Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 15-7-2025 — The Northwest Territories (Ten Questions)

15th July, 2025: the Northwest Territories,

Right … I’m officially knackered!

But officially lighter!

I was at my weight management meeting, yesterday: and officially down eight-hundred grams.

About one and three quarters of a pound.

So that’s good.

I’m officially knackered … because I finished off a film review, last night: of the 1978 version of Superman.

Feel free to hit the like button!

~≈🦸🏻‍♂️≈~

Whilst we’re on the subject of Superman … ?

I have something of a confession to make.

My thoughts go in all sorts of directions, when it comes to the DC universe’s most powerful character.

Inevitably?

I wonder what would have happened if — in the real-world — someone that powerful, existed.

You’d have to ask what would happen if the character landed in Nazi Germany*, or Stalinist Russia.

Quite where would go, I don’t know.

The other thing that occurs?

Is a quote from Moore and Gibson’s Watchmen graphic novel: when someone was discussing Dr Manhattan, the novel’s equivalent to Superman, a character that’s equally as transcendent.

“God exists, and he’s American”.

If there were a real Superman … ?

Well … we can only be glad there isn’t … 

~≈🦸🏻‍♂️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1-7-2025 — Quebec (Ten Questions)

1st July, 2025: Quebec.

Right … 

It’s official.

It’s just gone 7:30 on a July morning.

And … ?

The thermostat in the hallway is telling me it’s 26.5℃ in here.

The weather’s going to get warmer.

And … ?

I think I’m going to get sweatier, today … !

Ho … hum … !

~≈☀️≈~

You know, tech news is something that interests me.

So does the gossip.

Something that did catch my attention?

Is the gossip that says that Apple are potential going to be introduction a model of MacBook Air — their lightweight laptop — with an A18 processor.

The processor that powers recent models of iPhones.

There’s possibly a couple of points, there.

I know that — when he rejoined the company in the 1990s — former CEO, Steve Jobs, culled a lot of Mac models: so the company could reduce manufacturing costs

Will this leave the company vulnerable?

I don’t know: but it’s something the management team may need to keep their eyes on.

The other?

Is that the possible model is supposed to be the new low-end, cheap, option.

Roughly equivalent to the current £999 option.

Will that work for them?

Would that appeal to those who would otherwise buy a cheap Windows machine?

Or a Chromebook?

We’ll have to see: a lot of that appeal will come down to price-point …

~≈🧑🏻‍💻≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1-4-2024 — Nunavut

1st April, 2024: Nunavut.

It’s Monday!

And I think I’ve — partially — solved a problem.

I have a new Mac — thanks, once again, to a lot of helpful friends and family! — that I’m slowly getting used to using.

And that — wouldn’t you know it? — has run out of main drive space, already!

I’m thankful I know how to get around that: by moving a large media library — one where I store large video files — from the main drive, to an external one.

Hopefully, that will help*.

If not … ?

I could be looking at re-setting the operating system … three months after being bought the thing!

~≈💻≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1-9-2023 — Saskatchewan.

1st September, 2023: Saskatchewan.

Yes: it’s Friday.

The end of the week, in other words!

And, yes: I’m looking after my nephew, today!

Expect videos!

~≈Ç≈~

Oh, I hate that, when that happens!

The news bulletins during Radio Four’s Today programme has been talking about how Warner Brothers have signed an AI generated singer.

Can I find a reference to it?   A news piece?

Nope: not a sausage!

That’s a huge shame: there were a few pithy comments about William Gibson’s Idoru being lined up … !

~≈Ç≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1-7-2021: Canada Day

1st July, 2021.

Yes: I’m annoyed.

I was due to have a diabetic eye test, yesterday: at a local surgery in Warley, rather than my usual surgery.

I missed it.

And not through any fault of my own.

I got the the relevant bus stop, in time: but missed two direct bus.

So caught the 72, instead.

What I didn’t realise?   Was that the 72 goes up Avenue Road, then down Woodman Road, rather than straight up Warley Hill — the B186, so you know — to get there.

Which is where the problems started.

The bus got held up on Woodman Road: as it couldn’t get past a couple of badly parked cars.

Two.

Badly.

Parked.

Cars.

I was fuming.

And, when the driver asked if I’d rather get off, to walk to my appointment?

I took the chance: not realising quite how long it could take.

By the time of the appointment?   I was further down Woodman Road, the bus had zoomed past me, after taking a diversion … and, three minutes after the thing was due to start?

The surgery had phoned me to tell me I was latte, and they would be sending me a letter to rebook things.

I spent most of yesterday?   Swearing on social media.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Paul Nikolas Nak Downie (@mrcuddy2977)

The only upside to the day?

I got the rat trap set up … and won three pounds* on the lottery.

Ahem!

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 3-7-2020: Québec City

3rd July, 2020.

Yes: it’s officially Friday.

And I’m definitely at home, in Brentwood … 

And very aware that I have to stay in, this afternoon.

As, finally, the new thermostat for my boiler’s arrived!

Yay.

To coin a phrase … 

~≈†≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28-1-2020: Canada’s Flagging …

28th January, 2020.

It’s official: I have earache!

Mild, at best.

And blameable on the fact I need to get them syringed.

Of course, the problem with that … ?

Simply that my GP’s no longer do it.

I’d have to go private.

Where I’m supposed to get the seventy pounds to pay for it in the one private place in town that does it?

I don’t know!

~≈‡≈~

The Brentwood Gazette’s Weekly Teaser — 1-7-2015: Cananda Day!

Phew … !

Did I tell you I write quizzes for the Brentwood Gazette: my local newspaper.

I write quizzes for my local paper.

Yeah, you’d guessed, hadn’t you … ?

At ANY rate, I have to confess, I thought I’d sent in July’s, a while ago.

Turn’s out I hadn’t.

Boy, I’m thankful they got in touch.   Today’s posts would’ve look a bit pointless … 

~≈Â≈~

The Daily Teaser: Canada Day — 1-7-2012

Blast … !

I THINK I can effectively say I’ve gone down with another summer cold … !

I hate that, when that happens.

It’s not so much the associated cough: ⨂ years smoking got me used to that.

Nope, it’s the blocked nose.

I HATE having a blocked nose … !

Let’s get moving on, shall we … ?

››·‹‹

Yes, lets … 

Yesterday’s Teaser was quiet, with no-one taking up the challenge.   I’m just hoping Old Peculiar regular, Debbi and her partner are at her sister’s: rather than caught up in the storms that seem to be affect the US, at the mo.   (Seemingly, there’s been at least two deaths in Maryland: I’m keeping me fingers crossed, just in case, Debbi!)

So … 

Let’s see who’s up for trying today’s Canada Day questions, shall we?   Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video … 

Q1) 1st July is — obviously — Canada Day: what’s the French name for Canada Day … ?

Q2) More to the point … 1st July, 1890, saw Canada linked to which island nation by telegraph … ?

Q3) Even MORE to the point … ?   The world’s first international phone call was made between New Brunswick and which US state … ?

Q4) 1st July, 1980, saw what announced as the national anthem of Canada … ?

Q5) Moving on … 1st July, 1908, saw SOS adopted as the International distress call: what does it stand for … ?

Q6) 1st July, 1858, saw two papers about evolution read to the Linnean Society.   One was — famously — by Charles Darwin.   Who wrote the other … ?

Q7) And finally … 1st July, 2004, saw the Cassini Huygen probe go into orbit around Saturn.   How many moons does Saturn have … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 30th June, 1860, saw a famous debate take place at the Oxford Union: on which subject … ?

A1) The Theory of Evolution.

Q2) One year earlier, 30th June, 1859 saw Charles Blondin cross the Niagara Falls on a tightrope: which acrobat has recently repeated this feat … ?

A2) Nik Wallenda.

Q3) 30th June, 1972, saw the first what added to Co-ordinated Universal Time … ?

A3) Leap second.

Q4) 30th June, 1864, saw President Abraham Lincoln give the Yosemite Valley to the state of California: for the use of whom … ?

A4) The public.

Q5) And finally … 30th June saw a large explosion — felt to be due to a meteorite impact the Earth — go off near which Russian river … ?

A5) The Podkamennaya Tunguska River.

Enjoy those, everyone.

I’ll leave you with a couple of tunes, today.

Obviously, it’s Canada Day … Here’s the relevant tune* … 

It’s ALSO a certain well known New Wave era singer’s birthday: I’ll let Blondie do their thing, shall I … ?

Oh … 

And I’ve had this sitting in my head all blooming morning … 

Enjoy … !

*        In four different languages, I should add …