Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar: The Daily Teaser

Wednesday 18 June 2014

The Daily Teaser — 18-6-2014

Hmmm …

I have to admit to liking repeats, occasionally.

I’ve got one on in the back ground, now, actually: part 2 of Fossil Wonderland.

Mostly discussing feathered dinosaurs, including our old friend, Archaeopteryx: something I was taught was the first bird, but that we now believe to have been to have been more of a link between dinosaurs and birds.

Fascinating stuff to watch.

But, after a throw away comment from the presenter, I can’t help but wonder one thing.

Did Archaeopteryx taste of chicken?

Well, you have to ask, don’t you … ?

~≈Ç≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw both Debbi* and Pink Fluff† putting in their answers: with Fluff bagging seven out of ten, and Debbi scoring eight, the day saw Debbi inching ahead by a point.

Let’s see how everyone does with today’s questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the How To, License and video …

Q1) 18th June, 1965, saw the UK government introduce a drink driving limit: of 80 milligrams of alcohol, per 100 cc of what … ?

Q2) More to the point, in which year was the breathalyser introduced?

Q3) 18th June, 2006, saw which Stan launch its first satellite … ?

Q4) 18th June, 2009, saw NASA launch a robot spacecraft: at what object?

Q5) 18th June, 2012, saw Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud named as Crown Prince of where … ?

Q6) Finally … 18th June, 1941, saw the birth of Britain’s best-selling cookery author. Who is she?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 17th June, 1944 — 70 years ago, today — saw Iceland become a republic: after severing formal ties from which country’s monarchy?

A1) Denmark’s.

Q2) Technically, Iceland had been a kingdom: since which year of the 20th Century … ?

A2) 1918. (It had been effectively independent: but in personal union with the Danish King.)

Q3) What’s the name of Iceland’s Parliament … ?

A3) The Alþingi: or Althing, if you prefer the Anglicized version. (It’s technically, the oldest Parliament on the planet.)

Q4) The head of the Icelandic government is the Icelandic Prime Minister. The head of state is … ?

A4) The Icelandic President: the office is currently held by Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson.

Q5) Is the President’s last name a surname … ?

A5) No. In common with most Icelanders, the President’s name is a patronymic: it’s based on his father’s first name. If I’ve understood it correctly, his children would use the patronymic, Ólafursson or Ólafursdottir. (Some Icelanders — like singer, Björk — have a matronymic, taken from there mothers names: Björk’s full name is Guðmundsdóttir.)

Q6) The Church of Iceland is what: Anglican, Lutheran or Methodist … ?

A6) Lutheran.

Q7) Which Chess player made his home in Iceland in the last years of his life?

A7) Bobby Fischer.

Q8) Icelandic singer, Emilíana Torrini, recorded Gollum’s Song: for which of the Lord Of The Rings films?

A8) Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers.