Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7-4-2021: Life on Mars.

7th April, 2021.

Yes: I’m going to be doing stuff!

No, really!   I managed to see the first episode of For All Mankind’s second series, last night: a rather exciting episode involving a solar flare.

That, and the video, will be live, later.

I’ve also got to give Basildon Hospital a ring, as I’m having a phone appointment, next week.   I want to make sure they have the right number.

All that … ?

And I’ll confess to feeling rather pleased.

Last night’s home made beef stew went down rather well.

I think I’m getting the hang of parsnips … 

~≈🥘≈~

I THINK blogging’s having an effect on me!

I’ve seen this piece on the BBC’s news site: a piece that tells us dozens have been fined over what the article calls — with pointed quote marks  — ‘illegal mushroom picking.’

The way my mind works?

I’m wondering if the people fined were fined for picking mushrooms illegally, or picking illegal mushrooms!

Who knows!

~≈🍄≈~

Let’s move on, shall we?

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Trevor*, Olga†, Mum‡, Debbi^ andEdithª putting in their answers: with Trevor, Olga and Debbi scoring five out of five, Mum on three and Edith on one.

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

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

Q1)        7th April, 2001, saw the launch of the Mars Odyssey probe.   By which space agency: the ESA, NASA or JAXA? 

Q2)        Mars is the fourth planet from the sun.   What’s the fifth?

Q3)        The probe shares its name an epic Greek poem.   One written by whom: Homer, Sappho or Simonides?

Q4)        The probe’s name was inspired by the work of which science fiction writer: Arthur C. Clark, Isaac Asimov or Robert Heinlein?

Q5)        Finally … ?   2002 saw the probe detecting large amounts of what: hydrogen, helium or nitrogen?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        Who was arrested in the Cadogan Hotel, on 6th April, 1895: Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker or or H. Rider Haggard … ?

A1)        Oscar Wilde.

Q2)        6th April, 1483, saw the birth of which artist: Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael or Michelangelo?

A2)        Raphael.

Q3)        6th April, 1520, saw the death of which artist: Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael or Michelangelo?

A3)        It’s him, again: Raphael.

Q4)        James Watson — one of the discovers of DNA — was born on 6th April, 1928.   In which North American country?

A4)        The USA.

Q5)        Finally … ? Pioneer 11 was launched on 6th April, 1973.   What was it initially supposed to study: Venus, the Asteroid belt or Pluto?

A5)        The Asteroid Belt.

Here’s a thought … 

“2001 Mars Odyssey, U.S. spacecraft that studied Mars from orbit and served as a communication relay for the Mars Exploration Rovers and Phoenix.”

From the Britannica entry on the probe.

And a song …

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

Feel free to share today’s video Teaser.

Have a good day.

*        Yep: Jimmy’s out, Trevor.   Frankly?   I’m hoping he gets that tour card, fast, I’d love to see him in a tournament, again.

I do know I’d not be able to pull off the insulation thing, myself.   I’m renting: so my landlords would have to arrange it.

†        Personally, I’ve always enjoyed blogging, Olga: you possibly hadn’t noticed!   At ANY rate … ?   Good luck whatever you pick!

Are you using a WordPress variant?   If it’s ANY help, you should be able to download it, then re-import it to Blogger, or another free site.   I’m not sure if you can upload it to LiveJournal or Wix.

Oh, JUST as a thought, Olga?   You’ll have a mild advantage on the 23rd … !

‡        Hello, Mum!

^        Hmmm … I think Murder at the Match sounds better than Murder at the Snooker Match, Debbi.   Adding the ‘snooker,’ spoils the alliteration, I think.   Snookered to Death sounds good, though.   The term, ‘snookered,’ means you play a shot in a way that your opponent has no way of potting a ball: or commits a foul.   I can JUST see a villain snookering someone to death … whilst looking totally innocent … 

ª        It’s. OK, Edith: I recognised your writing style!   And, yes, I think it’s bagpipes.   I don’t know if it’s Scottish ones, though: there’s a few different types.   Kathryn Tickell plays the Northumbrian pipes, for example.   And In Extremo use all sorts!   Kathryn’s parents are from the Northwest coast of England, the same sort of area as Sting from The Police: in case you wondered about her accent.   I don’t know much about In Extremo: apart from the fact they play heavy metal version of Medieval German folk songs.   They’re not usually my thing: but they seem to do well!   (I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you, Edith: and hope you caregiver recovers quickly!)