The Daily Teaser — 18-5-2012

Hmmm …

You know, it looks like it’s going ahead.

Facebook officially goes on sale, today.

Or, I should say, Facebook shares are going on sale, today.

With this batch valued at $104 billion.  Some £66 million, if I’ve got the conversion right.

You know, I think I’d like to ask Mark Zuckerberg one thing, if I ever get the chance.

“Can I have some of that money, please?”

After all, I — and quite a few others — are what makes Facebook so attractive to the advertisers also lurking on FB.

Just a thought for you … 

Let’s get moving on, shall we … ?

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Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi putting in her answers: and, along with confirming which sketch was what*, also bagged 8 out of 8.

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) 18th May, 1152, saw Henry 2nd marry his queen: who was she … ?

Q2) More to the point, was Henry the queen in question’s first, second or third husband?

Q3) Nearer today … 18th May, 2009, saw the end of which country’s civil war … ?

Q4) 18th May, 1756, saw the formal start of the Seven Years’ War, when Great Britain declared war … on which country … ?

Q5) 18th May, 1991, saw who become the first Briton into space … ?

Q6) And finally … 18th May, 1804, saw which Corsican named as Emperor of the French … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) The night of the 17th May, 1943, saw an RAF raid on dams on 3 German rivers: name any of them.

A1) The Möhne, Sorpe and Eder: the Sorpe is also known as the Ruhr …

Q2) More to the point, what was the name of the operation … ?

A2) Operation Chastise.

Q3) Equally to the point, what was the name of the RAF squadron … ?

A3) No 617 Squadron RAF.

Q4) Who designed the famous bombs used for it … ?

A4) Sir Barnes Wallis.

Q5) As a FINAL one … what was the name of the 1955 film about the raid … ?

A5) The Dam Busters.

Q6) Moving on … 17th May, 1997, saw Zaire officially change its name to what … ?

A6) The Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Q7) 17th May, 1970, saw Thor Heyerdahl begin his attempt to cross what in the Ra 2?

A7) The Atlantic Ocean.

Q8) And finally … 17th May, 1978, saw who’s stolen body found, in Switzerland … ?

A8) Charlie Chaplin’s.   (It had been stollen, a week and a half, earlier, in a blackmail attempt.)

Enjoy those, everyone: in memory of the late Ian Curtis, I’ll leave you with this … 

Oh … And as Debbi mentioned Enya, yesterday, I’ll have to admit, the only other tune I can remember her being involved with — if I’m right — was the TV theme tune to Robin of Sherwood.

I’ll leave you with that, shall I … ?

*        Was that me, Debbi, or is ‘which sketch was what’ a bit of a mouthful … ?

The Daily Teaser — 17-4-2012

Hmmm … 

The know, I’ve got to admit, Debbi, bless, mentioned yesterday about Monty Python’s ‘Chinese Watch’ sketch.

Not long after I’d played the notorious Douglas and Dinsdale Piranha series* of — very silly — sketches.

I’m blowed if I can find it, Debbi … !

But I did managed to find a song from the Python’s regular tunesmith, if that’s any help … ?

Called I Like Chinese.

And I don’t know if you could get away with, these days!

I’ve got it on replay, if you must know.

Here … 

Strange … !

Now … 

Let’s get moving on, shall we?

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Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi putting in her answers: and, along with mentioning that sketch, also bagged 7 out of 7.

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

Q1) The night of the 17th May, 1943, saw an RAF raid on dams on 3 German rivers: name any of them.

Q2) More to the point, what was the name of the operation … ?

Q3) Equally to the point, what was the name of the RAF squadron … ?

Q4) Who designed the famous bombs used for it … ?

Q5) As a FINAL one … what was the name of the 1955 film about the raid … ?

Q6) Moving on … 17th May, 1997, saw Zaire officially change its name to what … ?

Q7) 17th May, 1970, saw Thor Heyerdahl begin his attempt to cross what in the Ra 2?

Q8) And finally … 17th May, 1978, saw who’s stolen body found, in Switzerland … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 16th May, 1868, saw which US president acquitted in an impeachment trial … ?

A1) President Andrew Johnson.

Q2) More to the point, by how many votes … ?

A2) One.   Just 1.   (I think the technical term is ‘Squeaky Bun Time …’)

Q3) 16th May, 2005, saw the Kingdom of Kuwait permit women to what: wear trousers, attend university or vote … ?

A3) Vote.

Q4) 16th May, 1968, saw three people killed in East London killed as one corner of a what collapsed … ?

A4) The Ronan Point Tower block.

Q5) 16th May, 1951, saw the first transatlantic flights between Heathrow Airport: and which New York airport … ?

A5) Idlewild.

Q6) More to the point, what’s that airport now called … ?

A6) John F Kennedy International Airport.

Q7) And finally … 16th May, 1966, saw the Chinese government release the 16th May Notification: what did this see the start of … ?

A7) The Cultural Revolution.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll leave you with this tune from Enya … 

Just because … !

*        Oh, no, wait, hang on … !   It’s the line Michael Palin uses, on the phone to his mother, isn’t it, Debbi … ?   ARRRGGGHHH!!!

The Planning Agenda is Here …

Well … 

It’s official!

Brentwood Council’s planning committee has now decided to put the the previously deferred application from Taylor Wimpey — just by Brunel House, around the corner from me, on Saint James Road — BACK on to the agenda.

And I can’t help but notice a few things.

Once again, the plans have been recommended — by the planning office — for approval.

There’s all sorts of other things, as well.

One positive note — and something I know Councillor Chilvers worked on, prior to her recent re-election — was the fact that the proposal now includes a section from Essex Fire Service — on p.39 of the agenda — saying that  ‘with such a heavily populated area, it is essential that emergency vehicles are not inhibited in any way in reaching the scene of an incident.   The current proposals for residential flats, shops and offices can only lead to a further escalation of the problems currently being experienced’.

Which is all good: and something I’ve only been saying for the past two years or so.

However … ?

On p.46 of the agenda it says — in the Highways and Parking section — the agenda says … ‘Whilst there have been access problems experienced by emergency vehicles, the current proposal

complies with the adopted parking standards and planning permission for an office building on the site, which would create greater travel demand at peak times, already exists (reference 05/00989/FUL).’

Which — to me, anyway — sounds like whoever’s produced this report knows about the risk.

And doesn’t care, as it’s already been started on!

Which is no argument, from where I’m sitting.

After all, why add fuel to the proverbial fire?

However … ?

A little further down the page, it says ‘ in response to the Fire Services' concerns, the Highways Officer recommends that the Traffic Regulation Order relating to the opposite side of St James Road could be amended to extend the existing double yellow lines as far as an existing lay-by in response to the Fire Services' concerns, the Highways Officer recommends that the Traffic Regulation Order relating to the opposite side of St James Road could be amended to extend the existing double yellow lines as far as an existing lay-by’.

Personally … ?

Personally, I happen to think that that’s going to be about as effective as a chocolate teapot, given how things stand now.

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There’s more … !

Oh, isn’t there just … !

On p.50, the agenda says ‘With respect to the provision of private amenity space, the occupiers of the proposed flats would either access to a private balcony/patio measuring at least 5sq.m. or would have access to a communal area of amenity space which would provide at least 23sq.m. per flat for the privately owned flats and more than 25sq.m. per flat for the affordable units.’

Hmmm … 

As you know, I’m in Rollason Way, just around the corner from the planned flats.

And I’ve got to admit, I’m one of the unlucky socially housed people on the ground floor of block of flats.   Who has a flat without a balcony.

Which is DAMN odd, actually: as the rest of my block has balconies.   That’s something replicated along this end of the street, until you get to Faldo Court.

And towards the end of page 50 … ?   It says ‘It is considered that the applicant’s offer to provide a contribution towards the maintenance and provision of local public open space (including play space) results in the proposed development complying with Local Plan Policy CP4, subject to an agreement being reached as to the amount of the contribution and where it should be invested.’.

I know it sounds odd … ?

But RIGHT now, I’m thinking that Taylor Wimpey will eventually have to build that public space quite a distance away from where it’s needed.

Along Saint James Road.

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Actually … ?

Talking of the parking, the Highways and Parking section on p. 48 says that there should be a minimum of 44 residential parking spaces.

But that the proposal includes 35 residential spaces.

Hmmm … 

Exactly how much exasperated swearing do you want … ?

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Phew … !

Now … 

Right now I think I’m going to leave this post right here.

However … ?

I will encourage you — if you one of my neighbours, and one who objects — I’d encourage you to head along to that planning meeting, next week.

If you can’t … ?   Please feel free to sign this petition, to object.

If you can … ?

I’ll see you there … 

The Daily Teaser — 16-5-2012

Right, that’s the Snow Leopard version of Safari 5·1·7 in action, is it … ?

You know, it’s slowly getting better.

But … ?

I’ll be honest, it still seems to be throwing itself into White Flash mode: especially when I have multiple tabs open.

And especially when one of those tabs is an upload to YouTube.

Hmmm … 

Now … 

Bar opening another browser up … ?

I’m just wondering what sort of work-around is available … 

Let’s get moving right along, shall we?   Before I go and start looking … 

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Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi — all on her ownsome — putting in her answers: and, along with admitting she wasn’t expecting the Spanish Inquisition*, also bagging 6 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) 16th May, 1868, saw which US president acquitted in an impeachment trial … ?

Q2) More to the point, by how many votes … ?

Q3) 16th May, 2005, saw the Kingdom of Kuwait permit women to what: wear trousers, attend university or vote … ?

Q4) 16th May, 1968, saw three people killed in East London killed as one corner of a what collapsed … ?

Q5) 16th May, 1951, saw the first transatlantic flights between Heathrow Airport: and which New York airport … ?

Q6) More to the point, what’s that airport now called … ?

Q7) And finally … 16th May, 1966, saw the Chinese government release the 16th May Notification: what did this see the start of … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 15th May, 1836, saw the first observation of what: Baily’s Beads, Barney’s Blobs or Dewhurst’s Droplet’s … ?

A1) Baily’s Beads.

Q2) More to the point, what was this during: a tornado, a meteor shower, or an eclipse … ?

A2) Eclipse.   (The beads in questions are sunlight coming through gaps in the lunar landscape … )

Q3) 15th May, 1941, saw the first flight of a British jet plane: who was the engine’s designer … ?

A3) Frank Whittle.

Q4) 15th May, 1718, saw James Puckle patent the world’s first machine gun: which sub-machine gun was informally known as the Chicago Piano … ?

A4) The Thompson.

Q5) 15th May, 1918, saw the end of which country’s civil war … ?

A5) Finland’s.

Q6) And finally … 15th May, 1252, saw Pope Innocent 4th issue the Bull that allowed the Inquisition to torture who: blasphemers, heretics or unbelievers … ?

A6) Heretics.   (Which is a cue … )

Enjoy those, everyone: as Emiliana Torrini celebrates her birthday, today, I’ll mark it with her performance of Gollum’s Song, possibly the saddest song I’ve ever heardº … 

*        Can I be frank, here, Debbi … ?   NO-ONE expects the Spanish Inquisition … !   Their chief weapons are fear … fear and surprise … fear and surprise and nice red uniforms … !   No, this is getting very silly … !

º        That ‘We are lost, we can never go home’ line?   Well … 

Sherlock Holmes 2: A Game of Shadows:

You know, it’s not that often I watch a film twice, it really isn’t.

 But I have to also say that I watched Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows, the recently released follow up to 2009’s Guy Ritchie film, Sherlock Holmes.

 And I wanted to make sure that I caught all of the undertones.

 Including the fact that Noomi Rapace — star of the original Swedish language version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo — pops up in the film, complete with an eyepoppingly outlandish hat.

Oh … 

And Jared Harris’ performance as Professor Moriarty.

Hmm … 

I’m burbling, aren’t I … ?

At ANY rate, let me try and clarify things, for you … 

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Directed by Guy Ritchie, Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows sees both Robert Downey Jnr and Jude Law returning their respective roles for another adventure.

Following on some time after the first film, A Game Of Shadows opens with Irene Adler — a brief reprise, here, from Rachel MacAdams — delivery a package to a Professor Hoffmanstahl: a package that proves to be a letter-bomb from her employer, Professor James Moriarty, played by Jared Harris.

A man who — as Watson finds out on a visit just prior to his stag night — Holmes has been investigating: investigating … and coming to possibly odd conclusions about … 

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Now … ?

Was it a good film, I hear you ask … ?

Hmmm … 

I’m having my doubts, thus far.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows does maintain the feel of the first, although it is somewhat darker: after all, it does see Holmes apparent death at the Reichenbach Falls.

It’s ALSO as well crafted a film as only Guy Ritchie and co can make: well paced and written, with both humour and wit, throughout.

Hmmm … 

But I’m ALSO thinking that the film needs … 

Well, possibly needs a third entry in the franchise, just so that we can be sure of seeing any lose ends tied up.

And given I personally believe that the BBC’s been going something of a better job with the second series of Sherlock … ?

Well … ?

Game to Mr Moffat and co … 

So far … 

Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows

★★☆☆