Wednesday 8 July 2015

The Daily Teaser — 8-7-2015: Roswell

You know, it has to be said, bedtime reading’s getting good.

No, really!

Frankly, at the moment, I’m re-reading William Gibson’s Neuromancer: the 1984 book that kickstarted the whole Cyberpunk genre.

I have to admit, I’m having something of a blast with it.   Seeing what Case, Molly†, Armitage and the rest of the gang are doing, is like re-visiting old friends.

Especially Molly.   I’ve read the book several times, and keep wanting to see more of her: even though I’ve got through the sequels, AND the original short story version of Johnny Mnemonic*.

Wouldn’t mind seeing her floating around, again.

More than that, though … ?

Gibson never returned to one character’s story, after Neuromancer: never showed us what happened … 

Personally?

I’d love to know more about Case.

I mean, beyond the fact he never saw Molly, agin … !

~≈Ë≈~

But let’s get a move on, shall we?

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi‡ putting in her answers: and scoring five out of six.

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

Here they are, along with the How ToLicense and video … 

Q1) 8th July saw the first reports appear: of a crashed UFO at a ranch near the small US town of Roswell.   In which year of the 1940s?
Q2) Roswell is in which US state?
Q3) UFO stands for Unidentified Flying … what?
Q4) The press release about the incident came from an airbase then operated by whom: the US Army, Navy or Air force?
Q5) The US Army eventually claimed that the UFO was what: the planet Venus, a cloud or a weather balloon?
Q6) What the object WAS, was a balloon monitoring Soviet Russian activity.   Which activities: warplane flights, nuclear bomb tests or satellite launches?
Q7) The US operation doing that monitoring was called what: Operation Murghal, Operation Mogul or Operation Major?
Q8) The Unnatural is an episode of a well known TV series: an episode that centres on the Roswell Incident.   Which TV series?
Q9) Which 1996, Roland Emmerich, film has a scene showing us the aliens that supposedly survived the Roswell crash?
Q10) Finally … during the 1990s, footage emerged that claimed to show the autopsy of an alien who had died, in the crash at Roswell.   In which year of the 1990s was it first aired?
Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …
Q1) 7th July, 1969, saw the death of Brian Jones: founder member of which UK band?
A1) The Rolling Stones.
Q2) The coroner at Jones’ inquest recorded a verdict of what: death by hanging, death by misadventure or death by drowning?
Q3) 7th July, 1456 — many years after her death — saw Joan of Arc acquitted.   Of what: blasphemy, heresy or barratry?
A3) Heresy.
Q4) 7th July, 1958, saw President Dwight D. Eisenhower sign the law that turned WHAT, into a US state?
A4) Alaska.
Q5) 7th July, 1985, saw Boris Becker become the youngest man to win a title at Wimbledon.   Which Wimbledon title did he win?
A5) Gentlemen’s Singles: usually referred to as ‘Men’s Singles’.
Q6) Finally … 7th July, 1947, saw the birth of David ‘Scar’ Hodo: best remembered as a member of the Village People.   Which Village Person was he?
I’ll leave you with this statement …
“The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been requested to assist in the investigation of reported sightings of flying disks…”

J Edgar Hoover.
And a Ramones number …


Have a good day … 







*        Personally … ?   The film version really did not do Johnny Mnemonic any kind of justice.

†        Apparently, William Gibson based his description of Molly on the cover of the first Pretenders album: he clocked Chrissie Hynde, and thought, “Yep, SHE’S Molly”.   That link thats you to one —  amongst many — fan images of the character: and the only on I felt ever got near … 



‡        People have managed to post episodes of it to YouTube, Debbi.   Including the first episode, if you wanted a taster.   You might also be able to find it on Amazon/Ebay/where-ever.   (Oh, the makers ORIGINALLY were planning to aim it at children.   THEN changed, from Assignment 2, onwards.   As for what the series is like?   The BEST phrase is ‘unnerving’.   The effects are ropey, in one or two episodes … but ITV kept them to a minimum: and ramped up the spookiness, instead.)

1 comment:

Debbi said...

Great Ramones song! :)

1. 1947
2. New Mexico
3. Object
4. the U.S. Army
5. a weather balloon
6. nuclear bomb testing
7. Operation Mogul
8. The X-Files
9. Independence Day
10. 1995