Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 12th August 2026.

12th August, 2026.

OK: I’m going to have to double check things, before I make introductory videos.

Yes: I’m off to the dentists, today.

But, no: that’s not when the eclipse is.

My appointment’s two.

And the eclipse starts around 18·20.

Ho … … …  hum!

~≈☾≈~

I had a newspiece float across my time line, a day or two ago.

This one.

It’s a piece that tells us how an unnamed user had bought a copy of the extended version of the Lord of the Rings movies.

Then found they’d been removed from their media library: as “no longer available in our catalog.”

Google refused to refund the customers money.

I know that removing digital media from a user’s media library is perfectly when a company can no longer supply it to us, is legal.

That doesn’t make it right.

We buy these things in the belief we’re buying these things permanently: when, sadly, it’s not.

~≈🛒≈~

Personally?

I think a media supplier withdrawing a service like that is immoral.

And a very good argument for buying versions of whatever on physical media.

And — possibly — for outright video piracy.

So?

I’m going to suggest a method.

Download and install Tor Browser: it let’s you access the Dark Web.

Download and install a BitTorrent client: I’m told Transmission is popular.

Once those are done, visit a torrent tracking site — I’m told Pirate Bay, KAT, 1337 and TorrentGalaxy are good — with TorBrowser.

Pick a torrent … 

Copy and paste the magnet link into your chosen Torrent client.

Wait for it to finish: and enjoy the results.

~≈🏴‍☠️≈~

As a final thought, there?

I’m not going to encourage you to illegally download copyrighted content like that.

Doing so is a civil offence in most countries, and can lead to both arrest and fines: and the downloading of spiked content what can damage you computer, or leave you exposed to malware or identity theft*.

Be aware of the risks.

However risky?

In removing media we thought we owned permanently?

And refusing a refund when doing so?

Companies are encouraging us to not give them our cash: especially given there’s other ways of buying … 

~≈🏴‍☠️≈~

The Hobbit: The Battle Of Five Armies: I’m Glad THAT’S Over … !

11th April, 2015.

You know, I’m something of a film fan.

Well … 

I’m someone that likes watching films, let’s put it that way.

I think the term film fan possibly implies a level of geekiness that really isn’t me.   At least, as far as films are concerned.

At any rate, I like a film, every-so-often.   I’ll quite happily sit through something … if I believe it will repay me with an evening’s entertainment.

I’ve done that, tonight.

In purchasing — purchasing, note — the third part in Peter Jackson’s take on J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit: called The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies.

And having sat through some one hundred and forty-four minutes of movie?   Can’t help but think someone’s bitten off a bit more than he can chew.

I don’t know about director, Peter Jackson … but I know I’ve got work in the morning!

Right at the moment, it’s 22:50.   And I’m due to whole my ageing carcass out of bed incredibly early: to get myself into work for 10:30.

I’ve done stupider things, in my time: as I’m sure friends and family will tell you.

Right now … ?

Right now, I’m trying to think of a stupider one than watching a long movie, before a seriously early morning.

And RIGHT NOW … ?   I’m going to hit the save button on TextEdit so I can climb into the sack … 

~≈†≈~

The Daily Teaser — 10-4-2014: Piracy … !

Oh, my lord, but that’s an ear-worm top wake up to, first thing in the morning.

An ear-worm, so you know, is a piece of catchy music that you can’t get out of your head.

They’re an occasional pain in the proverbial.

OR a sample of incredibly beautiful music your sub-conscious is trying to remind you of: for what-ever weird, sub-conscious reason your sub-conscious — obscurely — has.

I’ll have that sentence figured out, at some point.

At ANY rate, the ear-worm my sub-conscious thump me with … ?

Was the song, Alone Again Or, by Love.

Well … if you’re going to have an tune floating around you head for no apparent reason … ?

It may as well have one of the best songs ever written … 

~≈Ê≈~

The Daily Teaser — 21-08-2012

You know, I’ve got to be frank, it’s handy following Stephen Fry on Twitter, it really is!

He’s flagged up this little article from Scientific American, by David Pogue*.

Who argues that Hollywood’s encouraging online piracy by not allowing online vendors — iTunes, Netflix, LoveFilm, whoever — to rent out films at a cheaper price — and for three days, rather than 1.

Can’t say I disagree.

I know that iTunes movie rental prices are eye-popping, at times: especially when you’re on a budget.

Let’s get moving on, shall we?

Before I go into rant mode.

‹‹·››

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi putting in her answers: and, along with mentioning she could do with a curryº, also bagging 5 out of 6.

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) 21st August, 2017 will see a Solar Eclipse: on which day of the week  … ?

Q2) 21st August, 1968, saw a Soviet clampdown on Czechoslovakia: name any of those five (then) invading countries.

Q3) More to the point, name either of Czechoslovakia’s two successor states …

Q4) 21st August, 1969, saw Michael Dennis Rohan attempt to burn down the Al-Aqsa Mosque: Al-Aqsa translates into English as what … ?

Q5) And finally … 21st August, 1991, saw which Baltic state declare its independence … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 20th August, 1926, saw the founding of Japan’s public broadcaster, the NHK: what does NHK stand for … ?

A1) Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai.

Q2) More to the point, what’s the English translation of that company’s name … ?

A2) Japan Broadcasting Corporation.

Q3) 20th August, 1920, saw American Football’s NFL established: what does NFL stand for … ?

A3) National Football League.

Q4) More to the point, how many teams were in the NFL, in that first year … ?

A4) 16.

Q5) 20th August, 1975, saw NASA launch the Viking 1 probe at Mars: what’s the name of NASA’s recently landed Mars rover … ?

A5) Curiosity.

Q6) And finally … 20th August, 1960, saw which country break away from the Mali Federation … ?

A6) Senegal.

Enjoy those, everyone.

I’ll leave you with this quote from Sergey Brin: the Google co-founder celebrates his birthday, today.

“Technology is an inherent democratizer. Because of the evolution of hardware and software, you’re able to scale up almost anything. It means that in our lifetime everyone may have tools of equal power.”   Sergey Brin born August 21, 1973

And with this tune from The Clash, in memory of the late Joe Strummer … 

*        He of Missing Manual fame.

º        How about a Chinese, Debbi … ?   Or a pizza … !   (Actually, Debbi, it’s when I suggest Martian cuisine we know we’re in trouble … !)

Digital Rights Rear Their Head …

Hmmm …

This is going to be quick, but I thought I’d flag up a news item or two, for you.

As you’ve probably guessed, I like films.

But I’m a film lover  who’s aware of the various legal issues.

Now, I’ve said before, that I think the various forms of copyright law in the UK are bloody weird … !

If not out and out silly.

Effectively, you can’t legally back up DVDs, nor copy them across to an MP3 player.

»»•««

So, lets talk, briefly, about the Digital Economy Act quickly, shall we … ?

The act went through its second reading, just before last years election: and — in theory — allows ISPs to cut off connections, if they’re shown to be using file-sharing sites.

It’s been challenged by both British Telecom and TalkTalk: mostly, I think, because the policing role involved means they have to cut off paying customers: and people who’ve had their Wifi signal hijacked: wrongly prosecuted, in other words …

Given that it was a piece of legislation introduced by the previous Labour government … ?

I’m none too surprised that this piece of news cropped up.

Basically?

It seems the Coalition government is trying something similar.

Personally … ?

I don’t think that’ll stick, either …