Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 26-12-2025 — Babbage

26th December, 2025: Babbage.

Right … I’ve turned off the radio: there’s only so much Bill Bailey I can take at this time of the morning!

As nice as it was to hear?

There’s only so much Christmas-themed opera a body can takes!

Especially on Boxing Day.

~≈📦≈~

Boxing Day … or my nephew’s birthday: as that’s today, as well.

If you can get to his YouTube channel?

Feel free to subscribe: you’d make his day … !

~≈📽️≈~

Yesterday was Christmas Day: I hope yours went well.

My family’s did: I think we can say we’ve all ended up pleased with our respective presents.

I got a Rolykin Dalek from my mother: courtesy of my cousin Dean.

Or, at least, the shop run by my cousin Dean’s wife and daughter, Wendy and Hannah.

It’s possibly worth visiting, if you’re ever there: they do a range of stuff, including some third-party collectibles, and their own range of novelty jewellery.

~≈👽≈~

As a LAST thought … ?

Yes: I’ve finally finished my review of “The End of the War”, the last episode of The War Between the Land and the Sea.

That took a lot of work: I can only hope it makes sense.

Sense, or otherwise?

I do know I raise an issue, there.

The series can be watched in 4k, on the iPlayer: so long as you have a suitable TV.

However?

There’s no corresponding 4k bluray on Amazon: just the 2k, and DVD versions.

I think the BBC may have missed a trick, there.

~≈🧜🏼‍♂️≈~

Let’s move on.


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

The day also saw Olga‡ leaving us a message.

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

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

Q1)        Charles Babbage was born on the 26th December.   Of which year of the 1790s?

Q2)        He invented the Difference Engine.   His Difference Engine was a mechanical what: calculator, loom or seed drill?

Q3)        Babbage also invented an early mechanical computer.   One known as the what: Analytical engine, Reverberating engine or Fractional engine?

Q4)        Babbage studied at both Trinity College, and at Peterhead.   Both colleges are at which University: Oxford or Cambridge?

Q5)        Finally … ?   Babbage worked with Ada Lovelace: the woman described as the first computer programmer.   Lovelace was the daughter of whom: Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley or Dr John Polidori?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        Eartha Kitt died on Christmas Day, 2008.   What was the name of her one Christmas hit?

A1)        “Santa Baby”.

Q2)        “Christmas Day” was a 1979 hit for which British band: Squeeze, Madness or Status Quo?

A2)        Squeeze.

Q3)        The Christmas Day (Trading) Act was an act of law passed by the UK’s Parliament.   In which year: 2002, 2004 or 2006?

A3)        2004.

Q4)        Christmas Jones is a character in which James Bond movie?

A4)        The World Is Not Enough.

Q5)        Finally … ?   Factor IX is also known as Factor 9, and as the Christmas Factor.   It helps human blood do what: clot, absorb oxygen or fight bacteria?

A5)        Clot.

Here’s a thought …

“The whole of arithmetic now appeared within the grasp of mechanism.”

Charles Babbage.

A dubious AI documentary …

And an earworm …

There’s a twelve question set is on 31st December, 2025: it’s the review of 2025.

The next ten question set is on 1st January, 2026: it’s about The Archers.

Your comments, and today’s answers, will be published in tomorrow’s Teaser.

AI is avoided when writing these questions.

Answers are as accurate as possible: at the time of writing.

Decisions about scores are final.

Thank you for coming: have a good day.

*        Hello, Mum!   It was Squeeze, Mum, not Madness.   (I looked that toy up, Mum: Dean wasn’t kidding.)

†        I can imagine that would be quite the sight, Olga!   😂

        I’m surprised it’s the first time you’ve come across “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy”: it’s one of the Christmas songs.   And possibly one of the unlikeliest matches, as well: Crosby had a fairly striaght-edged reputation, compared to Bowie.   He was spending time in Berlin: trying to break a prodigious cocaine habit!   (It’s about the time he recorded “Heroes”: that was all about a couple he saw kissing … right next to the Berlin Wall.)

        I’ll have to keep an eye open for that book: you’re right, it does sound like Never Let Me Go.   (The three interwoven plot threads reminds me of Gibson’s Neuromancer.)

        And yes, it was sad to hear about Chris Rea: “The Road to Hell” was a fantastic song.

‡        Irene, I hope you and Jim had a very good Christmas!   (Glad you liked the songs!).  Happy New Year!

§        Now that is definitely an odd song, Debbi … !   I don’t suppose Root Boy’s a Devo fan, is he?   It sounded like he’s had “Jocko Homo” on repeat!