Friday 14 August 2020

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 14th August, 2020.

14th April, 2020.


Yep: it’s official.

I’ve got up at silly o’clock!

Which I’m possibly going to pay for, later!

Especially as the expected thunderstorm — an incredibly dramatic thunderstorm — turned up, last night.

The reason I’m up so early?

I’m looking after my nephew, Jude, today.

Hopefully?   I won’t get two much fuss, heading into town with him, to bank a cheque.

The one from O2, finally turned up!

~≈¥≈~

Let’s move on, shall we?

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Olga*, Trevor† and Debbi‡ putting in their answers: with all three scoring five out of five.

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

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

Q1) Town status was granted to what’s now Düsseldorf: on 14th July, 1288.   The city’s in what’s now which country … ?
Q2) 14th August, 1916, saw Romania declare war on where: Germany, Austria-Hungary or Japan?
Q3) 14th August, 2015, saw the US Embassy, where, re-open?
Q4) 14th August, 1969, saw British troops sent where: the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar or Northern Island?
Q5) Finally … ?   Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt sign the Atlantic Charter: on 14th August of which year?
Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1) 13th August is International Left Handers Day.   How much of the human population of the world is said to be left handed: 10, 15 or 20%?
A1) 10 (ten) percent.   (The report I link to, there, says figures range from 9.3% to 18.1%: depending on the criteria used.   It also tells us the average ranges from 10.4 to 10.6 percent: depending on if elite athletes are included.   I would assume that many elite athletes, including left handed ones, would be expecting to face a right-handed opponent.)
Q2) According to one study, left handers are supposed to have a lower birth what: weight, length or width?
A2) Weight.   (I’m now clinically obese … and saying nothing …)
Q3) According to economist, Joshua Goodman, left-handers make 10 to 12 percent less money than right handers: over the course of a life time.   He published the study, when: 2013, 2014 or 2015?
A3) 2014.
Q4) Kangaroos are supposed to show a preference for the left paw.   Because, apparently, and like all marsupials, they lack a corpus callosum.   Where — in placental mammals — is the corpus callosum?
A4) The brain.   If I’ve got it right, it’s part of the systems that connects the brain hemispheres, and is also connected to the cerebral cortex.   It’s supposed to be larger in left handers.   (I’ve ALSO got this lovely mental image going around my head … !)
Q5) Finally … ?   Roughly four percent of identical what, will both be left handed?
A5) Identical Twins.   (It’s the same for non-identical twins.)
Here’s a thought …
“Talking about music is like dancing about architecture.”
Steve Martin, born August 14, 1945.
And a song^ …


Today’s questions will be answered in tomorrow’s Teaser.

Have a good day.




*        Cheers, Olga: I managed to bump into a fellow lefty in the chemist, and was able to mention the day to her!   Always good to spread the word!
And somehow, environment factors aren’t surprising, where handedness is concerned: so many people got/get forced into changing.   And I seem to recall — somewhere! — that the handedness of twins could equally be determined by which way they were lying in the womb!
I couldn’t tell you if my twin cousins, James and Matthew, were a mix, though!
Trust me, you’d be surprised what you can do with your off hand, sometimes.   After all, what happens if you lose your right arm … ?   😃


†        The Wikipedia article I used, Trevor, has this.   And I’m going to HAVE to ask, Trevor: the Southned Vic or Southend Central?   Southend Central’s on the line to Tilbury, isn’t it?   It’s possibly an excuse to dig up Elizabeth 1st’s big speech … !


‡        Cheers, Debbi!   I think it went well.   At least … the video was easier to make, this year!

^       I first heard Starship Trooper about the same time I heard these.   How on Earth no-one spotted how ill Karen Carpenter looked, I don’t know. 


3 comments:

Olga said...

Q1) Germany
Q2) Austria-Hungary
Q3) Havana, Cuba
Q4) Northern Ireland (rather than Island. I imagine is a typo or more blog problems)?
Q5) 1941
Good! Enjoy your day with Jude. Yes, I'm sure you're right about not realising how many things we can learn to do. Thanks for the video. Amazing chap. I remember watching a programme about a soldier who'd been badly injured and used to be a climber, and even with a prosthetic leg, he carried on climbing afterward. I've improved somewhat with time, but I was terribly clumsy as a child.
I've heard some horrific stories of parents (and teachers) tying children's left hand or punishing them hard for using it. Our society has never been very accommodating to those who differ from the norm, unfortunately. Let's hope things keep changing for the better.
Regarding your comment about Karen Carpenter, that's something I've often wondered about. Sometimes people don't want to see things at some level, sometimes they might be too close and the changes too gradual for them to notice, and sometimes people with serious problems can be very good at hiding things and coming up with good explanations (and that combines with the other two). If people are not aware of a condition, they might not realise what is going on (and that applies to many things that were never diagnosed in the past). But it is evident when you look at her now. So sad.

trev-v said...

A1 Germany
A2 Austria-Hungary
A3 Havana, Cuba
A4 Northern Ireland
A5 1941

Southend Victoria is the terminal of the branch from Shenfield.
Southend Central is on the old LTSR line from Shoeburyness to London Fenchurch Street.
The line is now called the C2C line (Coast to Capital).

Tilbury is an interesting place. I have been round both of the forts there. The original star shaped Fort is the most interesting with it moats and every wall defending each other.

The 2 fort were put there to defend London from invasions from the sea along the river Thames.

Debbi said...

Yeah, shame about Karen C., huh?

1. Germany
2. Austria-Hungary
3. Cuba
4. Northern Ireland
5. 1941