Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18-7-2025 — The Bob Newhart Show.

18th July, 2025: Bob Newhart.

Right … 

It’s now Friday.

And … ?

Last night saw me watch the first episode of the new, third, series of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

I’ll have my review of the first episode up, by tomorrow, at the latest.

But have to admit, the episode — “Hegemony, Pt 2” — looks good.

Keep your eyes peeled … !

~≈🖖≈~

Did you know that the UK’s current voting age — at least for UK general elections — is eighteen?

The UK’s current voting age for general elections is eighteen.

There’s exceptions for regional elections in Scotland and Wales, for the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Senedd and Scottish and Welsh local councils: but as a general rule, it’s eighteen for general elections.

Yesterday … ?

The Government announced that it was planning to introduce legislation to lower the voting age to sixteen.

And allow people to use bank cards as a form of voter ID.

The ID requirements being changed, is a very good idea.

When those requirements were originally introduced, the plan was to make them a paid for service: which, if you’re in my shoes, was and is unaffordable.

So changing those requirements, to include a commonly-held item?

Is a good move.

The age requirements?

Are very welcome.

I feel this will increase turn out, encourage youngsters to vote and let teens have a direct influence on political decisions that affect them.

Especially things like the Brexit Referendum, so many years ago.

I feel the right option — Remain — would have won, if the age for that specific vote had been lowered.

I can only hope this reform passes when it comes before Parliament.

~≈🗳️≈~

Did I mention an old role-playing game called Traveller?

I had — and still have — copies of the rules on my bookshelves.

Well, most of the rules.

I didn’t have a copy of Book Four: Mercenary.

Something I managed to remedy: buy the simple expedient of buying a second hand copy on Ebay.

It got here, on Wednesday.

I was pleased by the speed … 

And by the thing’s condition.

For a book first published in the early 1980s, it’s in very good condition.

~≈📔≈~

Let’s move on.


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


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

Here it is, along with the How To, License and video.

Q1)        18th July, 2024, saw the death actor and comedian, Bob Newhart.   He played Professor Proton in which comedy series?

Q2)        Newhart was born in which year: 1927, 1929 or 1931?

Q3)        His first comedy album, The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart was released in which year: 1959, 1960 or 1961?

Q4)        The Bob Newhart Show ran from 1972 to 1978.   In it, Bob played a what: psychologist, GP or masseuse?

Q5)        Finally … ?   How many Grammy awards did Bob Newhart receive: two, three or four?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        17th July saw Vega became the first star, other than the sun, to be what: photographed, videoed or painted?

A1)        Photographed.

Q2)        The event happed on 17th July of which year of the 1850s?

A2)        1850.

Q3)        Vega is in which constellation: Aquila, Lyra or Virgo?

A3)        Lyra.   (The star’s Bayer designation is α Lyrae, or Alpha Lyrae.)

Q4)        Vega is a variable star.   In other words, there are changes in its apparent what: mass, brightness or colour?

A4)        Brightness.

Q5)        Finally … ?   Vega is one of three stars known as the Summer Triangle.   Name one of the other two.

A5)        Altair or Deneb.

Here’s a thought …

“And as the world gets crazier, it’s more important to laugh at it.   It’s a survival technique.”

Bob Newhart.

And a sketch …

The next ten question set is on 25th July: it’s about Galicia.

Comments will be published, tomorrow morning.

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!

†        That’s how I first heard of him, Olga: as Marilyn’s husband.   Doing The Crucible at school was the first time I’d read anything by him.

        I haven’t read anything else of his, since then: that’s something I should remedy … 

‡        Morning, Irene: how is the day … ?

§        Hang on, though, Debbi … would those cases be ones brought against the monarch as an individual?   Or ‘Rex/Regina versus [Defendant]’?   The US equivalent would be ‘State v. [Defendant]’, or ‘The People v. [Defendant]’, wouldn’t it?   I’d assume — prior to Independence — the colonies would use the former, rather than the latter: but will defer to you on this!