Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 19-8-2020: Watch Out, Google’s About

19th August, 2020.

Yes … I’ve finally managed to get restarted on something new for PhoenixFM.

Hopefully?   I’s something I’ll be able to get finished quickly: and keep it relevant.

Basically?

It’s going to be themed around Brentwood Council’s planning committee.

They’ve managed to make a pig’s dinner of the parking on my street.

And were — in part — responsible for the phone mast going down in the area.

That should grab someone’s attention.

~≈Æ≈~

That meeting I had, yesterday?   Went mildly askew!

The chap conducting it?   Got himself double booked: we ended up doing the meeting at three in the afternoon, rather than at ten.

Hmmm … 

At any rate?   I can now look for call centre work that wants me to work from home: safe in the knowledge I have provisional approval for the funding to get a Windows — yuck — laptop should I need it for work.

However?   We’ve still not found a place, locally that does the European Compute Driving License course.

We’ll have to check on that … 

~≈Æ≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16th June, 2020.

16th June, 2020.

Hmmm … 

Clearing my caches, yesterday?

Seemed to help me upload the day’s intro video on yesterday’s Daily Teaser.

Today … ?

I’m back to uploading the thing to YouTube … 

So I can embed it here.

What’s happening?

I don’t know.   

Given it’s also happening in Firefox?

It’s either Google’s fault … or something to do with the current version of macOS, the much sworn at Catalina.

I’m … well, I’m in a bind … !

~≈Ω≈~

I have to admit, I’ve just had a look at my Instagram page.

Seemingly?

I’m now being followed by someone calling themselves daniellecaron9.

She’s got just one photo: her profile pic.

Just one photo.

My limited experience of Instagram … ?

Is telling me she’s a romance scammer.

We’ll have to see, won’t we?

~≈Ω≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 23-11-2016

23rd November, 2016.

Oh, you are joking, aren’t you … ?

As you may or may not know, I like using Safari: the on-board web-browser on my Mac.

I’m one that’s running an older version of the operating system: so can’t update beyond Safari 6.1.6

Which usually hasn’t been a problem.

Until today, when Google have decided to roll-out Blogger’s all new simplified page design.

That wouldn’t — in Safari, at any rate — load the page that let’s me write a new post.

OK, I can switch to Google Chrome, for the duration.   Which renders pages very well, but is a browser I’ve also found takes its time loading pages.

And, yes, I’m aware technology moves on.

But it’s a disappointment to see it happen.

~≈Ê≈~

In other news?

I don’t know if I ever told, but I’m a fan of Frank Herbert’s novel, Dune: having first read it in the 1980s.

Early on?   Early one character describes the hero of the novel, 17 year old Paul Atreides, as ‘small for his age.’

As a short 17 year old, when I first read the thing, a hero that sounds a lot like me, who ends up ruling the entire known human universe had a lot of appeal.

So recent news that the movie rights for the franchise have been acquired by Legendary?

Is interesting to see.

Personally?   Personally, I’m grateful one version didn’t get made.

I’m glad to have seen another.

And I’m curious to see what Legendary can do with the piece.

I’m really curious to see what they do with it.

I hope they have keep as close to the book as possible.

~≈Ê≈~

The Daily Teaser — 4-9-2013: Googlin’ It

Well, it’s done.

I’ve finally managed to dismantle Mum’s old computer, blank the hard-drive, and sell the parts.

It’s just a shame the local branch of CeX would take the RAM or motherboard.

Too old or too small.

Still, I did manage to sell the optical drive, and the wiped hard drive: we didn’t get much … 

But what we got was better than a poke in the eye with the proverbial blunt stick.

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

~≈Ø≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* — happily telling about a trip to Italy her, and partner, Rick, took — putting in her answers: and bagging four out of six.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s Googled Teaser, shall we?

Here’s the questions, along with the ‘How To,’ License and video … 

Q1) 4th September, 1998, saw the founding of Google: name either of the two Stanford students who founded Google.

Q2) In which state IS Stanford University … ?

Q3) In which year did Google introduce its Gmail service to the public … ?

Q4) What’s the name of the operating system Google released for mobile devices … ?

Q5) More to the point, what’s the name of Google’s free web browser … ?

Q6) What — famously — is Google’s informal motto … ?

Q7) What’s the name of the video streaming site Google bought in 2006 … ?

Q8) Finally … who’s Google’s current Chief Executive Officer … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 3rd September, 1939, saw four countries declare war on Germany, after it invaded Poland.   Name any of them.

A1) The UK, France, Australia and New Zealand.

Q2) 3rd August, 2013, saw Qatar become independent.   Who’s the current emir, or ruler, of Qatar … ?

A2) Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Q3) 3rd September, 1976, saw the end of a three day riot: at which UK prison … ?

A3) HMP Hull.

Q4) The riot was over alleged staff what … ?

A4) Brutality.

Q5) 3rd September, 2012, saw the death of the Reverend Sun Myung Moon.   Which church did he famously found … ?

A5) The Unification Church, or Moonies.

Q6) Finally … 3rd September, 1954, saw the UK’s National Trust purchase which obscure Scottish island … ?

A6) Fair Isle.

I’ll leave you with this thought from Eric Schmidt …

“Half of Google’s revenue comes from selling text-based ads that are placed near search results and are related to the topic of the search. Another half of its revenues come from licensing its search technology to companies like Yahoo.”

Eric Schmidt, chairman of the board of Google.

And … well, I found this tune: and yes, I Googled it … 

Have a good day … 

*        Internet High Five, indeed, Debbi … ! :D

The Daily Teaser — 13-6-2013

Hello, sounds like Google’s in trouble.

At least one Parliamentary committee is insisting that Google’s habit of avoiding tax — by doing business in the UK, but using the Republic of Ireland as it’s billing address — is Not A Good Thing.

And should be more seriously investigated by HM Revenue and Customs than it is.

Google’s response is that it complies fully with the law.

What gets me … ?   Is that representatives from the tech giant have refused to do an interview with Radio 4’s Today programme.

Which is possibly sensible.   You can usually GUARANTEE being in trouble, if you’re getting a mauling from Messrs Humphries and Naughtie.

Let’s move on, shall we … ?

~≈Ì≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: along with letting us know yesterday’s were an interesting choice of subjects, also bagged 5 out of six.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we?

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

Q1) 13th June, 1373, saw the start of the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance.   Is it still in force … ?

Q2) 13th June, 1955, saw the discovery of a diamond mine in what was the USSR: what was it called … … ?

Q3) 13th June, 1381, saw the destruction of the Savoy Palace: during the Peasants Revolt.   The palace was the London residence of John of where … … ?

Q4) Name either of the buildings that now stand in its place.

Q5) Which Canadian city was devastated by a fire on 13th June, 1886 … ?

Q6) And finally … 13th June, 313 AD, saw the formal posting of the Edict of Milan: in Nicomedia.   Nicomedia is now in which country … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 12th June is a Wednesday.   When was the LAST time June 12th was a Wednesday … ?

A1) 2002.

Q2) In which family would you find a daughter called Wednesday … ?

A2) The Addams Family.

Q3) In the Old Testament, what’s created on Wednesday: or the Fourth Day, as it puts it … ?

A3) The sun and moon.

Q4) What’s the name of the first day of Lent … ?

A4) Ash Wednesday.

Q5) Which Wednesday would you find in Sheffield, Yorkshire … ?

A5) Sheffield Wednesday F. C.

Q6) And finally … Which Norse god does the English name for Wednesday refer to … ?

A6) Wodan.

Enjoy those.

I’ll leave you with this thought from Dorothy L. Sayers …

“Every time a man expects, as he says, his money to work for him, he is expecting other people to work for him.”

Dorothy L. Sayers, 13 June 1893 – 17 December 1957.

And, as a nod to Weezer frontman, River Cuomo, with this song … 

Have a good day … 

*        What can I tell you, Debbi … ?   Actually, those day of the week ones are a real headache to write … !   (Although it has to be said, it was nice to hear Wednesday Week, again: it’s easy to forget quite how good The Undertones could be.)

The Daily Teaser — 24-08-2012

I think I’m starting to loathe Fridays, I really am … !

Or Google, at least: they’ve just — without me realising, or giving me a clue — logged me off.

Which made for an entertaining few minutes, trying to upload today’s poster … !

And leaves me — mentally — going Arrrgh.

Let’s get moving on, shall we?

AFTER I mention the fact Dr Who’s seventh series starts next Saturday … 

»»·««

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi putting in her answers: along with being boggled by a mention of both Keith Moon AND Harry’s Cafe De Wheels*, she ALSO managed to bag 5 out of 6: Wikipedia’s gone and made the reference harder to find, Debbi!

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

Q1) 24th August, 1812, saw a coalition of British, Spanish and Portuguese forces lift the Siege of where … ?

Q2) More to the point, during which war was this … ?

Q3) 24th August, 1989, saw Columbian drugs barons declare war on whom … ?

Q4) 24th August, 2006, saw the International Astronomical Union redefine what word … ?

Q5) More to the point, this meant that what got redefined as a Dwarf planet … ?

Q6) And finally … 24th August, 1456, saw the printing completed of the Gutenburg Bible: in which German city … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 23rd August, 1305, saw the death of Scottish hero, Sir William Wallace: who played Wallace, in the film, Braveheart?

A1) Mel Gibson.

Q2) More to the point, Wallace was hung at Smithfields, in London: Smithfield is the site of the last surviving London … what … market?

A2) Meat.   (You know … I HAVE to ask if the the hangman got Wallace’s body mixed up with a batch of pig trotters … )

Q3) 23rd August, 1839, saw the UK capture which Chinese port city … ?

A3) Hong Kong.

Q4) This capture saw the start of the First Opium War: between the UK and which Chinese Imperial dynasty … ?

A4) The Qing dynasty.

Q5) 23rd August, 1994, saw Eugene Ballard commissioned as a Second Lieutenant.   Ballard was the only black pilot to serve in the US Airforce, during which war … ?

A5) World War 1.

Q6) And finally … 23rd August, 1991, saw who punish those involved in a coup, four days earlier … ?

A6) Mikhail Gorbachev.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll leave you a poem from noted Anglo-Jamacan dub poet, Linton Kwesi Johnson … 

And a quote from him, as well … 

“That the language of the poetry of Jamaican music is rastafarian or biblical language cannot simply be put down to the colonizer and his satanic missionaries. The fact is that the historical experience of the black Jamaican is an experience of the most acute human suffering, desolation and despair in the cruel world that is the colonial world..”

Linton Kwesi Johnson, born 24th August, 1952

*        Actually, Debbi, I think Harry’s nearest US equivalent would be Louis’ Lunch, which claims to have been the place that invented the Hamburger.   Although Harry’s does get a nod in The Last Continent.   Oh … And does a veggie floater … 

The Daily Teaser: 19-6-11

Hmmm …

I’ve gotta admit, I’ve got the short version of Click — the BBC News channel’s technology show — on in the background.

They’re doing a brief review of one of the new Google Chromebooks.

It’s nice looking.

But there ARE flaws.

There always is, with a new piece of technology.

And I don’t know about you … ?

But I’m still not convinced about storing everything — and I do mean everything — on the proverbial cloud.

Especially given the amount of hack attacks similar to the one on Sony and Nintendo, recently …

Lets get moving on, shall we … ?

Yes, lets …

»»·««

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi — bless ’er … ! — putting in her answers: and bagging five out of five.

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

Q1) 19th June, 1978, saw which cartoon character make his first appearance … ?

Q2) 19th June, 1990, saw the initial signing of the Indigenous and Tribal People’s Convention: which European country was the first to sign it … ?

Q3) 19th June, 1974, saw a female resident of Bellevue — in Washington State — become the first person on record to have been saved by what … ?

Q4) Many Afro-American’s celebrate 19th June as Juneteenth, or Emancipation Day, commemorating the day in 1865, when slaves were freed: in which US state … ?

Q5) And finally … 19th June, 1970, saw who become Prime Minister, after winning a General Election … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 18th June, 1979, saw the signing of the SALT 2 treaty between the USA and the USSR: what is the SALT acronym short for … ?

A1) Strategic Arms Limitation Talks.

Q2) 18th June, 1767, saw Captain Samuel Wallis sight — and therefore considered to first European to visit — which island … ?

Q2) Tahiti.

Q3) 18th June, 1928, saw the birth of actor, Paul Eddington, CBE: name either of the tv shows in which he played Sir Jim Hacker.

A3) Yes, Minister and Yes Prime Minister.

Q4) 18th June, 1953, saw the abolition of the the monarchy: in which country … ?

A4) Egypt.

Q5) And finally … 18th June, 1901, saw the birth of which Russian Grand Duchess … ?

A5) Anastasia Nikolævna: that Anastasia …

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll catch you later …

After I leave you with some choice political analysis, from the Department of Administrative Affairs … !

The New Google +1 Button

Hmmm …

Well, there’s a thing …

Google have added a new button.

To the bottom of the page.

Well …

I’ll correct that, to the bottom of each post, here on Blogger.

And on YouTube, as well.

According to the news reports I’ve managed to quickly scan, the + 1 will be a feature of Google’s owen sites, and be added to their partner sites, as well.

They also have made the point that they’ll be introducing methods for developers to add it to their own sites.

And any article that gets a lot of + 1 hits will go up the Google rankings, as appropriate.

Considering that … ?

Mind doing me a favour … ?

Hit that button.

It’s at the bottom of the post.

Go ON, I need the help … !