Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 11th October 2025.

11th October, 2025.

It’s official: I was up early, yesterday, for very little.

I got up early, yesterday: so I could get to town early, pick up my new spectacles, and go home.

That way, if there were any problems with the thing, I’d know sooner, rather than later.

But … 

They were delayed.

Delayed … !

To the point where I’m going back, today, to pick them up.

Ho … … … hum!

~≈🧐≈~

Oh … cat-food adverts … !

YouTube insists on throwing English language cat-food adverts at me.

Despite not having a cat.

The brand in question is a very swish brand that features delicious meaty chunks … in gelée.

Gelée.

Gelée, rather than jelly.

Why they insist on that, I don’t know: but it sounds utterly pretentious.

~≈😾≈~

Peace has broken out in Gaza.

Allegedly.

Dependant on many things.

It’s been heavily influenced by the US President.

Though I’m not sure I trust his motives for coming up with the plans.

Beyond telling you he want’s a Nobel Peace Prize.

Thankfully, this year’s peace prize has gone to Venezuelan opposition leader, María Corina Machado.

Personally … ?

I’m grateful it’s gone to one of the US President’s supporters, rather than the man, himself.

I suspect he’d become insufferable as a result … 

~≈🏆≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 10-10-2025 — World Porridge Day

10th October, 2025: World Porridge Day.

Right … it’s Friday: and I’m up early, again.

Yesterday?

I was up early, to go to what they used to call a Job Fair: a chance for employers to meet potential recruits.

I didn’t get much out of it, I think.

But get details of L&Q’s recruitment website: so I could set up an email alert.

So that’s something.

By contrast, I’m up early, today … because I’ve an optician’s appointment.

Yep: I’m picking up new spectacles.

Hopefully, I won’t need to return them at a later dat.

~≈🥸≈~

Peace has broken out in the Middle East.

As Israel’s cabinet approved the peace plan proposed by the US President.

Can I be honest|?

I feel deeply cynical about this.

As the Middle East has seen peace-plan after peace-plan, ceasefire after ceasefire, for way too long.

I fully expect this to last for ten minutes.

I also feel deeply cynical about the US president’s motive.

He’s made it perfectly clear he want’s a Nobel Peace Prize: saying as much at a recent speech at the UN.

As far as I’m concerned?

This means the president wants the prestige of a Nobel peace prize because:

• He’s jealous: President Obama got one, so he wants one, too.
• He wants one to make himself look good: rather than because he thinks peace in the Middle East is a good thing to achieve.

OK: I grant President Obama’s Nobel Prize got awarded in a suspiciously short amount of time.

But Obama wasn’t publicly embarrassing himself, and his country, by begging for it.

The current president?

Is.

Frankly?

I can only hope the Nobel Committee gives the gong to someone — anyone! — else.

~≈🏅≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 9th October 2025.

9th October, 2025.

Right, then: I am officially up, early.

And heading out for a job fair arranged by my Work Coach, my Job Centre Case worker.

Am I looking forward to it … ?

Nope!

It’s a lot of faff, to be frank.

And a lot of faff that’s not necessarily going to be help: at least, that’s my thinking, going on my experience of these things.

Heigh … ho … !

~≈🧑🏼‍💼≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 8-10-2025 — Solzhenitsyn Gets a Gong

8th October, 2025: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.

It’s officially official: it’s now Wednesday!

And … ?

My calendar is clear of any events.

Which is nice.

But … ?

I have a nagging feeling I’m supposed to be doing something.

Why … ?

I don’t know.

If I DID … ?

I’d possibly win a prize … 

~≈🏆≈~

I had a thing float across my timeline: a piece from the Manchester Evening News, that tells us the Government has responded to the Digital ID petition.

Which we knew about.

But … ?

Seeing the article reminded me to at least check the petition, again.

The site tells us that Parliament has to debate the issue: although it hasn’t said when.

Here’s hoping a date gets named, soon!

~≈🌴≈~

I’m no computer expert.

I have some lay knowledge: but am seriously no expert.

Although a piece about Windows 11 has caught my eye.

Microsoft has been encouraging people to upgrade to Windows 11, since its release in 2021.

And has cause a lot of discussion.

Partially?   Because the new operating system needs a specific security chip: a chip that older machines — one that could otherwise meet Windows 11’s requirements — don’t have.

But also because you — notionally — have to create a Microsoft account, and have an internet connection.

The MS account is Microsoft’s equivalent to the Apple Account on Macs and iOS devices, and to Google’s online account: but covering a wider range of services, and seemingly, giving users less option to disable things.

The account, until recently, can be circumvented: and a local account*, created.

The article I read, yesterday?

Told me Microsoft have now closed the loopholes.

You can’t, now, create a local account.

You must have an online Microsoft Account, and must have an internet connection.

I’m in two minds about this.

Yes: I can understand the insistence on a permanent, internet connection.

It’s useful, even if it’s just for getting updates for a computer, or installing the odd game.

But I’m also aware that there’s a lot you can do without one: even if it’s just watch videos you’ve — um — borrowed from a friend.

Or filling in offline paperwork that you can then upload, else where.

That connection’s a big convenience, but not mandatory.

But a permanent, online account?

That’s strikes me as bad: leaving a user open to tracking.

It makes the machine less useable for those who aren’t online, indoors.

And … ?

It offers less choice.

~≈💻≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7th October 2025.

7th October, 2025.

It’s officially official: I’ve got a double-ended thingie!

To put it more sensibly?

I’ve got a recently acquired, double-ended, USB stick.

One that has a USB-c port at one end, and a USB-a port at the other.

Which was handy, I felt: it meant I could plug the thing into my Mac mini’s USB-c ports, copy something to it, then give the thing to someone who’s laptop only has USB-a ports.

That way … ?   They can copy it their machine, and not have to worry too much about compatibility.

What I’d totally forgotten?

Was that technology moves.

And that, for several years, mobile phones have come equipped with what’s called USB OTG, USB on-the-go, capabilities.

In other words?

You can also plug a USB OTG capable stick into a mobile phone — or tablet — with a USB-c port, and copy things to and from the phone.

That’s handy.

~≈☎︎≈~

As a quick, extra thought, there?

My phone is an Oppo A40, running a version of Android.

I have to switch on the OTG capabilities by going into Settings>Accessibility & Convenience>OTG Connection.

One of the volunteers at my weight management group was interested in seeing this work.

They have to go through the file explorer on their Android phone.

But with much the same results: it’s show up in the relevant drop down.

As I’ve not had a chance to see it work on an iPhone?

I couldn’t tell you if it works on them.

I’m assuming it does: especially as I know there’s similar, Lightning port equipped sticks that should work with older iPhones.

And that newer iPhones have USB-c ports.

But, as I say, it’s not something I’ve been able to check for myself.

~≈☎︎≈~

As a final thought … ?

I found out that I’ve put on a couple of hundred grams, since last week’s weigh-in.

But?

Am still under one hundred kilos.

That, and finding out something new?

Was welcome.

~≈🙏≈~