Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 23rd June 2024

23rd June, 20241.

Right, then … 

It’s officially Sunday!

And, frankly, I am knackered.

It’s my own damn fault: making a mistake with my most recent review, and having to re-do it will do that to a body … !

Oy VEH!

~≈Å≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 23rd June, 2023.

23rd June, 2023.

Right … I have issues!

I’ve got a new sharps bin: for my new medications.

It’s a bucket sized one.

With a sliding trapdoor that you open, when you need to put something in.

I opened it, when I got it home: to see how it worked.

Then closed it.

Not realising that you could only open the thing, once.

It’s a safety feature.

I’m going to have to get another one: due to my own ignorance, I’ve now got one I can’t use!

~≈🗑️≈~

Helpfully, though … ?

I’m up early!

As I’ve got a diabetic foot check at my GP’s.

That means I can put in a request for another one, at the same time.

~≈🗑️≈~

Just in case you didn’t know?

An old friend told me — a few days ago — that there’s a new comic shop opening in Brentwood.

It’s a branch of Romford’s Comic Book Heroes: in Moore’s Place, around the corner from Saint Thomas’ Church.

They open on Sunday, 25th June, this year*.

If you want to buy your favourite blogger, stuff, you’d be supporting a local business … !

~≈🦹‍♂️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 23rd June, 2022

23rd June, 2022.

Yes: it’s Thursday.

Busy Day, Pt 2,  in other words.

Yesterday?   I was due a locksmith: who eventually turned up a lot earlier than I was expecting.

Which was unexpected: but nice.

Going by what the locksmith told me?

The rack of letterboxes are no longer made.

So replacing the things would be difficult.

~≈§≈~

Today, on the other hand?

I’ve got a plumber coming down: in theory, to unblock the drain of my kitchen sink.

Which?   Doesn’t actually seem to be blocked: but was getting upsurging waste water, a couple of weeks ago.

In May.

Upsurging water, with suspicious brown bits, in May.

Today’s the earliest they could send someone out.

You couldn’t make it up, could you?

~≈§≈~

One thing I know isn’t made up?

Is this news piece from The Register: a piece that tells us Microsoft is blocking access the site that lets customers in Russia download copies of Windows.

After stopping sales of the operating system in the country, in March.

I’m assuming that’s a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

I think that’s going to have consequences.

It’ll hit Microsoft’s sales.

Another possible consequence?   ReactOS — an open source clone of Windows — has long been trying to interest the Russian government.

Russia might — might — start looking at that, again: as a possible replacement for Windows*.

Rolling a new operating system out, over a whole country, could be difficult.

It’s not just home users like you or me that would need to replace our systems: it’s all those government departments, as well.

At any rate?   If Microsoft’s blockade goes on for any length of time?

Russia may might have to look at large scale alternatives!

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 23rd June, 2021

23rd June, 2021.

Yes: it’s official.

I’m off to hospital for a second colonoscopy.

Frankly?

I’m not looking forward to it.

Especially after having to fast, and having the extremely powerful laxative that goes with it.

But … ?

The sooner it’s done, the better.

~≈🧻≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16-7-2019: To The Moon

16th July, 2019.

I haven’t had a phone call.

I’ll repeat that … I’ve not had a phone call.

Frankly?   Given one of the calls I’m expecting, this week, not getting a call could be good.

On the other hand?

I had an interview, on Friday:at a local betting shop.

And was expecting a call, yesterday: to let me know how I’d done.

Did I get a call … ?

Did I get a thing … ?

Nope!

I wonder why I bother, sometimes, I really do … !

~≈§≈~

In other news … ?

I saw this place on the BBC’s news channel, yesterday: telling us the late Alan Turing is now going to be commemorated: by having his face on the new, polymer, £50 note.

Personally?

That seems a good way to honour the man who invented the computer.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 23-6-2017

Ye gods, but I’m not well … !

OK, I’m not seriously badly off.

Things could be seriously worse.

But, right now?

I’m felling rather grotty: after my IBS flared up, at work.

Cramps, trots, slightly pained expressed, what have you … 

All that … 

All that … combined with a lack of sleep … ?

Well, I’m not having a good time.

~≈ß≈~

The Daily Teaser — 23-6-2015

DRAT!

I have to confess, I slept through my alarm … !

I hate sleeping through my alarm.

OK, granted, it’s a day when I’m working late.   Granted I wasn’t going to worry on that front.

But even so, it’s not something I like going … !

~≈Ÿ≈~

The Imitation Game: Is A Great Film!

11th March, 2015.

It has to be said, I was going to open this post with the line, “I’m a sucker for a good film.”

Which — in a sense — is true.

I like watching good films.

But it struck me that opening with that line?

Was that opening with “I’m a sucker for a good film” would possibly be just a bit too glib.

Too superficial … shallow … 

Too … 

Yeah … I think you get my point.

That opener was way to shallow an opening.   Too shallow … 

Given the fact I wanted to tell you about a serious movie: one I know I’ve just been wanting to catch, ever since I heard of its making.

And release, last year.

The 2014, WW2 era drama, Morten Tyldum directed, The Imitation Game.

And wow … 

I think it’s been worth the wait.

~≈†≈~

The Daily Teaser — 9-3-2015: Strike It Rich

Ooooh … 

THAT’S something to look forward to!

You know — or possibly don’t — that it was my birthday, last week?

It was: I’m officially another year older.

And have an extra birthday present.   Bless, my mother got a huge thank you: as she’d managed to dig me up a DVD copy of the Benedict Cumberbatch film, The Imitation Game.

It’s about Alan Turing, in case you didn’t know: who’s fascinated me for years.

As did his work at Bletchley Park, during the war.

Frankly?

Frankly, I’m working, tonight.

Hopefully?

I’ll be glued to it, during the week … 

~≈®≈~

The Brentwood Gazette’s Weekly Teaser — 28-5-2014: The Turing Test

Oh, now hang on: MORE Buffy … !

Sorry, sorry: I’ve been borrowing a friend’s box set of the complete Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

Which is as much fun as it ever was.

Personally, though … ?

I’m just glad Google reacted the way it did to the name of the particular episode I’m watching.

No, really!

Typing in Doublemeat Palace could’ve had some more … um … 

Well … 

Um … unfortunate results.

~≈◊≈~

The Daily Teaser — 24-12-2013: All About Christmas Eve

You know, in amongst the storms that are affecting southern England’s transport — and taken the life of at least one person — I’ve just noticed a piece of good news.

Or good, from where I’m sitting.

Computer pioneer, Alan Turing, has been officially pardoned by the Queen.

Personally … ?   My first thought was simple: “AT LAST … !”

I’ve always felt that not pardoning the man who shaped the modern world by designing the computer … was on hell of an injustice.

Thankfully, with this news … ?   We can say exactly that: that it was an injustice, and one that has now been corrected.

Now all that’s needed … ?   Is maybe a medal for his war work.

Here’s hoping!

~≈Ω≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: and, along with letting me know she’d enjoyed yesterday’s tune, also scored five out of five.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s evil — evish? eved? — questions, shall we?   Here they are, along with the ‘How To,’ video and video … 

Q1) 24th December sees the traditional Nine Lessons and Carols broadcast by the BBC.   From which Cambridge College: Christ’s, King’s or Queen’s … ?

Q2) On Christmas Eve, many Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries have a Midnight Mass called Misa de Gallo: or Mass of the … what … ?

Q3) Christmas Eve is on the 24th December: All Hallow’s Eve is on which date … ?

Q4) Eve Harrington is a character in which 1950 film … ?

Q5) More to the point, Evey Hammond turns up in which 2005 film … ?

Q6) Living between 140000 and 200000 years ago, what name is given to humanity’s most ancient common female ancestor … ?

Q7) Finally … in which book of the Bible does Eve appear … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 23rd December, 1986, saw a plane called Voyager land at Edwards Airforce Base, in California.   The plane was the first to make a round-the-world trip without what: launching, refueling or landing … ?

A1) Ground or aerial refueling.

Q2) 23rd December, 1823, saw the debut of the poem, ’Twas The Night Before Christmas.   Name any of the reindeer mentioned in the poem … 

A2) Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder and Blitzen.

Q3) 23rd December, 1972, saw an earthquake hit the Central American city of Managua.   In which country is Managua … ?

A3) Nicaragua.

Q4) 23rd December, 1947, saw Bell Labs demonstrate the first transistor.   What did the transistor replace: the vacuum tube, the silicon chip or the lightbulb?

A4) The vacuum tube: or valve, as it’s known, here in the UK.

Q5) Finally … 23rd December, 1933, saw the birth of the current Emperor of Japan.   What’s his name … ?

A5) Akihito.

I’ll leave you with this thought …

“Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart … filled it, too, with melody that would last forever.”

Bess Streeter Aldrich.

And with Martha’s Harbour, by All About Eve … 

*        You can’t go far wrong with Chet Baker, Debbi!   (Oh … about question 2 … ?   I’ll let you have that: but you do know Rudolph wasn’t in A Visit From Saint Nicholas … ?   He first cropped up in 1939.)

The Daily Teaser — 20-7-2013: Fly Me To The Moon

Now, there’s a thing … !

You DO realise that I’d not be writing this — and you’d not be reading it — if it hadn’t been for the work of computer scientist, Alan Turing … ?

He’s the chap whose academic work in the 1930s 1940s — and whose work on the code-breaking machines in Bletchley Park during World War 2 — defined the modern computer: including whatever device* you happen to be reading this on.

He committed suicide in the 1950s: partly, it’s felt, as a result of the pressure he and many other gay men were under, and partly as a result of being criminalised and prosecuted for indecency, under the UK’s (then) laws against homosexuality.

For many years, I and others have felt he should be pardoned by the Government.   After all,Turing is a war-hero, as well as being the father of modern computer.

Seemingly … ?   Well, seemingly, there’s a bill going through the House Of Lords to grant him a Parliamentary Pardon.

Hopefully, that’ll help.   It’s been a bit too long, from where I’m sitting.

~≈‡≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw both Debbi† and Pink Fluff putting in their answers: with Debbi telling us the name Molly sounds familiar, and Fluff‡ telling us her cat, Simon, know’s there’s life on Mars, it saw Debbi scoring four out of five and Fluff three out.

Let’s see how they — and you — do with today’s Moon landing questions.

Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video … 

Q1) 20th July saw the first men walk on the Earth’s Moon.   In which year … ?

Q2) More to the point, name either of those first two men.

Q3) Which member of the crew stayed on the orbiting command module … ?

Q4) That command module took its name from a craft in a book by which Frenchman … ?

Q5) What was the name of the landing craft … ?

Q6) The rocket that got the crew there was a Saturn 5.   Given which mission designation: Apollo Ten, Eleven or Twelve … ?

Q7) Finally … Which US president was the one to announce the US would be heading for the moon … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 19th July, 1843 saw the launch of the SS Great Britain: what was then the largest ship afloat.   It was also the first to made largely of which metal … ?

A1) Iron.

Q2) The ship was also one of the first ocean-going ships to be propelled by what: sails, a paddlewheel or a screw-propellor?

A2) A screw propellor.

Q3) What does the SS in SS Great Britain stand for … ?

A3) Steam Ship.

Q4) On which set of islands was the ship famously retired to, in 1884?

A4) The Falklands.

Q5) Finally … which (then) member of the Royal Family took part in the the ship’s launch … ?

A5) Prince Albert, the Prince Consort.

I’ll leave you with this thought from genuine American hero and icon, Neil Armstrong …

“Pilots take no special joy in walking: pilots like flying. Pilots generally take pride in a good landing, not in getting out of the vehicle”.

Neil Armstrong.

And with this tune: apparently played on the day … 

*        Tablet, laptop, desktop, smartphone, Mac, PC, Android, iOS, Windows RT: literally whatever computing device you reading this on.

†        Three … ?   Blimey, Debbi, you do like multi-tasking, don’t you … ? :D   Just in case you HAVE caught up with her, she’s the character with the cybernetically implanted mirror-shades.   Someone did a a piece of fan art that’s crept up the page rankings, that I feel is her, perfectly.

‡        I’m assuming Simon’s a cat, here, Fluff: I’ll apologise, now, if he’s a dog … ! :D

The Daily Teaser — 28-5-2013: Alan Turing

You know, I have to admit, I’m listening to to a documentary I recorded last night: the first episode of the new series of Mastertapes.

This opening episode … ?   Features  Wilko Johnson*, founder member and original singer-songwriter for Dr Feelgood, discussing their debut album, Down By The Jetty.

The band were possibly the one band that had the biggest influence on Britain’s punk movement of the 1970s.

Hmmm … You know, I mite just have to see if that’s available on iTunes.   I always think it’s important to have one definitive album in one’s collection.

Hmmm … Let’s get moving on, shall we … ?

~≈†≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi putting her answers in: along with putting up this post, she also bagged five out of six†.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s themed questions, shall we?   Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video … 

Q1) 28th May, 1936, saw Alan Turing release the paper that defined the computer: it’s commonly known as ‘On Computable …’ what …?

Q2) How did Turing refer to computers: as universal, global or ubiquitous machines … ?

Q3) During World War 2, Turing worked at the Government Code and Cypher School, in Bletchley Park.   In which English county is Bletchley Park … ?

Q4) Bletchley Park is also the home of Britain’s National Museum Of Computing.   The Museum opened in which year … ?

Q5) Modern computers are all said to be Turing what: total, complete, or entire … ?

Q6) And finally … Turing eventually committed suicide by eating a poisoned  what …?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1) 27th May, 1995, saw which actor paralysed from the neck down, after a horse riding accident in Virginia … ?

A1) Christopher Reeve.

Q2) 27th May, 1937, saw the Golden Gate Bridge open to pedestrian traffic.   In which US state is the Golden Gate Bridge … ?

A2) California.

Q3) More to the point, the northern end of the Bridge is in which US city … ?

A3) San Francisco.

Q4) 27th May, 1934, saw the birth of which famously contentious science fiction writer … ?

A4) Harlan Ellison.

Q5) 27th May, 1968, saw which Canadian city become the first to host an official National League Baseball team … ?

A5) Montreal.

Q6) And finally … 27th May, 1919, saw the ending of the world’s first transatlantic flight: in which Portuguese city … ?

A6) Lisbon.

I’ll leave you with this quote from I’ll leave you with this thought from Dr Turing, himself …

“A man provided with paper, pencil, and rubber, and subject to strict discipline, is in effect a universal machine.”

Alan Turing.

With this tune from Kraftwerk … 

Oh, and as I’ve mention Wilko and the guys … ?

Here … 

*        I actually saw Johnson playing at the Essex Arms, when I worked there: back when he was touring with Salvator Ramundo and occasional Blockhead Norman Watt-Roy.   Watt-Roy could make you weep, as a bassist: I always watched him play, with despair, thinking I’d never be that good at something.   Wilko, on the other hand … ?   Inspirational: I watched, thinking “I could do that … ”

†        Hmmm … Don’t know if I needed THAT much detail, Debbi! :D

BBC News - Alan Turing papers on code breaking released by GCHQ

BBC News - Alan Turing papers on code breaking released by GCHQ

Now THAT’s a result … 

Anyone who’s been reading me for a while knows I’ve always got time for the late Alan Turing: the Cambridge mathematician who originally came up with the idea of a programmable digital computer, and helped this country win WW2.

Well, handily, two 70 year old papers on code breaking by Turing have recently been released by their owners/holders.

GCHQ, of all people … !

Nice to know they’ve let them go.

But it probably tells you quite a bit about either them.

Or Turing, himself.

‹‹‡››

Moving rapidly on … ?

You’ll probably remember me saying— this morning — that I’d had a recent letter published in this weeks Gazette:after an article they’d published: all about the planned development in Saint James Road.

Here’s the article concerned.

And here’s what the Gazette released yesterday.

I read your article about the arson incident and have to do two things in response.

Firstly, congratulate my fellow tenant, Mr Williams, for his speedy response: He may not have saved lives: but has served as a positive example.

Secondly — as you’re probably no doubt aware — I and others have been objecting to Taylor Wimpey’s plans to further develop the area, for at least two years.

My own personal objections hinge on the one point your article puts very well.

That — with the current state of development in the area — parking has increased to the point where emergency vehicle access, as this incident shows, is hard and verging on the impossible.

Now, I’ll admit, I’m hoping a couple of things happen as a result of this.

For starters, I hope that Taylor Wimpey’s current and future plans for the area get turned down, the next time they come before Brentwood Council’s Planning committee.

What’s more, I’ve been told by several people — Taylor Wimpey’s spokespeople, included — that, due to ‘the legalities involved’, something has to be put next to Brunel House.

I really hope someone comes along to rewrite the laws that say that.

Here’s hoping it all adds to the objections to Taylor Wimpey want to put there.

BBC News - Government rejects pardon request for Alan Turing

BBC News - Government rejects pardon request for Alan Turing

You know, if you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll probably be aware that I — like a few other people — think very well of Alan Turing, one of the fathers of modern computer science.

Indeed, it’s also arguable that without him, the computer — as we understand it, today — wouldn’t exist.

Especially his paper, On Computable Numbers, and his World War Two work at Bletchley Park.

The fact he was gay is something that I — with many others — see as practically incidental: but, at the time, a crime.

Unfortunately, the recently created petition asking for him to be pardoned … ?

Has been thrown out by Justice Minister, Lord McNally.

Personally … ?

I’ve said this before, and will say this again …

That is no way to treat a man who’s work helped shorten WW2 by anything up to two years.

Pardoning Alan Turing

BBC News - Petition to pardon computer pioneer Alan Turing started

You know, that’s one other bit of news I meant to tell you about …

You probably know I’m something of a very amateur technology.

Very amateur, I should stress: I really don’t have the budget to be anything but.

I sort of also take an interest in computer’s history.

Mostly because some of it started here, in the UK.

»»•««

Probably more than you or I could could imagine, actually.

One figure looms large in the history of modern computing, though.

That of academic, Alan Turing: the man who defined computers with his On Computable Numbers, with an Application to the Entscheidungsproblem, and who went on to build and run some of the cryptanalysis teams at Bletchley Park.

Turing was gay.

And, as homosexuality was illegal, back then, he was criminalised.

And committed suicide in the 1950s, after eating a poisoned apple.

»»•««

Which has been something of a point of contention for many, me included.

You seen, I’ve long felt that ones sexuality is on a par with being left or right-handed, gender, ethnicity, what-have-you.* They’re just something that’s thereº.

At ANY rate … ?

At any rate, many people have felt that Alan Turing should have been given some sort of medal for his war work.

Or, if nothing else … ?

If nothing else, have his 1952 indecency conviction quashed.

The man was a war hero whose key theories drive much of the modern world.

That Pardon would be something I think.

* Granted, there’s racism, sexism, homophobia: and even — a trivial thing that I emphasise more than most — mild prejudice against being left handed. These are thing’s I’ve always felt are wrong: but unfortunately, a lot more present than we like to admit.

º Twenty or thirty years ago, I might have added ‘and can’t be helped’. Sod that, if you’ll excuse the phrase. I’ve ever so slowly come to realise the phrase implies someone needs help getting over the disability of being black, left handed or a woman. I’m pretty sure I know one or two woman, black people and LGBT community members — and other southpaws — who’d have a word or two to say …

Bletchley Park: Getting A Gong From The Queen …

Oh, well, now THERE’S a thing …

Seriously …

You know, you’ve probably worked out, by now, that I’m a bit of a technology fan.

Admittedly, rather a skint one who rather have more tech than he’s got, but none the less a tech fan.

And over the years … ?

One that’s taken something of an interest in the history of these things.

Now, in the UK, you can’t actually do that, without mentioning two names.

One of those, of course, is the late Alan Turing, the man whose On Computable Numbers paper defined computers, back in 1936, and who went on to build them.

The other … ?

The other name was the place honoured by the Queen, today.

Bletchley Park, in Buckinghamshire.

Now, in case you didn’t know, Bletchley Park was the site of Britain’s code breakers, during World War 2: including Alan Turing, I should add.

The code breakers based there worked on cracking the German Enigma code, along with the Lorenz ciphers, and assorted others. And are generally agreed to have shortened the war by a number of years.

So seeing the news, today, that the Queen has unveiled a statue, and paid tribute to the Bletchley Park codebreakers … ? Was something I know that I, certainly, felt was nice to see.

Now …

I wonder if that posthumous medal for Dr Turing’s on its way …

Information Pioneers: Alan Turing from Information Pioneers on Vimeo.

Code-cracking machine returned to life: Tunny’s BACK … !

BBC News - Code-cracking machine returned to life

Well, now THAT’S a thing … !

I’ve got to admit, I’ve long taken an interest in history, I really have.

And the history of computing — while I’ve no particular academic qualifications to show for it — is something that’s fascinated me for almost as long.

Now, I’ll be frank …

I’m British …

So, given computer history’s so fascinating, you’ll probably not be surprised that me, and some friends visited Bletchley Park, in 2009, home of both the National Computer Museum …

And Britain’s World War 2 code cracking centre.

»»•««

Which is why that link at the top of the page grabbed me when I open my RSS reader.

The fact that the reconstruction of the Tunny machine — that Sue, Andy and I saw, on that visit — is now finished … !

And I’ve got to admit … I’m curious enough to want another visit …

A Grand Day Out …

Phew!

I think I’m going to be saying a big ‘Thank You’ to Sue and her Partner, Andy; they asked me along to the Bletchley Park Heritage site, near Milton Keynes, today!

Fascinating place to actually visit, after all this time!

Especially for a rabid geek boy, like me!!

It’s just a shame we missed out on the National Computing Museum part of the complex, but there you go …

What we could get to was great to see; ranging from the original Enigma machines, themselves, and the Turing designed Bombes used to decrypt the messages. And the British TypeX machines, used to encrypt our coded messages; something I know I’d only heard of.

On top of that, there’s a reconstruction of the Lorenz machines, that the Germans used for their seriously top level communication; which lead to the real star of the show.

The Colossus …

The panoramic shot at the bottom?

That’s Colossus.

The worlds’ first modern, programmable computer.

And, my word, it’s amazing to see it in action …

Mostly because, according to the guide it’s as fast as a modern PC, at decoding the messages.

Feel free to imagine my response …

But, on a serious note, that’s because the Colossus we saw — which is a reconstruction, as the originals were destroyed after the war — was what’s known in the business as a dedicated computer.

It’s like a DVD player, or mobile phone; it’s just doing one thing!

Which is what gives it the comparative speed!

Now, before I settle in to watch Waters Of Mars, there’s one quick thing.

Bletchley Park needs help.

They had a collection, which I think everyone put into.

But, if you’ve got any spare valves, they need ’em.

Do they ever … !