Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 23rd July 2025.

23rd July, 2025.

Sadly, I have a habit: of buying albums in sad circumstances.

I bought Bowie’s Blackstar, when I heard about his death.

I bought Prince’s Purple Rain, when he died.

You can see what’s coming, can’t you?

I bought a copy of Black Sabbath, last night.

Because?

The band’s lead singer, Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness himself, died.

I’ve got to admit, I was never a huge fan.

But he, and the band he fronted, were — like Bowie, Prince, Madonna, Springsteen, Elvis, the Beatles and a handful of others — made at least one song that you’re doing to love.

In my case, the Madonna one is “Dear Jessie”: no one else could’ve got away with that.

Ozzy?

Was one of those acts.

He died, yesterday: after doing his final concert only a few weeks ago.

The man was a legend*.

~≈✝️≈~

Hmmm … 

The other thing the Today programme’s been discussing?

For less time than Ozzy’s death?

Is the old idea of a digital identity.

I’m not sure quite what the government’s planning on that front: but know it’s been discussed for some time.

My one concern?

Is simply this: will people need a smart-phone to use aspects of any planned scheme?

I think that will be an issue: as many will be unable to afford one, let alone able to use one.

Indeed there’s going to be people unable to afford one, unable to use one … or unable, for various reasons, even to read the on-screen text.

I think any proposed digital ID scheme will need to address this, right from the start.

~≈📱≈~

Let’s move on.


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


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

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

Q1)        Daniel Radcliffe was born on 23rd July, 1989.   He came to fame, playing which fictional wizard?

Q2)        Paul Wesley was born on 23rd July, 1982.   Who does he play in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds?

Q3)        NASA announced the discovery of Kepler-452b: on 23rd July, 2015.   The star the planet orbits, Kepler-452, is in which constellation?

Q4)        Michael Wilding was born on 23rd July, 1912.   He made many films with who: Anna Neagle, Peter Cushing or Elizabeth Taylor?

Q5)        Finally … ?   Marshal Pétain’s war trial started on 23rd July, 1945.   He’d been the leader of what was known as Vichy … where … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        Public Enemy №1 died on 22nd July, 1934.   Which public enemy: John Dillinger, Alvin Karpis or ‘Machine Gun’ Kelly?

A1)        John Dillinger.

Q2)        He was shot by whom: the FBI, the CIA or the KGB?

A2)        The FBI.

Q3)        John Mayall died on 22nd July, 2024.   What was the name of his blues band?

A3)        The Bluesbreakers: along side John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, and variations.

Q4)        22nd July is Sarawak Independence Day.   Sarawak is part of which federal monarchy?

A4)        Malaysia.

Q5)        Finally … ?   22nd July is the feast day of Mary Magdalene.   She’s a patron saint of whom: dentists, surgeons or pharmacists?

A5)        Pharmacists.

Here’s a thought …

“You can pick out actors by the glazed look that comes into their eyes when the conversation wanders away from themselves.”

Michael Wilding, 23 July 1912 – 8 July 1979.

And an album …

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.

*        I can remember reading about the bat-biting incident.   If I recall one Ozzy interview I read, correctly?   The tetanus shot he had to have after the incident, was scarier than the bat … 

†        Hello, Mum!

‡        I worked with a Romanian woman at the last pub I worked in, Olga: turns out she was a Magdalena, but preferred Aurora.

        I managed to get a cheap pair from Amazon, eventually: it’s nice to have dry feet in this weather!

        I think Olga, that whatever’s affected my food — I’ve had one bottle of milk go, recently! — isn’t help by some of the medications.   The Mounjaro I’m on can cause diarrhoea, I know that!

§        Actually, Debbi, Six of One’s been going for a while: I believe there’s a US branch, as well.

        I don’t think drinking responsibly’s the problem.   I think getting home’s the issue!   The days of the local pub are … limited …