Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 26-9-2025 — T. S. Eliot. (Ten questions.)

26th September, 2025: T. S. Eliot.

OK … that’s new … !

I’ve had a Mac for several years.

And used a succession of them for various things.

Including ripping DVDs and blurays.

One thing that’s been a mild annoyance?

Is simply that the various versions of macOS I’ve used have never had an icon for bluray discs.

There were icons for CDs, and DVDs: but not for blurays.

A bluray would show up on the desktop, certain: but as a blank space with the disc’s information written under it.

Fortunately?

That’s now been changed, under macOS Tahoe.

There’s now an icon: which makes finding where the operating system has put the thing, a lot easier!

~≈📀≈~

Is Sir Keir Starmer reading this?

The UK’s current Prime Minister?

Sir Keir, if you’re reading this, your planned Digital ID card schemes presents problems.

Especially for those of us on benefits.

From the little I’ve seen of it?

The digital ID is supposed to only work on smart phones.

For those of us who have one, that’s not a problem.

For those of us on Universal Credit, who can’t afford a modern phone?

Where are we supposed to get the money to buy one?

I’ve at least one friend — Dave, who lives around the corner — who’s on an old 3g phone, that he can’t afford to replace: a phone that’s as far from smart as it’s possible to get.

Sir Keir, will you be giving Dave the money to buy a smart phone?

To transfer his number over to a new, modern, SIM card?

To teach him how to use the thing?

I’m assuming, Sir Keir, that if you can’t buy Dave a smart phone for this scheme, then you can’t fund smart phones for other job seekers in the UK.

From what I’ve seen on the news, we’re the people you insist have these IDs: so we can show we have a right to work in the UK.

The other option, Sir Keir?

Is to issue a digital ID card that’s something like a modern, chip and PIN, contactless, bank card.

For starters?

What on Earth would be the point of that?

When many of us on benefits already have a passport or driver’s license that proves we have a right to work in the UK?

Who pays for this ID?

In my case, I have a drivers license: that was paid for by the Job Centre, as I couldn’t afford it, myself.

Would you be paying for those, Sir Keir?

What if I had no smart phone, no drivers license, no passport, and no way of affording any of them?

If I, nor Dave, nor anyone else we know, couldn’t afford these?

Someone else would need to pay for us to buy them, to show we have a right to a job.

Are you buying them for us, Sir Keir?

Because if we can’t afford the kit we need, Sir Keir, that means we can’t get jobs.

That, Sir Keir, makes the scheme both pointless, stupid, and expensive.

It’s your call, Sir Keir.

~≈🫆≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 26th September 2024.

26th September, 2024.

Right … it’s now Thursday.

And … ?

I have a tribunal to attend, today: to see if I’m eligible for any extra financial help.

I’m a little nervous about it.

But hoping it goes my way: the extra help would be very useful.

We’ll have to see if I’ve wasted my time, later.

~≈⚖️≈~

Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar — 26th September 2023.

26th September, 2023.

Right then … 

I had my nephew over, yesterday!

Which you’d possibly realised: if you’d read yesterday’s Teaser!

At any rate … ?

He’s been exploring UFC4 on the Playstation 4!

You couldn’t tell, could you … ?

~≈Î≈~

I had some sad news, when I woke up: seemingly?

Actor, David McCallum has died: at the age of ninety.

That’s … well, that’s started my day on a low note.

The man was very good at his job: Sapphire and Steel a big part of my childhood.

He’ll be much missed.

~≈Î≈~

And finally … ?   The other news piece that caught my attention?

Was this: a piece that tells us some twenty-four thousand letters were lost by a hospital trust in Newcastle.

I am no expert: especially on large infrastructure IT systems.

But … ?   Well … ?

Aren’t these things supposed to be backed up … ?

~≈Î≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 26th September, 2022.

26th September, 2022.

Yes: it’s September.

It’s almost the end of September, but none-the-less, September.

So … ?

I had dinner with my family, last night.

Where, inevitably?   We got talking about Christmas presents.

It’s nice to get the conversation out of the way … but LORD, it’s September!

~≈🗓≈~

Oh, I forgot to mention, yesterday: I caught another episode of Star Trek Strange New Worlds, on Friday.

Here’s the video review: in case you’re interested … 

Feel free to leave a comment!

~≈🖖≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 26th September, 2021

26th September, 2021

Did I mention I get tested for COVID-19, every month or so?

I get tested for COVID-19, every month our so: as part of the Office for National Statistics COVID-19 study.

Last time … ?

I tested positive for the condition.

Wouldn’t you know it?

I sneezed twice, coughed once and had a blocked nose.

You have to be grateful for vaccination, don’t you?

At ANY rate?

Having tested positive?

I had to isolate for ten days.

Thankfully?   That last day was yesterday.

I can now happily go for a walk.

I’m looking forward to that.

Frankly?

I need the fresh air.

~≈🦠≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 26th September, 2020.

26th September, 2020.

It’s official: I had just enough cash, yesterday, to have a haircut.

Something I’m thankful for, I know that.

I was getting … uncomfortable … let’s uptimes it that way.

And I managed to find the one barbers in town that was open, didn’t have a queue … and could do something straight away.

So that’s nice.

View this post on Instagram

Just had the hair done here …

A post shared by Paul Nikolas Nak Downie (@mrcuddy2977) on Sep 25, 2020 at 4:04am PDT

~≈∑≈~

If you’re in the UK … ?

You’ll have seen news of the killing of police officer, Sgt. Matiu Ratana, yesterday.

By a drug dealer armed with a gun.

These events are incredibly rare: they last time a police officer was shot was in 2012.

I’ve got one question.

How on Earth did the dealer manage to shoot someone … with his arms handcuffed behind his back … ?

Dear god!

~≈∑≈~

I’m just listening to Radio 4’s Today programme, at the moment.

They’ve just had a fascinating — ish — piece about NASA’s latest fund-raising effort.

NASA’s going to let Estée Lauder shoot ads on the International Space Station.

“That’s one small step for man, one giant lap for blusher!”

As Neil Armstrong didn’t say!

In all honesty, though?

I know science — especially big science like the ISS, or CERN — need funds.

Raising cash through make-up ads?

Seems an odd way of doing it!

~≈∑≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 26th September, 2019

26th September, 2019.

Yes: after a late night, Tuesday and Wednesday … ?

I’ve got an easy start, today … !

Easy?

Early!

You see … ?

My typing’s abysmal, this time of the morning … !

~≈€≈~

Oh … 

Just as a quick point … ?

I’ve been doing a little reading up on things.

Mostly?   The model of Playstation that the family’s looking at, for Jude.

I knew the thing could record games — the amount of stuff on Twitter, Twitch, YouTube, et al — told me that.

But I’ve found pages like these to be useful.

And … ?

Frankly means getting someone a USB drive could be a good idea … 

~≈€≈~

Nik Oak’s Daily Teaser — 26th September, 2018

26th September, 2018.

Hmmm … 

I think I’m having a bad few days.

I’ve found out my shifts, next week: and I’ve got one.

Between you and me?

I’m not happy.

And will probably seeking advice.

I’ve certainly sent my agency a word, I’ve sent round the usual email to see if co workers need Shifts covered*, I’ve had a conversation with serious management … 

And I’m seriously thinking of a word with the Job Centre, the Citizen’s Advise Bureau, and ACAS.

If readers could send encouraging thoughts, I’d be thankful.

~≈§≈~

There’s upsides to the time off.

For starters, I’ve been able to at least talk to people about the work situation.

But have also managed to update my iMac.

It’s now running macOS Mojave: 10.14, if you want the numbers.

So far … ?

I’m not totally convinced by the new Finder layout … 

The side bar on the right hand side’s seems useless, but that’s after one day’s use.

Dark Mode’s a bit odd.

But the speed everything’s operating at … ?

Is noticeably improved.

I think that’s the 64-bit features, I think.

Oh, and the sand dune, dynamic wallpaper?

Slowly switches from a day or night view, depending on the time of day.

I’m actually looking forward to this.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 26-9-2017: Abbey Road

Hmmm … 

That’s a bit … worrying … 

If you’ve seen the news, you’ve possibly noticed the situation in North Korea.

The build up of — so far — words between the US and North Korea: one that’s involved a lot of nuclear tests, a lot of military build up.

And North Korea’s claim that — effectively — the US has declared war on it: and that it will shot down US bombers, should they come anywhere near.

I know Donald Trump want’s to make America great again.

I hope he doesn’t.

I get the feeling that Kim Jong-un wants to be taken seriously as an international figure, and will follow through on his threat: a threat Trump seems likely to react to.

And possibly call on US NATO allies to help in a potential war.

With the possible repercussions that implies.

Personally?

Right now, I’m hoping this will blow over.

I’m hoping my country won’t get involved in another iffy US war.

I’m hoping people don’t get killed as a result of an young man trying to show his country’s strength, and an old man’s attempt to make his country look good.

I’m worried those hopes might be pointless.

~≈Ç≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 26-9-2016

Yay … 

I’ve got another interview, today!

And another one on Wednesday!

But you already knew that, didn’t you … ?

Frankly?

Frankly, I’m looking forward to both.

But right here, and now?

Right here and now, I’ve got the feeling that I’m in for the long, slow slog.

Most of the interviews I’ve had?   Have been as a result of the initial rush of running around, posting CVs through doors.

That’s slowing down: money’s obviously shorter than it was.

Right now?

‘Slog,’ is about the size of it.

~≈®≈~

Which reminds me … 

A couple of potential employers — Sainsburys and Aldi are the two big offenders, off the top of my head — use various shades of online testing.

Those two spring to mind as they use similar ones.

Basically?   They give you four options: you have to pick the best choice, and the worst.

Apparently?

I did badly on both: and got told I’d not be taken through to the next stage: that of an interview.

I can understand why companies do it: they want to filter out no hopers.

But … ?

Frankly, it’s depressing: and gets me wondering if there’s anywhere online I can practice these things.

~≈®≈~