Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 19th April 2026.

19th April, 2026.

You know, Amazon can be odd, some times.

Or, at least, unexpected.

I was expecting some recently ordered bits and bobs to turn up, tomorrow.

It turns out they’ll be turning up, today.

At the risk of sounding clichéd … ?

Amazon moves in mysterious ways … … 

~≈📦≈~

I’ve been known to follow technology news, on and off.

And take an interest in Open source alternatives to paid-for software.

I’ve been using LibreOffice to organise my quiz questions for many years, as an example.

I’m also aware that many people government organisations, in many countries, don’t like using proprietary software.

Not necessarily because they object on cost grounds: although that’s a factor.

But they object to using Microsoft, Apple or Google, products not on price … but because those companies are foreign.

The three companies I’ve mentioned, as an example, are all American: so respond to American regulation and influence, first.

So many governments feel handing control of their IT systems to American companies, means handing control of their systems to a foreign power: and that using home grown software means keeping control.

Recent French moves to shift to a home grown operating system?

Is an example of this.

The point of my ranting?

Is twofold.

One?

The EU is sponsoring a project called Euro-Office, an open source productivity suite, in an effort to have software under EU control.

Two?

Why isn’t the British government doing something similar?

I don’t know.

But it’s not like Ubuntu, the British made, open source, operating system, hasn’t been around for years.

~≈🖥️≈~

Let’s move on.


Yesterday’s Teaser saw Mum* and Debbi† putting in their answers: with both scoring five out of five.


 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 Darwin died on 19th April, 1882.   His best known work, On the Origin of Species, was published in which year of the 1850s?

Q2)        Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected pope on 19th April, 2005.   He took what as his papal name: John Paul 2nd, Benedict 16th or Leo 14th?

Q3)        Footballer, Joe Hart, was born on 19th April, 1987.   He played in which position: left back, goalkeeper or centre forward?

Q4)        Kelly Holmes was born on 19th April, 1970.   She won Olympic gold medal in which year: 2000, 2004 or 2008?

Q5)        Finally … ?   Suge Knight was born on 19th April, 1965.   He’s the former CEO of which record company: Desert Island Discs, Death Row Records or Stax?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        Harold MacMillan introduced Premium Bonds on 17th April.   Of which year of the 1950s?

A1)        1956.

Q2)        MacMillan held which government post at the time: Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer or Minister for Tin Whistles?

A2)        Chancellor of the Exchequer.   (The post usually gets referred to as ‘Chancellor’, these days.)

Q3)        The scheme is currently run by NS&I.   NS&I stands for ‘National Savings and’ what?

A3)        National Savings and Investments.

Q4)        The winning numbers on the bonds are picked by a machine called ERNIE.   ERNIE stands for ‘Electronic Random Number Indicator’ … what?

A4)        Equipment.   (The current model was introduced in 2019.   The original was co-designed by Tommy Flowers, the man who built the Colossus computer, that help decrypted German codes at Bletchley Park.)

Q5)        Finally … ?   What’s the maximum you can win, if you own a premium bond: £50, 000, £100, 000 or £1000, 000?

A5)        One million pounds: £1000, 000.

Here’s a thought …

“Maintaining my sense of humour through rehabilitation was absolutely vital but not tough.   It’s just part of my DNA.”

Tim Curry, born 19 April 1946.

A song …

“Maintaining my sense of humour through rehabilitation was absolutely vital but not tough.   It’s just part of my DNA.”

Tim Curry, born 19 April 1946.

And an earworm …

The next ten question sets are on the 21st and 23rd April. They’re about Elizabeth 2nd, and León and Castile.

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!

†        I don’t think I’d want a million, Debbi: even though the money would be handy.   You’re only allowed so much in savings, on the benefits I’m one!