The Daily Teaser — 18-2-2014

OK, I’ll admit to not being a sports fan, usually.

Unusual, I know, but there you go.

Apart from one or two sports.

Snooker’s the main one I do watch: or, at least, try and make time for, where possible.

Every-so-often, I’ll watch out for the Curling, when the Winter Olympics is on at a convenient time.

This morning was one of those times: Britain’s Men’s Curling team were playing Norway, in their last round-robin match, each hoping to land a place in the semi-finals.

Britain got through*: by a narrow two points.

Phew … !

~≈◊≈~

Moving on … yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi† putting in her answers: along with letting us know there’s more snow on the way, she ALSO scored six out of six.

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 February, 1885, saw the first publication of Mark Twain’s Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn.   What Twain novel is Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn a direct sequel to … ?

Q2) 18th February, 1957, saw Walter James Bolton become the last person executed: in which country … ?

Q3) 18th February, 1900, saw the first day of the Battle of Paardeberg: fought as part of the Second Boer War.   In which country did the First and Second Boer Wars take place … ?

Q4) 18th February, 1972, saw the Californian Supreme Court rule which punishment to be invalid: the death penalty, public flogging or community service?

Q5) Finally … 18th February, 1978, saw the first Ironman Triathlon take place.   This consisted of a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bicycle ride and and a 26.2 mile … what … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 17th February, 2011, saw the start of civil war: in which North African country … ?

A1) Libya.

Q2) The rebels were fighting the country’s now dead dictator: who was he … ?

A2) Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.

Q3) Moving on … 17th February, 1949, saw Chaim Weizmann elected as President of which Middle Eastern country … ?

A3) Israel.

Q4) 17th February, 1933, saw the Blaine Act passed in the USA.   Famously, this ended the prohibition of what, in the USA … ?

A4) Alcohol.

Q5) 17th February, 1959, saw the launch of the Vanguard 2 weather satellite.   It launched to measure what aspect of the weather: rainfall, cloud cover or the amount of reflected sunlight?

A5) Cloud cover.

Q6) Finally … 17th February, 1945, saw the birth of Irish actress, Brenda Fricker.   For which film was she the first Irish winner of the Best Supporting Actress Oscar … ?

A6) My Left Foot.

Given today is Yoko Ono’s birthday, I’ll leave you with  Don’t Worry, Kyoko, Mummy’s Only Looking For Her Hand In The Snow ‡

And this thought …

“Some of the goals were good, some of the goals were sceptical.”

Bobby Robson, 18 February 1933 – 31 July 2009.

Enjoy your day.

*        Most of Britain’s Curlers are Scottish: in much the same way the many of Britain’s lawn green bowlers are English.   I REALLY hope Scotland doesn’t vote for independence.   We’d not have a hope of Curling Gold!

†       I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you, Debbi, and hope it’s light!   (Oooh, did I tell you Britain’s through to the Curling semis … !)

‡        Possibly the only song I’ve heard that I can describe as ‘Ambient Shrieking’ …