Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7-5-2026 — Elected

7th May, 2026: Elected.

Right … it’s official.

It’s officially Election Day, here in the UK.

Which means you can start singing old songs … 

Or you can go and vote: the walk will possibly do you good.

~≈🗳️≈~

As a thought?

Yes: I still take the position I have for a few years.

I’m voting Green.

But … ?

If Green candidates weren’t standing, I would be spoiling my vote.

And would urge others to do the same: should they not see a candidate they could comfortably vote for.

Bar walking past the polling station … ?

We have no other way of abstaining.

~≈🗳️≈~

As a last electoral thought?

One I’ve mentioned, before?

I could neither vote for the Conservatives, nor for Reform.

Both parties are too right-of-centre for my tastes.

But, given I know my home town?

I suspect Reform will do well.

No: I don’t like that one bit.

But have to face the possibilities, and the political realities.

~≈🗳️≈~

I found out, yesterday, that a documentary about the film, Threads, had been released.

I was interested.

But frustrated there was no apparently release date.

It turns out that — according to the distributors — there’s a new 4k blu-ray release due in July of this year.

The documentary is included in this release.

That could be worth spending money on … 

~≈☢️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7th May 2025.

7th May, 2025.

Yay!

It’s officially Wednesday.

And … ?

I have to confess, I’ve been watching the second series of Star Wars spin off series, Andor.

And?

The opening six episodes have been rather good: and include three written by Beau Willimon, show runner of the US version of House of Cards.

I know science fiction isn’t for everyone … but a wartime drama?

With murky political undertones, paranoia you can cut with a knife, and lots of explosions?

Might just be up your street …

~≈💣≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7th May, 2024.

7th May, 2024.

Right … it’s Tuesday!

Which means it’s the day after Bank Holiday Monday!

But you knew that!

But it also means it’s the day after the Kyren Wilson/Jak Jones final: which Wilson won.

That was quite a thing to watch: Wilson won, 18-14.

But Jones?

Put up one hell of a fight: involving two frames that went down to the black.

Like I say, it was one hell of a thing to watch!

~≈Ω≈~

Tetris (Film) — A Review

7th May, 2023: Tetris.

Potatoes … potatoes, potatoes, potatoes … !

It’s Sunday: so you know.

And, yes: I’ve got some spuds in the oven.

Frankly?

Dinner is almost ready to eat.

Equally as frankly?

Once it is eaten?

I’m going to be settling in with the AppleTV+ film, Tetris.

In 4k, so you know.

Once I’ve watched it … ?

I’ll have my written and video reviews up, tomorrow night: I’ll see you then!

~≈🎞️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser— 7th May 2023 Teaser.

7th May, 2023.

Right … 

It’s officially the day after the Coronation.

Feel free to excuse the swearing, and the washing machine: but the Archbishop had to have a couple of goes, putting the thing on!

The crown.

On Charles’ head.

I thought I should clarify that!

At any rate?

I watched the ceremony.

I’m not sure I’d call it enjoyable: I’m not that much of a royalist.

But it was interesting to watch.

And something of a rarity: after all the last one was seventy years ago.

~≈Ü≈~

Oh, JUST in case you’re wondering?

The page boy they cameras focus on, at one point … ?

Was Prince George: eldest child of the Prince and Princess of Wales, and second in line to the throne.

I don’t think I’ve seen anyone more bored … unless it was his younger sister and brother … 

~≈Ü≈~

The one surprise I had about the whole thing, though … ?

Was Michelle O’Neill’s attendance.

In case you didn’t know?

She’s the First Minister Designate of the Northern Irish assembly, and MLA, Member of the Legislative Assembly, for Mid Ulster … 

And a member of Sinn Fein.

The last person I’d’ve expected to go.

They’re not exactly royalists!

~≈Ü≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7th May, 2022.

7th May, 2022.

Right … I have an officially official, stupidly early start, today.

I’m, notionally, looking after my nephew, Jude.

Yes: that means there’s going to be more videos!

Heigh ho!

~≈Á≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7-5-2021: Vladimir.

7th May, 2021.

Yes: it’s official: my nephew, Jude, was over.

Which was definitely an enjoyable afternoon.

Especially when we found this video: 

Hopefully?

We’ll be able to catch up, next time.

It’s at a critical point in the match!

~≈‡≈~

I take it you follow the news?

I do.

And, like many of us, are shocked when a school shooting occurs in the US.

And usually felt it couldn’t get much worse: until this morning.

When news came through that a schoolgirl, aged around 11 or 12 — not that much older than Jude — shot three people at her school in Idaho.

The USA is a civilised, technologically advanced, country: my two US regulars, Debbi and Edith, are testament to that.

But it’s constitutionally backed gun laws, gun laws that allow a twelve year old child to shoot people at her school?

Need changing.

~≈‡≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7th May, 2020

7th May, 2020.

Are you following me on Instagram?

I’m on Instagram, in case you didn’t know: and managed to that — a few days ago — I’d whipped up a batch of homemade spaghetti Bolognese.   And show it off.

View this post on Instagram

I'm frying some onions for my home made Bolognese sauce

A post shared by Paul Nikolas Nak Downie (@mrcuddy2977) on May 4, 2020 at 10:20am PDT

And blown my fuses, as a part of proceedings.

Well … 

I made a batch of my homemade chilli.

View this post on Instagram

Dinner

A post shared by Paul Nikolas Nak Downie (@mrcuddy2977) on May 6, 2020 at 11:58am PDT

Enough for four people … 

And — here’s the important bit — haven’t blown my fuses!

~≈⥣≈~

I have to admit, I saw a little bit of sad news, yesterday.

Florian Schneider, co-founder of Kraftwerk, died yesterday.

I wasn’t a huge fan: OMD were more my thing.

But … ?

A significant chuck of my collection has his name on the cover, somewhere … 

~≈⥣≈~

The Howling — A Review

7th May, 2019.

OK …



Have you ever felt that watching a film would be a good idea?

Or, come to that, watching a TV show?

One or the other, at least?

You know how it goes, you’ve got nothing to do of an evening, nowhere to go, you’ve had dinner, the laundry’s done, you’ve finished that book … 

What ever: you have time on your hands, and are wondering what to do.

Personally, I actually fancied a movie: as I had a few I’d not seen, sitting in my movie collection.

Frankly?

After sorting out some for my 8 year old nephew, Jude — who thinks Men In Black looks entertaining*, and Boxtrolls looks weird and interesting — I fancied a movie or two … 

Ones that possibly had an 18 rating.

Or maybe not … I’m actually tempted to see Boxtrolls … 

At any rate … ?

I fancied something scary.

Something to make me jump.

So felt watching the 1981, Joe Dante film, The Howling could be just the thing.

Just as a question?

Was it time well spent … ?

Hmmm … 

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7th May, 2019.

7th May, 2019.

Yep: it’s official.

Jude, my eight year old nephew … has decided to he want’s to be a YouTuber.

He knows I’ve got a YouTube channel.

And been watching videos by YouTuber, Jelly.   (Who was allowed on at the age of nine: so Jude assures us.)

OK: I think Mummy’s going to have something to say about that: especially as you can open a YouTube channel at 13, five years from now.

Lord knows Grandma and Aunty Anna had a few choice words!

One thing I know I suggested, last night?

Was, at least, seeing if could make a movie on Mummy’s computer.

May I present … 

Ahem … !

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7th May, 2018

7th May, 2018.

Yep: that’s technology.

That — and a desire of my younger self — means I’ve finally worked out how to turn into Max Headroom.

One of these days?

I’ll work out how to do the stutter!

Oh, no, wait … 

iMovie … !

That’ll work … !

~≈§≈~

Talking of technology?

You’ll be very aware I’ve felt that ripping films on DVD and blu-ray — transcoding films on an optical disc, to view it on a device like a tablet, phone or streaming box — is, whilst illegal, something that’s morally acceptable.

So long as I don’t sell or give away copies of the resulting video files: just watch them on whatever device I choose.

With recent updates to macOS?

It’s getting harder to use HandBrake to use to directly rip copy-protected DVDs: as it’s gotten harder to install the library that circumvents it.

I’ve found using RipIt helps: it copies a DVD, turning it into a disc image … and stripping it of any copy protection in the process.

Which allows HandBrake to do its thing.

RipIt doesn’t work on Blu-ray Discs.

So, over the years?   I used MakeMKV to turn a Blu-ray Disc into a series of .mkv files: which could then be ripped with HandBrake, as per usual.

However?

I was tinkering with MakeMKV: in order to change my copy of The Last Jedi into something watchable on my AppleTV.

When I realised I could use it to copy a disc, and turn it into a disc image in the process …

AND strip the copy protection, as well: by ticking the relevant box.

Amazing what you find out, when you read the manual.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7-4-2017

It’s a Sunday … 

And, for once … ?

It’s a Sunday where I’m not working.

That’s going to give me less money, next payday.

But, for the moment … ?

Means I have extra time to sleep, do laundry … 

And watch Dr Who*, tonight … 

Here’s hoping … 

~≈Ê≈~

The Daily Teaser — 7-5-2016

Well, here we are!

It’s now the last day of my holiday: I’m back to work, tomorrow.

And, if nothing else … ?

I’m going to be looking forward to one thing.

Given it’s actually been rather warm over the past few days, I’m looking forward to simply having my windows open.

That way … ?

I can get some air going through my flat.

Well, single bloke, on his own …

The fresh air comes in handy … !

~≈Ç≈~