The Daily Teaser — 15-4-2013: Dr Johnson’s Dictionary

That’s a bit worrying … 

You’ve possibly worked out I’m not working at the moment.   One that’s grateful for the benefits he receives and happily hunting for work in these iffy times.

One worry … ?   Is the simple fact that a benefit cap starts rolling out, today.

For single men like me, total benefits are to be capped at £350 per week: the idea is to make work more attractive.

I think leaves me relatively unaffected.   But does leave me wondering if I’d get the usual grant one gets given, on starting a new job.   And frankly … ?   Frankly, I’m wondering where the jobs are that we’re supposed to be getting are coming from … 

Let’s move on, shall we?   Before I start to rant … 

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Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi putting in her answers: along with letting us know about Maryland’s rather changeable weather*, she also scored five out of five.

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

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

Q1) 15th April saw the first publication of Johnson’s A Dictionary of the English Language.   In which English city … ?

Q2) More to the point, in which year of the 1750s … ?

Q3) Dr Johnson was from which country of Great Britain … ?

Q4) Johnson’s also been diagnosed — posthumously — with what … ?

Q5) What was the name of Samuel Johnson’s biographer … ?

Q6) And finally … what’s the last word in the original edition of the dictionary … ?

And here — sans pictures — are yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) What’s does this sign mean?

A1) No Right Turn.

Q2) This arrow … ?

A2) Keep Left.

Q3) This one: with the cars on?

A3) No Overtaking.

Q4) This ‘P’ … ?

A4) Parking.

Q5) Finally … the cow … ?

A5) Cattle Warning sign.

Enjoy those: I’ll leave you with this quote from Dr Johnson …

“… the lexicographer can only hope to escape reproach, and even this negative recompense has been yet granted to very few.”

Dr Samuel Johnson, 18 September 1709 to 13 December 1784.

And with this piece from San Francisco street artist, Sam Johnsonª … !

*        Yeah, I know the shape of that one, Debbi: right now, it’s sunny: I fully expect rain, by the time I get out of the front door … !   (Have fun with the jar of Marmite, by the way.   I love the stuff: but I’m also aware that one Marmite ad campaign — that told us you either love it or hate it — was the ad industry telling the truth, for once.   People literally love it or hate it!)

ª        Weird what you find on YouTube …

John Carter — What do you mean, it got slated … ?

You know, I have to admit, I’ve had a quiet night in.

And … ?

Well, I’ll be honest.

I’ve seen a movie.

And, yes, before you ask, I’ve just watched the critically panned 2011, Andrew Stanton directed movie, John Carter.

And I have to ask, why WAS everyone complaining … ?

No, seriously … !

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Set in 1881, and based on the 1911book, A Princess Of Mars, John Carter sees Taylor Kitsch as the eponymous hero: a veteran of the US Civil war who — after going prospecting in parts of Arizona that the Arapaho still claim as theirs, hiding in a cave that is more haunted than he’d realised.

As a result … ?

Finding himself somehow transported to Mars — or Barsoom to its inhabitants — in the middle of a rampaging war between the city states of Zodanga, headed by Sab Than — Dominic West — and Helium, led by Tardos Mor ands his daughter, Dejah Thoris: Ciaran Hinds and Lynn Collins, respectively.

In the middle of all this … ?

In the middle of all this, Carter’s expected to learn to fight like a Thark: led by Willem Dafoe, as Tars Tarkis.

Confusing … ?

It shouldn’t be … !

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Now, I said in the title of this post, that John Carter got a lot of bad press.

I’ll be frank, I really can’t see why … !

OK, granted, it’s not exactly Pinter: but then a lot of things aren’t.

John Carter is, after all, something of a Pulp.

So don’t rent or download John Carter if you’re expecting a deeply meaningful movie about man’s place in the universe, and that universes’ relationship to the Immanent Godhead.

DO get it, if you’re wanting an evening of mindless Disney fun, with lots of aliens chasing each other all over Monument Valley.

You won’t be disappointed!

John Carter
★★☆☆