Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5-12-2025 — The Great Smog

5th December, 2025: the Great Smog.

Right … that’s that Christmassy task done … 

Yes: I’ve officially made a mess … by wrapping presents … !

OK … there’s not many presents.

And a chunk of them are gift cards, so didn’t need much in the way of wrapping.

But … ?

It’s the job done for another year.

~≈🎁≈~

I caught this video a couple of days ago.

It’s one that tells us more and more government departments are adopting Huawei-made PCs, PCs that come equipped with HarmonyNext OS, the Chinese developed operating system.

Including, apparently, in many government departments.

I grant you: being reliant on one operating system isn’t necessarily a good thing.

If there’s an undiscovered bug in Windows 11, word gets around, quick.

But … ?

The Chinese government encouraging Chinese use of the OS — by consumers, companies and government departments — means it’s encouraging those same people to not use Microsoft, Google or Apple products.

All three are American companies: and outside of anyone’s control, but America’s.

The net result?

Is that China is promoting its own digital sovereignty: promoting the idea that — inside its borders — it’s going to prefer to use Chinese produced technology, that Chinese data stays controlled by China.

Personally?

I’ve always felt the UK should be doing something similar.

After all, the British made Ubuntu Linux has been around for years.

But it’s only recently Britain’s introduced laws to protect the vulnerable in the UK: and that BT has announced its digital sovereignty ambitions.

Should the UK take a cue from Beijing?

I think so … 

~≈📀≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5-1-2025 — Waiting for Godot.

5th January, 2025: Waiting for Godot.

Yep: when I woke up this morning, it was raining.

It’s now, thankfully, stopped.

Which is possibly a good thing.

As there’s less of a chance of black ice, due to rain, and light, overnight, snow.

Either way … ?

I’m planning to go for a stroll, later.

Being careful would be an idea …

~≈❄️≈~

Did I mention I had — had — Meatloaf’s Bat out of Hell LP on in the background?

In the wake of the man’s death, “Heaven can Wait” still carries one hell of an emotional charge!

So much of a charge, I had to switch it off.

It’s genuinely upsetting … 

~≈♫≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5th December 2024.

5th December, 2024.

Right … I think we can say I’m expecting a delivery, today.

What do I mean, ‘think’?

I know I’ve got a delivery coming, today.

One that includes an airer.

I don’t know about you, but the ones I have, don’t have enough room for everything.

~≈🧺≈~

I’m on a drug called Mounjaro: one that helps keep my blood sugar levels down.

And, as a side effect, helps me lose, and keep, my weight down.

Which is nice!

I notice, though, that the BBC’s all over the stuff.

Telling us the Government’s approved its use by the National Health Service, specifically for weight loss.

Along side diet and exercise.

That’s generally a good thing, I think.

But I also note the report tells us this is supposed to be rolled out over some twelve years: in order to try and manage demand.

I can only hope that works.

I can remember how excess demand caused a shortage of Ozempic: and a shift to other medications, one I felt weren’t as effective.

Here’s hoping.

~≈💊≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5th December 2023.

5th December, 2023.

Yes: it’s Tuesday.

And … ?

Frankly, my eyes hurt!

I don’t know quite what’s going on — whether it’s my sugar levels, stress, the weather, what-ever! — but I seem to be getting noticeable headaches, and double vision.

It turns out my sister is getting something similar.

It’s … not nice, I’ll tell you that.

I’ve managed to book up an appointment with my opticians, tomorrow: and have asked my pharmacist about blood sugar tests, in case that’s a factor.

That latter option’s unaffordable: unless I manage to get a second Essential Living Fund

We’ll have to see how that goes!

~≈¥≈~

Doctor Who — The Abominable Snowmen — Episode 5 — A Review

5th December, 2022: Episode 5.

Right … It’s Monday, again.

As anyone who read today’s Teaser will realise.

They will possibly also realise it’s Little Richard’s birthday.

Which is possibly an excuse for a song … !

I’ve just seen the lyrics, by the way.   

I always wondered where William Gibson got the name of the brothel in Burning Chrome.

At any rate … ?

That’s going slightly sideways.

It’s Monday.

And … ?

Dinner’s cooking.

Stew, baked spud … and maybe some vegetables.

Once that’s done?

I’ll be watching episode five of … The Abominable Snowmen.

~≈🩺≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5-12-2022 — Little Richard.

5th December, 2022: Little Richard.

Right … it’s Monday.

And?

I’ve got the heating on.

It’s cold!

And, frankly?

I’m hoping the weather outside will warm up.

I’ve got a meeting at the Job centre, today.

I’d hate to freeze on the way … !

~≈Ù≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5th December, 2021.

5th December, 2021.

Right … 

Today’s a Sunday: one that — suspiciously or otherwise — is going to be quiet.

Well … 

Bar watching tonight’s episode of Dr Who.

My big question from last week’s episode still remains.

Will Bel’s child turn out out to be the Doctor, herself?

~≈Ü≈~

I’m assuming you watch the news?

Then you’ll know of the most recent school shooting in the US: in Michigan.

The shooter, Ethan Crumbley, has been charged as an adult, from what I know: one count of terrorism, four counts of first-degree murder, seven counts of assault with intent to murder and 12 counts of possession of a firearm.

What caught my attention?

Was that his parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, have also been charged: with involuntary manslaughter.

From what I can gather?   They bought the gun their son used in the attack: during the Black Friday sales.

And either gave it too their son: or did not necessarily prevent him from accessing the family weapons cabinet.

I keep wondering several things.

How on EARTH has someone in the US allowed a child access to a gun?

And what Bob Geldof would make of this.

From what I recall of his autobiography, I can remember him being shocked that Brenda Spencer* — the school shooter who’d inspired I Don’t Like Mondays — had been bought a gun for her birthday, by her parents.

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

~≈Ü≈~

Star Trek Discovery — Series 3 Episode 5 — Die Trying — A Review

5th December, 2020.

Right … 

It’s a Saturday night: so frankly?

For one thing, I’ve just had dinner.

Another?

I’ve just watched another episode of Star Trek Discovery, series three.

And will be telling you more about it, tomorrow.

Frankly, though?

I’m experimenting still with the introductory videos: Just to see if I can now insert them straight into a post, rather than having to embed them via YouTube.

If you can let me know which one works, I’d appreciate it!

~≈🖖🏼≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5-12-2020: Hispaniola

5th December, 2020.

Right … about the laptop I’ve borrowed from my landlords … ?

I’ve still got it … obviously!

But I’ve had a representative from them phone, yesterday afternoon: and hopefully phone back, on Monday afternoon.

To try and help: by taking remote control of the machine, and seeing what he could do.

Not a lot, actually.

It still needs the user password to install the needed software.

Something he couldn’t enter remotely: in part, because he couldn’t see the password window, remotely.

Nor could he just give me the password: understandable, given the security issues.

He’s going to be phoning back on Monday … once he’s got permission to give it to me.

We’ll have to see what happens.

~≈◊≈~

Did I mention I like a good read, occasionally?

I like a good read, occasionally.

Right now?   My book at bedtime is a collection of Arthur Machen short stories called The White People and other Weird Stories.

It’s interesting stuff: and you can see how it inspired H. P. Lovecraft.

What is grabbing me … ?

Is simply the cover.

This particular edition is a Penguin Classics one.

With a beautifully textured cover that makes reading it a pleasure.

And the book, itself, a beautiful thing to hold. 

~≈◊≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5th December, 2019

5th December, 2019.

Right then … 

I’m back at my course, today.

I’m … looking forward to it.

Although I have an issue.

My left shoulder’s been aching, recently: and I think I know why.

I’m left handed: and this course has seen me doing more physical hand writing than I’ve down for a decade!

Net result?

An ache!

Oy veh … !

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5th December, 2018.

5th December, 2018.

Yes: I’m officially going nuts.

No, really.

Go have a look at the introduction video, there.

That one at the start of this post.

I’ve just realised I’ve said today’s Tuesday.

In spite of the fact the day’s Wednesday.

Can someone slap me, throw a bucket of water at the cat, and make sure I’ve taken my medication … ?

I think that’s possibly the only way to … you know … 

Don’t get stuff like this wrong … !

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5th December 2017

Hmmm … 

I mentioned, yesterday, that Nadine Dorries, MP, was rather lax with her computer’s login.

Quite what will happen with that, I don’t know.

The rules that cover parliamentary staff — the people who work in the libraries, bars and corridors of power — don’t cover MPs: who work in, not for, Parliament.

So, problem there, then … !

Unless, of course, you’re the UK’s data protection regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Reminding us, and our MPs, that — whilst sharing login passwords with friends, families, co-workers and who-ever else — doesn’t violate any data protection law, there’s one basic tenet of data protection that’s important.

Someone who has sensitive information on their system — personal, commercial or medical — has to take at least basic security steps.

Keeping things updated helps, being careful opening email attachments from people/groups your don’t know … 

Oh … 

And not handy your password to others … 

~≈Ê≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5-12-2016

Right … 

I THINK I need a wrench … 

Remember, yesterday, my washing machine leaked: and flooded the kitchen?

I think I’ve sorted the issue out.

At least in part.

Simply by moving it away from the walls, and working the kinks out of the waste pipe.

That’s not totally stopped things.

I’m not totally free of spillages: the test wash I did last night left some dampness.

But, at least, I got the worst of it sorted for the moment.

Now … 

Does anyone have a monkey wrench … ?

~≈Á≈~