Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 17-5-2020: Norwegian Would …

17th May, 2020.

This is possibly going to a strange thing to say … but I’m an ex smoker.

Which you possibly knew, if you’ve been following me for a while.

It’s something I gave up, around the time my nephew was born.

There’s all sorts of health implications, there: good and bad.

And all sorts of other implications … 

Not least of which?   Well, I used to roll my own cigarettes: it was cheaper.

And, for the past few years?

I’ve missed having something to do with my hands.

That Pyraminx*?

Lets me fiddle about in a way that’s not going to knacker my already damaged lungs.

And, lord, I’m glad I got it.

~≈Ξ≈~

The Daily Teaser — 17-5-2013: Norwegian What … ?

Hmmm … 

You know, I don’t know whether I’m surprised or not.

But a report that’s just floated past my ears, on Radio 4, has highlighted the fact that MPs in the  House Of Commons have an ‘unhealthy drinking culture’.

Surprise, surprise … 

It also highlights the fact that the House has nine whole bars.

Nine of them.

So let me get this straight, some MPs have criticised the poorer amongst us for drinking too much.   And yet, the House — not even the size of Brentwood High Street, if I’ve understood things correctly — has more bars than Brentwood High Street.

Anywhere else … ?   I’ve a feeling the phrase ‘Drunken MP Scandal’ doesn’t necessarily cover it … 

Let’s get moving on, shall we … ?

~≈‡≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw both Debbi* and Mr Strict† putting in in their answers: with Mr S bagging 6½ out of seven, and Debbi bagging seven, it also saw Mr S showing us this video … 

And Debbi sharing this post.

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

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

Q1) 17th May is Constitution Day in Norway.  In which year was the Norwegian Constitution signed: 1813, 1814 or 1815 … ?

Q2) How many clauses make up the Norwegian Constitution: 112, 113 or 114 … ?

Q3) In which year did Norway become independent: 1895, 1905 or 1915 … ?

Q4) More to the point, which country did Norway become independent from … ?

Q5) Norway, Sweden and Denmark all make up which part of Europe … ?

Q6) Which of the countries named in Q5 are on the Scandinavian Peninsular … ?

Q7) Which island group isn sometimes considered part of Scandinavia … ?

Q8) Those islands are roughly halfway between Norway and which famously volcanic island … ?

9) Moving backwards, slightly … May 17th is also Constitution Day on the small island of Nauru: in which Ocean is Nauru … ?

Q10) And finally … on which Beatle album would you find the song, Norwegian Wood … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 16th May, 1990, saw the death or Muppets creator, Jim Henson.   What was the name of the first TV show the Muppets appeared in?   A1) Sam And Friends.

Q2) Which children’s show are they famously associated with … ?   A2) Sesame Street.

Q3) Who are the current owners of the Muppets … ?   A3) Disney.   (They also own the Bear In The Big Blue House: but not the Sesame Street or Fraggle Rock characters)

Q4) The signature Muppet show — The Muppet Show — was made by Associated Television. In which country … ?   A4) The UK.

Q5) Steve Whitmire has — since 1990 — been the performer behind which green Muppet … ?   A5) Kermit the Frog.

Q6) Which Muppet famously performed a version of I’m Just Wild About Harry, with Jean Stapleton … ?   A6) My personal hero, Crazy Harry.

Q7) And finally … who appeared with Link Hogthrob and Dr Julius Strangepork, in Pigs In Space … ?   A7) The one and only Miss Piggy.

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

“If there is anyone who still wonders why this war is being fought, let him look to Norway. If there is anyone who has any delusions that this war could have been averted, let him look to Norway; and if there is anyone who doubts the democratic will to win, again I say, let him look to Norway.”Franklin D Roosevelt.

And, of course, the Norwegian National Anthem … 

Have a good day.

*        Have fun with that, Debbi!    (Oh, and there’s Bruce’s photo … ! :D)

†        Like I say, Mr S, I’m glad about copy and paste … ! 

Troll Hunter: How to have fun in the Norwegian Backwoods …

14/12/2012.

You know … 

I like watching movies.

Really.

And, BOY, I’m thankful I had enough in my iTunes account to rent one.

I think tonight’s news from the USA — about the Sandy Hook school shootings — definitely left me felling I’d rather not be watching the news.

So I’m hoping you’ll excuse me after what — for me — is a long day, if I hit the sack.

And carry on — in the morning — telling you about the film I saw, tonight, the 2010, André Øvredal directed, Troll Hunter.

15/12/2012.

And I think I can safely say — after sleep, tea and taking in the news — I’ve got my proverbial head together.

I think I needed it: lord along knows what 27 families in Newtown, Connecticut, need.

So, before moving on … ?

I’m going to offer my condolences to those who’ve lost children and loved, yesterday: and hope the USA decides toughening its gun laws makes sense.

Paul, enough!

Let’s tell people about the movie …

≤≤·≥≥

Yes, I should, shouldn’t I … ?

Here goes.

The André Øvredal directed film, Troll Hunter, sees a group of college students — Thomas (Glenn Erland Tosterud), Johanna (Johanna Mørck), and their cameraman Kalle (Tomas Alf Larsen) — film a student project that initially follows bear hunters in the Norwegian backwards.

Where it gets strange …

Is when they first encounter Hans — played by noted Norwegian comedian, Otto Jespersen* — who they believe to be a bear poacher.

Following him, they find out they’re wrong.

Hans isn’t hunting bears.

Oh no …

He’s in the front line in the hunt for much bigger prey.

One that’s moving out of its usual territory … and has more problems than you think …

≤≤·≥≥

Now, you’re probably looking at me and wondering whether I enjoyed myself with Troll Hunter, last night.

Absolutely … !

OK, granted it’s not perfect: that ‘found footage’ style is going to possibly annoy at least one person I know.   And subtitled film — whoever good — aren’t everyone’s cup of tea.

None-the-less, Troll Hunter is an unrepentant gem of a film: nicely written, beautifully put together and with a bone-dry sense of humour.

Troll Hunter is certainly worth catching … !

Troll Hunter

★★★☆

*        Going by his Wikipedia entry, Jespersen’s a touch … ahhh … a touch radical.   The NEAREST equivalent I could think of would be — in an English language version of the film — to cast Stephen Fry or Lenny Bruce in the role.   Or possibly Warren Mitchell in full-on Alf Garnett mode …