The Daily Teaser — 01-09-2012

Well, it’s official: I’m thinking that my little nephew, Jude, knows how to do a Billy Idol impersonation.

Although I have no what’s going through his head at that point.

I’ll have to ask, next time I’m over: although I’ve a funny I know the answer, already: “CAR!!!!!!!!!”

Hmmm … 

I’d love to know what he makes of the Daleks on tonights opening episode of Dr Who.

Mind you, that’s WELL past his bedtime.

I’ll let you know, when I find out.

Let’s get moving on, shall we?

~~~~~

Yesterday’s teaser saw Debbi putting her answers: and, along with wishing me luck on the proverbial boiler front*, also bagging 4 out of 5.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video … 

Q1) 1st September, 1939, saw the formal start of World War 2, when Germany invaded Poland.   Which country joined Germany, in its invasion of Poland … ?

Q2) More to the point … which Asian power remained as a German ally, by the end of the war, in 1945 … ?

Q3) 1st September, 1997, saw French investigators reveal that Henri Paul had been drunk when the car he was famously driving, crashed.   Name any of the three passengers who were in the car.

Q4) 1st September, 1604, saw the Adi Granth installed in Amritsar.   The Adi Granth is the holy book of which religion … ?

Q5) 1st September, 1804, saw astronomer Karl Harding discover which asteroid … ?

Q6) More to the point, in which 1985 science fiction novel is that asteroid a major feature … ?

Q7) And finally … 1st September, 1904, saw the release of A Trip To The Moon: considered by many to be one of the first science fiction films.   Which Frenchman directed it … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) Oslo 31st August is a 2011 film set in Oslo: in which country is Oslo … ?   

A1) Norway

.Q2) More to the point, what’s the name of the main character … ?   A2) Anders.

Q3) Moving on … 31st August, 1896, saw Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin patent his famed aircraft: what was it … ?   A3) The airship.

Q4) Which former Soviet republic declared independence, on 31st August, 1991 … ?   A4) Kyrgyzstan.

Q5) And finally … 31st August, 1962, saw the independence of two islands: name either …   A5) Trinidad and Tobago.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll catch you later.

After I leave you with this quote from Lily Tomlinson …

“9 to 5 made people aware of equal pay for equal work. It hasn't really happened, but it has come closer.” Lily Tomlin born September 1, 1939

And this video, courtesy of Miami Sound Machine: Happy Birthday to Gloria Estefan!

Oh … And don’t forget, for those of us in the UK and US, Dr Who series seven starts tonight.

*        Oh, don’t know if it’s luck, Debbi: I think it’s a case of them finally getting the relevant part and being able to fit the thing.   But thanks!   Hopefully, Tuesday will be the end of it … !

An Early Birthday Gift: And a Nephew’s fascination with Teeth …

You know, you’ll HAVE to forgive me, if things seem to go slightly wonky.

But I’ve GOT to confess, I’ve been given an early birthday gift.

The (pictured) Apple Magic Trackpad* that I’ve literally just unboxed!

And I HAVE to admit, I’ve just had a little touch of excitement put into me life with a new gadget.

Because I’m happily working out how to use the thing as part of my daily life.

One thing I will say, though … ?

I mean, apart from a big ‘Thank You’, to my family … ?

Is “WHEE … !”

Well, it’s that … and leave you with me, laughing a lot more madly than I’m reassured by.

Now Jude’s FINALLY decided on a future career …

* I’m not sure, yet, what to make of it: it’s REALLY responsive … !

Ooooh …

You know, I’ve GOT to confess, at times like this, I’m glad I managed to keep hold of the copy of iDVD that came with my Mac Mini, I really am.

It’s meant I could put together a DVD for my Aunty Bella: basically … ?

Basically, of all the photos me and the rest of the family have taken of Jude, in his first year of life.

Sad, I know.

But, hey … !

That’s families for you.

If nothing else, though … ?

I thought I’d share this lot with you.

Let me know what you think …

»»•««

Just as an additional point … ?

The tune on that is called Beginnings, and is by a chap called Alexander Blue.

You can get a copy — quite freely — from Jamendo: here …

Royalty Free Music - Stock Music Library | Jamendo PRO

A Brief Home Movie.

I know, I know, it’s LITTLE bit cheeky …

But I couldn’t resist grabbing a quick snap, or two.

Actually …

A quick snap or SEVERAL, actually, over the past six months … !

But the really cheeky bit that I’m hoping Ruth won’t notice … ?

Is the simple fact I managed to bag some video footage of my nephew, Jude.

Bless ’im … !

Here …

And, although the footage doesn’t show it … ?

He’s rolling his ‘R’s, already … !

Belated Pressie …

You know, now I come to think of these things, it seems that sometimes stuff get’s …

Overshadowed …

Meeting my nephew — especially as I don’t have children of my own — was rather powerful.

I’m getting mildly broody, I’ll be honest.

So the fact that I actually got a few pressies, this Christmas … ?

And was thinking about raving about them … ?

Looks a touch less important than it did.

«•»

None-the-less, having already thanked the relevant gift-givers … ?

I did at least want to mention the fact that my Mum, along with Anna — the eldest of me two kid sisters — and Ruth — the youngest, and Jude’s mother — had clubbed together to get me an LaCie external hard drive.

A 1 Terabyte, LaCie one, that’s slowly becoming home to the piles of backed-up movies, tv shows and other extraneous bit’s and bobs that I’ve built up, over the years.

And one that comes equipped with USB 2.0, eSATA, FireWire 400 and FireWire 800 interfaces.

Given the age and model of my Mac Mini … ?

I’ve hooked them up via FireWire 400.

Daisy-chained through my exterior optical drive, also hooked up via FireWire 400*.

And I’ll happily confess, the actual copying is going at an impressive rate of knots!

I’ve just copied 124.7 gigabytes of data from my old Maxtor USB external drive over to the LaCie — and I can’t help but think of it as HAL — in just under an hour.

It’s looking like the other 150 gigs is going to take about the same amount of time!

Like I say, I’m impressed … !

If ever I need to store disc images and need to burn them to disc … ?

Looks like I know where I’ll be keeping them …

«•»

Something else I know I’ve been given … ?

Is a copy of Terry Pratchett’s latest novel, I Shall Wear Midnight …

Now, I know that I wasn’t totally stunned with Unseen Academicals.

And frankly … ?

Was fearing the worst for Tiffany Aching.

Now, I’m only half-way through I Shall Wear Midnight.

I’m loving it … !

I tell you what.

I’ll put up more, when I’ve finished it … !

* If I’ve understood thing’s correctly, part of the speed difference between USB 2 and FireWire 400/800 is the fact that FireWire doesn’t chew up as much CPU capacity. Again, from what I understand, Macs have always used it in preference to USB 2 to help deal with the amount of video work many film studios choose to use them for. How the introduction of USB 3 will affect, I don’t know but for me … ? Well …