Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 9-5-2018: Theft … !

9th May, 2018.

Yep, it’s officially Wednesday.

And ANOTHER day at work.

Where, thankfully?   The water’s back on.

Quite what switched it off?

I’m blowed if I know!

~≈§≈~

On other fronts … ?

I notice Facebook’s announced foreign funded ads in Ireland’s upcoming abortion poll AREN’T placed on the Irish branch of the site.

I get the feeling they’re treading carefully, wanting to make sure their complying with Irish electoral law, and using it as a chance to be visibly be doing something about inference in politics.

And doing it in Ireland as it’s a small country: and therefore easier to run an experiment like this, in.

Frankly?

Just on general principles, I welcome it.   From what I’ve seen, traditional media — TV, newspaper, radio — have to be very careful about how they report such things, and the adverts they display.

And can’t see why new media companies like Facebook be exempt: just because they’re new.

I look forward to the day the company introduces a similar policy in the UK.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 8-5-2018: Paramount

8th May, 2018.

Really: that was a bank holiday weekend I’d find hard to forget … !

For starters?   Well Mark Williams won his third World Championship final.

Which I’m sorry to say missed: I was working.   Although I caught some of the action on Sunday.

The tenth frame … ?

Was seriously old fashioned snooker: with a lot of riveting tippy-tapping around, quite a few nerve shredding almost pots … 

And some great potting from both Williams, and his opponent, John Higgins, putting in some great play.

I’m sorry I missed it.

~≈§≈~

Of course, the reason I missed it … ?

Was simply the fact I was working.

Which was relatively relaxed, actually.

Apart from one thing.

The water’s was switched off … somehow … 

Which made several things awkward.

Flushing the toilet, for starters.

AND washing your hands, afterwards.

Granted, the boss managed to get a lot — a serious lot — of bottled water.

Which helped: especially when you realise that — once you’ve pooed — you need water to not only flush, but to eliminate the smell.   From what I understand?   The … uh … gas … from any solid waste doesn’t fill the room, as it can’t get past the water that’s above it in the u-bend.

Quite!

All I can do, right now … ?

Is hope it’s back on, when I go in, tonight.

~≈§≈~

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.

~≈§≈~

American Horror Story — Series 5: Hotel — Episode 7 and 8: ‘Flicker’ and ‘The Ten Commandments Killer’

6th May, 2018.

Ohhhh … 

So a video background does work in Photo Booth?

I’m … 

OK, I’m mildly impressed.

But always fancied looking like Max Headroom.

Yeah, I think I’ll have to work on that, won’t I … ?

At any rate … ?

I had a day off, today.

And, as much as I wanted to catch the snooker?

I wanted to catch up with something else I’ve been watching.

You’re right.

The fifth series, of American Horror Story.

Hotel …

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 6th May, 2018.

6th May, 2018.

Yep: my hair’s a mess.   But there you go: that’s Sunday morning bed head for you!

But I think I’ll recover!

At any rate … ?   I’ve a day off, today.   Which frankly means I’ll be laundering, shopping … and writing more Teasers.

Thin I’ve a little catching up to do: or, at least, video making to do … 

~≈§≈~

Something I should mention … ?

I’ve actually not got Radio 4 on.

Which will possibly surprise people.

What’s I’ve got going on?   Is an old episode of Radio 4’s The Reunion: originally recorded back in 2013.

All about the early days of Dr Who.

It’s worth a listen, I think: especially for a fan.

~≈§≈~