The Daily Teaser — 16-5-2014

Blimey … 

I have to admit, I like TV.

I like TV shows.

The occasional documentary, as well.

It’s ok, it’s not like I make a habit of it!

At ANY rate, I managed to record episode 1 of Tyger Takes On, last night.

Called Tyger Takes On Porn.

And I have to admit, that’s an eye-opener!

Yeah … eyeopener … THAT’S the phrase … !

Let’s get a move on, shall we?

~≈Ê≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: and scoring eight out of ten.

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, 1888, saw Nikolai Tesla deliver a lecture about The transmission of electricity, by what: direct current, alternating current or a static charge?

Q2) While we’re being scientific, 16th May, 1960, saw Theodore Maiman operate the first optical what, whilst working in California … ?

Q3) 16th May, 1866, saw the US Congress authorize the very first nickel: how many cents is a nickel worth … ?

Q4) 16th May, 2011, saw the last launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavour: where was it heading for … ?

Q5) Finally … 16th May, 1919, saw the birth of American pianist, singer and very flamboyant showman, Liberace: who played Liberace in Behind The Candelabra … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 15th May, 1718, saw James Puckle patent a well known type of gun: what type of gun … ?

A1) The Machine Gun.

Q2) What was Puckle’s day job … ?

A2) A lawyer.

Q3) What did he call his gun: a defense gun, attack gun or show gun … ?

A3) The defense gun.   (Show gun.   Come on, SHOW GUN … !   Pay ATTENTION … !)

Q4) Moving on, slightly: the Gatling gun, a very early machine gun, was first used in which countrys civil war … ?

A4) The USAs.

Q5) Other machine guns — like the Maxim, Vickers and Chuchat — saw  their first widespread use in which 20th Century war … ?

A5) World War One.

Q6) What name is given to the grooves found in many gun barrels … ?

A6) Rifling .

Q7) What do those grooves improve about a bullet … ?

A7) The accuracy.   (Its the same reason why rugby balls and American footballs are the shape they are: it means they can be spun, as thrown, to increase the accuracy.)

Q8) Your friends who smoke will have a relative of the flintlock gun in their pocket.   What is it … ?

A8) The common or garden lighter.   (The flintlock firing wheel is the ancestor of the spark wheel in most gas and all Zippo-type petrol lighters.)

Q9) Which science fiction series had an episode called Spectre of the Gun … ?

A9) Classic Star Trek.   (Kirk, Spock and McCoy are kidnapped by evil aliens — nothing new there — and forced to re-fight the Gunfight at the OK Corral.)

Q10) Name either of the bands to release a version of the song, The Guns Of Navarone, in the UK … 

A10) The Skatalites and The Specials.

I’ll leave you with this piece of Frippery … 

And this thought from Danny Trejo …

“I’d always rather be working - and you know what?   My kids would rather me be working.    If I stay at home, I’ll only buy another car or spend their money.”

Danny Trejo, born 16th May, 1944.

Have a nice day … 

*        TALKING of which, Debbi, I’ve got Iain M. Banks’ The Hydrogen Sonata, his last Culture novel, from Brentwood Library.   Fantastic read!   (The ships in his culture novels are artificial intelligences, with (occasionally) complicated names: one of them, in The Hydrogen Sonata, is called Mistake Not My Current State Of Joshing Gentle Peevishness For The Awesome And Terrible Majesty Of The Towering Seas Of Ire That Are Themselves The Milquetoast Shallows Fringing My Vast Oceans Of Wrath.   It’s a warship … … … … … )