if you’ve seen the intro video … ?

You’ll possibly know the M4 Mac mini I’ve bought — one with a one terabyte SSD, and sixteen gigabytes of RAM, one I’d bought with much help — had been due to get here, by this Friday.

It actually turned up, yesterday: at ten to two in the afternoon.

I have to admit, I’m looking forward to setting it, and the new keyboard and mouse, up.

Whist simultaneously being nervous about both that: and re-setting the old model.

It’s nothing unusual: and much like stage fright, which I used to get, presenting live pub quizzes.

Hopefully, though?

Things will go well*.

~≈💻≈~

One thing I do know … ?

Is that I’ve managed to clear some of the mess on my table.

By the simple method of nailing a few bits of kit to the wall next to desk.

With cheap picture hooks from a local shop.

Here’s hoping that’s a useful — and stealable — idea!

~≈🖼️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20-11-2023 — World Children’s Day.

20th November: World Children’s Day.

Right … it’s early on a Monday morning.

And … ?

Frankly, I’m going to be going up Warley Hill, twice, today.

I’ve my usual weight management meeting.

This afternoon … ?

I’ve got my diabetic retinopathy check.

I’ll need my sunglasses, for that: my vision will be a bit bonkers!

~≈Ω≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20th November 2022.

20th November, 2022.

Did I mention I’ve bought a webcam?

As a present for someone.

And, yesterday … ?

I got a letter.

This one:

Basically? 

As I’ve bought a webcam, it’s offering me a £10 Amazon voucher: if I email the sender.

It’s got me double checking my security settings on Amazon: as I feel it’s iffy, at the very least.

After all, it looks like a mass mail-out.

It starts with ‘Dear Friend,’ rather than my name: despite having my name in the address field.

The voucher?   Has £10 written as 10£.

And the (fake) card has ‘amazon.com’, rather than ‘amazon.co.uk’.

And frankly, if it WAS a genuine offer?

Why not just contact me through the Amazon message centre?

Like I say: I feel it’s iffy.

~≈Œ≈~

Oh, I mentioned, yesterday, that Elon Musk was at it again: holding a vote on Twitter, to see if people thought Donald Trump should be re-admitted.

Trump won.

The people have spoken. 

Trump will be reinstated.

Vox Populi, Vox Dei. https://t.co/jmkhFuyfkv

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 20, 2022

Even though Trump says he doesn’t want to rejoin … ?

I get the feeling we’ve been cheated*.

~≈Œ≈~

JUST as a last thought?   Before moving on?

I caught another episode of Star Trek Strange New Worlds on Friday: called All Those Who Wander.

It’s really quite something!

~≈Œ≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20th November, 2021

20th November, 2021.

Hmmm …

I’ve now had my referral meeting: fir the Restart scheme I’m join to take part in.

Thankfully?   And unlike the Work Programme I was on, a few years ago?

It’s actually local.

There’s a possibility the staff will have a better idea of local opportunities.

Whether it’ll be able to do any good?   Is a whole other matter.

~≈Á≈~

The pest controller turn up, yesterday.

At ten: on the dot.

Or near enough to make no odds.

Seemingly, I’m in the clear.

Saying that … ?

I’ve still got some rat bait to put down.

Just to be on the safe side … 

~≈Á≈~

Apple still haven’t solved my speaking clock problem

But we have come up a workaround.

That doesn’t last beyond restarting the machine!

Back on the phones it is … 

~≈Á≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20th November, 2020

20th November, 2020

Hmmm … 

I was due a delivery, yesterday.

A couple of them, actually.

A blu-ray box set, and a USB stick in one.

And a laptop: for a training course I’m due to start next week, and be assessed for, today.

The laptop hasn’t turned up.

I think I have a problem.

~≈Ë≈~

I’m must admit, I’m mildly annoyed.

Not just by the disappeared laptop … but by a song.

Or, at least, by Radio One’s decision to play an edited version Fairy Tale of New York.

Because teens might be offended.

Can I suggest you buy the ’87 original from your favourite music provider?

Or, at least, look it up on Spotify or Youtube, turn up the volume, and play the bejeebers out of it!

Honestly, you’d think rock and roll wasn’t supposed to be offensive!

~≈Ë≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20th November, 2019.

20th November, 2019.

Emails, emails, emails … 

Just so you know, I’m a Mac fan, and user.

And get emails from them: mostly receipts, but also from the Communities, one of Apple’s help section.

As you may know, with the recent update to macOS, the Mac’s operating system, Apple dumped the iTunes app.

And replaced it with a Music, TV and Podcast app.

Personally?   I think have basically stripped the old iTunes apps of its Movie, TV and Podcast functions: and filled the gaps with re-worked versions of relevant AppleTV apps.

Ones that aren quite as functional as the iTunes app functions they replace.

I’m not happy.

The emails?

Are from one post I’m following: that tells us that many others are also unhappy about the changes.

I’m not surprised.

Right now?

I can only hope Apple are paying attention to posts like that: and are planning improvements for either Catalina 10.15.2 … or whatever replaces Catalina.

~≈†≈~

Just as an extra though?

I’m very aware that BBC America’s doing a series based on Sir Terry Pratchett’s Nightwatch/Discworld novels.

I have my issues with some of the casting.

They’ve cast Lara Rossi as Lady Sybil: which has got my goat.   I’ve no issues with her ethnicity: although I’m aware I won’t come off looking good, by mentioning it.

I’ve no issue with her ethnicity: but her build.

Sybil’s supposed to be built like (say) me, Miranda Hart or Rusty Lee.   Quite … sturdy … in other words.   Lara Rossi’s very slim.   Ellen Thomas would be better options, I feel.

Then there’s Sam Vimes (Richard Dormer) and John Keel (Hakeem Kae-Kazim).

I’ve no issue with the ethnicity … but the fact that characters are supposed to vaguely resemble each other.

Which they clearly don’t.

I’d have the same issue if the pair had been cast as the other character.

They’ve ALSO cast Anna Chancellor as Lord Vetinari.

You can see the issue, there.

Frankly?

I’m planning on going no-where near this travesty.

~≈†≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20th November, 2018

20th November, 2018.

Right … 

I am having … 

A problem.

Yes: you’ve guessed it … 

My router’s re-setting itself … !

That’s a lovely thing to be waking up to!

~≈§≈~

Oh, just as a thought … ?

I managed to watch a film, last night.

Frankly?

I was feeling a little retro: and managed to catch the Hammer version of Quatermass and the Pit.

Interesting to watch, that one.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20th November, 2017

You know, we could be looking at the end of the world.

Charles Manson’s died, Robert Mubage is — or isn’t — standing down as Zimbabwean president, and Angela Merkal’s not been able to form a government.

Obviously, it’s not.

If you’re reading this, later on this evening, the world is quite assertively still around.

It’s not been blown up by Vogons, in other words.

The reason I mention this?

Is simply that it’s my way of telling you I’ve got the news on.

And that the bit that’s caught my eye?

Is this.

It seems that up until about 1947, MI6, the UK s espionage organisation, had a secret slush fund.

Funding all sorts of shenanigans.

Personally?   I’m really not surprised.

Somehow, MI6 having black funds so secret that not even MI6’s finance section knew about?

Seems very in character.

And is a very good way of explaining Le Carré’s phrase, reptile fund.

You have to love a reptile fund, don’t you?

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20-11-2016

Right … 

I’m at work again, today.

Something I can’t complain about: although I’ll have to make sure I put some leave forms in.

There’s no trains service on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.   So if I want to salvage some sort of pay out of the day, I need to try and get those forms in.

That’s not what’s worrying me.

What’s worrying me is Storm Angus: the first named storm of the winter.

Frankly?

I don’t think this part of Essex is suffering too badly … 

But I have just looked out of my window, quickly.

I’m going to get wet, walking to Brentwood Station … 

~≈Ú≈~