Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1-1-2025 — Frankenstein

1st January, 2025: Frankenstein.

Yay!

It’s 2025!

Which means we can now be officially happy and cheerful!

Or winging about the ABBA tunes earworming their way through our heads … !

Heigh … ho!

~≈🎉≈~

I’ve possibly mentioned that I rip — copy — blurays and DVDs: using a mix of MakeMKV and Handbrake.

Indeed, I mentioned it, in yesterday’s Teaser.

I just wanted to add an update: and tell you I’ve owned two new Macs over the past year.

And that I’ve used the new one — a 2024 Mac mini — to copy the discs in the Doctor Who Season 25 Collection, and transcoded some of the discs with it.

I’m halfway through transcoding the copies.

And … ?

I’ve not done any scientific measurements … but this model seems to transcode the discs in around three to four hours: compared to the previous model’s five to six.

I don’t know about you: but I’m mildly impressed.

~≈🍹≈~

Let’s move on.


Yesterday’s Teaser saw Mum*, Olga† and Debbi‡ putting in their answers: with Olga and Debbi scoring twelve out of twelve and Mum on eight.

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

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

Q1)        Frankenstein was first published on 1st January.   Where: London, Paris or New York?

Q2)        In which year: 1818, 1819 or 1820?

Q3)        Frankenstein was written by Mary … who?

Q4)        The book’s described as what kind of novel: a gothic novel, vandal novel or barbarian novel?

Q5)        Finally … ?   Its full title is Frankenstein, or, The Modern what: Prometheus, Romulus or Zeus?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        Margrethe 2nd abdicated in January of 2024.   As queen of which European country?

A1)        Denmark.

Q2)        February 2024, saw the Nova-C lander became the first commercial lander to land where: Mars, the Moon or Mercury?

A2)        The Moon.

Q3)        March 2024 saw the Artificial Intelligence Act, passed.   By whom: the European Union, the United States or the Arab League?

A3)        The European Union, or EU.

Q4)        April of this year saw the G7 group agree to phase out power plants powered by what: coal, gas or nuclear energy?

A4)        Coal.

Q5)        The 2024 Eurovision Song Contest was held in May of 2024.   Which country won: Austria, Sweden or Switzerland?

A5)        Switzerland.

Q6)        The 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup was held in June of 2024.   T20 matches are a version of which sport: soccer, cricket or rugby?

A6)        Cricket.   (Twenty20 games have one innings per game, with a maximum of 20 overs per innings.   Test cricket is played over five days, with two innings per team, and a minimum of ninety overs per day.)

Q7)        The UK held the 2024 General Election in July of 2024.   Which party gained the most seats in the House of Commons as a result: Labour, the Conservatives, or the Reform Party?

A7)        Labour.   (Labour won 411 seats: 290 seats ahead of the Conservatives, on 121.)

Q8)        Russia exchanged prisoners in August of 2024.   Which which other country: Ukraine, China, the USA or the UK?

A8)        The USA.

Q9)        Dame Maggie Smith died in September of 2024.   She was made a Companion of Honour, when: 2013, 2014 or 2015?

A9)        2014.

Q10)        The Europa Clipper was launched: in October of 2024.   It’s heading for a moon of which planet?

A10)        Jupiter.

Q11)        November saw Archbishop Justin Welby resign: as Archbishop of where?

A11)        Canterbury.

Q12)        Finally … ?   Late December saw which country hold a presidential election: the USA, Iceland or Croatia?

A12)        Croatia.

Here’s a quote …

“Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay

To mould me man? Did I solicit thee

From darkness to promote me?”

A quote from Paradise Lost, quoted on the title page of Frankenstein. (Taken from Wikisource.)

And a song …

The next large question set is tomorrow: it’s about Blake’s Seven.


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



Decisions about scores are final.

Thank you for coming: have a good day.

*        Hello, Mum!   (Happy New Year!)

†        Very true, Olga§: they do!   I think Spain had a law down that said you could back up DVDs you owned: including pirate ones.   And I believe there was UK legislation/regulation that allowed to record vinyl to cassette: for personal use.   I’m blowed if I can find the relevant Wiki entry, though!

        Happy New Year!

‡        Happy New Year, Debbi!   The next big ones are on the 2nd, 8th and 29th … !

§        Your friend could have avoided issues with the right software, Olga.   There’s at least one BitTorrent client that, by default, only downloads from encrypted peers.   Not that I have any experience, obviously!