Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28th August 2025.

28th August, 2025.

It’s Thursday: but you knew that!

And it’s also the day after I’ve managed to pick up the test strips that go with my blood sugar monitor.

I can excitedly jab my fingers: and test my blood sugar levels.

Once the lancets turn up!

Heigh ho!

~≈💉≈~

You’re possibly aware that two school children have been killed: in a mass shooting in Minneapolis.

The shooter’s motives are unknown: although there’s talk of an online video.

I’ll be honest … after hearing about another mass shooting, one whose victims were in a church, celebrating the start of a new school year, I did something I very rarely do.

I prayed.

No, I’m not especially religious: but I prayed to whoever’s up there.

Prayed that the USA finally decides to change the Constitution’s Second Amendment, the one that allows private US citizens to own weapons.

I realise that’s not simple: that there’s a whole body of US law, and US court judgements, built on that amendment.

But … ?

The fact the right to bear arms is included in the Constitution, and, ultimately, allowed the shooter to legally buy the guns he killed and injured children?

The fact it allows that?

Means the Second Amendment has to change.

~≈🔫≈~

Let’s move on.


Yesterday’s Teaser saw Mum*, and Debbi† putting in their answers: with Debbi scoring ten out of ten, and Mum on nine.


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

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

Q1)        In a non-leap year, 28th August is what: the 239th day of the year, the 240th or the 241st?

Q2)        Enceladus was discovered by William Herschel: on 28th August, 1789.   Enceladus is a moon of which gas giant?

Q3)        Lohengrin premiered on 28th August, 1850. Who wrote Lohengrin: Frederic Chopin, Richard Wagner or Antonin Dvořák?

Q4)        Race riots in Philadelphia began on 28th August.   28th August of which year: 1962, 1964 or 1966?

Q5)        Finally … ?   The Soyuz TM-29 mission finished on 28th August, 1999.   Where was it: the International Space Station, the James Webb Telescope or Mir?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        27th August is World Lake Day.   According to whom: the United Nations, the European Union or the Organization of American States?

A1)        The United Nations.

Q2)        Lakes are large bodies of what: water, acid or air?

A2)        Water.

Q3)        Lakes are usually surrounded by what: dry land, seas or air?

A3)        Dry land.



Q4)        As such, lakes are which ‘L’?

A4)        Landlocked.   I’ve linked to the definitions of the word on both Merriam-Webster’s American English definition: and the Oxford English Dictionary’s British English one.   Of the two, I prefer to stick with the OED: but am aware that Webster’s is more accessible to my foreign readers.

Q5)        Lakes are usually fed by what: seas, ponds or springs?

A5)        Springs.

Q6)        Most lakes are what: freshwater, aerated or cheesy?

A6)        Freshwater.

Q7)        Some rare lakes are what: saltwater, Salem’ed or Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious?

A7)        Saltwater.   I made ‘Salem’ed up …’.   (You Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, backwards, but that’s going a bit too far …)

Q8)        Oxbow lakes are what: curious, cantankerous or curved?

A8)        Curved.   (They’re usually called billabongs in Australia.   You’re allowed to sing by them: so long as your billy is boiling.)

Q9)        Artificial lakes used to store fresh water are an ‘R’.   Which ‘R’?

A9)        A reservoir.

Q10)        Finally … ?   ‘Loch’ is a word for a lake.   In what: Scottish, Welsh or Cornish?

A10)        Scottish.

Here’s a thought …

“I’d rather be a live pessimist than a dead comedian.”

From Sail 25, by Jack Vance, August 28, 1916 – May 26, 2013.

A song …

And an earworm …

The next ten question set is on 5th September: it’s about On the Road.

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 … !

†        I think I’ve mentioned this, already, Debbi, but there’s a story about Cromwell.   He’s thought well of by many in the Labour Party: he was the first person to try and turn the UK into something resembling a republic.   He’s not popular in the Republic of Ireland: there were a few Cromwell-instigated massacres.

        During Blair’s first term as PM, he appointed the late Robin Cook as Foreign Secretary.   Like other ministers, Cook was allowed to hang whatever portraits he wanted in his office: the ones he chose included one of Cromwell.

        Cook’s first official visitor?   Was the Irish Ambassador.   Ooops!

        I think there’s a few US based ones, as well, Debbi‡.   Or, at least, the Dalek Project is apparently advertising some.

        Oh, there’s online instructions for TARDIS building: you’d need power tools … … 

‡        Suspiciously, Debbi?   There’s a lorry … …