Tuesday 24 January 2012

The Daily Teaser - 24-01-2012

You know, you’ve probably worked out by now, that I hate sleeping through my alarm clock.

But if nothing else … ?

If nothing else, I’ve got the last part of a documentary about illuminated manuscripts laying gently in the background.

Fascinating stuff, I should add: and quite eye-popping to look at!

I mean, they’re vellum, covered in ink illumination, and gold foil. And that’s just the insides.

Let’s move on, shall we … ? Before I tell you about the actual covers* … !

‹‹·››

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi — bless her — putting in her answers: and along with mentioning punch cardsº, also managed to bag 6 out of 6.

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

Q1) 24th January, 41AD, saw the assassination of which Roman emperor?

Q2) More to the point, by members or which Roman body: the Prætorian Guard, the Senate or the Pontificate … ?

Q3) 24th January saw which city named as capital of Romania … ?

Q4) 24th January, 1986, saw Minister, Leon Brittan quit, over the Westland scandal: which ministerial post did he hold at the time … ?

Q5) 24th January, 1965, saw the death of former Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill: how many guns were fired as a salute at his funeral … ?

Q6) And finally … 24th January, 2003, saw which US department begin operation … ?
And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …
Q1) 23rd January, 1556, was the date of the Shaanxi Earthquake, in China: during which dynasty was this … ?
A1) The Ming Dynasty.

Q2) 23rd January, 1989 saw a different earthquake hit which Soviet Central Asian republic … ?
A2) Tajikistan.

Q3) On a less gruesome note: 23rd January, 1957, saw inventor, Walter Frederick Morrison sell his invention to the Wham-O toy company: what did he call it?
A3) The ‘Pluto Platter’.

Q4) More to the point, how is that toy now better known as … ?
A4) The Frisbee.

Q5) 23rd January, 2003, saw communication lost with which probe: Viking 9, Pioneer 10 or Voyager 11… ?
A5) Pioneer 10.

Q6) And finally … 23rd January, 1879, saw the end of which Anglo-Zulu battle … ?
A6) The Battle of Rourke’s Drift, made famous in Zulu. (We are, of course, obliged to do our best Michæl Caine impersonations … )
Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll leave you with a tune from birthday boy, Neil Diamond …









* Trust, teaspoons will be needed: eye-popping is quite literally the word, you’ll need something to put them back in their sockets …

º Oh, talking of punchcards, Debbi — and this is a nicely pointless bit of trivia for you — did you know the first punch-cards were developed for looms … ?

4 comments:

trev-v said...

I was an expert at programming computers with punched cards even punching a few myself but I normally left that to the rooms full of nubile young women. And no Paul I am too young to have programmed a Jacquard loom.

Q1 Caligula
Q2 Prætorian Guard
Q3 Bucharest
Q4 Trade and Industry Secretary
Q5 19 gun salute
Q6 United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Trevor

Nik Nak said...

Really … ?

Well, that’s THAT sarcastic comment scotched … ! :D

But just as a question, though, Trevor … ?

Did they all have visas … ? The young women from Nubilia … ? :D

Debbi said...

I never knew that about the looms, but it's kind of interesting. I live not too far from a historic mill town. The mill has been converted to a schmancy antique mall. From mill to mall. :) Very cute.

1. Caligula
2. the Praetorian Guard (along with some Senate and imperial court members)
3. Bucharest
4. Home Secretary and Trade and Industry Secretary
5. 19
6. the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Nik Nak said...

A mall … ? Sounds about right, Debbi: although it’d end up as an apartment block, over here … !